DenBerg June 26, 2023

When future historians write of the American Jewish experience, their narrative will be divided in two parts: Everything leading up to the Tree of Life massacre, and everything that came after.

The shattering murder of 11 Jews at prayer on Shabbat morning on Oct. 27, 2018 in Pittsburgh sent shockwaves through American Jewish communities. It rattled a sense of relative safety that many American Jews had felt for decades, and signaled the beginning of a rise in antisemitic rhetoric and violence in the United States.

Nearly five years later, a jury has determined that the perpetrator should receive the death penalty. As the world reacts to the verdict, illustrator DenBerg chose to commemorate the 11 lives that were lost in Tree of Life.

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)

Among the victims are two brothers who were synagogue mainstays, a doctor who treated HIV patients, and a couple who were gunned down in the same shul they got married in sixty-two years earlier.

May their memories be forever a blessing.

To contact the author, email opinion@forward.com. 

1 / 11

Illustration by DenBerg

2 / 11

Illustration by DenBerg

3 / 11

Illustration by DenBerg

4 / 11

Illustration by DenBerg

5 / 11

Illustration by DenBerg

6 / 11

Illustration by DenBerg

7 / 11

Illustration by DenBerg

8 / 11

Illustration by DenBerg

9 / 11

Illustration by DenBerg

10 / 11

Illustration by DenBerg

11 / 11

Illustration by DenBerg

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