The Collection

The October 27 Archive currently contains 839 objects and is regularly being expanded with more material. The archive includes flyers and programs from community gatherings held since the October 27 attack, a comprehensive collection of news coverage about the day of the event, oral history recordings reflecting a diverse array of experiences, and historical documentation about the Jewish experience in Western Pennsylvania.

Using this archive

You can view all the materials currently included in the archive using the browser below. Each object has been described and cataloged to help you discover materials, learn about these materials, understand the context in which these materials were created, and draw connections between different materials. You can refine the browsing experience using various filters, including creator, type, and subject. Some of these filters have already been used to create preset galleries, each organized around specific aspects of the archive. You can also look for specific words and phrase found in the archive using a keyword search.

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Bethel Park family card (3)

Card painted with blue paint on the front. The words "Tree of Life" and several Stars of David, hearts, and five-pointed star were drawn with marker. A smiley face sticker was placed on the bottom left edge. An orange sticky note in the shape of a twelve-pointed star with the words "Strength and Unity for ALL" was placed in the center. The back of the card contains the words "Thoughts and Prayers for ALL" on the left, accompanied by illustrations of Stars of David, hearts, and five-pointed stars. A second orange sticky note in the shape of a twelve-pointed star, signed "Love, Autumn and Nico (Bethel Park)" was placed on the right-hand side.

Historical Notes

In the days after the October 27 attack, people began leaving objects at two locations outside the Tree of Life synagogue--one at the corner of Wilkins and Shady avenues in front of the Zittrain Gardens, and the other on a private lawn at Wilkins and Murray avenues, just beyond police barricades. Community volunteers moved the entirety of these two memorials inside the Tree of Life building on November 14, 2018, for preservation purposes. Most of these objects including this one were moved to archival preservation over the following year, but a small number were arranged in public display in the windows of the Hailperin Sanctuary lobby. Rauh Jewish Archives staff and volunteers dismantled this display on February 16, 2023, and the objects were brought to the archive for preservation. This cards was left at the Wilkins Memorial by two individuals from Bethel Park, Pa., a suburb of Pittsburgh.

Use and Reproduction

Donor Information

Item

MSS1297_B001_F037_I015

Donor

Tree of Life Congregation, New Light Congregation, Congregation Dor Hadash, Tree of Life Inc., The 10.27 Healing Partnership

Subjects

Children