Rabbi Jeffrey Myers, the spiritual leader of the Tree of Life Congregation in Pittsburgh, has announced his retirement after eight transformative years. His tenure, marked by profound tragedy and inspiring resilience, has left an indelible mark on the congregation and the broader community.

On Friday, July 17, 2026 Myers was honored at a retirement dinner held at the Rodef Shalom Congregation in Pittsburgh. The event celebrated his dedication and the congregation’s journey toward healing and renewal.

The Path to Healing and Renewal

Myers’ journey with Tree of Life began just over a year before the devastating attack on October 27, 2018 when a gunman entered the synagogue and murdered 11 worshippers from three congregations sharing the building: Dor HadashNew Light and Tree of Life.

In the aftermath of the attack, Myers struggled to find his faith. He turned to the biblical Book of Psalms ultimately finding solace in Psalm 121: “My help comes from God, maker of the heavens and the Earth.” This discovery became a cornerstone of his healing process and his leadership.

“My mission has come to a conclusion to the best that I could,” Myers said in an interview. “It was time for the next chapter also for the Tree of Life. It’s time to step aside so that there is space for new voices.”

A Legacy of Leadership and Resilience

Myers’ leadership was characterized by his unique blend of scriptural and pop culture references. He frequently quoted from sources like Star Trek the Beatles and Broadway’s ‘Rent’ making his messages relatable and impactful.

During his farewell address on July 17 Myers thanked congregants, clergy, public officials, and the police officers who risked their lives to rescue him. He recalled each victim by name, saying, “May your memories always be for a blessing,” and concluded by having the congregation join him in singing Carole King’s ‘You’ve Got a Friend’.

Audrey Glickman, a survivor of the attack, praised Myers’ steadfast leadership. “He was really just a new rabbi and hardly broken in yet, and we went through the thing that we went through,” she said. “He has steered a constant ship and taken care of everyone, and I think he has earned himself a rest.”

The Journey to Tree of Life

Myers’ journey to Tree of Life began in his childhood synagogue’s choir near Newark, New Jersey. He grew up singing soprano and eventually leading the choir, developing his distinctive high tenor voice. He initially pursued a pre-med education but soon pivoted toward his deep interests in Judaism and music, becoming a cantor before studying for ordination as a rabbi.

When Myers took on the role at Tree of Life, it was a small Conservative congregation sharing its building with two others in the Squirrel Hill neighborhood the heart of Jewish Pittsburgh. His leadership was put to the test on that fateful Sabbath morning when he urged worshippers to flee or hide as gunfire rang out.

“I was praying,” Myers recalled. “I thought about the history of my people, how we’ve been persecuted and hunted and slaughtered for centuries, and how all of them must have felt the moments before their death, and what did they do.” He asked God to forgive him for being unable to save his congregants and expected to die but was escorted to safety by police officers.

Healing and Moving Forward

In the days following the attack, Myers presided over multiple funerals for his slain congregants. With the damaged building serving as a crime scene, Tree of Life began worshipping at the nearby Rodef Shalom synagogue. Resuming Jewish observances was crucial for Myers and the congregation, defying the killer’s intentions.

The congregation also faced the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic with Myers leading remote services from his home. However, presiding over his daughter’s outdoor wedding helped him find joy and fulfillment, echoing another Psalm’s promise: “God turned my mourning into rejoicing.”

After resuming in-person worship, the three congregations braced for the long-delayed trial of the gunman. The trial began in the spring of 2026, culminating in the conviction and death sentence of the perpetrator, who remains on death row.

Tree of Life has also formed a meaningful relationship with Mother Emanuel AME Church of Charleston, South Carolina, another congregation that experienced a tragic shooting. Members visited each other’s congregations, and Myers developed a bond with Emanuel’s pastor, the Rev. Eric Manning.

“Antisemitism is the world’s oldest disease,” Manning said. “It doesn’t require any sort of prescription or inoculation to eliminate. It requires people to honor the worth and dignity of every human being.”

The aging and damaged Tree of Life building has been demolished, with plans for a new building slated to open in 2028. The new structure will include a memorial to the victims, along with exhibits on antisemitism, a sanctuary, and event space.

“The memorial is there to remember each of the 11 victims. To always ground us,” said Carole Zawatsky, who heads the nonprofit, The Tree of Life, overseeing the project.

As Myers prepares to return to his native New Jersey to be near his daughter and granddaughter, he reflects on his journey and the future of the congregation. “We intend not to let the shooter win and not to fade away into history,” said Glickman, echoing the sentiments of many in the congregation.