Rabbi Jeffrey Myers is stepping down this month from his role leading Tree of Life Congregation in Pittsburgh after nearly eight years of leading the community through grief and recovery. Myers assumed the position just over a year before October 27, 2018, when a gunman entered the synagogue and killed 11 worshippers from three congregations sharing the building.
In the aftermath of the attack, Myers worked to help the congregation resume its religious observances and process collective trauma. He presided over multiple funerals and later testified during the gunman’s 2023 trial, which resulted in a death sentence. Throughout the intervening years, Myers guided Tree of Life through additional challenges, including the COVID-19 pandemic and the temporary relocation of worship services. He credited his faith and study of the biblical Book of Psalms with sustaining him through periods when prayer felt hollow.
Myers, who grew up in New Jersey and trained as a cantor before pursuing rabbinical ordination, became known for integrating both scriptural and popular cultural references in his ministry. In his farewell address to the congregation, he cited sources ranging from the Beatles to Broadway productions. Congregants credited him with maintaining stability and caring for the community while managing his own trauma.
The congregation has begun rebuilding with renewed membership, including approximately 50 Jewish families with young children who recently joined. Plans are underway for a new building, scheduled to open in 2028, which will include a memorial honoring the 11 victims alongside antisemitism exhibits and worship spaces. Myers plans to relocate to New Jersey to be near family and pursue personal healing and long-deferred goals.
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