PITTSBURGH — As Pittsburgh prepares to commemorate last year’s deadly shooting at a synagogue, Jewish leaders say returning to the synagogue remains a priority.
While there is no set time frame, “it is indeed our goal we will one day return to Tree of Life,” said Tree of Life’s Rabbi Jeffrey Myers, who was leading Shabbat services when the shooting began.
The three congregations that were attacked on Oct. 27 — Tree of Life, New Light and Dor Hadash — now worship at two other synagogues.
Leaders from the congregations were gathering Friday to reflect on the past year and discuss plans for next month’s observance.
The theme for the October commemoration is “Remember. Repair. Together.” Events planned for Sunday, Oct. 27 — exactly one year after the massacre — include a private Jewish service in the morning, doing community service in the city, studying the portion of the Torah that was to be read when the shooting occurred, and a public memorial service in the evening.
“There is no intention to make this an anniversary. Anniversary indicates a happy event. This is not. We will commemorate to remember and repair together,” said New Light’s co-president, Stephen Cohen.
“Our hearts were torn 11 months ago, and healing does not occur overnight,” he said. “Even now, there are family members who cannot even drive by the building — they are in so much pain. We look upon this day as a way to repairing that hurt.”
That idea stems from Tikum Olam, the Jewish concept of repairing the world, said Adam Hertzman, marketing director of the Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh, one of several groups helping with Friday’s discussion and the one-year commemoration.
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