Rabbi Jeffrey Myers Departs Tree of Life After Eight Years

WHO:

CBS News - Rabbi Jeffrey Myers is the spiritual leader of Tree of Life Congregation in Pittsburgh.

CBS News - The congregation includes three groups: Dor Hadash, New Light, and Tree of Life.

CBS News - Audrey Glickman is a survivor of the attack and a member of the congregation.

CBS News - Carole Zawatsky heads the nonprofit, The Tree of Life, overseeing the new building project.

CBS News - Rev. Eric Manning is the pastor of Mother Emanuel AME Church in Charleston, South Carolina.

WHAT:

CBS News - Rabbi Jeffrey Myers is retiring after eight years as the spiritual leader of Tree of Life.

CBS News - The Tree of Life Congregation was the site of the deadliest antisemitic attack in U.S. history, where 11 worshippers were murdered.

CBS News - The gunman was sentenced to death following a long-delayed trial that concluded in 2023.

CBS News - The new building for Tree of Life is slated to open in 2028 and will include a memorial to the victims and exhibits on antisemitism.

WHERE:

CBS News - Tree of Life Congregation is located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

CBS News - The congregation began worshipping at Rodef Shalom, a nearby synagogue, after the attack.

WHEN:

CBS News - The attack occurred on October 27, 2018.

CBS News - Rabbi Myers' farewell address to the congregation took place on July 17.

CBS News - The trial of the gunman began in the spring of 2023.

CBS News - The new building is scheduled to open in 2028.

WHY:

CBS News - Rabbi Myers stated it was time for the next chapter for both himself and the Tree of Life Congregation.

CBS News - The congregation has worked to grieve and heal after the attack and the subsequent trial.

HOW:

CBS News - Rabbi Myers led remote services from his home during the COVID-19 pandemic.

CBS News - Myers resumed in-person worship after the pandemic, emphasizing the importance of continuing Jewish observances.

(UPDATED July 24, 2026 13:29 UTC)

Rabbi Jeffrey Myers is retiring after eight years as the spiritual leader of Tree of Life Congregation in Pittsburgh, which includes three groups: Dor Hadash, New Light, and Tree of Life. The congregation, which has been working to grieve and heal after the deadliest antisemitic attack in U.S. history, is set to open a new building in 2028 that will feature a memorial to the victims and exhibits on antisemitism. Audrey Glickman, a survivor of the attack, and Carole Zawatsky, who heads the nonprofit overseeing the new project, are among those continuing the congregation's mission as it moves into this next chapter.