Audrey Glickman blowing the shofar, as she did in the documentary (Photo credit: FANE Photo, 2024)
As the nation once again mourns lives lost to gun violence, The Jewish Federation of South Palm Beach County’s Jewish Community Relations Council (JCRC) remembered 11 people gunned down by an antisemitic assailant in Pittsburgh in 2018.
On Sept. 8, 2024, the leaders of JCRC and Federation’s Security Council brought the community together for a screening of A Tree of Life: The Pittsburgh Synagogue Shooting. The following day, participants were trained in strategic safety responses by Federation’s Security team and members of the Secure Community Network (SCN), a national Jewish security organization.
Currently streaming on HBO Max, A Tree of Life: The Pittsburgh Synagogue Shooting is a deeply personal portrait of the survivors, victims and family members, who share their harrowing first-hand accounts of the impact of the shooting, which occurred on Oct. 27, 2018. Following the screening, JCRC Chair Rabbi Greg Weisman moderated a panel, featuring those who were directly involved in the Pittsburgh shooting, former Parkland Mayor Rep. Christine Hunschofsky, and Federation’s new Community Security Director Brandon Waller.
Audrey Glickman, a Pittsburgh synagogue shooting survivor, and Brad Orsini, SCN Sr. National Security Advisor, shared accounts of how the community came together following the tragedy and what they feel other Jewish communities should do to safeguard against such violence. Chuck Lichtman, Chair of Federation’s Community Security Task Force and SCN Board member, opened the program by sharing that his family normally attended Tree of Life synagogue; but by chance, happened to not be in the synagogue on Oct. 27.
Brad Orsini, Christine Hunschofsky, Audry Glickman, Rabbi Greg Weisman, Brandon Waller (Photo credit: FANE Photo, 2024)
“In addition to supporting our synagogues and organizations, such as our local Jewish Federations, we must support national organizations, such as The Secure Community Network that is at the forefront of providing security for every Jewish building in America, while working closely with federal and state law enforcement authorities by tracking down those anti-Semites who overtly wish to do us substantial harm. No other entity performs that critical work. If we don’t accept that shared responsibility to protect our community, then we can’t expect anyone else to do it for us,” Lichtman said.
The screening and training are examples of Federation’s ongoing efforts to inform and prepare the local community. Federation’s Security team offers sessions, such as Active Threat Training and Situational Awareness Training, to organizations, schools, synagogues, businesses and other entities throughout South Palm Beach County. For more information about the Jewish Federation of South Palm Beach County’s Security offerings, visit www.jewishboca.org/security.
Dennis May, Brandon Waller, Alan Poland, Rabbi Greg Weisman, Capt. David Moss, Brad Orsini, Sgt. Cory Gray (Photo credit: FANE Photo, 2024)
For questions, contact Community Security Director Brandon Waller at bwaller@securecommunitynetwork.org or 561-852-3362.
A Tree of Life: The Pittsburgh Synagogue Shooting: On October 27, 2018, a gunman opened fire inside a Pittsburgh synagogue, killing 11 people as they prayed, in what would become the deadliest anti-Semitic attack in American history. A Tree of Life: The Pittsburgh Synagogue Shooting is told through voices from the Pittsburgh community, including Carol Black, Dr. Joseph Charny, Anthony Fienberg, Martin Gaynor, Glickman, Daniel Leger, Hannibal Lokumbe, Wasi Mohamed, Rabbi Jeffrey Myers, Orsini, Rabbi Jonathan Perlman, Michele Rosenthal, Diane Rosenthal, Augie Siriano, Ellen Surloff, Andrea Wedner, Stephen Weiss and Barry Werber. https://www.hbo.com/movies/a-tree-of-life-the-pittsburgh-synagogue-shooting
Jewish Community Relations Council: The JCRC is the local affiliate of the Jewish Council for Public Affairs (JCPA), the American Jewish community’s network of local and national public affairs organizations throughout the United States. The JCRC maintains a dialogue between the Jewish community and government; advocates for an inclusive, fair, and just society, based on our Jewish values; convenes the community in times of crisis, celebration and commemoration; and builds, maintains, and joins coalitions to promote effective action and opportunities for community involvement. https://jewishboca.org/jewish-community-relations-council/
Jewish Federation of South Palm Beach County (JFSPBC): Established in 1979, the JFSPBC is made up of Jewish and social service organizations, synagogues, and schools that provide valued services and programs to recipients in South Palm Beach County, in Israel and around the world. JFSPBC is also comprised of local residents, including lay leadership, volunteer, donors, professional staff, rabbis, educators, event participants and students. Situated on a 100-acre campus in west Boca Raton – the largest in the nation – JFSPBC supports more than 70 beneficiaries, engages with more than 5,000 donors, and connects more than 130,000 residents. To learn more about how JFSPBC contributes to a shared vision for the Jewish community, visit jewishboca.org, jewishdelray.org, or call 561.852.3100.
