Pittsburgh Jewish Chronicle 5-8-20

May 8, 2020 | 14 Iyar 5780

Candlelighting 8:05 p.m. | Havdalah 9:10 p.m. | Vol. 63, No. 19 | pittsburghjewishchronicle.org

Ed Frim, passionate Jewish educator and innovator, has died at 61

NOTEWORTHY LOCAL AA meetings evolve

$1.50

Cybersecurity is heightened concern for Jewish community

By David Rullo | Staff Writer

A

Adult Mini School, and as a space where high school students could enjoy supplemental learning through SAJS (School of Advanced Jewish Studies). During his nineyear tenure at the now defunct organization, Frim spearheaded several new community initiatives, including introducing a student-centered Reggio Emilia approach through the JECEI early childhood initiative, facilitating systemic change through the Congregational School Improvement Initiative, enabling career development through the Spertus College Master of Arts in Jewish Professional Studies, and introducing multisensory teaching through DVASH, a Hebrew curriculum. Most of those programs continue today through the Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh or the Jewish Community Center of Pittsburgh.

Frim’s commitment to growth was not merely focused on the organization, explained Cheryl Moore, who spent three years as president of the AJL and spoke almost daily to Frim during that time. He

n odd email appeared in the inboxes of many members of the Pittsburgh Jewish community earlier this month.

The strangely worded subject line read “Shalom Aleichem” and the email seemed to come from one of several local rabbis.

The text of the email was just three lines long with multiple punctuation and grammar mistakes: “Hi How Are You?/I Need An Assistance From You?/Please Let Me Know If You Get This.” It concluded with “Peace,” and the name of a local rabbi.

Everything about the email seemed peculiar: the broken English, the poor grammar, the vague request, the use of the word “peace” to conclude the email. It did not seem like a message that any local rabbi would send to a congregation, although the outgoing email address looked legitimate.

In fact, the email was just one of many phishing schemes found in communities across the country. It is an update on the old “Nigerian prince” email asking recipients for help.

According to FBI Special Agent Mike McKeown, the emails now circulating — with their credible outgoing email addresses — show that “the fraudsters have become very good at crafting their emails. They’re focusing on individuals within an organization that can help them move money.”

McKeown spoke as part of a cybersecurity webinar facilitated by the Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh last week.

In the type of email phishing scheme targeting Jewish Pittsburghers earlier this month, there is no immediate request for money. The email instead attempts to build a relationship with the person who receives it. After trust has been created, the fraudster will then ask for money. In the meantime, if

Please see Frim, page 14

Please see Cybersecurity, page 14

Keeping up with the 12 steps Page 3

LOCAL 50 years of help

 Ed Frim plays the accordion at a USCJ conference in July 2018.

Jews assist at East End Cooperative Ministry Page 4

LOCAL Every penny helps Making a difference through United Way Page 5

By Adam Reinherz | Staff Writer

E

d Frim, whose benevolent demeanor and inclusive spirit helped ensure access to Jewish education for generations to come, died on April 28. He was 61.

After more than 20 years in Ohio-based nonprofit Jewish work, Frim relocated to Pittsburgh in 2005 to serve as executive director at the Agency for Jewish Learning.

Charlie Saul, of Squirrel Hill, was on the subcommittee tasked with filling the position and recalled Frim as being perfectly suited to the task: “He seemed to be sensitive to the needs and interests of all sections of the community, and he certainly acted in that capacity.”

In Pittsburgh, a city where residents often pride themselves on counting generational predecessors who occupied the same treelined streets, Frim found a way to not only enter the area and nourish its roots but plant the seeds for later growth.

Frim’s arrival cemented the AJL as an organizational home for adult education, through teacher training and the Florence Melton

Photo by Aimee Close

keep your eye on PittsburghJewishChronicle

LOCAL New website for geneology

LOCAL Planter of modern life

FOOD Instant Pot labneh

Headlines Point Park moves to dismiss Jewish professor’s lawsuit — LOCAL —

By Toby Tabachnick | Editor

C

hanna Newman, a longtime professor at Point Park University who is suing the school for discrimination based on her Jewish and Israeli ancestry, has filed an amended complaint in federal district court that includes new allegations against the university.

Attorneys for Point Park have moved to dismiss the 75-page, 19-count amended complaint in its entirety, averring that Newman has not stated any valid claim against the university.

Newman, a Holocaust survivor with U.S., Israeli and Czech citizenship, has been employed by Point Park since 1964. She is currently the chair of the department of humanities and social sciences and is a professor of French and cultural studies.

In her original 18-count complaint against the university, Newman claimed Point Park allowed a concerted effort, led by anti-Zionist faculty and students, to create a hostile work environment for her.

She alleges that Professor Robert Ross, an outspoken critic of Israel, used his position at the university to promote “highly anti-Zionist views and activities” — including accusing Israel of “apartheid” and “ethnic cleansing” — and to “foster the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement against Israel.” She claims that Ross and others retaliated against her because she did not acquiesce to their one-sided presentation of the conflict.

The anti-Zionists on campus sought to have Newman removed from her position, she claims, through the filing of a “bogus” Title IX complaint in which a student alleged

p Newman, a Holocaust survivor with U.S., Israeli and Czech citizenship, is a longtime professor at Point Park University who is suing the school for discrimination based on her Jewish and Israeli ancestry, Photo by Toby Tabachnick

“ We will vigorously attempt to keep all counts in the complaint. We feel strongly

”

that the case has merit.

— JAMES LIEBER, NEWMAN’S ATTORNEY that Newman made an insensitive comment about the #MeToo movement.

Newman was exonerated from the Title IX charges, but not before she endured significant maltreatment from the university, including having her classes cancelled mid-semester, being suspended from

campus and being denied access to her email, she claims.

Newman’s amended complaint introduces additional alleged instances of anti-Semitism at the university, including a Point Park administrator, at a 2018 staff meeting, recalling her “little Jewish college roommate

who was afraid of everything.”

Other allegations of anti-Semitism include Ross purportedly referring to Hezbollah, an anti-Israel organization based in Lebanon, as his “friends.”

The amended complaint, which includes counts of discrimination based on age and sex as well as religion and national origin, also describes the purportedly disparate treatment that some males accused of Title IX violations at Point Park received in contrast to the treatment allegedly levied against Newman. For example, the amended complaint states, males accused of Title IX violations were not suspended from teaching duties pending investigation as Newman was.

“Point Park University denies the allegations of wrongdoing — including any suggestion of anti-Semitism — contained in the amended complaint and will vigorously defend itself,” a university spokesperson said in a written statement to the Chronicle. “To this end, the motion filed by the University’s lawyers asks the court to dismiss the amended complaint in its entirety for failure to state a viable claim against the University.

“Out of respect for the legal process, and for Dr. Newman, neither Point Park nor its lawyers will be making any further public comment at this time,” the statement continued. “We do, however, want to assure you that Point Park is an inclusive community where there is no place for discrimination or hatred of any kind.”

Newman has until May 18 to respond to the motion to dismiss.

“We will vigorously attempt to keep all counts in the complaint,” said Newman’s attorney, James Lieber. “We feel strongly that the case has merit.” PJC Toby Tabachnick can be reached at ttabachnick@pittsburghjewishchronicle.org.

5915 Beacon St., 5th Floor Pittsburgh, PA 15217

Main phone number: 412-687-1000

Subscriptions: 410-902-2308 SUBSCRIPTIONS subscriptions@pittsburghjewishchronicle.org 410-902-2308

Jim Busis, CEO and Publisher 412-228-4690 jbusis@pittsburghjewishchronicle.org

TO ADVERTISE Display: advertising@pittsburghjewishchronicle.org 412-721-5931

Josh Sufrin, Executive Assistant 412-228-4547 jsufrin@pittsburghjewishchronicle.org

EDITORIAL DEPARTMENT Email: newsdesk@pittsburghjewishchronicle.org BOARD OF TRUSTEES Evan Indianer, Chairman Gayle R. Kraut, Secretary Jonathan Bernstein, Treasurer Gail Childs, Dan Droz, Milton Eisner, Malke Steinfeld Frank, Seth Glick, Tracy Gross, Tammy Hepps, Richard J. Kitay, Cátia Kossovsky, David Rush, Charles Saul, Evan H. Stein GENERAL COUNSEL Stuart R. Kaplan, Esq.

2 MAY 8, 2020

EDITORIAL Liz Spikol, Editorial Director 215-832-0747 lspikol@pittsburghjewishchronicle.org Toby Tabachnick, Editor 412-228-4577 ttabachnick@pittsburghjewishchronicle.org Adam Reinherz, Staff Writer 412-687-1000 areinherz@pittsburghjewishchronicle.org David Rullo, Staff Writer 412-687-1047 drullo@pittsburghjewishchronicle.org ADVERTISING Kelly Schwimer, Sales Director 412-721-5931 kschwimer@pittsburghjewishchronicle.org Phil Durler, Senior Sales Associate 724-713-8874 pdurler@pittsburghjewishchronicle.org

DEVELOPMENT Deborah Ziskind, Director of Development 412-401-0583 dziskind@pittsburghjewishchronicle.org

Manuscripts, letters, documents and photographs sent to the Pittsburgh Jewish Chronicle become the property of this publication, which is not responsible for the return or loss of such items.

PRODUCTION Jennifer Perkins-Frantz, Director Rachel S. Levitan Art/Production Coordinator BUSINESS Bill Sims, Director of Circulation 410-902-2315 Devorah Neuman, Circulation subscriptions@pittsburghjewishchronicle.org 410-902-2308

The Pittsburgh Jewish Chronicle does not endorse the goods or services advertised or covered in its pages and makes no representation to the kashrut of food products and services in said advertising or articles. The publisher is not liable for damages if, for any reason whatsoever, he fails to publish an advertisement or for any error in an advertisement.

Acceptance of advertisers and of ad copy is subject to the publisher’s approval. The Pittsburgh Jewish Chronicle is not responsible if ads violate applicable laws and the advertiser will indemnify, hold harmless and defend the Pittsburgh Jewish Chronicle from all claims made by governmental agencies and consumers for any reason based on ads appearing in the Pittsburgh Jewish Chronicle.

Published every Friday by the Pittsburgh Jewish Publication and Education Foundation 5915 Beacon St., 5th Floor Pittsburgh, PA 15217 Phone: 412-687-1000 FAX: 412-521-0154 POSTMASTER: Send address change to PITTSBURGH JEWISH CHRONICLE, 5915 BEACON ST., 5TH FLOOR PITTSBURGH, PA 15217 (PERIODICAL RATE POSTAGE PAID AT PITTSBURGH, PA AND AT ADDITIONAL MAILING OFFICES) USPS 582-740

PITTSBURGH JEWISH CHRONICLE

PITTSBURGHJEWISHCHRONICLE.ORG

Headlines AA meetings evolve to meet needs during pandemic — LOCAL —

By Justin Vellucci | Special to the Chronicle

B

rian*, a recovering alcoholic, moved to Pittsburgh 15 years ago from the East Coast. After learning of the services provided to Jewish prisoners through the Aleph Institute in Squirrel Hill, Brian got permission from its executive director, Rabbi Moishe Mayir Vogel, to host Alcoholics Anonymous meetings at its building on Beacon Street.

A self-described “member of the Chabad community,� Brian sees a particular religious streak running through the ritual of the AA meeting and 12-step process. “AA, to me, doesn’t have anything to do with drinking or not taking a drink,� Brian said. “It teaches you how to be honest, believe in a higher power, turn your will over to God. We take an accounting of ourselves and clean up the damage of our past. To me, it’s totally living the Torah.�

Brian, now 30 years sober and single, still struggles with addiction. On the Saturday that fell during Passover, in the midst of COVID-19 quarantines, he found it difficult to be alone — and almost broke Shabbat to pull out his computer and video chat with a sponsor.

If he had done that, he would not have been violating the Sabbath, according to Vogel.

Vogel cited the recent p’sak halacha (religious

legal decision) from Harav Dovid Cohen, which allows certain individuals to use technology under particular guidelines in the event they need lifesaving mental health services.

Cohen told the Five Towns Jewish Times in New York that it is vital for people facing life threatening challenges to have continued access to those who provide them support, even on Shabbat and Yom Tov. With faceto-face contact prohibited at this juncture in order to limit the spread of COVID-19, the only way for those in crisis to get help is through digital means. “It shows us how necessary these meetings are — we can’t be dismissive of them,�

Vogel said. “We try to offer the support that’s necessary for these individuals. They should not feel alone.�

Vogel stressed it was difficult but necessary for the AA meetings at Aleph Institute to go to a video conferencing format because of social distancing mandates. “It’s not the same as sitting in a room together but it’s a lot better than a phone call,� Brian said.

Neither man saw any particular trends in COVID-19-era attendance at AA meetings, though Brian said he noticed more alcohol consumption among colleagues and friends of his who do not attend AA meetings.

Karen Frank doesn’t battle addiction but a loved one close to her does. It was in the spirit of helping them that she started

Hopefully, your employer is still providing you with coverage.

In the event they are not, you may want to get in touch with me to discuss your options.

Frank stressed, though, that the “higher power� in the meetings doesn’t have to be denominational.

Attendance at the Beth El sponsored meetings is up, Frank said, if only slightly, since COVID-19 stay-at-home orders went into effect in Pennsylvania.

She attributed some of that to members who had moved outside of Pittsburgh and wanted to attend again. She said they are even considering bringing an iPad into future meetings when they start again in person. “We all miss the meetings,� Frank said. “At the end of these meetings, you stand up and you hold hands — there’s something about being together.�

Beth El’s Rabbi Alex Greenbaum doesn’t run the Nar-Anon or Narcotics Anonymous meetings at his congrep Aleph Institute Photo provided by Aleph Institute gation, but he is very happy they take place there, especially in difficult times. a regular Nar-Anon meeting at Beth El “The anxiety levels are much higher right Congregation of the South Hills. now and help seems less available than it was She said the Beth El meetings, which 17 before,� the rabbi said. “We worry now but I people attended via video conference last believe there is help.� week, are “exactly the same� as ones held in “Here’s the Jewish words of wisdom,� he Christian congregations and settings. laughed. “Historically, we’ve seen worse.�  PJC “They do say ‘God,’ they use a serenity prayer. I personally wouldn’t mind it having *Brian’s last name has been withheld to a Jewish bent but there’s not another Jewish protect his privacy. person in there,� said Frank, who lives Justin Vellucci is a freelance writer in Mt. Lebanon. living in Pittsburgh.

Times like these are why we¡re here The public health and economic crisis posed by the COVID-19 pandemic will continue to have a substantial LPSDFW RQ FDVK à RZV DQG UHYHQXHV Business owners and individual borrowers must be ready to meet the resulting ÀQDQFLDO FKDOOHQJHV DQG &DPSEHOO /HYLQH¡V DWWRUQH\V KDYH RYHU \HDUV RI FRPELQHG H[SHULHQFH KHOSLQJ LWV FOLHQWV QDYLJDWH ZLVHO\ WKURXJK VXFK VLWXDWLRQV

I offer ACA-compliant Individual plans for those who have been laid off and lost employer-sponsored coverage. I also offer Short-Term Medical plans (up to 90 days per policy) to bridge any coverage gap you may be experiencing. Those interested in any type of Individual plan should contact me @ 412-901-5433.

&DPSEHOO /HYLQH LV DYDLODEOH WR SURYLGH FXUUHQW DQG SURVSHFWLYH FOLHQWV ZLWK DQ LQIRUPHG XQGHUVWDQGLQJ RI WKHLU OHJDO ULJKWV DQG REOLJDWLRQV DQG DQ H[SODQDWLRQ RI WKH SUDFWLFDO LPSOLFDWLRQV DQG RSWLRQV

For plans purchased on the federal exchange (the Marketplace), the Marketplace will determine the earliest allowable effective date, which may be the first day of the following month. For plans you purchase off the marketplace, accelerated effective dates may be available.

7R OHDUQ PRUH FRQWDFW 6WDQOH\ /HYLQH VOHYLQH#FDPOHY FRP

RU 'RXJODV &DPSEHOO GFDPSEHOO#FDPOHY FRP

Please note that premium subsidies may be available for

Best wishes to all for good health.

plans purchased on the federal Marketplace. Premium

CAMPBELL & LEVINE, LLC

subsidies are not available for off-exchange plans.

412-901-5433

askinsure@msn.com • askinsure.net

Attorneys at Law

3 , 7 7 6 % 8 5 * + 3 ( 1 1 6 < /9$ 1 , $ Â&#x2021; : , / 0 , 1 * 7 2 1 ' ( / $:$ 5 (

Health Insurance for Individuals & Seniors Since 1984 PITTSBURGHJEWISHCHRONICLE.ORG â&#x20AC;&#x201A;

CLqpJChron.indd 1

PITTSBURGH JEWISH CHRONICLE

5/1/20 12:00 PM

MAY 8, 2020â&#x20AC;&#x192;3

Headlines Jewish community members continue to foster work of East End Cooperative Ministry — LOCAL —

By David Rullo | Staff Writer

S

ince the COVID-19 crisis hit Pittsburgh, need for the East End Cooperative Ministry’s food pantry has rapidly escalated, according to the nonprofit’s executive director, Carole Bailey.

“We’ve seen the number of families we serve triple during the pandemic,” she said. “We were seeing approximately 25 to 30 families a day; since the pandemic we’re seeing over 90.”

Bailey, a member of Temple Sinai, said that to meet the increased demand, EECM now allows families to pick up food weekly; before the pandemic, families were limited to one trip per month.

For the past 50 years, EECM has served East End Pittsburgh communities, beginning with breakfasts to students at Peabody High School, its Meals on Wheels program and tutoring. The interfaith ministry has expanded during its five decades of operation to offer vulnerable adults and at-risk children and youth emergency shelter, drug and alcohol rehabilitation programs and summer camp as well as violence prevention, employment, and educational programs.

Bailey served as the nonprofit’s CFO in

p Carole Bailey and Gabrielle DeMarchi of Operation Better Block of Homewood display face masks created by the EECM studio.

Photo by Michael Bartley.

2016 and 2017 before being named its executive director 18 months ago.

The CPA had her own consulting business prior to joining EECM but is no stranger to nonprofits, having worked with them for the last 23 years.

EECM was started in the basement of the East L i b e r t y P r e s by t e r i a n Church by 18 neighborhood congregations. It began as a food pantry and soup kitchen but quickly grew to include a shelter for homeless men.

“And then, 10 years later, we started our children and youth services programs,” Bailey said.

Six years ago, EECM opened a new building after a long capital campaign, expanding its shelter to include women and children and increasing its capacity to host 51 people.

A recovery house for

those leaving inpatient treatment is located at the new building.

“They come here and we work to get them through the next phase of their recovery,” Bailey explained.

The organization’s mission includes more than simply providing a warm bed or a meal for those it serves.

“We have educational and employment services,” Bailey said. “We teach financial management, how to budget and make sure you’ll be able to pay your bills, anger management, how to write a resume and interview. The basics of what you need to get a job.”

Bailey pointed out that those services are open not only to EECM’s residents but to the general community as well.

EECM also has “two different workforce development arms,” a sewing studio and landscape and office cleaning business, Bailey explained. Like other industries, EECM’s sewing studio recently switched its production to help meet a need stemming from the pandemic: assembling face masks.

Last week, the studio was in the process of donating 175 face masks to Operation Better Block in Homewood, which would be distributed to residents of two senior high Please see EECM, page 15

We’re here for you!

Check out our LIVE stream programs: jccpgh.org/jccpghvirtual-live-schedules &Žƌ Ă ĐŽŵƉůĞƚĞ ůŝƐƟŶŐ ŽĨ ŽŶůŝŶĞ ĂĐƟǀŝƟĞƐ͗ ũĐĐƉŐŚ͘ŽƌŐͬũĐĐƉŐŚǀŝƌƚƵĂůͲďĞLJŽŶĚͲŽƵƌͲǁĂůůƐ To support the JCC: ũĐĐƉŐŚ͘ŽƌŐͬĞǀĞŶƚͬŚŽǁͲLJŽƵͲĐĂŶͲŚĞůƉ

4 MAY 8, 2020

PITTSBURGH JEWISH CHRONICLE

PITTSBURGHJEWISHCHRONICLE.ORG

Headlines Loose change starts off youth’s collection for United Way — LOCAL —

By Justin Vellucci | Special to the Chronicle

A

Pittsburgh-area boy is showing a little effort can make a big difference — one handful of change at a time.

Brett Baron, 9, of Edgewood, has been — all things considered — fairly comfortable during the COVID-19 pandemic, sheltering in place with his sister Tatum, 6, and virtually attending his Community Day School third-grade classes via Zoom.

But his mind wandered frequently to those who weren’t as comfortable.

“Especially at this time,” Brett said, “people who are less fortunate are even more less fortunate. We kinda said, ‘What can we do?’”

Brett and Tatum rummaged through their Edgewood home and even decided to cash in their tzedakah boxes, which they had been filling, coins at a time, for a good cause. All told, it amounted to $37.

That wasn’t enough.

So Brett wrote a letter enlisting family and friends to help him grow his $37 in change to a $2,000 donation.

“If you can contribute that means you are doing a good deed for others who need it more than you,” Brett wrote. “Especially if you are feeling down just give all you want and relax. Imagine how much better the

world could be if we just give some cash to those less fortunate.”

Within 24 hours, Brett’s fundraiser broke the $1,000 mark. Shortly thereafter, he had racked up $2,232 from 41 donors.

“When we started, we had $37 — but now we have more than $2,000,” Brett told the Chronicle last week. “It makes a difference.”

Brett knew exactly where he wanted the money to go. A few years ago, he realized his parents were in the business of helping people in need. So, he wanted it to go to the organization where his father made a difference every day, United Way of Southwestern Pennsylvania.

The money went to a campaign called the Emergency Basic Needs Fund, which helps families throughout Southwestern Pennsylvania with everything from groceries to utility bills.

The organization, to say the least, was overwhelmed by the gesture.

“Brett’s fundraiser is the perfect example of how one person — no matter who they are — can have an impact on the lives of people in need,” said Linda Jones, senior vice president of community philanthropy at United Way of Southwestern Pennsylvania.

“Brett has a very big heart and we know he will continue to be an inspiration to others, setting a wonderful example of compassion, caring and generosity.”

This wasn’t the first time Brett and his

“ Especially at this time, people who are less fortunate are even more less fortunate. We

”

kinda said, ‘What can we do?’

— BRETT BARON

family have given back to the community.

Around the time Brett was 8, they started packing bagged lunches and giving them to people in need downtown and throughout the East End, including at panhandler hot spots like the corner of Penn and Fifth avenues.

“It certainly brings us great pride that our

two kids see the work we do and want to make a difference,” said Brett’s father, Adam.

“Our family has always been together trying to be the helpers in the community.” PJC Justin Vellucci is a freelance writer living in Pittsburgh.

Complete the form and mail or call 410.902.2308 308

Renew my FREE 3 YEAR subscription to the Pittsburgh Jewish Chronicle.*

Address

Name (Please print) Signature

Photo provided by United Way of Southwestern Pennsylvania

Renew TODAY!

3 print YEARS FREE edition 

p Brett Baron

Date

* Signature and date required to be valid by the US Postal Service. Restrictions apply.

City

State

Phone

Email

Zip

Residents eligible to receive the free three years subscription must live in the city of Pittsburgh, Allegheny County or the five surrounding counties.

Mail to: Pittsburgh Jewish Chronicle | 5915 Beacon Street, 5th Floor, Pittsburgh, PA 15217

PITTSBURGHJEWISHCHRONICLE.ORG

PITTSBURGH JEWISH CHRONICLE

MAY 8, 2020 5

Calendar >>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 SATURDAY, MAY 9 Gather with Kesher Pittsburgh and the Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh for Havdallah in Pajamas. Say farewell to Shabbat in song and connection while dressed in comfy PJs. 7 p.m. For more information and to register, visit jewishpgh. org/event/havdallah-in-pajamas. q SUNDAYS, MAY 10, 17 Do you find prayer meaningless and opaque, or significant and powerful? Rabbi Danny Schiff’s course Jewish Prayer will explore the challenging nature of prayer. It will delve into the fundamental features of how and why we pray. Schiff, Foundation Scholar at the Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh, will describe the origins and structure of Jewish services and will engage in a close study of a number of central prayers within the liturgy.

This webinar is designed to give fresh insights into Jewish prayer with the goal of opening new doors of understanding. 10:30 a.m. jewishpgh.org/event/ jewish-prayer-2020-04-05/2020-05-03 q TUESDAYS, MAY 12, 19 The classic Jewish text Pirkei Avot is regularly studied in the weeks between Pesach and Shavuot.

In Pirkei Avot — The Wisdom Verses of the Mishnah, Rabbi Danny Schiff will teach Pirkei Avot utilizing Rabbi Shmuly Yanklowitz’s book “Pirkei Avot — A Social Justice Commentary.” You will need the book (available online), but no prior knowledge is required. 7 p.m. jewishpgh.org/event/pirkei-avot-thewisdom-verses-of-the-mishnahvirtual/2020-04-13 q TUESDAYS, MAY 12, 19, 26 During this time of uncertainty surrounding the coronavirus, the Center for Loving Kindness-JCC Pittsburgh presents a new series, “Comforting Conversations.” Members of the Center for Loving Kindness team talk with members of the community about topics you and your family may be dealing with right now. There is a new conversation each Tuesday. jccpgh.org/event/comforting-conversations/?cflk=1 Join Classrooms Without Borders for a weekly book discussion of Hadley Freeman’s “House of Glass: the Story and Secrets of a Twentieth-Century Jewish Family” with Dr. Joshua Andy on Zoom.

Freeman’s book centers on her discovery of her family’s history after the death of her grandmother,

Sara Glass. Freeman weaves history and the contemporary rise in anti-Semitism together in a family narrative of the 20th century. 5 p.m. classroomswithoutborders.org/book-discussion-2 New Light Congregation Rabbi Jonathan Perlman and Islamic Center of Pittsburgh Imam Chris Caras lead The Omer and Ramadan, a five-week virtual class in the discussion of Ramadan, Eid al-Fatr, Hajj, Passover, Shavuot and the counting of the omer. Classes conducted via Zoom. Free.

7 p.m. To register and for a complete list of class topics, visit newlightcongregation.org/events/theomer-and-ramadan. q WEDNESDAY, MAY 13 Are you graduating from college this spring and trying to figure out where to find Jewish community with other people your age? Explore some of Pittsburgh’s fantastic options for Jewish young adults at the Jewish Life After Hillel panel, featuring representatives from Hillel JUC, Moishe House, OneTable, Repair the World, Temple Sinai and the Jewish Federation’s Young Adult Division.

This panel is intended primarily for graduating college seniors but is open to any young adults looking for ways to connect with Pittsburgh’s Jewish community. 7 p.m. RSVP for Zoom link. facebook.com/events/663221304239409 In the summer of 1930, a handful of Pittsburgh gambling racketeers went into the dog racing business. They financed and opened a greyhound racing track, the Guyasuta Kennel Club. The track closed permanently after lawsuits and criminal investigations and left in its wake political controversy that contributed to the founding of Fox Chapel Borough. The Rauh Jewish Archives is hosting the illustrated online program Guyasuta Gangsters, with David Rotenstein. This program is free and will be conducted via Zoom. 7 p.m. To register, please contact mobsburgh@gmail.com.

Shalom Bayit: Parenting During Uncertainty and Social Distancing facilitated by Dr. Deborah Gilboa is geared to parents of children under 8.

8 p.m. To register for this free event, visit jewishpgh. org/event/shalom-bayit-parenting-duringuncertainty-and-social-distancing-webinar.

Join fellow Ben Gurion Society members for an evening of stimulating conversation led by the Jewish Federation’s Foundation Scholar, Rabbi Danny Schiff, and Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh CEO Jeff Finkelstein. You must RSVP in advance to receive the Zoom link and submit questions in advance. Free. 8 p.m. jewishpgh.org/ event/bgs-schiff

T

6 MAY 8, 2020

In honor of Israel’s Independence Day, Classrooms Without Borders, in partnership with the Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh and South Hills Jewish Pittsburgh, is excited to offer the opportunity to watch the new film “Ben Gurion, Epilogue” and engage in a post-film discussion with the film’s producer, Yariv Mozer. The Zoom discussion will include never before seen footage, deleted scenes, insights and stories from the making of the film. CWB scholar Avi Ben-Hur will open the discussion. 3 p.m. classroomswithoutborders.org/ben-gurion-film q THURSDAYS, MAY 14, 21 The Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh’s Foundation Scholar, Rabbi Danny Schiff, presents The Human Body in Judaism. The seven-session course will explore the reaction of Judaism to the way in which we treat our bodies, ranging from tattooing to cosmetic surgery to hair cutting.

10:30 a.m. jewishpgh.org/event/the-human-body-injudaismvirtual/2020-03-26q q SUNDAY, MAY 17 The Rauh Jewish Archives is hosting an online Hebrew Institute Reunion. The Hebrew Institute was the first community-wide Jewish educational institution in Western Pennsylvania. It opened in the Hill District and later followed the Jewish population to Squirrel Hill. The reunion will include a brief history of the Hebrew Institute by Rauh Jewish Archives Director Eric Lidji and an announcement about a project to collect the stories of former students of the school. If you have any photographs or documents from your time at the Hebrew Institute, please bring them to show. 11 a.m. To register, visit heinzhistorycenter.org/events/hebrewinstitute-reunion. q WEDNESDAY, MAY 20 We’ve all been on dates and thought, “That was great, but it would have been even better if it lasted for only three minutes, lacked even the slightest romantic undertones and was on Zoom.”

Fortunately, such a perfect date is now possible at Moishe House Pittsburgh’s second-ever SpeedDating-but-Platonic-and-On-Zoom event! Join us to stay connected or make some new friends. As with all our virtual events, feel free to invite any friends who might like to participate, even if they don’t live in Southwestern Pennsylvania. 7 p.m.

RSVP via Facebook or email for link. facebook.com/ events/757766125031176 q THURSDAY, MAY 21 The Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh’s Young Adult Division presents Mix it up! Young Adult

Federation disburses additional funding to local groups he Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh made additional emergency funding distributions last week to its beneficiary agencies and some congregations, bringing the total dollar amount of funds disbursed since the coronavirus crisis began to $775,875.

New distributions made on April 29 included: $131,075 in grants, plus a $100,000 loan, to Hebrew Free Loan Association to enable it to make additional loans to community members; financial support for synagogue congregants, which will be available through individual congregations’ rabbis’ discretionary funds; and funding for a van for Jewish Family and Community

q THURSDAY, MAY 14

Services to help with food distribution to homebound service recipients.

Additional funding in this third round of grants went to: the Aleph Institute to help support families in need of immediate financial assistance; the Jewish Community Center of Greater Pittsburgh for technology, equipment and sanitation supplies that will support AgeWell Pittsburgh’s Grab and Go meals for seniors and other programs; and Emma Kaufmann Camp, which will receive a matching grant from the Harold Grinspoon Foundation’s “All Together” matching grant program. PJC

Virtual Mixology Lesson (Part 3) with mixologist Abbey Fakas. Abbey will teach us how to mix up some delicious mocktails (Strawberry Balsamic Vinegar Shrub) using basics from your pantry. This free event will be held over Zoom conference call. Participants will receive the link to participate upon registration.

5 p.m. jewishpgh.org/event/yad-mixology-3 q WEDNESDAY, MAY 27 Classrooms Without Borders, in partnership with South Hills Jewish Pittsburgh, presents the film “Box for Life” and a post-film discussion with the film’s producer, Uri Borreda. RSVP to receive a link to the film. The post-film discussion will be offered on Zoom. 3 p.m. jewishpgh.org/event/box-for-life-postfilm-discussion-with-film-producer-uri-borreda-rsvpto-receive-link-to-film Does the pandemic have you yearning for the stability of old traditions? As thrilling as it is to engage in platonic speed-dating on Zoom, have you found yourself longing for some good old-fashioned romance? The kind with a matchmaker? Satisfy your nostalgia by joining Moishe House on a journey to Anatevka as we screen the classic “Fiddler on the Roof.” (Spoiler alert: Not everything was perfect in the old country either!) As with all our virtual events, feel free to invite any friends who might like to participate, even if they don’t live in Southwestern Pennsylvania. 7 p.m. RSVP via Facebook or email for link. facebook.com/events/227315425366031 The Jewish holiday of Shavuot celebrates the receiving of the Torah at Mount Sinai. Tikkun Leil Shavuot traditionally brings the entire Pittsburgh Jewish community together for all-night Jewish learning. The Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh will host an online version the night before Shavuot so all can participate. More information to come. q SUNDAY, MAY 31 Join the Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh’s Young Adult Division for a game night with host Zach Schwartz from the comfort of your own home.

They’ll be playing Jackbox games, so your phone will be your controller. You must register in advance to receive the Zoom link to join and there are only 10 spots available. 7 p.m. jewishpgh.org/event/yadvirtual-game-night q THURSDAY, JUNE 11 Classrooms Without Borders, in partnership with South Hills Jewish Pittsburgh, presents the film “Shalom Italia” and a post-film discussion with the film’s producer, Tamar Tal Anati. The post-film discussion will be offered on Zoom. RSVP to receive link.

3 p.m. jewishpgh.org/event/shalom-italia-post-filmdiscussion-with-film-producer-tamar-tal-anati PJC

Murray Avenue Kosher employee tests positive for COVID-19

M

urray Avenue Kosher announced that one of its employees has been diagnosed with COVID19. In a Facebook post dated May 1, the Squirrel Hill-based grocer noted: “This employee has not come to the store since April 24. We have been at the forefront of cleaning, sanitizing, limiting customers inside the store, requiring masks and other measures to protect both our employees and customers. We will be redoubling

— Toby Tabachnick PITTSBURGH JEWISH CHRONICLE

these efforts and adding even more sanitizing and cleaning.”

Aryeh Markovic, the store’s manager, said that the employee is home and did not require hospitalization due to the virus.

“We have been in contact with the county health department to assure that we are doing everything possible and more to keep everyone healthy,” added the post. PJC — Adam Reinherz

www.pittsburghjewishchronicle.org PITTSBURGHJEWISHCHRONICLE.ORG

Headlines Pennsylvania native’s website links families to their Eastern European roots — LOCAL —

By David Rullo | Staff Writer

F

or Marshall Katz, creating the nonprofit website Sub-Carpathia Genealogy was both a labor of love and a step back into the past.

Katz’s family immigrated to the United States from the Subcarpathia region of Europe, composed of the eastern sections of Hungary and Slovakia that border present-day Ukraine. The area was home to a large Jewish community. His grandfather came to America alone in 1905, making a stop first in New York and eventually settling in Wilmerding, Pennsylvania, 12 miles southeast of Pittsburgh.

“He was only 15 years old,” Katz said.

“I think it was pretty brave to come to America by yourself.”

The family patriarch opened a butcher shop before returning home to Europe.

He was conscripted into the Hungarian army during World War I, captured by the Russians and held as a prisoner of war in Siberia. In 1918, he came back to the U.S. and started a family.

Curious about his family roots, Katz began a quest that would lead him back and forth between the United States and Eastern Europe, and ultimately to the creation of a website to help others discover their own family histories as well.

At the outset of his research, Katz found the manifest of the ship that brought his grandfather to America.

“It said the village he came from, but I could only find one reference to it on the internet,” he explained.

But that internet clue led to someone in Detroit whose family was from the same Hungarian village as Katz’s. Remarkably, both families had settled near Uniontown, Pennsylvania, where Katz’s father had owned a kosher butcher shop.

Katz’s new virtual friend had a nephew still living in the Subcarpathian village.

“I ended up staying in his house three or four years in a row,” Katz said.

The Hungarian house where he stayed was down the road from his own family’s ancestral home. Katz explained that those trips gave him an appreciation for village life in Europe.

“Everything’s a barter system,” he said.

“You raise chickens and have eggs, you take the eggs down to the guy with some cows and get some milk.”

p The Berehove (Beregszász) Cemetery (partial view) is maintained by Joseph Vays and Hugo Guttman, both descendants with loved ones buried there. The cemetery has almost 2,000 burials. Photo Copyright Sub-Carpathia Genealogy®

“ The website has been a big success for a lot of people. There are people who have been looking for information for 30 or 45 years and, yep, I’ve got it.

”

I’m happy to provide the service.

— MARSHALL KATZ

After the Soviet Union closed its border in 1948, the members of Katz’s family who survived the Holocaust were trapped there until glasnost. A cousin eventually left Ukraine and came to America, settling in Columbus, Ohio. He assisted Katz in filling in some of the missing pieces about his family.

Katz, a retired Air Force serviceman, has spent the last several years travelling through Subcarpathia, cataloging its villages and towns.

“There are 631 cities, towns and villages and I’ve been to all of them,” he said.

As part of his travels, Katz visited all of the region’s 240 surviving Jewish cemeteries, photographing all of the 25,000 tombstones he found.

Those photos are available, along with their English translations, for free on his website.

Katz has also noted all of the towns and villages he has visited and provides information about each stop on his site. He views this as a service to those who are unable or unwilling to venture to Eastern Europe or Ukraine, “mostly because their families

talked negatively about what the Ukrainians did during World War II, turning the Jews in and those sorts of things,” he said.

Katz is quick to point out that the Subcarpathia region has a unique history and makes for challenging research.

“My great-grandfather never moved but his house has been in five countries,” Katz said. “Records are all over the place.”

In addition to tombstones and information about the individual towns and villages, Katz’s site offers travel tips gleaned from his yearly trips to the region.

He has also catalogued many synagogues, including ones that have been altered from their original purpose.

“There’s a lot of shells of the old synagogues,” Katz said. “There’s one synagogue the Soviets turned into a culture center and auditorium. There’s a small synagogue I participated in the restoration of. I donated money, so did my cousin. Both our names are up on the wall.”

Families with roots in the region can find other information about their ancestors including “vital records, Holocaust records” on the site, said Katz. “It’s pretty comprehensive.”

Katz provides access for users to research \ family trees and records for free. If someone has an interest in a particular record, they can purchase it for a modest fee.

The website may be of particular interest to people in Western Pennsylvania as thousands of Hungarian Jews settled near McKeesport, Katz noted.

Both Poale Zedeck in Pittsburgh and Gemilas Chesed in McKeesport were founded

by Hungarian immigrants, said Eric Lidji, director of the Rauh Jewish History Program & Archives at the Heinz History Center. In fact, the charters of both congregations explicitly stated they were Hungarian congregations.

Other synagogues that dotted the Eastern suburbs also had large Hungarian contingents, including Agudath Achim in Braddock, Ohav Zedeck in East Pittsburgh, Homestead Hebrew Congregation in Homestead and Ohav Shalom in Donora.

“The website has been a big success for a lot of people,” Katz said. “There are people who have been looking for information for 30 or 45 years and, yep, I’ve got it. I’m happy to provide the service.”

Those interested can explore the website at sub-carpathia-genealogy.org. PJC David Rullo can be reached at drullo@ pittsburghjewishchronicle.org.

Every Friday in the

news JEWS CAN USE. PITTSBURGHJEWISHCHRONICLE.ORG

PITTSBURGH JEWISH CHRONICLE

and all the time online @pittsburghjewishchronicle.org.

For home delivery, call 410.902.2308.

MAY 8, 2020 7

Headlines No time for a breather: A nurse’s account of Israel’s first coronavirus death and life inside a COVID-19 ward — WORLD —

By Ruth Ebenstein | JTA

N

early six weeks have passed since Arie Even, an 88-year-old Holocaust survivor, died of the coronavirus.

It happened at the end of Shabbat dinner on a Friday night in March at the Shaare Zedek Medical Center in Jerusalem.

Even drew headlines as Israel’s first COVID-19 fatality. As of press time, the coronavirus death count in the country had risen to 234. There have been more than 16,000 confirmed cases.

For Rachel Gemara, 33, the memory of Even has not lost its charge. It’s stark and raw, and may stay that way for a long time to come.

She was the veteran nurse on call that night monitoring Even’s breathing when he had a heart arrhythmia in Keter Alef, the hospital’s first pop-up unit created for coronavirus patients. The monitor sounded a long solemn beep, and the doctors raced to don their gear and care for him.

Gemara watched Even gasp and wheeze his last breaths on the screen as his grip on life slackened. She felt the tears stream from her eyes. Two patients in the isolated coronavirus ward raced to Even’s bedside, placed their hands on his eyes and recited the Shema, the Jewish declaration of faith.

Even had passed away.

Gemara understood that she and the other nurse on call would have the inauspicious responsibility of being the first ones in Israel to wrap the body of someone who died of the virus over fears of contagion. Because the resilient pathogen remains in a decedent and could be expelled in bodily fluid when the body is moved, this involved implementing a protective protocol drafted by the Israeli Ministry of Health just eight days earlier.

Gemara reached for the special kit, which included two bags and four pages of instructions. *** Preparing a body for Jewish burial is habitually the domain of the chevra kadisha, Hebrew for “holy society.” The ritual act of purification is known as tahara, which is carried out by individuals trained to care for the body in an age-old process of traditional cleansing. Men care for men; women care for women. It is said that the body is treated as a vessel for holiness.

The specific rituals for care of the dead are generally relegated to the private domain.

The body is washed thrice in a constant stream of warm water or ritually immersed in a body of water before it is dressed in “tachrichim,” a traditional Jewish burial shroud of simple white intended to be a cocoon of sheets. Silence fills the room, save the recitation of psalms and prayers. The deceased is addressed by name.

Gemara had spent 10 years in an oncology ward where most of the patients were at the severe Stage 4 and approximately 30% were terminal. She had invested emotionally in 8 MAY 8, 2020

p Rachel Gemara celebrates Passover at Shaare Zedek hospital.

Photos courtesy Rachel Gemara via JTA.org

p Nurse Rachel Gemara wears a hazmat suit in the coronavirus ward at Shaare Zedek Medical Center in Jerusalem.

PITTSBURGH JEWISH CHRONICLE

making their end-of-life meaningful and caring for them when they passed on.

By nature, Gemara gravitated to the demanding. Right out of nursing school, she had advocated to work in oncology. That same drive prompted her to volunteer for the not-yet-formulated unit for coronavirus patients in late February, as a text circulated in the hospital calling for staff members to sign up.

Gemara’s knack for compassionate care meant that she instinctively knew what to do when a patient passed away. She also had considerable experience with patients postmortem.

“How many times had I wrapped a body?

One-hundred times? 200 times?” she said.

But wrapping a body in a special bag and cleaning it to avert endangering those with whom it would come into contact until burial? That was a first.

Even more piercing was the knowledge that she’d be the last one to identify and care for him. That, too, was uncharted territory.

On that Friday in March, Gemara slipped out of the hospital into the parking lot and stepped into a white hazmat suit, then zipped it up. She pulled her long hair into a ponytail, put on an N95 mask, two sets of blue sanitized gloves, face shield and hood, and slipped booties over pink Nikes. Cuffs secured. It took 10 minutes to don the protective gear. Then she buzzed into the unit.

As she started to care for Even’s body, her eyes stung with tears. He reminded Gemara of her grandparents, Saba Dov, 96, and Savta Miriam, 90. Like Even, they were Holocaust survivors from Hungary and spoke with the same accent.

“He was familiar,” she remembered recently, her voice shaking with emotion.

Even had escaped the Nazis by hiding with his mother and brother in a countryside basement, helped by the renowned Swedish diplomat Raoul Wallenberg. He had survived multiple heart attacks and surgeries, even fled a cholera epidemic in Spain. He had four grandchildren, 18 grandchildren and a great-grandchild. He lost his wife of 50 years, Yona, in 2012.

When Even had teetered into the hospital on his weathered brown cane five days earlier, his skin pale and hair matted, he was short of breath, chest rising. His eyes took in the room grimly. *** On Monday, Even asked Gemara to help him call his family members to say goodbye.

By Friday night, he was rapidly deteriorating.

That evening was Gemara’s seventh day in the unit, her fifth shift there. On the coronavirus-compressed calendar, time seemed to stretch and contract.

Gemara is a Modern Orthodox Jew, the daughter of a rabbi. Born in Israel, she was raised in Toronto before moving to Jerusalem in 2006.

Judaism provided an anchor, a way of life. She felt viscerally pained over the fact that Even would not experience the proper end-of-life Jewish rituals.

Please see Nurse, page 9

PITTSBURGHJEWISHCHRONICLE.ORG

Headlines Tahara was suspended, then permitted.

The coronavirus has blurred other kinds of lines: Patients care for other patients in a closed-off ward while medical staff observes from afar. Doctors and nurses are suited head to toe, their faces trapped on the inside while smiling glossy photos of their faces are plastered on the outside — something to reveal about the health professional inside.

Over the past six weeks, Keter Alef sprouted to six units, including one in the ICU. In that time, Gemara clocked 275 hours in 12-hour shifts. She celebrated her 33rd birthday and a Passover seder. Much of her life has been all coronavirus, all the time.

No breathers with friends, no time to jog, no respites even to condition her hair. She found restful sleep to be a distant country.

When she did nod off, her dreams were dark and unreachable. Many times the responsibility felt heavy, unyielding.

Fortunately the rate of incoming patients has slowed. With cautious optimism, Shaare Zedek closed Keter Hey on April 23 and Keter Bet on April 26. Keter Alef shuttered on April 30. Things were starting to open up.

But the ache of losing Even lingered.

Then it was bookended by hope. *** On the evening of April 23, a tall man with glasses knocked his glove-covered hand on the nurse’s station. Gemara beamed. It was her patient, admitted three weeks prior with severe respiratory distress, too weak to get out of bed.

The 51-year-old with no prior medical conditions had stopped breathing on

Nurse: Continued from page 8

“In addition to the COVID-induced isolation of dying without family, this man who survived the Nazis was going to be cheated out of this,” she reflected.

Then Gemara understood that she could be his makeshift chevra kadisha. She could confer respect to the dead. While she wrapped the body as prescribed by the Health Ministry, she imbued it with the same holiness and intent of tahara. Modified, atypical holiness. But holiness nonetheless.

When she was done, she replicated a custom of the burial society: appealing to the body for forgiveness if any distress was caused in the preparation. With reverence, she whispered: “Arie, I’m sorry for how we were required to handle your body. We did our best to preserve your dignity and respect you in the current circumstances. … It was a tremendous honor to care for you in your final days. You’ve touched my heart, the staff and the patients that surrounded you. I know your life will inspire the rest of Am Yisrael as well. Go to your resting place in peace. Look out for us from above.”

The following evening, Even was buried by members of the chevra kadisha wearing biohazard suits, with only his youngest child able to attend. Jewish end-of-life rituals had to be secondary to safeguarding the living. *** As the pandemic continues, so does grappling with end-of-life customs and practices.

away in the headquarters,” Gemara recalled. “He asked me to help him out of bed, and as I slowly helped him sit down, he suddenly slumped his head, his eyes rolled back and he completely lost consciousness.

“I was alone and terrified. His life was in my hands, and every second counted. I leaped to grab a 100% oxygen face mask from the crash cart and connected him immediately to the maximum amount of oxygen.

Thank heavens he regained consciousness. The sheer terror and uncertainty of those few moments shook me to my core.”

As she looked at him, Gemara remembered wheeling him carefully to the ICU Keter Unit, eyeing him closely during the transfer, remembered how she’d squeezed his hand, saying, “Stay strong, keep fighting, I’ll pray for you and I’ll see you again soon.” How she’d walked back to her unit in tears, wondering p Shaare Zedek staffers feature photos of if she would, in fact, see themselves on their protective suits. him again soon.

Photo courtesy Rachel Gemara via JTA.org And now he had come to say goodbye.

“Hey there,” he said, release papers in her watch. As she revisited that night, hand, looking into Gemara’s eyes. “I just her voice caught.

“At 2 a.m. I was inside the unit, in full wanted to thank you. You saved my life, plain protective gear, the rest of the staff far and simple.” PJC

Isolation does not have to mean ISOLATED

Proud Collaborative Partner with the Jewish Association on Aging

Call for a free, no-obligation appointment

412.646.1257 2XU &$5(*LYHUV IROORZ VWULFW SURWRFROV WR HQVXUH DEDWHPHQW RI WKH &29,' :H GHOLYHU WKH 2QH RQ 2QH FDUH WKDW RXU FOLHQWV H[SHFW Home Instead CAREGivers

SM

can provide a variety of services. Some include:

• Companionship Care

• Household Duties

• Personal Care

• Respite Care

• Meals & Nutrition

• Hospice Care Support Services Each Home Instead Senior Care® JVERGLMWI SJ½GI MW MRHITIRHIRXP] S[RIH ERH STIVEXIH ,SQI -RWXIEH -RG

• Transportation PITTSBURGHJEWISHCHRONICLE.ORG

HomeInstead.com/567

PITTSBURGH JEWISH CHRONICLE

MAY 8, 2020 9

Headlines — WORLD — From JTA reports

PA lawmaker compares governor’s handling of coronavirus information to Nazi Germany

A Pennsylvania state lawmaker has compared Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf ’s refusal to release some coronavirus data and information to Nazi Germany.

Republican State Rep. Cris Dush made the statement during a House State Government Committee hearing, local media reported.

He reportedly apologized after the hearing.

It is another incident of the use of Holocaust imagery and rhetoric to express opposition to coronavirus regulations.

“More and more I go back to the German Democratic Nationalist Socialist Party, the Nazi party. I go to the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, the USSR,” Dush said.

“This is a socialist playbook.”

State Rep. Kevin Boyle, the committee’s ranking Democrat, condemned the comparison. “Chairman, this is outrageous. Stop it with the Nazi references. It is offensive and wrong, stop this,” he said, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer.

“It’s a statement of history. It’s history. It’s history,” Dush responded. “I have to say that it’s important for the people of this state to start having access to information rather than having it blown off to the side and

hidden for an agenda.”

State Rep. Jared Solomon, who is Jewish, told the Inquirer that after the hearing, on the House floor with all members present, Dush apologized for his remarks.

Rep. Dan Frankel, D-Squirrel Hill, said he was “horrified” by Dush’s comments.

“The Nazi Party and its leaders systematically murdered more than 6 million Jews,” Frankel said in a statement. “Any attempt to muddy the history dishonors all the innocent lives and frankly feeds the ugly resurgence of hate-based groups that are actively using COVID-19 to foment that message of intolerance throughout the country.”

GoDaddy.com urged to shut down website hosting ‘Miss Hitler’ pageant

An anti-Semitism watchdog in Australia wants GoDaddy.com to shut down the website that is promoting the global “Miss Hitler 2020” beauty pageant.

The Anti-Defamation Commission has contacted the Australia-based internet domain registrar and web-hosting company with its request, saying the competition and the content on the World Truth historical revisionism site violate GoDaddy’s rules against hate speech.

Advertisements for the contest call on women to send photos of themselves along with a few words about why they should be Miss Hitler.

The commission’s chairman, Dr. Dvir Abramovich, called the contest and

‫אושר אינו דבר‬ ‫שמגיע מן המוכן‬ .‫הוא נובﬠ מפעילויותיך‬

the website “an incitement to murder, pure and simple.”

“This ugly display of abject anti-Semitism

by Holocaust deniers and neo-Nazis once again demonstrates that there are extremists’ groups out there that are determined to recruit young people to their dangerous cause,” Abramovich said in a statement.

“It is frightening to think that there are women, including from Australia, who may choose to take part in this bloodchilling competition, aimed at emboldening people to target and intimidate Jewish and other communities.”

Kiss frontman Gene Simmons learns about his Holocaust survivor mother’s ordeal

Kiss frontman Gene Simmons said his mother almost never spoke about her Holocaust ordeal, including time in Nazi camps.

A German newspaper has provided him with plenty more information.

Bild am Sonntag presented the Israel-born rock star with 100 pages of documents about his mother’s ordeal, including her impact statement, to mark the 75th anniversary of her liberation.

Flora Klein, a native of Hungary, was 19 when American troops liberated the Mauthausen camp on May 5, 1945. She died at 93 in the United States.

In her statement to the former Restitution Office in Koblenz, Klein wrote: “In November 1944, I was brought to the

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

May 8, 2007 — Herod’s tomb discovered

Hebrew University archaeologist E hu d Ne t z e r announces that he has found the tomb of King Herod the Great at Herodium in the Judean Desert, verifying the account of the ancient historian Josephus.

Lee and Lisa Oleinick 10 MAY 8, 2020

May 11, 1953 — Dulles travels to Middle East

U.S. Secretary of State John Foster Dulles arrives in Cairo to begin a 2½-week factfinding mission to Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Syria, Lebanon, Iraq, India, Pakistan and Libya. Dulles emphasizes a balanced approach on policy toward Israel and its Arab neighbors.

May 12, 1992 — First Israeli scales Mount Everest

Doron Erel, 33, the son of Holocaust survivors and a former member of the elite Sayeret Matkal commando unit, becomes the first Israeli to reach the summit of Mount Everest.

May 9, 1998 — Dana International wins Eurovision

May 13, 1934 — Archaeologist Ehud Netzer born

May 10, 2010 — Israel invited to join OECD

May 14, 2018 — US Embassy moves to Jerusalem

Dana International performs the techno-pop song “Diva” in Birmingham, England, to become the third Israeli to win the Eurovision Song Contest. She was Israel’s first drag queen and had sex reassignment surgery years earlier.

Happiness is not something readymade.

It comes from your own actions.

Ravensbruck concentration camp. I lived there in block no. 21 and worked in the fields, gathering potatoes outside the camp.

I wore old civilian clothes with a white oil (paint) cross painted on the back, in a camp surrounded by barbed wire and guarded by the SS.” Klein was transferred to the Venusberg subcamp of the Flossenburg concentration camp in January 1945, and arrived at Mauthausen in March that year.

“She was strong,” Simmons told Bild in an interview published Sunday as he read the documents. “She fought all of this on her own.”

He also found his grandmother’s name among the documents. Ester Blau died in the Nazi gas chambers His mother married a carpenter, Jechiel Weitz, in 1946 and a year later they immigrated to Israel. Simmons was born Chaim Weitz in Haifa in 1949. His parents later divorced and Simmons’ mother brought him to New York in 1958.

Simmons warned that people should not forget the about the Holocaust.

“It can happen again and again. That’s why you have to talk about everything,” he said. “When Jews are advised to no longer wear the kippah on the streets. At least this is being addressed. The same applies to the Muslims. As long as you talk about things, there is a chance. When you see cockroaches in the kitchen, you must point the light at them so you can see them clearly. And you must drive them out of the light.” PJC

The 31-member Organization for Economic Co-Operation and Development unanimously votes to invite Israel to join the group of leading market economies.

Israel is inducted into the OECD on May 27.

PITTSBURGH JEWISH CHRONICLE

Archaeologist Ehud Netzer is born in Jerusalem. He earns an undergraduate degree in architecture, then turns to archaeology after joining Yigael Yadin for summer digs at Masada. He specializes in Herodian sites.

President Donald Trump fulfills a campaign pledge by moving the U.S. Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. A 1995 law ordered the move, but previous presidents postponed it for national security reasons. PJC

PITTSBURGHJEWISHCHRONICLE.ORG

Headlines Jewish initiative crowdfunds gear for health care workers to protect against coronavirus — NATIONAL —

By Josh Hasten | JNS

W

ith more than 1 million confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the United States to date, many of the hardest-hit states include those with large Jewish populations — Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Illinois, California.

As a result, Jewish nonprofit organizations in the heath care arena, including nursing homes and assisted living centers, hospice facilities and those who provide homecare for Holocaust survivors and other vulnerable populations, have witnessed overwhelming fatality rates as a result of the pandemic.

But a group of “next generation” young communal Jewish leaders and heads of nonprofit Jewish organizations have mobilized, along with the mainstream Jewish community, to launch a worldwide emergency campaign — called “Pledge to Protect” — to purchase and deliver lifesaving personal protective equipment (PPE) to the frontline workers.

Alex Jakubowski, executive director at KAHAL, an organization that connects Jewish students studying abroad with experiences in their host communities, told JNS that “KAHAL saw the writing on the wall” in February.

“Since we have students in China and around the world, we decided to change our whole organization and become a COVID-19 support organization,” he said.

Jakubowski said he was hearing pleas for help over and over again from the same segments of the health care community.

“There is a global shortage of PPE in nursing homes and hospice care. These frontline workers, especially those outside of a hospital setting, are not given equipment by state governments. They are not the first priority. We also learned that this equipment needs to be imported at outrageous prices.”

Utilizing KAHAL’s global network and partnering with other Jewish organizations, a well-oiled procurement, shipment and distribution chain for PPE was set up to

p AEPi brothers Raphael Eidelman, Tal Ankori and Noah Ben David pick up supplies for Jewish Family Services in Los Angeles.

Courtesy photo via JNS.org

assist caregivers at more than 200 Jewish institutions throughout the country.

As of April 28, nearly 2 million pieces of PPE — surgical masks, gloves, gowns and other equipment — have been delivered to local agencies and communities with the goal of reducing transmission of the novel coronavirus. All of this came even before the “hard launch” of the campaign, as much more is needed.

‘Without that gear, it could have cost lives’

Jay Feldman, managing director at the Alpha Epsilon Pi Fraternity Foundation (AEPi), told JNS how Jakubowski reached out and got his organization onboard.

“We have a wide network, including 90,000 alumni,” Feldman said. “I was able to put KAHAL in touch with some of our people to start setting up a data network, and to manage and plot the distribution operation.”

At the same time, he added, “we realized, we needed someone for that last mile — the actual delivery. So we tapped into our student

p The arrival of supplies to Chain Link services in Fort Worth, Texas.

PITTSBURGHJEWISHCHRONICLE.ORG

Courtesy photo via JNS.org

network and alumni, and they stepped up as volunteers to actually pick up and deliver the equipment to the institutions.”

AEPi CEO James Fleischer noted that “the mission of Alpha Epsilon Pi International Fraternity — to develop the future leaders of the world’s Jewish communities — is in clear evidence in this program. We are proud that our undergraduate and alumni brothers are playing a vital role in this amazing project. … The fact that so many of these undergraduates recognize the needs of their global community and the importance of tikkun olam at a time like this means that we are doing our job for the future of Jewish communities.”

Jakubowski said the PPE has been ordered from places all over the world, including China, Hong Kong, Mexico and other countries. One of the obstacles, he said, is fierce competition, as well as delays in shipping and receiving.

“When shipments are delayed, we must create opportunities to get these agencies what they need,” he said.

Jakubowski is quick to praise AEPi for

stepping up to the plate. In one instance, he said that thousands of disposable gowns worn to treat those in isolation needed to be dropped off.

“Alum Jordan Elcott created the initiative with AEPi chapters, and got the gowns and more items delivered. Without that gear, it could have cost lives.”

Jordan’s father, Shalom Elcott, works as the philanthropic curator at Samueli Foundation, a family foundation focused on health, education, the Jewish community and Israel. He has been part of the managing team on the campaign, working with Jakubowski, Feldman and representatives from other organizations.

As someone who has many years of experience in the nonprofit sector, he has much praise for such quick mobilization during an intense time of crisis.

He said Jakubowski was able to get mainstream and well-established umbrella organizations, such as the Jewish Federations of North America and the Jewish Funders Network, to be active partners in the campaign. “In just five weeks, he brought longtime established organizations together in a powerful partnership with Jewish leaders from around the world.”

Jakubowski said that $408,000 has been raised so far for the campaign during the “soft launch” stage; the official crowdfunding aspect of the campaign began on April 29, Israel’s Independence Day. The campaign goal is currently $3 million.

Of the total amount raised so far, more than $100,000 was donated by people living in Israel. “The Jewish Funders Network in Israel has been extremely generous even as demands in Israel are herculean,” Elcott said.

Perhaps most important are the results of the campaign on the ground, as reported by the agencies that are being assisted during these difficult and frightening times.

According to a representative of the Kline Galland retirement home in Seattle, “we just tested all our residents this weekend and came back with ZERO positive cases. We all know this is 100% because we have the PPE to treat our patients safely and responsibly.

You all are saving lives.” PJC

p The arrival of supplies to Cedar Sinai Park Assisted Living in Portland, Oregon, in April.

Courtesy photo via JNS.org

PITTSBURGH JEWISH CHRONICLE

MAY 8, 2020 11

Opinion We’re all Jewish homeschoolers now.

That’s one change that should stick around Guest Columnist Bethany Mandel

B

ack in Normal Times, when I would tell other parents in Jewish settings that we homeschool, I would be met with exhortations of “I could never do that!”

Things have certainly changed in the past two months because now everyone does. I’ve found myself suddenly running a lending library out of my house and a homeschool help hotline for friends on WhatsApp. When I used to explain homeschooling to those unfamiliar with it, it was hard to describe what life was like home with your kids all day, every day. For most parents, their only extended experience home with their kids was during their parental leave — a few weeks or months at most. It’s very different, in good ways and bad (but mostly good because those first few weeks of parenthood are rough), but most parents had no frame of reference for our day-to-day life.

Now everyone knows what it’s like to be home with kids. For many it’s a miserable slog, especially as it’s come as a surprise. But for others, the allure of a homeschooling lifestyle is presenting itself. The hours spent

watercoloring, reading together, playing games to learn math and using baking to teach math, science, nutrition and more are what makes this life sweet. For the first time, many families are getting a taste of the life homeschoolers enjoy, albeit without the outside-the-home opportunities that add additional and important richness.

It’s been funny hearing the same friends who told me they’d never consider homeschooling pepper me with questions about curriculums, resources and local homeschool groups. For some, they are seeing a sense of calm come over their days and over some of their children who were struggling in the classroom. For others, they are witnessing what their kids’ schools are sending home and coming to the realization that outside of the social aspect of school, they could be doing it better at home because they currently are. And others are watching their incomes dry up, making the idea of day school tuition, which once was a stretch and a struggle, now an absolute impossibility.

In the religious Catholic, Christian and Muslim world, homeschooling has been booming in popularity in response to the secular nature of public schools and the cost of parochial education across denominations. (The increasing utility of the internet and relaxation of state rules have

helped, too.) As I’ve interacted with other religious homeschool families, I’m always asked why I’m the only Jew they know who homeschools. Given the cost of Jewish schools, the length of the school day and the intractable nature of sending kids to public school for most families, homeschooling seems like it would be a viable alternative for religious Jewish families.

Yet there have been few Jewish homeschoolers, and thus few dedicated resources for Jewish homeschoolers. It’s a chicken-or- the-egg situation: Few experts able to do so would want to spend the time to develop a curriculum without a clear market, but without a curriculum available, how could that market appear?

The homeschool world is blessed with copious secular resources in science, math and English, and even for experienced homeschoolers it can be overwhelming choosing between so many attractive options. For those considering homeschooling, where can you even begin to understand what’s available when you don’t know anyone else doing the same? Potential Jewish homeschoolers are faced with diametrical problems: too few options for Jewish curriculums and too many choices in the secular realm.

Another roadblock standing in the way for most Jewish parents is the lack of a clear social life for their kids if they are pulled out

of school. It’s another chicken-or-the-egg scenario: Jewish parents want their kids to have Jewish friends, but if no other Jews are homeschooling, that can’t happen. Not many people want to take the leap without anyone else in the pool, especially with no expectation or hope that anyone will follow behind them.

But as more parents are considering what to do with their children next year, and as more families evaluate what they want to take from this coronavirus experience as they move back into more normal life, the issue of not enough Jewish homeschoolers may cease to be the impediment it has been. As parents settle into a routine of having kids at home full-time, it seems likely (judging by the sudden popularity of existing Jewish homeschoolers) that more and more Jewish families will consider homeschooling as a viable alternative to the current system of expensive private day schools.

The Jewish education world would do well to spend this time developing high-quality home learning materials and strategies for homeschool socialization, so that as tuition bills come due for a school year we’re unsure will even continue as normal, families can make the choice that’s right for them. PJC. Bethany Mandel is a stay-at-home mother and a part-time editor at Ricochet.com. This piece first appeared at JTA.org.

A coronavirus Mother’s Day: reflections of a rabbi, mom and bubbe Guest Columnist Rabbi Cheryl Klein

P

andemic, shmandemic. Jews are known for always retaining a sense of humor even in the darkest of times.

It’s not always easy. Our family has felt the pain of COVID-19 taking the life of our elderly uncle and his first cousin. Parents are juggling work and kids from home, as others are fighting just to keep their homes, jobs and sanity. Both dads and moms are being forced to reexamine and reframe priorities.

We were blessed with a granddaughter Thanksgiving week, but because of the pandemic, we have not been able to hold her in months. On April 23, 2020, we were blessed with another granddaughter and have never held her. Technology has been a gift but is no substitute for skin-to-skin contact, looking into the eyes of your grandchild and letting her know that she is your everything.

When I became a first time mother 36 years ago, I felt so blessed to have had a healthy baby girl, health insurance, a life 12 MAY 8, 2020

partner willing to parent equally with me as our journey as a family began. Within a matter of 36 months, we were blessed to have a son followed by fraternal twin sons.

Life in the Klein household was so busy in those formative years. When I look back I often remark that I would not have done it any differently.

Jewish mothers come from a legacy of biblical women with strong personalities who have persevered against the odds and help us form ideas of what are and are not considered acceptable parenting behaviors.

Raising Jewish children means we have a responsibility to nurture our children’s souls with values that resonate with the teachings of Torah — to protect, guide, discipline, set boundaries, establish repercussions for bad choices while modeling ethical behavior, allowing space for personal growth and development and always reminding kids that their parents’ love is unconditional, that home is a safe place in this world.

You’ll notice that I said it’s the parents’ love that is unconditional. Judaism requires children to honor their parents, not to love them. Love is a by-product that children learn to express when their experiences in life have been filled with the values that

Judaism demands parents give and the home is filled with truth, open communications, healthy discussions, respect for opinions and a willingness to listen and respond with a heart and head that reflect a deep appreciation for one another.

Do we Jewish moms really need one annual day in the calendar to remind our children to honor us when Judaism asks our children to fulfill that mitzvah fairly frequently?

Mother’s Day, an American invention that began in 1914 under the Woodrow Wilson administration was inspired by Anna Jarvis who wanted to create a national campaign to honor her deceased mother’s life’s work.

She never intended for it to become such a commercialized celebration. Ironically, she regretted that it had ever become a material fixture in American and international societies.

I have never really cared much for the formalities of Mother’s Day. We don’t go out for a meal, there are no expectations, although the kids usually send cards. I much prefer the frequent phone calls when we discuss work, play, share news, give advice (even when not sought), check on the grandchildren and tell them how much their Bubbe misses them.

Throughout this pandemic, Jewish women

PITTSBURGH JEWISH CHRONICLE

continue to demonstrate a legacy of resiliency in the face of adversity. They are being mom, teacher, breadwinner, consoler, caregiver and more. They are burying their loved ones without the physical embrace of family and community. They are birthing babies with and without a partner in the delivery room and then having to isolate at home with no family or friends to visit. In the past several weeks, I have officiated at funerals in Pittsburgh and burials and shiva services virtually in New Jersey and New York and co-officiated a bris virtually while the mohel operated in person.

As I celebrate this double chai year of motherhood, I am overjoyed that our children have given their children strong beautiful Jewish names. I pray that all of our grandchildren grow as people who always put family first; that they receive the nurturing of caring parents who will teach them Torah values, to take pride in their Jewish identity and to develop strategies for coping with adversity while always being grateful, humble and compassionate. And I pray they will learn to honor and love their moms and dads daily. PJC Cheryl Klein, a native Pittsburgher, is a rabbi and cantor.

PITTSBURGHJEWISHCHRONICLE.ORG

Opinion Lessons of a plague Guest Columnist Anat Talmy

A

mong the greatest figures in Jewish history, Rabbi Akiva shines. The Talmud compares him to Moses, which is the ultimate compliment. Rabbi Akiva was a leading scholar and a sage who lived between the first and second century CE and contributed a great deal to the Mishnah, which is a compilation of the oral tradition of Jewish law.

From all the 613 commandments (mitzvot) in the Torah, Rabbi Akiva recognized that the commandment “love your neighbor as yourself ” is among the most valuable.

Rabbi Akiva had 24,000 students, but sadly, between Passover and the 33rd day after it, known also as the 33rd day of the Omer, or Lag B’Omer, almost all of them perished from a plague. The Talmud explains that the reasons for this plague were the students’ judgmental behaviors and their

lack of respect for each other. Until the plague struck, the Omer was an annual celebratory 49-day count leading to the historic reception of the Torah. Following Akiva’s tragedy, however, the first 33 days of the Omer became days of mourning. Jews cannot get married, listen to live concerts, have parties or even get a haircut during these weeks.

We have known many cases of plagues and other disasters throughout Jewish history.

Why commemorate this plague and mourn these lives? One reason is the significance of the lesson this plague teaches us: love for one’s neighbor.

In light of the upcoming Lag B’Omer holiday, and as tribute to Rabbi Akiva and his followers who paid the price for their disrespectful behavior, I’d like to reflect on the value of the commandment to love your neighbor as yourself. It is a powerful instruction but often hard to abide by. It is easy to love one’s neighbors when they are similar in appearances, behaviors, worldviews or ways of life. Much less so when they are not.

In the U.S. we often teach our children about inclusiveness. But inclusiveness is not merely about accepting different appearances. It is

also about tolerating different worldviews and opinions. By definition, differing perspectives need to coexist for a discourse to contain a free exchange of ideas. Sadly, most of us only like to hear opinions in line with our own. This narrow perspective is exacerbated when we lose respect for those with whom we disagree.

Polarization over political views is nothing new. When we become convinced that there’s only one morally correct option, other opinions are immediately condemned. If you support the “wrong” side of any issue, have no doubt that someone will think you are evil.

Now, the pandemic lockdown has extended our polarizations even beyond our politics.

Can we go for a walk? Should we wear a mask while walking? Should we help an out-of-town friend take shelter here? When and how should we lift the lockdown? Is the lockdown’s economic toll too severe? Lately, many such pointed questions are being asked.

Should merely asking these questions be perceived as provocative, uncompassionate or worse? Should we defame and shame people who take one side or the other?

It is one thing to love others when things are going well. It is another thing to express that

love when times are tough. In this stressful time, under the coronavirus lockdown, I find more and more judgment in our community.

Since we are currently minimizing faceto-face interactions, our primary recourse for connection is social media. This is unfortunate because behind screens people use sharper words and harsher tones. Not only are opinions more commonly disrespected, but so are the people expressing them. Rabbi Akiva’s students died of a plague. But our sages remember their death as a punishment for disrespecting each other. This is because words, tone and conduct matter.

So here it is, my unpacking of lessons of another plague for the present one. Do not repeat the mistakes of Akiva’s pupils. Be less judgmental, even in such stressful times. Do not make others afraid to state their opinions.

Remember that a free exchange of ideas is only free if the discourse is grounded in respect. We should aspire to live by Rabbi Akiva’s emphasized principle from the Torah: to love the members of our community as ourselves. PJC Anat Talmy is a software engineer living in Pittsburgh.

It might be hard to laugh. But Jewish humor will get us through this pandemic with our collective identity intact Guest Columnist Jon Savitt

H

umor is as Jewish as challah. It also just so happens that we need both to survive — and producing the

most satisfying versions can be especially challenging during a pandemic.

As a comedian I may be biased, but I think humor is as important to Judaism as matzah ball soup. Humor is more than just humor — it’s hope. It’s invaluable. It’s the feeling that everything will be all right, even if just for a few moments. It’s a reminder that you’re not alone, a nudge to keep going.

When you’re lying awake in your

Teens in quarantine

T

he Pittsburgh Jewish Chronicle would love to hear your voices. What is it like being a teenager in the age of the coronavirus? How are you coping and what do you miss?

Send your thoughts, along with your name, neighborhood and a photo to Toby Tabachnick, editor: ttabachnick@pittsburghjewishchronicle.org.

apartment thousands of miles away from your friends and family, sometimes it’s all you have. Sometimes it’s exactly what you need.

In my own life, I’ve viewed humor less as an intangible personality trait and more as a dusty family heirloom passed from generation to generation. At a young age, I could tell that my grandparents were funnier than they probably should have been. I don’t mean that they were rattling off well-structured

jokes. I don’t even know if my grandpa knew what stand-up was.

This was something deeper-rooted: the ability to see humor in something that shouldn’t be funny. And not only see the humor, but unabashedly point it out to everyone in the room.

Obviously the ability to laugh — or make

movement) and one of our signature events each year is our Yom Hazikaron (Israeli Remembrance Day) and Yom Ha’atzmaut (Israeli Independence Day) ceremony. For obvious reasons this year we could not have our usual ceremony in the Shaare Torah social hall. Many hours were spent compiling and editing all of the moving parts of the ceremony and in the end the event was a massive success with over 100 participants.

Benjamin Marcus, 12th grade Squirrel Hill

Making the best of a tough situation

As a teen during this global pandemic there are definitely some unique challenges. As someone who is very social and constantly involved in different community activities, like Bnei Akiva, playing basketball at the JCC or Davis park, and NCSY, being unable to participate in these social activities has been a very tough reality. It is especially difficult for those of us graduating high school in 2020.

I have been fortunate that my school, Hillel Academy of Pittsburgh, has ensured that we will still have a daily schedule of classes online to keep us more than busy until the end of the semester. Online learning has taken some getting used to, and to be honest I have not found it easy.

In addition, I am also one of the mazkirim (leaders) of Bnei Akiva of Pittsburgh (our local chapter of the religious Zionist youth

PITTSBURGHJEWISHCHRONICLE.ORG

Please see Savitt, page 19

— LETTERS — To each his own In regard to the April 14 column, “Did the Torah warn us about COVID-19?” and the May 1 letter, “The Torah does permit meat-eating,” it is my firm belief that interpretation of the Torah is very personal and private, so as to bring contentment and happiness to the reader.

Bernita Barnett Mt. Lebanon We invite you to submit letters for publication. Letters must include name, address and daytime phone number; addresses and phone numbers will not be published. Letters may not exceed 500 words and may be edited for length and clarity; they cannot be returned.

Mail, fax or email letters to:

Letters to the editor via email:

Website address:

letters@pittsburghjewishchronicle.org

Address & Fax: Pittsburgh Jewish Chronicle 5915 Beacon St., 5th Flr., Pittsburgh, PA 15217

Fax 412-521-0154

PITTSBURGH JEWISH CHRONICLE

pittsburghjewishchronicle.org

MAY 8, 2020 13

Headlines Frim: Continued from page 1

was a “colleague and friend” who pushed her ahead in her own journey.

“It was the standard for a volunteer/ professional-staff relationship,” she said.

“Everybody will tell you that Ed was brilliant and passionate about Jewish education, but he was also kind and decent and ethical.”

When he came to town, it was apparent he was “the consummate Jewish educator and mensch,” said Carolyn Linder. “He was incredibly gentle and had this thoughtful nature.”

Linder, now working at the Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh, preceded Frim at the AJL, and noted that although the staff quickly adapted to its new leader, there was one surprise.

During Frim’s first Chanukah party at the AJL, “he pulled out an accordion,” recalled Linder. “We were like, ‘Oh, he plays the accordion.’ It’s not a common instrument.”

In Frim’s case, it seemed like the perfect instrument for a man who was able to adapt to a variety of purposes.

“He was a creative thinker, using that same accordion to hold the back of his seat up in his run-down used car,” said Frim’s sister Sara Forman during the May 1 funeral.

Streamed over Zoom and Facebook, the service attracted more than 300 viewers.

The large attendance was evidence of Frim’s enormous impact, noted funeral officiant Rabbi Beth Naditch, a MetroWest Jewish Day School board member. Echoing the rabbi’s sentiment were more than 100 comments posted by childhood friends from Camp Yavneh in New Hampshire; Prozdor: The High School of Hebrew College in Boston; and Brandeis University. While Naditch and Frim’s family eulogized Frim onscreen, the digital community remarked upon Frim’s qualities and offered condolences to his wife, Lori, and daughter Naomi.

Cybersecurity: Continued from page 1

the recipient opens any links sent to them, malware can be added to their computer making them vulnerable to viruses or recording information such as passwords.

“Cybercriminals aren’t really trying to steal money initially,” explained Federation Director of Jewish Community Security Shawn Brokos. “They’re trying to get you to respond and engage in a relationship for malicious purposes.”

Brokos said that if an individual receives an email asking for a favor or seeking money, the most prudent advice to follow is “get out of that email.” Once you have closed the suspicious message, contact the purported sender by phone or at an email address you know and ask them if they contacted you.

With any email a person receives, Brokos explained, it is best to use a two-step verification process. “If you’re trying to get into your bank account, they’re going to send you

14 MAY 8, 2020

p Ed Frim on his initial visiting day at MetroWest Jewish Day School.

Photo by Deborah LG Daniels

“Family meant everything to him. Naomi was the light of his life,” said Linder.

The father-daughter duo would entertain senior residents at eldercare facilities in Pittsburgh — Frim on accordion and Naomi on violin.

Frim’s abilities, which included singing, enabled him to be a “very popular High Holiday service leader,” as well as an “educator of the highest caliber,” said Rabbi Seth Adelson, of Congregation Beth Shalom.

“He was committed to teaching our tradition — its values, its text, its melody — and lived an exemplary life as one who lived the values he taught.”

Chief among those principles was a belief that everyone deserved access to Jewish education.

In his years after the AJL, Frim worked as both inclusion specialist and director of

learning enrichment at United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism.

Frim did not merely speak about inclusion as a theoretical practice, but demonstrated “the importance of including people of all abilities,” said Jennifer Gendel. “He did that in his everyday life, always giving of his time and always being available.”

As colleagues at USCJ, Gendel and Frim presented at conferences across North America.

“I was really lucky to get to work with him because he had such a passion for this work,” she said. “He was incredibly committed to Jewish education and to making sure that every single person could participate.”

Frim’s more than 30-year track record of implementing best practices was cause for celebration by MetroWest Jewish Day School in Framingham, Massachusetts, when it

a code. You need to take that additional step and make a phone call or use a valid email and ask the question.”

Brokos said that this phishing technique has been attempted a few times since she began her tenure at Federation in January.

She does not know if there is a connection between the various attempts.

The Jewish community, both in Pittsburgh and nationally, also has been a victim of “Zoom bombing” since moving much of its programming online because of COVID-19.

Zoom bombing is the unwanted intrusion by a group or individual during a video conference call to cause disruption. White supremacists and anti-Semitic individuals and groups have used the technique to interrupt meetings by Jewish organizations and other minority groups.

The goal of the disruptions is to pair “hate speech and images,” according to Brokos.

Some of the language and pictures used have included swastikas, “Heil Hitler,” “Kill the Jews,” or the shouting of anti-Semitic phrases.

Brokos explained that these seemingly random acts were organized. “We can see that through chatrooms — there was a strategy to it.”

In some cases, these disruptions were used as a type of “gang initiation,” or proving ground for new recruits, Brokos said.

Most Jewish organizations have been able to stop Zoom bombing through the use of passwords and waiting rooms that did not exist when the software was initially employed in the early days of social distancing due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

That does not mean the threat has gone away.

“We saw that there was one recently directed at one of our synagogues on a particular day,” Brokos said. “The strategy was to mobilize. The white supremacists were looking to get on the call and scare the people. We were able to catch them in advance and warn the congregants.”

“The neo-Nazi movement is always looking to get their message out and thought Zoom would be a good platform for their message,” she added.

PITTSBURGH JEWISH CHRONICLE

named him head of school in June 2019.

“With his strong, multitiered experiences in the world of inclusive, innovative and highquality Jewish education, Ed will build on our strengths and promote MWJDS to the next level,” said Hope Casey, MWJDS board president in a statement at the time. “Everything about Ed’s approach to education and leadership reflects MWJDS’ commitment to help each student to engage, inspire and excel.”

Frim’s own education included joint bachelor’s degrees in history, Judaic studies and Jewish education from Brandeis University and Hebrew College, and a master’s degree in public policy analysis from the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School. He formed meaningful bonds within the educational world, said Liron Lipinsky Salitrik, associate vice president of Jewish Enrichment at BBYO. “His mentorship and influence in the field of Jewish education had a far greater reach than just the Pittsburgh community,” said Salitrik, a colleague of Frim’s during his days in Pittsburgh and in the years that followed.

“He just had a magical way of connecting with others, particularly children,” said Forman.

When Frim visited MWJDS, prior to his hire, he shared lunch with Boaz Weber, the Jewish day school’s current vice president of student government.

“He told us that he wanted the students to have more of a voice in the school,” recalled Weber. “When he said that at our first meeting, I asked if he would listen to the students’ voice if it was asking for a waterpark. He didn’t say yes, but he didn’t say no immediately. He told us that if we can make a solid enough case for the waterpark that he would consider it. I liked his approach. As I got to know him a bit better, I grew fond of his kind personality. He was a wonderful man. We will all miss him. May his memory be for a blessing.” PJC Adam Reinherz can be reached at areinherz@ pittsburghjewishchronicle.org.

While the technology and techniques might be new, the organization and planning is similar to what was used before the coronavirus forced the community online.

The dark web and 8kun (formerly 8chan) are popular chatrooms used by anti-Semitic and white supremacist groups because they allow for anonymous posts and don’t police hate language.

Brokos thinks it is the Jewish community’s willingness to help others and their commitment to following their beliefs that make them attractive targets to cybercriminals.

“That’s our nature,” she said. “We are a service-oriented community. These are trying and difficult times. ‘I am available to help, and I will answer the call.’ There’s a strong desire to help in the community.”

Brokos and McKeown both offer the same advice for this new digital world: “Be cautious.” PJC David Rullo can be reached at drullo@ pittsburghjewishchronicle.org.

PITTSBURGHJEWISHCHRONICLE.ORG

Headlines EECM: Continued from page 4

rises. The protective gear was created by EECM’s “sewing studio and partially from home stitchers,” Bailey said.

Rabbi Ron Symons recalled that when he started serving Temple Sinai in 2008, the congregation began engaging with the ministry “because they were a natural partner.”

Symons said that when EECM was constructing its new building, he became very involved with the nonprofit’s efforts in determining “how do we create a sense of togetherness among the congregations that support EECM and how do we sanctify the space.”

The Reform rabbi was able to coordinate what he calls “a next generation mezuzah hanging.” Hanging a traditional mezuzah would not have been appropriate, he explained, because of the multifaith mission of the organization, and “we wouldn’t want to superimpose our belief system on them,” he said.

Instead, Symons said, “glass shadowboxes” were made that contained scrolls, like a mezuzah. Instead of containing the traditional blessing, however, the shadowboxes were filled with “hopes and wishes of people for the new building and the organization.”

Through his work now as the director of the Jewish Community Center of Greater Pittsburgh’s Center for Loving Kindness, Symons has continued to

partner with EECM. A recent email from the center urged Jewish community members to donate urgently needed food to the nonprofit, he said.

Temple Sinai Senior Rabbi Jamie Gibson said he spent “a good deal of his early career” serving lunch on Thursdays when EECM’s kitchen was located at the East Liberty Presbyterian Church.

Gibson’s involvement with the organization also extended to planning and management.

“I actively helped recruit people to serve on their board,” he said. “For a long time, their executive director Myrna Zelenitz was a member of Temple Sinai and I encouraged her to take that position.”

He assisted with fundraising for EECM’s new building and called it “an incredible building, a real highlight of the East Liberty community p Rabbi Ron Symons helped to create shadowbox even before the community mezuzahs that hang in the East End Cooperative started reviving itself.”

Ministry’s building.

Photo provided by Carole Bailey.

Temple Sinai remains active with EECM today, Gibson While Temple Sinai cannot help to serve said, noting that on the first Thursday of each food now because of pandemic restrictions, month, Temple members help to prepare and Gibson said, the coronavirus crisis emphaserve lunch at EECM’s shelter. sizes the need for EECM.

“It’s even more important now to reach the vulnerable people in our part of the city,” he said.

Gibson continues to serve as part of the organization’s clergy advisory committee, which meets four times a year.

The Jewish service organization, Repair the World Pittsburgh, has continued to assist EECM in the midst of the pandemic, with its fellows — including Maya Bornstein, Savannah Parson and Alyssa Berman — the only volunteers allowed inside the organization’s pantry, where they assist packing and disturbing food.

Assisting EECM with restocking shelves and packing food has brought her “joy and comfort” and the knowledge that she is “helping a family put food the table,” Berman said.

For Bailey, it has been Judaism that has shaped her work with EECM. “In Judaism, it’s important to give back no matter your social, economic status,” she said. “I’ve taken that as what I need to do.”

The executive director believes that need exists, with or without a pandemic.

“I think there are many people, especially now but even before, who were one tragedy, a paycheck, a layoff away from needing our services. They aren’t here for a handout. They need help and if we can get them through that period, they will be OK. We’re trying not just to be a bed for people but to be something that helps them sustain their lives.” PJC David Rullo can be reached at drullo@ pittsburghjewishchronicle.org.

SPONSORED CONTENT

GOVERNOR ALLOWS LAW OFFICES LIMITED REOPENING FOR URGENT BUSINESS: CORONONAVIRUS LITIGATION LOOMS This is one in a series of articles about Elder Law by Michael H. Marks., Esq. Michael H. Marks is an elder law attorney with offices in Squirrel Hill and Monroeville.

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

Attorney organizations have been working closely with state government to allow urgent legal business to take place over the last six weeks..

At Marks Elder Law the office has been closed to members of the public. Staff has been working remotely. We have become accustomed along with our clients to using videoconferencing technology that we’ve never had to use before.

Beginning this week, lawyers and staff may now access physical offices on a limited basis as necessary to provide legal services: (1) that cannot practically be completed through the use of advanced communication technology, (2) that are being provided to comply with a court directive or deadline, or (3) to meet client needs that are critical to the client’s health or safety.

This last includes matters of healthcare, incompetence or incapacitation, end-of-life decision-making, or government benefits necessary to sustain life or to access healthcare or income.

Estate planning and elder law attorneys deal with these issues every day by helping clients prepare and execute Wills, Powers of Attorney and Living Wills dealing with incapacity and end-of-life issues, handling guardianships, and working on behalf of patients in health care facilities and their families.

PITTSBURGHJEWISHCHRONICLE.ORG

It bears repeating that everyone should make sure that their plans and arrangements are in order with up-todate legal documents that say how you want your affairs to be handled, and by whom, if you become unable.

Powers of Attorney and a Will represent a basic but comprehensive estate plan that everyone should have.

A big problem has been how to get these documents properly signed, witnessed and notarized.. Ordinarily, all participants must gather and meet in person.

Witnesses must directly observe the document signers signing, the notary or an attorney must be present, etc.

The solution I’ve used most often recently is to arrange an outdoor “driveway signing” or “porch signing.” The document signers, witnesses and attorney or notary can then all be present, but out in plain air and not too close together, observing masking and social distancing protocols - with plenty of repeated hand sanitizing.

In our firm we’ve accomplished document signings recently that were previously completely on hold.

The Commonwealth has issued new notary regulations allowing remote electronic or digital notarization. Many practitioners have found that even these somewhat relaxed requirements are still somewhat stringent and impractical. Moreover, documents executed through remote, online notarization face additional uncertainty as to whether they may still be subject to legal challenge. Our outdoor, fresh air signings with personal spacing and hygiene have filled the bill recently instead. With office meetings now permitted again when needed, this problem should ease.

Individuals legal needs have not stopped during the crisis, Consumers’ legal needs in the era of pandemic include, but are not limited to: •

powers of attorney, living wills, deeds, etc.

Estate administration – winding up someone’s affairs after they have passed.

• Employment issues relating to paid sick leave, lost jobs, unemployment compensation, or other insurance benefits • Debt and creditor issues, payment deferrals, and bankruptcy • Leases and landlord-tenant dealings and disputes • Liability for contagion and care facility mistreatment cases.

In our firm, we don’t handle all of these types of cases directly, but if we can’t help you, we can refer you to the right person who can.

•

The nursing home industry, concerned about liability to patients and families for actions and failures during the crisis, has been pushing for legal immunity from lawsuits. More than 1/5th of all coronavirus deaths have been among those residing in or connected with nursing homes.

Six states (not Pennsylvania) have passed laws specifically protecting nursing homes and their workers and six more have enacted general protections that will probably protect nursing homes too. Those favoring this approach of sheltering health care workers argue that they were doing their best under the most difficult circumstances.

Patient advocates, families and critics of immunity push for more accountability by care facilities, rather than less. They seek more openness and communication from nursing homes, who often failed to provide information or respond to family members’ concerns. They want virtual visits during the quarantine. And they are demanding increased staffing requirements with more training and better infection control. These are constant, ongoing challenges for nursing homes, where infection is one of the primary adverse events that can befall a patient.

It remains to be seen of course how these legal issues affecting so many will be resolved.

helping you plan for what matters the most

www.marks-law.com

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

Estate planning – preparing wills, trusts,

PITTSBURGH JEWISH CHRONICLE

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

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

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

linda@marks-law.com

MAY 8, 2020 15

Life & Culture Local author finds roots of organic agriculture in Laurel Highlands — BOOKS —

By Adam Reinherz | Staff Writer

A

uthor Stephen Heyman was foraging for a story when he unearthed the name of Louis Bromfield, an early 20th-century novelist and Pulitzer Prize winner who abandoned his literary career in favor of farming, becoming a pioneer of the organic movement.

It was 2015, and Heyman, a former New York Times staffer, had recently moved to Pittsburgh. His wife was pursuing a doctorate at Carnegie Mellon University and Heyman, 36, was looking for a chance to learn the area, so he headed out to the Laurel Highlands with the intention of pitching his former paper on a travel piece.

“I found this lamb farm called Jamison Farm, which is famous among people in the sustainable agriculture world, and I went out there and interviewed John Jamison and his wife, Sukey, and at some point in the interview they mentioned Bromfield,” recalled Heyman.

After returning home to his Squirrel Hill rental, the former Florida native Googled Bromfield and quickly fell down a rabbit hole of hyperlinks, old writings and unanswered questions.

Bromfield had been a critically acclaimed, award-winning novelist. He lived in Paris for a while, associating with Gertrude Stein, Ernest Hemingway and other members of the Lost Generation, but eventually gave up that life to focus on sustainable farming.

“I just got very captivated by his story,” said Heyman, a former features editor at T: The New York Times Style Magazine, who, like Bromfield, lived in Paris.

As a student at Brandeis University, Heyman had studied in the French capital.

He returned there after graduation for two years to work as a foreign reporter and for his wife to pursue a professional opportunity.

Heyman wrote an article for The Times in 2016 based on his research but didn’t mention Bromfield’s name.

“I immediately saw that I wanted to do it

p Stephen Heyman

Photo by Dina Litovsky

Art provided by Stephen Heyman

“ I felt like his story was so weird and it was kind of split between these two somewhat

”

divergent worlds.

— STEPHEN HEYMAN

as a biography. I didn’t want to write a kind of article, which would then be the basis of the book,” said Heyman, whose byline has appeared in Slate, Vogue and The Wall Street Journal. “I felt like his story was so weird and it was kind of split between these two somewhat divergent worlds.” Bromfield required “a book-length treatment in order to make any sense.”

On April 14, W.W. Norton & Company

released Heyman’s work, “The Planter of Modern Life: Louis Bromfield and the Seeds of a Food Revolution.”

“Nothing has given me more pleasure or satisfaction in my work life than working on this book,” Heyman said.

The author was set to promote his book when the pandemic hit. A tour with events including an April 16 evening at Carnegie Library in Oakland through Pittsburgh

Arts & Lectures had to be postponed. In the meantime, Heyman is sharing the story of Bromfield through interviews and short published pieces.

Bromfield had a “surprisingly interesting” relationship to Jews, Heyman told the Chronicle.

Bromfield “dabbled in a lot of casual anti-Semitism, but as time went on, and he became friendly with Jewish writers like Gertrude Stein and Edna Ferber, his attitudes changed completely.”

Eventually, through connections with British politicians, and Peter Bergson, a Lithuanian-born Jewish secret agent sent to the United States from Palestine by the Irgun, Bromfield became a supporter of Zionism and an advocate for the protection of the Jewish people. In 1943, Bromfield sent a telegram to Eleanor Roosevelt criticizing the lack of urgency taken by democratic forces against the Nazis’ immediate “threat to annihilate the Jewish people of Europe.”

Heyman discovered the telegram at the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum in Hyde Park, New York, and said that finding it was “insane.”

“I mean, that’s one of the beautiful exciting things about biography, the chase and the discovery of things that aren’t previously known or well-known.”

Heyman is now contemplating his next project while working to promote “The Planter of Modern Life” to “whoever is listening,” he said. “I think a lot of authors feel that they’d love for the work to speak for itself, but you kind of need to get out there and sell your story, which is uncomfortable for us but necessary.”

In a sense, it’s tireless work, but so too are the undertakings of a farmer, wrote Bromfield in “From My Experience,” a 1955 memoir: “Daily life on a living farm with its countless facets, its daily crises, its seasonal changes, resembles very closely the pattern of this book — a record of ups and downs, which must be taken, if at all, as they come.” PJC Adam Reinherz can be reached at areinherz@ pittsburghjewishchronicle.org.

Robert Levin sends checks to former employees

R

obert Levin, former CEO of Levin Furniture, has made good on his pledge to support the nearly 1,200 former employees of his family’s furniture business. Last week, he sent checks for more than $1,500 to eligible Pennsylvania employees of Levin’s Furniture and Wolf Furniture, along with a letter, reported the Tribune-Review.

“I’m sorry I haven’t been able to reach out to you sooner,” Levin wrote in the April 23 letter. “I can’t express how heartbroken I am for the disappointment that occurred when I was unable to buy back the company.

“My motivation to rescue the business was based on my concern for you and for 16 MAY 8, 2020

the customers that have supported us all for many years,” the letter continued. “When I was informed that the stores were closing, and the sale was off because of issues with lenders and the pandemic, I felt that our hopes had been swept away.”

After a deal to buy back Levin Furniture from Art Van Furniture, LLC, the business’ parent company, and the Pennsylvania Wolf Furniture stores, was terminated, Levin disseminated a March 20 statement indicating his intention to create a $2 million fund, available for grants and loans to Levin and Wolf employees for defraying health care costs.

Given many former employees’ current

fiscal needs, however, Levin revised the plan and distributed money following a personal gift to the Howard Levin Memorial Fund.

“This gift from me is tax free and does not need to be paid back. Please use it for health care premiums or for any expenses or needs you may have,” Levin wrote.

Supporting former staff was an impetus for Levin’s attempt to buy back the company his grandparents founded nearly a century ago, he told the Chronicle in March.

“It’s really the job preservation,” Levin said. “That would have been horrible to see it just shut down and see everybody out of work. We have employees that work for

PITTSBURGH JEWISH CHRONICLE

the company, who are still in their 50s, who started in high school. These are people who have worked for us for 35 years.”

Levin reiterated his appreciation for former employees in last week’s letter: “I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart for the understanding and support that I’ve received from many of you. Although I haven’t been able to respond individually, I have been profoundly moved and humbled by it. Until I can reach out to you again, I want to wish you and your family health, safety and all the best during this very difficult time.” PJC — Adam Reinherz PITTSBURGHJEWISHCHRONICLE.ORG

Life & Culture How to make labneh using your Instant Pot — FOOD —

By Emily Paster | JTA

Photo by Emily Paster via The Nosher

W

ith everyone sheltering in place and spending their days at home, now is the perfect time to tackle a DIY kitchen project that you never seemed to have time for before. This one requires you to find some whole milk and cream, precious commodities for sure. But the end result — tangy, creamy homemade labneh — is so worth it.

Labneh is also known as yogurt cheese because it is as thick and creamy as soft cheese. This unique texture is achieved by straining the liquid out of plain yogurt.

Labneh is a staple ingredient throughout the Levant, but especially in Israel where it is served as a sandwich spread, as the base for different mezze, and as part of lavish breakfast buffets. Labneh can also be used in cooking because it does not curdle at high temperatures.

Most labneh recipes begin with store-bought Greek yogurt and instruct you to strain it until thickened. But with the Instant Pot, it is incredibly easy — and inexpensive — to make your own yogurt, and then turn that into labneh.

Yes, this process takes time, but most of that time is passive, requiring very little hands-on work. Begin by making plain, unsweetened yogurt in the Instant Pot and once that process is complete, simply allow your homemade yogurt to drain in the refrigerator for a day or so until it is thick and spreadable.

Once you have made the labneh, you can leave it as is. Drizzled with olive oil and sprinkled with za’atar or dried mint, labneh makes a delicious dip. Alternatively, you can form the labneh into balls and dry it out even further. You can then place these balls in a jar and cover them with olive oil and preserve them in the refrigerator.

Serve these labneh balls as an

appetizer, eat one for breakfast or simply spread on crusty bread — perhaps homemade as well — and enjoy.

Recipe note: Do not discard the whey that drains from the yogurt! Whey is extremely nutritious and can be used in place of water or milk in baking — try it in your favorite pancake recipe — as well as soups and stews.

You can also add it to smoothies for extra protein, cook pasta in it or use it to soak steel-cut oats. Not only is it useful, but this type of whey is highly acidic and can be harmful to the environment if poured down the drain.

Ingredients: 2 quarts whole milk 1/2-cup cream 2 tablesppons plain yogurt with live and active cultures 1 teaspoon kosher salt Juice of 1 lemon Extra virgin olive oil, za’atar and fresh herbs for serving (optional) Directions:

Photo byxveron90x/via iStockphhoto.com

1. Pour the milk and cream into the inner pot of the Instant Pot and cover. Select the Yogurt function and press the Adjust button until “more” is illuminated. The word “boil” will appear on the display. The Instant Pot will

PITTSBURGHJEWISHCHRONICLE.ORG

heat the yogurt to 180 degrees to pasteurize it.

This can take as long as a half-hour.

2. When the milk reaches 180 degrees, the machine will beep and the display will read “Yogt.” Remove the lid.

3. Press Yogurt and then Adjust until the display once again reads “boil.” Set a timer for 5 minutes. The Instant Pot will hold the milk at 180 degrees, which will help thicken the yogurt.

4. When the timer is done, turn off the Instant Pot and remove the inner pot. Cool the milk down to 115 degrees. You can place the pot on a rack and allow it to cool naturally, which can take approximately a half-hour.

Alternatively, place the pot in an ice bath, which will speed up this process considerably, and stir the milk until it reaches the target temperature.

5. When the milk has cooled to 115 degrees — if you don’t have a thermometer, it should feel hot to the touch but not painfully hot — remove 1/2-cup of milk and whisk it with the plain yogurt in a small bowl to inoculate it with a starter culture.

6. Return the milk-yogurt mixture to the pot and place the inner pot back in the Instant Pot making sure to dry the bottom of the pot in an ice bath.

7. Select the Yogurt function followed again by the Adjust button until “normal” is illuminated. Set the timer for 10 hours.

8. At the completion of the yogurt cycle, turn off the Instant Pot and remove the inner pot. You will have a large amount of runny, tangy yogurt.

9. The next step is to strain the liquid whey out of the yogurt. Place a large, finemesh strainer over a deep bowl and line the strainer with a paper towel, coffee filter or several layers of cheesecloth. Depending on the size of your strainer, you may need to use

PITTSBURGH JEWISH CHRONICLE

2 strainers and 2 bowls.

10. Ladle the yogurt into the strainer or strainers. Place the bowl or bowls in the refrigerator. Allow the yogurt to drain for 4-8 hours.

At this point, you will have approximately a quart of much thicker yogurt and a substantial amount of clear, yellowish whey in the bowl.

11. Transfer the yogurt to a small bowl and mix in the salt and lemon juice. Return to the yogurt to the sieve. (If you were using cheesecloth to line the sieve, you can reuse the same cloth; if using a coffee filter or paper towel, place a fresh one in the sieve. Also, if you had to use 2 sieves before, you should now be able to combine the yogurt into 1 sieve.) Drain off the whey and set it aside for another use.

12. Return the bowl to the refrigerator and allow to drain until the yogurt is spreadable and similar in texture to cream cheese. This can take 24 to 48 hours.

13. Remove the labneh from the sieve and, if not serving right away, place in a covered container and refrigerate. Serves 2 cups.

To make labneh balls, line a dinner plate with a paper towel. With clean hands, form the labneh into 8 or 10 equally sized balls and place them on the plate. Cover with another paper towel. Refrigerate until the balls are firm and dry, approximately 8 hours.

Transfer the balls to a clean quart jar.

Cover with olive oil. You can also add whole cloves of garlic, sprigs of fresh herbs — such as thyme or oregano — strips of lemon zest, or dried red chiles to the jar. Labneh in oil will keep in the refrigerator for several weeks.

Allow labneh balls and oil to come to room temperature before serving. PJC This recipe originally appeared on The Nosher.

MAY 8, 2020 17

Celebrations

Torah

Births

Lasting lessons from our living Torah

KLEIN: With gratitude to HaShem, Rabbi Cheryl and Mark Klein are overjoyed to announce the birth of their granddaughter, Ani Hayden, born April 23, 2020. Ani is the daughter of Ari and Dahlia Klein and younger sister to Lev. The family lives in Dresher, Pennsylvania. Ani is also the granddaughter of Jay and Rebecca Brenowitz of New Jersey and great-granddaughter to Herb Brenowitz of New Jersey, Betty Barlow Balsam of White Oak, Pennsylvania, and Rita Grunberg of Florida. Ani is named for her maternal great-grandmother of blessed memory, Arlene Brenowitz, and her paternal grand-uncle of blessed memory, Hyman Levy.

STEIN: Jackie and Evan H. Stein of Pittsburgh are excited to announce the birth of their son, Ronen Graham. Born April 13, 2020, Ronen has a big brother, Samuel Ellis Stein. He is the grandson of Laura and Cary Friedman of Trumbull, Connecticut, and Yvonne and Barry L. Stein of Squirrel Hill. Ronen is named in loving memory of his maternal great-grandfather, Richard Blank, and his paternal great-grandmother, Goldie W. Stein. PJC

QUALITY COMES WITH EXPERIENCE!

J. MARTIN PAINTING 724-826-0464 • Painting • Interior / Exterior • Commercial / Residential • Plaster & Drywall Repair • 30 Years Experience

LOCATED IN PITTSBURGH, PA

Rabbi Yossi Rosenblum Parshat Emor | Leviticus 21:1-24:23

T

he shock of the pandemic has worn off but the effects continue. How are we supposed to respond?

The Torah is called Toras Chaim, the Torah of Life, meaning it applies to all times, places and situations. What are some of the lessons we can learn from the Torah portion of Emor?

Briefly, the Torah portion of Emor describes certain standards of conduct for Aharon and his descendants (Cohanim) who served in the Mishkan (Holy Tabernacle) and Holy Temples. Emor also lists chagim and moadim (holidays and festivals) observed by the Jewish people throughout the year.

As we know all too well, the coronavirus hit before Passover and continues to influence us as we approach Shavuos, the holiday that recalls the giving of the Ten Commandments. Other than timing, there doesn’t appear to be a direct link, much less an indirect link, to a pandemic. The Torah, however, is very subtle. If we look closely, we can identify several lessons that are very relevant to the situation we find ourselves in today.

Passover is a time of friends, family and community. Yet for the first time, many of us spent Passover devoid of beloved family members and friends. Shuls were closed and communities urged to avoid unnecessary travel. It was Hashem’s will. Yet that is exactly the point. Hashem determines how we are to serve Him. Years ago, for example, communities in Europe were unable to get wine for Passover. The rabbis told people to use the non-grape drink mead for the four cups. When circumstances change, the specific ways may have to change. Our desire to serve Hashem properly, however, must remain constant.

At the same time, we must understand that we are not missing anything, nor are we guilty of compromising our performance of a mitzvah. Hashem desires that we serve him in this way now, just as we served Him in another way before. How do we know?

By Divine Providence, Pesach Sheni occurs this week on May 8. One year after the Exodus, G-d commanded the Jewish people

THE BEST OF THE h IN YOUR EMAIL INBOX ONCE A WEEK.

to bring the Passover offering in the desert.

Just as they had done in Egypt, the Jews slaughtered a lamb on the 14th of Nissan, roasted and ate it at night with matzah and bitter herbs. The Torah (Numbers 9:6-7) then states: “There were, however, certain persons who had become ritually impure through contact with a dead body, and could not, therefore, prepare the Passover offering on that day. They approached Moshe and Aharon... and said, .... ‘Why should we be deprived, and not be able to present G-d’s offering in its time, among the children of Israel?’” Moshe brought their case before G-d. In response, G-d set the 14th of Iyar as a “Second Passover” (Pesach Sheni) for anyone who was unable to bring an offering the previous month.

It should be noted that there were differences in what the Jews did on the first Pesach in the desert and what they did for Pesach Sheni. Nevertheless, in Hashem’s “eyes,” the effect was the same. So too in our case. We may not have been able to attend a community seder or shul, but we did celebrate the holiday as Hashem wanted — similar to those who observed Pesach Sheni. To put it in a slightly different manner, in terms of our personal service to Hashem, nothing is ever lost. He either accepts our efforts under the circumstances or gives us a chance to make up for missed opportunities.

The Torah portion of Emor discusses various rules for Cohanim. Here, too, we can find a lesson for today. The Torah commands priests to maintain a lofty type of holiness and purity to serve in the Holy Temple. This required special precautions.

For example, they had to avoid contact with the dead. They also had to avoid situations where they could be made impure by various means. Maintaining this level of purity required a high degree of mindfulness. Like the Cohanim serving in the Temple, we too have to be mindful to avoid causing harm to ourselves and others. The Torah was given 3,232 years ago, yet it remains as relevant today as ever. PJC

Rabbi Yossi Rosenblum is head of school Yeshiva Schools of Pittsburgh and rabbi of Kether Torah Congregation. This column is a service of the Vaad Harabanim of Greater Pittsburgh.

The Original Our Only Location At

2145 BRIGHTON ROAD • PITTSBURGH, PA 15212 • 412-321-2235 Serving the Jewish Community Since 1924

Sign up on the right hand side of our homepage.

pittsburghjewishchronicle.org

18 MAY 8, 2020

www.pittsburghjewishchronicle.org

PITTSBURGH JEWISH CHRONICLE

PITTSBURGHJEWISHCHRONICLE.ORG

Obituaries FINKEL: Lois Kaplan Finkel passed away peacefully on Monday, April 27, 2020, at the age of 99. Beloved wife of the late Elliott W. Finkel; devoted daughter of the late Frank R.S. Kaplan and Madeline Roth Kaplan; sister of the late Irving M.J. Kaplan and the late Marjorie Auerbach. Loving mother of Susan Wechsler (Benjamin) and the late Nancy Beck (David). Besides her daughter

she is survived by four grandchildren Julie Hurray (Matthew), Karen Pooley (Jefferson), Marnie Alford (Brian) and Andrew Beck (Karen) and seven great-grandchildren: Katherine Alford, Maximilian and Madeline Hurray, Keller and Jace Pooley and Naomi and Eli Beck. She loved spending time celebrating holidays and special occasions with family and friends. She greatly enjoyed

bridge with her friends in Pittsburgh, and 40 summers in her beloved summer home in Kennebunkport, Maine, with daily tennis and nightly family games of progressive gin.

The family gratefully acknowledges the role played by Lois’ caregivers, Patricia Mosso, Charlene McIntire, Deborah Owens and Sandy McAdams. Services and interment were private. Memorial donations may

be made to the Nancy Finkel Beck Fund at Brighton Central School District, 2035 Monroe Ave., Rochester, NY 14618, Jewish Assistance Fund, P.O. Box 8197, Pittsburgh, PA 15217 or The Winchester Thurston School, 555 Morewood Ave., Pittsburgh, PA 15213. Arrangements entrusted to Ralph Schugar Chapel, Inc., family owned and operated. schugar.com PJC

Savitt:

These elements of Judaism all share the same future-focused mindset.

And if Judaism is about tomorrow as much as yesterday or today, then that’s what makes our relationship with humor so unique. Humor isn’t something we stumble upon one day but a tool we’re given as kids.

Like cursive, but useful!

I’d be lying if I said it was easy to laugh these days. But as I sit in my apartment on day number who knows what, I’m trying to find the humor. Just like my parents and grandparents taught me. I laugh at Netflix shows, at texts and on Zoom calls. I’m not laughing at the situation; I’m laughing despite it. Because if there’s one thing I’ve learned through synagogue, summer camp and Passover seders, it’s that being serious and taking something seriously are not mutually exclusive. Nor should they be.

In Judaism, there’s a certain pride when it comes to joking despite the heaviness around us. It’s not making light of a situation, but addressing it head on. It’s a way of saying, “I’m acknowledging reality, but I’m committed to finding a path forward.”

It’s not realistic, it’s not even optimistic. It’s simply the only way we know.

“Jewish humor” is this weird cocktail of bluntness, empathy, darkness and resilience.

With a hint of Larry David.

Today, as we self-isolate and social distance, as we continue to combat anti-Semitism and hate, we’re reminded of how sacred humor is.

Not because it solves our problems, but because it stops them from defining who we are.

As the weeks and months and possibly even years wear on, we risk losing our ability to laugh, and it will take effort to prevent that from happening. The Jewish world must

continue to carve out space for laughter, even in darkness. Whether Shabbat services or summer camp reunions, this means actively and creatively finding ways to connect with each other, even if it’s through screens and across time zones.

So no matter what the future brings, I’m going to keep finding a way to make people laugh, and not just because it’s my job. Jewish humor can bring us together when we must be apart. It can help us let go of what’s out of our control so we can focus on what we can change. It helps us heal. It’s a way to be present.

It’s a way to call out injustice. And unlike hand sanitizer, it’s available to everyone. PJC

Continued from page 13

someone laugh — is not inherently Jewish.

Still, it’s hard to deny our tight-knit relationship with humor. Part coping mechanism, part survival tactic, part odd-person-out, our connection with humor is not a coincidence.

When I reflect on it, one word comes to mind: “perseverance.” The ability to move forward despite difficulties.

Typically we think of humor as a way to address our past. But Judaism, at least the way I see it, revolves around the future.

Values like avodah (working together to accomplish something greater), mitzvot (performing acts of empathy and kindness), kehillah (committing to our community), menucha (resting, or as I call it, “nap time”).

Jon Savitt is a writer and comedian with work featured in Funny or Die, College Humor, The Washington Post, and more. This piece originally appeared on JTA.org.

SPONSORED CONTENT

Now is the Best Time in History to Do a Roth IRA Conversion survivor will likely be filing as a single taxpayer, at higher income tax rates. The fact that you are filing jointly now and either you or your spouse will likely be filing as single later, means that now might be a good time to make a Roth IRA conversion.

you in a favorable tax bracket by reducing your taxable income.

Converting to Roth While the Market Is Low 2200 Murray Avenue Pittsburgh, PA 15217 412-521-2732 www.paytaxeslater.com

James Lange, CPA and Attorney

Currently, six factors are converging to make Roth IRA conversions more promising for more IRA owners than ever before.

No Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs) for 2020 The $2 trillion dollar Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act) temporarily suspends the RMD requirement from Traditional IRAs and retirement plans. If you were required to take minimum distributions from your IRAs in the past, consider foregoing that distribution in 2020 unless you need the money and depend on it for your cash flow.

That will help stem losses from having to take your RMD while the market is down.

If you are receiving your RMDs through monthly automatic transfers from your IRA to your checking, you might want to stop those transfers too. With respect to Roth IRA conversions, not taking distributions from a Traditional IRA can make doing a Roth IRA conversion even more desirable because it might keep or put

Though I am not a market timer, history suggests that after a crash, even if it takes years, there will be a significant recovery. If the market does go up after you make a Roth IRA conversion, you will in effect be getting your Roth IRA at bargain rates.

Let’s say you have a Traditional IRA that is invested in a low-cost index fund that was valued at $133,000 at its peak and today its value is $100,000. You can make a Roth IRA conversion on the $100,000 and pay tax on $100,000.

The market rebounds to its pre-crash level and now your Roth IRA is worth $133,000. You just got a great bargain by paying tax on $100,000 and getting a $133,000 tax-free Roth IRA in return.

Our Current Low Tax Rates are Likely to Go Up Between our current deficit and the new $2 trillion bailout, it isn’t a huge leap to think tax rates will go up in the future. In addition, we are already in a historically low tax environment. In 2 017, a married couple filing jointly with a taxable income of $326,600 was in the 33% tax bracket.

Thanks to the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017, today that couple would be in the 24% tax bracket. If you make a Roth IRA conversion now and income tax rates go up in the future, you will have made a Roth IRA conversion at bargain

You Get a Big Bang for Your Roth IRA Conversion Buck

rates. If you think tax rates will increase over the long run and specifically increase for you, then Roth IRA conversions can be a great idea.

Roth IRA Conversions are a Great Defense to The SECURE Act The SECURE Act took effect January 1, 2020, and accelerates the income tax on Inherited IRAs within, subject to exceptions, ten years of the owner’s death. This could devastate your financial legacy. Roth IRA conversions are one of your family’s best defenses against The SECURE Act.

Love or Not, You Won’t be Married Forever If you are married, you are most likely taking advantage of the favorable “married filing jointly” tax rates. But what happens when one spouse dies? Other than the fact the survivor will only receive one Social Security benefit rather than the current two benefits, the household income itself will likely be similar.

But, the year after the first spouse dies, the

Many financial advisors are recommending you rebalance your portfolio by putting more money in the market right now, when it is low.

I am not saying that is wrong, but it is certainly uncomfortable. If the market stays low for a long time, there might not be much of a shortterm benefit from rebalancing.

On the other hand, even if the market stays low, a Roth IRA conversion will likely still be beneficial for you and your family over the long term. It is also a way of leveraging your money to lock in tax-free gains because the gains in the Roth IRA are tax free for the remainder of your own and your spouse’s lives and beyond. For many taxpayers, now might be the best time in history to execute a Roth IRA conversion.

Note of Caution: Please consider that you are no longer permitted to “recharacterize” or undo a Roth IRA conversion.

The foregoing content reflects the opinions of Lange Financial Group, LLC and is subject to change. Content provided herein is for informational purposes only and should not be used or construed as investment advice. There is no guarantee that the statements, opinions or forecasts provided herein will prove to be correct. Past performance may not be indicative of future results.

Securities investing involves risk, including the potential for loss of principal. There is no assurance that any investment plan or strategy will be successful, or that markets will recover or react as they have in the past.

Reprinted with permission from Forbes.com where Jim is a regular contributor. This article received 130,000 views within two days of posting on Forbes.com.

PITTSBURGHJEWISHCHRONICLE.ORG

PITTSBURGH JEWISH CHRONICLE

MAY 8, 2020 19

Please consider the Jewish Burial Grove at Penn Forest Natural Burial Park.

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

In memory of …

A gift from …

In memory of …

Anonymous ............................................................................................................................... Harry Berenfield Marlene Alpern .............................................................................................................................Sylvan Alpern Marlene Alpern ................................................................................................................................ Sylvia Shaer Marion Anderson ......................................................................................................................Anna Feivelson Dorothy Chajson .............................................................................................................................Lee Chajson Sheila R. Golding ...................................................................................................................... Rose M. Rudov Charles and Rosemarie Lyons .............................................................In memory of Irene W. Lyons Howie & Shelley Miller ................................................................................................. Mildred Greenwald Dorothy Samitz ................................................................................................................Benjamin Steerman Schlesinger & Seed Families ........................................................... Beatrice (Bibe) W. Schlesinger Sharon Snider .........................................................................................................................................Ed Snider Richard S. Stuart ...................................................................................................................Jerome Supowitz Bruce B. Weiner ...............................................................................................................Dr. Joseph R. Simon

 Sanctified for Jewish Burial by Rabbi Stephen E. Steindel.

 Time payment plans available.

 Woodland natural burial among our trees.

 Tents and chairs provided for graveside services at no extra cost.

 Located in Verona PA — 13-miles from downtown Pittsburgh.

 No extra fees for Sunday burials.

 We work with all funeral homes.

 No burial vaults used.

 We honor all Jewish burial practices.

 Only biodegradable coffins or shrouds allowed.  Currently adding 112 additional grave sites.

Call 412-265-4606 for tour appointments or other information or email Laura@PennForestCemetery.com.

All prices on our website: www.PennForestCemetery.com/pricing.

THIS WEEK’S YAHRZEITS — Sunday May 10: Bernhardt Blumenfeld, Edward Harry Frankel, George Jaskol, Henry Kamin, Ida Lazier, Sophia Mallinger, Minnie Margolis, Samuel Novak, Israel Rosenberg, Jack E. Ryave, Max Snider, Charles Ben Stewart, Max Unikel Monday May 11: Sonia Cohen, Abe Finegold, Dr. Charles M. Friedland, Sara Fay Sachs Goodman, Pearl Greenberg, Goldie Lerner, Gusta Dickler Linett, Goldie Love, Abe Picovsky, Sam Portnoy, Goldie Prashker, William B. Roth, Gertrude Routman, Rose M. Rudov, Fannie Ann Samuels, Sherman Howard Schenk, Julius Stahl, Samuel E. Swartz Tuesday May 12: Cora G. Barnett, Benjamin B. Chotiner, Lois Ruth Cohen, Leonard Frank, Shane Rose Gelman, Herman Greenstein, Paul E. Gusky, Allan L. Janowitz, P. Fred Kamens, Anna T. Kirkell, Ruth Klein, Morris Krasik, Sol S. Kurtz, Minnie Latterman, Abe Leventon, Paul Mainzer, Evelyn Meyer, Max Rice, Rebecca Wesoky Robins, Dorothy Rosenthal, Sherman Howard Schenk, Sophia Silverman, Rubin Solomon, Max Weiss, Frieda W. Wolff Wednesday May 13: Hyman Louis Abrams, Rose Seiger Allen, David Busis, Harry Faberman, Anna K. Farbstein, Anna Feivelson, Philip Grossman, Sanford C. Kramer, William Samuel Landau, Beatrice (Bibe) Schlesinger, Mayme Skirboll, Charles Teper, Yetta H. Wheeler Thursday May 14: Anna Bourd, Abraham Mitchell Caplan, Bernard Carlton, Jerome Gelman, Leah M. Greenberg, Bessie N. Harris, Betty York Joseph, Lawrence R. Katz, Benjamin Kellman, Rose Levin, Joseph J. Martin, Samuel Saul Morris, Sylvia Rosenberg, Abraham Saville, Amelia K. Silver

D’Alessandro Funeral Home and Crematory Ltd.

Friday May 15: Alice G. Eisner, Marion Feldman, Anna E. Ginsburg, Harry Goldberg, Hilda Goldberg, Bertha B. Levy, Harold Liptz, Theodore Mervis, Ethel A. Miller, Samuel Myer Roth

“Always A Higher Standard”

Saturday May 16: Lena Davidson, Irwin J. Harris, William Kempler, Edna F. Levine, Judith Gutkowska Mendelsohn, Saul M. Morris, Saul Schein, Ada M. Shepard, Abraham Shiner, Maurice A. Steinberg, Samuel Stoller, Celia S. Wedner

Dustin A. D’Alessandro, Supervisor • Daniel T. D’Alessandro, Funeral Director

4522 Butler St. • Pittsburgh, PA 15201 (412) 682-6500 • www.dalessandroltd.com

U

nfortunately, once again a major community crisis, this time the coronavirus pandemic, is underlining the necessity of a local Jewish newspaper and website that keeps you informed about — and in touch with — the Pittsburgh Jewish community.

We’re responding to this crisis with all hands on deck (even if it’s from our homes) to bring you what you need to know and want to know about our community: organizations, events live or virtual, plans canceled or postponed, hardships and help, friends and neighbors.

But even as we deploy more resources we are being hit by the same ƮǞȲƵ ƵƧȌȁȌǿǞƧ ǏȌȲƧƵȺ ƊȺ ƊȲƵ ȌɈǘƵȲ ȺǿƊǶǶ ȁȌȁٌȯȲȌ˛ɈȺ ƊȁƮ ƦɐȺǞȁƵȺȺƵȺ‫ خ‬ We depend heavily on advertising. If organizations cancel events, they don’t advertise them. When businesses close and their ƧɐȺɈȌǿƵȲȺ ǶȌȺƵ ƧȌȁ˛ƮƵȁƧƵ‫ ة‬ɈǘƵɯ ƧɐɈ ƊƮɨƵȲɈǞȺǞȁǐ‫ خ‬yȌ ȌȁƵ DzȁȌɩȺ ǘȌɩ long the upset of normalcy will last.

That’s why we need you, our readers and supporters, now more than ever. Please help us continue our mission of bringing you the Pittsburgh Jewish news you rely on and now need more than ever.

Help us tell the story of our community in crisis, and how once again we will show amazing resilience to continue to thrive into the future. Your emergency gift today helps make this possible and helps connect increasingly isolated people in our community, ǞȁƧǶɐƮǞȁǐ ɈǘƵ ƵǶƮƵȲǶɯ ƊȁƮ Ǟȁ˛Ȳǿ‫ خ‬ Thank you.

I would like to make a tax-deductible contribution to the Chronicle: $1000

$500

$250

$125

$54

$ Other

Thank you for donating as advertising does not cover all of our costs.

Please complete the information below: Check

VISA

MC

DISC

Card no.

Exp. date

CCV

Name on card Billing address City

State

Zip

Donate at ǴƺɯǣɀǝƬǝȸȒȇǣƬǼƺِɎǣȅƺɀȒˡɀȸƏƺǼِƬȒȅٖƳȒȇƏɎƺٖ or return this coupon by mail.

Mail to: Pittsburgh Jewish Chronicle | 5915 Beacon Street, 5th Floor, Pittsburgh, PA 15217 20 MAY 8, 2020

PITTSBURGH JEWISH CHRONICLE

PITTSBURGHJEWISHCHRONICLE.ORG

Real Estate LOOKING TO BUY Hello! We’re a young family looking to buy a house in Squirrel Hill.

We’d like at least four bedrooms, off-street parking, and, ideally, a yard.

Location: we’d like to be close to Frick Park and in the Colfax school district.

Please be in touch with Johanna at johanna.winant@gmail.com.

FOR RENT

FOR RENT

FOR SALE

Central Squirrel Hill Location Unfurnished Second Floor Duplex

5125 Fifth Ave.

I N T H E S E D I F F I C U LT T I M E S

Convenient to Murray Avenue Shopping Close to schools, public transport, synagogues Large Living Room, Dining Area, 2.5 Bedrooms, Parlor, Kitchen equipped with stove, refrigerator; Bathroom Ideal for small family • Off-street parking for one vehicle • No pets Tenant pays monthly rent plus gas and electric Must sign one year lease agreement Available for immediate occupancy

2 & 3 Bedrooms Corner of Fifth and Wilkins Spacious 1500-2250 square feet

”Finest in Shadyside”

412-661-4456

www.kaminrealty.kamin.com

SHADYSIDE CONDOMINIUM • $739,000 • 5000 FIFTH AVENUE

Email: ggwst@verizon.net

FOR RENT

B eautiful

rental opportunity on quiet, residential street in Squirrel Hill

Off-street parking. Recently renovated. Two unit duplex.

Upper and lower unit available. Both apartments have: 3 bedrooms, 2 full baths including tub. Eat-in kitchen, expansive living room and separate area for dining room/ playroom/office. Renovated bathrooms, new hardwood and carpet throughout, freshly painted. Outdoor space offers large, wrap-around porch, flat backyard and detached garage.

Washer/dryer for each unit. Central heat/air.

We must stay at home to keep everyone safe.

Practice Social Distancing, wear gloves and masks.

WE CAN STOP COVID19’S SPREAD. Properties which we are waiting to show you:

h THE BEST OF THE IN YOUR EMAIL INBOX ONCE A WEEK.

Spacious two bedroom and den beautiful unit. Spectacular built-ins throughout, a magnificent eat-in gourmet kitchen, fabulous closets, fireplace, a private balcony and wonderful in-unit laundry. Pristine and inviting, 24/7 security, a gym, guest suite. Most sought after building.

SQUIRREL HILL • $1,190,000 For the most discriminating buyer. Fabulous 6 year young grand property with a gourmet great room kitchen, 6 bedrooms, 4.5 baths, unbelievable living spaces, coveted 3 car attached garage, wonderful yard. Finished and unfinished spaces approximately 7000 square feet, a whole house generator. Must see!

DOWNTOWN • $975,000

$2,525/mo. Please call 412-956-2092.

Gateway Towers. Primo sensational double unit. Over 3000 square feet. 4 bedrooms, 4.5 baths. View of all three rivers. New windows installed (approx $70,000). The best unobstructed space and views in Pittsburgh. This is a full service building and PET FRIENDLY.

BUYING OR SELLING?

UNIVERSITY SQUARE • OAKLAND • $140,000 2 bedroom updated welcoming corner unit with lots of light. One of the few with lots of windows. Easy living. All utilities and taxes are included in monthly fee.

JILL and MARK PORTLAND RE/MAX REALTY BROKERS 412.521.1000 EXT. 200

Contact me today to discuss all of your real estate needs!

412.496.5600 JILL | 412.480.3110 MARK

Sign up on the right hand side of our homepage. pittsburghjewishchronicle.org

Business & Professional Directory CEMETERY PLOTS FOR SALE Four (4) Cemetery Plots Located in a prime location in the Jewish Section of HOMEWOOD CEMETERY. These plots were purchased when Homewood’s Jewish Section opened.

They are on flat land with NO uphill or downhill walking necessary, and directly beside the access road. If interested contact: HOWARD PASEKOFF @ 561-901-4512 or hlpdmd@aim.com.

GARDEN & HOME MAINTENANCE Spruce up and clean your yard on a one-time or regular basis.

Reliable service, with references.

Call Scottie at 412-310-3769.

SHOWCASE YOUR PROPERTIES EVERY WEEK IN THE PITTSBURGH JEWISH CHRONICLE

TO life HERE. Connect with Pittsburgh Jewish Chronicle.

Contact Phil Durler to schedule your advertising pdurler@ pittsburghjewishchronicle.org 724-713-8874 advertising@ pittsburghjewishchronicle.org

www.pittsburghjewishchronicle.org PITTSBURGHJEWISHCHRONICLE.ORG

STORIES COME

In your mailbox or all the time online at pittsburghjewishchronicle.org 5915 Beacon Street, 5th Floor, Pittsburgh, PA 15217

PITTSBURGH JEWISH CHRONICLE

MAY 8, 2020 21

Community Who let the dogs (and a cat) out?

Despite wreaking global terror, COVID-19 has been a boon for rescues. After issuing a call for photos, local Jewish residents sent their cutest images to the Chronicle. t Benson, a 19-month-old Havanese, was rescued from a puppy mill in Ohio. His new mom is Leah Berman Kress. Benson was adopted on March 14.

Photo courtesy of Sue Berman Kress

p Daisy is 1 1/2 years old and was adopted from a foster organization in Ohio on April 23.

Photo courtesy of Amy Spear

p Fred and Ginger were recently adopted by Lou and Amy Weiss.

Photo courtesy of Amy Weiss

p Recently adopted Archie helps David with online homework.

Photo courtesy of Ilana Schwarcz

t Harlow, recently rescued by the Busis family, enjoys Frick Park.

Photo courtesy of Jim Busis

u Kion, a cat, was adopted on March 25. Photo courtesy of Sonia Schwartz

p Seven was adopted by the Schwimer family on April 10.

Photo courtesy of Kelly Schwimer

22 MAY 8, 2020

PITTSBURGH JEWISH CHRONICLE

PITTSBURGHJEWISHCHRONICLE.ORG

Community Thumbs up for food

It’s 5 o’clock somewhere

p Abbey Farkas led a virtual young adult happy hour and mixology lesson on cocktails and mocktails with Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh on April 29.

Photo courtesy of Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh

p Pitt student Sarina Lavon, class of 2021, waits for Rabbi Shmuli Rothstein to provide Shabbat-to-go meals for her and her friends.

Photo courtesy of Sara Weinstein

What’s new at JAA

Macher and Shaker

p Janet and Eleanor celebrated Israel’s 72nd anniversary of independence at Weinberg Village. p Covestro Pittsburgh Regional Science & Engineering Fair named three Carnegie Science Award winners, including CDS sixth-grader Maya Gelman, who won the junior division award for testing bicycle braking methods to minimize brake overheating.

Pre-pandemic photo courtesy of Community Day School

u Pauline kept up with celebrity gossip at Charles Morris.

Photos courtesy of Jewish Association on Aging

Ensuring they remember

p Holocaust survivor Rabbi Nissen Mangel, who was sent to Auschwitz at age 10, met with Yeshiva Boys School students grades 7 and 8 over Zoom for a Yom Hashoah program.

Photo courtesy of Yeshiva Schools of Pittsburgh

PITTSBURGHJEWISHCHRONICLE.ORG

PITTSBURGH JEWISH CHRONICLE

MAY 8, 2020 23

KOSHER MEATS

Empire Fresh Kosher Bone-In Split Chicken Breasts

• All-natural poultry — whole chickens, breasts, wings and more • All-natural, corn-fed beef — steaks, roasts, ground beef and more • Variety of deli meats and franks Available at select Giant Eagle stores.

Visit gianteagle.com for location information.

3

99 lb.

Price effective Thursday, May 7 through Wednesday, May 13, 2020.

Available at 24 MAY 8, 2020

and PITTSBURGH JEWISH CHRONICLE

PITTSBURGHJEWISHCHRONICLE.ORG