Rabbi Jeffrey Myers is concluding his tenure this month as spiritual leader of Tree of Life Congregation in Pittsburgh, a position he held for just over a year before the congregation experienced the deadliest antisemitic attack in U.S. history on October 27, 2018. A gunman entered the synagogue during Sabbath services and fatally shot 11 worshippers from three congregations sharing the building: Tree of Life, Dor Hadash, and New Light.
In his nearly eight years leading the congregation through its recovery, Myers presided over multiple funerals, supported congregants during a lengthy trial that concluded with the gunman’s conviction and death sentence, and helped guide the community through the COVID-19 pandemic and the planning of a new building. Myers stated that his mission has reached its conclusion and that it is time for new leadership and voices within the congregation. He plans to relocate to New Jersey to be closer to family and pursue personal goals while also focusing on his own healing after prioritizing congregational needs.
Myers, 70, grew up near Newark, New Jersey, and trained as a cantor before becoming ordained as a rabbi. During his farewell address to the congregation, he thanked congregants, clergy, public officials, and police officers who responded to the attack. Congregation members and leaders expressed gratitude for his steady leadership during an extraordinarily difficult period.
The three congregations that shared the building have begun rebuilding. The most of the original structure has been demolished, with plans for a new facility that will include a memorial to the 11 victims, antisemitism exhibits, a sanctuary, and event space, slated to open in 2028. Recent growth in congregation membership, including approximately 50 Jewish families with young children, has brought renewed energy and optimism about the community’s future.
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