Tree of Life gets $1M in new spending law to teach against antisemitism, hate
WASHINGTON — The federal spending bill enacted over the weekend to keep the government open through September included $1 million to develop a curriculum for elementary and secondary schools on preventing antisemitism and identity-based hate.
Tree of Life Inc. would get the allocation. The organization was born out of the 2018 massacre at the Squirrel Hill synagogue that housed three congregations — Dor Hadash, New Light and Tree of Life. Robert Bowers was convicted of the Oct. 27, 2018, shooting that killed 11 worshippers and was sentenced to death. It was the deadliest antisemitic attack on U.S. soil.
The funds would “give the organization the resources to develop and implement K-12 curriculum to help educators and students to identify and challenge antisemitism and identitybased hate,” according to a news release from U.S. Sen. Bob Casey, D-Pa., who obtained the earmark. “With in-person and virtual instruction of the curriculum, thousands of students will be provided the tools to disrupt hate.”
On the other end of the state, Mr. Casey obtained $250,000 for the Weitzman National Museum of American Jewish History for educational programming on the impact of antisemitism past and present. The spending bill passed the Senate, 7424, and the House, 286-134. Mr. Casey and U.S. Sen. John Fetterman, D- Pa., voted yes, as did four of the five Western Pennsylvania House members.
The exception was U.S. Rep. Summer Lee, D-Swissvale, who voted no along with other members of the Squad, the left-wing group of House Democratic lawmakers of color. She did not offer an explanation for her vote, but another squad member, U.S. Rep. Cori Bush, D-Mo ., said on X that she opposed the spending bill’ s $3 billion in continued aid for Israel. The legislation also in-cluded a provision encour-aging the Centers for Dis-ease Control to work with state and local health au-thorities on along-term study of the impact soft he Norfolk Southern train de-railment in East Palestine, Ohio, in February 2023. This was the second of two spending bills funding the government through Sept .30. The first measure, which also overwhelming ly passed both houses, in-cluded most of the ear-marks obtained by mem-bers of Congress for their states and communities. Al-most all of the earmarks in the most recent legislation were requested by senators. The first bill included a $1 million grant to help con-vert the synagogue into a memorial and education center. The building has re-mained empty since the shooting. Another
$547,00010.27 Healing Partnership
“Amid the historic levels of antisemitism in our country, we are truly thankful for Congress’ $2 million investment in the Tree of Life’s efforts to rebuild and reimagine the site of the deadliest antisemitic attack in U.S. history,” said Carole Zawatsky, Tree of Life’s CEO. She said the funding “will enable us to build a space to educate people of all ages and backgrounds about antisemitism and identity- based hate in America and develop new curricula and programs specifically for K-12 students.”
Here are the other Western Pennsylvania projects in the final bill that funds the federal government through Sept. 30:
Allegheny County
• Bridgeville, Commer-cial Street Culvert replace-ment, $750,000. Requestedby Mr. Casey and Mr.Fetterman.• Leetsdale, Quaker Val-ley School District, $100,000for a life skills curriculumand equipment. Mr. Casey.
• Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh Film Office for workforce development activities. $765,000. Mr. Fetterman.
• Pittsburgh, Trade Institute of Pittsburgh, $450,000 for workforce development activities. Mr. Casey, Ms. Lee.
• Pittsburgh, Community College of Allegheny County, $500,000 for equipment. Mr. Casey.
• Pittsburgh, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Pittsburgh, $ 275,000 for mentoring programs in the Woodland Hills and Clairton City school districts. Mr. Fetterman.
Beaver County
Marion, volunteer fire company, $13,000 for equipment. Mr. Fetterman.
Butler County
Harmony, Steamfitters Local Union No 449 joint apprenticeship and training committee, $ 322,000 for workforce development activities. Mr. Casey.
Lawrence County
New Wilmington, Westminster College, $376,000 for an exercise science program. Mr. Casey.
Washington County
• Prosperity, United Mine Workers of America Career Centers, $1.5 million to help find new manufacturing jobs for 150 former coal workers and train them for their new positions. Mr. Casey, Mr. Fetterman.
• Washington, Centerville Clinics, $500,000 for facilities and equipment. Mr. Casey.
Westmoreland County
Ligonier, Southern Tier Alternative Therapies Ligonier Therapeutic Center, 250,000 for facilities and equipment. Mr. Casey.