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Committee works to distribute millions donated for Tree of Life victims

PITTSBURGH — One month after the tragedy at the Tree of Life Synagogue in Squirrel Hill, local organizations are working to distribute the millions of dollars raised to help the victims and the Jewish community.

The Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh has received more than $4 million in donations since the tragedy.

A spokesman for the organization said they’ve created a separate committee of community leaders to help distribute the donations.

"All told, it's going to be a significant amount of money," said Adam Hertzman with the Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh. "Although the needs are very great as well."

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While the initial funds have been directed to the immediate needs of the victims and their families, the federation is beginning to look at other needs as well.

"We're certainly aware that there's needs for grief counseling and psychological counseling for our Jewish day schools and Jewish early childhood centers, Hertzman said. "There's even pastoral counseling for rabbis that's needed."

There's also money coming in from sources like the Islamic Center of Pittsburgh.

Executive Director Wasi Mohamed told Channel 11 the center has begun distributing the $240,000 raised.

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"The first $155,000, there's language on a receipt that's floating out there, that's directly for the needs, medical costs, funeral costs and burial costs for the families," Mohamed said. "The rest of it, if they have other needs that come up, they're welcome to use it for that."

"We're truly overwhelmed with the level of support from around the country and around the world," Hertzman said.

The Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh created a separate relief fund committee consisting of community leaders to determine the best ways to distribute the money donated.

The $4 million figure does not include the money donated directly to the Tree of Life congregations.

 

Cox Media Group

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