Key facts
- Rabbi Jeffrey Myers is retiring from the Tree of Life Congregation in Pittsburgh.
- The synagogue was the site of the deadliest antisemitic attack in U.S. history on Oct. 27, 2018, where 11 people were murdered.
- Myers, who had been rabbi for just over a year before the attack, found strength in the Book of Psalms.
- He led the congregation through the aftermath, including a pandemic and the gunman's trial and death sentence.
- Myers plans to move to New Jersey to be closer to his family and focus on his own healing.
- He has fostered relationships with other faith communities affected by hate crimes, such as Mother Emanuel AME Church.
Rabbi Jeffrey Myers is retiring from his role as spiritual leader of the Tree of Life Congregation in Pittsburgh, eight years after it was the site of the deadliest antisemitic attack in U.S. history. The attack on Oct. 27, 2018, resulted in the murder of 11 worshippers from the three congregations sharing the building.
Myers, who had assumed leadership just over a year before the massacre, found solace and guidance in the Book of Psalms to navigate the profound grief and emptiness he experienced. He led his congregants through the subsequent years, which included the disruption of the COVID-19 pandemic and a lengthy trial that concluded with the gunman's death sentence.
In his farewell address on July 17, Myers, known for blending scriptural references with pop culture, thanked congregants, clergy, and first responders. He recalled each victim by name and led the congregation in singing Carole King's "You've Got a Friend."
Survivors and members of the congregation praised Myers for his steady leadership during an unimaginably difficult period. He is planning to move to his native New Jersey to be closer to his daughter and granddaughter, and to focus on his own healing after prioritizing the congregation's needs.
Myers also developed a bond with Rev. Eric Manning of Charleston's Mother Emanuel AME Church, another congregation targeted by a racist gunman. Both leaders advocate for honoring the worth and dignity of every human being in the face of rising hatred.