Reva

Reva Simon was a lifelong Pittsburgher and devoted member of Congregation New Light. In this episode, she describes the Jewish communities of her childhood with striking detail. Reva was driving to morning services when the synagogue shooting occurred, and she reflects on the impact of the shooting and remembers her fellow congregants—Rich Gottfried, Dan Stein, and Melvin Wax—who were killed that day. She passed away on October 12, 2019, and is interred at Pliskover Cemetery. This episode is adapted from an oral history interview conducted by Noah Schoen with Reva Simon on August 5th, 7th, and 9th of 2019 for the Meanings of October 27th oral history project. The full, unedited interview will be made available soon at The October 27 Archive website, which is managed by the Rauh Jewish Archives at the Heinz History Center. To learn more or to donate to help us create more episodes like this one, visit october27podcast.org