PITTSBURGH – The new national institution dedicated to ending antisemitism and housed at the site of the worst antisemitic attack on United States soil announced its first chief executive officer.

Carole Zawatsky, an arts, culture and nonprofit leader with more than 30 years of experience within the Jewish communal world, will serve as the reimagined Tree of Life’s inaugural CEO.

“It is with a deep sense of meaning and responsibility that I join the Tree of Life to further its mission of renewal," said Carole Zawatsky, Tree of Life’s new CEO. “This space will forever be a powerful reminder of what happened here and how the community responded in the aftermath of that day to turn it into a beacon of hope and courage. Tree of Life’s future is bright and I’m excited and honored to be a part of it.”

Following a national search conducted by Lindauer Global, Zawatsky was unanimously nominated by a CEO search committee made up of individuals representing a number of sectors across the greater Pittsburgh community, including philanthropy, private enterprise and the Jewish community. The selection of Zawatsky was then approved by Tree of Life’s Interim Governance Committee (IGC).

“Tree of Life was an extended family for my brothers, Cecil and David. They welcomed everyone who came through their doors to share their beloved building. We are excited to begin working with Carole so that it may continue to be a welcoming place for all,” said Diane Rosenthal, who served on the search committee and is a member of the Memorial Working Group. She was also a sister of Cecil and David Rosenthal, who were among the 11 people killed in the attack on October 27, 2018.

The appointment of Zawatsky comes following the May 2022 unveiling of plans for a new national institution encompassing a museum, memorial and center for education known simply as Tree of Life.

The new 501(c)3 organization will be governed by a Board of Directors, which will also oversee the building where the Tree of Life*Or L’Simcha Congregation will continue to worship. Zawatsky will oversee the public launch of the new institution and lay the groundwork for its long-term success, a role she’s filled a number of times throughout her career. She will also oversee the rebuilding of the structure at the corner of Shady and Wilkins Avenues in Pittsburgh’s Squirrel Hill neighborhood, and lead the development of Tree of Life’s programming and exhibitions, as well as finalize the merger of the Holocaust Center of Pittsburgh into the new organization.

“Bringing Carole on board is a milestone moment in our effort to transform a site of tragedy into a site of hope, '' said Michael Bernstein, chair of the Tree of Life Interim Governance Committee (IGC). “In our many conversations, it is clear that Carole understands the urgency of our mission to couple education with action to end antisemitism and address identity-based hate. Her decades of experience both within the Jewish community and in cultural institutions and museums make her uniquely suited for the task at hand. ”

Throughout her career, Zawatsky has served a number of Jewish communal institutions and museums, including the National Museum of American Jewish History in Philadelphia, the Edlavitch DC Jewish Community Center in Washington, D.C., The Jewish Community Center of San Francisco, the Maltz Museum of Jewish Heritage in Cleveland, Ohio, the Jewish Museum in New York, and the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington, D.C. She also previously served at the Skirball Museum at Hebrew Union College and the J. Paul Getty Museum in California.

“Carole is the perfect choice to guide Tree of Life as it solidifies its place in our Squirrel Hill neighborhood, the wider Pittsburgh community, and as a leader on the world stage,” said Rabbi Jeffrey Myers, who survived the attack and serves as the honorary chair of the REMEMBER. REBUILD. RENEW. campaign supporting the new Tree of Life. “Antisemitism is not only a Jewish problem, it is an American problem. Carole not only understands that, she believes it. We are so happy to have her on this journey of reimagining the Tree of Life, and empowering people to join the movement to end antisemitism.

###

About the new Tree of Life 

As a pervasive form of identity-based hate, antisemitism is a destructive force that affects our entire society. Our community’s resilience in the face of a hate-fueled massacre has given root to a reimagined Tree of Life. Through remembrance, experience, and action, we educate and inspire individuals and communities from across our nation to recognize and stand up against antisemitism. Learn more: RememberRebuildRenew.org