Pittsburgh is commemorating the Tree of Life Synagogue mass shooting that happened on this day, October 27, five years ago.
The congregation is looking to the future while remembering the tragedy of the day.
Tree of Life's Remember. Rebuild. Renew. campaign continues as leaders work to create a new design and mission at the synagogue.
CEO Carole Zawatsky says the design process is complete.
“I have a beautiful image in my mind of the reimagined Tree of Life being at the cross section of joy and celebration of Jewish life, of people coming on Sabbath morning, of babies being named and weddings happening,” said Zawatsky.
Zawatsky adds she sees it as a “beacon of light” for future generations and as a way to help eliminate anti-Semitism.
Crews are completing asbestos remediation. Eighty percent of the current building will be demolished once that is complete.
The 11 people who lost their life on October 27, 2018:
Joyce Fienberg,
Richard Gottfried
Rose Mallinger
Jerry Rabinowitz
Cecil Rosenthal
David Rosenthal
Bernice Simon
Sylvan Simon
Daniel Stein
Melvin Wax
Irving Younger
The shooter, Robert Bowers was found guilty and sentenced to death earlier this past summer.