
Primary Type – Cards
Secondary Type - Cards
Language – Cards
Creator – Cards
Date – Cards
Group – Cards
Location – Cards
Event – Cards
Handwritten card from a student at Goddard Middle School in Littleton, Co. The front cover reads: "F.e.a.r. has two meanings- Forget everything and run OR Face everything and rise. The choice is yours." A star of David and cartoonish illustration of a smiling boy wearing a red baseball cap appear below; a shining sun in the upper right corner. The inside reads: "Dear Rabbi Jeffrey Myers, We are sorry for your loss and we hope you are recovering well. -Aiden G. Littleton, Colorado." Spelling errors corrected for clarity.
Letter from a member of the Point Loma Community Presbyterian Church in San Diego, California. The letter reads: "Please know that our thoughts and prayers are with you and your congregation during this most difficult time. We here in San Diego pray for your healing. Jeanie."
Card from a congregant at the Holy Angels Parish. The front cover contains a stock illustration of a haloed dove flying in front of Noah's ark. The inside reads: "We all pray for you of what happened. We pray the people that are hurt to get better and the people that died to be happy in heaven. Aubry M Holy Angels 4th grade." Color bleeding due to water exposure at the memorial site.
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 "Joyce Fienberg." 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." Accompanying image shows all 11 Stars of David in the series.
Summary: Collection of social media posts, compiled by The Incline, from local and national figures responding to the October 27 attack. Includes comments from President Donald Trump, Mayor Bill Peduto, Sen. Jay Costa, Sen. Bob Casey, Sen. Pat Toomey, Rep. Mike Doyle, and former President Barack Obama.
Picket sign made from rigid foam insulation covered in red, white, blue, and green duct tape and affixed to the top of a wooden dowl. Design features a globe inside a red cross, symbolizing medical care, beneath the words "Heal the World" and "Tikkun Olam."
Card from a congregant at the Holy Angels Parish. The front cover contains a stock illustration of a haloed dove flying in front of Noah's ark. Signed "Jack [last name redacted] 5th grade." The inside reads: "God Loves You. We will remember you. Jack Grade 5."
Letter from a member of the Point Loma Community Presbyterian Church in San Diego, California. The letter reads: "To our esteemed sisters and brothers I offer sorrow in your losses, comfort to enter into your memories and many blessings for your bright future as a synagogue to overcome. With all my love- Russell [last name redacted]."
Note with hand drawn illustration of two flowers and the moon. The illustration is accompanied by the following message: "When I'm in alignment with the love of the universe, peace cannot be disrupted." Illustration by Micaela [last name redacted] and words by Gabrielle [last name redacted]. Fading and color bleeding due to exposure to the elements at the Wilkins memorial.
Letter from a member of the Point Loma Community Presbyterian Church in San Diego, California. The letter reads: "G-d be with you. Know that the great-grandson of Or' [?]- gollath will always fail through those who the follow one true G-d." David.
Diamante poem by Jesse [last name redacted], which was sent with the materials from Emergency Ministry Services, a faith-based training and disaster response NGO in San Juan Capistrano, Ca., affiliated with the Orange County Church on the Rock. A diamante poem is a seven-line unrhymed poem which is shaped like a diamond.
Letter from a member of the Point Loma Community Presbyterian Church in San Diego, California. The letter is dated Nov. 4, 2018 and reads: "To the beautiful Tree of Life community in Pittsburgh from a Presbyterian in San Diego: Shalom... May your deepest sorrows be comforted by God's soothing peace. May you feel the support of others around the world. Imagine me, a teacher named Carolyn V., carrying 2 buckets to hold your tears and mine as I grieve with you. Never let evil win. LOVE WILL TRIUMPH. Love from C. [last name redacted] [heart symbol]."
Handwritten card from a student at Goddard Middle School in Littleton, Co. Front cover features a quote attributed to the fictional Sesame Street character, Cookie Monster: "Sometimes me think, what is friend? And then me say, friend is someone to share the last cookie with." Illustration of a smiling face with a long nose and blond hair appears below. Signed: "Fernando." The inside reads: "Dear Congregation, I am sorry for your losses. We are here for you all the way from Colorado. Sincerely, Fernando Littleton, CO." Spelling errors corrected for clarity.
Drawing in colored pencil on paper. Signed: "Rhea" lower center on the front; illustrated above with four-legged animal, perhaps a dog. Additional colored illustrations appear on the back. Extensive tearing and creasing due to exposure to the elements at the Wilkins memorial; the drawing is now torn into two pieces.
Floral tag from floral arrangement. The tag features a quote from Psalm 121:4, which reads: "Indeed, he who watches over Israel will neither slumber no sleep." The message is handwritten in black ink on a printed tag with white and purple flecked flowers.
Floral tag from floral arrangement, which reads: "May they Rest in Peace." The message is written in blue ink on a printed tag with multicolored flowers in the lower right corner. The reverse is stamped with the contact information for Squirrel Hill Flower Shop.
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 conveys the sender's horror regarding the October 27 attack and their prayers that God grant peace and comfort. The church's contact information is included on the back of the envelope.
Card from a congregant at the Holy Angels Parish. The front cover contains a stock illustration of seven children holding hands around a table with a large goblet and loaf of braided bread, and seven doves. The illustration is labeled: "We are people of God's peace." The inside reads: "Dear Tree of Life member. You are all in our thoughts and prayers. Holy Angels\CCD. Jason [last name redacted]." Due to water exposure at the memorial site, the ink on this card has partially lifted.
Hallmark card from a member of St. Peter's Episcopal Church in Londonderry, New Hampshire. The front cover reads: "Faith is the friend that comes along when things just seem to go all wrong." The inside reads: "Please accept our sympathy and prayer at this sad time. Love- Scott, Michelle, Sean, and Jill [last name redacted]."
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.