Pittsburgh Jewish Chronicle 11-15-19

November 15, 2019 | 17 Cheshvan 5780

NOTEWORTHY LOCAL Talking Reform Judaism, Steel City

Candlelighting 4:45 p.m. | Havdalah 5:45 p.m. | Vol. 62, No. 46 | pittsburghjewishchronicle.org

$5 million of state funds now available for nonprofits’ security improvements

National experts convene in Pittsburgh for conference on anti-Semitism and hate

A Q&A with Rabbi Jonah Pesner, director of the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism.

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By Toby Tabachnick | Senior Staff Writer

T state government on behalf of Pennsylvania’s Jewish Federations and other community representatives, often working in concert with other religious advocacy groups.

“After the Tree of Life shooting, the Pennsylvania Jewish Coalition and the governor’s office sat down and we tried to figure out what we could do,” Butler said. “We really started working through ideas. We looked at security of all faiths, all areas, JCCs, YMCAs. The Tree of Life incident, along with the bomb threats against the JCCs, along with the desecration of cemeteries, along with other faiths and their bomb threats — Pittsburgh had one for example in June, a person tried to bomb a church. And we really all got together, not as a Jewish community, but also with the governor and the leadership of the Pennsylvania legislature, and had a discussion of what can we do. And we realized that having security grants was a top priority.”

While community leaders will also be addressing other issues such as hate crimes and anti-Semitism, “right now, we need to

sipy Gur, the founder and executive director of the educational non-profit Classrooms Without Borders, was moved to action after the massacre at the Tree of Life building last fall.

“I decided that we need to do things, we need to educate teachers and adults and lay people about what’s happening, not only about the Holocaust but anti-Semitism,” said Gur, whose team worked for the past year in assembling a roster of national scholars and experts to present at a comprehensive conference called “Antisemitism, Hate and Social Responsibility” held at Rodef Shalom Congregation on Nov. 10 and 11.

“We have here over 300 educators and students and it’s really very powerful,” said Gur just prior to the start of the conference on Sunday.

Through lectures, panel discussions and breakout sessions, the attendees learned about the many forms of anti-Semitism and hate. They were also given tools to fight it, through practical tips as well as the opportunity to get involved with several organizations that set up tables at the conference to share their anti-hate missions.

In addition to teachers and students from around Pittsburgh, attendees included those from New York, Arizona, Ohio and New Jersey. An entire bus filled with learners came from Washington & Jefferson College.

“Anti-Semitism is not just a chapter in European history,” Gur explained to the crowd at the commencement of the conference. “Today hate threatens our democracy,

Please see Security, page 14

Please see Anti-Semitism, page 14

LOCAL A milestone celebration

 From left: CRC Director Josh Sayles, Gov. Tom Wolf and Jeffrey Finkelstein, president and CEO of the Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh

Photo provided by Josh Sayles

By Toby Tabachnick | Senior Staff Writer

Ladies Hospital Aid Society marks 120 years.

Page 6

LOCAL Lebow turns 100 Celebrating a very special birthday at Tree of Life*Or L’Simcha.

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$1.50

J

ewish and other faith-based nonprofits in Pittsburgh and across the state will soon be able to apply for security grants from the newly created Nonprofit Security Grant Fund, established last week after Gov. Tom Wolf signed into law HB 859.

The law will allocate $5 million for the fiscal year to help faith-based Pennsylvania nonprofits put increased resources toward the safety and security of their facilities and communities.

The massacre at the Tree of Life building last year was a catalyst for speeding the bill’s passage.

“We have been working on this basically since Oct. 27, 2018,” said Josh Sayles, director of the Community Relations Council of the Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh.

“We have been working in lockstep with the Pennsylvania Jewish Coalition to take the lead on this. This is a really important piece of legislation and a really important step forward for our community.”

The PJC, led by Hank Butler, lobbies the

keep your eye on PittsburghJewishChronicle LOCAL

Feierstein talks Middle East

LOCAL

Rabbi Zvi Hirschfield at Kulam

LOCAL

Chatham U. courts Jews

Headlines National Reform movement leader highlights Pittsburgh community, Jewish values — LOCAL —

By David Rullo | Staff Writer

R

abbi Jonah Pesner is the director of the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism. He visited Pittsburgh on the one-year mark of the massacre at the Tree of Life building and met with rabbis and lay leaders of the five Reform congregations in the city.

Pesner sat down with the Chronicle to talk about Pittsburgh, his views on social justice, anti-Semitism and using Jewish values as a guide through troubling times.

Why did you decide to visit Pittsburgh now?

One of the most compelling and inspiring experiences of my life was seeing the way in which the Pittsburgh community, led by the Jewish community and surrounded by the broader community, came together in the wake of the Oct. 27 shooting.

I was at Soldiers & Sailors and saw an incredible example of solidarity when the Jewish community welcomed members of the Muslim community. I saw an African American pastor who talked about defending Jewish people and recognizing anti-Semitism, but he also acknowledged that two black people had been shot in a Kroger’s three days beforehand.

Pittsburgh plays an important role in my leadership as the director of the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism, as a case study in what it looks like when a community comes together to protect one another and fight for policies that will make everyone safer and everyone’s lives better.

faith community: synagogue by synagogue, church by church, mosque by mosque, temple by temple and our civic partners: parent-teacher organizations, civic societies, agencies, health centers have to come together for the common good.

Rev. Jen Bailey, a black pastor says, “relationships move at the speed of trust; social change moves at the speed of relationships.” So, to rebuild the kind of trust needed to put an end to p Rabbi Jonah Pesner speaks at Temple Sinai.

Photo provided by Dale Lazar. these violent acts of bigotry; to end the policies that have allowed I also met with the Center for Loving guns to become ubiquitous and accessible; to Kindness, which is unique. There is not another end the xenophobia and fear of migrants; to community in the country that I am aware end Islamophobia and anti-Semitism, it is of where the Jewish Community Center has going to take an enormous amount of trust and created a context, a space, for interfaith people relationship building. to come together and do good in the world.

How does the Jewish community build the How do you respond to people that say, kind of political muscle necessary to fight “It’s a year later and there has been a lot of for our security and advocate for beliefs cooperation between different communi- that may be different from other groups? ties — Jewish, Muslim, African American, There’s an anecdote in J.J. Goldberg’s Christian, etc. — and yet not much is book “Jewish Power” that says, “Jews have changing?” more power than they realize but less power This is a generational challenge. The Tree than anti-Semites accuse us of having.” We of Life shooting was the nadir in the battle know what Jewish power looks like. We against racism, bigotry, anti-Semitism and have had a very successful pro-Israel lobby. hate. We’re going to have more setbacks It’s important that Jews have built the kind before it gets better. I think, the same way of political muscle needed to fight for and we look back on the massive transforma- defend Israel and the U.S.-Israel relationtion in America from the 1950s to the ’60s ship. The question is, how do we build through the civil rights movement and that political power in a broader agenda revolution, and corollary movements in to amplify our enduring Jewish values gay rights, the women’s movement, etc., that find their origins in the biblical text. we’re in a major moment in America. The Those values are universal and are shared

with our non-Jewish neighbors and show a broader agenda than just the Jewish defense agenda. It’s important that we advocate for and build Jewish power to defend ourselves while at the same time to do social justice work, both because the prophets demand it and it makes us safer. It’s a both/and. Hillel got it right, ‘If I’m not for myself who will be for me, but if I’m for myself alone, what am I?’ You have to balance being there for the Jewish community and being there for others. We lose our humanness if we aren’t for others. When we show up for Muslim, migrants, undocumented people, then they show up for us.

We’re at the start of an election year. How do we not get caught up in partisan politics and stay focused on those enduring Jewish values you spoke of?

The way we will maintain our moral center is by trusting our text. Every Jew should read Hillel and Shammai on a regular basis.

There’s a debate between the two, and the students of each say they are right, a heavenly voice interrupts and says ‘Eilu v’Eilu,’ ‘these and those are the words of the living God.’ Interestingly, the heavenly voice says the halakha goes to Hillel because when Hillel announced his opinion, he would first quote Shammai. The idea that you would take the person you disagree with so seriously and amplify her or his position, is radically relational. If we live in that space, trying to create a kind of discourse and decision-making process that honors the divinity of all in the room, goodness will emerge. PJC David Rullo can be reached at drullo@ pittsburghjewishchronicle.org.

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Headlines Ambassador reflects on Middle East policy, gift giving and Pittsburgh — LOCAL —

By Adam Reinherz | Staff Writer

G

erald Feierstein, a Philadelphia native who completed degrees at Point Park and Duquesne universities and later served as a diplomat in Pakistan, Israel, Saudi Arabia, Tunisia, Oman and Lebanon, returned to Pittsburgh for a talk titled “The Crisis in U.S. Middle East Policy.�

The Nov. 5 presentation by Feierstein, who’s now vice president of the Middle East Institute in Washington, D.C., was hosted by the World Affairs Council. During his talk, and in a subsequent conversation with the Chronicle, Feierstein noted that in the past 15 years, the United States has demonstrated a waning influence in the Middle East. “Both the Obama administration and the Trump administration have made clear that they would like to reduce U.S. presence certainly on the military side and then, even more broadly, that they don’t see the necessity necessarily of close U.S. engagement or strong U.S. presence, and they’d like to reduce our commitments,� said Feierstein. “Obama talked about the pivot to Asia.

Trump has also talked about ending the endless wars and doing other things.�

The result of such actions, along with “other dynamics,� has led many in the region

p Ambassador Gerald Feierstein

Photo courtesy of Middle East Institute

to seek partnerships elsewhere, such as with Russia or China. “If we look at situations like Libya, Sudan, Yemen, these are clear instances where the regional governments have decided that they’re going to pursue their own interests as they perceive them, even in those instances where the U.S. policy is something quite different.�

During his 41 years in the State Department,

Feierstein wasn’t often able to share such personal views. Now that he works in the private sector, however, he has the luxury of offering his own perspective on foreign affairs. “When you’re working for the government, when you’re a diplomat, you have a responsibility to do your best to reflect the policy.

I mean, you’re speaking on behalf of the government, not on behalf of yourself, and so even if you’re in a situation where you perhaps don’t necessarily agree personally with some of the decisions that are being made, you still have an obligation to do your best to explain them and defend them,� he said.

Suppressing his own views wasn’t particularly challenging, he explained. “That’s the job,� he said. “If you want to be a career professional diplomat then you have an obligation to represent the administration’s policies, whatever they are. Whether you agree or disagree, that’s the oath you take: to speak on behalf of the government.�

Feierstein’s decades in public service afforded extended travel and an opportunity to see the world, but they also presented danger. While he was serving as U.S. ambassador in Yemen, a position he held from 2010-2013, Al-Qaeda’s branch in Yemen offered 3 kilograms of gold, then worth approximately $160,000, to anyone willing to kill Feierstein or an American soldier in Yemen, reported the Times of Israel.

Media outlets identified Feierstein as

Jewish, but the desire to kill him had nothing to do with anti-Semitism, he explained. “I saw it as a response to U.S. policy,� said Feierstein. “I think it was a reflection of the fact that we were being very effective in our anti-terrorism campaign, and they saw me — and I was happy that they saw me — as somebody who was threatening them. So I saw it in terms of my role in implementing a U.S. policy that was very aggressive against terrorists groups.�

As an ambassador, or representative of the United States government, other aspects of life abroad were less stressful. In particular, Feierstein was regularly tasked with accepting and giving gifts, a charge that revealed certain trends and patterns.

Some foreign leaders would “try to look at the personal interest of the president and give a gift that they thought would be special and well received,� he said. “So for example, people always wanted to give horses to Ronald Reagan because they knew he loved to ride horses, and with Bill Clinton everyone was always giving a saxophone.� The funny part was at “a certain point we were given very explicit instructions that Bill Clinton does not want any more saxophones as a gift.�

Occasionally, the gifts would be a bit more unique.

When Hillary Clinton traveled to Yemen as secretary of state, she received an elaborate Please see Ambassador, page 15

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WHEN DO I NEED A LAWYER AFTER SOMEONE HAS DIED? This is one in a series of articles about Elder Law by Michael H. Marks., Esq. Michael H. Marks is an elder law attorney with offices in Squirrel Hill and Monroeville.

Send questions to michael@marks-law.com or visit www.marks-law.com.

After a loved one has passed away, certain steps have to be taken for which a lawyer’s help is ordinarily needed. There are other practical actions and decisions that family members can usually undertake without the help of an attorney.

Which steps require an attorney?

“Administering an estate” means to wind up somebody’s affairs and conclude all necessary business and arrangements after someone has died.

Certain family and practical matters - including some decisions that need to be made immediately following a death - may be necessary but are not cause for retaining an attorney. Such pragmatic choices and acts may include: deciding about organ donation; contacting family members and loved ones; making funeral arrangements; and arranging care for pets and dependents.

You also usually don’t need a lawyer for preliminary steps such as ordering death certificates from the funeral director, or to search for and locate an original Last Will and Testament or trust documents. You can also begin on your own to gather financial records concerning assets, accounts, insurance, debts, etc.

So when do you need to consult an estates or probate attorney for guidance and assistance? Here is a description of the work that we, as lawyers, usually do for clients, to administer am estate.

4 NOVEMBER 15, 2019

1. Determine if probate estate proceedings

and other parties in interest. Dealing (a court-administered legal process) are with creditors is especially important in needed and whether or not an Executor or insolvent estates Administrator must be officially appointed 7. Prepare and file probate estate filings, to administer the estate. If no estate needs including Notice and Certification, to be opened, and no Executor needs to be Inventory, etc. appointed, then we will not do so and will save a great deal of time, energy and money. 8. Sell/liquidate assets and transfer or re-title accounts to new owners. Our experienced 2. On the other hand, if probate estate staff most often handle this paperwork, proceedings are necessary, we will open the which can be confusing and annoying. Every probate estate and procure the appointment company has their own forms and demands of the executor or administrator. This involves a slightly different set of documents. preparing the right paperwork and appearing 9. Pay bills, debts, claims and expenses in person downtown to be sworn in.

3. Inventory the assets of the decedent, 10. Prepare and file Pennsylvania Inheritance Tax return and pay tax (and Federal estate including non-probate assets such as “Pay on tax as well if needed). We are experienced Death” and joint accounts, which do not pass doing with these tax returns, as well as through probate but must be accounted for on the Pennsylvania Inheritance tax return.

4. Make advance arrangements to open

and inventory any safe deposit box.

This procedure requires contacting the Pennsylvania Department of Revenue and the bank ahead of time to be permitted to open the box.

11. Prepare and obtain signatures on Family

Settlement Agreement and summary Account, OR file formal Account for Audit in Court. At the end of the process, we often help smooth the way toward family consensus and agreement by answering questions and providing explanations for anxious participants.

12. Make final distributions, and establish

and fund continuing Trust arrangements, if needed.

At Marks Elder Law, we help people every day with issues like these. I invite your questions and feedback. Please let me know how I can help you and your family.

helping you plan for what matters the most

5. Check for unclaimed property and

obtain a Statement of Claim from the PA Department of Human Services.

Individuals often leave behind small or even large amounts of unclaimed property. In addition, when someone has received Medicaid such as for nursing home care, the Commonwealth may have a claim for reimbursement.

required fiduciary income tax returns for estates. We also help clients save money by making estimated payments at a discount.

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412-421-8944 4231 Murray Avenue Pittsburgh, PA 15217

6. Advertise the estate and notify creditors

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With the increasing costs of long-term care, having the help of a legal professional when planning for your family’s future can help you make better decisions that can result in keeping more of your money.

We help families understand the strategies, the benefits, and risks involved with elder law, disability and estate planning.

Michael H. Marks, Esq. Linda L. Carroll, Esq. michael@marks-law.com member, national academy of elder law attorneys

linda@marks-law.com

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Headlines Kulam welcomes scholar-in-residence — LOCAL —

By Adam Reinherz | Staff Writer

I

t’s hard to say whether pairing noodle kugel and Levinas will facilitate introspection and Jewish communal growth, but Pittsburghers will have a chance to find out this week.

Between Nov. 15 and 16, Israeli resident and Columbia University graduate Rabbi Zvi Hirschfield, of the Pardes Institute of Jewish Studies, will join Kulam: The Pittsburgh Community Beit Midrash for a weekend of meals and Torah study. The Shabbaton will enable guests to dine together and navigate topics in Jewish thought.

On Friday evening, program participants will explore truth and peace, then on Saturday afternoon examine 20th-century French philosopher Emmanuel Levinas’ ideas about ethics and radical responsibility.

The two sessions, bolstered by food and conversation, will enable attendees “to leave the space of their synagogues and interact and reflect on a community-wide level,” said Hirschfield. Whether it is “figuring out how we balance our autonomy and integrity on the one hand with our need to stay together on the other hand,” or delving into “how we build relationships in the community and why the Jewish community is very powerful and relevant today,” the topics should engender meaningful dialogue and discovery, he said.

Hirschfield teaches Talmud, Jewish law and Jewish thought at Pardes. He’s lived in Israel for nearly two decades, but has Diasporic roots. After graduating from Ida Crown Jewish Academy in Chicago and completing an undergraduate degree in history at Columbia University, Hirschfield studied at Yeshivat Har Etzion near Jerusalem and received ordination from the Chief Rabbinate of Israel.

Hirschfield was Judaica director at the Jewish Community Center of Cleveland for five years and recognizes the sensitivity of traveling to Pittsburgh in November and discussing football or city rivalries. Most likely, he’ll stick to texts, he noted.

One communal aspect he will address, however, is the fact that the Shabbaton is occurring on the Hebrew date of 18 Cheshvan, the yahrzeit of those murdered in last year’s attack at the Tree of Life building.

“I’m going to say something about it because it’s appropriate to,” he said. “We know of no better way to honor the memory of those who were literally killed in shul than by deepening our tradition and connecting to each other. This is what Jewish resilience and Jewish survival is about.”

Gathering together in this capacity will afford “terrific learning that will be relevant to your life and deepen your spiritual life,” echoed Peter Braasch, a co-organizer of Kulam. The goal of bringing people together in this format is that between the combination of study and food, “we are hoping people will build relationships,” he added.

Saturday, November 23 at 7:00 p.m.

Congregation Beth Shalom, 5915 Beacon St., Pittsburgh, PA 15217 p Rabbi Zvi Hirschfield

Photo courtesy of Pardes Institute of Jewish Studies

Kulam originated nearly four years ago after Braasch and David Brent served together on the board of the now defunct Agency for Jewish Learning. Around 2016, the two Squirrel Hill residents began working with educators and supporters to facilitate opportunities for informal and formal Jewish learning. Since that time they’ve regularly partnered with Pardes scholars, including Rabba Yaffa Epstein and Rabbi Will Friedman, to promote textual study with a nondenominational approach through the Kulam program.

The objective of the Shabbaton in Pittsburgh and in general at Pardes is to “bring people from different backgrounds, who have different beliefs and different Jewish practices in a way that we can all study Torah together and learn to appreciate and grow with the challenge of our differences,” said Hirschfield.

Studying Torah together is “a means of connecting people without forced agreement,” he added. “Our tradition almost always presents multiple perspectives on any issue, and within the texts there is a balance between elucidating competing values.”

When study partners wrestle with a piece of traditional Jewish learning, they’re often trying to determine competing notions, such as what the text is saying but also what their beliefs are relative to the material.

“Figuring out where the text is and figuring out where I am is not about denigrating an opposing view but a chance to challenge it,” said Hirschfield.

Kulam stems from the Hebrew word for “everyone,” Braasch previously told the Chronicle. “Everybody is welcome,” he said.

“It’s right there in the name, no matter what your perspective, observance or level of knowledge is.” PJC

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Adam Reinherz can be reached at areinherz@ pittsburghjewishchronicle.org.

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Headlines Past presidents, descendant of founder feted at Ladies Hospital Aid Society lunch — LOCAL —

By Toby Tabachnick | Senior Staff Writer

T

he last 120 years have brought about scores of changes to the Ladies Hospital Aid Society, but one thing has remained constant: the organization’s commitment to addressing health care needs in Western Pennsylvania.

About 30 guests turned out for a Nov. 6 luncheon at Rodef Shalom Congregation to celebrate the 120th anniversary of LHAS and to fete past presidents and descendants of its founders — 17 Jewish women, all Eastern European immigrants, who realized their vision of building a hospital to serve Jewish patients in Pittsburgh and where Jewish doctors could work without facing discrimination, which was a serious issue at the time.

In 1898, Annie Jacobs Davis rallied 16 other women to form the Hebrew Ladies’ Aid Society, setting membership dues at 10 cents a week. In the early days, that money was used to pay ward rates for indigent Jews admitted to existing hospitals.

“What can be done when a body of people is in earnest is evidenced by the Hebrew Ladies’ Hospital Aid Society,” began a 1904

p From left, LHAS board member Peggy Smyrnes-Williams, chair of LHAS Legacy Committee Jackie Dixon, LHAS president Carole Kamin

p Past presidents Marcia Weiss and Eileen Finestone Photos by Toby Tabachnick

article that appeared in the Jewish Criterion, the Chronicle’s predecessor paper. “A band of seventeen women determined to take care of the indigent Jews who could not afford to pay for hospital treatment and whose home surroundings were such as to seriously interfere with a proper treatment. They did not go among the wealthy to secure funds for the purpose, but they went among those whose sympathy was with the movement; who knew

In 10 years, the women raised $25,000 toward the construction of Montefiore Hospital, which opened in 1908, and the society eventually changed its name to Ladies Hospital Aid Society. Throughout Montefiore’s history, members worked to raise money, establish patient-care programs, and serve the charitable needs of the hospital.

that at some time they themselves were likely to need the assistance of the organization. As a result even the poorest people in the Pittsburgh district managed to contribute ten cents a week toward the maintenance of the society, and today there are over 500 of these ten cent pieces coming from as many women… The aim of the movement is to establish a hospital of their own, so that patients will receive the care of their own people.”

Please see LHAS, page 15

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We’re writing a Torah to honor Rabbi Jamie Gibson!

Join us for the kick-off event on Sat., Nov. 23, 7:30 PM

To honor Rabbi Jamie Gibson’s 32 years of spiritual leadership, teaching, and social justice, it is fitting that we, as a community, write a new Torah scroll that will be dedicated to him.

The evening will feature a festive catered dessert reception, Havdalah, music, a presentation by Soferet Linda Coppleson, and the writing of the first words of our new Torah.

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NOVEMBER 15, 2019 7

❦ Poem for Jerry Rabinowitz ❦ Headlines Chatham seeking to enhance Jewish life on campus with an eye toward building enrollment

Under the snow, the crisp clean white snow, under the leaves and the grass and the mud, and clay and rocks and under the sand sprinkled so lovingly under the plain pine board and the star

— LOCAL —

under the tallis under the crisp, white linen

By Toby Tabachnick | Senior Staff Writer

and the knots

B

lovingly tied

ack in the 1960s and 1970s, about a third of the students at Chatham University — then an all-women’s college — were Jewish.

Now, for a variety of factors, the Jewish population at the school, located in the heart of Squirrel Hill, has dwindled to about 2% of the 2,400 students that comprise the total undergraduate and graduate student body.

David Finegold, the president of Chatham, is keen to reverse that trajectory, and with a grant from the Fine Foundation is advancing efforts to enhance Jewish life on campus.

The location of the campus, along with its academic offerings, could make it an attractive option for Jewish students, Finegold said.

“We are in the heart of Squirrel Hill, the most densely populated Jewish neighborhood of Pittsburgh,” he said. “We thought it was a natural fit for Chatham as we looked for new ways to grow and enhance the diversity of our campus and what we offer.”

There is a demographic decline of high school students in the region, he explained.

For regional colleges and universities that tend to attract students living in the area, “it’s a pretty fiercely competitive environment. You are always looking for the things that will be a differentiator for you, and the fact that we are within walking or easy bike distance for a large number of synagogues, it’s a nice advantage.”

The college-going population is predicted to drop by 15% between 2025 and 2029, according to Nathan Grawe, an economist at Carleton College in Minnesota. Regional institutions serving mostly local students are projected to lose more than 11% of their students, dropping from 1.43 million in 2012 to down to 1.27 million in 2029.

Chatham is now planning to do “active outreach” to Jewish students, said Finegold, and is working “to understand the needs of and interests of the student population and try to make sure that we have the offerings

are you resting?

Are you quietly looking up?

Is your brow now unfurrowed, are your wounds now at peace?

Can you see up through the dark to the bright blue of a winter sky, or is it forever autumn when you dream?

Do you see up to the bird on the bare branch, who sings — piercing the quiet home wood?

Maybe you sit next to him and toss your head back and laugh like only you can do.

You say to him, “Hi Bir ” always making a nickname for every person you greet making them feel like they are welcome, a friend of yours, even if they’re new.

Where will we find you?

Can you really be gone to us?

Impossible to contemplate a world so changed.

Would you be forgiving — would you find a way to understand the impossible?

We will watch the snow melt, and the leaves raked and the mud and clay flatten down and the grass seed take hold growing green over dirt and rocks and stones and sand.

We will stand around you circling you, and holding you in our hearts while we snip at cloth, uncovering stone, and words and letters

that meet those.”

Chatham was founded as a women’s college in 1869. While the school has been accepting male graduate students for the past two decades, the entire university did not become co-ed until 2015.

Since the school began admitting men, Chatham’s growth has been rapid, increasing its undergraduate population from fewer than 600 students to more than 1,140, according to Finegold. Still, the university is aiming to achieve an undergraduate student body of 1,400.

Despite the relatively small number of Jews currently on campus, student life at Chatham is nonetheless “quite active,” he said.

“Chabad here locally has been very active in terms of offering the cultural, historical part of Jewish life on campus, so we have different events to celebrate the different holidays,” said Finegold. “We will have students of all faiths, not just Jewish students, coming together to make challah or for a Friday night Shabbat dinner. We have Sukkot on the main quad right now, and so that’s been a nice way as part of our interfaith efforts to expose all of our students to the Jewish faith.”

Jewish students at Chatham also are connected and included in programming at the Hillel Jewish University Center, which mostly serves students at Carnegie Mellon University and the University of Pittsburgh.

“Part of what we are hoping to do in this effort is to build a more formal Hillel chapter here on campus that would be part of enhancing Jewish life,” Finegold explained.

“We have been talking with the (Jewish) Federation (of Greater Pittsburgh) and with Hillel about that.”

Finegold envisions a designated Hillel staff member who might work with Chatham students as well students at other smaller area universities with Jewish student populations.

“That may be one way to share the costs and think about it but we are still in exploratory planning,” he said.

Chatham is also considering other possible Please see Chatham, page 15

unveil your name and sing to you like the bird on the branch (with leaves now) and leave now to carry on and be a little better and be a little sadder and remember to greet newcomers with a smile, and a nickname and make them feel we are already their friend.

— Ellen Leger Ellen Leger is the wife of Dan Leger, who was shot in the Tree of Life massacre last October, along with their dearly loved friend Dr. Jerry Rabinowitz. Jerry didn’t survive.

Ms. Leger is a volunteer coordinator for JFCS / AgeWell, a social services nonprofit organization, and lives in Squirrel Hill with her Dan, who is recovering day by day.

The poem appeared first in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.

8 NOVEMBER 15, 2019

p Chatham University

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Photo provided by Chatham University.

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Headlines Birthday and yahrzeits collide for Tree of Life centenarian that’s something to be proud of! Be happy!”

One of the card’s messages was composed in alternating blue and purple marker:

By Adam Reinherz | Staff Writer “Happy birthday Moe even though your friends aren’t here I want you to know you early 2,000 years ago, the sages have friends everywere [sic]. But you espirealized there would be scheduling cley [sic] have friends in Philadelphia.” conflicts, so they determined that if “I read every one of them 10 on the same day, at the same time, a funeral times,” said Lebow. procession and a wedding party reached a The birthday greetings made him laugh, as fork in the road and one group needed to did the spelling attempts. pass the other, the funeral procession would “Like the word ‘education,’ they would yield for the bride. The reasoning, according spell it crazy but I knew what they were to the Talmud, is that the celebration of the saying,” he said. living takes precedence.

Mostly, though, the cards generated A similar conjunction of life and death another response. will take place on Nov. 16, when members “These kids are in third grade, second of Tree of Life*Or L’Simcha will observe the grade, and they’re writing, ‘Dear Moe, sorry yahrzeit of those killed in last year’s attack about your loss.’ They knew about the loss. I on the same day they celebrate the 100th lost my friends. It made me cry. I mean why birthday of Morris “Moe” Lebow. The former should kids know about my loss? I lost 11 will be marked with a special yizkor service, friends. Why should a kid in the third grade while Lebow’s birthday will be feted with a know about this? What kind of a life is he Kiddush lunch and birthday cake. leading, is he coming into?”

The peculiarity of life, and the gifts it That’s just one of many tough quesoffers, was apparent to Lebow on a recent tions Lebow has. day when he sat in his Squirrel Hill home “Of all the places, why would a guy go into and leafed through birthday cards sent a synagogue, where people are praying to from students at Jack M. Barrack Hebrew God, and kill them? It doesn’t make sense.

Academy in Philadelphia.

Or go into a church and kill people (when) “Happy birthday Moe,” one read in almost they’re praying to God?” he said. unintelligible writing.

During the past year, Lebow has thought JCAnother Opn compass_Eartique 2/28/17 10:32 AM 1 read: “You’ve lived a century andPage much about the events of Oct. 27, 2018. On

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that day, he was supposed to be at services.

“I usually go every morning, but that morning there was something wrong in my stomach,” he said. “I just didn’t feel good. I said maybe I’ll take a day off.”

Instead of riding with Joyce Fienberg, who frequently drove him to shul, and seeing Rose Mallinger, who often greeted him with a kiss, Lebow stayed home.

Several hours later, when he turned on his television and observed events unfolding down Shady Ave., p Morris “Moe” Lebow Photo by Adam Reinherz he was bewildered.

“It was like a dream,” he said. “Could that happen here? What kind of a world is this?” to be one of the victims,” he told KDKA. At the same time, he was worried about his Awareness of life’s fragility aren’t new police officer grandson, Commander Jason to Lebow.

Lando, a first responder to the shooting.

His mother, Rebecca Lebow, died “He just gives his life away every day being when he was 6. a cop, you know? Every time I see him, I say During World War II, he was stationed in goodbye to him, I say take care of yourself,” Panama, where he contracted malaria. said Lebow. “I worry about him every night.”

Later, while working as a traveling jewelry Meanwhile, Lando was worried about his salesman, Lebow was robbed and locked grandfather. “For the first 30 minutes of the incident, I was pretty convinced that my grandfather was in there, and he was going Please see Centenarian, page 15

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Calendar q SUNDAY, NOV. 17 Congregation Beth Shalom, Derekh and the American Associates Ben-Gurion University of the Negev invite you to attend a special screening of “Ben-Gurion Epilogue” on Sunday, Nov. 17 at 2 p.m. at Congregation Beth Shalom (5915 Beacon St.). Light refreshments served. RSVP to Claire Winick at winickc@aabgu.org or 215-884-4510.

>>Submit calendar items on the Chronicle’s website, pittsburghjewishchronicle.org.

Submissions will also be included in print.

Events will run in the print edition beginning one month prior to the date as space allows.

The deadline for submissions is Friday, noon. q FRIDAY, NOV. 15 Chabad of the South Hills presents a Friday Night Dinner honoring the yahrzeit of our 11 brothers and sisters. Special guest Mrs. Sharon Saul, psychologist, MS. Exciting children’s program. $18/adult $12/child (12 & under) $54/ family max. Chabad of the South Hills (1701 McFarland Road), 5:30 p.m.

Register before Wednesday, Nov. 13 at chabadsh.com or batya@chabadsh.com.

q FRIDAY, NOV. 15 & SATURDAY, NOV. 16 Kulam: Pittsburgh Community Beit Midrash welcomes Pardes Institute of Jewish Studies’ Rabbi Zvi Hirschfield for Shabbat meals and classes on Nov. 15 and 16 at the Jewish Community Center. Rabbi Hirschfield will be teaching two sessions, a Shabbat dinner session: “The Conflict Between Truth and Peace: What Do We Do When We are Committed to Two Values That are Sometimes Irreconcilable?”

(6:30 p.m. on Nov. 15), and a Shabbat lunch session “Levinas and Radical Responsibility: What Could Jewish Community Model for Humanity?” (1 p.m. on Nov. 16). Childcare will be available for both sessions. Suggested donation: $15 per person/$36 family maximum. jfedpgh.org/donate/foundation.

q SUNDAY, NOV. 17 Women of Rodef Shalom and the Rodef Shalom Caring Committee present “Marijuana and Your Health.” Learn about the distinction between CBD and THC, by-products of the marijuana plant. These products are being promoted to relieve chronic pain, anxiety, inflammation and more.

Does the research bear out the effectiveness of these products? Breakfast begins at 9:30 a.m. The program starts at 10 a.m. at Rodef Shalom (4905 Fifth Ave.) RSVP to Carol Leaman at CHLOTR@aol.com.

Rabbi Shelley Goldman presents “Reconstructionism: Deeply Rooted, Boldly Relevant” at Rodef Shalom Congregation (4905 Forbes Ave.) beginning at 1 pm.

The program will explore the history and current leadership of the Reconstructionist movement in the American Jewish community. The event is sponsored by the Dor Hadash Adult Education Committee.

RSVP (requested but not required): admin@ dorhadash.net. Free.

Professor Reuven Kimelman of Brandeis University will speak at the annual lecture at the Israel Heritage Room at the University of Pittsburgh on “Judaism as a Religion of Pleasure.” The lecture is at the Cathedral of Learning at 3 p.m. For more information, go to jewishstudies.pitt.edu.

Join Moishe House for Treasures in the Archives with Moishe House as we journey through Pittsburgh’s history with archivists

from the Heinz History Center! The archivists will be sharing the rarely heard stories behind their favorite collections, and we will get to see these historical objects, documents, and photographs firsthand! 2-4 p.m. If you are able to attend, please RSVP at heinzhistorycenter.org/events/treasures-inthe-archives-2019 to reserve your spot, as the event may fill up. Moishe House events are intended for young adults age 22-32. q TUESDAY, NOV. 19 View a screening of “Jewish Memories of Pittsburgh’s Hill District – Documentary” at 7:30 p.m. at Regent Square Theater, 1035 S. Braddock Ave. $10. threeriversfilmfestival. com/films/jewish-memories-of-pittsburghshill-district q TUESDAYS, NOV. 19-DEC. 17; SUNDAYS, NOV. 24-DEC. 22 Mined from the teachings of the Torah and contemporary psychology, Worrier to Warrior: Jewish secrets to feeling good however you feel, a six-week Rohr Jewish Learning Institute course, takes a fresh approach to the battle against bad feelings, providing realistic spiritual mechanisms for remaining upbeat no matter what life brings.

Offered Tuesday evenings starting Nov. 12 from 7:30-9 p.m. at the South Hills JCC, 345 Kane Blvd or Sunday mornings starting Nov. 17, 10:15-11:30 a.m. at Chabad of the South Hills, Mt. 1701 McFarland Rd. For more information call 412-344-2424 or rabbi@ chabadsh.com.

Please see Calendar, page 11

This week in Israeli history Nov. 19, 1957 — Singer Ofra Haza is born

— WORLD — Items provided by the Center for Israel Education (israeled.org), where you can find more details.

Nov. 15, 1942 — Daniel Barenboim is born

In the blueness

Conductor and pianist Daniel Barenboim, who makes aliyah as a child, is born in Buenos Aires. He directs orchestras in Paris, Chicago, Milan and Berlin and co-founds the West-Eastern Divan Orchestra.

of the skies and in the warmth of summer,

We Remember Them.

Nov. 16, 1924 — Haim Bar-Lev is born

Haim Bar-Lev, who as IDF chief of staff in the late 1960s oversees the construction of Israel’s defensive line along the eastern bank of the Suez Canal, is born in Vienna, Austria.

Nov. 17, 2008 — Gangster Alperon killed by car bomb

Yaakov Alperon, an organized-crime leader known in Israeli media as “Don Alperon,” dies at age 53 when his car is destroyed by a remote-controlled bomb in Tel Aviv.

Nov. 18, 1951 — Rock star Yoni Rechter is born

Lee & Lisa Oleinick 10 NOVEMBER 15, 2019

Yoni Rechter, considered one of Israel’s greatest musicians, is born in Tel Aviv. He is the keyboardist for Israel’s 1974 Eurovision entrant, Kaveret, and his career takes off with his first solo album, “Intending,” in 1979.

PITTSBURGH JEWISH CHRONICLE

Ofra Haza, Israel’s Singer of the Year every year from 1980 to 1983, is born in Tel Aviv to Yemeni parents. She finishes second at the 1983 Eurovision Song Contest and performs at Israel’s 50th birthday celebration in 1998.

Nov. 20, 1944 — Paratrooper Haviva Reik killed

Slovakian-born Haviva Reik and two other paratroopers from Mandatory Palestine are among 40 Jewish fighters executed by the Nazis in Slovakia several weeks after their capture in an uprising.

Nov. 21, 1984 — Operation Moses begins

Working with the CIA and Sudanese State Security, the Mossad launches Operation Mos es to br ing Ethiopian Jews to Israel.

Almost 8,000 Ethiopians are flown from refugee camps in Sudan in less than seven weeks. PJC

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Calendar Calendar: Continued from page 10 chabadsh.com.

Jewish Secrets to Feeling Good However You Feel. Mined from the teachings of Torah and contemporary psychology, Worrier to Warrior, takes a fresh approach to the battle against bad feelings, providing realistic spiritual mechanisms for remaining upbeat no matter what life brings. 6 consecutive Tuesday evenings. This course is accredited for up to 15 continued medical credits. $79, Scholarships available. Class begins at 7:30 p.m. at Chabad of Monroeville (2715 Mosside Blvd.) To register, visit jewishmonroevill.com/jli. q WEDNESDAY, NOV. 20 Escape the November cold with Cozy Night!

Puzzles & Harry Potter at Moishe House from 7-9 p.m. For more information, visit facebook.com/events/952910038408082.

Moishe House events are intended for young adults age 22-32. q WEDNESDAYS, NOV. 20, 27; DEC. 4 Jewish Family and Community Services presents Trauma Resiliency Group: An Integrative Approach to Healing, a free weekly gathering for anyone suffering the aftermath of the trauma of Oct. 27.

Offered by Amy Lohr, LCSW, integrative psychotherapist, at the 10.27 Healing Partnership (2nd floor of the Squirrel Hill JCC, 5738 Forbes Ave. at 4 p.m.).

“Heal, Grow and Live with Hope” Nar-Anon and NA meetings every Wednesday evening at Beth El Congregation, 1900 Cochran Road, 15220 at 7:30 p.m. Come to the office/school entrance at the end of the building to be buzzed in. Call Karen at 412-563-3395 and leave a message for more information. q WEDNESDAYS, NOV. 20, 2019APRIL 1, 2020 Temple Emanuel is excited to add a Wednesday Night Adult Education series to their educational offerings. Sign up for a three-week class on a topic of interest, or string together multiple series for a refresher or introductory course on Jewish tradition. No cost is involved.

All classes will be on Wednesdays, 7-8:30 pm, at Temple Emanuel of South Hills (1250 Bower Hill Road). templeemanuelpgh.org.

“Night at the Races” at 6 p.m. The evening includes a 50/50 raffle, Chinese auction, and cash prizes for picking the winning horse. All proceeds benefit Mimsie’s Place, the preschool playground of the Berkman Family Center.

Tickets are $40 per person. Name a horse at $20 each: Secretariat, Justify, Affirmed – choose your name! Event tickets includes food and two drinks. You must be 21 to attend. To RSVP, visit rodefshalom.org/rsvp.

Temple Sinai (5505 Forbes Ave.) is writing a Torah to honor Rabbi Jamie Gibson and they want you to join them for their Sacred Words, Sacred Connections Kick-Off Event beginning at 7:30 p.m. There’s no charge for the evening, but RSVP is required. templesinaipgh.shulcloud.com/event/torahproject-kick-off-event.html. q SUNDAY, NOV. 24 Join The Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh’s Young Adult Division for I-Volunteer Thanksgiving Food Packing at Repair the World (6140 Station St.) on Sunday, Nov. 24 at 1 p.m. Please bring non-perishable goods and get ready to help pack and sort Thanksgiving donations to local organizations that help those in need. This project is aimed at young adults and young families. Visit jewishpgh.org/event/i-volunteer-thanksgiving-food-packing/ to register.

Watch the Steelers take on the Cincinnati Bengals at Hough’s Taproom and Brewpub (563 Greenfield Ave.) with the Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh’s Young Adult Division. Kickoff is at 1 p.m. but arrive by noon to guarantee seating. Dietary laws may not be observed. For more information and to register visit jewishpgh.org/event/steelers-vs-bengals.

South Hills Interfaith Movement invite their South Hills neighbors to attend the annual Interfaith Thanksgiving Service beginning at 7 p.m. This year’s event will be held at Bower Hill Community Church, 70 Moffett Street. All are welcome. Contributions of non-perishable food items benefit the SHIM food bank. Learn more at shimcares.org. For more information visit shimcares.org/event/interfaiththanksgiving-service/?event_date=2019-11-26.

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Olivia Tucker presents “New Heroines from Ancient Times” as part of Rodef Shalom’s “Wisdom, Wine, and Cheese Lecture Series.”

Free and open to the public, 4905 Fifth Ave, 7 p.m. rodefshalom.org. q THURSDAY, DEC. 5

Share a Thanksgiving feast with your friends from the Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh’s Young Adult Division. Bring your favorite vegetarian dish to share as this is a turkey-free potluck and BYOB meal.

Registration: $5. The celebration takes place at Heinz Lofts, 300 Heinz St. at 6:30 p.m. To register visit jewishpgh.org/event/youngadult-friendsgiving-potluck.

Chabad of Squirrel Hill invites you to attend An Evening of Celebration with Rabbi Moshe Bryski on Thursday, Dec. 5 at Chabad of Squirrel Hill (1700 Beechwood Blvd.) at 7 p.m.

The evening includes a wine and cheese reception and presentation of the Community Lamplighter Award. Covert: $50. Visit chabadpgh.com to make a reservation.

Moishe House invites you to attend a Friendsgiving Potluck Shabbat dinner beginning at 7:30 p.m. Moishe House events are intended for young adults age 22-32.

For more information, visit facebook.com/ events/557530681458298.

At Jewish overnight camp, kids discover who they are—and who they want to become— while having the time of their lives. They jump into the lake, dash across the pool, and learn important life skills. And they do it all without an internet connection.

q TUESDAY, NOV. 26

q THURSDAY, NOV. 21

q FRIDAY, NOV. 22

THIS WAY TO A SCREEN-FREE ZONE

q SATURDAY, DEC. 7 Sthiel Pilates & Movement Center (316 S. St. Clair St.) hosts Lauri Lang, RDN LDN Concierge Wellness LLC for Holistic Nutrition and Wellness. Dec. 7, 2019’s theme is Enhancing Immune Function, Vitality and Graceful Aging.

The workshop is 75 minutes in length. $59. Visit sthielpilates.com for more information and to register.

q SATURDAY, NOV. 23 Attend Rodef Shalom’s (4905 Fifth Ave.)

PITTSBURGHJEWISHCHRONICLE.ORG

Please see Calendar, page 20

PITTSBURGH JEWISH CHRONICLE

NOVEMBER 15, 2019 11

Opinion A UK newspaper’s anti-endorsement if Corbyn loses the vote of constituents in his north London district, he won’t make it to Parliament. That seems to be what the he Jewish Chronicle in London (the Chronicle is trying to accomplish. leading Jewish newspaper in the UK Even without Corbyn, however, Labour and no relation to the has a serious anti-Semitism Pittsburgh Jewish Chronicle) problem. It has become a “safe had an unusual front page last space for those with vile attitudes week. Atop the page was a bold towards Jewish people,” a British banner headline: “To all our parliamentary committee of fellow British citizens,” followed inquiry found in 2016. And, by by a sub-headline which read most accounts, things haven’t “This front page is addressed not gotten better. to our usual readers — but to With Corbyn as prime those who would not normally minister, many Jews worry that read the Jewish Chronicle. In life in Britain will become intolother words, non-Jews.” erable. The worry is compounded What followed was an impasby some degree of confused sioned plea: Don’t vote for Labour shock, as Labour has historically Party leader Jeremy Corbyn in been the natural political home next month’s election, as he is for most British Jews. And with considered an anti-Semite by “the the opposition Conservative vast majority of British Jews.”

Party crumbling over its The article went on to protracted and inept handling of recount Corbyn’s long history Brexit, many British Jews worry of anti-Semitism and hostility that they have no political home. to Israel, including: “He has The Chronicle piece chose not described organisations like to enter the broader political A UK Jewish Chronicle editorial spoke directly to non-Jews about Labour Party leader Hamas, whose founding charter p debate, and kept its focus on the Jeremy Corbyn. Source: Screenshot commits it to the extermination issue of anti-Semitism, with a of every Jew on the planet, as his singular objective. “We believe ‘friends’. He has laid a wreath to honour terror- But we believe it is important — and urgent In Britain’s parliamentary system, Corbyn that the overwhelming majority of British ists who have murdered Jews. He has insulted — that you do that. Perhaps the fact that will become prime minister if Labour wins people abhor racism. We ask only that, when ‘Zionists’ — the word used by anti-Semites nearly half (47%) of the Jewish community a majority in Parliament, or forges a like- you cast your vote, you act on that.” when they mean ‘Jew’ because they think it said … that they would ‘seriously consider’ minded coalition with smaller parties. But Kol HaKavod. PJC

— EDITORIAL —

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allows them to get away with it — as lacking understanding of ‘English irony’.”

And then the Chronicle made its request: “Putting oneself in the shoes of another person, or another group, can be difficult.

emigrating if Mr. Corbyn wins on December 12 will give you an indication of what it feels like to be a British Jew at a time when the official opposition is led by a man widely held to be an anti-Semite.”

Reflections on the Tree of Life shooting, one year later Guest Columnist Bill Peduto

We have to be able to find a way to create a good from that, something that resonates

T

he depth of the Tree of Life tragedy hit home immediately. I knew within minutes that morning I would know some of the victims, having been to the synagogue for events for over 20 years and knowing friends who belonged to the three congregations. I spent that week with as many of the victims’ families as I could, who invited me to be a part of their mourning.

And since that time I’ve tried to stay in touch and to see if there is anything they need.

It’s taken a toll personally. I’ve become more aware of what trauma does to you, how there are feelings of apathy that wash over you daily and more severe feelings of sadness that are extended and prolonged. I’ve tried to become reflective of seeing that in others, and am trying to do more to recognize that and to help those in need.

I became saturated with grief within the first day and it just became a part of me. It’s not something you would ever think about when running for an elected position. But

12 NOVEMBER 15, 2019

with our stronger-than-steel image that allows us to say that although this happened on this day, and we’ll never forget the lives that were lost, we will search to find a positive outcome. having gone through it with families that have lost loved ones to gun violence, being in living rooms with mothers who would never see their sons come through the door again — Oct. 27 just brought all of that back in a very different way.

I think it was the level of evil that impacted me. It not only was the magnitude of the number of lives lost in a moment, but how and where and why. What happened went beyond the borders of the city of Pittsburgh and resonated around the world. The biggest factor weighing on me, again, was the emotions of the families. I just will never

be able to lose the image of family members during those first 48 hours who would look to me with a look saying “tell me this isn’t really happening,” and having absolutely no power to be able to do anything to comfort them.

For the Jewish community, I believe that within Pittsburgh it has been embraced unlike at any time in this city’s history. There was a genuine outpouring of love that came from not only all faiths but all people. There was a true sense of “never again” means never again. And a true solidarity that was generations in the making that manifested itself and continues to do so. There is so

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much support and love that is there for our Jewish neighbors.

For Pittsburgh I think there is an overall understanding that we are forever etched into history, just as Dallas is with JFK and Memphis is with MLK, and that Pittsburgh will be forever known for this horrific incident. We have to be able to find a way to create a good from that, something that resonates with our stronger-than-steel image that allows us to say that although this happened on this day, and we’ll never forget the lives that were lost, we will search to find a positive outcome. As I write this, I don’t know what that will be. I do know we’re not quite there. We haven’t gotten past the mourning stage, and that will still take more time before we have an opportunity to begin the constructive stage.

In the end I am reassured that what I believe about this city — that it is a tough city with a big heart — was exemplified by the actions of so many people that day. It was unrehearsed and un-orchestrated. It was just a natural reaction that we had to be there for one another, and it continues to be seen in daily acts of individuals across Pittsburgh and the world. PJC Bill Peduto is the mayor of Pittsburgh.

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Opinion J Street’s pro-Israel stance requires clarification Guest Columnist Julie Paris

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was appalled and dismayed to read in last week’s Chronicle that J Street supporters, at their annual conference, were favorably inclined to support Democratic candidates who indicated their willingness to cut and/ or divert U.S. aid to Israel.

I was also disappointed to read that J Street welcomed anti-Israel groups like IfNotNow (a BDS-supporting group that prides itself on “disrupting” mainstream Jewish organizations by hijacking events they deem pro-Israel and encouraging donors to divert funds from Jewish organizations that support Israel); and individuals like Bashar Azzeh, who is a member of the PCC (Palestinian

Central Council), a leading body of the PLO (Palestinian Liberation Organization).

The funds allocated to Israel are not “a blank check,” but rather part of a 10-year bipartisan memorandum of understanding spearheaded by former President Barack Obama and ratified yearly by members of Congress. This support, part of the larger foreign aid bill for our American allies, is one of the few pieces of legislation that enjoys rare bipartisan support exactly because of the nature of the funding and its critical role in ensuring Israel’s security.

It creates bilateral opportunities of engagement in the areas of defense, water innovation and technology (just to name a few), protects the lives of Israeli citizens and preserves U.S. interests in the Middle East.

I find it disturbing that J Street, a self-described “pro-Israel, pro-peace” organization, is opening the door to using U.S. aid funds to dictate Israeli security policies. Since its inception, J Street has blurred the line

between “legitimate criticism of Israel” and holding Israel to an unattainable moral standard while dismissing Palestinian incitement and terror. If J Street’s recent conference is any indication, they are ramping up their efforts to isolate Israel and align further with anti-Israel politicians and activists.

I commend the Conference of Presidents of Major Jewish Organizations for condemning calls by Democratic presidential candidates to condition military aid to Israel contingent on compromising what the Israeli people consider best for their security in an effort to achieve peace with the Palestinians, whose leaders have repeatedly rebuffed peace efforts over the last 70 years. I am also grateful to the several moderate Democratic candidates who speak in support of Israel’s right to defend itself and soundly reject this call to cut aid.

It is inconceivable that we, as American Jews, should dictate the terms that Israel

should agree to, decide what is best for Israel, or interfere with Israeli policies while Israelis face daily threats to their safety and security from every direction. I encourage J Street leaders to be more transparent and consistent about their position on U.S. aid to Israel and take a stand to political leaders and anti-Israel groups who seek to harm Israel, consistent with their proclamations of being “pro-Israel, pro-peace,” and not sacrifice Israel’s security in an effort to broaden their progressive donor base or to appease Israel’s enemies.

If J Street leaders are unwilling to stand up for Israel and continue to give a platform to her enemies, it is ridiculous for them to describe themselves as “pro-Israel” while they actively lobby the U.S. government to undermine the policies of the democratically elected government of Israel. PJC Julie Paris lives in Squirrel Hill.

What has changed since Kristallnacht?

Guest Columnist Barry Rabkin

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his month marks the anniversary of Kristallnacht, a violent riot against Jews carried out in Germany in 1938.

The name Kristallnacht comes from the shards of broken glass that littered the streets after the windows of thousands of Jewishowned stores, buildings, hospitals, schools and homes were smashed.

The rioters destroyed 267 synagogues and attacked over 7,000 Jewish businesses throughout Germany. Beyond the hundreds of Jews that were killed and injured, 30,000 Jews were arrested and incarcerated into concentration camps during the riot. The violence was fully publicized but their government and community stood by and did nothing.

The shooting at the Tree of Life building was nothing new. Anti-Semitic murders have

long been a when, not an if. Unprovoked, unpunished, violent outbursts against Jews (and most minorities) have been happening all over the world for thousands of years.

While I am deeply sorry that the shooting happened to our beloved Squirrel Hill community in Pittsburgh, it could have happened anytime, anywhere. Whether in Germany in 1938, or in America today, it was the same foul, familiar story.

While anti-Semitic violence is old news, it is important to recognize that this time was different. When German Jews were murdered in 1938, police did nothing to stop the attackers. When Jewish businesses burned, fire trucks only ensured that the fire didn’t spread to non-Jewish-owned buildings. When Jewish temples were desecrated, non-Jewish leaders did nothing to stop the violence or help the victims rebuild.

That is not what happened in Pittsburgh.

Our heroic SWAT police officers were at the scene of the shooting within three minutes of the first gunshots, risking their lives, shielding the victims with their own bodies. Following the attack, police have

The opinion article “Expressions of gratitude beyond ‘Thank you for your service’” by Leon S. Malmud, M.D. (Pittsburgh Jewish Chronicle, Nov. 8, 2019) was an excellent presentation.

But the statement “the United States is the first nation in post-biblical history to have granted equal citizenship to Jews upon its founding in 1776” may be subject to discussion.

Ottoman Turks not only generated and maintained a refuge to hundreds of thousands of Jews fleeing oppression they faced in Western Europe in general and Spain in particular during 14th and 15th centuries, but also granted them equal citizenship, as the Jews were skilled and productive people along with demonstrating loyalty to their new home. They were appreciated by the Sultans then ruling the lands, whereas the Jews were discriminated and oppressed by the previous rulers of different empires.

We, of course, may discuss the concept of citizenship within the perspective of its being understood today, as the people in the previous centuries have been more likely to be the subjects of their rulers rather than constituents of their governing leaders. However, provided one associates citizenship with equality, then the given equality had been granted to the PITTSBURGHJEWISHCHRONICLE.ORG

a game here knows that when you play Pittsburgh, you play the whole city. The sentiment was echoed by Mayor Bill Peduto at a rally for the synagogue saying, “We gather here today to say enough is enough and hate against one is hate against all.”

Hate crimes against Jews and other minorities are sick and sad but have gone on for too long to be shocking. What is shocking is the historical support that we have witnessed.

Today, an attack against Jews is no longer just an attack against Jews, with neighbors standing idly by. Today, an attack against Jews is an attack against a compassionate and unified community, city and nation.

Now it is up to our Jewish community to remember this precedent the next time a mosque, church, club, school or neighbor is victimized. Today, we are not separate. We all bleed and fight and heal as one. PJC Squirrel Hill resident Barry Rabkin serves on the JFCS board, Federation marketing committee and was selected for the 2019 Wechsler Fellowship and Pittsburgh Magazine’s 2019 40 Under 40.

Jews through Ottoman Sultans some 300 years prior to Washington’s submitting a letter to American Jews, written in 1790, stating that they were free to practice their religion in the way they deemed necessary.

— LETTERS — On the question of Jewish citizenship

been sent to guard every synagogue in the city to ensure that Jews can gather and worship without fear.

When Pittsburgh’s Tree of Life building was stained with the blood of victims, donors of every religion and color, from all around the world, donated millions of dollars and hundreds of volunteers. One church anonymously sent 11 separate donation checks, to memorialize each of the 11 victims.

Muslims raised hundreds of thousands of dollars to aid the victims and survivors.

Wasi Mohammed, former executive director of the Islamic Center of Pittsburgh, said, “Whatever the community needs, we’ll be there for them. If it’s guarding the synagogue; if it’s walking to the grocery store. If it’s people outside your next service protecting you, we will be there.” Shay Khatiri, an Iranian immigrant, raised over $1 million, asking people to “respond to this hateful act with your act of love.”

The president of our country came with his family to pay respects to the victims and spoke out against anti-Semitism. With our rabid sports fans, anyone who has witnessed

Mehmet Fuat Ulus, M.D. Pittsburgh

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NOVEMBER 15, 2019 13

Headlines Security: Continued from page 1

make people feel safe as they go into their congregations or their facilities and not be worried,” Butler said.

Individual religious nonprofit entities will be able to apply for grants from the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Criminal Delinquency. Led by former Philadelphia Police Commissioner Charles Ramsey, the PCCD works with Pennsylvania State Police and Homeland Security to determine the applying community’s vulnerability and need.

In order to allow for smaller religious communities to get the funds they need, a three-tier system has been included in the new law.

The first tier of grants will award between $5,000 and $25,000, to be made outright, without a need for matching funds from the applying community; this, Butler believes, will allow needy communities to start instituting the basics of community security, like bulletproof glass and security cameras. Grants above that threshold, up to $75,000, will require a 33% match. The final tier will make grants of up to $150,000, requiring a 50% match.

It was important to Butler and others working on getting the bill passed that the final version would allow for security experts to be the body making security decisions, rather than politicians and committees.

Determinations about community security should be “based on the expertise of the state police, Homeland Security and public safety experts,” Butler said. Institutions “that are most vulnerable to acts of hate or violence” will be given funding priority.

Once the application process is open, the

Pittsburgh Federation “will work to alert all our Jewish communal institutions in Southwestern Pennsylvania to apply,” Sayles said. “Each organization will need to apply on its own and should start thinking about (security) assessments now.”

Although the Oct. 27, 2018, massacre “happened to target the Jewish community and it happened to be in Pittsburgh and it happened to be a synagogue in Squirrel Hill, we know that this could have happened and has happened to a wide range of diverse communities throughout the United States,” Sayles said. “Whether you’re talking about a Sikh gurdwara in Oak Creek, Wisconsin, or a black church in Charleston, South Carolina, or an LGBTQ nightclub in Orlando, Florida, or Chabad of Poway, unfortunately the list goes on and on and on. And we have an obligation not only to protect ourselves but to help to protect everyone in Pennsylvania.”

Although this legislation is an important step in protecting communities, more work remains, according to Sayles.

“There is additional legislation that we are working on and that we will be working on for a while to safeguard our community and the broader Pennsylvania community in an effort to do our best to make sure that events like the shooting at Tree of Life synagogue don’t happen to the Jewish community or any other community in Pittsburgh,” he said, including finding additional avenues for security funding and hate crime legislation. The Federation and its partners are also looking for “policy recommendations for gun violence prevention.”

Sayles expressed appreciation for the work of Butler, Frankel, Sen. Jay Costa (D-Forest Hills), House Speaker Mike Turzai (R-Marshall) and Senate President Pro

Anti-Semitism: Continued from page 1

our communities, our lives and the lives we want for our children. At the front of hate is ignorance and fear, especially fear of the other.

“We know that education is our greatest weapon to combat anti-Semitism and hate of all kinds, but if we are to succeed we must teach more than just history. It is imperative to educate our students to be open-minded, to listen, to learn from each other, to share stories and cultures and to develop empathy of those different than themselves. And then to stand up, not to be afraid, and to act when they witness hate in their communities.”

The slate of speakers included noted anti-Semitism scholar Michael Berenbaum, director of the Sigi Ziering Institute: Exploring the Ethical and Religious Implications of the Holocaust at the American Jewish University; Kathleen Blee, dean of the School of Arts and Sciences and the College of General Studies at the University of Pittsburgh, where she has researched racist activism; Kenneth Jacobson, deputy national director of the Anti-Defamation League; former neo-Nazi skinhead Shannon Foley Martinez; and David Estrin, founder and CEO of the nonprofit Together We Remember, a global campaign to counter violent hatred.

“They did a great job bringing awesome 14 NOVEMBER 15, 2019

p Michael Berenbaum

Photo by Toby Tabachnick

people here,” said Estrin, 28, a grandson of four Holocaust survivors. “This is about convening people who are on the front lines doing this work so we can better collaborate.”

In his keynote address on Sunday, Berenbaum presented an overview of the state of anti-Semitism in contemporary society.

He began his talk pointing to data from the Pew Research Center that shows that Judaism is the most popular — “or least unpopular” — religion in America today.

Although anti-Semites today constitute a smaller percentage of the population of America, “the irony is there is a demonstrable increase in anti-Semitism,” Berenbaum said, owing in part to “an increase in the expression of hatred in our society.”

“People who hate now feel comfortable in expressing their hatred and they do not

She was ‘a neo-Nazi skinhead’

By Toby Tabachnick| Senior Staff Writer

S

hannon Foley Martinez does not shy away from talking about her former identity, even though it is repugnant in polite society.

In fact, in an effort to make amends for the hurt she caused others during her teenage years, she now devotes countless hours to sharing her story.

“I was a neo-Nazi skinhead,” began Foley Martinez, speaking by phone from her home in Georgia prior to coming to Pittsburgh to address educators and students at Classrooms Without Borders’ conference on “Antisemitism, Hate and Social Responsibility.” While in town, she also talked to students at J-JEP, J Line, Adat Shalom Synagogue’s religious school, and some public schools around Pittsburgh.

Foley Martinez recounted the roots of her racism, tracing it back to growing up in a family where she “always felt like the black sheep, where I never really felt like I belonged.”

While there was no overt abuse or substance addiction in her family, she said, “it was super-dysfunctional and super

steeped in co-dependency. I grew up never really feeling essentially safe.”

Her feelings of being an outsider were compounded when her family moved from outside Philadelphia to just north of Toledo, Ohio when she was 11. She had a hard time fitting in with her new peers, who dressed differently than she did, spoke differently, and listened to different music.

“So, I did what so many teenagers do, trying to figure out who I was in the world and where I belonged: I started looking through the lens of counter-culture, which would eventually land me in the punk movement,” she said.

Things began to go really awry for Foley Martinez after she was raped at a party by two men just weeks before her 15th birthday.

She did not report the rape, because she believed if she told her parents, they would “be more upset that I had lied about where I was going and that I had been drinking at this party than they would be upset that I had just been sexually assaulted.”

The “unprocessed trauma” from the rape festered inside her, she said.

Please see Skinhead, page 20

Tempore Joe Scarnati (R-Jefferson County) “for all of their support and their work on this.” He also commended Wolf for his commitment to community safety.

“The Friday after Oct. 27 I was meeting with the governor when he visited the memorial and I know how personally affected he was by the shooting because I watched his reaction. He has been in our corner ever since, advocating for the safety and security

of the Jewish community and we are really grateful to have him as a partner and an ally in this fight,” Sayles said. PJC

feel social stigma involved in the expression of hatred and that empowers all sorts of people who hate to be manifest in their hatred,” he said.

Adding to that is the “megaphone” of the internet and “a social support system, which is social media,” he said. “Less people hate, but they are louder.”

Speaking about the Pittsburgh synagogue massacre, he noted that “the catastrophic news was the murders” but “the good news was the response of the community.”

He compared the response to the shooting in Pittsburgh to the horror of Kristallnacht, during which non-Jewish bystanders watched as their neighbors were terrorized and firemen stood by as synagogues burned.

In Pittsburgh, though, “our first responders ran to save Jews,” he said. “That is the radical difference. The government was there.”

Berenbaum gave an overview of anti-Semitism coming from the far right and the far left, as well as from Islamic radicals.

He also explored anti-Semitism disguised as anti-Zionism and the vilification of Israel. There is a “borderline” he said, from which legitimate criticism of the State of Israel crosses over into anti-Semitism. That borderline is crossed once criticism of Israel encompasses what Natan Sharansky coined as “the three Ds”: “double standard,” when Israel is held to a different and more rigid standard of behavior than other countries in the world; delegitimization, which is when

Israel’s critics say that “Israel does awful things therefore it has no right to exist;” and “demonization.”

While the boycott, divestment and sanctions movement has had no economic effect in Israel, he said, it nonetheless has created a “crisis on the left for people who want to be part of the values of the left, but also then at one moment feel that the left has entered into anti-Semitism.”

Berenbaum described the various forms anti-Semitism takes in contemporary Europe, from Jeremy Corbyn’s anti-Israel Labour party to some Eastern European countries “seeking to re-do the history of World War II, to cleanse the nationalists of their responsibility for their collaboration with Nazis.”

Despite his acknowledgement of the proliferation of hatred against Jews, Berenbaum ended on a positive note and with instructions on how to combat hate.

“Ladies and gentlemen, we have to tone it down,” he said. “The world is not coming to an end. That may be news to some of us.

The second thing is we have to respond to hatred by reaching out to all the elements of community relations and Pittsburgh becomes the model. We have to return to the social sanction for the expression of hatred.

And that is if you hear hatred, you speak up.

If you see hatred, you speak out.” PJC

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Additional reporting by Jesse Bernstein of the Jewish Exponent, a Chronicleaffiliated publication.

Toby Tabachnick can be reached at ttabachnick@pittsburghjewishchronicle.org.

Toby Tabachnick can be reached at ttabachnick@pittsburghjewishchronicle.org.

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Headlines Ambassador: Continued from page 3

piece of jewelry. Another time, Feierstein said, “I remember getting a portrait of I think it was George Bush that had been done in some kind of mosaic.”

“Sometimes they are really nice,

LHAS: Continued from page 6

In 1990, Montefiore was sold and became part of the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center.

The LHAS has continued to remain active but now serves as a fundraising arm of UPMC. Maxine Horn is the granddaughter of founding president and “mother of Montefiore Hospital” Annie Davis, and was the only descendant of a founding member to attend the luncheon. Horn recalled joining LHAS in the late 1950s, shortly after she married.

“It was just what we did in those days,” she said. “I was still in the aura of my grandmother and all the good she made possible.

The women at that time were incredibly active and resourceful in making good happen, especially Jewish causes.”

The society has undergone significant changes in recent years, Horn noted.

“It’s not the same organization,” she said.

“My grandmother founded it for hands-on purposes. Montefiore was a place for young, Jewish residents to come in, and also a place to provide kosher meals and a place for Jewish people to feel comfortable. Now, it’s a fundraising arm of the hospital. I don’t know if there is a Jewish component.”

Membership in LHAS has changed as well.

“The names changed over the years,”

Chatham: Continued from page 8

efforts to enhance Jewish life, such as offering kosher food, allowing students who study in Israel for year or two to transfer credits, and establishing single sex floors in dorms for men. The university already offers a single sex dorm for women.

Finegold sees Chatham as being an attractive option for Orthodox students in particular.

“They need to pick somewhere where they are within walking distance of the community,” he said. “We already have a number of Orthodox students who come, who commute in to Chatham because they want to be with

Centenarian: Continued from page 9

in the trunk of his car. “It was quite a while until somebody heard me banging,” he said.

“I could have suffocated.”

But Lebow is still here, though he has no explanation for why he’s lived so long. “I

sometimes they can be quite spectacular and, of course, generally they end up in the presidential library or some museum.”

As interesting as it was to receive gifts and pass them back to Washington, being a gift giver was something different, explained Feierstein.

“We tended to give things that were quite ordinary,” such as crystal eagles or coffee

table books about the United States, he said.

“Nobody would become a friend of the United States because they got wonderful gifts from us.”

Because of his responsibilities abroad, last week’s visit was Feierstein’s first return to the Steel City in decades. Though he noticed all the construction downtown, “it’s also nice to see that a lot of the wonderful old buildings

Horn said. “I didn’t recognize any of them. I understand why it happened — the hospital changed from being a Jewish hospital. I do have a little regret that there is not a Jewish component anymore, but I understand it.”

Before the sale of the hospital to UPMC, LHAS “was very Jewish; that’s a big change, really,” agreed Carol Bleier, author of “A History of Montefiore Hospital of Pittsburgh.” “The way they were originally, they did things for Montefiore Hospital.

Now, when there is no Montefiore Hospital, they reinvented themselves.”

The mission of LHAS has expanded to include health needs of the entire Western Pennsylvania community. It has implemented programs for the elderly and women’s health care, including the LHAS Arbor at Weinberg Village and the LHAS Prevention and Early Detection Center at the Hillman Cancer Center, and has allocated thousands of dollars for college scholarship grants to financially support future health care professionals and nursing students.

Marcia Weiss, who served as LHAS president from 2001-2003, is not as active in the group as she once was. Still, she reflected on her time at its helm as “a wonderful opportunity, a wonderful experience. It’s a great organization. They are all over the community now and they help many other organizations in need and people in need.”

Anecdotally, membership in LHAS has dropped significantly from its early to mid-20th-century heyday, although the society did not provide the Chronicle with its membership numbers. The society is actively seeking new members, according to its leadership.

At the luncheon LHAS Community Grants were awarded to five local organizations: $10,000 to Propel Schools Foundation to support a portion of the student wellness facets of its afterschool services; $12,805 to the Aleph Institute to help fund its Out-of-School program which focuses on the needs of those experiencing food insecurity; $15,000 to the Jewish Community Center of Greater Pittsburgh, Get Healthy With Clubhouse, to cultivate a holistic afterschool environment; $13,160 to Riverview Apartments, Inc. to provide food subsidies for extremely low income residents; and $7,500 to The Friendship Circle, Kids Who Care program, which provides an opportunity for middle schoolers to begin work in advocacy, leadership, and community involvement.

Although four of the five grant recipients this year were Jewish organizations, that is “not typical,” explained Taylor Van Dyke, LHAS administrative assistant, noting that the society welcomes grant applications from the wider community.

“This past year, though, we wanted to focus

their family. We think it could serve the local population but also do more to attract others who want to come to Pittsburgh, which is a great city for Jewish students.”

Leah Berman-Kress, a sophomore who grew up in Squirrel Hill, chose Chatham because she wanted to attend a small school where she could form close relationships with her professors and advisors.

“I also wanted to stay close to home — this is really close to home,” said Berman-Kress, whose family is affiliated with Temple Sinai.

“I think the benefit of being here is that I can have this college experience but also spend time with my family.”

Berman-Kress, who lives on campus, said that Jewish life was one of the things she considered when choosing a college.

Chatham, she said, fit the bill because of “the offerings of the Hillel Jewish University Center and its proximity to Chatham.”

On Chatham’s own campus, BermanKress has taken the lead in founding the Jewish Student Association, which she just launched this semester. So, far, she estimates she has about 15 members, who currently meet every other week and are now beginning to plan events.

“We just want to foster Jewish life on campus and we are very inclusive of anyone who wants to come,” she said. “You don’t even have to be Jewish, you just have to support our mission to enhance Jewish life on campus.”

More Jews might be attracted to Chatham, said Berman-Kress, if there were a kosher food option, and if the school promoted

wish I knew,” he said. “I would patent that.”

What he does know, however, is that certain things are irreplaceable.

“You can’t replace pictures and you can’t replace friends,” he said. “When the picture burns, how are you going to replace it? It’s gone. Same with friends. When they’re gone, they’re gone.”

That’s the reason he continues to wear a

white bracelet with the words “Tree of Life” given to him by Rabbi Jeffrey Myers, and a button bearing the image of 11 candles.

It’s also the reason he’s so adamant about how Nov. 16 is marked. After celebrating his birthday at services, Lebow’s daughter, Roberta Brody, is throwing him another party. On the bottom of the invitations was an instruction from the birthday boy

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are still here,” he said. “We’re staying at the William Penn Hotel, which I remember, when I was a student here 50 years ago, was a great hotel, and it’s still a wonderful place.

So we’ve been happy with the continuity as well as the change.” PJC Adam Reinherz can be reached at areinherz@ pittsburghjewishchronicle.org.

on these organizations because the Jewish community has done so much for us,” she said.

Several of the luncheon attendees waxed nostalgic about the days when the LHAS was a centerpiece of their lives, providing a grand social network as well as a means to contribute in a meaningful way to the Jewish community.

Weiss fondly remembered the big gala fundraising balls the society hosted every year.

“My father was a physician and my mother and father would always go to the Ladies Hospital Aid balls at that time, the affairs,” Weiss said. “It was really the social organization in the city.”

Eileen Finestone was the president of LHAS from 1976 to 1978, having come to Pittsburgh from New York when her late husband, Stephen, was offered a job at Montefiore. He worked as chief of anesthesiology there for more than three decades.

“We didn’t have any family in Pittsburgh, so Hospital Aid became my family,” said Finestone, who fondly recalled working with a committee of 100 women on the annual ball.

“That was really fun, it really was,” said Weiss, a friend of Finestone’s for more than 40 years. “It was work, but it was fun.”

“But nothing lasts forever,” Finestone said. PJC Toby Tabachnick can be reached at ttabachnick@pittsburghjewishchronicle.org.

“not just the club I’m involved in, but Jewish life on campus.”

Education regarding Jewish traditions on the part of those working to foster Jewish life is important, she said.

Although this fall, Chatham erected a sukkah on campus, “it’s not what one would call a kosher sukkah — and it’s still up,” explained Berman-Kress. “I was talking to some other Jewish students about that and we are really pleased that they made that effort, it’s just taking it a step further to really understand what it is, how to do it correctly, stuff like that. I know they weren’t intentionally doing it halfway, but education is a big part of it.” PJC Toby Tabachnick can be reached at ttabachnick@pittsburghjewishchronicle.org.

himself: “In lieu of gifts, please make a donation to Tree of Life in Moe’s honor.”

“I don’t need shirts and ties. I need money for my shul. I want my shul to open up again,” he said. “I’m a Tree of Life guy. Born and I’ll die it. I’ll die Tree of Life.” PJC Adam Reinherz can be reached at areinherz@ pittsburghjewishchronicle.org.

NOVEMBER 15, 2019 15

Life & Culture New documentary recounts the Jewish history of one Pittsburgh neighborhood

p Film promotion

— LOCAL —

By David Rullo | Staff Writer

K

enneth Love’s newest documentary, “Jewish Memories of Pittsburgh’s Hill District,” recounts the tale of Jewish

Photo courtesy of Archives & Special Collections, University of Pittsburgh Library System

p David Busis in front of his pharmacy

immigrants who emigrated from Europe in the late 1800s to the first half of the 20th century. These new Americans settled in the city’s Hill District, creating a multicultural neighborhood that included, among other ethnic groups, African Americans, Italians and Eastern Europeans.

According to Love, the documentary is “a

film about immigrants” and is dedicated to the immigrants that “have come” and “will come” to our country. It’s also an homage to a neighborhood with a rich Jewish history that until now hasn’t been properly told.

“I’m amazed no one has told this story before,” Love said. “We need to preserve and tell this story for the future. I felt a

We are currently seeking volunteers for a research study

Photo courtesy of Rauh Jewish History Program & Archives at the Heinz History Center

responsibility to do that.”

Renowned Jewish Pittsburghers, including former mayor Sophie Masloff and Cyril Wecht, recount their childhood memories of life on the Hill. Their stories are intermixed with those of former Pittsburgh Courier Please see Film, page 17

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Film: Continued from page 16

editor Frank Bolden and numerous other one-time residents of the community.

The interviews and photos, including those from the Rauh Jewish History Program & Archives at the Heinz History Center and the University of Pittsburgh Library System, create a compelling picture of the social and religious lives of Jewish immigrants eager to participate in the American Dream while maintaining their culture and beliefs.

The genesis for the film came from Love’s archives which included unused interviews and footage he had saved from previous projects. Local Jewish historian Barbara Burstin allowed interviews she had done while researching her 1999 film, “A Jewish Legacy: Pittsburgh” to be used as part of the project.

“I had interviewed a number of people that related to the Hill and told him I had this material. He emptied my written and video collection. I’m very gratified he was able to use the footage for this new film, which I think is terrific.”

While the story told in “Jewish Memories of Pittsburgh’s Hill District” is the same universal tale told by countless immigrant groups moving into large cities, it was also a personal saga for Love. The director uncovered details about his family that he never would have learned had he not made the film.

“Unplanned, there’s six generations of my family in the film. So, it became a personal story.”

That personal legacy sits alongside tales of a city long gone, including memories of bath houses where Jewish men would take a shvitz, Yiddish newspapers and movie theaters, laundry hung to dry based on the activity of local steel mills lest they become covered in soot, and kosher delis and butchers.

Little known facts, including the contribution of Jewish children to the cigar rolling business are mingled with stories of the vital role that the Irene Kaufmann Settlement played in the lives of both immigrants and the African-American communities.

Linking the various interviews and vignettes is music by Cantor Henry Shapiro, spiritual leader of Parkway Jewish Center.

Photo courtesy of Archives & Special Collections, University of Pittsburgh Library System

The film features new work by the musician as well as pieces heard in previous documentaries by Love.

In fact, it was Shapiro who Love credits with helping him decide to complete the documentary after Oct. 27.

“I stopped working on the film for two or three months after Oct. 27 because what is the meaning of the film, what does my film mean? Henry Shapiro had some perspective. He helped.” The cinematographer still struggles for words today saying, “I’m still close to it.”

Ironically, it was the massacre at the Tree of Life building that caused Shapiro to not promote his CD “Klezmerati” when it was completed last year. He hopes Love’s film will be a “springboard, and I can begin promoting the music again.”

For his part, Shapiro feels the documentary tells a familiar story that needs to be told.

“This is the Jewish American experience.

This is probably the first major expression of the Jews that came to Pittsburgh in the first half of the 20th century.”

Love has previously completed 26 independent documentaries and 20 National Geographic TV specials. He said he still has one more film he wants to complete but wasn’t yet ready to tell the details.

The film concludes with the creation of Terrace Village and footage of President Franklin D. Roosevelt visiting the housing complex. According to the documentary many Jewish families moved into the project after its completion in 1938 but it wasn’t long before there was a mass exodus to other areas of the city, including Squirrel Hill.

While the history of the Jewish population was intertwined and vital to the Hill District, the generation that called the neighborhood home is beginning to pass away. Love points out that this might be the last opportunity to capture the memories of those that lived in the community “because many of the people in the film can’t do the interviews anymore.”

“Jewish Memories of Pittsburgh’s Hill District” will premiere on Tuesday, Nov. 19, at the Regent Square Theater as part of the Three Rivers Film Festival. PJC David Rullo can be reached at drullo@ pittsburghjewishchronicle.org.

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NOVEMBER 15, 2019 17

Celebrations

Torah

Birth

A balance between chesed and sechel

Valerie Slone and Dharam Maharaj are excited to announce the birth of their daughter, Rani Yael Maharaj born on her mother’s birthday, Oct. 20, 2019.

Grandparents are Roberta (Frishman) and Bob Melick, Amy and Ken Slone, all of Pittsburgh, and Gangadai and Rookman Maharaj of Miami Beach. Rani is named in memory of her great grandmother, Eleanor Slone Wald. Her name is a combination of Hindi and Hebrew. In Hindi, Rani means queen. PJC

Federation security director Brad Orsini accepts national role

T

he Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh has announced the departure of Community Security Director Brad Orsini.

Orsini has served in the role since January 2017 and has assisted Jewish institutions and synagogues to address security needs following the Oct. 27, 2018 shooting at the Tree of Life building.

Orsini has accepted the position of senior national security advisor for the Secure Community Network with the Jewish Federations of North America. He will not begin the new position until the Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh finds his replacement and he will assist with the search.

In a statement released by SCN, Orsini responded to his departure saying, “It’s hard to leave my role with the Federation. But the chance to continue to support the Pittsburgh community as well as the Jewish community

nationwide is important and I welcome this opportunity.”

Prior to his time with the Federation, Orsini served as an FBI special agent for 28 years.

In a statement, Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh President and CEO Jeff Finkelstein said, “Brad’s position as senior national security advisor allows him to disseminate the information he has learned from his experiences as our security director with communities all over North America to create better security programs and infrastructure.”

Announcing his new position, SCN CEO Michael Masters said in a press release, “Brad has been tested unlike anyone. Synagogues and Jewish institutions across America will benefit from the lessons Brad can teach about how to prevent attacks, work as well as train with the Jewish community and handle the aftermath if necessary.” PJC — David Rullo

www.pittsburghjewishchronicle.org 18 NOVEMBER 15, 2019

Rabbi Doris J. Dyen Parshat Vayeira Genesis 18:1-22:24

P

arshat Vayera includes some of the most deeply formative narratives in Torah: the birth of Isaac and Ishmael; the promise of nationhood to Abraham’s descendants through Sarah and Hagar; and the momentous binding of Isaac.

Vayera is also the parsha that was to be studied on 18 Cheshvan last year: Shabbat, Oct. 27, 2018. In any other year, any of its stories would call out for study. But this Shabbat this year is also the first Hebrewcalendar yahrzeit for those lost that fateful day — a day on which three of the Pittsburgh Jewish community’s congregations never had a chance to study Parshat Vayera. And so a different set of teachings in the parsha comes to the fore. Chapters 18 and 19 offer three profiles of behavior and experience regarding encounters with strangers: Abraham, Lot and the people of Sodom.

In chapter 18, Abraham is sitting alone in the shade of his tent during the heat of the day when three strangers suddenly appear.

Far from acting suspicious, he “runs to greet them,” and invites them to rest and refresh themselves. Humbly, he offers to fetch them water and “a morsel of bread” but then goes to great lengths to provide them a feast: cakes made fresh from the “finest flour” and meat from one of the best animals in his herd. His example of how to treat strangers is one of hospitality offered with extraordinary chesed (lovingkindness). Indeed, the Talmud teaches (Shab. 127a) that “hospitality to wayfarers is greater than welcoming the Divine Presence.” The Torah text then makes clear that these strangers were in fact messenger-angels. The teaching from Abraham’s experience: Assume that any stranger might be divinity in disguise, and offer hospitality on that assumption.

Later, hearing of the divine intention to destroy the sinful city of Sodom, Abraham bargains with God on its behalf, arguing that if there are even as few as 10 righteous people in Sodom, the city should not be totally destroyed. God acquiesces to Abraham’s point of view. Abraham’s experience here teaches: Be not only a person of chesed, but also one with sechel (common-sense wisdom).

In chapter 19, Abraham’s nephew Lot — who had left his own clan to take up residence as a stranger in sinful Sodom — is “sitting at the gate” among that town’s elders and rises to welcome two “divine messengers” as they arrive in Sodom. He immediately invites them to spend the night at his home, where they can rest and “bathe their feet.” They’re reluctant but he insists, so they go with him and he makes a feast for them. Although his sechel was clearly weak (why did he choose to live in Sodom in the first place?), Lot still shows chesed in the hospitality he quickly offers to the strangers.

But Lot’s attempt at hospitality is thwarted when a threatening mob of the “townspeople of Sodom” — his neighbors — surround

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his house and demand that he turn his two guests over to them. Panicked, Lot tries to protect his visitors and pleads with the mob not to “commit such a wrong.” But the mob then turns on him: “This fellow [Lot] came here as an alien, and already he acts like the ruler!” In that moment Lot learns that, even though he tried to assimilate, Sodom has never fully accepted him. Indeed, Lot is saved from injury or death at the hands of the mob only because his two visitors quickwittedly pull him back inside his house. Apparently, this was the way that Sodom “welcomed” all strangers: with neither chesed nor sechel.

What happens when we encounter strangers? What is our responsibility for one another’s well-being? What are our obligations? How do we balance the desire to offer hospitality with the need for safety? Vayera offers three approaches: Abraham (with both chesed and sechel); Lot (chesed but not much sechel); and the people of Sodom (neither chesed nor sechel).

We’d wish to react like Abraham when we encounter those different from us, not like

Abraham’s experience here teaches: Be not only a person of chesed, but also one with sechel: common-sense wisdom. the people of Sodom, and Lot presents an uncomfortable but all-too-familiar middle path. But we also wonder whether even Abraham could have successfully dealt with a traumatic situation such as the one Lot — or the congregations at the Tree of Life building — faced: Congregations that were following the Abrahamic model encountered a Sodomic stranger who, bent on evil, took advantage of the synagogue’s hospitality and, instead of rewarding the synagogue for its welcome, murdered and maimed those inside. The surrounding Pittsburgh community responded with an outpouring of chesed coupled with the sechel of increased security, defense training, workshops on vigilance and self-protection and trauma counseling.

Perhaps for us all, this year’s teaching from Vayera should be to keep Abraham’s chesed as our ideal for encountering strangers, while we learn from Lot’s experience that expanding our sechel is also necessary if we are to deal compassionately yet effectively with an increasingly complex world. PJC Rabbi Doris J. Dyen is the rabbi of the Makom HaLev chavurah and a member of Congregation Dor Hadash. This column is a service of the Greater Pittsburgh Rabbinic Association.

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Obituaries KRAMER: Arthur “Art” Kramer passed peacefully on Nov. 8, 2019 at age 87. He lived large, actively and happily until the very end. He embraced life with a rare zest and wonderful sense of humor. He was a great man and a mensch. We all learned so much from him and will continue to laugh, love and live out loud as he would have wanted.

He was a proud, self-made man, who worked his way through college and graduate school and became a C.P.A. and professor of accounting at Point Park College. Art had deep wells of compassion—all who knew him felt comforted and safe in his embrace. He was reassuring, confident and loyal; an incredibly loving husband, father, grandfather, uncle, cousin, brother, son and friend. If you needed help buying a car, navigating traffic or finding the best price, Art was not only more than happy to help, but loved to provide support. He was devoted to and adored by his wife, Arlene Kramer; his two daughters, Stacy Kramer and Marci Kramer; his three grandchildren, Sadie, Eli, and Jack; his sons-in-law David Kramer and Dan Koller; and his many nieces and nephews (Edward Kramer, Cindy Kramer, Roy Kramer, Rob Kramer, Kathy Kramer Ulicny, Sam Kramer and Tom Kramer).

Art had many, many lifelong friends and created a lively, loving social community that will live on in his memory. He was deeply caring, passionate, loyal, brilliant and jovial.

Among his many awards and accolades was the honor of Professor Emeritus at Point Park College. He served honorably in the US Army for two years as an accountant and traveled throughout Europe during his service. He spoke of this service as an invaluable character-building experience of which he was tremendously proud. Art loved a great piece of salmon, Marriott Hotels, a new car, a good bargain, LA Fitness, tennis, Pittsburgh and Boca (where he split his time). He had a remarkable facility for numbers and logistics; some would even say his head functioned as a personal calculator. Arthur is survived by his wife Arlene, his daughters Stacy (David) and Marci (Dan), his grandchildren Sadie, Eli and Jack, and his beloved aforementioned nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends. To say he will be deeply missed by all is a profound understatement. Please have a Tanqueray martini with extra olives, a nice piece of broiled salmon, followed by apple pie in his honor—it would put a smile on his face. Services were held at Temple Emanuel. Interment Mt. Lebanon Cemetery.

Arrangements entrusted to Ralph Schugar Chapel, Inc. schugar.com LEVY: Malcolm K. Levy, age 93, passed away peacefully after a long battle with Alzheimer’s. Mal was the beloved husband

of Angela for more than 60 years; loving father of Carol (Robert) Wilson, Pam (Tom) Cohn and Lisa (Rob) Levy; dear grandfather of Richard and Jessica Cohn, and Benjamin and Rebecca Wilson. Mal was a proud WWII Veteran. He started his career as an IRS Agent in 1951 and then opened his private accounting practice in 1953. He will be remembered for his non-stop sense of humor and funny jokes. Private services held in Allentown, PA. Contributions may be made to Anathan Club, 300 JHF Drive, Pittsburgh, PA. 15217. Funeral arrangements entrusted to Bachman Kulik & Reinsmith Funeral Home.

MANDEL: Alan F. Mandel, on Monday, Nov. 4, 2019. Beloved husband of Barbara (Hiedovitz) Mandel. Beloved father of Allison and Jay Levin, Michael and Laura Mandel. Brother-in-law of Caren Lever and Dr. Harry M. Lever. Pop Pop of Samantha and Joshua Levin, Zachary and Hazel Mandel. Uncle of Rabbi Aaron (Cantor Jodi Sered-Lever) Lever and Jonathan (Jennifer) Lever. Services were held at Ralph Schugar Chapel, Inc. Interment Homestead Hebrew Cemetery. Contributions may be made to climbonfoundation.org or msworld.org or charity of donor’s choice. schugar.com STEINER: Lorraine Weiner Steiner; on Sunday, Nov. 3, 2019, peacefully surrounded by her family. Beloved wife of the late Al Steiner. Beloved mother of Michele and Gene Rosen of Shadyside and Dr. Rob and Carol Steiner of Columbus, OH. Daughter of the late Michael and Sophie (Hoffman) Weiner. Sister of the late Stanley Weiner and Marvin Weiner. Sister-in-law of Rita (Irving) Spector. Cherished grandmother of Marc (Lynn) Rosen of Wilkins Township, Wendy (Jason) Bright of Churchill, Katie (Dr. Shaun) Rotenberg of Columbus, OH and Jeffrey Steiner (Sara Campbell) of Santa Monica, CA. Great-grandmother “GG” of Sean and Andrew Bright, Lucas Rosen, and Alexis and Aron Rotenberg. Also survived by nieces and nephews. Lorraine was born in Pittsburgh on Feb. 16, 1927 and briefly lived in Uniontown, PA where she met her husband, Al Steiner. They were married for 59 years until his death in 2003. She had a love for cooking and continued that even after Al’s passing. She enjoyed crossword puzzles and her independence was important to her.

Graveside Services and Interment were held at Cneseth Israel Cemetery. Contributions may be made to Temple David Memorial Fund, 4415 Northern Pike, Monroeville, PA 15146. Arrangements entrusted to Ralph Schugar Chapel, Inc. schugar.com

Jewish Association on Aging gratefully acknowledges contributions from the following: A gift from ...

In memory of...

A gift from ...

In memory of...

Anonymous......................................................Louis Kaddell

Jan & Ed Korenman ....................................... Joseph Bilder

Anonymous..........................................................J. Jay Eger

Harold & Cindy Lebenson .............................Marlene Harris

Frani and Milo Averbach .......................... Anital Middleman

Harold & Cindy Lebenson ...................Michael J. Niderberg

Reggie Bardin ................................................ Joseph Bardin

Mary B. Marks .................................................. Sylvia Karpo

Stewart Barmen................................................Frances Turk Mindy Fleishman ...............................................Sadie Brand Marilyn Friedlander ........................................... Hanna Ficks Richard Glasser .........................................Gertrude Glasser The Goldberg Family ......................................... Harold Roth Edward M. Goldston ....................................Linda Goldston

Mary B. Marks ........................................Joseph Thompson Stanley Marks ................................................ Herbert Marks Norman S. Rosenfeld ......................... Richard S. Rosenfeld Jay Schuetzman .............................................Harold I Freed Patricia Green Shapiro .........................Karen Kadan Drelup

Edward M. Goldston ........................................Mike Leebov

Ann Stone ..........................................................Moris Stone

Clarence “Code” Gomberg ......................... Harry Gomberg

Ann Stone ...................................................... Michael Stone

Mrs. Phyllis Katz ...........................................Pauline Daniels

Marc Tepper......................................................Harry Tepper

Clarice and Robert Katz ..............................Joseph Mandell

Howard & Rhea Troffkin .................................. Sally Brenner

THIS WEEK’S YAHRZEITS — Sunday November 17: Herzl L. Amdur, Louis J. Azen, Wilma Rosenberg Blau, Dorothy Brand, Sally Brenner, Nat M. Cherkosly, Morris Cohen, Pauline Daniels, Gertrude Dektor, Norma Cohen Dobrushin, Gertrude Frank, Bella Friedman, Ruth A. Gold, Dr. Robert Grauer, Morris O. Guttman, Anna LeWinter Hirsh, Rose Hoffman, Sylvia Israel, Israel Leff, James Samuel Levine, Albert Love, Benjamin R. Protas, Elizabeth Rome, Samuel Rudick, Ruth Witt Simon, Sidney Wein Monday November 18: Estherita Cohen, Emanuel Feldman, Solis L. Goldman, Helen Gottesman, Barbara Rom Krum, Abe M. Miller, Geoffrey Roberts Tuesday November 19: Dr. Max A. Antis, Frank Cohen, Rose Feigenbaum, Bernard Aaron Feldman, William L. Fogel, Rose Glick, Gerald Goldberg, Blanche Moskowitz Gould, Saul Kopelson, Rachel Lazarus, Celia Meyers, Harold L. Roth, Sarah Safier, Theodore Sokoler, David Volkin, Grandmother Wesoky Wednesday November 20: Robert Scott Ackerman, Emery J. Feldman, Linda Goldston, Nathan Israel, Paul Kimball, Morris B. Kirschenbaum, Mary Mannheimer, Saul I. Perilman, Rosalyn Serrins, Mitchell Shulman, Rose Stern, Paul Emanuel Tauberg, Samuel Viess, Clara Weiner, Louis Zweig Thursday November 21: Bernard Berkovitz, Dorothy M. Brill, James Cohen, Sidney H. Eger, Ephraim Farber, Howard Joseph Green, Charlotte R. Greenfield, Julius Gusky, Samuel Hackman, Max Hoffman, Albert S. Mar, Edward Witt Friday November 22: , Meyer R. Bochner, Elliot Borofsky, J. Jay Eger, Annie Chotiner Ellovich, William Finkel, Mildred Flanick, Mildred Hahn, Morris Bernard Marcus, Freda Miller, Richard S. Rosenfeld, Sarah Schwartz Rudick, Milton E. Steinfeld, Abraham Stevenson Saturday November 23: Mayme Altman, Selma Berger, Herman A. Brody, Esther L. Carver, Sally Chudacoff, Eva Dizenfeld, Jack A. Eckert, Max Feinberg, Stanley Glasser, Max Horovitz, Louis A. Levin, Julia Moses, Helene Mueller, Bernard Samuels, Sam Seminofsky

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NOVEMBER 15, 2019 19

Obituaries Obituaries: Continued from page 19

ZIONTS: Leon S. Zionts, March 11, 1958 to Nov. 10, 2019. Actor, singer, producer, mentor, friend and lawyer. Born in Wheeling, West Virginia to Shirley and Albert (z”l) of Pittsburgh.

Adored husband and partner of Nancy Drazner Zionts of Montreal. Beloved father of Allison Laine (James Curtis) of London, UK, and Dani Lyon of the Bay Area and Pittsburgh

Calendar:

– who dropped everything to come home and take incredible care of their Papa. Brother of Gail Raz (Micha) of Hatzeva, Israel, Harry Zionts (Laurie) of Pittsburgh. Brother-in-law of Susan and Jeffrey Bercovitch of Montreal, Ellen Drazner of Toronto, Stephen Winikoff (Susan Renda) of Wexford, and Lisa Winikoff of Montreal. Son-in-law of Heather Tinkoff and the late Michael Drazner of Montreal.

Special family to Jane and Larry Plotnick.

Fun uncle to 18 nieces and nephews and great-nieces and nephews. Loving dog father to Fiyero and the late Fievel and Fezzik. Dear friend to many. He was an attorney with the firm of Citron Alex and Zionts PC for

twenty years until he retired with a diagnosis of pancreatic cancer earlier this year. Leon was passionate about theater — he loved performing and singing with many theater companies and venues across the region. In co-founding Front Porch Theatricals, Leon was committed to creating opportunities for actors, singers and tech professionals at all stages of their careers. Leon hoped his legacy would be the joy he brought to people as a performer, and the encouragement he provided from his heart. Leon was incredibly grateful for the many family who are friends and friends who are family for the love and care over the past months of his illness.

Special thanks to Leon’s extended medical and spiritual partners: Nathan Bahary M.D., Jason Ng M.D., Myles Zuckerman M.D. and the team at Family Hospice, Jonathan Weinkle M.D. and Debi Gilboa M.D. The family will always be grateful for the 23+ years that Leon was afforded by his medical partner and hero, Saul Silver M.D. Services were held at Ralph Schugar Chapel, Inc. Interment Beth Shalom Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, please consider contributions to Congregation Beth Shalom, 5915 Beacon Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15217 or Front Porch Theatricals, 112 Sewickley Ridge Circle, Sewickley, PA 15143 or frontporchpgh.com. schugar.com PJC

Pittsburgh from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Three time slots available. For more information, visit jewishpgh.org/event/super-Sunday-2.

3-part series Young Adult Bartending Club.

Each session takes place at a different bar.

November’s get together is at the Omni William Penn Hotel (530 William Penn Place) beginning at 7 p.m. For more information and to register, visit jewishpgh.org/event/young-adultbartending-club-5. PJC

q SUNDAY, DEC. 8

q THURSDAY, DEC. 12

Women: Insight Infused with the Wisdom of the Lubavitcher Rebbe.” Chabad of the South Hills (1701 McFarland Road). $70.

For more information or to register contact batya@chabadsh.com or 412-341-1494.

Volunteer at Super Sunday, the Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh’s annual mega-phone-a-thon, at the JCC of Greater

Join Chabad of the South Hills for the monthly series “Rosh Chodesh Society for

Join the Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh’s Young Adult Division for their

Skinhead:

I didn’t really have.”

She also gave Foley Martinez hope for the future, encouraging her to go to college and helping her to take the steps Shannon Foley necessar y to Martinez make that happen.

Photo provided by Being sheathed Shannon Foley Martinez in stability led the white power ideology to fall away “pretty quickly, over the course of a matter of months,” said Foley Martinez. “But it would take me a very long time to really understand how I got there, why I got there, and to starkly be able to accept the hurt and the harm that my life choices and belief system had wrought on its victims and targets and to come to understand that I would have lifelong amend-making to do — to do as much as I could to mitigate the harm that I caused.”

Now, 25 years later, Foley Martinez, a mother of seven, works to develop community resource platforms aimed at inoculating individuals against violence-based lifestyles and ideologies. She has worked in at-risk communities teaching and developing resiliency skills, and has worked for school systems, nonprofits and community organizations.

Foley Martinez also has participated in programs with such organizations as the U.N. Office of Counter-Terrorism, the National Counterterrorism Center, Hedayah, and UNESCO’s Centre for the Prevention of Radicalization Leading to Violence.

“I am trying desperately to build better dialogue and skills in terms of prevention, specifically for parents and educators,” she said.

“And I help mentor people who are trying to leave the white nationalist, white power movement, and help them as they rebuild their lives, and doing what that woman did for me.” PJC

Continued from page 11

Continued from page 14

“Over about the next six months, I was so filled with self-loathing, I felt like trash, like my body was trash, and this was expressed very largely through rage,” Foley Martinez recalled. “Not just teen angst. I mean I was filled with rage. I just wanted to fight all the time, and I just was so angry in a way that I didn’t understand.”

That’s when she connected with a group of skinheads who were on the periphery of the punk scene.

“I think the rage in me resonated with the rage that they displayed,” Foley Martinez said. “I started spending more and more time hanging out with these dudes, and began consuming white power music and reading white power literature. And I think for multiple reasons that there was a draw to this. I was in a place where I felt so worthless, but all I had to do was show up and participate in fighting and that was enough to be accepted.”

Her “big ineffable rage” and “self-loathing” projected out onto specific groups of people, she said, and over time, the world of white power became her “life echo chamber.”

“I only hung out with other white supremacists and other white nationalists and white power people,” Martinez said. “They would take me all over the country. There was lots of violence, violence projected outward, and that I also participated in. But there was also violence in my interpersonal relationships.”

After being kicked out the house by her family, she was eventually taken in by the mother of a man she was dating, a “white power skinhead” who was in the military.

That’s when her life turned around.

“Instead of seeing me as this hate-filled creature I had become, she chose instead to see me as a struggling young woman who simply needed a place to stay,” said Foley Martinez. “I didn’t have to do anything to earn my place there, she just accepted me as I was. She also provided stability, stability that

Toby Tabachnick can be reached at ttabachnick@pittsburghjewishchronicle.org

www.pittsburghjewishchronicle.org 20 NOVEMBER 15, 2019

Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh announces $36.8 million in allocations and grants

T

he Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh has announced $36.8 million in allocations and grants to human services and community building programs for the 2019-’20 fiscal year.

The Fund for Victims of Terror, funds for community resiliency and security and funds designated for mental health, memorialization and education were all included in this year’s distributions. Also included were allocations from the Jewish Federation’s community campaign and Jewish Community Foundation, supplemental donor gifts, government funds and a $900,000 block grant from the Jewish Healthcare Foundation.

Volunteers, professionals and civic leaders responsible for the Victims of Terror Fund and volunteers from the Federation’s Community Security Community were all engaged during the yearlong planning process, ultimately approved by Federation’s board of directors.

The Federation’s eight main beneficiary agencies will receive a less than 1% reduction in funding from the Community Campaign.

Those agencies include the Edward and Rose

Berman Hillel Jewish University Center of Pittsburgh, Community Day School, Hillel Academy of Pittsburgh, the Jewish Association on Aging (including The New Riverview), the Jewish Community Center of Greater Pittsburgh, Jewish Family and Community Services, Jewish Residential Services and Yeshiva Schools of Pittsburgh.

Pittsburgh’s three Jewish day schools will receive an additional $5.3 million for scholarships from the Federation’s fundraising through Pennsylvania’s Educational Improvement Tax Credit program.

Jewish Federation Board Chair Meryl Ainsman pointed out in a press release that this has been an extraordinary year in the city. She noted that the Federation’s distributions were affected by the Oct. 27 massacre at the Tree of Life building. “We will be able to give the most funding in the history of the Jewish Federation, but we also have more community needs than ever because of the attack on three Pittsburgh synagogues.” PJC — David Rullo

Longtime Beth El Congregation executive director to retire

B

eth El Congregation of the South Hills has announced the retirement of long-time executive director Steve Hecht. Hecht has served as the executive director for 20 years.

In a written statement, Beth El Congregation President Warren Sufrin said, “In his work with us over these past two decades, Steve has touched our congregants’ lives; not only as an incredible executive director but also for so many, as a confident, a friend and a true mensch.”

PITTSBURGH JEWISH CHRONICLE

Hecht will continue in his current role through March 31, 2020. The congregation is planning a celebration to honor the Squirrel Hill native on Sunday, May 17, 2020.

Beth El intends to hire an interim executive director followed by a search for a permanent replacement. Former congregation president Andy Schaer has been named chair of the search committee for Hecht’s replacement. PJC — David Rullo

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Gateway Towers. Primo Sensational double unit-over 3,000 square feet. 4 bedrooms, 4.5 baths. View of all three rivers. The best unobstructed space and views in Pittsburgh. This is a full service building and PET FRIENDLY. FOX CHAPEL • $765,000

Close in most sought after street. 4 bedroom 5 bath home with one bedroom off the kitchen. 2ndNflGoor has a study that can be DI used as a 5th bedroom. Sunken PEN living room and finished lower level. Tons of storage and a huge flat yard are just some of the many amenities.

MURDOCH FARMS • $925,000 • REDUCED!

Exciting grand stone 7 bedroom, 3.5 bath home with all the amenities. Formal living spaces with hardwood floors. Leaded and stained glass throughout, gourmet kitchen, glass doors from dining room lead to a fabulous patio and two car garage. Bonus of a great third floor that could be used for teenager or nanny suites. Close to universities, hospitals and Schenley Park. In Colfax and Allderdice School District.

NORTH OF FORBES • $749,000



6 bedroom, 3.5 bath. Lovely home on a most desirable street.

G House is fabulous inside and Eout.

The gourmet kitchen and DIN N P breakfast nook that have newer radiant heat leads to a huge fabulous covered porch and patio. Beautiful grounds. Close to Forbes and Murray and in the Colfax school district. Will not last!

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Business & Professional Directory AUTOS WANTED AUTOS WANTED 7 24 -287-7 7 7 1 BU YI NG VEHICLE$ DENNY OFF$TEIN AUTO $ALE$ CAR$ SUV$ TRUCK$ VAN$ Cemetery plots PLOTS CEMETERY Rae Solomon,412-279-2225 Two plots in Beth El Cemetery GARDEN AND MAINTENANCE

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GARDEN & HOME MAINTENANCE Spruce up your yard/house on a onetime or regular basis. Reliable, references.

Call Scottie 412-310-3769. housekeeper

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Lovely Housekeeper 412-354-1007 ORGANIZE YOUR HOME

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Are you drowning in paperwork, but don’t have the time or skill to tackle it? Is your home full of clutter and stuff that creates disharmony? I help overwhelmed families, people in transition, and busy professionals. I can make your home more livable and your office more efficient. CONTACT JODY at 412-759-0778 or allegheny organizing@gmail.com.

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PA Connecting Communities is hiring staff to work on life and social skills out in the community with adults with disabilities.

Call Glen at 412.621.6151 Ext 2005

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SHADYSIDE CONDOMINIUM • $739,000 • 5000 FIFTH AVENUE

Spacious two bedroom and den beautiful unit. Spectacular built-ins throughout and wonderful in-unit laundry. Pristine and inviting, 24/7 security, guest suite. Most sought after building.

SQUIRREL HILL • $399,000

New Listing!s Updated 3 bedroom NG2.5 bath great home with NDI E P central air, 1 car garage, lovely yard. Great home in a great location! Will not last!

SQUIRREL HILL • $950,000

Wonderful 8 bedroom, 4.5 bath home with many amenities.

Expansive new back porch with fabulous view and desired privacy. Enjoy a gourmet kitchen, formal living and dining rooms.

Magnificent woodwork and leaded glass. Truly a home for one who likes character and charm as well as the amenities of today.

WASHINGTON’S LANDING • $535,000 Stunning 3 story townhome on Ithe G water! Newer fabulous DN N E P floors. Live here and feel like you kitchen, baths and hardwood are on vacation every day. Truly a move-in. Must See! JILL and MARK PORTLAND RE/MAX REALTY BROKERS 412.521.1000 EXT. 200

724-861-9595 412-823-4797 MAIREAN@ COMCAST.NET PITTSBURGHJEWISHCHRONICLE.ORG

412.496.5600 JILL | 412.480.3110 MARK

PITTSBURGH JEWISH CHRONICLE

NOVEMBER 15, 2019

21

Community Honoring the chancellor

Memorializing through study

Chabad House on Campus celebrated its 31st anniversary on Oct. 26 by honoring University of Pittsburgh chancellor Patrick Gallagher for his support of Jewish life on campus.

Since Nov. 3, Yeshiva Schools 8th grade boys dedicated an extra hour of Torah study in memory of those killed at the Tree of Life building. The students’ learning will culminate on Nov. 16, the 18th of Cheshvan and yartzeit of those murdered.

p Mikayla Joffe, Raphi Berlin, Sara Weinstein, Rabbi Shmuel Weinstein and Patrick Gallagher Photo courtesy of Chabad House on Campus

p Aron Engle, Eli Hordiner, Yehuda Arguedas, Leibel Hoexter and Shneur Weinstein gather at the Hoexter home.

Photo courtesy of Yeshiva Schools

Karmiel Mayor in Pittsburgh

Ladies lunch and learn

In Pittsburgh on Oct. 27, 2019, the mayor of Karmiel, Israel, Moshe Koninsky, participated in volunteer activities to honor the lives lost in the Oct. 27, 2018, attack. Mayor Koninsky was the guest of Partnership2Gether, a program of the Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh.

p Leah Herman discussed “finding yourself in the story of Genesis” during the Chabad of Squirrel Hill program.

Photo by Kelly Schwimer

Representing and presenting Three members of the Jewish Community Center of Greater Pittsburgh’s camp and development staff, and board officer Scott Seewald, attended the Harold Grinspoon JCamp 180 conference in Springfield, Massachusetts to present on philanthropy and leadership strategies. Emma Kaufmann Camp was one of 15 camps accepted into a Harold Grinspoon JCamp 180 leadership program called GIFT/GLI, out of 115 eligible camps.

p Nate Ulrich, left, and Mayor Moshe Koninsky discuss tree planting

Photo courtesy of Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh

Honor in Warsaw

Poland honors Pittsburgh

p Aaron Cantor, left, Fara Marcus, Scott Seewald and Rachael Speck

Photo courtesy of Jewish Community Center of Greater Pittsburgh

22 NOVEMBER 15, 2019

p On Oct. 27, 2019, Auxiliary Catholic Bishop of Warsaw, Rafal Markowski; left, Lutheran Bishop Jerzy Samiec, president of the Polish Ecumenical Council; and Chief Rabbi of Poland Michael Schudrich honored those affected by the Oct. 27, 2018, attack in Pittsburgh. Through the Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh’s Partnership2Gether program, Warsaw recently became Pittsburgh’s sister-city.

Photo courtesy of Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh

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Community Friday night lights and art

Oct. 27 Commemoration at CDS

The Friendship Circle hosted a Friday Night Light gathering on Oct. 25 to remember and repair together in commemoration of the events of Oct. 27, 2018. Friends gathered in the gallery of The Friendship Circle building for an art dedication of “Tree of Life, Roots of Friendship” by Sydné Ballengee, followed by the lighting of Shabbat candles. Participants later shared refreshments and matzah ball soup.

On Oct. 25, before the one-year commemoration of last year’s attack at the Tree of Life building, Community Day School families and staff gathered for a special Kabbalat Shabbat service and later wrote messages of loving-kindness on postcards.

p Sydné Ballengee

p Esther Rivka Shkedi, left, Harriet Fibus and Izzy Uhl

Photos courtesy of Friendship Circle

p Kindergarten students Naomi Alpern, left, and Morgan Guttman

Breakfast at Temple Sinai

Rabbi Jonah Pesner, director of the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism and senior vice president of the Union for Reform Judaism, spoke at a Temple Sinai breakfast.

p 7th graders Abigail Naveh, left, and Nofar Amram

Photos courtesy of Community Day School

Whole world in their hands p Cluster of clergy

On Nov. 6, Community Day School 8th grader Yan Sher, top right, won the school competition of the National Geographic GeoBee. As school champion, Sher will take a qualifying test, in which the top 100 scorers will be eligible to compete at the state level en route to the national championships in Washington, D.C.

p Pittsburgh native Susan Friedberg Kalson, chair of the URJ’s Commission on Social Action, addressed attendees.

Photos by Dale Lazar

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p CDS Geography Bee finalists

PITTSBURGH JEWISH CHRONICLE

Photo courtesy of Community Day School

NOVEMBER 15, 2019 23

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Visit GiantEagle.com for location information.

Empire Kosher Fresh Whole Frying Chicken

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Price effective Thursday, November 14 through Wednesday, November 20, 2019

Available at 24 NOVEMBER 15, 2019

and PITTSBURGH JEWISH CHRONICLE

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