THIS DRAWING OF FRED ROGERS GRIEVING OVER THE PITTSBURGH SYNAGOGUE SHOOTING IS PART OF A TRAVELING EXHIBITION, ‘LESSONS FROM THE TREE OF LIFE: LIGHTING THE PATH.’ | PHOTO BY VIRGINIA LINN

There are little heart pillows sent from the Universal Church of Baba’s Kitchen in Los Angeles. There are knitted pocket stars, each containing two Hebrew prayers, sent from a church in Athol, Massachusetts.

And there’s a drawing of Fred Rogers grieving, with his head bent over in his hand, illustrated by Sasha Phillips, a Pittsburgh-based attorney and artist.

These are just a few of the 10,000 objects sent to Pittsburgh from people across the globe as gestures of comfort and solidarity after it was the site of the deadliest antisemitic attack in U.S. history on Oct. 27, 2018.

The items are part of a new traveling exhibit — “Lessons from the Tree of Life: Lighting the Path Forward” — that tells the story of the attack on three Jewish congregations in Squirrel Hill that killed 11 congregants. It aims to share the message about the resilience of the Jewish people and Pittsburgh, as well as its goal to eradicate hate.

It also will challenge visitors to reflect on the impact of antisemitism in America and seeks to inspire action to build a future rooted in resilience and understanding.

Created in partnership with the Rauh Jewish History Program & Archives at the Heinz History Center, the exhibit opens to the public first on the University of Pittsburgh campus on Thursday, March 27, through Friday, April 25. From there it travels to Cleveland, New York City and then Miami.

“Locally, it’s wonderful for the Pittsburgh community to see what we are building and to understand that the new Tree of Life will remember each of the 11 lives lost and taken from us,” says Carole Zawatsky, CEO of The Tree of Life, “and that we are bringing Jewish life back to the corner of Shady and Wilkins [avenues].

CAROLE ZAWATSKY, CEO OF THE TREE OF LIFE, STANDS BEFORE A DISPLAY BEARING THE NAMES OF THE 11 VICTIMS OF THE OCT. 27, 2018 SYNAGOGUE SHOOTING THAT IS PART OF THE TRAVELING EXHIBIT. ‘LESSONS FROM THE TREE OF LIFE: LIGHTING THE PATH.’ | PHOTO BY VIRGINIA LINN

“Our story is a story of re-creation that will never let the killer tell our story,” she continued.

Sending the exhibit to other cities will help observers understand the resilience of the Jewish community and Pittsburgh. She said she hopes it will a send a message “for people around the country to understand and in the face of the worst tragedy, the greatest act of antisemitism and violence in America, we get up and we recreate and we tell our story of Jewish life in a dynamic and robust and important way.”

In addition to display boards about the attack, rebuilding plans and the rise of antisemitism in America, the exhibit includes a few carefully curated items from the 10,000 sent to Pittsburgh or left at the site that are now housed at the Rauh Jewish History Program at the Heinz History Center.

In January, Eric Lidji, director of the Rauh program, said about 50 objects were brought out from the collection for the synagogue families and survivors to review and consider to be part of the traveling exhibition.

He encouraged them to write their thoughts about each item on a notecard. “And then we took those and we tried to see what people were gravitating toward. And the things that you see are the ones that people were most attracted to,” he said.

There are a few items bearing the “Stronger than Hate” symbol designed by Tim Hindes of South Park Township shortly after the attack that went viral almost immediately and showed up in yard signs, on posters, T-shirts and more. There’a also a display case full of colorful paper cranes, a Japanese tradition that symbolizes good fortune, peace and hope and are often used as a gift of recovery.

There are two display sections focused on the site’s future.

PARTS OF THE ‘LESSONS FROM THE TREE OF LIFE: LIGHTING THE PATH’ EXHIBIT | PHOTO BY VIRGINIA LINN

Construction is underway on a 45,000-square-foot Tree of Life complex that will include a memorial to the 11 people killed in the attack from three congregations (Tree of Life, Dor Hadash and New Light), The 10/27 Museum & Education Center, Center for Jewish Life and Culture, The Institute for Countering Antisemitism & Hate and the Holocaust Center of Pittsburgh.

The victims include Joyce Fienberg, 75; Richard Gottfried, 65; Rose Mallinger, 97; Jerry Rabinowitz, 66; brothers Cecil Rosenthal, 59; and David Rosenthal, 54; husband and wife Bernice Simon, 84; and Sylvan Simon, 86; Daniel Stein, 71; Melvin Wax, 87;  and Irving Younger, 69.

The gunman was sentenced to death in 2023 after being convicted on 63 counts, including hate crimes resulting in death.

The complex, which broke ground in June 2024, was designed by renowned architect Daniel Libeskind, the son of Jewish Holocaust survivors who has designed Jewish museums, Holocaust memorials and the master plan for the redevelopment of the World Trade Center after 9/11. It is expected to be completed in 2026.

It will include a dramatic skylight that will run the length of the facility to represent the Jewish practice of Tikkun Olam, or “repair the world.”

PAPER CRANES MADE BY VOLUNTEERS THAT WERE DELIVERED TO THE TREE OF LIFE SYNAGOGUE AFTER THE OCT. 27, 2018 SHOOTING AS A GIFT OF RECOVERY. | PHOTO BY VIRGINIA LINN

Starting March 27, you can see the exhibit in the University Club Library, 123 University Place, Oakland, on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday 1-4 p.m., and Thursday 5-8 p.m. through April 25.

It will be at the Maltz Museum of Jewish Heritage May-August 2025 in Cleveland; New York City’s Museum of Jewish Heritage – A Living Memorial to the Holocaust in fall 2025; and NOVA Southeastern University in Miami spring 2026.