Amy Guterson was the director of Tzohar Seminary at the time of the synagogue shooting. In this episode she shares about her life journey, from leaving Orthodoxy as a young woman to become an off-Broadway actress to returning to observant Jewish practice infused with chassidus after getting married. Tzohar, a one-year program for young Jewish women to study Torah and the arts, is one manifestation of Amy’s unique path. Her Shabbat table on October 27th, 2018, which brought Jews and non-Jews together, is another.

This episode is adapted from an oral history interview conducted by Aliza Becker with Amy Guterson on December 9th, 2019 for the Meanings of October 27th oral history project. You can listen to the full unedited interview at The October 27 Archive website, which is managed by the Rauh Jewish Archives at the Heinz History Center: https://october27archive.org/profiles/amy-guterson

Check out Tzohar Seminary at its website: https://www.tzoharseminary.com/

To learn more or to donate to help us create more episodes like this one, visit october27podcast.org

Rabbi Jeremy Markiz was a rabbi at Beth Shalom, a Conservative synagogue in Pittsburgh, at the time of the synagogue shooting. In this episode, Rabbi Markiz narrates his family’s immigrant journey to America and his passion for Judaism as a boy, which led to his pursuit of the rabbinate. Rabbi Markiz’s wedding was the day after the shooting, and just three days later he returned to a synagogue community in crisis. He reflects on moments of joy and sorrow as he tried to simultaneously celebrate his marriage and hold space for the spiritual needs of his congregants.

This episode is adapted from an oral history interview conducted by Noah Schoen with Rabbi Jeremy Markiz on April 13th, 2021 for the Meanings of October 27th oral history project. You can listen to the full unedited interview at The October 27 Archive website, which is managed by the Rauh Jewish Archives at the Heinz History Center: https://october27archive.org/profiles/rabbi-jeremy-markiz

To learn more or to donate to help us create more episodes like this one, visit october27podcast.org

Wasi Mohamed was the director of the Islamic Center of Pittsburgh at the time of the synagogue shooting. In this episode, Wasi reflects on his early years growing up Muslim in Harrisburg, PA and his college years at the University of Pittsburgh. In his role as the director of the Islamic Center—his first job out out of college—he actively and vocally expressed the Muslim community’s solidarity with the Jewish community after the synagogue shooting. For Wasi, it was his pre-existing relationships with Jews that empowered him to show up for his friends and colleagues.

This episode is adapted from an oral history interview conducted by Noah Schoen with Wasi Mohamed on February 1st, 2020 for the Meanings of October 27th oral history project. You can listen to the full unedited interview at The October 27 Archive website, which is managed by the Rauh Jewish Archives at the Heinz History Center: https://october27archive.org/profiles/wasiullah-wasi-mohamed

To learn more or to donate to help us create more episodes like this one, visit october27podcast.org