Hoax threat to Pittsburgh’s Tree of Life synagogue being investigated by FBI
Updated: 11:51 PM CDT Jul 3, 2024
THERE. TURNING DARKNESS INTO LIGHT AND SADNESS INTO JOY. TODAY THE GROUND WAS BROKEN ON THE NEW TREE OF LIFE, A PLACE THAT WILL SERVE AS A SYMBOL OF RESILIENCE AND A BEACON OF HOPE. 1027 FOR THE WORLD, IT WAS THE DEADLIEST ANTI-SEMITIC ATTACK IN THE HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES. FOR PITTSBURGH, IT’S A DAY 11 OF OUR NEIGHBORS FROM THREE CONGREGATIONS WERE KILLED WHILE SIMPLY TRYING TO WORSHIP. BUT THE STORY DOESN’T END THERE. TODAY WE ANNOUNCE LOUDLY AND CLEARLY TO THE ENTIRE WORLD THAT EVIL DID NOT WIN. THAT IT DID NOT CHASE US FROM OUR HOME. AND IT NEVER, EVER WILL. SUNDAY MARKS A NEW CHAPTER HERE IN SQUIRREL HILL AND AT THE TREE OF LIFE SYNAGOGUE, ONE CENTERED ON RESILIENCE AND HOPE. LET THIS BE A PLACE WHERE INDIVIDUALS FIND STRENGTH TO BOLSTER THE COLLECTIVE AND AND TO ROOT OUT EVIL IN OUR LOCAL OR NATIONAL LEADERS, SURVIVORS, AND FIRST RESPONDERS ALL ON HAND TO BREAK GROUND BY BREAKING GLASS. A JEWISH WEDDING TRADITION THAT REMEMBERS THE PAIN OF THE PAST AND A BROKEN WORLD AMID GREAT JOY. WHILE THE TRAGEDIES OF OCTOBER 27TH WILL FOREVER BE IN OUR MEMORIES, THE WAY THAT OUR COMMUNITY RESPONDED IN THE HOURS AND THE DAYS AFTER ARE WHAT HAVE GOTTEN US HERE TODAY. THOSE IN CHARGE SAY THE NEW SPACE WILL BE A LOCALLY GROUNDED INSTITUTION WITH BROAD NATIONAL IMPACTS. NOT ONLY WILL IT INCLUDE A MEMORIAL TO THOSE WE LOST, WE DON’T WANT OUR LOVED ONES TO BE SOLELY REMEMBERED FOR HOW THEY WERE KILLED. WE WANT THEM TO BE REMEMBERED FOR HOW THEY LIVED THEIR BEAUTIFUL LIVES, BUT ALSO A PLACE TO TEACH LESSONS AGAINST HATE. WE MUST NEVER FORGET WHAT POISON, WHAT ANTI-SEMITISM CAN DO, AND THAT WE ALL HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TO STAND UP, TO HATE. IN ADDITION TO THE MEMORIAL AND MUSEUM, THE BUILDING WILL ALSO ONCE AGAIN BE HOME TO THE TREE OF LIFE CONGREGATION, A CONGREGATION AND COMMUNITY FOREVER CHANGED. NOW SERVING AS A COURAGEOUS TESTIMONY OF HEALING AND HOPE FOR GENERATIONS TO COME AND WHILE THERE’S NO OFFICIAL TIMELINE FOR HOW LONG CONSTRUCTION WILL TAKE, OFFICIALS ARE HOPEFUL IT WILL BE COMPLETED IN THE NEXT 2 TO 2 AND A HALF YEARS.
Hoax threat to Pittsburgh’s Tree of Life synagogue being investigated by FBI
Updated: 11:51 PM CDT Jul 3, 2024
Pittsburgh police and the FBI are investigating a hoax threat to the Tree of Life synagogue in the city’s Squirrel Hill neighborhood.Public information officer Cara Cruz confirmed to sister station WTAE that an unspecified threat was made to the synagogue. That threat was determined to be a hoax. Video above: Ceremony marks groundbreaking of Tree of Life rebuildingCruz said both Pittsburgh police and the FBI were looking into this. She did not mention when the threat might have been received. The hoax was in line with similar threats to synagogues across the United States, according to Cruz. Groundbreaking for a reimagined Tree of Life building took place last month, with completion expected by the end of 2026.
Pittsburgh police and the FBI are investigating a hoax threat to the Tree of Life synagogue in the city’s Squirrel Hill neighborhood.
Public information officer Cara Cruz confirmed to sister station WTAE that an unspecified threat was made to the synagogue. That threat was determined to be a hoax.
Video above: Ceremony marks groundbreaking of Tree of Life rebuilding
Cruz said both Pittsburgh police and the FBI were looking into this. She did not mention when the threat might have been received.
The hoax was in line with similar threats to synagogues across the United States, according to Cruz.
Groundbreaking for a reimagined Tree of Life building took place last month, with completion expected by the end of 2026.
