Congregation Tree of Life (Pittsburgh, Pa.)

Tree of Life (or Ez Hayyim), the second synagogue to be founded in Pittsburgh (1864). Those who formed the congregation wanted to preserve the traditional orthodox form of worship. In 1906, the congregation moved from its original synagogue on Fourth Avenue and Ross Street, to a new building on Craft Avenue, where it stayed until moving into Squirrel Hill.

Although its membership has been meeting and paying dues at least since April of 1858, the Tree of Life Synagogue was officially founded in 1864 at Fourth Avenue and Ross Street, Pittsburgh, Pa. In 1906 the congregation removed to Craft Avenue in the Oakland section of the city where it remained until 1952 when it sold its property to the Pittsburgh Playhouse. Services were held in Rodef Shalom Temple, B'Nai Israel and Beth Shalom Synagogues for less than a year until the new synagogue at Shady and Wilkins Avenues was completed in October of 1952. A more detailed description of the history of the Tree of Life Synagogue can be found in the anniversary booklets contained in the collection.