It is a Tree of Life…? - Tree of Life Shooting
My paper artwork is entitled, It is a Tree of Life…?,based on the Jewish song, “Eitz Chayim Hi” and the name of the Synagogue in Pittsburgh where the shooting occurred. My artwork is inspired by Rabbi Jeffery Myer’s story about wanting to protect his congregants during the shooting, and not being able to. I connected my art to not only the Rabbi’s leadership, but also through the survival of the temple’s congregants and the effect on the Jewish community of Squirrel Hill. The Jewish song, “Eitz Chayim Hi”, sings about the tree of life and how all those who support it find happiness. I thought about the perspective of a survivor from this event thinking about the tree of life and the happiness it is supposed to provide. Thinking about this metaphor from the space of a survivor, I thought about the existential and fundamental questions that could be running through their mind, especially the questions and fears surrounding safety, in their immediate and Jewish community. I found that when making this art piece, I became emotional, due to my own Jewish upbringing and the thought of someone shooting up my home synagogue. I felt for the survivors, their families, the congregants of the Tree of Life Synagogue, and community of Squirrel Hill.
