Amicus With Dahlia Lithwick | SPECIAL: The Deadly Shooting at the Tree of Life Synagogue

Date: November 3, 2018
Host: Dahlia Lithwick
Guest: Rabbi Chuck Diamond (former rabbi at the Tree of Life Synagogue)
Theme: Community, grief, and hope in the aftermath of the Tree of Life Synagogue shooting in Pittsburgh.

Episode Overview

This special, heartfelt episode is dedicated to the immediate aftermath of the mass shooting at the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh, which left 11 people dead and traumatized a close-knit Jewish community. Host Dahlia Lithwick sits down with Rabbi Chuck Diamond, who served at the synagogue for nine years, to discuss grief, the enduring strength of Squirrel Hill, and the comfort and resilience found within the local and interfaith communities. The conversation also warmly includes Dahlia’s son, Kobi, offering a generational perspective on fear and hope.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Rabbi Chuck's Personal Connection to the Victims and Community (01:14–03:58)

• Rabbi Chuck's Ties: Chuck Diamond personally knew 9 of the 11 victims, reinforcing the intimate nature of the Squirrel Hill Jewish neighborhood.
• Community in Mourning: The week was marked by back-to-back funerals, endless media outreach, and supporting grieving families.
• Role in the Community: Having grown up, raised his family, and lived his life in Squirrel Hill, Rabbi Chuck describes himself as something of an “unofficial spokesman," able to assist while other rabbis, themselves survivors or witnesses, were occupied with trauma and rituals.

“It seems like one long day. And we've been going from funeral as a community, from one funeral to the next, to the next to the next.”
— Rabbi Chuck (02:00)

2. The Spirit of Squirrel Hill: Diversity, Unity, and Kindness (03:58–07:01)

• Neighborhood Description: Squirrel Hill is celebrated as a diverse, welcoming community—home to landmark Jewish culture and newly arrived refugees.
• Interfaith and Community Solidarity: The Islamic Center raised significant funds for victims' families, and people across religious, ethnic, and neighborhood lines offered support, hugs, and kind words.
• Local Life: Known as Mr. Rogers' real neighborhood, Squirrel Hill is depicted as a place where “Jews and non-Jews alike” care deeply for one another.

“Some people have called me the Jewish Mr. Rogers, which is such a great compliment.”
— Rabbi Chuck (06:11)

3. Media’s Role and the Attention Cycle (07:01–09:31)

• Media Presence: Rabbi Chuck praises journalists, recognizes their role in uniting and comforting a far-reaching audience, and defends their conduct during coverage.
• Moving Forward: Acknowledges the challenge as the media departs and the attention shifts, noting that healing must now focus closely on families and the city itself.

“They're not the enemy of the people. They've been gracious, they've been kind, they've been comforting.”
— Rabbi Chuck (07:35)

4. Addressing Children’s Fears & Community Resilience (09:31–11:58)

• Youth Perspective: Kobi asks how children should be comforted returning to synagogue after such an attack.
• Rabbi Chuck's Response: Admits children today face new anxieties—from "lockdown" drills to real threats. Underscores the need for reassurance and emphasizes the world’s goodness despite tragedies.
• Advice for Kids: Encourage them to recognize the good in people and the importance of support and community.

“Some of you go to schools with metal detectors, and there's a fear you don't feel safe in the school, which really should be a sanctuary for you. This was an attack on our sanctuary… most often we live in a good world, in a safe world, but we have to be there for each other and we have to do good things.”
— Rabbi Chuck (10:41 and 10:58)

5. Has It Always Been This Way? Grappling with Antisemitism and Violence (12:00–15:16)

• History and Change: Dahlia and Rabbi Chuck discuss whether these tragedies are new or a continuation of older hatreds.
• Modern Amplifiers: 24-hour news cycles, emboldened hate speech, and lax gun laws contribute to violence.
• Need for Action: Rabbi Chuck calls for common sense gun laws and political courage, arguing there’s "a middle ground" to be found.

“I think anti Semitism has sort of always been there, but a lot of times it's under the surface. Now people are emboldened to express their hate in different ways, more publicly.”
— Rabbi Chuck (13:37)

“I see no use for an assault rifle whose only purpose is to kill people. I don't know why they're legal. I just don't.”
— Rabbi Chuck (14:21)

6. What Gives Hope After Tragedy? (15:16–17:50)

• Sources of Hope: Chuck lifts up the outpouring of love from friends, neighbors, and strangers. Even survivors from other mass shootings like Parkland and Las Vegas have reached out.
• The Good People: The tremendous support overwhelms the very few negative messages received, reminding Rabbi Chuck and listeners there’s more good than hate.
• Living Life Fully: Survivors are urged to appreciate their gift of life and do good in the world.

“The love and the support from friends and neighbors and strangers has been overwhelming to me... There are good people in the world, and we just have to do good things for other people.”
— Rabbi Chuck (16:30 and 17:35)

7. Ritual, Remembrance, and Moving Forward (18:04–19:16)

• A Collective Moment: Rabbi Chuck will lead a gathering at the synagogue corner marking the time of the shooting—a place open to all for unity and prayer.
• Solidarity: Emphasizes the importance of being together, in synagogue or spirit, “Jews and non-Jews who were coming.”

“I sort of see myself... the rabbi for the unaffiliated. So I'm doing a little something at the corner where the synagogue is at the time that the shooting took place”
— Rabbi Chuck (18:07)

Memorable Quotes & Moments

• On the value of community:
  “That's what helps us get through this tragedy, the beauty of our community.”
  — Rabbi Chuck (06:11)

• On confronting children’s anxiety:
  “Some kids just sort of, you know, don't know what to do with it because it just happens so much.”
  — Rabbi Chuck (10:28)

• On hope and healing:
  “If we do that, Dalia, I think we'll end up being okay.”
  — Rabbi Chuck (17:48)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• 01:14 — Rabbi Chuck on his connection to the victims and current emotional state
• 04:42 — The outpouring of support in Squirrel Hill and beyond
• 07:30 — Media’s impact and the shifting news cycle
• 09:34 — Kobi’s question about comforting children
• 12:06 — Is this “the way it’s always been”? Grappling with history and hate
• 15:53 — What’s giving hope after tragedy
• 18:04 — Planning a public moment of remembrance and unity

Tone & Language

The conversation is gentle, emotional, and deeply rooted in authenticity and lived experience. Rabbi Chuck’s warmth and honesty—at times frank, at times hopeful—mirror the grief and resilience of a proud community beset by unimaginable tragedy.

This episode serves as a testimonial to the power of community, the ongoing struggle against hate, and the hope that can emerge, even in the darkest times, through the kindness of neighbors and the unity of people across faiths.