A rendering of the planned memorial to the victims of the Tree of Life shooting, as part of a broader reimagined complex at the site of the synagogue. Image by Studio Liebskind

By Camillo Barone December 7, 2023

The initial designs for an official memorial dedicated to the 11 victims of the 2018 Pittsburgh synagogue shooting, the deadliest antisemitic attack in U.S. history, were revealed on Thursday.

The memorial, designed by Daniel Liebskind in collaboration with a working group composed of victims’ family members, communal leaders and congregational representatives, celebrates those lost and aims to foster community healing.

“It was through this collaboration that we created a memorial that celebrates those we lost and brings the families and the community together in healing,” said Libeskind, in a press release.

Forwarding the News

Thoughtful, balanced reporting from the Forward and around the web, bringing you updated news and analysis each day.

Terms(Required)

I agree to the Forward's Terms of Service and Privacy Policy

Email(Required)

The memorial, part  of the broader redevelopment plan for the Tree of Life site, will feature an outdoor space for communal use. The committee, which included a representative from each of the nine families of the attack’s victims, also worked with Liebskind to craft elements of the design to honor each of the 11 victims. 

“I am grateful for a process that prioritized our hopes that our loved ones are remembered for how they lived, not solely for how they were murdered,” said Diane Rosenthal, a member of the working group and a sister of Cecil and David Rosenthal, who were among those killed in the attack.

The redevelopment plan also includes a building, designed by Studio Libeskind in collaboration with Rothschild Doyno Collaborative of Pittsburgh, that will house the Tree of Life congregation, an education and research center, and the nation’s first museum dedicated to exploring the historical roots and contemporary manifestations of antisemitism in the United States. The groundbreaking for the building is anticipated in 2024.

A message from our CEO & publisher Rachel Fishman Feddersen

I hope you appreciated this article. Before you go, I’d like to ask you to please support the Forward’s award-winning, nonprofit journalism during this critical time.

The coming year promises to be filled with more complex and historic developments. We are entering an era where independent, fact-based Jewish journalism will be more important than ever. We need to be ready for whatever 2025 will bring, and with your help, we can be.

We’ve set a goal to raise $260,000 by December 31. That’s an ambitious goal, but one that will give us the resources we need to invest in the high quality news, opinion, analysis and cultural coverage that isn’t available anywhere else.

If you feel inspired to make an impact, now is the time to give something back. Join us as a member at your most generous level.

—  Rachel Fishman Feddersen, Publisher and CEO

With your support, we’ll be ready for whatever 2025 brings.

$36 $500

$120 $180 Other amount