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Boston Globe
17-04-2025
- Politics
- Boston Globe
Arson attack on Pennsylvania governor's home evokes trauma for the state's Jews
Still, the attack hit the Jewish community hard in a state where such pain is achingly familiar. It targeted Pennsylvania's religiously observant Jewish governor in the very place where just hours before he had hosted one of the central rituals of the Jewish calendar. Advertisement Zawatsky heads a Pittsburgh organization formed to counter antisemitism and memorialize the victims of another Pennsylvania assault – the murders of 11 worshippers from three congregations at the Tree of Life synagogue more than six years ago, the deadliest antisemitic attack in U.S. history. Get Starting Point A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday. Enter Email Sign Up 'Seeing those images is deeply traumatic,' said Zawatsky, CEO of The Tree of Life, the group established in the wake of the Oct. 27, 2018 killings. 'It's not too much to ask that we all live in a country where we celebrate our faith without fear.' A murkier picture emerges on motive The synagogue shooting trial revealed that the gunman, who was convicted and sentenced to death, had long been steeped in antisemitism and methodically carried out the attack. Advertisement In the Harrisburg case, things are less clear. Investigators have released only fragments of what the suspect, Cody Balmer, of Harrisburg, told them. His relatives say he has struggled with mental illness, and his lawyers suggested Wednesday that will be central to their defense. 'We have no definitive information about this person's motive,' Zawatsky said. 'We do know that there was certainly hate involved.' Pennsylvania State Police said the 38-year-old Balmer confessed to the attack, harbored hatred for the governor and said he planned to beat Shapiro with a hammer. 'BALMER identified himself by name and related that Governor Josh SHAPIRO needs to know that he '...will not take part in his plans for what he wants to do to the Palestinian people,'' police wrote as part of applications for search warrants. Exactly who and what that meant were unclear in the documents. Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer of New York on Thursday called on the Justice Department to determine whether the attack qualifies as a federal hate crime. Audrey Glickman, a survivor of the 2018 attack and a member of Tree of Life Congregation, said she admired Shapiro's composure, just hours after the attack, and his emphatic denunciation of hatred regardless of motivation. 'It takes a while to realize you've been attacked and what to make of it,' Glickman said. She admired 'how he stood up right away and spoke strongly about it.' Shapiro responded to the scene of the 2018 Pittsburgh attack as Pennsylvania's then-attorney general. As governor, he took part in the 2024 groundbreaking for a new building to replace the synagogue, including a memorial, programming and other exhibits aimed to counter antisemitism. Reminders of an overheated political climate About 200 people participated in a somber march Wednesday night in Harrisburg. They walked from the parking lot of a synagogue to the governor's residence, where they held a multifaith prayer vigil across the street. Advertisement Several marchers connected the attack to the overheated political climate. 'To deny it is like putting your head in the sand,' said retired Presbyterian minister Don Potter, 75, of Dillsburg, who said the images of the building's interior with fire damage 'made me sick.' Enid Wassner, a retired child care worker from Hershey, said the fact that the firebombing occurring during Passover and targeted Shapiro and his family was 'extremely worrying.' She noted that Jewish institutions and buildings in Harrisburg have had to increase security. 'Gradually things have been getting more worrisome, for me personally and the entire Jewish community.' Questions emerge about attacker's mental state Police said in court affidavits that in an interview with detectives Balmer 'admitted to harboring hatred towards' Shapiro and referred to the Palestinian people in a 911 call attributed to him that was placed shortly after the break-in. Balmer's mother and brother have said he suffered from bipolar disorder and would not consistently take medication. His brother, Dan Balmer, said Cody Balmer twice in recent years spent time in a psychiatric hospital in Harrisburg. During a court hearing on Monday, Balmer denied any history of mental illness. Dan Balmer told the AP on Tuesday that Cody Balmer 'had these theories that were going on in his head' and became angry when family members would tell him his views didn't reflect reality. 'The allegations, if true, demonstrate the devastating consequences of severe mental illness,' Mary Klatt, the chief public defender in Dauphin County, whose office is representing Balmer, said Wednesday. She said his preliminary hearing would be delayed to determine whether Balmer is mentally competent to stand trial. Advertisement Identity moves to forefront for Shapiro Shapiro declined to talk about the attacker's motive on Wednesday, saying prosecutors will ultimately determine what drove him. 'It's not for me to answer that,' he said. The governor has publicly criticized Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government and the nature of Israel's military action in Gaza, but also has backed Israel's right to defend itself from Hamas. Hank Butler, executive director of the Pennsylvania Jewish Coalition, said Shapiro's focus has been Pennsylvania and not the Palestinian people. 'To say that our governor wishes the worst on the Palestinian people is not welcomed here,' Butler said. 'It is not justified, absolutely not justified -- no attack is justified.' Shapiro has won statewide races three times in a crucial battleground state. He was a finalist to be Vice President Kamala Harris's running mate in last year's presidential campaign and is considered a potential 2028 Democratic candidate for president. The attack once again puts his identity front and center. When Harris picked Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz over Shapiro, Republicans tried to cast the pick as a snub to Jewish voters. Rabbi Rick Jacobs, president of the Union for Reform Judaism, an umbrella group for more than 800 Reform congregations in North America, connected the attack to Shapiro's identity. 'He's also someone who is a strong supporter of Israel,' Jacobs said of Shapiro. 'Are those things that put your life at risk in the 21st century?' Zawatsky, the Tree of Life CEO, noted that in the Passover ritual, Jews are instructed not just to recite the story of their ancient forebears' liberation from slavery but to envision themselves as having experienced it – something that feels especially poignant now. Whether law enforcement officials ultimately settle on a definitive conclusion about what motivated last weekend's attack, she and others already know what living in fear feels like. Advertisement 'It's very sad to think we pass along the inherited trauma of the fear of antisemitism, but never did I think we would be a generation that would have the lived experience of this kind of violent antisemitism,' she said. Associated Press religion coverage receives support through the AP's Smith reported from Pittsburgh and Cooper from Phoenix.
The Independent
17-04-2025
- Politics
- The Independent
Arson attack on Pennsylvania governor's home evokes trauma for the state's Jews
A year ago, Carole Zawatsky was invited by Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro to a Passover Seder, held in the same room at the governor's official residence that was devastated by an arsonist just hours after Shapiro hosted this year's Jewish holiday feast. Now, as she looks at photos of the destruction, Zawatsky can envision where she had been seated and how deadly the attack could have been. Like many others, Zawatsky is cautiously awaiting word from investigators about the motivations of the attacker, which are clouded by hints of erratic behavior as well as statements from his past. Still, the attack hit the Jewish community hard in a state where such pain is achingly familiar. It targeted Pennsylvania's religiously observant Jewish governor in the very place where just hours before he had hosted one of the central rituals of the Jewish calendar. Zawatsky heads a Pittsburgh organization formed to counter antisemitism and memorialize the victims of another Pennsylvania assault – the murders of 11 worshippers from three congregations at the Tree of Life synagogue more than six years ago, the deadliest antisemitic attack in U.S. history. 'Seeing those images is deeply traumatic,' said Zawatsky, CEO of The Tree of Life, the group established in the wake of the Oct. 27, 2018 killings. 'It's not too much to ask that we all live in a country where we celebrate our faith without fear.' A murkier picture emerges on motive The synagogue shooting trial revealed that the gunman, who was convicted and sentenced to death, had long been steeped in antisemitism and methodically carried out the attack. In the Harrisburg case, things are less clear. Investigators have released only fragments of what the suspect, Cody Balmer, of Harrisburg, told them. His relatives say he has struggled with mental illness, and his lawyers suggested Wednesday that will be central to their defense. 'We have no definitive information about this person's motive," Zawatsky said. "We do know that there was certainly hate involved.' Pennsylvania State Police said the 38-year-old Balmer confessed to the attack, harbored hatred for the governor and said he planned to beat Shapiro with a hammer. 'BALMER identified himself by name and related that Governor Josh SHAPIRO needs to know that he '...will not take part in his plans for what he wants to do to the Palestinian people,'' police wrote as part of applications for search warrants. Exactly who and what that meant were unclear in the documents. Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer of New York on Thursday called on the Justice Department to determine whether the attack qualifies as a federal hate crime. Audrey Glickman, a survivor of the 2018 attack and a member of Tree of Life Congregation, said she admired Shapiro's composure, just hours after the attack, and his emphatic denunciation of hatred regardless of motivation. 'It takes a while to realize you've been attacked and what to make of it,' Glickman said. She admired 'how he stood up right away and spoke strongly about it.' Shapiro responded to the scene of the 2018 Pittsburgh attack as Pennsylvania's then-attorney general. As governor, he took part in the 2024 groundbreaking for a new building to replace the synagogue, including a memorial, programming and other exhibits aimed to counter antisemitism. Reminders of an overheated political climate About 200 people participated in a somber march Wednesday night in Harrisburg. They walked from the parking lot of a synagogue to the governor's residence, where they held a multifaith prayer vigil across the street. Several marchers connected the attack to the overheated political climate. 'To deny it is like putting your head in the sand,' said retired Presbyterian minister Don Potter, 75, of Dillsburg, who said the images of the building's interior with fire damage 'made me sick.' Enid Wassner, a retired child care worker from Hershey, said the fact that the firebombing occurring during Passover and targeted Shapiro and his family was 'extremely worrying.' She noted that Jewish institutions and buildings in Harrisburg have had to increase security. 'Gradually things have been getting more worrisome, for me personally and the entire Jewish community." Questions emerge about attacker's mental state Police said in court affidavits that in an interview with detectives Balmer 'admitted to harboring hatred towards' Shapiro and referred to the Palestinian people in a 911 call attributed to him that was placed shortly after the break-in. Balmer's mother and brother have said he suffered from bipolar disorder and would not consistently take medication. His brother, Dan Balmer, said Cody Balmer twice in recent years spent time in a psychiatric hospital in Harrisburg. During a court hearing on Monday, Balmer denied any history of mental illness. Dan Balmer told the AP on Tuesday that Cody Balmer 'had these theories that were going on in his head' and became angry when family members would tell him his views didn't reflect reality. 'The allegations, if true, demonstrate the devastating consequences of severe mental illness,' Mary Klatt, the chief public defender in Dauphin County, whose office is representing Balmer, said Wednesday. She said his preliminary hearing would be delayed to determine whether Balmer is mentally competent to stand trial. Identity moves to forefront for Shapiro Shapiro declined to talk about the attacker's motive on Wednesday, saying prosecutors will ultimately determine what drove him. 'It's not for me to answer that,' he said. The governor has publicly criticized Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government and the nature of Israel's military action in Gaza, but also has backed Israel's right to defend itself from Hamas. Hank Butler, executive director of the Pennsylvania Jewish Coalition, said Shapiro's focus has been Pennsylvania and not the Palestinian people. 'To say that our governor wishes the worst on the Palestinian people is not welcomed here,' Butler said. 'It is not justified, absolutely not justified -- no attack is justified.' Shapiro has won statewide races three times in a crucial battleground state. He was a finalist to be Vice President Kamala Harris's running mate in last year's presidential campaign and is considered a potential 2028 Democratic candidate for president. The attack once again puts his identity front and center. When Harris picked Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz over Shapiro, Republicans tried to cast the pick as a snub to Jewish voters. Rabbi Rick Jacobs, president of the Union for Reform Judaism, an umbrella group for more than 800 Reform congregations in North America, connected the attack to Shapiro's identity. 'He's also someone who is a strong supporter of Israel,' Jacobs said of Shapiro. "Are those things that put your life at risk in the 21st century?' Zawatsky, the Tree of Life CEO, noted that in the Passover ritual, Jews are instructed not just to recite the story of their ancient forebears' liberation from slavery but to envision themselves as having experienced it – something that feels especially poignant now. Whether law enforcement officials ultimately settle on a definitive conclusion about what motivated last weekend's attack, she and others already know what living in fear feels like. 'It's very sad to think we pass along the inherited trauma of the fear of antisemitism, but never did I think we would be a generation that would have the lived experience of this kind of violent antisemitism,' she said. ___ Associated Press religion coverage receives support through the AP's collaboration with The Conversation US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is solely responsible for this content. ___ Smith reported from Pittsburgh and Cooper from Phoenix.
Yahoo
17-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Arson attack on Pennsylvania governor's home evokes trauma for state's Jews
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — A year ago, Carole Zawatsky was invited by Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro to a Passover Seder, held in the same room at the governor's official residence that was devastated by an arsonist just hours after Shapiro hosted this year's Jewish holiday feast. Now, as she looks at photos of the destruction, Zawatsky can envision where she had been seated and how deadly the attack could have been. Like many others, Zawatsky is cautiously awaiting word from investigators about the motivations of the attacker, which are clouded by hints of erratic behavior as well as statements from his past. Still, the attack hit the Jewish community hard in a state where such pain is achingly familiar. It targeted Pennsylvania's religiously observant Jewish governor in the very place where just hours before he had hosted one of the central rituals of the Jewish calendar. Zawatsky heads a Pittsburgh organization formed to counter antisemitism and memorialize the victims of another Pennsylvania assault – the murders of 11 worshippers from three congregations at the Tree of Life synagogue more than six years ago, the deadliest antisemitic attack in U.S. history. 'Seeing those images is deeply traumatic,' said Zawatsky, CEO of The Tree of Life, the group established in the wake of the Oct. 27, 2018 killings. 'It's not too much to ask that we all live in a country where we celebrate our faith without fear.' A murkier picture emerges on motive The synagogue shooting trial revealed that the gunman, who was convicted and sentenced to death, had long been steeped in antisemitism and methodically carried out the attack. In the Harrisburg case, things are less clear. Investigators have released only fragments of what Balmer told them. His relatives say he has struggled with mental illness, and his lawyers suggested Wednesday that will be central to their defense. 'We have no definitive information about this person's motive," Zawatsky said. "We do know that there was certainly hate involved.' Pennsylvania State Police said 38-year-old Cody Balmer confessed to the attack, harbored hatred for the governor and said he planned to beat Shapiro with a hammer. 'BALMER identified himself by name and related that Governor Josh SHAPIRO needs to know that he '...will not take part in his plans for what he wants to do to the Palestinian people,'' police wrote as part of applications for search warrants. Exactly who and what that meant were unclear in the documents. Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer of New York on Thursday called on the Justice Department to determine whether the attack qualifies as a federal hate crime. Audrey Glickman, a survivor of the 2018 attack and a member of Tree of Life Congregation, said she admired Shapiro's composure, just hours after the attack, and his emphatic denunciaton of hatred regardless of motivation. 'It takes a while to realize you've been attacked and what to make of it,' Glickman said. She admired 'how he stood up right away and spoke strongly about it.' Shapiro responded to the scene of the 2018 Pittsburgh attack as Pennsylvania's then-attorney general. As governor, he took part in the 2024 groundbreaking for a new building to replace the synagogue, including a memorial, programming and other exhibits aimed to counter antisemitism. Reminders of an overheated political climate About 200 people participated in a somber march Wednesday night in Harrisburg. They walked from the parking lot of a synagogue to the governor's residence, where they held a multifaith prayer vigil across the street. Several marchers connected the attack to the overheated political climate. 'To deny it is like putting your head in the sand,' said retired Presbyterian minister Don Potter, 75, of Dillsburg, who said the images of the building's interior with fire damage 'made me sick.' Enid Wassner, a retired child care worker from Hershey, said the fact that the firebombing occurring during Passover and targeted Shapiro and his family was 'extremely worrying.' She noted that Jewish institutions and buildings in Harrisburg have had to increase security. 'Gradually things have been getting more worrisome, for me personally and the entire Jewish community." Questions emerge about attacker's mental state Police said in court affidavits that in an interview with detectives Balmer 'admitted to harboring hatred towards' Shapiro and referred to the Palestinian people in a 911 call attributed to him that was placed shortly after the break-in. Balmer's mother and brother have said he suffered from bipolar disorder and would not consistently take medication. His brother, Dan Balmer, said Cody Balmer twice in recent years spent time in a psychiatric hospital in Harrisburg. During a court hearing on Monday, Balmer denied any history of mental illness. Dan Balmer told the AP on Tuesday that Cody Balmer 'had these theories that were going on in his head' and became angry when family members would tell him his views didn't reflect reality. 'The allegations, if true, demonstrate the devastating consequences of severe mental illness,' Mary Klatt, the chief public defender in Dauphin County, whose office is representing Balmer, said Wednesday. She said his preliminary hearing would be delayed to determine whether Balmer is mentally competent to stand trial. Identity moves to forefront for Shapiro Shapiro declined to talk about the attacker's motive on Wednesday, saying prosecutors will ultimately determine what drove him. 'It's not for me to answer that,' he said. The governor has publicly criticized Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government and the nature of Israel's military action in Gaza, but also has backed Israel's right to defend itself from Hamas. Hank Butler, executive director of the Pennsylvania Jewish Coalition, said Shapiro's focus has been Pennsylvania and not the Palestinian people. 'To say that our governor wishes the worst on the Palestinian people is not welcomed here,' Butler said. 'It is not justified, absolutely not justified -- no attack is justified.' Shapiro has won statewide races three times in a crucial battleground state. He was a finalist to be Vice President Kamala Harris's running mate in last year's presidential campaign and is considered a potential 2028 Democratic candidate for president. The attack once again puts his identity front and center. When Harris picked Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz over Shapiro, Republicans tried to cast the pick as a snub to Jewish voters. Rabbi Rick Jacobs, president of the Union for Reform Judaism, an umbrella group for more than 800 Reform congregations in North America, connected the attack to Shapiro's identity. 'He's also someone who is a strong supporter of Israel,' Jacobs said of Shapiro. "Are those things that put your life at risk in the 21st century?' Zawatsky, the Tree of Life CEO, noted that in the Passover ritual, Jews are instructed not just to recite the story of their ancient forebears' liberation from slavery but to envision themselves as having experienced it – something that feels especially poignant now. Whether law enforcement officials ultimately settle on a definitive conclusion about what motivated last weekend's attack, she and others already know what living in fear feels like. 'It's very sad to think we pass along the inherited trauma of the fear of antisemitism, but never did I think we would be a generation that would have the lived experience of this kind of violent antisemitism,' she said. ___ Associated Press religion coverage receives support through the AP's collaboration with The Conversation US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is solely responsible for this content. ___ Smith reported from Pittsburgh and Cooper from Phoenix.
Associated Press
17-04-2025
- Politics
- Associated Press
Arson attack on Pennsylvania governor's home evokes trauma for state's Jews
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — A year ago, Carole Zawatsky was invited by Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro to a Passover Seder, held in the same room at the governor's official residence that was devastated by an arsonist just hours after Shapiro hosted this year's Jewish holiday feast. Now, as she looks at photos of the destruction, Zawatsky can envision where she had been seated and how deadly the attack could have been. Like many others, Zawatsky is cautiously awaiting word from investigators about the motivations of the attacker, which are clouded by hints of erratic behavior as well as statements from his past. Still, the attack hit the Jewish community hard in a state where such pain is achingly familiar. It targeted Pennsylvania's religiously observant Jewish governor in the very place where just hours before he had hosted one of the central rituals of the Jewish calendar. Zawatsky heads a Pittsburgh organization formed to counter antisemitism and memorialize the victims of another Pennsylvania assault – the murders of 11 worshippers from three congregations at the Tree of Life synagogue more than six years ago, the deadliest antisemitic attack in U.S. history. 'Seeing those images is deeply traumatic,' said Zawatsky, CEO of The Tree of Life, the group established in the wake of the Oct. 27, 2018 killings. 'It's not too much to ask that we all live in a country where we celebrate our faith without fear.' A murkier picture emerges on motive The synagogue shooting trial revealed that the gunman, who was convicted and sentenced to death, had long been steeped in antisemitism and methodically carried out the attack. In the Harrisburg case, things are less clear. Investigators have released only fragments of what Balmer told them. His relatives say he has struggled with mental illness, and his lawyers suggested Wednesday that will be central to their defense. 'We have no definitive information about this person's motive,' Zawatsky said. 'We do know that there was certainly hate involved.' Pennsylvania State Police said 38-year-old Cody Balmer confessed to the attack, harbored hatred for the governor and said he planned to beat Shapiro with a hammer. 'BALMER identified himself by name and related that Governor Josh SHAPIRO needs to know that he '...will not take part in his plans for what he wants to do to the Palestinian people,'' police wrote as part of applications for search warrants. Exactly who and what that meant were unclear in the documents. Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer of New York on Thursday called on the Justice Department to determine whether the attack qualifies as a federal hate crime. Audrey Glickman, a survivor of the 2018 attack and a member of Tree of Life Congregation, said she admired Shapiro's composure, just hours after the attack, and his emphatic denunciaton of hatred regardless of motivation. 'It takes a while to realize you've been attacked and what to make of it,' Glickman said. She admired 'how he stood up right away and spoke strongly about it.' Shapiro responded to the scene of the 2018 Pittsburgh attack as Pennsylvania's then-attorney general. As governor, he took part in the 2024 groundbreaking for a new building to replace the synagogue, including a memorial, programming and other exhibits aimed to counter antisemitism. Reminders of an overheated political climate About 200 people participated in a somber march Wednesday night in Harrisburg. They walked from the parking lot of a synagogue to the governor's residence, where they held a multifaith prayer vigil across the street. Several marchers connected the attack to the overheated political climate. 'To deny it is like putting your head in the sand,' said retired Presbyterian minister Don Potter, 75, of Dillsburg, who said the images of the building's interior with fire damage 'made me sick.' Enid Wassner, a retired child care worker from Hershey, said the fact that the firebombing occurring during Passover and targeted Shapiro and his family was 'extremely worrying.' She noted that Jewish institutions and buildings in Harrisburg have had to increase security. 'Gradually things have been getting more worrisome, for me personally and the entire Jewish community.' Questions emerge about attacker's mental state Police said in court affidavits that in an interview with detectives Balmer 'admitted to harboring hatred towards' Shapiro and referred to the Palestinian people in a 911 call attributed to him that was placed shortly after the break-in. Balmer's mother and brother have said he suffered from bipolar disorder and would not consistently take medication. His brother, Dan Balmer, said Cody Balmer twice in recent years spent time in a psychiatric hospital in Harrisburg. During a court hearing on Monday, Balmer denied any history of mental illness. Dan Balmer told the AP on Tuesday that Cody Balmer 'had these theories that were going on in his head' and became angry when family members would tell him his views didn't reflect reality. 'The allegations, if true, demonstrate the devastating consequences of severe mental illness,' Mary Klatt, the chief public defender in Dauphin County, whose office is representing Balmer, said Wednesday. She said his preliminary hearing would be delayed to determine whether Balmer is mentally competent to stand trial. Identity moves to forefront for Shapiro Shapiro declined to talk about the attacker's motive on Wednesday, saying prosecutors will ultimately determine what drove him. 'It's not for me to answer that,' he said. The governor has publicly criticized Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government and the nature of Israel's military action in Gaza, but also has backed Israel's right to defend itself from Hamas. Hank Butler, executive director of the Pennsylvania Jewish Coalition, said Shapiro's focus has been Pennsylvania and not the Palestinian people. 'To say that our governor wishes the worst on the Palestinian people is not welcomed here,' Butler said. 'It is not justified, absolutely not justified -- no attack is justified.' Shapiro has won statewide races three times in a crucial battleground state. He was a finalist to be Vice President Kamala Harris's running mate in last year's presidential campaign and is considered a potential 2028 Democratic candidate for president. The attack once again puts his identity front and center. When Harris picked Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz over Shapiro, Republicans tried to cast the pick as a snub to Jewish voters. Rabbi Rick Jacobs, president of the Union for Reform Judaism, an umbrella group for more than 800 Reform congregations in North America, connected the attack to Shapiro's identity. 'He's also someone who is a strong supporter of Israel,' Jacobs said of Shapiro. 'Are those things that put your life at risk in the 21st century?' Zawatsky, the Tree of Life CEO, noted that in the Passover ritual, Jews are instructed not just to recite the story of their ancient forebears' liberation from slavery but to envision themselves as having experienced it – something that feels especially poignant now. Whether law enforcement officials ultimately settle on a definitive conclusion about what motivated last weekend's attack, she and others already know what living in fear feels like. 'It's very sad to think we pass along the inherited trauma of the fear of antisemitism, but never did I think we would be a generation that would have the lived experience of this kind of violent antisemitism,' she said. ___ Associated Press religion coverage receives support through the AP's collaboration with The Conversation US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is solely responsible for this content. ___ Smith reported from Pittsburgh and Cooper from Phoenix.
CBS News
22-03-2025
- General
- CBS News
Traveling Tree Of Life exhibition opening in Pittsburgh
A new traveling exhibit called "Lessons from the Tree of Life: Lighting the Path Forward" is debuting next week in Pittsburgh. The solemn exhibit tells the story of what happened during the mass shooting at the Tree of Life Synagogue on October 27th, 2018, the community response, and the hope for the future. A new traveling exhibition opening March 27th at the University of Pittsburgh's University Club Library is helping the city and the country remember the shooting at the synagogue in Squirrel Hill and honor the 11 people from 3 congregations who were taken that day. Amy Mallinger's grandmother, Rose Mallinger, was killed at age 97. "I step into this room, and I see kind of all of the stages of the journey that we've been on," Mallinger said. CEO of the Tree of Life Carole Zawatsky said there are four chapters in the exhibition. The first chapter looks at what happened on the morning of October 27th, 2018. "Out of the greatest tragedy, the most horrific act of antisemitism ever to have happened on American soil that we don't let the killer define our story," Zawatsky said. The next chapter of the display paints a picture of how the community came together. It features some of the tens of thousands of special items left outside the synagogue and mailed to the Pittsburgh Jewish community. "All of the items in the middle represent all of the people who reached out to us, the communities who were there for us in the days after and it just all comes together in this room," Mallinger said. The third part is a small taste of what Tree of Life's new building will look like once it's built on the same grounds where the attack happened. "A little idea of what this magnificent building will look like as it's a symbol of puncturing through the greatest darkness with light," Zawatsky said. "What does it look like to remember each of the 11 victims and create a space for dynamic Jewish life, to bring Jewish life back to the corner of Shady and Wilkins," Zawatsky said. The exhibition's last chapter looks at America's history of antisemitism. "And understand that antisemitism did not begin on 10/27 and very sadly it has not ended," Zawatsky said. The exhibit's next stops are Cleveland, New York, and Miami. She said even after the new building is complete, the hope is to continue sharing Tree of Life's story around the country. "If we don't travel to other cities then how does the next generation start to learn?" said Maggie Feinstein, executive director of the 10.27 Healing Partnership. "And I hope when it travels to other cities people can look and remember 10/27 and think these vulnerable and holy people did not deserve to die this way ever." "The story is sad, the story is beautiful, the story is tragic, and this story also is strong. So, I believe very strongly in remembering it," she added. The exhibition will be open to the public from March 27 to April 25. Hours are 1 to 4 Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday, and Thursday evenings from 5 to 8. It'll be closed on April 14th for Passover. There are also planned programs, including a "Songs of Resilience" concert on April 3rd. You can learn more about the exhibit at this link .
