4 | OCTOBER 31 • 2024
J
N
PURELY COMMENTARY
essay
United in Grief, Strong in Hope
A
s we reflect on the Oct. 27
sixth anniversary of the
Tree of Life mass shooting
that left 11 Jewish worshipers,
most of them elderly, dead, we
again find ourselves in a new and
painful chapter in
Jewish history. The
recent horrors in
Israel and across the
Diaspora cast an even
darker shadow on this
commemoration.
Out of such
devastation comes the
remarkable power of resilience — a
quality that has shaped our people
for generations. The events of Oct.
7, 2023, may have shaken us to our
core, but they have also reignited
a fierce determination to survive,
thrive and defend our right to live
freely as Jews, no matter where we
are.
Six years ago in Pittsburgh, we
were reminded that hate still festers
in the world. Every year since,
we’ve been reminded of something
far more powerful — our ability
to rebuild, find hope amid the
brokenness and unify in the face of
fear. This moment, more than any
before, calls for deep reflection on
what it means to be resilient as Jews
today. When faced with the darkness,
we have always turned toward the
light of community, faith and action.
What sets this year apart is not
only the physical trauma of a seven-
front war facing Israel but the
ripple effect it has had on Jewish
communities worldwide. Just as
Squirrel Hill became a symbol of
perseverance in 2018, today, Israel
stands as a living testament to the
unyielding Jewish spirit. We mourn,
but we do not succumb to fear.
Instead, we draw from our tradition
of turning anguish into action,
despair into defiance.
Squirrel Hill, the heart of Jewish
Pittsburgh, is more than just Mr.
Rogers’ Neighborhood; it is a model
for what a community should be.
Even before the massacre, Squirrel
Hill embodied diversity, unity
and Jewish life in America. In the
wake of the tragedy, it transformed
into a beacon of resilience, where
differences became strengths and
unity was the only option. The way
this neighborhood has healed and
continues to rebuild is nothing short
of extraordinary. It is not just a place
where a tragedy occurred; it’s a place
where a community redefined itself
in the face of that calamity.
Pittsburgh itself has a long history
of rebuilding. From its days as an
industrial powerhouse to its recent
transformation into a hub for
technology, education and health
care, the city has never shied away
from reinvention. In the aftermath of
the Tree of Life massacre, Pittsburgh
once again showed its ability to come
together and create opportunities
from hardship. It’s a city that
understands the importance of
remembering the past while always
moving forward. The collective
strength of this city mirrors the
resilience of the Jewish people, and
it serves as an example of how a
community can rebuild in the face of
unimaginable loss.
The survivors of the mass
shooting and the families of
those lost exemplify this spirit.
Their pain remains, but so does
their unrelenting commitment
to ensuring that such a tragedy
is never forgotten, and that the
next generation understands
the importance of vigilance and
resilience. The greatest tribute we
can pay to them is not in the solemn
recitation of their loss but in the
active, hopeful work to create a
world where hate against Jews has no
place.
In this reflection, we also find
inspiration from global solidarity —
alliances being forged, bridges being
built and voices being raised against
antisemitism in all its forms. In times
of crisis, we see who stands with us.
We see partnerships that have grown
stronger post-Abraham Accords,
and we see the will of Jewish and
non-Jewish allies to challenge hate
wherever it emerges. We look to find
clarity among the river of cultural
sewage that exists in our streets each
and every day.
Now is not just a time to
remember but a time to act, to
reaffirm that our response to tragedy
will be life, community, and an
unwavering commitment to security
and peace. As the memory of those
lost at the Tree of Life synagogue
lives on in every action we take to
safeguard our future, we honor them
not only with words but also with
deeds — by ensuring that Jewish
life is celebrated, protected and
empowered worldwide.
The road forward may be fraught
with challenges, but it is paved with
hope. Hope for a world where Jewish
children can grow up without fear,
and where synagogues remain places
of prayer and not battlegrounds.
Our call to action: Stand firm,
stand proud, rise above hate and
never let tragedy define us.
On the sixth anniversary of this
horrible event, let us reflect not on
the hate that tried to destroy us but
on the love, courage and resilience
that continue to define us. We are
still here. We are still fighting for a
future where such darkness never
touches our children, and we are
still and always will be united by the
hope for peace.
Steve Rosenberg is principal of the GSD Group
and board chair of the Philadelphia Jewish
Sports Hall of Fame. He is the author of Make
Bold Things Happen: Inspirational Stories From
Sports, Business and Life.
Steve
Rosenberg
JNS.org
People pay their respects at a memorial in front of the Tree of Life Synagogue in the
Squirrel Hill neighborhood of Pittsburgh to the 11 Jewish victims of a mass shooting
a week earlier, Nov. 4, 2018.
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