The grounds at this Jewish centre are falling into disrepair.
FALCON POWERS – Untrimmed weeds sprout from a brick walkway, while panels that have collapsed inside the adjoining building expose dark holes in its ceiling.
The Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburgh’s Squirrel Hill neighbourhood, home to many of the US city’s Jewish residents, has not been used in more than five years.
A large section of the complex, which was previously home to three Jewish congregations, has been demolished, while a metallic fence stands tall around its perimeter.
“I have a lot of happy memories here,” Julie Paris tells The National as she assesses a memorial outside what is left of the synagogue.
Ms Paris is a long-time resident of Squirrel Hill and a recognisable face as she walks the area’s leafy streets, with neighbours stopping her to say hello. She is also Mid-Atlantic regional director of the Israel education organisation StandWithUs.
“I grew up going here, I had my bat mitzvah here … it played a central role in my personal Jewish identity.”
Artwork and messages of hope are displayed outside, paying tribute to the victims of the horrific event that occurred here.
On October 27, 2018, a gunman opened fire on worshippers during Shabbat morning services, killing 11 and wounding six, including several Holocaust survivors.
It was the deadliest attack on a Jewish community in US history.
The gunman, Robert Bowers, claimed he just wanted to kill Jews. He has since been sentenced to death.
“It forever changed not just the Jewish community, but the city of Pittsburgh”, Ms Paris says. “It rocked us to our core.”
While the synagogue has sat empty for the years, a reimagining of the space is under way. Most of the structure has been removed and a new building will be erected with spaces for worship, a museum and education centre, and a cinema.
Renowned architect Daniel Libeskind, who designed Jewish museums in Berlin and Copenhagen and was the man behind the memorial for New York’s World Trade Centre, will develop the new 45,000-square-foot complex.
In the days following the attack, Squirrel Hill was united in grief.
There was an outpouring of sympathy from people across the US and overseas. In Jerusalem, a projection on an Old City wall honoured the victims.
