Rabbi Jeffrey Myers of Tree of Life Congregation

From unthinkable evil to a guiding ray of light to pizza and Tonka toys. We cover it all! Anger, forgiveness, and a vision and hope for the future.

On November 30, 2021 I was honored to meet with Rabbi Jeffrey Myers of the Tree of Life Congregation. We had an incredible conversation, as you will hear.

Eleven members of his congregation were slaughtered. Six other people were injured on a cold, wet Fall morning when pure evil and hate shattered services and ended lives. Today (Aug. 2, 2023), the person convicted of the massacre was sentenced to death. I thought you'd like to hear the inspiring words and story of Rabbi Myers.

Thank you for listening.

Kevin Battle

(The Original description is below. This interview was part of a 'One-on-One' series I did for my former employer. This audio was deleted from their system after my departure. Luckily, I found this copy for you to hear.)

The holiday season is upon us: Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year’s, and - this week - Hanukkah! What does the Festival of Lights suffer from and why does the date change each year? What is a really good gift that Judaism gave the world? HINT: Your boss may not like it. What are some Jewish traditions and celebrations we should all know about?

He has loved Pittsburgh from first sight. However, he knew little about our region prior to his arrival but now considers it a catch basin of culture whose crown jewel is its people! The goodness shines through. He now lives, literally, in Mr. Roger’s Neighborhood. Today, the English language does not have a term for his gratitude for the people of Pittsburgh.

From gratitude to forgiveness to the future of his temple and the faithful he ministers. I hope you enjoy this wide-ranging exclusive conversation with one of our region’s high-profile and influential residents who was, unfortunately, thrust onto the world’s stage. I cannot thank him enough for graciously granting so much of his time to me on one cold afternoon that I will never forget. This is Kevin Battle Goes One-On-One With: Rabbi Jeffrey Myers of the Tree of Life Congregation.’