FOR PITTSBURGH
Pittsburgh, I am sorry. I will try to be kinder,
The weather is beautiful as
the earth prepares herself for the
coming change . . . the death that comes
each year so the rebirth can follow.
This year is different this year it feels
as though earth is raising her arms
lifting her eyes kneeling before our
universal creator and begging for mercy
mercy for herself—ravaged by humanity—
mercy for all creatures—ravaged by humanity—
mercy for humanity—ravaged too by humanity.
How can we find comfort when our natures
impel us toward self-centered choices?
More importantly how can we ease suffering
when me, my, I come first? Where do we go?
What do we do? How do we convince those
callused by their own pain to feel for others?
How can we stop injury and begin healing?
more generous and more compassionate.
The Tree of Life synagogue was founded in Pittsrgh, Pennsylvania, in 1864, under its Hebrew name Etz Chayyim. It moved its premises to Squirrel Hill in the eastern side of the city in 1953 under the leadership of rabbi Herman Hailperin, who led the congregation from .1922, the year he was ordained by the Jewish Theological Seminary, until 1968; he was responsible for instituting organ music during prayer services and empowering women both administratively (by having them electable to the temple's board of trustees) and ritually (by calling them to the Torah reading and counting them as part of the minyan, the quorum of adults needed for religious services). Its support for the Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society (HIAS), involved in providing humanitarian aid and assistance to refugees, prompted a gunman to attack the building on 27 October 2018, killing 11 and wounding 7, the deadliest antisemitic assault in US history. The synagogue was named in reference to several Biblical passages, especially in "The Book of Proverbs" (3:13-18, "Blessed is the one who finds wisdom, and the one who gets understanding, for the gain from her is better than gain from silver and her profit better than gold. She is more precious than jewels, and nothing you desire can compare with her. Long life is in her right hand; in her left hand are riches and honor. Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace. She is a tree of life to those who lay hold of her; those who hold her fast are called blessed;" 11:30, "The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, and whoever captures souls is wise;" 13:12, "Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a desire fulfilled is a tree of life;" and 15:4, "A gentle tongue is a tree of life, but perverseness in it breaks the spirit.")
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