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Families of killed and wounded to receive largest share of Tree of Life donations
The distribution of donated funds is underway to Tree of Life victims’ families, survivors, congregations and first responders.
About $5.4 million was received by Tree of Life - Or L’Simcha congregation through April 30, 2019, and the families of those killed and those seriously wounded will receive about $3 million of it.
The outpouring of financial support from around the world followed the Oct. 27, 2018, attack on the Squirrel Hill synagogue, where 11 worshippers from three congregations were killed and two others seriously wounded.
In August 2019, representatives from the three congregations — Tree of Life, Dor Hadash and New Light — requested that an independent committee, previously convened by the Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh, provide recommendations on how the funds should be dispersed.
On Feb. 13, the independent committee delivered its recommendations to the three congregations.
Here is how the approximately $5.4 million in donations will be distributed:
About $3 million for the families of worshippers killed or seriously wounded About $1.3 million for Tree of Life - Or L’Simcha Congregation rebuilding $240,457 for New Light Congregation $240,197 for Congregation Dor Hadash $233,598 in funds set aside for memorialization $215,162 for the individuals trapped in the building $200,000 in funds set aside to honor first responders $23,905 for individuals on the premises during the attackThe committee’s report noted there is no single “right way” to distribute donations collected after a tragedy such as this.
“One of the principles that guided the committee’s deliberations relative to the funds received by Tree of Life was ‘shalom b’bayit’ – the need to arrive at recommendations that would foster healing in the congregations, among victims’ families and harmony throughout the wider Jewish community,” said Barbara Caplan, co-president of New Light Congregation, in a statement.
Tree of Life president Sam Schachner said all three congregations are grateful for the love and support they have been shown.
“We will forever keep in our hearts the memories of those who were lost and those who continue to grieve and suffer,” said Schachner. “We also recognize the goodness of so many from around the world who cared enough to help remind us what we lost and why we remember.”
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