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October 6, 2017 | 16 Tishre 5778
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Candlelighting 6:36 p.m. | Havdalah 7:32 p.m. | Vol. 60, No. 40 | pittsburghjewishchronicle.org
NOTEWORTHY LOCAL Pashman’s community development ‘dream’ Jewish community leader now CEO of Allegheny Conference on Community Development.
Kollel donkey takes center stage Organizations for obscure mitzvah create cocktail of policies when dealing with alcohol By Adam Reinherz | Staff Writer
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of firstborn sons), the similar mitzvah of redeeming a firstborn male donkey is seldom practiced because of the scarcity of donkey owners in the modern Jewish community. Several requisites must be met to fulfill the mitzvah. A Jew must own the mother donkey, she must never before have given birth, and the foal must be a male. Wargo raises pedigree donkeys for sale to breeders and to individuals as pets. This is the second time the Kollel has contracted with her farm, Cabinwood, to acquire a jennet; an attempt two years ago did not result in a male foal. The “sale” of the donkey is halachically valid, but nominal; the Kollel purchased Rebecca for $1, and it states in the contract that she will remain on the farm and that Cabinwood will buy her back after she gives birth and the mitzvah is completed. The Kollel sold 150 shares of the donkey for $36 each, providing each purchaser with a fractional ownership in the animal and the obligation to fulfill the mitzvah, according to Rabbi Avrohom Weisswasser, a Kollel scholar who
or some, it is a sip; yet for others, not even a drink. The dizzying range of policies held by local Jewish organizations regarding the use of alcohol reflects a conventional attitude with a blend of exceptions. “In general, we do not serve any alcohol at student events, even for religious events,” said Danielle Kranjec, senior Jewish educator at the Hillel Jewish University Center in Oakland. So whether the organization is hosting a Friday night Kiddush, a Saturday evening Havdalah service or even the Pesach Seder, guests can find bottles of grape juice everywhere but not a drop of wine to drink. Reason being that “it’s not central to what we’re trying to do,” Kranjec explained. “In dealing with the nearly 5,000 Jewish university students in Pittsburgh, our focus is to convene communities for meaningful experiences,” and unlike providing “good kosher food,” which “plays a central role in what we do,” alcohol just is not that important. Although its upcoming Simchat Torah celebration will be completely dry, Hillel JUC is not a bastion of prohibition, as, at times, the organization has provided alcohol to members of its “21-plus” affiliate group. But these have been “in very controlled situations in the past, where we have sponsored a bottle of wine among 20 students” for Kiddush, Kranjec said. Having a general rule is common practice in Oakland when it comes to university students. “Obviously, we have a no alcohol policy,” said Sara Weinstein, co-director of Chabad House on Campus. But again, “no” does not necessarily mean nilch.
Please see Donkey, page 16
Please see Alcohol, page 16
LOCAL Fans reflect on taking a knee
Holders of terrible towels sound off on player protests. Page 5 WORLD
You see carrots, he sees juice An organic treasure can be found in Squirrel Hill basement. Page 17
$1.50
Jacob the donkey enjoyed tons of attention at Hillel Academy, which included many hugs and head rubs. Photo by Esther Wayne By Toby Tabachnick | Senior Staff Writer
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his is certainly not the first time that a “Rebecca” has begat a “Jacob,” but it was the first time that such begetting has enabled the Pittsburgh Jewish community to perform the obscure mitzvah known as pidyon petter chamor. Well more than 100 turned out Sept. 27 at Hillel Academy of Pittsburgh’s basketball court to greet Jacob, a 3-week-old male donkey, who lives on Cabinwood Farm in Middlefield, Ohio, and was “purchased” by the Pittsburgh Kollel Jewish Learning Center as part of a fundraising effort. “He’s doing pretty good,” said Lori Wargo, the owner of Cabinwood Farm, of her ward Jacob. “He likes the kids.” And he was surrounded by dozens of them, pushing their way through the crowd to pet little Jacob on his back or rub his head, a real-life “pin-the-tail” game, without the pinning. “He’s very cute,” said Gedalyahu Henteleff, a young Hillel Academy student. While many Jews have heard of the mitzvah of pidyon ha’ben (the redemption
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Headlines After five years, J-JEP bucks national trend, continues to grow — LOCAL — By Toby Tabachnick | Senior Staff Writer
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hen J-JEP (the Joint Jewish Education Program) launched in 2012 as a collaborative effort between Congregation Beth Shalom and Rodef Shalom Congregation, the fledgling supplemental religious school for grades K-7 had 110 students. Now, just five years later, more than 180 children attend the Judaics courses offered at Rodef Shalom on Sundays and the Hebrew programs offered at both synagogues during the week. That’s more than a 60 percent increase in enrollment at J-JEP. “I’m very proud of that,” said Liron Lipinksy, who has served as J-JEP’s director since its beginning. The increase in J-JEP enrollment runs counter to national and local trends. Enrollment in Jewish supplemental schools across the country is declining as affiliation at non-Orthodox synagogues continues to fall. In 2013 in greater Pittsburgh, there were 1,371 students in grades K-12 enrolled in part-time Hebrew or synagogue schools. By 2017, that number had dropped to 998, according to the Jewish Community Scorecard, a project of the Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh that tracks Jewish community performance. Lipinksy attributes J-JEP’s success, in part, to the flexible Hebrew curriculum offered to its students, who can choose from a menu of language study that takes into account each family’s goals of proficiency and emphasis. For example, families can choose whether their children will focus on liturgical or
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BOARD OF TRUSTEES David Ainsman, Chairman Evan Indianer, Vice Chairman Gayle R. Kraut, Secretary Andrew Schaer, Treasurer Richard J. Kitay, Immediate Past Chairman Jonathan Bernstein, Gail Childs, Elizabeth F. Collura, Seth Dresbold, Milton Eisner, Malke Steinfeld Frank, Tracy Gross, Catia Kossovsky, Andi Perelman, Amy Platt, David Rush, Charles Saul GENERAL COUNSEL Stuart R. Kaplan, Esq.
2 OCTOBER 6, 2017
p A J-JEP first-grader learns the season’s vocabulary.
Photo courtesy of JJEP
conversational Hebrew, factoring in each child’s level of fluency and whether that child will best be served by attending a formal class or working independently online. It was that flexibility that led Marcie and Matt Weinstein to enroll their two children, Nate, 11, and Abby, 9, at J-JEP after they made the decision to switch from a local day school to a larger private school in town. “In today’s world, with all their activities, J-JEP fit well,” said Matt Weinstein. “This year, they are taking their Hebrew classes online, and last year, they took courses at Beth Shalom and Rodef Shalom.” The Weinsteins, who are affiliated with the Reform movement and Rodef Shalom, also liked the idea that their children would be learning with children who were part of the Conservative movement, who in some cases have “more Hebrew proficiency. That was one of the attractive features,” Weinstein said. The formation of J-JEP was inspired by an
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opinion piece about “Courageous Conversations,” written by Rodef Shalom’s senior rabbi, Aaron Bisno, that appeared in the Chronicle in 2011. In that piece, Bisno called upon Jewish organizations to seek ways to work together. Boards of both Rodef Shalom and Beth Shalom thereafter approved initiatives seeking to collaborate with one another with an eye toward integrating their religious schools. The collaboration began with combining the 7th grade of both congregations during the 2011-2012 school year on Sundays for Judaic classes. The following school year, all of the kindergarten through 7th-grade students from both congregations were brought together for Sunday religious school programming. Both congregations saw a need to work together, particularly with declining numbers in classrooms, religious school leaders of both congregations told the Chronicle at the time. While J-JEP is still comprised primarily of students whose families are affiliated with either Rodef Shalom or Beth Shalom, there are “a couple dozen students from unaffiliated families, or families that are affiliating elsewhere,” said Lipinksy. J-JEP participants that are not members of either Rodef Shalom or Beth Shalom pay a community fee in addition to tuition. The school has, in fact, served as a feeder to the membership rolls of both congregations, according to Lipinksy. “Every year, we start with a couple dozen families that don’t belong to Rodef Shalom or Beth Shalom, but by the end of the year, most end up joining,” she said. The pluralistic school “celebrates Jewish diversity,” Lipinsky noted. “We look at
different denominations through comparative lenses, and our teachers come from all backgrounds.” A J-JEP survey conducted last spring showed that families value the quality of the education their children are receiving. “The kids are happy,” Lipinsky said. “And several families said they see J-JEP as a good alternative to day school education.” Such is the case for the Weinsteins. While the day school their children attended “provided a good foundation,” Matt Weinstein said, “J-JEP provided the next step we were looking for.” J-JEP now offers adult educational opportunities as well. This year, parents, as well as community members at large, can take an elective on “Israel at 70,” taught by the Federation’s Foundation Scholar Rabbi Danny Schiff. The Weinsteins have enrolled in Schiff ’s course, appreciating not only the quality of its instructor, but the convenience of its scheduling. “They time it so we can drop off the kids and then just walk into the library for the class,” Weinstein said. The success, growth and expansion of J-JEP proves the power of community collaboration, according to Bisno. “Five years later, it’s incredibly gratifying,” said Bisno of the substantial growth of the school. “What we hoped would bring more stability to the classroom has resulted in capturing the imagination of the community. To my mind, this proves the fact that collaboration can yield results that are greater than the sum of its parts.” PJC Toby Tabachnick can be reached at ttabachnick@pittsburghjewishchronicle.org.
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Headlines Pashman selected to lead the Allegheny Conference of Community Development
You’re invited to share this special evening with us
— LOCAL — Adam Reinherz | Staff Writer
Zionist Organization of America: Pittsburgh
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tefani Pashman, a local leader in the Jewish community and former CEO of Partner4Work, was recently named CEO of the Allegheny Conference on Community Development (ACCD). The opportunity to oversee the organization and its affiliates is “a dream come true,” said Pashman, whose official start date was Oct. 2. For more than seven decades, ACCD has sought to convene public and private leadership for local betterment, explained its new CEO. Notable accomplishments from the organization’s past include working to improve Pittsburgh’s air quality, building support for the Port Authority Transit of Allegheny County and helping to create the Pittsburgh Cultural District. Pashman is eager to lead ACCD’s contemporary push beyond Pittsburgh to represent public and private interests throughout the 10-county southwestern Pennsylvania region. Since arriving in the Steel City 12 years ago, the Washington University in St. Louis and University of Michigan graduate has held various leadership positions. As CEO of Partner4Work (formerly 3 Rivers Workforce Investment Board), Pashman managed a budget of $18 million and 25 employees on behalf of an organization committed to connecting “funding, expertise, and opportunities to develop a thriving workforce in the Pittsburgh region.” Earlier, as special assistant to the secretary/director of policy at the Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare, Pashman pursued healthcare policy reform, with a specific focus on both the Medicaid and Medicare programs. Yet, apart from such professional undertakings, Pashman has lent time to local organizations, including the Jewish Community Center of Greater Pittsburgh, the National Council of Jewish Women, Jewish Family & Children’s Services, Rodef Shalom Congregation and the Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh. “On my kids’ side, I served as commissioner of Dynamo (an East End soccer league) and as a team parent. I’m pretty involved with my kids’ activities,” she said. Pashman and her husband, attorney Jeremy Feinstein, have three children: Nathan, a ninth-grader at Pittsburgh Allderdice; Abigail, a seventh-grader at Colfax Elementary School; and Gabriel, a sixthgrader at Colfax. Nathan, a nationally ranked squash player who recently medaled at the Maccabiah Games in Israel, was the subject of two recent stories in the Pittsburgh Jewish Chronicle.
2017 Awards Dinner
Lou Weiss
Honoring
Lou Weiss with ZOA’s Lifetime Achievement Award p Stefani Pashman
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Photo provided
Though Pashman is not a native Pittsburgher, “my kids are actually fifth-generation Squirrel Hill Jewish community members,” she said. “So we’ve got deep roots here, and we feel it.” Such connections give meaning not only to Pashman and her family, but also to those they encounter, as people “appreciate” the idea of returning to one’s place of origin and investing in its advancement, she explained. It’s among the reasons Pashman is so passionate about her new position, which she feels will give her an opportunity to shape a city that has meant so much to her family. Representing the region by “meeting the needs of the business leaders and folks who are key in moving Pittsburgh forward” is a “culmination” of prior endeavors, said Pashman. Having a job where the challenges include taking both the “marching orders” as well as “the reins” presents an “exciting opportunity.” “As chair of the Conference’s Workforce Strategy steering committee, I’ve had the opportunity over the last few years to work closely with Stefani. And as I look forward to becoming chair of the Conference in 2018, I am eager to continue working with her on the issues that are important to our quality of life and ongoing economic development,” said William S. Demchak, chairman, president and CEO of the PNC Financial Services Group and vice chair of the Allegheny Conference, in a prepared statement. “Stefani is an accomplished leader and well respected by the many organizations and officials with whom the Conference partners. Under her leadership, the Conference will achieve great things on behalf of the people and businesses of the Pittsburgh region.” PJC
Adrienne Indianer with the Israel Service Award and Adrienne Indianer
Ira M. Frank with the Ivan & Natalie E. Novick Community Leadership Award
Wednesday, November 1, 2017 at 6:00 PM Congregation Beth Shalom 5915 Beacon Street Pittsburgh, PA 15217
Ira M. Frank
Co-Chairpersons David Ainsman, Gregg Kander, Anna Hollis, Ellen Teri Kaplan Goldstein, Cheryl Moore, Lou Plung Jeffrey L. Pollock, Esq. President
Stuart V. Pavilack Executive Director
R.S.V.P. 412-665-4630 pittsburgh@zoa.org $100 per person Dietary Laws observed • Under the supervision of the Vaad Harabanim of Pittsburgh
Guest Speakers
Two students, who participated in ZOA youth programs, will each spend a few minutes to share their experiences. Jada Woods, a student at the Pittsburgh Creative and Performing Arts School (CAPA), and the winner of the 2017 Tolerance Program essay contest, will speak about her trip to the USHMM. Jason Levy, a student at Upper St. Clair High School, received a ZOA Israel scholarship and will speak about his first trip to Israel this past summer.
Adam Reinherz can be reached at areinherz @pittsburghjewishchronicle.org .
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OCTOBER 6, 2017 3
Headlines Beth Israel Center now closed, served South Hills families for 60 years — LOCAL — By Toby Tabachnick | Senior Staff Writer
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ith only a handful of members left, the Beth Israel Center in Jefferson Hills has ceased operations after an almost 60-year run. But Howard Lang, one of the lead directors of Beth Israel’s board, says he sees his congregation’s story as one of success. “Beth Israel served its local Jewish population in an admirable fashion,” said Lang, a member since 1968. Beth Israel was formed in 1958 by a small group of local businessmen, engineers and scientists, many of whom worked for the Bettis Atomic Power Laboratory, a U.S. government-owned research and development facility in West Mifflin. “The lab employed thousands of people, including many young Jewish physicists and engineers who settled in Pleasant Hills,” Lang said. “They wanted their children to have a Jewish education and a place to worship and socialize.” When it was founded, the fledgling congregation of 56 families held events at the Pleasant Hills Library, in the basement of the Presbyterian Community Church, in the YMCA and at the Pleasant Hills Middle School until it raised enough funds to
p Groundbreaking at Beth Israel
File photo
purchase land and construct its own building on Gill Hall Road in Jefferson Hills in 1963. “It was more than a synagogue,” Lang said. “That’s why we called it a ‘center.’ It was a center for education, worship and a social life.” At its peak, Beth Israel had a membership roll of more than 100 families, and even as late as the 1990s, the congregation managed to maintain a membership of between 60 and 70 families, said Arthur Weinblum, a past president of Beth Israel who joined the congregation during those later years. Weinblum chose to join Beth Israel because its dues structure better fit his budget than the larger congregations in the South Hills and because Beth Israel had an active Hebrew school where his children could acquire a solid Jewish education, he said. But as time passed, members began to retire and “by and large moved away,” said Lang, a physician who still lives in Whitehall. Shutting down operations became inevitable. “More and more families moved out of the area, and the young families that wanted to live
in the South Hills were moving to Mt. Lebanon or Upper St. Clair,” Lang continued. “Our membership began to shrink, and about three or four years ago, we were down to about 10 or 15 couples. This year, with the aging process, more of us went on to our ultimate destination.” While the congregation used to hold Shabbat services each week, those services became less frequent as time went on, eventually dwindling to just once a month. Amy Greenbaum, associate rabbi and director of education at Beth El of the South Hills, served as Beth Israel’s part-time rabbi for the last 15 years, coming out to the center once every several weeks, according to Lang. But it eventually became difficult to get a minyan of 10 members, and the center stopped having services entirely last spring. “We did have active adult education programs, with guest speakers, that were well-attended by both the remaining members of the congregation and the local residents of Jefferson Hills, Pleasant Hills and Whitehall,” he said. But the membership rolls became so small, the center did not even have enough people to maintain an active board of directors. About a year ago, the remaining members of Beth Israel’s board decided to close the center’s doors for good. The center did not house High Holiday services this year. The 8,280-square-foot property has been listed for sale for several months and has an interested potential buyer, according to Lang. The Judaica inside the center has been
donated to other congregations, both locally and in other parts of the United States, and items such as chairs and tables have been donated to area churches. “We had so many bar and bat mitzvahs and weddings back in the day,” Lang said. “We had all the usual Jewish hallmarks.” Memorial plaques have been transferred to Beth El, where many of Beth Israel’s remaining families have joined. “It was a wonderful synagogue,” reflected Weinblum. “It was small, so we all knew each other. I’m going to miss it.” For Greenbaum, serving as Beth Israel’s rabbi for more than 15 years “has been one of my greatest pleasures and honors,” she wrote in an email. “Our congregants are some of the kindest, most caring people I have ever had the opportunity and privilege to serve, to know and to love. “I am grateful that the Center was there to serve our members during the time it was needed most in the community,” Greenbaum continued. “For numerous people, Beth Israel Center will be joyfully remembered as a central place in their lives; the heart of their religious life, a place in which they created a second home, made lifelong friendships and raised their children together with devotion and with love. May Beth Israel Center always be remembered as the incredible blessing it was.” PJC Toby Tabachnick can be reached at ttabachnick@pittsburghjewishchronicle.org.
SAVE THE DATE
Join us for the Jewish Association on Aging
2017 ANNUAL MEETING Tuesday, October 24, 6:30 pm • Rodef Shalom
HEALTHCARE: H The T he Great Great Debate Debatte e
FEATURING A ROUNDTABLE DISCUSSION WITH —
Andrew W. Gurman, MD Immediate Past President of the American Medical Association
Martin Gaynor, PhD E.J. Barone Professor of Economics and Health Policy at CMU, former Director of Economics at the Federal Trade Commission
Daphna Gans, PhD David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, UCLA Center for Health Policy Research
Karen Wolk Feinstein, PhD President and CEO of the Jewish Healthcare Foundation
RSVP to this Free Event! Contact Beverly Brinn at 412-521-1975 or bbrinn@jaapgh.org If you have a question to ask the panel, email it to us at bbrinn@jaapgh.org
Honoring SHERYL MILCH as our VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR
Deborah Winn-Horvitz, President & CEO
Mitchell Pakler, Board Chair
200 JHF DRIVE • PITTSBURGH, PA 15217 • WWW.JAAPGH.ORG • 412-420-4000
4 OCTOBER 6, 2017
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Headlines Steelers fans say team’s decisions show signs of scrambling — LOCAL — By Adam Reinherz | Staff Writer
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nless you have spent the last few weeks in a huddle, absolutely blitzed or you fumbled the remote somewhere beneath the couch, chances are that you caught the seemingly off-sides situation between professional athletes and the president of the United States regarding standing, kneeling or protesting during the national anthem. For self-described die-hard Steelers fans both in Pittsburgh and across the country, the controversy is still in motion. “It was maybe an hour or two before game time, my brother sent a text to my family with the ESPN news alert that they are all going to stay in the locker room,” said Hannah Ackerman, 28, of first learning about the Steelers’ decision to refrain from taking the field during the “Star-Spangled Banner” on Sept. 24. With the Steelers set to play the Chicago Bears in the Windy City, Adam Aronson, a Chicago resident who grew up in Stanton Heights, brought his two children to see the Week 3 contest. “I paid $2,600 for three tickets in the first row behind the Steelers bench,” said the owner of multiple Steelers jerseys, Terrible Towels, a Steelers branded tire cover and even a Steelers Crock-Pot for “making cholent on Shabbos.” “Considering that the two teams meet in Chicago once every eight years and the difficulty of returning to Pittsburgh for games, I decided to go the whole nine yards,” Aronson added. Along with his 15-year-old daughter and 9-year-old son, the life-long Steelers fan arrived two hours early to sit in the front-row seats and watch the team practice. Unbeknown to Aronson, the day became memorable for all of the wrong reasons. As Beaver native and professional singer Wilbur Pauley delivered the national anthem, the majority of Pittsburgh Steelers remained off of the field. “You know, these are very divisive times for our country, and for us as a football team, it’s about us remaining solid. We’re not going to be divided by anything said by anyone,” said head coach Mike Tomlin to Jamie Erdahl, a CBS Sports sideline reporter, before the game. Two days earlier, during a rally in Huntsville, Ala., on Sept. 22, President Donald Trump discussed player protests and possible repercussions. “Wouldn’t you love to see one of these NFL owners, when somebody disrespects our flag, to say, ‘Get that son of a b---- off the field right now. Out. He’s fired. He’s fired,” said Trump to a cheering crowd. During the conversation with Erdahl, Tomlin added, “Whatever we do, we’re going to do 100 percent; we’re going to do together. We’re not going to let divisive times or divisive individuals affect our agenda.” Although most of the team stayed in the
p Elan Sokol, right, is joined by fellow Pittsburgh Steelers fans during a recent game.
p Elan Sokol, left, believes that sports should be left to sports and politics to politics.
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Photos courtesy of Elan Sokol
“ You know, these are very divisive times for our country, and for us as a football team, it’s about us remaining solid. We’re not going to be divided
”
by anything said by anyone.
— MIKE TOMLIN, PITTSBURGH STEELERS HEAD COACH
PITTSBURGH JEWISH CHRONICLE
tunnel during the national anthem, former Army Ranger, Alejandro Villanueva, as well as several coaches from the Steelers organization, broke from the group. Last week’s display was “disjointed,” said Brian Goldwasser of Pittsburgh. “They hadn’t come up with a concrete plan. In the end, you had four coaches on the sideline, most of the guys in the tunnel and one guy outside of the tunnel. There were three different things going on.” “I support what Tomlin said,” and apart from the possible awkwardness of having one player separate from the team during the anthem, “I think it made sense why they did what they did,” explained Ackerman, a New York resident who apart from watching every Steelers game on television and seeing the Steelers play live whenever the team is in New York, travels to Pittsburgh for “at least” one home game per season. Messaging aside, the endeavor created confusion, said Elan Sokol, a Pittsburgh resident. “The idea for the Steelers to not participate in the national anthem because they wanted to focus on football clearly failed and produced the opposite effect. The Steelers got manhandled on Sunday by an inferior team, and it was evident that they were not focused on winning the game,” said Elan Sokol of the Steelers’ 23-17 loss. But while Goldwasser agreed that the loss could have “possibly” been caused by pregame distractions, Ackerman opined that the team was merely “outplayed.” “The defense was sluggish and let up a bunch of big plays. It seemed like they couldn’t keep up with the Bears’ offense,” she said. Wins and losses aside, it is the team’s demeanor that is most bothersome, said Aronson. “My father is a decorated Vietnam veteran, and I was raised to respect our anthem and the flag and to thank any veterans and active service members, and I have made sure to instill this in my five children. So when the team disrespected the anthem and flag, it was a real disgrace.” The following Sunday, prior to their Oct. 1 game against division-rival Baltimore Ravens, the Steelers stood on the sideline during the national anthem. According to Aronson, the decision was a lateral move generated by “backlash from fans from the last game.” “I thought it was appropriate, but it was too late. They made a statement where they are,” said the “disappointed” fan. Ultimately, with fans wondering what their team will do each week, this entire situation has become a distraction, said Ackerman. “It’s gotten a little crazy,” agreed Goldwasser. There may be a solution, said Sokol. “Perhaps politics should be discussed with politics and sports should be with sports, and perhaps they should be separate.” PJC Adam Reinherz can be reached at areinherz @pittsburghjewishchronicle.org. OCTOBER 6, 2017 5
Calendar q SUNDAY, OCT. 15 Admission is free for “Curtain Call!” the cabaretthemed benefit concert by the East Winds Symphonic Band at Rodef Shalom Congregation in Shadyside. Those attending are encouraged to bring donations of nonperishable food or cash as they enter the building’s Freehof Hall to hear the 70-member ensemble, taste light refreshments and enjoy BYO wine. All donations received will be used to support the Squirrel Hill Community Food Pantry, which serves families and individuals in the 15217 ZIP code who meet specified income requirements. For most of its 35-year history, the band, which is based in Pittsburgh’s eastern suburbs, has offered an annual concert at Rodef Shalom. The late Aaron Silberman, a congregation member and patron of musical arts, initiated the series. Later, and until his death in 2013, those concerts were coordinated by Norman Kanel. Kanel’s longtime support for the Food Pantry will be honored at the concert, which officially carries the name of “The Norman Kanel Music With a Mission Concert.” The concert is being underwritten by the Stanley and Sandra Gurgon Spear Fund. The “Curtain Call!” concert begins at 7 p.m. and will be followed by a reception. Free parking is available in the lot immediately behind the building, which is located at 4905 Fifth Ave. PJC
q FRIDAY, OCT. 6 On the Shabbat of Sukkot join the second annual Temple David vegan potluck Shabbat dinner followed by worship and speaker Sally Lipsky of Food for Health, a nonprofit service offering guidance and support for healthy, plant-centered eating. If you want recipe ideas for a plant-based dish, visit her website at https://www.plantbasedeatinghub.com/. Vegan means no animal products — no meat, chicken, fish, eggs, or dairy. Consider what you can make from vegetables, fruits, nuts,
grains, legumes. 6 p.m., followed by worship at 7:30 p.m. at Temple David, 4415 Northern Pike, Monroeville. For more information contact Stan Beck at stanb@templedavid.org or 412-491-0313. q SATURDAY, OCT. 7 J’Burgh, Moishe House, and Shalom Pittsburgh for Wine and Wisdom in the Sukkah 7:30-9:30 p.m. at the Congregation Beth Shalom sukkah. Havdalah, a short discussion with Rabbi Seth Adelson and Rabbi Jeremy Markiz, and desserts and wine
Rodef Shalom Congregation 4 9 0 5 F I F T H AV E N U E • P I T T S B U R G H , PA Solomon B. Freehof Book and Author Series
Helen Wilson, editor, writer, & co-vice president, Squirrel Hill Coalition and Dr. Barbara Burstin, writer & professor will talk about their new book “Squirrel Hill: A Neighborhood History”
Thursday, October 26, 2017 Helen Fay Rosenbloom, writer, teacher, and community 10:30am reviewer will review “Forest Dark” by Nicole Krauss. This book is about Jewish identity and the relationship between generations. (Nicole Krause is the ex-wife of Jonathan Safron Foer.) Sunday, November 5, 2017 7:00pm
Panel discussion based on the book “Option B: Facing Adversity, Building Resistance, and Finding Joy” by Cheryl Sandberg and Adam Grant
The panel will be moderated by Rabbi Sharyn Henry, Rodef Shalom Congregation. The panel will consist of: Rabbi Aaron Bisno, Rodef Shalom Congregation Rabbi James Gibson, Temple Sinai Rabbi Danial Schiff, Foundation Scholar, Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh (The panel discussion is cosponsored by the Faith Weinstein Book and Author Endowment Fund of the Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh.) There will be no charge to attend these events, and everyone is welcome. Refreshments will be served before the Thursday review and after each Sunday event.
The Solomon B. Freehof Book and Author Series is sponsored by the Sisterhood.
Teri Cowan, Karen Hochberg, Ellen Primis, Co-chairs Jan Shaw, President, Rodef Shalom Sisterhood
6 OCTOBER 6, 2017
q SUNDAY, OCT. 8 Soup & Scotch in the sukkah. Men’s Night Out at 7:30 p.m. at Chabad of the South Hill. No Charge. RSVP 412-344-2424. q MONDAY, OCT. 9 Torah & Tea at 7:30 p.m. at Chabab of the South Hills in the Sukkah for a Women’s Night Out. Enjoy salads. No fee. RSVP to batya@ chabadsh.com or call 412-344-2424. Adulting with Moishe House Part 4: Home Improvement 7 to 9 p.m., Moishe House. Does the paint chip off your walls when you walk by? Ever open a kitchen cabinet only to have it fall on top of you? Does your backyard (unintentionally) resemble a jungle? Community member (and architect) Arthur Notaro will be leading a home repair workshop, only at the Moishe House. Message a resident or the page if you need the address https://www.facebook.com/ events/1828707813810503/
q WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 11 All-Rolled-Into-One Simchat Torah Activities: Roll into Rodef Shalom to roll out Torahs in the sanctuary, as well as roll up rugelach and vegetarian sushi to nosh on. It is sure to be a rock’n’rolling good time. 5:30 p.m. at Rodef Shalom Congregation. q SATURDAY, OCT. 14 Moishe House Goes to Makers Faire, Saturday, 1 to 4 p.m. It’s the greatest Show & Tell on Earth. See the handiwork of Pittsburgh’s many artists, engineers and scientists at the Maker’s Faire at the Children’s Museum. Come to the house at noon for rides, or meet at the museum. Register at the https://goo.gl/ forms/dsEfI5YZX3jXL99N2 to reserve a ticket, https://www.facebook.com/ events/529649210713098/.
q TUESDAY, OCT. 10
q SUNDAY, OCT. 15
Seniors in the Sukkah at noon at Chabad of the South Hills in Mt. Lebanon. Lunch, music, shaking the lulav and etrog and a holiday program. $5 suggested donation. Wheelchair accessible. Contact Barb at 412-278-2658 or barb@chabadsh.com to preregister.
Helen Wilson, teacher, editor and author of “Squirrel Hill: A Neighborhood History,” will speak about her new book at 1 p.m. at Rodef Shalom. Wilson is president of the Squirrel Hill Historical Society.
Squirrel Hill Historical Society, free discussion on Homestead Steel Strike by
Please see Calendar, page 7
Today in Israeli history Oct. 9, 1917 • Sarah Aaronsohn dies
— WORLD —
Rodef Shalom Congregation invites you to attend the 83rd year of the Solomon B. Freehof Book and Author Series. Sunday, October 15, 2017 1:00pm
Frick Art & Historical Center at 7:30 p.m. at Church of the Redeemer, 5700 Forbes Ave. Contact historysqhill@hotmail.com or call 412-417-3707 or visit http://www. squirrelhillhistory.org for more information.
RSVP required. https://hilleljuc.wufoo.com/ forms/s14zt8tc03e5vkf/
Sarah Aaronsohn, a Nili intelligence operative, dies four days after shooting herself in an effort to avoid further torture and interrogation from Turkish authorities.
Items provided by the Center for Israel Education (israeled.org), where you can find more details.
Oct. 6, 1914 • Henry Morgenthau pleads for aid to Jews in Palestine Responding to a plea from Henry Morgenthau, United States Ambassador to Turkey and American Jewish leaders, led by Louis Marshall and Jacob Schiff, quickly raise $50,000 in aid for the Jewish community in the Palestine.
Oct. 7, 1985 • Achille Lauro is hijacked
Members of the Palestinian Liberation Front hijack the cruise ship Achille Lauro off the coast of Egypt. The ship had departed from Genoa, Italy on Oct. 3 with 748 passengers on board for an 11-day cruise with planned stops in Naples, Alexandria, Port Said, and Ashdod, Israel.
Oct. 8, 1576 • Ottoman Sultan Murad III orders displacement of Jews from Safed
Oct. 10, 1983 • Yitzhak Shamir is elected Prime Minister
Yitzhak Shamir becomes the seventh prime minister of Israel after Menachem Begin resigns due to health and personal issues.
Oct. 11, 1938 • Arab leaders adopt Inter-Parliamentary Congress resolutions
At the conclusion of a four-day conference in Cairo, Egypt, Arab leaders adopt the Resolutions of the Inter-Parliamentary Congress. The conference and resolutions are a response to the British Peel Commission Report of 1937.
Oct. 12, 1938 • Gavriel Salomon is born
A specialist in the field of educational psychology, Gavriel Salomon served as dean of the faculty of education at the University of Haifa from 1993 to 1998. PJC
Ottoman Sultan Murad III issues a firman (a royal decree) ordering that 1,000 Jews from Safed be registered and sent to live in Famagusta, Cyprus.
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Calendar Calendar: Continued from page 6 South Hills Jewish Pittsburgh presents the Jewish Family Fall Festival. Admission includes a kosher picnic lunch, hayride, pumpkin picking, hay/corn mazes, petting zoo and more. $5 per person through Oct. 5 and $10 per person thereafter; limited to the first 300 people. 12:30-3:30 p.m. at Simmons Farm, 170 Simmons Rd., McMurray. To register and for more information call 412-697-6647 or visit southhillsjewishpittsburgh.org. Make reservations by Oct. 5. Screening of “Brundibar Revisited.” The film, which is available for students through Film Pittsburgh’s Teen Screen program, provides an engaging experience for adult audiences. Subjects include at-risk youth in Germany, immigration of Holocaust survivors to Israel, and the incredible children’s opera Brundibar that was written and performed in the Theresienstadt Concentration Camp. 1 p.m. at the Holocaust Center of Pittsburgh, 826 Hazelwood Ave. Register at https:// is.gd/ayj9VN. Israel at 70: Looking Back, Looking Ahead with Consul General Dani Dayan, 7:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the Jewish Community Center of Greater Pittsburgh in Squirrel Hill, 5738 Forbes Ave. Dayan, who is consul general of Israel in New York, will address issues including but not limited to: religious pluralism in Israel and the diaspora, Iran, Hezbollah, Hamas, and other security threats to the State of Israel,
and the prime minister’s most recent trips to Africa and Latin America. Contact Eric Probola at eprobola@jfedpgh. org or 412-992-5247 for more information. q MONDAY, OCT. 16 In partnership with Jewish Residential Services (JRS), Jewish Family & Children’s Service (JF&CS) will host a community meeting to educate and discuss issues that affect people with disabilities as a result of changes to the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and Medicaid from 6 to 8 p.m., at JF&CS, 5743 Bartlett St., second floor, in Squirrel Hill. Cassie Narkevic, a certified navigator from the Consumer Health Coalition, and Janice Meinert, a paralegal from the Pennsylvania Health Law Project, will speak on the subject and answer questions. The community is invited to attend, particularly individuals with disabilities and their families, who could be profoundly affected by any or all of these changes. The program is free, but reservations are requested. A light kosher meal will be served. RSVP to Alison Karabin at akarabin@ jrspgh.org or call 412-325-0039 by October 11. q WEDNESDAY, OCT. 18 AARP Squirrel Hill Chapter 3354 has moved to Tree of Life*Or L’Simcha, 5898 Wilkins Ave. Meetings are still at 1 p.m. October is Medicare renewal time, and Bill McKenzie of Apprise will discuss what is available for 2018 in Medicare plans and what to look out for. All, including nonmembers, are invited. Contact Ilene Portnoy at 412-683-7985 for more information.
q WEDNESDAY, OCT. 18-NOV. 15 South Hills Nosh & Know with Rabbi Danny Schiff, Foundation scholar, 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at The Artsmiths of Pittsburgh, 1635 McFarland Road. Sessions in recognition of “Israel at 70.” Visit southhillsjewishpittsburgh. org or call 412-697-6647 for more information. q THURSDAY, OCT. 19 The ninth annual Celebrating Senior Champions will be held at 5:30 p.m. at the Omni William Penn Hotel. Rick Sebak is master of ceremonies. Honorees include Community Champion Karen Wolk Feinstein, president and CEO of the Jewish Healthcare Foundation; and Grand Champion Arthur S. Levine, MD, University of Pittsburgh senior vice chancellor for the Health Sciences and John and Gertrude Petersen Dean, School of Medicine. Make reservations by Oct. 5 at upmc.com/ celebratingseniorchampions or by calling Lynn Orbin at 412-864-3521. q FRIDAY, OCT. 20 I-Volunteer is a partnership between the Jewish Federation Volunteer Center and the Friendship Circle. Young adults between the ages of 18 and 35 of all abilities combine entertainment with community service in a comfortable social setting. Each month, the Friendship Circle partners with a different young adult organization, including Repair the World, Shalom Pittsburgh, J’Burgh, Hillel JUC and Moishe House. Together, they perform meaningful work within the
Pittsburgh community. In collaboration with the partner organizations, this year’s I-Volunteer series will start with a Shabbat dinner at Friendship Circle,1922 Murray Ave. Include any dietary needs in the comments. Register at http://bit.ly/2gJMGlq. https://www.facebook.com/ events/273782466471378/ q SATURDAY, OCTOBER 21 Travel with Classrooms Without Borders to Gnadenhutten, Ohio, to see how genocide has taken place in our own backyard. Learn about the history of a town that was witness to a large massacre of Native Americans in 1782. For more information and to RSVP go to https://is.gd/bgkI6n. q SUNDAY, OCT. 22 Children’s Village Open House. Join Classrooms Without Borders for an informative and engaging afternoon focused on its 2018 Children’s Village Seminar. During the open house, attendees can hear from a guest speaker, review an outline of the itinerary, gain an understanding of costs involved, and ask questions. 2-4 p.m. at Rodef Shalom Congregation. To learn more and to RSVP go to https://is.gd/6jdBh7. News, Jews and Views, A Conversation with Bari Weiss at the Jewish Community Fall Foundation Event at 10 a.m. at Rodef Shalom Congregation. The program will feature a conversation between Rabbi Danny Schiff, Please see Calendar, page 8
Murray Avenue Kosher 1916 MURRAY AVENUE 412-421-1015 • 412-421-4450 • FAX 412-421-4451
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Happy Sukkot! HOMEMADE SALADS & SOUPS DELI PARTY TRAYS
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CATERING SPECIALISTS DELICIOUS FRIED CHICKEN WE RESERVE THE RIGHT TO LIMIT QUANTITIES.
OCTOBER 6, 2017 7
SHAB
2 Ro 1Q 4
1 Kugel • 2 P
Calendar Calendar: Continued from page 7 Foundation scholar, and Bari Weiss, editor and writer for The New York Times op-ed section. Brunch will be served; dietary laws observed. This is a nonsolicitation event. RSVP by Oct. 16 at https://jfedpgh.org/ foundation-fall-event. Contact Patti Dziekan at 412-992-5221 or pdziekan@jfedpgh.org for more information. Moishe House Gets Moving: Aerial Silks Party, 3:15 to 7 p.m. Learn aerial silks in a private class at Pittsburgh Aerial Silks just for MoHo. Come to the house at 3:15 for rides, or meet us at the Pittsburgh Aerial Silks & Pittsburgh Dance Center, 4517 Liberty Ave., at 4 p.m. Space is limited, so register at https://www.facebook.com/ events/349646855459961/. q MONDAY, OCT. 23 Celebrating 70 Years of Israel. Ghaida Rinawi Zoabi on Israeli Arabs in the Jewish State and the screening of “77 Steps.” Visit jfedpgh. org or contact Eric Probola at 412-992-5247 or eprobola@jfedpgh.org to register and for more information. q WEDNESDAY, OCT. 25 NA’AMAT USA Pittsburgh Council will hold its annual spiritual adoption scholarship dinner honoring Marcia J. Weiss at Congregation Beth Shalom. The 6:30 p.m. reception will be followed by dinner at 7:30 p.m. Dietary laws observed. There is a charge. Contact Jackie
Braslawsce at 412-303-5769 or 412-521-5253 or naamatpgh@gmail.org for reservations and more information. q THURSDAY, OCT. 26 Helen Faye Rosenbloom, writer, teacher and community reviewer, will review “Forest Dark” by Nicole Krauss at 10:30 a.m. at Rodef Shalom Congregation. The book is about Jewish identity and the relationships between generations. q FRIDAY, OCT. 27 Chabad of Pittsburgh invites the community to Keeping it Together, celebrating Shabbat with thousands of Jews around the globe beginning at 6 p.m. with candle lighting followed by Kabbalat Shabbat and a special children’s program. Shabbat dinner is at 6:30 p.m.; there is a charge. Visit chabadpgh.com or email info@ chabadpgh.com for more information. Secular Purim: Moishe House Does Halloween, 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. Sixth annual Halloween party. Costumes required for a night of candy, drinks, and shenanigans. Snacks and some drinks provided, but contributions are always appreciated. All are welcome, so feel free to bring friends, partners, personal heroes, etc. Message a resident or the page if you need the address. https://www.facebook.com/events/ 834161526742876/ q SUNDAY, OCT. 29 Kollel Jewish Learning Center presents Women’s Health Expo Heart And Soul from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the Jewish Community
Center of Greater Pittsburgh, Robinson Building. Enjoy a healthy breakfast and informative sessions with featured speakers. There is a charge. Contact stacie@kollelpgh.org to make reservations or for more information.
available in the plaza lot. Buy tickets at https://is.gd/LttIkc.
q MONDAY, OCT. 30
Going Beyond Memory, a conference on synagogue archiving, will be held at Hebrew Union College in Cincinnati. Visit americanjewisharchives.org for more information and to register.
The annual AIPAC Pittsburgh program and dessert will be at 7:30 p.m. at Embassy Suites Pittsburgh, 535 Smithfield St. with guest speaker Mike Rogers, a former member of Congress from Michigan. Reservations are required by Oct. 15. There is a charge; dietary rules observed. RSVP at 410-223-4190 or aipac. org/Pittsburgh. q WEDNESDAY, NOV. 1 Zionist Organization of America will honor Lou Weiss with its Lifetime Achievement Award during ZOA’s annual tribute dinner and will also present two other distinguished members of the community with awards. Adrienne Indianer will receive the Israel Service Award for her love and support of the State of Israel. The Ivan and Natalie Novick Community Leadership Award will be presented to Ira Frank for his work with ZOA and other organizations emulating the Novicks, who were ardent Zionists.
q SUNDAY-MONDAY,
NOV. 5-6
q MONDAY, NOV. 6 Community Day School Class of 2018 families invite the community for Comedy & Cake featuring comedian Benji Lovitt from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. at 6424 Forward Ave. There will also be an auction and dessert. The program will help raise funds to send the CDS eighth-grade graduating class to Israel in the spring. RSVP and pay online at comday.org/CDSIsrael. Contact Jenny Jones at jjones@comday.org or 412-521-1100, ext. 3207 for more information. q THURSDAY, NOV. 9 Temple David will present a Kristallnacht Commemoration and Holocaust Memorial Dedication at 7 p.m. at 4415 Northern Pike, Monroeville. For additional information contact the Temple office at 412-362-1200.
q THURSDAY-SUNDAY,
q TUESDAY, NOV. 14
National Council of Jewish Women Pittsburgh Section will hold its 47th Designer Days fundraiser at Thriftique, 125 51st St., NCJW’s upscale, resale store conveniently located in Lawrenceville. Abundant free parking is
Jewish National Fund Western Pennsylvania, Tree of Life Award Dinner. 6 p.m. cocktails, 7 p.m. dinner honoring Greta and Art Rooney II at Omni William Penn Hotel. Contact JNF at 412-521-3200 for more information. PJC
NOV. 2-5
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PITTSBURGH JEWISH CHRONICLE
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Organization Directory ADATH JESHURUN CEMETERY Office: 217 East Patty Lane Monroeville, PA 15146 Phone: 412-508-0817 Website: adathjeshuruncemeterypgh.org Email: office@adathjeshuruncemeterypgh.org
President, Renee Abrams; Vice President, Ted Heyman; Secretary, Gail Schmitt; Treasurer, Marty Elikan; William Berkowitz, Allan Dalfen, Paul Herman, Beverly Kalson, Earl Kaiserman, Sandy Goppman, Lou Kushner, Alan Sable, Barbara Scheinberg, Stuart Neft; Susan Cohen, Office Administrator ••• ADAT SHALOM B’NAI ISRAEL/BETH JACOB A welcoming and inclusive synagogue serving the Fox Chapel & North Hills community.
368 Guys Run Road (Fox Chapel Area) Cheswick, PA 15024-9463 Phone: 412-820-7000; Fax: 412-820-9725 Website: adatshalompgh.org
Amy Himmel, Pres.; Laurie Singer, 1st V.P.; Marshall Dayan, 2nd V.P.; Jim Grenen, Treasurer; Michele Fryncko, Rec. Secy.; David Lazear, Asst. Rec. Secy.; DeDe Fink, Jodi Lindner, Amy Perilstein Sisterhood Co-Presidents; Yaier Lehrer, Rabbi; Jill S. Rook, Exec. Dir.; Gail Schmitt, Preschool and Religious School Director •••
BBYO KEYSTONE MOUNTAIN REGION (KMR) c/o JCC South Hills 345 Kane Boulevard Pittsburgh, PA 15243 Phone: 412-446-4781; Fax: 412-446-0146 Website: bbyo.org/region/keystone Email: aexler@bbyo.org
Andrew Exler-Regional Director. •••
BETH EL CONGREGATION OF THE SOUTH HILLS 1900 Cochran Road Pittsburgh, PA 15220 Phone: 412-561-1168; Fax: 412-561-0499 Website: bethelcong.org Email: steve@bethelcong.org
Alex Greenbaum, Rabbi; Amy Greenbaum, Assoc. Rabbi; Steve Hecht, Exec. Dir.; Rabbi Amy Greenbaum, Edu. Dir.; Cliff Spungen, Pres.; Warren Sufrin, Exec. V.P.; Eric Perelman, Admin. V.P.; Francine Rosenthal, Ed. V.P.; David Sirota, Fin. V.P.; Tracy Gross, Fund Raising V.P.; Bonnie Gordon, Membership V.P.; Susie Seletz, Volunteerism V.P.; Beth Pomerantz, Fin. Secy.; Geri Recht, Asst. Fin. Secy.; Bryan Neft, Treas.; Cindy Platto, Asst. Treas.; Bill Spatz, Rec. Secy.; Lynda Abraham Braff, with Dara Lazar Sisterhood co-pres.; Jeremy Broverman, Men’s Club Pres.; Jacqueline Radin, Kadima Dir. •••
CONGREGATION BETH SHALOM 5915 Beacon St. Pittsburgh, PA 15217 Phone: 412-421-2288; Fax: 412-421-5923 Website: bethshalompgh.org Email: office@bethshalompgh.org
CHABAD JEWISH CENTER OF MONROEVILLE 2715 Mosside Blvd. Monroeville, PA 15146 Website: JewishMonroeville.com Email: Chabad@JewishMonroeville.com
Seth Adelson, Rabbi; Debby Firestone, Pres.; Ria David, Joe Jolson, Arlene Shapiro, V.P.’s; Mitch Dernis, Treas.; Steven P. Albert, Secy; David Horvitz, Immed. Past Pres.; Rob Menes, Executive Director; Liron Lipinsky, Dir. of JJEP; Jennifer Perer Slattery, Dir. ELC; Marissa Tait, Youth Program Dir.; Rabbi Jeremy Markiz, Dir. Of Derekh & Youth Tefillah; Dale Caprara, Controller; Judy Kayam, Bookkeeper; Lonnie Wolf, Cemetery Dir.; Audrey Glickman, Rabbi’s Assistant; Rabbi Mark N. Staitman, Rabbinic Scholar; Alex Kiderman, Men’s Club Pres.; Judy Kornblith Kobell, Sisterhood Pres.; Michelle Vines, Events Coordinator; Anthony Colaizzi, Communications & Design Mgr.; Nicolette Canterna, Receptionist. •••
Rabbi Mendy Co-Directors. •••
CONGREGATION BET TIKVAH A welcoming, queer-centric, independent minyan.
P.O. Box 10140 Pittsburgh, PA 15232 Hotline: 412-256-8317 Website: bettikvah.org Email: info@bettikvah.org
BETH HAMEDRASH HAGODOL/ BETH JACOB SYNAGOGUE Visit us Downtown. All are welcome.
•••
Website: thecarnegieshul.org Email: mrmike7777@yahoo.com
810 Fifth Ave. Pittsburgh, PA 15219 Phone: 412-471-4443
Lawrence Block, Pres; Richard D’Loss, 1st; V.P.; Paul Spivak, 2nd V.P.; Elaine Rosenfield, Secy.; Joel Roteman, Treas.; Rosalyn Hoffman, Michael Roteman, Marcia Steinberger, Irwin Norvitch, and Wendy Panizzi, Board of Directors. •••
Stanley J. Savage, Rabbi; Ira Michael Frank, Pres.; Sherman Weinstein, 1st V.P.; Lee Oleinick, 2nd V.P.; Joe Goldston, Secy; Brian Cynamon, Treas.; Stephen A. Neustein, Esq.; Assist. Treas.; Arlene Neustein, Sisterhood Pres. •••
519 N. Main St. Butler, PA 16001 Phone: 724-287-5806 Website: congbnaiabraham.org Email: congbnaiabraham@zoominternet.net
AHAVATH ACHIM CONGREGATION The Carnegie Shul
AIPAC — THE AMERICAN ISRAEL PUBLIC AFFAIRS COMMITTEE Phone: 410-223-4190 Website: aipac.org Email: myaffe@aipac.org
Michael Yaffe, AIPAC Pittsburgh Director. ••• ALEPH INSTITUTE — NORTH EAST REGION Hyman & Martha Rogal Center
5804 Beacon St. Pittsburgh, PA 15217 Phone: 412-421-0111; Fax: 412-521-5948 Website: alephne.org Email: rabbivogel@alephne.org, info@alephne.org
Rabbi Moishe Mayir Vogel, Exec. Dir.; Marty Davis, Chairman of the Board; Ahmie Baum, Barry Lembersky, Estelle Comay, Charles Saul, Jon Pushinsky, Jim Rogal, Charles Perlow, Neil Notkin and Sharon Ryave Brody, Board members. ••• AMERICAN TECHNION SOCIETY Advancing Innovation for Israel and the World
6735 Telegraph Road, Suite 304 Bloomfield Hills, MI 48301 Phone: 248-593-6760; Fax: 248-593-6440 Website: ats.org Email: joey@ats.org
Joey Selesny, Regional Director East Central Region.
BETH ISRAEL CONGREGATION 265 North Ave. Washington, PA 15301 Phone: 724-225-7080 Website: mybethisrael.org Email: office@bethisraelsynagogue.com Facebook: facebook.com/bethisraelsynagogue
President, Richard S. Pataki, M.D.; Vice President, Marc Simon; Treasurer, David S. Posner, Esq.; Secretary, Marilyn Posner; Immediate Past President, The Hon. Gary Gilman; Rabbi, David C. Novitsky, Esq. Board of Directors: Richard Littman; Judith Pataki; Michael Pollock; Stephen Richman, Esq.; Debbie Sekel; Beth Tully Past Presidents: Carol Adler; Jon S. Adler, M.D.; Richard Belkin, Esq.; Richard Lasday, D.V.M.; Richard Littman; Stephen McCloskey, Esq.; Richard Pataki, M.D.; David S. Posner, Esq.; Marilyn A. Posner. ••• BETH SAMUEL JEWISH CENTER A warm and diverse Jewish community serving the needs of Western Allegheny, Beaver and Butler counties.
810 Kennedy Drive Ambridge, PA 15003 Phone: 724-266-5238 Website: bethsamuel.org Email: bethsamueloffice@comcast.net
Cantor Rena Shapiro, Spiritual Leader; Barbara Wilson, Director; Karen Beaudway, Pres.; Lauren McLeod, V.P.; Lynn Klein, Past Pres.; Nicole Homich, Secy.; William Snider, Fin. V.P.; Sharon Camhi, Trustee 1; Len Ganz, Trustee 2.
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CONGREGATION B’NAI ABRAHAM A warm, caring, inclusive community.
Cantor Michal Gray-Schaffer, Spiritual Leader; Eric Levin, President; Christine Hood, V. P.; Shirley Grossman, Sec.; and Roberta Gallagher, Religious School Director; Emily Csonka, Youth Group Leader. ••• B’NAI EMUNOH CHABAD 4315 Murray Ave. Pittsburgh PA 15217 Phone: 412-521-1477 Website: bechabad.org Email: bechabad@gmail.com
Elchonon Friedman, Rabbi; Yehuda Cowen, Pres.; Shalom Leeds, VP & Gabbi.; Chanani Saks, Treas.; Ivan Engel, Rec. Secy.; Joel Pirchesky, Past Pres. ••• CHABAD OF CARNEGIE MELLON UNIVERSITY 5120 Beeler St. Pittsburgh, PA 15217 Phone: 412-772-8505; Fax: 877-286-1434 Website: chabadofcmu.com Email: Rabbi@chabadofcmu.com
Rabbi Shlomo and Chani Silverman, Co-Directors. ••• CHABAD FOX CHAPEL — THE JEWISH CENTER Phone: 412-781-1800
Rabbi Ely Rosenfeld, Dir.; Dr. Marc Rice, Pres. ••• CHABAD HOUSE ON CAMPUS Serving the needs of the Jewish college community.
Phone: 412-683-7770; Fax: 412-681-7770 Website: chabadpgh.org Email: home@chabadpgh.org
Rabbi Shmuel, Sara Weinstein, Co-Directors. Rabbi Shua, Shoshana Hoexter, Co-Program Directors.
PITTSBURGH JEWISH CHRONICLE
&
Esther
Schapiro,
ROHR CHABAD JEWISH CENTER West Virginia University 424 Brockway Ave. Morgantown, WV 26501 Phone: 304-599-1515 Website: JewishWV.org
Rabbi Zalman and Hindy Gurevitz, Co-Directors. ••• CHABAD OF SQUIRREL HILL 6401 Forbes Ave. Pittsburgh, PA 15217 Phone: 412-421-3561 Website: chabadpgh.com
Rabbi Yisroel and Chani Altein •••
CHABAD OF THE SOUTH HILLS Bringing the Joy and Relevance of Judaism to the South Hills.
1701 McFarland Road Pittsburgh, PA 15216 Website: chabadsh.com Email: rabbi@chabadsh.com Phone: 412-344-2424; 412-512-3046
Rabbi Mendel & Batya Rosenblum, Co-Directors; Mrs. Mussie Rosenblum, Event Coordinator; Mrs. Barb Segel, Development Coordinator. ••• CLASSROOMS WITHOUT BORDERS Open Minds. Open Hearts. Providing Holocaust and Israel Education for teachers from all frameworks.
P.O. Box 60144 Pittsburgh, PA 15211 Phone: 412-915-9182 Website: classroomswithoutborders.org Email: tgur@classroomswithoutborders.org
Dr. Zipora (Tsipy) Gur, Executive Director; Board of Directors: Robert Glimcher, Chair; Lisa Allen; Michael Bernstein; Estelle Comay; Laura Penrod Kronk; Robert Mallet; Victor Mizrahi; Alex Paul; Charles S. Perlow; Louis B. Plung; Debbie Resnick; James Rudolph; Hilary S. Tyson ••• COMMUNITY DAY SCHOOL 6424 Forward Ave. Pittsburgh, PA 15217 Phone: 412-521-1100; 412-521-4511 Website: comday.org
Avi Baran Munro, Head of School; Tzippy Mazer, Head of Lower School and Hebrew/Jewish Studies; Mark Minkus, Head of Intermediate School and Middle School; Sarah DeWitt, Admission Dir.; Bari Weinberger, CFO; Jordan Hoover, Technology and Strategic Initiatives Dir.; Jennifer Bails, Marketing and Communications Dir., Sarah Glascom Morris and Lindsey Shope, Co-Directors of Early Childhood Education; Institutional Advancement Dir., Jenny Jones; Debbie Resnick, Pres.; Stuart Kaplan, Immed. Past Pres.; Jean Reznick, Treas.; Evan Indianer, Secy.; Ken Levin and Lisa Tannenbaum, Vice Presidents
Please see Directory, page 10
OCTOBER 6, 2017 9
Organization Directory Directory: Continued from page 9 CONGREGATION DOR HADASH Pittsburgh’s Reconstructionist Congregation
5898 Wilkins Ave. Pittsburgh, PA 15217 Phone: 412-422-5158 Website: dorhadash.net
President, Ellen Surloff; VP of Ritual, Lisa Levinson; VP of Administration, Paul Needle; Secretary, Beth Silver; Treasurer, Allen Baum; Adult Education, Deborah Prise; VP of Youth Education, Wendy Kobee; Life Events, Dan Leger; Social Action, Kerry Ban; Social Events, Craig Churilla; Membership, Lisa Budd; Programming, Janice Gordon; Member-at-Large, Dana Kellerman; KOL Editor, Lou Fineberg; Principal, Dor Hadash Religious School, Hal Grinberg; Lay Cantor, Cheryl Klein. ••• CONGREGATION EMANU-EL ISRAEL To support Judaism and the welfare of our community.
222 North Main St., Greensburg, PA 15601 Phone: 724-834-0560; Fax: 724-834-7650 Website: ceigreensburg.org Email: ceimain50@aol.com
Stacy L. Petersohn, Rabbi; Sara Rae Perman, Rabbi Emeritus; Richard Virshup, Pres. & Admin.; Gary Moidel, 1st V.P.; Dan Reiter, 2nd V.P.; Julie Goldstein, Treas.; Virginia Lieberman, Secy.; Marion Slone, Sisterhood Pres. & Fundraising; Bob Gelman, Men’s Club Pres.; Robert Halden, Archives; Irene Rothschild, Caring; Shoshana Halden, Edu.; Esther Glasser, Endowment; Shirley Shpargel, Library; Robert Slone, Long-Range Planning; Irene Rothschild Membership; Richard Virshup, Physical Properties; Ronda Goetz, Ritual Practices; Terri Katzman & Mary Ellen Kane, Social Action; Dan Reiter, Mitch Goldstein & Zach Virshup, I.T. ••• FORWARD SHADY APARTMENTS 5841 Forward Ave. Pittsburgh, PA 15217 Phone: 412-521-3065; Fax: 412-521-6413 Email: forwardshady@srcare.org
John Spear, Pres.; Yale Rosenstein, V.P.; Rae-Gayle Pakler, Secy.; Terry Lerman, Treas. ••• THE FRIENDSHIP CIRCLE OF PITTSBURGH Building inclusive community for those with special needs, one friendship at a time.
1922 Murray Ave. Pittsburgh, PA 15217 Phone: 412-224-4440 Website: fcpgh.org Email: info@fcpgh.org
Rabbi Mordy Rudolph, Exec. Dir.; Rivkee Rudolph, Dir.; Dr. Laura Marshak, Prof. Advisor; Ann Grandinetti, Development Assoc.; Caitlin Miller, Development Assoc.; Hayli Firtell, Volunteer Coord.; Bree Pilipovich, Program Coord; Julia Averbach, Member Coord.; Adina Waren, Dir. of Programs; Gila Zimbovsky, Office Manager; Kahley Stiffler, Friends on the Town Program Coordinator; Riki Rudolph, Friends on the Town Program Associate; Emily Vogt, PULSE Intern; Board of Dir.’s: Dr. Tracy Levy, Chair of the Board; Amy Spear, V. Chair; Dorothy Pollon, Secretary; Alan Gordon, Treas.; Michael Bernstein, David Goldberg, Ina Gumberg, Lee Hurwitz, Kathy Klein, Mollie Hanna Lang, Aaron Morgenstern, Natalie Moritz, Joshua Schachter, Steve Silverman, Cindy Vayonis. 10 OCTOBER 6, 2017
GEMILAS CHESED CONGREGATION 1400 Summit St. White Oak, PA 15131 Phone: 412-678-8859; Fax: 412-678-8850 Website: gemilaschesed.org Email: gemilaschesed@gmail.com
Rabbi Moshe Russell, Interim Rabbi; Gershon Guttman, Pres.; vice president Larry Perl; Bruce Gelman, secretary; Richard Bollinger, Treas.; Gabbaim are Gershon Guttman and Alan Balsam. ••• HADASSAH GREATER PITTSBURGH 1824 Murray Ave., Suite 202 Pittsburgh, PA 15217 Phone: 412-421-8919; Fax: 412-421-0535 Website: hadassah.org/pittsburgh Email: pittsburgh@hadassah.org
Rochelle Parker, president; Barbara Scheinberg, past president; Rhonda Epstein, VP Membership; Sharyn Stein VP Membership; Kathleen Belskey, VP Programming; Christina Zern, VP Fundraising; Emily Levine, VP Education; Marcia Weiss, VP Advocacy; Betty Ann Secorie, Recording Secretary; Esther Schwartz, Corresponding Secretary; Nancy Glynn, Treasurer. Diane Bloomfield, Amy Dicker, Sara Guttman, Debbie Moidel, Shelly Seigel, Members at Large. Francine Surloff, Exec. Dir. ••• HEBREW FREE LOAN ASSOCIATION 4307 Murray Ave. Pittsburgh, PA 15217 Phone: 412-422-8868 Website: hflapgh.org
Jim Sheinberg, Pres.; Alison Karabin, 1st V.P.; John Spear, 2nd V.P.; Shelley Daniels, Treas./Secy.; Ellen Clancy, Dir. of Operations; Aviva Lubowsky, Dir. of Client and Community Relations. ••• HILLEL ACADEMY 5685 Beacon St. Pittsburgh, PA 15217 Phone: 412-521-8131; Fax: 412-521-5150
Daniel Kraut, Esq., CEO; Rabbi Sam Weinberg, Principal & Ed. Dir.; Ella Ziff, Dir. Ofc. Student Services; Elky Langer, Assistant Principal K-4; Rabbi Oren Levy, Assistant Principal K-4; Yikara Levari, Assistant Principal 5th- 12th-grade girls; Rabbi Yisroel Smith, Assistant Principal Boys High School; Kira Sunshine, Dir. of Admissions; Ruth Pohuly, Early Childhood Dir.; Reb Danny Shaw, Dir. of Student Life; Sarah Hartman, Fin. Mgr.; Selma Aronson, Exec. Admin. to the CEO. ••• THE EDWARD AND ROSE BERMAN HILLEL JEWISH UNIVERSITY CENTER The Mildred and Joseph Stern Building
4607 Forbes Ave. Pittsburgh, PA 15213 Phone: 412-621-8875; Fax: 412-621-8861 Website: hilleljuc.org Email: info@hilleljuc.org
Daniel Marcus, Exec. Dir. & CEO; Robyn Markowitz Lawler, Assist. Dir.; Julia Katz, Dir. of Development; Lori Ferguson, Development Coordinator; Danielle Kranjec, Senior Jewish Educator; Jennifer Poller, Director of Operations; Jodi Tandet, Janet L. Swanson Dir. of Jewish Student Life at the University of Pittsburgh; Alex Zissman, Jewish Student Life Coordinator at Carnegie Mellon University; Matthew Callman, Israel Engagement Coordinator; Elina Lipov, Israel Fellow; Ariel Walovitch, Springboard Innovation Fellow; Katie Whitlatch, Board Chair; Michael Warshafsky, V. Chair Fin.; Matthew Weinstein, V. Chair Development; Gina
Levine, V. Chair Jewish Life; Sue Berman Kress, V. Chair Board Governance/HR; Zachary Block, Immed. Past Chair. ••• HOLOCAUST CENTER OF PITTSBURGH 826 Hazelwood Ave. Pittsburgh, PA 15217 Phone: 412-421-1500; Fax: 412-422-1996 Website: HCPgh.org
Lori Guttman & Barbara Shapira, Board Co-Chairs; Dr. Barbara Burstin, Ed. Committee Chair; Dr. Joel Schuman, Prog. Committee Chair; Harry Schneider & Dr. Yolanda Avram Willis, Holocaust Survivors Org. Chairs; Lauren Apter Bairnsfather, Director. ••• ISRAEL BONDS 6507 Wilkins Ave., Suite 101 Pittsburgh, PA 15217 Phone: 412-362-5154; 1-800-362-2669 Email: Pittsburgh@israelbonds.com
Julian Elbling, Campaign Chair; Marian Ungar Davis, Advisory Council Chair, Ellen Teri Kaplan Goldstein, Women’s Division Chair; Adrienne Indianer, Registered Representative; Patty Minto, Office Manager; Harold F. Marcus, Executive Director. ••• ISRAEL HERITAGE ROOM University of Pittsburgh Susie Rosenberg Phone: 412-298-6698 Website: pitt.edu/~natrooms Email: Susan.b.rosenberg@gmail.com
Susan Binstock Rosenberg, Chair; Ruth Gelman, Eileen Lane, Dr. Alex Orbach, Judith Robinson, Dr. Adam Shear, Marcia Weiss, Vice Chairs; Ruth Gelman, Treas.; Dr. Nancy Glynn, Corr. & Fin. Secy.; Sylvia Busis, Nancy L. Shuman, Hon. Chairs. ••• JEWISH ASSISTANCE FUND P.O. Box 8197 Pittsburgh, PA 15217 Phone: 412-521-3237 Website: jewishassistancefund.org Email: Info@JewishAssistanceFund.org
Skip Grinberg, President; Joyce Berman, VP; Sylvia Elias, VP; Gean Goldfarb, VP; Charles Porter, VP; Roberta Letwin, Secretary; Ellen Primis, Secretary; Harvey Wolsh, Treasurer; Sharon Weisberg, Assistant Treasurer; David Maretsky, Past President; Cindy Goodman-Leib, Executive Director. ••• JEWISH ASSOCIATION ON AGING 200 JHF Drive Pittsburgh, PA 15217 Phone: 412-420-4000; Fax: 412-521-0932 Website: jaapgh.org Mitchell Pakler, Board Chair; Andrew Stewart, V. Chair; Mike Levin, Treas.; Lynette Lederman, Secy.; Steve Halpern, Immed. Past Chair; Deborah Winn-Horvitz, Pres. & CEO.
•••
JEWISH CEMETERY & BURIAL ASSOCIATION OF GREATER PITTSBURGH P.O. Box 81863 Pittsburgh, PA 15217 Phone: 412-553-6469 Website: jcbapgh.org Email: jcbapgh@gmail.com
Jonathan Schachter, President; Rochelle Sufrin, 1st Vice President; Eileen Lane, 2nd Vice President; Stanley Kirshenbaum, Treasurer; Natalie Rosenbloom Secretary; Harvey Wolsh, Historian; Jonathan Schachter Acting Exec. Dir.
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JEWISH COMMUNITY CENTER OF GREATER PITTSBURGH JCC Values: Building Community Every Day
Website: JCCPGH.org Squirrel Hill: 5738 Forbes Ave. Pittsburgh, PA 15217 Phone: 412-521-8010; Fax: 412-521-7044 South Hills: 345 Kane Blvd., Pittsburgh, PA 15243 Phone: 412-278-1975; Fax: 412-446-0146
James S. Ruttenberg, Chair of the Board; William S. Goodman, Scott E. Seewald, Kenneth T. Segel, Hilary S. Tyson, V. Chairs; Samuel W. Braver, Treas.; Audrey Russo, Asst. Treas.; Stefani Pashman, Secy.; Carole S. Katz, Asst. Secy.; Marc Brown, Immed. Past Chair; Brian Schreiber, Pres. & CEO. ••• JEWISH FAMILY & CHILDREN’S SERVICE OF PITTSBURGH (JF&CS) Supporting people through life’s changes and challenges.
5743 Bartlett St. Pittsburgh, PA 15217 Phone: 412-422-7200; Fax: 412-422-1162 Website: jfcspgh.org
Matthew A. Keller, MD, Board Chair; Howard S. Berger, David R. Lassman, Jillian F. Sacks, Esq., Vice Chairs; Eric J. Perelman, Treasurer; Scott I. Americus, Secretary; Carol Robinson, At-Large; Jordan Golin, Psy.D., President & CEO. ••• JEWISH FEDERATION OF GREATER PITTSBURGH 234 McKee Place Pittsburgh, PA 15213 Phone: 412-681-8000 Website: jfedpgh.org
Meryl K. Ainsman, Board Chair; Charles Porter, David D. Sufrin, Scott E. Tobe, Vice Chairs; Jan Levinson, Treasurer; Dr. Susan G. Berman Kress, Assistant Treasurer; Chuck Perlow, Secretary; Linda Joshowitz, Assistant Secretary; Jeffrey H. Finkelstein, President & CEO. ••• JEWISH NATIONAL FUND Jewish National Fund Administrative Center 60 Revere Drive Suite 725 Northbrook, IL 60062 Website: jnf.org Email: jrose@jnf.org Phone: 412-521-3200
Jason A. Rose, Associate Executive Director, Midwest. Steven H. Schwartz, President. ••• JEWISH RESIDENTIAL SERVICES From disabilities to possibilities
4905 Fifth Ave., Suite #3 Pittsburgh, PA 15213 Phone: 412-325-0039 (administrative office) Fax: 412-621-4260 Website: jrspgh.org Email: info@jrspgh.org
Harold Love, Executive Dir.; Paula Pagnotta, Off. Mgr.; Audra Thomas, Dir. of Residential Support Servs.; Marty Brown, Prgrm. Coord. of Residential Support Serv.; Jill Pawlowski, Dir. Howard Levin Clubhouse; Sarah Hughes, Prgrm. Supervisor; Alison Karabin, Project Mgr., Young Adults in Transition; Judy Greenwald Cohen, President. Gary Dubin, Vice President; Gerri Lynn Sperling, Vice President; Lorrie Rabin, Secretary; Paul K. Rudoy, Treasurer. Please see Directory, page 19
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Headlines
In Mexico City, Jewish NGO is go-to agency for earthquake relief — WORLD — By Alan Grabinsky | JTA
M
EXICO CITY — I was on the 11th floor of an office building here when the ground started moving. There had been a mock evacuation that same day in remembrance of the 1985 earthquake that killed more than 10,000 people, but this was no drill. According to protocol, everyone ran toward the building’s columns — structurally the safest place to be in an earthquake. I closed my eyes as the rumbling worsened,
focusing on my breath and hugging the concrete structure as ceiling lamps came down, breaking the long wooden tables. Through the window, I saw clouds of dust billowing behind the skyline. The 7.1 magnitude quake on Sept. 19 toppled 38 buildings in Mexico City and killed over 300 people nationwide. Two buildings collapsed next to my apartment in the Condesa neighborhood, and many more in Roma — both historical centers of Mexican-Jewish life. Although most Mexico City Jews moved to the city’s outskirts following the aftermath of the ’85 temblor, which destroyed both areas, the neighborhood is still home to five synagogues, a Jewish archival center, a kindergarten and a Holocaust museum. I realized an hour later that my house was uninhabitable — windows busted, cracks across the walls, bathroom tiles scattered on the ground — and I joined an exodus of thousands of walkers (the highways needed to be cleared for emergency vehicles) as we made our way out of the disaster zone. Please see Mexico, page 24
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p Rescuers from the Mexican-Jewish aid agency Cadena inspect damage in Mexico City following a 7.1 magnitude earthquake. Cadena is a Mexican-Jewish NGO specializing in humanitarian aid. Photo courtesy of Cadena
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OCTOBER 6, 2017 11
Headlines — WORLD — From JTA reports
Israel-Russia trade leaps by 25 percent Trade between Russia and Israel has grown this year by 25 percent, officials from both countries revealed, amid complications with other Russian trading partners. The first six months of 2017 saw increased trade between the nations of about $380 million over the corresponding period last year. Zeev Elkin, the Israeli Cabinet minister responsible for environmental protection and issues connected with Jerusalem, announced the figures earlier last week at a conference in Moscow about Russian-Israel relations. “There is still great potential for increase in trade and there is much work ahead of us,” Elkin said in reference to ongoing talks since 2013 on signing a free trade agreement with Russia. Temur Ben Yehuda, chairman of the Israeli Russian Business Council that co-sponsored the Moscow conference, cited primarily the attractiveness of Israeli businesses to Russian counterparts and vice versa in explaining the increase in trade between Russia and Israel. “We are not only conducting dialogue on increasing trade, we are also signing major agreements between Israel and Russian firms, including Watergen, Assuta and many others,” he said.
The increase comes amid tightening cooperation between Israel and Russia on security issues connected with Syria, where the Russian government is engaged in propping up the beleaguered regime of the country’s president, Bashar Assad. Its involvement in Syria has complicated Russia’s relations with Turkey, which has aided some forces fighting Assad in Syria’s civil war dating to 2011, and soured trade between those nations. Separately, Russia’s trade with the European Union and the United States has also suffered due to sanctions imposed by the West over its invasion of Ukraine in 2014 and annexation of land. Louis-Dreyfus, of ‘Seinfeld’ fame, reveals she has cancer Julia Louis-Dreyfus, an American television actress who gained fame on the hit series “Seinfeld,” was diagnosed as suffering from breast cancer. Louis-Dreyfus, whose paternal grandfather was Jewish, broke the news last week on Twitter. “1 in 8 women get breast cancer. Today, I’m the one,” wrote Louis-Dreyfus, who portrayed Elaine Benes on the hugely popular sitcom. She currently stars in the HBO comedy “Veep,” for which she has won a record six consecutive Emmy Awards playing the role of Selina Meyer. “The good news is that I have the most glorious group of supportive and caring family and friends, and fantastic insurance
through my union,” the 56-year-old actress continued. “The bad news is that not all women are so lucky, so let’s fight all cancers and make universal health care a reality.” Her revelation prompted an outpouring of sympathy on social networks from many film and television stars, including breast cancer survivors Rita Wilson and Christina Applegate, the New York Post reported. Louis-Dreyfus has been married to Brad Hall, like her a former cast member on “Saturday Night Live,” for 20 years. They have two sons, Charlie and Henry. Jewish House members press Netanyahu on pluralism Eighteen Jewish Democrats in the U.S. House of Representatives wrote Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu expressing disappointment in his rollback of religious pluralism reforms. “We write to express our profound concerns about recent decisions that seem to call into question the legitimacy and equal status of non-Orthodox Jews,” said the letter sent Sept. 28. Among the decisions they cited were the June decision by Netanyahu’s Cabinet to put a hold on a 2016 agreement to expand an egalitarian prayer plaza at the Western Wall and a pending Knesset bill that would consolidate power over conversions performed in Israel under the Orthodox Chief Rabbinate. “Like our Jewish constituents we believe are and must remain am echad, one people
united by history and faith,” said the letter, signed by all but three of the 21 Jewish Democrats in the House. There are also two Jewish Republicans in the body. The letter echoes a similar plea from seven Jewish U.S. senators sent earlier last month to Netanyahu. Six Israeli activists wounded in protest against kapparot Animal rights activists protesting a pre-Yom Kippur ritual involving the swinging of a chicken were assaulted in the northern Israeli city of Hadera. Six of the activists, five women and one man, were lightly wounded in the incident Thursday night when city residents threw stones and other objects at the protesters. Police did not intervene during the demonstration, which according to the Israel Broadcasting Corp. was conducted legally with permission. Some residents targeted the protesters from the balconies of their homes, the IBC reported. A video of the incident in Hadera, about 28 miles from Haifa, showed a fire extinguisher being hurled at the protesters. The residents were partaking in the ancient practice of kapparot, in which swinging the chicken around one’s head symbolically purges a Jew of sins. Some believe the ritual is cruel. The meat of the chicken is donated to charity following the rite, which some Jews perform using money in place of a chicken. PJC
WHAT IS A HOGE KNOT? FIND OUT: WWW.JFEDPGH.ORG/HOGEKNOT
MEN’S NIGHT OUT
Featuring Former ESPN Analyst & Pittsburgh Steeler
MERRIL HOGE
Thursday, November 2, 2017 • 6:00 pm • Byham Theater
12 OCTOBER 6, 2017
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Headlines Trump facing increased pressure from lawmakers to abide by Iran nuclear deal — NATIONAL — By Ron Kampeas | JTA
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ASHINGTON — Ben Cardin, one of a handful of Senate Democrats who opposed the Iran nuclear deal, urged the Trump administration not to pull out of it — the latest indication of congressional resistance to killing the agreement. “If we violate a U.N. resolution, in the eyes of the international community, do we have any credibility?” Cardin asked last week at a monthly meeting he holds with foreign policy reporters, referring to the Security Council resolution that undergirds the deal. “I don’t understand the strategy to set up the potential of the United States walking away from a nuclear agreement.” Cardin, who is Jewish and the top Democrat on the Senate’s Foreign Relations Committee, was one of four Senate Democrats who opposed the 2015 deal, which trades sanctions relief for Iran’s rollback of its nuclear program. He warned the administration to stick to the deal as long as Iran is abiding by it. President Donald Trump has called the agreement one of the worst he ever encountered and intimated he might kill it or at least open it up to renegotiation. Cardin said he was speaking for many
opponents of the deal. “We thought it was the wrong decision,” he said, “but we want to see it implemented.” Trump has said his decision on what to do with the deal will be known by next month. The president can declare Iran is not complying with the agreement under a law that Cardin co-authored that requires the president to periodically certify Iran is abiding by the pact. That would give Congress 60 days to re-impose sanctions — effectively leaving it up to lawmakers whether to withdraw from the deal. The certification is due by Oct. 15. Cardin said kicking the ball to Congress would be an abdication of executive responsibility. “This is not a congressional agreement, this is an agreement entered into by the president,” he said. Trump may also unilaterally stop the deal simply by refusing to waive sanctions. Cardin echoed warnings issued earlier this week by European ambassadors that there is little appetite among U.S. allies to end the deal. “It’s pretty universal that our friends don’t want us to walk away from the agreement,” he said. Cardin last week joined six other Senate Democrats in top security positions in a letter to administration officials demanding evidence that Iran is not in compliance. U.N. nuclear inspectors have repeatedly certified
“All year we should see ourselves as though we are equally balanced between merit and guilt; and similarly, we should see the entire world as equally balanced between merit and guilt. One moral failure can tip the scales for us and the whole world toward the side of culpability, leading to destruction….The book of Proverbs teaches that a righteous person is the foundation of the world. That is, a person who has done what is right has tipped the balance for the entire world toward merit and saved it.” Maimonides, Mishnah Torah, Laws of Repentance (commentary from Mishkan Hanefesh)
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p President Donald Trump speaks at an event in the Kennedy Garden of the White House.
Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images
Iranian compliance. The resistance to ending the deal is not confined to Democrats. The top foreign policy Republican in the U.S. House of Representatives, Rep. Ed Royce of California, the chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee, said earlier this month that he would prefer to keep the deal in place. He added that Trump should “enforce the hell out of it.” Also in the House, a Republican, Rep. Francis Rooney of Florida, and a Democrat, Rep. Gerald Connolly of Virginia, introduced a bill that would devolve oversight of the agreement on a bipartisan commission to include 16 lawmakers — equally split between Democrats and Republicans from the House and Senate — and four executive branch officials.
Connolly in a joint news release with Rooney indicated that the aim of the commission would be to protect the deal from the whims of the president. “Congress has a role to play in effective oversight of this agreement, and we must assert that role regardless of whether the president certifies Iran’s compliance,” he said. Trump derided the deal during the U.N. General Assembly as one of the worst he had ever encountered, and he was joined in that assessment by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Trump is also under pressure from some conservatives to kill the deal. Last week, a letter from 45 national security experts urged Trump to quash the deal, hewing to a plan drafted by John Bolton, a former ambassador to the United Nations. Among the signers was Morton Klein, president of the Zionist Organization of America. Like the European ambassadors who warned against pulling out of the deal, Cardin urged Trump to use the available tools to pressure Iran to modify its behavior, outside the parameter of the nuclear agreement, including a range of sanctions targeting Iran’s missile testing and its military adventurism. “Seeking the support of our allies to isolate Iran for its non-nuclear activity,” he said. “That should be our strategy.” PJC
As we welcome in the New Year, the Jewish Healthcare Foundation feels compelled to be public about its core Jewish values. Join us as we recommit to express – in both word and deed – respect for truth seekers, rejection of ridicule and public shame (lashon hara) in civic discourse, and compassion for the vulnerable and marginalized. Join us as we strive to be those who work to tip the scales toward merit by valuing the health, well-being, dignity, and fair treatment of all.
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OCTOBER 6, 2017 13
Opinion What about the Kurds? — EDITORIAL —
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n a nonbinding referendum held last week, a clear majority of the 6 million Kurds of northern Iraq voted to declare independence. This comes as no surprise. The Kurds were promised a homeland in the same post-World War I regional shakeup that produced the Balfour Declaration for a Jewish home in Palestine. But, while the small Jewish nation got its state, the much larger Kurdish nation languished as a despised minority in Iraq, Syria, Iran and Turkey. Historically, Israel and the Kurds have been quiet allies — and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was the only leader in the region to welcome the outcome of the referendum. In contrast, while Kurdish Peshmerga fighters have been reliable partners with the United States in the fight against the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria, the United States lobbied against the Kurdish independence vote. It is not that difficult to understand the U.S. positon. Self-determination is no simple undertaking. Without international sanction
So while the Iraqi Kurds, for the most part, have taken full advantage of opportunities to pursue independence — and deserve our continued support — a unilateral declaration of independence appears destined to fail, as it should. and support the effort can devolve into chaos and genocide. We have seen that happen before, most recently when the secession of one part of Yugoslavia in the 1990s ignited ethnic hatreds that led to genocide in Europe for the first time since the Holocaust. The warnings are clear: Unilateral moves can unleash terrible destruction. “The fragmentation of Iraq since the 2003
U.S. invasion and of the Arab Middle East since 2011 has afforded the region’s Kurds an unusual opportunity to reach for greater independence,” writes Israeli security analyst Yossi Alpher, who, as a Mossad agent, took part in clandestine missions in Kurdistan. But the international table is not yet fully set. So while the Iraqi Kurds, for the most part, have taken full advantage of opportunities
to pursue independence — and deserve our continued support — a unilateral declaration of independence appears destined to fail, as it should. Landlocked and surrounded by larger, hostile countries, Iraqi Kurdistan would lose all the benefits the Kurdish population currently enjoys, in exchange for a symbolic — and pyrrhic — victory. Rather than pursue that course, we hope that Kurdish leader Masoud Barzani will use last week’s vote as leverage in ongoing negotiations with the central government in Baghdad for greater autonomy within Iraq. Undoubtedly, those dreaming of a greater Kurdistan for the region’s 34 million Kurds will be disappointed. But a state founded through international action rather than unilateral declaration has a better chance of survival and success. While it is plainly unfair to ask the Kurds to be patient — particularly because so many have suffered for so long — we are convinced that if there is to be a state of Kurdistan one day, it will only come about as part of an internationally sanctioned move that brings that state under the protective umbrella of the world community. PJC
A political journey Guest Columnist Ivan C. Frank
T
ogether with my family, I have lived in Israel for 11 years and served in the Israel Defense Forces in the West Bank. I also have taught and written about the history of the state. However, this summer’s visit to the West Bank and the Negev was a real eye-opener. My wife Malke and I traveled twice to the West Bank. The first trip was organized by T’ruah: The Rabbinic Call for Human Rights and Breaking the Silence, an Israeli NGO of former officers and soldiers who have provided written testimony about serving in the Palestinian territories. We traveled to Hebron, where we walked the “sterile street” of the main market area. It is labeled sterile because it is no longer the bustling and thriving Palestinian marketplace it used to be for generations. The army closed and boarded up the stores and homes of the residents, who are not permitted to drive on the street and must walk behind a painted line on the sidewalk. In the late 1970s, two small groups of Jewish settlers led by Rabbi Moshe Levinger settled without government permission in Old Hebron. Today, there are 850 settlers who are guarded by 600 Israeli soldiers. We walked by the grave of Rabbi Meir Kahana, who together with his Kach party was banned from the Knesset because of its racist policies. In Hebron, he is honored. On his gravestone is written: “His hands are
14 OCTOBER 6, 2017
clean and his heart is pure.” Another hero in this area is Baruch Goldstein, who in 1994 murdered 29 Muslims while they were praying at the Cave of the Patriarchs. In addition to the army and police who patrol Old Hebron, the settlers have their own guards. Our group was verbally harassed by an armed guard, who filmed us with his video camera and interrupted the tour guide numerous times, calling her a liar. (Old Hebron, where 30,000 Palestinians live, also has 18 checkpoints.) Our second trip to the West Bank was to the South Hebron Hills and the Negev with Rabbi Arik Ascherman, a well-known human rights leader. We traveled over rocky and sandy roads, visiting Susya, Umm Al Khir and Umm Al Hiran. The only paved roads are near the Israeli settlements. Israel’s civil and military control of Area C of the West Bank includes the South Hebron Hills. There, the village of Umm Al Khir and the other Bedouin villages have never been allowed to present a community building plan to the military government, nor to receive permits to build houses. They constantly see their homes bulldozed. Their fields are destroyed by settlers seeking to exact a “price” for the presence of non-Jews here. In the territories, only 11 of 46 Negev Bedouin villages are recognized. By contrast, 6 percent of the total Jewish Israeli population of 6 million lives in the Negev. That makes the 250,000 Bedouin a full third of the Negev population. In Umm Al Hiran, residents have been threatened by the government, which seeks to move them from their private farming and grazing lands and transfer them all to
the town of Hura. These actions are based on decisions that began in 2003 and on the Begin Plan of 2013. Although the government claimed that the Bedouin were taking over the Negev, in actuality, they claim only 5.4 percent of the land. (A recent survey found that 46 percent of Israelis now believe that the Bedouin claim is fair, while 34 percent do not.) The Begin Plan determined that Israel would build separate towns for the Bedouin in the Negev, who would receive government-provided water, electricity and job training if they moved voluntarily. Even though the British kept written records of Bedouin land ownership in the 19th and 20th centuries, these have mysteriously disappeared from the state archives. Towns in the West Bank, such as Yatta, and villages in the hinterlands of Be’er Sheva in the Negev, have been settled by Bedouin since the middle of the 19th century. In 1920, the pre-state Zionist Federation recognized the Bedouin claims. However, the present Israeli government is creating a Bedouin pale of settlement, just as our grandparents were forced to live in the Russian pale of settlement. We drank coffee with Salim, who is from Umm Al Hiran. He feels so oppressed and humiliated that in anger he told us, “They are teaching us to hate them.” His son, who served in the IDF, now tells other Bedouin youth not to volunteer for military service. In Umm Al Khir, we met Taliq, a 23-year-old student. His village originally was in the Negev. In the early 1950s, the residents were forced into the South Hebron Hills. Taliq told us that since 2007, up to six houses have been demolished each year. One of those houses belonged to his family.
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In addition to the destroyed and newly built homes of the residents, we saw the community oven that the army had destroyed. Still, in Umm Al Khir, the residents keep rebuilding. “This is our passive resistance,” Taliq said. The West Bank Palestinian village of Susya is emblematic of the Palestinians being forced out of their homes. The original Susya was founded in the Negev in 1917. It has been forced to move twice, and now is located in the South Hebron Hills without the 300 dunam of private lands that it had in Susya I and II. The people live in caves and tents. In Susya III, we sat in Nasser’s family’s cave, where women opened up a cooperative to sell their own textile goods. The government has claimed that it is clearing out the South Hebron Hills and the Negev for firing ranges. Next to one of the Bedouin villages in the West Bank that we visited, the Jewish National Fund has begun building roads leading to a new Israeli settlement. These additions to the area, which provide infrastructure solely for the settler movement, are just one of many attempts to blur the “Green Line” between Israel and the West Bank. The government recognizes only these settlements, supplying them with water and electricity. Seeing is really believing in this part of the world. We visited towns and villages, and met with individuals who live there. Both Torah’s great meta-principle and Israel’s Declaration of Independence declare that all people should have basic human rights and be treated justly. But the reality seems far from the ideal. PJC Ivan C. Frank lives in Squirrel Hill.
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Opinion Israeli hatred masquerading as academia Guest Columnist Gabriel Kaufman
O
n Aug. 12, the United States was shaken to its core. It had been several years since racist groups played a dominant role in American life, so for many Americans the idea of the KKK and neo-Nazis seemed obsolete. Unfortunately, America woke up to a new harsh reality: The bigots living in this country are no longer living in the shadows. Although the display of hatred in Charlottesville was reprehensible, it was incredible to see a country that is generally divided come together and denounce hatred wherever it resides. But we as a country remain blind to the hatred being spewed on college campuses from academia. I am a junior at the University of Pittsburgh. This year I was required to take a seminar in composition class as part of my major. Although I wasn’t necessarily thrilled at the prospect of writing essays, I assumed that the English class would at the very least be somewhat beneficial. I have only been in this composition class for a handful of weeks, but I already am certain that my original presumption was absolutely wrong. In our first four classes we spent zero time honing in on important aspects of the English language, but 100 percent of the time was spent demonizing Israel, the world’s only Jewish state. During our second class, my teacher discussed what assignments we were going to do during the first few weeks. The first few all attempted to display Israel as a terroristic state. Our first assignment was to read the
first two chapters of a book called “An Israeli Living in Palestine.” This book is about a Jew from a small town who moves to Israel. In it, Jeff Halper claims that Zionism has become “quite destructive and racist.” He displays Zionists as land-hungry maniacs willing to ignore international law to fill their insatiable appetite for oppression. Not only are these claims offensive, they are a clear misrepresentation of the truth. Halper claims that Israel demolishes the houses of Palestinians living in the West Bank for no reason, but he fails to mention that Israel also demolishes the houses of Jewish citizens as well. The reason that Israel demolishes houses is either because the houses don’t have the correct permits or the person whose house in being demolished is guilty of a major criminal offense. In the past 10 years, terrorism committed by Palestinians has decreased in large numbers due to Israel’s policy of demolishing the houses of terrorists. The Palestinian Authority, meanwhile, pays its citizens to commit abominable acts against Israeli civilians. I am not arguing that the Israeli-Arab conflict is not complex. The conflict is one in which the sides are not very clear cut and the reason for the dispute is often unclear. My anger does not arise from the teacher’s desire to criticize the Jewish state; my criticism stems from the fact that my teacher criticized Israel unfairly. Immediately following the second class of the semester, I approached the teacher and told her that the composition she had given us made me extremely uncomfortable. I asked her why she would assign such a controversial reading in a class that is supposed to be apolitical. She responded by saying that a lot of people have a distaste for Palestinians without knowing enough about
the Israeli-Arab conflict. “If you are willing to admit that the majority of students who take this class don’t know much about the Israel-Palestinian conflict,” I responded, “why would you want to attempt skew their opinion so much?” My teacher said that I raised a good point and that she would look into balancing the debate in the classroom. I went home that day believing that I had won the war against propaganda. Again, I was wrong. My teacher sent an email to the class saying that a disgruntled student had approached her, and that in addition to the assignments we already had, we should find an article refuting the findings in Halper’s book. Although this email originally seemed conciliatory, this English professor had ulterior motives. Within the email she told students it might be worthwhile to Google “settlements” as a way to find pro-Israel sources. Anyone who knows anything about this conflict knows that “settlements” is a word used by anti-Israel activists who want to delegitimize Israeli sovereignty. For the third class of the semester, we finally discussed Halper’s book. Although my teacher claimed to be level headed, she did not appear so in the context of her argument. Instead of refuting Halper’s claims, she not only reaffirmed them but called the creation of Israel a nakba, the Arabic word for tragedy. The only nakba is the fact that a teacher at an accredited university could get away with such blatant propaganda. The propaganda didn’t end with Halper’s book. We’ve read “A Memory for Forgetfulness” and watched the movie “Waltz with Bashir.” “A Memory for Forgetfulness” is a composition written by one of the most famous Arab poets of the 20th century, Mahmoud Darwish. In it, Darwish writes about his experiences during the Lebanese
civil war, his imminent death the “unlawful occupation of Palestine.” For the majority of people, the idea of Zionist colonialism makes sense. Many envision Israeli Jews to be the descendants of rich European Jews. This notion is false. There has been a continuous Jewish presence in the land of Israel for more than 3,000 years. It’s conceivable that no Palestinians would have been refugees if Israel wasn’t attacked by Arab nations immediately after declaring statehood. While my professor mentioned that the Israeli-Arab conflict is complex, she never mentioned why it was complex. She never spoke about the Arab Jews who were kicked out of their homes in 1948, and she never spoke about the fact that Israel has been under constant attack since its creation. She glossed over the truth and in doing so indoctrinated many of my classmates. Had I taken a political theory class, I would have understood that many people have differing opinions about such a controversial conflict. But I took a required composition class; instead of learning about composition, I had to listen to my people being misrepresented and slandered. I do not think my professor is a bad person. In fact, I think she may be a very good person who knows little about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. In the times I have spoken to my teacher, she admitted to me that I had a better grasp of the conflict than she did. If this is the case, what right did my teacher have to slander a country that has had such a positive impact on the world? It’s time we stand up to propaganda which masquerades as academia. PJC Gabriel Kaufman, from Jerusalem, is the student president of the University of Pittsburgh’s Jewish Heritage Programs.
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OCTOBER 6, 2017 15
Headlines Donkey: Continued from page 1
initiated the project by arranging to purchase three pregnant donkeys, hoping that one foal might be a male. The two other donkeys recently delivered their foals, but both were girls. “For a city-dweller, this is a once in a lifetime chance,” said Rabbi Shimon Silver of Young Israel. “Now, I’ll be able to say I did it. You don’t have to do it if you don’t have a donkey, but if you have a chance to do it, why not?” The mitzvah is mentioned every day after the laying of tefillin, Silver said, noting that
it is connected to the exodus from Egypt and the fact that donkeys aided the Jews by transporting their belongings as they were leaving. Rabbi Daniel Yolkut, spiritual leader of Poale Zedeck, is not obligated to perform the mitzvah, even if he did own a donkey, because he is a levi. He therefore did not buy a donkey share from Kollel, but nonetheless came to observe. This was the second time Yolkut had seen this mitzvah performed, the first being 16 years ago in Jerusalem. The mitzvah is meaningful, he said, because “it reminds us of the eternal Torah, that it is still a mitzvah that people can do today, even though it is obscure.” Several local rabbis took the podium
p The fundraising effort proved successful with a generous turnout.
Photos by Esther Wayne
to offer words of inspiration prior to the redeeming of Jacob, inclduing Rabbis Yisroel Rosenfeld, dean of Yeshiva Schools of Greater Pittsburgh, and Daniel Wasserman, spiritual leader of Shaare Torah Congregation, which occurred through a kohen receiving a lamb in exchange for the donkey. “Little Jacob has real holiness,” Weisswasser told the crowd. “The donkey is the only nonkosher animal we have this mitzvah for.” The kohen who redeemed Jacob, Marc Itskowitz, said he was “privileged to be involved” in what was his first time to be called upon to participate in a pidyon petter chamor. Weisswasser asked for “special blessings” for Wargo, who has “been extremely helpful
p Jacob the donkey was a huge hit with the children.
Alcohol: Continued from page 1
“For Kiddush, we do serve wine in small amounts,” explained Weinstein. “We would not serve alcohol to minors other than in small amounts for that religious purpose.” In Pennsylvania, those under the age of 21 years are generally restricted from using alcohol. For those above 21, it is a misdemeanor to “intentionally and knowingly” sell or furnish alcohol to someone under the age of 21. An exception, as stated in Title 18 of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, applies to “any religious service or ceremony which may be conducted in a private home or a place of worship, where the amount of wine served does not exceed the amount reasonably, customarily and traditionally required as an integral part of the service or ceremony.” Even apart from the legal issues surrounding the distribution of alcohol to those under 21 years of age, the problem with mixing alcohol and events is that one typically eclipses the other, explained local Jewish professionals. “Particularly with undergrads, alcohol can end up being the focus,” said Kranjec. “We like to put an emphasis on the Jewish content as opposed to the alcohol,” agreed Carolyn Slayton, Shalom Pittsburgh associate for the Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh. With that said, “there are times when we will have wine [such as] at most Shabbat 16 OCTOBER 6, 2017
“ There are times when we will have wine [such as] at most Shabbat dinners, but it is more as a traditional thing, not necessarily
”
the selling point.
— CAROLYN SLAYTON, OF THE JEWISH FEDERATION OF GREATER PITTSBURGH dinners, but it is more as a traditional thing, not necessarily the selling point.” For those within Shalom Pittsburgh’s target demographic, which is young adults ages 22 to 45, “they can go to a happy hour anywhere,” said Slayton. “What we try to offer is a little something more — not just wine tasting, but wine tasting and Torah study or wine tasting and ritual.” An upcoming example includes “Wine and Wisdom,” a collaboration between Shalom Pittsburgh, J’Burgh, Moishe House and Congregation Beth Shalom in which guests are invited to gather in the synagogue’s sukkah for Havdalah, desserts, wine and a discussion with Rabbi Seth Adelson and Rabbi Jeremy Markiz. Although Shalom Pittsburgh does promote
beer and wine tastings, cocktail hours and its annual Vodka Latke celebration, “we try to stray away from alcohol-based events when possible,” said Slayton. At Moishe House Pittsburgh, 20 percent of the organization’s $500 monthly budget may be allocated to alcohol, explained Ben Varhula, Midwest regional manager for Moishe House, a self-described “network of peer-based Jewish communities for young adults ages 22 to 30.” Because Moishe House’s vision is “peer driven, we leave it up to our residents on what’s best to build that community, and sometimes it’s alcohol,” said Varhula, adding that while events may encompass the distribution of alcohol, “we stress adhering to federal laws.”
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and generous. She took very good care of our donkeys.” Wargo said she was “very happy we could finally be successful. I know how important this is.” The mitzvah has been performed in the last few years in other communities, including Toronto, Los Angeles, Chicago, Detroit and Cleveland. “It was pretty inspiring to be in a crowd of people performing a mitzvah that most of us had never heard of, let alone observed,” said Nina Butler. “It was a once-in-a-lifetime experience.” PJC Toby Tabachnick can be reached at ttabachnick@pittsburghjewishchronicle.org.
With so many organizations shying away from openly embracing alcohol at events, Scotch in the Sukkah may come as a bit of a surprise. Scheduled for Monday, Oct. 9, following the 7 p.m. minyan, the annual Beth Shalom men’s club event, which is open to adults 21 and older, is a “way to get people into the sukkah,” said Rob Menes, executive director. It is also a chance to learn proper drink-mixing techniques from a professional bartender and to hear several, perhaps unfamiliar, tunes. “I’ll actually be singing some Scottish songs,” said Menes, a trained cantor who has performed “Loch Lomond,” in the sukkah. But as these things go, lest people think that this event has the seeds for some type of religious-cloaked drinking party, Menes offered clarification. “It’s not about drinking a lot of alcohol; it’s about going into the sukkah and celebrating Sukkot.” Scotch in the Sukkah is a “fun way to celebrate the holiday,” added the synagogue’s executive director. “We try to do so many things here that are family oriented, and sometimes it’s appropriate to have adult-oriented programs as well.” Certain programs will employ alcohol as a mechanism for participants to “connect Jewishly,” said Slayton. But our mission is always to “connect young adults to each other and to the Jewish community and to the Jewish people as a whole.” PJC Adam Reinherz can be reached at areinherz @pittsburghjewishchronicle.org.
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Life & Culture Is the best organic carrot juice coming from a Squirrel Hill basement? — FOOD — By Toby Tabachnick | Senior Staff Writer
J
ehoshua Bar-Nir is hoping to turn the Jewish world on its head, and he has started with himself. Identifying with the Chabad-Lubavitch movement beginning in 1981, Bar-Nir has been an advocate for healthy living since growing up on a secular kibbutz in Israel. He eats a mostly vegan diet (he only has a “small piece of salmon on Shabbos”) and sticks to a strict regimen of exercise. He will not publicly reveal his age, but instead simply declares: “I can do things that people 40 years younger than me are not doing.” Things like getting up each day before the crack of dawn to stand on his head for 50 minutes. And eschewing a car in favor of using his feet to carry him just about anywhere he needs to go. Bar-Nir, who came to Pittsburgh four years ago after living for some time in New York, has launched a “healthy program,” he said. Calling his enterprise JBN Organic, the business is now centered on the production and distribution of the fresh, organic carrot juice that Bar-Nir produces in the basement below his Squirrel Hill apartment. By special request, Bar-Nir also can produce fresh apple and beet juice, he said. Bar-Nir purchases 150 pounds of organic carrots each week from the Whole Foods in East Liberty, to which he travels from Squirrel Hill on foot, a 50-minute hike each way. It takes 15 pounds of carrots to make one gallon of juice, he said. For his cadre of loyal customers, who mostly know of his juice through word of mouth, Bar-Nir personally delivers the juice to their homes, walking throughout Squirrel Hill, Greenfield and neighboring areas, with his juice packed in orange temperature-controlled coolers. For large deliveries, he places the coolers in a baby carriage for easier transport. Because there are no preservatives in the juice, it must be consumed within three to four days, he said. That is why he is not marketing it to retailers. “This is the freshest carrot juice that you can find,” said Pittsburgher Mendel Markel, a regular customer of Bar-Nir, who drinks a half gallon of the juice each week. “It’s fresh, cold-pressed and head and shoulders above the rest. It’s a whole new ballpark. The taste is far superior; you can really taste the difference. He delivers it every Thursday, so I’ll have it in time for Shabbos.” Because the juice is made from organic carrots, it is free of the chemicals contained in nonorganic carrots that are then absorbed by the body, Bar-Nir said. Physical health, he contends, is too often overlooked in the Orthodox world. “The Orthodox are focusing all day long on spirituality and not focusing on their physical health,” he said. “They are asking Hashem
p Jehoshua Bar-Nir
Photos by Toby Tabachnick
“ The Orthodox are focusing all day long on spirituality and not focusing on their physical health. They are asking Hashem for refua shlema (a full recovery from sickness), without changing their lifestyle. They have a healthy soul, but not a healthy body.
”
for refua shlema (a full recovery from sickness), without changing their lifestyle. They have a healthy soul, but not a healthy body.
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— JEHOSHUA BAR-NIR
They say they worship Hashem with joy, but how can a person be spiritually happy and worship Hashem if he’s not healthy?”
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Bar-Nir hopes to one day garner enough financial support to move his juicing business from the basement of his apartment building to street level and open a juice bar, he said. A former marathon runner, he has been eating a mostly vegan diet since he was 17 years old, following the example of his mother. He does not eat processed foods, and in addition to his morning headstands, he incorporates chin-ups and sit-ups into his exercise routine. He sleeps only about four hours a night. “I don’t need so many hours of sleep because I’m healthy,” he said. He attributes his good health to being mindful of what he puts into his body. His diet consists mostly of dates, figs, raisins, peanut butter, avocado, whole grain wheat, rice, quinoa and corn. “I think before I’m eating,” he said. “Our body is not a trash can.” Bar-Nir likens his eating habits with those of people in “ancient times,” who lived extraordinarily long lives. “Scientists did research, and people can live up to 300 years,” he said. “I want to live as much as I can, but it’s not up to me. It’s up to Hashem.” A vegan diet is being embraced more and more by Jews in the United States and elsewhere, including in the Orthodox community. Just last week, Jewish Veg, a nonprofit that encourages Jews to adopt a plant-based diet based on Jewish values, circulated a statement signed by 75 rabbis, representing a broad cross-section of the international Jewish community, urging other Jews to move away from eating animals and adopt a plant-based diet. “Veganism, or a plant-based diet, is the new kashrut,” said Rabbi David Rosen, director of the American Jewish Committee’s Department of Interreligious Affairs, in a video accompanying the statement. “Any other form of kashrut is problematic, highly problematic.” The rabbis state that in the Torah, God’s preference is for a plant-based diet for man, and that modern animal-agricultural practices violate the Torah mandate to prevent animal suffering. Of the 75 rabbis who signed the statement, 14 are Orthodox, and at least two are part of the Chabad-Lubavitch movement, according to Jeffrey Cohan, executive director of Jewish Veg. While some members of the Jewish community believe that a Talmudic injunction mandates the consumption of meat on Shabbat and Yom Tov, Cohan contends that is misconstrued. “The passage says to eat meat ‘only if it is pleasing to you,’” Cohan said. “But even if you do interpret it as a Talmudic mandate — and it’s not — that can’t supersede a Torah mandate. The Torah takes precedence. “You can’t have a mitzvah if the animals are treated badly before slaughter,” he said. PJC Toby Tabachnick can be reached at ttabachnick@pittsburghjewishchronicle.org. OCTOBER 6, 2017 17
Life & Culture Josh Gad honors his Holocaust survivor grandparents with role in ‘Marshall’ — FILM —
equal” public schools were unconstitutional. Marshall (played by Chadwick Boseman), at the time the head of the NAACP Legal Defense Fund, is sent to Connecticut to defend Joseph Spell (Sterling K. Brown), a chauffeur accused of raping his Greenwich socialite boss, Eleanor Strubing (Kate Hudson). Friedman, a local attorney, is tricked into filing a petition to allow Marshall to practice in the state. Friedman doesn’t want to do even that. At
phone interview, Gad readily acknowledges the disparity. “It’s not entirely accurate,” he said. “I did the same research; I delved into it. The case was a lot quicker than it takes in the film, though by all accounts Sam really did have to adjudicate it by himself. “Was it as dramatic as it played out in our film? Perhaps not. But the liberties that were taken were well within the accepted limits of films.”
There is a moving scene where an apparently Sabbath-observant Friedman is approached in his synagogue’s restroom by a By Curt Schleier | JTA fellow congregant who asks, “Feel like a big ctor Josh Gad may be best known shot defending that schvartze? What do you for voicing Olaf in the animated think your father would say?” Disney hit “Frozen” and originating An apprehensive Friedman — not to the role of Elder Arnold Cunningham in mention the feelings of this advance viewer the Tony Award-winning musical “The — replies, “No idea.” Book of Mormon.” “I think he’d say he was proud,” the He’s also been a correspondent for “The man says, handing Friedman $20 “for Daily Show,” co-starred with the defense fund.” Billy Crystal in the short-lived Gad grew up in Hollywood, Showtime series “The ComeFlorida, the son of immigrants: dians” and, more recently, played His mother was born in Germany Le Fou in the live-action version and his father is an Afghan Jew. of “Beauty and the Beast.” Gad believes his father is likely But in a manner he describes a direct descendant of the origas “almost kismet,” a chance inal Tribe of Gad, one of the 12 meeting with producer Paula Tribes of Israel. Wagner two years ago as he was “He came from a very religious leaving a Los Angeles restaurant family that was on a nomadic provided Gad with the opportujourney searching for a home,” nity to sink his teeth into what is he said. “They went through likely the most meaningful role India before finally settling of his career to date. in Afghanistan.” In the forthcoming film While he “went through the “Marshall” — a biopic about checklist of Jewish education” — Thurgood Marshall, the first Hebrew school and a bar mitzvah African-American Supreme — Gad considers himself largely Court justice — Gad plays secular today. Still, he likes to Samuel Friedman, the real-life give holiday shout-outs to fellow Jewish attorney who helped members of the tribe. a young Marshall defend a New Year’s greetings aside, black man accused of raping a Gad’s social media accounts are wealthy white woman in WASPy political in nature. Take an Aug. Connecticut in 1940. The movie p Josh Gad and Chadwick Boseman in a scene from “Marshall.” Photo by Barry Wetcher 15 tweet in response to President opens Oct. 13 and has received Donald Trump’s reaction to the advance praise, particularly for Gad’s the time, the film shows, Bridgeport was as Gad, 36, comes across as intelligent and white supremacist rally in Charlottesville: nuanced performance. racist and anti-Semitic as any southern city, quick witted, ready to engage on the topics “My grandparents lived in concentration For Gad, the role was not just a chance and the young white lawyer was concerned of history and creative license. camps as they watched their families die to show off his acting chops. It also was an about his practice. “I don’t mean to ruin the surprise, but in because of Nazis. F*** u Mr. President 4 opportunity to honor his grandparents, who “I got a reputation to think of,” he reality, Alexander Hamilton was not a Latino legitimizing hate.” survived the Holocaust. tells Marshall. who sings rap,” he quipped. “We’ve taken some For Gad, current events, combined with “The stories of my grandparents surviving When the motion is surprisingly rejected creative liberties to tell a story that is compel- working on “Marshall,” reinforced that there the camp makes the chance to play this by the judge, Friedman is assigned the case. ling about an African-American man and a is still much social justice work to be done. hero who had to deal with anti-Semitism Marshall is allowed to sit at the defense table, Jewish man who team up to defend a black “Unfortunately, the problems of racism — though obviously in a much less sinister but not speak. That works for him, since in man at a time when both were under enor- and anti-Semitism are as relevant today as environment — personal,” he said. “I wish Friedman, he has what Marshall wants: “I mous pressure to stay away from the case.” they were in the 1940s,” he said. “Trying to my grandparents were alive to see this very need someone who’ll do what I say.” “Marshall” director Reginald Hudlin told overcome anti-Semitism, fighting people who personal part of my journey.” While the 120-minute film focuses Hadassah magazine that his film “is a cele- want to reverse the progress we’ve made in The film is set long before Marshall narrowly on the trial, Juan Williams’ author- bration of the alliance between black and civil rights the last 50 years is important to me. became the grandfatherly, rational voice on itative biography “Thurgood Marshall: Jewish attorneys in the civil rights move“It would be easier to ignore it and just talk an increasingly divided mid-20th century American Revolutionary” devotes only a ment. The constitution says all men are about a new project I have coming up than Supreme Court, and a dozen years before he page to the case and makes no mention of created equal, but it was the brilliant work to stand up for what is right. I come from a won the landmark Brown v. Board of Educa- Marshall being silenced by a judge. of people like Marshall and Friedman who family that almost lost its entire family. I had tion, which established that “separate but When a reporter mentions this in a made it a reality.” to speak up.” PJC
A
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Organization Directory Directory: Continued from page 10 J STREET PITTSBURGH The home for pro-Israel, pro-peace Americans
Facebook: facebook.com/jstreetpittsburgh Email: pittsburgh@jstreet.org
Nancy Bernstein, Malke Frank, Co-Chairs. ••• JEWISH WOMEN’S CENTER OF PITTSBURGH P.O. Box 81924 Pittsburgh, PA 15217 Phone: 412-422-8044 Website: jwcpgh.org
Malke Frank, Pres., Mimi Reznik, Treas., Pat Cluss, Barbara Baumann, Laura Horowitz, Members-at-Large. ••• JEWISH WOMEN’S FOUNDATION OF GREATER PITTSBURGH The Jewish Women’s Foundation supports organizations that improve the lives of women and girls, with a focus on social change.
1620 Murray Ave., Pittsburgh, PA 15217 Phone: 412-727-1108 ; Fax: 412-681-8804 Website: jwfpgh.org Facebook.com/jwfpgh Email: jcohen@jwfpgh.org
Marsha D. Marcus, Fern G. Schwartz, Co-Chairs; Lauren Goldblum and Joan Gurrentz, Small Grants Committee Co-Chairs; Paula Garret, Signature Grant Committee, Chair; Judy Greenwald Cohen, Exec. Dir. ••• JOINT JEWISH EDUCATION PROGRAM (JJEP) Providing innovative learning experiences that inspire and prepare students to engage meaningfully in Jewish life.
4905 Fifth Ave. Pittsburgh PA 15213 Phone: 412-621-6566, ext. 116 Website: jjep.org Email: liron@jjep.org
Liron Lipinsky, Director; Aaron Bisno, Rabbi; Sharyn Henry, Rabbi; Seth Adelson, Rabbi; Laura Swiss and Todd Roscoe, Co-Chairs. ••• KEHILLAH LA LA ‘An inclusive community engaging members in creative Jewish experiences’
Webpage: ravchuck.com Facebook: Kehillah La La Email: ravchuck@gmail.com, ravchuck@yahoo.com Phone: 412-335-0298
Chuck Diamond, Rabbi and Executive Director, Fred Davis, President, Bobbi Gerson, Treasurer, Mickie Diamond, Secretary ••• KOLLEL JEWISH LEARNING CENTER Mailing Address: P.O. Box 81036 Pittsburgh, PA 15217 5808 Beacon St. Pittsburgh, PA 15217 Phone: 412-420-0220; Fax: 412-420-0224 Website: kollelpgh.org Email: info@kollelpgh.org
LADIES HOSPITAL AID SOCIETY 3459 Fifth Ave. Pittsburgh, PA 15213 Phone: 412-648-6106; Fax: 412-692-2682 Website: lhas.net
President, Carole L. Kamin; Vice Presidents: Jackie Dixon, Peggy Smyrnes-Williams, Heather Ziccarelli; Secretaries: Denise Shipe, Judy Woffington; Treasurer, Cindy Kacerik; Directors: Brittany Holzer, Linda Melada, Jill Nolan, Denise Pochan, Ruth Rubenstein, Marcia Weiss, Gayle Zacharia. ••• LUBAVITCH CENTER SYNAGOGUE Chabad of Western Pennsylvania
2100 Wightman St. Pittsburgh, PA 15217 (Corner of Hobart & Wightman in Sq. Hill) Phone: 412-422-7300
Rabbi Yisroel Rosenfeld, Mr. Charles Saul, Esq., Pres.; Rabbi Yisroel Altein, Chabad of Pittsburgh; Mrs. Chanie Rosenblum, Women’s Organization; Mr. Shmuel Creeger, Men’s Mikvah; Mr. & Mrs. Hirsh Dlinn, Hospitality; Shul Committee: Shmuel Huebner, Hirsch Dlinn, Lior Shkedi, Yosef Goldberg. ••• NA’AMAT USA Pittsburgh Council (formerly Pioneer Women) — A voice for Women and Children in Israel. Committed to gender equality, religious pluralism, the status of women in and out of the home, the prevention of domestic violence and education.
6328 Forbes Ave. Pittsburgh, PA 15217 Phone: 412-521-5253; Fax: 412-521-5285 Website: naamatpgh.com • naamat.org Email: naamatpgh@gmail.com
Lisa Steindel, President; Dorothy Greenfield, Membership Vice President; Sibyl Treblow, Am Affairs & Allied Act. V.P.; Judy Kobell, Treasurer; Natalie Rosenbloom & Rhoda Judd, Recording Secretary; Barbara Caplan & Elinor Young, Correspondence Secretary; Gloria Elbling Gottlieb & Carole Wolsh, Spiritual Adop/Schlshp. Chrmn.; Marcia J. Weiss, Past President; Jackie Braslawsce, Executive Director. ••• NATIONAL COUNCIL OF JEWISH WOMEN Pittsburgh Section
1620 Murray Ave. Pittsburgh, PA 15217 Phone: 412-421-6118; Fax: 412-421-1121 Website: ncjwpgh.org
Laurie Gottlieb, Pres.; Debra Levy Green V.P.; Lisa Silberman, Treas., Sarah Blask Rec. Secy.; Dorothy Grinberg, Cor. Secy.; Paula Garret, Imm. Past. Pres.; Cristina Ruggiero, Exec. Dir.; Andrea Kline Glickman, Dir of Development; Becky Abrams, Dir of the Center for Women (a joint project of NCJW and the JWF); Misi Bielich, Director of the Children’s Rooms in the Court; Lynn Tomasists; Director of Retail-Thriftique. ••• NEW COMMUNITY CHEVRA KADISHA OF GREATER PITTSBURGH Email: NewCommunityCK@verizon.net Phone: 412-422-8044
NEW LIGHT CONGREGATION/ OHR CHADASH Conservative, Egalitarian • Come Join Us
PLISKOVER ASSOCIATION, INC. Pliskov Landsleit org, manages Pliskover Cemetery
5898 Wilkins Ave. Pittsburgh PA 15217 Phone: 412-421-1017 Website: newlightcongregation.org
P.O. Box 8237 Pittsburgh, PA 15217 Website: pliskover.com Email: pliskover@pliskover.com
Jonathan Perlman, Rabbi; Barbara L. Caplan, Stephen Cohen, co-presidents; Marilyn Honigsberg, Administrative Assistant.; Janet Cohen, Corresponding Secretary; Debbie Salvin, Membership V.P.; Barbara Caplan, Social V.P.; Harold Caplan, Treasurer; Carl Solomon, Fin. Secy.; Ileen Portnoy, Secy.; Sharyn Stein, Sisterhood Pres.; Dan Stein, Men’s Club Pres. •••
Kimball Rubin, President; Bruce Ibe, Jared Kaufman, Pam Ludin, Frank H Rubin and Jared Rubin, Vice Presidents; Cheryl Kaufman, Treasurer; Honey Forman, Recording Secretary; Andrew Pearl, Financial Secretary; Marilyn Brody, Cookie Danovitz, Joel Dresbold, Bud Roth, Carole Barr Rubenstein, Fallon Rubin, Paula Rubin, Gloria Shapiro and Steven Speck, Board Members. •••
PARKWAY JEWISH CENTER Egalitarian Conservative Synagogue in the East Suburbs
300 Princeton Drive Pittsburgh, PA 15235 Phone: 412-823-4338; Fax: 412-823-4338 Website: parkwayjewishcenter.org Email: parkwayjc@verizon.net
Cantor Henry Shapiro, Spiritual Leader; Robert Korfin, Pres.; Laurie Barnett Levine, Sisterhood Pres. ••• PASTE Pittsburgh Association of Synagogue and Temple Executives
CONGREGATION POALE ZEDECK 6318 Phillips Ave. Pittsburgh, PA 15217 Phone: 412-421-9786 Website: pzonline.org Email: info@pzonline.org
Rabbi Daniel Yolkut, Spiritual Leader; Dr. Louis Felder, Pres.; Joe Ungar , 1st V.P.; Richard Levine, 2nd V.P.; Ben Pollack, 3rd V.P.; Rabbi Ari Goldberg, Fin. Officer; Shifra Poznanski, Rec. Secy.; Todd Stufflebeam, Exec. Dir.; Shifra Poznanski, Stacie Stufflebeam & Naama Lazar, Sisterhood Presidents; Shmuel Isenberg, Men’s Club Pres. •••
Leslie Hoffman (Temple Emanuel), President; Drew Barkley (Temple Sinai); Joel Don Goldstein, FSA (Tree of Life*Or L’Simcha); Steve Hecht, FSA, Treasurer (Beth El); Rob Menes (Beth Shalom), Jill Rook, (Adat Shalom); Bill Stein (Rodef Shalom).
RAUH JEWISH HISTORY PROGRAM & ARCHIVES SENATOR JOHN HEINZ HISTORY CENTER Preserving the History of Western Pennsylvania’s Jews
•••
1212 Smallman St. Pittsburgh, PA 15222 Phone: 412-454-6402 Websites: heinzhistorycenter.org/collections/ rauh-jewishhistory-program-and-archives; jewishfamilieshistory.org; jewishhistoryhhc.org Email: RJArchives@heinzhistorycenter.org
PENN STATE HILLEL 114-117 Pasquerilla Spiritual Center University Park, PA 16802 Phone: 814-863-3816 Email: Hillel@psu.edu Website: www.pennstatehillel.org
Executive Director: Aaron Kaufman; Chairman: Jill Epstein – Vice President – Wealth Management, Wealth Advisor, UBS; Vice Chairman: Dr. Rick Jacobs – Professor of Psychology, Penn State; Secretary: Cindy Ruben; Treasurer/Finance Chair: James Ultman – Professor Emeritus of Engineering, Penn State ••• PITTSBURGH JEWISH CHRONICLE Connecting Jewish Pittsburgh
5915 Beacon St., 5th Floor Pittsburgh, PA 15217-2005 Phone: 412-687-1000; Fax: 412-521-0154 Website: pittsburghjewishchronicle.org Email: newsdesk@pittsburghjewishchronicle.org
David Ainsman, Chairman; Evan Indianer, Vice Chairman; Gayle R. Kraut, Secretary; Andrew Schaer, Treasurer; Richard J. Kitay, Immediate Past Chairman; Jonathan Bernstein, Gail Childs, Elizabeth F. Collura, Seth Dresbold, Milton Eisner, Malke Steinfeld Frank, Tracy Gross, Catia Kossovsky, Andi Perelman, Amy Platt, David Rush, Charles Saul, Board Members; Jim Busis, CEO and Publisher; Joshua Runyan, Editor-in-Chief.
Rabbi Levi Langer, Rosh Kollel; Philip Milch, Esq., President; Dr. Frank Lieberman, Vice President; Aron Pfeffer, Treasurer, Mark Sindler, Esq., Secretary; Rabbi Avrohom Rodkin, Director of Education; Stacie Stufflebeam, Director of Development.
H. Arnold Gefsky, Chair David M. Schlitt, Director, Program & Archives dmschlitt@heinzhistorycenter.org. ••• RIVERVIEW TOWERS APARTMENTS Live Life Your Way
52 Garetta St. Pittsburgh, PA 15217 Phone: 412-521-7876; Fax: 412-325-7041 Website: riverviewtowers.com
Bob Bernstein, President; Charles Broff, Carol Cozen, Alan Dunn, Max Dizard, Maureen Kelly Busis, Robin Elson, Ray Engel, Dave Lassman, Mitchell Letwin, Sarita Mallinger, Susan Nitzberg, Barry Roth, Alec Stone, Amy Weiss, Macy Kisilinsky, Corey O’Connor, Hanna Steiner, Executive Director. ••• RODEF SHALOM CONGREGATION An Inclusive Reform Jewish Community
4905 Fifth Ave. Pittsburgh, PA 15213 Phone: 412-621-6566; Fax: 412-687-1977 Website: rodefshalom.org Email: info@rodefshalom.org
Aaron B. Bisno, Rabbi; Sharyn H. Henry Rabbi; Dr. Walter Jacob, Rabbi Emeritus & Senior Scholar; Barry D .Weisband, Exec. Dir.; Harlan Stone, Pres.; Karen Brean, Sr. V.P.; Margot Cavalier, Laura Swiss, V.P.s; Bob Rosenthal, Secy.; Emilie Hammerstein, Assist. Secy.; Joel Katz, Treas.; Peter Rosenfeld, Asst. Treas.; Dir.; Mimsie Leyton, Family Center Dir.; Liron Lipinsky, Dir. of J-JEP. Please see Directory, page 20
PITTSBURGHJEWISHCHRONICLE.ORG
PITTSBURGH JEWISH CHRONICLE
OCTOBER 6, 2017 19
Organization Directory Directory: Continued from page 19 RODEF SHALOM BROTHERHOOD
Stephen Fisher, Pres.; Peter Rosenfeld, Edward Mandell, David Serbin, V.P.s; Richard Meritzer, Brotherhood Treas.; Al Rosenfeld, Brotherhood Rec. Secy. ••• RODEF SHALOM SISTERHOOD
Jan Shaw, Pres.; Amy Leaman, Sandie Brand, Mary Ellen Elias, Elaine Rybski, V.P.s; Marjorie Goldfarb, Rec. Secy.; Terry Starrett, Assist. Rec. Secy.; Phyllis Feinert, Corr. Secy.; Helen Orringer, Assist. Corr. Secy.; Gail Lefkowitz, Treas.; Nancy Rosenthal, Assist. Treas.; Marla Perlman, Ruth Rubenstein, Karen Hochberg, Marilyn Caplan, Directors; Marion Damick, Parliamentarian. ••• SHAARE TORAH CONGREGATION At the gateway to the community — come visit or join our family.
2319 Murray Ave. Pittsburgh, PA 15217 Phone: 412-421-8855; Fax: 412-521-9938 Rabbi: 412-377-1769 Website: ShaareTorah.net Email: Office@ShaareTorah.net Email Sisterhood: dorseyhannahb@aol.com
Daniel E. Wasserman, Rabbi; Eliezer M. Shusterman, Assoc. Rabbi; Jonathan Young, Pres.; V.P. Adam Rothschild; Secy. Linda Tashbook; Brian Cynamon, Gabbai; Treasurer, Avram Avishai; Sisterhood Pres., Hannah B. Dorsey. ••• TEMPLE B’NAI ISRAEL A Friendly Progressive Congregation with Traditional Values
2025 Cypress Drive White Oak, PA 15131 Phone: 412-678-6181; Fax: 412-896-6513 Website: tbiwhiteoak.org Email: tbioffice@gmail.com
Rabbi, Paul Tuchman; Temple B’nai Israel President, Lindi Kendal; Vice President, Lou Anstandig; Secretary, Janice Greenwald Treasurer, Steve Klein; Office Manager, Lisa Schonberger. ••• TEMPLE DAVID CONGREGATION Making our house of prayer, learning and gathering into your second home.
4415 Northern Pike Monroeville, PA 15146 Phone: 412-372-1200; Fax: 412-372-0485 Weiger Religious School 412-372-1206 Website: templedavid.org Email: tdoffice@templedavid.org
Barbara AB Symons, Rabbi; Jason Z. Edelstein, Rabbi Emeritus; Beverly Reinhardt, Office Mgr.; Rabbi Barbara Symons, Dir. of Education; Barbara Fisher, School Admin. Assist.; Kay Liss, Pres.; Reena Goldberg, Exec. V.P.; Harvey Wolfe, Fin. V.P.; Rachael Farber, Religious School V.P.; Ann Cohen, Worship & Ritual VP.; Robert Bell, Past Pres.; Brett Pechersky, Comptroller; Richard Myerowitz, Rec. Secy.; Alisa Chotiner, Treas.; Mary Bendorf, Fin. Liaison.
TEMPLE EMANUEL OF SOUTH HILLS Emanu-El- “God is with Us” … in our community … in our families ... in our words and deed, hearts and souls.
1250 Bower Hill Road Pittsburgh, PA 15243-1380 Phone: 412-279-7600 Website: templeemanuelpgh.org Facebook: facebook.com/ templeemanuelpittsburgh Twitter: @EmanuelPgh
Mark Joel Mahler, Rabbi; Jessica Locketz, Assoc. Rabbi and Director of Education; Leslie Hoffman, Executive Director; Iris Harlan, Early Childhood Development Center Director; David Weisberg, President; Michelle Markowitz, David Rullo, Renee Tatro, Jeff Young, Vice Presidents; Keith Abrams, Financial Secretary; Mary Cothran, Secretary; Lee Golomb and Jason A. Green, Co-Treasurers. ••• TEMPLE OHAV SHALOM A vibrant, inclusive Reform community in the North Hills
8400 Thompson Run Road Allison Park, PA 15101 Phone: 412-369-0900; Fax: 412-369-0699 Website: templeohavshalom.org Email: jleicht@templeohavshalom.org
Jeremy R. Weisblatt, Rabbi; Bonnie Valinsky, Preschool Dir.; Jackie Leicht, Temple Admin.; Andrea Schwalberg, Music Director & Youth Coordinator and Religious School Director; Ellen Sapinkopf, Pres.; Mike Daninhirsch, EVP Administration; Andi Turkheimer, EVP Member Services; Andy Bashe, Treas; Bob Gibbs, Immediate Past President; Arnie Begler, VP Membership, Danielle West, V.P. Preschool; Jennifer Rothenberg, VP Social Action, Rebecca Mason, Corresponding Sec’y; Michelle Leavitt, VP Spiritual Enrichment; Lenette Sostmann, VP Youth; Ian Halper, Rec. Secy.; Jeffrey Hollinger, Member at Large; Brian Kline, Member at Large; Andrea Conlon, Women of Ohav Shalom; Martin Greenberg, Men’s Club Pres. ••• TEMPLE SINAI 5505 Forbes Ave. Pittsburgh, PA 15217 Phone: 412-421-9715; Fax: 412-421-8430 Website: templesinaipgh.org Email: office@templesinaipgh.org
James A. Gibson, Sr. Rabbi; Rabbi Keren Gorban, Associate Rabbi; Cantor Laura Berman, Cantor; Drew Barkley, Executive Dir.; Marilee Glick, Ed. Dir.; Philip Lehman, President; Saul Straussman, 1st Vice President; Alison Yazer, 2nd Vice President; Jerry Katz, 3rd Vice President; Arthur Goldberg, Treasurer; Marc Darling, Assistant Treasurer; Katie Whitlatch, Secretary; George Arnold, Financial Secretary; Immediate Past President: Nancy Gale. ••• TIPHERETH ISRAEL CEMETERY Oakwood Street Shaler Township, PA 15209 Send correspondence to: 2233 Ramsey Road Monroeville, PA 15146 Phone: 412-824-7460 Email: adamwgusky@yahoo.com
President, Harvey Wolsh; Vice President, Adam Gusky; Secretary & Treasurer, Judy Gusky.
20 OCTOBER 6, 2017
TREE OF LIFE*OR L’SIMCHA CONGREGATION 5898 Wilkins Ave. Pittsburgh, PA 15217-1299 Phone: 412-521-6788; Fax: 412-521-7846 Website: tolols.org Email: tololspgh@gmail.com
YOUNG ISRAEL of PITTSBURGH/ CONGREGATION SHAARE ZEDECK Orthodox
Rabbi Hazzan Jeffrey S. Myers, Alvin K. Berkun, Rabbi Emeritus; Joel Don Goldstein, FSA, Exec. Dir.; Karen Morris, Principal; Alex Speck, Dir. of Youth and Adult Services; Michael Eisenberg, Pres.; Ben Simon, Daniel Weiner, Sam Schachner, V.P.’s; David Lilien, Treas.; Irwin Harris, Secy.; Robin Friedman, Carol Sikov Gross, Members at Large; Paula Garret, Immed. Past President. ••• TREE OF LIFE*OR L’SIMCHA MEN’S CLUB
Bob Fierstein, Co-President; David Lilien, Co-President/Treasurer; Michael Eisenberg, Harold Lessure, V.P.’s; David Dinkin, Ritual Committee Chair; Irwin Harris, Immediate Past President. ••• TREE OF LIFE*OR L’SIMCHA SISTERHOOD
Kara Spodek, Co-President, Stacey Hausman, Co-President; Treasurer, Mary Dawn Edwards; Marlene Haus, Audrey Glickman, Rose Gerson, Committee. ••• TRI-STATE REGION FEDERATION OF JEWISH MEN’S CLUBS
Irwin Harris, President; Alex Kiderman, Executive Vice President; Robert Fierstein, David Lilien, Jeremy Broverman, Warren Sufrin, Vice Presidents; Mark Frisch, Secretary; Harold Lessure, Treasurer; Michael Rosenberg, Immediate Past President. ••• WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA AUXILIARY FOR EXCEPTIONAL PEOPLE To help make a better life for those less fortunate.
Phone: 412-421-4690
Rabbi: Eli Hershman; Fargotstien. •••
Seidman; Treas., Marian Activity Director, Ruth
YESHIVA SCHOOLS 70 Years of Changing the World for Good
2100 Wightman St. Pittsburgh, PA 15217 Phone: 412-422-7300; Fax: 412-422-5930 Website: yeshivaschools.com Email: mail@yeshivaschools.com
Rabbi Yisroel Rosenfeld, Dean; Howard Balsam, Chair of the Board; Shlomo Jacobs, President; Charles Saul, V.P.; Chaya Engle, Donna Katz, Chaim Oster, Yonason Sanford, Board Members; Rabbi Yossi Rosenblum, Educational Director & Boys School Principal; Mrs. Blumi Rosenfeld, Assist. to the Dean; Rabbi Chezky Rosenfeld, Dir. of Development; Rabbi Moshe Levertov, Business Administrator; Rabbi Ephraim Rosenblum, Principal Emeritus; Mrs. Mindy Small, Boys General Studies Dir.; Rabbi Henoch Rosenfeld, Asst. Principal Boys High School; Mrs. Batsheva Deren, Girls School Principal; Mrs. Nami Friedman, Girls Assist. Principal; Mrs. Leah Shollar, Girls School General Studies Dir.; Mrs. Chaya Sara Barrocas, The Early Learning Center Director.
PITTSBURGH JEWISH CHRONICLE
5831 Bartlett Street Pittsburgh PA 15217 Shimon Silver, Rabbi Phone: 412-421-0508, Email: halochoscope@hotmail.com Rocky Wice, President 412-260-9694, Email: rocky770@gmail.com
•••
YOUNG JUDAEA WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA REGION Young Judaea is a Jewish Zionist Youth Movement operating year-round youth activities, volunteering and leadership development, summer camps for children and teens; programs to Israel for teens during the summer, Israel Gap year following high school and college programs.
Contact: Sharon Schoenfeld, Director of Year-Round Programs Phone: 646-292-2388 Website: youngjudaea.org Email: pghyj@youngjudaea.org, info@youngjudaea.org
Youth Advisor: Chaim Steinberg; Committee: Sharon Ackerman, Barbara Baumann, Karen Morris. ••• YOUNG PEOPLES SYNAGOGUE 6404 Forbes Ave. P.O. Box 8141 Pittsburgh, PA 15217-8141 Phone: 412-709-8052 Website: yps-pgh.org Email: mhershb100@aol.com
Rebecca Spiegel, President; Ted Stern, Treasurer; Vice-President (3-month rotation): Allen Dalfen; Marc Pomerantz; Rabbi Richard Marcovitz; Steven Santman; Secretary, Allan Zeman; Gabbaim, Sam Gottesman and Allen Spiegel; Marshall Hershberg, Chairman of the Board. ••• ZIONIST ORGANIZATION OF AMERICA: PITTSBURGH ZIONISM — The right of the Jewish people to live in their Jewish homeland in peace.
ZOA Pittsburgh 6507 Wilkins Ave., Suite 102 Pittsburgh, PA 15217-1367 Phone: 412-665-4630 Email: stuart.pavilack@zoa.org
Stuart V. Pavilack, Executive Director; Jeffrey L. Pollock, Esq., President; Stephen A. Neustein, Esq., First Vice-President; Lawrence N. Paper, Esq., Vice President; Andrea Chester, Vice President; Jason Small, Treasurer; Julie Paris, Asst. Treasurer; Judy Kobell, Recording Secretary; Lyn Silverman, Corresponding Secretary; Ira M. Frank, Immediate Past President. Board members: Jeanne Bair, Dr. Marshall Balk, Hirsh Dlinn, Julian Elbling, Alexandra Greenberg, Rhonda Horvitz, Linda Hurwitz, Gerald Kobell, Esq., Debra Levy, Chaya Pollack, Linda Safyan, Charles Saul, Esq. Seth Schanwald, Dee Selekman, Joe Titelbaum, Sibyl Treblow, Cheryl Weisberg, Helene Wishnev. PJC
PITTSBURGHJEWISHCHRONICLE.ORG
Headlines Pittsburghers with Nevada ties react to recent massacre — LOCAL — Adam Reinherz | Staff Writer
W
ith details still emerging regarding the mass killing at a country music concert in Las Vegas that left an estimated 59 people dead, Jewish Pittsburghers with Nevada ties reflected on the carnage. “All of my family is accounted for and they’re fine,” said Yossi Martel, a local physician and
University of Nevada, Las Vegas graduate, who grew up “10 minutes” from the Las Vegas strip. Shortly after the massacre, Martel spoke with his brother, whose job involves frequenting Vegas hotels. “He said that everybody is sort of shocked,” said Martel. “It’s sort of a scary thing that something like that could happen in a neighborhood where you grew up.” “This is close to home,” agreed Rob Menes, former cantor for Temple Beth Sholom in Las Vegas. Although Menes now serves as the executive director of Congregation Beth
Shalom in Pittsburgh, he remains connected with those out west. The magnitude of devastation spurred by such atrocity “is certainly going to affect the community there for a long time,” said Menes. Local synagogues and Jewish organizations will most likely seek to bolster their own security systems in light of the recent tragedy, he added. “I know that my congregation there, which was the largest Conservative congregation, was already concerned about security, and especially this time of year,” explained Menes. “Now, even though this attack has presum-
ably nothing at all to do with the Jewish community or synagogue, it would just heighten the fear that people would have.” Given the realities of the Vegas massacre and other recent killing sprees, communities should consider adopting greater security measures, Martel said. “It’s certainly shocking, and if this thing can happen in Las Vegas it can happen anywhere. We need to be vigilant and prepared.” PJC Adam Reinherz can be reached at areinherz @pittsburghjewishchronicle.org.
Restaurants
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New Dumpling & Sushi House Chinese & Japanese Restaurant ALL DAY FREE DELIVERY ON ALL ORDERS OVER $10 TO LIMITED AREA. No calls for delivery any later than 1/2 hour before closing.
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Great food! Great service! Great value!! 2138 Murray Ave. Squirrel Hill | Pittsburgh, PA 15217 (Between Phillips & Douglas) TEL: 412.422.4178 • 412.422.6427 • 412.422.9306
PITTSBURGHJEWISHCHRONICLE.ORG
PITTSBURGH JEWISH CHRONICLE
OCTOBER 6, 2017 21
Celebrations
Torah
Bat Mitzvah
The lessons we teach our children
Juliet Rose Irwin, daughter of Andi and Steven Irwin, will become a bat mitzvah on Saturday, Oct. 7 at Congregation Rodef Shalom. Cousins and friends will be among those joining in the celebration with Rose’s grandparents, Lee Rieber, who recently moved from Manhattan to make Pittsburgh home, and Myrna and Larry Irwin of St. Pete Beach, Fla., along with Rose’s brother, Jesse, sister Jillian and brother-in-law David. Rose is in the seventh grade at Winchester Thurston, where she enjoys performing in the middle school musical and playing lacrosse. She especially relishes the time she has spent each summer since age 8 at Emma Kaufmann Camp in West Virginia. PJC
O
Rabbi Levi Langer Sukkot, Chol HaMoed Shabbat Exodus 33;12-34:26 Numbers 29:17-22
n the Jewish festival of Sukkot we go out into a special booth called a sukkah, and there we participate together as a family in the joy of the holiday. The basis for this is a verse in the Torah: “You shall live in booths for seven days; all citizens in Israel shall live in booths, in order that future generations may know that I made the Israelite people live in booths when I brought them out of the land of Egypt.” There is a special stress here on the generations — that your generations may know “that I brought you out.” Why speak of the generations? Well, let us consider. The Almighty took
That is what Sukkot is about. And that is why the Torah speaks of “your future generations” The Torah talks to us: We’ve got to make sure our kids imbibe the spirit of the religious life we’re leading. Let me tell you about Damian Penner, owner of Rocco’s Pizza in Manitoba, Canada. A woman came into his store and distracted the staff while she stole eight frozen pizzas. The store got it all on camera. Did Damian go public and shame the woman? He decided not to. Instead, Damian posted the following on his Facebook page: “To the lady who stole eight pizzas last night. We do not know the situation you are in, and we don’t know if it was malicious or whether it was done to feed your children. But please, ask for help either way. You can’t continue to get your children to assist you in stealing, as they are young, impressionable and still
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of the religious life we’re leading.
the Jews from Egypt amid great miracles. They traveled into the desert, and each family constructed a booth in which they lived for the duration of their time in the desert. And there, in the midst of an arid land incapable of supporting life, each family would sit in this booth, and there they’d discuss the miracles the Almighty was doing for them — past, present and future. And together they bonded with and felt the closeness of God’s presence. Even the little children would hear — those who couldn’t recall the Exodus — they too would learn of the close relationship they enjoyed with the Almighty. And then later, when they grew up and had their own family, they passed on the message to their own kids.
learning. You may feel like there is no other way, but regardless, you have to parent, and you can’t raise your children as an example like this. We won’t post your picture or go to the police, as this happened one time. We know of many resources out there and work closely with many groups that can help lift you out of the circumstances you may be in!” That has to be our attitude too. We get just one chance with our kids. Let’s provide them with the lessons they will carry with them throughout their lives. PJC Rabbi Levi Langer is rosh kollel and dean of Torah studies at the Kollel Jewish Learning Center. This article is a service of the Vaad Harabanim of Greater Pittsburgh.
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Obituaries GREEN: Ruth P. “Rennie” Green passed away on Tuesday, Sept. 26, 2017. Born Nov. 15, 1925, Ruth is survived by her loving children Karen (Lyle) Shughart, Alan (Joan) Green, David Green and companion Suzie Somers, Marcy Brody and companion Jim Banic, 10 grandchildren, six great-grandchildren, her sister Arlene (Richard) Randall, and many nieces and nephews. Predeceased by her husband Everett Green, parents Hyman and Edith Cohen, brother Leonard Cohen, and long- time companion Alvin Ring. Private graveside services held at Beth Shalom Cemetery, Shaler Township, at the convenience of the family. There will be no Shiva/home visitation. Memorial contributions may be made to either Vincentian deMarillac, 5300 Stanton Ave., Pittsburgh, PA 15206 or to Bridges Hospice, Inc., 1200 Gulf Lab Road, Pittsburgh, PA 15238. Professional services trusted to D’Alessandro Funeral Home & Crematory LTD, Lawrenceville. JOEL: Shirley Polen Joel, on Monday, October 2, 2017. Beloved wife of the late Max Joel; loving mother of Helene Joel Weiner (Stanley); and Barry Joel (Patricia), all of Pittsburgh. Sister of the late Irene Freed. Aunt of Mark Freed (Betsy). The family wishes to thank Shirley’s wonderful nurse Cindy Piso as well as her other caregivers. Shirley volunteered in the gift shop at Congregation Beth Shalom for many years as their buyer and decorator. She lent her artistic flair to numerous deco-
rating committees of local organizations to which she so generously devoted her time. Graveside services and interment were held at Beth Shalom Cemetery. Contributions may be made to Rodef Shalom Congregation, 4905 Fifth Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15213. Arrangements entrusted to Ralph Schugar Chapel, Inc. LABY: Jason Howard Laby, age 56, died peacefully on September 5, 2017. Husband of Jodi Laby, father of Jonathan and Michael, son of Gilda Laby and the late Lawrence Laby. Brother of Arthur (Rachel) Laby. Uncle of Sonia and Ethan. Loved by many aunts, uncles, and cousins. Private graveside service and interment were held at Beth Shalom cemetery. MARKLEY: Ruth (Edelstein) Markley, 87, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, August 8, 2017. She was born October 6, 1929, in New Castle, Pa., to the late Samuel and Elizabeth (Rosenbaum) Edelstein. A sister, Barbara Grant, also predeceased her. On April 1, 1951, Ruth married the love of her life, Joseph Markley, who survives. To their union they were blessed with two daughters: Harmony Bentosino of Kapolei, Hawaii, and Sandra (Danny) Levine of Mishawaka, Ind. She is also survived by two grandchildren, Elizabeth Levine and Missy (Joey Gresham) Levine; and one sister, Jean Tompkins of Catonsville, Md. Ruth was a teacher in Bethel Park, Pa., for 25 years before retiring and going back to school to become a certi-
fied financial planner. She enjoyed, and was very successful, in both careers. A very independent woman, Ruth loved to travel and had been all around the world. She enjoyed 10 years living in Houston and then loved living in New Orleans, where she lived for 21 years. She was living there when Hurricane Katrina took place, and was determined to help revive the city following that devastation. She moved with Joe to South Bend in 2011, where she lived first at Holy Cross Village and then at Northwoods Village Memory Care. The family is exceedingly grateful to the staff that cared for her so lovingly. Ruth was a loving wife, mother and grandmother. She will be greatly missed. Services were held at Temple BethEl, with Rabbi Karen Companez officiating. Interment at Hebrew Orthodox Cemetery. Memorial donations may be made to Temple Beth-El, 305 W. Madison St., South Bend, IN 46601; or to the Alzheimer’s Association, 8679 Connecticut St., Suite D, Merrillville, IN 46410. Condolences to the family can be sent at McGannHay.com. OLEINICK: Julius Oleinick, age 89, on Saturday, September 30, 2017. Beloved husband of the late Cynthia Oleinick. Father of Peter (Barbara) Oleinick, Jon (Tracy) Oleinick, Michele (late Charles) Dusenberry and Lee (Lisa) Oleinick. Brother of Arnold (Sandy) and Irving (Nancy) Oleinick and the late Milton and Cru Oleinick. Grandfather of Stephen Dusenberry, Jason Oleinick, Rachel Oleinick, Sarah Dillon, Anna Levy, and
Cydnie and Andrew Oleinick. Also survived by four great-grandchildren and many nieces, nephews, and cousins. Julius was the founder of several e d u c at i o n - r e l at e d businesses including ICM School (Institute of Computer Management), Compulearn, DAPCO, and PicturePages, a Golden Globe award-winning children’s television show on Captain Kangaroo and Nickelodeon. He was a lifetime member of Beth Hamedrash Hagadol Beth Jacob Congregation. Services were held at Ralph Schugar Chapel, Inc., Interment at Kether Torah Cemetery. Contributions may be made to Beth Hamedrash Hagadol-Beth Jacob Synagogue, 810 Fifth Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15219. TEPER: Ferne (Schulhof) Teper of Denver, Colo., formerly of McKeesport (White Oak), on Monday, September 25, 2017. Beloved wife of the late Milton Teper. Loving mother of Lara (Robert) Haigh, Gary (Barbara) Teper, and the late Janice Cowan. Sister of Rifkie (William) Jacobowitz and the late Edythe, Marvin (Moishe) and Leonard Schulhof and Ruth (Hazie) Weinberg. Also survived by five grandchildren, nine great-grandchildren and many devoted nieces and nephews. Ferne will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved her. PJC
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The foregoing content from Lange Financial Group, LLC is for informational purposes only, subject to change, and should not be construed as investment or tax advice. Those seeking personalized guidance should seek a qualified professional.
PITTSBURGHJEWISHCHRONICLE.ORG
PITTSBURGH JEWISH CHRONICLE
OCTOBER 6, 2017 23
Headlines Mexico: Continued from page 11
I stayed at my parents’ place, returning to the neighborhood two days later. The roads had been blocked by the army and marines. The parks were turned into supply centers, with thousands of volunteers making human chains and trying to help out those stuck in the rubble. Half a block from the Alianza Nidjel Israel synagogue on Acapulco Street, whose structure was severely affected by the quake, Cadena, a Mexican-Jewish NGO specializing in humanitarian aid, set up shop. A line of about 20 people was standing waiting to be registered as volunteers, and many more were running around fetching what was needed and loading it on trucks. During its 12 years of existence, this small organization (only 10 people work full-time) has helped over half a million people in Mexico, Haiti, Turkey, Chile, Guatemala, Ecuador, Belize and Costa Rica. Through partnerships with the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee, IsraAID, local Jewish communities and other humanitarian organizations, Cadena has been able to operate nimbly and at incredible speed, mobilizing the human resources of the Jewish world to get to the most impenetrable disaster zones in record time. In Condesa, Cadena repurposed the parking lot of a residential building near the synagogue as a warehouse for donated
goods essential to the rescue operations in Mexico City and beyond. When I got there, the donations had been meticulously categorized into types of aid (“medicine,” “axes,” etc.) and there was a constant influx of trucks and vans — including police and army vehicles — coming to stock up on supplies. Some supplies were destined for the nearby states of Morelos and Puebla. Others, such as insulin packages, were sent via bicycle to help the victims of a building that had collapsed nearby. By the time the latest earthquake struck, Cadena already was performing activities on the ground in the aftermath of a quake on Sept. 7 — the strongest one in a century. It had ravaged the south of Mexico, and Cadena was assisting those affected in the states of Oaxaca and Chiapas. On Sept. 19, the organization deployed its Go Team, which specializes in rescuing victims from toppled structures, in the nation’s capital. In coordination with the 70 Israeli soldiers who arrived to help in the relief efforts and the Mexican army, team members visited the devastated zones. “We are the only organization with special equipment that detects heartbeats,” Benjamin Laniado, CEO of Cadena, explained to me over the phone. “Thanks to this device we managed to rescue 25 people from underneath the rubble.” At the Condesa center, Miriam Kajomovitz, a fundraiser for the organization, had been working nonstop coordinating the
delivery of the supplies even though she had been evacuated from her house after a building collapsed next to hers. “We need hands,” she told me the day I visited as we approached the eve of Rosh Hashanah. “People are going to go home for their meals and leave us.” The worry proved unfounded — many of the volunteers decided to forego the celebrations and continue to help out. In a country where suspicion of government runs high, Cadena has positioned itself as an effective humanitarian alternative. Lately, the Mexican press has been running articles about the illicit use of relief funds for electioneering purposes in the state of Oaxaca. Public intellectuals like the Jewish writer Sabina Berman lambasted government-run relief efforts as inefficient and overly centralized. In the town of Juchitán de Zaragoza, Oaxaca, Cadena provided relief before any government help had arrived, according to The New York Times. “We wanted to donate to a transparent, credible organization that was not affiliated with any political party,” said Raul Cardos, CEO of a communications firm that designed a mock Airbnb platform called Arriba México to raise funds for the victims. “When we tell people that the funds go to Cadena, they are more willing to help out.” Clara Zabludovsky, a Mexican Jew who lives in London, found out about the destruction as her plane touched down in San Francisco. She has since raised over 17,000 British
pounds ($23,000) toward a GoFundMe goal of 18,000 pounds , a lucky Jewish number — all of which will go to the NGO. Now that a week has passed since the temblor, people who live in Condesa and Roma are coming to terms with the loss. The immediate urgency has receded, and questions about long-term damage to buildings are taking center stage. The continuing gentrification of what an American magazine recently called “Mexico City’s reigning axis of cool” is now in question. On Sunday, Cadena shut down its emergency supply center in Condesa. In its week of operation, the center managed to send out 347 shipments to cover the needs of rescue workers in Mexico. It’s not enough. The NGO is now organizing an international campaign to build temporary housing for those who lost their homes in Oaxaca and Chiapas. Cadena will be setting up tents with kitchen utensils, hygiene kits, water filters, beds and portable, ecological kitchens. “There are thousands of people living in the streets, and it’s raining and cold,” Laniado, who is traveling to the state, told me. “The government reconstruction program takes too long, and in the meantime, people have nowhere to sleep.” As for my building, it has been severely damaged. Specialists say it will take at least five months for it to be safe enough to withstand the next earthquake. I’m not taking the risk. For an unforeseeable time, I will be staying in my childhood home. PJC
PITTSBU RGH NEWEST ’S FUNERA L HOME
Jewish Association on Aging gratefully acknowledges contributions from the following: A gift from ...
In memory of...
A gift from ...
In memory of...
Anonymous .................................. Edward Dobrushin
Janice Mankin .................................. Sanford Mankin
Anonymous ..................... Shirley Watchman Loefsky
George Pattak ...................................... Morris Pattak
Anonymous ............................................ David Volkin
Simma & Lawrence Robbins ............. Isadore Nadler
Ivan & Fran Caplan.................. Ruth Haltman Caplan
Selma P. Ryave ...................Irving Leonard Podolsky
Joel L. Colker ...................................... Ann G. Colker
Selma P. Ryave ............................Esther Y. Podolsky
Edward Dobkin ............................... Bertram W. Roth
Selma P. Ryave .................................Sol E. Podolsky
Eileen S. Fox ........................................ Israel Samuel
Marcia Semper........................................ Sylvia Israel
Sylvia Graditor......................................Henry Ziskind
Marcia Semper......................................Morton Israel
Dr. David Isaacson ............................. Rose Isaacson
Myron & Joanne Spector ................... Morris Spector
Marian & Charles Jacobs..........Ruth Klein Fischman
Paul & Pauline Staman ..........................Max Staman
Vivian & Allan Levine .................. Hannah Rae Levine
Scott Wirtzman ................................Milton Wirtzman
• Serving the Pittsburgh Jewish Community with Traditional Jewish funerals • Specially Developed Taharah Room with Mikva facilities for Chevra Kadisha • Accommodations for Shomer • Guaranteed advanced funeral planning LOCALLY OWNED and OPERATED
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THIS WEEK’S YAHRZEITS — Sunday October 8: Ida M. Breman, Sam Chizeck, Judith Kochin Cohen, Alexander J. Goodwin, Lillie Levy, Shirley Watchman Loefsky, Selma Luterman, Selma Luterman, Esther Mallinger, Rose L. Miller, Sarah Mormanstein, Lena Newberg, Sadye Breman Novick, Rose Cohen Rattner, Mollie Robins, Joseph Scott Monday October 9: Dr. Elliott Brodie, Allen A. Broudy, Fannie Sulkes Cohen, Shachny Grinberg, Jeanette Gross, Rebecca Herman, Anita Lois Hirsch, Pauline Klein, Paul G. Lazear, Clara M. Oberfield, Harry Pearl, Melvin N. Rosenfield, William Sable, Tillie Scott, Hyman Shussett, Jacob Soffer, Samuel Supowitz Tuesday October 10: Harry Americus, Jacob Feigus, Ruth Klein Fischman, Harry Girson, Samuel W. Gould, Albert Halle, Jacob Samuel Kuperstock, Jack H. Mar, Samuel Moskowitz, Nathan Osgood, Anna Paris, Eli J. Rose, Anna Rosenfeld, William Rosenstein, Bertram W. Roth, Essak Weiner, Mary Cotler Weiner, Louis H. Zucker
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Wednesday October 11: Ismor Davidson, Meyer Jacobs, Goldine Lapidus, Rebecca Lederman, Belle B. Maharam, Esther Mankin, Isadore Nadler, Anne S. Slesinger, Evelyn Ziff Thursday October 12: Jeanette Berkman, Meyer Bernstein, Blanche S. Cohen, Leona Yorkin Dym, Warren G. Friedlander, Clara Goldstein, Meyer Haltman, Toba Markovitz, Edith Murstein, Yetta E. Segal, Moses Weinerman Friday October 13: Lucy Balter, Sara Jean Binakonsky, Harry Bricker, Beatrice Charapp, Tillie Cohen, Samuel Jacob Eliashof, Dr. Howard H. Freedman, Hyman Goldstein, Paul Harris, Hyman L. Leff, Samuel Minsky, Hazel Oswold, Rose M. Rabinovitz, Abraham Schrager, Rivka Silverman, Leopold Weiss Saturday October 14: Jenny Braun, Abe Cazen, Samuel Evelovitz, Dora Friedman, Frances Fromme, Morris Gordon, Ethel Hornstein Josephs, Phyllis K. Kart, Abram Hirsh Levine, Anna Mandel, Lena Moskowitz, Rose Ratowsky Ohl, Dora Rosenzweig, Abraham J. Rothstein, Bessie Rubinoff, Florence M. Supowitz, Saul David Taylor, Rebecca Weinberg
24 OCTOBER 6, 2017
PITTSBURGH JEWISH CHRONICLE
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Home Services FOR SALE
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appointments to see!
DLINE NOTICE DLINE adline for all NOTICE copy and art –
FOR SALE
～ FOR SALE ～ ～inFOR BonitaSALE Springs, ～ Fl.
Real Estate
nd classified adline for alladvertising, copy and artpress – ses, simcha advertising, announcements d classified press – is noon Friday es, simcha announcements – is noon Friday to press at noon on Tuesday and regret
annot accommodate changes after the o press at noon on Tuesday and regret Friday noon deadline nnot accommodate changes after the Friday noon deadline
in Bonita Springs, Fl.
284,500 CALL 412.657.2766 284,500 CALL 412.657.2766 $
$
2ND FLOOR CONDO (approx 1810 sq. ft.) 2ND FLOOR CONDO
ALE LE
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(approx 1810 ft.) In a Bundled Golfsq. Community In a Bundled Golf Community 3 Br's/2 full baths, over sized kitchen with office stainless steel sized appliances,custom wood 3 space, Br's/2 full baths, over kitchen with office n Hilton Head’s most cabinetry, granite tops,master bathroom space, stainless steelcounter appliances,custom wood ntion, Hilton Head’s most “Sea Pines”. completegranite w/ duel sinks, custom mirrors cabinetry, counter tops,master bathroomand ion, “Sea Pines”. lighting, w/ lrg. duel stall shower, lrg. walk-in closet with complete sinks, custom mirrors and hen; w/d; deck; sleeps 6; lighting, stall shower, lrg. walk-in closet with custom lrg. shelving. POINT BREEZE • $460,000 hen; w/d;tennis deck; sleeps 6; ool and on property; custom shelving. and tennis on property; 2nd. bathroom has new cabinetry,quartz, custom kolfrom beachNEW and golf. LISTING! Unique town home/condo in a converted mansion on 2 plus acres. Enjoy 3 bedrooms, 2nd. bathroom has new cabinetry,quartz, custom k from beach and golf. lighting and mirror. 2.5 Baths, 2 car int. Garage. Wonderful eeks (II and RCI) lighting and mirror.open floor plan with 10 foot ceilings, wood burning fireplace in Greatisroom with lanai which looks that out onto a lake eks (IIApprox. and RCI) Fees: a$750 wonderful great room.Great This onewith of four town homes enjoy their own swimming pool and tennis lanai with whichgorgeous looks outsunset onto aviews. lake and room the golf course, Approx. $750 wFees: Living in Florida. court. Do not miss this rare opportunity. and the golf course, with gorgeous sunset views. Living in Florida. FFF • 230,000.00 —One Dollar!!! EDGEWOOD —One sing feesDollar!!! FFF ng fees Fabulous 3 bedroom, 1.5 baths. advantage of the new dyed stamped patio and new landscaping. CLASSIFIEDS SELLTake IT FAST IN THE -781-1212, if interested. SELL ITkitchen, FAST IN built-ins and Woodmode areTHE just aCLASSIFIEDS few of the perks of this charming home. 781-1212, if Multiple interested.
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FOR SALE SQUIRREL HILL/NORTH OF • $975,000 FOR FORBES SALE
5529 Dunmoyle: Spectacular 8 br, 4½ bath home. Formal living and dining rooms, first floor family room, wonderful rear porch that is the expanse of this grand home. Beautiful architectural features — woodwork, windows, high ceilings and much more. FOX CHAPEL MEWS - $349,000
FORSALE SALE FOR
FOX CHAPEL MEWS - $349,000
EXQUISITE 3 bedroom condo-Completely renovated with magnificent built-ins. In NORTH OF 3FORBES •in-unit $1,250,000 EXQUISITE bedroom condo-Completely renovatedhas with magnificent built-ins. In unit balcony,great room, laundry.Building many amenities -pool,guest unit suites, balcony,great room,room in-unitand laundry.Building has many amenities -pool,guest library,party much more. High end unit ready for move-in. suites, library,party room and much more. High end unit ready for move-in.
Designed by premier architect David Ross of Design Alliance. 4 br, 3½ baths, open concept kitchen, a MURDOCH FARMSlarge - $525,000 sunken diningMURDOCH room with 6 ft.FARMS windows, sunken living room with 10 ft. ceilings. Great room/kitchen. - $525,000 FIRST TIME OFFERED! Great 4 bedroom 2 bath and 2 1/2 baths home with integral FIRST TIME OFFERED! Great 4 bedroom 2 bath and 2 1/2 baths Living room master br have deck space with views of CMU, Oakland and Downtown from this garage onand one of Pittsburgh's finest private streets. Magnificent livinghome roomwith withintegral fireplace, garage on onefirst of Pittsburgh's finest streets. Magnificent with fireplace, floor den and much more. This is theliving homeroom you want. floor denThe and much more. This is the home to youawant. lovely privatefirst location. lower level den opens private patio. Recently installed heated driveway and SQUIRREL HILL - SUMMERSET walkway to front steps. Lower level -also has radiant heat. Truly a treasure with many amenities. SQUIRREL HILL SUMMERSET
FOR SALE
WHO WANTS TO SHOVEL SNOW? WINTER IS COMING! DON’T WAIT FOR THE COLD! WE HAVE 3 BEDROOM, 2 BATH CONDOS WITH BALCONIES. INDOOR PARKING & MANY AMENITIES. A SMALL PET IS PERMITTED. POINT BREEZE TOWNHOUSE WONDERFULLY RESTORED TOWNHOUSE • FABULOUS PRIVATE ROAD SWIMMING POOL • TENNIS COURTS GREAT FOR LIVING AND ENTERTAINMENT
ATFRICK FRICKPARK PARK- $569,000 - $569,000- SOLD - SOLD AT
FIRST TIME OFFERED! Spectacular 4 BR , 2 full $1,350,000 Baths and 2- 1/2 bath town home. METROPOLITAN CONDOMINIUM FIRST TIME OFFERED! Spectacular 4 BR , 2 full • Baths and 2- 1/2 bath town home. Owner thought of every detail. Beautiful amenities through out the entire home, Owner thought of every detail. Beautiful amenities through out the entire home,
even the bonus of two washers and dryers. Enjoy resort living as the home is even thebedroom bonus of twocustom-designed washers and dryers. Enjoy resort living as the home is Rare three spacious penthouse in one of Pittsburgh’s most distinguished directly across from the pool and the fitness center. DON'T MISS THIS! directly across from the pool and the fitness center. DON'T MISS THIS! buildings. Floor to ceiling windows bring natural light into the large living and dining areas with access SHADYSIDE- $230,000 - $230,000 SHADYSIDE to a lovely outdoor deck.3The largetownhome well-appointed exquisite eat-in gourmet kitchen has a pass thru to the FIRST TIME OFFERED! bedroom Maple Heights. Beautiful yard, FIRST TIME OFFERED! 3 bedroom townhome on on Maple Heights. Beautiful yard, great builtins, central garage . dining room. The master suite includes aintegral luxurious and a huge dressing room closet. The amenities of great builtins, central air,air, integral garage . bath the building include 2 parking spaces,-two guest suites, -catering SHADYSIDE CONDO $195,000 SOLDkitchen, wine and storage lockers, library, SHADYSIDE CONDO - $195,000 - SOLD FIRST TIME OFFERED! Chic and cozy.2 central air, laundry room in unit,balcony conference/party room, aand resistance pool, and an extensive exercise area. Outdoors, the serene grounds FIRST TIME OFFERED! Chic cozy.2 BR,BR, central air, laundry room in unit,balcony and garage. PET FRIENDLY! GREAT LOCATION! garage. PET FRIENDLY! GREAT LOCATION! boasts a puttingand green, koi pond, waterfall and a gazebo.
FOR MORE INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT CHERYL GERSON CHERYL.GERSON@PITTSBURGHMOVES.COM 412.401.4693 TAMARA SKIRBOLL • 412.401.1110
Jill&and &Mark Mark Portland Jill Portland JILL MARK PORTLAND
RE/MAX Realty Brokers RE/MAX Realty Brokers RE/MAX REALTY BROKERS (412) 521-1000 ext. 200200 (412) 521-1000 ext. 200 412.521.1000 EXT. (412) 496-5600 (412) 496-5600 JillJill 412.496.5600 JILL (412) 480-3110 Mark | 412.480.3110 MARK (412) 480-3110 Mark
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OCTOBER 6, 2017 25
Community Machers & Shakers
Machers
p The Shore-Whitehill Award, given by the Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh and Jewish Residential Services, honors volunteers who promote the inclusion of people with disabilities in the fabric of Jewish life. The award ceremony, honoring Carol L. Tabas, was held on Sept. 28 at the Pittsburgh Golf Club. From left: Harold Love, executive director of Jewish Residential Services; Robert Whitehill; Carol L. Tabas; and Jeff Finkelstein, president and CEO of the Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh are pictured at the award ceremony. Photo courtesy of Jewish Residential Services
Machers
◀ Ted Goldberg, left, was presented with the Sonia and Aaron Levinson award by Jim Busis, CEO and publisher of the Pittsburgh Jewish Chronicle. The award recognizes Goldberg’s contributions to the Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh, the Jewish Federations of North America, the former Pittsburgh chapter of the American Jewish Committee, Temple Emanuel of South Hills and the Jewish Association on Aging. Photo by David Bachman
Matthew Bolton, director of the Squirrel Hill Community Food Pantry, has been named the 2017 winner of the Ira & Nanette Gordon Community Professional Achievement Award. This honor from the Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh recognizes a professional in the early years of his career who has “rendered exemplary leadership through his/her initiative, creativity and productivity.” The Gordon Award includes a cash prize, a plaque and a celebratory luncheon. Photo courtesy of Jewish Family & Children’s Service
Taking a stand The Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh’s Women Philanthropy, the National Council of Jewish Women and the Jewish Women’s Foundation recently partnered to hold the third “Ladies Who Lunch” program on human trafficking in our community. More than 70 women gathered at Temple Sinai to hear from panelists Brad Orsini, Federation security director and retired FBI agent; Alison Hall, executive director, Pittsburgh Action Against Rape (PAAR); and Bridget Simunovic, FBI victim specialist.
Machers & Shakers RoboTutor LLC, a Carnegie Mellon University spinoff created by Jack Mostow, was named one of five Global Learning XPRIZE finalists for its RoboTutor software — educational technology that teaches children basic math and reading skills. Mostow is a professor emeritus in the School of Computer Science’s Robotics Institute whose research focuses on applying artificial intelligence to educational technology, particularly for teaching children to read. Mostow, center, joins a few members of the RoboTutor team, which earned $1 million as a Global Learning XPRIZE finalist. 26 OCTOBER 6, 2017
p Kathy DiBiase, a past co-chair of the Jewish Women’s Foundation, closed the program and thanked the panelists.
Photo courtesy of Jewish Women’s Foundation
Photo courtesy of CMU Computer Science’s Robotics Institute
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Community Goodbye sins
Fleet feet
Temple David congregants performed Tashlich to cast away their sins at Abers Creek Park.
p Micah Symons sounds the shofar at Abers Creek Park as sins symbolically float away.
p The Hillel Academy of Pittsburgh junior varsity girls’ cross-country team placed third at the Frick Park XC Invitational on Sunday, Oct. 1. From left: Team members Hannah Swedarksy, Kayla Weinberg, Lori Ziff, Sima Reinherz and Sonia Schachter. More than 500 runners from 16 area schools competed.
Photo by Daniel Shaw
p Randy Boswell, John Fisher and Fred Bortz discuss the meaning of Tashlich.
p Rabbi Barbara Symons and members of Temple David stop for some refreshments after performing Tashlich in Monroeville.
Jewish Family & Children’s Service is the proud recipient of two community awards. JF&CS President & CEO Jordan Golin accepted the United African Communities (UAC) of Pittsburgh’s Humanitarian Award in early September. This award was given in recognition of the work that JF&CS does to better the lives of individuals in the Pittsburgh region. The YWCA of Pittsburgh will honor JF&CS with its annual Racial Justice Award for the work they do with refugees and immigrants. The annual Racial Justice Awards is a signature event of YWCA Greater Pittsburgh’s Center for Race and Gender Equity (CRGE). CRGE seeks to “promote a society in which all people receive equal treatment and have equal access in the workplace, public services, justice system, classroom, and throughout the Greater Pittsburgh community.” PJC Photo courtesy of Jewish Family & Children’s Service
Photos courtesy of Temple David
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Empire Kosher Fresh Boneless Chicken Breasts
6
49 lb.
Price effective Thursday October 5 through Wednesday October 11, 2017
Available at 17AD31335_PJC_1005.indd 1
28 OCTOBER 6, 2017
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