Squirrel Hill

The Tree of Life Synagogue Shooting and the Soul of a Neighborhood

By: Mark Oppenheimer

Narrated by: Mark Oppenheimer

A piercing portrait of the struggles and triumphs of one of America's renowned Jewish neighborhoods in the wake of unspeakable tragedy that highlights the hopes, fears, and tensions all Americans must confront on the road to healing.

Squirrel Hill, Pittsburgh, is one of the oldest Jewish neighborhoods in the country, known for its tight-knit community and the profusion of multigenerational families. On October 27, 2018, a gunman killed eleven Jews who were worshipping at the Tree of Life synagogue in Squirrel Hill--the most deadly anti-Semitic attack in American history.

Many neighborhoods would be understandably subsumed by despair and recrimination after such an event, but not this one. Mark Oppenheimer poignantly shifts the focus away from the criminal and his crime, and instead presents the historic, spirited community at the center of this heartbreak. He speaks with residents and nonresidents, Jews and gentiles, survivors and witnesses, teenagers and seniors, activists and historians.

Together, these stories provide a kaleidoscopic and nuanced account of collective grief, love, support, and revival. But Oppenheimer also details the difficult dialogue and messy confrontations that Squirrel Hill had to face in the process of healing, and that are a necessary part of true growth and understanding in any community. He has reverently captured the vibrancy and caring that still characterize Squirrel Hill, and it is this phenomenal resilience that can provide inspiration to any place burdened with discrimination and hate.

Thoughtful & thought provoking

Excellent story telling. I liked his language, the 360 views of people, community, relevant Jewish history and explanation about the different sects and the unifying prayers. Impressive. Hope he does write a novel - about anything - it will be exceptional, I am sure!

Well done

Very insightful look at a strong Jewish. Community. I found it informative about both Judaism and about the horror of mass murder in America. The residence of the comity is amazing.

Excellent!

This was a moving, inspiring and well written book about a tragic and horrific incident. Please do yourself a favor and read this book. It's a lesson in the healing process of a community, and the way forward. We'll researched and edited.