Pittsburgh Jewish Chronicle 11-12-21 by Pittsburgh Jewish Chronicle

November 12, 2021 | 8 Kislev 5782

Candlelighting 4:47 p.m. | Havdalah 5:47 p.m. | Vol. 64, No. 46 | pittsburghjewishchronicle.org

Jewish climate activists react to COP26

NOTEWORTHY LOCAL Dedication

Communal ‘cornerstone’ Alan Mallinger retires from JCC Adam Reinherz | Staff Writer

Temple Sinai celebrates Rabbi Jamie Gibson, and a new Torah

I She also spent time speaking with representatives of the Israeli government, including Tamar Zandberg, minister of environmental protection. Although politicians from around the world are attending COP26, Mayo said that, for her, talking to those from the Jewish state was particularly important. Many Israelis are of the belief that Israel is an “island country, and that’s not the case,” she said. “Nature doesn’t have boundaries.” The Arava Institute is predicated on that principle. With students hailing from Jordan, Israel and other countries worldwide, the institute focuses on regional and global environmental challenges. Mayo said she hoped her efforts at COP26 made clear that Israel “can’t survive with tech alone.” Climate justice in the Middle East branches into issues of tech, security and morality, Mayo told the Chronicle, adding that climate change “is already a major stress for underserved populations, causes political unrest and leads to refugee overflow.” When countries think about their responsibilities, Mayo said, they shouldn’t do so myopically. “Either you’re working on those issues with your neighbors or you’re not really solving things.” Squirrel Hill resident and climate activist Howard Rieger said he followed COP26 while he was visiting civil rights sites in the American South.

t’s hard to estimate the number of times a ball bounces during a basketball game, but it’s a safe bet the total is fewer than the number of lives Alan Mallinger has touched during his career at the Jewish Community Center of Greater Pittsburgh. Mallinger retired last week after 27 years of service to the JCC. To many, he was the first face seen in the morning while dropping children off for preschool. To others, Mallinger — or “Mal” — was an afternoon workout companion. But whether welcoming visitors to the Family Park in Monroeville, chaperoning young athletes to the JCC Maccabi Games, delivering meals to homebound seniors during the pandemic or serving as a sounding board for generations of colleagues, Mallinger remained a steady and smiling presence within an organization priding itself on bettering community. Mallinger, 66, began his affiliation with the JCC, like many do, as a child. During the 1960s, he walked to the Squirrel Hill center to play sports and fraternize through the JCC’s youth clubs. Mallinger was a member of a club called the Bullets, which competed against other JCC clubs in basketball, flag football and softball, and which also worked on community service projects. As he got older, Mallinger began frequenting the YMWHA building on Bellefield Street in Oakland — the JCC sold the building to the University of Pittsburgh in 1984 — where he became friends with Lenny Silberman. Mallinger and Silberman had first met years earlier at the Squirrel Hill JCC — Mallinger’s Bullets often competed against Silberman’s Royals — but in their late teens the two developed a bond. “He was my go-to guy,” Silberman said. Shortly after being hired by the JCC to

Please see Climate, page 14

Please see Mallinger, page 14

Page 2

LOCAL ‘Justice, justice, you shall pursue’  Eliza Mayo stands beside a sign at COP26. Adam Reinherz | Staff Writer

Pittsburgh’s first out nonbinary judge Page 3

LOCAL Remember, reflect

CMU students pay tribute to victims and survivors of Oct. 27 Page 7

$1.50

hile waiting inside a gate at London’s Heathrow Airport on her way back to Israel, Eliza Mayo mulled over her experience at COP26 and how the global climate change conference could benefit her work at home. Mayo, a former Squirrel Hill resident, is deputy director at the Arava Institute for Environmental Studies, a nongovernmental organization located in southern Israel. Along with her colleague, Tareq Abu Hamed — the institute’s executive director — Mayo spent three days networking, listening and learning along with fellow climate activists, change agents and politicians. Global leaders, including President Joe Biden, Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Angela Merkel, commanded much of the media’s attention at COP26, but a record number of nearly 40,000 other individuals from almost 200 countries participated in the Scotlandbased two-week summit. Mayo spent most of her time at the conference meeting with representatives of other NGOs and attending panel discussions, including one on strategies for keeping young people optimistic — a landmark survey of 10,000 16- to 25-yearolds published in Nature found that negative feelings about climate change can spur psychological distress.

Photo courtesy of Eliza Mayo

keep your eye on PittsburghJewishChronicle LOCAL

A new space for CYP

LOCAL

Showcasing Israel

FOOD

Shiva food

Headlines Temple Sinai completes Torah in honor of Rabbi Jamie Gibson — LOCAL — By Adam Reinherz | Staff Writer

tanding above the bima at Temple Sinai, Rabbi Jamie Gibson implored congregants — some who recalled the day he was hired 33 years ago — to rely on their newly scribed Torah and new rabbi as they dream of a path forward. “In your dream never say why you can’t, but only what you want — what your heart longs for, what you need to be the Jewish neshama that God always wanted you to be,” Gibson said. Following 32 years of service to Temple Sinai, Gibson became its rabbi emeritus in July 2020. His Nov. 7 charge to the congregation came after a morning of celebration. Moments before addressing nearly 200 attendees, Gibson and Rabbi Daniel Fellman — who took the pulpit at Temple Sinai on July 1, 2021 — placed the newly written Torah scroll inside the congregation’s ark. While speaking before the crowd, soferet Linda Coppleson noted how drafting the sacred parchment represented more than a mere “labor of love.” The work, she said, was completed during “years of extremes.” Weeks prior to inking the Torah, Coppleson’s husband, Victor, died, and shortly thereafter the pandemic struck. Coppleson sought refuge in her work. Writing each of the 304,805 letters on the parchment, Coppleson said, “at least in part helped keep me from giving into the despair that I felt from my own loss and from the losses and frustrations of our world. “Instead of losing myself in sadness,” she said, “I could lose myself in the quest to form every letter as perfectly as possible — to make this Torah as beautiful as I could.” After penning the final five letters of the

 Rabbi Daniel Fellman, left, soferet Linda Coppleson and Rabbi Jamie Gibson roll the Torah

Torah — which form the Hebrew word “Israel” — Coppleson, Gibson, Fellman and generations of Temple Sinai congregants danced as musicians played klezmer music, then marched the Torah through Temple Sinai’s sanctuary. Gibson then read from the parchment. He recited and translated a passage from the upcoming weekly reading, Vayetzei, and described how Jacob, like many generations of Jews, experienced a dream. Esther Nathanson, a 72-year member of Temple Sinai, said the ceremony was a fitting way to mark a process that began months before “COVID-19” entered common parlance. “To be able to do this with people we’ve known for years is very special,” Nathanson said.

Lynn Schreiber and her husband, Brian, remarked how moving it was to see Gibson literally pass the Torah to Fellman, Gibson’s rabbinic successor. Throughout the morning program, speakers — including Gibson, Coppleson, Temple Sinai’s Associate Rabbi Keren Gorban, and Temple Sinai member Nancy Gale — stressed a theme of continuity. The congregation’s choir echoed the sentiment by singing “L’ Dor Vador,” a piece by musician Josh Nelson whose lyrics include, “L’dor vador, we protect this chain from generation to generation / L’dor vador, these lips will praise Your name.” Temple Sinai member Ellen Katzen attended the ceremony with her 15-year-old grandson Jack Bransome.

Photo by Adam Reinherz

The two often attend Temple Sinai services together, Jack said, adding that he appreciated the opportunity to attend the dedication of a new Torah beside his grandmother. The program highlighted the “hard work” that the Temple Sinai community and Gibson have contributed for so many years, Jack said. “I have a lot of respect for Rabbi Gibson.” Fellman also praised his rabbinic predecessor. “I have profound respect for what Rabbi Gibson has accomplished over the past 32 years,” Fellman said. “It is a privilege for me to continue that dream.” PJC Adam Reinherz can be reached at areinherz@ pittsburghjewishchronicle.org.

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

Main phone number: 412-687-1000

Subscriptions: 410-902-2308 SUBSCRIPTIONS subscriptions@pittsburghjewishchronicle.org 410-902-2308 TO ADVERTISE Display: advertising@pittsburghjewishchronicle.org 412-721-5931 EDITORIAL DEPARTMENT Email: newsdesk@pittsburghjewishchronicle.org BOARD OF TRUSTEES 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 GENERAL COUNSEL Stuart R. Kaplan, Esq.

EDITORIAL Toby Tabachnick, Editor 412-228-4577 ttabachnick@pittsburghjewishchronicle.org Shannon Levitt, Contributing Editor Selah Maya Zighelboim, Contributing Editor Adam Reinherz, Staff Writer 412-687-1000 areinherz@pittsburghjewishchronicle.org David Rullo, Staff Writer 412-687-1047 drullo@pittsburghjewishchronicle.org ADVERTISING Kelly Schwimer, Sales Director 412-721-5931 kschwimer@pittsburghjewishchronicle.org Phil Durler, Senior Sales Associate 724-713-8874 pdurler@pittsburghjewishchronicle.org

PRODUCTION Jeni Mann Tough Production Manager Rachel S. Levitan Art/Production Coordinator Subscriptions subscriptions@pittsburghjewishchronicle.org 410-902-2308 Published every Friday by the Pittsburgh Jewish Publication and Education Foundation 5915 Beacon St., 5th Floor Pittsburgh, PA 15217 Phone: 412-687-1000 POSTMASTER: Send address change to PITTSBURGH JEWISH CHRONICLE, 5915 BEACON ST., 5TH FLOOR PITTSBURGH, PA 15217 (PERIODICAL RATE POSTAGE PAID AT PITTSBURGH, PA AND AT ADDITIONAL MAILING OFFICES) USPS 582-740

Manuscripts, letters, documents and photographs sent to the Pittsburgh Jewish Chronicle become the property of this publication, which is not responsible for the return or loss of such items. The Pittsburgh Jewish Chronicle does not endorse the goods or services advertised or covered in its pages and makes no representation to the kashrut of food products and services in said advertising or articles. The publisher is not liable for damages if, for any reason whatsoever, he fails to publish an advertisement or for any error in an advertisement. Acceptance of advertisers and of ad copy is subject to the publisher’s approval. The Pittsburgh Jewish Chronicle is not responsible if ads violate applicable laws and the advertiser will indemnify, hold harmless and defend the Pittsburgh Jewish Chronicle from all claims made by governmental agencies and consumers for any reason based on ads appearing in the Pittsburgh Jewish Chronicle.

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

2 NOVEMBER 12, 2021

PITTSBURGH JEWISH CHRONICLE

PITTSBURGHJEWISHCHRONICLE.ORG

Headlines Xander Orenstein may be first out nonbinary person to hold judicial post in US — LOCAL — By Justin Vellucci | Special to the Chronicle

ittsburgh voters have elected Xander Orenstein, a housing advocate, Carnegie Mellon University alum and passionate Jew, as a city magisterial judge. Orenstein may also be the first out nonbinary person elected to a judicial seat in the United States. Orenstein uses they/them pronouns. “Any time a candidate makes history, it’s good — and it really signifies another moment showing the full diversity of the LGBTQ community,” said Sean Meloy, vice president of political programs for the LGBTQ Victory Fund, which endorsed Orenstein. “Xander put together a really well-organized campaign, in that they had a clear message that differed from the incumbent and, we feel, spoke to voters.” Bex Tasker, Orenstein’s campaign manager, acknowledged earlier this year the weight of Orenstein being the first openly nonbinary elected official in Pennsylvania. “This is a huge honor but also a huge responsibility for our team to take on,” Tasker told the Pittsburgh Current. “We want to make sure we get this right because

PITTSBURGHJEWISHCHRONICLE.ORG

— it just turns out all the best people for the job happened to be gay. As a trans yinzer, knowing that there would be someone like me in our justice system would be a welcomed radical change.” Orenstein, 30, of Lawrenceville, beat incumbent Magisterial Court Judge Anthony M. Ceoffe for a six-year term on the bench by just 40 votes out of 2,469 cast in the Lawrenceville area in the spring Democratic primary. Orenstein ran unopposed Nov. 2, after Ceoffe, who won the uncontested Republican primary for the judgeship in the spring, dropped out of the race. Magisterial Court District 05-3-10, which  Xander Orenstein Photo courtesy of Xander Orenstein Orenstein will serve after completing judiwe’re setting the precedent of how to be cial training in Harrisburg, covers parts of openly trans and campaign in this city. Lawrenceville, Polish Hill, Bloomfield and Everyone who works on our campaign is the Strip District. Ceoffe’s current term LGBTQ, which wasn’t a deliberate choice ends Jan. 3, 2022.

PITTSBURGH JEWISH CHRONICLE

Orenstein’s campaign advocated social justice and more equity in the judicial system, including curtailing the use of cash bails and championing housing rights. That placed them as a real alternative to Ceoffe, who Orenstein said had sided with landlords in housing disputes 97% of the time during the previous 12 years. “For a judge to prioritize the financial success of a corporate landlord — which, let’s face it, in Pittsburgh a lot of landlords are part of large corporations — over the health of the community is extremely disturbing,” Orenstein told the Current when launching their campaign in February. “My goal in justice is going to ensure compromise and understanding at the center of any decision I make.” Orenstein, who moved to Pittsburgh 11 years ago, grew up in a modern Orthodox household in suburban Rockville, Maryland, speaks fluent Hebrew and currently observes holidays and enjoys Shabbat dinners at the home of Rabbi Shlomo Silverman, who leads Chabad of Carnegie Mellon University. Orenstein holds degrees from CMU and Johns Hopkins University. Before working in housing advocacy in Pittsburgh during the COVID-19 pandemic, they were a bench scientist doing disease research, working Please see Orenstein, page 15

NOVEMBER 12, 2021 3

Headlines Chabad Young Professionals finds home in East End

 Women Wine and Wisdom led by Sarah Rosenfeld at the Loft

 Chabad Young Professional Business Network lunch at the Loft

Photos courtesy of Chabad Young Professionals

— LOCAL — By David Rullo | Staff Writer

abbi Henoch Rosenfeld is very specific when describing Chabad Young Professionals of Pittsburgh’s new home: It is not a house. “It’s a loft,” Rosenfeld said. “It’s the second

floor of a building. We call it the CYP Loft.” The new space, centrally located in Pittsburgh’s East End, will be a spot for young professionals to get together on a regular basis, Rosenfeld said. The CYP Loft is also available for meetings; in fact, two groups, the Chabad Young Business Network, and Women, Wine and Wisdom, have both started holding their meetings at the new location.

“In addition to the regular programming and events,” the rabbi said, “this will be a space for two young Jews who want to meet at a neutral place, but not necessarily a coffee shop — a space that’s Jewishly-centered, an area they can feel comfortable in and hang out, sit on the couch and schmooze.” CYP was established 2 1/2 years ago, at the request of Rosenfeld’s father, Rabbi Yisroel Rosenfeld, who serves as Chabad’s regional

director of Western Pennsylvania. During its first year, Henoch Rosenfeld said, CYP hosted Drinks and Dreidels, a pre-Chanukah soirée at King Fly Spirits in the Strip District, and other programs at a variety of non-traditional locations. Those types of large events will continue to be held at various spots around the city. Please see Chabad, page 15

ATTENTION JEWISH ORGANIZATIONS!

It’s coming...

The Annual Pittsburgh Jewish Chronicle’s

VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR ISSUE November 26, 2021

If you are a Jewish organization and would like to submit your Volunteer of the Year, please contact David Rullo, no later than November 15, 2021 at drullo@pittsburghjewishchronicle.org for more information. THERE IS NO CHARGE TO SUBMIT AND FEATURE YOUR VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR.

AD DEADLINES SOON: Final deadline to reserve space is Monday, November 15 , 2021. ALL ads are due no later than NOON Friday, November 19, 2021. CONGRATULATE your honoree by purchasing space in the November 26th issue of the Pittsburgh Jewish Chronicle. This is a great way to say Thank You and offer your sentiments of gratitude that will be a forever keepsake. Ad space purchases are optional.

SPECIAL (OPTIONAL) AD RATES FOR 11/26/21 ISSUE: All ads are black and white. Please inquire about price for color ads and larger ads. Contact: kschwimer@pittsburghjewishchronicle.org or Kelly Schwimer, Director of Sales, 412-721-5931 for more information or to reserve your space. Final deadline to reserve space is MONDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 2021.

1/8 page (5” x 3.25”) $100 • 1/4 page (5” x 6.75”) $200

Mazel Tov to This Year’s Volunteers of the Year! 4 NOVEMBER 12, 2021

PITTSBURGH JEWISH CHRONICLE

PITTSBURGHJEWISHCHRONICLE.ORG

Headlines Osher course on Israeli changemakers draws wide audience — LOCAL — By Justin Vellucci | Special to the Chronicle

historian of Jewish Pittsburgh recently completed hosting a series of online classes spotlighting an often unseen view of Israeli society. Barbara Burstin, a longtime faculty member of both Carnegie Mellon University and the University of Pittsburgh, led the multi-week, adult education classes, which more than 90 people attended through the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at CMU. Burstin hopes to offer the class in 2022 at the University of Pittsburgh. Six female leaders spoke during the sessions: the Israeli Arab and Muslim head of the YMCA in Jerusalem; the head of an organization that helps Ethiopian Jews resettle in the Jewish state; an American ex-patriot who is building a niche tourism industry in the remote, southern Negev Desert; an Israeli Jew representing the Israeli-Arab Task Force, and who works to help Israeli Arabs find meaningful employment in Israel; a human rights lawyer dealing with gender equity among Israeli Jews and Arabs; and the wife of former U.S. Ambassador to Israel Daniel Shapiro, who runs an organization dedicated to helping asylum seekers. Burstin said she invited the six speakers to

Israeli society — without getting into political tensions and problems.” Burstin connected with the six women through her daughter, who lives in Israel with her family and teaches at Hebrew University. “I think everybody in Israel has a story to tell — it’s a matter of weeding them out,” Burstin said. “It’s a fascinating society.” Robert Heilbronner said he was excited to attended Burstin’s class, and greatly enjoyed it. He’s been taking Osher classes since 2018. “It was part of my grand strateg y of keeping myself busy and mentally stimulated as  Barbara Burstin Photo courtesy of Barbara Burstin I prepared for retirement,” said Heilbronner, talk “about a side of Israel that never makes a retired dentist and non-practicing Jew from Forest Hills. the headlines.” Heilbronner, the descendant of Holocaust “It was to get a sense of the diversity and the complexity of Israeli society — from survivors, said “the plight of the Jewish the ground up,” Burstin told the Chronicle. people is always on my mind — the history is “People enjoyed it and got a view of Israel unavoidable. And I certainly lived with that, they were never able to get — the vibrancy of those stories, throughout my youth.”

He added that Burstin’s class was “especially fascinating when listening to the interactions” of Israeli Jewish and Israeli Arab communities. “It’s great to hear stories like that,” Heilbronner said. “It gives you hope when Israeli Arabs and Israeli Jews get along. Perhaps there’s some hope there for our country, where the divide between people is becoming immense.” Sue Linzer, a former Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh staffer, also attends Osher classes, which she said have kept her up to date on the nonprofit world in Israel since she retired in 2016. She attended Burstin’s Israeli society presentations. “This was a wonderful opportunity to hear from fantastic presenters, real models of female leadership,” Linzer told the Chronicle. Linzer said she was particularly excited to hear from Julie Fisher, Shapiro’s spouse, and how she evolved from a U.S. career in education to working in a more political world in Israel. She also was touched by Fisher’s volunteer work with her eldest daughter in southern Tel Aviv, which led to a consortium aiding asylum seekers. “For me, it was really inspiring to hear how a volunteer experience would be the impetus for this nonprofit,” Linzer said. PJC Justin Vellucci is a freelance writer living in Pittsburgh.

Murray Avenue Kosher 1916 MURRAY AVENUE 412-421-1015 • 412-421-4450 • FAX 412-421-4451

PRICES EFFECTIVE SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 14-FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 2021 Candle Lighting Time Friday, November 12, 2021 • 4:47 p.m. MEAT & FISH SPECIALS

THANKSGIVING DAY SPECIAL

SERVES 6 NO SUBSTITUTIONS ORDERS MUST BE PLACED BY FRIDAY NOV 19

TAKING ORDERS FOR FRESH TURKEYS

WHOLE TURKEY WITH NATURAL GRAVY STUFFING CANDIED FRESH YAMS STIR FRY VEGETABLES CRANBERRY SAUCE DINNER ROLLS PUMPKIN PIE

Chicken Legs $

299 LB

Fresh Beef Stew $

Chai

999 LB

News for people who know we don’t mean spiced tea.

GROCERY

Every Friday in the

@pittsburghjewishchronicle.org. For home delivery, call 410.902.2308.

PITTSBURGHJEWISHCHRONICLE.ORG

750 ML

ELIAD EXTRA VIRGIN OLIVE OIL 4 VARIETIES $ 89

and all the time online

ALL HERZOG LINEAGE WINE $ 99

18 OZ

STREITS GRAVY MIXES 3 VARIETIES $ 99

2 Roasted Chickens 1 Qt. Chicken Soup 4 Matzo Balls

1 Kugel • 2 Pints Salad • 2 Mini Challahs

Serves 4

$43.99

STORE HOURS

Sun. • 8 a.m. - 6 p.m. Mon.-Wed.• 8 a.m. - 6 p.m. Thurs. • 8 a.m. - 8 p.m. Fri. • 8 a.m. - 3 p.m.

COOKED FOODS

OHR ZION CHANUKAH CANDLES $ 09

SHABBOS SPECIAL

HOMEMADE SALADS & SOUPS DELI PARTY TRAYS

PITTSBURGH JEWISH CHRONICLE

DELI

BEEF VEGETABLE SOUP $ 99

CLASSIC TURKEY BREAST $ 89

MEAT STUFFED PEPPERS $ 59

A&H WIDE SALAMI $ 89

FRIED DRUMSTICKS & THIGHS 59

OIL CURED OLIVES $ 09

10 7

BARLEY SALAD $ 99

We Prepare Trays for All Occasions UNDER THE SUPERVISION OF VAAD OF PITTSBURGH

10 6

SCHMALTZ HERRING FILLET $ 99

CATERING SPECIALISTS DELICIOUS FRIED CHICKEN WE RESERVE THE RIGHT TO LIMIT QUANTITIES.

NOVEMBER 12, 2021 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, NOV. 12 Come celebrate Shabbat with Moishe House. Enjoy a great homemade meal with us! While it’s not required, attendees can support the We Are campaign while dining. Due to COVID concerns, attendance is limited to 10 people.7 p.m. forms.gle/ xT4vqQsKZqC6E99K9 q FRIDAY, NOV. 12-NOV. 24 Chabad of the South Hills’s Chanukah toy drive is taking place for hospitalized and underprivileged children. They are collecting new, unwrapped toys. Toys can be dropped off until Wednesday, Nov. 24, at Chabad of the South Hills, 1701 McFarland Road, Monday-Friday, 9:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m., or call 412-3442424 to make arrangements. q SUNDAY, NOV. 14 The Ghetto Fighters present Invisible Years: Hiding in the Netherlands during the Holocaust. Dienke Hondius will present her “Mapping Hiding Places” project, focusing on hiding in the Netherlands. Professor Kiene Brillenburg Wurth will focus on one hiding place, the Breeplein Church in Rotterdam. Brillenburg Wurth will retrace the stories from the perspective of the protectors and from the onderduikers’ (people in hiding) accounts in Invisible Years. This program is in partnership with the South African Holocaust and Genocide Foundation, the Rosa Luxemburg Foundation, Rabin Chair Forum and Classrooms Without Borders. q SUNDAYS, NOV. 14-DEC. 12 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 SUNDAYS, NOV. 14-NOV. 21 In this new series, Halakhic Conversations, Foundation Scholar Rabbi Danny Schiff will discuss a variety of controversial halakhic issues relevant to the lives of contemporary Jews with Poale Zedek Rabbi Daniel Yolkut. Ranging from end-oflife issues to the difficult test of coronavirus, to the use of technology, the conversations will consider how the halakha is applied to today’s cutting-edge issues. 10 a.m. foundation.jewishpgh.org/halakhicconversations q MONDAYS, NOV. 15- DEC. 13 Join Congregation Beth Shalom for a weekly Talmud study. 9:15 a.m. For more information, visit bethshalompgh.org. q MONDAYS, NOV. 15-DEC. 20 Foundation Scholar Rabbi Danny Schiff will examine the accounts of some of the most interesting righteous gentiles in the Tanakh in his new course Righteous Gentiles in the Hebrew Bible. $55 for all 11 Zoom sessions. 9:30 a.m. foundation.jewishpgh. org/righteous-gentiles

Bereavement Counselor Jan Kellough for “Grief at the Holidays,” live support sessions that delve into a different topic, sharing stories, discussing the challenges we face, and looking ahead toward the New Year. Attend as many sessions as you like. 6:30 p.m. jaapgh.org/news/wed-11032021422pm-support-during-holidays-those-who-havelost-loved-one

CBS Style. Inspired by the TV show, watch as a member of the audience or as a contestant (in person or online) and match wits with their panel of CBS stars featuring honoree and guest panelist Mindy Shreve. 7:30 p.m. 5915 Beacon Street. bethshalompgh.org

Join Classrooms Without Borders for their weekly book discussion of “People Love Dead Jews: Reports from a Haunted Present” with Dr. Josh Andy. The book is a startling exploration of how Jewish history is exploited to flatter the living. 4 p.m. Free. classroomswithoutborders.org/weeklybook-discussions-people-love-dead-jews-reportshaunted-present-dr.-josh-andy/

q WEDNESDAYS, NOV. 17-JAN. 26

The Pittsburgh Jewish Chronicle invites you to join the Chronicle Book Club’s Nov. 21 meeting to discuss “Squirrel Hill: The Tree of Life Synagogue Shooting and the Soul of a Neighborhood” by Mark Oppenheimer. The author will join the meeting. 2 p.m. To register for the group and receive the Zoom link, email drullo@ pittsburghjewishchronicle.org.

Join the Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh’s Volunteer Center for their next volunteer opportunity of the month. Help organize clothing donations with Dress for Success. 5:30 p.m. jewishpgh.org/event/voom-with-dress-for-success

q WEDNESDAYS, NOV. 17-JAN. 26

q TUESDAY, NOV. 16 Given the events in the past few months, from the recent conflict with Gaza to the internal political upheaval in Israel, there is a necessity to get an educated view from the “inside.” Join Repair the World for Israel Update with Avi Ben Hur. 2 p.m. classroomswithoutborders.org/israel-update-2021

Moishe House kicks off their monthly book club reading “I Saw Ramallah” by Mourid Barghouti. 7 p.m. forms.gle/xT4vqQsKZqC6E99K9 q TUESDAYS, NOV. 16-NOV. 30 Join Rabbi Daniel Yolkut for “Messiah,” an exploration of the history and philosophy of one of the most powerful (and destabilizing) ideas in the Jewish experience: Messianism. A fascinating deep dive into the personalities and perspectives that shaped history-changing movements from Christianity to Zionism and continues to be a misunderstood but critical Jewish belief to this day. $75 for all Zoom sessions. 11 a.m. foundation. jewishpgh.org/messiah q TUESDAYS, NOV. 16-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 WEDNESDAY, NOV. 17 Leorah Chapter of Hadassah Greater Detroit presents Beauty and Bravery in the Face of Breast Cancer with Ali Weitz at 7:30 p.m. Free. hadassahmidwest.org/GDBrave q WEDNESDAYS, NOV. 17-DEC. 8 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 Join Temple Sinai to study the weekly Torah portion in their hybrid class available on Zoom. Open to everyone. 12 p.m. templesinaipgh.org/ event/parashah/weekly-torah-portion-classvia-zoom11.html q WEDNESDAYS, NOV. 17-DEC. 15 The holidays bring a world of feelings and emotions with them every year. They can be especially difficult when you have lost a loved one. Whether the celebration is Thanksgiving or Chanukah, being sensitive to those who are grieving is essential for friends and families getting together. Join JAA

Through illuminating source texts and captivating case studies, Outsmarting Antisemitism — A fourpart JLI course on the absurdity of antisemitism considers the sources of this ancient scourge, along with the appropriate strategies for overcoming it. 7:30 p.m. Zoom or in person.chabadsh.com

In The Jewish Moral Virtues, Foundation Scholar Rabbi Danny Schiff will explore Jewish teaching on critical moral virtues. Based on the qualities listed in the 13th century Sefer Maalot Hamiddot (The Book of the Choicest Virtues), Rabbi Schiff will explore the contemporary application of these moral virtues to our 21st century lives. $65 for all 13 Zoom sessions. 9:30 a.m. foundation.jewishpgh.org/jewishmoral-virtues q THURSDAY, NOV. 18 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 embark on this new innovative Museums and Memorial series. “Memory, Memorials and Museums of the Holocaust and the Genocide Against the Tutsi in Rwanda: A view from the African Continent” will feature a panel discussion led by Nates 1 p.m. classroomswithoutborders. org/holocaust_museums_and_memorials_ around_the_world Join Moishe House for their Chanukah White Elephant. Chanukah is a time for celebrating the miracle of G-d with family and friends. It is also a time for saddling strangers with hilarious and bizarre presents. Bring a wrapped gift ($10 or less) to Moishe House, leave with something even weirder than you could’ve imagined. 7 p.m. forms.gle/ xT4vqQsKZqC6E99K9

q SUNDAY, NOV. 21

The Arab-Israeli conflict plays a large (some would claim outsized) role in current events. Join Classrooms Without Borders for their course meant to unpack the causes and core issues that relate to the conflict. The goal is to make the subject accessible to educators and to give them the tools with which to grapple in the classroom with the subject at large and with breaking news. 2 p.m. classroomswithoutborders.org/arab_israeli_conflict q SUNDAY, NOV. 28 In the midst of what has become the most materialist weekend on the American calendar, we Jews begin Chanukah. On the morning before Chanukah begins, Jewish Foundation Scholar Rabbi Danny Schiff will present a special Chanukah seminar to get you in the Chanukah spirit for the eight days to come. $12. 9:30 a.m. jewishpgh.org/ event/a-chanukah-seminar q MONDAY, NOV. 29 Join Chabad of the South Hills for their Chanukah Seniors Lunch. The festive holiday program will include a delicious kosher lunch and hot latkes. $5 suggested donation. Wheelchair accessible. 1701 McFarland Road. chabadsh.com q TUESDAY, NOV. 30 Join JNF-USA virtually for our annual Breakfast for Israel featuring keynote speaker, New York Times bestselling author and award-winning journalist Yossi Klein Halevi. 8 a.m. Free. jnf.org/ breakfastforisrael

q THURSDAYS, NOV. 18-JUNE 30

q SUNDAY, DEC. 12

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 stand-alone 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/continuinglegal-education.

Friendship Circle presents Wellness Speaker: Robert Anthony. The event will create a platform where teen participants understand their inherent value and parents and community members understand how teens are feeling and what they are presently dealing with. Robert Anthony is a motivational and public speaker, professional prosthetic educator, founder of Limb Possible, U.S Amputee Soccer Player, American Ninja Warrior from Season 9, and much more. 7 p.m. Free. fcpgh.org

q FRIDAY, NOV. 19

Be a superhero and virtually join Super Sunday, the Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh’s annual phone-a-thon to raise money for the community. Three sessions, 9:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Training session Dec. 8. For this event, you will need a computer with internet access and separate mobile device to make calls. For more information and to register, visit jewishpgh.org/event/super-sunday. PJC

Join Moishe House as they virtually shul shop. This month, tune into Rodef Shalom’s virtual service. They’ll provide the wine and/or grape juice on their front porch before everyone Zooms together. forms. gle/xT4vqQsKZqC6E99K9 q SATURDAY, NOV. 20 Join Congregation Beth Shalom for their annual fundraiser. Come together to play: MATCH GAME:

www.pittsburghjewishchronicle.org 6 NOVEMBER 12, 2021

PITTSBURGH JEWISH CHRONICLE

PITTSBURGHJEWISHCHRONICLE.ORG

Headlines CMU students create tribute to victims of Oct. 27 — LOCAL — By Toby Tabachnick | Editor

achary Leventhal was not in Pittsburgh on Oct. 27, 2018, but he has vivid memories of the day. Leventhal, now a junior at Carnegie Mellon University majoring in economics and math, was at an AIPAC summit for high school students in Washington, D.C., when he heard the news of the attack at the Tree of Life building. He remembers the tug of two divergent feelings that day: the strength of the Jewish community as he stood with 400 student leaders to discuss advocacy for Israel, juxtaposed with a sense of Jewish vulnerability as 11 people were murdered in an act of antisemitism just four hours away. Now determined to help educate others about the consequences of hate, Leventhal, president of CMU’s Jewish fraternity, AEPi, together with other Jewish student leaders, organized a commemoration of the attack in a very CMU way: painting the Fence. The Fence is the university’s “unofficial billboard” upon which student groups paint messages for the campus community. Fence painting occurs between midnight and sunrise, and students stand guard if they want their message to remain. More than 150 people — Jewish and non-Jewish — showed up at the Fence at midnight on Oct. 26, in a show of solidarity. There, students painted the words “Stronger Than Hate” along with the names of the three congregations attacked — Dor Hadash, New Light and Tree of Life— and 11 candles in memory of those who were killed. “We wanted to do something big and make sure it was something the whole campus could be a part of,” Leventhal said. Yael Canaan, a senior at CMU majoring in architecture and human-computer interaction, helped organize the Fence painting event, as well as another commemoration event at the Fence late in the afternoon on Oct. 27. Canaan, who is from New Haven,

Connecticut, was a freshman at CMU when the 2018 attack occurred. She addressed the crowd gathered at the Fence-painting about “why it is important to remember,” she told the Chronicle. “One of the reasons this was so important is because I’ve noticed so many people on campus don’t know anything about Tree of Life,” Canaan said. After she spoke, 11 Jewish students who had been on campus the day of the attack lit yahrzeit candles. Then, Leventhal led everyone in reciting the Mourner’s Kaddish. Several senior CMU administrators also stopped by, including CMU president Farnam Jahanian. Many students stayed together at the Fence until 5 a.m. “It was heartwarming,” said Canaan, who is president of Achayot Shel Carnegie Mellon, an organization committed to Jewish sisterhood launched at CMU in 2020. Later, at the day’s afternoon event, Rabbi Shlomo Silverman of Chabad of CMU led the students in prayer and the lighting of additional yahrzeit candles. Dozens of students attended that event as well, along with university administrators. “It was nice to see people showing support,” Silverman told the Chronicle. Hillel Jewish University Center also lent its support to the CMU events. Alex Zissman, Hillel’s director of student life at CMU, and Dan Marcus, executive director and CEO of Hillel JUC, both attended the Oct. 27 afternoon event, with Marcus addressing the students. Hillel also supplied kosher pizza for the students painting the Fence, and contributed toward the cost of the paint. “We appreciate the leadership of our students in bringing together the CMU community to hold each other in comfort and support,” Marcus told the Chronicle. “And it was meaningful for president Jahanian and other senior administrators of CMU to be present, to provide their care and support and stand in solidarity with the Jewish student community at CMU.” On the morning of Nov. 2, though, students were surprised to see that black paint had Please see CMU, page 15

In the rising of the sun and its going down,

We Remember Them. In the blowing of the wind and in the chill of winter,

We Remember Them. In the opening of the buds and in the rebirth of spring.

We Remember Them. In the blueness of the skies and in the warmth of summer,

We Remember Them. In the rustling of the leaves and in the beauty of autumn.

We Remember Them. In the beginning of the year and when it ends,

We Remember Them. When we are weary and in need of strength,

We Remember Them. When we are lost and sick of heart,

We Remember Them. When we have joys and special celebrations we yearn to share,

We Remember Them. So long as we live, they too shall live, for they are part of us.

We Remember Them. For as long as we live, they too will live, for they are now a part of us as,

We Remember Them.

p Zachary Leventhal and Yael Canaan following the student-organized service at the Fence on Oct. 27, 2021 Photo by Kevin Lorenzi

PITTSBURGHJEWISHCHRONICLE.ORG

PITTSBURGH JEWISH CHRONICLE

Lee & Lisa Oleinick NOVEMBER 12, 2021 7

Headlines Legendary psychiatrist Aaron Beck dies at 100 — REGIONAL — By Jarrad Saffren | Contributing writer

r. Aaron T. Beck, who revolutionized the field of psychiatry, died on Nov. 1 at his home in Philadelphia. Born on July 18, 1921, he reached 100 earlier this year. Beck is known for developing a psychiatric focus on the day-to-day behaviors in patients. This ran counter to the Freudian emphasis on childhood traumas. “My major discovery was that the patients were not really reporting what was important to them — the way they interpreted or misinterpreted situations. People would be trained to make the corrections,” he said in a 2017 Jewish Exponent article. “Some of the behaviors they recognized and were able to correct included depression, anxiety, suicide and obsessive-compulsive disorder. But, until recently, neither I nor my students had done research on schizophrenia, which supposedly would not respond to psychotherapy.” The Beck Depression Inventory, a 21-question self-inventory, was developed in 1961 and remains a leading test for measuring the severity of depression. A few years back, Medscape noted that Beck had authored more than 600 scholarly articles and 25 books and ranked him as

p Dr. Aaron T. Beck

Photo courtesy of James J. Craig, c/o of Beck Institute

the fourth-influential medical practitioner within the past century. “The father of cognitive therapy, Dr. Aaron Temkin Beck is considered one of history’s most influential psychotherapists and a pioneer in the field of mental health,” the publication wrote. “Dr. Beck’s early work on psychoanalytic theories of depression led to

his development of cognitive therapy, a new theoretical and clinical orientation, ‘based on the theory that maladaptive thoughts are the causes of psychological symptoms such as anxiety and depression, which in turn cause or exacerbate physical symptoms.’” A native of Providence, Rhode Island, Beck settled in Wynnewood, a suburb of

Philadelphia, in the mid-1950s to work at Valley Forge Army Hospital. He spent much of his career at the University of Pennsylvania, concluding as an emeritus professor in the Department of Psychiatry of the Perelman School of Medicine and as director of the Aaron T. Beck Psychopathology Research Center. Beck also is credited with founding the Beck Initiative in collaboration with City of Philadelphia agencies. The initiative is a partnership between university researchers and clinicians and the city’s behavioral health managed care system that works to ensure that consumers have access to effective mental health care. At Beck’s funeral on Nov. 3 at Beth Hillel-Beth El, his children eulogized their patriarch, known to loved ones as “Tim.” Oldest son Roy Beck said he talked to his father often, including every day from April 2020 to his death. In his 90s, Tim told his son he was reading a biography of President and Union Army Gen. Ulysses S. Grant. “He said he just didn’t know enough about that time period,” Roy Beck said. Later, Roy Beck said his father was working on a paper at the time of his death, despite being bedridden and too weak to move for himself. “Most days, when I asked how his day Please see Beck, page 20

SPONSORED CONTENT

WHEN DO I OWE SOMEONE ELSE’S DEBTS? This is one in a series of articles about Elder Law by Michael H. Marks., Esq. Michael H. Marks is an elder law attorney with offices in Squirrel Hill and Monroeville. Send questions to michael@marks-law.com or visit www.marks-law.com. Whose debts do I owe other than my own? Do I owe the debts of my deceased spouse? That’s probably the most common situation in which I get asked this question. The general rule is that you only owe your own debts, not others’, including those of a deceased spouse. Assuming that you didn’t actually sign to be responsible for the debt owed by your deceased spouse, the liability is the responsibility of their estate, not yours individually. You don’t have to spend assets or funds that you inherit or receive by right of survivorship or as a pay on death beneficiary (such as a joint account, life insurance, an IRA), that are not part of their formal estate, to pay their debts. If their estate is insolvent, that is, it has more debts than there is money to pay them, Pennsylvania law specifies an order of priority in which various kinds of debts get paid before others. For example, the highest priority is administrative expenses of the estate, and the lowest priority are general unsecured creditors, including care and services provided more than six months prior to the date of death, with other categories in between. Of course, there are exceptions. Under the rule of “necessaries” a surviving spouse may be responsible to pay for essential goods and services of their spouse. Though the term “necessary” is not defined in the statute, it would

more likely cover healthcare, food, and rent, for example, than discretionary spending for other kinds of items. Think of “necessaries” as similar to ”necessities.” The bottom line is that creditors rarely sue individuals over small amounts of consumer debt, as opposed to litigation that is more common over big debts, business disputes - or bitter family disagreements. You may have to deal with the hassle of collection agencies who may try to get you to pay even if you’re not required to, but even then, negotiating a favorable settlement might be best to make the problem go away. More important: EXCEPT AND UNLESS the debt is for nursing home care. Nursing homes can and do sue family members for unpaid bills, which may arise from a Medicaid denial or unpaid Medicaid gap period, sometimes due to the patient having made a gift, or even just carelessness or refusal to pay. Pennsylvania has a “Filial Responsibility” law that makes a spouse, child or parent (not a sibling) responsible for the support of an “indigent person,” unless that family member individual “does not have sufficient financial ability” to do so, or in a case of parental abandonment. In my opinion, it’s a badly written law, without many details, definitions or procedures built into it. It was passed without any of the customarily required public notice, hearings, or legislative deliberation, as part of the notorious “midnight budget-and-legislators-pay-raise” deal of 2005. In comparison, when child or spousal support is ordered in Family Court, or when Medicaid assesses spousal or family resources, there are detailed laws and a well-defined statutory process

to control the case and decide the outcome.

attorney fees, etc.

Nursing homes are more likely to sue when they think a family member has the patient’s money. When they sue, they might sue not only the child who got the money, but the other children, too! You can defend against the claim by showing that you don’t have “excess... monthly income” (vaguely defined in the statute), though many end up settling to avoid litigation. The only appellate case so far interpreting the law arose from an unfavorable factual situation with an unfavorable result for families.

The beneficiary expects to receive the house and says, “You can’t sell that house, it’s mine!” But if the estate delivers the house to the beneficiary, how will the bills be paid? In that situation, there are usually two choices: either the beneficiary pays the bills themselves if they want the house in-kind, or the house is sold, the bills are paid, and the beneficiary gets the remaining proceed, instead of receiving the house itself.

When else might you owe someone else’s debts? Another situation that arises is when a house is bequeathed to you as an individual beneficiary under a will, but there is no money in the estate to pay the bills, such as funeral, inheritance tax, administrative expenses, debts of the decedent,

At Marks Elder Law, we help people every day with issues like these. I invite your questions and feedback. Please let me know how I can help you and your family.

helping you plan for what matters the most

With the increasing costs of long-term care, having the help of a legal professional when planning for your family’s future can help you make better decisions that can result in keeping more of your money. We help families understand the strategies, the benefits, and risks involved with elder law, disability and estate planning.

www.marks-law.com

8 NOVEMBER 12, 2021

Another related situation happens if you co-signed for a student loan or car loan, for example, for a younger relative who is deceased.

PITTSBURGH JEWISH CHRONICLE

412-421-8944

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

4231 Murray Avenue Pittsburgh, PA 15217

PITTSBURGHJEWISHCHRONICLE.ORG

Headlines Congressional hopeful Steve Irwin on health care, critical race theory and Israel — LOCAL — By David Rullo | Staff Writer

quirrel Hill attorney Steve Irwin has entered the race to replace retiring U.S. Rep. Mike Doyle in Pennsylvania’s 18th Congressional District, which covers Pittsburgh and parts of surrounding suburbs. A partner in the law firm Leech Tishman, Irwin attended Harvard University before studying law at Georgetown University. While there, he began working for Pennsylvania Sen. Arlen Specter and met his future wife, a Squirrel Hill native. The two moved to her hometown and Irwin began clerking for Federal Judge Joseph F. Weis, Jr. “I never left,” the congressional hopeful told the Chronicle in an interview shortly after he announced his candidacy on Nov. 4. A father of three, Irwin is a member of Rodef Shalom Congregation. He is a former member of Tree of Life Congregation, where he served as a cantorial soloist for a number of years. Irwin has been a stalwart supporter of the Jewish community and has served on many boards, including the Jewish Healthcare Foundation, and is a past Pittsburgh chair of the Anti-Defamation League. From 2006-2014, he was a commissioner to Pennsylvania’s Department of Banking and Securities under Gov. Edward Rendell. Irwin spoke with the Chronicle about why he decided to run, the needs in the district and what matters to the Pittsburgh Jewish community. The interview was edited for length and clarity. Before announcing your candidacy, you explored running for lieutenant governor of Pennsylvania. Why did you decide to run for Congress instead? When I made the decision to enter public service full time, I looked at offices and my experience spoke to a statewide office. I had been the chair of the Pennsylvania Jewish Coalition; I served in the Rendell administration; I chaired the U.S. Civil Rights

Commission for Pennsylvania. housing affordable and make sure I have a lot of relationships the rising cost of health care and throughout the state. The way the pharmaceuticals and prescripgovernor’s race was shaping up, it tion drugs don’t put people out of seemed like we needed someone work and deny them the care they from the west. Until Lt. Gov. John need as they get older. Housing, Fetterman, people saw it as a stepthe environment, education — pingstone. I saw it as a destination, these are critical to giving the next not a way station. The option of generation the tools they need. The Steve Irwin running for Congress did not exist p resources on our faith communiat that time. Congressman Doyle’s announce- ties are really strained. Government has the ment came out of the blue. There’s nothing I ability to help facilitate and get us there. Paid want to do more than represent Pittsburgh and family medical leave, a living wage, training for our region in Washington, D.C. I think I’m people who are doing home care, letting people uniquely suited to do that. It was a no-brainer. age in place, providing nursing care and letting people choose what they want to do in life — How has your experience prepared you for we will all benefit if we help this way. a potential role in Congress? We’re at a crossroads in this country. A huge issue in the recent election was We are at a point where our democracy is critical race theory. What is your opinion threatened. Our region has a tremendous on that? opportunity to become a leader as a techCritical race theory is not taught in our nology hub, as a leader in health care. But elementary schools and in our secondary we’re held back by the fact that not everyone schools. We need to be able to read books has benefited from the advances we’ve made and be able to think critically, but critical race the last 25 years. I understand how we got theory is something else. There is validity here, and I know how far we have to go. there. There is structural and systemic I’m working on those things every day with racism in society. We need to eliminate that. my civic and nonprofit work, my charitable Ultimately, the focus has to be education, work. I’ve developed trust and alliances teaching tolerance, having people understand over the last 40 years that have really posi- different people’s backgrounds and where tioned me to hit the ground running. I know they come from and their beliefs, and respect Washington, D.C., like the back of my hand for those beliefs. The Anti-Defamation and have relationships and have worked at League is doing incredible programming in every level of government in Pennsylvania. schools throughout western Pennsylvania to help students come together and understand How do you address the needs of a how extremism is the enemy of democracy. district that includes communities that are It’s not critical race theory — it’s extremism very well off and those that are struggling? which is a major threat to us and our society. There are fundamental things that we have As Jews, we know the dangers of extremist to focus on. We can’t do everything. We need thought that leads to extremist action. We to reinvest in those communities that helped have always been a target. If we don’t speak build this country. It’s the Mckeesports and out now for others who are being victimized, National Tire. It’s the steel mills of Braddock. who will speak out for us when antisemitism It’s the railroad industry of the Mon Valley raises its ugly head even higher in the future? and the energy industry that really helped to make the country a leader in the industrialized What are some of the issues in the district world. In order to do that, we have to make specific to the Jewish community? some hard choices. We’re going to have to I think the issues that we face in the Jewish transition our energy policy; we have to make community are not unique to the Jewish

Jewish Federation welcomes Mayor Gainey

he Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh congratulated Ed Gainey, Pittsburgh’s newly elected mayor, saying in a written statement that the umbrella organization was looking forward to “working with him as the Federation emphasizes Jewish community progress and the welfare of all Pittsburghers.” “Ed Gainey has already shown his strong support for the Jewish community during his campaign, and we are excited to continue working with him as mayor,” Jeffrey Finkelstein, president and CEO of the Federation said, extending his “most hearty congratulations on behalf of the Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh.” Gainey’s historic election as the city’s first

PITTSBURGHJEWISHCHRONICLE.ORG

Black mayor occurred during the same year that the Federation adopted a new mission statement, emphasizing “collaboration across the community” and pursuit of social justice, according to a press release. Laura Cherner, director of the Federation’s Community Relations Council, remembered working alongside Gainey last summer, when the Federation helped organize a volunteer project to clean up Westinghouse Park. “Ed Gainey worked alongside us as a volunteer,” Cherner said. “I am confident that this type of leadership will continue as Mayor Gainey partners with community groups to improve the city.” PJC

community. We have a greater affinity for the state of Israel, but I don’t think that’s unique. A strong, democratic, pluralistic state of Israel, where its inhabitants are safe, is good for the world. We need to continue to support Israel’s right to exist. We have to make sure that we have great public education, and we have to find a way to provide that education in a pandemic environment more effectively. We have great challenges for our seniors and providing for them a continuity of care that is sustainable. Social Security is not enough for most people to be able to live in a dignified way. The health care that you get with it is not as comprehensive as it needs to be. I think health care, education, access to transportation, housing, Israel — those are fundamental things. You’re going to be running against Summer Lee. She has made statements on Twitter that have been understood as anti-Zionist and antisemitic. Her views are also held by some members of Congress. How would you work with those members toward security for Israel and the safety of American Jews? We can’t ignore them. Israel is not perfect, but Israel is a democracy. The views that some of these people share mirror concerns that people in Israel may have. But Israel has a right to self-determination. I think it’s going to take my reaching out to develop a relationship to understand the way they feel and why they feel that way, to provide facts, to speak out when necessary. Antisemitism is not acceptable, and threats to Israel’s existence and security and America’s support of Israel is just not acceptable. I will be a staunch supporter of Israel. Look, World War II was not that long ago. The Tree of Life was only three years ago. The number of incidents in this country has only risen over the last eight years, dramatically. We’ve seen it here more clearly than most places, but it continues. I will do everything that I possibly can to make sure that Pittsburgh’s representative in Washington is a leader in preserving our relationship with the state of Israel. PJC David Rullo can be reached at drullo@ pittsburghjewishchronicle.org.

Amazing Books to run book fairs supporting local schools

mazing Books and Records is running a series of book fairs to support local schools. The upcoming events will support Community Day School, Hillel Academy of Pittsburgh, Yeshiva Schools of Pittsburgh and Pittsburgh Colfax K-8. The store will give each school 15% of in-store purchases from “people who say they’re there to support the school,” and 10% of all online sales of new books, “including those of non-school supporters,” during each book fair, according to Amazing Books’ owner, Eric Ackland. Customers will receive about 7% off on all

— Toby Tabachnick PITTSBURGH JEWISH CHRONICLE

new books purchased, Ackland added. And, as always with used book purchases in-store, “they’ll get a free used book or record priced up to $10 with every three that they purchase.” Dates for the book fairs are Nov. 7-9 for Yeshiva; Nov. 10-13 for Hillel Academy; Nov. 14-16 for Community Day School; and (tentatively) Dec. 5-8 for Colfax, Ackland said. Amazing Books is located at 5858 Forbes Ave. in Squirrel Hill and 939 Liberty Ave. downtown. The store’s website is amazing booksandrecords.com. PJC — Adam Reinherz

www.pittsburghjewishchronicle.org NOVEMBER 12, 2021 9

Headlines — WORLD — From JTA reports

Women’s Western Wall service interrupted by protesters after Netanyahu amplifies call to oppose their prayer

In 2017, even as he suspended the deal under pressure from his haredi allies, Netanyahu claimed to support a compromise solution at the holy site. But he was ousted as prime minister earlier this year, and needs the support of Israel’s haredi parties to return to power. Last week, he retweeted a message from Aryeh Deri, the leader of the haredi Shas party, calling on “everyone for whom the sanctity of the Western Wall is important to come and pray with us, so that, God forbid, the holy place will not be desecrated.”

Women of the Wall’s monthly prayer service at the Western Wall in Jerusalem was disrupted yet again by more than 100 Orthodox protesters, a day after former Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu amplified the protesters’ cause. The disruptions took place even though Brian Epstein, the Beatles’ Jewish lawmakers who support and oppose the manager, to be honored group agreed to stay away from the Western with a statue in Liverpool Wall, in a bid to calm tensions. The Beatles’ Jewish manager who was Women of the Wall, a group that organizes credited with ushering the band to global a women’s prayer service at the holy site on fame and success will be memorialized with the first day of each Hebrew month, has long a statue in Liverpool, according to the BBC. faced opposition from Orthodox Jews who Brian Epstein, born on Yom Kippur to seek to prevent the service. For years, the a family of Russian and Lithuanian Jewish Orthodox protesters have regularly heckled descent, first discovered The Beatles in 1961 at and at times physically attacked the group the Cavern Club in Liverpool. He became the and tried to stop them from bringing in reli- band’s manager in 1962, overseeing the group’s gious items, including Torahs. transformation from a scruffy local band to An agreement signed in 2016 aimed to the suit-wearing global sensation who would end the clashes by creating a prayer space play on “The Ed Sullivan Show” in 1963. for non-Orthodox groups at the site. But Epstein lived his life as both a closeted gay Netanyahu, then the prime minister, suspended man and a Jew, two identities that made life the agreement the following year. Israel’s new especially difficult in 1960s England. Members government is seen as likely to implement of The Beatles often joked with Epstein about the deal, which one activist described as his sexual orientation, according to a memoir “low-hanging fruit” for the government. So far, written by Ivor Davis, a Jewish journalist who JC Oticonno More More AM Page however, action hasClarity_Eartique been taken. 5/11/21 1:28covered the1band’s American tour in 1964.

Once, according to Davis, John Lennon joked that Epstein should name his memoir “Queer Jew.” A spokeswoman for the Brian Epstein Legacy Project, the group behind the statue, told the BBC it would be the first statue in Liverpool to commemorate an LGBT person.

community federations across the country, praised the bill and noted the “outdated” buildings in which many of the country’s nonprofits and social service agencies are often housed.

Synagogues and nonprofits become eligible for grants to upgrade energy efficiency in the new infrastructure bill

Police in Britain arrested two men for allegedly chanting offensive soccer-themed limericks at an Orthodox Jewish passenger on a flight last week. The incident was filmed aboard a Ryanair flight from the United Kingdom to Belgium on Nov. 4. Many of the passengers were headed to a soccer match between the West Ham team and Genk, a Belgian team. As the Orthodox passenger walked past them on the plane, several men began chanting about the Tottenham Hotspurs, a rival soccer team from England whose supporters are often called Jews or Yids because of the history of its Jewish fanbase. The Hotspurs did not play in Belgium last week. “Running around Tottenham with our willies hanging out, singing I’ve got foreskin, haven’t you?” the men sang while the Orthodox passenger walked down the aisle. In a statement, the West Ham team said it was “appalled” by the incident and were working with police to identify the fans filmed. Police arrested one man, whom they suspect of inciting racist hate, last week. West Ham banned two fans from its stadium for life as a result of the incident, according to the Jewish News of London. PJC

A new piece of legislation passed with Congress’ massive bipartisan infrastructure bill on Friday will put $50 million into upgrading the energy efficiency of synagogue, religious school and other nonprofit buildings. The Nonprofit Energy Efficiency Act, a bill that was first introduced in the Senate by Sen. Amy Klobuchar and John Hoeven, will allow houses of worship and nonprofits to apply for grants. The $50 million will be overseen by the Department of Energy, with each entity eligible for a grant of up to $200,000. The legislation was supported by the Orthodox Union, as well as a number of other religious organizations. “We are very grateful to bipartisan leaders and the many rank and file lawmakers who worked to ensure this key provision ultimately was included in this legislative package,” Nathan Diament, the Orthodox Union’s director of public policy, said in a statement. Elana Broitman, the senior vice president for public affairs at the Jewish Federations of North America, which represents Jewish

This week in Israeli history

More clarity. More hearing.

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

Nov. 12, 2009 — Labor politician Eliyahu Speiser dies

Former Knesset member Eliyahu Speiser dies at 79. Speiser begins working for Israel’s dominant Mapai party in 1965 and is involved in the merger that produces the Labor Party in 1968.

More life.

Nov. 13, 1893 — Artist Rubin is born

Introducing Oticon More™

a life-changing hearing device with BrainHearing™ technology. Science shows that we hear with our brains and not our ears. Oticon More helps your brain decipher intricate details of relevant sounds for better speech understanding with less effort and the ability to remember more all in a rechargeable hearing aid. With the sound clarity of Oticon More, you will hear the sounds that shouldn’t be missed. Now that’s More.

Acclaimed painter Reuven Rubin is born in Galatz, Romania. He sells his bicycle in 1912 to afford to travel to Jerusalem and enroll in the Bezalel School of Arts and Crafts. He also studies in Paris.

Nov. 14, 1956 — Knesset debates Sinai Pullout

Six days after Prime Minister David Ben-Gurion announces that Israeli troops will withdraw from the Sinai, the Knesset debates the plan amid calls to keep the army in place until Egypt enters peace talks.

The last stop you’ll make in successful hearing aid use

Serving the Pittsburgh area for over 25 years

Call today for a FREE demonstration ! Squirrel Hill ~ 2703 Murray Ave ~ 412.422.8006 ~ eartique.com 10 NOVEMBER 12, 2021

UK soccer fans arrested for allegedly harassing Orthodox Jew on a plane

Nov. 15, 1948 — El Al is founded

El Al, whose name comes

PITTSBURGH JEWISH CHRONICLE

from a Hosea phrase meaning “to the skies,” is formally established as Israel’s national airline. Regular commercial service begins in July 1949 between Lod and Paris.

Nov. 16, 1947 — Kadima reaches Haifa

The Kadima, carr ying 781 refugees trying to reach the Land of Israel despite a British ban, arrives in Haifa under escort by a British destroyer after being intercepted en route from Palestrina, an island near Venice.

Nov. 17, 2008 — Car bomb kills gangster Alperon

Yaakov Alperon, an organized-crime leader and suspected killer who has survived multiple assassination attempts and is known as “Don Alperon,” dies at 53 when his car is blown up in Tel Aviv.

Nov. 18, 1951 — Rock star Yoni Rechter is born

Yoni Rechter, considered one of Israel’s greatest musicians, is born in Tel Aviv. His band Kaveret competes in Eurovision in 1974, and his career takes off with his first solo album, “Intending,” in 1979. PJC

PITTSBURGHJEWISHCHRONICLE.ORG

JCC Pittsburgh News

EXTRA! Big Night 2022 EXTRA! PITTSBURGH, PA -The Jewish Community &HQWHU LV NLFNLQJ EDFN the rugs for its 16th Annual Big Night: The Roaring 20s on Saturday, March 5 , 2022 H[FOXVLYHO\ DW the JCC in Squirrel Hill.

´7KLV ZLOO EH WKH EHVW swankiest, craziest, not- toEH PLVVHG HYHQW µ VDLG %LJ Night Co-chairs Marcie DQG 0DWWKHZ :HLQVWHLQ 6DP DQG -RVK .OHLQ “ W e ’ r e pulling out all the stops to make this The Event of the Year.”

HELP US REACH NEW HEIGHTS! As we all continue to meet the challenges of this constantly changing environment with vigilance, creativity ÁH[LELOLW\ ZH QHHG \RXU VXSSRUW VR ZH FDQ KHOS RXU FRPPXQLW\ VWD\ H a p p y . H e a l t h y . W h o l e . Please help us rebuild: Give an annual gift by sponsoring Big Night today.

Support Big Night at: bidpal.net/bignight22 Contact Fara Marcus • 412-339-5413 • fmarcus@jccpgh.org

PITTSBURGHJEWISHCHRONICLE.ORG

PITTSBURGH JEWISH CHRONICLE

NOVEMBER 12, 2021 11

Opinion ‘Fiddler’ at 50 Editor’s Desk Toby Tabachnick

have seen at least five different stage productions of the musical “Fiddler on the Roof,” and I have seen the film more times than I can count. I cry every single time that Tevye parts with Chodel as she heads to Siberia to be with Perchik, and again when the patriarch finally makes a sort of peace with Chava — after she goes against his will and marries a non-Jew — telling her “may God be with you.” The film “Fiddler on the Roof ” premiered 50 years ago this month. Despite a mediocre review by celebrated critic Roger Ebert, the movie went on to win three Academy Awards, including one for music, while the Golden Globes deemed it the best picture and handed Topol the top acting prize. Ebert, remarkably, wrote: “[W]ould it be heresy on my part to suggest that ‘Fiddler’ isn’t much as a musical, and that director Norman

Jewison has made as good a film as can be made from a story that is quite simply boring?” Ebert may have found the story of Tevye and his daughters dull, but a great many people have not. Both the film and stage adaptations of Sholem Aleichem’s short stories have maintained a devoted following around the world, one that transcends religion and culture. The show is now frequently touted for its “universal” themes of tradition, bigotry and resilience, and continues to resonate with audiences from Japan to Finland to Australia. “Fiddler” never fails to move me, not because of its universal themes, but because of its quintessentially Jewish themes. The traditions celebrated in “Fiddler” are Jewish traditions; the bigotry that terrorizes the characters is antisemitism; and the resilience of the residents of Anatevka is that particular brand of resilience that has been a hallmark of our people for eons — the drive to preserve our heritage regardless of hardship, fueled by the energy of community. Lots of people have “Fiddler” memories they cherish. They can recall seeing it for the first time on a giant screen with their

parents in a mid-century movie theater, or memorizing the songs from an eight-track tape played over and over again in the family Oldsmobile (me…and me). But my favorite “Fiddler” memory was born in 1979, when I was a junior in high school and serving as president of FJYO, an umbrella coalition of eight Jewish youth groups in Indianapolis. Each year, in the spring, each of the groups came up with its own skit to highlight the work of our Jewish Federation, and the skits were competitively performed at a fundraiser dubbed “Stunt Night.” Back then, all the Jewish youth groups in the city had lots of members — but there wasn’t much collaboration between groups. So, the FJYO board and I came up with a plan: No more Stunt Night. Instead, 1979 would be the year of cooperation between groups. A night of eight individual skits would be replaced by a single production of — what else? — “Fiddler on the Roof.” It was a daunting undertaking. And, no, the youth of Indianapolis did not pull it off by themselves. The JCC hired us a bona fide director and a local synagogue gave us

a stage for three months of rehearsals and our performance. I played Yente the matchmaker, a role for which a great singing voice is not required. Kevin, the president of AZA, played Tevye, opposite NCSY’s Susie as Golde. Our fiddler came from NIFTY, Chodel from USY. The role of Perchik was played by a Jewish boy from my acting class who wasn’t affiliated with any of the youth groups. All told, the show brought together 50 teens from various denominations and backgrounds to tell a story of what it means to be a Jew. The production was spectacular (at least in my foggy memory 42 years later) and was met by thunderous applause by our enthusiastic audience of parents. We had a blast, and we reminisced about it for years. I suspect we might have sold just as many tickets if we had instead performed “Oklahoma!” or “My Fair Lady,” also shows with “universal” themes. But I am certain that no other musical could have brought us all together in the same way “Fiddler” did. Here’s to “Fiddler’s” first 50 years. L’chaim. PJC

Jewish education in a climate of rising antisemitism Guest Columnist Avi Baran Munro

he school I lead sits 1.2 miles from the site of the Oct. 27, 2018, white supremacist terrorist mass shooting that targeted three congregations housed in the Tree of Life building. My home sits 900 feet away. I could hear the police response and shooting battle reverberating through my windows and walls. It was shocking. But as a child of Holocaust survivors and a student of history, I was not surprised. Antisemitism and hate group activity had been increasing in western Pennsylvania and worldwide. Right-wing extremists were winning elections in heretofore progressive nations. Mass shootings were occurring almost daily. America felt broken. In the wake of the synagogue attack, the teens took over, with Community Day School alumni among the organizers. They had led a walkout months earlier after the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School mass shooting. This time, within hours of the shooting in their own community, they organized a vigil for that very night. In an interfaith, multiracial show of solidarity, thousands assembled at the corner of Forbes and Murray. The teens led a Havdalah service, marking the end of Shabbat. They chanted the Misheberach prayer for healing. How do we fight antisemitism? With Jewish day school graduates like those who joined with fellow teens to mobilize for the vigil. They knew how to stand up tall and proud as Jews, even hours after a deadly attack on Jews for being Jewish in their neighborhood. They knew how to create a Jewish memorial moment, how to tie it to Shabbat, and how to offer comfort

12 NOVEMBER 12, 2021

and build community through the rituals and prayers that provide structure and help us know what to say when we are inarticulate with grief. How do we fight antisemitism? By meeting antisemites or silenced allies where they are — in one case, the national highways. That is what JewBelong has launched in a campaign featuring digital billboards with various slogans and the hashtag #EndJewHate. My favorite is: “I promise to love being Jewish 10x more than anyone hates me for it.” How do we fight antisemitism? With facts. My son, Boaz Munro, a CDS alum, was terror-stricken by the silence of Jewish progressives when confronted with the antisemitic attacks against Jews in response to the recent Israel-Gaza conflict. Their silence felt deafening, hearkening back to the Weimar Republic in Germany. He understood how Jews as a people were being conflated with the actions of the Israeli government and wrote a call to action that went viral. Boaz challenged readers to give any other example of a time when progressives have declined to stand up for victims of hate due to the actions of a foreign state to which they’re ethnically tied. Aiming to address the lack of historical awareness that leads to this silence, he’s also embarked on a 20-part Instagram series on “The Jews.” He has completed Chapters 1-11. I don’t know if he realized how ambitious this project was until after he started, but he is determined to take action by calling out inaction and confronting it with truth. How do we fight antisemitism? With open discourse. The audience for the crash course in Jewish history that Boaz is creating is not only non-Jews. Many Jews also lack historical perspective, which is why Jewish day schools like mine must have courageous conversations about the toughest topics. If we allow our students to graduate with a brittle sense of Jewish identity, we fail

to instill an enduring Jewish commitment. If they are fragile at first poke in high school or college that calls into question what we taught them about Israel or the Holocaust, it is very likely they will question everything they were taught. If they don’t understand our full history, they will accept someone else’s narrative. And while there are tough realities to face, some of the narratives circulating are virulent and worse than any truths we could share. Many Jewish day schools, including mine, struggle in having these difficult conversations. I invite all of us to share what is successful at our schools. We have work to do. How do we fight antisemitism? Proudly. After the synagogue shooting, we did what felt simultaneously impossible and imperative — we returned to school that Monday with the Israeli flag flying high, and to my memory, with no parents keeping their children home out of fear. Our eighth-graders created a remembrance service that week at the site of a Holocaust sculpture on our campus. “You’ve given me some strength to get through today, and for that I thank you,” Tree of Life’s Rabbi Jeffrey Myers told our students. How do we fight antisemitism? By going into our schools tomorrow and doing the work even better than we did the day before. How do we fight antisemitism? My father, Moshe Baran, a Holocaust survivor and partisan fighter, two years ago at age 98, said it best. Be a better Jew. If that sounds familiar, it is the closing argument of Bari Weiss’s 2019 book “How to Fight Anti-Semitism.” (OK, she is also a CDS alum). If you think I should have credited her before I credited my father, here’s a short and quintessentially Pittsburgh story. Before the pandemic, Bari’s father, Lou Weiss, would pick up my dad for the 7:30

PITTSBURGH JEWISH CHRONICLE

a.m. minyan at Congregation Beth Shalom. One morning in 2019, Lou was telling Moshe about his daughter’s new book, “How to Fight Anti-Semitism.” Upon hearing the title, Moshe said, “Well, the answer is easy. Be a better Jew.” And Lou replied, “That is her whole book in four words!” Bari asserts that, ultimately, the only response to this moment is to practice a Judaism of affirmation, not a Judaism of defensiveness. Affirming our story doesn’t mean you have to be a more traditionally observant Jew or a more activist Jew. It means knowing what it means to be a Jew. To walk proudly (even if quietly) as a Jew. To speak from a place of knowledge, context and history, knowing that each of those can be defined subjectively and objectively, and knowing how to tell the difference. It means being committed to checking your moral compass against Jewish teachings and being prepared to find out that sometimes your moral compass — and sometimes Jewish teachings — warrant critical appraisal. Most important, affirming our story means that you are compelled and equipped to seek meaning, to find joy, and to love Judaism, however you live it, for the time-tested, life-affirming, family-affirming, justice-affirming habits of mind and heart it has been cultivating for millennia. That’s how, together, we fight antisemitism. PJC Avi Baran Munro has been the head of school at Pittsburgh’s Community Day School since 2004. She is a first-generation daughter of two Holocaust survivors and parent of four young adults, all graduates of Community Day School. This is excerpted from The Lookstein Center of Bar-Ilan University’s Jewish Educational Leadership Fall 2021 issue, Jewish Education Amidst Rising Antisemitism. Read the full article at lookstein.org/journal-article/fall-2021/ antisemitism-so-close-to-home/. PITTSBURGHJEWISHCHRONICLE.ORG

Opinion Oct. 27 and the children of Dor Hadash Guest Columnist Karen Morris

n the fall of 2019 I began my tenure as principal of Dor Hadash Religious School. Just a few weeks later, the school was faced with the upcoming firstyear commemoration of the Pittsburgh synagogue shooting. The Oct. 27, 2018, attack, which touched everyone in Pittsburgh, directly impacted our congregation and students. Beyond the trauma of the attack itself, our students were faced with a sudden move to a new space. It was no secret to the children, some as young as 6, as to why the school relocated. While it might have been possible to shield the unthinkable from other young children in Pittsburgh, that wasn’t possible for the children of Dor Hadash. Our religious school teachers addressed the attack as best they could, emphasizing to the children that they were safe in their new building, and everyone was doing everything to make sure that remained the case. Rodef Shalom Congregation embraced us and offered warm support and comfort. We

found a new home. For the first-year commemoration, our teacher Ami Weintraub and I created and led an optional schoolwide program to be held at the end of the school day during the week of commemoration events. Parents joined, and we brought in the support of a counselor from Jewish Family and Community Services. We focused on healing through song, reciting part of the Mourner’s Kaddish, and lighting a candle for each of the 11 victims. At the end of the ceremony, the students had an opportunity to express their feelings on a small rock, to write a word, to decorate it, to find some strength and healing in the solid nature of the stone itself. We marked the second-year commemoration on Zoom, due to the pandemic. We held a brief memorial with some readings and lit a candle. We needed to mark the day, but it is so hard to embrace young children’s feelings in a virtual setting. We acknowledged the event is now part of this congregation, and a part of our children. While we don’t spend much time grappling with Oct. 27 throughout the school year, it is an element of our history now, and it is important to mark the day and create something positive so our children can find continued strength, support and meaning. This year, school met on Oct. 27. The congregation had spent the previous Shabbat

marking the Hebrew yahrzeit date of the 18th of Cheshvan with both a special Friday night service and Shabbat morning Torah study service. Amidst the pain of remembering and commemorating, there was joy in being together in person for Friday night services. Our Mitzvah class (seventhgraders) sang Psalm 90 using the melody of Rabbi Yitzhak Husbands-Hankin. In English, the Psalm translates as “Teach us to treasure each day, that we may open our hearts to Your wisdom.” We learned that this Psalm and specific melody was one of Dr. Jerry Rabinowitz’s favorites to sing during Shabbat morning services. Our creative and thoughtful teaching staff planned what we wanted the afternoon of Oct. 27 to look like at school. We decided, with the support of the families, that the seventh-graders would attend the community commemoration at Schenley Park with their teacher, and the rest of the students would have a program at school. One of our religious school teachers, Sharon Serbin, came up with an all-school art project to help not only commemorate those who died, but also to give our students hope and strength. Each class was given a 12-inch plastic planter plate, tacky glue, colored beads, glass gems, mirrored sparkling gems and a potted succulent. Each class was also assigned

a theme: memorial, Jewish identity, strength or love. The students decorated their planter to fit their specific theme. The small potted succulent plant was placed in the middle of each plate. During the memorial ceremony, Sharon explained to the students and families, “There are times in our lives where we will feel scared, or threatened. As long as we embrace and honor these four elements, remember those who have gone before us, connect to our Jewish roots and Jewish peers, take strength in our community, and fill ourselves and the world with love, we will continue to grow and thrive, like this plant.” We held our commemoration at the end of the school day and invited families. Our students placed their projects together, then surrounded them with the battery tea light candles they were holding. We concluded with singing Debbie Friedman’s “Mi Shebeirach” prayer for healing, followed by playing Rabbi Menachem Creditor’s “Olam Chesed Yibaneh” (“The world will be built with lovingkindness”). PJC Karen Morris, a native Pittsburgher, is the principal of Dor Hadash Religious School. Prior to working at Dor Hadash she was principal at Torah Lishmah Community, the religious school of Tree of Life*Or L’Simcha Congregation.

Chronicle poll results: Antisemitism

ast week, the Chronicle asked its readers in an electronic poll the following question: “In a survey just released by AJC, 40% of American Jews said that fear of antisemitism spurred them to change their behavior over the past year. Have you changed your behavior in the last year due to fears arising from antisemitism?” Of the 232 people who responded, 73% (170 people) answered “No.” But about a quarter of respondents said they had changed their behavior. Twentyeight people said they had avoided making themselves visibly identifiable as Jewish, and 33 people said they had avoided certain places, events or situations. Twenty-nine people have avoided posting certain content online or avoided making certain comments in conversation. Fifty-seven people submitted comments. A few follow. Unfortunately, wearing a kippah puts a target on you these days. I still wear tzitzit. I still build a sukkah. I still make TikToks about my holidays. I will still put a Hanukkiah menorah in my window. I may or may not decorate for Hanukkah but that is simply to make my life easier. And my Facebook cover pictures still indicate the seasons of the year we are in. Facebook is where I have received the most hate in the past. I just block those people. Improvement in doing mitzvot (those that you already are doing and/or add another mitzvah to what you are already doing) and/or learning more Torah (join some online classes) will ultimately add merit and protection.

PITTSBURGHJEWISHCHRONICLE.ORG

In a survey just released by AJC, 40% of American Jews said that fear of antisemitism spurred them to change their behavior over the past year. 80 Have you changed your behavior in the last year due to fears arising from antisemitism? 70 60 50

I took my mezuzah off the door of my condo with common hallways. There were attempts to pull it off. At the cemetery I am careful and make sure no one follows to destroy headstones of family members. It is difficult to live this way but, I am cautious about where I go and what I say to strangers.

40 30 20 10 0

licensed and trained, no change in my public behavior.

12% 14% 13% 73% 3% ■ Yes, I have avoided making ■ Yes, I have avoided posting myself visibly identifiable as a certain content online or Jew. avoided making certain comments in conversations. ■ Yes, I have avoided certain places, events, or situations. ■ No. ■ Not sure.

The only change in my behavior is that I now feel more compelled to call out antisemitism when/wherever I see it. I wear a chai necklace instead of a star, since most non-Jews don’t know what it is.

I don’t live in fear. If I come across antisemitism I ignore it or I deal with it, but I don’t change my behavior or appearance. The is no Jewish future in America. We’re making aliyah. There is antisemitism. It does not rise to the level of crisis. The paranoia whipped up by local Federations and other communal agencies is neither helpful nor needed. PJC — Toby Tabachnick

This week’s Chronicle poll question:

What are your plans for Thanksgiving? Go to our website, pittsburghjewish chronicle.org, to respond. PJC

— LETTERS — I’ve stopped wearing my Magen David necklace. Though now I think that is cowardly, and I’ll think about resuming. I have not changed my behavior, but it does sadden me. Antisemitism needs to be FOUGHT, NOT feared! I learned as a child to be proud to be a Jew, but not advertise it! We are not socializing. With limited outings we have had no problem.

Wearing his Judaism proudly

I have reacted to the rise in antisemitism not by hiding my Jewishness but rather by emphasizing it. (“Antisemitism fears prompted 4 in 10 American Jews to change behavior last year,” online, Oct. 27.) I currently wear a silver Star of David that is 1-inch from point to point. In the house, I usually wear it under my shirt; when out, however, I almost always wear it outside my shirt. I am in the process of replacing my small silver Star of David with a larger gold one on a heavy gold chain. It, too, will be worn with pride outside my shirt. Aside from my Jewish pride, I wear my star to demonstrate to people that there are good Jews. I work with primarily Black Christians in the drug and alcohol field. I do so as a volunteer. My concern here is rising Black antisemitism. I’ve encountered it once myself. The staff and clients, almost all Black and Christian, get to know me as a helper, a good white, Jewish guy. So rather than go around as an undercover Jew, I choose to be right out there.

Other than purchasing a pistol and getting PITTSBURGH JEWISH CHRONICLE

Al K. DeRoy Wilkins NOVEMBER 12, 2021 13

Headlines Climate: Continued from page 1

The announcements coming out of Glasgow are “crucial,” Rieger told the Chronicle. Among numerous pronouncements made at the conference was one by Narendra Modi, India’s prime minister, who pledged that his country would reach net zero emissions by 2070. (India is home to nearly 18% of the world’s population and is the third largest emitter of greenhouse gases behind China and the U.S.) For Rieger, the matters addressed at COP26 are consequential not just on an international or national level, but on a hyperlocal plane as well. People can “get behind the efforts that exist in our own community,” through encouraging elected officials to adopt environmentally friendly policies, supporting new candidates who are committed to bettering the climate or making personal changes in behavior, he said. And Pittsburghers have some critical choices to make in light of local realities.

Mallinger: Continued from page 1

oversee sports and recreation, Silberman sought out someone who could work well with parents, children and the community at large to help transform a nascent basketball program. In Silberman’s opinion, no one was better equipped to do so than Mallinger. “Mal was for me, first and foremost, someone I could trust,” Silberman said. “He was my moral compass, always doing the right thing, saying the right thing.” With Mallinger’s help, Silberman and the JCC used basketball to not only engage with 1,000 children in the mid-1980s, but to teach young people fundamentals and lessons about life. Not only did Mallinger guide the teams to several championships, but he also served as a mentor to the players. “The type of human being he is — caring, compassionate, honest, no bull — he’s just a good guy,” Silberman said. Sherree Hall, a co-worker of Mallinger’s for 25 years, said those traits are what make him more than just a colleague. He’s also a dear friend to her and so many others. Mallinger is a “cornerstone” at the JCC, Hall said. “He had so much community history, so much JCC history,” she continued. “He was always the person I could go to and say, ‘I just need a perspective on this.’” In addition to working side-by-side in Squirrel Hill, Mallinger and Hall regularly chaperoned young athletes out of state to the JCC Maccabi Games — an Olympic-style sporting competition. While away at the Maccabi games, participants often visited amusement parks in the evenings. Hall recalled riding countless roller coasters beside Mallinger. She said the way he handled the bumps, dips and turns on those tracks was no different than the manner in which he approached his professional responsibilities. “He has a positive attitude that he brings to everything,” Hall said. “It’s something that 14 NOVEMBER 12, 2021

For example, Allegheny County has some of the worst air pollution in the country, according to the American Lung Association. In a 2021 report, the association gave Greater Pittsburgh a grade of F in the ozone and 24-hour particle pollution categories. Breathing ozone, otherwise known as smog, can lead to immediate health problems, including shortness of breath, wheezing, coughing, asthma attacks, increased risk of respiratory infections and even premature death. Likewise, breathing particle pollution can cause illness, hospitalization and premature death. For eight years, Rieger has worked with elected officials, community leaders and local activists to improve Pittsburgh’s air quality. He convened a group, East End Neighbors, which holds digital town halls and still meets largely online due to the pandemic. There’s a common belief that Pittsburgh has transformed itself from the Steel City to a center of education, medicine and technology, Rieger said, but the city “won’t have reinvented itself appropriately if we can’t be part of a solution to the climate crisis that we all face — and we face it at the very tangible

level of it’s killing us; it’s literally killing us.” Squirrel Hill resident Eddie Shaw said he sees the issue of climate change as something that comes down to a matter of Torah. “We were given the earth’s resources in a way to till and to tend,” Shaw told the Chronicle while grilling tofu and vegetables outside his Pittsburgh home. “We are stewards and renters. We’re not owners.” Fifteen years ago, Shaw began composting food scraps. From there, he started changing other behaviors. He often rides his bike for transportation; otherwise, he drives an electric vehicle. He relies on Pennsylvania wind power for his home’s energy needs. And on Sundays, Shaw sells hand-stitched leather bags and wallets at the Squirrel Hill Farmers Market. Shaw doesn’t purport to be “100% consistent” in his climate behavior — he said he burns wood for 60% of his home’s heat — but he does encourage others to make small and significant changes, such as eliminating single use plastic bags. In Shaw’s eyes, single use plastics are “offensive.” “They’re such a disgusting way to treat the

earth’s resources,” he said. “You use it once and throw it away and it won’t degrade for hundreds of years.” Shaw said he wishes people would think about life through a prism larger than instant gratification. “The reason we are where we are, in one sense, is because of convenience,” he said. “We want everything to be there, just as we need it, when we need it and we don’t have any thought about what comes later.” Shaw said he was following news coming out of COP26, albeit with some pessimism. “We’ve known about this issue for years,” he said, but “it’s so difficult to achieve what we’re trying to do.” Shaw believes meaningful change begins with individual actions. “I think all of us inhabitants of the planet have some kind of responsibility,” he said. “If more of us would engage in an environmentally responsible way, whatever that means to each person, we wouldn’t be where we are today.” PJC Adam Reinherz can be reached at areinherz@ pittsburghjewishchronicle.org.

parents themselves. For Mallinger, there is a special joy in seeing another generation commit itself to the same space and practices he has long loved. “It shows a great sense of community,” Mallinger said. “There’s a belief in the JCC.” Within its title is its purpose, he explained: “The first word is ‘Jewish,’ the second word is ‘Community,’ and the third word is ‘Center.’ And I believe we are a place that is the center of the community. It’s a place where people meet and grow up together — and it’s not just for Jewish people.” Brian Schreiber, the JCC’s president and CEO, praised Mallinger and said the manner in which he served the organization was a model for colleagues. p Alan Mallinger exercises at the “Alan is a very rooted person,” Squirrel Hill JCC Photo by Adam Reinherz Schreiber said. “He’s a person that you can’t teach — you can’t ask somebody to values relationships.” do that — it’s just in them.” Mallinger said that the JCC’s leadership Mallinger’s skills have also been noticed should be recognized for its awareness on a national level, said Samantha Cohen, and understanding “of what’s going on in vice president of programs and talent the community.” For example, through the management for the JCC Association of years, the organization has opened its doors North America. to various programs and meetings, including “For decades, Alan has been a treasured Alcoholics Anonymous. The JCC recogand valued leader, exhibiting deep passion nizes a problem and then tries to address and commitment to ensure the success and it, Mallinger said, thereby becoming a place continuity of the JCC Maccabi Games — one “that meets the needs of many.” of the greatest Jewish peoplehood building Every day, people enter its doors and projects of our time,” she said. “As a parent of the results may be far beyond what staffers three JCC Maccabi athletes and a longtime ever imagined. For example, 25 years ago, coach and delegation head, we will forever be Ellen Olshansky and Richard Pattis walked grateful for the key role that Alan played in into the Squirrel Hill JCC with two young ensuring that thousands of Jewish teens from boys in tow. Mallinger was the first person Pittsburgh and across the globe have had the to greet the family of four. Mallinger gave opportunity to create lifelong friends, strong them a tour of the facilities and talked to Jewish identity and experience the transfor- them about what the JCC meant to the larger mative magic of JCC Maccabi.” community. Prior to meeting with Mallinger, Many of the children Mallinger guided Olshansky and Pattis hadn’t yet committed through the Maccabi Games and other JCC to swapping their Seattle home for one in programs have now grown and become Pittsburgh, let alone joining the JCC. Shortly

after interacting with Mallinger, however, the young family relocated and made the JCC a part of its life. Mark Pattis, who was 5 at the time, said that for the past 25 years his family has cited that interaction as the primary reason for moving to Pittsburgh and instrumental in his own career path. During the next two decades, Pattis, 30, came to appreciate not only the same communal qualities that Mallinger did, but the man himself. Through participation in basketball clinics, the Maccabi Games and eventually serving as a colleague, Pattis learned from Mallinger to “put things in perspective.” “When you work in a JCC you have members or parents who can get very overwhelmed by things and frustrated,” Pattis said. “Mal wouldn’t get too worked up. He has a sense of humor and he avoids the drama.” In doing so, Mallinger epitomizes the goals that Pattis said he seeks on a daily basis: “to interact and have authentic relationships with people of all ages.” Mallinger noted that on a regular Sunday it wasn’t uncommon for him to spend his mornings interacting with nonagenarians in the health club and then his afternoons helping kindergarteners on the basketball court through Little Champs Super Hoopers. “Mal has so much love for the JCC,” and something like that doesn’t end upon a retirement date, Pattis said. Mallinger agreed that he’ll continue helping the organization as much as possible — he remains the staff liaison for the Jewish Sports Hall of Fame of Western Pennsylvania — and that upon returning from a trip to Florida with his wife Lauren, he’ll be back in the gym, working out and building relationships. “I’m going to try and get there as much as I can,” he said. “They have a great staff there. I can’t call them my colleagues any more, but hopefully they’ll let me call them friends.” PJC

PITTSBURGH JEWISH CHRONICLE

PITTSBURGHJEWISHCHRONICLE.ORG

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

Headlines Orenstein: Continued from page 3

in cancer and aging labs, and dealing with pharmaceuticals. “All through my career as a scientist, all I wanted to do was to make the world a better place through my work,” Orenstein told the Chronicle. “I wasn’t able to have the impact I was hoping for.” Chabad’s Silverman said that since the primary last spring, he has been teaching Orenstein more about the Sanhedrin, assemblies of elders and rabbis who sat on tribunals in every city in ancient Israel, as well as Jewish concepts of law and justice. The lessons are very informal, the rabbi said, and “really are meant to be open discussions and learning.” “Xander definitely seems passionate,” and “definitely wants to make a difference in the courtroom,” Silverman said. “It’s great whenever I see people going into the community and using their Jewish beliefs to help others.”

Chabad: Continued from page 4

“We’re targeting areas like Lawrenceville, East Liberty, many of the eastern neighborhoods, the South Side, of course, and in suburban areas as well,” Rosenfeld said. “Our goal is to reach every young Jew, no matter where they are. As a result, we’re going to continue to do events wherever the best venue is.” Last year, when CYP couldn’t host large in-person gatherings because of the pandemic, the value of one-on-one personal relationships became clear, Rosenfeld said. “It really pushed us to think out of the box and understand what people are looking for,” he said. “What we found is that people are looking for meaningful relationships,

Orenstein’s strongest belief when it comes to justice — not law, which they say is different — comes down to treating others with respect and kindness. The point is illustrated, Orenstein said, by the Talmudic story of a gentile who wanted to convert to Judaism. The man told Rabbi Shammai, a member of the Sanhedrin, that he would accept Judaism only if he would teach him the entire Torah while the prospective convert stood on one foot. Rabbi Shammai would not do it, but Rabbi Hillel, another Sanhedrin member, did, saying, “What is hateful to you, do not do to your neighbor. That is the Torah, the rest is commentary,” Orenstein recounted. “None of that matters unless the center of who we are as a people is to be kind to others,” Orenstein said. “That’s who I am at my core because I am Jewish.” They will try to be forgiving as a judge, they said. “I see justice at its heart as restoration, as making things better across the board,”

Orenstein said. “The other approach was focused on punishment, how to reprimand those who had done wrong.” Orenstein believes those concepts and stances “really resonated with a lot of voters.” The main drive of their campaign was “to treat people kindly, to treat people with respect and to take each case with the seriousness and respect it deserves. We are all people and we all deserve that kind of respect.” Orenstein, who had three grandparents who survived the Holocaust, said that “Jewish identity is, at its core, a major part of who I am — the idea that I am only here because of the sacrifice of others. That’s just been a part of my family and the center of who we are. Intertwined in this idea is that tikkun olam is the center of what we should be doing as the Jewish people.” Judaism also taught Orenstein that God is merciful and kind. “That idea reinforces the core concept that we should be working for others, to take care of the stranger, to take care of the people who

cannot take care of themselves,” Orenstein said. Orenstein, though, is quick to note their limitations as well. “I know I’m not going to solve everything — I’m not going to make the right decision every time,” they said. “But we’re not trying to articulate the ideal of justice, because that’s an impossible thing … But that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t be trying and learning from our mistakes.” When asked about future plans, Orenstein responded: “Tzedek, tzedek, tirdof,” which translates as “Justice, justice, you shall pursue.” A law degree is not necessary to be a magisterial judge; one only needs to live in their magisterial district for one year. “Law is not the same as justice,” Orenstein said. “At the end of the day, the important thing is we that we don’t end up hurting people while we’re getting there.” PJC

and meaningful relationships typically get sparked in smaller settings.” The new loft setting, Rosenfeld said, is the perfect atmosphere for creating relationships, both between individuals and the community. “That’s how Judaism flourishes,” he said. Unlike other Chabad centers that cast a wide net with their classes and events, CYP is designed for Jews in a particular stage of life: adults, age 22-38, who are post-college and pre-family. The goal is to fill the gap before those young Jews enter larger communal organizations. “We’re looking to fill voids where services aren’t being offered,” Rosenfeld said. Regardless of a person’s age or stage of life, Rosenfeld knows the importance of food in Jewish community. He said the Shabbat

meals he hosts with his wife, Sarah, will continue to be held at the couple’s home. CYP’s biweekly Bagel, Lox and Tefillin, though, which used to meet at locations across the city, is now held at the Loft. Having the event regularly at the same spot has already proven the value of the site, making programming logistically easier and increasing the number of people who attend. Orly Olbum, 26, is finishing her master’s in statistics at the University of Pittsburgh while working full time as a data scientist at a startup software company. She attends the weekly Wednesday night Women, Wine and Wisdom class taught by Sarah Rosenfeld. She said the class has nearly doubled in size since moving to the Loft. “We’ve always had good snacks, and they make it a very welcoming atmosphere,” Olbum

said. “This is different than having it at their house, which is also very comfortable, but this makes it more of a young professional space.” Rosenfeld views the Loft as another innovative way to help CYP accomplish its mission. “One of our big philosophies is that every single Jew is a lamplighter,” he said. “Our job is to turn on the lamp and the flame within every person. We strongly believe that while we spread Jewish warmth, if we continue to provide opportunities for Jewish people to take part in their Judaism, people will find us.” This year’s Drinks and Dreidels event will be held Dec. 2, at Slate Studio in the Strip District. For more information, go to cyppittsburgh.com. PJC

“CMU cares deeply about the safety and well-being of our students and works diligently to foster an environment of respect and inclusivity. The preliminary investigation of the incident that transpired at the fence earlier this week indicated that the actions were not negatively motivated but inadvertently occurred when a university employee was cleaning up leftover paint. “The university is grateful to the students who painted the Fence to honor the Tree of Life victims and we will continue to provide support to members of our Jewish community at this time of remembrance.” Hillel’s Marcus said he appreciated “the alacrity with which CMU investigated and concluded this, and we understand this was an unfortunate accident.” Last May, during the conflict between Israel and Gaza, a CMU student group painted the words “Israel is an Apartheid State. Save Sheik Jarrah” on the Fence, causing many Jewish students to fear antisemitic motives. Since that incident, “there is a good degree of vigilance and wariness” among Jewish students on campus, Leventhal said. In regard to the black paint spilled on the Fence this week, Leventhal said he is

“willing to believe it was an accident.” But he does think that university officials could have been more “proactive” in getting that information out to students earlier to quell any concerns of antisemitism. “It was unfortunate and scary for students to see that in the morning without an apology from the university,” Leventhal said. “We were the ones who had to see it, to discuss it, to email campus police about it. It would’ve been nice if we had some sort of communication and assurance from the university before we saw it.” In general, Leventhal stressed, Jewish students “do have support from the university,” noting with appreciation the presence of senior CMU officials at the Oct. 26 and Oct. 27 commemoration events. Prior to hearing from the university that the paint spillage was accidental, Jewish students debated how to respond. Hesitant to post about it on social media for fear of igniting antisemitism, Leventhal said, they came up with another solution. “We painted over it that night,” Leventhal said. PJC

CMU: Continued from page 7

been spilled over their “Stronger Than Hate” symbol and over an image of a candle painted on one of the pillars of the Fence. Several Jewish students were concerned that it might be an act of antisemitism. “It looks really bad,” Silverman told the Chronicle. “The students have a fear of antisemitism. It’s an issue we’re addressing on campus.” After discovering the black paint defacing their message on the Fence, Jewish students reached out to campus police and notified university officials. CMU determined that it was not an antisemitic incident. “Campus police are 100% certain it was an accident,” said Shawn Brokos, director of community security for the Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh. Detectives investigated the incident, including a review of a video recording of what occurred, and determined that a maintenance worker assigned to clean up the area had placed a can of black paint on top of the pillar and it PITTSBURGHJEWISHCHRONICLE.ORG

p Black paint was spilled on one of the pillars of the Fence on Nov. 2, 2021. Photo by Yael Canaan

accidentally spilled, Brokos told the Chronicle. “Carnegie Mellon University takes these matters seriously,” Shilpa Bakre, CMU’s interim managing director of communications, wrote in an email to the Chronicle.

PITTSBURGH JEWISH CHRONICLE

Justin Vellucci is a freelance writer living in Pittsburgh.

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

Toby Tabachnick can be reached at ttabachnick@pittsburghjewishchronicle.org. NOVEMBER 12, 2021 15

Life & Culture Shiva meals: The ultimate comfort food the committee has dropped off food at a family’s front door, which she said feels like a “weird” way to interact with a family mourning. Kirshner said the food for the consolation meal can be anything the family desires, but traditionally it includes a fish tray or cold cuts, salads, kugel and

— FOOD — By David Rullo | Staff Writer

that experience, when I go to a shiva, I bring challah because it’s something that everyone appreciates unless you can’t eat gluten,” she said. “And, it’s a gift from the heart.” Fingeret-Rulin goes the extra mile when it comes to comforting mourners. In addition to the challah, she leaves a card letting the family know that when they’re ready, she will bring them a Shabbat meal. Most families, she said, really appreciate that gesture because they’re still grieving after the shiva and don’t necessarily feel like cooking. While the Squirrel Hill native considers herself a baker, she admits that the challah recipe she uses isn’t her own. It’s from Chani Altein, co-director of Chabad of Squirrel Hill. Altein doesn’t take food to a family during shiva, but like Fingeret-Rulin, makes a Shabbat dinner for them instead. “Generally, if the family isn’t vegetarian, I do chicken legs and some starch on the side, and a salad and soup — if it’s winter — or another vegetable dish, and then a dessert,” Altein said. “I really feel like food is one of those ways you can show your love and that you care.” Beth El Congregation of the South Hills has a more expansive tradition than simply bringing a platter of food to a shiva. “We do something that I don’t think any other congregation in the country does,” said Cheryl Kirshner, who organizes the congregation’s shiva assistance committee. “We take over for the families. It’s such a difficult time for them to deal with things like who to order food from for the meal of consolation. So, we offer to take care of it for each and every family.” Pre-pandemic, Kirshner said, the committee would bring food to the family’s house for the meal of consolation and set up everything in preparation for their return home from the funeral, and then stay to help clean up. For the last year, though,

hard-boiled eggs. “Shiva is different,” she said. “It’s open to the community. We provide all the beverages and pastries if enough hasn’t been brought. We try and make sure the families have dinner for the entire week of shiva.” For Falcone, the idea of comforting survivors after a death is natural, unique and wholly Jewish. “It’s filling and it’s warm, and it’s exactly what you need at that moment — at least, it’s exactly what I need,” he said. Matthew Falcone’s baked ziti Ingredients: 6 garlic cloves (crushed) Kosher salt, to taste Ground pepper, to taste 1 cup whole milk 1 cup, or slightly more, of grated parmesan cheese 2-3 boxes of Barilla ziti 1 1/2 pounds mozzarella, pulled 1 pound ricotta Rosemary, to taste Oregano, to taste

16 NOVEMBER 12, 2021

as the deputy director and director of administration. At the time she was hired by Tree of Life, Feige called her new role “a professional challenge and a personal honor.” In her email, Sikov Gross said the announcement was made with “mixed feelings” and that the congregation thanked Feige for “her dedicated service to the Tree of Life community.” Over the coming weeks, according to the email, the board of trustees, personnel

Boil water in Dutch oven then add noodles. Cook until al dente. Strain noodles and put back in the pot. Add butter and eggs and mix well until butter is melted and eggs are absorbed. Add sour cream, cottage cheese and orange juice and mix well. Add sugar and cinnamon and mix well. Grease a 9-by-12-inch glass baking dish with butter and add noodle mixture. Crush corn flakes and cover the top. Dot with butter or margarine. Bake at 350 F for 1 hour or an hour-anda-half (depending on your oven), until a toothpick comes out clean. Chani’s Altein’s challah recipe, halved (makes 3 large loaves) Ingredients: 2 tablespoons yeast 1 teaspoon sugar 2 cups warm water 3 eggs 1/4 cup + 2 tablespoons oil (6 tablespoons) 1 1/4 cup sugar 8 cups flour 1 tablespoon salt

Directions:

Make sauce. (For my sauce recipe, you’ll need to marry into la famiglia. But, if you’re using Hunt’s as your base, or cooking for less than three days… reconsider your life choices.) Boil ziti in salted water according to package directions, then drain thoroughly. Combine ricotta with garlic, pepper, salt, rosemary and oregano. Set oven to 425 F. Layer sauce (start with bottom layer of sauce), ziti, ricotta filling, and dust with mozzarella and parmesan cheese until pan is full. Make sure the top layer has extra cheese. Bake 30-40 minutes until sauce is bubbling and cheese on top is golden brown. Cool, wrap in foil – then deliver.

Tree of Life, executive director parting ways

arb Feige will step down as the executive director of Tree of Life Congregation at the end of the year, according to an email sent to its members by the congregation’s president, Cindy Sikov Gross. Feige was hired in July 2019, eight months after the Oct. 27, 2018 massacre at the Tree of Life building, the deadliest antisemitic incident in the country’s history. Previous to her time with the congregation, Feige worked with the American Civil Liberties Union of Pennsylvania for 16 years, serving

Directions:

committee and steering committee will work to solidify the “appropriate professional structure and talent needed to ensure the ongoing operations” of the congregation. The transition comes at a critical time for Tree of Life. Last May, Daniel Libeskind was chosen as the lead architect to reimagine the site of the congregation’s building. The renovation is part of Tree of Life’s REMEMBER. REBUILD. RENEW. campaign to commemorate the events of Oct. 27. The reimagined space, on the corner of Wilkins and Shady

PITTSBURGH JEWISH CHRONICLE

Directions:

Dissolve yeast, 1 tablespoon of sugar and warm water in mixing bowl and set aside until bubbly. Add 1 1/4 cup sugar, oil and eggs and mix. Add the salt, then gradually add the flour, cup by cup. Knead dough until smooth. (Add a little more flour if needed.) Allow dough to rise 1 hour, then shape and brush with egg (or egg and honey) mixture. Allow loaves to rise one more hour, then bake uncovered at 350 F for 35-45 minutes, or until golden brown. PJC David Rullo can be reached at drullo@ pittsburghjewishchronicle.org.

avenues, will include areas for worship, reflection and classrooms, as well as exhibitions and public programs of the Holocaust Center of Pittsburgh. The congregation has not revealed how the project will be funded or what its fundraising goals are for the renovation. A spokesperson for Tree of Life did not respond to interview requests as of the time of publication. PJC — David Rullo PITTSBURGHJEWISHCHRONICLE.ORG

Photo by EzumeImages via iStock Images

he baked ziti Matthew Falcone brings to a shiva helps him reconnect to his Italian upbringing. “It has always been a part of my family tradition that when someone dies, you bring copious amounts of food for their family,” said Falcone, president of Rodef Shalom Congregation. For Falcone, the food serves as a bridge between his life before he converted to Judaism and today. “When you convert, you have to navigate what you’re going to bring to the religion, what kind of practices you change,” he said. “Italians have a lot of rituals about death and how grieving works. Once I started the conversion process and began to understand how shivas worked, there were a lot of commonalities there. So, instead of bringing a plate of cold cuts or bringing bagels, I thought I would continue making ziti.” Falcone said the dish is always warmly welcomed, partly because it’s, well, warm. He noted that often families are overwhelmed by too many trays of cold cuts and lox and bagels, and appreciate the thought that goes into a home-cooked dish. “Plus, it adds a little variety,” he said. When Lynn Rubenson makes the noodle kugel that she brings to families sitting shiva, she’s continuing a tradition started by her mother. In fact, Rubenson said the casserole pan she uses to bake the kugel still has a piece of masking tape on the bottom with her mother’s name — a throwback to the days when families received lots of homemade food and would need to know who to return the pans to. Rubenson said that shiva hospitality at Temple Sinai, where she is a member, extends a lot further than simply bringing food to families in mourning. “We have shiva coordinators that help set up chairs and get out prayer books,” she said. “Sometimes people need more help.” It’s not always a hot meal that provides comfort during a shiva. Paula Fingeret-Rulin said the challah bread she brings to a shiva is informed by her experience after her father passed away, when her family received an overabundance of main dishes. “It’s just not in our DNA to waste, so after

Lynn Rubenson’s mother Shirley’s noodle kugel Ingredients: One package extra-wide egg noodles Three eggs 1/4 pound butter or margarine (one stick) 8 ounces sour cream 1/2 cup cottage cheese 1/3 cup orange juice 2 1/2 cups sugar (add another half cup if you prefer sweeter) Cinnamon (at least a half cup) Corn flakes

Life & Culture Escarole and chickpeas: Greens and beans 20 minutes and can easily be doubled for a larger crowd.

— FOOD —

 Ingredients for escarole and chickpeas By Jessica Grann | Special to the Chronicle

reens and beans is a classic Italian dish that is quick to make and full of vitamins and protein. Escarole, which tastes slightly more bitter than spinach, is a different ingredient to add into your leafy green vegetable rotation. I like this recipe because it can be easily adapted to work with a vegan or lacto-vegetarian diet, and you can also add it to pasta, which is very satisfying. This recipe serves 3-4, cooks in less than

Ingredients: 1 head of escarole, washed, drained and roughly chopped 1 can of cannellini beans or 1 can of garbanzo beans, rinsed and drained 3-5 tablespoons good quality olive oil 1 cup water with 1 teaspoon of pareve Osem consommé mix 5 cloves garlic, peeled and thinly sliced ½ teaspoon salt ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes Optional: ½ pound (half a box) of small pasta like farfalle or rotini cooked according to package and drained Parmesan cheese to sprinkle on top

Chef ’s note: If you’re going to make this with pasta, start cooking the pasta first so it is ready to mix in as soon as the greens and beans are finished.

 Escarole and chickpeas

Photos by Jessica Grann

Directions:

Place a sauté pan over medium-low heat. Add the olive oil to warm, then add in the beans or chickpeas a minute later. Sauté, stirring occasionally for 3-4 minutes before stirring in the sliced garlic and red pepper flakes. Stir and cook for 1 more minute before adding in the escarole, being careful not to

burn the garlic. Raise the heat to medium and cook for 3-5 minutes, stirring occasionally until the escarole is wilted. Add the consommé, water and salt and allow to cook until the liquid reduces, another 4-5 minutes. You can serve this immediately, or if you

wish to add it to the pasta, stir in pasta and add another 1-2 tablespoons of olive oil to the pan. Sprinkle with parmesan cheese if desired, but it’s a wonderful dish if you wish to make it vegan. Enjoy and bless your hands! PJC Jessica Grann is a home chef living in Pittsburgh.

Real Estate BUYING OR SELLING?

REALTOR SERVICES

FOR RENT

Are You Buying or Selling a Home? Let Us Guide You Through the Process!

5125 Fifth Ave.

CALL THE SMITH-ROSENTHAL TEAM TODAY.

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

”Finest in Shadyside”

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

412-661-4456

Contact me today to discuss all of your real estate needs! WANTED: MULTI FAMILY UNITS/PORTFOLIOS

www.kaminrealty.kamin.com Smith-Rosenthal Team

Jason A. Smith & Caryn Rosenthal Jason: 412-969-2930 | Caryn: 412-389-1695 Jasonasmith@howardhanna.com Carynrosenthal@howardhanna.com

5501 Baum Blvd. Pittsburgh PA 15232 Shadyside Ofﬁce | 412-361-4000

Business & Professional Directory AUTOS WANTED

CAREGIVER AVAILABLE

AUTOS WANTED 724-287-7771 BUYING CAR$ $UV$ TRUCK$ VAN$ Denny Off$tein Auto $ale$ FREE Legal Title Transfer FREE Vehicle Pick up

I’M AN EXPERIENCED CAREGIVER Squirrel Hill Area Kosher meals, errands, companion, meds supervision, personal care, laundry, light housekeeping. Part time/full time. $20 per hour. 412-509-2005 to leave message.

PITTSBURGHJEWISHCHRONICLE.ORG

CNA AVAILABLE

SENIOR CARE

CNA seeking evening, personal care position.

SENIOR CARE

I have over 25 years of experience and excellent references. Don’t delay, call Dorothy today: 412-537-0567! (Please leave a message if I miss you and I will return your call ASAP)

I am hard-working and dedicated with over 25 years of experience with senior in-home care assistance. I’m available evenings, weekends and some overnights, if needed.

Please call Denise at 412-608-4616.

PITTSBURGH JEWISH CHRONICLE

GET THE news. THEN GET THE FULL STORY

❀ In the Pittsburgh Jewish Chronicle For home delivery, call 410.902.2308

NOVEMBER 12, 2021 17

Celebrations

Torah

B’not Mitzvah

The ladder: An opportunity to climb to great heights Rabbi Levi Langer Parshat Vayetzei | Genesis 28:10 - 32:3

I On Saturday, Nov. 13, 2021, Micah and Sophia Cooper will be called to the Torah at Temple Emanuel of South Hills. They are the daughters of Michael Cooper and Dawn Cooper, the granddaughters of Gerald and Janet Cooper, and the great-granddaughters of the late Peter and Charlotte Cooper of Mt. Lebanon.

Birth Dr. Michael and Emily Cohen are excited to announce the birth of Sophie Quinn’s brother, Brody Lucas Cohen, July 21, 2021. Grandparents are Dr. Robert and Debbie Cohen, of Boca Raton, Florida, formerly of Pittsburgh, and Martin and Janis Jacobs of Yardley, Pennsylvania, and Boynton Beach, Florida. Great-grandmother is Jacqueline C. Weiser of Delray Beach, Florida, formerly of Pittsburgh. Brody Lucas is named in loving memory of his great-great-grandfather Alex Clovsky, and his great-grandmother Carol Jacobs.

Engagement Cheryl Blumenfeld, Harold Blumenfeld and Sheryl Riddle, along with the family of Cheryl Vibbert and Paul Vibbert of Cleveland, Ohio, are thrilled to announce the engagement of their children Morgan and Ryan. Morgan Staci Blumenfeld and Ryan David Vibbert began a long-distance relationship between Columbus, Ohio, and Boston, Massachusetts, in 2018. After over three years together they are settled in Columbus, Ohio, with their dog Miller. Morgan works as a clinical therapist at the Ohio State University and Ryan is a lead of software development delivery at JP Morgan Chase Bank. Morgan and Ryan expect to marry in Pittsburgh in 2023. PJC

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

n this week’s Torah reading we are told of our forefather Jacob who, fleeing from his brother Esau, stops in Bethel to spend the night there. While sleeping, he sees a vision of a ladder stretching from the earth to the heavens, with celestial angels climbing and descending the ladder. Rabbi Chaim of Volozhin, a great Jewish leader and kabbalist at the turn of the 19th century, writes that in this vision, Jacob was taught a profound lesson: He was shown that he, himself a mortal human, was really a towering figure stretching to the heavens, whose every action determined even the activities of the angels. And it wasn’t just about Jacob, adds Rabbi Chaim: This idea holds true for each and every one of us as well. Though we may think we are unimportant and that our deeds are insignificant, in reality we serve as the linchpin which holds together all of creation, from the earth to the heavens — and even the angels in heaven are impacted by the things we do and the choices we make. Perhaps there is an additional lesson here as well. Up to this point Jacob had been comfortably ensconced in the home of his father, Isaac, living without any cares. But henceforth Jacob was to enter a new chapter in his life. He would encounter hardships and challenges at every step, and his relative, Laban, would attempt to trick him and defraud him numerous times. It would have been easy for Jacob to

succumb to despair, to give up in the face of all the difficulties. That is why the Almighty sent him a powerful message at this moment: It is precisely at times like these, when we’re beset by challenges, that the choices we make, and the effort we put into doing things right, are most important. In fact, Jacob’s most productive period in terms of spiritual growth would occur at this time, when he had to keep strong to maintain his faith and his beliefs, and not allow his personal goals to be undermined. This is a recurring theme that we encounter with numerous great figures in Scripture. Moses had a speech defect. David was scorned and looked down upon by his brothers. Each of these individuals confronted their challenges, and undeterred they resolutely followed their chosen path to accomplish their goals. Each became a heroic figure whose living example illuminates our own path to this very day. It was to be a long and hard road ahead, but at the beginning of his journey Jacob was shown the image of the ladder along with its message: This very moment, as he began to confront the obstacles in his life, he was being offered the opportunity to climb to great heights. And so too with each of us as we face our own challenges. We too may find comfort in the image of the ladder, which tells us of the road ahead, which won’t be easy, but which will provide us with opportunities to grow and become better people. PJC

Rabbi Levi Langer is the dean of the Kollel Jewish Learning Center. This column is a service of the Vaad Harabanim of Greater Pittsburgh.

Federation names Alexis Polakoff as Community Campaign director

“We are thrilled about Alexis’ he Jewish Federation promotion to director of of Greater Pittsburgh Community Campaign,” said has announced the Brian Eglash, the Federation’s promotion of Alexis Polakoff senior vice president and to the position of director of its chief development officer, in Community Campaign. a prepared statement. “She The Campaign, which raised has done an outstanding job $13.675 million last year, provides  Alexis Polakoff running the day-to-day operafunding to Pittsburgh Jewish Photo provided tions of the Campaign over the agencies as well as other Jewish last five months, and her prior developcauses worldwide. ment experience positioned her well for the “I am honored to take on this role,” vitally important role she will play in the Polakoff said in a prepared statement. “I look Pittsburgh community. ” forward to deepening my relationships in Polakoff holds a master’s in psychology from the community and helping the Federation New York University and attended Carnegie support Pittsburgh’s incredible agencies Mellon University as an undergraduate. and programs.” “While attending school in Pittsburgh, Polakoff, who is a relative newcomer to I discovered that the city offers so much,” Pittsburgh, joined the Federation about Polakoff said. “Pittsburgh is a wonderful a year ago as a development officer. Her place to live and work, and I hope my prior nonprofit experience includes serving as director of The Lab School Fund, professional contributions enrich an already Washington, D.C., and managing events thriving community.” PJC and event fundraising at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. — Toby Tabachnick

PITTSBURGH JEWISH CHRONICLE

PITTSBURGHJEWISHCHRONICLE.ORG

Obituaries DICKMAN: Miriam (Mimi) Dickman passed on, at age 97, on Oct. 24, 2021. Beloved mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, she was loved by all who knew her, friends and family alike. She served as nurse in both Peabody and Allderdice high schools where she was fondly sought out for her thoughtful advice and warm encouragement. Avid bridge player and loyal friend, her true passion was her grandchildren whom she adored and spoiled unabashedly. On one occasion, after a week’s visit, she waved good-bye, with tears in her eyes, and said to one, “I’m going to miss you.” He responded, “Grandma, I’ll miss you even more!” She is survived by her children, Dr. Moshe Dickman (Jerusalem), Dr. Howard Dickman (St. Paul), Sandy Cohen and David Dickman(Pittsburgh). KOHANE: Vlada Miriam Kohane, devoted wife, mother and daughter, passed away peacefully at her Squirrel Hill home surrounded by close family on Shabbos, Oct. 16, 2021 (10 Cheshvan 5782). A refugee from Moscow, Russia, who arrived with her loving parents, Paul and Regina, in Pittsburgh in 1991, Vlada had little knowledge of Judaism growing up. However, she soon blossomed into a lifelong lover of Torah, tefilah and chesed after a dental appointment turned into daily courtship with her eventual lifetime sweetheart, Dr. Leon Kohane. After their marriage in 1992, they settled into a warm and loving home on Beacon Street, where Vlada merited to raise two smart

and wonderful sons, Benjamin and Steven. Despite her ovarian cancer diagnosis in late 2016, she fought and survived to see both of her sons married, take trips to Israel and London, and continue working at Duquesne University, her employer for over 20 years. For years, Miriam gave generously of her time and talents to local organizations like Hillel Academy and Congregation Poale Zedeck, and devoted herself to her family, colleagues, and especially her friends, with whom she would share books, lively discussions and Shabbos afternoon walks around the neighborhood. Services and burial were held at Poale Zedeck Memorial Park Cemetery, and Miriam’s shloshim period concludes on Nov. 15. Miriam is survived by her husband Leon, her sons Benjamin (Tova) and Steven (Frumie), and her father, Paul Kotlyar, in addition to cousins, friends, and many more. The family continues to appreciate messages of condolences and stories of this terrific and strong woman via memorials ofmiriam@gmail.com. LEVINE: Ethel “Etty” (Leibovitz) Levine passed away peacefully on Wednesday, Nov. 3, 2021, at the age of 100. She was married to the love of her life, the late Sidney “Schmully” Levine, for 55 years. She was one of eight children. She was born and raised in the Hill District, where she met her husband. She was a kind, compassionate caring mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. She lived with her daughter Marcia for the past 16 years in Jacksonville, Florida. Her children

and family were her life. She was the daughter of Zeilig and Hanna Leibovitz. She is survived by her four children, Andrea Kush of Greensburg, Jackie and Larry Drysdale of Ontario, Canada, Marcia Levine of Jacksonville, Florida, and Zale and Karen Levine of North Huntingdon. She was the beloved sister of the late Manny, Harry, Joe, Shloy, Izzy, Sarah and Rae “Ootchey” Leibovitz. Beloved grandmother of Dan and Jessica Drysdale of Ontario, Canada, and beloved great-grandmother of Jada, Logan and Brody Drysdale of Ontario, Canada. She made everybody that she met feel like family. Services were held at Ralph Schugar Chapel, Inc. Interment Cneseth Israel Cemetery. schugar.com ORNITZ: Rob er t Arthur Ornitz, youngest son of the late Nathaniel B. Ornitz and Anne Ornitz, died on Oct. 29, 2021, in Delray Beach, Florida, from the consequences of a fall. He had just turned 98. He is survived by his wife of 73 years, Ruth Friedman Ornitz; his children, Carol Ornitz Rehman, Janet Anne Ornitz, and Robert N. Ornitz (Lorri); and his only grandchild, Jonathan Parker Parry. Bob grew up in Pittsburgh. He went to

Taylor Allderdice, where he swam competitively, and he was a proud WW II veteran. He returned on a troop ship with a red Chow Chow puppy under his arm that he named King. He and King met Ruth, who was the love of his life, soon after. Bob and King went to Cornell University where Bob got a degree in engineering and King was given a special degree as well, as he had attended every one of Bob’s classes. At Cornell, Bob was part of the swim team, and he lived a lifetime of staying in condition. Bob and Ruth married in 1948, and raised their family in the house that Ruth’s grandfather built on Aylesboro Avenue in Pittsburgh. From there, Bob and Ruth traveled the world together, and played golf, tennis and bridge together. They later moved to Florida, where they continued to play golf, tennis and bridge. After Ruth, the second greatest passion in Bob’s life was golf. He was a true student of the game and a very accomplished golfer. For decades he reviewed golf courses around the world for Golf Digest magazine. When he was in his 80s he played in the Super Seniors pro golf tour, and he continued to pass on his love of the game by continuing to play golf at every opportunity and by giving golf lessons. He gave his last golf lesson three days before his death. Bob would tell you that he had a wonderful life. His family and friends would tell you that he was kind, and one of a kind, and he will be deeply missed.

Please see Obituaries, page 20