Page 1 - aruba-today-20191019

The

Saturday Power
October 19, 2019
T: 582-7800 | F: 582-7044 Of You
www.arubatoday.com

Page 13
Aruba’s ONLY English newspaper ruba’s ONLY English newspaper
A
After deadly shooting, Pittsburgh synagogue plans reopening

By RAMESH SANTANAM
Associated Press
PITTSBURGH (AP) — Lead-
ers of the Pittsburgh syna-
gogue where worshippers
were fatally shot last year
want to rebuild and reno-
vate the building, turning
it into what they hope will
be a “center for Jewish life
in the United States” and a
symbol against hatred.
On Friday, they outlined
their vision for the Tree of
Life building, where three
congregations — Tree of
Life, Dor Hadash and New
Light — had gathered on
Oct. 27, 2018. A gunman
opened fire, killing 11 peo-
ple and wounding seven.
The building in the city’s
Squirrel Hill neighborhood
has not reopened since
the shooting, considered
the deadliest attack on
Jews in U.S. history. Tree of
Life leaders now envision a
rebuilt space that includes
places for worship; memo-
rial, education and social
events; classrooms and ex-
hibitions. The mission is to
fight anti-Semitism and all
forms of discrimination.
“There was never any
doubt that we would go In this Monday, Feb. 11, 2019 file photo, a woman passes by the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh’s Squirrel Hill neighborhood.
back to the site,” Tree of Associated Press
Life Executive Director Barb back to that location.” Sam Schachner. Some do- draising campaign, he The building was in need of
Feige said. “The congrega- There have been concep- nations have come in that said. No architectural plans extensive and costly repairs
tion is a community. It sur- tual discussions about the will be used for the project, have been drawn up, and before the shooting, Feige
vives without its building, changes to the building, and the congregation will no construction work has said.
but is committed to going said Tree of Life president engage in a vigorous fun- yet taken place. Continued on Page 2