
Primary Type – Cards
Secondary Type - Cards
Language – Cards
Creator – Cards
Date – Cards
Group – Cards
Location – Cards
Event – Cards
Letter from a member of the Point Loma Community Presbyterian Church in San Diego, California. The letter reads: "Dear Members of the Tree of Life Synagogue- My thoughts and prayers are with you as you grieve the loss of 11 of your friends, family, and members. The members of my church, Point Loma Community Presbyterian Church in San Diego, California have been praying for your congregation. We hope and pray that over time your hearts will heal and peace will enter to fill the void left by the 11. El."
Summary: New York Jewish Week report compiling responses to the October 27 attack from leadership of national Jewish organizations including Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh, the Jewish Federations of North America, and the World Jewish Congress.
Handwritten card in red marker, addressed broadly to tvarious groups impacted by the October 27 attack, including the congregation, the victims and their families, witnesses, police, and first responders. Signed by several families [last names redacted]. The front cover features a reproduction of an eighteenth century engraving of a white heron in the collection of Colonial Williamsburg in Williamsburg, Va.
Post-it note with handwritten message in blue ink. The message reads: "Stronger than hate." Illustrated with a peace symbol. Color bleeding and staining due to exposure to the elements at the Wilkins memorial.
Card with the words: "My heart is with Squirrel Hill" on the front cover. The message inside is from a life-long Pittsburgh resident with ties to Duquesne University, who writes: "I know that this is a city of incredible love and acceptance, which just makes this tragedy hurt even more."
Card from the Friendship Circle of Illinois. The front cover of the card reads: "To the Jewish community of Pittsburgh sheyichyu (may they live)." The card reads: "I feel so bad for you from now and there should be no more bad stuff and moshiach (the Messiah) should come right now!" The acronym "B"SD" (with the help of heaven) appears on the upper right corner of the left fold. There are two illustrations of large smiley faces wearing t-shirts with smiley faces and yarmulkes (skullcaps) with the Hebrew word moshiach (the Messiah).
Wooden pedestal painted white with white Star of David and red heart affixed to front. Handwritten in pencil and black marker on the Star of David is the name "David Rosenthal." Collaged onto the heart are white pieces of paper and a translation of Psalm 34:18: "The Lord is close to the broken hearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit." Affixed to one side of the pedestal is a black sticker with the word "LOVE" in white letters. Accompanying image shows all 11 Stars of David in the series.
Handwritten card from a student at Goddard Middle School in Littleton, Co. The front cover contains the following quote: "Let your smile change the world. But don't let the world change your smile." Illustrated with a Star of David below. The inside reads: "Dear Rabbi Jeffrey Myers, I am sorry for the antisemitic attack on your place of worship. I hope this letter will you get through these hard times. I also hope the victims' families are doing well. We can get through this. - Sincerely, Goddard Middle School Student, Littleton, Colorado."
Black ribbon with gold letters stapled along its length. Message reads, "We will never forget." Ribbon is faded from sun exposure.
Post-it note with handwritten message in blue marker. The message reads: "The 2nd and imp[ortant] commandment is LOVE Your Neighbor. Susan." Tape on the bottom and top left. Tearing and dirt due to exposure to the elements at the Wilkins memorial.
Sepia-tone photograph showing large group of people in a banquet hall decorated with streamers, Stars of David, and American flags. Text at bottom reads "The 25th Anniversary banquet of the Congregation 'Oher Chodosh Anshe Romanian' February 26, 1928 Pittsburgh Pa." Original photograph is creased in several places and missing one corner.
Paper cutout in the shape of Star of David; composed of two triangles painted in gold and blue paint respectively. The star reads: "Hate is not the answer."
Handmade card in watercolor, marker, and ink on paper. The card features a quote from 1 Corinthians 12:12 on the front. It is signed on the back: "With love, Katie and Meagan and Mark."
Handwritten card in blue, green, red, and orange marker on paper. The front of the card reads: "Thank you for helping [our] community and keeping us safe. Love, [illegible]." Two flowers, above grass, appear to the right. The inside, written in two hands, reads: "Thank you very m[uch]" and "and thank you for being...in..." Color bleeding due to exposure to the elements at the Wilkins memorial.
Glass, blue stone and blue handwritten post-it-note. The post-it-note reads: "God help these families and community. 'Hitherto hath the Lord helped us.' (1 Samuel 7:12). Raise an Ebenezer in Pittsburgh. RIP 11 lovely souls." The back reads: "The Ebenezer is the stone of help."
Note from a member of The Church at Severn Run in Severn, Maryland. The note is enclosed in an envelope with church letterhead, reading: "The Church at Severn Run: Love Well, Live Jesus, Believe Big!" The note inside contains words of prayer and encouragement. The church's contact information is included on the back of the envelope.
Terms of Use
The October 27 Archive collects responses to an antisemitic attack in Pittsburgh, Pa. on October 27, 2018. These responses take many forms but share a motivating impulse. Each began in the mind and heart of someone who was moved by the events of that day and was compelled to create something meaningful from that feeling. By sharing these responses, those people chose to be vulnerable for the sake of a greater good. The October 27 Archive website was launched with the belief that sharing these responses with the world can provide an avenue for people all over the world to reflect, learn, and heal.
By entering this website, you agree to honor the spirit in which these responses were created and in which they are being shared with the world.
The materials on this website are being made available exclusively for research purposes. For permission to use any of the materials on this website for any other purpose, please contact the archive. If you are the creator of any of the material on this website, and you would like to provide context or request to have something removed, please contact the archive. If you intend to reference any material found on this website, please attribute all citations to the Rauh Jewish Archives, so that other researchers can easily locate these materials in the future.