Common Sense Media Review
By Sabrina McFarland
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Survivor stories in aftermath of attack; language, violence.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 15+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
A Tree of Life: The Pittsburgh Synagogue Shooting
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
A TREE OF LIFE: THE PITTSBURGH SYNAGOGUE SHOOTING is a documentary that chronicles the murder of temple congregants on October 27, 2018. Eleven worshippers were killed and the shootings are considered the deadliest attack against a Jewish community in the United States.
Is It Any Good?
This is an important film for families to watch and discuss about the actions of antisemitism and other forms of hatred. In A Tree of Life: The Pittsburgh Synagogue Shooting, director Trish Adlesic offers firsthand interviews with relatives of deceased individuals and survivors. Rabbi Jonathan Perlman, who guided worshippers to safety during the synagogue shooting, shares the belief that some people think that "Whiteness is dying in this country and that the culture of White America has been diminished by Latin Americans, by Blacks, by Jews. And it's simply not true."
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the courage of the cast in A Tree of Life: The Pittsburgh Synagogue Shooting. How do they also demonstrate communication, perseverance, and teamwork? Why are these important character strengths?
Tree of Life synagogue congregant and survivor Dan Leger says that he would like the opportunity to speak with the shooter about the motivation behind the mass murders. Would you want to do the same? Why or why not?
Why do you think acts of anti-Jewish hatred continue to happen? What can we as a society do to stop it?
Movie Details
- On DVD or streaming : October 26, 2022
- Cast : Audrey Glickman , Dan Leger , Wasi Mohamed
- Director : Trish Adlesic
- Inclusion Information : Female Movie Director(s) , Female Movie Actor(s) , Indian/South Asian Movie Actor(s) , Female Movie Writer(s)
- Studio : HBO Documentary Films
- Genre : Documentary
- Topics : Activism , Friendship , History
- Character Strengths : Communication , Courage , Perseverance , Teamwork
- Run time : 81 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- Last updated : September 18, 2025
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