Tree of Life hosts virtual interfaith covid-19 memorial service

Local religious leaders remembered the victims of the covid-19 pandemic with a virtual memorial service one year after the first coronavirus-related death in Pennsylvania.

The Tree of Life congregation on Thursday evening hosted the online event, which they called “Covid-19 One Year Later: A Service of Remembrance, Healing and Renewal.”

“Although healing is a long process, we endeavor this evening to help you find ways to move along that path of healing,” said Rabbi Hazzan Jeffrey Myers of Tree of Life. “Please remember that help is there for you if you need it, and that there is no shame in reaching out for help. All of us this evening stand ready to assist anyone in need. Just call us — we will answer.”

The memorial honored the more than 535,000 Americans who died during the coronavirus pandemic, while recognizing the challenges the community faced when businesses and schools were shuttered and religious services were disrupted.

In addition to Meyers, religious leaders participating in the event included Bishop David Zubik of the Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh, Rev. Jonathon Jensen, pastor of Cavalry Episcopal Church, Rev. Dr. Vincent Campbell of Ebenezer Baptist Church, Rev. Karie Charlton of Third Presbyterian Church, sOm Sharma of the Hindu-Jain Temple of Monroeville, Imam Chris Caras of the Islamic Center of Pittsburgh, Rev. Liddy Barlow of Christian Associates of Southwestern Pennsylvania, Rev. C. Matthew Hawkins of St. Benedict Moor Parish, and Sebnem Unlu of City of Bridges Foundation.

The service included music videos, prayers, poetry and Scripture readings as well as uplifting messages from Christian, Hindu, Jewish and Muslim voices.

Representing the Hindu-Jain Temple of Monroeville, sOm Sharma offered a prayer to those who died during the ongoing pandemic. In his prayer, he said, “O divine souls, in your death by covid-19, you made the ultimate sacrifice in the service of humanity. You challenged and helped humanity to wake up, take notice of the pandemic and act resolutely to find a cure.”

More than 100 people participated in the service through a YouTube livestream. Many wrote the names of loved ones lost during the pandemic in a chat.

Gov. Tom Wolf offered remarks in a pre-recorded video.

“This pandemic has left a mark on all of us, and the future ahead of us now may be different than we expected a year ago,” Wolf said. “But just as we got through the past year by standing together, we will move forward together. Healing is possible, and hope for a brighter future is on the horizon.”

Zubik concluded the service by acknowledging the challenges of the past year, while encouraging people to remain hopeful.

“A deadly pandemic killed people dear to us, led to countless financial crises, vast loneliness and dangerous divisiveness. We had to confront stark evidence of violent racism in our communities. Polarized politics pitted family and neighbors against each other. And as Pittsburghers, we were still looking for consolation following the Tree of Life massacre,” Zubik said. “Yet we have hope. Not a distant hope, like a light at the end of a tunnel.

”We have hope here and now, amid the confusion, isolation, fear and rancor that we experience every day.”