Northbrook Cantor Pens Children's Book After Synagogue Tragedy

NORTHBROOK, IL — It's been two years since a mass shooting claimed the lives of 11 people at the Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The deadliest attack on the Jewish community in U.S. history startled a nation. Cantor Steven Stoehr, a native of Pittsburgh, was devastated about the tragedy.

"What can we do after something so unspeakable? As cantors, whose role it is to guide the diverse spectrum of our community, we know education is crucial to long-term change and understanding," said Stoehr, a senior cantor at Northbrook's Congregation Beth Shalom.

He decided to craft a children’s book to shed a tolerance-themed light in response to the event. His book, "That's What Friends Do!," is based on the synagogue's new Torah mantle, which currently drapes around a Torah scroll that was damaged from the gunfire that ominous day. The mantle was gifted to Tree of Life by Stoehr and the Cantors' Assembly.

"Personally, I imagined that through this book, I could teach and express my love and support for the city in which I grew up," Stoehr said. "We can't teach our children anything if they are paralyzed with fear, so it seemed most helpful to approach this event in a children's book, for Squirrel Hill's younger community and hopefully youth around the country, with obvious age-appropriate tweaks, to bolster the message of tolerance and acceptance."

Stoehr began his career at Congregation Beth Shalom in 1988, serving his congregants for over 32 years. He is a graduate of the Jewish Theological Seminary. In 2002, he was granted the Hazzan David Putterman Award for excellence in his career. In 2008, he was awarded a Doctorate in Music, Honorius Causa.

The book, from which the synagogue will receive 100 percent of Stoehr’s profits, is about a Torah scroll that was in the sacred building during the tragic event. Aside from monetary support, Stoehr hopes that his book will spark necessary attention to the yet healing community. The Torah scroll discovers the true meaning of friendship when it is gifted with a new cover by Cantorial friends of the synagogue. Together, they help each other to spread the details of that sad day, and the message of friendship and tolerance so that something so terrible might never happen again. Children are encouraged to draw their own Torah cover within the book, snap and send a photo to Stoehr, and in return receive a replica pin of the Torah cover.

Stoehr and Tree of Life Rabbi, Jeffrey S. Myers, successfully administered a travel plan around the country for the actual Torah cover in 2019, and still do so today, to aid in educating congregations, children and community members of all faiths beyond only those in Pittsburgh. Stoehr conceived the cover’s imagery with artist Jeanette Kuvin Oren, which depicts 25 stars to represent the first responders on that morning and 11 black and gold stars (Pittsburgh colors) to represent those lost that day. The total 36 represents a Jewish concept of righteousness.

To learn more about "That's What Friends Do!" or to purchase a copy, visit: https://www.amazon.com/Thats-What-Friends-Steven-Stoehr/dp/1087923433.