In the days following the October 27, 2018 attack, thousands of people paid their respects by leaving items of consolation at a makeshift memorial on the sidewalk in front of the Tree of Life synagogue building.

Those objects now form the basis of a major artifact collection at the Rauh Jewish Archives at the Heinz History Center, documenting the powerful local and global response to October 27 and the support for the victims’ families, survivors, the three congregations targeted, law enforcement, and the entire Jewish community.

Join retired CMU history Professor Laurie Eisenberg and RJA Director Eric Lidji as they explain how this collection came to be and share the moving stories behind several gifts from the memorial. Eisenberg and Lidji will also direct attention to an online gallery featuring more of these items and their backstories, and will explain how visitors to the site can use it to promote a more compassionate world.