Max and Avi Rosen
The shooting at the Tree of Life Synagogue in Squirrel Hill brought a sense of shock and sadness to the entire Pittsburgh community. But the losses of life that day were especially personal for two Luminari alumni.
Among the eleven people killed that day was Melvin Wax, the great uncle of brothers Max and Avi Rosen, who attended Luminari camps.
As part of the efforts to bring healing to the community, WQED broadcast a special program on Monday, October 29, called “Unity and Healing: The Tree of Life Tragedy.” Max and Avi were interviewed for a taped story about how young people were reacting to the events.
Avi wrote this poem about the frightening events, and shared it during the program:
“10/27/18”
Hatred, death, fear,
All draw near,
The twisted minds of the confused hurt others,
Both sisters and brothers,
Families weep, not knowing who is alive,
Others are desperate, who need to survive,
The siren of death is sounded out loud,
Despair clouds,
The biased judgment, of one,
Eleven are done.
Six are wounded, panic rising,
Because of hatred despising,
Jewish children scarred for life,
As dark shadows menace with strife.
***
To watch the program, visit https://www.wqed.org/unity
Avi Rosen giving his final speech during the 2017 Speak & Tell! summer camp.
Max Rosen, former I Want to be an Ambassador! student participating in a session on communication with the Saturday Light Brigade.
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