New Podcast Reflects on Impact of 2018 Synagogue Shooting

A new podcast titled “October 27” has been released, exploring the lasting effects of the tragic synagogue shooting that occurred at the Tree of Life in Squirrel Hill, Pittsburgh, on October 27, 2018. The attack claimed the lives of 11 individuals from three different congregations during a Shabbat service, profoundly impacting both the Jewish community and the broader Pittsburgh populace.

The podcast is the culmination of efforts by oral historians Aliza Becker and Noah Schoen, who have conducted over 100 oral history interviews with local residents. This initiative is part of the “October 27 Archive,” a project housed within the Rauh Jewish Archives at the Heinz History Center. The podcast features six edited interviews, offering listeners a glimpse into the myriad ways the attack resonated throughout the community.

Aliza Becker, originally from Chicago, first learned about the shooting through an emergency alert from the Israeli newspaper Haaretz. Despite being hundreds of miles away, the news struck her deeply. “It just felt like a gut punch,” Becker recalled. Trained in oral history, she sought to document the incident and quickly realized the importance of partnering with someone from Pittsburgh. This led her to connect with Schoen, who had lived just a few blocks from the synagogue.

Schoen, now the manager of community engagement at the Holocaust Center of Pittsburgh, had spent time reflecting on the implications of antisemitism prior to the shooting. “This would be traumatic for any community, but for Jewish people, there’s this extra layer,” he noted, emphasizing the ongoing threat of violence associated with antisemitism. Their collaboration on the podcast began shortly after the incident, aiming to capture the diverse narratives that emerged in its wake.

The podcast includes insights from survivors, such as Audrey Glickman, who shares her experiences growing up in Pittsburgh’s Greenfield neighborhood. Glickman paints a complex picture of antisemitism she encountered as a child, illustrating how even well-meaning peers could echo the prejudices of their parents. Schoen highlighted the significance of Glickman’s story, stating, “What Audrey is inviting us to grapple with is that not all of antisemitism is a horrific, violent attack.”

In addition to Jewish voices, Becker and Schoen have included narratives from non-Jewish community members. Early in their project, they discovered that many Jewish Pittsburghers had received support from their non-Jewish neighbors in the aftermath of the tragedy. This revelation prompted them to broaden their interviews to encompass a wider range of perspectives. “This did not just affect the Jewish community. It actually affected every Pittsburgher,” Schoen remarked.

Through their extensive interviews, the archive and podcast aim to tell a nuanced story, reflecting both the pain and the solidarity experienced by the community. “We wanted to create an archive that opened up the space to capture all of that,” Schoen said, describing the myriad emotional responses to the attack.

The first six episodes of “October 27” are now available on various podcast platforms, with a new season scheduled for release in December. The complete “Meanings of October 27” oral history archive can be accessed online, providing a comprehensive resource for those wishing to delve deeper into this significant chapter of Pittsburgh’s history.