Pittsburgh Jewish Chronicle 11-29-19

November 29, 2019 | 1 Kislev 5780

Candlelighting 4:37 p.m. | Havdalah 5:39 p.m. | Vol. 62, No. 48 | pittsburghjewishchronicle.org

NOTEWORTHY LOCAL Kesher offers new Judaics program

Interfaith families study points Communal way to increased engagement organizations partner in Religion raised, children of intermarriage (%) Torah Another religion 6%

Jewish and another religion 11%

By Adam Reinherz | Staff Writer

A

— the results of which were released earlier this month.

Funding for the interfaith study, as well as four additional studies to be conducted in the months to come, was included in the Federation’s original Community Study budget, according to Raimy Rubin, the Federation’s manager of impact measurement.

“Pittsburgh has a lot of room for growth when it comes to interfaith parents raising their children as Jews,” Rubin said. “What we saw in the Community Study was that Pittsburgh is a little bit behind. We have a relatively low percentage of interfaith families that are choosing to raise their children as Jews.

And we really wanted to understand why.”

Fifty-one percent of all children in interfaith households are either being raised in no religion or undecided, according to the Community Study.

“That to us is fertile ground,” Rubin said.

“What can we do to encourage those parents to raise their children as Jews?”

In addition to having the Brandeis researchers interview 29 local interfaith

partnership rooted in Torah study and respect has the prospects of flourishing at the Jewish Community Center of Greater Pittsburgh. As testament to their shared commitment toward creating meaningful engagements, the Kollel Jewish Learning Center, Kulam: Pittsburgh Community Beit Midrash and the JCC are collaborating on a Jewish learning initiative.

The program, called Partners in Torah, will pair people for one-on-one or small group study on a Torah topic of their choosing.

“Partners in Torah is a totally judgment free, friendly, warm and unintimidating environment,” said Judi Kanal, a host committee member.

“This program has the ability to bring people from all walks of life, from all over Pittsburgh — even over the river and through the woods — to learn, laugh, grow and create lifelong friendships,” noted Kanal at the program’s kickoff event on Nov. 18.

Months prior to last week’s commencement, in which Charlie Harary, a motivational speaker and author, addressed more than 100 attendees at the JCC, representatives of the three organizations began meeting.

These get-togethers modeled such a partnership in Torah, explained Rabbi Ron Symons, of the JCC. Throughout the summer, Symons, a Reform rabbi, and Rabbi Doniel Schon, of the Kollel, an Orthodox rabbi, gathered repeatedly for study. The rabbis alternated meetings at the JCC and Kollel.

By entering into each other’s spaces an “openness” and broadening of perspective was facilitated, said Symons.

“It became obvious that we can learn together,” said Schon. The weekly study sessions were a great way to “get to know each other.”

As the spiritual guides’ relationship grew, Brian Schreiber, president and CEO of the

Please see Interfaith, page 14

Please see Communal, page 14

New part-time educational program is a different model.

Page 2

No religion 43%

Secular/culturally Jewish 23%

LOCAL Interfaith trip to Israel

Jewish by religion 86% Jewish by religion 10% Jews and Presbyterians build bridges in the Holy Land.

Not yet decided 8%

 Pie chart demonstrates trends in intermarried families Data provded by Greater Pittsburgh Community Study

By Toby Tabachnick | Senior Staff Writer

Page 4 LOCAL Rabbi gets glimpse of life abroad

Rabbi Sara Rae Perman led High Holiday services in China.

Page 5

$1.50

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s the Jewish intermarriage rate continues to rise, community leaders must reckon with the consequences of a changing demographic that poses unique challenges.

Reflecting national trends, a growing number of Jewish Pittsburghers are choosing to couple with those of another faith. The 2017 Greater Pittsburgh Community Study, commissioned by the Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh and conducted by researchers at Brandeis University, found that more than 40 percent of Jewish adults here between the ages of 18 and 49 have a spouse or partner who is not Jewish.

Research indicates that many interfaith couples are not engaged in Jewish communal life at all, and that children raised in these households have minimal Jewish education or experiences.

To find out more about this population, and to devise ways to better serve it, Brandeis researchers conducted a new study commissioned by the Federation — “Points of Entry: Interfaith Families in Pittsburgh”

keep your eye on PittsburghJewishChronicle LOCAL

Conference on anti-Semitism

LOCAL

Ohav Shalom turns 50

LOCAL

Turks honor Ainsman

Headlines Kesher Pittsburgh offers new Judaics program for children — LOCAL —

By Toby Tabachnick | Senior Staff Writer

K

esher Pittsburgh’s new part-time educational program for children is not a traditional Hebrew school — which is precisely the point.

“It’s a different model of education,” explained Hebrew Priestess Keshira HaLev Fife, founder of Kesher, “a non-institutional, post-denominational” Jewish community.

“That is to say, if your primary value is for your child to be able to fluently read from the Haggadah on Pesach, this is probably not the program for them.”

On the other hand, she said, “if you want your child to be able to speak from an authentic and personal place about what Mitzrayim they are coming through this Pesach, that’s the kind of question we will be focusing on — what does it mean to live our Jewish values, what does it mean to have Jewish rhythms imbedded in our being?”

Jewish Pittsburgh’s most recent community study, conducted in 2017 by researchers at Brandeis University, revealed that just 45% of Jewish children in Pittsburgh are enrolled in Jewish part-time school, day school or a Jewish tutoring program. For some parents, the decision of whether to send their child to a Judaics program is influenced by their level of satisfaction with the traditional model.

That was the case for Becca Tobe, who has two children now attending Kesher’s program, which launched this fall. Although Tobe believes that the traditional model of the congregational after-school Judaics program works well for many families, it was not right for her own.

“The programs here were similar models to the religious school I had gone to as a kid

p Chaim Steinberg leads Kesher Kids on Thursdays.

Photo provided by Keshira HaLev Fife

in New Jersey, which didn’t resonate with me,” Tobe said. In fact, the program she attended as a child “was something I didn’t like about my Judaism.”

Tobe wanted a different paradigm for her own children, who are regulars at Kesher’s Shabbat and holiday services, and who “love Judaism so much — I just wanted to give them a program to foster that,” she said.

Tobe hopes to have found a means to grow her children’s connection to Judaism through Kesher Kids (a “working title,” according to Fife), which meets for a two-hour session three times a month.

Kesher Kids is comprised of two classes, one on Thursdays for children in fourth to sixth grades, and a Sunday class for kindergarten

through third grade.

The Thursday class has “a project-based learning curriculum,” explained Fife. “It’s loosely tied to the holiday cycle and Jewish life cycle, and within the projects, the kids are learning some history, some stories, some Biblical and Jewish figures. They are learning a bracha every week, and they are learning about Jewish values each week.”

Members of the Thursday class, which is taught primarily by Community Day School teacher Chaim Steinberg, will also have a Hebrew language lesson one hour every second week, and will come to Kabbalat Shabbat services at Kesher once a month.

The two-hour Sunday morning class is for kindergarten through third graders, and its

structure varies depending on the week.

One Sunday each month, the younger group engages in a project-based curriculum similar to that of the older group. Family education is offered on another Sunday. The third Sunday of a given month is dedicated to doing a mitzvah project for which Kesher will partner with various organizations around the community. Fife will teach some of the lessons to the younger group, and parents will help with the mitzvah projects.

“We really want it to be hands-on and experiential for the kids so it is enjoyable, engaging, and so that the learning is embedded in the doing,” said Fife.

For Tobe, the mitzvah component of the program is significant. For young children, “Judaism is hard to grasp,” she said. “But doing good things for others is something they can understand.”

The fourth weekend of each month will find the children participating in Kabbalat Shabbat “so the kids can learn prayers and songs and the rhythm of the service by actually participating in one,” Fife said.

The classes are held in private homes in Pittsburgh’s East End and in Fox Chapel.

So far, there are about eight children registered for each class, coming from various schools around the city including the Environmental Charter School, Winchester Thurston, Shady Side Academy and Community Day School.

“It’s nice that these Jewish kids are getting to make community together and coming to know each other — and each other’s families — from a young age,” said Fife. “The program is, of course, an opportunity for learning and it’s also a tool for community building, exploring spirituality, forming strong Jewish identity and blossoming into ‘mensch-hood.’ We believe that developing Please see Kesher, page 15

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Headlines Anti-Semitism conference attracts hundreds of college students to Pittsburgh — LOCAL —

By Toby Tabachnick | Senior Staff Writer

I

srael-related anti-Semitic harassment increased 70% on college campuses in 2018, and anti-Semitic acts singling out Jewish and pro-Israel groups for “personal vilification” more than doubled. So did anti-Semitic acts involving the unfair treatment of Jewish or pro-Israel students, including attempts to exclude them from campus activities.

The harrowing statistics, recently reported by the nonpartisan AMCHA Initiative — which documents anti-Semitic activity at universities and colleges — include a 67% increase in promoting or condoning terrorism against Israel on campuses.

While an increasingly hostile atmosphere for Jews and pro-Israel students could have the effect of dissuading them from participating in Jewish life on campus, many are instead moved to advocacy and to learn techniques to combat and reverse the trend.

IACT (Inspired, Active, Committed, Transformed), a 12-year-old national initiative that began in Boston to build on the success of Birthright, and now has a presence on 30 campuses throughout the United States, including the University of Pittsburgh, is one organization that is leading the way in empowering Jewish student leaders. The group held its first “Anti-Semitism on Campus Today Student Leadership Assembly” in Pittsburgh on Nov. 24 at the Omni William Penn Hotel.

The conference was filled to capacity, with more than 300 students from all over the country attending. Another 100 students applied, but all spaces were filled.

The energy of the student leaders was

palpable as they raptly listened to nationally recognized experts in combatting anti-Semitism, including keynote speaker Rachel Fish executive director of the Foundation to Combat Anti-Semitism, established earlier this year by Robert Kraft, owner of the New England Patriots, in response to the growing rise of anti-Semitism in the U.S. and abroad. Fish described how, as a graduate student at Harvard University in the early 2000s, she uncovered and exposed the fact that the $2.5 million endowment made to the school by Sheikh Zayed, the dictatorial ruler of the emirate of Abu Dhabi, was tainted by Zayed’s connection to anti-Semitic propaganda. Despite confronting ambivalence from university administrators, her tenacity ultimately led to Harvard suspending the funding.

Fish also described working with students at Columbia University who were faced with professors using their classroom pulpit for political purposes. In a 200-student lecture course about the conflicts between Palestinians and Israelis, for example, professor Joseph Massad publicly asked an Israeli student: “So, how many Palestinian women did you rape and kill?”

Fish charged the student advocates to aggressively take on these types of problems at their own schools.

“You just need a small group committed to pursue the truth,” she said.

Many university diversity officers “do not understand how Jews could be a vulnerable minority,” explained Fish, because they see Jews as “being ethnically white, having privilege and being powerful. They do not understand the issues you are facing on campus. You have to educate them.”

Other speakers at the conference included Please see Conference, page 15

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NOVEMBER 29, 2019 3

Headlines Jews and Presbyterians travel to Israel together — LOCAL —

By David Rullo | Staff Writer

O

n his last trip leading a mission to Israel as senior rabbi of Temple Sinai, Jamie Gibson decided to use the journey as an opportunity to bring understanding between two groups sometimes at odds in recent history: Pittsburgh Jews and Presbyterians.

The mission, Nov. 10-18, included members of both Temple Sinai and East Liberty Presbyterian Church and visited Jewish and Christian sites, as well as Palestinian cities, including Ramallah and Hebron.

Gibson got the idea for a trip that included members of the two faiths after the conflict last year between the Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh and the Pittsburgh Theological Seminary, spurred by a speaker at the seminary from the Sabeel Ecumenical Liberation Theology Center.

“I arranged two things in the last calendar year,” he said. The first was a visit from Yossi Klein Halevi to the Pittsburgh Theological Seminary. “They paid his honorarium and the lion’s share of his expenses.” The second thing was the mission trip.

“I thought if the East Liberty Presbyterian Church and Temple Sinai went to Israel, we could have a better conversation.”

Rev. Randy Bush, of East Liberty Presbyterian Church, co-led the trip with Gibson.

“I’ve known Rabbi Gibson for almost 14 years,” said Bush. “We’ve known each other from community Thanksgiving services, mutual friends and interfaith dialogue in Pittsburgh.

Jamie had often said to me that at some point we should go to Israel together.”

The trip included 11 members from East Liberty Presbyterian Church, 17 members from Temple Sinai, and Josh Sayles, director of the Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh’s Community Relations Council.

Sayles was excited to go on the trip with Gibson, who has been a friend and mentor since he arrived in Pittsburgh four years ago.

“I’m really grateful he thought of me and I was able to be a part of the trip and get to know people from the Jewish and Christian communities p Israeli mission led by Rabbi Jamie Gibson and Rev. Randy Bush that I didn’t know beforehand,” Sayles Photo provided by Jamie Gibson said. “I’m also really glad I got to go to Israel with Rabbi Gibson before he retired.” with a Palestinian tour guide.”

It also allowed for an experience different In Israel, the group was accompanied the Before embarking on the trip, all partici- from those taken by other groups. Included whole time by both Israeli and Palestinian pants met three times. in the itinerary were sites important to tour guides, providing dual viewpoints at “It gave us a chance to share perspectives Christians like the Sea of Galilee and each stop. Sayles recalled that the Israeli tour on why we wanted to do this trip and start Nazareth, the opportunity to share Shabbat guide said, “Look, I’ve been a tour guide for the process of trust building and making 30 years, and this is the first tour I’ve co-led friendships,” Rush said.

Please see Trip, page 15

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Headlines

 A young member of Kehilat Shanghai tries to blow the shofar.

Rabbi Sara Rae Perman

Photo courtesy of

Rabbi heads to China, gets look at Jewish life abroad — LOCAL —

By Adam Reinherz | Staff Writer

R

abbis often assume pulpits far from home. Rabbi Sara Rae Perman went 7,300 miles. Weeks ago the Greensburg resident and rabbi emerita of Congregation Emanu-El Israel returned from officiating high holiday services and a b’nai mitzvah ceremony in Shanghai, China.

Serving congregation Kehilat Shanghai wasn’t necessarily on Perman’s map. She discovered the gig through social media after a colleague, who helped the progressive community in Shanghai earlier this year, inquired whether anyone was interested in guiding the group through the Jewish holidays.

“I responded yes. He put me in touch with the president of the congregation, and as they say, the rest is history,” said Perman.

During her three-week stay, Perman aided the progressive congregation by delivering sermons, leading services and helping its religious school. Through those experiences, Perman gained insight into the community’s history and its modern-day struggles.

“As a rabbi, I want to increase people’s commitment and involvement in Jewish

community, and so it was sort of frustrating initially to realize that they don’t have regular Friday night services, and Rosh Hashanah, because it was on a weekday and it happened to be a national Chinese holiday — it was their celebration of the 70th anniversary of the Communist Party coming to power in China — the turnout was very small. There were maybe 40 people for Rosh Hashanah,” said Perman.

However, after learning more about the community, Perman’s appreciation grew.

Government restrictions preclude freedoms afforded in the United States, she explained.

As stated on the congregation’s website: “Please note that due to Chinese regulations, Kehilat Shanghai events and activities are available only for foreign passport holders and their families.”

“When I think about how easy it would be to just disappear into that community, and not have any sense of Jewish identity, what changed my view is to see that they really want to have a sense of the Jewish community,” said Perman.

Although the congregation lacks a fulltime rabbi, regular services and a permanent home, it possesses a coordinator, Torah, ark, prayer shawls, several shofars and a religious school with nearly 50 students. Some parents even send their children to Jewish summer camps in the States, exp explained Perman.

“There is a commitment. They want a Jewish community and want a Jewish life,” she said. How that desire functionally manifests itself, however, was instructive, noted the rabbi. no On the first night of Rosh Hashanah, services were held at Millenium Shanghai Hotel (Honqiao), then the following morning at Ohel Moshe Synagogue (Shanghai Jewish Refugee Museum), a venue erected by Russian Jewish immigrants in the early 20th century.

Throughout the morning prayers, “because it is a museum, people are walking

 Yarmulke from Kehilat Shanghai Photo by Adam Reinherz

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Please see Perman, page 20

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Headlines Temple Ohav Shalom celebrates 50 years — LOCAL —

By David Rullo | Staff Writer

T

emple Ohav Shalom began by building community one family at a time.

It started with a small group of Jewish families in the North Hills that canvassed other Jewish families about their interest in Jewish life. According to Shara Taylor, they began by going through the phone book, and cold calling people.

“They had a lay leader with a family Torah and they would literally drive the Torah in a station wagon from home to home,” Taylor said.

The group, which named itself the North Hills Jewish Community Center, soon needed meeting spaces larger than members’ living rooms.

Arnie Begler, president of Ohav Shalom, said they met “in church basements, at Northway Mall, wherever they could. Ultimately, they found a space and settled into it.”

Fifty years later, Temple Ohav Shalom is celebrating its founding and growth from a loose affiliation of Jewish families to an established Reform synagogue in Allision Park.

The modern history of Ohav Shalom started to take shape in 1979 when the congregation purchased a former church

p Bronze ark doors with decorative stone wall in Temple Ohav Shalom’s sanctuary. Photo by Kim Rullo

on Duncan Avenue. “It was a house converted into a church converted into a synagogue,” Taylor said. “It had a sanctuary and classrooms.”

In 1981, the North Hills Jewish Community Center changed its name to Temple Ohav Shalom.

By 1997, the synagogue was “bursting at the seams,” Taylor recalled. “It was beginning

to become a fire hazard.”

On a cold day in January 1999, the congregation held a parade, carrying the temple’s Torahs from their old home to a recently purchased building — a former racquet ball club converted to a modern synagogue by the architectural firm Rothschild Doyno Collaborative.

Michael Kraus, a historian, artist and

Ohav Shalom member, worked with Dan Rothschild to create the decorative stone carvings and bronze ark in the sanctuary.

“Dan had an idea to use something resembling Jerusalem stone,” Kraus said. “I told him I could create a stone veneer that could be laid up like a wall.”

For the bronze doors to the ark, Kraus researched Polish synagogues destroyed during the Holocaust. “One of them had a small Ten Commandments plaque above the bimah. It wasn’t all lined up straight. They were moved around a little, which made it more interesting. The synagogue was in Suchowola, Poland, and was destroyed. The congregants were gathered inside and it was set on fire. The rabbi was forced to watch. It’s a memory piece without having a tag or sign on it. We’re making it live again.”

They’re also making their own 50 years of history come alive with a year-long celebration. The tagline for the commemoration, said Rabbi Jeremy Weisblatt, is “kulanu kadimah, which means forward together.”

Aaron Brauser is the chair of the task force for the 50th anniversary, which began in earnest with the synagogue’s Arts Weekend from Nov. 7-10.

“The next event will be the menorah lighting at McCandless Crossing,” Brauser said. “We’re going to highlight that it’s Please see Ohav Shalom, page 20

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Headlines Meryl Ainsman honored by Turkish Americans for Jewish communal work — LOCAL —

By Adam Reinherz | Staff Writer

A

fter a year of aiding efforts in the aftermath of last year’s attack at the Tree of Life building, Meryl Ainsman, board chair of the Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh, was honored by Peace Islands Institute and the Turkish Cultural Center of Pittsburgh. The Nov. 19 affair, which marked the groups’ 19th annual Friendship Dinner, welcomed more than 200 attendees, including Mayor Bill Peduto, to the Omni William Penn.

Ainsman’s work in organizing the Oct. 28, 2018, vigil at Soldiers & Sailors Memorial Hall & Museum, served as cause for recognition, explained Sebnem Unlu, an executive committee member of the Peace Islands Institute.

“Meryl has been working very hard to overcome anti-Semitism and hatred toward the Jewish community and I think it’s a very important thing she’s doing,” said Unlu.

Along with honoring Ainsman, the organization feted Wasi Mohammed, former director of the Islamic Center of Pittsburgh; JC Opn SShelton, Sound Bar_Eartique 5/14/19 12:29 Stephen executive director of theAM

p Meryl Ainsman

Photo by Joshua Franzos

Trade Institute of Pittsburgh; and Selma Aksoy, a representative from Advocates of Silenced Turkey.

Each of the awardees has gone “above and beyond in their communities,” said Unlu. “They have all stood up against hatred and they gave their hearts and put forward their abilities to overcome discrimination and to unify people.”

Ainsman, though surprised to receive the award, was excited to meet like-minded individuals seeking to better Pittsburgh and its residents.

“It is a great honor to be recognized outside PageJewish 1 the community for carrying out my

responsibilities as Federation chair, particularly as it relates to the aftermath of the shooting at the Tree of Life building,” she said. “I have made new friends in the Turkish community with whom I hope to continue to work together.”

“The time and energy Meryl has put into helping Jewish Pittsburgh over the past year has also built connections between the Jewish community and other diverse communities all over Pittsburgh, and I think this award recognizes the power of her volunteer work to heal all of us,” said Adam Hertzman, Federation’s director of marketing.

“Meryl has volunteered so much of her time as the Jewish Federation helps the Jewish community recover from the anti-Semitic attack last year, but this award really highlights the broader impact her volunteering has had on so many different, diverse communities throughout Pittsburgh,” echoed Jeff Finkelstein, Federation’s president and CEO. The Peace Islands Institute was founded in 2003 by Turkish-Americans in New Jersey.

The organization is inspired by Muhammed Fethullah Gülen, a Turkish cleric living in eastern Pennsylvania who last year sparked international attention after reports were issued that the White House was considering extraditing him to “placate Turkey,” and reduce tensions between Turkey and Saudi

“ Meryl has been working very hard to overcome antiSemitism and hatred toward the Jewish community and I think it’s a very important

”

thing she’s doing.

— SEBNEM UNLU

Arabia following the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, according to NBC News.

The Peace Islands Institute has long appreciated the efforts of individuals seeking to “overcome hatred, racism, persecution and the violation of human rights,” said Unlu.

Recognition from the group is “a way of appreciating other people’s efforts irrespective of who they are, their faith, their religion or background.

It’s a way of confirming our solidarity.” PJC Adam Reinherz can be reached at areinherz@ pittsburghjewishchronicle.org.

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Headlines A glimpse into the soul of Louis Little — HISTORY —

By Eric Lidji | Special to the Chronicle

W

ills are a thing to themselves in the world of paperwork. A last will and testament is a legal document. It’s meant to clarify the transfer of property. And yet, unlike most legal documents, a will is also an opportunity to reflect on a life lived — should the testator or testatrix choose to take it. Not everyone does, of course, but those who are inclined to view life in broad, romantic strokes occasionally relish one last chance to wax poetic.

Louis Little waxed. His waxing was even a bit contagious. Here is part of Milton Susman’s eulogy to Little in the Criterion in 1956: “He was there at your fingertips, yet always just a bit beyond your fingertips.

Lou was one of those strange combinations of extroversion and introversion. He loved people and longed to go out to them but couldn’t quite bring himself to do so. He wanted dearly to do for his community, but it seemed to us to baffle, even frighten, him.

And thus he remained a safe distance from it. Lonely, Lou must have been. Lonelier than most people realized. Because he could not shape the key which would open the door to those joys and that contentment which come from the floor of the soul.”

a relatively understudied prelude to the Red Scare.

Combating juvenile delinquency was his passion. He sponsored the Louis Little Club, a Jewish youth organization based in the Hill District.

He was also president of Hill City, a fascinating experiment in the 1930s where Hill District kids staffed every department of a make-believe city government. In his own words, he stood beside “those on the wrong side of p The two sides of Louis Little’s 1934 holiday card the tracks, or those looked neatly summarize the sides of his personality. down upon by reason of color, Image courtesy Rauh Jewish History Program & Archives nationality or creed.”

Those facts give a sense of the man, but Little was one of the higher-profile criminal lawyers in Pittsburgh from the 1920s nothing nearly as vivid as what you get through the 1950s. He was born in 1892, from a pair of documents that provide in Braddock, to immigrant parents, and he few facts at all. His “seasons greeting” card spent his childhood in the Hill District. He from 1934, seen here, suggests a delightserved in World War I. He ran unsuccessfully fully idiosyncratic combination of sincerity for Congress in 1938, promoting an anti- and self-regard.

The first paragraph of his handwritten will lynching bill and a national minimum wage.

He visited pre-statehood Palestine in 1940 reveals even more of his essence, without and 1947 on behalf of the American Jewish adding all that much to the details of his Joint Distribution Committee. His law biography: “I have unnecessarily delayed offices at 7 Court Place caught fire in 1948, writing my last testament. It is difficult to destroying two decades of legal records. He foresee ones own dissolution and moreso was the lead attorney in 1950 for the House to dispose of a life’s accumulation of mateSelect Committee on Lobbying Activities, rial goods and monies by the sweep of a

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Eric Lidji is the director of the Rauh Jewish History Program & Archives at the Heinz History Center. He can be reached at eslidji@ heinzhistorycenter.org or 412-454-6406.

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pen in a few seconds. I pause to reflect on the many hours of hard work, mental agility and sacrifice of health and pleasure so that I might have stored away enough to live a comfortable, yea, a luxurious old age. It was all vanity, yes even the thrill of a profession full of life’s strange quirks, inconsistencies, good and bad luck. The heart breaks, the disappointments, the sicknesses, the pains and aches and the daily unexpected burdens that some parents worth of a better fate, had to carry for a criminal or physically or mentally deranged child.”

Little set aside the bulk of his estate for a “suitable monument” to his late brother Hyman and to his deceased parents. The lack of guidance about the nature of this monument prompted a legal challenge by relatives.

Execution of the will was postponed until 1963, when his executors announced more than $700,000 in disbursements to 19 local, national and international charities, each of which was asked to create a fitting family “memorial.”

Had he written two documents — one to disperse his assets, the other a memoir — Little could have avoided such confusion.

Handling it all at once, though, was truer to his heart. PJC

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Calendar

q TUESDAY, DEC. 3 Raise a glass at Spoonwood Brewing Company (5981 Baptist Road, 15236) from 5-7 p.m. at SHIM’s Pay It Forward. Mingle with like-minded neighbors, learn about SHIM’s work in the South Hills, enjoy Spoonwood’s delicious menu and more! Free. For more information, visit facebook.com/events/716990152043961. >>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 THURSDAY, DEC. 5 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.

Congregation Beth Shalom is excited to announce a reading group for Ibram X. Kendi’s new book How to be an AntiRacist! The group will be reading the Introduction through Chapter 3 for their first conversation at 7:30 p.m. at Congregation Beth Shalom (5915 Beacon Street). Free. For more information, visit bethshalom.org/events-upcoming.

Fifth Ave.) explores topics of similarities and differences. Themes range from wedding rituals to the story of Noah. Attendees are invited to join for any and all sessions. Free and open to the public. q FRIDAY, DEC. 6 The Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh’s Young Adult Division and Moishe House are teaming up for a Stellar Potluck Shabbat at 7pm. Bring your favorite side, main dish or dessert for an outer-space themed evening with food, fun and friends. We’ll provide the challah, wine, beer, beverages and paper goods. For more information and to register, visit jewishpgh.org/event/yadshabbat-in-space. q SATURDAY, DEC. 7

q THURSDAYS, DEC. 5, JAN. 2, FEB. 6, MAR. 5, APR. 2, MAY 7, JUNE 4

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.

Facilitated by local clergy, the ChristianJewish Dialogue at Rodef Shalom (4905

Congregation Beth Shalom (5915 Beacon St.) welcomes Michael Schudrich, the Chief

q SUNDAY, DEC. 8 Kids will come and bake Chanukah gelt crinkle cookies to take home and donate to the food pantry at Kids in the Kitchen - Chanukah Edition. There will also be Chanukah crafts and a special juggling show. The fun begins at 1 p.m. at Chabad of Squirrel Hill, 1700 Beechwood Blvd. $10 per child.

Rabbi of Poland. Learn about his journey to become the chief rabbi, the challenges Jews face there and the future of their community.

Rabbi Schudrich’s talk is free and begins at 12:45 p.m. For more information, visit bethshalom.org/events-upcoming.

Enjoy a gala evening at Congregation Beth Shalom Men’s Club Sweepstakes & Awards Dinner 2019 (5915 Beacon Street) beginning at 6:30 p.m. with hors d’oeuvres and open bar. Dinner will be served at 7:30 p.m. with entertainment at the end of the prize drawings. Reserved seating, RSVPs required no later than Wednesday, Nov. 27. $75. To RSVP, visit bethshalom.org/events-upcoming. q SUNDAY, DEC. 8 Volunteer at Super Sunday, the Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh’s annual mega-phone-a-thon, at the JCC of Greater Pittsburgh from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Three time slots available. For more information, visit jewishpgh.org/event/super-Sunday-2.

Light! An Interfaith Celebration Through Song, an evening of music and spoken word bringing together communities of faith to bring in light during this season of darkness.

The event starts with Havdalah at 7 p.m. at JCC of Pittsburgh, Katz Performing Arts Center, 5738 Darlington Rd. Family-friendly, no charge. To RSVP, visit jccpgh.formstack. com/forms/light_dec2019.

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Due to popular demand, an encore screening of “Jewish Memories of Pittsburgh’s Hill District - Documentary” has been added beginning at 7 p.m. at Regent Square Theater, 1035 S. Braddock Ave. “Pittsburgh Courier: Newspaper of Record” will be shown after the documentary. $10. threeriversfilmfestival. com/films/jewish-memories-of-pittsburghshill-district. q TUESDAY, DEC. 17 Rodef Shalom’s “Wisdom, Wine, and Cheese Lecture Series” presents rabbis discussing their experiences as Women on the Pulpit.

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

q THURSDAY, DEC. 12

q SUNDAY, DEC. 22

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

The Annual South Hills Lights Community Chanukah Festival features a live concert with Oneg Shemesh and the world’s first Chanukah virtual reality 3D experience, plus the Grand Menorah lighting and more. Free and open to all. Potomac Ave. & Belrose Ave. For more information, and to RSVP, visit www.chabadsh.com/lights.

Women come and bake whole wheat challah loaves and learn how to make special Chanukah shapes at Loaves of Love beginning at 7 p.m. at Chabad of Squirrel Hill, 1700 Beechwood Blvd. $10 per person.

q SATURDAY, DEC. 7

10th Annual Latkepalooza from 10 a.m.noon at Congregation Beth Shalom, 5915 Beacon Street. $5 per person. Help give light to others and stop by the BSUSY/theRSTY teen table with a donation of new clothes or school supplies for NCJW’s Back 2 School Store. For more information, visit jjep.org.

Join the Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh’s Young Adult Division for their 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/youngadult-bartending-club-5. q SUNDAY, DEC. 15 Games, crafts, music, prizes, sufganiyot and latkes! Everyone is welcome to attend J-JEP’s

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Join Temple Ohav Shalom as they host the 2nd Annual North Hills Public Menorah Lighting at McCandless Crossing (8970 Covenant Avenue) on the first night of Chanukah. Located at the fountain in McCandless Crossing, free, 5:30 p.m. q TUESDAY, DEC. 24 Chabad of the South Hills (1701 McFarland Road) presents its annual Chanukah Seniors Lunch. Learn about the important documents you need as you age. Wheelchair accessible.

Pre-registration is strongly suggested. Please call 412-278-2658. Lunch is co-sponsored by Chabad of the South Hills and the South Hills JCC. chabadsh.com. PJC

NOVEMBER 29, 2019 9

Headlines — WORLD — From JTA reports

Columbia College approves holding Israel referendum Columbia College Student Council voted in favor of holding a campus-wide referendum over divesting from Israeli companies.

Elected student representatives voted by secret ballot by a vote of 25 to 12 to hold the referendum on whether the university should divest “from companies that profit from or engage in the State of Israel’s inhumane acts against Palestinians,” the campus student newspaper the Columbia Spectator reported.

The vote will be scheduled in the coming months.

It is the third time that the student council has voted on whether to hold such a referendum, in initiatives spearheaded by the campus organization Columbia University Apartheid Divest.

Some 34 campus organizations supported the initiative, according to the Spectator.

The council said that the vote would be gaging students’ perspective on the issue, not taking a position on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

In March 2018, Barnard College students, who are part of Columbia University, passed a referendum, with 64.3 percent in favor, that called for the Student Government Association to write a letter to administrators in support of divestment The university is not bound by any student vote on divestment.

The results of a referendum would go to the university’s Advisory Committee on Socially Responsible Investing. In the past five years, this committee has approved the divestment from private prisons and from public companies whose primary business is the production of thermal coal.

Spanish fashion house removes $1,840 outfit that looks like a concentration camp uniform A luxury fashion house in Spain removed an outfit that closely resembled concentration camp uniforms from the Holocaust.

The striped pantsuit was removed from the Loewe website and the company issued an apology.

The outfit, which was being sold for $1,840, was part of a capsule collection inspired by the tile drawings of the 19th-century British ceramicist William De Morgan.

Diet Prada, a fashion industry watchdog account on Instagram, called out Loewe for the outfit and called for a response.

“Unable to see anything but concentration camp uniforms in this $1,840 ensemble from @loewes William De Morgan capsule, a collection meant to ‘capture a freedom of imagination,’ … There’s not actually much left to the imagination when the resulting look is so uncannily disturbing.”

In its statement, Loewe said: “It was brought to our attention that one of our looks ... could be misconstrued as referring to one of the most odious moments in the history of mankind. It was absolutely

never our intention and we apologize to anyone who might feel we were insensitive to sacred memories. The products featured have been removed from our commercial offering.”

10,000 ride buses as Shabbat service launches in Tel Aviv The new Shabbat bus service in Tel Aviv was such a hit that some passengers were left waiting at the station.

More than 10,000 passengers used the public transportation service, an initiative called “We move on weekends.”

There are six routes — most circumvent religious neighborhoods — with minibuses scheduled to come every half-hour.

The service includes transportation to surrounding communities including Ramat Hasharon, Givatayim and Kiryat Ono. Three hours after the service was launched, Tel Aviv announced that it would add more vehicles after passengers were left waiting due to large demand, the Israeli business website Calcalist reported.

The city of Tel Aviv will pick up $2.6 million of the $3.6 million operating costs for the first year, i24 reported.

In Israel, buses and trains do not generally run in Jewish-majority cities on Friday night and Saturday before sundown. The practice was born of an agreement reached between the haredi Orthodox community and David Ben-Gurion, the nation’s first prime minister, before the formation of the state.

Nearly 6,000 gather at Chabad conference Nearly 6,000 Chabad rabbis and lay leaders participated in the annual International Conference of ChabadLubavitch Emissaries.

The rabbis come from all 50 U.S. states and some 100 countries. The most recent Chabad center was established in Kigali, Rwanda, becoming the Central African nation’s first synagogue.

The annual conference banquet filled the New Jersey Convention Center. The keynote address was given by U.S. Ambassador to Israel David Friedman. He has been study partners with a Chabad rabbi in Woodmere, New York, on Long Island, for more than two decades.

The some 4,900 emissaries, known by the Yiddish term shluchim, gathered in front of Chabad headquarters at 770 Eastern Parkway in Brooklyn’s Crown Heights for the annual “class photo.”

In the wake of the April shooting at the Chabad center in Poway, California, the rabbis were scheduled to participate in seminars and workshops on the topics of combating anti-Semitism, the pressing need for moral education and fostering Jewish pride in the face of growing hostility, among other topics.

During the conference, they visited the Ohel, the last Lubavitcher Rebbe’s gravesite. The thousands of emissaries waited in line to deliver handwritten notes to the grave. PJC

This week in Israeli history Dec. 2, 2010 — Carmel fire breaks out

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

Nov. 29, 1928 — Meretz founder Aloni is born

In the beginning

Shulamit Aloni, a rights activist and politician who starts the left-wing Ratz party in 1973 and Meretz in 1992, is born in Tel Aviv.

She serves in the Knesset from 1965 to 1969 and from 1974 to 1996.

of the year and

Nov. 30, 2010 — Carmel tunnels open in haifa

when it ends,

Dec. 3, 1995 — Begin adviser Shmulevitz dies

Matityahu Shmulevitz, a member of the underground Lehi in the 1940s and the director-general of the Prime Minister’s Office under Menachem Begin in the late 1970s, dies at age 75.

Dec. 4, 2004 — Shinui leaves government

We Remember Them.

Haifa’s Carmel Tunnels open to traffic, enabling drivers to get from Carmel Beach in the west to the Check Post on the eastern side of Mount Carmel in eight minutes.

Dec. 1, 1973 — Ben-Gurion dies

Lee & Lisa Oleinick 10 NOVEMBER 29, 2019

Israel’s deadliest forest fire begins in the Carmel Mountains near Haifa when a teenager discards a piece of charcoal outside the village of Usfiyye. The fire consumes more than 8,000 acres and 5 million trees in four days and kills 44 people.

Israel’s first prime minister, David Ben-Gurion, dies at the Tel HaShomer-Sheba Medical Center in Tel Aviv at age 87 a few weeks after suffering a stroke. He is buried at Sde Boker beside his wife, Paula.

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Prime Minister Ariel Sharon dismisses five Shinui lawmakers from his Cabinet because of the secular party’s opposition to his proposed budget. Led by Tommy Lapid, Shinui is the Knesset’s thirdlargest party with 15 seats.

Dec. 5, 1897 — Gershom Scholem is born

Gershom (Gerhard) Scholem is born in Berlin. He makes aliyah in 1923, teaches at Hebrew University and becomes the pre-eminent scholar of Jewish mysticism. PJC

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Headlines Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu indicted for corruption — WORLD —

By Marcy Oster | JTA

B

enjamin Netanyahu has been charged in three corruption cases, marking the first time a sitting Israeli prime minister has been indicted.

The charges, announced on Nov. 21 by the Justice Ministry and Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit, include bribery and breach of public trust.

Netanyahu has denied the charges and called the investigations against him a “witch hunt.”

In a televised address after the indictments were announced, he asserted that the charges are an “attempted coup against a prime minister.”

He has 30 days to request that the Knesset grant him parliamentary immunity in order to avoid a criminal trial. Government ministers are required to resign if faced with a criminal charge, but not the prime minister.

The most serious charge is for bribery in what is known as Case 4000, which alleges that Shaul Elovitch, majority shareholder of Bezeq, received political favors for the Israeli telecommunications giant in return for favorable coverage of Netanyahu on the Walla! news website owned by the company.

Conviction on the charge carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison.

Ne t a ny a hu was The announcement indicted for breach came a day after Blue of public trust in two and White party head separate cases.

Benny Gantz said he had In Case 1000, he is failed to form a governaccused of accepting ment coalition. Gantz illegal gifts from had worked for about Hollywood producer a month to join with Arnon Milchan, Netanyahu and his Likud including Cuban cigars party in a unity governand pink champagne. ment in which they would alternate serving The gifts totaled about $200,000. In return, as prime minister.

Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu allegedly p One of the sticking Netanyahu helped secure a U.S. BenjaminPhoto points involved whether

by Miriam Alster/Flash90 visa for Milchan and Netanyahu would step down as prime minister supported a law that would give tax breaks to the billionaire if he in favor of Gantz if he were indicted.

Blue and White said in a statement: “A moved back to Israel.

In Case 2000, the prime minister allegedly prime minister up to his neck in corruption advanced a law that would have hurt allegations has no public or moral mandate the free daily newspaper Israel Hayom, to make fateful decisions for the State of funded by the U.S. casino magnate Sheldon Israel. Because there is concern, whether or Adelson, in exchange for positive coverage not the charges prove to be true or without from the popular general circulation merit, that Netanyahu will make decisions in his own personal interest and for his political Yediot Acharonot.

Netanyahu defended himself against the survival and not in the national interest.” charges during a four-day pre-indictment After the charges were announced, the party hearing in October. tweeted a video of Netanyahu from 11 years The Justice Ministry also announced ago calling on then-Prime Minister Ehud that Yediot’s publisher, Arnon Mozes, as Olmert, who was facing corruption allegations, well as Elovitch and his wife, Iris, will be to step down. Netanyahu’s statement is nearly charged with bribery. identical to the one issued by Blue and White.

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Mandelblit in a televised statement about an hour after the charges were released said that “today is a hard and sad day.” He said he made the decision to indict Netanyahu “with a heavy heart, but wholeheartedly.”

His statement responded to accusations that he made the charges public in order to help lawmakers form a government.

“It is not an issue of right or left,” Mandelblit said. “It is not an issue of politics, it is required.”

The attorney general called the lengthy process of investigation and leveling of charges “serious and responsible,” and said the decision was made “only for legal considerations and based on evidence. No other consideration influenced me.” He added that “at the end of the day, the decision was mine.”

Netanyahu in his TV address said he has “given my life for my country.” He echoed that this is “a very hard day.”

He called the investigation “contaminated,” and criticized the attorney general, saying that “To my sorrow, Mandelblit could not stand up to pressure from [state prosecutor] Shai Nitzan.”

Netanyahu suggested that the timing of the announcement was suspicious, noting that it came on the “most sensitive time politically since the establishment of the state.”

“I won’t let them win, I will continue to lead the country,” he said.

Following his address, Netanyahu tweeted “Investigate the investigators.” PJC

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NOVEMBER 29, 2019 11

Opinion Netanyahu’s next move — EDITORIAL — As we go to press on Monday, four days after Israel’s attorney general indicted Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for corruption, Netanyahu remains defiant, calling the charges of bribery, fraud and breach of trust an “attempted coup.“ And now, Israel’s longest-serving leader is searching for a solution to sustain his own political survival.

The Netanyahu indictment came one day after Benny Gantz, leader of the centrist Blue and White party, announced that he was not able to form a governing coalition — continuing the stalemate following Israel’s elections in September, the second inconclusive elections this year. After each election, first Netanyahu and then Gantz tried to form a government, but failed. And until Netanyahu’s indictment, the prospect of a third election did not appear likely to produce a different result. Things may be different now.

Throughout the unsuccessful coalition discussions this fall, many Israelis (including

p Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu

Photo courtesy of US Department of State – Flickr.com

President Reuven Rivlin) called for the formation of a national unity government.

Gantz said he was open to the idea, but insisted that Netanyahu, tainted by the corruption investigations, had to go. Likud and its right-wing partners rejected that approach and backed Netanyahu as their continuing leader. No one budged.

Shortly after the indictment, however, and perhaps in recognition that even with Netanyahu’s problems a third election might only lead to the same inconclusive results as the first two, Gantz on Saturday proposed a unity government that would include Netanyahu. Under his new approach, Gantz would lead the government for two years and Netanyahu would lead the government in the following two years — provided that Netanyahu is acquitted of corruption charges.

That suggestion would break the impasse, allow for the formation of a government and provide time for Netanyahu to work through his defense — or for the negotiation of some other alternative remedy. While we recognize that there is no Israeli law that

requires a prime minister under indictment to step down (although Prime Minister Ehud Olmert did just that in 2008), Israelis appear to be getting restive. A poll by Israel’s Channel 13 found that 56% of Israelis believe that Netanyahu cannot continue to govern after being indicted.

Although no one questions Netanyahu’s right to defend himself — and we express no opinion on the merit of the criminal charges that have been brought against him — it is both unseemly and largely unworkable for Netanyahu to stay in active control of the complex and demanding responsibilities of government when he will be so heavily distracted by work on his defenses to the three sets of charges.

In a divided and stalemated Israel, with less than two weeks left before a third election is required by law, Netanyahu is standing in the way of a unity government, of a refreshed Likud and of new energy and ideas in the Israeli body politic. As deeply committed supporters of the State of Israel, we hope the Jewish state finds the way forward. PJC

Protecting women should be the priority Guest Columnist Richard Hirsh

W

hen the Jewish world cycles back to our founding generations, we find in the Torah behavior by the patriarchs that is awkward as well as disturbing. Three times the Torah presents a story about a husband and wife traveling as strangers through an alien culture. Each story involves the husband passing off his wife as his sister, to avoid harm coming to him — with no apparent concern for the potential harm that could come to the wife.

In Egypt, Abraham fears that the Pharaoh will kill him in order to possess Sarah. To secure his safety, Abraham asks that Sarah say she is his sister, not his wife. Many years later, in Gerar, Abraham again says of Sarah “she is my sister,” allowing King Abimelech to procure her as his consort. And a generation later, when Isaac and Rebecca also find themselves in Gerar, Isaac tells “the men of the place” that Rebecca is his sister.

Each of these biblical stories includes an intervention that avoids an illicit consummation. But the behavior of Abraham and of Isaac remains troubling even for traditional Jewish commentators, who feel compelled to offer an explanation. Some imagine a convoluted lineage in which Sarah technically emerges as some distant “half-sister” of Abraham. Others imagine Abraham stalling for time, until the famine that has brought them to Egypt is ended and they can escape — counting on God’s intervention to protect Sarah in the interim.

Such interpretations protect the patriarchs from being accused of lying; the vulnerability that the husbands create for their 12 NOVEMBER 29, 2019

wives seems to be of little or no account.

Put differently, traditional commentators, while noting behavior that exposes women to potential abuse, find a presumably more important concern to which the risk to women is acceptably subordinated. We must think differently, understanding women’s need for protection from abuse as a human right, and making sure our laws reflect that understanding.

An example of how protection of women may still be considered a secondary concern is the current resistance in the U.S. Senate to take action on the Bipartisan Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act (VAWA) which passed the House of Representatives in April as HR 1585.

The original 1994 Bipartisan VAWA has previously been reauthorized three times, in 2000, 2005 and 2013, each time with improvements that offered additional protections for women. Why then don’t all senators agree to support the companion

bill to the bipartisan VAWA? What are the concerns to which the risk to women is acceptably subordinated?

While there are a number of expanded protections in the 2019 VAWA, a primary source of opposition is the issue of guns.

The Bipartisan Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act closes the “boyfriend loophole,” meaning that those already found guilty of dating violence and/or stalking would be prohibited from owning or possessing firearms.

In the United States, an average of 52 women a month are victims of gun violence perpetrated by an intimate partner. And the majority of women killed in acts of domestic violence are killed by guns. What VAWA seeks to do is to keep guns out of the hands of perpetrators and to remove access to guns from those whom the courts have found willing to harass, abuse and injure women.

Restricting those convicted from access to guns is an important step toward tightening

What VAWA seeks to do is to keep guns out of the hands of perpetrators and to remove access to guns from those whom the courts have found willing to harass, abuse and injure women.

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VAWA’s protections for women.

But rather than focus on protecting women (and children) from domestic violence, some opponents of VAWA have seized on the “boyfriend loophole,” diverting the discussion from how best to ensure the safety of women at risk to a focus on how to ensure that anyone, even a convicted abuser, should have the right to own a gun. The Bipartisan Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act risks being held hostage by those for whom an unrestricted right to own guns will always be the governing concern — even when it leaves their mothers, sisters, daughters and granddaughters exposed to an increased risk of violence and of death.

The biblical patriarchs were similarly more concerned about their own well-being than protecting their wives from mistreatment. In privileging gun ownership over protection for women, some legislators seem ready to repeat ancient history: displacing protections for women for the sake of promoting the exercise of power by men.

Commenting on Abraham’s passing off Sarah as his sister, one commentator suggests that “no one should rely on a miracle in a dangerous situation. One should secure protection in every way that one can.” The Bipartisan Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act — bill S.2843 — is one such protection.

It is our responsibility to urge our senators to assure that the protections that VAWA affords to women should be the priority.

The stakes are too high to rely on a miracle. PJC Rabbi Richard Hirsh is a member of Jewish Women International’s Clergy Task Force to End Domestic Abuse in the Jewish Community. JWI is the leading Jewish organization working to end violence against women and girls.

PITTSBURGHJEWISHCHRONICLE.ORG

Opinion Violence against Jews is reprehensible. But isolated attacks distract us from the bigger threats.

Guest Columnist Avi Shafran

A

lthough it hasn’t yet been determined whether the brutal stabbing of a young father on his way to morning prayers in Ramapo, New York, was an antiJewish hate crime, it was described by the local police chief as a “vicious, violent attack” and would certainly fit the ugly pattern of violence against identifiably Jewish Jews over recent months.

Like the 64-year-old rabbi who was hit in the head with a brick while on his daily morning walk in Crown Heights. He was hospitalized with “a broken nose, missing teeth, stitches on his head and lacerations on his body.”

In another case, a pair of men knocked down a Hasidic man walking peacefully along another Crown Heights street and, along with a third assailant, punched the stunned victim mercilessly.

In Borough Park, surveillance video shows a young man on a bicycle riding up from behind and knocking off the victim’s traditional fur hat.

In another recorded attack, a Jewish boy of 12 or 13 is surrounded and taunted by much older teens. Incredibly, as they menace their target, the boy just continues walking at the same measured pace. One of the group members violently swings at the boy’s hat, which flies off.

Another man is shown throwing a brick through the window of a Hasidic girls’ school in Crown Heights. That same night in Borough Park, at least three identifiably Orthodox men were punched repeatedly by assailants.

A woman and her children were attacked on Rosh Hashanah; the assailant ripped off her wig. Many other attacks were endured where no camera caught them.

To watch the surveillance videos that exist is to be painfully transported to another place and time. But the place on the screen isn’t a Polish town and the time isn’t the 1930s. The place is usually Brooklyn and the time is now.

What strikes a viewer of the videos is the sheer ferociousness of the attackers. Their victims don’t provoke them in any way, but they attack with sheer brutality, striking out with maximum force and gusto.

Some, understandably, see in such crimes the most serious example of raw anti-Semitism in our days.

Anti-Semitic crimes have undergone a dramatic increase in the five boroughs this year, with 163 incidents reported through September, compared to 108 last year during the same time period, according to the New York City Police Department. Anti-Semitic incidents comprise 52% of reported hate crimes in New York City.

There is no doubt that many of the crimes are vicious, and no doubt that law enforcement authorities need to give greater protection to residents of Jewish neighborhoods. Increased real-time surveillance and undercover operations are undeniably in order.

But the ugliness of the attacks should not distract us Jews from a greater threat to our well-being and lives.

Because the hoodlums attacking innocent Jews in Brooklyn neighborhoods are, all said, just that: hoodlums.

They aren’t organized in any way, at least not beyond emulating one another for bragging rights. They are just punks — and cowards. What great courage it takes to attack an unarmed and unsuspecting person from behind.

To be sure, no effort should be spared to catch and punish them.

Or to educate them. The ADL is spending $250,000 on No Place for Hate in Brooklyn, which will allow the program to be implemented in up to 40 schools across the borough this academic year, up from 22 at present.

Such efforts are worthwhile, although one wonders whether the sort of young people committing violent crimes are terribly attentive students.

Laudable human energy has been invested, too, in fostering good will among different communities living side by side in Brooklyn neighborhoods.

But the greater threat to Jews — and not just Orthodox ones — is less visible and thus even more dangerous than street brutes. It is organized, ideology-driven Jew-hatred.

Anti-Semitic ideologies come in a variety of noxious flavors. There is radical Islamist animus and the loathsome demagoguery of Louis Farrakhan, who compares Jews to termites. But when it comes to bombing or shooting up shuls or Jewish community

centers, the predominant poison, it can’t be denied, is white supremacy.

It is well documented how white supremacists use the web to bond, share advice and make plans. Using the web and social media, neo-Nazis promote wild conspiracy theories about Jews. One white power podcast, “Strike and Mike,” recently “exposed” the “Impossible Burger,” a meatless patty, as a Jewish plot to poison “goys” and, somehow, to “make it impossible for working people to be able to afford meat, make it impossible for working people to drive automobiles, make it impossible for average people to live in an industrial society.” It would be hilarious were it not that such fantasies are swallowed whole by intellect-challenged haters.

All anti-Semitism is mindless and evil.

And all of it needs to be confronted and countered in every possible way. But we must not allow images of muggings, no matter how horrific and heart-wrenching, to obscure the more malignant machinations humming away day and night, largely undetectable, across cyberspace.

In the end, while no effort should be spared in fostering good relations among neighbors and in fighting hardened haters, we Jews do well to beseech the Creator to protect us from all evil. PJC Rabbi Avi Shafran has been the director of public affairs and spokesman for Agudath Israel of America since 1994. For more than a decade, he has also written a weekly column syndicated to Jewish and general newspapers and websites and is the author of five books.

Polish government whitewash

— LETTERS — Thanks from an inmate

Fifty-eight years ago, as a young college student sitting in a Philadelphia shul on Yom Kippur, all I could think about was the final blowing of the shofar and running home to feast on the delicacies my mother had made for break fast.

Fast forward to four young college students who could have spent Yom Kippur with their families, or be in Jerusalem (where one lives) or in the cosmopolitan city of Tel Aviv, but chose to “leave their land, their relatives, and their father’s house” and like our Father Abraham, to travel to a wilderness, where they spent their Yom Kippur in a federal prison with Jewish inmates (“An unforgettable Yom Kippur — in prison,” Oct. 11, 2019). This was the penultimate act of “teshuvah, tefillah and tzedakah.”

Their spirit, their enthusiasm and their camaraderie gave to us inmates, who may have never had a visit, a vivification to our Jewish community and gave us a hope to be inscribed in the Book of Redemption for a life of freedom once again.

As an incarcerated Jewish inmate, we become our worse self-critic and see ourself as a shanda. But those young men treated us with respect, reminding us we are still a part of the Jewish family.

Howard Shmuckler LSCI Butner, North Carolina

Having just finished watching the Netflix series “The Devil Next Door” and then opening my Chronicle to read the column by Ben Cohen, I got excited to see what he had to say.

In all honesty, while watching the series and when pictures of the maps used were shown, I never even noticed the borders but only the location of the camps — especially Sorbibor and Treblinka.

For the Polish government to want to whitewash what happened is extremely disturbing.

“Puppet” government or not, a unified country or districts under German rule ( what part of Poland wasn’t under German rule?), these camps and railroad tracks ran through Poland, Polish work units helped to build the camps, the camps were in Poland, the villagers knew what was happening. Yes, the camps were Nazi controlled and operated, but they were in Poland.

Shame on Netflix and shame on the Poles — you can’t rewrite history and make excuses for what happened. We learn from history about our greatest triumphs and our greatest mistakes and we go on and try to do better.

Thank you, Mr. Cohen, for pointing this out.

Dotty Weisberg Penn Township

Squirrel Hill history

A belated praise for Eric Lidji’s fascinating article on the history of the three congregations housed in the Tree of Life building (Oct. 30, 2019). He masterfully constructed their histories, going beyond the facts, until he encapsulated their ethos. As someone who has made Squirrel Hill home for myself and my family, it gave me a rich appreciation for what has preceded me — and truly, the best way to honor the diversity of the present is by knowing the past.

Thank you for giving me even more reasons to love this neighborhood and its many facets of Jewish life.

Dena Taub Pittsburgh PITTSBURGHJEWISHCHRONICLE.ORG

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NOVEMBER 29, 2019 13

Headlines Interfaith: Continued from page 1

couples, “we put together an advisory panel that consisted of synagogues, the JCC, Kesher Pittsburgh, Honeymoon Israel — stakeholders that have a specific interest in this demographic and engaging them,” Rubin explained. “The reason why it was so important that they were a part of this project is because I want them to end up using the data. I want to arm them with information to better serve our community members.”

In addition, researchers also interviewed “key informants” to get a clearer look at the interfaith demographic, including representatives from Community Day School, South Hills Jewish Pittsburgh, the Federation Young Adult Division and Shalom Pittsburgh.

“We wanted them to contribute to this body of knowledge because they have so much to say about this demographic from the fact that they are practitioners on the ground,” Rubin said. “But also, we wanted them to learn what they wanted to learn so they could better program and provide better services.”

The interfaith couples interviewed were all under the age of 45, and had no children over the age of 5.

Based on the interviews, the researchers ascertained concrete and relatively simple steps that Jewish institutions could take that might lead to increased Jewish engagement of interfaith couples.

“Right now, there is very little infrastructure in the Pittsburgh Jewish community for working with interfaith families,” explained Fern Chertok, research scientist at Brandeis University’s Cohen Center for Modern Jewish Studies, and one of the lead researchers on the study.

“There is no one at Federation whose portfolio explicitly includes interfaith families. There is no forum for an organization to touch upon this issue, to share best practices or to problem solve together. And there is no one place for an interfaith couple to land on the internet to find out what’s available to them.”

Communal: Continued from page 1

JCC, brought in representatives of Kulam for conversation.

In years past, Schreiber not only worked with Kulam on securing space for the organization’s efforts to promote Jewish study, but had been introduced to a national Partners in Torah program.

The thought became, “what kind of work we could be doing in Pittsburgh?” said Schreiber.

“In a diverse, vibrant Jewish community there are a lot of opportunities and space for this kind of programming to occur.”

Representatives of the organizations hammered away at a local model predicated on respect, camaraderie and personal and communal growth.

“Our goal has always been to get more people learning, and get people learning from all walks of life, and from more parts of the community,” said Peter Braasch, co-organizer of Kulam.

14

NOVEMBER 29, 2019

Religion raised, children of inmarriage (%) No religion 1% Secular/ culturally Jewish 13%

Jewish by religion 86%

 Pie chart demonstrates trends in inmarried families Data provded by Greater Pittsburgh Community Study

Indianer, who chaired the study’s committee at its outset, adding that “if we don’t pay attention to this group, we could be losing them.”

Indianer cautioned against being “stagnant in our approach,” and to instead be proactive in finding ways to invite interfaith families into the community.

“If this is a demographic that an organization wants to be involved and engaged with, to service, to support, to be a part of their community, then there probably needs to be concerted efforts,” he said.

The new study was presented to the Federation’s board last week.

“The board is very enthused,” said Federation board chair Meryl Ainsman, noting that the 2017 Community Study “was always intended to be a living, breathing document and not to sit on the shelf — to learn from it and take action from it.”

The board discussed two questions pertaining to the interfaith study: whether engagement of interfaith families is a “community issue, and if it is, do we take the lead?” said Ainsman.

The board agreed that it was indeed a community issue, and “if we don’t take the lead on it, we should be a convener,” she said. “We will decide what direction we will try to go.”

Interfaith families are “an important part of the community,” Ainsman added. “We want a big tent and we want everybody in it.”

The Federation is planning to commission four additional studies inspired by the findings of the 2017 Community Study, according to Rubin. The additional studies will include gaps in services for people with disabilities who are transitioning to adulthood; part-time Jewish education enrollment and retention; mental health; and family practice of ritual Judaism.

“It is important to recognize the investment Federation is doing to collect this information to help organizations make better, data-informed decisions,” said Indianer. “The information we now have is more tangible.

Before these studies, we had guesses.” PJC

One key recommendation is that “Federation should lead the way by making services to interfaith families part of portfolios of staff explicitly, by perhaps posting or encouraging collaboration between organizations and providing training where they see the need,” such as training in how to create welcoming websites, said Chertok.

The researchers also recommend that “more services and programming should be available in the suburbs where the population of Jewish young families is growing, and among them are Jewish interfaith families,” primarily in the North and South Hills, Chertok noted.

Increasing Jewish childcare options is yet another way to engage interfaith families, the researchers found.

“It is clear that Jewish childcare and preschool is a powerful and effective portal to Jewish life in Pittsburgh,” said Chertok.

“It is a low-barrier threshold, and many families told us that’s how they found their way into the Jewish community and started

to think about how they wanted their home to be Jewish.”

While the needs and concerns of interfaith families overlap with those of other young families in many ways, Chertok explained, “there are some ways their needs are unique.”

“They face the challenge of how you interact or negotiate practice with your non-Jewish family,” she said. “How do you talk to them and explain to them what you are doing with your child and how do you explain to your child that your two parents may have different religious backgrounds and different religious identities in a way that makes sense? These are needs that other young families often don’t have.”

While the couples interviewed “said they are thrilled they are often treated like other couples, there are some places they would like programming specifically targeted to their needs and they would like the opportunity to talk with other interfaith couples,” Chertok added.

Understanding the interfaith population is “complicated and nuanced,” said Evan

“The Jewish community is rich and diverse and heterogeneous, and we want to be engaged in lots of different spaces,” said Schreiber. For the JCC to be involved, as it is with this program, it doesn’t mean the organization acts solely as “a curator or provider, it can be a partner as well.”

The JCC’s partnership is beneficial not only from a programmatic perspective but also from the fact that they’re able to provide an accessible communal venue, explained Schon.

“It allows people who have a curiosity in Judaism to come learn about it at the JCC, in their ‘Town Hall,’ and connect to their heritage,” he said.

When weekly study sessions begin on Dec. 3, they will occur in a space that over the past several days has hosted a Shabbaton, exercise classes for seniors and a kosher lunch program for seniors, explained Schreiber.

Utilizing the “refurbished main floor,” along with working with the Kollel and Kulam, is a further extension of the JCC’s mission, he continued.

Through the Center for Loving Kindness,

Partners in Torah is scheduled to meet Wednesday evenings at 7:30 from Dec. 3 through Dec. 24.

“The program features both chavrusa (same-gender study partners) learning as well as mixed-gender classes,” according to program materials. “To arrange a study partner please email Rabbi Schon at dschon@ kollelpgh.org.”

This program is “a good oppor About 100 gathered on Nov. 18 for an tunity for people to see we’re not opening event with Charlie Harary.

Photo by Mordechai Milch all that different and that a lot of the JCC has done “a lot of interfaith work us are looking for the same spiritual growth,” and multi-faith work, and we’re just as said Gayle Kraut, a host committee member committed to working within our own who helped organize the Nov. 18 event. community to build bridges where we can,” The Talmud teaches “eilu v’eilu,” these and said Schreiber. “Ideally, our hope is that we’ll those are the words of the living God, echoed create an environment where people on the Symons. “We are aware that there are assorted more observant side and people on the less perspectives, but we know that we are all in observant side can learn and work together this together as the Jewish people.” PJC in a setting that people are used to coming into that doesn’t feel like there’s a litmus test Adam Reinherz can be reached at areinherz@ they have to pass upon entering.” pittsburghjewishchronicle.org.

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

PITTSBURGHJEWISHCHRONICLE.ORG

Headlines Kesher: Continued from page 2

an understanding of our shared values and practices, we bring strength to the foundations of our community.”

While there is a cost to the program, “no one is turned away for financial reasons,” Fife said. “Access is really important for our community, so anyone that wants to participate, we would come up with some arrangement that works for the families.”

While Rebecca Hurowitz’s three children

Conference: Continued from page 3

American historian Deborah Lipstadt, author of “Antisemitism Here and Now,” and Egyptian-born Hussein Aboubakr Mansour, who spoke about the insidiousness of anti-Semitism and anti-Zionism in the Arab world in which he was raised.

He ultimately sought out learning the story about the Jewish people and Israel from sources outside the Arab world, and in 2010 he was jailed for his Israel studies, suspected of being a “Zionist agent,” and was held in a military detention facility where he was tortured. He received asylum in the United States in 2014.

Most of the students in attendance brought with them their own stories of being discriminated against for their Judaism or their Zionism at their universities.

“I say I am a proud queer transgender Zionist,” said Elijah Cohen-Gordon, a freshman at Clark University in Worcester, Massachusetts. “And a lot of the times, people hear ‘queer,’ and they are like ‘OK,’ and they hear ‘transgender,’ they’re like perfectly fine.

But the second I say ‘Zionist,’ I start receiving anti-Semitic remarks.

“I’ve been kicked out of numerous transgender groups, particularly groups for trans-masculine individuals, and it’s a horrible feeling,” he said. “Israel is the only

Trip: Continued from page 4

meals with Jewish families, Ramallah and Hebron and the Shilo settlement in the West Bank.

“This was an attempt to guide people through disparate faiths, history and politics, and that is not an easy thing to do,” Gibson said. “The faith is actually the easy part … the history and the politics become very

all attended a congregation-based religious school in previous years, the two younger ones are now participating in Kesher Kids instead.

“For our family, Keshira has been a very strong influence and we consider her to be our Jewish spiritual leader,” said Hurowitz, noting that Fife officiated at her oldest daughter’s bat mitzvah service and that her family also has been attending High Holiday and Shabbat services with Kesher.

When Fife decided to offer a Judaics program for children, it was a natural fit for Hurowitz’s family.

“Religious supplemental school is

challenging in this day and age,” Hurowitz said. “My kids don’t go to day school. They go to a public school, so fostering their Jewish identity and knowledge is a very high priority for me. I wanted to make sure through their supplemental school that they are not only learning, but that they are developing a Jewish cohort and a strong Jewish identity. The way Kesher is set up fosters a love of Judaism and a strong Jewish identity in a way that appeals to my family.”

Because there is not a strong Hebrew component to the program, Hurowitz said she would consider hiring a Hebrew tutor

for her children in addition to having them participate in Kesher Kids.

“One of the advantages to Pittsburgh is we have so many options and people can figure out what the best fit is for their family, or even for each individual child,” Hurowitz said, adding that her children also had a positive experience in their prior program at a congregation. “This is just something that came at a time we were looking for something a little bit different. It’s something that connects for us.” PJC

country in the Middle East that even has the beginnings of LGBT protections. They are more progressive than us in the military, not banning transgender people in the military. We need to look to Israel in that regard.

Claiming that ‘pinkwashing’ is a thing is a horrible anti-Semitic act — saying Jews are only using queer people as a token.”

Cohen-Gordon came to conference, he said, to learn how to fight this particular brand of anti-Semitism.

“I really want to focus on anti-Semitism in queer communities because I belong in queer communities,” he said. “But the fact that I couldn’t be truly myself in these spaces was just unfathomable.”

Simon Mizrahi, a senior at the University of San Diego, said that his campus has experienced anti-Semitism in the form of anti-Zionism as well. Recently the anti-Israel group ANSWER created a stir on campus as they sought to be recognized as a university-sanctioned group. Ultimately, the university did not sanction the group.

ANSWER has a “hard time rejecting Hamas and Hezbollah,” said Mizrahi. “I’m here because of these incidents. It’s important to keep advocates informed about the modern manifestations of anti-Semitism.”

Hannah Rothbard, a sophomore at New York University, said that she has experienced anti-Semitism in the classroom.

“I’ve experienced a sense of isolation as a Jewish student,” she said, noting that some

of the anti-Zionist or anti-Israel discourse seems to come from a place of ignorance.

“A lot of people tend to have opinions that they don’t have information behind,” she said. “For example, there have been student projects that may include an anti-Zionist point in their Power Point that just seem like they copied and pasted it from the internet, and no one seems fazed by it. And when I ask a question, no one wants to talk about it. This has been in seminar classes where basically the entire class is about discussion and talking about different opinions and beliefs. And when anything is mentioned about anti-Zionism I’m really the only one who wants to talk about it. No one wants to respond.”

IACT partnered with the Hillel Jewish University Center of Pittsburgh and the Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh’s Community Relations Council in bringing the conference to Pittsburgh. Local speakers included Federation Chair Meryl Ainsman, who spoke of the massacre at the Tree of Life building last year and the imperative of building relationships with those of different faiths and ethnicities for mutual support, and Judah Samet, a Holocaust survivor and a survivor of the Oct. 27, 2018, shooting here.

Pittsburgh was chosen as the location of the conference in part because it was the site of the most violent anti-Semitic attack on U.S. soil in history, according to Michael Eglash, lead strategist for the national IACT initiative.

“It’s significant because it is a year after the massacre at the Tree of Life,” Eglash said. “I think Pittsburgh rings quite loudly in terms of being a special place in the conscience of Americans and in efforts to counter anti-Semitism and BDS.” IACT has launched a social media campaign, #tellyourstorynow, “where students are not only telling and sharing their own stories and their challenges as they relate to anti-Semitism and anti-Israel activity, but also how they are addressing it,” noted Cheryl Aronson, vice president of IACT. “We are about promoting authentic Jewish expression and values on campus and helping create a vibrant, transformational campus life for the Jewish community on campus.”

IACT aims to provide education and empowerment to help Jewish leaders to create an atmosphere where students will not shy away from Jewish or pro-Israel expression, according to Aronson.

“We need to ensure that Jewish students are able to express themselves in the public space without being shut down, that their freedom of speech is honored and that they are able and feel comfortable holding their heads high with their own Jewish identity and with pride in the sense of our mission,” she said. PJC

challenging. I think we did very well trying to understand each other’s point of view.”

For Bush the trip was meaningful because it allowed him to see spots important to Christians. It also helped him come away with a new perspective of the land.

“I was struck by the close proximity and how small a geographic space we’re dealing with when we talk about Israel and Palestine,” he said. “From a Pittsburgh perspective, the distance from Pittsburgh to Wexford covers a good chunk of Jerusalem

to the West Bank. We forget the land is so constrained geographically.”

He was also surprised by the parallel lives lived by Israelis and Palestinians, often in the same location, such as in Hebron. “We were at a famous mosque where there was a shooting in, I think, 1994, and saw where Abraham was buried. We could hear the prayers in Hebrew of the Jews filtering through the dividers. You had a real sense of two communities almost on top of one another and yet not interacting.”

Gibson views the trip as a success. “This was an attempt to have people experience other’s faith and reality in a way that could not have been done in another fashion. I think it was very fruitful. There are people who would like to continue a dialogue between the East Liberty Presbyterian Church and Temple Sinai in the future, which was my hope for the entire venture.” PJC

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

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

Dave Rullo can be reached at drullo@ pittsburghjewishchronicle.org.

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NOVEMBER 29, 2019 15

Life & Culture This Romanian Jewish polenta is the ultimate comfort food — FOOD —

By Ronnie Fein | JTA

B

ack in the 1980s, when polenta was the hot new item on restaurant menus, I was eager to try it. I knew it was a traditional Italian dish, but it was foreign to everyone else, including me. I bought a package of cornmeal, began the preparation, and when it was done I realized I had been eating it all my life. It was the same dish Jonathan Harker ate before his encounter with Count Dracula in Bram Stoker’s novel, known in the American South as “cornmeal mush” and as “pap” in South Africa. But I knew it as mamaliga, which had been a staple in my grandma’s Romanian kitchen.

Because mamaliga was such an essential food in our lives, I didn’t realize that most of my Jewish friends had never heard of it.

The hallways in the buildings we lived in all had the same familiar scents of Ashkenazi staples we all knew — chicken soup, challah, braising briskets, and roasting chickens.

Shared values and menus.

Except when it came to mamaliga, which I learned was limited to those of us whose ancestors were from Romania.

While our family was dining on cornmeal mush, everyone else was eating kasha varnishkes, a dish I ate regularly only after tasting it at my future mother-in-law’s house (it was love at first bite).

It all has to do with geography, I think.

Mamaliga is based on cornmeal, which had been unknown anywhere except the Americas, where corn is indigenous.

Christopher Columbus and other Spanish and Portuguese explorers brought corn to western Europe and Africa, where

it flourished. Cornmeal became a staple.

Turkish traders noticed corn grain in the markets of Africa and brought some “granoturco” back to Southeast Europe, including the region we now know as Romania, which then belonged to the Ottoman Empire. In 1692, a Romanian nobleman tried some, thought it worthy, and introduced it to Romania. It became the country’s national dish.

A few years ago I visited the old country, including the city of Iasi, where my grandparents were born, and laid stones on the graves of my great-grandparents who are buried in the one remaining Jewish cemetery (when my grandparents lived there, the city was about one-third Jewish).

Naturally we sampled mamaliga, which is ever-present on every restaurant menu. It’s usually served as a side dish, much like any starch, but in my childhood, my grandma, and later on my mother, served mamaliga in a multitude of ways, including our favorite, mamaliga cu branza si smetana – mamaliga

with cheese and sour cream, served for lunch or as a side dish at dairy dinners.

In my own kitchen, I’ve learned that mamaliga is incredibly versatile. I’ve used it as a substitute for potatoes, noodles, and rice (complete with butter, sauce, or gravy).

I’ve served it as a full meal, as a topping for brisket or chicken pot pie filling, with mushroom ragout, and with caramelized onions and cheese. I’ve even mixed it with molasses and cream to make a quick Indian pudding.

The leftovers are spectacular, too. In fact, in Romanian households they make extra mamaliga to pour into a loaf pan, let it firm up, and then cut slices to fry to crispy goodness. I’ve served fried slices of “Romanian toast” for breakfast, topped them with gravy or cheese for lunch, or with a fried egg for dinner.

It’s no wonder that the Romanians called dried ground corn mamaliga, a word that translates to “food of gold.” It’s a tribute not merely to the grain’s beautiful yellow color, but to its adaptability. Whatever you call it, this dish is an enduring winner and, as far as I am concerned, another treasure of the Ashkenazi kitchen PJC This article originally appeared on The Nosher.

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Life & Culture Mimi Lemay wants you to understand the reality of raising a trans son — LIFESTYLE —

By Emily Burack | Kveller

M

imi Lemay’s son, Jacob, came out as trans when he was just two and a half years old.

“My initial reaction was a non-reaction,” Lemay said in an email interview. “The first time he said he was a boy didn’t register for me because I just thought it was ‘playacting.’ The word ‘transgender’ was mostly unfamiliar to me and I certainly didn’t associate it with someone as young as my child. Now I know better.”

In her new memoir, “What We Will Become: A Mother, a Son and a Journey of Transformation,” Lemay writes about raising a transgender child. But the book isn’t just about Jacob’s journey — it’s also about her own. Raised in an ultra-Orthodox Jewish family, Lemay left the community to forge her own path. It’s a powerful and moving story, and a must-read for parents of all stripes.

“I hope first and foremost that [readers] take away with them the experience, as much as it is possible, of what it is like to love and affirm a transgender child,” she says. “I hope it informs all their interactions with trans and non-binary people and awakens in them a commitment to fight against the erosion of

OPT. 1

OPT.2

p “Jacob on the eve of his 5th birthday, right before we began our advocacy, so that he and other transgender children could grow up in a world that understands and accepts them.”

Photo courtesy of Mimi Lemay

rights we are seeing now.”

Kveller chatted with Lemay about the origins of the book, her family’s reaction, and what the Jewish community can do to better support trans kids.

The book is based on your 2015 essay, which went viral. Were you surprised by

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the reaction to it? What made you decide to go public with your advocacy?

I don’t know if surprise captures the feelings I had when “A Letter to Jacob on His Fifth Birthday” went viral. Anxiety, excitement, a profound sense of gratitude, but also vulnerability would capture the mix of feelings I had.

I had written the essay for two reasons: One,

that there was very little out there to help families like ours understand what our kids were going through and what they needed from us. We had the urge to “pay it forward,” for the one story that had been shared online that helped our family tremendously.

The second reason was that it became apparent, after the tragic death of 17-year-old Leelah Alcorn, who had endured familial rejection and conversion therapy efforts, that trans children were in danger because of the lack of understanding and awareness of this topic. The hostility and ignorance surrounding trans identities began to surface in a very public fashion in the weeks after her suicide in late December 2014. I wanted to offer an alternative narrative, to allow people to see inside our world for the purposes of understanding that yes, there are children who know from a young age that their gender identity differs from their assigned sex, and supporting them is the healthy and loving thing to do.

What led you to turn the article into “What We Will Become”?

I was approached by several literary agents who thought this essay should be turned into a full-length book. I thought deeply about undertaking this task, and as a family we Please see Trans, page 20

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NOVEMBER 29, 2019 17

Headlines

Torah

Squirrel Hill author follows up legal thriller with ‘The Jersey’

There was a famine in the land

S

quirrel Hill author James Rosenberg has released a new novel. Titled “The Jersey,” Rosenberg’s work takes place in present-day Pittsburgh and explores personal grief and the overcoming of unexpected loss, as Dan West, the text’s main character, navigates between coaching his son’s youth soccer team and aiding a longtime friend in business.

Although tragedy upends West’s life and his ability to smoothly chart aforementioned waters, West endeavors to rectify all.

“The story initially started as an essay I wrote for fun about my son and his real-life

experience as a 9-year-old playing on an all-star baseball team,” said Rosenberg in a statement. “It evolved into a nightly recitation with my kids during their bedtime routine.”

“The Jersey” is a departure from Rosenberg’s previous literary efforts, as last year the Taylor Allderdice High School and University of Pittsburgh School of Law graduate released his debut novel, “Legal Reserves.” The latter is now a No. 1 bestseller in the litigation category on Amazon.com. PJC — Adam Reinherz

JNF hires new campaign director of Pittsburgh

T

he Jewish National Fund has hired Jeff Koch as its new campaign director of Pittsburgh.

Previously, Koch served as the senior regional director of BBYO. During his nearly twenty years with the organization, Koch worked in Pittsburgh, North Carolina and Richmond, Virginia.

Koch is familiar with both the city and its Jewish community. He attended college at the University of Pittsburgh and worked at the Jewish Community Center in Squirrel Hill while volunteering in various capacities, including coaching youth travel basketball and baseball.

“I am so excited to join this wonderful organization,” Koch said in a press release. “I have devoted more than 21 years to teaching, mentoring and inspiring the young leaders in our community.”

JNF Director of the Ohio Valley Eric Goldstein looks forward to working with Koch. “We are excited for Jeff to come onboard, as we work toward educating the community about JNF’s vital mission to create a more prosperous future for the land and people of Israel,” Goldstein said.

According to its website, since 1901 JNF has assisted with the “greening” of Israel

Rabbi Jeremy Markiz Parshat Toldot | Genesis 25:19-28:9

T

he phrase “there was a famine in the land” appears only three times in total in the Tanakh. First, a few weeks ago, when Avram and Sarai head down into Egypt.

There, concerned for his safety, he lies about his wife, and that she is his sister. In doing so, he puts her in direct and personal danger.

It eventually gets revealed and resolved to his benefit. He eventually settles in Gerar, where he, for the second time, lies that his wife is his sister, which puts Sarah, again, into direct danger with Abimelech. This too gets revealed and resolved to his benefit.

“ I ask myself, have we learned the lessons of our experience?

Have we reflected on the journeys of our people?

p Jeff Koch

Photo courtesy of Jeff Koch

building parks, planting trees, creating communities and bolstering Israel’s water supply. JNF claims it is the largest provider of Zionist programs in the United States working in seven areas: forest and green innovations; water solutions; community building; Zionist education and advocacy; research and development; heritage sites; and disabilities and special needs. PJC — David Rullo

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”

The second time is in this week’s portion, Toldot, but we’re told explicitly, “Aside from the previous famine that had occurred in the days of Abraham!” Not the same famine, but another one. Isaac begins to head for Egypt, following in the footsteps of his father. However, God stops him — “do not go down to Egypt,” do not follow the same path. Instead, Isaac remains in Gerar, when the men of the area start asking about Rebecca. Isaac tells everyone that Rebecca is his sister, hoping to protect himself. This too gets revealed, but Abimelech appears to have learned his lesson and wisely encourages everyone to steer clear of Isaac and his family.

The third mention of the phrase “there was a famine in the land” starts the book of Ruth, leading Naomi’s husband to head into Moab. Her sons marry Moabite women, one of which is Ruth, who returns to the land of Judah with her mother-in-law.

In each of these stories, we find two central themes, first, crossing into other lands, namely, Egypt, Gerar, and the land of Judah.

Second, we find that the women in these stories are in profoundly vulnerable positions. Sarah and Rebecca, whose husbands lie as a form of protection, are put directly in danger. Ruth and Naomi who, seeking financial sustainability and security, leave Moab for the land of Judah, not knowing what they

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will be able to accomplish.

These stories resonate with me as I reflect on the lessons of my travels to the southern U.S. border earlier in November. I ask myself, have we learned the lessons of our experience? Have we reflected on the journeys of our people and how they reflect others?

In last week’s paper, the Chronicle published the story of Gisele, who fled violence, with her teenage daughter, to come and seek safety and security. When she eventually made it here to the United States, she was told to wait. In her waiting, she was kidnapped and threatened.

We have, over the course of the last few weeks, been told of nearly 100,000 children who have been separated from their families.

They have been placed in the most vulner-

able positions, like the women in our stories.

We know this because six children have died in the custody of our government: Darlyn, Jakelin, Felipe, Juan, Wilmer and Carlos.

Their stories are like the stories of our people. Not just Sarah, Rebecca, Ruth and Naomi, but the stories of my family, Samuel, Elena, Dora and Seymour who escaped from Ukraine, Poland and Germany.

How is their story different than Gisele’s or Juan’s?

“There was a famine in the land” is a reminder of the vulnerability we have all faced and is a harbinger for the future.

It is a reminder that we too have crossed boundaries for protection, as our people did to Egypt, just like those from Honduras.

It is a reminder that famine and climate change are forcing people, as Abraham, Isaac and their families, to seek safety, just like those from Guatemala.

It is a reminder that new opportunities for a better life, as Naomi and Ruth sought, are just as important to those from El Salvador.

Their story is our story and it is the story we are telling this week. PJC Rabbi Jeremy Markiz is the director of Derekh and Youth Tefillah at Congregation Beth Shalom. This column is a service of the Greater Pittsburgh Rabbinic Association.

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Obituaries NATHANSON: Harvey C. Nathanson, beloved husband, father, grandfather, friend and colleague. Harvey C. Nathanson, age 83, passed away peacefully at home on Friday, Nov. 22, while with his loving family. A lifelong Pittsburgher, he grew up the son of a pharmacist in Morningside before becoming a pioneer in the field of solid-state electronics.

As a boy in the 1950s he taught himself about electrical circuits and built hi-fi music systems from mail-order kits, interests that led him to decline his father’s invitation to take over the family pharmacy business, Highview Drug in Stanton Heights, and instead pursue an engineering degree at Carnegie Tech, now Carnegie Mellon University. After earning his Ph.D. in electrical engineering, he joined Westinghouse Electric, the manufacturing giant that was long one of Pittsburgh’s leading employers. Working out of the Westinghouse Research Labs in Churchill, in 1965 he conceived of a microscopic device used as a tuner for microelectronic radios. The invention, known as the resonant-gate transistor, became the first device in the field of micro-electro-mechanical systems (MEMS), whose technology is now found in consumer products ranging from iPhones to Fitbits.

In his work developing similar devices, he pioneered a method of mass production that would later become a mainstay of MEMS manufacturing. In 1973 he patented the use of tiny mirrors to create a video display of the type now found in digital projectors. Named Chief Scientist of the Westinghouse Research Labs in 1988, he retired in 2001 but continued to consult for another decade, completing a 50-year career in which he was awarded more than 50 patents in the field of solid-state electronics. He enjoyed spending time with his family during weekends at their summer cottage in Fombell, Pa.; summer vacations at Cape May on the Jersey Shore; and scenic rail travel around North America. Favorite activities included driving his restored 1947 Farmall Cub tractor; listening to opera; cuddling his cat Charcoal; cooking for family and friends; and eating filet mignon, Mineo’s pizza and Baskin-Robbins grasshopper pie.

He cherished lifelong relationships with a group of friends who met for many years at the Elbow Room and referred to themselves as the Oakland Philosophical Society. He was an active member of Squirrel Hill’s Temple Sinai, where he served multiple terms as Brotherhood president. He will be greatly missed by his loving wife of 56 years, Esther Mishelevich Nathanson, children Marc Nathanson (Jane Lee) and Elinor Nathanson (Peter Kogan), adored grandson Benjamin Kogan, lifelong best friend Louis Lind, and countless other friends, colleagues, and extended family. He is preceded in death by his parents David Nathanson and Ella Sachs Nathanson, his sister Bernice Sniderman and his brother-in-law Milton Sniderman.

Services were held at RALPH SCHUGAR CHAPEL, INC. Interment Beth Shalom Cemetery. Contributions can be made to

Temple Sinai, 5505 Forbes Ave., Pittsburgh, PA 15217.schugar.com SAVITZ: Ruth “Cookie” Francis (Rosenfeld) Savitz, age 88, mother, grandmother, sister, great-grandmother, aunt, cousin and friend passed away on Saturday, Nov. 23, 2019 in Pittsburgh. She is survived by her children, Nathan (Abby) Savitz and Larry (Adrienne) Savitz; grandchildren, Rachel (Phil) Dragotta, Pamela (Andy) Parker, Sarah (fiancé Dan Stafura) and Jessica Savitz; great-grandchildren, Amelia and Talia Dragotta, sister of Norman (Naomi Geartner) Rosenfeld and Natalie (Lonnie) Wolf and special friend Irene Halapy. She was a beloved aunt to the Rosenfeld and Savitz cousins, who adored her. She was predeceased by her mother, Irene Greenberg Rosenfeld; father, Max; and sister-in-law Jeanette Rosenfeld. The family extends special gratitude to the staff at UPMC Heritage for the special care she received.

Services were held at Ralph Schugar Chapel, Inc. Interment Beth Shalom Cemetery.

Contributions may be made in her memory to The Family Hospice and Palliative Care, 310 Fisk Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15201 or Animal Friends, 562 Camp Horne Road, Pittsburgh, PA 15237. schugar.com ZISKIND: Gerald N. Ziskind, on Thursday, Nov. 21, 2019.

Beloved husband of Norma Jean Ziskind. Cherished father of Deborah S. Ziskind and Tammy V. Ziskind. Brother of Samuel Ziskind of Alexandria, VA. Gerald was a beloved husband, father, brother, uncle and friend. A dedicated member of the Greatest Generation, Jerry served as a tank platoon commander in Europe during WWII to fight the Nazi regime. He fought in many historic battles throughout the war including landing on Omaha Beach during D-Day, the Battle of the Bulge, Battle of Hürtgen Forest and the liberation of concentration camps. After the war, Jerry served as a military governor based in Weilberg, Germany with respect to the reorganization of Europe.

Gerald was a graduate of the University of Pittsburgh School of Law and became a revered lawyer and legal scholar. Many judges and attorneys all over the world sought out his legal expertise. A lifelong Democrat, Gerald became a rising star in the Democratic party when he spoke on behalf of Franklin Delano Roosevelt during his rise to presidency. His devoted daughter Deborah spent the final 2 weeks of his life by his side until his passing on Thursday evening. Services were held at Congregation Beth Shalom. Interment Homewood Cemetery. Contributions may be made to the Stanley M. Marks Endowed Research Fund, c/o UPMC Cancer Pavilion, Attention-Development Office, 5150 Centre Avenue, Suite 1B, Pittsburgh, PA 15232.

Arrangements entrusted to Ralph Schugar Chapel, Inc., schugar.com PJC

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Anonymous.....................................................Rae Schwartz

Ms. Ritholz .....................................................Joseph Ritholz

Anonymous....................... George Stern (Yosef Ben Yakov)

Ms. Rogal....................................................... Barbara Rogal

Anonymous........................................................David Volkin

Richard, Mindy, & Logan Stadler ..................Charles Saxen

Edward M. Goldston ......................................Charlie Brown

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Edward M. Goldston ......................... Fruma Chaya Leebov

Joel Smalley.....................................................Mary Smalley

Carol & Richard Margolis .......................Louis David Simon

Joel Smalley................................................Sherwin Smalley

Phyllis Perry .....................................................Morris Levine

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THIS WEEK’S YAHRZEITS — Sunday December 1: Miriam Abramovitz, Martin Bass, Bernard Israel Bernstein, Samson Finn, Hermina Gropper, Lillian Karp Grossman, Goldie Handelsman, Celia Harris, Anna Miller, Harriet M. Nicholson, Harry Seiavitch, Sarah Silberblatt, Goldie Stein, Irving Troffkin, Sylvia S. Vinocur, Molly Weiss Monday December 2: Abraham J. Caplan, Sam A. Caplan, Dr. Samuel Cirota, Louis Daniels, Harry Gomberg, Bernard J. Grinberg, Isadore Kurfeerst, Esther Cohen Lubovsky, Dorothy Miller, Leah Rosen, Rae F. Schwartz, Sara Schwartz, George Stern, Max Strauss, Anna Swartz, Frances Turk Tuesday December 3: Hyman Balis, Bessie Glantz Bauman, Martin A. Berezin, Norman Black, Charles G. Brown, Dr. Frederick Carlton, Joseph Chernovitz, Abe M. Cohen, Esther Eisman, Carle Joseph Enelow, Yetta Gerson, Selma Jeremias Kostova, Abe Kotovsky, David Isadore Mandelblatt, Seymour H. Miller, Irving Nixon, Anna E. Reubin, Sidney Rosenfeld, Fannie Katzman Rubenstein, Walter Sigel, William Weinberg, Florence Bella Wolf Wednesday December 4: Hannah R. Adler, Minnie Berkovitz, Wilfred Irwin Berman, Harriet Friedlander, David Glick, Herbert Alvin Haase, Mildred Levinson, Sadie Levy, Celia Maglin Lupovitz, Samuel Margolis, William Rosenbloom, Charles Saltsburg, Thelma Sapir, Freda Schwartz, Norman M. Schwartz, Samuel F. Shaeffer, Michael Supowitz, Elizabeth Kramer Swartz, Solomon Weinstein Thursday December 5: Marci Lynn Bernstein, Max Cohen, Helen Pearl Cushner, Max Engelberg, Arthur Firestone, Annie Friedman, Gertrude Glasser, Samuel Morris Goodman, Evelyn B. Letwin, Norman H. Marcus, Rosa Rokhkind, Jeannette Samuels, Mildred Schoenberger, Samuel Silverman, Jean Walters Friday December 6: Joseph Bardin, Ida G. Barniker, Emma Eligator, Nathan Granoff, Abe Herman, Minnie Van Praagh Jacobs, David Kaufman, David Klein, Fruma Chaya Leebov, Rachel Levy, Louis Rapport, Rose Rosenberg, Lucy Sachnoff Saturday December 7: Benjamin Aberman, Cecelia Edith Greenberger, Milton E. Helfer, Sarah Herring, Bertha Brown Horovitz, Samuel Kaufman, Adolph Lefkowitz, Bessie Jenoff Lincoff, Dorothy Margolis, Lester Marshall, Harry Meyers, William Rakusin, Charles Ruttenberg, Israel J. Saul, Louis David Simon, Samuel Westerman

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Headlines Perman: Continued from page 5

through, even while you’re doing services, or they were up in the balcony shooting videos or watching what was going on, so it was a little different experience.”

For Tashlich, Perman was joined by only five other individuals.

“It had to be sort of on the slide because we were in public and we didn’t want to draw attention to ourselves for doing a worship service,” she said. “It was explained to me that they don’t want to see anything over or above the Chinese Communist Party, and in Judaism God would be above the Chinese Communist Party.”

On Yom Kippur, both evening and daytime services were held back in the hotel.

Reciting the “Unetanneh Tokef ” liturgy, was particularly moving, as the attacks in Pittsburgh and Poway were brought back to mind, explained the rabbi.

Perman harnessed those feelings and recalled the events of Oct. 27, 2018, and their global implications, during a community b’nai mitzvah ceremony days later.

Ohav Shalom: Continued from page 6

our 50th anniversary and have presentations there.”

Other events already on the calendar but incorporated into the celebration include the Temple’s Purim carnival and its annual fundraiser.

The centerpiece of the anniversary’s observance will be in April, when the temple welcomes musician Noah Aronson for a concert and artist-in-residence weekend.

Aronson has been commissioned to create

Trans: Continued from page 17

discussed the kind of effort and exposure this would bring. We are well situated to take on advocacy, living in an affirming community in and in a legally supportive environment toward LGBTQ people in Massachusetts. I have always believed that if we were just able to walk a mile in someone else’s shoes, there would be far less strife and more acceptance in the world. The book was a chance to offer not just that first mile, but the whole journey, step by step. It also gave me the opportunity to tell the other half of the story, the eerie symmetries between my experiences growing up in ultra-Orthodoxy and what unfolded with my son.

You have a complicated relationship with your mother. How did she react to the book?

My mother’s reaction was complicated. On the one hand, she has acknowledged that it is well and powerfully written, but she didn’t see why she needed to be such a big part of the story, or why I needed to write about moments that occurred between us. It was hard to convey my belief that stories must be authentic and intimate to impact readers and create change. I explained

20 NOVEMBER 29, 2019

p Left: signage at Ohel Moshe wishing a Happy New Year — Hebrew is correct but words are in wrong order; right: Rosh Hashana morning services at Ohel Moshe Photos courtesy of Rabbi Sara Rae Perman

In a message to the five celebrating students, Perman said: “Becoming a bar or bat mitzvah is not just about the service and being part of the community here. You’re part of the world community, and this is your connection to the world as well, you’re part of what happened in Pittsburgh, too.”

Along with more than 700 photos on her phone detailing visits to Shanghai, Beijing and the Great Wall of China, Perman returned home with several momentos, including yarmulkes from the congregation, scarves, a mahjong set, tea, chopsticks from the Moishe House in Shanghai, T-shirts and

insights regarding the congregation’s menu.

“I ate bagels, cream cheese and lox five times,” said Perman. “And I ate kasha varnishkes.” PJC

a new piece of music the congregation will share with the larger Jewish community.

“He’s never been to Pittsburgh before,” Weisblatt said. “It’s really special for Ohav.”

The celebration ends in May with a Jewish food festival, which will serve as an open house for the Pittsburgh Jewish community and the North Hills community.

The congregation is currently home to 140 families and it continues to grow. It will soon present a new mission and vision statement to the congregation. It’s also adding a teen lounge to make it “a hub for Jewish teens in the North Hills,” Weisblatt said. “We’ve forged closer ties with the JCC

and Federation. We have a great relationship with Chris Herman and the Second Floor. We’ve now officially welcomed BBYO and their North Hills chapter. Their base is now TOS.” Weisblatt is quick to point out that while teens are an important part of the Temple’s future, the growth of the synagogue depends on broad-based outreach.

“I think it’s about engaging all demographics. You don’t stop learning after your bar or bat mitzvah, you don’t stop learning after you age out of the tot group or when you graduate. We have to engage all people at some point. “

One of those demographics seeing exponential growth is young families with children. “Our preschool is now a full-time preschool for ages 12 months to 5 years, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., for the first time,” said Weisblatt, who attributes the synagogue’s success to a holistic approach to Jewish life. “I think that’s the key. We are the people of a living book. If you experience and live your Judaism, that’s what’s made us successful and made our people thrive for thousands of years.” PJC

that I had carefully [picked] the moments that I would include in the story to present a balanced view of our relationship, but that I had to tell them from a place of truth, no matter how raw and difficult. I hope I have conveyed the complexity in our relationship, that there is and was love and support, alongside areas where her faith in other things blinded her to my needs. I hope readers see in her a multi-faceted, deeply complicated and loving character.

to turn our backs on it, or God forbid, to try to hamper him in his efforts to live authentically. Thankfully, we chose to support him.

What can Jewish communities do to be more welcoming and accepting of trans Jewish kids?

First, we must acknowledge these kids — trans and non-binary — as a precious part of our community. After all, they may reflect an aspect of tzelem elokim [the image of God] that is hinted at in our ancient scriptures and commentaries who speak of the feminine and masculine aspects of God. My son has certainly deepened my understanding of the soul — that it functions as the most genuine and authentic part of us and is only clothed by the skin and bone.

I saw a miracle when my son transitioned.

I saw a child who was receding into darkness come to life. Jewish communities should celebrate these moments and the lives made whole. Make synagogues and community centers embracing of LGBTQ+ members and devote time and energy to education and inclusion, as well as the work that Ruth Bader Ginsberg alluded to when she wore her tzedek pin recently to deliberate a case which hinged on LGBTQ rights — referring to the passage: Tzedek, tzedek tirdof.

[Justice, justice you shall pursue.] A Jew is obliged to pursue justice. We should not remain silent. PJC

When Jacob first told you he was a boy, what resources did you turn to?

Parents today have resources I never had, and the topic is being widely discussed, though not always accurately. After Jacob become more insistent and persistent in his claims to be a boy, as well as the distress that accompanied these moments, my husband and I began to research and consult with medical professionals who helped us understand that for Jacob, his claims to be a gender that was different than the one assigned at birth were serious and reflected his reality.

It took us a while to believe that his reality was real, and that our understanding of his gender based on false information was not.

As parents our choices would be either to support and accompany him on his journey,

What advice do you have for other parents who are raising transgender children?

There is no downside to listening with respect to your child in these matters. As adults, we want the best for our kids, and we may be beset by doubts: Is this a stage?

What if I’m encouraging something that isn’t necessary? Researching and accessing knowledgeable professionals and talking to other parents of trans kids can help us know we are on the right path. But, at any time, the right answer is to show your child that you love them unconditionally, and that you are listening and learning in order to be as supportive as you can be. That trust is critical, because no matter how turbulent this may be for you, the journey is likely harder for them — and it is, after all, their journey. You can walk with them or you can turn away. I hope parents choose to walk alongside their children. The rewards are immeasurable. When you do, there is a community waiting to embrace you. Some resources I recommend are local PFLAG groups, gender clinics that offer affirmative care, and online communities of parents like us.

PITTSBURGH JEWISH CHRONICLE

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

David Rullo can be reached at drullo@ pittsburghjewishchronicle.org.

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PITTSBURGH JEWISH CHRONICLE

NOVEMBER 29, 2019

21

Community Chef’s special

So sweet

p Community Day School first graders welcomed back CDS alum and James Beard Award-winning chef Michael Solomonov to answer questions about Israeli food and restaurant life.

p Hillel Academy of Pittsburgh kindergarteners and first graders walked to Weinberg Terrace to visit residents, sing and hand out cards and cookies.

Photo courtesy of Hillel Academy of Pittsburgh

Friendship Circle Convention The Friendship Circle of Pittsburgh hosted its first National Teen Leadership Convention from Nov. 15-17. Teen leaders and local coordinators from The Friendship Circles of Toledo, Ohio; Washington, D.C.; Dallas, Texas; and Las Vegas, Nevada came to Pittsburgh for a weekend of networking, leadership workshops and discussions around inclusion and its meaning.

p Neta Avramovich, left, enjoys a story with Michael Solomonov.

Photos courtesy of Community Day School

p Friendship brings warmth.

Repairing by recycling

u Shira Ruttenburg, left, Kaiya Borenstein and Lauren Himmel Photos courtesy of Friendship Circle

Book signing in Oakmont t Squirrel Hill author James Rosenberg celebrated the release of his newest book, “The Jersey,” at Mystery Lovers Bookshop in Oakmont.

Photo courtesy of Lydia Blank

p The University of Pittsburgh Police Department and Chabad at Pitt used “Pitt Stronger than Hate” shirts to make pillows. The items will be distributed to the victims’ families and the three congregations targeted in last year’s attack.

Photo courtesy of Chabad House on Campus

22 NOVEMBER 29, 2019

PITTSBURGH JEWISH CHRONICLE

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Community Holocaust Center commemorates Kristallnacht

Friends bake bread

The Holocaust Center held its annual Kristallnacht commemoration program on Nov. 9.

After a havdallah ceremony and candlelight vigil in the “Lest We Forget” exhibit at the University of Pittsburgh campus, there was a free showing of Susan Stein’s one-woman play “Etty,” based on the diary of Holocaust victim Etty Hillesum, and talkback with Stein, Meryl Ainsman and Holocaust scholar Michael Berenbaum.

p Benji Marcus, left, Tomas Bird and Aaron Kraut participated in the Teen Scene Challah Bake on Nov. 7, a collaboration between BBYO, Repair the World, the JCC’s Second Floor and The Friendship Circle. Challahs were donated to Challah for Hunger and the Squirrel Hill Food Pantry.

Photo courtesy of Friendship Circle

Attaining rank

p Susan Stein, left, Meryl Ainsman and Michael Berenbaum

p At a ceremony following morning services at Hillel Academy of Pittsburgh, Rabbi Elisar Admon, left, was sworn in by Rabbi Eli Seidman as a chaplain in the United States Army Reserve.

Photo by Adam Reinherz p Thelma Snyder stands in front of a portrait of her late father, Herman Snyder.

Photo courtesy of the Holocaust Center of Pittsburgh

Students remember

Macher and Shaker

p Middle school girls at The Ellis School organized a vigil and recited the Kaddish in remembrance of those killed in last year’s attack at the Tree of Life building. Photo by Anat Talmy

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p Becca Tobe, center, received the William and Olga Stark Young Leadership Award from Meryl Ainsman, left, board chair of the Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh, and Jeffrey Finkelstein, Federation’s president and CEO. The Stark Award recognizes an outstanding young leader who exemplifies the ideals essential for the next generation of Jewish community leadership.

Photo by David Bachman

PITTSBURGH JEWISH CHRONICLE

NOVEMBER 29, 2019 23

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