Eight years after Tree of Life shooting, a Jewish burial society’s ranks have nearly doubled

After preparing five victims of the Tree of Life synagogue massacre for burial, members of Pittsburgh’s New Community Chevra Kadisha stood in a circle and held hands. They had gathered like this before, taking a moment after their work to process what they had done. This time, they were caring for people murdered in their own community. Volunteers from outside Pittsburgh had come to help. David Zimmer, a longtime member, remembered one visitor bringing a custom from another chevra kadisha. “He passed around a piece of chocolate,” Zimmer recalled, “so that there should be something sweet.” Eight years later, NCCK...