“A Tree of Life: The Pittsburgh Synagogue Shooting”, a new HBO documentary examining the deadliest antisemitic attack in American history, premieres today on HBO and HBO Max. The film features “A Tree of Life,” an original song performed by Idina Menzel, which she and her songwriting partner, Kate Diaz, wrote specifically for the project. The song, which you can listen to above and also stream across all platforms, addresses the Pittsburgh shooting, but also expands to a broader embrace of humanity.

The doc’s director, Trish Adlesic approached Idina about writing the song. Idina told Billboard:

“When I saw [the documentary], the bravery of the attack’s survivors and family members in telling such a difficult and personal story moved me beyond words. I immediately recruited my songwriting collaborator Kate Diaz, and we asked Trish to send us three words for inspiration in writing the song. She sent: honor, tribute, unity. I wanted to use my music not only to support and honor these courageous souls, but to make sure the film reaches across the globe to inspire action on anti-semitism and hate in all forms.

I am Jewish and the film touched me in a very personal way. However, I wrote this song because the film’s story is a human one. The film starts out telling an American-Jewish story, then a Pittsburgh story, and now in its ultimate form the film is a universal story told through the voices of the family members of those so wrongfully taken and those that survived on October 27th, 2018.

The question of how we respond to the Pittsburgh Synagogue Shooting and what actions we must take to ensure that it never happens again goes directly to the heart of America’s democracy. If any one of us is truly to be safe and free, then we have to ensure freedom and safety for all of our neighbors, regardless of creed, race, class, gender, sexuality, or ethnicity.”

Idina attended the premiere last week and I added photos to the gallery: