Education

Honoring the Tree of Life Through Story and Song

Seven years ago, Pittsburgh was forever changed by the tragedy at the Tree of Life Synagogue. On Sunday October 26, 2025, WQED honors the victims, survivors, and all those touched by that day with an afternoon of thoughtful programming that celebrates the courage, compassion, and unity that define our city. From local documentaries to national reflections, these stories remind us what it means to stand together — to reject hate, embrace understanding, and keep the memory of our neighbors alive through art, dialogue, and community.


Sunday October 26, 2025

12:00 p.m. Repairing the World: Stories from the Tree of Life

This program documents Pittsburgh’s powerful community response to hate in the aftermath of the deadliest antisemitic attack in U.S. history. Through the voices of survivors, family members, diverse Pittsburgh residents and leaders, the film shows unity in a moment of crisis, the resilience of a vibrant city, and a community working together to understand what it means to be “stronger than hate.” ►Stream on PBS.org or in the PBS app or visit ►the filmmaker’s official website.

1:30 p.m. Tree of Life: A Concert for Peace and Unity

This special concert was performed at Heinz Hall in remembrance of the Tree of Life Synagogue tragedy. Taking place one month after the tragedy, on November 27, 2018, the concert was free to the public. Renowned Israeli-American violinist Itzhak Perlman joined Music Director Manfred Honec k, the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra , PSO Principal Clarinetist Michael Rusinek and the Mendelssohn Choir of Pittsburgh. The musicians hoped to provide an opportunity for the Pittsburgh community to find comfort, strength and solace through music, hope and unity. ►Stream on PBS.org or in the PBS app.

3:00 p.m. Violins of Hope: Greater Pittsburgh

This documentary tells the story of the Violins of Hope exhibit. This collection of precious instruments, once played by Jewish musicians during the Holocaust, traveled here from Israel to be shared and celebrated. For seven weeks, over 50 regional arts organizations, educational institutions, service providers and faith-based groups across southwestern Pennsylvania joined in presenting programming around the exhibit and its vital history. ►Stream on YouTube.

3:30 p.m. Eva A-7063

Eva Mozes Kor has emerged as the leading global figure in the fight to keep the lessons of the Holocaust alive, delivering a message at once controversial and immensely powerful: Forgiveness. Ms. Kor survived Auschwitz, where at age ten, she endured inhuman experiments by notorious Nazi doctor Josef Mengele. ►Stream on PBS.org or in the PBS app.

5:00 p.m. The U.S. and the Holocaust: Insight and Understanding

This program offers a deeper understanding of the three-part PBS documentary that explores America’s response to one of the greatest atrocities of the 20th century. Featuring exclusive insights from filmmakers Ken Burns, Lynn Novick and Sarah Botstein , we learn how the creative team made decisions about who to interview and what to include to shape this landmark film. Exploring a range of questions that remain relevant to society today, the program reveals how the film can be used as a tool to bring critical conversations about the Holocaust into American homes and classrooms.


Click here for a list of other WQED programs relating to the Holocaust and its impact in our region. You may also be interested in watching:

Tree of Life: Reflections

Hear from the late Dr. Joe Charny and Audrey Glickman , who survived the shooting and narrowly escaped death. They later attended the Concert for Peace and Unity and were profoundly moved by the experience. ►Stream on PBS.org or in the PBS app.

Unity & Healing: The Tree of Life Tragedy

Host Chris Moore led discussions with Adam Hertzman , Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh; Wasiullah (Wasi) Mohamed , Islamic Center of Pittsburgh; Leslie Aizenman , Jewish Family and Community Services; and Roberta Schomburg , Fred Rogers Institute. ►Stream on PBS.org or in the PBS app.

The post Honoring the Tree of Life Through Story and Song appeared first on WQED.

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