Pittsburgh Synagogue Massacre: A Solemn 5th Anniversary To Be Marked

PITTSBURGH, PA — Friday will be a solemn day in Pittsburgh as the city marks the fifth anniversary of the violent rampage on the Tree of Life synagogue in Squirrel Hill in which 11 congregants were shot to death.

As the anniversary date approaches, several recent events have occurred to honor the victims and another will take place Friday.

On Sunday at the Jewish Community Center in Squirrel Hill, just blocks away from the still-shuttered synagogue. Repair the World Pittsburgh hosted a series of community service activities that included volunteers packing personal care to send to the nonprofit organization Global Links.

On Wednesday, Greenfield PreK-8 students unveiled a commemorative art project displaying themes of solidarity, community and the younger generation taking up the mantle of honoring those who perished in the shooting. In attendance was Andrea Wedner, who was wounded in the attack and whose mother, Rose Mallinger, was shot to death.

Several Greenfield students are part of a group of student ambassadors who will serve as escorts for family members of the 11 victims during a public commemoration ceremony occurring Friday at 3 p.m. on Prospect Drive in Schenley Park.

The ceremony will honor the memories of the victims and those who made difference that day by helping or supporting those around them.

The event will include a candle-lighting by family members of those killed, remarks honoring first responders who risked their lives to save others; prayers by Jewish community leaders, musical performances, appearances by elected officials and more.

“We will continue to honor and mourn the 11 beloved community members whose lives were taken and strive to use their memories as means to bring our community closer in the name of love, togetherness and hope for a future where such hateful attacks never happen again,” said Maggie Feinstein, director of the 10.27 Healing Partnership. The organization was established after the attack to provide support to those impacted by the synagogue shooting.

The deadliest antisemitic attack in the nation's history occurred when Robert Bowers, formerly of Baldwin, entered the synagogue and began shooting those who had gathered to worship. Bowers was sentenced to death for the mass murder and currently is being housed in a federal prison in Indiana.