Tree of Life

Nearly six years after the deadliest antisemitic attack in U.S. history, a groundbreaking ceremony was held on Sunday at the Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburgh, where 11 worshippers were murdered in the 2018 mass shooting. The new building will include a museum to combat antisemitism and a memorial to the victims of the attack: Joyce Fienberg, Richard Gottfried, Rose Mallinger, Jerry Rabinowitz, Cecil and David Rosenthal, Bernice and Sylvan Simon, Daniel Stein, Melvin Wax and Irving Younger. This collection of images is from the transformation of the Tree of Life building over the last few years.

Refugee Community Reacts

In the wake of the Tree of Life Synagogue shooting, Sanjeeb Rai, 22, a Bhutanese refugee speaks about her life in the Pittsburgh and her thoughts on facing hate on Tuesday, October 30, 2018 in Baldwin, Pa.

Dev Kumar Damai, 42, a Bhutanese refugee speaks about being a refugee in Pittsburgh.

To read more visit the Washington Post.

Tree of Life Shooting

The Tree of Life Congregation Synagogue sits in the heart of a vibrant Jewish community in Pittsburgh's Squirrel Hill neighborhood. On October 27th it became the site of the deadliest attack against the Jewish community in American history. Law enforcement allege Robert Bowers, 46, stormed into the synagogue during Sabbath prayers armed with an AR-15 style assault rifle and at least three handguns shouting anti-Semitic slurs as he opened fire. 11 worshippers were killed and six others injured including four police officers. Kris Kepler of Hazelwood, a neighborhood in Pittsburgh, joins other mourners in front of the Tree of Life Synagogue on Sunday, October 28, 2018.

A woman beaks into tears as she visits a makeshift memorial near the Tree of Life Synagogue on Monday, October 29, 2018 in Pittsburgh's Squirrel Hill neighborhood.

Mourners leave flowers and other items at a makeshift memorial near the Tree of Life Synagogue.

Holly Donahoo, left, and Diana Ciniello, right, both of Shadyside kneel and cry at a makeshift memorial.

Mourners join a vigil on Saturday evening in Squirrel Hill.

A mourner stands outside of Soldiers & Sailors Memorial Hall and Museum watching a livestream on a cell phone of a vigil to remember the victims of the Squirrel Hill mass shooting on Sunday evening. The hall was filled to capacity and hundreds more gathered outside.

Dima Kislovskiy, right, and Yasaswi Paruchuri, left, stand outside of Soldiers & Sailors Memorial Hall and Museum holding back tears during a vigil to remember the victims of the Squirrel Hill mass shooting on Sunday evening.

A Pennsylvania State Police Trooper stands watch near the Tree of Life Synagogue on Monday, October 29, 2018.

People join a solidarity march in response to the visit by President Trump to Pittsburgh and the Tree of Life Synagogue shooting on Tuesday, October 30, 2018 in Pittsburgh's Squirrel Hill neighborhood.

Items hang from a police roadblock near the Tree of Life Synagogue.

People watch as several thousand people pass by their home in a solidarity march in response to the visit by President Trump to Pittsburgh in the wake of the Tree of Life Synagogue shooting on Tuesday, October 30, 2018 in Pittsburgh's Squirrel Hill neighborhood.

A woman is comforted by a man in a tense moment during a solidarity march.

Bob Goldstein, 71, of Squirrel Hill walks past memorials in front of the Tree of Life Synagogue on Monday, October 29, 2018. Goldstein has attended the Tree of Life for his entire life and knew 8 of the victims.

Rabbi Mendel Rosenblum of the Chabad of South Hills stands outside of Soldiers & Sailors Memorial Hall and Museum during vigil to remember the victims of the Squirrel Hill mass shooting.

Members of the Jewish faith gather in front of the Tree of Life Synagogue for the Shabbat on Friday evening, November 2, 2018 in Pittsburgh's Squirrel Hill neighborhood.

People join a solidarity march in response to the visit by President Trump.

Pittsburgh Police move in during a tense moment at a solidarity march.

People march though the streets of Squirrel Hill in response to the visit by President Trump.

Sheila May-Stein of Wilkins Township hugs a fellow mourner after a supporter of President Trump upset her as she visited a makeshift memorial near the Tree of Life Synagogue.

A freshly dug grave sits open at the Tree of Life Memorial Park on Monday afternoon, October 29, 2018 in Pittsburgh's North Hills.

Men walk behind a hearse carrying the casket of Irving Younger, one of the victims of the Tree of Life Synagogue shooting, in front of Rodef Shalom Congregation after funeral services on Wednesday, October 31, 2018 in Pittsburgh's Oakland neighborhood.

Mourners gather around the gravesite of Irving Younger, one of the victims of the Tree of Life Synagogue shooting, at Shaare Torah Cemetery on Wednesday, October 31, 2018 in Brentwood.

The funeral procession of Richard Gottfried makes its way to the New Light Cemetery on Thursday, November 1, 2018. Gottfried was one of the Tree of Life Synagogue shooting victims.

Mourners gather around the gravesite of Richard Gottfried during his burial service at New Light Cemetery on Thursday, November 1, 2018 in Etna, Pa.

More images at American Reportage.

The Rev Michael Stumpf

The Rev Michael Stumpf stands outside of St Mary of the Mount Church on Friday, October 12, 2018 in Pittsburgh, Pa. Stumpf has found it ‘deeply painful’ to be confronted by angry and suspicious parishioners. But it was also appropriate, he said.

To read more visit the story in the Guardian.

Eid al-Fitr Celebration

Hundreds of Muslims gather to celebrate Eid al-Fitr, a celebration marking the end of the fasting month of Ramadan, on June 15, 2018 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Super Blue Blood Moon

View fullsize

The moon rises above a statue of Saint Joseph on Tuesday evening, January 30, 2018 at the Saint Joseph Monastery in San Bernardino County, California.  By morning the moon would put on a rare celestial show with the first "super blue blood moon" visible from the U.S. since 1866.

Abandoned Church

View fullsize

An organ sits inside of an abandoned Pittsburgh church covered by years of dust and dirt.

Eid al-Fitr

View fullsize

Eheze Hassani, 8, of Sharpsburg, Pa., sits in a chair as she waits for the prayer to begin during an Eid al-Fitr celebration, which marks the end of Ramadan, on June 25, 2017 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin Merriman/Getty Images)

View fullsize

Young boys wait for the beginning of a prayer during an Eid al-Fitr celebration, which marks the end of Ramadan, on June 25, 2017 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin Merriman/Getty Images)

View fullsize

Aya Attal, 17, of Crafton, Pa., hugs a friend at an Eid al-Fitr celebration, marking the end of Ramadan, on June 25, 2017 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin Merriman/Getty Images)

View fullsize

(left to right) Omar Sultan, 21, Majeed Hawsawi, 27, and Sultan Alsaykhan, 22, take a selfie together as they join hundreds of Pittsburgh muslims to celebrate Eid al-Fitr, marking the end of Ramadan, on June 25, 2017 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin Merriman/Getty Images)

View fullsize

Women stand in prayer during an Eid al-Fitr celebration, marking the end of Ramadan, on June 25, 2017 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin Merriman/Getty Images)

Pittsburgh Muslims celebrate Eid al-Fitr, the end of Ramadan, on June 25, 2017 in Pittsburgh, Pa. More images at Getty Images. 

Eid al-Fitr

Muslims join in the celebration of the end of Ramadan with Eid al-Fitr at Flagstaff Hill in Oakland on Wednesday, July 6, 2016.  The Islamic holy month of Ramadan is observed with a month of fasting and commemorates the first revelation of the Quran to Muhammad, according to Islamic belief. Eid al-Fitr translates to "festival of the breaking the fast."

Religious Icons

As I've said in previous entries I've always been intrigued by religious icons and here are a few from the last few weeks.

Crucifixes

Some crucifixes that caught my eye.

Cross

I've always had a fascination with religious icons...the places I've found them, the intricacy of them, and the power they hold to those who believe in them.