A review by ben3845
Squirrel Hill: The Tree of Life Synagogue Shooting and the Soul of a Neighborhood by Mark Oppenheimer

5.0

I picked up this book at a bookstore in Chicago and wanted to learn more both given my Jewish family history and that I only live a few miles from Squirrel Hill now. This is the first book I’ve read about gun violence and given the book’s subject matter it may not be for everyone. Oppenheimer does detail how the event unfolded and the traumatic impact that resulted. But he also tells an important, inspiring, frustrating, and enlightening story of the tragedy’s impact on this very specific Squirrel Hill community. It’s a story about neighbors that stepped up to help, strangers that made a difference and strangers that bogged the community down, and the resilient Jewish community of Squirrel Hill which is struggling to support small and aging congregations that were impacted by the shootings. I appreciate that the book does not place very much emphasis on the shooter. This book is a great read for anyone who wants to read about the power of communities, local politics and current day Judaism in the U.S., or the impact and local response to gun violence.