Pittsburgh Jewish Chronicle 1-28-22

January 28, 2022 | 26 Shevat 5782

Candlelighting 5:16 p.m. | Havdalah 6:18 p.m. | Vol. 65, No. 4 | pittsburghjewishchronicle.org

Jewish community strengthens security protocols after Colleyville

NOTEWORTHY LOCAL “Who is a Jew?”

$1.50

Judge rules antisemitic statements by 10/27 defendant admissible at trial

Duquesne hosts a Holocaust exhibit.

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LOCAL

By Toby Tabachnick | Editor

Standing up to antisemitism

A

Steeler Zach Banner gets national recognition.

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LOCAL Preserving a legacy of inspiration

Yeshiva University offers a scholarship in memory of Pittsburgher Mikey Butler (z”l).

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Beth Israel in Colleyville, Texas.

“It’s not just guns,” Brokos said. “It’s knives and vehicles. Active threat training, if done right, is fully comprehensive of many things.”

Training that includes employees, congregants, customers and anyone else that might spend time in a building is essential, Brokos said. Preparation begins well before the first drill has been begun: Evaluating the current threat tempo is vital, as is situational awareness and the adage, “see something, say something.”

Brokos urges organizations to think about questions like what it means to be an usher, who is admitted into a building and what to do when you see something suspicious.

“We have to be cognizant of our surroundings, and we have to report suspicious activity,” she said.

Training should begin with fundamentals like making sure doors are locked and identifying places where people can shelter in place if necessary. It should expand to include the same training used by law enforcement agencies across the country: run, hide, fight.

jury will be permitted to consider antisemitic statements made by the man accused of murdering 11 Jews in the Tree of Life building, pursuant to a Jan. 20 order issued by Senior U.S. District Judge Donetta Ambrose.

Ambrose’s 32-page opinion was issued in response to a motion filed by the defendant to suppress those statements on the grounds that police officers had violated his right to remain silent while he was taken into police custody, inside an ambulance and while at the hospital. A two-day evidentiary hearing on the matter, which included the testimony of the police officers and medical personnel, was held in October 2021.

The defendant is charged with committing a hate crime resulting in death along with dozens of other crimes. The government is seeking the death penalty.

While police had not informed the defendant of his right to remain silent at the time the statements in question were made, those statements fell within the “public safety” exception to the Miranda rule, which applies when “the need for answers to questions in a situation posing a threat to public safety outweighs the need for the prophylactic rule protecting the Fifth Amendment’s privilege against self-incrimination,” according to federal case law precedent cited by Ambrose.

The defendant’s statements included his response to an officer’s question as to “why he did it.” According to the officer’s testimony, the defendant replied that “he’s had enough, that Jews are killing our children,

Please see Security, page 14

Please see TOL, page 14

 “This is the house of God”: Synagogues across the nation are confronting security concerns after the hostage crisis at Congregation Beth Israel in Texas.

Photo by Yaniv Yaakubovich via Flickr.com.

By David Rullo | Staff Writer

I

f Shawn Brokos could offer just one piece of advice for those concerned about safety at Pittsburgh Jewish institutions, it would be to train. And when you finish training, train again. After that, train again.

Brokos, the director of community security for the Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh, said she views security “holistically,” calling her approach “active threat training.”

While there are no known active threats in the Pittsburgh Jewish community, she said, organizations should be ready for all potential security situations.

“We need to be prepared in the event that a threat gets through our security measures,” Brokos said. “That training is absolutely essential. It’s a mindset — walking through your building and conducting these drills, practice evacuating, practice barricading.

It becomes something you are comfortable with, and it becomes a state of mind.”

Active threat training is more inclusive than active shooter training, Brokos explained, and is more beneficial in events like the Jan. 15 hostage crisis at Congregation

Inside this week’s issue: Organization Directory Page 9

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Headlines Duquesne University hosts Holocaust exhibit ‘Who is a Jew?’ — LOCAL —

By Justin Vellucci | Special to the Chronicle

P

ittsburgh-based historian David Rosenberg first visited Amiens, France — a city of 120,000 nestled in the Somme, 90 miles due north of the Eiffel Tower — in 1973 for a dissertation he was working on while attending Yale University.

It was Protestants who brought Rosenberg to Amiens, particularly the history of the Protestant movement there during the 16th century. It was the city’s Jews that kept him coming back.

On one 1995 trip during High Holiday services inside the Amiens synagogue, he saw a simple plaque. “’To our Martyrs,’ it said, and there followed a list of 49 names of Jews of the Somme — men, women and children — who had been deported to their deaths in the camps,” Rosenberg said. “About 15 years later, in 2011, remembering the plaque and sensing a vacuum of knowledge and awareness around me when I visited, I decided to embark on this project as a duty to the departed and, as I hoped, a contribution to the historical consciousness of the region.”

The byproduct of that decade-long journey — an exhibit: “Who is a Jew? Amiens, France 1940-1945” — combines haunting yet humanizing photos, letters and events of the Holocaust and honors the 6 million Jewish victims, and millions of other victims, of Nazism during World War II. The exhibit is now being staged on the fourth floor of Gumberg Library at Duquesne University through Feb. 4.

“Who is a Jew” was previously displayed at Temple Emanuel of South Hills, the

 Duquesne University students view Holocaust exhibit “Who is a Jew? Amiens, France 1940-1945.”

Photo courtesy of Duquesne University

Holocaust Center of Pittsburgh and Hillman Library at the University of Pittsburgh, Rosenberg said. But Duquesne has expanded the exhibit — including the installation of “talk tiles,” which feature audio clips of people reading the letters in the exhibit.

The core of Rosenberg’s historical work revolves around personal identification cards of Amiens’ Jews that Rosenberg found at a French Holocaust museum in 2017, as well as documents from national archives he discovered in 2014.

“Putting those two things together, I understood I had something that could

drive this story home,” Rosenberg said. “I’ve also tried to insert this story into the place where it happened, in France.”

The exhibit also was staged in Amiens and is available for viewing online at jewsofthesomme.com.

“I want to make [visible] these people who have been hidden from history,” Rosenberg said. “I want to make sure the reality of their lives is unavoidable and accessible.”

That message resonates at Duquesne, said Shai Maaravi, a senior who came from the Golan Heights in Israel to study there.

Maaravi said the Catholic college encourages

the practicing of all religions.

“It’s not like going to Pitt, where you have a huge Jewish population, but I’ve been lucky to find solidarity here,” said Maaravi, president of the school’s Jewish student organization.

Maaravi also is encouraging his peers to check out “Who is a Jew?” “The idea of taking this one small town and letting people know what happened there? The actual details? That tells a story,” he said. “’Tens of thousands of small towns were destroyed during the Holocaust’ — that doesn’t describe a story.”

Duquesne also this week commemorated International Holocaust Remembrance Day. It was designated Jan. 27 by the United Nations General Assembly, coinciding with the anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau, the Holocaust’s most infamous camp.

To mark the date, Duquesne hosted a free online interfaith commemoration and presentation on Jan. 26 featuring Lauren Bairnsfather, director of the Holocaust Center of Pittsburgh; Tree of Life Rabbi Hazzan Jeffery Myers; the Rev. Bill Christy, C.S.Sp., Duquesne chaplain and director of Spiritan campus ministry; and Maaravi from the Jewish student organization.

During the event, Rosenberg presented a talk titled “The Making of ‘Who is a Jew?’: A Tale of Two Cities and the Challenges of Bringing a Troubling Holocaust History Home.”

Rosenberg also will be presented with a medal of honor from the city of Amiens during a Feb. 8 ceremony. PJC Justin Vellucci is a freelance writer living in Pittsburgh.

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Headlines Steeler Zach Banner honored for standing against antisemitism — LOCAL —

By Justin Vellucci | Special to the Chronicle

P

ittsburgher. Steelers offensive tackle, #72. Champion in the fight against antisemitism and hate.

There are a lot of ways to describe Zach Banner, but it is his efforts battling antisemitism that earned him induction into this year’s “Courageous Class” at the Museum of the Courageous in New York City.

MOTC celebrates acts of standing against hate that shift the American conversation toward justice, highlighting what the group calls “untold and under-told stories of courage that remind us of our individual power to stand against hate.”

“We curate the stories of Americans who have stood up against hate — at the root of the museum, we believe America’s diversity is its strength and attacks of hate attack that strength,” said Teresa Vazquez, executive director and founding trustee of the MOTC. “We are just starting to see the ripple effects of Zach’s statement [against antisemitism] and he’s continued to do that work.”

Banner, who made his NFL debut in 2017, took a stand against hate in July 2020, two days after Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver DeSean Jackson posted an antisemitic message he attributed to Adolf Hitler on social media. Banner came to the defense of the Jewish community in a series of tweets and videos that he said he hoped would help educate others who might have misconceptions about Jews.

“This video is to transition from the incident, and move forward as a community,” Banner said in one video. “Not to harp on @DeSeanJackson10 mistake, but to progress by educating ourselves. We can’t move forward while allowing ourselves to leave another minority race in the dark.”

In the months that followed, Banner became increasingly involved in events and programs that tackled antisemitism.

Banner responded last week with humility to news that he was being recognized by the MOTC. “It’s a huge honor … I’ve met so many people who stand up to hate and it’s

a community effort,” Banner told the Chronicle. “We’re just the ones pushed up on the pedestal. It’s an honor, it really is. I humbly accept it and step back into the crowd, the community.”

Banner has strong links to the Jewish community. As an undergraduate at the University of Southern California, he pledged Zeta Beta Tau, the world’s first and largest Jewish fraternity.

When he pledged ZBT, he said he was told it was “a multicultural fraternity.”

“There was no Star of David on the door,” laughed Banner, who stressed his mother never taught him to view Jews negatively.

But, when attending national fraternity meetings, Banner said his eyes were opened to the Jewish experience in America.

“I had no idea there was this kind of hate,” Banner said. “I had no idea that Jewish men and women had trouble getting into fraternities — that’s crazy.”

MOTC was launched in 2019, and last year announced its inaugural Courageous Class.

“We know that these profound stories of courage bear the potential to change hearts and minds,” Vazquez said. “As we wade toward the two-year mark on the pandemic, this year’s honorees remind us that humanity is at its strongest when it is united against injustice and discrimination.”

In addition to Banner, the 2022 Courageous Class includes six others who stood against hate, including Kym Worthy and Kim Trent, who mobilized Black women and men to demand justice when 11,324 untested rape kits were discovered in a Detroit police storage unit; and Jennifer Keelan-Chaffins, a disability rights activist who abandoned her wheelchair to climb up the steps of the U.S. Capitol to compel Congress to pass disability rights legislation.

“The 2022 Courageous Class illuminates the powerful American cultural narrative that individuals have the agency to change the future for the better,” said David Neil, board chair and founding trustee of MOTC. “The intention behind the museum and celebrating these stories of courage is to inspire others to stand up to hate.” PJC

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Participants receive appetizing, nutritious meals carefully prepared in our own kosher kitchen.

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Headlines Yeshiva University establishes scholarship in memory of Pittsburgh alum Mikey Butler — LOCAL —

By David Rullo | Staff Writer

M

ikey Butler’s memory will live on, thanks to a new scholarship announced by Yeshiva University.

It was the dream of Butler, who grew up in Pittsburgh, to attend the Orthodox-inspired college despite his struggle with cystic fibrosis, asthma and the lymphoma he developed after a lung transplant, his parents said.

But unlike his friends who dreamed of future families and careers, Butler’s dreams ended with attending YU. “He said if he could make it for even one semester, he would have achieved his goals,” his mother, Nina Butler, recalled.

Mikey Butler was able to do more than make it through one semester: He earned a bachelor’s degree in political science and business from the university.

The scholarship is a tribute to Mikey Butler’s love of the school and the close relationships he built with its professors and deans, his parents said.

Dan Butler, Mikey Butler’s father, told of his son’s time at Yeshiva in a story published in Tablet in 2020.

Accepted at YU, Mikey Butler attended

one week of classes before he had to return home and be admitted into the hospital.

Two weeks later, the freshman returned to New York to collect his belongings, convinced there was no way to achieve his dream while managing the cystic fibrosis rocking his body.

Instead, his father recounted, Mikey Butler found a note on his door telling him to see the school’s dean. When he did, the dean said, “Young man, you are going to graduate from Yeshiva University. Whatever it takes, we will get you through.”

The school made accommodations for the freshman, allowing him to live on the ground floor of his dorm and assigning him a reserved parking space.

Mikey Butler spent the next four years alternating, on average, three weeks at school and three weeks home in Pittsburgh. While his college life was different than the typical undergraduate’s, he shared many of the same experiences — including being elected student body vice president.

Nearing the end of his four years at YU, Mikey Butler’s respiratory system was too ravaged to remain at the school. Several weeks later, while in a hospital ICU, waiting on a lung transplant, the head of YU, Rabbi Norman Lamm, flew to Pittsburgh and awarded Mikey Butler his degrees at the

 Mikey Butler’s graduation from Yeshiva University at Pittsburgh International Airport with YU Chancellor Rabbi Norman Lamm Photo provided by Nina Butler

Pittsburgh International Airport.

After a double lung transplant, Butler was able to return to New York and walk in his graduation ceremony at Madison Square Garden.

Tragically, he developed lymphoma from the lung transplant. As a result of his treatment, Mikey Butler became the first person with cystic fibrosis and a lung transplant

to go through chemotherapy and a stem cell transplant. It was those rigorous treatments and medications, his mother said, that caused him to lose his sight and hearing.

For Mikey Butler, a drummer who loved playing at NCSY events and friends’ weddings, his loss of hearing was harder Please see Butler, page 17

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Headlines A history of the region, told through B’nai B’rith Curious to understand the full scope, I made a list. I found at least 92 lodges across Western Pennsylvania and West Virginia, not including women’s and BBYO chapters.

Going down the list, seeing where and when each lodge pops into existence, you can watch B’nai B’rith spread in six waves. It’s a communal history, told in miniature.

— HISTORY —

By Eric Lidji | Special to the Chronicle

B

’nai B’rith began in 1843. By the end of the decade, it had enough lodges in enough places to justify a hierarchy. It created two “District Grand Lodges.” No. 1 in New York covered eastern lodges, and No. 2 in Cincinnati covered western ones.

Pittsburgh sat between them. Its nascent, fractured Jewish community had about 35 people, not counting peddlers and smalltown merchants. Its one tiny congregation was splitting in half, and its cemetery stayed stubbornly independent of the congregation.

District Grand Lodge No. 3 was established in Philadelphia in 1856. It came to encompass four states with not much in common aside from occupying the miles between New York and Cincinnati: Delaware, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and West Virginia.

Western Pennsylvania and West Virginia added little until 1862, when Jericho Lodge No. 44 was established in Pittsburgh. The locations of the 43 previous lodges show just how slow Pittsburgh was to develop communal institutions: Cleveland, Detroit, Evansville, Louisville, Milwaukee, Memphis, St. Louis and even three in California.

Over the next century, almost every Jewish community in our region would start a lodge.

Before the wars

p B’nai B’rith started lodges in at least 60 towns in Western Pennsylvania and West Virginia, requiring a regional “council” to manage activities.

Image: MSS1061_B_F_CouncilOfBB_cover

The first wave came between 1866 and 1871. Seven new lodges were formed — two in Pittsburgh, and the rest throughout northwestern Pennsylvania. The discovery of oil in Titusville in 1859 was drawing thousands to that area. Jews came, too.

Titusville (Simeon Lodge No. 81) briefly had the third-largest Jewish population in Pennsylvania.

Then oil went bust. The towns shrank, and the lodges closed.

The second wave: 22 lodges between 1901 and 1910.

These can be credited to Dr.

J. Leonard Levy of Rodef Shalom Congregation and Louis Sulzbacher of Braddock.

Levy was the voice. There was great concern in those years about the fate of the “Country Jew” — those small-town Jewish merchants living in the heart of Christendom without any communal resources. Levy called B’nai B’rith “applied Judaism,” and saw it as a way to encourage liberal Judaism in small towns without Reform congregations.

Sulzbacher was the feet. He went into the towns to organize people. Working with Levy, he helped form new lodges in Braddock, McKeesport, Washington, Johnstown, Homestead, New Castle, Erie, Sharon, Donora, New Kensington and other places.

But the growth was unstable. A third of those lodges dissolved within a decade, lacking support within their own communities. Exceptions were Braddock (No. 516), McKeesport (No. 573), Washington (No. 576), New Castle (No. 609) and Erie (No. 620).

The third wave came at the end of Levy’s tenure — 13 lodges in 1915 and 1916.

Richard Rauh and Edward Hemple revisited towns with lapsed lodges and started new lodges, especially throughout West Virginia.

They also came up with the idea of the regional lodge. Monongahela Lodge No. 776 united Monessen, Donora and Charleroi.

Beaver Valley Lodge No 777 did the same in Please see History, page 17

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PITTSBURGH JEWISH CHRONICLE

JANUARY 28, 2022 5

Calendar Submit calendar items on the Chronicle’s website, pittsburghjewishchronicle.org.

Submissions also will be included in print.

Events will run in the print edition beginning one month prior to the date as space allows.

The deadline for submissions is Friday, noon. q FRIDAY, JAN. 28

Have you considered jumping onto the gig work bandwagon? Maybe the allure of flexible scheduling and being your own boss has appeal. Join the National Council of Jewish Women for “The Risks and Rewards of Gig Work,” an informative virtual panel discussion to learn the pros, cons and hidden costs of this growing area of employment. Noon. ncjwpghevents.org/events/the-risks-andrewards-of-gig-work.

Join the National Council of Jewish Women for “The Changing Landscape of Abortion Rights,” an open discussion with Greer Donley, JD, from the University of Pittsburgh School of Law, who will discuss the changing landscape on abortion rights. Donley is a reproductive justice scholar whose work has covered abortion access in the pandemic, the FDA’s overregulation of medication abortion and new constitutional theories to support later abortion on the basis of severe fetal anomaly. 4 p.m. To register for this virtual event, visit ncjwpghevents.org.

Join Moishe House for a take-out Shabbat dinner. Candles will be lit. We will be socially distanced and masked up and then take home a Shabbat meal to remember. 6 p.m. RSVP at bit.ly/moho-012822. q FRIDAY, JAN. 28-MARCH 5

The Zionist Organization of America: Pittsburgh is accepting applications for its Israel Scholarship Program. Jewish teens participating in qualified programs, who will be a junior or senior in high school

in September 2022, are eligible to apply.

Three $1,000 scholarships will be awarded.

Applicants will be judged on their involvement in Jewish organizations, volunteerism and on an essay about Zionism and Israel.

Applications will be accepted through March 5. For information and applications, contact ZOA Executive Director Stuart Pavilack, at stuart.pavilack@zoa.org or 304-639-1758. q SUNDAY, JAN. 30

The Pittsburgh Jewish Chronicle invites you to join the next Chronicle Book Club meeting. We will be discussing “The Lost Shtetl” by Max Gross, winner of the National Jewish Book Award for 2020 and the Jewish Fiction Award. The author will join us for part of the discussion. Noon. To register for the online link, email David Rullo at drullo@ pittsburghjewishchronicle.org.

Join the National Council of Jewish Women, Congregation Dor Hadash and Congregation Beth Shalom Derekh virtually for “Jews, the First Amendment and Abortion Rights,” a talk by Rachel Kranson. Kranson is the director of the Jewish studies program at the University of Pittsburgh and a scholar of modern Jewish history, American Judaism and gender and sexuality studies.

2 p.m. To register for this virtual event, visit ncjwpghevents.org. q SUNDAYS, JAN. 30-FEB. 27

Join a lay-led Online Parashah Study Group to discuss the week’s Torah portion.

No Hebrew knowledge is needed. The goal is to build community while deepening understanding of the text. 8:30 p.m. For more information, visit bethshalompgh.org. q MONDAYS, JAN. 31-FEB. 14

Join Congregation Beth Shalom for a weekly Talmud study. 9:15 a.m. For more

Join the Chronicle Book Club: ‘The Lost Shtetl’

T

he Pittsburgh Jewish Chronicle invites you to join the Chronicle Book Club’s Jan. 30 meeting, when we will discuss “The Lost Shtetl”

by Max Gross, winner of the National Jewish Book Award for 2020 and the Jewish Fiction Award. The author will join us for part of the meeting.

From Amazon.com: “What if there was a town that history missed? For decades, the tiny Jewish shtetl of Kreskol existed in happy isolation, virtually untouched and unchanged.

Spared by the Holocaust and the Cold War, its residents enjoyed remarkable peace. It missed out on cars, and electricity, and the internet, and indoor plumbing. But when a marriage dispute spins out of control, the whole town comes crashing into the twenty-first century.”

Your Hosts

How It Works

We will meet on Zoom on Sunday, Jan. 30, at noon to discuss the book. As you read it, we invite you to share comments and join discussions in our Facebook group, Chronicle Connects: Jewish PGH. We invite you to join now if you are not already a member of the group.

What To Do

Buy: “The Lost Shtetl.” It is available from online retailers.

Email: Contact us at drullo@pittsburghjewish chronicle.org, and write “Chronicle Book Club” in the subject line. We will send you a Zoom link for the meeting.

See you later this month! PJC

information, visit bethshalompgh.org. q TUESDAYS, FEB. 1-MAY 24

Sign up now for Melton Core 2, Ethics and Crossroads of Jewish Living. Discover the central ideas and texts that inform our daily, weekly and annual rituals, as well as life cycle observances and essential Jewish theological concepts and ideas as they unfold in the Bible, the Talmud and other sacred texts. $300. 9:30 a.m. foundation.jewishpgh. org/melton-2. q WEDNESDAYS, FEB. 2-FEB. 23

Chabad of the South Hills presents “Meditation from Sinai,” a new Jewish Learning Institute course on mindful awareness and divine spirituality to help you think, feel and live more deeply. $95.

7:30 p.m. 1701 McFarland Road or on Zoom.

Call 412-512-3046 or email rabbi@chabadsh. com for more information or to register. q

WEDNESDAYS, FEB. 2-FEB. 30

Bring the parshah alive and make it personally relevant and meaningful. Study the weekly Torah portion with Rabbi Mark Asher Goodman. 12:15 p.m. bethshalompgh. org/life-text.

q THURSDAY, FEB. 10

Classrooms Without Borders presents “Ghosts of the Third Reich.” Post-film discussion with Claudia Ehrlich Sobral, Bernd Wollschlaege, Samson Munn and Avi Ben Hur. 3 p.m. classroomswithoutborders.org/ghoststhird-reich-post-film-discussion. q

WEDNESDAY, FEB. 16

Join the Squirrel Hill AARP for its next open meeting. All attendees are asked to bring at least two non-perishable food items which will be donated to the Squirrel Hill Food Pantry. Hear Pennsylvania AARP Consumer Advocate Mary Bach share AARP’s view on consumer fraud. Bring your COVID card and masks. Call Marcia Kramer at 412-656-5803 with questions. Rodef Shalom Congregation, Falk Library. q TUESDAY, FEB. 22

Join Temple Sinai to study the weekly Torah portion in its hybrid class available on Zoom.

Open to everyone. Noon. templesinaipgh.org/ event/parashah/weekly-torah-portion-classvia-zoom11.html.

Join Jewish National Fund-USA for a series of interviews, panel discussions and more — all meant to facilitate a dialogue and expose the beautiful and diverse facets of modern Zionism, and its positive impact on many aspects of our lives, no matter where we are on the globe. 7:30 p.m. jnf.org/events-landingpages/conversations-on-zionism.

q THURSDAYS, FEB. 3-JUNE 30

q THURSDAY, FEB. 24

The Alan Papernick Educational Institute Endowment Fund presents Continuing Legal Education, a six-part CLE series taught by Foundation Scholar Rabbi Danny Schiff. Earn up to 12 CLE credits. Each session is a standalone unit; you can take one class or all six.

8:30 a.m. With CLE credit: $30/session or $150 all sessions; without CLE credit: $25/ session or $125 all sessions. For a complete list of dates and topics, visit foundation. jewishpgh.org/continuing-legal-education.

Classrooms Without Borders, in coordination with Tali Nates, founder and director of the Johannesburg Genocide & Holocaust Centre, and in partnership with the Maltz Museum of Jewish Heritage, Liberation 75 and the USC Shoah Foundation, is pleased to present the series Holocaust Museums and Memorials Around the World. 1 p.m. classroomswithoutborders.org/holocaust_ museums_and_memorials_around_the_world.

q SUNDAY, FEB. 6

The Ghetto Fighters’ House presents “Rethinking the ‘Final Solution’ and the Wannsee Conference 80 Years Later: Belzec Death Camp – Genesis of Genocide.” The program is in partnership with Liberation 75, Remember the Women Institute, the Rabin Chair Forum, Classrooms Without Borders, the House of the Wannsee Conference Memorial and Educational Site, and the Johannesburg Holocaust and Genocide Center. 2 p.m. classroomswithoutborders.org/ rethinking-final-solution-wannsee-conference80-years-later.-belzec-death-camp-ndashgenesis-genocide. q WEDNESDAY, FEB. 9

Classrooms Without Borders, in partnership with Liberation75, is excited to offer Confronting the Complexity of Holocaust Scholarship: Reflections on the Past, Present, and Future of Holocaust Studies.

Toby Tabachnick, editor of the Chronicle David Rullo, Chronicle staff writer

— Toby Tabachnick

6

PITTSBURGH JEWISH CHRONICLE

JANUARY 28, 2022

In this nine-part series, participants will meet top scholars in the field and focus on their research and scholarship. 3 p.m. classroomswithoutborders.org/confronting_ the_complexity_of_holocaust_scholarship.

q MONDAY, FEB. 28

Join the Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh for Success in the Workplace: Engaging People of All Abilities, an event in celebration of Jewish Disability Awareness, Acceptance & Inclusion Month and Jewish Disability Advocacy Day. Inclusion of people with disabilities in the workplace is not only good for the community — it’s also good for business. Join the conversation exploring the benefits of a diverse workforce.

5:30 p.m. jewishpgh.org/event/success-in-theworkplace-engaging-people-of-all-abilities. q THURSDAY, MARCH 10

Join the Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh for the free event Universal Early Childhood Education: What Could This Mean for Our Jewish Community?

7 p.m. jewishpgh.org/event/universal-earlychildhood-education-what-could-this-meanfor-our-jewish-community-4. PJC

www.pittsburghjewishchronicle.org PITTSBURGHJEWISHCHRONICLE.ORG

Headlines — WORLD — From JTA Reports

More than 25% of Swedish religious hate crimes target Jews

Antisemitic incidents accounted for 27% of all religious hate crimes in 2020 in Sweden — even though Jews make up just 0.1% of the population.

Sweden, which has a population of about 10 million people, has about 14,900 people who self-identify as Jews, according to a 2020 demographic study of European Jewry.

Hate crimes against Muslims, who make up about 8% of the population, accounted for 51% of the hate crimes against religious groups police documented in 2020, according to a Swedish National Council for Crime Prevention report published in December.

There were 170 antisemitic hate crimes and 328 anti-Muslim crimes documented in 2020.

The council noted that while antisemitism figures dropped sharply from the 280 incidents reported in 2018 — the last time the report was compiled — there were structural changes in the latest report and that the prevalence of antisemitic crimes may not have decreased.

2021 National Jewish Book awards announced

Dvora Hacohen’s biography of Hadassah founder Henriette Szold won two honors, including Jewish Book of the Year, from the Jewish Book Council, which announced its

202 National Jewish Book Awards on Jan. 20.

“To Repair a Broken World: The Life of Henrietta Szold, Founder of Hadassah,” also was named best biography.

Other prominent winners included Joshua Cohen, Dara Horn, Jai Chakrabarti, Judy Batalion and Esther David.

Cohen’s “The Netanyahus: An Account of a Minor and Ultimately Even Negligible Episode in the History of a Very Famous Family,” a satirical chronicle of the future Israeli prime minister’s family’s time in the United States, won the fiction award.

Israeli COVID expert panel recommends expanding 4th vaccine dose to everyone over 18

A panel of experts that advises Israel’s Health Ministry on matters related to the coronavirus is recommending that all adults over the age of 18 be offered a fourth dose of the coronavirus vaccine, The Times of Israel reported on Tuesday.

On Sunday, the Health Ministry announced the preliminary results of a study which showed that the fourth vaccine dose tripled protection against serious illness and doubled protection against an infection with the omicron variant compared to those who received only three shots. The study included 400,000 adults who received a fourth dose and 600,000 who received three doses.

Those results contrasted with a less promising announcement last week from the Sheba Medical Center, which is studying the effects of a fourth dose of the vaccine.

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

Jan. 28, 1790 — France grants citizenship to Sephardi Jews

The National Assembly of revolutionary France decides to give citizenship to Sephardi Jews, who are well assimilated.

Ashkenazim, France’s Jewish majority, are not emancipated until September 1791.

Jan. 29, 2004 — Israel swaps prisoners for man, 3 bodies

Israel frees more than 430 Arab prisoners to win the release of an Israeli businessman abducted in Dubai in October 2000 and the bodies of three Israeli soldiers killed in captivity by Hezbollah.

Jan. 30, 1958 — U.S. commits to Baghdad Pact

Countering Soviet efforts in the Middle East, Secretary of State John Foster Dulles says the United States is committed to the defense of the Baghdad Pact’s Muslimmajority states: Iran, Iraq, Pakistan and Turkey.

PITTSBURGHJEWISHCHRONICLE.ORG

Jan. 31, 1922 — Hebrew ‘Dybbuk’ opens in Moscow

The Hebrew version of “The Dybbuk, or Between Two Worlds” begins its successful stage run at Moscow’s Habimah Theater. The play tells the story of a young woman possessed by a malicious spirit.

Feb. 1, 1979 — Khomeini returns to Iran

Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini returns to Iran after 15 years in exile. Under his guidance, Iran establishes an Islamic republic and ends close ties to Israel. Iran’s Jews become second-class citizen.

Feb. 2, 1915 — Diplomat Abba Eban is born

Politician, diplomat and historian Abba Eban is born in South Africa. As part of the Jewish Agency’s delegation to the United Nations, he plays a crucial role in the passage of the U.N. partition plan for Palestine.

Feb. 3, 1919 — Zionists present case to Peace Conference

A World Zionist Organization delegation led

by Chaim Weizmann makes the case for a Jewish homeland in Palestine at the Paris Peace Conference. The delegation accepts the proposed British Mandate. PJC

“We see an increase in antibodies, higher than after the third dose,” Gili Regev-Yochay, a top researcher from the hospital, said, according to The Times of Israel. “However, we see many infected with omicron who received the fourth dose. Granted, a bit less than in the control group, but still a lot of infections,” she added.

RFK Jr. invokes Anne Frank at DC anti-vaxx rally

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. invoked Anne Frank while comparing COVID-19 vaccine mandates to the Holocaust, saying “none of us can hide” today like the Jewish diarist could during World War II. “Even in Hitler’s Germany, you could cross the Alps into Switzerland, you could hide in the attic like Anne Frank did,” Kennedy said at a rally against vaccine mandates on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., on Sunday. “Today, the mechanisms are being put in place that will make it so none of us can run, none of us can hide.”

Kennedy, the son of former Sen. Robert “Bobby” Kennedy, went on to list what he perceived as threats from “low-orbit satellites” and 5G internet networks, and named Bill Gates among those posing a threat to privacy.

A video clip of Kennedy’s speech was shared to Twitter by NBC reporter Ben Collins.

The Twitter account for the Auschwitz Memorial Museum in Poland condemned Kennedy’s comments in a tweet Sunday.

“Exploiting of the tragedy of people who suffered, were humiliated, tortured & murdered by the totalitarian regime of Nazi Germany

— including children like Anne Frank — in a debate about vaccines & limitations during global pandemic is a sad symptom of moral & intellectual decay,” the account stated.

Kennedy has been a vocal anti-vaxxer for years, peddling conspiracy theories and claiming that vaccines cause diseases like autism in children. He was kicked off of Instagram last year after he shared misinformation about vaccines on the platform.

The consensus in the scientific community rejects any link between vaccines and autism and maintains that side effects to vaccines are minimal.

Biden removes Trump appointee with white supremacist ties from Holocaust commission

President Joe Biden removed a Trump appointee with ties to white supremacists from a commission that monitors Holocaust sites.

The White House asked Darren Beattie on Jan. 14 to resign from the Commission for the Preservation of America’s Heritage Abroad by day’s end or be removed.

The commission identifies and works to secure the preservation of European historical sites — such as cemeteries, monuments and Holocaust killing sites — associated with the heritage of U.S. citizens.

Beattie, who is Jewish, was a Trump speechwriter until it was revealed in 2018 that he had attended a conference of the H.L. Mencken Club two years earlier. There he appeared on a panel with white nationalist Peter Brimelow. PJC

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Headlines French parliamentary report on the Sarah Halimi murder case reopens the wound it sought to heal — WORLD —

By Cnaan Liphshiz | JTA

A

new parliamentary report on the 2017 killing of a Jewish woman by a Muslim attacker was meant to restore French Jews’ faith in their country’s police and justice systems.

Instead, the report released last week has added fuel to the fire, enraging French Jewish leaders.

Last year, a judge ruled that Sarah Halimi’s professed killer was not responsible for his actions because his consumption of marijuana had induced a psychotic episode. This was despite the fact that the court concluded he was motivated to kill Halimi because she was Jewish.

In the aftermath of the ruling, French Jews led a wave of infuriated protests.

In September 2021, a parliamentary committee led by French Jewish lawmaker Meyer Habib began investigating, in his words, “any dysfunctions” in the case on the part of French police. The committee’s new 67,000-word report found that police officers arrived on the scene before the murder occurred but did not stop it.

Despite that finding, and others that paint

p Demonstrators affiliated with the Jewish Community of Rome hold signs protesting the “Halimi affair” near the French Embassy in Rome on April 25, 2021.

Photo by Andrea Ronchini/NurPhoto via Getty Images

a muddled picture of the day of the crime, the committee wrote that none of the officers, judges, psychiatrists or anyone else involved in the case had done anything wrong.

Habib and other non-Jewish committee members railed against the final recommendations, but it passed by a vote of 7-5.

Here’s what you should know about the report, and why it matters to the French Jewish community.

The findings

The report summarized some of what was known, but it also revealed many new details to the public. These are the key findings, from the committee’s point of view: • Kobili Traore, a 31-year-old FrenchMuslim man of Malian descent, forced his way into the 65-year-old Halimi’s Paris apartment and killed her — brutally, as was previously known, by beating her and

throwing her out of a window — because she was Jewish. Prosecutors also already knew that Traore recited verses from the Koran and shouted antisemitic statements during the murder.

• Police had arrived on the scene in response to calls by Halimi’s neighbors, who heard her cries. The report adds that the officers were given keys to Halimi’s apartment when they arrived, long before Halimi’s death. But they waited outside as Traore beat her — the report says they “could not prevent” her death and followed all relevant procedures closely.

• The medical evaluation that led to Traore’s admission into a psychiatry hospital — before he could be given a trial — was “of good quality,” the report adds, despite challenging circumstances. He may be released from the psychiatric facility where he is held pending a recommendation by his doctors, if approved by a police commissioner.

• In the chain of events that led to the decision not to try Traore, “the judiciary followed perfectly the procedure” determined by the law, the report reads. The police’s handling of the case “does not represent a failure.”

Please see Halimi, page 17

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Organization Directory ADATH JESHURUN CEMETERY Office: 217 E. Patty Lane Monroeville, PA 15146 Phone: 412-508-0817 Website: adathjeshuruncemeterypgh.org Email: office@adathjeshuruncemeterypgh.org

Barbara Scheinberg, president; Ted Heyman, vice president; Gail Schmitt, secretary; Marty Elikan, treasurer; Renee Abrams, William Berkowitz, Allan Dalfen, Paul Herman, Beverly Kalson, Earl Kaiserman, Sandy Goppman, Lou Kushner, Alan Sable, Stuart Neft; Susan Cohen, office administrator ••• ADAT SHALOM A welcoming and inclusive synagogue serving the Fox Chapel and North Hills community

368 Guys Run Road (Fox Chapel Area) Cheswick, PA 15024-9463 Phone: 412-820-7000 Website: adatshalompgh.org Email: lrothstein@adatshalom.org

David Lazear, president; David Gurwin, first vice president; Jeniffer Feder, second vice president; Michele Fryncko, recording secretary; Jill Langue, assistant recording secretary; Pam Calig, treasurer; Marshall Dayan, assistant treasurer; Yaier Lehrer, rabbi; Lisa Rothstein, executive director; Casey Schapira, preschool director ••• AHAVATH ACHIM CONGREGATION The Carnegie Shul

Website: thecarnegieshul.org Email: mrmike7777@yahoo.com

Lawrence Block, president; Richard D’Loss, first vice president; Paul Spivak, second vice president; Wendy Panizzi, secretary.; Irwin Norvitch, treasurer; Rosalyn Hoffman, Michael Roteman, Marcia Steinberger, Joel Roteman, board of directors ••• 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, executive director; Marty Davis, chairman of the board; Eytan Rosenthal, treasurer; Bill Rudolph, Estelle Comay, Charles Saul, Jon Pushinsky, Charles Perlow, Neil Notkin and Jim Leiber, board members ••• AMERICAN TECHNION SOCIETY Advancing Innovation for Israel and the World

6735 Telegraph Road, Suite 365 Bloomfield Hills, MI 48301 Phone: 248-593-6760 Website: ats.org Email: joey@ats.org

Joey Selesny, regional director, East Central Region ••• BBYO KEYSTONE MOUNTAIN REGION Phone: 412-600-3989 Website: bbyo.org/region/keystone Email: elevin@bbyo.org

Erica Levin, regional director, KMR BBYO

PITTSBURGHJEWISHCHRONICLE.ORG

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 EL CONGREGATION OF THE SOUTH HILLS 1900 Cochran Road Pittsburgh, PA 15220 Phone: 412-561-1168 Website: bethelcong.org Email: chris@bethelcong.org

Alex Greenbaum, rabbi; Amy Greenbaum, associate rabbi/education director.; Chris Benton, executive director; Susie Seletz, president; Lynda Abraham-Braff, executive vice president; Barry Friedman, administrative vice president; William Spatz, education vice president; Todd Kart, financial vice president; Karen Balk, fundraising vice president; Geri Recht, membership vice president; Margie Stang, volunteerism vice president; Beth Pomerantz, financial secretary.; Neal Ash, assistant financial secretary; David Sirota, treasurer; Cindy Platto, assistant treasurer; Vered Cohen, recording secretary; Dara Lazar with Monique Westreich, Sisterhood co-presidents; Jeremy Broverman with Steve Haberman, Men’s Club co-presidents ••• BETH HAMEDRASH HAGODOL/ BETH JACOB SYNAGOGUE Visit us downtown. All are welcome.

810 Fifth Ave. Pittsburgh, PA 15219 Phone: 412-471-4443

Stanley J. Savage, rabbi; Ira Michael Frank, president; Sherman Weinstein, first vice president; Lee Oleinick, second vice president; Joe Goldston, secretary; Steve Neustein, financial secretary; Brian Cynamon, treasurer; David Knoll, assistant treasurer; Arlene Neustein, Sisterhood president ••• BETH ISRAEL CONGREGATION 265 North Ave. Washington, PA 15301 Phone: 724-225-7080 Website: mybethisrael.org Email: office@bethisraelsynagogue.com Facebook: facebook.com/bethisraelsynagogue

Gary Gilman, president; Marc Simon, vice president; David S. Posner, treasurer; Marilyn Posner, secretary; Richard S. Pataki, immediate past president; Stephen Richman, Dana J. Shiller, Beth Tully, Marsha Cassel and Annette Ayala, board of directors ••• 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

Seth Adelson, senior rabbi; Alan Kopolow, president; Paul Teplitz, executive vice president; Roger Zimmerman, vice president of finance; Mindy Shreve, vice president of member engagement; Joseph Jolson, vice president of operations; Jordan Fischbach, vice president of synagogue life; Adam Kolko, vice president of youth; Tammy Hepps, secretary; Fred Newman, treasurer; Debby Firestone, immediate past president; Robert Gleiberman, executive director; Rabbi Andy Shugerman, development director; Rabbi Mark Asher Goodman, interim director of Derekh and Junior Congregation; Rabbi Larry Freedman, director of J-JEP; Hilary Yeckel, director of ELC; Marissa Tait, youth director; Dale Caprara, controller; Amira Walker, bookkeeper; Audrey Glickman, rabbi’s assistant; Michelle Vines, events coordinator; Kristin Zappone, communications and marketing specialist; Kate Kim, assistant director of J-JEP; Pam Stasolla, assistant director of ELC; John Williams, maintenance supervisor; Tika Bonner, receptionist; Rosie Valdez, ELC operations; Ira Frank, Men’s Club president; Judy Kornblith Kobell, Sisterhood president ••• CONGREGATION B’NAI ABRAHAM A warm, caring, inclusive community.

519 N. Main St. Butler, PA 16001 Phone: 724-287-5806 Website: congbnaiabraham.org Email: congbnaiabraham@zoominternet.net

Cantor Michal Gray-Schaffer, spiritual leader; Eric Levin and Christine Hood, co-presidents; Lori Doerr, treasurer ••• 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, president; Shalom Leeds, vice president and gabbai; Chanani Saks, treasurer; Ivan Engel, recording secretary; Joel Pirchesky, past president ••• 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 OF GREENFIELD 4315 Murray Ave. Pittsburgh PA 15217 Phone: 412-708-2734 Website: chabadofgreenfield.com Email: rabbi@chabadofgreenfield.com

Rabbi Yitzi and Miri Goldwasser, co-directors •••

Cantor Rena Shapiro, spiritual leader; Barbara Wilson, religious school director; William Snider, president; Dan Weisberg, vice president; Karen Beaudway, past president; Nicole Homich, secretary; David Bloomberg, financial vice president; Sharon Roseman, trustee 1; Michele Klein Fedyshin, trustee 2 •••

CHABAD HOUSE ON CAMPUS The heart of Jewish life on campus.

Serving the needs of the Jewish college community.

5915 Beacon St. Pittsburgh, PA 15217 Phone: 412-421-2288; Fax: 412-421-5923 Website: bethshalompgh.org Email: info@bethshalompgh.org

CHABAD JEWISH CENTER OF MONROEVILLE 2715 Mosside Blvd.

Monroeville, PA 15146 Website: JewishMonroeville.com Email: Chabad@JewishMonroeville.com

CONGREGATION BETH SHALOM Enriching lives through community, lifelong Jewish learning and spiritual growth!

Phone: 412-681-7770; Cell: 412-390-8153 Website: chabadpgh.org Email: sara@chabadpgh.org

Rabbi Shmuel and Sara Weinstein, co-directors; Rabbi Shua and Shoshana Hoexter, JGrads directors; Rabbi Shmuli and Chasi Rothstein, Pitt directors •••

PITTSBURGH JEWISH CHRONICLE

Rabbi Mendy and Esther Schapiro, co-directors ••• 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 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 and Batya Rosenblum, co-directors; Mussie Rosenblum, event coordinator; Barb Segel, development coordinator ••• CHABAD OF SQUIRREL HILL 1700 Beechwood Blvd.

Pittsburgh, PA 15217 Phone: 412-421-0546 Website: chabadpgh.com

Rabbi Yisroel and Chani Altein, co-directors; Sara Deren, director of Jewish Discovery Center ••• CLASSROOMS WITHOUT BORDERS Opens minds and hearts through learning experiences that transform education and empower educators and students.

P.O. Box 60144 Pittsburgh, PA 15211 Phone: 412-915-9182 Website: classroomswithoutborders.org Email: info@classroomswithoutborders.org

Zipora (Tsipy) Gur, executive director; Melissa Haviv, assistant director; Ateret Cope, operations manager; Ellen Resnek, educational programs and outreach manager.

Board of directors: Robert Glimcher, chair; Lisa Allen; Michael Bernstein; Kerry Bron; Estelle Comay; Laura Penrod Kronk; Robert Mallet; Victor Mizrahi; 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; Fax: 412-521-4511 Website: comday.org

Avi Baran Munro, head of school; Mark Minkus, head of intermediate school and middle school; Andrea Erven-Victoria, head of early childhood and lower school; Kelly Binning, head of academic and emotional services; Sarah DeWitt, enrollment management director; Jenny Jones, institutional advancement and donor relations director; Jordan Hoover, operations director; Jennifer Bails, marketing and communications director; Derek Smith, president; Debbie Resnick, immediate past president; Evan Indianer, vice president and treasurer; Barry Nathan, secretary ••• CONGREGATION DOR HADASH Pittsburgh’s Reconstructionist Congregation

4905 Fifth Ave. Pittsburgh, PA 15213 Phone: 412-467-6188 Website: dorhadash.net

Bruce Herschlag, president; Donna Coufal, past president; Wendy Kobee, vice president of ritual; Claudia Davidson, vice president Please see Organizations, page 10

JANUARY 28, 2022 9

Organization Directory Organizations: Continued from page 9

of administration; Emily Koepsel-Rook, vice president of youth education; Miri Rabinowitz, secretary ; Rob Kraftowitz, treasurer; Hal Grinberg and Dan Heifetz, learning and programming; Libba Spiegel, hesed; Janice Gordon, membership; Barb Murock, kehillah; Dana Kellerman, communications; Karen Morris, principal of Dor Hadash Religious School; Sai Koros, congregational manager; Janey Zeilinger, bookkeeper; Jody Shapiro, 10/27 administrative assistant ••• CONGREGATION EMANU-EL ISRAEL To support Judaism and the welfare of our community

222 N. Main St. Greensburg, PA 15601 Phone: 724-834-0560 Website: ceigreensburg.org Email: office@cei-greensburg.org

Leonard Sarko, rabbi; Sara Rae Perman, rabbi emeritus; Irene Rothschild, president and admin.; Terri Katzman, first vice president and sisterhood president; Julie Goldstein, treasurer; Virginia Lieberman, secretary; Gary Moidel, Men’s Club president; Robert Halden, archives; Terri Katzman and Virginia Lieberman, caring; Shoshana Halden, education and ritual practices; Esther Glasser, endowment; Shirley Shpargel, library; Robert Slone, long-range planning; Mary Ellen Kane, membership; Richard Virshup, physical properties; Terri Katzman and Mary Ellen Kane, social action; Mitch Goldstein and Zach Virshup, I.T. ••• FORWARD SHADY APARTMENTS Owned by Forward Housing Corporation and managed by the award-winning Senior Network, this 117-unit supportive senior housing community offers efficiency, one- and two-bedroom apartments in a convenient location along Forward Avenue in Squirrel Hill.

5841 Forward Ave. Pittsburgh, PA 15217 Phone: 412-521-3065 Fax: 412-521-6413 Email: forwardshady@srcare.org

Tom Netzer, president; Donna Kruman, vice president; Terry Lerman, teasurer ••• 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, executive director; Rivkee Rudolph, director; Laura Marshak, professional advisor; Adina Waren, director of programs; Ann Grandinetti, development and community engagement coordinator; Leighann Calamera, grant development and communications coordinator; Drew Armstrong, membership and inclusion coordinator; Gila Zimbovsky, office manager; Paige Eddy, Friends on the Town program coordinator; Emily Vogt, adult engagement coordinator; Alyssa Marchitelli, program coordinator; Alexa Taylor, Friends at Home specialist; Megan Graybill, member experience specialist; Ally Weekley, wellness coordinator; Cara Paolicelli, Friendship Bakery coordinator; Ayala Rosenthal, teen member coordinator; Grace Whited, program associate; board of directors: Alan Gordon, chair; Aaron Morgenstern, vice chair; Geri Cohen Recht, second vice chair; Mollie Hanna Lang, secretary; David Khani, treasurer; Joe Reschini, assistant treasurer; Ruth Ann Crawford, Elyse Eichner, David Goldberg, Debbie Graver, Ina Gumberg, Kathy Klein, 10

JANUARY 28, 2022

Natalie Moritz, Rachel Petrucelli, Andrew Rabin, Carol Tabas, Cindy Vayonis, Laura Voigt ••• 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

Gershon Guttman, president; Larry Perl, vice president; Bruce Gelman, secretary; Richard Bollinger, treasurer; Gershon Guttman and Alan Balsam, gabbaim ••• HADASSAH 60 Revere Drive, Suite 800 Northbrook, IL 60062 847.205.1900 Hadassah.org/midwest midwest@hadassah.org

Rochelle Parker, Hadassah Greater Pittsburgh immediate past president; Ronna Ash, managing director Hadassah Midwest ••• HEBREW FREE LOAN ASSOCIATION P.O. Box 452 Homestead, PA 15120 Phone: 412-422-8868 Website: hflapgh.org

Nancy Israel, president; Jesse Hirshman, first vice president; Meira Russ, second vice president; Laurie Moritz, treasurer; Yana Warshafsky, secretary; Ellen Clancy, director of operations; Aviva Lubowsky, director of marketing and development ••• HILLEL ACADEMY 5685 Beacon St. Pittsburgh, PA 15217 Phone: 412-521-8131; Fax: 412-521-5150

Daniel Kraut, CEO; Rabbi Sam Weinberg, principal and education director; Ella Ziff, director of student services; Elky Langer, assistant principal K-4; Rabbi Oren Levy, assistant principal K-4; Yikara Levari, assistant principal fifth-12th grade girls; Rabbi Yisroel Smith, assistant principal Boys High School; Kira Sunshine, director of admissions; Ruth Pohuly, Early Childhood director; Sarah Hartman, finance manager.; Selma Aronson, executive administrator 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, executive director and CEO; Stefanie Green, senior Jewish educator; Rachel Cohen, director of operations; Jennifer Poller, director of development; Lori Moorhead, development associate; Jared Stein, IACT Israel engagement coordinator; Kari Semel, Janet L. Swanson director of Jewish Student Life at the University of Pittsburgh; Alex Zissman, Jack G. Buncher director of Jewish Student Life at Carnegie Mellon University; Zoe Hertz, Springboard Innovation Fellow; Sarah Chalmin, Springboard Innovation Fellow for Pitt; Allison Bloomberg, Springboard Ezra Jewish Education Fellow for Pitt; Michael Warshafsky, board chair; Aaron Leaman, vice chair of finance; Mitchell Letwin, vice chair of development; Adrienne Indianer, vice chair board governance/HR; David Levine, vice chair strategic planning; Matthew Weinstein, immediate past chair

HOLOCAUST CENTER OF PITTSBURGH Chatham University Attn: Holocaust Center of Pittsburgh Woodland Rd. Pittsburgh, PA 15232 Phone: 412-421-1500 Email: info@hcpgh.org Website: hcofpgh.org

Barbara Shapira, board chair; Lauren Apter Bairnsfather, director. Board: Emmai Alaquiva; Debra L. Caplan; Amanda Finkenbinder; Marc Friedberg; Paul Guggenheimer; Lori Guttman; Roy “Jake” Jacobson; Alison Brown Karabin; Rachel Kranson; Lawrence M. Lebowitz; Melissa Marks; Laura Moser; James Paharik; Delilah Picart; Manuel Reich; Harry Schneider; Barbara Shapira; Benjamin Simon; David Sufrin; Hal Waldman; Roberta Weissburg; Yolanda Avram Willis; Steve Zupcic ••• 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; Ari J. Sirner, executive director ••• ISRAEL HERITAGE ROOM University of Pittsburgh

Phone: 412-298-6698 Website: nationalityrooms.pitt.edu/content/ israel-heritage-room-committee Email: Susan.b.rosenberg@gmail.com

Susan Binstock Rosenberg, chair; Ruth Gelman, Eileen Lane, Alex Orbach, Judith Robinson, Adam Shear, Marcia Weiss, vice chairs; Ruth Gelman, treasurer; Nancy Glynn, corresponding and financial secretary; Nancy L. Shuman, honorary chair ••• JEWISH ASSISTANCE FUND P.O. Box 8197 Pittsburgh, PA 15217 Phone: 412-521-3237 Website: jewishassistancefund.org Email: Info@JewishAssistanceFund.org

Gean K. Goldfarb, president; Joyce Berman, vice president; Alan Gordon, vice president; Todd Rosenfeld, vice president; Lynn J. Snyderman, vice president; Harvey A. Wolsh, treasurer; Jeffery Maizlech, assistant treasurer; Ellen Primis, secretary; Meyer “Skip” Grinberg, 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 Email: info@jaapgh.org

Lou Plung, board chair; Lynette Lederman, vice chair; Michael Levin, treasurer; Charles Porter, assistant treasurer; John Katz, secretary; Steve Halpern, assistant secretary; Andrew Stewart, immediate past chair; Deborah Winn-Horvitz, president and 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

Harvey A. Wolsh, president; Sharon Bogarad, vice president; Tammy Hepps, treasurer; Meyer Grinberg, secretary; Barry Rudel, executive director; Jonathan Schachter, administrator

JEWISH COMMUNITY CENTER OF GREATER PITTSBURGH Nurturing People, Connecting Community, Each Day, Through Every Age, Inspired By Jewish Values

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 Website: JCCPGH.org

William S. Goodman, chair of the board; Samuel W. Braver, Carole S. Katz, Scott E. Seewald, Lori B. Shure, vice chairs; Merris Groff, treasurer; Samantha Klein, assistant treasurer; Sharon Werner, secretary; Jeffrey Galak, assistant secretary; James S. Ruttenberg, immediate past chair; Brian Schreiber, president and CEO ••• JEWISH FAMILY AND COMMUNITY SERVICES (JFCS) 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

Peter J. Lieberman, board chair; Scott I. Americus, Carol Robinson, vice chairs; David R. Lassman, treasurer; Rachel Brown Clark, secretary; Somer Obernauer, Jr., Larry Schwartz, at large. Directors: Jason Baim, Rosalind Chow, Evan J. Durst, Molly Fisher, Cindy Gerber, Raimee Reiter Gordon, Noah R. Jordan, Rebecca Knoll, Ilyssa Manspeizer, Laura Mullen, Charlene Newkirk, Eric J. Perelman, Barry Rabkin, Stacey Reibach, Kannu Sahni, Jillian F. Zacks ••• JEWISH FEDERATION OF GREATER PITTSBURGH 2000 Technology Drive Pittsburgh, PA 15219 Phone: 412-681-8000 Website: jewishpgh.org

David D. Sufrin, board chair; Ellen Teri Kaplan Goldstein, Jan Levinson, James P. Wagner, vice chairs; Gilbert Z. Schneider, treasurer; Marcie J. Solomon, assistant treasurer; Marsha D. Marcus, secretary; Marc Brown, assistant secretary; Jeffrey H. Finkelstein, president and CEO ••• JEWISH HEALTHCARE FOUNDATION EQT Plaza 625 Liberty Avenue, Ste. 2500 650 Smithfield Street, Suite 2400 Pittsburgh, PA 15222 (412) 594-2550 Website: jhf.org; Email: info@jhf.org

Debra L. Caplan, board chair; Daniel Rosen, vice board chair; Michael H. Ginsberg, treasurer; Ellen Kessler, secretary; Carole Bailey, David H. Ehrenwerth, Nancy L. Rackoff, James Rogal, and Patricia L. Siger, executive committee members; Karen Wolk Feinstein, president and CEO ••• JEWISH NATIONAL FUND-USA Administrative Center/mailing address: 60 Revere Drive, Suite 725, Northbrook, IL 60062 Phone: 412-521-3200, x770 Email: jkoch@jnf.org Website: jnf.org/wpa Facebook: facebook.com/jewishnationalfund Twitter: twitter.com/jnfusa Instagram: Instagram.com/jnfusa

Josh Resnick and Joe Goldston, co-presidents; Jeffrey Koch, director

Please see Organizations, page 15

PITTSBURGH JEWISH CHRONICLE

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The Big Night Roaring 20s Ad Book

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Big Night is a swell opportunity to support the center of the community: The JCC! For Big Night ad book, sponsorships and donations, go to bidpal.net/bignight22 For questions, contact Fara Marcus at 412-339-5413 or fmarcus@jccpgh.org

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JANUARY 28, 2022 11

Opinion Feeling safe while finding togetherness Guest Columnist Jeffrey H. Finkelstein

O

n Saturday, Jan. 15, we witnessed yet another attack on another synagogue in another state. Violent attacks on Jews have become sadly commonplace, but I feel every single one viscerally. For those in any way connected to the attack on three Pittsburgh synagogues, Jan. 15 awakened such echoes.

No matter how we feel, we cannot allow the ongoing cycle of violence, combined with the periodic isolation that life in a pandemic requires, to change the nature of our beloved Jewish community.

The rise in antisemitism — whether physical violence, verbal abuse or online attack — absolutely gives us reason to increase vigilance. For this reason the Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh has been providing more resources than ever to increase community security. The Federation offers security training and has invested in building safety and crisis-communication improvements throughout Jewish Pittsburgh.

Our vigilance is not the same as fear. The rise in antisemitism must not make us afraid and let Jewish Pittsburgh splinter into islands of self-centered anxiety.

The culture of Jewish Pittsburgh has always been a culture of togetherness

— of “showing up.” We Pittsburghers attend formal programs and religious services.

Throughout our Jewish lives, we connect to the diversity of Pittsburgh’s Jewish community by socializing with each other, disregarding our different backgrounds.

It’s no wonder that Pittsburgh has given the word “nebby” a unique definition: caring with enough love to be a little nosy.

If you have lived outside Greater Pittsburgh, you know how special Jewish Pittsburgh is. In some other American cities, people simply do not gather in large numbers for Jewish events.

Some other communities are divided along ideological, religious or cultural lines.

After the violent attack against Jews in Colleyville and while COVID-19 periodically cancels in-person gatherings, I worry that we will forget what makes Jewish Pittsburgh unique and wonderful: our culture of togetherness.

In short, I worry that fear will

overcome solidarity.

What can we do in response? First, each of us can nurture solidarity by helping the community be safe and, just as important, helping the community feel safe.

Learn and follow the safety procedures in place at Jewish community buildings, and politely request that others do the same.

Attend one of the training classes that Jewish Federation’s security team has already provided to more than 17,000 people. Report suspicious or antisemitic activities by filing an incident report through the Jewish Federation website, jewishpgh.org. Do this even if you think the activities do not warrant police notice; a report to the Jewish Federation allows security professionals to identify threat trends and act proactively.

Second, because a community is a web of relationships, contribute to community by giving others the benefit of knowing you.

Throughout our Jewish lives, we connect to the diversity of Pittsburgh’s Jewish community by socializing with each other, disregarding our different backgrounds.

Find a group within our Jewish community that fits your interests. The past 10 years have brought amazing growth in the range of opportunities to engage in Jewish life. If you seek to live your Jewish tradition through social justice, keeping kosher, meeting Jews of color; whether you want to focus on LGBTQ+ events, have just had a baby, or live in the suburbs — Jewish Pittsburgh has a place where you can be with people like you or who are different from you. The important thing is to participate.

Our Jewish agencies and synagogues have adapted to pandemic reality by offering socially distanced events and activities that are virtual, in-person or both. Our organizations are offering more outdoor gatherings.

As you engage in activities, know that Jewish community security, though sometimes hidden, is working better than ever to protect you. Feel confident about your safety as you live your life in a caring community.

Let’s figure out what each of us can do to find togetherness the rest of this year. Trust that the security professionals, Jewish agency staff, supportive law enforcement representatives and fellow community members are doing their best to keep you safe. If you are able and available, come out and participate in Jewish life in whatever way suits you.

Together let us show the world the strength of the Pittsburgh Jewish community. PJC Jeffrey H. Finkelstein is president and CEO of the Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh.

I let an unhoused man into my synagogue before Colleyville. How will we respond after?

Guest Columnist Rabbi Joshua Ladon

W

hen I turned on my phone after Shabbat on Jan. 15, and read about the unfolding hostage crisis at Congregation Beth Israel in Texas, I was immediately transported to my encounter the previous evening with the unhoused man who appeared, in the middle of Friday night services, at the synagogue my family and I attend.

With holes in his shoes, wearing a vest and no shirt, he paused at the entrance (open to ensure proper airflow) and asked to use the restroom. I quickly showed him to the restroom, where he peeked in, turned around and said something incoherent as he walked back out of the building. Before he left, our synagogue’s maharat (female Orthodox clergy) handed him some food from our kitchen and a coat from the lost-and-found.

I was struck by how similar this experience was to Rabbi Charlie Cytron-Walker’s first encounter with the man who would ultimately hold him and three others hostage at their synagogue. Cytron-Walker welcomed the man into his synagogue and gave him a cup of tea because he looked like 12 JANUARY 28, 2022

he needed shelter.

How might I react the next time we are visited by someone in need?

The fear many American Jews have today in the face of rising antisemitism brings to the fore a deep existential challenge: How do we maintain our safety without closing the door to one of our most sacred obligations, welcoming the stranger?

The Talmud, in its subversive way, takes up this very issue. In a passage (Bava Batra 7b) that presages homeowner association battles for millennia to come, we are told, in the Mishna, that people whose homes share a courtyard can force a fellow homeowner to contribute to building a guardhouse and doors. The implication is that the condo association can force people to pay into the collective purchase of a gate even if they do not want to contribute.

But, the later Talmudic gloss asks skeptically, “Wasn’t there a pious man who used to speak with Elijah the prophet, who built a guardhouse, after which Elijah stopped conversing with him?” Elijah, the harbinger of the Messianic Age, who often appears in the tradition as impoverished, stopped interacting with the otherwise righteous man, the Talmud explains, because the guard who “mans the guardhouse prevents the poor from entering and asking for charity.”

The Talmud is uncomfortable with the implications of fortifying one’s home when

there are others living on the streets. The juxtaposition of the two voices is instructive: Our safety and wellbeing come at a cost. We have the right to build safe barriers, but we need to ensure they do not deafen our ears or blind our eyes to those who are most in need.

In the American Jewish community, we tend to imagine giving anonymously as the ultimate act of giving, probably because of the ubiquity of 12th-century rabbi and philosopher Maimonides’ ladder of tzedakah.

But anonymity can create great distance.

There is something about coming face to face with difference that reminds us of our shared humanity. As we learn in another Talmudic story, Mar Ukva, intent on not shaming someone to whom he gave charity, runs with his wife away from the man and hides in a furnace. Though the fire is extinguished, Mar Ukva’s feet burn — although his wife’s do not.

When asked why, she responds, “I am usually at home and my giving is direct.” Unlike her husband, she is rewarded for regularly coming face to face with those in need.

When we are gripped with fear, we do not feel free. Fear blinds us. We are overcome by it. It becomes the prism through which we interpret all of our encounters so that we may designate certain places safe or certain people dangerous. Our challenge as American Jews at this moment is to recognize these two competing needs and make sure we are neither callous nor naive.

PITTSBURGH JEWISH CHRONICLE

There are also some immediate tactical concerns for how the Jewish community ensures its safety. Many of us may not realize how our community’s growing relationship with law enforcement may affect the Jews of color in our community, to say nothing of our relationship with the broader Black and Latino communities.

On Friday night, I returned to my spot near the door where my youngest was sitting on the floor playing with blocks. I noticed the man had found a place on the stoop and, thinking of Elijah, I went outside to see if he needed anything else. He explained that he didn’t want to use the bathroom since it was not private and asked me for some hand sanitizer. I brought him a bottle from which he took two large handfuls and anointed his face and bald head. He wanted a private bathroom for a moment of dignity.

The rise of antisemitism should concern us not only for what might happen to us, but also, for who we might become. As we take necessary steps to ensure communal safety, let us be wary of the impulse to allow fear to define our actions so that we may also take the necessary steps to ensure that we are the people we are supposed to be. PJC Rabbi Joshua Ladon is the director of education for the Shalom Hartman Institute of North America. This piece first appeared on JTA. PITTSBURGHJEWISHCHRONICLE.ORG

Opinion Chronicle poll results: Security after Colleyville

L

ast week, the Chronicle asked its readers in an electronic poll the following question: “Are you more concerned with your security as a Jew since the Colleyville hostage crisis?” Of the 238 people who responded, 54% said “yes,” 34% said “no,” and 11% said they were “not sure.” Sixty-five people submitted comments. A few follow.

After 11 people were murdered here, why would anyone here be MORE concerned about their security as a Jew? I’ve been concerned and remain concerned, but will continue to be a proud Jew publicly and go to shul in person, consistent with COVID safety. I may as well stop breathing as to let these fears paralyze me.

As safety committee chair of one of our shuls, I am always concerned. The Secure Community Network daily email is an eye-opener. Jewish communities and individuals are under constant attack or threat.

I haven’t felt safe since the tragedy at Tree of Life.

My concern level has gone up because the rabbi let the criminal into the building for tea! I am assuming that he broke the protocols that were in place and I am fearful

that he is not the only one. Hopefully the Pittsburgh community will use this to re-emphasize the need for screening of whomever enters a holy building.

Are you more concerned with your security as a Jew since the Colleyville hostage crisis?

I’m considering carrying my 9mm Glock pistol whenever I’m attending services.

While there are awful examples of antiJewish behavior and its consequences, I refuse to give into paranoia...the sort being whipped up by so-called communal leaders and rabbis. I haven’t and won’t alter my behavior because some folks may want to do me harm.

11% Not sure.

35% No.

54% Yes.

Jews everywhere need to be concerned and be careful. Nobody knows where the next tragedy will happen.

In my opinion, the publicity exposing how easily the bad actor gained access has made smaller, more remote synagogues like mine more attractive to copycats/other bad actors.

I am more concerned in general about the uptick in antisemitism. It has been building for a while now. I worry that the upcoming trial of the Tree of Life shooter will intensify dangerous, violent feelings and result in more overt antisemitic acts.

I remain as concerned now as I was following the Tree of Life massacre, though I am somewhat heartened by the preparatory measures my temple has undertaken, and that similar measures were helpful in ending the Texas hostage situation.

Never knowing who is lurking around my small shul, I will just stream services.

I know we have to say fear won’t stop us, but we have to be realistic! The Texas

rabbi actually opened the door for the stranger… bad decision.

I’m an 85-year-old man and I still don’t understand why people hate the Jews.

I don’t know why, but so many do, and you would think after all these years we would be accepted.

I am always fearful. I will not go to the synagogue tomorrow although it is my husband’s yahrzeit.

Security was an issue before, and it’s an issue now. Nothing actually changed just because someone took hostages. These dramatic things are not important long term. What we really need is to end the small antisemitic day-to-day attacks (for example from liberal universities). Those take a cumulative toll, which ends up being worse because it normalizes such behavior. PJC — Toby Tabachnick

This week’s Chronicle poll question:

Will you watch the Beijing Olympics? Go to our website, pittsburghjewishchronicle. org, to respond. PJC

Excavating stories, building empathy Guest Columnist Nancy Strichman

W

ith International Holocaust Remembrance Day occurring this week, it’s especially timely to write about a woman who keeps making sure that we hold critical conversations about what the Holocaust has to teach us. As the director of the Center for Humanistic Education at the Ghetto Fighters’ House Museum, Noha Khatib encourages dialogue about tough topics. She is ready, along with her team, to explore the meaning of the Holocaust for all Israelis and to do so with an openness and a curiosity. It takes courage to work in this arena, with empathy an on-the-job requirement. Needless to say, discussions about the Holocaust and the subsequent founding of the Israeli state, described as the “Nakba” by the Palestinian community, are fraught with emotion. These discussions are some of the most charged conversations Jewish and Arab Israelis can have together.

How to even begin? It is not too surprising that a joint exploration of collective memories, passed down like family heirlooms from generation to generation, is no easy task.

Yet for the past two decades, the Center for Humanistic Education has been creating a setting precisely for these conversations.

For years, it has been bringing together educators and students from neighboring Arab and Jewish communities to explore the PITTSBURGHJEWISHCHRONICLE.ORG

impact and lessons of the Holocaust.

With its focus on storytelling, workshop participants are invited to reflect not only on the historical record but also on the informal patchwork of their memories and family narratives.

Noha knows well the power of storytelling.

Growing up Muslim in the Jewish city of Nahariya, she became accustomed to inhabiting complex spaces with vastly different perceptions and perspectives. And early on, it was her father who kept encouraging her to see each person’s story, regardless of background, and find a point of connection. This ability to understand and reconcile both the Jewish and Arab worlds in her life became one of Noha’s many superpowers.

And now, all these years later, and after decades of experience in the field of JewishArab shared life education, Noha leads the work at the center, which helps its workshop participants examine both the personal and the collective narrative.

Just a short drive from Nahariya, the Ghetto Fighters’ House Museum was established in 1949 by European refugees who were intent on building a new life for themselves in Israel.

The museum was not only the first Holocaust museum in the world, it also was the first to be founded by Holocaust survivors.

At the museum’s Center for Humanistic Education, the educational and storytelling pieces each find a space. As we know, listening to personal stories — especially of the perceived “other” — has the potential to build acceptance and even empathy. The workshops hosted by the center allow participants to sift through the tangle of their own

memories, along with the pain from past generations, as part of a larger discussion of how to better create a shared life in Israel.

The founder and past director of the center, Raya Kalisman, was the child of German refugees and grew up with the Holocaust as part of her own family narrative. It was much later, as an educator in the 1980s, that she underwent teacher training to bring Holocaust studies to Israeli schoolchildren as part of the formal curriculum.

And teaching the Holocaust as a historical narrative prompted her determination to teach the lessons of the Holocaust to diverse audiences. So, upon her return from a sabbatical year at the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, she followed through on that commitment and established the center in 1995.

Over time, the Center for Humanistic Education has led conversations locally and abroad about how we address the moral obligations and civic responsibility for one another, both in big ways and small.

In recent years, Noha has expanded this work to reach beyond the schools to other target audiences including the police, high tech companies and hospitals. With the historical context of the Holocaust, the seemingly abstract concept of “shared citizenship” can be better unpacked once participants began to see how it plays out in our daily lives and everyday interactions.

As of now, in many shared workplace settings, Jewish and Arab coworkers often are careful to refrain from bringing up their collective stories of trauma and grief, fearing it might negatively impact the work

PITTSBURGH JEWISH CHRONICLE

environment. The center gently pushes back on this notion.

In their facilitated workshops, coworkers are given the opportunity to discover shared life experiences, an activity which opens the possibility to professional interactions that are much less superficial, prescribed or formulaic. Storytelling can cause us to stop and pause for a bit. Hearing an individual’s story has a way of softening the rigid narratives to which we can too often become accustomed.

So it turns out that empathy is not just an innate superpower for some, but a skillset that is expandable for all of us. Noha’s father intuitively knew this when he encouraged his young daughter to cross boundaries and to see differences among people as a strength. And much of Noha’s work at Center for Humanistic Education builds on this generous insight that he gave to her. It is this generosity that we find in so many individuals who are working every day to help us be more expansive in how we view ourselves and each other. The highest tribute to them would be that one day these superpowers, rather than being seen as magical or extraordinary, would be considered mundane, and entirely, wonderfully ordinary. PJC Dr. Nancy Strichman teaches graduate courses in evaluation and strategic thinking at the Hebrew University’s Glocal program. Her research has focused on civil society, specifically on shared society NGOs and gender equality in Israel. She lives in Tivon, Israel, and grew up in Pittsburgh. This piece first appeared on The Times of Israel.

JANUARY 28, 2022 13

Headlines Security: Continued from page 1

This model, she said, has proved to save lives.

“We need to do actual drills to have people through the buildings,” Brokos said. “If you had to evacuate at a moment’s notice, what does that look like? What are your primary and secondary exits? We need to talk about what it means to be barricaded. Do you have proper locks on your doors that you can barricade and pull shades? The final piece, the last resort, is to be prepared if you have to fight in an active threat situation.

Find whatever you can to use as a weapon or distraction.”

There should be one person responsible for security at any given organization, Brokos said. That person doesn’t have to be an executive director or CEO, but should be responsible for facilitating training and updating security plans and protocols.

“At the end of the day,” Brokos said, “we’re responsible for our own security.”

Brokos discussed these points during a webinar last week with community leaders following the incident in Colleyville. She highlighted how important security cameras were in that situation, as was providing law enforcement with building access and floor plans in advance.

The need to include de-escalation as part of active threat training was also discussed during the webinar, she said.

Federation has worked with law enforcement, Brokos said, creating updated training that will be rolled out in the next few months.

“I’m building the course description and what it will look like,” she said. “What we saw

really enforces the need for it.”

The Jewish Community Center of Greater Pittsburgh isn’t rethinking its security measures in light of Colleyville, the JCC’s chief program officer, Jason Kunzman, said. “Rather, we are reenergized in our security efforts.”

Kunzman attended the recent security webinar and said that Brokos presented a checklist for Jewish organizations that included creating up-to-date emergency plans and training, regularly testing all technology and alarm systems, providing updated floor plans to Federation and allowing regular visits from law enforcement.

“I was very pleased that the JCC had much, if not all, of those best practices already in place,” Kunzman said.

He acknowledged that the JCC is responsible for keeping a large swath of people safe, including Early Childhood Development Center students and teachers, Silver Sneaker members, campers and non-Jewish members there to work out.

“We take the middle part of our name — ‘Community’ — very seriously,” he said. “It’s what we’ve been about for 126 years. There’s a fine line between being a welcoming and accessible community center while at the same time ensuring everyone’s safety.”

The JCC’s ECDC, like other Jewish child care facilities, is part of Federation’s Blue Point System, which alerts police and other security organizations about emergency situations, Kunzman said.

He said the JCC had already made security enhancements at all four of its locations — in Monroeville, the South Hills, Squirrel Hill and West Virginia — but that what matters most are eyes and ears on the ground.

“At the end of the day, even with all the fancy gadgets and technology we have in

place, it comes down to the actions of individuals,” he said. “We remain committed to training our staff to be as best prepared as they possibly can be.”

Likewise, Community Day School trains and prepares for many different emergency scenarios throughout the year, according to CDS spokesperson Jennifer Bails.

“We hope to never have to use what we learn in practice,” she said.

Bails said there are lessons to be learned from the events in Colleyville, and she expects additional lessons will come to light as more details are revealed.

Security, Bails said, is something in which everyone participates.

“Everyone is part of security — our security staff, our teachers, our students and our families. You know, ‘If you see something, say something.’ That’s very real. We rely on everyone’s eyes and ears. Every person is a critical part of that team, along with our administrative staff, partners at Federation and local law enforcement.”

Louis Felder, president of Congregation Poale Zedeck, agreed with Kunzman that human interaction is vital for security. He said his congregation has people monitoring who is entering and exiting the building.

“We want to let people in to daven,” he said, “but if we don’t know the person, it’s a little concerning. It’s a balance.”

He said that PZ has talked with Federation about setting up additional training and remains vigilant.

“We send out reminders to make sure the door is closed behind you and not letting in strangers,” he said.

An organization can never do enough training, said Beth El Congregation of the South Hills’ Executive Director Chris Benton.

TOL: Continued from page 1

and he couldn’t take it anymore, that all Jews had to die.”

“Here, law enforcement officers faced an imminent threat to public safety beginning the moment the dispatcher announced the first 911 calls at 9:55 a.m. through the time Detective Shaw and Agent Patcher left [the defendant] at the hospital,” Ambrose wrote, adding that they were responding to a “chaotic and volatile scene,” confronting “open fire, high powered weapons, numerous victims, a confusing floorplan, a barricaded gunman, conflicting reports regarding the number of assailants, [and] the potential use of explosives.”

“The responding officers were at significant risk as were those congregants still hiding in the synagogue,” she continued.

“Indeed, at least three officers were wounded during their response to Tree of Life. To ensure the safety of the officers at the scene and the surrounding community, they needed information about the quantity and location of firearms, whether any explosive devices had been placed at the synagogue or elsewhere, and whether [the defendant] acted alone or with collaborators or accomplices as part of a larger attack.”

Likewise, Ambrose held that, while the defendant no longer posed a threat while at the hospital, the questions posed by the officers 14

JANUARY 28, 2022

 Memorials outside the Tree of Life building following the Oct. 27, 2018, shooting

Photo by James Busis

while there “did not remove the potential threat existing elsewhere.”

“Officers needed to know whether his car or home presented any danger,” she found.

“Additionally, to the extent that Detective Shaw or Agent Patcher inquired about threats still existing at the Tree of Life, I find credible their uncontradicted testimony that they were unaware at the time that the synagogue had been ‘cleared’ and declared secure and safe at 12:25 p.m.”

Ambrose also found that, in addition to

the statements falling within the public safety exception, the defendant had “volunteered” several of his statements “and that such statements do not fall within the purview of Miranda.” Those statements include those he made “in response to a comment that he would be treated humanely, that ‘[t]hese people are committing genocide on my people, and I just want to kill Jews.’”

No trial date has yet been set in this case.

On Jan. 17, the defendant’s attorneys filed a motion seeking a change of venue because of

PITTSBURGH JEWISH CHRONICLE

“Security is not a destination,” she said. “It’s an ongoing process.”

In addition to the congregation’s security training, Beth El also has a good relationship with Scott Township’s law enforcement.

Monroeville’s Temple David has already put into place part of what Brokos considers best practices and has named Mark White as its security committee chairperson.

White said that security has been a high priority for all Pittsburgh Jewish institutions since the massacre at the Tree of Life building, but that the pandemic and the move to Zoom events may have caused many organizations to become a bit lax in their security procedures. He said that has been addressed since the return to in-person services and the incident at Colleyville.

“It’s back on the top of the list,” White said.

“There’s an increased awareness.”

Temple David, like most other Jewish institutions, struggles with how to remain open and welcoming while maintaining a high level of security, he added.

“I don’t know,” he said. “It’s a river that I’m not sure how we cross.”

Brokos said the Pittsburgh community is open but needs to maintain a vetting process.

“We need to know who’s coming and going through our door,” she said. “We do that by having a conversation with people before they even come through our door. We have to be able to say, ‘I’m sorry, we are in the middle of a service; this is not an appropriate time for you to come in. Here’s our website and phone number. We can talk later.’ We need to strike that balance, and it is contrary to our nature in the Jewish community.” PJC David Rullo can be reached at drullo@ pittsburghjewishchronicle.org. pretrial publicity in the Pittsburgh region.

“The historical nature of the shooting, purportedly the deadliest attack on Jews in United States history, is repeatedly mentioned,” in local media coverage, according to the defendant’s motion for change of venue. The pretrial publicity “incorporates emotional language, prejudicial details, victim impact statements — some of whom had survived the Holocaust — and stories about law enforcement officers who were injured at the scene.”

The defendant’s motion further argues that “[o]verall, the local coverage of the shootings portrays [the defendant] in a prejudicial light, linking him to Alt-Right, Neo-Nazi, and conspiracy-minded groups.

In contrast, the sympathetic stories of the deceased and surviving victims, as well as their long-standing and deep connections to the Pittsburgh community, are prominent in the publicity. While publicity may surround the case wherever it is tried, the impact on potential jurors in the Western District of Pennsylvania will be significantly greater, as demonstrated by the community’s reaction to the shootings, including the commemorations and memorials.”

Prosecuting attorneys have not yet filed a response to the defendant’s motion to change venue. They have argued in previous briefs that the defendant is unnecessarily delaying the proceedings. PJC Toby Tabachnick can be reached at ttabachnick@pittsburghjewishchronicle.org.

PITTSBURGHJEWISHCHRONICLE.ORG

Organization Directory Organizations: Continued from page 10 JEWISH RESIDENTIAL SERVICES From disabilities to possibilities

2609 Murray Ave., Suite 201 Pittsburgh, PA 15217 Phone: 412-325-0039 (administrative office) Fax: 412621-4260 Website: jrspgh.org Facebook: facebook.com/jrspgh Twitter: twitter.com/jrspgh Instagram: instagram.com/shlclubhouse Email: info@jrspgh.org

Nancy E. Gale, executive director; Sarah Saxon, office manager; April De La Cruz, director of residential support services; Caitlin Lasky, director of development and communications; Joseph Herbick, director of Sally and Howard Levin Clubhouse; Alison Karabin, project manager of Families in Transition; Lorrie Rabin, president; Deborah Rubin, vice president; Danielle Katz, vice president; Susan Leff, secretary; Mike Samuels, treasurer ••• J STREET PITTSBURGH The home for pro-Israel, pro-peace Americans

Facebook: facebook.com/jstreetpittsburgh Email: pittsburgh@jstreet.org

Mark Fichman, chair •••

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

Paula Garret, Lauren Goldblum and Joan Gurrentz, co-chairs; Elyse Eichner and Susan Leff, small grants committee co-chairs; Paula Garret, signature grant committee, chair; Judy Greenwald Cohen, executive director ••• JOINT JEWISH EDUCATION PROGRAM (J-JEP) 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. 111 Website: www.jjep.org Email: RabbiLF@jjep.org

Rabbi Larry Freedman, director; Kate Kim, assistant director; Aaron Bisno, rabbi; Sharyn Henry, rabbi; Seth Adelson, rabbi; Kate Rothstein and Hal Coffey, co-chairs ••• KEHILLAH LA LA An inclusive community engaging members in creative Jewish experiences

Phone: 412-335-0298 Website: ravchuck.com Facebook: Kehillah La Email: ravchuck@gmail.com, ravchuck@yahoo.com

Chuck Diamond, rabbi and executive director; Fred Davis, president; Mickie Diamond, secretary ••• KESHER PITTSBURGH A community of kindred spirits who yearn for deep relationships, spiritual growth and collective liberation within a decidedly Jewish framework.

Website: kesherpittsburgh.org Email: kesherpittsburgh@gmail.com

Kohenet (Hebrew Priestess) Keshira haLev Fife, founder. Leadership team: Tim Fife, PITTSBURGHJEWISHCHRONICLE.ORG

David Goldstein, Lauren Goldstein (education coordinator), Jonathan Mayo, Sara Stock Mayo. Admininstrative support: Sophia Bernstein ••• KOLLEL JEWISH LEARNING CENTER 5808 Beacon St. Pittsburgh, PA 15217 Phone: 412-420-0220; Fax: 412-420-0224 Website: kollelpgh.org Email: info@kollelpgh.org

Rabbi Levi Langer, rosh kollel; Rabbi Doniel Schon, associate rosh kollel; Philip Milch, president; Frank Lieberman, vice president; Michael Kaminsky, treasurer; Mark Sindler, secretary; Rabbi Avrohom Rodkin, director of education; Stacie Stufflebeam, director of development ••• LADIES HOSPITAL AID SOCIETY 3459 Fifth Ave. Pittsburgh, PA 15213 Phone: 412-648-6106; Fax: 412-692-2682 Website: lhas.net

Carole L. Kamin, president; Jackie Dixon, Peggy Smyrnes-Williams, Heather Ziccarelli, vice presidents; Denise Shipe, Judy Woffington, secretaries; Cindy Kacerik, treasurer. 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 and Wightman streets) Phone: 412-422-7300

Rabbi Yisroel Rosenfeld; Charles Saul, president; Lior Shkedi, vice president; Rabbi Yosef Deren, Shmuel Huebner, Daniel Wein, Chaya Hoffinger, Chavie Goldshmid, Yosef Goldberg, Yosef Silverman, Arkie Engle, Shimon Zimbovsky, board members ••• NATIONAL COUNCIL OF JEWISH WOMEN Pittsburgh Section

1620 Murray Ave. Pittsburgh, PA 15217 Phone: 412-421-6118; Fax: 412-421-1121 Website: ncjwpgh.org

Teddi Horvitz, president; Sara Segel, interim executive director ••• NEW COMMUNITY CHEVRA KADISHA OF GREATER PITTSBURGH The New Community Chevra Kadisha of Greater Pittsburgh provides the opportunity for interested members of the greater Pittsburgh Jewish community to perform the mitzvah of taharah, the age-old preparation of Jewish deceased for burial, and acts as a resource for education about Jewish end-of-life traditions and practices

Phone: 412-422-8044 Website: ncckpgh.org Email: NewCommunityCK@verizon.net Facebook: facebook.com/NCCKPGH

•••

NEW LIGHT CONGREGATION/OHR CHADASH Conservative, egalitarian • Come join us

5915 Beacon St. Pittsburgh PA 15217 Phone: 412-421-1017 Website: newlightcongregation.org

Jonathan Perlman, rabbi; Barbara L. Caplan, Stephen Cohen, co-presidents; Janet Cohen, corresponding secretary; Debbie Salvin, membership vice president; Barbara Caplan, social vice president; Harold Caplan, treasurer; Carl Solomon, financial secretary; Ileen Portnoy, secretary; Sharyn Stein, Sisterhood president; Harold Caplan, Men’s Club president

THE NEW RIVERVIEW APARTMENTS A senior loving community®

52 Garetta St. Pittsburgh, PA 15217 Phone: 412-521-7876; Fax: 412-325-7041 Website: jaapgh.org/our-residences/the-new-riverview

Amy Weiss, chair; Mitchell Pakler, vice chair; Barry Roth, secretary; Alec Stone, treasurer; Debbie Winn-Horvitz, JAA president and CEO ••• 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 Facebook: facebook.com/parkwayjewishcenter

Cantor Henry Shapiro, spiritual leader; Lynda Heyman, Hal Lederman, Robert Caplan, executive committee; Laurie Barnett Levine, Sisterhood president; Rick Sternberg, office manager ••• PASTE Pittsburgh Association of Synagogue and Temple Executives

Drew Barkley (Temple Sinai), president; Leslie Hoffman (Temple Emanuel of South Hills), treasurer; Lisa Rothschild (Adat Shalom Synagogue); Chris Benton (Beth El Congregation of the South Hills); Robert Gleiberman (Congregation Beth Shalom) ••• PENN STATE HILLEL 114-117 Pasquerilla Spiritual Center University Park, PA 16802 Phone: 814-863-3816 Website: pennstatehillel.org Email: Hillel@psu.edu

Aaron Kaufman, executive director; Robyn Markowitz Lawler, assistant director; Stefanie Tapper, director of institutional advancement; Lori Thompson-Given, director of operations; Rabbi Rob Gleisser, senior Jewish educator; Hannah Kaufman, Springboard Innovation specialist; Ellie Fromstein, Israel engagement coordinator; Koral Belson, Jewish Agency Israel Fellow.

Board of directors: Jill Epstein, chair; Todd Goodstein, vice chair; Jenna Heffler, secretary; Jeffrey Ruben, treasurer/finance chair ••• PITTSBURGH JEWISH CHRONICLE Connecting Jewish Pittsburgh

5915 Beacon St., Fifth Floor Pittsburgh, PA 15217-2005 Phone: 412-687-1000 Website: pittsburghjewishchronicle.org Email: newsdesk@pittsburghjewishchronicle.org Facebook: Pittsburgh Jewish Chronicle Twitter: @PittJewishChron Instagram: pittjewishchronicle

Evan Indianer, chairman; Gayle R. Kraut, secretary; Evan H. Stein, treasurer; Gail Childs, Dan Droz, Malke Steinfeld Frank, Seth Glick, Tammy Hepps, Richard J. Kitay, Cátia Kossovsky, David Rush, Charles Saul, board members; Jim Busis, CEO and publisher; Toby Tabachnick, editor ••• PLISKOVER ASSOCIATION, INC. Pliskov Landsleit org manages Pliskover Cemetery

P.O. Box 8237 Pittsburgh, PA 15217 Website: pliskover.com Email: pliskover@pliskover.com

Bruce Ibe, president; Jared Kaufman, first vice president; Kimball Rubin, vice president of budgets, investments and audits; Carole Rubenstein, vice president of marketing; Steven Speck, vice president of

PITTSBURGH JEWISH CHRONICLE

membership; Honey Forman, vice president of scholarship and special events; Pam Ludin, treasurer; Cheryl Kaufman, financial secretary; Joel Dresbold, recording secretary; Anastasia Abramson, Jordana ZoberCutitta, Amy Dresbold, Andrew Pearl, Frank Rubin, Paula Rubin, Gloria Shapiro and Ruth Zober, board members ••• 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; Louis Felder, president; Richard Levine, first vice president; Ethel Harmon, second vice president; Adam Pollak, third vice president; Rabbi Ari Goldberg, financial officer; Rabbi Yisroel Pfeffer, secretary; Howard Siegel, executive director; Lindsey Strassman, Avital Goldwasser, Sisterhood co-presidents; Alina Averick, administrative assistant ••• RAUH JEWISH ARCHIVES AT THE SENATOR JOHN HEINZ HISTORY CENTER Preserving the History of Western Pennsylvania’s Jews

1212 Smallman St. Pittsburgh, PA 15222 Phone: 412-454-6406 Websites: heinzhistorycenter.org/collections/rauhjewish-history-program-and-archives; rauhjewisharchives.org Email: RJArchives@heinzhistorycenter.org

Eric Lidji, director; Seth Glick, chair •••

RODEF SHALOM CONGREGATION An Inclusive Reform Jewish Community, LGBTQ+ Safe Zone, & Fully Accessible Gathering Place.

4905 Fifth Ave. Pittsburgh, PA 15213 Phone: 412-621-6566; Fax: 412-687-1977 Website: rodefshalom.org Email: info@rodefshalom.org

Aaron B. Bisno, senior rabbi; Sharyn H. Henry, rabbi; Walter Jacob, rabbi emeritus and senior scholar; Matthew Falcone, president; Bill Klingensmith, senior vice president; Peter Rosenfeld, vice president; Eric Kruman, vice president; Joel Katz, treasurer; Salem Leaman, assistant treasurer; Alex Heit, secretary; Jodi Weisfield, assistant secretary; Mimsie Leyton, Family Center director; Rabbi Lawrence Freedman, director of J-JEP; Amy Langham, director of finance; Anna Gitlitz, marketing and communications manager; Yael Eads, director of informal Jewish life; Mayda Roth, director of development; Kristin Karsh, director of membership and human resources; Helena Nichols, Biblical Botanical Garden director; Marlee Lyons, facilities and sustainability director; Martha Berg, archivist ••• RODEF SHALOM BROTHERHOOD

Tim Litman, president; Peter Rosenfeld, Edward Mandell, vice presidents; Don Shaw, treasurer; Al Rosenfeld, recording secretary ••• WOMEN OF RODEF SHALOM

Terry Starrett, president; Andi Kaufman, Carol Leaman, Elaine Rybski, vice presidents; Marjorie Goldfarb, recording secretary; Sheila Werner, assistant recording secretary; Phyllis Feinert, corresponding secretary; Emmeline Silk, assistant corresponding secretary; Gail Lefkowitz, treasurer; Nancy Rosenthal, assistant treasurer; Marion Damick, parliamentarian

Please see Organizations, page 16

JANUARY 28, 2022 15

Organization Directory Organizations: Continued from page 15 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, associate rabbi; Jonathan Young, president; Adam Rothschild, vice president; Leah Ackner, secretary; Avram Avishai, treasurer; Brian Cynamon, Jay Luzer, Salomon Murciano and Bryan Shuman, gabbaim; Hannah B. Dorsey, Sisterhood president ••• TEMPLE B’NAI ISRAEL A friendly progressive congregation with traditional values

TEMPLE OHAV SHALOM A vibrant, inclusive Reform community in the North Hills

TORATH CHAIM CEMETERY Email: torathchaimcemetery@gmail.com

8400 Thompson Run Road, Allison Park, PA 15101 Phone: 412-369-0900 Website: templeohavshalom.org Email: jleicht@templeohavshalom.org

Cemetery committee: Kohenet (Hebrew Priestess) Keshira haLev Fife, A J Gross, Sanford P. Gross •••

Jeremy R. Weisblatt, rabbi; Sandy Stover, preschool director; Jackie Leicht, temple administrator; Grant Halasz, director Ruach & Youth Engagement; Aaron Brauser, president; Ken Eisner, immediate past president; Bob Gibbs, treasurer; Cindy Harrison, vice president of sustainability and giving; Tracy Brien, vice president of lifelong learning; Brian Kline, vice president of operations; Amy Jacobs, vice president of preschool; Beth Mongilio, vice president of social action; Jane Segal, vice president of spiritual enrichment; Amy Pike, vice president of youth; Alysia Knapp, corresponding secretary, vice president of communications; Seth Corbin, member at large; Sam Jacobs, Men’s Club; Rebecca Mason, Women of Ohav ••• TEMPLE SINAI 5505 Forbes Ave. Pittsburgh, PA 15217 Phone: 412-421-9715; Fax: 412-421-8430 Website: templesinaipgh.org Email: office@templesinaipgh.org

2025 Cypress Drive White Oak, PA 15131 Phone: 412-678-6181; Fax: 412-896-6513 Website: tbiwhiteoak.org Email: tbioffice@gmail.com

Lindi Kendal, president; Lou Anstandig, vice president; Janice Greenwald, secretary; Steve Klein, treasurer; Debbie Iszauk, office manager; Howard Stein, rabbi ••• 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

Daniel Fellman, senior rabbi; Keren Gorban, associate rabbi; Jamie Gibson, rabbi emeritus; Drew Barkley, executive director; Alizon Yazer, president; Stephen Jurman, first vice president; Elizabeth Collura, second vice president; Josh Lederer, third vice president; Mara Kaplan, treasurer; Jeremy Burton, assistant treasurer; Morgan Faeder, secretary; Lynn Rubenson, financial secretary; Saul Straussman, immediate past president ••• TEMPLE SINAI BROTHERHOOD Email: hartonwolf01@gmail.com

Barbara AB Symons, rabbi; Jason Z. Edelstein z”l, rabbi emeritus; Beverly Reinhardt, office manager; Rabbi Barbara Symons, director of education; Barbara Fisher, school administrative assistant; Reena Goldberg, president; Rachael Farber, executive vice president; Harvey Wolfe, financial vice president; Arin Keough, religious school vice president; Kay Liss, past president; Brett Pechersky, comptroller; Jay Goodman, recording secretary; Greg Casher, treasurer; Mary Bendorf, financial liaison ••• TEMPLE EMANUEL OF SOUTH HILLS Living, Learning, Leading Judaism

1250 Bower Hill Road Pittsburgh, PA 15243-1380 Website: templeemanuelpgh.org Facebook: facebook.com/templeemanuelpittsburgh Twitter: @TEPGH

Aaron C. Meyer, senior rabbi; Mark Joel Mahler, rabbi emeritus; Kate Louik, Early Childhood Development Center director; Steph McFerron, Torah Center director; Leslie Hoffman, executive director; Michelle Markowitz, president; Melissa Bihary, vice president; Beth Schwartz, vice president; Lisa Steinfeld, vice president; David Hepps, vice president; Jeffrey Young, financial secretary; Tracy Barnett, treasurer; Nate Eisinger, secretary

Joe Weinkle, Harton Wolf, co-chairs; Todd Miller, program vice president; Josh Lederer, membership vice president; Marc Brown, treasurer; Stephen Jurman, senior advisor ••• WOMEN OF TEMPLE SINAI Email: wotspgh@gmail.com

Carol Woolford, president; Lynn Rubenson, vice president; Carolyn Schwarz, treasurer; Lynn Naman, assistant treasurer; Rhoda Dorfzaun, recording secretary; Louise Malakoff, corresponding secretary ••• TEMPLE SINAI PRIDE TRIBE FOR LGBTQ INCLUSION Email: Susan.blackman@verizon.net

•••

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

Harvey Wolsh, president; Adam Gusky, vice president; Judy Gusky, secretary and treasurer

Rabbi Yossi Rosenblum, CEO and head of school; Chaim Oster, board president; Chaya Engle, board secretary and chief compliance officer; Rabbi Chezky Rosenfeld, chief operating officer •••

TREE OF LIFE 5898 Wilkins Ave. Pittsburgh, PA 15217-1299 Mailing address: P.O. Box 5273, Pittsburgh, PA 15206 (Current office, Shabbat services, operations and deliveries are at Rodef Shalom, 4905 Fifth Ave., Pittsburgh, PA 15213) Phone: 412-521-6788 Website: www.treeoflifepgh.org Email: office@treeoflifepgh.org

YOUNG ISRAEL of PITTSBURGH/ CONGREGATION SHAARE ZEDECK Orthodox

Rabbi Hazzan Jeffrey S. Myers, spiritual leader; Alvin K. Berkun, rabbi emeritus; Alex Speck, program director; Samantha Saltzman, campaign and administrative assistant; Carol Sikov Gross, president; Alan Hausman, vice president; Irwin Harris, vice president; Dave Kalla, treasurer; Ben Simon, assistant treasurer; Robin Friedman, secretary; Sam Schachner, immediate past president •••

PITTSBURGH YOUNG JUDAEA & CAMP YOUNG JUDAEA MIDWEST 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.

TREE OF LIFE MEN’S CLUB

Bob Fierstein, co-president; David Lilien, co-president/treasurer; Michael Eisenberg, Harold Lessure, vice presidents; Irwin Harris, immediate past president ••• TREE OF LIFE SISTERHOOD Email: sisterhood@treeoflifepgh.org

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Headlines Butler: Continued from page 4

than the loss of sight.

Butler’s mother noted her son lived his life well, despite cystic fibrosis.

“His attitude was what made him special,” she said. “‘I have cystic fibrosis; cystic fibrosis doesn’t have me,’ he said. “Mikey milked life for all it was worth, every day, is why he had a standard answer when asked how he was feeling: ‘Baruch HaShem yom yom — day by glorious day.’”

Some of Mikey Butler’s happiest times were spent at YU, Nina Butler said, and their entire family appreciated that the school’s

History: Continued from page 5

Beaver Falls, New Brighton and Rochester.

They presented B’nai B’rith as a solution to the ideological divide within many small Jewish communities. It was difficult to create a synagogue structure acceptable to both traditional and liberal elements within any given town, and yet few communities could support two congregations. B’nai B’rith was a less fraught way of coming together.

Only three new lodges were chartered in the 1920s. Just as many closed in 1921, when the three main Pittsburgh lodges were consolidated into Pittsburgh Lodge No. 44.

But the 1920s brought expansion, nationally. B’nai B’rith created opportunities for kids (BBG and AZA), college students (Hillel) and women (B’nai B’rith Women).

The hierarchical system — District Lodges, regional councils, local lodges and auxiliary chapters — served this region well.

It connected dozens of small towns to the city and to other small towns. That vast,

Halimi: Continued from page 8

The criticism

Habib and two other members of the committee — lawmakers Constance Le Grip and François Pupponi, who are not Jewish — strongly objected to each of the key findings, arguing they defy common sense.

Habib, a member of the centrist UDI party, wrote a scathing criticism that was included in the final version of the report. He noted the recent testimony given to the committee by the neighboring Diarra family, who said they gave police keys to the building and to Halimi’s apartment, and claimed that the police did not intervene when Halimi could have been saved.

In a radio interview, Habib compared the ordeal to the infamous 19th-century Dreyfus Affair, one of French Jewry’s most traumatic episodes, which involved a wrongful espionage conviction for a French Jewish soldier.

“It’s a tragic case. It’s a second Dreyfus Affair. It’s a denial. It’s a disgrace. There was no trial, the murderer is on his way to freedom,” added Habib, a former leader of the CRIF umbrella group of Jewish communities.

He told Radio J, a Jewish community PITTSBURGHJEWISHCHRONICLE.ORG

faculty members were well-versed in both Judaic and secular studies.

“Mikey’s brother Gavri, two years younger and also at YU, told us that on 9/11, his biology teacher saw people walking across a bridge, out of Manhattan,” Nina Butler said. “He told the class he couldn’t teach biology today and instead picked up a copy of Talmud and taught from it.” Mikey was back at Shadyside Hospital that day but asked his brother to take his stockpile of medical equipment from his dorm room to triage at the Javits Center.

YU’s new scholarship will be established on Jan. 26, marking Mikey Butler’s 18th yahrzeit, and will be awarded to a student from outside the tri-state area who did not have the opportunity to receive a Jewish day

school education, the university announced in a press release. The award each year will total approximately $10,000.

Mikey Butler’s legacy continues to be felt in Pittsburgh as well. His family created the nonprofit Bikur Cholim of Pittsburgh: Friends of Jewish Patients, a volunteer-based organization that provides for the material and spiritual needs of those facing medical-related challenges and their families in the Jewish community.

Rabbi Russ Shulkes, YU’s associate vice president, said that Butler’s time at the school left a lasting impression.

“All those that knew or interacted with Mikey know what a blessing he was,” Shulkes wrote in a statement to the Chronicle. “With

the promulgation of this new scholarship in his memory, his name will continue to be a blessing to all those that hear it. YU is so proud to be able to offer this scholarship.”

Mikey Butler’s parents said the scholarship is another example of the life their son lived.

“Although his life was short, he accomplished much,” his mother said. “He created goodwill in so many ways and inspired people to live ‘day by glorious day,’ celebrating each moment of life as a gift. It sounds corny, it sounds simple, it sounds unattainable, but it is none of those things.

Mikey proved that.” PJC

communitywide infrastructure, alongside B’nai B’rith’s escalating fight against Nazism, encouraged the fourth wave. Nathan Katz and Judge Samuel Weiss helped established 16 new lodges between 1935 and 1941.

Several were second attempts (Meadville Lodge No. 1193), and one was a third attempt (Allegheny Valley Lodge No. 1233 in New Kensington). Others emerged from growing Jewish communities that were starting to become distinct from the slightly larger communities nearby: Coraopolis (No. 1322) from Aliquippa and Ambridge, Canonsburg (No. 1323) from Washington. The rest were formed in some of the smallest Jewish communities in the region: Kane (likely No. 1321), Midland (No. 1367), the “Tri-Town” lodge covering Scottdale, Connellsville and Mount Pleasant (No. 1362), and the Kiski Valley Lodge with members from Vandergrift, Leechburg and Apollo (No. 1343).

Max Applebaum and Herman Fineberg launched a campaign to add 2,500 new B’nai B’rith members throughout the region.

In pursuit, they created 12 lodges between 1947 and 1949. For many, I couldn’t find a lodge number, suggesting they may have been informal groups that never actually chartered. Some were notably short-lived.

The Brownsville Lodge lasted about a year.

The team also revisited existing lodges.

Renaming was a big trend. At least 15 smalltown lodges took new names, usually to memorialize a late community leader or a local boy killed in action. You may recognize the names: Isadore Sobel (Erie), Norman Carnick (Meadville), Herman Cooper (Wheeling), Nathan H. Zeffe (Butler), Warren Roy Laufe (Greensburg), Major Milton Weisman (Coraopolis), and Eleazer Katz (Jeannette).

B’nai B’rith experimented with new ways to organize people. A “Lawyers Lodge” was created in the late 1940s, but it appears to have drifted inexorably into obscurity.

Expansion propelled these five waves.

The Jewish community was growing, but more importantly it was spreading. Small

towns accounted for 40% of the regional population. At least 60 towns started lodges.

B’nai B’rith eventually created the Western Pennsylvania Council and Northwestern Pennsylvania Council to manage the sprawl.

Consolidation drove the final wave. Of the eight lodges created between 1954 and 1964, six were in the city and suburbs. Altoona and Johnstown had the other two.

Lodges were named for Weiss, Applebaum and Fineberg. Unlike the post-war naming wave, these lodges honored living leaders within the growing Pittsburgh Council.

Henry Goldstein was a key figure in this era. He started a lodge in 1975 for his late brother Eli. It appears to have been the last new B’nai B’rith lodge in the region.

Several towns kept lodges active for decades, merging with nearby lodges when necessary.

Consolidation hit the city in the 1980s and consumed District 3 in the 1990s. PJC

Morlighem is exacerbating the denial of justice to Sarah Halimi by adding to it the denial of her suffering.”

Le Monde Juif, a communal news site, called her remarks ”filthy” in an unusually harsh editorial.

Morlighem said some of her remarks had been “twisted and pulled out of context,” giving the impression that she had downplayed Halimi’s suffering. She added on Twitter that she regrets this false impression.

Macron has made inroads with the French Jewish electorate, including by declaring at a Holocaust commemoration ceremony in 2017, shortly after his election, that anti-Zionism is a form of antisemitism — an unprecedented assertion by a sitting French president. Many Jews and non-Jews support his relatively tough stance on what he deems radicalized Islamists, But the Halimi affair could emerge as a major political issue as France nears new presidential elections in April. Macron’s foremost challengers are the far-right candidates Marine Le Pen and Éric Zemmour, who will both likely seize the opportunity to criticize the incumbent as weak on combating antisemitism.

Zemmour, who is Jewish, has not yet commented on the report. But he has followed the case closely and has written about it in the months preceding the recent launch of his campaign in a column for Le Figaro, titled, “You’re in France. Welcome to the crazies!”

“Is it a crime? No! An antisemitic murder?

Nonsense! An Islamist murder? Let’s not generalize! The experts have evaluated, studied, decided. The experts exerted their expertise and their word is holy. Kobili Traore is crazy.” PJC

And after

The fifth wave followed World War II. Propelled by rebuilding efforts in Europe and new building efforts in Israel, Judge Weiss,

broadcaster, that fellow lawmakers “refused to tell the truth, refused to come with us to the site to see the conditions, to see whether the 10 police officers who were there lied when they said they didn’t hear a single cry of a woman whose death cries, uttered for 14 minutes, had woken up the whole building.

And yes, they lied.”

Florence Morlighem, a lawmaker in Macron’s centrist Republic on the March party, compiled the report’s final wording.

She criticized Habib in the report, alleging that under his leadership, the committee “heard unacceptable remarks that feed the idea of a conspiracy on the part of authorities and the judiciary to silence this affair.”

Leaders of French Jewry reacted critically to the report, and especially to a statement Morlighem made during a committee meeting. According to minutes from the session, Morlighem said that police likely didn’t hear Halimi scream because, “in light of the dimensions of Traore, and the photos of Sarah Halimi’s cadaver, I think she did not scream for a long time.”

Critics called her language callous and her reasoning flawed.

“Inacceptable remarks by the rapporteur,” Francis Kalifat, the president of CRIF, wrote on Twitter earlier this month. “Florence

Why it matters, and what’s next

Last month, the French senate passed a law nullifying temporary insanity defenses related to the voluntary ingestion of drugs, in what observers said was a direct reaction to the so-called “Halimi affair” by President Emmanuel Macron.

But that has not satisfied French Jewry, whose protests last year were the largest against their government in decades. They feel betrayed and abandoned by a state whose support they view as crucial for enduring an increase of antisemitic violence since the early 2000s. The last decade saw a surge in French Jewish immigration to Israel — about 50,000 of them have made the move since 2010, a major increase over the previous decade.

PITTSBURGH JEWISH CHRONICLE

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

Eric Lidji is the director of the Rauh Jewish Archives at the Heinz History Center. He can be reached at rjarchives@heinzhistory center.org or 412-454-6406.

JANUARY 28, 2022 17

Celebrations

Torah

Bat Mitzvah

The spirituality of the mundane Remi Hazel Goldstein, daughter of Bryan and Jaime Goldstein, will become a bat mitzvah at Adat Shalom during Shabbat morning services on Saturday, Jan. 29, 2022.

Her grandparents are David and Mary Jo Abel and Sue and Irwin Goldstein. Her proud brother is Tyler Goldstein.

Wedding

Randi and Ellis Weinstein are thrilled to announce the marriage of their son Jared to Ellie Salky, daughter of Molly and Kenny Salky, on Aug. 7, 2021, at Westwood Country Club in St. Louis. Jared is the grandson of Leslie Spiegel and the late Arthur Spiegel, and the late Elaine and Robert Weinstein, all of Pittsburgh. Ellie is the granddaughter of Lee and Burney Salky of St. Louis; Pat and George Roether of Ogden, Utah; and the late Virginia Byrum of Durango, Colorado.

The groom’s brother, David Weinstein, was the best man and the bride’s sister, Sarah Salky, the woman of honor. Ellie and Jared reside in Chicago where he works in medical sales and she as a recruitment manager for a charter school.

Engagement

Rabbi Yisroel Rosenfeld Parshat Mishpatim Exodus 21:1 - 24:18

T

his week’s Torah portion picks up immediately following the giving of the Torah at Mt. Sinai. The Jewish people had just experienced the loftiest G-dly revelation in the history of mankind.

One can imagine the state of mind and spiritual connection that was felt at that time.

Adding to this, the Jewish people were already having a spiritual experience while traveling in the desert. Bread fell from the sky in the form of manna. The clouds of glory protected them from all sides. It would be fair to say the spiritual temperature of the Jewish people, entering into Parshat Mishpatim, was at an unprecedented high.

narrative. Why then do we pause for the laws of dispute, damages and a slew of other civil matters that appear to be uniquely mundane?

Perhaps we can understand this by taking a closer look at the realities of Jewish life today. The fact of the matter is most of our time and our life is spent involved in worldly and seemingly unspiritual matters. Most of us are not able to focus on prayer and Torah study for the majority of the day. Temple sacrifices and priestly services are not applicable to our times when we do not have a Holy Temple built in Jerusalem.

Thus one may wonder if service to G-d is relevant today? Are the laws and teachings in the Torah as important to us as they were in a more spiritual time — perhaps as when the Jews were in the desert and were basking in G-d’s glory, a time when they had the Mishkan (Tabernacle) and performed daily services with sacrifices to G-d?

The Torah is telling us that our service to G-d and observance of His laws are equally important to Him no matter the apparent “spiritual content” the mitzvot may seem to have.

Joel and Reesa Rosenthal are proud to announce the engagement of their daughter Laura to Rick Guido, son of Richard and Noreen Guido of Sewell, New Jersey. Both Laura and Rick live in Philadelphia. Laura is a development associate at The Peggy Browning Fund, and Rick is an administrator at the Salem County Historical Society. The couple is planning a spring 2023 wedding. PJC

GREY & ASSOCIATES

Yet, the parsha begins by presenting the most practical and seemingly mundane laws to be found in the Torah. In it we learn the laws of servants and maidservants; the laws of working animals in the field; the laws governing one man assaulting another; and the laws of capital punishment.

Notwithstanding the endless wisdom contained in this portion of the laws, it seems rather striking that G-d chooses to introduce us to civil and practical laws immediately following, and in the midst of, the most spiritual and divine experiences. Why would He not first begin with the loftier laws? Would it not make more sense to first address us regarding the laws more directly and obviously pertaining to spirituality instead of leaping into the mundane?

The end of this parsha picks up the narrative from where we left off: Describing the lofty assent of Moshe up the mountain to receive the tablets. This would seem the most appropriate continuation of last week’s

For these reasons, G-d sends a very important message. The first laws that He chooses to teach us are specifically not the laws pertaining to spirituality, but rather the basic fundamentals of daily life, like damage disputes and the proper ways to treat domestic workers, for example. The Torah is telling us that our service to G-d and observance of His laws are equally important to Him no matter the apparent “spiritual content” the mitzvot may seem to have.

So when you are performing your daily work, or when you are interacting with others, know that your observance of G-d’s Torah is just as important to Him as the service of the priests in the Temple. For this reason, He set those laws out first. PJC Rabbi Yisroel Rosenfeld is the rabbi at the Lubavitch Center and the executive director of Chabad of Western Pennsylvania. This column is a service of the Vaad Harabanim of Greater Pittsburgh.

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Obituaries BORTMAN: Jerome S. Bortman, age 85, of Peters Township, on Thursday, Jan. 20, 2022.

Beloved husband of Elizabeth SkibinskiBortman. Loving father of Rebecca (Bryan) Garza Bortman, Cheryl (Mike) Demaioribus and Laura Bortman. Devoted grandfather of Kevin and Allison Demaioribus and Golden Geronimo Garza. Brother of the late Annette Brenner. Family and friends gathered for a funeral service at the Penn Forest Cemetery on Sunday, Jan. 23. Memorial contributions may be sent to the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank. Professional services trusted to D’Alessandro Funeral Home and Crematory, Ltd., Lawrenceville dalessandroltd.com FIREMAN: Philip Fireman, MD, 89, loving and devoted husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, uncle, professor, teacher, researcher and mentor died peacefully in bed in his Pittsburgh home on Jan. 13, 2022. He is a renowned expert in the characteristics of immunoglobulin that formed the foundation of modern allergy and immunology practice. Fireman was born at home on Caldwell Street in the Hill District in 1932 to Anna (Caplan) and Nathan Fireman. Anna and Nathan both came to Pittsburgh as teens in the early 1900s and ran a family grocery and butcher shop in the Hill. His family moved to Baywood Street in the East End. He came from a family that valued education — his sister Thelma was a teacher, his brother Eddie was an astrophysicist, a Smithsonian scholar on the faculty of Harvard and MIT, and his brother Jack was a pharmacist and later a doctor. As the youngest brother, Phil had big shoes to fill. He became bar mitzvah at Torah Chaim on Negley Avenue. A graduate of Pittsburgh Public Schools Rogers Elementary and Peabody High School, University of Pittsburgh, and University of Chicago School of Medicine class of 1957, Fireman excelled in the classroom and was a member of Phi Beta Kappa. Following graduation, he married Marcia Levick of Squirrel Hill on Nov. 27, 1957, at B’nai Israel Congregation, just celebrating their 64th wedding anniversary. He did his internship at Philadelphia General, his pediatric residency at Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh, and a fellowship in allergy and immunology at Harvard University. He worked as a Naval officer and was a researcher and clinical fellow at the National Institutes of Health-Allergy, Immunology, and Infectious

Diseases in Bethesda, Maryland, before becoming a tenured professor of medicine and pediatrics at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine. Early in his career, he discovered a rare immune deficiency syndrome that carries his name and freed bubble babies. He served as a visiting scientist at the Swiss Institute of Experimental Cancer Research in Lausanne, Switzerland.

A distinguished research collaborator at Brookhaven National Laboratory, Upton, New York. Of his many honors and distinctions, he is an NIH research career development awardee, an NIH Special Research Fellowship awardee, and was given the Distinguished Alumni Award from the University of Chicago. His bibliography includes over 200 publications. He served as the editor-in-chief at the American Journal of Rhinology. His book “Atlas of Allergy” is in its third edition and has been translated into Spanish. He had the honor of over 150 guest lectureships and research collaborations around the globe. A past president of the American Academy of Allergy Asthma and Immunology, past chairman of the American Board of Allergy and Immunology, past member of the American Board of Pediatrics and American Board of Medical Specialties. He trained over 50 postdoctoral fellows. When he retired after 45 years, he was the longest-serving employee at Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh. He is survived by his adoring wife Marcia, his five children, Mark and AnnMarie (Royale) Fireman, Randi and Richard Seid, Paul and Gail (Giroux) Fireman, David and Tiffany (Nielsen) Fireman and Lee and Karen (Silex) Fireman. He was preceded in death by his beloved granddaughter Sarah and is survived by 12 grandchildren: Josh, Armin, Michael, Matthew, Karen, Ellie, Anna, Leah, Daniel, Eric, Ben and Henry, and his first great-grandson, Hayes. He was an active skier, traveler and birder who enjoyed classical music but cherished time with family and friends. In honor of his memory, donations can be made in his name to the JCC Center for Loving Kindness (donate. jccpgh.org/donate) and American Academy of Allergy Asthma and Immunology (AAAAIfoundation.org). Graveside services and interment were held at Tree of Life Memorial Park. Arrangements entrusted to Ralph Schugar Chapel, Inc., family owned and operated. schugar.com

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THIS WEEK’S YAHRZEITS — Sunday January 30: Abraham B. Amper, Philip Anolik, Sophie Auerbach, Gertrude Brody, Leah Canter, Esther Covel, Anne M. Darling, Harry Friedman, Mendel Helfand, Morris Herr, Julius Skigen, Mary Davis Solomon, Esther Spiro, David Zytnick Monday January 31: Meyer Borofsky, David Brown, Morris Goldberg, Gertrude Grossman, Edward Haims, Leeba Hausman, Lillian Hoffman, Abram Katkisky, Helen Klein, Sam Lavine, Jacob Levine, Max Malkin, Morris Malt, Minnie Rosenberg, Rachel Sheffler Shuklansky, Abe Weiner, Louis Weiss, Gussie Wolf Tuesday February 1: Bessie Taback Americus, Rachel Eisenberg, Dora Feldman, Sarah R. Fineman, Adolph Graff, Joseph R. Kaufman, Isadore Libson, Milton Emanuel Linder, Morris T. Mason, Ben Neiman, Anna Goldie Pearlman, Anna H. Wolfe Wednesday February 2: Max H. Barnett, Izzy Brown, Harry Cohen, Joseph Cohen, Sarah Finkelstein, Norman B. Goldfield, Sadye Goldstein, Minna Hohenstein, Samuel Horelick, David Kaplan, Sarah Kaufman, Rose G. Klein, Isaac Rosenberg, Bertha B. Rosenfeld, Blanche Schultz, Celia Soloman, Samual Spokane, Ruth Steiger, Isaac Zuckerman Thursday February 3: Henrietta Caplan, Ida Danenberg, Morris Finkelstein, Abe I. Friedman, Rose Goldenberg, Carl Gussin, Sadye Judd, Jack Leff, Lena Lefkowitz, Aaron Mallinger, Bella W. Marks, Solomon Neustein, Betty F. Paull, Emanuel Perlow, Alice Shapiro, Miriam Silberman, Julius Silverman, Janina Winkler Friday February 4: Sarah Louise Bernstein, Dorothy Frankel, Elizabeth Green, Ephraim Hurwitz, Gizella Kovacs, Saul Kurtz, Rose S. Levine, Orin J. Levy, Tillie Lipson, Max A. Loevner, Jane Margowsky, Lucille R. Mermelstein, Pearl R. Rosenberg, Ida R. Roth, Edward Schlessinger Saturday February 5: Joel Baum, Helen Buck, David Canter, Leonard Chotiner, Yetta Cohen, Samuel Gescheidt, Saul I. Heller, Gus Kline, Anna Kurtz, Jeannette G. Kurtz, Lynette A. London, Rose Mendlow, Solomon J. Metlin, Yitzchak Aaron Nadler, Milton D. Patz, David C. Pollock, Lena Robin, Pincus P. Rosenthal, Edward Schugar, Jack Steinfeld, Anna Tarshis, Donna Mae Zimring

Early Johnstown The establishment of the first burial society in Johnstown was none too soon. Twenty four Jews lost their lives in the 1889 Flood. The Pittsburgh Jewish community assisted with relief. The Jewish Burial Association ground holds the remains of some of these flood victims.

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Obituaries Obituaries: Continued from page 19

KRASNOPOLER: Irving Krasnopoler, on Sunday, Jan. 23, 2022. Beloved husband of the late Rose Krasnopoler. Beloved father of Dena (David) Taylor, Mitchell (Susan Cohen) Krasnopoler, Bonita (Adrian Cerda) Krasnopoler and Aron (Tamara Halle) Krasnopoler; brother of Betty (Morton) Levine, and the late Sara Rosenbloom, Samuel Krasnopoler, Thelma Krasnopoler and Anna Cody. Beloved grandfather of Alex, Josh, and Matthew Taylor; Elliot, Emma and the late Nathan Krasnopoler; Adrian Luis and David Cerda; Yehoshua Halle and Aliza Krasnopoler; also survived by many nieces and nephews. Irv was born in Pittsburgh to Joseph and Esther Krasnopoler.

He was devoted to his wife of 55 years, Rose Krasnopoler. He had a long career with the Pittsburgh Public Schools, first as a history teacher and then as a guidance counselor at several schools, including Taylor Allderdice High School and Perry Traditional Academy.

He was active in the Pittsburgh Jewish community. He also taught Sunday school at Rodef Shalom Congregation for many years. He will be deeply missed by his children, grandchildren, his large extended family, as well as the residents of Weinberg Terrace, his numerous friends, and former students. Services were held on Tuesday at Rodef Shalom Congregation. Interment New Light Cemetery. Contributions may be made to Rodef Shalom Congregation, 4905 Fifth Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15213 or the

Jewish Association on Aging (JAA), 200 JHF Drive, Pittsburgh, PA 15217. Arrangements entrusted to Ralph Schugar Chapel, Inc., family owned and operated. schugar.com ROGOW: Nathan Mark Rogow died Jan. 15, 2022, in Baltimore, Maryland, at the age of 82. He is survived by his wife, Ferne V. Rogow; sons Bradley Rogow and Maury Rogow (Nai Tang); brother Richard Rogow (Ellen Ansell); granddaughter Summer Rogow; nephew Max Rogow; aunt Millie Rogow; and cousins Walter Rice (Bonnie), Gerda Whitman (Nelson), Sally Rogow and Barbara Mendlowitz (Hal). Nathan was predeceased by his parents, Brunhilda Rice Rogow and Gerson Rogow, and his uncle, Arthur Rogow. Nathan was born on Dec. 16, 1939, in Pittsburgh. Family was the fabric of his life. He cherished memories of family past and delighted in the next generations.

He was the go-to for questions about family history. In his later years, Nathan loved reminiscing with his cousin Walter and looked forward to Sunday calls with granddaughter Summer who especially loved his Donald Duck imitation. Nathan was a lover of animals. He cherished his dogs Heidi and Tootsie. To the end, Nathan did what he could to respect and preserve nature and bring our attention to the importance of our environment. Lover of history and antiques, Nathan’s homes were full of art, antiques and beautiful furniture. His real calling was design, though for most of his life, he

worked in commercial real estate. He was an abiding member of Pittsburgh History and Landmarks. Nathan was a wizard of words.

Pre- and post-Google, family and friends relied on him for definitions, and were delighted with his clever use of language.

Sensitive and philosophical, Nathan used his unique and unexpected sense of humor to make family and friends laugh deeply.

We will miss those moments and his enduring love. Contributions can be made to Baltimore Chamber Jazz Society, Alzheimer’s Association, National Geographic Society.

WA L L AC H : C a ro l e Gerstacker Wallach, 82, of McMurray, Pennsylvania, died suddenly on Jan. 14, 2022, at the Grand Residence in Upper St Clair Pennsylvania. Born on April 30, 1939, in Cleveland, Ohio, she was the daughter of Ann Durhamer and William Gerstacker. She is survived by her devoted husband, David Wallach, and by their children Beth Wallach, Dan (Joyce) Wallach, and Deb (Joe) Busche. Also survived by her sister Marcia Anselmo, sisterin-law Paula Eppinger, grandchildren Kaitlin, Jonathan, Christine, Jackson, Damien and Dennis (step), and great-grandchildren Ty, Michael and Brayden. Carole and David had been married for almost 60 years, living primarily in Peters Township, Pennsylvania, and were always together, with David at her side through Carole’s many life-threatening illnesses. She survived the Asian flu, tuberculosis, being bitten by a rabid bat, and a

disease so rare that her case was presented at a national medical conference. Carole and David traveled the world together, fulfilling Carole’s dream of visiting all seven continents and all five oceans. Carole had a lifelong passion for the performing arts, especially ballet. She started ballet lessons in childhood, and opened her own ballet school at 15. She attended Julliard as a dance major, and had her last performance at age 63. She was still dancing from her wheelchair at the end of her life. Carole loved school, and did well at it. She was a pre-med major in college, graduating with honors from Western Reserve University in Cleveland. She transitioned to psychology, earning her master’s degree and, eventually, her PhD, both at the University of Pittsburgh. As a psychologist Carole helped countless clients through 50-plus years of practice. While pursuing her career in psychology and her hobby of ballet, she found time to be a loving wife and mother of three. Carole was an enthusiastic convert to Judaism, and was an active officer in the Junior Congregation of Rodef Shalom. In the last years of her life she also enjoyed coloring, and wearing purple head to toe. Carole loved cats, and had 31 wonderful, mostly stray, cats over her lifetime. Donations in Carole’s memory can be made to the Washington Area Humane Society, 1527 PA-136, Eighty Four PA 15330. Per Carole’s wishes, her body is being donated for scientific research. A memorial service will be held at a future date.

Please email bethwallach1964@gmail.com to be informed of details once it is scheduled. Family, friends and former clients will be welcome. PJC

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JANUARY 28, 2022 21

Life & Culture A taste of Morocco: Grilled mahi-mahi 1 2 1/2 1/2

— FOOD —

By Carole Mantel | Special to the Chronicle

D

uring the three-month pandemic quarantine, I tried to create theme dinners for my family so we could “travel” virtually and enjoy food from around the world.

Sometimes this involved days of planning, but often I would not know what I was making until the fishmonger at Penn Avenue Fish Co. gave me his recommendations. One day he suggested mahi-mahi, which I like for its clean, nonfishy flavor and flaky texture.

This delicious Moroccan mahi-mahi recipe has been a hit with my family. I have never visited Morocco, but it is on my travel bucket list. The more popular Moroccan spices include: cardamom, cloves, cinnamon, nutmeg, mace, allspice, dry ginger, chili peppers, coriander seeds, peppercorn, sweet and hot paprika, fenugreek and turmeric.

As a home chef, I admit I am unfamiliar with some of these spices, so to create my recipes, I browse a variety of recipes online, then cut-and-paste — taking into consideration healthy fat and preferred flavors, and experimenting with what I think will taste good.

The name “mahi-mahi” comes from the Hawaiian language and means “very strong.”

Though the species is also referred to as the

22 JANUARY 28, 2022

1/4 1/8 3 1/4

tablespoon lemon zest teaspoons lemon juice teaspoon cumin teaspoon hot paprika (can substitute regular paprika if you prefer your food less spicy) teaspoon salt teaspoon pepper garlic cloves, minced cup fresh flat leaf parsley or cilantro (or 1 tablespoon dried parsley or cilantro)

Directions:

p Moroccan grilled mahi-mahi

common dolphinfish, the use of “dolphin” can be misleading because these fish are not related to dolphins.

Mahi-mahis have pale pink, lean flesh that is firm enough to be grilled without falling apart and tender enough to be steamed. Like many other tropical fish, mahi-mahi is semimild and sweet tasting. It’s similar to halibut in terms of flakiness — a home chef ’s dream because of its versatility

Photo by Carole Mantel

Here is my version of Moroccan grilled mahi-mahi. Enjoy!

Moroccan grilled mahi-mahi

Serves 3

Ingredients: (Note: The marinating time is a minimum of 3 hours.)

1 1/2 pounds raw mahi-mahi 1 tablespoon olive oil

PITTSBURGH JEWISH CHRONICLE

Place the fish in a shallow baking pan.

In the food processor, mix together the olive oil, lemon juice, lemon zest, minced garlic, hot paprika, cumin, salt, pepper and parsley or cilantro. It will be paste-like.

Set aside 1/4 of the marinade for serving.

Spread 3/4 of the marinade over both sides of the fish, cover it with plastic wrap and refrigerate it for at least 3 hours or overnight.

Spray the grill with cooking oil prior to heating to keep the fish from sticking, and heat it to medium.

Grill the fish until the flesh flakes easily, about 6 to 8 minutes on each side for a two-inch thick fish.

Spoon the reserved marinade over the cooked fish and serve immediately. PJC Carole Mantel is an independent health coach and home chef.

PITTSBURGHJEWISHCHRONICLE.ORG

Community MLK Day at CDS

Tu B’Shevat at Temple David

Community Day School students explored the values and lessons of Martin Luther King Jr. by spending the day learning and performing service oriented projects.

Temple David celebrated Tu B’Shevat, a Jewish holiday occuring on the 15th day of the Hebrew month of Shevat that marks the New Year for trees.

p Abigail Amos helps decorate and pack hygiene product bags that will be distributed to families in need with newborn babies through Beverly’s Birthdays.

p Religious school students color signs with information about recycling.

p Young adults use art to warn adults about single-use plastics. p Kindergarten students at CDS hold a mural of unifying self-portraits.

p Alexandria Nabieva asks a question before writing cards of appreciation for frontline food and service industry workers that will be delivered through Pittsburgh Restaurant Workers Aid.

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p Community and Family Engagement Coordinator Meredith Brown and her daughter, Lucy, pause for a photo while packing breakfast bags for Ronald McDonald House Charities.

Photos courtesy of Community Day School

p Participants hold their finished drawing.

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Photos courtesy of Temple David

JANUARY 28, 2022 23

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