Memorial to synagogue victims stolen from Allderdice High School

By Megan Guza / Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

A new memorial honoring those killed in the 2018 Pittsburgh synagogue shooting will be installed outside of Allderdice High School in time for the six-year commemoration later this month after the original memorial was recently stolen, Pittsburgh Public Schools said Tuesday.

The memorial — a metal plaque listing the names of the slain congregants — was taken from outside of the Squirrel Hill school relatively recently, though district spokeswoman Ebony Pugh said it wasn’t clear when, exactly, the theft happened.

Ms. Pugh said a review of security footage from the school “did not provide any leads or identify potential suspects.”

She said a replacement plaque has already been ordered and will be installed by Oct. 27, which marks six years since the attack on the synagogue.

“We remain committed to honoring the victims’ memory and the importance of this memorial to our school and the broader community,” Ms. Pugh said.

Eleven congregants from three congregations were killed: Joyce Fienberg, Richard Gottfried, Rose Mallinger, Jerry Rabinowitz, Cecil and David Rosental, Bernice and Sylvan Simon, Dan Stein, Melvin Wax, and Irving Younger. It remains the deadliest attack on the Jewish faith in the United States.

A commemoration ceremony marking six years will be held at the Jewish Community Center of Greater Pittsburgh from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Oct. 27.