Tree of Life families urge sharing of survivors' stories at Pittsburgh summit

For Audrey Glickman, a survivor of the Tree of Life attack, sharing her story brings a sense of healing.

“We didn’t choose to be shot at,” she said. “Having survived it, we have a reason to do what we’re doing.”

Glickman spoke Monday at the Eradicate Hate Global Summit at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center with other Tree of Life survivors and their families.

In a panel discussion, Amy Mallinger and Ranisa Davidson, co-founders of REACH, which stands for Remember, Educate and Combat Hate, emphasized the importance of sharing survivors’ stories. Mallinger’s grandmother, Rose, was killed in the Tree of Life attack.

REACH is comprised of survivors and family members who lost loved ones in the Oct. 27, 2018 attack in Squirrel Hill. Members of the initiative, which is part of the 10.27 Healing Partnership , have spoken at schools in the Western Pennsylvania area and beyond, educating students on antisemitism and sharing their stories.

Those killed were members of the Tree of Life-Or L’Simcha, Dor Hadash and New Light congregations, all housed in the same building.

Killed in the synagogue attack were Rose Mallinger, 97; Bernice Simon, 84, and her husband, Sylvan Simon, 86; brothers David Rosenthal, 54, and Cecil Rosenthal, 59; Dan Stein, 71; Dr. Jerry Rabinowitz, 66; Joyce Fienberg, 75; Melvin Wax, 87; Irving Younger, 69; and Richard Gottfried, 65.

Maggie Feinstein, executive director of the 10.27 Healing Partnership, said this year has seen the largest number of antisemitic incidents on record — a 200% increase that has “brought a real sense of urgency,” as well as increased vulnerability in Jewish communities.

Mallinger said her family loved to tell stories. When her grandmother was killed, her family continued that tradition by speaking to students.

“That’s how we keep her stories alive,” she said. “We are healing, and we are also helping them heal.”

The experience of sharing her story has never felt like a burden to Mallinger.

“I feel like it’s something I need to do,” she said. “For me, it’s very personal.”

Sharyn Stein, who lost her husband, Daniel Stein, in the attack, still finds it difficult to speak about the incident.

“It has taken me about six years to find my voice and the strength to speak up about the most horrific and traumatic event of my life,” she said during Monday’s summit. “Even though it is very difficult and emotional for me, I must speak up and tell the story of that fateful day — I am now Danny’s voice.”

Jodi Kart, who lost her father, Melvin Wax, said she wanted to figure out ways to honor her father and turn her “pain into something purposeful.”

“I knew I had a story to tell, and I didn’t know how I was going to make that happen,” she said. “Thanks to REACH, I found my opportunity.”

Kart said students who approached her after speeches wanted to know how people heal after such a horrific experience.

“Having the ability to share that has been what’s been most powerful and most meaningful to me,” she said. “The message that I try to share with students is that we’re all different.

“If I can get my message across to just one person and make them a little bit kinder, then I feel like I’ve accomplished my goal.”