Stronger Than Hate

We mourn with our entire community for the loss of the eleven precious souls from our Pittsburgh Jewish family.

Message from Board 
Message from Executive Director 
Security at Temple Sinai 
Funeral
How to Help
Support & Counseling
Community Events
In the News

Message from Our Clergy: Rabbi Jamie Gibson, Rabbi Keren Gorban, and Cantor Laura Berman

Our hearts and souls ache with the loss of our sense of peace and safety in our city, our neighborhood, and our Jewish community. We also mourn the senseless murder of eleven precious people who lived their lives as blessings to our extended community. During these dark days, let us come together with kindness, compassion, openness, and, most of all, love. See below for the many ways that we can affirm the strength and beauty of the Jewish community and our Temple Sinai family.

Message from Temple Sinai President Philip Lehman and the Temple Sinai Board

In the wake of this weekend's horrific attacks, each of us is reacting in a way that is deeply personal and also deeply communal. I have received messages of concern, care, condolence, and comfort, offers of help and support, and expressions simply of love and friendship, from people of at least four different religions, friends from four continents, and loved ones spanning six decades. This week, they are all with us, they are all Pittsburghers, they are all our neighbors, regardless of distance. In the same way, I have seen the Pittsburgh community, the Jewish community, and the Temple Sinai community come together as one and - in this time of crisis - demonstrate how we stand strong together against hate.

On behalf of the Board, I want to thank each of you for everything you have done for and with our community. You have, simply put, shown up: at the events, vigils, and, sadly, the funerals. We ask you to do so again. We ask you to #ShowUpForShabbat. Come to our Mostly Musical Solidarity Shabbat service Friday evening.  We hope that we will be joined by your friends and neighbors of all faiths. We ask you to show up for each other, for our communities, and for what's right. And, as always, show up for those who need you.

We have also worked to make it easier for others to #ShowUpForShabbat and beyond. We have offered space to the Tree of Life congregations to use for services, meetings, or their day-to-day office needs as needed.

And, finally, we ask that you show up to VOTE this Tuesday. Thank you for being here for our community.

Message from Drew Barkley, Executive Director

I moved to Pittsburgh about 20 months ago to be Temple Sinai’s Executive Director. It didn’t take long for me to realize that I had moved to a special place. I’ve told many of you of the kindness I observed and how happy Jan and I are to be here. In fact I have become an unofficial ambassador for Pittsburgh and Squirrel Hill, telling my friends around the country what an authentic and friendly place this is. But this week took my feeling to a new level. The community’s reaction to the horrible tragedy at Tree of Life not only reaffirmed everything we felt, but showed the world who we are. I am proud to live here. I am proud to live and work among you. Thank you for inviting me to Temple Sinai and Squirrel Hill.

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Security at Temple Sinai

Since your security is of the utmost importance to us, we have hired security guards to be in the building this week on the following days and times:

• Friday: 3 PM-closing
• Saturday: 8 AM-Noon
• Sunday: 8 AM-Noon

While we feel comfortable with our day-to-day level of security, we are working with the Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh to assess the need for additional security measures during Shabbat services, religious school, special events, and holiday services. As always, if you see something suspicious, please alert a security guard or a Temple Sinai staff member.

Funeral Information

The Jewish Federation of Great Pittsburgh has updated funeral information on their website for anyone who wishes to attend and show support for the families of those who were lost. Click for more information.

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How to Help

You can help the victims of the Tragedy at Tree of Life*Or L'Simcha, Dor Hadash, and New Light and their families through the Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh's Fund for Victims of Terror. Click to donate Click for other ways to help

FBI warns of scammers trying to profit from Tree of Life massacre by Andrew Goldstein (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette) Click to read the article

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Support & Counseling for the Community

The Jewish Community Center (JCC) and Jewish Family & Community Services Counseling are offering counseling to anyone in the community who needs to talk about this horrific event. We encourage you to take advantage of their services. Click for more information

Support for Parents

After Terror: 5 Jewish Ways to Help Kids Deal by Michelle Shapiro Abraham (ReformJudaism.org) Click to read the article

How We Can Help our Littlest Learners in the Wake of Tragedy by Tammy Kaiser, M.S.J.E (ReformJudaism.org) Click to read the article

Talking to Children About Death by Rabbi Edythe Held Mencher, LCSW (ReformJudaism.org) Click to read the article

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Community Events

Pittsburgh Teen Community Havdallah at Congregation Beth Shalom, Saturday, Nov. 3, 6:30-8 PM
Come together as one community, one voice and one heart to unite against hate and join in the Jewish service of Havdalah. All teens (grades 6-12), all faiths, all backgrounds are welcome. Please RSVP.

Therapy Dog Tuesday at Pitt, every Tuesday Nov. 6 - Dec. 18, 7 PM
Through difficult times, sometimes a little canine loving can really help your mental health. Visit a therapy dog at the Cathedral of Learning.

World Kindness Day: Look For Helpers, Tuesday, Nov. 13, Noon
The Pittsburgh Kindness Initiative and the Caileigh Lynn McDowell Foundation are holding a kindness rally to remind all Pittsburghers and the world that love is stronger than hate. Learn more.

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In the News

Below are links to articles about the Tree of Life tragedy that may be of interest to you.

A Massacre in the Heart of Mr. Rogers’s Neighborhood by Bari Weiss (The New York Times) Click to read the article

Muslims and Jews unite in wake of Pittsburgh synagogue massacre with Rabbi Jamie Gibson and Wasi Mohamed, executive director of The Islamic Center of Pittsburgh (CNN) Click to see the video

Shooting Leaves Sense of Shock in Peaceful Pittsburgh Enclave by Kris Maher and Clare Ansberry (Wall Street Journal) Click to read the article

Pittsburgh Synagogue Hires Armed Guards to Open for Sunday School After Shooting by Gina Martinez (Time.com) Click to read the article

Why Squirrel Hill Is a Target for White Supremacists by Andre Perry (The New York Times) Click to read the article

In a horrific shooting, a chance to teach kids your values by Amy Joyce (The Washington Post) Click to read the article

Anti-Semitism in a City of Tolerance by David M. Shribman (The New York Times) Click to read the article

Pittsburgh's Jewish refugee resettlement agency, HIAS vow to continue work after threats, Squirrel Hill shooting by Ashley Murray (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette) Click to read the article

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