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"Jessica and Aron" letter
Handwritten note written in blue ink on lined paper from Jessica and Aron [last names redacted] from Ridgewood, NJ. Staining due to exposure to the elements at the Wilkins memorial. The back of the note features advertising for Market Central, one of the largest dining halls on the University of Pittsburgh's campus.
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, 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. Jessica and Aron [last names redacted] participated in Solidarity Shabbat, a grassroots coalition of solidarity held in synagogues throughout North America the Shabbat following the October 27 attack (November 2-3, 2018). Solidarity Shabbat was organized by the Jewish Federations of North America in collaboration with all major Jewish-American denominations. Jessica and Aron [last name redacted] delivered this letter while they were in town visiting the University of Pittsburgh.
Use and Reproduction
Donor Information
Donor
Tree of Life Congregation, New Light Congregation, Congregation Dor Hadash, Tree of Life Inc., The 10.27 Healing Partnership
