Pittsburgh Jewish Chronicle October 6, 2017

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P I T TS B U R G H

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

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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

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 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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