Pittsburgh Jewish Chronicle 4-1-22 by Pittsburgh Jewish Chronicle

April 1, 2022 | 29 Adar II 5782

Candlelighting 7:27 p.m. | Havdalah 8:27 p.m. | Vol. 65, No. 13 | pittsburghjewishchronicle.org

NOTEWORTHY LOCAL One man’s trash is another man’s treasure

Pittsburgher’s train — and rabbinical students — shepherd Ukrainians to safety

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JFCS clarifies Ukrainian immigration protocols By Adam Reinherz | Staff Writer

College is used to addressing an audience, but not like this. Since March 8, he has traveled across Germany, delivering food, translating and offering thousands of Ukrainian refugees whatever he can. Some days, Kovtun stands for hours on a railway platform in Frankfurt distributing water. On the day he spoke with the Chronicle, he boarded a train, helping refugees determine where to head next. Almost 239,000 Ukrainians have entered Germany since Feb. 24, according to the German Interior Ministry. As welcoming as Germany is, there’s a

uring the past several weeks, many Pittsburghers have contacted JFCS (Jewish Family and Community Services), a resettlement agency, asking when Ukrainian refugees will arrive in the U.S. and how they can help. As thoughtful as the concerns are, the questions are driven by an erroneous conflation of the Afghan crisis and what’s transpiring in Eastern Europe, said Jordan Golin, JFCS’ president and CEO, at a March 23 press briefing. “The way in which Afghan refugees were sent to our community, and the speed with which it happened, was not typical of the usual way that refugee crises are handled,“ Golin said. “The Afghan response was an expedited process that the U.S. government created to assist as many Afghan people as possible, as quickly as possible, under very unique conditions.” The U.S. government has not responded similarly to Ukrainians, or their situation, said Jamie Englert, JFCS’ director of immigration legal services Between Feb. 24 and March 23, more than 3.6 million refugees fled Ukraine, according to the United Nations. “Unfortunately, at this time, there are very few pathways legally for Ukrainians, who have been displaced, to arrive and enter the United States,” Englert said. Three options exist, but none are immediately promising, JFCS staffers explained. First, Ukrainians who arrived in the U.S. before March 1 may apply for temporary protected status, which will allow them to work and live in the U.S. for 18 months without deportation. Second, Ukrainians with an immediate family member in the U.S. may seek participation in the U.S. family reunification program. Immediate family members are defined as an unmarried child under the

Please see Train, page 14

Please see Immigration, page 14

Chabad rabbi finds spiritual mementos in dumpster Page 4

LOCAL Cyril Wecht on JFK, Jeffrey Epstein and Bob Saget World-renowned coroner to tell tales at local theater Page 5

NATIONAL The complicated world of Jewish philanthropy

 Henry Posner III (second from left) joins RDC-D staff and helpers in Frankfurt/Oder on March 12. Photo courtesy of Henry Posner III By Adam Reinherz | Staff Writer

Jewish Funders Network gathers for first conference since pandemic Page 9

lex Kovtun returned to his dorm an hour ago. He still hasn’t showered. It’s almost 10 p.m. in Potsdam, Germany, and by the time he finishes speaking with the Chronicle, there will be just five hours before he wakes and returns to the train. Kovtun, 31, apologizes for the sound of his voice. Its hoarseness isn’t due to cigarettes, he said. “I don’t smoke, but I’ve been speaking so much.” The yarmulke-clad Ukrainian-born rabbinical student at Abraham Geiger

keep your eye on PittsburghJewishChronicle LOCAL

A conversation with Steve Irwin

LOCAL

A conversation with Jerry Dickinson

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Headlines Congressional hopeful Steve Irwin meets Jewish voters — LOCAL — By David Rullo | Staff Writer

itting before a pink wall displaying blue and green campaign signs in his East Liberty headquarters, congressional hopeful Steve Irwin answered questions and shared his thoughts during a March 23 town hall meeting organized by the Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh’s Community Relations Council. Irwin hopes to win the Democratic nomination to fill the newly created 12th Congressional District. Much of the district is now represented by Mike Doyle, a congressman since 1995 in the 18th district. The new 12th district was redrawn after the 2020 U.S. Census and is comprised of the city of Pittsburgh as well as some eastern and southern suburbs, including parts of Westmoreland County. During the hour-long discussion, Irwin fielded questions from CRC Director Laura Cherner about why he was running, the current Russia Ukraine conflict, infrastructure, Israel, Holocaust education and other topics important to Jewish voters trying to decide between frontrunners Irwin, Jerry Dickinson and Summer Lee and two other candidates — William Parker and Jeff Woodard. Irwin said the region has come a long way during Doyle’s 25 years of leadership, but there are still many young people living paycheck to paycheck, and some families that are struggling to send their children to college, grappling with mental health issues and caring for the elderly. “What does the future of this region look like?” Irwin asked. “Our country is challenged as a democracy, and we’re challenged globally because of climate change, and now geopolitically because of what’s happening in Ukraine.”

p Laura Cherner questions Steve Irwin during a town hall meeting on March 23. Photo by James Busis

Citing the collapse of the Fern Hollow Bridge, Cherner asked Irwin how he would address infrastructure needs. Irwin pointed to his experience working as a legislative aide to former Sen. Arlen Specter, when one of his responsibilities was infrastructure. He worked on several local projects including the Port Authority T Line to the South Hills and rehabilitating the Bloomfield Bridge. “I know how to get legislation authorized,” he said. “I know how to get the appropriations after it.” Discussing the rise in gas and energy prices, Irwin said he is considering supporting a carbon tax.

Moving to foreign policy, Cherner asked Irwin about the conflict in Ukraine and the possibility of a new deal with Iran. Irwin said he was using his experience as a lawyer to try to get Ukrainian women and children classified as refugees so some of those who are displaced can enter the U.S. “It’s very complex, but we need to be committed to spending money to try and protect them because Putin’s not going to stop there,” he said. Irwin said the country is less safe today because of former President Donald Trump’s exit from the Iran deal but that keeping Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons was imperative. The congressional hopeful rebuked recent

accusations by Amnesty International that Israel was guilty of apartheid and a recent decision (since reversed) by the Sierra Club to stop trips to Israel. “This, in my mind, is BDS (the boycott, divest and sanctions movement against Israel) and it’s not helpful,” Irwin said. “They are statements that undermine Israel’s right to exist. Israel is a pluralistic society … Israel has a right to exist, and I’ll do everything to make sure Israel’s here.” Discussing BDS and antisemitism, Irwin cited his time as chair of the Federation’s CRC and his involvement with the Anti-Defamation League. He stressed the need to continue to offer funding and assistance to Jewish organizations, as well as ongoing education to combat hate. Irwin addressed his recent campaign controversy in which it was discovered that one of his petition circulators appeared to have forged some signatures. Those actions, he said, were “an incredible breach of trust.” The person responsible was the only paid employee collecting signatures, he said. After an internal investigation, that person was fired and their name was turned over to the district attorney’s office for possible prosecution. Irwin said that his campaign collected more than 2,000 signatures and that only 1,000 are required to get on the ballot. Cherner closed the question-and-answer session by asking about identity. Irwin, she noted, is Jewish, but he is perceived by many outside of the Jewish community as white. He is running against a Black man and a Black woman for the congressional seat. Irwin said that when he moved to Pittsburgh after living in Washington, D.C., he was surprised to see the city’s segregation. Please see Irwin, page 15

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APRIL 1, 2022

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Headlines Congressional hopeful Jerry Dickinson introduces himself to Pittsburgh’s Jewish community — LOCAL — By David Rullo | Staff Writer

ast week’s two “Coffee and Conversation” events sponsored by the Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh’s Community Relations Council were a study in contrast. A March 24 town hall-style featured congressional hopeful Jerry Dickinson, a constitutional law professor at the University of Pittsburgh. He is competing against two other Democratic frontrunners, Steve Irwin and Summer Lee, as well as candidates William Parker and Jeff Woodard. Much of the district is represented by Mike Doyle, who has served as a congressman since 1995 in the 18th district. The new 12th district was redrawn after the 2020 U.S. Census and is comprised of the city of Pittsburgh as well as some eastern and southern suburbs, including parts of West-moreland County. The question-and-answer session was held at Dickinson’s campaign headquarters on the second floor of a nondescript building on Murray Avenue. Irwin’s March 23 town hall meeting, in comparison, was held at his headquarters at an East Liberty address that appears primed to house the region’s next hipster restaurant when the campaign ends. While several recognizable faces — including some Democratic Party insiders — were in the audience at Irwin’s town hall, Dickinson’s was filled with people anxious to learn more about a candidate with whom they were unfamiliar. And while Irwin spoke of a career spent in public service and politics, endorsements and experience, Dickinson spoke aspirationally, like a candidate just dipping his toe into the political waters. In response to CRC Director Laura

Cherner’s first question, “Why are you running?” Dickinson spent several minutes introducing himself to the audience. The candidate said he was born in Pittsburgh to a Black father and white mother, both too poor to care for him as an infant. As a result, Dickinson was placed in the Allegheny County foster care system and grew up in a group home in Shaler, Pennsylvania, with 11 other children whom he considered his brothers and sisters. The experience, he said, shaped his worldview and drove him to become what he called a “change agent.” “To take all of those experiences to the political arena, where I don’t think many politicians have those experiences, I think that’s something unique I bring to the table,” he said. Dickinson, a father of two young daughters, said he is deeply concerned about the future his children will inherit and wants to work to ensure a safe, healthy and equitable world. Asked by Cherner about gentrification and displacement in Pittsburgh, Dickinson noted that the city recently lost more than 8,000 families, according to the 2020 census. He said gentrification and the lack of access to affordable housing played a role in that exit. Dickinson said he would work to secure a $2-3 million grant to create a “right to counsel” program, giving free legal counsel to tenants threatened with eviction. He also pointed to the importance of tax rebates and subsidies for renters. “I’m a progressive who likes to get things done,” he said. “Not a progressive who just says progressive platitudes. I want to get things done in Congress to benefit the community. I think I can do it. I’m excited about the opportunity.”

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Headlines Rabbi’s dumpster find reunites priceless mementos with owner — LOCAL — By David Rullo | Staff Writer

ne man’s trash is another man’s priceless memento — bestowed by a towering 20th-century religious leader. That’s what Rabbi Eli Wilansky found one day in early March. Wilansky, who was walking to B’nai Emunoh Chabad from his house in Greenfield on a Sunday afternoon, noticed newly discarded items in the trash. The rabbi had asked a few men to help clean the synagogue for Purim, and they discarded boxes of books along with other materials into a dumpster. Wanting to check on the progress of the cleanup, Wilansky peered into the dumpster and saw that it wasn’t only garbage filling the container: Inside was a box containing two holy books, or sefarim. And in the books were dollar bills — distributed by the Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem Schneerson. “At the bottom of the box there were two booklets, and I recognized them and said, ‘Hey, this looks interesting,’” Wilansky said. “Sure enough, there were two artifacts with the dollars.”

return the found treasure to its The Rebbe, Wilansky rightful owner. explained, often gave Wilansky said that the effort to books to his followers. clear space at Bnai Emunoh Chabad He recalled a time wasn’t just in anticipation of the when he was younger holiday. The Chabad Bnai Emunoh and living in Montreal is building two new mikvahs. when Schneerson was “We’re trying to get one of the distributing books about rooms cleaned out,” he said. “We marriage after his own had to get rid of a lot of books wedding anniversary. because of the construction of the “A public announcement mikvah. It’s getting pretty big. The was made,” Wilanksy said. men’s mikvah is going to be double “Some people chartered the size of the one in Squirrel Hill buses. They drove to New at the Lubavitch Center.” York just to get this dollar B’nai Emunoh Chabad recently with this booklet and completed a successful fundraiser, come right back. It was collecting more than $500,000 one of those times when for the project. you didn’t want to miss an The significance — and opportunity to receive one.” p Not everything thrown out is trash. Case in point: dollar bills given by the Rebbe. Photo by Rabbi Eli Wilanksy randomness — of his dumpster Schneerson would find aren’t lost on the rabbi. often spend hours on Sundays distributing brother of his brother-in-law. “If I wouldn’t have looked in the dumpster, dollar bills. His intention was that those He said that the books were donated and I would have moved on with my life,” he said. who received the money would donate it discarded in error. to charity, Wilanksy said. People would “People often just drop off things and “It was a Sunday afternoon. I just came in for often substitute a dollar of their own to go,” Wilansky said. “I called him [my a few minutes to check things out. It would give away and keep the memento for their brother-in-law] because these things are have been lost to history. Sometimes it’s private collection. priceless. People pay thousands of dollars about the right place at the right time.” PJC Wilansky said that as surprising as his just to get one.” dumpster find was, on closer examination Playing the part of a dumpster detecDavid Rullo can be reached at drullo@ he realized he knew the owner — it was the tive paid off. The rabbi was able to pittsburghjewishchronicle.org.

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Headlines JFK, Jeffrey Epstein and Bob Saget: Cyril Wecht’s ‘unscripted’ show at Lamp Theatre — LOCAL — By Adam Reinherz | Staff Writer

fter a two-year pandemic-related hiatus, Dr. Cyril Wecht will be back on stage discussing America’s most famous murders and deaths. On April 1 and 2 at the Lamp Theatre in Irwin, Wecht, a world-renowned Pittsburghbased forensic pathologist and attorney, will share tales of high-profile cases and insights from his nearly 60-year career. After earning a medical degree from the University of Pittsburgh in 1956 and a law degree from the University of Maryland in 1962, Wecht served as county commissioner and Allegheny County coroner and medical examiner, as well as president of the American College of Legal Medicine, the American Academy of Forensic Sciences, chairman of the board of trustees of the American Board of Legal Medicine and the American College of Legal Medicine Foundation. For a half-century, Wecht has performed more than 21,000 autopsies and weighed in on more than 40,000 death cases, including those of John F. Kennedy, Robert F. Kennedy, Please see Wecht, page 15

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APRIL 1, 2022

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 SUNDAY, APRIL 3

Pick up and paint your own seder plate at Temple Sinai. Kids can learn about Passover and get excited for the holiday with this fun and simple educational tool. All day. templesinaipgh.org. J-Serve is an international initiative of BBYO and the JCC that works to bring teens, adults and communities together in a Global Day of Service. Teens will participate in service projects around the greater Pittsburgh community. The events kick off with a Mega Teen Challah Bake on Thursday, March 31, and continue through the weekend. All teens in grades 6-12 are encouraged to register and show up for the community. 10 a.m. jccpgh. formstack.com/forms/jservepgh22. Join the Pittsburgh Jewish Chronicle’s Book Club for a discussion of “The Netanyahus: An Account of a Minor and Ultimately Even Negligible Episode in the History of a Very Famous Family,” by Joshua Cohen. The author will join us for part of the discussion. Noon. Email drullo@pittsburghjewishchronicle.org for the Zoom link and to register. Write “Chronicle Book Club” in the subject line. Does the invasion of Ukraine have you thinking about your Jewish roots there? Local genealogist Tammy Hepps hosts “Jewish Roots in Ukraine: Context and Connection,” a one-day, four-part workshop. Learn how to reconstruct your family’s history in Ukraine and interpret it within the larger context of Ukraine’s history. Noon. Online event. One hundred percent of proceeds will benefit the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee and Razom for Ukraine. newyorkfamilyhistory. app.neoncrm.com/np/clients/ newyorkfamilyhistory/event.jsp?event=1308. Classrooms Without Borders and The Ghetto Fighters’ House invites you to a book discussion on “Survival on the Margins: Polish Jewish Refugees in the Wartime Soviet Union.” Hear Eliyana Adler discuss her book with Natalia Aleksiun. 9 p.m. us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/ tZUpceippj4qG9B05Av9hEYXDKot1N1NkfC. Make your own matzah from scratch at the Model Matzah Bakery. Giant Pesach “I Spy,” crafts and more. Age 3-13. $5 in advance; $8 at the door. 2:30 p.m. 1701 McFarland Rd. chabadsh.com/matzahbakery. Join Temple Sinai for family Passover cooking. Grab the whole family and head to your kitchen to start preparing for Passover. Turn on your Zoom for a fun cooking experience. Perfect for parents and kids, grandparents and grandkids, or anyone wanting to get a head start with Passover preparation. Food prepared will

include kugel, a fruit dish and a dessert. 3 p.m. templesinaipgh.org. q SUNDAYS, APRIL 3-MAY 8

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 MONDAY, APRIL 4

Meet Pennsylvania Congressional District 12. Meet Rep. Summer Lee (D) during a Coffee & Conversation sponsored by the Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh’s Community Relations Council. Hear Lee speak about the rise in antisemitism, the crisis in Ukraine, the U.S./Israel relationship and the continuing need to ensure quality education for the community’s children. 7 p.m. jewishpgh.org/event/coffeeand-conversations-with-rep-summer-lee. q MONDAYS, APRIL 4-MAY 9

Join Congregation Beth Shalom for a weekly Talmud study. 9:15 a.m. For more information, visit bethshalompgh.org. q

TUESDAYS, APRIL 5, 12

Join Classrooms Without Borders for its weekly book discussion of “The Last Ghetto: An Everyday History of Theresienstadt” with Dr. Josh Andy. Andy is a full-time teacher at Winchester Thurston School and an educational programs leader and Holocaust scholar with Classrooms Without Borders. 4 p.m. classroomswithoutborders.org/weeklybook-discussions-the-last-ghetto-an-everydayhistory-of-theresienstadts-dr.-josh-andy. q TUESDAYS, APRIL 5-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, APRIL 6

The Embassy of the Czech Republic, in collaboration with Classrooms without Borders, invites you to the online discussion Coffee Talk featuring architect, entrepreneur, and human rights activist Daniel Kolsky. He will discuss his projects abroad, such as educating coffee farmers in Uganda and Nicaragua, helping Ukraine, as well as his Jewish activities. Through his work, he tries to promote social change and responsibility to make the world better on multiple fronts. 3 p.m. classroomswithoutborders.org/czechembassy-series-coffee-talk-daniel-kolsky. Join the Pittsburgh Jewish Chronicle for Chronicle Cooks to learn how to make a hearty vegan dish for your

Passover seder meal. Email newsdesk@ pittsburghjewishchronicle.org for the Zoom link. 7:30 p.m. q WEDNESDAYS, APRIL 6;

THURSDAY, APRIL 7 Help the Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh’s community campaign bloom. Join for one of two phoning to boost the community campaign and make a difference. Wednesday, April 6 at 7 p.m.; Thursday, April 7 at 2 p.m. jfedpgh.org/2022-spring-phonings q WEDNESDAYS, APRIL 6-APRIL 13

The Holocaust Center of Pittsburgh and the Jewish Community Foundation present the eight-part online course Answering Holocaust Questions. In the course, Rabbi Danny Schiff will examine the questions asked of the rabbis about the darkest times, and their responses. How did the rabbis advise people to conduct themselves during those years of ultimate horror? How did they provide guidance when all normalcy had been lost? And what can their insights teach us about who we are as Jews in 2022? 9:30 a.m. $75. foundation.jewishpgh. org/answering-holocaust-questions. q WEDNESDAYS, APRIL 6 -MAY 11

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 its hybrid class available on Zoom. Open to everyone. Noon. templesinaipgh.org/ event/parashah/weekly-torah-portion-class-viazoom11.html. q FRIDAY, APRIL 8

Join the National Council of Jewish Women as it recognizes Sexual Assault Awareness month with an online conversation featuring Pittsburgh Action Against Rape Executive Director Lisa Perry and Supervisor of Victim Response Megan Schroeder discussing how awareness and the definition of sexual assault has changed since #MeToo. Noon. ncjwpghevents.org/events. q SATURDAY, APRIL 9

Join Rodef Shalom Brotherhood for “On with the Show,” a benefit concert by the East Winds Symphonic Band featuring music from movies, Broadway and dance. Admission is free but attendees are encouraged to donate to the JFCS Squirrel Hill Food Pantry. Face coverings required 7 p.m. 4905 Fifth Ave. rodefshalom.org. Join Temple Sinai as it welcomes Nefesh Mountain. On-site and online. Tickets start at $18. The concert will be followed by a VIP reception. 7:30 p.m. templesinaipgh.org/event/ nefeshmtn2022.html.

q MONDAY, APRIL 11

Temple Sinai presents Meet n’ Eat Cooking Class. Carol James will teach about glutenfree cooking. If you ever wanted to learn how to make a delicious flourless dessert for your Passover seder, this is your opportunity. $15. 7 p.m. templesinaipgh.org. q TUESDAY, APRIL 12

Join Temple Sinai on Zoom for “Cooking Like an Ashkenazi Grandmother” with a different instructor each week. Free. 6:30 p.m. templesinaipgh.org/event/cooking-likeashkenazi-grandmother.html. q TUESDAY, APRIL 12-MAY 10

Join the 10.27 Healing Partnership for Seeds of Resilience: Growing through Grief, a holistic support group, as they journey to address grief through the healing power of gardening. This five-week program involves self-expression through gardening and writing. The group is open to all adults who have experienced grief, no matter where they are on their healing journey, and offers an opportunity to connect and grow with others. 10.27 Healing Partnership, third floor, Squirrel Hill JCC, 5738 Forbes Ave. Noon. To register, visit 1027healingpartnership.org. q WEDNESDAY, APRIL 20

Join the Squirrel Hill AARP for its monthly meeting at Rodef Shalom Congregation’s Falk Library. Cyndie Carioli, senior justice advocate for the Allegheny County District Attorney’s office, will speak about elder abuse, focusing on financial abuse. Proof of COVID vaccinations and face mask required. 1 p.m. For more information call 412-656-5803. Meet the Temple Sinai Book Group for their discussion of April’s book “The Vixen” by Francine Prose. 1:15 p.m. templesinaipgh.org. q SUNDAY, APRIL 24

Join the Holocaust Center of Pittsburgh and Prime Stage Theatre for “The White Rose.” This remarkable play by James DeVita remembers Scholl , her brother Hans and their friends who created the anti-Nazi resistance group, The White Rose. 1 p.m. Prime Stage Theatre. $10. primestage.com/education/ engage-program. q SATURDAY, APRIL 30

Join Temple Sinai to watch “An American Pickle.” Stay afterward to talk about it. 7 p.m. templesinaipgh.org. q TUESDAY, MAY 3

Antisemitism is on the rise in the United States and around the world. Recent events caused many of us to feel anxious and upset. We often do not know what to do with these overwhelming feelings. Join JFCS for Facing Antisemitism: Conversation and Support, as they listen and offer support and coping resources. Noon. jfcspgh.org/antisemitism. PJC

www.pittsburghjewishchronicle.org 6

APRIL 1, 2022

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Attention SilverSneakers Members! HEALTHY. HAPPY.

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We invite you back to the JCC to use your free SilverSneakers membership. Come join us at Squirrel Hill & South Hills and enjoy: • In Person SilverSneakers and Group Ex classes • Aquatic classes and lap swimming • Specialty classes including Tai Chi, Parkinson’s, Arthritis Aquatics • Personal training • Pickleball Stop by (bring proof of Covid-19 vaccination) or contact us at 412-278-1975.

We look forward to seeing you! The JCC: A welcoming, vaccinated environment. Masks no longer required.

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Headlines Genealogy workshop to raise money for Ukraine — LOCAL — By Justin Vellucci | Special to the Chronicle

ammy Hepps wants to help the war-torn people of Ukraine. So, the Pittsburgh-based genealogist is knocking down two birds with one stone — teaching area Jews how to mine their Ukrainian heritage while helping raise money for those living through the conflict there. “Jewish Roots In Ukraine: Context and Connection,” which is billed as a genealogy workshop to benefit Ukrainians, will be held online on Sunday, April 3 from noon to 4:30 p.m. Tickets are tiered into three categories and begin at $36, Hepps said. All proceeds go to Razom for Ukraine and the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee — two organizations working to make a difference on the ground in Ukrainian cities and villages. So far, the event has pulled in about $20,000 to donate, Hepps said. “We’re thinking that [the workshop] is a way to address what’s going on over there,” Hepps said. “We really felt there was an opportunity to say, ‘What is … the history of the Jewish people in Ukraine? What is Jewish identity? What is Ukrainian identity?’” The workshop is broken into four segments: “Your Family’s Context: The History and Legacy of Jews in Ukraine,” “How to Trace Your Family Back to Ukraine,” “How to Access and Use Jewish Ukrainian Records,” and “How to Connect Meaningfully to Your Heritage Today.” Many Jews who believe their ancestors

p The entrance of Teolyn, Ukraine, a small village which was the former residence of David and Anna Melnick Satin, who immigrated to the U.S. in 1903 and lived in Homestead 1907-1921 Photo courtesy of Tammy Hepps

hailed from Russia sometimes find that “Russia” now falls within the borders of modern-day Ukraine, which was once a cultural center for Judaism in Eastern Europe, Hepps said.

Hepps moved to Pittsburgh about seven years ago to work on a history project related to Jews who lived in Homestead. Much of her research — as well as research about her own family — took her to Ukraine, where

she traveled before COVID-19. Ukraine, Hepps said, has “an interesting and complicated Jewish history.” Lorraine Newman Mackler agrees. The Squirrel Hill resident, an employee of the City of Pittsburgh, has dabbled in genealogy. “I’m very interested in Jewish history, in general, and … that got me involved in doing our family tree,” Mackler said. “When the world’s attention started to focus on Ukraine, it brought up more of those connections and my husband’s family’s connections.” Mackler’s second great-grandfather, who was born in 1835, emigrated from Ternopil, Ukraine, to Iași, Romania, in the 1860s. One of her husband’s grandparents also came from Ukraine. “I grew up hearing about how vicious Ukrainians were to Jews,” Mackler said. “Learning more about the more modern history of Ukraine and seeing what the Ukrainian people are like today has helped me overcome some of that. The word ‘some’ is important there.” Mackler said her interest in Ukraine and the upcoming event was spurred by news of the war. “I always think about how my family’s history and the history of the Jewish people connects to any place in the news,” she said. “Any place I travel to, I think of a lot of people in those terms. I’m really excited to learn.” Hepps said the workshop will be recorded for future viewing by those who buy tickets. For more information, visit tinyurl. com/JRU2022. PJC Justin Vellucci is a freelance writer living in Pittsburgh.

JFilm returns with in-person screenings — LOCAL — By Justin Vellucci | Special to the Chronicle

Film is returning to Pittsburgh — but things look a little different this spring. After two years of being thwarted by the pandemic, Film Pittsburgh’s signature Jewish-themed film festival will return in person for the first time since the spring of 2019, organizers said. Films also will be available to view online. The festival runs from April 28 to May 8 at the AMC Waterfront theater in West Homestead and online at FilmPittsburgh. org. A full slate of films will be announced, and tickets will go on sale on April 7. “Seeing a film on the big screen, as it was meant to be seen, is the way to go,” said Kathryn Spitz Cohan, executive director of Film Pittsburgh, the nonprofit that stages JFilm. “There’s nothing like seeing a film on the big screen.” “It’s really exciting,” she added. “We have a really wonderful, loyal audience. It’s exciting for me to think about seeing everybody again. I really enjoy talking about these films and that’s something we couldn’t really do last year or the year before.”

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p Kathryn Spitz Cohan

Photo by Nathan J Shaulis, Porter Loves

Film Pittsburgh already has announced two films that will be screened at JFilm. The opening-night film is “Cha Real Smooth,” which was filmed in Pittsburgh and follows 22-year-old Andrew as he begins working as a party starter for b’nai mitzvot, Spitz Cohan said. Set to premiere on Apple TV+ on June 17, “Cha Real Smooth” was written, directed, produced and co-stars

Cooper Raiff. The Sundance award-winner will be screened at AMC Waterfront on Thursday, April 28. The festival’s “centerpiece film” is the worldwide premiere of “Repairing The World: Stories from the Tree of Life,” which will be screened in person at the AMC Waterfront on Thursday, May 5, Spitz Cohan said. The documentary tells the

PITTSBURGH JEWISH CHRONICLE

stories of survivors of the deadliest antisemitic attack on U.S. soil, as well as family members of survivors, and Pittsburghers who united to show what it means to be “stronger than hate.” That screening will be followed by a question-and-answer session with the film’s director. The JFilm festival, which turns 29 this year, will feature 18 films — three of them screened in person and the rest available online — along with filmmaker question-and-answer sessions, the chance to talk shop during online “Film Schmoozes” supported by the University of Pittsburgh’s Jewish Studies department, and more, Spitz Cohan said. Though Film Pittsburgh occasionally is backed by grants, Spitz Cohan said the largest contributors to JFilm are individuals. The show’s attendees are fiercely loyal and very supportive. “The Jewish community really supports this festival, and has for many, many years,” she said. More information on the festival’s details will be announced April 7, Cohan said. PJC Justin Vellucci is a freelance writer living in Pittsburgh. PITTSBURGHJEWISHCHRONICLE.ORG

Headlines Philanthropists share ideas, concerns at Jewish Funders Network conference — NATIONAL — By Toby Tabachnick | Editor

ALM BEACH, Fla. — For the 500 attendees of the first in-person Jewish Funders Network conference since the pandemic, philanthropy is much more than just writing a check. It’s collaborative, strategic and data-driven. From March 27-29, representatives of private foundations and individual philanthropists gathered at the PGA National Resort in Palm Beach to learn about trends in charitable giving, gain inspiration from Jewish thought leaders and connect with other like-minded humanitarians in their ongoing effort to support Jewish life and effect positive change to better society and the planet. It’s a very intentional undertaking. Morreen Rukin, a trustee and board member of the Michael B. Rukin Charitable Foundation headquartered near Philadelphia, is a conference regular. The Rukin Foundation, started by her late father, she said, focuses on Jewish philanthropy “from the perspective of interfaith education, inclusion and acceptance.” It also funds a program in Ukraine for Jewish teens that

helps them develop leadership skills and learn about their Jewish identity. “I like to come to talk to other funders who are in similar and different spaces to hear what the issues are that people are trying to tackle,” Rukin said. “Being someone who doesn’t have an education in philanthropy — I just always had it in my heart because of the way my parents raised me — I learn from people about how they go about running their foundations. I always leave here with lots of tidbits on how to do it better.” The conference began with a plenary session Sunday afternoon introduced by comedian Benji Lovitt. Those few minutes of levity were followed by a somber address by JFN President and CEO Andrés Spokoiny, who urged the crowd to take bold actions in a world marked by uncertainty and offered a big-picture view of the fundamental challenges facing Jews today.

‘Dramatic urgency’

The pandemic, Spokoiny said, strained Jewish relationships — on both an individual level and a communal level — and challenged the Jewish people’s relationship with the world at large. The fragility of those relationships, he said, has created “a crisis of potentially devastating consequences. To be sure, the pandemic

 JFN President and CEO Andrés Spokoiny speaks at the opening plenary of the 2022 JFN International Conference. Photo courtesy of Jewish Funders Network

didn’t create those crises but accelerated them and gave them dramatic urgency.” While the Jewish people has always been “fractious and divided,” he said, today’s level of discourse and “the demonization

of each other has reached extremely dangerous levels.” Spokoiny lamented the strain in Please see JFN, page 20

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APRIL 1, 2022

Headlines Netflix to produce a ‘Jewish Matchmaking’ series

— WORLD — Two Terror Attacks in Israel Kill 6, Injure 7

Two people were killed during a suspected terror attack on March 27 in the Israeli city of Hadera, marking a second attack in five days. Two gunmen opened fire at a bus stop located near several restaurants. Both were killed by undercover police officers who happened to be eating nearby, according to The Times of Israel, and six others were wounded in the shooting. The attack came as Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett and Foreign Minister Yair Lapid met with leaders of Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates, Morocco, and Egypt, in the Southern city of Sde Boker to discuss regional threats and security in an unusually large meeting of Arab leaders in Israel. An assailant killed four people at a shopping mall in Beersheba on March 22, injuring at least one other person. The attacker hit a cyclist with his car, killing the cyclist, then exited his car at the mall and stabbed three people to death before being shot to death by a bus driver. The dead included three women and a man. Police are searching for a suspected second assailant. Israeli security officials have warned of an increased risk of terror attacks in the coming weeks as the major Jewish, Muslim and Christian holidays converge during the spring.

Matchmaker, matchmaker — are you going on Netflix? The streaming giant announced a new “Jewish Matchmaking” series on March 24, modeled after its hit “Indian Matchmaking,” JTA reported. Details are scant, and there is no premiere date, but Netflix companion site Tudum said it will feature “singles in the US and Israel as they turn their dating life over to a top Jewish matchmaker.” “Will using the traditional practice of shidduch help them find their soulmate in today’s world?” the show asks. “Indian Matchmaking” was nominated for an Emmy after premiering in July 2020, but it was also criticized by many who said it promoted stereotypes and classism. The show’s production group, Industrial Media’s The Intellectual Property Corp., will also produce “Jewish Matchmaking.” Netflix has sustained criticism for shows such as “Unorthodox” and “My Unorthodox Life,” for their negative portrayals of Orthodox Jews.

Some of Michael Steinhardt’s looted antiquities being returned to Israel are missing

Eight of the looted artifacts that billionaire philanthropist Michael Steinhardt must return to Israel as part of a deal with prosecutors in New York are still missing, JTA reported.

Margaret Fruhlinger The St. Patrick’s Day Flood of 1936 was widespread throughout Western Pennsylvania. Seventeen lives were lost in Johnstown including that of Mrs. Jacob Fruhlinger. Margaret had married into the longstanding Johnstown and Windber family that at one time owned the Silver Drive In Theatre. She passed away at the age of 38, and is buried in the Rodef Sholom Cemetery in Geistown, just east of Johnstown.

That’s according to a press release on March 22 from the Manhattan District Attorney’s office announcing that $5 million in stolen antiquities previously belonging to Steinhardt are being repatriated to Israel, where Steinhardt is a prominent donor to cultural institutions. Steinhardt, 81, is one of the founders of the Birthright program. Three of the repatriated items were already on display at the Israel Museum, which years ago had borrowed them from Steinhardt. Israeli authorities on March 22 took possession of an additional 28 artifacts, including two 7,000-year-old gold masks valued at $500,000 and three even older stone masks worth $650,000.

Instagram reverses ban on anti-Israel group without explanation

“We’re back”: After a four-day ban from the social media platform, those words overlaid a picture of Within Our Lifetime (WOL) leader Nerdeen Kiswani in a March 13 Instagram post, JNS reported. WOL’s detractors, who applauded Instagram’s decision to ban what they say is not only an anti-Zionist group but “an extremely anti-Semitic” one, said they were dismayed by what amounted to a wrist slap for WOL. Its account had been taken down after it posted a collage of terrorist women on March 8 in celebration of International Women’s Day. Liora Rez, executive director of

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APRIL 1, 2022

Kotel inspected ahead of Passover

Israel’s Western Wall was inspected for safety on March 22 in preparation for Passover, which begins April 15, The Jerusalem Post reported. Western Wall stones are manually inspected twice a year — once before Passover and once before Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year. The Western Wall Heritage Foundation examines the wall to avoid potential disaster during the year’s busiest times. Engineers use a crane to move from stone to stone, checking each one’s durability. Western Wall Rabbi Shmuel Rabinowitz supervises the inspections in collaboration with the Israel Antiquities Authority and the engineers. A stone fell in July 2018, but nobody was hurt, even though it occurred the morning after the fast of Tisha Be’av, which was a crowded day. PJC — Compiled by Andy Gotlieb

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

April 1, 1925 — Hebrew University opens

The Hebrew University of Jerusalem officially opens on Mount Scopus, fulfilling a dream first expressed in a letter from Heidelberg University professor Herman Schapira to the newspaper HaMelitz in 1882.

April 2, 1979 — Begin visits Egypt

Menachem B egin becomes the first Israeli prime minister to visit Egypt when he arrives in Cairo a week after signing the peace treaty with Egypt. A military band welcomes him with “Hatikva.”

For more information about JCBA cemeteries, to volunteer, to read our complete histories and/or to make a contribution, please visit our website at www.JCBApgh.org, email us at jcbapgh@gmail.com, or call the JCBA office at 412-553-6469 JCBA’s expanded vision is made possible by a generous grant from the Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh’s Jewish Community Foundation

StopAntisemitism.org, said, “I’m extremely disappointed. We have reached out to our contacts [at Instagram], and we have not yet received a reply as to why they were reinstated.” Rez’s group had been one of those petitioning to have WOL’s Instagram, Facebook and Twitter accounts taken down. Rez said that Instagram’s failure to respond to requests for an explanation is “sadly, pretty standard. Social media companies are notoriously known for not being transparent.”

April 3, 1994 — 2nd Air Force commander dies

Maj. Gen. Aharon Remez dies in Jerusalem at 74. A fighter pilot with the Royal Air Force in World War II, he served as the second commander in chief of Israel’s Air Force from July 1948 to December 1950.

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April 4, 1920 — Riots break out in Old City

The Nebi Musa festival, a pilgrimage to the site Muslims believe to be Moses’ grave near Jericho, breaks into rioting in Jerusalem’s Old City, killing five Jews and four Arabs over three days.

April 5, 1999 — M-Systems patents USB flash drive

Kfar Saba-based M-Systems applies for a patent for the USB flash drive, which can store 8 megabytes, five times most floppy disks. IBM begins selling the drives after the patent is granted.

April 6, 1999 — IDF sends medical mission to Macedonia

An Israel Defense Forces medical mission flies to the former Yugoslav republic of Macedonia (now North Macedonia) to care for Kosovo refugees. The hospital treats more than 1,560 people in 16 days.

April 7, 1973 — Israel fourth in Eurovision debut

Ilanit, Israel’s first entrant in the annual Eurovision Song Contest, finishes fourth out of 17 with “Ey-sham,” a dramatic ballad featuring “the garden of love.” Ilanit again represents Israel in 1977. PJC

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Headlines Middle East scholars pass resolution endorsing boycott of Israel — WORLD — By Andrew Lapin | JTA

n international academic organization devoted to study of the Arab world and Israel has voted to endorse boycotting Israel. Members of the Middle East Studies Association voted 768-167 in favor of a resolution “endorsing the Palestinian call for solidarity in the form of boycotts, divestment and sanctions,” known as BDS. The resolution also calls for an “academic boycott” of Israeli institutions, including universities — a term that BDS proponents typically define as severing all formal ties with the institutions. But the association says it will not target individual students or scholars, that Israeli scholars will still be eligible for membership, and that each individual member of the group has the right to refrain from participating in the boycott. “Our members have cast a clear vote to answer the call for solidarity from Palestinian scholars and students experiencing violations of their right to education and other human rights,” the group’s president, Eve Troutt Powell, said in a statement. “MESA’s Board will work to honor the will of its members and ensure that the call for an academic boycott is upheld without

 Students at Tel Aviv University on the first day of the new academic year, Oct. 10, 2021. A new vote by the Middle East Studies Association plans to endorse a boycott of Israeli universities in accordance with the BDS movement, but not of individual Israeli scholars. Photo by Flash90

undermining our commitment to the free exchange of ideas and scholarship.” Of those voting on the resolution, 80% backed it, according to the group. Now, the group’s board of directors are tasked with finding ways to “give effect to the spirit and intent of this resolution,” the resolution says.

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Powell did not respond to a Jewish Telegraphic Agency request for comment. The vote makes MESA, with 2,800 members, the latest group of academics to approve a BDS resolution, and likely the one whose membership is most knowledgeable about Israel and the Middle East.

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Other academic organizations that have also endorsed part or all of BDS include the American Anthropological Association, the Modern Languages Association and the American Studies Association.

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Opinion The enemy of our nemesis — EDITORIAL —

n our community’s consciousness, Poland, the site of Auschwitz and the Warsaw Ghetto, is the graveyard of the Jews. Like so many other places in Eastern Europe, Jewish life flourished in Poland until it was crushed by antisemitism, unfiltered hate and violence. When World War II broke out, there were 3.3 million Jews in Poland, the second-largest Jewish community in the world. Eighty-five percent were murdered in the Holocaust. The pallor of death and the stories of unimaginable evil haunted our post-war communal perception of the Polish people and their government. At the end of the Cold War, Poland made a quick turn toward the West. But even with that move we saw a disturbing shift in Poland away from democratic ideals like protection of minorities, and a pronounced move toward populism and authoritarianism. So, it was disappointing but not surprising that Poland’s ruling Law and Justice party eroded the free press, attacked independent courts, molested the LGBTQ community

Today’s realities force our Jewish memory through a mind-bending shift in our perception of Poland — similar in many respects to our changing perception of Ukraine. and turned increasingly anti-Europe. And in the process, Poland also poured cold water on its relations will Israel. Just last August, Poland passed an offensive anti-restitution law that would block Jewish property claims from World War II and the communist era, defying strong opposition from Israel and the United States. We joined many in the West who worried where Poland was headed. Then, in the weeks since Russia invaded Ukraine, Poland shifted again — taking on the mantle of “the West” and “Europe,”

and rallying support for Ukraine. Some 2.5 million Ukrainians have escaped to Poland, more than any other of Ukraine’s neighbors. And Poland has outpaced the United States and Western European countries in sending weapons to Ukraine, in advocating Ukraine’s immediate admittance to the EU, in envisioning a permanent American base in Poland of up to 40,000 troops and transferring MiG-29 fighter jets to the Ukrainian air force, something the United States has opposed. Then, last week, Poland’s prime

minister, along with the prime ministers of the Czech Republic and Slovenia, rode a train to Kyiv in a very public effort to bolster Ukraine’s morale. If any country knows what it’s like to be sliced and diced and put out of business by its larger neighbors, it’s Poland. So when Poland sees what Vladimir Putin is doing in Ukraine, it may have a genuine fear that it could be next. But no matter what is driving its actions, Poland now wears a white hat and has reached a new level of international involvement and attention. Today’s realities force our Jewish memory through a mind-bending shift in our perception of Poland — similar in many respects to our changing perception of Ukraine. But with Poland it’s different, as we see Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki, himself an illiberal leader, calling for support against Putin, another illiberal leader. If not for the enormity of Putin’s threat, we might ignore the plea. But we can’t. For now, Poland and Morawiecki are our friends, and enemies of our nemesis. We can only hope that Poland’s transformation sticks. PJC

The advice I gave Madeleine Albright when she found out she was Jewish Guest Columnist Stuart E. Eizenstat

“H

ow long have known me, Stu?” Madeleine Albright asked me that question with a sense of urgency I had not heard from her before. It was mid-January 1996, and I was in my hotel room in Davos, Switzerland, at the World Economic Forum. She called me through a secure line from her office in the State Department during the transition following Bill Clinton’s 1996 reelection, before she was confirmed by the Senate as the first female secretary of state in American history. I was about to be nominated by the president to the position she offered me as her under secretary of state for economic, business & economic affairs. “Well,” I replied, “20 years, since you and I worked together in the West Wing of the Carter White House, you as congressional liaison for the National Security Council under Zbig Brzezinski, and me as President Carter’s chief domestic policy adviser.” The next question was even more odd: “What religion am I?” “Madeleine, of course, you are a Czech Catholic. What’s this all about?” She explained that a Washington Post reporter, Michael Dobbs, was doing an investigative article on her background as she awaited Senate confirmation, and shockingly determined that she was Jewish, not Catholic. She had known that her parents twice fled

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She was a strong, constant supporter of my work on Holocaust justice in my negotiations with Swiss and French banks, German and Austrian slave labor companies, and European insurance companies. Czechoslovakia: first to London as Hitler and the Nazis were going to take over, and then again in 1948, this time to the United States, after her father, a Czech diplomat who returned after the war, was confronted by Stalin and the Communists. She did not know that both of her parents were born Jewish and converted to Catholicism during the war, raising her and her siblings as Catholics. “What must I do?” she asked. She told me she feared the American Jewish community would oppose her nomination, believing that she was embarrassed by and covered up her Jewish past, and this might sink her confirmation. Moreover, she said, “What am I supposed to say to my three girls? Am I to tell them they should now convert to Judaism?” My instant advice was to tell the truth, which was that she never knew about her parents’ conversion; to embrace her newly discovered Jewish past with pride; and that

of course, neither she nor her three children should feel they needed to convert to Judaism. I also explained that given my work on Holocaust justice in the Clinton administration, and frequent interaction with Holocaust survivors, that the Jewish community understood that during World War II all sorts of methods were used to protect Jewish children, including placing them in Catholic convents or in Christian households where they were raised by righteous gentiles. I told her that several of the Jewish friends I had made in Belgium when I was U.S. ambassador to the European Union had been saved in just that way. Tomas Kraus, the head of the Federation of Czech Jewish Communities, later confirmed that “[i]t is common for Jews from this part of the world to be ignorant of their Jewish roots.” By being candid, I was certain there would be no blowback either from the

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Jewish community or the Senate. Besides, I reminded her, as U.N. ambassador during Clinton’s first four years in office, she had established herself as a strong, fervent supporter of Israel against Arab attacks. She followed my advice and was confirmed with a remarkable 99-0 vote. On her first foreign trip as secretary of state, as I was in her office for a last-minute briefing, she looked at her suitcase and, with her characteristic wit, said, “Well, with my newly discovered Jewish background, I suppose I should say I am going to schlep my suitcase!” We all burst into laughter. But Madeleine Albright went beyond my fondest hopes in identifying with her Jewish past. As Secretary of State, in her maiden trip to her Prague birthplace in July 1997, she went straight to the Pinkas Synagogue to look for her grandparents’ names among the more than 77,000 Czech and Slovak Holocaust victims lovingly inscribed by Czech survivors on the wall of the synagogue. She found the names of her paternal grandparents, Arnost and Olga Korbel, who had perished in the Nazi death camps — Arnost in Theresienstadt in 1942 and her grandmother in Auschwitz in 1944. At the synagogue she said publicly, “Tonight … their image will be forever seared into my heart.” Later during her tour to welcome her native Czech Republic and two other former Soviet bloc countries into NATO — a burning issue today with the Russian invasion of Ukraine — she toured other Jewish sites in Prague, and movingly confronted her past: “The evil of the Holocaust” has taken on “even greater Please see Eizenstat, page 13

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Opinion Chronicle poll results: Daylight Saving Time

ast week, the Chronicle asked its readers in an electronic poll the following questions: “Do you think Daylight Saving Time should be made permanent?” Of the 285 people who responded, 63% answered, “Yes.” 30% said, “No.” Seven percent said, “Not sure.” Sixty-four people submitted comments. A few follow:

Do you think Daylight Saving Time should be made permanent?

Not sure.

Children will be going to school in the dark, and Shabbat and prayers will be very late.

30% No.

They should make standard time permanent.

63% Yes.

Don’t monkey with time. There are far more critical issues that need to be handled at this time, and not this foolishness! I adore having longer days and brighter evenings! Seems there are pros and cons to both, and I’m undecided.

Eizenstat: Continued from page 12

personal meaning” since she learned the fate of her grandparents. “To the many values and many facets that make up who I am, I now add the knowledge that my grandparents and members of my family perished in the worst catastrophe in human history. So I leave her tonight with the certainty that this new part of my identity adds something stronger, sadder and richer to my life.” She went a step further and on a later trip went to the small villages where her fraternal and maternal grandparents had lived, to try to relive their history. As her under secretary, I saw up-close how her background as a refugee from fascism shaped her foreign policy views and her greatest triumphs in the two Balkan Wars, in Bosnia and Kosovo. As U.N. ambassador, she joined with National Security Adviser Tony Lake to successfully urge President Clinton, over Pentagon and State Department opposition, to take aggressive U.S. leadership of NATO and direct military strikes against Bosnian Serbs following the brutality against

People blame it on farmers, but my husband grew up on a farm. He said it made no difference to his family. You got up when it was time to start chores, and that wasn’t by the clock!

Bosnian Muslims encouraged by Serbian strongman President Slobodan Milosević. The July 1995 massacre of more than 7,000 Bosnian men and boys at Srebrenica, dumped into a mass grave, evoked for her the Holocaust her parents had escaped. She confronted Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman General Colin Powell, stating, “What’s the point of having this superb military that you’re always talking about if we can’t use it?” That military action paved the way for the Dayton Accords negotiated by Richard Holbrooke, the peace agreement that ended the war. In January 1999, following another Serb massacre of Kosovo Albanians at the small Kosovo village of Racak, Secretary of State Albright brilliantly combined diplomacy with NATO military force, again over Defense Department opposition, to secure a peace which lasts to this day. She was a strong, constant supporter of my work on Holocaust justice in my negotiations with Swiss and French banks, German and Austrian slave labor companies, and European insurance companies. She gave the keynote speech at the Washington Conference which led to the Washington Principles on Nazi-Confiscated Art, where she weaved her

— LETTERS — ‘Heartbroken’ that Rodef Shalom and its rabbi will part ways

In response to Howard Cohen’s excellent letter of March 25, “Rabbi Bisno is irreplaceable,” I second the motion. Unlike Mr. Cohen, I am a Rodef Shalom member and have treasured an affiliation with it since 1963. I have known Aaron Bisno from almost the day that he began his time here about 17 years ago and have come to know him well. We shared a Christmas Eve Chinese dinner feast early in his tenure, and he officiated at my marriage with skill and perfection. He once honored and humbled me by incorporating a published letter I had written about the late Simon Wiesenthal into a Shabbat morning sermon. I have found him to be unfailingly kind, gracious, warm, welcoming and even-tempered — a marvelous ambassador for Rodef Shalom. He has demonstrated himself to be a learned individual of high intellect, a passionate and compelling speaker, a leader and a mensch. I have corresponded with a number of Rodef Shalom members among the many who are PITTSBURGHJEWISHCHRONICLE.ORG

I think the changing of the clock causes more harm than good!

remorse,” and then it’s rescinded. Why go through that?

I don’t care what we set the clocks to if we can stop changing them twice a year. People will adjust; a temporary change from the 1970s is not a good indicator of how a permanent change would work today.

I firmly believe that this would be just one subtle, yet powerful shift that would enhance all of our lives. Accompanying this, there needs to be the institutionalization of more family friendly work practices such as a four-day work week, increased retirement opportunities at age 50, guaranteed annual wage, mandated minimum wage of $25/hour, more robustly subsidized child care and comprehensive Medicare for all. All are ethically sound; all are within our society’s economic reach.

The day we went back to standard time was always depressing. Never could get used to it getting dark before 5 p.m. It’s nice to have a longer period of time at the end of the day to enjoy the outdoors. I heard a reason for changing was to promote safety for kids on their way to school. There are probably more vehicles on the road when kids are on their way home after school so light is more valuable then. Absolutely. And ASAP! We all need more daylight for our mental health. Every time it’s tried, there follows “buyer’s

own Holocaust background into the contemporary challenge of returning looted art. And she asked me to lead the U.S. delegation to the Kyoto conference on Climate Change, giving me strong backing for the Kyoto Protocols. She decided to name the State Department headquarters after President Harry S. Truman, to symbolize the leadership he had taken to build a new, peaceful, post-war world, with U.S. leadership. We shared a laugh when we found out his middle initial “S” was not an abbreviation for any name, but was just a letter his mother added to his name. We went through tragedies as well. I accompanied her to Dover Air Force Base, where we met the flagged-draped coffins of American diplomats killed in terrorist attacks at the U.S. Embassies in Kenya and Tanzania, and she gave an uplifting speech on the sacrifices American diplomats take to try to create a better world. Madeleine Albright, tiny in stature but huge in impact, had a charisma, a sparkle, a brilliance and a fluency in Czech, French, Polish and Russian. She connected the foreign policy she forged with President Clinton to the lives of everyday people around the world. All of these qualities

At all times, primary consideration should be given to the safety of children traveling to school in the morning over the convenience of adults. PJC — Adam Reinherz

Chronicle poll question:

How will this year’s Passover be different than Passover the last two years? Go to pittsburgh jewishchronicle.org to respond. PJC

made her larger than life. One of her trademarks was wearing a variety of brooches on the lapel of her clothing to underline her political and diplomatic messages. When I asked why, since she had not done this in our early years together, she recalled when Iraq’s dictator Saddam Hussein, following his invasion of Kuwait, compared her to an “unparalleled serpent.” She wore a snake pin in response, and a tradition as born. The United States has lost a great American public servant, a role model for women as the first female secretary of state, a professor at Georgetown University, an author, a lifelong proponent of democracy and human rights, a constant friend of Israel, and someone who embraced her Jewish background. And I have lost a dear friend. PJC Stuart E. Eizenstat worked with Madeleine Albright when they were both in the Carter White House and during the Clinton administration in which she was the secretary of state and he was undersecretary of state for economic business and agriculture affairs and special representative of President Clinton and Secretary Albright on Holocaust era issues. This piece first appeared on JTA.

shellshocked — sad and disheartened that our rabbi will no longer be with us after such a long period of dedicated service. I am heartbroken at the turn of events, particularly that we congregants know so little about why it was decided that our beloved rabbi and Rodef Shalom would part ways. Oren Spiegler Peters Township We invite you to submit letters for publication. Letters must include name, address and daytime phone number; addresses and phone numbers will not be published. Letters may not exceed 500 words and may be edited for length and clarity; they cannot be returned. Mail or email letters to: Letters to the editor via email: letters@pittsburghjewishchronicle.org Address:

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Website address:

Pittsburgh Jewish Chronicle 5915 Beacon St., 5th Flr., Pittsburgh, PA 15217 pittsburghjewishchronicle.org/letters-to-the-editor

APRIL 1, 2022

Headlines Train: Continued from page 1

problem, Kovtun explained: Train workers mostly speak German or English; refugees largely speak Ukrainian or Russian. Pittsburgher Anne Molloy anticipated the language barrier weeks ago and asked her husband, Henry Posner III, to contact Geiger’s rector, Rabbi Walter Homolka. Molloy, an executive board member of the World Union for Progressive Judaism, and Posner have long supported Geiger. She said she knew there were Russian- and Ukrainian-speaking students on campus and that they could help during the crisis. Posner, who was in Germany in early March, relayed Molloy’s message to Homolka — but not before finding another way to help refugees. As chairman of Pittsburgh-based Railroad Development Corp., Posner oversees global train affairs, including RDC-Deutschland — an operator of passenger trains in Germany. On March 6, Posner’s company was contacted by the German government about creating an evacuation route for Ukrainian refugees in Poland. “We had our train crews put together a plan, a schedule and a rolling stock — everything it takes,” Posner said. Four days later, on March 10, RDC-Deutschland transported its first train (11 cars with seating for up to 660 passengers) from Frankfurt/Oder to Hannover. Following the three-hour ride, passengers were greeted by German Red Cross workers and taken to newly created reception centers. Since that initial transport, Posner’s train has operated daily, moving thousands of fleeing Ukrainians across Germany. A time will come when the company will tally exactly how many people it’s carried; for now, the objective is simply to transport passengers comfortably and safely, Posner said. “The railway tradition is a tradition of safety and service, and the Jewish tradition

is service,” he said. “This is where they intersect, the cultural alignment of railway values and Jewish values.” While Posner remains focused on transporting the refugees, Homolka remains cognizant of his responsibilities. Speaking by phone from Germany, Homolka said Geiger and its rabbinical students have a big job ahead. The 1990-era exodus of Soviet Jewry brought about 200,000 people to Germany. They came from both Ukraine and Russia and built lives within the German Jewish fold while maintaining their distinctive heritages. “How we handle this new influx of refugees must be done in a way that keeps the peace in the Jewish communities of Germany,” Homolka said. “Our role as a rabbinical seminary is to foster this engagement and see that reconciliation is possible in a German context.” Homolka said that students like Kovtun “can be a significant symbol of uniting in this misery.” Kovtun is an orphan. After growing up in a children’s home in Ukraine, he lived with a non-Jewish family before eventually studying in Moscow and Israel. In 2020, Kovtun came to Germany to study at Geiger. One of the college’s goals is to aid post-Soviet Jews; so whether these individuals arrived in Germany 25 years or two weeks ago, they need rabbis who can speak their language, understand their lives and offer pastoral care, Kovtun said. Well before Russia invaded Ukraine, Kovtun was doing this work in Germany and across Eastern Europe. Six months ago, he began leading online services for a small community of Siberian Jews. Initially, 17 families participated. By Purim, the number dropped to 10. Kovtun said Jews in Russia have told him they “feel guilty,” and it’s hard to hear people demonize their country. “They feel bad,” Kovtun continued. “They have Russian citizenship and they’re also Jewish. They are scared for their lives.” Kovtun said all he can do is continue

providing pastoral care. What he’s offering isn’t just words; Kovtun is saving people’s lives, Dina Pokyta, 23, said. Three weeks ago, Pokyta’s mother, Natalya Barabash, a professor, contacted Kovtun. Barabash told Kovtun, her former student, that she and her family were in Slovakia and didn’t know where to go. Kovtun delivered instructions. Once the group entered Germany, he connected them with Jewish organizations, which found the family of seven an apartment and food. “Alex is not a man; he is a miracle with hands and legs,” Pokyta said. “I can’t explain my feelings about him. He saved our lives.” Every day since March 5 — when Pokyta and her family arrived in Germany — Kovtun has called to check in. On March 12, Kovtun asked Pokyta if she’d be willing to join him on the train and serve as a translator for new refugees. Pokyta agreed, although it was difficult for her to go because of her 3-year-old son, she told the Chronicle. “He is a very cute boy, but he is now afraid of loud noises,” Pokyta said. Despite the difficulty of leaving her son with her mother, who has two other children to care for, Pokyta accompanied Kovtun. “Alex helped me and I wanted to help him,” she said. Pokyta spent the day assisting refugees in completing documents and communicating with medical workers. On March 23, she joined Kovtun again. “It’s really difficult because a lot of people can’t understand anything,” she said. “You ask them where they came from, and they can’t answer. They only know that they’re immigrants.” The last few weeks have felt like years, Pokyta said, and one incident remains especially haunting. While helping Kovtun, Pokyta rode a train filled with children, some resting beside their mothers. “Children are loud,” Pokyta said. “They scream and play, but on the train it was silence. They only sat and watched me. It was

Immigrants: Continued from page 1

age of 21, a spouse or a parent of the person requesting reunification. Third, persecuted religious minority groups from the former Soviet Union, including Ukraine, may gain entry to the U.S. based on the Lautenberg Amendment. The problem with those options, Englert said, is that they’re “laborious and paperwork intensive,” ultimately resulting in people waiting years to come to the U.S. There also is the United Nations refugee resettlement program, but that, too, is a “very long process,” said Ivonne Smith-Tapia, director of JFCS Refugee & Immigrant Services. For a refugee to gain entry to the U.S. through resettlement, several steps are necessary. According to USA for UNHCR, a Washington D.C.-based nonprofit, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees must first determine that a person requires resettlement. The U.S. government 14

APRIL 1, 2022

 Jordan Golin

Screenshots by Adam Reinherz

and Resettlement Support Centers then run background checks, and the Department of Homeland Security performs a face-toface interview. The applicant is then given a medical screening to ensure they do not have tuberculosis or other communicable

 Jamie Englert

diseases. Finally, the approved applicant is matched with a sponsoring agency to assist upon arrival in the U.S. The resettlement process generally takes about two years, “though it can even take much longer,” Golin said.

PITTSBURGH JEWISH CHRONICLE

so strange and terrible.” Some of the women told Pokyta about “bombs, ruined buildings and the terrors of war,” she said. The descriptions elicited the only sounds Pokyta heard from the children — cries, she said. Pokyta — whose husband Yevheniy, remains in Ukraine, like other men between 18-60 who are barred from leaving due to martial law — said it’s hard to understand everything that’s happened: how Yevheniy drove her and their son in a small Lada Samara to the Polish border; how she left Yevheniy and their dog Audrey; how she cut off her thick curly hair because the inability to shower during war made it too difficult to manage. Everything in her life is what people would see in “a bad cinema,” she said. Kovtun used similar theatrical terms when relating his interactions with refugees. Whenever people approach him on the platform, he said he explains that the train shepherding them to freedom was provided by a Jewish person from the U.S. — from Pittsburgh. “When I tell them that, people start crying, no difference whether they’re Jewish or not,” Kovtun said. “For them, they don’t believe it’s real. It feels like a Hollywood movie.” In light of recent Jewish history, the dramatic backdrop is evident, said Germanborn nonagenarian Walter Jacob, Geiger’s co-founder and rabbi emeritus of Rodef Shalom Congregation. During World War II, trains often shuttled Jews toward death, Jacob said. Now, it’s trains and rabbinical students in Germany who are “doing their best” to keep people alive. Posner acknowledged the historical significance, but said “this is about the Jewish community being in service to the community at large.” “There will be plenty of time to reflect on the irony later,” he continued, “For the moment we are focused on the task.” PJC Adam Reinherz can be reached at areinherz@ pittsburghjewishchronicle.org.

JFCS will help those Ukrainians who do come to the U.S., but community members should understand that will not happen until the U.N. and U.S. government complete their processes, Smith-Tapia said. If Ukrainians already have arrived in Pittsburgh — not as refugees, but on tourist visas or through other legal means — they should contact Immigrant Services and Connections, a five-agency partnership headed by JFCS that connects people with resources in Allegheny County, she added. There’s a lot of confusion about immigration and expediting the process, Englert said. What’s clear, though, is that even for orphaned children in Ukraine, there are “no shortcuts as of today that I’m aware of.” “It is a very challenging time,” Golin said before directing attendees to jfcspgh. org/ukraine and its list of organizations collecting money on behalf of Ukrainians. “At the moment, that’s the biggest source of support that people can provide.” PJC Adam Reinherz can be reached at areinherz@ pittsburghjewishchronicle.org. PITTSBURGHJEWISHCHRONICLE.ORG

Headlines Irwin: Continued from page 2

He told his wife he was unable to stay in the region if they didn’t work to bring changes. After acknowledging the significance of his opponents’ candidacies — especially Summer Lee’s — Irwin said he went through a period of self-examination. “The attraction of having a Black woman as a congressperson, on its face, is very

Dickinson: Continued from page 3

Asked about high gas prices and inflation, Dickinson said he supported the idea of providing $100 checks to Americans, and that Congress should help state governments fill gaps where needed. Dickinson said that Iran cannot be allowed to acquire a nuclear weapon. He blamed the Trump administration for creating a problematic situation with the country. “Iran now has, and is increasingly gaining access to, potentially nuclear weapons and uranium and all those things that give rise to very serious national security concerns,” he said. Asked if he supports Israel’s right to exist

Wecht: Continued from page 5

Martin Luther King Jr., Elvis Presley, JonBenét Ramsey and Kurt Cobain. Wecht’s April 1-2 talks aren’t the first time he’s reflected on his storied career. In “The Life and Deaths of Cyril Wecht: Memoirs of America’s Most Controversial Forensic Pathologist,” and “The JFK Assassination Dissected: An Analysis by Forensic Pathologist Cyril Wecht,” Wecht detailed some of his most intriguing cases. What the upcoming talks provide, however, is a chance to “freely and spontaneously” publicly talk with fellow presenter John McIntire and a larger audience, Wecht said. Wecht has worked with McIntire, a Pittsburghbased comedian, television, YouTuber and television and radio talk host, before at similar programs, Wecht said, and attendees can expect

attractive,” he said. “That’s something that has to happen at some point. But I have gotten to know my opponent over the last few years. I supported her when we first met. I know how she’s worked with other people in the community, I know how she’s worked with people in business, I know how she’s worked with people in the House and government, and I can tell you that it does not indicate that it would be as conducive to getting things done.” Town hall attendee Elan Sokol said he appreciated hearing from the congressional hopeful.

“I feel that the United States Is more polarized than ever,” Sokol said. “It would be refreshing to see somebody who is willing to reach across the aisle and maybe even provide some hope that it’s not us versus them, ‘they’re evil, I’m not,’ especially considering that his primary competitor seems to be someone that may fit into a category of a Squad member.” Cherner said that after Doyle served the region for so long, it was important for the community to hear from candidates who might represent them in Congress.

“You know, we have this growing political divisiveness,” she said. “The district has changed a little bit, so representation may look a little different. You have three dynamic candidates. It’s really important that the Jewish community gets an opportunity to meet them.” The CRC will host a town hall with Summer Lee on Monday, April 4. PJC

as a Jewish, democratic state, Dickinson said, “Of course. Absolutely.” He explained that his oldest sister is Jewish and that his nephew is a student at Hebrew University in Jerusalem. Dickinson said that the rhetoric of the BDS movement has raised concerns about antisemitism. “The idea of delegitimizing the state of Israel is extremely problematic and dangerous,” he said. “It gives rise, I believe, to other forms of antisemitic behavior and actions.” The congressional hopeful fielded several questions about school policy. He said he considered it a First Amendment violation to ban books based on their ideas. Dickinson said that critical race theory is being discussed in colleges and universities,

but that he didn’t think many high school or elementary schools were using it. “I don’t think it’s as widespread as we hear from the right,” he said. “It’s being used as a bludgeon to gain an advantage against Democrats. I think that’s problematic.” He added that teachers should have the ability to explore the theory in the classroom. “If CRT is being taught at some school, that’s OK,” he said. “Teachers have the ability and right to teach elements of critical race theory.” Paige Eddy, who works at the Friendship Circle, said she came to hear what Dickinson had to say about disability advocacy. “He didn’t mention anything about that,” she said, “but I did hear a lot of other things that he said.” Sue Berman Kress came to both the Irwin

and Dickinson conversations. She said that before the town halls, she didn’t know much about the candidates. And while she hadn’t made up her mind about whom she supports, the conversations were helpful. “I still have a learning curve before I go out to vote,” she said. “This gave me the opportunity to learn about each one.” Cherner said the CRC was asking the candidates the same questions, which were of interest to the Jewish community. “There are a number of issues we really want to have the opportunity to hear where the candidates stand,” she said. The CRC will host a town hall with Summer Lee on Monday, April 4. PJC

an entertaining and “unscripted” show. One thing guests will enjoy, Wecht continued, is a chance to see the incongruity of the Warren Commission’s findings regarding the JFK assassination. During the talks, Wecht will select two random volunteers from the audience and ask them to sit on stage at a distance representing the space Kennedy and Gov. John Connally sat from one another in the presidential limousine during the 1963 assassination. Thanks to the two volunteers, Wecht said, attendees will see the “absurdity of the single bullet theory, of how that bullet would have had to have moved vertically and horizontally, right to left, left to right, which is the sine qua non of the Warren Commission report regarding a single shooter.” Wecht has presented his analysis on the JFK assassination almost 1,000 times, most notably on national television, within the pages of The New York Times, at conferences,

public programs and in various writings. Apart from rehashing old cases, Wecht said he plans to discuss more recent deaths, including those of Bob Saget and Jeffrey Epstein. Regarding the former, the Orange County Sheriff ’s Office noted that the comedian died of accidental blunt head trauma most likely occurring in an Orlando hotel room. Wecht said he is “strongly critical” of reports describing the manner of Saget’s death. There is “no way in the world that all of those injuries could have been inflicted in a fall in his hotel room or against the headboard,” Wecht said. And, as for Epstein’s death, “it was not suicidal,” Wecht said. Given “the severity and multiplicities” of Epstein’s injuries, attendees will hear how the financier and convicted sex offender was strangled and ultimately died by

homicide, Wecht added. William Elder, general manager of the Lamp Theatre, said he’s excited to see Wecht, a nonagenarian, on stage again. “The man has a memory of an elephant,” Elder said. Wecht recalls every detail of almost every case he’s worked on, so to hear someone share that knowledge, clearly and entertainingly, with an audience, is “the most interesting thing you’ll see in your life,” Elder said. There’s also something nice knowing that Wecht is back in Irwin, Elder continued, as the last pre-pandemic show was Wecht’s — the pathologist and attorney addressed an audience at The Lamp Theatre on March 16, 2020. To see him back here, two years later, “means everything in the world,” Elder said. It represents “a return to normalcy.” PJC

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

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

Tune in to Chronicle Cooks

he Pittsburgh Jewish Chronicle invites you to join us on Zoom for a live cooking demonstration by vegan chef Diana Goldman — just in time to help you plan your Passover menu. Goldman will teach viewers how to make a hearty vegan dish to add to their seder meal: quinoa salad for Passover. The salad works as either an entrée or a side. Goldman is a Sierra Club cooking show host and plant-based nutrition educator based in Boston. She received a B.S. from Cornell University in nutrition science and an Ed.M. from Harvard University. She loves

PITTSBURGHJEWISHCHRONICLE.ORG

sharing recipes on her blog, Beantown Kitchen, and was awarded one of the top 100 plant-based blogs by Feedspot. To join the Chronicle’s April 6, 7:30 p.m. event, email newsdesk@pittsburghjewishchronicle.org and write “Chronicle Cooks” in the subject line. We will send you the Zoom link prior to the event. The recipe for quinoa salad for Passover can be found at beantownkitchen.com/ quinoa-salad-for-Passover. PJC p Diana Goldman

Photos courtesy of Diana Goldman

p Quinoa salad for Passover

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— Toby Tabachnick APRIL 1, 2022

Life & Culture Perfect for Passover: Savory spaghetti squash kugel By Carole Lampel Mantel | Special to the Chronicle

here is an innate tendency to panic when Passover is approaching. What will we eat? I need to find recipes! Nothing feeds a large crowd like a kugel. Kugels can be sweet or savory and are usually prepared with potatoes or noodles. And leftovers are delicious either hot or cold. To reduce carbs in my diet, I have substituted spaghetti squash for noodles and potatoes — and I have kept off 36 pounds for three years. I don’t miss the noodles or potatoes, either. Spaghetti squash has a mild, almost neutral flavor, though to my taste buds it is slightly sweet. It’s not nearly as strong in flavor as other winter squash, like acorn or butternut squash, and has fewer carbs. Bonus: Spaghetti squash is easy to prepare and can last in the fridge for up to a week. I prefer to roast a spaghetti squash in the oven rather than cooking it in the microwave because it gives it a nutty flavor and reduces some of the water. I keep the strands in an airtight container on standby in the fridge for my meal prep throughout the week. Because of its cooked texture, spaghetti squash is perfect for making kugel. For a crowd-pleasing healthy kugel, try

this savory one that I tested on my family last Passover. It was a huge hit, and now it often accompanies my Shabbat brisket or roasted chicken. Salt is minimal to reduce inflammation and water retention. I also reduced the onions because of their high sugar content. (You’ve got to pay attention to the glycemic index, too.) If you want more onion flavor, consider using scallions, as they are lower in sugar.

Passover kugel: Photo provided by Carole Lampel Mantel

— FOOD —

Savory spaghetti squash kugel Serves 4

(You can double/triple/quadruple the recipe to get as many servings as you need.) Ingredients: 1 spaghetti squash (yields about 4 cups) ¼ cup onions, finely chopped ½ teaspoon garlic powder 4 egg whites ½ teaspoon salt ¼ teaspoon pepper Cooking spray Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 F. Cut the squash in half, remove seeds, place face up (skin side down) on a baking sheet lightly sprayed with cooking oil and bake for 35-45 minutes, until softened. (To precook squash in the microwave:

Cook for 1 minute to soften. Cut in half and remove seeds. Place cut-side down in a dish with 1/2 inch of water. Microwave for 8 to 10 minutes.) C o ol and s c r ap e sp ag he tt i squash into strings. Mix squash with egg whites, then add onions, garlic, salt and pepper. Spray casserole dish lightly with cooking oil (mine is 11-inches-by-7-inches ) Bake uncovered for 35 minutes until crispy. (You can even put the broiler on for a few minutes to help brown the top.) Tip: Make in muffin tins for portion

control and easy prep ‘n go. Want to make it sweet? Swap out the onions, garlic and pepper for vanilla and Stevia and add a protein like cottage or ricotta cheese. You can pretty much follow your favorite kugel recipe and just substitute the strands of spaghetti squash for the pasta. I hope you enjoy my healthy spin on kugel. PJC Carole Lampel Mantel is an independent health coach and home chef. She can be reached at darbypaw@aol.com.

Next Year In Jerusalem… This Year in the Pittsburgh Jewish Chronicle

Send Passover Greetings to family, friends, neighbors, and community through the Pittsburgh Jewish Chronicle. Rates for these special greetings will be deeply discounted for the April 15 issue. 1/8 PAGE 1/4 PAGE

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Headlines Boycott: Continued from page 11

Those resolutions have not led to widespread effects for Israeli scholars or universities. But the votes are symbolically significant amid debate over how Israel is discussed on college campuses. Critics say such resolutions from academic groups encourage campus antisemitism, or are themselves antisemitic in nature because they single out Israel for censure. The AMCHA Initiative, a pro-Israel campus advocacy group, timed the release of an in-house study to the vote, claiming that professors who supported BDS were more likely to foster antisemitic climates on campus. After the results of the vote were revealed, AMCHA issued a

statement calling it “morally reprehensible and incredibly dangerous.” The Anti-Defamation League said it was “appalled” at the vote, which it argued was “undermining academic principles of dialogue and obstructing Israeli-Palestinian engagement.” It called for the many universities that have some affiliation with MESA to disassociate themselves from the vote. But MESA says its resolution is all about academic freedom and dialogue, including the freedom of Israeli academics to criticize their country without fear of reprisal. Israeli academics who publish research or advocacy highly critical of their government have at times been met with fierce backlash, including effectively being blacklisted from academic jobs, in Israeli society. The group has more than 2,800 members

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from all over the world, including 33 in Israel, though the highest concentration are in the United States. It also has a long list of institutional members, including departments at universities such as Brandeis and Columbia. Its mission statement includes Israel under a list of Middle East and North African countries its members’ studies are “primarily concerned with,” and also states that the group opposes antisemitism. Some members are Jewish studies or Israel studies professors. Ian Lustick, founder and past president of the Association for Israel Studies, is one Jewish MESA member who voted for the BDS resolution. He wrote in an op-ed for Mondoweiss, a website highly critical of Israel, that he supported the resolution “because it is flexible and respects the moral posture and complex circumstances affecting

those whose support is solicited,” adding that he himself has no intention of cutting ties with Israeli universities. The Association for Israel Studies opposed the BDS resolution during MESA’s annual meeting in December when it was put to the full member vote. Though the Association for Israel Studies is an institutional member of MESA, it will likely debate its continued association with the group now that the resolution has passed, according to Lustick. A rival academic group, the Association for the Study of the Middle East and Africa, was formed in 2007 due to what its founders said was persistent anti-Israel bias at MESA. Its president, Asaf Romirowsky, issued harsh criticism of MESA’s BDS vote ahead of the final results, saying that the group is “clearly a politicized advocacy organization.” PJC

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B’nei mitzvah

A dip in the river

Jack O’Brien Lederman, son of Kathy and Moe Lederman, will become a bar mitzvah at Temple Emanuel of South Hills on Saturday, April 2, 2022. Jack is the younger brother of Danny and grandson of Lynette and Stan Lederman and Marion and Terry O’Brien. Jack is in seventh grade at Jefferson Middle School in Mt. Lebanon. He is very musically talented and can play many songs on the piano by ear. Jack also enjoys playing the drums and loves playing baseball. For his mitzvah project, Jack is collecting books for the Children’s Waiting Rooms in the Allegheny County Courthouse. Thomas Aidan Levine will become a bar mitzvah April 2, 2022, during Saturday morning Shabbat services at Tree of Life. Thomas is the son of Dory and David Levine, brother to Haley and grandson to Jackie Skirboll the late Alan Skirboll of Pittsburgh, and Ellie and Shelly Levine, also of Pittsburgh. Thomas, a seventh-grader at Community Day School, is active with soccer, guitar, skiing, lots of friends and his four-legged friend, Elsie. The summers for Thomas are all about EKC! Ari Michael Padnos, son of Shari Back and Bill Padnos, will become a bar mitzvah at Temple Sinai on Saturday, April 2, 2022. Ari is the younger brother of Elana and grandson of Ronna and Harry Back, and Darlene and Norman Padnos. He is in the seventh grade at Dorseyville Middle School in the Fox Chapel area. Ari loves musical theater with all his heart and is a student at the Pittsburgh Musical Theater Conservatory in the West End. For his mitzvah project, he is working to raise awareness about the Trevor Project, an organization that supports LGBTQ teens and advocates for a safer, more inclusive world. PJC

Anonymous Federation donor is matching donations for Ukraine relief

n anonymous donor to the Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh has agreed to match every donation make to the Ukraine Relief Fund, up to $500,000, according to Federation officials. One hundred percent of all contributions, net of credit card fees, will be sent to the Federation’s overseas partners — the Jewish Agency for Israel, the Joint Distribution Committee and World ORT — for Ukraine relief. Donations can be made at jfedpgh. org/ukraine-emergency. Some of the actions of the Federation’s

overseas partners include: helping people make aliyah to Israel; securing the local community and its institutions; maintaining critical welfare services; assisting internally displaced people in multiple locations; launching an emergency hotline; securing temporary housing for people in transit; purchasing satellite phones to maintain communications across the region; and securing five Jewish schools and training staff to manage crisis needs. PJC — Toby Tabachnick

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Rabbi Levi Langer Parshat Tazria | Leviticus 12:1 – 13:59

he traditional haftara reading for this week’s parsha, Tazria, tells the story of Naaman, an Aramean general who suffered from a skin eruption known as tzaraat. He was told that the Jewish prophet, Elisha, possessed miraculous Godly powers and would be able to cure the affliction. And so he traveled to Elisha with a grand entourage and lavish gifts of gold and silver to request that Elisha bless him. Elisha paid no heed to the pomp and the wealth, and he did not even leave his home to greet Naaman. Instead he sent him a message to immerse seven times in the waters of the Jordan River and he would be cured. Naaman was incensed. He said, “Here I thought that he would come out to see me, and he would stand and call in the name of his God, and he would raise his hand toward the spot and cure the mezora!” Irritated, he traveled away. Finally Naaman’s attendants convinced him to at least go through with the immersion. He grudgingly did so, and to his shock he discovered that he was cured.

Ostensibly this story is about tzaraat, and about the power of the prophetic word. But it teaches us something else as well: Sometimes Godliness, and holiness, are found in the small gestures. Naaman had been sure that he would see God’s hand in some marvelous display of pageantry. What he learned was that God is found in the small things. A quiet word from the prophet, and God has sent His message. A dip in a river in Israel, and God has cleansed him. We think that to make a difference, we need to achieve grand things — which, of course, most of us aren’t really capable of doing. But actually it is in the small things that God is found. A kind word to a spouse or a neighbor. A helping hand to someone in need. A friendly greeting. Sure, there can be a unique moment when one accomplishes something grand. But the fulfilled life is really composed of the little gestures, the small interactions day by day. Those are the things that enrich our lives and those of others, and they make us who we are. 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.

Join the Chronicle Book Club!

he Pittsburgh Jewish Chronicle invites you to join the Chronicle Book Club for its April 3 discussion of “The Netanyahus: An Account of a Minor and Ultimately Even Negligible Episode in the History of a Very Famous Family Paperback,” by Joshua Cohen. “The Netanyahus,” winner of the 2021 National Jewish Book Award and a New York Times Notable Book of 2021, is set at a college in not-quite-upstate New York in the winter of 1959-1960. From the publisher: “Ruben Blum, a Jewish historian — but not an historian of the Jews — is co-opted onto a hiring committee to review the application of an exiled Israeli scholar specializing in the Spanish Inquisition. When Benzion Netanyahu shows up for an interview, family unexpectedly in tow, Blum plays the reluctant host, to guests who proceed to lay waste to his American complacencies. Mixing fiction with nonfiction, the campus novel with the lecture, ‘The Netanyahus’ is a wildly inventive, genre-bending comedy of blending, identity, and politics that finds Joshua Cohen at the height of his powers.”

Your Hosts

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

How It Works

We will meet on Zoom on Sunday, April 3, at noon. As you read the book, we invite you to share comments and join discussions in our Facebook group, Chronicle Connects: Jewish PGH. We invite you to join now if you are not already a member of the group.

What To Do

Buy: “The Netanyahus.” It is available from online retailers, including Amazon and Barnes & Noble. Email: Contact us at drullo@pittsburghjewishchronicle.org, and write “Chronicle Book Club” in the subject line. We will send you a Zoom link for the discussion meeting. Happy reading! PJC — Toby Tabachnick

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Obituaries BRASL AWSCE: Z elda Braslawsce of North Miami Beach, Florida, passed away Thursday morning, March 24, 2022, at HCA Florida Aventura Hospital. She was 85. Born in McKeesport, Pennsylvania, March 6, 1937, she was a daughter of the late Zesha Theodore Braslawsce and Ethel Lefkowitz Braslawsce. For many years, she worked for Bell South Telecommunications and AT&T until retiring in 1993. She is survived by a sister, Betty Barlow and her husband, Alan, of Pittsburgh, as well as many nieces and nephews. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by a sister, Hilda Landis, and three brothers, Harry Barlow, Joseph Braslawsce and Paul Braslawsce. A graveside service will be conducted at 1:30 p.m. Thursday, March 31, at B’nai Jacob Cemetery, 952 B’nai Jacob Lane, East Liverpool. The Dawson Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements. Following the service, family and friends will gather at the home of Erik Braslawsce for fellowship. Memorial tributes may take the form of contributions in care of B’nai Jacob Cemetery, 50206 Joy Lane, East Liverpool, Ohio 43920. View Zelda’s memorial webpage and express condolences online at dawsonfuneralhome.com. DANIELS: Jan Daniels, beloved wife, caring mother and doting Gigi. Jan passed away suddenly and unexpectedly on Wednesday, March 9, 2022, at 67 years old. Jan’s memory will live for generations to come as she led a life of selfless giving and warmth touching those close to her as well as those who were a passing presence. Her impact will be felt most closely by her husband, Paul (Dover, Massachusetts), her children, Elizabeth and Jacob Grossman (Dover, Massachusetts) and Harris and Marcy Daniels (Amherst, Massachusetts) and her five grandchildren (Henry, Sydney and Bobby, Colton and Sloane) who will remember Gigi’s hugs, delicious meals and baked goods, her exquisite gardens and her hand-knit socks. Jan also leaves behind her sisters and brothers-in-law, Barbara and William Francis (Colleyville, Texas) and Kathy and Doug Jovan (Severna Park, Maryland) as well as her brother-in-law, Robert Daniels (Pittsburgh) in addition to many beloved nieces and nephews. Born in Pittsburgh, Jan grew up in O’Hara Township and later met her husband of 42 years, Paul, through mutual friends at a party in Oakland. Jan devoted her career before and after raising her own kids to the care of others at West Penn Hospital, Magee Hospital, Children’s Hospital and UPMC in specialties ranging from the burn unit to primary care to the craniofacial cleft palate plastic surgery clinic. She always saw the good in people and selflessly devoted her life to her family. She enjoyed tending to her gardens, hosting friends for meals at her home in Squirrel Hill and loved to travel. Most of all, she lived for her grandchildren and, later in life, relocated to Massachusetts to live closer to them. Nothing gave her more pleasure than to nurture the next generation. Jan’s selfless and quiet smile will be missed by all who knew her. Graveside services and PITTSBURGHJEWISHCHRONICLE.ORG

interment were held in Pittsburgh. Please consider a donation to Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh Foundation (givetochildrens. org/donate) or the Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh / Ukrainian Relief Fund (jfedpgh.org/ukraine-emergency). Arrangements entrusted to Ralph Schugar Chapel, Inc. schugar.com KITMAN: Sandra Lewis Kitman, on Saturday, March 26, 2022. Beloved mother of Wendy (Michael) Weaver and Johanna Kitman (A.J. Potanko, Jr.). Sister of Renée (late Jerry) Levin. Grandmother of Evan, Rachel, Sara and Ryan Weaver. Aunt of Alysa Burgard and Scott Levin. Sandra was a creative writing professor prior to becoming an attorney specializing in family law, loved to read, and was a patron of the arts. She was an avid traveler, loved being near the ocean, and was her happiest self in the spring and summer months. Sandra was a very involved and loving grandmother to her four grandchildren who will miss her dearly. Services were held at Beth El Congregation of the South Hills, 1900 Cochran Road, on Monday, March 28 at 12 noon. Interment Mount Lebanon Cemetery. Contributions may be made to St. Jude Children’s Hospital, 600 Waterfront Drive #210, Pittsburgh, PA 15222 or Animal Friends, 562 Camp Horne Road, Pittsburgh, PA 15237. Arrangements entrusted to Ralph Schugar Chapel, Inc., family owned and operated. schugar.com NEWMAN: Barbara Newman, of Heidelberg, previously of Baldwin Township, passed away peacefully on March 21, surrounded by her loving family. Barbara was preceded in death by her parents, Sandy and Arlene Newman. She is survived by her three devoted brothers, Ed (Debbie), Roger (Joyce), and Doug (Shelly), as well as many nieces and nephews, extended family, and close friends. She is also survived by favorite uncle, David Soltz. Barbara loved spending time with her four Shelties, working on her beautiful flower and vegetable gardens, and cooking for all of her friends and family. She will be missed by all. Services were held at Ralph Schugar Chapel on Thursday, March 24. Interment Homestead Hebrew Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family request donations be made to Good Samaritan Hospice House, 146 Neely Road, Wexford, PA 15090. Please mark any donations “for the house.” schugar.com YELLIN: Belle Yellin of Pittsburgh passed away at the age of 98 on March 11, 2022. Belle married the love of her life when she was 18, and they raised their five children together. Belle is preceded in death by her parents, Rose and Morris; husband, Leo; daughter Sandra; siblings Israel (Vivian), Alyce (Irv) and Betty (Herzel). She is survived by her children Carol, Stan (Karen), Lois and Ira; her grandchildren Ross (Aubrey) and Brett (Aimee); great-grandchildren Isabella, Mario and Nicklas; and nieces, nephews and cousins. Family was the most important thing to Belle. We were blessed to have her in our lives and we will cherish her memory. Belle was laid to rest March 13 at Adath Jeshurun cemetery. Donations appreciated at Alzheimer’s Research Foundation or Stroke Foundation. PJC

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

In memory of...

Anonymous . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Isadore Berenfield

A gift from ...

In memory of...

Allan & Vivian Levine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Leo A. Levine

Anonymous . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Cernie Caplan

Charles W. Lyons . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Irene W. Lyons

Anonymous . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .William Taper

Ted Pinsker . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Norma Stockman

Stewart Barmen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Abe Turk Mr. and Mrs. Paul L. Cohen . . . . . . . . . . . Arthur R. Cohen Susan Cohen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Birdie Braunstein Schwartz Jeffrey Feryus. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Isabel Glantz Robert & Kathleen Grant . . . . . . . . Helen Harris Berman

Rita H. Reese . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Jacob Barniker Simma & Lawrence Robbins . . . . . . . . . . . . . Sadie Nadler Richard, Mindy, and Logan Stadler . . . . . . . Henry Saxen Fred Rubin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Jacqueline Rubin

Mary Jatlow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Joseph Sherwin

Sandra Taxay Schanfarber . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Diann Taxay

Karen R. Jurgensmier . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Sylvia Rosenfeld

Freda Spiegel. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Morris Greenberg

Amy R. Kamin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Marvin Kamin

Harold C. Weiss. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Samuel J. Weiss

THIS WEEK’S YAHRZEITS — Sunday April 3: Philip Blau, Birdye Brody, Mollie Bucaresky, Louis Engelman, Meyer Goldfarb, Charlotte Gordon, Morris E. Greenberg, Maurice Edward Jacobson, Charles Kaufman, William S. Miller, Gerald E. Moskowitz, Sanford A. Rogers, Trudy Rosenthal, Merle Arnold Sands, Fannie Singer, Ida Sissman, Morris L. Speizer, Eileen M. Swartz, Louis Weinberger, Louis Weinberger, Celia Weiner, Samuel Weiner, Zelda Hilda Zamsky Monday April 4: William L. Birken, Belle Broder, Elsie Cohen, Dorothy Gross, Leon Hytovitz, Pearle N. Lenchner, Israel Marcus, Allan Jay Mellman, Joseph Melnick, Alvin Milligram, Celia J. Rubin, Leo I. Shapiro, Benjamin Thorpe Tuesday April 5: Elliott Alber, Joseph Brody, Elizabeth Cousin, Sara Goldstein Davis, Marvin G. Elman, Phillip Fenster, Freda Foreman, Marvin Kamin, William Katz, Ida E. Keller, Samuel Levinson, Nathan Malt, Sarah Markowitz, Jack Marks, Samuel Miller, Samuel Mines, Albert Schwartz, Harry Schwartz, Kania Sigman, Joseph Viess, Jacob Weiner, Sally Louise Weisman, Joseph M. Zasloff Wednesday April 6: Alice Serbin Bogdan, Louis Caplin, Harold Erenstein, Aaron Friedland, Jacob Richmond, Rose Shrager, Irwin Silverman, Lazarus Simon, Esther Dena Stein, Jacob Steinberger Thursday April 7: Matilda Beck, Sarah S. Berman, Anna F. Davidson, Sadie Farkas, M. Emanuel Heller, David T. Horvitz, Myer Klevan, Sidney H. Lebovitz, Bessie Lundy, Philip Singer, Sarah Sontag, Sam Vixman, Bernard Winer Friday April 8: Allen Stein Amdur, Louis Farkas, B. Joseph Green, Saul Guttman, Max Handelsman, Julia Hepps, Morris J. Klein, Arthur Kramer, Mildred Lebovitz, Shirley Lieberman, Helen Mermelstein, Rose Beck Nathanson, Isadore M. Peril, David Pollack, Kenneth Joel Rosen, Anna L. Rosenberg, Edward S. Sheinberg, William Shussett, Dr. Sidney A. Silverman, Tillie N. Sirocca, Abe Turk, Harry Weinberger, Louis Zamore Saturday April 9: Sol Bennett, Bernard Berry, Samuel L. Case, Ralph Herny, Mollie Liff, David A. Myer, Leah J. Rosenberg, Rose Rosenthal, Max Rotter, Louis A. Schwartz, Allan Robert Shine, Sam Stein, Samuel J. Weiss, Gary Zinman

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Headlines JFN: Continued from page 9

relationships between Israeli and Diaspora Jews, compounded by the pandemic preventing travel to Israel for almost two years. He noted that Jews are failing to build an inclusive community even within North America. Jews of color, Haredim, Mizrahi Jews, Russian-speaking Jews and others are not well represented in mainstream organizations, he said. “In sum, we don’t have a ‘Jewish public square.’” Moreover, the rise of antisemitism — from various sectors — has created a sense of fear and mistrust in Jews’ relationship to society at large, Spokoiny said. “Let’s face it, our record on fighting antisemitism is not great,” he said. “I’m the first to say that eliminating antisemitism is impossible, but even the little progress we can achieve, we fail to attain. “And that’s because, regardless of where we stand politically, we look at antisemitism through a lens of ideological rigidity,” he continued. “We are more interested in being right than in being successful. We can’t — and we don’t — resist the allure of politicizing antisemitism and get into pissing matches about ‘which antisemitism is worse, right or left’ and use antisemitism as a club with which to hit our political opponents, and also to attack other Jews.” Another relationship in crisis, Spokoiny said, is between Jews and Judaism. Historically, following a pandemic, people have engaged in a quest for meaning, he said. And “if Judaism isn’t relevant, compelling and accessible, Jews will look elsewhere.”

Finally, Spokoiny pointed to a “crisis” in the relationships Jews have with Jewish institutions. “We are stuck with 19th- and 20thcentury models — models that worked well in times of low volatility and slow change but are woefully inadequate for times of uncertainty,” he said. He urged conference attendees to adopt a mindset of “intellectual humility” to enable difficult conversations and build coalitions and “boldness.” “There is indeed a time for small steps and incremental approaches, but now is not that time,” Spokoiny said. “COVID saw the finest hours of the philanthropic community,” he said. “We stepped up and literally kept the community afloat during the worst crisis in a generation. But we also fell short because we failed to dream big, to use the pandemic as a moment to reimagine the community and make bold bets.”

Philanthropists’ concerns

The crisis in Ukraine loomed large at the conference, with several sessions dedicated to sharing facts and strategizing responses. Other topics of the plenaries and workshops included: antisemitism; the preservation of democracy; diversity, justice and gender; environmentalism; the Abraham Accords; poverty; Jewish-Arab relations in Israel; and involving younger generations in philanthropy. Bringing the next generation into the philanthropic fold is a top priority for Wayne Green, executive director of Honeycomb, a partner of JFN, which provides educational resources to help professionals and parents engage youth in strategic grantmaking.

For him, the conference was about making connections with peers in the world of philanthropy and an opportunity to “explore collaborations,” he said, with other funders who are thinking about the next generation. “When we think about giving, we need to make sure that having the greatest impact is an incredible responsibility that comes with the access to having wealth and finances,” Green said. “I think, as Jews today, we want to be represented by our actions and doing good for the world. So for me, philanthropy is like a perfect way that represents that.” Cindy Shapira, president of the Pittsburgh-based David S. and Karen A. Shapira Foundation, said she was attending the conference to reconnect with others she knows through philanthropy and other work in the Jewish world, “in person, under one roof,” to talk about issues vital to Jewish continuity. Shapira spoke on a panel about organizational mergers; Onward Israel — an internship program in Israel conceived by Shapira — recently merged with Birthright. It’s the sort of collaboration that is fostered through JFN networking. Engaging young people with Israel continues to be a priority for the Shapira Foundation, Shapira said. And like many Jewish philanthropies, the foundation is “very concerned about humanitarian relief, and whatever we can do as philanthropists, for the people of Ukraine.” Philanthropic foundations face a host of challenges in addition to ensuring charitable continuity and finding collaborators. One challenge is “trying to fine-tune our strategy around giving and figuring out how to give both meaningfully and impactfully,” said Jennie Schaff, CEO of the Farash

Charitable Foundation based in Rochester, New York, which focuses half of its giving on Jewish Rochester and the other half mostly on local K-12 education — with some smaller giving categories of arts and culture, entrepreneurship and community response. There’s a tension between the pull to fund established Jewish legacy organizations while “wanting to promote innovation,” recognizing “the changing community and how we’re adapting to the evolving community.” “Another challenge,” Schaff said, “is recognizing that there are lots of trends in philanthropy, in particular, the utilization of the voice of the people who the dollars are ultimately going to serve. Also having a really dedicated board of trustees who certainly are more grounded in philanthropy and how it’s been done for so, so many years up until this point, and recognizing that it’s an evolving field; how do you meaningfully bring a group of really bright well-intentioned incredible trustees along for the ride — recognizing that they’re well-grounded in philanthropy as they know it.” For Schaff, the JFN conference — her first — was an opportunity to “meet other people in the same sphere or the same space where they’re trying to give intentionally and Jewishly and in meaningful ways.” “To be able to come to a space where other people are wrestling with those same issues, and trying to do so in meaningful ways, to me was just something I didn’t want to miss. It definitely has felt very empowering to be here with other thought partners who are wrestling with this, too.” PJC Toby Tabachnick can be reached at ttabachnick@pittsburghjewishchronicle.org.

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Life & Culture Passover, Indian style Heat your oven to 300 F. Line a baking dish with a piece of parchment large enough to fold over on itself. Place the salmon pieces in the baking dish on the parchment and sprinkle them with lemon, salt and pepper. Spoon the sauce over each piece to coat. Fold the parchment over the top of the fish, sealing it but leaving space above each piece — you don’t want the paper lying directly on the fish. Bake the fish for about 25 minutes until it reaches its desired doneness. Curry-spiced collard greens Serves 4

You can do this with kale, mustard greens or turnip greens using the same technique. If you prefer bok choy or spinach, reduce the cooking time. 1

p Tomato Lonso roasted salmon and curry-spiced collard greens

— FOOD — By Keri White |Contributing Writer

hether you opt for a non-traditional seder with this menu or roll it out as a Passover-friendly meal on a non-seder night is entirely your call. This meal is tasty, healthy and offers some variety from the usual, though delicious, Passover fare. Salmon is always a good place to start — the fish is kosher, relatively affordable and generally liked. Coating it in a flavorful sauce or relish and wrapping it in parchment is also sound; the fish is robust enough

Photo by Keri White

to handle strong flavors, and the technique prevents the fish from drying out. Pairing it with collard greens, which are hearty and healthy, is also a power move — and these greens hold up to the strong Indian spices. Accompanying the meal with some simply roasted white or sweet potatoes delivers a welcome contrast from the robustly flavored fish and greens and, outside of Passover, rice is a wonderful side to serve with this menu. The sauce I used was called “Aaji’s Tomato Lonsa” and is a South Indian sauce made with fresh tomatoes. I found it at my farmers market, and it is a stronger cook than I who could have resisted the merchant who was offering free samples and touting the recipe from his beloved “auntie.”

If you can’t get the sauce from Aaji, any jarred tomato-based Indian chutney or sauce is usable, or you can simply make your own by sautéing a small chopped onion in a bit of oil with a tablespoon of grated ginger, a half teaspoon of cumin and salt, some chili pepper and a large chopped tomato and dumping this over the fish. Tomato Lonsa roasted salmon Serves 4 4 salmon fillets ½ lemon Sprinkle of salt and pepper ½ cup Tomato Lonsa or your favorite tomato chutney or sauce

large bunch collard greens, tough stems trimmed 1 inch piece ginger, grated 2 cloves garlic, crushed 1 tablespoon oil ½ teaspoon salt 1 tablespoon curry powder Water or broth as needed

Rinse the collard greens well, and remove the tough stems. Taking 2 or 3 leaves at a time, roll them up (like a cigar) and slice them into thin ribbons. Heat the oil in a large skillet and sauté the ginger, garlic and spices over medium until fragrant, a few minutes. Add the collard greens and stir to coat them, then continue turning them over. Add a few tablespoons of broth or water if needed to avoid burning. Cover the greens and cook them for about 10 minutes, watching carefully so the greens don’t scorch. PJC Keri White writes for the Jewish Exponent, an affiliated publication where this first appeared.

Passover: Please pass the flounder — FOOD — By Keri White | Contributing Writer

his meal is great year-round, but it works well for Passover, whether served for seder or just during the week as a chametz-free dinner. The colors in the fish make for a lovely presentation, the dill delivers a fresh, springlike vibe and the celery root offers a different, slightly more exotic take on a mashed vegetable than potatoes or sweet potatoes. For any lower-carb and gluten-free diners, this meal checks the boxes, but for those of us eating without any restrictions, there is no sense of sacrifice. Best of all worlds! To round out the main course, any spring vegetable like asparagus, spinach or leafy greens are a fine addition, or perhaps a colorful green salad featuring early spring lettuce, microgreens, sliced radishes and some edible flowers would work. Because the menu is dairy, a simple dessert

APRIL 1, 2022

of ice cream or sherbet is an ideal finish. Flounder with dill, shallot and carrots Serves 4

I used flounder here because it was readily available and fresh at the local farmers market. Virtually any fish works with this dish: Just be sure to monitor the baking time if a thicker, hardier fish is used, as it will need longer in the oven. As to the quantities below, you should have a sufficient amount of the carrot/shallot/ dill mixture to lightly cover the fillets, so depending on the size of your vegetables, you may need 1 or 2. 4 flounder fillets (about 1½ pounds) Juice of 1 lemon ½ stick butter 1 or 2 shallots, chopped 1 or 2 carrots, sliced 1 bunch dill, chopped Salt and pepper to taste

Heat your oven to 275 F. In a large skillet, melt the butter and sauté the shallots and carrots until soft, about 8 minutes. Add the dill, and stir until it wilts. While the vegetables sauté, spritz the fish with half of the lemon, and sprinkle it with salt and pepper. When the vegetables are done, remove them from the heat, scrape them to the side of the pan and place the fillets in the pan in one nonoverlapping layer. Spoon the vegetable mixture over the fish to coat, and spritz it with the remaining lemon half. Bake the fish in your oven for about 25 minutes until done — it should be opaque throughout and flake easily. Celery root puree Serves 4

This root vegetable is not common, but in my ongoing quest to attempt to eat locally and seasonally, hardy root vegetables are my go-to these days. Also known as celeriac, this vegetable has

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a mild celery flavor and a potato-like texture. In experimenting with celery root, I have discovered that it adds a welcome crunch to salads and slaws if you don’t wish to cook it. 1½ pounds celery root, peeled and cubed 1 small onion, chopped 3 cloves garlic, sliced 2 cups vegetable broth 2 tablespoons butter ¼ cup cream or milk Salt and pepper to taste

Place the celery root, onion, garlic and broth in a pan. Bring it to a boil, lower the heat, cover and simmer it for 20 minutes or until the cubes are soft. Drain all but ⅓ cup of broth, then add the butter, cream and seasonings. Either mash it by hand, or use an immersion blender to make a smooth puree. PJC Keri White writes for the Jewish Exponent, an affiliated publication where this first appeared. PITTSBURGHJEWISHCHRONICLE.ORG

Community You’re a superstar Pittsburgh-area college students competed in Hillel Jewish University Center’s Campus Superstar on March 20. Carnegie Mellon University’s Isa Antonetti won the $5,000 Ellen

Weiss Kander Grand Prize. Point Park University’s Liana Monaco was first runner-up. Carnegie Mellon University’s Elizabeth Leclerc was second-runner-up.

p From left: Mike Warshafsky, Dan Marcus, Ellen Katzen, Bob Katzen and Pam Burrows

p Contestants ready for an evening of song

April showers bring more swimming

p Former Hillel JUC staffer Danielle Kranjec receives a special recognition award.

p From left: Liana Monaco, Isa Antonetti and Elizabeth Leclerc

CDS wins

As part of an annual tradition, Community Day School eighth graders competed against faculty in a basketball game.

p Student announcers Liam Rosenberg and Cobi Davidson

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p Might as well jump

Photos courtesy of Community Day School

Photos by Christina Montemurro

p Jewish Community Center of Greater Pittsburgh’s Early Childhood Development Center didn’t let a rainy day dampen one kid’s smile.

Photo courtesy of Jewish Community Center of Greater Pittsburgh

Macher and Shaker

Rabbi Aaron Bisno received a doctor of divinity, honoris causa, for serving the Reform Movement for 25 years. Bisno’s honor was celebrated on March 24, Founders’ Day, on the Cincinnati campus of Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion. Founders’ Day celebrates the enduring vision of Rabbi Isaac Mayer Wise, founder of the Hebrew Union College in 1875, and Rabbi Stephen S. Wise, founder of the Jewish Institute of Religion in 1922.

p From left: Professor Richard Sarason, Rabbi Aaron Bisno and HUC President Andrew Rehfeld Photo courtesy of Rabbi Aaron Bisno

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APRIL 1, 2022

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