PITTSBURGH — The Tree of Life/Or L’Simcha Congregation in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania has been awarded a state grant that aims to rebuild the synagogue, which was the site of the worst antisemitic attack in U.S. history.
The $6.6 million grant will help rebuild the site of the synagogue into a new place of hope, remembrance and education, WPXI reported. “Rebuilding after this attack means so many things,” said Sen. Jay Costa said. “This project is for a re-imagined space that is healing and welcoming — an honor to the memory of those we lost, and a haven for many years to come. I was proud to support this funding, but also additional resources we allocated this fall from other programs.”
We are tremendously thankful to @GovernorTomWolf as he announces a significant and generous investment from Pennsylvania in our effort to establish a new and reimagined space that transforms a site of tragedy to a place of hope, remembrance and education. https://t.co/MeRFxKvbPC
— Tree Of Life Congregation (@treeoflifepgh) December 6, 2021
On Oct. 27, 2018, a gunman shot and killed 11 people and injured six others, including four police officers. Holocaust survivors were among the dead and wounded. The alleged shooter, Robert Bowers, has been charged with state and federal crimes, including capital crimes and hate crimes, USA Today reported.
The Tree of Life Congregation has chosen New York-based architect Daniel Libeskind to lead the rebuilding effort, WPXI reported.
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