On June 23rd there will be a groundbreaking at Tree of Life. This marks the beginning of the construction of the new building that will take shape on the site of the shooting. Yet the true beginning of this rebuilding process began years ago, and there will be many new beginnings to come. This is one ceremonial step, but for many people, a meaningful one.
At the 10.27 Healing Partnership we’ve worked to support this community’s healing since 2019. Knowing that we will intentionally sunset the Healing Partnership by 2028, we hope that our efforts will outlive our organization and will be upheld by others in the future, and we look to institutions that will outlast us as vessels for community-building going forward.
The upcoming groundbreaking helps me to envision beyond 2028. What have we learned as an organization and as a community so far, and how can we apply it to this process of rebuilding? When I am no longer representing the 10.27 Healing Partnership, how will I hope to continue living in community with these new institutions and new journeys that are inspired by the courage and resiliency of those impacted by 10/27?
I will be comforted by the story of Jewish Pittsburgh and its ability to withstand conflicts and turmoil. Last summer the justice system looked with a microscope at not just the hate-fueled attack, but the incredible beauty and richness the congregants brought as they made Shabbat morning holy on October 27th. I know that there is incredible resiliency to be found in telling their stories and the story of Jewish Pittsburgh, and that ensuring there are more places to do that in the future is an asset to all of us.
I hope and accept that compromise is difficult and that as our friend, Cliff Channin of the 9/11 Memorial and Museum told us long ago, the product will reflect the process. As with all efforts that are so vast, this rebuilding process will require patience. Projects like these are inherently non-linear and never grow at the speed we would want. A slow and thoughtful process is the best way to ensure we all have a place in the future we build together. The path to get there has been long and winding; this groundbreaking is a pause in the road where we stop to survey the view.
If the product reflects the process, I hope the product of these next few years is a communal creation. Each of us has a role to play. Many have already begun to envision how they will engage with Tree of Life. For others, remembrance and grappling with antisemitism takes other forms. There are unlimited doors to connection, but each requires commitment and ongoing care.
I feel honored to be a part of this ongoing journey, one which will benefit from the expertise Pittsburgh has grown to persevere, to inspire hope, and to connect beyond boundaries and bridges.