Pittsburgh Jewish Chronicle 9-6-19 by Pittsburgh Jewish Chronicle

September 6, 2019 | 6 Elul 5779

Candlelighting 7:26 p.m. | Havdalah 8:24 p.m. | Vol. 62, No. 36 | pittsburghjewishchronicle.org

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Studying community: Parents Preparing for confront choices when it comes Elul after a to formal Jewish education devastating year

NOTEWORTHY LOCAL A sacred ritual

By Toby Tabachnick | Senior Staff Writer

Decomissioning a shul in Monessen. Page 2 LOCAL Investigating historical mystery

 Rabbi Yisroel Altein tutors Hallie, Samantha and Jack Cohen. Photo icourtesy of Jed Cohen

What does a missing piece from an ark mean? Page 3 NATIONAL Complex relations in Lakewood

Orthodox face tensions — and connection — with neighbors. Page 6

“Sometimes they have fun there and sometimes it’s not quite as fun, but that’s life.” And her kids don’t rom morning until night, This is the third parents are tasked with complain about attending Torah in a 10-part series, making choices. Some Center. “I’m not sure if that’s the exploring the decisions may seem relatively norm or not the norm, but my data of the 2017 benign, such as whether to kids don’t mind going at all.” Greater Pittsburgh pack a tuna sandwich or pay During the 2016-’17 school Jewish Community the school for chef ’s surprise, year, roughly 37% of houseStudy through the while others can require holds in the South Hills with people it represents. greater consideration, such children in grades K-12 particas determining if formal ipated in part-time Jewish Jewish education, and in what capacity, is education, according to the report commissioned by the Jewish Federation of Greater right for a child. Numbers and charts, such as those found Pittsburgh and conducted by researchers in the 2017 Greater Pittsburgh Jewish at Brandeis University’s Cohen Center for Community Study, reveal Jewish educa- Modern Jewish Studies. “I get that other people make different tion’s place of importance in Pittsburgh, but decisions,” Markowitz said of the choices it’s the parents themselves who bring the she’s made regarding Jewish education. “But findings to life. for our family, it’s the right choice.” Michelle Markowitz, of Mt. Lebanon, Th at doesn’t mean it’s easy, though. Like has two children: a 14-year-old son and a most parents, Markowitz has to contend 10-year-old daughter. Both attend public school, participate in sports and are students with competing demands on her children’s at JLine and Temple Emanuel Torah Center, time, which can be logistically complicated. part-time religious schools where they learn Her son attends J Line South Hills, a weekly Jewish learning opportunity for teens in Hebrew, Judaics and Israeli history. Torah Center tries to “mix it up for the grades 8-10. The program provides dinner kids,” said Markowitz, whose children also enjoy art, games and other programs there. Please see Choices, page 14

Adam Reinherz | Staff Writer

osh Hashanah and Yom Kippur are likely to feel different this year for Jews in Pittsburgh who are reckoning with traditions and liturgy that may well trigger disturbing feelings associated with last October’s massacre at the Tree of Life building. To help prepare for the upcoming High Holiday season, which begins with Rosh Hashanah on the evening of Sept. 29, three community members organized a program to kick off the month called “Awaken, Reflect, Together, Rosh Chodesh Elul.” Held on Sept. 1 at the Jewish Community Center of Greater Pittsburgh, the program was sponsored in collaboration with the 10.27 Healing Partnership, formerly known as the Pittsburgh Resiliency Center. “We wanted to make sure heading into this High Holiday season of 5780 that people would recognize it will feel differently than other High Holidays have felt, and to bring intentionality and mindfulness, to not allow us to get caught off guard by the emotions that will come,” said Maggie Feinstein, director of the 10.27 Healing Partnership. The program was conceived by Beth Kissileff Perlman, a writer and teacher, along with Sara Stock Mayo, a drama therapist who has trained as a chaplain and who is also the director of music and ruach at Temple Ohav Shalom. Kissileff ’s husband, Rabbi Jonathan Perlman, is the spiritual leader of New Light Congregation, one of the three congregations attacked in the massacre last fall. The program, inspired by Pittsburgh’s annual community-wide Tikkun Leil Shavuot event, included learning sessions, singing and blowing of the shofar. “I liked the idea that the whole community could come together to start the season because this was such an important year, and this season is going to be triggering for people, for most people,” said Mayo. The organizers thought that a communal Please see Elul, page 14

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Community happenings

Headlines Temple Beth Am shutters its doors, buries prayer books — LOCAL — By David Rullo | Staff Writer

eneath a clear sky and noon sun, the members of Temple Beth Am in Monessen gathered one last time as a congregation. Surrounded by family, friends and well-wishers, the group who had shared weddings, funerals, bar and bat mitzvahs, holidays and simchas together for most of their lives buried the synagogue’s prayer books. Temple Beth Am was closing, and this was their final ritual. Created in 1967 when Kneseth Israel Hebrew Congregation merged with Rodef Shalom Congregation of Charleroi, the Reform temple was a staple of Jewish life in the p Members of Temple Beth Am gather to bury the synagogue’s prayer books Mon Valley. At its high point, the synagogue following deconsecraton of the congregation. Photo by David Rullo membership neared 175 family units but has been slowly dwindling for decades. As fami- Holidays felt the strain experienced by so congregation’s cemetery a short ride from the lies moved away and younger generations many synagogues in communities that temple. Ackerman said that former members moved out of Monessen and surrounding struggle to maintain Jewish life. “The last few will continue to care for the cemetery. communities like Charleroi and Donora, the years, there have only been 25 to 30 people,” “Our funds will go to take care of our synagogue slowly had to reevaluate what it Bergstein said. “It’s hard but I accept reality.” cemetery. When we no longer can, the meant to be a functioning temple. Rabbi Sara Rae Perman led Shabbat Jewish Federation is putting together someAccording to longtime member Jack services for the last year. “Rabbi Perman thing and they will hopefully take it over. Bergstein, “It’s been 10 to 15 years since a came and did services once a month,” said For now, we maintain it. It’s in beautiful Sunday school existed.” congregation president Phyllis Ackerman. shape right now.” Bergstein recalls the synagogue as “It was very nice, but we could not afford to Temple Beth Am’s legacy was celebrated essential. “It was the center of my Jewish do that again.” and remembered during a deconsecration experience. We had, at its most active time, It was this realization, Ackerman said, that service on Saturday, Aug. 17. “Rabbi Perman services every Friday evening. For a while, forced the synagogue to make the difficult led a beautiful service,” Ackerman said. we even had Saturday morning services and decision to shutter its doors. “Because of Havdalah followed. the kids had Hebrew school each week and money and lack of people we had to close it After the deconsecration nothing was left Sunday school. I have memories of Sunday up. We didn’t have a choice.” to do but pass on the Torah and bury the school. High Holiday services were filled to The building that members called home prayer books. Congregation Dor Hadash the brim with people.” for over 50 years will now be sold. The will be the Torah scroll’s new home; the Sadly, even the observance of the High proceeds will go toward maintaining the prayer books were buried following Jewish

tradition. Perman led a brief service similar to a funeral and attendees shoveled dirt and covered the siddurim. Shelly Zegart came from Louisville, Kentucky, to add her father’s prayer book to the collection. “He was a stalwart of the Monessen Jewish community and one of the founders of the synagogue and cemetery,” she explained. “I thought it would be fitting to bury his prayer book with the temple’s.” Asked why she traveled so far, Zegart said she wanted to be there as a representative of her family. “And more importantly, to honor these people like Phyllis, who have kept Jewish life alive here for all these decades. When we heard it was closing, we knew we had to be here.” “The worst part was when we turned off the eternal light on Saturday night. Then we knew it was done,” said Ackerman, whose wedding was the second to be held at Beth Am. “Until then, you just don’t think about it. But when they did it, it hurt. “This has been very difficult. This has been my temple for many, many years; I’ve been president forever and this has been my baby for a very long time. I hate to see it go, but the writing was on the wall.” Now, Beth Am members will travel elsewhere to attend services. “Some are going to Monroeville, others Washington, we’ve joined Temple B’nai Israel in White Oak,” Ackerman said. What does this mean for the community that worshiped together for decades? Ackerman wasn’t certain what the future would hold. “We’ve all been busy trying to get the temple ready to be sold. There are no other plans to get together.” PJC David Rullo can be reached at drullo@ pittsburghjewishchronicle.org.

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Headlines What’s the meaning of a missing piece? — HISTORY — By Eric Lidji

nytime the urge to procrastinate becomes overwhelming, I steal away to the Special Collections gallery of the Heinz History Center, two floors down from the archives. I nod to the wax figure of Mr. Rogers, and then I duck around the corner to marvel at the ark from the old Machsikei Hadas Congregation in East Liberty. I love its carved hands giving the Priestly Blessing, its twin illustrations of the Ten Commandments wearing a crown and its gold-painted Hebrew words proclaiming: Baruch Haba B’shem Hashem. The other day I noticed something odd about this ark: A big chunk is missing from the top of one column. The cut is clean, rimmed with molding. It was removed on purpose. Knowing a little bit about the acquisition of this ark, I suspected there might be an explanation in the archive. Machsikei Hadas was crucial to the development of the Rauh Jewish History Program & Archives. The congregation disbanded in 1989, just a few months after the archive was established. Seeing an opportunity, the two Jewish organizations — one setting, one rising — partnered on an ambitious preservation effort.

p After more than half a century in the Hill District, Machsikei Hadas bought a house on Negley Avenue in East Liberty in the early 1950s and converted it into a synagogue. Photo by Hans Jonas, courtesy of the Rauh Jewish History Program & Archives

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The archive commissioned Hans Jonas to photograph the entire synagogue and Bernard Liff to draft architectural renderings of the floor plan. The carpenter Leslie Clifford was hired to oversee deconstruction of the sanctuary furnishings: the ark, lectern, bima, pews, mechitza, yahrzeit plaques and bookcases. The hauling company Move Express, owned by Steve Mitnick, crated all of these furnishings and shipped them to storage. All four men performed their work either pro bono or at cost. The archive only spent about $210. Going to such lengths was justified because Machsikei Hadas was a rare opportunity to preserve the texture of the old immigrant synagogues of the Hill District. Machsikei Hadas was one of perhaps two dozen Jewish congregations founded in the Hill District between 1890 and 1940. A group of Galician Jews started the congregation in 1896. They dedicated a two story brick synagogue at Wylie and Granville streets in the Hill District in 1911 and remained in that home until 1953, when they relocated to Negley Avenue. Machsikei Hadas did not need to move to East Liberty. East Liberty already had five synagogues in 1953. So why did it make the move? An answer can be found in the words of Bennie Fassberg, who wrote the following Please see History, page 14

SEPTEMBER 6, 2019 3

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 SATURDAYS, SEPT. 7, 14, 21 Rabbi Danielle Leshaw will lead a Derekh Study Series on several rebellion narratives within the Book of Numbers beginning at 12:45 p.m. at Congregation Beth Shalom (5915 Beacon St.). We’ll study prominent themes that surface in these texts: religious authority, entering the land of Israel, God’s (im)perfect Torah, and communal obligation. Rabbi Danielle Leshaw is a senior educator and campus support director at Hillel International. Visit bethshalompgh.org/ events-upcoming for more information. q SUNDAY, SEPT. 8 Celebrate a sweet new year with Shalom Pittsburgh and the Pittsburgh Jewish community at the Ninth Annual Apples & Honey Fall Festival! Join us at the Waterfront Town Center from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. for a celebration with apples and honey, crafts, activities, a bounce house, shofar making, entertainment, vendors, food and more! Visit jewishpgh.org/apples-honey to pre-register and take full advantage of all Apples & Honey activities and earn your Bee Stop Passport (your ticket to a sweet treat)! You are invited to attend the closing program of the Jewish Women’s Center of Pittsburgh,

Retrospective: 1992-2019 from 3-5 p.m. at the Rauh Jewish History Program and Archives located in the Heinz History Center. Come mingle, reminisce and enjoy light refreshments. q MONDAY, SEPT. 9 Beth El Congregation of the South Hills presents their monthly lunch series, First Mondays with Rabbi Alex at 11:30 a.m. featuring Rabbi Alex Greenbaum and a guest. This month, Judah Samet presents his experiences from birth in Hungary to liberation from the Bergen-Belsen concentration camp and beyond. $6 and includes lunch. Visit bethelcong.org/events/ first-mondays-13 or call 412-561-1168. q MONDAY, SEPT. 9 The Jewish Community Center of Pittsburgh’s 124th Annual Meeting looks at ‘What Community Can Be’ beginning at 6:15 p.m. at the Katz Performing Arts Center. Grant Oliphant, president of the Heinz Endowments and Doron Krakow, president and CEO of the JCC Association of North America lead the discussion. Visit jccpgh. formstack.com/forms/jcc_annual_meeting to register. Beth El Congregation of the South Hills welcomes George Savarese at 7 p.m. for Adult Ed Evenings. Savarese will discuss North Korea. The evening begins with a wine and cheese reception. $5. Visit bethelcong. org/events/current-events/2019-09-09 or call 412-561-1168.

q WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 11

q WEDNESDAYS, SEPT. 11, 18, 25;

The Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh presents Child and Infant CPR Basics at 7 p.m. Open to parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles and anyone who wants to learn the basics of infant and child CPR. This short training is designed to provide the basic skills needed to feel comfortable and confident in the case of a medical emergency. Training will be conducted by Dr. Natan Cramer, emergency medical physician at Children’s Hospital, along with a team of physicians/ medical providers. Space is limited so be sure to register today! Cost is $25 unless previously enrolled in Jewish Baby University. Visit jewishpgh.org/event/cpr-basics for more information and to register. Barry Rudel’s lecture Cambria County’s Jewish Community will take attendees through a fascinating journey of the Jewish people in this region and will share some religious artifacts. Rudel will speak at the Edensburg Borough Building, 300 W. High St. beginning at 7 p.m. as part of Cambria County Historical Society’s 2019 Fall Lecture Series.

OCTOBER 2

Jewish Family and Community Services presents Trauma Resiliency Group: An Integrative Approach to Healing, a free weekly gathering for anyone suffering the aftermath of the trauma of Oct. 27. Offered by Amy Lohr, LCSW, integrative psychotherapist, at JFCS, Room A/B, second fl., 5743 Bartlett St., Squirrel Hill at 4 p.m. This is a change of location from the previous sessions at the JCC. “Heal, Grow and Live with Hope” Nar-Anon and NA meetings every Wednesday evening at Beth El Congregation, 1900 Cochran Road, 15220 at 7:30 p.m. Come to the office/school entrance at the end of the building to be buzzed in. Call Karen at 412-563-3395 and leave a message for more information. q THURSDAY, SEPT. 12 It’s 5 o’clock somewhere! Come join Pittsburgh’s Jewish Young Adult community for a Young Adult Happy Hour beginning at 5 p.m. at Frank’s Bar & Grill (728 Copeland Street) as we kick off the programming year. Newcomers, grad students, native Pittsburghers, everyone is welcome! Visit shalompittsburgh.org/event/young-adulthappy-hour for more information and to register.

q WEDNESDAYS, SEPT. 11, 18 Join Temple Emanuel of South Hills at 7 p.m. for Israel’s Election – What to Watch For. Rabbi Aaron Meyer will lead a discussion on the implications of the Sept. 17 Israeli election. All are welcome for this free event. RSVP to templeemanuel@ templeemanuelpgh.org or 412-279-7600.

Please see Calendar, page 5

BE OUR GUEST AT TEMPLE SINAI FOR THE HIGH HOLY DAYS!** ROSH HASHANAH*

Sunday, September 29 7:45 PM Erev Rosh HaShanah Service Monday, October 1 10 AM Rosh HaShanah 2nd Day Morning Service

YOM KIPPUR*

Tuesday, October 8 6 PM Kol Nidre Intergenerational Family Service

Wednesday, October 9 (cont.) 4 PM Congregational Singing 5:15 PM Yizkor and N’ilah 7:15 PM Break Fast: a light snack to break your fast

Wednesday, October 9 1:30 PM Minchah Afternoon Service *Donation requested. For security reasons, registration is required for 2:45 PM Beit Midrash all services.

5505 Forbes Avenue Pittsburgh, PA 15217 (412) 421-9715 www.TempleSinaiPGH.org

Visit www.TempleSinaiPGH.org to order your Card of Admission for High Holy Days Community & Tot Services or contact Rebekah Malkin at (412) 421-9715 ext. 121 or Rebekah@TempleSinaiPGH.org.

TOT SERVICES

A SPECIAL EREV ROSH HASHANAH DINNER

Looking for an informal, inviting way to teach your little ones about High Holy Days? Join Rabbi Keren Gorban for a fun, active service of stories, singing, and dancing for families with children ages 0–5.

We invite you to join us for a special catered Erev Rosh HaShanah Dinner on Sunday, September 29 at 6 PM. Come have a relaxing, friendly meal with us before our Erev Rosh HaShanah Service.

Erev Rosh HaShanah: Sunday, Sept. 29, 5 PM Rosh HaShanah: Monday, Sept. 30, 8 AM Kol Nidre: Tuesday, Oct. 8, 5:30 PM Yom Kippur: Wednesday, Oct. 9, 8:15 AM **For security reasons, registration is required for Community & Tot Services.

4 SEPTEMBER 6, 2019

Our dinner menu includes: Homemade Chicken & Vegetarian Soups; Roasted Chicken with Figs, Oregano, & Lemon; Gemelli with Late Tomato, Basil, & Bread Crumbs; Roasted Fall Vegetables; Mixed Greens Salad; Challah; Plum Crisp; and Wine Cost: $25 per person $10 per child (ages 4–12) FREE for kids 3 and under REGISTER ONLINE AT www.TempleSinaiPGH.org. Reservations will close at 5 PM on Tuesday, Sept. 24.

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Calendar Calendar: Continued from page 4 q FRIDAY, SEPT. 13 Gather together for Shabbat dinner as Shalom Pittsburgh kicks off their I-Volunteer series at 6:30 p.m. at Shaare Torah. I-Volunteer is for adults of all abilities to volunteer and socialize together. We’d love for you to join us for one event or all of them. Visit jewishpgh.org/ event/i-volunteer-shabbat-dinner-2 for more information and to register. q SUNDAY, SEPT. 15 Join Women of Rodef Shalom for brunch with author Barbara Burstin who will discuss her latest book, “Sophie, the Incomparable Mayor, Masloff.” Burstin appears as part of the 85th Annual Solomon B. Freehof Book and Author Series beginning at 9:30 a.m. in Aaron Court. RSVP by Sept. 11 to gjkatz@aol.com. The Jewish Cemetery and Burial Assn. (JCBA) will hold its annual unveiling of headstones at the Chesed Shel Emeth Cemetery on Oakwood St, Shaler Township at 10:30 a.m. Headstones for Blyuma Gitlin, Joseph Weiss and Olga Klein will be unveiled. Rabbi Eli Seidman, Director of Pastoral Care for the Jewish Association on Aging, will officiate. The community is invited to attend. For further information contact the JCBA at 412-553-6469, jcbapgh@gmail.com. The Pittsburgh Jewish Music Festival and

world-renowned klezmer clarinetist David Krakauer presents a special centenary concert celebrating the Zimro Ensemble’s historic global tour in 1919 at Rodef Shalom Congregation beginning at 7 p.m. For tickets, visit pjmf.net. q MONDAY, SEPT. 16 Join Rodef Shalom (4905 Fifth Ave) at 4 p.m. for Urban Art: A Discussion as architect Kent Bloomer talks about his unconventional sculpture designed for the entrance to Freehof Hall. The fee to attend is $10 (congregation members $5). A reception follows. For more information, call 421.621.6566 x140. Beth El Congregation of the South Hills welcomes Peter Dinardo at 7 p.m. for Adult Ed Evenings. Dinardo will discuss free speech. The evening begins with a wine and cheese reception. $5 Visit bethelcong.org/ events/current-events/2019-09-16 or call 412-561-1168. q MONDAY, SEPT. 16 – MAY 18 Join the first ever Melton Adult Jewish Learning course just for young adults (22-45) and learn the Rhythms and Purposes of Jewish Living. Classes are taught by local rabbis and will be held every Monday at 7 p.m. at the Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh (2000 Technology Drive). $180 per person, per year. Visit shalompittsburgh. org/melton-young-adult-education/ for more information and to register.

public meeting at 1 p.m. The open meeting will be in the Rodef Shalom Congregation’s Falk Library (4905 Fifth Ave.). Handwriting analyst Michelle Dresbold will share her experiences in multiple trials and will discuss different handwriting styles and what they can reveal about a person’s personality. Contact Marcia Kramer for more information, 412-731-3338. q THURSDAY, SEPT. 19 Join Beth El Congregation of the South Hills for Drag Queen Bingo. Doors open at 6 p.m. $20 per person, includes bingo and show. Food, drinks and raffles. Visit dragqueenparties.com for tickets. q SUNDAY, SEPT. 22 Conquer the unknown at the Steel City Showdown: Beast of the Burgh, 3-5 mile obstacle challenge through the JCC of Pittsburgh’s 100+ acre Henry Kaufmann Family Park woods. $55 for 9-9:45 am heats; $50 for all other heats; $25 for kids race. Visit active.com/monroeville-pa/running/distancerunning-races/steel-city-showdown-2019 for more information and to register.

q WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 18

Kids will get a fresh start by visiting Chabad of the South Hills’ Rosh Hashanah Farmers Market at the South Hills JCC at 2:30 p.m. They’ll go from booth to booth exploring the holiday’s culinary themes with unique recipes: round artisan challah, apple mocktails and more. Designed for children ages 3-11. To register call 412-344-2424.

The Squirrel Hill AARP will hold their first fall

The Jewish Community Foundation presents

the 2019 Fall Forum featuring Dr. Erica Brown in conversation with Rabbi Danny Schiff on Leading Issues in Contemporary Jewish Life at Rodef Shalom Congregation featuring the presentation of the 2019 Gift of Consequence Award to Sandy and Larry Rosen. Brunch begins at 10:30 a.m. followed by the program at 11:45 a.m. Visit jewishpgh.org/fall-forum to learn more and register. q MONDAY, SEPT. 23 Rodef Shalom Congregation presents CONNECTING: a photographic exhibit featuring work from the Akko Center for the Arts and Technology in Akko, Israel. Opening reception begins at 6:00 p.m., 4905 Fifth Avenue. q TUESDAY, SEPT. 24 Chabad of the South Hills presents a PreHoliday Seniors Lunch at 12 p.m. Enjoy a delicious lunch with honey cake and a presentation by the Jewish Association on Aging. Raffle prizes. $5 suggested donation, wheelchair accessible. For more information and to preregister, please call 412-278-2658. q WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 25 Learn about AgeWell and other community and government services available to seniors at a free presentation at Temple Emanuel (1250 Bower Hill Road) beginning at 7:30 p.m. Seniors will learn about services available to help them stay in their home and adult children will learn where to find help when they become caregivers. RSVP to templeemanuel@ templeemanuelpgh.org 412-279-7600. PJC

JEWISH COMMUNITY FOUNDATION

2 0 1 9 Fall Forum RODEF SHALOM CONGREGATION SEPTEMBER 22, 2019 10:30AM BRUNCH |11:15AM PROGRAM

Featuring: Dr. Erica Brown in conversation with Rabbi Danny Schiff Leading Issues In Contemporary Jewish Life The entire community is invited to join us in honoring Sandy and Larry Rosen with the GIFT OF CONSEQUENCE AWARD

RSVP online at jewishpgh.org/fall-forum or call Eric Probola at 412.992.5216. Dietary laws observed. This is a non–solicitation event. Sponsored by

The full inclusion of people of all abilities is a core value of the Pittsburgh Jewish community. To discuss disability–related accommodations, please call or email Eric Probola at eprobola@jfedpgh.org or 412-922-5216.

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SEPTEMBER 6, 2019 5

Headlines As Orthodox Jewish community in Lakewood grows, tensions spill into neighboring towns basis they are under attack. However, there are incidents that wake us up, and make us pause and say, ‘What’s going on here?’” said Rabbi Avi Schnall, New Jersey director of the Agudath Israel of America.

‘Behavior that has become downright anti-Semitic’

p Lakewood, New Jersey

— NATIONAL — By Faygie Holt | JNS

hen the power went out in Jackson, New Jersey, on a particularly hot summer night, Howard Orama and his family, including his wife, Carol, and adult son, were planning to do what they always did: simply weather it out. A U.S. Air Force veteran, Orama was used to handling things on his own and this time would be no different. Except that it was. His neighbor of three years, David Shlezinger, had a generator and offered to let the Oramas hook it up to their fridge, which was full of meat and other foods they had bought in preparation for a large family gathering later in the week. “At the time, I was a little apprehensive, a little concerned,” acknowledges Orama, who has lived in Jackson since 1990. “I usually don’t take things or ask people for anything. … Then it kind of hit me, and I shed a tear because it’s not every day you get assistance from anyone.” For Shlezinger, originally from Brooklyn, N.Y., offering a helping hand to a neighbor was the right thing to do. “I didn’t think I did anything major. In a Jewish neighborhood, it would be a normal thing, but here people mostly keep to themselves.” The two men are likely to be found sharing a late snack; Shlezinger will drop off some food his wife cooked, and sit and talk about work or life. Orama may ask Shlezinger about Orthodox life, including whether or not it’s OK to talk to Shlezinger’s wife (yes, of course) or for information about upcoming holidays (again, no problem). Shlezinger, for his part, may ask Orama for tips on home repairs or inquire about his work in the U.S. Air Force.

‘What’s going on here?’

The friendship that has built up between Orama and Shlezinger is a sharp contrast to the usual stories as they relate to Orthodox Jews and their neighbors coming out of Ocean County, New Jersey, which includes towns like Jackson, Lakewood, Brick and Toms River. Since about 2015, and possibly even earlier, as the Orthodox Jewish population of Lakewood has continued to multiply 6 SEPTEMBER 6, 2019

Photo from JNS.org/Wikimedia Commons

— half of its 102,000 residents are Orthodox Jews and the other half includes Hispanic or African-American — tensions have also been growing with their neighbors. The median income in Lakewood is about $44,700 as compared to some $65,770 for Ocean County overall, while the “persons per household” in Lakewood is 5.12 as compared to 2.61 in the county, according to the U.S. Census Bureau’s QuickFacts. Also, the township’s population is significantly younger with the median age in Lakewood being just 21.7 years as opposed to 42.7 in Ocean County as a whole. Residents of nearby towns, primarily non-Jewish Caucasian middle-class families, will point to concerns about Lakewood’s overdevelopment, where multiple-family dwellings have replaced single family houses and wooded areas; concerns about Jewish control of the township and school boards, which they believe has had a detrimental impact on both the local public school system, with significant budgetary challenges; and the aesthetics of Lakewood, which once welcomed such dignitaries as John D. Rockefeller. They complain about the increased funding spent on busing for Orthodox Jewish children, whose Torah-observant families want to keep separate from the greater community. They also claim that Orthodox Jews who want to buy properties outside of Lakewood proper have been aggressive in their actions — banging on doors; sending fliers to residents, urging them to sell; and advertising proposed new housing developments only in Jewish publications, indicating that they are for Jewish residents only. Orthodox Jews, for their part, point to problems getting zoning to build religious schools and synagogues in nearby towns. They note harassment and threats, both verbal and online. Then there were the yard signs, prevalent just two years ago, like “Don’t Sell, Toms River Strong” — a not-sosubtle message that the Orthodox Jews who were house-hunting in the area were not welcome. And just a few weeks ago, more than 100 tires were slashed in Lakewood on Shabbat; all those cars were owned by Jews. “On an average day, the average person is just living their life. I don’t believe that the average person feels on a day-to-day

Once home to vast farmland, summer resorts and a quiet pace of life, the growth of Orthodox Jewish life in Lakewood began in the 1940s, when Rabbi Aharon Kotler, one of the leading Jewish leaders of his time, started Beth Medrash Govoha, a yeshivah and kollel (center for advanced Jewish learning) for men in Lakewood. Soon many more families came to town to be near the burgeoning men’s yeshivah.

residents in 1980 to the more than 100,000 who call the township home today. While much of the growth has been centered in Lakewood, in recent years young families have been moving to adjacent towns, which is when things began to get heated. “You have this situation where there is demographic growth, but that is being used as an excuse to scapegoat the Orthodox community for all the trouble that the particular community has,” said Alexander Rosemberg, director of community affairs at the Anti-Defamation League New York/ New Jersey. “Whatever the initial concern may have been, you have behavior that has become downright anti-Semitic — not from the whole town by any means, but specifically, the narrative that is being sold around

p Howard Orama, left, and his neighbor, David Shlezinger, of Jackson, New Jersey Photo from JNS.org

Young post-high school men came to study for their rabbinate degrees. Newly married men stayed in the Kollel to study for a few additional years, settling their young families in town and building the next generation of Orthodox Jews in Lakewood. Jewish elementary and high schools, stores and restaurants catering to the kosher dietary needs of these young families, along with clothing boutiques and Judaica shops, encouraged even more families to come to town, pushing out the historically white non-Jewish residents. Lakewood’s Orthodox population today doesn’t just include those who are studying in or graduates of BMG, but also includes Chasidic Jews from Brooklyn, who wanted to move to an area with a strong Orthodox presence where they could build their own schools and synagogues. All of these developments helped fuel the growth of a township that had just 38,000

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that demographic development.” Rosemberg said “it’s under the guise of supposedly legitimate public policy concerns that the bigotry has developed,” adding, “maybe it was always there.” According to the ADL, Ocean County recorded 21 anti-Semitic incidents in 2018 — a number experts believe is low because of underreporting. That number doesn’t include some of the troubling incidents since the start of 2019, including: • A man made a YouTube video of himself sitting in his car near a Brick Township playground. Through the windshield, viewers can see young families and children — all identifiably Orthodox Jews — playing outside as the driver spews hate-filled, anti-Semitic language. • On May 13, Ocean County Prosecutor’s Please see Lakewood, page 7

PITTSBURGHJEWISHCHRONICLE.ORG

Headlines Lakewood: Continued from page 6

Office arrested a 48-year-old Brick Township woman for bias intimidation for allegedly sending Facebook messages that warned a resident to move, also noting that the “KKK is alive and well in Brick.” • After the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office announced the May arrest of an Orthodox Jewish mother on manslaughter charges for allegedly leaving her baby in a hot car, social media was filled with comments, such as “Either she’ll walk free or take off for Israel” and “If they didn’t have so many kids, they wouldn’t forget them in the car.” One outlet many say is an open pipeline for hate is the Facebook group “Rise Up Ocean County.” Created with the stated goal of combating overdevelopment in Lakewood, many posters pedal anti-Semitic tropes like Jews have dual loyalty to the country, cheat the government, don’t pay taxes, etc. Concern about the group’s rhetoric reached the highest levels of New Jersey state government, and prompted Rachel Wainer Apter, director of the New Jersey Division of Civil Rights, a part of the Office of the Attorney General, to write to Mark Zuckerberg and Facebook on April 5 warning that the comments on the page appear to incite violence against Orthodox Jews. Some of the highlighted comments: “We need to get rid of them, like Hitler

did,” “I live on the edge of Toms River and Lakewood, and the gang war has begun. I have my mac 11 loaded,” “I’m knocking out the first person I see from Lakewood at the meeting tomorrow. Again, not a threat. It’s a promise.” Just after Wainer Apter sent her letter, Rise Up Ocean County split into two different Facebook groups: a public one that can be monitored by the social media channel and a private page that isn’t subject to the same scrutiny. When asked what is fueling the hate in Ocean County, Wainer Apter points to an observation Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was known to have made: “People fail to get along because they fear each other; they fear each other because they don’t know each other; they don’t know each other because they have not communicated with each other.” “There hasn’t been a lot of interaction with the different communities in Lakewood, and I think that is a time when fear can rise,” said Wainer Apter. To be sure, Ocean County is not the only place where the outgrowth of the Orthodox Jewish community into other neighborhoods is divisive. In New York, as the Orthodox have moved from Monsey in Rockland County and Kiryas Joel in Orange County, residents of adjacent communities have similarly expressed their concerns about dense housing and the drain on local resources; the Orthodox Jewish community’s exclusion of others; and the impact that an influx of

JC Opn Special moments FIN_Eartique 4/29/19 4:31 PM Page 1

families who attend Torah-based day schools will have on the public-school system.

‘Lift the veil on a misunderstood community’

Hoping to elevate some of the “fear” of the other, some are taking a stand to help break down barriers and stereotypes about Orthodox Jews and their lifestyle. On the smaller scale, a gathering organized by Orthodox women in March called “Knead Kindness” was as much about how to make challah as it was about fostering understanding among the different populations. About 100 people attend the event. Tova Hershkovitz, a marketing guru and young mother in Toms River, is one of those leading that charge. She attends town hall meetings, participates in the Unity Project (a project of the Gannett-owned “Asbury Park Press” and local residents to increase dialogue between communities) and more. Her goal, she said, is to “lift the veil on a misunderstood community.” “I live in this township, and I don’t like the stereotypes. I felt personally offended when I went to these meeting, and I was surprised by the questions and stereotypes that people had — for instance, I was surprised they thought we were all very insular and uneducated. “They had this idea in their head of who we are and how we thought about the world, but the people I know are proud to be Americans, follow politics and know a lot more about pop culture than you think,” she

continued. “They think we live in a bubble, and while that’s true for a small minority, that’s not the general community.” Though differences and problems do exist, Hershkovitz thinks the media has somewhat exaggerated the tensions. “It’s almost as if there are two narratives: what’s happening online on Facebook and Twitter, and the day-to-day reality of neighbors getting along.” That’s certainly the reality for Shlezinger and Orama of Jackson. “You hear stuff and see the signs,” said Orama, “but I’m a human being, and so are the Jewish people. Just because you hear things in the air doesn’t mean it is true. In life, you meet people, and if you are going to disregard them because of what you hear without shaking their hand or getting to know them, that’s not a good thing.” Said Shlezinger, “Before I moved in, there was a lot of hate going on. I heard some of the negativity when I was house hunting in Jackson.” Noting that once or twice, he was subjected to harassment on his way to shul, he added, “The haters make a lot of noise, but I’ve been pretty happy on my block.” That’s probably welcome news for Wainer Apter, who is “optimistic” about the future. “At the end of the day,” said ADL’s Rosemberg, “more needs to be done by everyone. All sectors of society — elected law enforcement officials, local leadership, community leaders, clergy — everyone needs to come together and have meaningful dialogue and denounce hate wherever it comes from.” PJC

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Headlines Survey reveals growing demonization of Jewish state as ‘Nazi-like’ by Germans — WORLD — By Ben Cohen | The Algemeiner

leader of Berlin’s Jewish community has called for a “paradigm shift in the fight against anti-Semitism” in the wake of a poll showing that a large minority of citizens in the German capital believed that Israeli policies toward the Palestinians were as deadly as the persecution and mass murder of Jews by the Nazis, alongside the view that the creation of the Jewish state in 1948 should have been rejected. Writing in the local Jewish news outlet Jüdische Allgemeine, Sigmount Königsberg — the Berlin Jewish community’s commissioner on anti-semitism — declared that despite a profusion of voices urging “the Jews to shut up about anti-Semitism … we will not do so.” Königsberg was responding to the publication last week of the “Berlin Monitor 2019” — a survey of 2,000 of the city’s residents that examined their attitudes toward democracy, along with anti-democratic prejudices such as anti-Semitism and racism. While much of the local media coverage of the survey highlighted the relative tolerance of Berliners compared with the rest of Germany, Königsberg stressed that enmity toward

p Demonstrators in Berlin brandish Turkish and Palestinian flags as they burn an Israeli flag during a 2017 protest. Photo by Jüdisches Forum

für Demokratie und gegen Antisemitismus

the State of Israel had become the principal channel for the expression of anti-Semitism. “700 years ago, Jews were accused of infanticide,” Königsberg wrote, referring to the medieval libel that Jews murdered Christian children as part of their religious rites. “These days, it is Israel that is called a ‘child murderer,’ and that provides a pretext to attack people wearing a kippah,” he continued. The project of a group of social scientists at the Universities of Leipzig and MagdeburgStendal, the 2019 study of Berliners’ attitudes

was strongly focused on anti-Semitism, gathering responses to a range of anti-Jewish statements that reflected both well-established and more modern forms of the prejudice. “It is no surprise that Israel-related anti-Semitism has much higher levels of approval than the ‘classical’ forms,” said Königsberg. The survey showed that 21 percent of Berliners without German citizenship — the great majority of whom come from Muslim countries — agreed largely or completely with the assertion that “Jews are responsible

The family of Arlene Shapiro

for most wars and conflicts in the world.” That same view was shared by only 7 percent of Germans with an immigrant background. However, there was greater agreement among new arrivals and those with an immigrant background that the founding of the State of Israel was a “bad idea.” Among new immigrants, 45 percent agreed with that statement, as did 42 percent of those who come from immigrant backgrounds. The survey found that the depiction of Israel as a state carrying out Nazi-like policies was even more entrenched. A majority of new immigrants — 55 percent — agreed largely or completely with the statement, “Israel’s policy in Palestine is as bad as Nazi policy during World War II.” Among those with immigrant backgrounds, 42 percent were in agreement. At the same time, the survey demonstrated that anti-Semitic prejudice among native Germans in Berlin was widespread, as was hostility toward Israel. Twenty-eight percent of German-born respondents agreed that Israel’s founding had been a “bad idea,” while a full 35 percent endorsed the analogy between Israel and Nazi Germany. Even more strikingly, 36 percent of native Germans agreed partially or wholly with the Please see Germans, page 15

sends its sincere gratitude and heartfelt thanks for the generous donations and condolences made in memory of

Arlene, beloved wife, mother, and grandmother.

8 SEPTEMBER 6, 2019

May her memory be a blessing.

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Headlines camp counselor in 2001. He accepted a plea deal and served prison time for that incident.

— WORLD — From JTA reports

Second assault against Orthodox man in Crown Heights

NJ rabbi sentenced to prison for trafficking and prostitution A New Jersey rabbi was sentenced to 18 months in prison for his involvement in the human trafficking and prostitution of a 17-year old girl. Rabbi Aryeh Goodman, 37, of East Brunswick, also will have to undergo a year of supervised release. The sentence was announced last week. Two Bronx residents also were involved in the prostitution ring. Richard Ortiz was sentenced to 96 months in prison. Gabriella Colon is to be sentenced later this month. Goodman had pleaded guilty to a charge of interstate travel in aid of a racketeering enterprise, WCBS-New York reported Friday. Goodman met the teen at a hotel on Feb. 1, 2018, and paid to have sex with her after answering an online advertisement for the girl, according to the Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office. He turned himself in nearly a week later to the East Brunswick Police Department while accompanied by his attorney. At the time of his arrest, he was running a religious learning center out of his home. Goodman is registered as a Tier 3, or high-risk sex offender, after being arrested in 2013 for molesting a youth while serving as a

For the second time in less than a week, an identifiably Jewish man has been attacked in the Crown Heights section of Brooklyn with a stone. Police said a group of men threw a rock at a delivery driver, an Orthodox Jew, as he sat in his truck at the corner of Brooklyn Avenue and Prospect Place, WNBC-TV reported. The rock broke the driver’s side window and hit him in the eye, cutting his face. The delivery man refused medical attention. The attack took place about a dozen blocks away from where a rabbi was injured a few days earlier after having a paving stone thrown at him in what is being investigated by police as a hate crime. “The continued violence and hate directed towards visibly observant Jewish individuals in our community must stop now,” Evan Bernstein, the New York/New Jersey Regional director of the Anti-Defamation League, said in a statement Friday. In the first incident, police told WNBC that Abraham Gopin, 63, was going through his morning exercises in Lincoln Park Terrace when another man allegedly yelled a Jewish slur at him and threw a rock in his direction, but missed. The father of 10 confronted the rock thrower, who started punching him, police said. Gopin fought

back before being hit with the paving stone. The assailant fled the park on foot. Gopin was hospitalized but is now recovering at home after suffering a broken nose, two broken teeth and bruises. Poway rabbi who lost finger in synagogue shooting gets lifelike prosthetic The rabbi who lost his finger in the April shooting attack on the Chabad of Poway in California has received a lifelike prosthetic finger. The silicone prosthetic is meant to help his hand function properly and is removed for sleep. Sam Heifetz, a third-generation prosthetist at Orthocraft Prosthetic and Orthotic Services in Brooklyn, created the High Definition Silicone Restoration or lifelike prosthesis for Rabbi Yisroel Goldstein, COLLive reported. He lost one index finger in the attack by alleged gunman, John Earnest, who shot with an assault rifle at close range. “His lost finger during the horrific attack in his synagogue is a physical reminder of hate but his counterattack of inner strength, trust in God and bringing good to the world sheds light over and over,” Heifetz said, according to the news website. One Poway Chabad member, Lori Kaye, was killed in the shooting attack on the last day of Passover, April 27. Three other members, including the rabbi, were shot.

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A Swedish imam was fined about $305 for hate speech for calling Jews the “offspring of apes and pigs” during an anti-Israel demonstration two years ago. Samir el Rifai of Helsingborg made the statement in Arabic in response to Israel limiting prayer at the Al-Aqsa mosque after two Israel Police officers were killed there. “There is no prophet against whom those who are the progeny of monkeys and pigs have not made evil plans against. They did it to all prophets and to all nations, this has also affected our prophet, peace be upon him,” el Rifai said at the July 2017 demonstration organized by the SwedishPalestinian Centre, the Swedish newspaper Expressen reported. His statements were reported to police by the Jewish Assembly in Helsingborg. The imam told the Helsingborg District Court at his trial in May that his statements referred to the State of Israel and not all Jews — an argument the court did not accept as valid, saying that the word Jew is not the same as the State of Israel. PJC

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After being shot, Goldstein ran to the social hall where congregants had gathered — as had several children, including his granddaughter — and he began waving them out of the building to safety. “I just ran, not even knowing my fingers were blown off,” he said.

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Headlines County Republican ad warns of a Chasidic ‘takeover’ — NATIONAL — By Marcy Oster | JTA

Facebook campaign ad from an upstate New York county’s Republican Party has been slammed as anti-Semitic and “deeply disturbing.” Titled “A storm is brewing in Rockland,” the video takes aim at the large and growing Chasidic Jewish community in the county, the specter of “overdevelopment” and a proposed yeshiva campus. The video, which appeared to have been removed as of press time, features menacing music, the slogan “If They Win, We Lose” and a warning that “they” will “change our way of life.” “Aron Wieder and his Ramapo bloc are plotting a takeover,” the video intones, referring to a Chasidic legislator representing a Rockland County town with a large Orthodox population. The ad warns that “chaotic development” and redistricting threaten “our” home, schools, families — and water. “This video is deeply disturbing and should be removed and condemned immediately by the Rockland County Republican Party,” New York Attorney General Letitia James said in a statement. “To clearly state that members of the Jewish community are

p A Chasidic youth crossing a street in Monsey, Rockland County, New York

Photo by Johannes Eisele/AFP/Getty Images

a threat to families and our safety and that they must be stopped is despicable and completely unacceptable. Attacking those who are different than we are only breeds hate and makes us weaker. We must all stand together to denounce this hateful video.” The Republican Party chairman in Rockland County, Lawrence Garvey, defended the video in a Facebook post on the party’s page. “Regardless of your thoughts of the video, there are facts that cannot be ignored. This is not, nor has it ever been a religious issue. It is an issue of right and wrong,” he wrote. “For those not living in Rockland, it is harder

NA’AMAT USA, PITTSBURGH COUNCIL Invites you to

The Annual Spiritual Adoption/Scholarship Fundraising Dinner Honoring Ira Frank

to see a real and unique problem that exists here. The people of Rockland have become desperate for attention to the problems facing our communities and many live every day with the threat of losing their homes and neighborhoods. “Anyone who dares speak up about overdevelopment, corruption, or education is immediately labeled as anti-Semitic without any concern for facts or without any idea of the true issues at hand.” The Republican Jewish Coalition in a tweet called the video “absolutely despicable” and “pure anti-Semitism.”

“The Rockland County Republican Party is an embarrassment and has no place associating itself with our party,” the RJC said. The New York/New Jersey office of the Anti-Defamation League said the “images and language of the video strongly suggest an appeal to anti-religious bigotry, which has no place in our elections.” It called on the Rockland GOP to remove the video and “work to understand why it is offensive.” Rockland County, which is estimated to be more than one-third Orthodox and includes the Chasidic village of New Square and the sprawling Orthodox community of Monsey, has seen intense infighting between the burgeoning Orthodox population and local opponents over development, public school budgets and zoning. Responses to the video on the party’s Facebook story ran the gamut from enthusiastic endorsements to charges of racism and anti-Semitism. “Last time I saw a video like this it was in black and white and in German,” noted Josh Groll. “I think if ANY group of people came into an area and overdeveloped it, changed the school system, tried to take over the way the area was governed, and changed the landscape of an area, people would be VERY upset … just happens to be Hasidic in this case … sorry, I don’t see it being anti-Semitic …” wrote Brenda Logun Sclossberg. PJC

This week in Israeli history Sept. 10, 1956 — Archaeologist Eilat Mazar born

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

Sept. 6, 2007 — Israel destroys Syrian reactor

In Operation Orchard, eight Israeli aircraft destroy a suspected nuclear reactor, built with North Korean help, at the military site of Al Kibar in northeastern Syria.

Tuesday, September 24, 2019 • 6:30 p.m. Samuel and Minnie Hyman Ballroom Congregation Beth Shalom, 5915 Beacon Street RSVP to Jackie Braslawsce, 412-303-5769 or email naamatpgh@gmail.com Reception: 6:30 p.m. Dinner: 7:30 p.m. Dietary Laws Observed

$360 Minimum Contribution $100 First Time Attendee Contribution $40 Dinner per person

– COMMITTEE CHAIRPERSONS – Gloria Elbling Gottleib, Carole Wolsh, and Julian Elbling Presidents - Dorothy Greenfield and Roselle Solomon

Executive Director - Jackie Braslawsce

Ira has been a long time friend and committed to NA’AMAT USA Pittsburgh Council for decades. He has held countless leadership positions in the Pittsburgh community supporting Israel as well as local and international Jewish organizations. Ira is currently the sitting President of Beth Hamedrash Hagadol Beth Jacob Congregation, and Congregation Beth Shalom Men’s Club, he is the immediate past President of ZOA Pittsburgh, a sitting board member of Israel Bonds and Jewish National Fund. Ira has a special place in his heart for children, especially his little friends at Beth Shalom. He can always be found greeting every child with a smile and a treat on Shabbat morning. Ira Frank has a heart of gold and is a friend to all in our community. Thank you Ira for your life long commitment to the continuity of the Jewish people.

A voice for women and children—A voice for Israel

10 SEPTEMBER 6, 2019

Sept. 7, 1907 — Ben-Gurion arrives in Jaffa

Three years before changing his last name to Ben-Gurion, David Gruen arrives in Jaffa to make aliyah with his girlfriend, Rachel Nelkin, and other young adults from Plonsk, Poland. He settles in Petah Tikvah to work in agriculture.

Sept. 8, 2010 — Tank designer Tal dies

Former Israeli armor commander Maj. Gen. Israel Tal, best known for leading the 1970 committee that designed and developed the Merkava (Chariot) tank, dies at age 85.

Sept. 9, 1993 — PLO, Israel recognize each other

Sept. 11, 1921 — Moshav Nahalal founded

Moshav Nahalal, a new kind of agricultural settlement combining a kibbutz’s communal principles with private land ownership, is founded in the northwestern Jezreel Valley between Haifa and Afula by 80 families who came to the Land of Israel during the Second Aliyah (1904 to 1914).

Sept. 12, 2009 — Israeli Film wins Golden Lion

Four days before Yasser Arafat and Yitzhak Rabin sign the self-rule agreement of the Oslo Accords, the Palestine Liberation Organization and Israel formally recognize each other’s existence.

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Eilat Mazar, a third-generation Israeli archaeologist, is born. Her best-known work has involved excavations in Jerusalem’s City of David, including finding remnants of what she believes to be King David’s palace in 2005.

An Israeli film, “Lebanon,” wins the Golden Lion at the Venice International Film Festival for the first time. Written and directed by Samuel Maoz, the movie follows a tank brigade during the First Lebanon War. PJC

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Pittsburgh was among a small group of cities that exceeded the goal of securing 25 legacy gifts in the 25th anniversary year of the Lion of Judah Endowment Society. With heartfelt thanks to the following 30 women who endowed their commitments this year to the Federation’s community campaign.

Anonymous (2) Marcella Apter Gail Childs Kathy Weiner DiBiase @ Carol Goldberg Ruthie Goodboe Cindy Goodman-Leib Barbara Zimmer Kann Natalie Kaplan Marissa Karp Simone Karp Ellen Katzen Natalie Klein Elaine Krasik

Corinne Krause (z”l) Leah Berman Kress Lesa Morrison (z”l) Emily Perlow Jennifer L. Poller Daniella Rabin Micah Rabin @ Rita Rabin Debbie Resnick Nancy Rubenstein Marcie J. Solomon Adele Sufrin Suzanne Wagner @ Cheryl Weisband Stella Wolk

@ The Star of David Society is a national honor society created by the Jewish Federations of North America to recognize the extraordinary contributions of those who create Lion of Judah Endowments of $200,000 or more or any permanent endowment of $500,000 or more. For more information about how you can establish a Legacy Fund, please visit foundation.jewishpgh.org or contact: Daniel O. Brandeis, Esq. Foundation Director 412.992.5220 dbrandeis@jfedpgh.org

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SEPTEMBER 6, 2019 11

Opinion Still our boys — EDITORIAL —

s it possible to overcome one’s sense of outrage and trauma in order to empathize with the suffering of another? And what if the “other” is not your friend, and may even have been complicit in bringing you pain? These are just two of the questions the new HBO series “Our Boys” presents to Israelis and friends of Israel — and reactions have been intense. The title “Our Boys” refers to the unprovoked kidnapping and murder in the summer of 2014 of Gilad Shaer, 16, Naftali Fraenkel, 16, and Eyal Yifrah, 19, by Palestinian terrorists as the young men were hitchhiking home in the West Bank. The kidnappings, murders and the intense search for the bodies shook Israelis and Jews around the world, just as Israel and Hamas were drifting into full war. The criticism of HBO’s fictionalized

account stems from the fact that the tragedy of Shaer, Fraenkel and Yifrah is only the prelude to what becomes, in effect, a story about the revenge killing of “Their Boy,” 16-year-old Palestinian Mohammed Abu Khdeir, who was savagely burned alive. In 2016, a Jewish-Israeli man, Yosef Haim Ben-David, and two minors, were convicted of the murder. There is a bait and switch element to the HBO series. Its title, opening and promotion seemed to promise a re-creation of how the kidnapping of the three Israeli teens became the focus of Israeli life for two agonizing weeks, and the aftermath. So it is understandable that some viewers — particularly those who thought the series would be an expose of Palestinian hatred, violence and random murders in furtherance of some twisted theology or political view — are very disappointed. And that is so even though there is near-universal recognition and acknowledgment that Abu Khdeir’s revenge

murder was unspeakably horrific. “Our Boys” was created by two Jewish Israelis, Hagai Levi and Joseph Cedar, and one Arab-Israeli filmmaker, Tawfik Abu Wael. Their work product is a profoundly emotional, thought-provoking story, based upon real-life events and real-life traumas of

two conflicted peoples. And even if the creators’ motivation was partly political, “Our Boys” presents an important — albeit uncomfortable — message. Blood is blood. The blood of a Palestinian is no less red than that of an Israeli. The fact that Israelis uniformly condemned the Abu Khdeir revenge killing while many Palestinians praised the murders of Shaer, Fraenkel and Yifrah doesn’t make either crime less heinous or less worthy of retelling. Five years after the incidents in question, with the same leaders in place in Jerusalem, Ramallah and Gaza, the atmosphere on the ground is just as explosive now as it was then. And that’s where the outrage should lie. As for “Our Boys,” the filmmakers chose the story they wanted to tell. That’s their right — even if it leaves some viewers unfulfilled, a bit embarrassed, exposed and still nursing very deep wounds. PJC

Accidental racism in the Jewish world Guest Columnist Aryeh Ho

arlier this year, my wife attended a program on Jewish education. The presenter made a seemingly harmless joke: “A couple stopped having children after their fourth, because they read a study that said that every fifth child born in America is Asian.” There was no way for him to know that among the sea of white faces in the audience, one of them was married to me. I contacted the presenter to inform him that his joke was racially insensitive (it implies that having an Asian child is a negative outcome to be avoided). His first reaction was not to apologize, but to explain. “The joke is not about race.” “It doesn’t really disparage Asians.” “I ran it by some Asian friends!” “I teach courses on cultural diversity, so I’m well-versed in hot button issues like racism.” The irony of that last point eluded him. I responded by quoting the cardinal rule of comedy: If you need to explain your joke, the joke isn’t funny. The lesser-known corollary: If you need to explain why your joke isn’t racist, the joke is racist. He eventually did apologize. “I’m sorry if you misinterpreted my joke.” In other words, the fault lay with the person who found the joke offensive, not the teller. It was a stunning abdication of responsibility — from a professional educator, no less. I do not believe the presenter is racist. By all accounts, he is an upstanding, civicminded, Torah-abiding Jew — the opposite of a white supremacist brandishing tiki torches. He is not an agent of hate. And one joke in poor taste does not a racist make. But racism exists on a spectrum. The hateful invective of neo-Nazis, Ku Klux Klansmen, and gun-wielding domestic 12 SEPTEMBER 6, 2019

terrorists occupies one extreme. The other encompasses a far subtler form of racism: the inborn, unconscious biases that shape the worldview of anyone raised in a predominantly white society. It is not malicious. Most people are not even aware of it. It manifests most commonly as a blind spot to the perspectives of marginalized peoples and finds expression in

“looked Asian.” I have been asked by the Jewish owner of a neighboring town’s kosher Chinese restaurant if I was a customer or one of the cooks. I have been complimented for speaking without an accent (never mind that I was born and raised in New York). These “innocent” comments touch a raw nerve shared by every minority in America. They boil us down to physical traits,

If you need to explain your joke, the joke isn’t funny. The lesser-known corollary: If you need to explain why your joke isn’t racist, the joke is racist.

comments and questions and jokes that seem harmless, but are actually hurtful. And it is distressingly common in the Jewish world. My life as a convert has been charmed. In the 12 years since I joined the Jewish people, I’ve enjoyed the wholehearted embrace of countless families and individuals who have gone out of their way to make me feel like a vital thread in the broader tapestry of Judaism. They’ve shown me nothing but acceptance and friendship. I have never experienced overt racism from fellow Jews. No taunts of “go home, Bruce Lee!” which I heard as a child in the suburbs, and even occasionally as an adult in the streets of Manhattan. Tolerance is a hallmark of Judaism, and I can attest to its truth. However, I have heard children chant “ching chong, ching chong!” in my presence at Shabbos tables. I have heard adults quip that someone was so tired that their eyes

linguistic sounds, or vocations, reducing individuals to stereotypes. They make us feel different, “othered” and lesser. We are conditioned to think of ourselves as outsiders, and these comments reinforce that insecurity. And the effects are amplified for children. Our youngest son came home from playgroup one day and showed us a trick he learned from his friends: He lifted up the corners of his eyes — a universally recognized gesture to make fun of Asians. Thankfully, my son is still too young to know what it means. I’ve refrained from speaking out in the past for fear of being labeled “hyper-sensitive” or “too PC.” I’ve heard some Jews suggest that political correctness is a tool used by liberals to stifle free speech. To which I respond: That’s easy for a white person to say. Political correctness gives a voice to muted minorities who historically have been silenced.

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We live in a time when marginalized groups are finally feeling empowered to speak out. Shaming us for being “too PC” is an attempt to maintain the old status quo. It is stifling our free speech — not the other way around. I’ve seen Jews roll their eyes when African Americans decry the use of blackface by white performers. I’ve heard Jews dismiss Native Americans who condemn the Cleveland Indians mascot as an offensive caricature. I wonder if those same Jews were as forgiving when a popular clothing retailer released a line of striped pajamas resembling concentration camp uniforms from the Holocaust. I wonder if people who grumble about political correctness are really concerned that t he political correctness is forcing them to take a hard, uncomfortable look at their own biases and prejudices. The Jewish world is becoming more and more diverse — and as a father of children who epitomize that diversity, I feel a responsibility to call out racial insensitivity when I see it. Not to cause trouble. But to educate. To inspire people to think before they speak. Ultimately, the presenter relented. While he declined to abandon the joke entirely, he resolved to change it to make it less problematic for Asians. I am grateful — both for his willingness to do better, and for the lessons we all can take from this episode: Learn to take the feelings of others into account when we speak. Recognize our own biases and prejudices. Believe others when they express and share their pain. Together, we can raise awareness of racial sensitivity within the Jewish community. We can break the cycle of ignorance and inaugurate the path to empathy and inclusion. We just have to recognize that racism is no laughing matter. PJC Aryeh Ho is an editor for an educational website and a published children’s book author. This piece was originally published on aish.com.

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Opinion What’s missing from Israel’s election campaign? Guest Columnist Jonathan Tobin

ecent statements from President Donald Trump about American Jews “being disloyal” set off a firestorm of criticism from Jewish groups. It was clear that the president was criticizing liberal Jews for not prioritizing support for Israel rather than promoting anti-Semitism, as some on the left tried to assert. This latest rehashing of the debate about Trump — in which the majority of liberal Jews were given yet another opportunity to vent their distaste and rage about his presidency — shed little light about either Middle East policy or the realities of American Jewish politics. But it should have reminded us of something that ought to be of enormous interest to American Jews: the disconnect between American Jewish ideas about Israel and the views of the overwhelming majority of Israelis. To the extent that the kerfuffle about Trump’s remarks was tethered to political reality, it should have generated an acknowledgment from both sides of the aisle that the majority of American Jews have never considered Israel to be a litmus-test issue determining their votes. The majority of Jews who consider themselves liberals and Democrats see it as one among many issues, of which those related to what they term social justice are the priority. That’s why Trump’s status as the most pro-Israel president yet

— or, if you will, the American “king of Israel” — hasn’t done a thing to counteract his epic unpopularity among Jewish voters, who continue to reject him in numbers that dwarf those of other segments of the electorate. But once we discard the foolish talk about this being a matter of loyalty, the fact remains that Trump’s approach to the Middle East remains far more in touch with the views of most Israelis — not to mention the political realities of the region — than his American Jewish critics seem willing to acknowledge. The proof of that startling yet inarguable conclusion is to be found in the tenor of the current Israeli election campaign. Trump is wrong to say that all American Jews who won’t vote for him don’t care about Israel. Whether you agree with them or not, many of his liberal critics, including mainstream Democrats who remain stalwart supporters of the U.S.-Israel alliance, really do worry about and support the Jewish state. But they also remain stuck in the same debate about the peace process and the need for a two-state solution that has dominated the conversation in this country with respect to Israel for four decades (Camp David Accords). Within this group, the debate about Israel remains focused not just on criticism of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his close friendship with Trump, but also centered on the idea that the Israeli government’s policies are the primary obstacle to peace with the Palestinians. The core reason for disaffection with Israel is a product of demographic change in which assimilation has undermined a sense of Jewish peoplehood among many younger

Jews. It’s also true that many American Jews have bought into the false notion that Israel is betraying Jewish values by not surrendering territory and creating a Palestinian state in the West Bank, Gaza and Jerusalem in the vain hope that this will magically produce peace as opposed to more bloodshed. But what few in the United States have noticed is that while American Jews continue to talk as if it is 1993 or 2000, the Israeli public has moved on from the peace process as an election issue. It’s true that Netanyahu’s ability to hold onto the office he’s held for more than a decade is very much in doubt when Israelis vote on Sept. 17. Yet what most American Jews also don’t seem to understand about the election is that his main competition isn’t offering an alternative policy on the peace process. To the contrary, the Blue and White Party — led by former Israel Defense Forces’ Chief of Staff Benny Gantz — is doing its best to run to the right of Netanyahu on the Palestinians. Gantz and the other leaders of his party went to the border with Gaza earlier this month, pledging to be even tougher on Hamas than Netanyahu has been. They also promised never to relinquish the Jordan Valley in the West Bank and to maintain settlements there forever. Nor have they showed any appetite for trying to revive negotiations with the Palestinian Authority, which most Americans assume is exactly what Netanyahu’s opponents would do if he were defeated. Indeed, how could Gantz or any possible alternative to the prime minister act differently if he or she were at all serious about

trying to win? P.A. leader Mahmoud Abbas hasn’t even condemned the latest terrorist attack that resulted in the murder of an Israeli teenager and the wounding of other members of her family. When the murderers are caught, they can still depend on salaries and pensions from the P.A. as a reward for their crimes. A consensus that there is no partner for peace exists across a broad spectrum of Israeli society stretching from the center-left to the center-right. Even the remnants of the Labor Party that once championed peace are talking about other issues. While Netanyahu is trying to label all of his opponents as “leftists” who wish to sabotage the country’s security with concessions to the Palestinians, the voters may now be more interested about the religious-secular divide, political corruption and the economy than peace offers that the Palestinians have consistently rejected. While Trump may not know much about American Jews, he does know that most Israeli Jews have drawn the only possible conclusion they can from almost 26 years centered around a “peace process” (Oslo Accords) that many in this country who claim to love Israel have steadfastly ignored: There is no partner who wants to talk peace. Those who took such great umbrage at Trump’s comments would do better to think about why they are so out of touch with Israeli public opinion, rather than continuing the pretense that they know what’s best for the Jewish state. PJC Jonathan S. Tobin is editor in chief of JNS— Jewish News Syndicate, where this article first appeared.

Correction In “Jewish jurists speak out on tikkun olam, Israel and anti-Semitism” (Aug. 30), the Chronicle incorrectly reported that Justice David Wecht was born in Squirrel Hill. In fact, he was born in Baltimore, and moved to Squirrel Hill as an infant. PJC 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:

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Headlines Choices: Continued from page 1

then two one-hour learning slots separated by a 15-minute break. J Line’s schedule was a relative boon to Markowitz. “I picked him up right from hockey practice, and took him so he could make the second hour of J Line. It wasn’t ideal but he got to do some of each,” she said. “He went to J Line after being exhausted from hockey, but it was the best we could work out for that period of time.” Trying to find the sweet spot between competing interests is “a challenge for our family and probably every family when sports come into play,” Markowitz continued. “When you’re on a team your team expects you to be there and if they schedule a game on Sunday morning you have to make a decision, and that can be really challenging for our family. We make decisions trying to balance all the needs of both the team and live our Jewish values, and we explain that to our children.” Lydia Blank, of Highland Park, understands that struggle. She has three children, ages 14, 12 and 4. Her 12-year-old son is studying for his bar mitzvah, attends Joint Jewish Education Program, a multidenominational school for students grades K-7, and plays baseball. Blank’s 14-year-old daughter attended J-JEP three time a week and studied conversational Hebrew prior to high school. Her son will study Hebrew “up through his bar mitzvah and attend J-JEP once a week through the year,” but as for what comes next, it’s a different discussion, said Blank. After aging out of J-JEP, students can attend J Line. In neighborhoods surrounding Squirrel Hill, such as Highland Park, it’s an option several families choose, as approximately 13% of households with children in grades K-12 participated in part-time Jewish education. Similar to its South Hills counterpart, J Line’s program at the Jewish Community Center of Greater Pittsburgh meets once a week. Two Sunday morning slots are separated by a 20 minute break. J Line’s track-based model allows students to either learn about Israel, participate in social justice, explore Jewish culture or study modern Hebrew during the fall, winter and spring terms. Despite its course offerings, J Line functions differently than traditional religious school, explained Blank, who attended School for Advanced Jewish Studies as a teenager and recalled reading Elie Wiesel, studying Torah and learning Hebrew with classmates. “When I started college, I had a leg up and

History: Continued from page 3

in 1936, on the occasion of Machsikei Hadas’ 40th anniversary: “Our Shul, to us, the older members, meant much more than simply a place of religious worship. Torn by fate from our homes in Europe, from our families, friends and every other association that was dear to us, we could hardly have found a rallying centre, where we could forget our economic struggle and, sometimes, 14 SEPTEMBER 6, 2019

that was amazing, but that program doesn’t exist anymore. I wish it hadn’t failed,” said Blank. “I wish there was one place where these kids could get a comprehensive Jewish education that continues on through high school and is not piecemeal.” J Line’s partitioned tracks are “really important but there isn’t one place you can get it all.” Elena and Rob Davis, of Squirrel Hill, can relate to trying to get those needs met. One of the main reasons they moved to Pittsburgh eight years ago was to have access to “a day school like Hillel (Academy) where all of our children could go through high school,” said Elena, whose kids are 15, 12, 10 and 8. In Squirrel Hill, nearly 22% of households with children in grades K-12 participated in Jewish day schools. “We just loved Hillel and the idea of having everyone there and having it be a community school for us,” she said. “When we started dealing with a child with learning disabilities, Hillel really tried, but their resources are limited.” To address the student’s needs, educators routinely pulled the child out of class and into the resource room, but every time there was a removal, material was missed. It created a continuous cycle of being behind, explained Rob. The Davises eventually realized that they needed to make a change. After Provident Charter School opened, the Davises moved their child there midyear to access a curriculum and certified instructors that specifically catered to language-based learning differences such as dyslexia. “It was a really emotional decision for us,” said Elena. Whereas their child had previously been immersed in a substantively Jewish setting — no school on Jewish holidays, kosher food, classmates who attended local synagogues — the new school presented an almost opposite set of circumstances. “We love Hillel. It wasn’t that we were unhappy, it’s just that they weren’t able to support our kids’ learning in that environment,” Elena said. “It was very sad for us to have to take our kids out. We appreciate the efforts Hillel made to work with our kids for years.” Now two of their children go to Hillel Academy and two attend Provident. Finding comparable immersive formal Jewish education for the two who aren’t enrolled in Jewish day school is difficult. “It’s hard for us to know what to do,” said Elena. “We didn’t go to day school; we went to Hebrew school. It’s hard for us to teach on that level.” Determining a child’s Jewish educational goals is difficult, Rob explained. “I feel like our family could almost be a

case study,” he said. “We try and provide equal experiences to them, but it will be interesting to see how it unfolds.” Jeff Margolis, of Squirrel Hill, could probably give the Davises some advice. He and his wife’s four children, 21, 18, 14 and 14, fluctuated between Jewish day schools, cyberschool and public school. “Every child is different,” said Margolis, who attended Hillel Academy and Yeshiva Schools. “Each child as they start to mature and get a little older chooses a different path.” Margolis said his oldest child was active in youth groups and now attends a yeshiva in Israel while his middle child “has almost absolutely nothing to do with almost anything Jewish right now.” The younger two, who are twins, attend Pittsburgh Allderdice High School, where one wears a yarmulke and the other doesn’t cover his head. Margolis and his wife raise their children in a home where formal Jewish study is praised, but when their twins required greater educational attention, the parents decided public school was the best option available. “We didn’t pull them to public school because we said, ‘We don’t value the Jewish educational part.’ We put them in because they needed individual plans.” The education received at Colfax Elementary & Middle School was significant, but so was the loss of communal identity, explained Margolis. “They feel different, and a lot of times they feel, ‘Why can’t I be like the rest of my friends? Why can’t I eat what I want?’ And so what you find out is all of a sudden their lunches are coming home completely untouched. So there are certain battles or certain values or certain things that you wind up just losing, and you try and correct. But again, at the end of the day, you want your child to be able to read and write.” “We know that there are a lot of factors that go into parents’ choices when it comes to Jewish education,” said Raimy Rubin, Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh’s manager of impact measurement. During the two and a half years he was engrossed in the Community Study, Rubin collected and analyzed data with lay leaders, educators and researchers, a process that left him optimistic about the road ahead — especially with results like 33% of overall households with children in pre-K receive formal Jewish education. Considering costs, location, convenience and that not all age-eligible students attend early childhood, Rubin said, that number should inspire part-time schools and Jewish day schools seeking to grow. Education, Rubin said, is an “on-ramp — just as much for the family as it is the child.” Kate Louik, of Mt. Lebanon, would agree.

Louik didn’t grow up Jewish, but converted after marrying her husband. The couple has two daughters, 6 and 4, who both attend Temple Emanuel Torah Center. “One of the things that was really wonderful about my daughter’s preschool experience at Torah Center was every week the teacher sent home a note that talked about the books we read here and the projects we worked on,” said Louik. Because of that, car rides became an opportunity to discuss what was learned that day. “It could have been content about a holiday or it could have been talking about a Jewish value. We were immediately able to turn those conversations from school into a conversation about our family life.” Louik knows that her daughters are years away from their b’nai mitzvot, but she looks forward to inching closer to those events. “I don’t know Hebrew so one of the things I’m excited about for myself and for my kids is that they’re going to be learning a lot of things, particularly when it comes to Hebrew, and my girls and I are going to, kind of, be learning right along with each other.” Jed Cohen, of Squirrel Hill, appreciates the idea of gleaning from a child’s education. He and his wife’s three children, 15, 12 and 12, study biweekly for with Rabbi Yisroel Altein of Chabad of Pittsburgh after attending public school. Tutoring was a natural progression after having participated in numerous functions with the Alteins, explained Cohen, who met the couple nine years ago. When it came to Jewish education choices, “we chose to stick with Chabad mainly because we really like the rabbi. It’s just a comfort level with them.” Cohen said that between his wife having participated in programs with Chani Altein, like the Jewish Women’s Renaissance Project, and his kids’ receiving regular instruction from the rabbi, the overall impact has been extremely beneficial. “It has added a sense of Jewish identity and spiritual value to our family,” said Cohen. The Cohen’s experience represents the Community Study finding that more than 52% of Jewish children in grades K-12 participated in some form of Jewish education during the 2016-’17 school year. It’s an encouraging number, Rubin said, and demonstrates that educators just have to keep being creative. “There is such a competition for our kids’ time and energy nowadays,” Rubin said, “and if we want them to have a strong Jewish education then we have to be innovative ... so that they want to be there and want to get something out of it.” PJC

indifferent success in the acquisition of a new home. The Shul, then, was social club, friendly inn, study circle and many other things of a similar nature to its members.” If the Jewish archives had been established in 1948, it would be filled with the records of old Hill District congregations like Machsikei Hadas. Instead, as the Jewish population of Pittsburgh moved to the eastern neighborhoods, a generation of records disappeared. By good fortune, Machsikei Hadas took most of its things with it. According to congregational memory, all the sanctuary

furnishings were moved from the Hill District to East Liberty. The claim makes sense, but no documentation actually supports it. The contract for the construction of the Wylie Avenue synagogue makes no mention of furnishings. There are no known interior photographs. The oldest surviving image of the ark was taken in 1953, during the week of the dedication ceremony in East Liberty. The closest thing to proof comes from Jonas. His photographs of the synagogue show a support beam running across the

length of the ceiling, exposed when several rooms of a residence became one large sanctuary in a house of worship. The beam could not be moved, of course, and so the ark had to accommodate. Without the documentary effort commissioned by the archive, this small significant detail might have been lost to history. PJC

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

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

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p Participants blow shofars at Forbes and Murray

Elul: Continued from page 14

gathering would be an apt way to begin the month of Elul. “I feel like addressing people’s emotional and spiritual needs is really important, this year especially,” Mayo said. “You are about to say, ‘Who will live and who will die?’ That’s not easy. There might be people who even avoid going. It’s our job, as people who do any Jewish communal work in any way, to ... create safety. We want to create a feeling of being held in the space and of saying, ‘It’s OK to put it out there and to name it. You don’t have to feel isolated, you don’t have to feel alone, you don’t have to feel like it’s not OK to feel this way.’” Participants were invited to write on displayed posters, sharing their thoughts on teshuva, presence, reflection and kavanah. They were also offered four breakout sessions: a session on the sound of the shofar led by Kissileff; one for children about the art of shofar blowing led by Gabby Kunzman of Community Day School; a session examining tragedy through history, led by Eric Lidji, director of the Rauh Jewish History Program & Archives; and a session by Deborah Baron on “finding inner well-being and resilience.” “This was a ripe opportunity,” said Feinstein, who praised the “informal nature of the program,” and the chance to gather as a community in a way that is not “business as usual.” The program was scheduled to conclude with the blast of the shofar on the steps of the Sixth Presbyterian Church on the corner

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coming from within the community, particularly coming from someone who was directly affected by the tragedy, and from women’s voices, which I think is really important,” she explained. “It’s three women, and it’s three women who don’t necessarily represent the face of congregational life or Federation or things that I think a lot of people associate with the big-tent Judaism.” PJC

Germans:

to regard intense hostility to Israel as a “subordinate” concern. “The high level of support for Israel’s demonization and delegitimization must result in a paradigm shift in the fight against anti-semitism,” Königsberg wrote. He said that organizing visits to Israel for all Berlin school children was an “essential building block,” alongside the expansion of partnerships between Berlin and cities in Israel. In common with the rest of Germany, anti-Semitic outrages have been rising in Berlin, with 51 anti-Semitic incidents reported in the first five months of 2019, compared with 38 incidents for the same period in 2018. The true scale of the problem is greater, however, with several researchers and government officials expressing the fear that as few as one in five anti-Semitic incidents in Germany are reported to the police. PJC

Continued from page 8

Photo courtesy of Sara Stock Mayo

of Forbes and Murray avenues. “There has been so much activity centered at that hub, that middle of Squirrel Hill, and it felt like a great public ritualistic way of claiming our community,” Mayo said. Mayo sees great power in bringing the community together, especially in a public forum, and hopes to continue to do so in the future. “For me, I see what we are able to do as a community with the Tikkun Leil Shavuot, and it is incredible,” she said. “I feel like especially after the attack, but even beforehand, that there is such power in coming together.” Opportunities to gather outside of traditional Jewish spaces, such as synagogues, can be a great on-ramp to Jewish spirituality for many, according to Mayo. “It’s not replacing anything,” she said. “But if you look at the changing landscape of Jewish community, and what that means, there is just so much that synagogues can’t do, or that the Federation can’t do, whether it is tending to people’s emotional life or tending to people’s spiritual life beyond the confines of what’s in the liturgy in a worship service. “The sky’s the limit in terms of how we can engage Jewishly. We can do it through chant and meditation. We can do it through text study that’s not just a Saturday morning Torah text study. I see what some other people are doing, like having things out in coffee shops or having things for young people. And for me, I’m big into community-wide, cross-generational, cross-denominational, cross-political. It’s just, how do we build bridges within our

contention that demands for Nazi-era financial reparations exist primarily to fund “a Holocaust industry of resourceful lawyers.” Respondents agreeing with more traditional anti-Semitic canards were fewer in number, but visible nonetheless. Sixteen percent of Berliners thought that “the influence of the Jews is too great,” against a national average of 21 percent in agreement with the same. And one in ten Berliners believe that Jews are more prone than other groups to deploying “dirty tricks” to achieve their goals, compared with a national average of 14 percent who agree that this is the case. In his response to the survey data, the Jewish community’s Königsberg criticized the tendency in media coverage

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

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community and say there are certain places where we can meet that don’t have to be about anything other than showing up, being Jewish and expressing something that we can all get our arms around?” The out-of-the-box programming could also help expand the definition of who is a community leader, Mayo said. “I think a lot of times when we look to Jewish communal leaders, we have certain ideas about who gets to be a leader in the community, and I really like that this is

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16 SEPTEMBER 6, 2019

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Celebrations

Torah

Bat Mizvah

The sacred and the mundane Elsa Kiersten Blodgett, daughter of Dr. Helene Finegold and Dr. and Mrs. Todd Blodgett, will become a Bat Mitzvah on September 7 at Rodef Shalom Congregation. Elsa attends Shady Side Academy. She enjoys playing lacrosse, swimming and basketball as well as dancing. Elsa enjoys studying languages and traveling with her family and friends. She is doing a project at the Holocaust Center of Pittsburgh and a community project to help local children.

Bar Mitzvah

Pierce B. Osterholm, son of Jan and Carl Osterholm will become a Bar Mitzvah at Adat Shalom during the Shabbat morning services on Saturday, September 7, 2019. Grandparents are the late Phil Cohen and Ruth Cohen and the late Carl Osterholm III and Edith Osterholm. PJC

LEGAL NOTICE Estate of Marion P. Riemer, deceased, of Pittsburgh, PA. No. 05161 of 2019. Sanford M. Riemer, Co-Extr., 2911 Shady. Ave. Pittsburgh, PA 15217 and Helene Riemer Berman, Co-Extrx., 1436 Beechwood Blvd. Pittsburgh, PA 15217 or to Bruce J. Boni, Esq., 819 Pine Hollow Rd., McKees Rocks, PA 15136.

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Rabbi Shimon Silver Parsha Shoftim Deuteronomy 16:18–21:9

he Kohain and the Levi are designated to serve in the Temple. Throughout this week’s parsha, the Kohain or the Levi are also mentioned in roles other than that of a priest serving in the Temple. There are references in the following verses: 17:9, 17:12, 17:18, 18:1, 18:3, 18:6, 19:17, 20:2, 21:5. These relate to mitzvos about leadership or judging positions and some about the gifts given to the Kohanim and the Leviyim. In a number of these contexts, the Kohanim are titled “the Kohanim [who are] Leviyim” or “Kohanim, sons of Levi.” The simple explanation for this is that they are described by their tribal ancestry (Rashi 17:9). However, this begs the question: Why is it important to trace their lineage here? Furthermore, why are the Kohanim being singled out to serve in these various capacities. Why could the Torah not simply delegate any regular judge or leader? After commanding us the first mitzvos in the parsha, to appoint judges and to judge fairly, the Torah gives a purpose to them: “In order” that you shall live and inherit the Land. The commentaries explain that the inheritance of the Land is not a one-time event. It is continuous, renewing itself all the time. Thus, these mitzvos are directed to all future generations as well. In order that we merit the continued inheritance, and so that this inheritance will endure, we must adhere to the mitzvos listed in this parsha (see 16:20, Ibn Ezra, R Hirsch). Most of the mitzvos in this parsha are societal, governmental and political. Their purpose is to maintain the solidarity and unity of the nation, to avoid revenge, hatred and quarrels, and to resolve them. The parties come to Bais Din, which is more about fairness than about adversarial competition. They deal with subjects like recognizing boundaries, respecting others’ property, fair judges, righteous witnesses and the like. These relate to each individual’s inheritance, their shares in the inheritance of the Land as a whole by the nation as a whole. These rules seem to be common-sense. Such legislation could surely be enacted by a body of legal scholars, without needing a

mitzvah from Hashem. The parsha teaches us that they are far more than that — their strength is the observance of the Torah. This is the rule of Hashem’s Law. These are holy mitzvos, rather than mundane legal code.To sustain the inheritance of this Land, we need to recognize that it comes from Hashem, and is sacred. It is the individual’s share in the holiness of the Land. How does one remember this? By recognizing the connection to Hashem. The Kohanim are Leviyim. Levi, by definition, is a connector; his name means “attach.” When Leah bore Levi, she named him thus, saying, “This time, my husband will be attached to me.” The tribe of Levi forms the connection between Yisroel, the heirs and Hashem, Who bequeaths the heritage. This is why the parsha, says: The Kohanim, the Leviyim shall have no share and heritage — rather, Hashem is their heritage (18:1-2). Even the writing of the sefer Torah for the king, which is to remind the king that his role is not mundane but holy and for Hashem (17:19-20), is “from before the Kohanim, the Leviyim” (17:18). At the end of the parsha the unsolved murder is discussed. The process of bringing the calf seems to be a method to publicize the murder in the hope of finding the murderer (see Chinuch mitzvah 530). Nonetheless, since this mitzvah is connected to the sanctity of the heritage, being the responsibility of the closest settlement, it requires kaparah, atonement (21:8). Such atonement must come through the Kohanim Leviyim, the connecters to Hashem. Indeed, right there our theme is spelled out: “The Kohanim, sons of Levi, shall draw near. For it is they whom Hashem has chosen to serve Him and to bless with the name of Hashem. Through them shall each dispute and plague [be resolved]” (21:5). Our lives, everywhere, are sustained by Hashem. We would do well to focus on our attachment to Him in our mundane endeavors as well as in our religious rituals. For, through the lens of our connection to Hashem, is not the mundane sacred as well? PJC Rabbi Shimon Silver is the spiritual leader of Young Israel of Greater Pittsburgh. This column is a service of the Vaad Harabanim of Greater Pittsburgh.

Mr. and Mrs. Elmer Judd celebrated their 73rd wedding anniversary on September 1, 2019. Adie and Elmer were married at the Craft Avenue Tree Of Life Synagogue on September 1, 1946.

They are role models for having a happy (and long) marriage to all who know them.

PITTSBURGH JEWISH CHRONICLE

SEPTEMBER 6, 2019 17

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

In memory of...

A gift from ...

In memory of...

Anonymous ........................................Sam Rosenberg

Jean Metzger ..........................Justine Herzog Becker

Anonymous ..........................................Jacob S. Rush

Leonard & Joyce Mandelblatt.............Adelyne Crumb

Beverly Lebovitz.................................... Allen Lebovitz

Marc Rice ......................................Hannah Lillian Rice

Bill and Amy Snider......................... Howard S. Snider

Mildred S. Miller ................................. David Saltsburg

Carol Volkin .............................................Selma Volkin Claire & Morris Weinbaum ................ Joseph Lebovitz Debra & David Cohen .....................Donald Rosenthal Dr. Susan Snider and Family .............. Howard Snider Elaine Levine .......................................Eva Ruth Emas

Mrs. Shirley L. Hirsch ............................. Max I. Levine Ms. Cheryl S. Katz ...................................William Katz Myrna Prince .......................................Harvey Deaktor Myron & Eileen Snider......................... Howard Snider

Gertrude Adams...... Beloved Father Sam Weinberger

Paula S. Riemer .............................. Maxine Sittsamer

Harriet Cohen .......................................Isadore Cohen

Paula S. Riemer ....................................Ruth Feldman

Ida Jean McCormley ..........................Harry Silberman

Rob & Patti Americus .........................Bruce Americus

Irene & Harry Chizeck ............................Irene Chizeck

Thelma R. Miller .................................Esther Whitman

THIS WEEK’S YAHRZEITS — Sunday September 8: Joseph Baker, Belle Berman, Jacob Dobkin, Marilyn Elikan, Nathan Fisher, Rose Goodstein, Rita Hertz, David Kravitz, Thomas Lewis, Simon Lieberman, Lillian London, Yehudi Marbach, Sadie Margolis, Leon Pattak, Freda Rubin, Alice D. Safier, Rebecca Siegal, Lena Thomashefsky, Sarah Zweig Monday September 9: Leon Alan Berger, Jean Serbin Burckin, Honey Sue Fink, Esther Kochin, Bert Lasnik, Leonora Lichtenstul, Eva Zawitz Mannheimer, Fannie L. Morris, Rebecca Rockman, Sadie Simon Sieff, Harry Siegal, Harry Zeff, Margaret Zelman Tuesday September 10: Harry Barnes, Solomon Cantor, Sarah Libby Caplan, Arleen Cohen, Harry Cohen, Eva Ruth Emas, Ethel Geduldig, Bertha Knina, Rose Lucille Levison, Minnie Linetsky, Tauba Loffer, Samuel Mermelstein, Morris Morgan, Jacob Ellis Rosenberg, Mollie Rutner, Charles Schwelling, Israel Seidenstein, Annabelle L. Sharon, Jennie Beck Wintner Wednesday September 11: Nathan Beck, Jack Gusky, Erna Landsberger, Joseph L. Lebovitz, Louis Levy, Morris L. Lieberman, Anna Belle Nadler, Bessie Wilkoff Osgood, Hannah Lillian Rice, Donald Rosenthal, Pearl Seltzer, Mary Simon, Judith Stein, Rose Uram, Bessie Weiner Thursday September 12: Sarah Wolf Bernstein, Charlotte J. Goodman, Samuel M. Hepps, Samuel Jacob Miller, Anna Singer, Jewel Steinberg Surloff, Esther Zinman Friday September 13: Donald Baker, Belle Borofsky, Jacob Broudy, Israel Louis Gordon, Herman Horowitz, Hyman J. Jacobs, Morris Kalson, Theodore Kohut, Morris Mandel, Mollie Markowitz, Morris Marks, Frank Rubenstein, Besse Schugar, Jacob Schwartz, Rose Sherrin, Abraham I. Silverman, David Sinaiken, Joseph Slinger, Esther Wishnovitz Saturday September 14: Max Breverman, Harvey Deaktor, Isadore J. Ficks, Etta Glass, Howard Sylvan Guttman, Ethel Kanselbaum, Isreal Miller, Sidney Pariser, David Vinocur, Mary Weintraub

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18 SEPTEMBER 6, 2019

ACKERMAN: Rose Kaufman Ackerman, age 95, passed away August 16, 2019, in Lake Worth, Florida. Beloved wife of the late Marvin Ackerman, loving mother of Dr Larry Ackerman (Florence) and Joseph Ackerman (Angela), also survived by four grandchildren, four great-grandchildren and many nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews. Cherished sister of Mena Shapiro, the (late Melvin) the late Belle Samuels (late David), and the late Ben Kaufman (late Ruth). She was an administrative assistant at the University of Pittsburgh School of Engineering. She loved singing, dancing, and mahjong. Graveside services were held at Eternal Light, West Palm Beach, Fl. Donations for research to be made to American Cancer Society. FAIGEN: Mark Reuben Faigen, deeply loved husband of Anne (Gussin) Faigen, cherished father of Susan Lynne (deceased), Janet (Carl) and David (Gayle). Grandfather of Sara (Phillip), Jacob and Russell Faigen and Arielle and Eric Schultz. A chemical engineer graduate of Penn State, he was a renowned research engineer, specializing in raw materials for the blast furnace. His expertise brought him travels around the world, mostly in Europe and Asia, where he consulted on the design and planning of steel mills. Mark was also a gifted musician who played the French horn in the JCC orchestra, the Edgewood Symphony, the Wilkinsburg Symphony and, during the summer, at the Kennerdell Music Festival. He was a Blue Band Member of Penn State’s band and played in Temple Sinai’s band. He loved the Pittsburgh Symphony, theater, including yearly visits with his wife to Stratford, Ontario’s Shakespeare Festival. He treasured travels with his wife and family. Most of all he treasured his family, who saw him as a role model for the generations to follow. He and his wife, Anne were married for 67 years, a record he was especially proud of. Services were held at Ralph Schugar Chapel, Inc. Interment Temple Sinai Memorial Park. Contributions may be made to Temple Sinai, Rabbi’s Discretionary Fund, Edgewood Symphony Orchestra or Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra. schugar.com GZESH: Carl Gzesh, 96, formerly of Pittsburgh, passed away peacefully, in Boca Raton, Florida, on August 24, 2019 with family members at his bedside. Carl was predeceased by first wife of 23 years Esther (Moidel) and his second wife of 43 years Diane Linet (Kart), sister Eleanore (Gzesh) and husband Mayer Handley. He was a dedicated, hardworking patriarch and beloved father of a large blended family of seven children David, Anita (Handley) and Ted Heyman, Richard, Frank Linet, Steven, Cheryl (Linet) and Ben Levey and Mindy (Linet) Goldenberg. He is also survived by 9 grandchildren, 6 great-grandchildren, brother Jacob “Jerry” and wife Miriam “Mimi” Gzesh, cousins, nieces, nephews and their families. Friends and family will remember him for his long associations with

Alex Reich/Frank and later The Coach House. Everyone who knew him, will miss him. Carl was interred at the Star of David Garden and Memorial Cemetery located in North Lauderdale, Florida. The family suggests donations be sent to the Cecil and David Rosenthal Memorial Fund c/o Achieva, 711 Bingham Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15203 or the charity of your choice. LEVINE: Thelma Levine, age 90, of Boca Raton, Florida; Charleston, West Virginia; Pittsburgh passed away August 25, of COPD complications. Her beloved husband, Robert Levine of Charleston, preceded her in death. Thelma was the loving mother of Norie Lichtenstul and Barbara Lichtenstul (Donald) Lippman, and Robert’s four daughters, Natalie Cowley, Carolyn (Mike) Cohen, Marilyn (Terry) Segal and Debra Levine. She was grandmother to Carly (Ian) Saks, Sydney and Michael Lippmann, great grandmother to Clair Saks, and a loving sister to Norman (Mady) Levin. Born in Jeanette, Pennsylvania to Ben and Sadie Levin, Thelma was a proud graduate of Winchester Thurston in Pittsburgh. Her family, friends and community meant everything to her. From her early years in Pittsburgh, middle years in Charleston and later in Boca, she was always involved in Jewish organizations. Thelma had a deep passion for Israel, a true Zionist, a strong supporter of the Jewish Federation and proud to be a Lion of Judah. Our mother and friend was beautiful inside and out. She had a charisma, a style all her own and a gift for making and keeping friendships throughout her life. Her friends meant everything to her. Thelma lived her life to the fullest, lit up every room she entered, she had a magnificent life and she will be deeply missed. The funeral service was held at Riverside Stanetsky Memorial Chapel followed by burial at Temple Beth El Mausoleum Davie, Florida. At the family’s requests, in lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the COPD Foundation at copdfoundation.org or to the Jewish Federation of South Palm Beach at jewishboca.org RICKIN: Lois Jean Rickin (nee Miller) of Shaker Heights, Ohio on August 14th; beloved wife of Michael; devoted mother of Eric (Melissa Marks) Rickin of Pittsburgh and Katherine Rickin; loving grandmother of Abigail and Benjamin Rickin-Marks; dearest sister of Carolyn (Eugene) Lempert; and loving aunt of Michelle (Joseph Kachuk) Lempert and David (Renee) Lempert. Lois grew up in Carnegie and Squirrel Hill and graduated from Allderdice High School and University of Pittsburgh. Services were held on August 16 at Mount Olive Cemetery, 27855 Aurora Road in Solon, Ohio. In lieu of flowers, contributions are suggested to the National Council of Jewish Women/ Cleveland, 26055 Emery Road, Suite L, Cleveland, OH 44128. Please see Obituaries, page 19

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Obituaries Obituaries: Continued from page 18

SCLARSKY: Sidney Sclarsky passed peacefully on Wednesday, August 28 at the age of 101. Survived by his loving wife Helen Fay Sclarsky (Weitzen) of 66 years; his adult children David Sclarsky, Jude Sclarsky, Lisa Summer; his grandchildren, Rachel, Hannah, Ethan Sclarsky and Eve Summer; his great grandchildren Henry and Ben Keefe, as well as daughters-in-law Amy Sclarsky (Margolin), Lyralen Kaye, and many loving friends, nephews, nieces and cousins. He was preceded in death by his parents, Louis and Anna Sclarsky; four siblings, Ruth Burdman, Esther Foster, Morris and Harry. Sid will be remembered for his well-earned nickname, “Pal,” his friendliness, kindness and sweetness to everyone who knew him, his lifelong interest in learning and his

commitment to his wife, his family, fatherhood and grandfatherhood. He and Helen enjoyed traveling the country, attending concerts, and growing dahlias and vegetables in their garden. Sid lived a full life and will be deeply missed. Graveside Services were held at Agudath Achim Cemetery, Forest Hills. Arrangements entrusted to Ralph Schugar Chapel, Inc. schugar.com STEIN: Edith G. Stein, age 98, of California, formerly of Mt. Lebanon, on Tuesday, August 13, 2019. Beloved wife of the late Paul Stein. Daughter of the late Oskar and Franziska (Schutzmann) Goodman. Dear mother of Audrey (Dr. Chiboola Malaambo) and Barbara Stein (Robert) Salthouse. Loving grandmother of Ben Salthouse. In addition to her parents and husband she was pre-deceased by her brother, Robert Goodman. In 1938, when she was only 17, Edith was forced to flee Austria, and immigrate to

the United States. Despite many early challenges, she went on to live a long life filled with family, close friends, extensive travel and a love of elegant style and clothing. During the years she was bringing up her two daughters she was an active member of the Mt. Lebanon League of Women Voters, whose community helped her develop as an informed and proactive citizen of the world. Later she earned a B.A. and M.A. from the University of Pittsburgh. As a dynamic and engaging teacher of German at Mt. Lebanon High School she was affectionately known by her students and colleagues as “Frau Stein”. After her retirement she enjoyed working as a travel agent with Ponzio Travel. Throughout her life in Pittsburgh, Edith and her husband Paul both enjoyed and supported the Pittsburgh Symphony and Opera. Most notably, whatever she did, wherever she was, Edith connected with people and formed lasting

relationships. And although the Holocaust played a large role in shaping Edith’s life, she focused on teaching the lessons learned from this genocide; a video she recorded for ‘The Veterans Breakfast Club’ (Edith Stein: In My Own Words) documents how she transformed her experiences into an understanding of the forces of history and the power of our actions to influence the future. Friends welcome Monday, September 9, 2019, from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. at WILLIAM SLATER II FUNERAL SERVICE, 1650 Greentree Rd., Scott Twp., 15220 with a Private Burial to follow at 12:00 p.m.at Mt. Lebanon Cemetery. If desired, Memorial Donations may be made to: Veterans Breakfast Club, 200 Magnolia Place, Pittsburgh, PA 15228 (www.vbcpgh. org); Sierra Club (www.sierraclub.org) or Center for Human Development 322 Birnie Ave., Springfield, MA 01009 (chd.org). slaterfuneral.com PJC

Jewish Healthcare Foundation approves grants to support teen mental health and to boost WIC The Jewish Healthcare Foundation recently approved a two year $70,000 grant to help fund a teen engagement coordinator at the Jewish Community Center of Greater Pittsburgh in Squirrel Hill to engage and support teens for 24 hours per week. The JHF began focusing on adolescent behavioral health in 2016 in response to increasing reports that teens in crisis were unable to find timely treatment. The initiative expanded in December 2018 when JHF approved a grant to improve adolescent

behavioral health services in Squirrel Hill following the shooting in the Tree of Life building. JHF also approved a one-year $20,000 grant to help create a pilot school-based mental health initiative at Baldwin-Whitehall High School. Implemented in partnership with Allegheny Health Network and Jefferson Regional Foundation, The CHILL Project is a year-long comprehensive curriculum designed to transform school culture through skill learning, implementation and

internalization for all individuals in the school community network. The project will include a mindfulness room for students, faculty and parents to actively engage in mindfulness-based learning opportunities and practice these skills. To address declining enrollment by Pennsylvanians in WIC (Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children) — which could threaten federal funding — JHF approved a one-year $25,000 grant which will help

fund a statewide best practices summit. JHF, in partnership with other funders from the Pennsylvania Health Funders Collaborative and the state Department of Health, will organize the gathering in Harrisburg this fall. The summit will bring together statewide WIC leaders and stakeholders to learn from innovative best-practice models across the country and spark action toward regional implementation. PJC —Toby Tabachnick

Post-Gazette donates money to Tree of Life rebuilding fund and sponsors yearly event Tree of Life*Or L’Simcha thanked the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette for donating its Pulitzer Prize award of $15,000 to the congregation’s rebuilding fun. “#Pittsburgh is truly home to some amazing neighbors!” wrote congregational representatives on Instagram. The Post-Gazette announced its gift during a presentation last week to Rabbi Hazzan Jeffrey Myers of Tree of Life*Or L’Simcha. “Rabbi Myers, when the unthinkable happened at Tree of Life, it was our job to tell the story. And to tell the backstory. We did our duty. It

was our honor to do it. Nothing about doing our duty makes us noble or exceptional. But the duty itself was and is noble. Now we share with you another duty: to remember. And to assure that Pittsburgh, the United States and all the world remembers we feel bound to you and your congregations — by memory and duty. And we offer you, in humility, our service — as scribes and witnesses. We wish Tree of Life to have this gift — the newspaper’s cash award for the Pulitzer Prize for spot news — as a sign of this bond and this service.

We give it as a modest contribution toward the repair and rebuilding of the congregation’s physical plant,” said Keith Burris, the PostGazette’s executive editor in an email. The Post-Gazette also announced it will sponsor a yearly gathering called the Dina Wallach Block Symposium. Named after “our publisher’s beloved grandmother, this yearly forum will be in honor of the victims of the Tree of Life shootings and devoted to an exploration of how free speech and free thought can be used to confront hate

speech and violence and overcome both with decency and love,” said Burris. The Post-Gazette received the 2019 Pulitzer Prize for Breaking News Reporting. Judges called the paper’s reporting on the Tree of Life attack “immersive, compassionate coverage of the massacre at Pittsburgh’s Tree of Life synagogue that captured the anguish and resilience of a community thrust into grief.” PJC —Adam Reinherz

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SEPTEMBER 6, 2019 19

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SEPTEMBER 6, 2019

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Pittsburgh Jewish Music Festival Presents

DAVID KRAKAUER

In the Footsteps of the Zimro Ensemble Sunday, September 15 7:00pm Levy Hall, Rodef Shalom Congregation

Tickets & More Info: www.pjmf.net

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Community Ride of Reflection The Mazel Tuff Chapter of motorcyclists welcomed members of Chai Riders from Detroit and New York City, the Chaiway Riders from Illinois, Hillel’s Angels from New Jersey, the Lonsmen from Boston, the Shul Boys from Cleveland, Thou Shalt Ride from Syracuse, the Wondering Twos from St. Louis and Yidden on Wheels from Toronto on Aug. 25 for the Ride of Reflection. During the day-long event, motorcyclists memorialized the 11 Jews murdered in the Tree of Life building, donated blood in memory of Daniel Stein and other victims, participated in a reflection walk, and recited a prayer for peace and the mourner’s Kaddish.

p Stephen Cohen, co-president of New Light Congregation

p Ready to ride

p Participants gather during the day’s activities

Photos courtesy of Barry Werber

Hillel Academy goes back to school

p Students in K-4 art spent their first week in the new Art Studio. Their name cards are leading to an incredible project using WildStyle!

p Aviva Sokol feeds baby goats during the back to school BBQ.

p Ari Goldwasser and students in pre-K spent their week practicing the letters A and Aleph.

p Yehudis Kanal enjoyed the back-to-school BBQ. Who knew you could surf in Pittsburgh?

p Chani and Benny Milch make clear that the first day of school is nothing but smiles all around.

Photos courtesy of Hillel Academy of Pittsburgh

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Community CDS goes back to school Even the rain couldn’t dampen the joy as new and returning Community Day School families kicked off the 2019-2020 academic year on Aug. 27. Children’s voices filled the CDS hallways and classrooms on the first day of school, as students reconnected with their friends and teachers and jumped into another year of learning, growth and discovery.

u Matt and Debbie Graver pictured with daughters Aviva (kindergarten) and Shoshana (Grade 2) and Sivan Avhar from Karmiel, Israel, one of the four shinshinim volunteering at CDS during their year of service in Pittsburgh as emissaries connecting people to Israel and Israeli culture

t Seventh-grader Bennett Passarelli and his brother, fifth-grader Spencer Passarelli

p Matt and Molly Pascal with their children Otis (Grade 4) and Indie (Grade 5)

u Pre-K student Reagan Richman and sister Addison Richman, who is beginning kindergarten

p CDS trustee and alum Shiri Friedman with her husband, Josh, and their children, Lital, Arbel and Niv

Machers and Shakers The Holy Cross Alumni Association announced that Rabbi Norman M. Cohen will be honored with the 2019 In Hoc Signo Award, the association’s highest honor, during the Alumni Association’s Fall Homecoming Dinner held at the College on Oct. 19. Rabbi Cohen is one of four alumni receiving the recognition this year. First presented in 1960, the award is an expression of respect and admiration for those alumni who have given generously of their time and talents to their alma mater. “In Hoc Signo” comes from the Latin phrase “In Hoc Signo Vinces,” found at the center of the Holy Cross seal, and meaning “In this sign you shall conquer.” Cohen was born and grew up in Pittsburgh. He was bar mitzvahed at Young Peoples Synagogue when Albert Bloom was president of the congregation, and is a 1968 graduate of Taylor Allderdice High School. Photo courtesy of Sam Stern Josh Berman, Director of Community Food Initiatives at Economic Development South, was named to the Pittsburgh Business Times’ 30 Under 30 class of 2019. Berman was selected from among hundreds of nominees. Photo courtesy of Josh Berman

p Mara and Paul Svoboda and their daughters Sylvia (Grade 6), Simona (Grade 1) and Sasha (Grade 3) Photos courtesy of Community Day School

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