Tree of Life Congregation

Tree of Life Synagogue is a cultural and religious focal point in the community of Squirrel Hill, one of the largest predominantly Jewish neighborhoods across the United States. Tree of Life Synagogue began as an Orthodox congregation in 1864, and over the years became affiliated with the Conservative Jewish movement. In 1952, the congregation moved into its current building where it stands today. In 2010, Tree of Life merged with Congregation Or L'Simcha, bringing its membership to over 500 families. That same year, Dor Hadash, a Reconstructionist congregation, and, later in 2017, New Light, a Conservative congregation, both began renting space in the Tree of Life building. The space had evolved into more than just a place of worship; it became a community center for organizations, both secular and religious.

On October 27, 2018, eleven Tree of Life congregants were murdered and 6 injured in an anti-Semitic attack during Shabbat services. The massacre was the deadliest attack against the Jewish community in the history of the United States. In the days following the massacre, communities around the world joined Squirrel Hill in its rallying cry of both grief and hope for the future: "Stronger than Hope."