Tree of Life Obtains $1 Million in Federal Funding to Develop Antisemitism Curriculum

The US federal spending bill for fiscal year 2024 that was enacted last week to keep the government open into the fall included the allocation of $1 million to the Tree of Life organization in Pennsylvania to help it develop a school curriculum that will focus on tackling antisemitism and other forms of hate.

The fund gives Tree of Life Inc. “the resources to develop and implement K-12 curriculum to help educators and students to identify and challenge antisemitism and identity-based hate,” according to a news release from US Sen. Bob Casey (D-PA), who helped secure the funding. “With in-person and virtual instruction of the curriculum, thousands of students will be provided the tools to disrupt hate.”

Tree of Life Inc. was created following the antisemitic attack in October 2018 at the synagogue located in Squirrel Hill, Pittsburgh, that was home to the three congregations of Tree of Life, Dor Hadash, and New Light. Shooter Robert Bowers killed 11 people in the onslaught, which is considered the deadliest antisemitic attack to take place in US history. Bowers was convicted and sentenced to death last year. 

The federal spending bill includes $250,000 for the Weitzman National Museum of American Jewish History in Philadelphia “to develop education programming and materials to help students better understand the history and present-day impact of antisemitism.” It will also “provide them with the tools to address discrimination online and in their communities.”

The $1.2 trillion spending bill passed the Senate, 74-24, and the House, 286-134, before being signed into law by President Joe Biden on Saturday. Both of Pennsylvania’s senators and four of the five House members from western Pennsylvania, where Pittsburgh is located, voted for the spending bill. The lone exception was Rep. Summer Lee (D-Pa.).

Demolition began in January on the Tree of Life synagogue in an effort to reconstruct the building and have it honor the 11 people who were killed in the 2018 antisemitic attack. A memorial to the victims will also be constructed outside of the synagogue.