The evolution of a house of worship
The Tree of Life synagogue, rocked by a deadly shooting that claimed the lives of 11 people, has served as a place of worship and celebration for Jews in downtown Pittsburgh since its official founding in 1864. Here is a timeline of how it’s evolved ever since: 1864 — Group leaves Rodef Shalom, Pittsburgh’s earliest Jewish congregation, to form a congregation with more Orthodox teachings; calls itself Eitz Hayyin, or Tree of Life in English; adopts English name and acquires land in Sharpsburg for a cemetery. 1886 — Congregation joins the Jewish Theological Seminary Association, further aligning itself with the Conservative Jewish movement. 1906 — Cornerstone laid on Craft Avenue to form a larger synagogue. 1907 — Craft Avenue synagogue opens its doors; Tree of Life members form volunteer groups, including the Tree of Life Sisterhood, which sews and donates clothing to local organizations. 1910 — Synagogue hosts Young Men’s Hebrew Association meetings and activities over a two-year period. 1946 — Tree of Life president Charles Rosenbloom donates land at the corner of Shady and Wilkins avenues in Pittsburgh’s Squirrel Hill neighborhood to bring synagogue closer to Jews moving to East End neighborhoods in the city; former synagogue purchased by city’s Playhouse theater company to be renovated into an auditorium. 2007 — Group from Beth Shalom Congregation forms small Conservative congregation Or L’Simcha; hosts religious services at the Tree of Life synagogue 2010 — Or L’Simcha and Tree of Life merge to form Tree of Life-Or L’Simcha Congregation due to the synagogue’s dwindling membership.