Nov 6, 2018 By Mike Jones regional Editor mjones@observer-Reporter.Com 4 min read

Bing Nicholson struggled with his emotions Oct. 29 as he walked into the South Hills Jewish Community Center in Scott Township just two days after a mass shooting killed 11 people at a Squirrel Hill synagogue.

Nicholson, who is a teacher in the center’s child development department, didn’t know how to answer questions his young students might have about the Oct. 27 attack on the Tree of Life synagogue that investigators have called a hate crime.

“We carried on well, but just knowing what happened and that people could know someone who was involved,” said Nicholson, who is a Bethel Park resident.

“It was a different feeling. That tentative, somber feeling.”

But that sadness turned into hope as he went out to the parking lot and saw a flower on a coworker’s car. At first, he thought her spouse left it there, but he soon realized there was one flower on every car’s windshield, left by a stranger.

“The hair on my neck stands up when I think of it,” Nicholson said. “I get choked up thinking about it. I can’t believe the impact it had on me. It really did.”

The JCC’s members and staff still don’t know who left the flowers. But the generosity and sign of love from the person – or people – left an impression during a dark time for the Jewish community and the region. It struck a chord with Rob Goodman, the director of South Hills Jewish Pittsburgh and Community Relations, which is housed within the JCC, when he saw a long-stemmed rose on his SUV.

“The moment felt like that, ‘Wow, people care.’ This is much bigger and touched more people than we thought it would,” Goodman said. “While we got a smile, we still realize it’s sad and a tragedy that will live with us forever.”

Although the massacre happened 12 miles away in Squirrel Hill, he said it touched everyone in the South Hills, which at about 10,000 residents has the second largest Jewish population in the Pittsburgh area.

Goodman posted a few photos on Facebook, and it soon went viral with an outpouring of support.

“Wherever you go, the support is warm and palpable. You feel it,” Goodman said. “What was most amazing was that we’re not even in Squirrel Hill, but we’re so one as a community. These were our families, neighbors, friends, co-workers. It’s such a tight-knit Jewish community.”

This is not the first time Goodman has seen the best of humanity after a tragedy. He moved to Upper St. Clair after losing his house in New Orleans to Hurricane Katrina in 2005. He remembers the volunteers and service groups that came to his family’s aid at their greatest time of need.

“Unfortunately, I’ve seen this before, and I’ve seen communities get stronger from sadness and tragedy,” Goodman said. “In no ways are these similar – they’re different events – but I’m seeing a community, a state, a nation and the world look at this and rally around Pittsburgh. It’s such a touching and powerful moment.”

Closer to the tragedy, Roberta Levine Mintz, who is the marketing director for JCC and works at the Squirrel Hill location, said the support is overwhelming. They’ve received food and flowers, along with numerous offers to help at the center.

“We haven’t had time to process the offers of support,” she said. “It shows how strong and resilient this community is and makes me hopeful.”

Back at the JCC South Hills, Nicholson said the children have been doing various projects to remember the victims. One project includes painted handprints of each student that are being placed on a paper tree, which will be sent to the Tree of Life synagogue.

“There was a dark cloud over all of us, and, boy that really helped us. It was a spirit-lifter. I don’t think whoever did it could ever realize what it meant to us,” Nicholson said.

“It’s something I’ll always remember.”