Survivors and Families Share poignant Stories from the Tree of Life Tragedy with Western PA Sophomores

Survivors and family members of those who died in the Tree of Life Synagogue shooting addressed sophomores at Seneca Valley High School on Friday, aiming to teach students about the significance of standing against hate and promoting unity.

Survivor Audrey Glickman recounted the incidents from October 27, 2018, when an attacker entered the Tree of Life Synagogue in Squirrel Hill and began shooting, resulting in the deaths of 11 individuals.

Subscribe to our Newsletters

"I hid because I wasn't sure about the number of people inside the building. As it turned out, there was just one person, so we rushed up the stairs," explained Glickman to an audience of sophomore students.

Glickman, who managed to hide inside a bag filled with clothes, spoke to Pittsburgh's Action News 4 and shared how her experience after the heartbreaking incident made her determined to ensure that the memories and teachings from that day endure.

"Whenever someone else is being ostracized, it’s incorrect, and we must put an end to such behavior. As the world progresses, we’re observing this issue occurring with greater frequency rather than diminishing," Glickman stated.

Michele Russo, who teaches at Seneca Valley, also voiced support for this commitment, emphasizing that it’s crucial for students to be aware of the occurrences in Pittsburgh.

Russo stated, "The significance of their presence (the students) lies in establishing a link between our teachings and reality, particularly with what’s occurring here, specifically what transpired in the city of Pittsburgh."

The tenth-grader, Mariana Marino, shared her views on how close these criminal acts occurred.

“It’s incredibly wild to consider that even today, we still encounter such horrific crimes happening in neighborhoods near my own community. The belief is that with each person attending discussions like these, our collective understanding as a society grows,” Marino stated.

Glickman stated that students represent the future, asserting they have the potential to contribute to making Pittsburgh and the entire world a more secure and safer environment.

"The most innovative solutions often come from our students, and if we can encourage them to collaborate—whether with us or among themselves—and create positive change in their community, then that’s truly what life is all about," she stated.

The Seneca Valley School District has joined forces with REACH, part of the 10.27 Healing partnership’s initiative called Remember, Educate, and Combat Hate, to improve teaching about antisemitism.

The speakers were Dan Leger, Audrey Glickman, Carol Black, and Peg Durachko.

TOP STORIES FROM WTAE:

Francis recalled as 'the pope who connected with the masses' during his funeral

A four-alarm blaze erupts within a linen cleaning company’s storage facility in Pittsburgh.

Person injured from multiple gunshots in Pittsburgh; authorities look into the incident

Students from Duquesne University honor Pope Francis while pursuing their studies in Rome.

A CMU senior had their student visa restored.

'Our hearts are heavy': Steelers confirm death of Derrick Harmon's mother

READ THE FULL STORY: Surviving individuals and family members of those lost at the Tree of Life tragedy recount their experiences to undergraduate students from Western Pennsylvania.

CHECK OUT WTAE: Stay updated with the most recent Pittsburgh news, weather, and sports. Get your daily dose of top headlines along with additional coverage provided by the WTAE Pittsburgh Action News 4 team.