Pittsburgh Jewish Chronicle 7-29-22 by Pittsburgh Jewish Chronicle

July 29, 2022 | 1 Av 5782

Candlelighting 8:20 p.m. | Havdalah 9:23 p.m. | Vol. 65, No. 30 | pittsburghjewishchronicle.org

NOTEWORTHY LOCAL Presbyterian Church (USA) labels Israel an ‘apartheid state’

Local community leaders react

Hillel Academy readies additions, renovations for coming school year

$1.50

Local leaders speak out against Mastriano campaign’s use of Gab, tolerance for antisemitic comments

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LOCAL A new purpose for a ‘sacred space’

By David Rullo | Staff Writer

A Former Irene Kaufmann Settlement House brings the arts to children

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LOCAL

Attorney Louis Kushner, consummate volunteer

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located in Poale Zedeck before moving to the Jewish Community Center of Greater Pittsburgh. It eventually found a home at its current location on Beacon Street. Construction has been going on the entire time the school has been in the building. “We view this as one continuous project,” he said. The school began working on this part of the project with architects Draw Collective before the pandemic. The firm, he said, provided close to 18 different iterations of the project before hitting on the current plans. Weinberg and his board hung the drawings on a wall prepared to get to work, and then the virus shut down the school, along with most other businesses. The drawing remained fresh on the team’s mind but was stuck as a concept until they were able to return to the school. “You know the moment where you come Please see Hillel, page 14

Please see Mastriano, page 14

 Hillel Academy of Pittsburgh is in the midst of a $10.5 million construction project that will include a new wing for its girls school, a new shul and science lab plus numerous other improvements. Photo by David Rullo By David Rullo | Staff Writer

Getting to know:

t a July 21 press conference organized by the Shapiro for Governor campaign, local politicians spoke out against Pennsylvania Republican gubernatorial candidate and State Sen. Doug Mastriano campaign’s use of the social media site Gab and antisemitic comments left by his followers. It was recently revealed in campaign finance reports that Mastriano and his campaign paid Gab $5,000 for consulting fees. Since those fees were paid, according to a July 14 Huffington Post story, all new Gab members automatically follow Mastriano, Gab founder Andrew Torba and several far-right media outlets. Numerous posts authored by the Mastriano campaign included antisemitic comments in reply. In one, Joey Faust @Capn-Fashizm wrote about Shapiro, “He’s a Jew, which is the #1 core problem with American politics.” Another post, left by Cap’nChrunch @ EerieEric45, read: “@Doug4Gov the Jews own western politics and you’re not going to change anything until that ends.” Antisemitic memes were also included among the comments. ROBODAN posted a double image, the first saying “Jews Rape Kids.” The second urged readers “Do Not Get Vaxxed” — the

tanding amid the dust and rubble of new construction, Hillel Academy of Pittsburgh Principal Rabbi Sam Weinberg remembered the last day of the 2021-’22 school year. “We ended school on a Thursday. We had all hands on deck and paid school students to carry boxes. We cleared out the second story of this building, and the next day started construction,” he said. The summer might have meant the cessation of classes for students, but the private day school was just beginning a $10.5 million project that would include removing the front of its current home, building a new shul, adding a basement, new science lab and a second-story addition that will be the new home of the girls high school. Weinberg said that while the construction is new, it started more than a decade ago. The original boys high school, he said, was

keep your eye on PittsburghJewishChronicle LOCAL

Dylan Groff: Exit interview

HISTORY

History: Help for Jews abroad

FILM

Retro review: ‘Crossing Delancey’

Headlines Israel labeled an apartheid state by Presbyterian Church USA — LOCAL — By David Rullo | Staff Writer

he 225th General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (USA) voted on July 5 to label Israel an apartheid state. The vote was approved 266-116 by commissioners at the church’s biannual gathering in Louisville, Kentucky. The Assembly Action reads in part: “The Presbytery of Grace overtures the 225th General Assembly (2022) of the Presbyterian Church (USA) to do the following: 1. Recognize that the government of Israel’s laws, policies and practices regarding the Palestinian people fulfill the International legal definition of Apartheid. Apartheid is legally defined as inhuman acts committed for the purpose of establishing and maintaining domination by one racial group of persons over any other racial group of persons and systematically oppressing them.” The action goes on to accuse Israel of having two sets of laws, one for Israelis and another for Palestinians; expropriating Palestinian land and water; denying the right of freedom of residence to Palestinians; and denying Palestinians the right to nationality. While the General Assembly approved the action, General Minister to the Pittsburgh Presbytery Rev. Sheldon Sorge, who was unable to attend the biannual, said it is important to see the action as that of a particular assembly rather than the PC(USA). “So, it is not insignificant,” Sorge said, “but it is not a position taken by the church as a whole and there are many in PC(USA) churches who disagree with this position.” Sorge said that a subsequent assembly

 The Pittsburgh Theological Seminary

could revisit the question and overturn the action in the future. He said that the vote is a result of a strong lobbying effort over a long time for the “Palestinian plight.” “That goes back to a long history; the early Palestinian Christian churches were basically founded by the Presbyterians,” he said. Sorge noted that the church has a long history of fraternal relations with the Jewish community. “That is also something very significant, and we have position papers on our relationship with Israel that had nothing to do with this particular thing.” The reverend pointed to the General Assembly positions in favor of a two-state solution and multiple positions against antisemitism. “This is a lively, ongoing conversation that isn’t going away any time soon,” Sorge said. Rev. Asa J. Lee, president of the Pittsburgh Theological Seminary, sent the Chronicle a statement saying the seminary is committed to creating a learning environment that fosters ecumenical and interfaith dialogue. Lee wrote that the seminary was not directly involved in the General Assembly’s

decisions but understood the hurt and anger of the Jewish community. “As an institution of the church, we are not in uniform agreement on any given issue. We can be members of the PC(USA) and at the same time take different positions in loving disagreement with our siblings across the denomination. And as a File photo PC(USA)-related Seminary, we seek to be a place where students and community members are equipped with the tools to seek to understand and relate with persons of all faiths, nationalities, and ethnicities, amid disagreements and denominational decisions.” The vote is just the latest episode in a tense relationship between the largest U.S. Presbyterian denomination and the Jewish community. In 2016, the PC(USA) passed a series of resolutions in support of the boycott, divestment and sanctions (BDS) movement and called on Israel to leave disputed territories. That measure passed by a 429-120 vote. The 2018 General Assembly also supported the BDS movement. Earlier this year, Rev. J. Herbert Nelson, Stated Clerk of the General Assembly, accused Israel of enslaving Palestinians. “The continued occupation in Palestine Israel is 21st-century slavery and should be abolished immediately,” he said. The remarks were made during a Martin Luther King Day sermon and published on the Presbyterian Church (USA) website. Locally, the Pittsburgh Theological Seminary has hosted an annual Racial Justice Summit, which has featured several

speakers and organizations considered by many to be antisemitic. Over the life of the Summit, numerous antisemitic tropes and rhetoric have been included at talks. In 2019, then-PTS President David Esterline wrote in the Chronicle that the school welcomes divergent viewpoints but is not antisemitic. The seminary, he wrote, “unequivocally rejects all forms of hate speech, racism and egregious activities that will harm others in any way … We stand in solidarity with the Jewish community.” Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh Community Relations Council Director Laura Cherner called the action by the General Assembly disappointing. “I think, in general, it moves the needle backwards in terms of relationships between Christians, Muslims and Jews,” she said. Cherner said that while nationally the PC(USA) passed the action, locally the Jewish community has good relationships with Presbyterian individuals and churches. “I think that a lot of local Presbyterians don’t necessarily feel that the assembly speaks for them and the individual ways they conduct relationships,” she said. “Will this impact the way we engage with Presbyterians on the ground in our local community? I think it’s worth a conversation, educating them even further why this is harmful. But does it serve to sever ties locally? I would say, no.” Working locally with willing partners, Cherner said, is one way the Jewish community can affect positive change. She pointed to the Presbyterians for Middle East Peace as one such resource. The organization did put out a statement condemning the PC(USA) action. Please see Presbyterian, page 15

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Headlines Former Irene Kaufmann Settlement House expands, finds new purpose with ACH Clear Pathways — LOCAL — By David Rullo | Staff Writer

yian Battle doesn’t practice Kabbalah or gematria, but if she did, the number 360 might have special significance. Battle is the executive director of ACH Clear Pathways, a not-for-profit in the Hill District that provides after-school and summer arts programming for disadvantaged youth. And while the community leader does not practice Jewish mysticism herself, nor is she Jewish, there’s no denying she has found value in the theme of the circle and its 360 degrees. On July 22, ACH Clear Pathways cut the ribbon at the Kaufmann Center Building — the former Irene Kaufmann Settlement House — completing its $4 million expansion, which includes an additional 2,700 square feet. The new construction is a culmination of Battle’s vision that started 12 years ago. As she recounted, out of work and on family medical leave, the executive director who grew up in the Hill District started a program with family and friends to provide music, dance and karate lessons for children in honor of her 7-year-old son, Amon C. Harris, who died of a congenital heart defect. Harris had wanted to take martial arts, but Battle couldn’t afford them at the time. She didn’t want other families to suffer the same fate. The program bounced between several different locations before ACH acquired the former Kaufmann Center from the Hill House in 2020. Battle recalled coming before a judge overseeing the Hill House bankruptcy and discussing the value of the building. “The judge made me stand up and he said, ‘Please tell me your mission and what you want to do with this community asset,’” she said. The building, she noted, is a community space with a clear purpose. “It was always meant for the arts, and I want to continue that,” she said. The Irene Kaufmann Settlement House has a long history in the Hill District, according to Eric Lidji, director of the Rauh Jewish History Program and Archives at the Heinz History Center. He said the building was founded by a precursor to the National Council of Jewish Women, the Columbian Council. And while the house has moved and expanded, Lidji said that by the early 20th century, the organization offered numerous services people remember today. “Athletics, of course, but a lot of arts and culture, as well as nursing, child care and general social work for the neighborhood.” The building that ACH now owns contains the original auditorium, built in 1928. Lidji said that it was part of the Little Theatre Movement and was considered one of the best facilities in the city for amateur community productions. “At that time, the Jewish community was still pretty large in the Hill but was starting to

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p Rauh Jewish History Program and Archives Director Eric Lidji spoke at the ACH Clear Pathways ribbon cutting. Photos by David Rullo.

p Tyian Battle and state Sen. Wayne Fontana cut the ribbon at the Kaufmann House’s completed new construction. They were joined by Battle’s mother and ACH Board Chair Frank Rapp.

decline,” he said. “It was one of the last major Jewish investments in the Hill District.” Lidji spoke at the ribbon cutting, calling the building “sacred space.” “Sanctity is when we dedicate something for good,” he said to those in attendance. “This spot is sanctified because it has been serving the same good since the spring of 1900 all the way until today. That’s what it is. That’s what it was and that is what it is going to be forever.” Battle has worked to maintain the history of the center and respect its Jewish origins when possible. That includes hanging found artwork from the original Settlement House. She also has a more substantial memory to go with the paintings. When construction began on the new expansion and workers were excavating a courtyard, they hit what was the original bath house’s pool. Battle kept a chunk of the floor so the memory wouldn’t be lost. “It’s just so profound,” she said. “I was raised thinking this community was African American, but no. To be here today, it just gives homage to the ancestors of the Jewish community that made this place what it is

and how generations of nonprofits continue to keep this place going.” In keeping with the tradition of social work started by the Columbian Council, ACH has created a space for children to learn music, dance, painting, theater, martial arts, writing and other forms of art at no cost during the school year. During the summer, there is a program that includes lunch and activities like swimming that does require a small fee. There are 75 students enrolled in the program, down from the 100 that Battle said she can teach. COVID-19 meant she had to reduce the number of children served, but she is looking to start building back the number of students. The executive director said that she has had to work to earn the respect of the community who knew her when she was younger and are protective of their community. “Some only know me from hanging out on the street or growing up at the rec center,” she said. “They don’t know my work, but I want us to be successful. I refuse to let this go down the drain.” If it’s taken some time for the community

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p ACH Clear Pathways Executive Director Tyian Battle keeps a chunk of the Irene Kaufmann Settlement House’s bath house pool found during construction.

p Original artwork continues to hang in the Kaufmann House.

to believe in Battle and her mission, many of the invited guests and speakers at the groundbreaking — including Jake Wheatley, chief of staff for Pittsburgh Mayor Ed Gainey, state Sen. Wayne Fontana, musician Roger Humphries, former Pittsburgh Steeler Franco Harris and Neil Weaver, acting secretary of the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development, which supported the construction with $2 million from the Keystone Communities and Neighborhood Assistance program — had no such issues. Blake said Wheatley put her in touch with Fontana to discuss the Kaufmann Center. “I threw on one of my best outfits and went to his office. He was so genuine and made me feel so comfortable,” she remembered. For Fontana, the math was simple. “We have a building that needs occupants. She has community activities. Why not put them together,” he asked? The state senator said the project was a combination of city, county and state Please see ACH, page 15

JULY 29, 2022

Headlines Getting to know: Louis Kushner — LOCAL — By Justin Vellucci | Special to the Chronicle

ouis Kushner, now in his 53rd year of practicing law, knows more than a lot about mediation. When asked if he talks legal shop over meals with his wife, Sandy, who also is an attorney, he is decisive and clear. “We leave that to the office,” he laughed. Kushner, 80, of Squirrel Hill, has accumulated the stuff of storied careers. An attorney at the Pittsburgh firm Rothman Gordon, the Jewish husband and father of three has spent the better part of his career in labor and employment law and has developed a reputation as someone who can get a case to settle through mediation. But that’s only part of the story. He directed the Pennsylvania Bar Institute, helped steer the organization Mediators Beyond Borders and has held a multitude of responsibilities with the Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh. With Robert Creo, Kushner lectured on mediation in war-torn Ghana and Liberia in 2008. When the Jewish Federation was looking for someone to help get a revisioned Jewish Cemetery and Burial

 Louis Kushner

Photo courtesy of Louis Kushner

Association (JCBA) up and running successfully, its leaders turned to Kushner. Why does he do it? “To make the world a better place — that’s what Jews do,” Kushner said. “I’ve also done the same in the non-Jewish community.” There again, Kushner is decisive and clear, having chaired the Pittsburgh chapter of the

ACLU, helped organize First Night activities in downtown Pittsburgh and fueled the behindthe-scenes work for Pittsburgh marathons. He recently was selected by The Legal Intelligencer for a 2022 Lifetime Achievement Award — though he stresses the award is a nice complement to, rather than punctuation on, his career.

“I was a little overwhelmed; I never thought of it — I was overwhelmed and grateful,” Kushner said. “But I still have things I want to do.” “Rothman Gordon felt strongly that Lou’s career deserved recognition, and we nominated him to celebrate his long and storied career,” said Rothman Gordon Managing Shareholder and CEO William Lestitian. “We were thrilled when he was chosen over so many peers across Pennsylvania. It’s a testament to how impactful Lou’s contributions have been to the legal community.” Kushner earned his bachelor’s degree in accounting from Penn State University and his J.D. from the University of Pittsburgh School of Law, where he met his wife, one of only three women in her graduating class. The pair together raised two sons and a daughter, now all adults. There is one subject where Kushner, however, can sound less than decisive: his path to becoming a lawyer in the first place. “I always had an interest in becoming a lawyer — I can’t tell you why,” he laughed. “But I’m still practicing,” he added. “I loved being a lawyer — and not in the past tense.” PJC Justin Vellucci is a freelance writer living in Pittsburgh.

JFCS program to offer career paths for the underserved — LOCAL — By Justin Vellucci

ewish Family and Community Services (JFCS) is partnering with InnovatePGH, local universities, philanthropic organizations and others to launch the Innovation District Skills Alliance and provide career pathways for underserved populations in several Pittsburgh neighborhoods. The alliance’s first cohort, which is expected in August, will seek to fill lab care technician positions in University of Pittsburgh research labs, said Becky Johnson, director of the JFCS Career Development Center. Extensive training will be provided to those in the cohort — and IDSA is looking for job seekers in the Hill District, Hazelwood and Homewood to support growth in Oakland, the seat of the Pittsburgh Innovation District. “We’ve been around for a couple decades now, and our primary job is to work with job seekers around the county,” Johnson told the Chronicle. “But [IDSA] is not just about finding a job … it’s about ensuring you’re the best fit for the job.” By training participants directly in the skills needed for a selected position and providing them with supportive services, JFCS believes program graduates will be connected to lucrative positions within local universities and companies. Carnegie Mellon University also is involved in the early stages of the program. Future opportunities could include jobs as security guards and security dispatchers,

JULY 29, 2022

 Jewish Family and Community Services (JFCS) is partnering with InnovatePGH, local universities, philanthropic organizations and others to launch the Innovation District Skills Alliance and provide career pathways for underserved populations in several Pittsburgh neighborhoods. Art provided by JFCS

officials from JFCS said. “It’s more than job placement,” Johnson said. “It’s a really holistic approach to job support services and putting someone on the pathway to success.” Applications are now open for the lab care technician cohort, and anyone can apply. Each applicant will be screened for their

interest in the position, ability to complete the programming and compatibility with the job credentials, JFCS officials said. Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis. The program is based on a model from the West Philadelphia Skills Initiative, and volunteers have circulated fliers about it with community groups in Uptown and

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elsewhere, said Lindsay A. Powell, workforce strategies director for Innovate PGH. But Powell stressed that any unemployed or underemployed Pittsburgher is eligible for the IDSA program. “It really, truly is open to any resident; for us, it really is an open call,” she told the Chronicle. “We keep hearing, ‘We want diverse talent, we want local talent.’ Well, we have a solution.” Those who are selected will be placed in a small cohort of learners where they will take courses and workshops five days a week to prepare them for a specific career at a local university. Each cohort will be trained exclusively for one position that will be clearly advertised and described in the application. The University of Pittsburgh is participating as an employer partner for the first cohort of learners and said in a prepared statement it is “excited to partner in this program to leverage new talent.” Participants are paid a stipend during their four-week training program and given additional support as needed, such as transportation stipends and child-care assistance. “We are excited to reintroduce this exciting program back to Oakland to ensure that all residents have the opportunity to be a part of the growth of our Innovation District,” said Sean C. Luther, executive director of InnovatePGH. For more information — or to find out how to apply for a cohort — visit pittsburgh-id.com/idsa. PJC Justin Vellucci is a freelance writer living in Pittsburgh. PITTSBURGHJEWISHCHRONICLE.ORG

Headlines The Exit Interview: Dylan Groff to getting to know each other, being there for each other and putting the work in to maintain those relationships. I really like people, and this was an excuse for me to get paid to meet people. That was one of my favorite parts.

— LOCAL — By Ethan Beck | Staff Writer

fter just over a year-and-a-half of working at Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh, Dylan Groff is headed back to school to complete a dual degree program at CMU and Pitt. Groff, 25, worked at the Federation’s Community Relations Council as a council associate alongside Director Laura Cherner. Before working at the CRC, Groff graduated from Amherst College in 2019, then relocated to Washington, D.C. Once resettled, he worked at the American Israel Public Affairs Committee and interned for Sen. Bob Casey. Before this new phase in his life, Groff talked to the Chronicle about his stint at the CRC and his future.

Can you talk about your responsibilities while working at the CRC?

So, it was a pretty broad spectrum. I dealt with everything from interpersonal relationships between me and other community leaders to other people in similar roles at different organizations. There was a big emphasis on outreach and relationship building within college campuses, especially at Pitt, CMU and Duquesne. Then there was the other

Is there something you’re most proud of at the CRC?

 Dylan Groff

Photo courtesy of Dylan Groff

side of things, which was like government relations, lobbying and writing letters to legislators. And, of course, day-to-day maintenance and programming things like the Juneteenth program that we put together last year [and] the Pride programming that we did this last month in June.

Are there certain parts of your work that are your favorite?

This might sound a little silly, but my favorite parts were the relationship building. Getting coffees with people from different organizations, brainstorming and just developing a rapport so that maybe there’s places where [there’s] projects or programs that we can work on together. But really, that just comes down

helping you plan for what matters the most

I take a lot of pride in a lot of the programming that we did through the CRC. The things I point to are the Coffee and Conversations series we ran both for the mayoral election and most recently for the primary elections. Particularly the one for the House seat to replace Mike Doyle. Things like that. I’m very proud of getting information right in front of our community and our constituents. Other things like the Juneteenth and the Pride programming, it’s a way to show solidarity with other communities and to build those relationships in a work setting. Those things stick, putting that effort in sticks. It goes a long way with these other community leaders and other communities in general. That’s something I think we did a particularly good job with. I think [CRC Director] Laura [Cherner], in particular, is phenomenal at that kind of work. Learning under her and watching how she approaches these kinds of things, I’m proud to have had that opportunity.

You grew up in Squirrel Hill and have a long history

in the community. What was it like working in a leadership role in the community?

It was very different coming to the Federation, in large part because, until I took this position, I knew the Federation existed but I did not necessarily engage [with it], especially considering I had no income. It’s obviously a donor-based organization and a lot of what they do is fundraising. I was not really on their radar until after college. Being in a leadership position, I’m not sure it was much different in terms of how I interacted with the community. It felt very natural to step into this role. Perhaps the only difference was people speaking a little bit more freely and looking towards me, towards Laura, towards the Federation to address certain issues that they were particularly passionate about. Feeling empowered to do something about that — that was new. It’s always nice to talk about the issues and to go back and forth with somebody you’re having a coffee or a meal with. But to actually have the tools at my disposal to do something about it, that was a great thing.

Now that you’re no longer at the CRC, what does the future look like for you?

I’m starting a dual degree program at Pitt and CMU to get a JD, a law degree from Pitt, and a master’s in public policy from CMU. So I’ll be Please see Groff, page 15

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JULY 29, 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, JULY 31

Join Classrooms Without Borders for The Ghetto Fighters’ House Talking Memory Series “Gross Aktion: Remembering the Warsaw Ghetto’s Great Deportation 80 Year Later.” This lecture will focus on the months leading up to the Great Deportation (summer 1942) and the days of the German Aktion itself. In this context, the grim reality of life in the Warsaw Ghetto, facing rumors of terror and mass murder, will be presented. 2 p.m. cwbpgh.org/event/ the-ghetto-fighters-house-talkingmemory-series-presents-gross-aktionremembering-the-warsaw-ghettosgreat-deportation-80-year-later. q

SUNDAYS, JULY 31-SEP. 4

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

Headlines

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, AUG. 1

Join Rabbi Alex Greenbaum for the first in-person First Mondays with Rabbi Alex in more than two years. Awardwinning Mt. Lebanon High School teacher and former radio journalist George Savarese will present “The U.S. and the Chaotic World — What’s Next,” looking at the economy, global food and fuel shortages, surging anger and protests and the response. In person and on Zoom. 11:30 a.m. $7. bethelcong.org/events/firstmondays-george-savarese-and-lunchmulti-access. Beth El Congregation of the South Hills presents its Zoom-only Summer Adult Ed Series. Learn about Israel’s military history in this four-part series with Jake Novack, media director of the Israel Consulate, New York. Topics include the War of Independence, Suez Crisis, Six-Day War and Yom Kippur War. 7:30 p.m. For more information and to register, visit bethelcong.org/events/

summer-adult-ed-series. q

MONDAYS, AUG. 1-29

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

TUESDAY, AUG. 2

Chabad of the South Hills presents Kabbalah of the Aleph Bet, a ladies learning course. 10 a.m. $18 suggested donation. 1701 McFarland Road, 15216. RSVP to batya@chabadsh.com. Join Chabad of the South Hills for a Women’s Night Out. Create your own glass-fused mezuzah cover and enjoy light refreshments. $36. 7:30 p.m. 1701 McFarland Road, 15216. Email batya@ chabadsh.com to register. q

WEDNESDAYS, AUG. 3-SEP. 7

Bring the parashah 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-classvia-zoom11.html. q

SUNDAY, AUG. 14

The Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh presents Advanced Community Active Threat Training with Defensive Tactics. The fourpart class will address the mind of an active shooter, predator versus prey, situational awareness and survival mindset; explore basic self-defense, using techniques such as Krav Maga; explore weapons awareness and disarming techniques; and advanced defensive tactics, including team tactics and reality-based training. 12:30 p.m. Squirrel Hill JCC. For more information and to register, visit jewishpgh.org/event/advancecommunity-active-threat-training-cattwith-defensive-tactics-2. Join the Pittsburgh Jewish Chronicle’s Book Club for its discussion of “The Finkler Question,” by Howard Jacobson. Noon on Zoom. Email drullo@pittsburghjewishchronicle.org to register. PJC

Rep. Cori Bush under fire for fundraising with activist who wants to ‘burn every Israeli’ alive — NATIONAL — By Andrew Jose | JNS

ep. Cori Bush (D-Mo.) is under fire from Jewish groups and her opponent in the upcoming Missouri Democratic primary for fundraising and associating with an antisemitic activist who once said she wants to burn “every Israeli” alive. Neveen Ayesh, a government relations coordinator at the Missouri chapter of American Muslims for Palestine (AMP), where she has worked since 2018, has helped Bush organize several fundraisers. The most recent one was July 16. She has a history of calling for the destruction of Israel and vowing to take part in it. “I want to set Israel on fire with my own hands & watch it burn to ashes along with every Israeli in it. Call it what you want to call it idc,” Ayesh wrote in 2014. During Israel’s 2014 “Operation Protective Edge,” Ayesh expressed willingness to join Hamas’ military wing, the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades, writing, “I should join al-Qassam. Be the first female to join their 6

JULY 29, 2022

p Rep. Cori Bush (D-Mo.) with Naveen Ayesh, a government relations coordinator for the St. Louis Chapter of the American Muslims for Palestine, at a campaign event. Twitter photo via JNS

group lololol #IdLoveToThough.” “Israel isn’t Jewish its Satanic,” Ayesh wrote in 2015. “Israel is an illegal rogue settler criminal apartheid terrorist state that has no right to exist whatsoever,” she wrote in 2016. On its website, AMP claims to be a

“grassroots-based” organization that works with interfaith coalitions comprising Jewish, Christian and other Muslim groups to educate the public “about Palestine and its rich cultural, historical and religious heritage.” The Anti-Defamation League, however,

PITTSBURGH JEWISH CHRONICLE

describes the AMP as an organization touting “extreme anti-Israel views,” which “has at times provided a platform for anti-Semitism under the guise of educating Americans.” Please see Bush, page 20

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Headlines Reaching through closed gates — LOCAL — By Eric Lidji | Special to the Chronicle

n March 1922, circulars appeared all over the city with a life-saving opportunity. No known copies exist, but an advertisement in the Jewish Criterion also presented the offer. “Aid Your Own Relatives and Friends,” the advertisement announced. “Bring us whatever clothes, shoes, material and food you desire to send to your beloved, needy ones, and we will pack and ship them for you. Delivery guaranteed to consignee in any town in Soviet Russia, Ukrania [sic], Latvia, Poland, and other parts of Europe.” What a relief this must have been. It was less than a year since President Harding had signed the Emergency Immigration Act of 1921. The law instituted immigration quotas based on country of origin. It severely curtailed immigration from many parts of Europe with large Jewish populations, including all the regions named in the advertisement. Suddenly, families were split between those who had already made it to America and those who remained in Europe. In many cases, the breach would never be repaired. But in March 1922, as in the aftermath of any major change in policy, uncertainty prevailed. The circular and the advertisement came from the Russian-American Relief Package Forwarding Co., a New York firm with a new Pittsburgh office at 1036 Fifth Ave. in Uptown. The Criterion only mentioned New York and Pittsburgh. But advertisements in The Forward revealed a much larger operation. The firm also was operating branches in Chicago, Cleveland, Hartford, Jersey City, Montreal, Philadelphia and Richmond. Despite numerous reassurances put forth by the Russian-American Relief Package Forwarding Co., including claims of a recent audit by the State Bank of Philadelphia and indemnity by Deutscher Lloyd Insurance Co., skepticism about its operation was swift. Sidney Teller of the Irene Kaufmann Settlement House wrote to the Joint Distribution Committee asking for any information it might have about the firm. The committee responded, “We have no

GET THE

p Throughout 1922, the Russian-American Relief Package Forwarding Co. published numerous advertisements in the local Jewish Criterion, urging people to ship supplies to their loved ones trapped in Europe. Image courtesy of Pittsburgh Jewish Newspaper Project

knowledge of the Russian-American Relief Package Forwarding Co., nor can we recommend to you any company engaged in the business of forwarding packages to Russia except the American Relief Association.” Eager to spread the word locally, Teller published the correspondence, in full, in the Jewish Criterion. But the advertisements continued, with added urgency. “Do not let your own flesh and blood suffer!” “Your starving relatives and friends are begging for food and clothes.”

For most of 1922, news about the RussianAmerican Relief Package Forwarding Co. came from its advertisements. In late June, it announced a milestone. It had recently received a cable from its representative based in Russia. “Receipts from the first relief shipments have been mailed to our New York office,” the advertisement claimed. It would only be a matter of time before the supplies reached their intended destinations. A few weeks later, the advertisements began featuring lists of five-digit numbers.

Each number represented a receipt that had supposedly been signed by a European relative who had received a package from family in Pittsburgh. “We have thousands of original receipts of delivery; come in and see them, or ask for free list and information.” In August, the Russian-American Relief Package Forwarding Co. advertisements began listing names of local Jewish men and women. These were people who had sent supplies overseas and could now come view return receipts. “Information free,” the ads insisted. Then came an astonishing claim. In early November, the company wrote, “We beg to announce the opening here of our immigration department in connection with our shipping of relief packages. Arrangements have been made with the Russian Soviet government and other countries in Europe, that enables us to bring over your relatives without Suffering to them or to you. Here is the opportunity you have been praying for.” The advertisements stopped two weeks later, without explanation. The following spring, district attorneys in New York opened an investigation into the company. They couldn’t find any evidence that packages had reached their destinations in Europe. They even struggled to find evidence that the packages had left America. If there was fallout in Pittsburgh, it never made the news. Studying the impact of the immigration laws of the early 1920s, historian Libby Garland found many questionable operations like the Russian-American Relief Package Forwarding Co. Some wriggled through the law, some violated it outright and some simply profited from widespread despair. “Law does not just exist in its codified form, but in lived experience as well,” she concluded. “The laws were not nearly as effective as their creators had hoped, since, as immigration officials, smugglers, immigrants and the general public soon discovered, there was a significant gap between how the immigration laws were meant to work in theory and how they actually functioned in practice.” PJC Eric Lidji is the director of the Rauh Jewish Archives at the Heinz History Center. He can be reached at rjarchives@heinzhistorycenter. org or 412-454-6406.

news. THEN GET THE FULL STORY. ❀ In the Pittsburgh Jewish Chronicle. For home delivery, call 410.902.2300, ext. 1.

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JULY 29, 2022

Headlines First US case of polio in nearly a decade is a Jew — NATIONAL — By Jacob Henry | JTA.org

he first case of polio in the United States in a decade has been diagnosed in an Orthodox Jewish man in Rockland County, just north of New York City Local health officials announced the case Thursday and said they would begin a drive to increase vaccination against the potentially deadly virus. They said the victim was experiencing paralysis, a hallmark of the disease, and that he had not been vaccinated against it. Multiple sources told the New York Jewish Week that the man is part of Rockland County’s substantial Jewish community. A local elected official said the same thing in a now-deleted statement condemning those who do not vaccinate, which drew fierce criticism on Twitter from many in the local Jewish community. “He was released from the hospital,” one source told the Jewish Week on condition of anonymity. “He’s a young adult, in a wheelchair. He got married recently.” Polio is a highly contagious disease that can cause paralysis and even death. Before an effective vaccine was developed in the early 1950s, tens of thousands of Americans were infected annually; some wound up with permanent disabilities and a handful were consigned to iron lungs, machines that would help them breathe mechanically after their own bodies were too weakened to do so on their own. A 1952 outbreak killed more than 3,000 people, mostly children. The new polio case comes amid fierce backlash against vaccination in some Orthodox communities fueled by the COVID-19 pandemic and following a measles outbreak in Rockland County in 2018 and 2019 that was centered in the area’s haredi Orthodox population. The county barred unvaccinated children from entering public places during the outbreak. According to state data, 60% of Rockland County children have received all three doses of the polio vaccine by age 2, the recommended timeline for vaccination. Nationally, more than 92% of children are fully vaccinated by that age. Last year, Rockland County’s rate of completion of the childhood vaccination schedule, which protects against a range of diseases, was 42%, the lowest in the state. While the county has many residents who are not Orthodox Jews, its multiple Orthodox enclaves are the fastest-growing areas, in part because of their large number of young children. On Thursday, Rockland County Executive Ed Day said the county is not “immune to vaccine hesitancy.” “It’s exactly what led to the measles crisis we dealt with, and why we are constantly

p The first person in the United States to be diagnosed with polio in a decade is an Orthodox Jewish man in Rockland County. Getty/Catherine Falls Commercial via JTA.org

“I missed your tweet calling out LGBTQ+ by

name and as a community for Monkeypox,” Gestetner wrote, referring to the outbreak of a different virus that is underway. “So why treat visibly Jewish people this way? Every

”

elected Dem should condemn you.

— YOSSI GESTETNER, A ROCKLAND COUNTY RESIDENT WHOSE ORTHODOX JEWISH PUBLIC AFFAIRS COUNCIL doing what we can to be proactive about getting people vaccinated,” Day said. Rockland County will offer free polio vaccinations in Pomona for any unvaccinated New Yorkers. State Sen. James Skoufis, a Democrat whose district includes part of Rockland County, released a statement on Twitter in a now-deleted tweet asking to “bring the full force of the law down on those who have skirted these requirements.” He singled out Ramapo yeshivas as having “a history of non-compliance with the state’s vaccine laws.” Ramapo is one of the Five Towns of Rockland County, in which the source said there are over 120 yeshivas. “Additional enforcement is required in light of today’s news,” Skoufis said in his statement. Skoufis’ statement drew criticism from

within the Jewish community. Yossi Gestetner, a Rockland County resident whose Orthodox Jewish Public Affairs Council worked to combat negative publicity stemming from the measles outbreak in 2019, tweeted that Skoufis’ statement was “hateful and inflammatory.” “I missed your tweet calling out LGBTQ+ by name and as a community for Monkeypox,” Gestetner wrote, referring to the outbreak of a different virus that is underway. “So why treat visibly Jewish people this way? Every elected Dem should condemn you.” Gestetner told the New York Jewish Week that he recognized that there is vaccine hesitancy within the Orthodox community, but rejected the notion that vaccine hesitancy “is just an Orthodox community issue.” “People have real concerns about

vaccines,” he said. “Even if they’re wrong, the government should go out there and show them the benefit of these vaccines rather than just yelling at people.” Gestetner said he worried that directing attention to the Orthodox community could fuel antisemitism in the area, adding that comments like the one Skoufis made do not help. After the backlash to his statement, Skoufis said on Twitter that he met with members of the Rockland County Jewish community to discuss the situation. “I truly appreciate the sensitivity on the ground and the need to make sure the language used like that in my statement from today better reflects that sensitivity,” Skoufis said on Twitter. After the 2019 measles outbreak, public health campaigns resulted in more children being vaccinated against the virus, including within the Rockland County and Brooklyn Jewish communities that were hardest hit. But since then, the advent of COVID-19 vaccines have heightened tensions around vaccination in those communities and beyond, with inaccurate information circulating widely. Zev Zelenko, an Orthodox doctor who became a hero in some circles for promoting untested treatments and opposing vaccination, was based just outside of Rockland County. Meanwhile, the COVID-19 pandemic has also caused childhood vaccinations to slow across the United States, as families have delayed or deprioritized routine health care. “Childhood vaccine hesitancy is huge, and I think a lot of it may have worsened with the whole pandemic of misinformation,” Blimi Marcus, an Orthodox nurse who led a COVID-19 vaccine campaign in her community, told the New York Jewish Week in December. PJC

www.pittsburghjewishchronicle.org 8

JULY 29, 2022

PITTSBURGH JEWISH CHRONICLE

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Headlines AIPAC giving major force in Michigan House primary that could end Jewish Democratic political dynasty

p U.S. Rep. Andy Levin, D-Mich., is seen at the House steps of the Capitol during the last votes of the week on May 20, 2021.

Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call via JTA.org

— NATIONAL — By Philissa Cramer | JTA.org

he Democratic primary next week in Michigan’s 11th District could end a four-decade Jewish political dynasty — and spending by the country’s biggest pro-Israel lobby is playing a significant role. Because of redistricting, the race pits two incumbent Democrats against each other: Rep. Andy Levin, a Jewish Democrat who favors conditioning aid to Israel and counts some of Congress’ most outspoken Israel critics as his friends, and Rep. Haley Stevens, a non-Jewish centrist whose Israel commitments lie mainly in assuring its military security.

Now, the group is testing its theory in multiple primaries where progressive candidates are seen as vulnerable. Through Sunday, AIPAC’s PAC had spent $3,178,469 supporting Stevens’ candidacy and another $174,437 opposing Levin’s, according to federal election data collected by Open Secrets, a website that tracks political spending. AIPAC’s giving has made up nearly 60% of outside spending on behalf of Stevens, according to the federal data. Supporting Stevens has been the United Democracy Project’s second-biggest spending area, after the $4 million it spent against Donna Edwards, a Maryland progressive who was backed by the more liberal pro-Israel lobby J Street and who lost her primary against Glenn Ivey last week.

“I’m not just Jewish, Mehdi, I’m one of two former synagogue presidents in Congress,

along with Sen. Jackie Rosen. I’ve got mezuzot on all my doors. I’m really Jewish,” Levin said. “But AIPAC can’t stand the idea that I am the clearest strongest Jewish voice in Congress standing for a simple proposition: that there’s no way to have a secure Democratic homeland for the Jewish people unless we achieve the political and human rights for the Palestinian people.” He added, “The last I checked that was the policy of every Democratic and Republican administration pre-Trump of this country. But AIPAC’s completely gone off the rails and they’re trying to end my career because I won’t fall in line with their view of what it means to be pro-Israel.” Progressives from outside Michigan are rallying to Levin’s side after a poll last week showed Stevens with a commanding lead in the Aug. 2 primary. Other major Democratic figures, including Hillary Clinton, are backing Stevens. If Levin loses, Congress would be without a Levin for the first time since 1982, when Andy Levin’s father, Sander Levin, was elected; the son replaced his father in 2019. Additionally, Sander Levin’s brother Carl, who died last year, was a senator representing Michigan from 1979 to 2015. He was a longtime AIPAC ally who broke with the lobby in his last year in office over the best strategy to contain the threat posed by Iran. PJC

Fall Arts Preview

“… AIPAC’s completely gone off the rails

August 26

and they’re trying to end my career because I won’t fall in line with their view of what

”

it means to be pro-Israel.. Stevens has been the recipient of millions of dollars in outside funding far from United Democracy Project, the political action committee launched last year by AIPAC, the American Israel Public Affairs Committee. She is polling over 20 points ahead of Levin. AIPAC broke from 70 years of studious avoidance of electoral politics when it launched the PAC, in a sign that the group no longer believed that its traditional activities were sufficient to guarantee that its vision of Israel support would prevail in Congress. PITTSBURGHJEWISHCHRONICLE.ORG

— REP. ANDY LEVIN, (In that race, United Democracy Project also spent $1.7 million to support Ivey.) AIPAC’s PAC has spent nearly $22.5 million in total so far in this election cycle, all in Democratic primaries, making it the second-biggest giver overall. Levin criticized AIPAC’s giving in an appearance Sunday night on MSNBC on the show hosted by Mehdi Hasan. He argued that by spending to defeat him, the lobby was opposing a “really Jewish candidate” whose Israel positions represent the mainstream.

The fall arts preview special issue is publishing 8/26. Just as in the past, this is a great opportunity to promote your fall shows and events to an excited and very supportive Jewish community. So don’t hesitate to contact us with your ad placements or questions you may have. Here’s to another successful season!!!

Kelly Schwimer, Sales Director

kschwimer@pittsburghjewishchronicle.org | 412.721.5931

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JULY 29, 2022 9

Headlines — WORLD — Israel records first fiscal surplus since 2007

Israel reported a fiscal surplus of 0.4% for the year ending in June, according to the Ministry of Finance Accountant General, Globes reported. That’s the first time since 2007 that the country concluded 12 months with a cumulative fiscal surplus. In the first half of 2022, there was a cumulative surplus of $9.25 billion versus a cumulative fiscal deficit of $12.67 billion in the first six months of 2021. In 2021, the government was burdened with unpaid leave payments and compensation to businesses because of the pandemic. Those payments ended in June 2021. Israel did report its first deficit ($434.8 million) in June, ending a five-month streak of declines in the cumulative deficit.

Dozens of Jewish graves damaged in 600-year-old Turkish cemetery

Dozens of Jewish graves were damaged or destroyed in the 600-year old cemetery of Istanbul’s Hasköy neighborhood last week, the Turkish Jewish community announced via Twitter, JTA reported. “Our Hasköy Cemetery was entered at midnight, and 36 of our tombstones were destroyed,” the community’s official Twitter account said on July 14. The Turkish Jewish

weekly Şalom Gazetesi later put the number at 81. “The matter has been conveyed to the relevant authorities with all the pictures and night recordings, and we expect the perpetrators of this vandalism to be caught as soon as possible.” The incident garnered a quick response at the highest level. Ibraham Kalin, the spokesman for Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, strongly condemned the vandalism in a tweet, calling it a “heinous attack.” Shortly after, Turkey’s interior minister, Suleyman Soylu, tweeted that two suspects had been caught and detained by Istanbul’s police department. Turkish media reported that they were children.

Israeli reporter sneaks into Mecca, triggering outcry, apologies

It was billed as a historic news scoop: the first Jewish Israeli reporter to document the annual Muslim pilgrimage of Hajj on an unprecedented visit to the holy city of Mecca in Saudi Arabia, JTA reported. But when the footage of Channel 13 correspondent Gil Tamary in Mecca aired on July 18, the public’s reception in Israel and in the Muslim world was sharply critical. As Tamary states on air, entry to Islam’s holiest site is forbidden to members of other religions and illegal under Saudi law. Tamary, who was in the country on a special invitation by the Saudi government on the occasion of President Joe Biden’s diplomatic

visit to the region, entered Mecca without permission in search of an exclusive story for his news outlet. By the next morning, social media was ablaze with outrage over Tamary’s act and the outlet’s decision to air the footage. Both the reporter and Channel 13 issued apologies, saying they didn’t mean to offend, but defending the segment as “an important journalistic accomplishment,” and “great journalism.”

Israel says US sex offender won’t get citizenship

Israel’s top immigration official says the country will not award citizenship to Baruch Lanner, a rabbi and convicted sex offender from the United States, JTA reported. Interior Minister Ayelet Shaked’s July 19 announcement came a day after nearly 200 American rabbis and Jewish scholars sent a letter to Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid urging him to reject Lanner’s citizenship application. Lanner, an American rabbi and former official of the Orthodox Union’s NCSY youth group, served a three-year prison sentence for sexually assaulting students at a Jewish high school in Jersey in the 1990s. He is staying in Israel on a temporary residency visa pending a decision on his citizenship application by Israel’s Interior Ministry. He is seeking to take advantage of Israel’s Law of Return, under which Jews from anywhere in the world can be granted Israeli citizenship. News of Lanner’s status in Israel broke

earlier in July and triggered an outcry among advocates of victims of sexual abuse in Israel and the United States. Online petitions calling on the government to reject Lanner’s application have cropped up.

Surf lifesaving competitions debut at Maccabiah Games

Surf lifesaving competitions are being held for the first time at the Maccabiah Games in Israel this summer, jns.org reported. Surf lifesaving combines swimming, lifesaving techniques and general fitness. The competitions involve running and then swimming or board-paddling to rescue someone at sea in the shortest amount of time. There are both individual and team events. The exhibition events, held July 20 and 21 on the Netanya beach, are an initiative of the Israel Life Saving Federation, a nonprofit organization that seeks to prevent drownings through education and practical courses. Paul Hakim, an Australian native, and his brother, Danny, started the ILSF in 2020. Their organization runs the Nippers program for children and teens, as well as year-round water safety and surf-rescue courses training children and adults to be volunteer first responders in the water. Since the program began, ILSF course graduates reportedly have performed more than 70 rescues. 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.

In the blowing

July 29, 1849 — ‘New Jew’ advocate Max Nordau is born

of the wind and in the chill of winter,

We Remember Them.

Max Nordau, who leads the movement for Zionism’s “new Jew,” is born in Pest, Hungary. He drafts the Basel Plan, the blueprint adopted at the First Zionist Congress for a Jewish state in Palestine.

July 30, 1992 — Yael Arad wins Israel’s first Olympic medal

Tel Aviv native Yael Arad, 25, becomes the first Israeli to win an Olympic medal, taking the silver in judo in the half-middleweight (61-kilogram) class at the Summer Olympics in Barcelona.

July 31, 1988 — Hussein disassociates from West Bank

Lee & Lisa Oleinick 10

JULY 29, 2022

Jordan’s King Hussein announces that he is giving up claims to the West Bank, although he seeks to retain influence over Jerusalem. His announcement leaves the PLO as the representative of the Arab residents of the area.

PITTSBURGH JEWISH CHRONICLE

Aug. 1, 1955 — First residents move into Dimona

The southern development town of Dimona welcomes its first residents, who are recent arrivals from Morocco, as Israel tries to settle immigrants housed in tent cities. All of the early residents are Mizrahim.

Aug. 2, 1968 — Oil flows from Eilat to Haifa

Oil reaches Haifa on the Mediterranean Sea from Eilat on the Red Sea through a pipeline for the first time. The overland connection between Israel’s largest ports offers an alternative to the Suez Canal.

Aug. 3, 1945 — Report confirms horrible conditions in DP camps

Earl Harrison, sent to Europe by President Harry Truman to check on displacedperson camps, reports that the rumors of poor treatment of Jewish refugees are true in many cases.

Aug. 4, 1920 — Kaplan writes article leading to Reconstructionism

Rabbi Mordecai Kaplan, a professor at the Jewish Theological Seminary, publishes an article in the Menorah Journal that lays the groundwork for Reconstructing Judaism, of which Zionism is a key component. PJC

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Opinion Voices of European Jewry: Bratislava, Slovakia Guest Columnist Madison Jackson

“A

re you visiting Bratislava?” a man asks us. He wears a white buttoned shirt and approaches my friend Deanna and me in the garden courtyard, behind the Heydukova Street Synagogue, the Orthodox synagogue in the capital of Slovakia. “Yes, we are just here for the weekend. Where are you from?” I reply. He is from Israel, traveling through Europe on a kosher cruise. I switch to Hebrew. The man smiles and seems pleasantly surprised that I speak Hebrew. We have a conversation about where I learned Hebrew, and about what Deanna and I are doing in Bratislava. I am delighted with myself for being able to keep up in a language I haven’t spoken in a long time. He mentions that minutes before, in the sanctuary for Shabbat morning services, he sat next to a person who spoke Slovak but no English. The two were able to communicate using Hebrew. Hearing this story is one of my favorite moments during the trip so far: realizing how a Jewish language can connect Jewish people around the world, regardless of where we live. I arrived at the Petržalka Train Station around 1:30 p.m. on Friday. It didn’t take long to find Oliver, the Global Jewish Pen Pal who was hosting us during our stay in Bratislava — he has lived in Bratislava his entire life but was holding a medium-sized Israeli flag sideways under his arm. Oliver had meticulously planned a packed itinerary for our weekend in Bratislava. Two hours after our arrival, we headed to the Museum of Jewish Culture. The museum sits right on Židovská Street (Jewish Street), the single area of the city where Jews were allowed to reside from 1599 until 1840. The museum is inside one of only two original surviving buildings on the street. Finding a Jewish Street in

Judaism is very present throughout the old town of Bratislava, in one way or the other.

towns throughout Europe always comforts me; I am proud to be a Jew back on a Jewish Street. I was surprised that in the short 15-minute walk from my hotel to the museum we passed a public, outdoor exhibit about a synagogue that once existed in that very space. I learned that the synagogue survived the Holocaust, only to be torn down in the 1960s by Communists building a bridge. Throughout the weekend I would come across many plaques dedicated to well-known Bratislavan Jews, stolpersteine in memory of where Jews once lived, and a memorial to Raoul Wallenberg, a Swedish humanitarian who saved thousands of Jews in Germanoccupied Hungary during the Holocaust The director of the Museum of Jewish Culture gave us a private guided tour of the museum. It was small and simple, with a few rooms focused on the basics of Judaism: what is kashrut, what is a Torah scroll, what are the Jewish holidays. The museum is intended as an educational resource for non-Jewish Bratislavans and students. It is state-owned, a component of the Slovak National Museum, which has eight separate buildings, each about one minority in Slovakia. This is different from the Jewish Community Museum, an independent private museum I visited later that weekend, established by the Jewish Community in Bratislava. Its exhibits concentrate specifically on Jewish life in Bratislava and the surrounding region. But the city is not just home to sites of Jewish heritage; there is a small, but present, Jewish community as well. After visiting the Museum of Jewish Culture, we walked up a hill to reach a building with a room on

the bottom floor where Reform Jews meet for Kabbalat Shabbat services every other week. I thought about how unfortunate it is non-Orthodox groups are relegated to renting an area from a local building as opposed to meeting in historical, preserved synagogue buildings as the Orthodox do. While I prefer the smaller size of European congregations compared to American congregations, it would be nice if prayer groups of various Jewish backgrounds could be housed in actual synagogues. The service began and I recognized most of the tunes from my Conservative American Jewish upbringing. We got to Adon Olam, and the rabbi, across the room, asked what tune Deanna and I knew. We told him, and he began to sing. Afterward, he asked for another tune. “Our community doesn’t know the tune we just sang,” he said. “Each country and community has a different tune. Our community does know that one,” he said, referencing the second tune I suggested. As we stood in a circle after services, holding glasses of wine in preparation for kiddush, one member asked us how our services in the United States differed from what we just experienced in Bratislava. The Bratislavan Jews were as interested to learn from us as I was to learn from them. While we walked back to the hotel that night we discussed Jewish identity with Oliver. He asked if we planned to raise our eventual children as Jewish. “Do you ever bring your children to synagogue?” I replied. Instantly, he said no.

I was puzzled. A wave of sadness passed over me, as I thought about the possibility of Oliver’s heritage being lost with future generations. Oliver found out later in life that his father was Jewish. His mother is not Jewish. Oliver decided to delve into Judaism and became committed to the community. He found a place that welcomed him and he is clearly knowledgeable about local Jewish life. Yet, even though his Judaism was hidden from him for years, he is now doing almost the same thing with his children — keeping them out of the Jewish community. He explained that his wife is not Jewish, and so they have decided to wait until their children are older, and then perhaps give them the choice to see a synagogue. I understand giving children a choice. I have observed that many European Jews become more involved with Jewish life when they are older — compared to some American Jews — because of the sense of choice they have with religion. But a part of me wonders why Oliver doesn’t feel a stronger pull to keep his family connected to Judaism. Judaism is very present throughout the old town of Bratislava, in one way or the other. As we walked around throughout the weekend, Oliver pointed out the Jewish Community complex, and Ohel David, the Jewish senior citizen home. The synagogues have limited, if any, security — it is a very safe city, and Oliver has never experienced antisemitism. Antisemitism, though, is not the only thing that can lead to a decline in Jewish life. I hope that Bratislavan Jews find a way to continue passing Jewish culture and practices on for years to come. PJC Madison Jackson is a graduate student at the Chatham University MFA program in Creative Nonfiction Writing. She lives in Squirrel Hill and is the founder and executive director of the Global Jewish Pen Pal Program. She is traveling throughout Europe this summer and writing for the Chronicle about Jewish life in diverse locations. Read more about her travels at pittsburgh jewishchronicle.org.

J Street’s new low: Calling supporters of Israel racists Guest Columnist Jonathan Tobin

rom the moment it began operations, the left-wing lobby J Street’s assertion that it’s mantra of “pro-Israel and pro-peace” better represented the true sentiments of American Jews than the position of mainstream groups was disingenuous. While its leader, Jeremy Ben-Ami, claimed that the new organization’s efforts provided a way for Americans to support peace in the Middle East, its goals were really always more about the politics of the United States than that of the Jewish state. That has been never more apparent than lately as J Street has taken an active role in

JULY 29, 2022

It was one thing for J Street to say that it was saving Israel from itself. It’s quite another to brand those who disagree with that preposterous position as racists. In doing so, it told us more about J Street than AIPAC. the civil war within the Democratic Party about Israel. But it has done more than sink to a new low in discourse by using The New York Times to claim that those groups that are actually pro-Israel are engaging in racism by seeking to defeat candidates who

are opponents of the Jewish state. J Street says that those who help elect Democrats who aren’t enemies of Israel are “driving a wedge between communities of color, especially progressives, and the Jewish community” and targeting “women of color.”

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It was one thing for J Street to say that it was saving Israel from itself. It’s quite another to brand those who disagree with that preposterous position as racists. In doing so, it told us more about J Street than AIPAC. By seeking to delegitimize AIPAC and the rest of the pro-Israel faction of the Democratic Party in this way, J Street has shown that it has abandoned any pretense that its purpose is to help Israel. Such rhetoric is both inaccurate and divisive. It’s also proof that it is operating from the same ideological playbook as the most virulent and radical forces in American politics. It is demonstrating that its sole loyalty lies to the far-left faction of the Democratic Party that has discarded the pretense that it is “pro-Israel” by any definition, let alone one Please see Tobin, page 18

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Opinion Chronicle poll results: Charitable giving

ast week, the Chronicle asked its readers in an electronic poll the following question: “Has the economy affected your charitable giving?” Of the 177 people who responded, 48% said no and 45% said yes, while 7% said they weren’t sure yet. Comments were submitted by 38 people. A few follow.

Has the economy affected your charitable giving? 7% Not sure yet.

If anything, we are giving more. It has completely stopped us from giving any charitable donations! We are having enough trouble just feeding ourselves!

45% Yes.

The pandemic and the economy have affected my husband and me negatively. It is imperative to now give more to the most appropriate charities and less to those that are top-heavy with “administrators and staff.” Uncertainty regarding a possible recession has reduced our charitable donations by 75%.

48% No.

We try to donate more often to food banks. Not yet, but that could change if

I gave more in 2020 because I knew nonprofits and the arts needed more.

is better than nothing. I’m teaching my son that anyone can be a mensch and there are many ways to be one.

I‘m now retired and not in good health. I had hoped to continue donating to medical research in memory of lost relatives, but I don’t want to become a burden to those relatives I still have left. I have to be able to pay for my care.

I am doing my best to be more charitable. So many of our neighbors are really suffering due to the extreme price hikes making everyday living very expensive. Hopefully the direction of the country will change in November. Things are not going well under this administration.

I’m still going to give where and when I see a need, and now there is more and more need. The biggest change is that I guess I’ll be worrying about it all more.

It makes me sacrifice a bit so that my giving does not decrease. Not to praise myself, but others are in need, and it is not all about me. PJC

It has not. I have a certain amount taken out each week from my paycheck for the charity of my choice. I feel blessed that I can do this!

— Toby Tabachnick

I do not have a lot of extra money, but I will always give something. I believe something

Chronicle weekly poll question:

Which Israel advocacy group best represents your views on the Jewish state? Go to pittsburghjewishchronicle.org to respond.

Democracy is on the ballot

— LETTERS — Coach’s public prayer was ‘implicit coercion’

With all due respect, I could not disagree more with Laura Adkins’ assertion that she is “glad Coach Kennedy can pray on the 50-yard line” (“I’m glad Coach Kennedy can pray on the 50-yard Line,” July 1). By definition, Coach Kennedy’s prayer, at the 50-yard line, after a football game witnessed by everybody in the stands and on the field was not “quiet,” even if it was said “quietly.” It was a public demonstration of his faith, a public witness to his faith and, as a respected leader in the community and “father figure” to his students and those he coaches and influences (as all good coaches are), an implicit call to pray with him. You can be sure that some fans, parents, teachers, students and athletes are watching and counting heads to see who’s praying and who’s being “disrespectful and contemptuous” of God and their religion. If that isn’t implicit coercion, I don’t know what is. Legalities aside, it is disrespectful and contemptuous of those who do not adhere to that faith community — or any, for that matter — by the person who foists this behavior onto others. If you want to pray, do so privately. If you want to witness, do so individually with those who show interest. You are embarrassing and coercing those who do not share or care to share your beliefs. As a teenage athlete, playing for my college’s varsity baseball team, I felt compelled if not coerced (as did the other Jewish ballplayers) to join in the coach’s pre-game prayer, “in Jesus’ name.” That was a long time ago when “things were different.” As an adult, I felt compelled to leave the table when a colleague insisted on giving the “benediction, in Jesus’ name,” before professional dinner meetings attended by many not of his, or any, faith. It is disrespectful, it is contemptuous and it has no place in a public forum. Howard Elson Squirrel Hill

Jabotinsky’s words ring true

“We need to empower our community so our folks know how to fight if they have to,” says Shawn Brokos, the Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh’s director of community security. (“Federation Brings Self Defense Training to JCC,” July 22). When one reads Brokos’ words, one cannot help but be reminded of the prescient words of Vladimir (Ze’ev) Jabotinsky, the man who has more streets, parks and buildings named for him than anyone else in Israel: “Humanity is a battalion, too, and no one is going to carry you to Jericho. You either march on with all the cruelty to yourself and others that this calls for, or you give up and are swallowed by oblivion together with all your hopes.” Richard Sherman Margate, Florida PITTSBURGHJEWISHCHRONICLE.ORG

inflation continues.

I wonder if there can be any remaining support within our community for a gubernatorial candidate of Doug Mastriano’s ilk (“Local leaders speak out against Mastriano campaign’s use of Gab,” online July 22; today’s edition p. 1). We knew that Mastriano seeks to return Pennsylvania to the Middle Ages: to severely restrict abortion, civil, voting, labor and LGBTQ rights. We knew that he wears his military service and his purported Christin faith on his sleeve — this as he tramples upon Christian tenets. Now we learn that he has not only an association with Gab, the far right-wing social media site which was frequented by the alleged Pittsburgh synagogue murderer, but that he paid it a $5000 consulting fee and that he is a pal of the individual who owns and operates it. Mastriano is unlikely to answer any tough questions because the mainstream media is among the many organizations and individuals which he despises. Instead, he is running a stealth Facebook campaign in which he will not have to stand up to scrutiny. The only thing that I can see standing in the way of Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro winning the race for governor is President Biden’s low approval rating and a large level of disenchantment about the path the country is currently on. Heaven help us if Pennsylvania were to elect a governor who would transform our commonwealth into Alabama. Democracy is on the ballot as it never has been before. Josh Shapiro has been one of the foremost advocates and defenders of it in the country. For so many reasons, he is the right person for the job. Oren Spiegler Peters Township

We won’t get vaccinated

I just finished reading your article in the July 22 Jewish Chronicle. My blood began to boil after several readings. As an unvaccinated Jew, I would assume that I would not be able to enter any of the Jewish Community Center facilities. That is pure insanity. Liberalism gone amuck. I, and my wife and my son are not and will never be vaccinated. The medical data does not support this activity. We are conservative, college-educated Jews who read the facts about this virus and the actions of pushing the vaccination of all by organizations and government. The medical data does not support forced vaccinations. Ben and Jan Caplan Allison Park 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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JULY 29, 2022

Headlines Hillel: Continued from page 1

back to your office in June of 2020 and everything was exactly where you left it?” he asked. “They were up on a wall, but obviously no one knew what was going to be, so we had to rebid the thing and start from scratch.” The additions and changes will make the school both safer and more flexible. Weinberg said that the shul on the bottom floor will include more security, including bulletproof glass. There also will be a new sprinkler system. A new HVAC system will replace the four now in the school. The construction will include a new roof, replacing the 50-year-old one atop the building. “We have our roofers and HVAC people here every day,” Weinberg said. “The goal is to limit that.” Included in the new additions is an elevator that will be situated outside of the new shul. The updates aren’t strictly utilitarian. The girls school will include four large flex space classrooms. The additional science lab means that the school will now feature two, with required storage. A new learning support center is included, with an annex that will most likely include a sensory space that can meet a student’s sensory needs. Because of the construction, Hillel has pushed the first day of school to Sept. 6,

p Bare walls wait to be framed as part of Hillel Academy’s $10.5 million construction project. Photo by David Rullo

intending to complete enough of the work that students will be able to be in the building for classes, even if they don’t have access to all the new additions. Construction will continue through next summer. “The goal is to add 10,000 square feet

with the additions, plus we’re renovating the entire building’s 35,000 square feet,” Weinberg said. “It will be easier to maintain and easier to clean.” The funding is coming from donations. Weinberg said the school has raised $6 million. And while the school only needs

another $4.5 million, it is still waiting for pledges to come in. Aware of supply chain issues and the rising cost of items like wood, Weinberg said Hillel Academy couldn’t wait to begin construction until it received all the funds. It financed the project and will pay it off through money raised. The $10.5 million project makes the best use of the space available, Weinberg said before noting that if he could construct his dream building it would include a large structure with a parking garage and condominiums on the top floors. In the end, the current plan delivered the biggest and best value for the money. “For $10.5 million we’re getting a lot,” he said. Teacher Micki Myers agrees. Myers said that the teaching staff is excited about the construction. She noted that the middle and high school girls have to shift around to different classrooms and are looking forward to the day when that is no longer needed. “I think having a wing dedicated to just those students with up-to-date classrooms will be fantastic,” she said. “Not just in terms of teaching technology but morale, pride in the school, identity. It’s a big deal for us. We’ve been looking forward to this for a long time.” PJC David Rullo can be reached at drullo@ pittsburghjewishchronicle.org.

Mastriano: Continued from page 1

x’s were replaced with Stars of David. The alleged shooter at the Tree of Life building was a user of Gab posting neo-Nazi propaganda and calling for violence against the Jewish community. State Sen. Jay Costa called Mastriano’s use of Gab “horrendous” and a means to attract “people with hate in their heart.” Costa pointed out that Mastriano has posted 60 times on the social media site, and that many of those posts have attracted comments attacking Democratic gubernatorial candidate Josh Shapiro. State Rep. Dan Frankel, who represents the 23rd District including Squirrel Hill where the Tree of Life building is located, began his statement by describing the vulnerability felt by the Jewish community since Oct. 27, 2018. Frankel called Gab a “festering cesspool of intolerance” where not only Jews but “Black and brown people, LGBTQ+ people and Muslims are all targets of hate and derision, all painted as a threat to the white nationalist vision that unifies Gab users.” He said that Mastriano paid the platform because he believes it will translate into an election victory on Nov. 8. Pittsburgh Councilman Ricky Burgess linked Mastriano, Gab, the massacre at the Tree of Life building and the Charleston AME shootings, calling it the “same brand of hatred.” He called on local leaders to stand against hate and violence. Pennsylvania Democratic Party spokesperson Marissa Nahem said the decision to hold the press conference was made after it 14

JULY 29, 2022

p State Rep. Dan Frankel spoke at a recent press conference calling out Republican gubernatorial candidate Doug Mastriano’s use of Gab. Frankel stood before a crowd that included City Council member Rick Burgess, attorney Jeffrey Letwin, Black Political Empowerment Project founder and CEO Tim Stevens, State Sen. Jay Costa and Allegheny County Controller Corey O’Connor. Photo by David Rullo

p Antisemitic comments and meme left on Doug Mastriano’s Gab page Screenshot by David Rullo

became public that Mastriano was paying Gab a consulting fee. She said the Republican candidate was “unfit to be governor.” In comments to the Chronicle following the press conference, Frankel said that the upcoming election is an “existential issue”

and called Mastriano’s posts “inconsistent with ones that, I think, most Pennsylvanians embrace, which is where the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania embraces its diversity and tolerance and where all law-abiding people or groups won’t tolerate bigotry, antisemitism or racism of any kind.” Democrats aren’t the only ones condemning Mastriano’s use of Gab and the antisemitic comments posted on his page. Matt Brooks, executive director of the national Republican Jewish Coalition, last week called on Mastriano to leave Gab. “Jewish voters expect candidates to condemn antisemitism, whether it comes

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from the far left or far right — and to shun those who espouse it,” Brooks wrote in a statement. “We strongly urge Doug Mastriano to end his association with Gab, a social network rightly seen by Jewish Americans as a cesspool of bigotry and antisemitism.” Despite attempts, the Pittsburgh Jewish Chronicle was unable to reach the Mastriano campaign for comment. As of press time, Mastriano was still actively posting on Gab. PJC David Rullo can be reached at drullo@ pittsburghjewishchornicle.org. PITTSBURGHJEWISHCHRONICLE.ORG

Headlines Presbyterian: Continued from page 2

In addition to the action labeling Israel as an apartheid state, PC(USA) also voted to establish a Nakba Remembrance Day and to add it to the church’s calendar. The day will mark the founding of Israel as a day to mourn the displacement of Palestinians. According to The Jerusalem Post, a resolution from the Presbytery of New Castle also passed unanimously. It called for an end to the “siege of Gaza” and the “collective

Groff: Continued from page 5

starting at CMU in the fall and then proceeding to law school after that, and wrapping up both of those programs in the next four years. I’m looking forward to it. It’s the stuff I’m interested in. And, of course, they’re both phenomenal schools.

You have a background with Israel-advocacy and working with Sen. Casey. Do you think you’d find yourself in either of those arenas again?

Not necessarily in a Federation capacity, but since I’ve come back to Pittsburgh, I’ve been involved in some local organizing and some

punishment of innocent Palestinian and Israeli citizens.” It went on to call for Israel to end all military action in Gaza. Sorge said he understood the consternation in the Jewish community and that he was deeply distressed by it. Like Cherner, he urged the Jewish community not to disengage from relationships with Presbyterians. “Stay engaged with us,” he said. “That’s going to be a better way to find a path forward, it seems to me, than simply walking away.” PJC David Rullo can be reached at drullo@ pittsburghjewishchronicle.org. local political efforts within the city. I really do really enjoy organizing in general. One of the things that drew me to this position was that I got to organize programs and things for the community. Especially in the political climate that we’re in right now, there’s a lot of work to be done, and I don’t see myself stepping away or shying away from that kind of work. Exactly where I’m going to be when I graduate, I’m not entirely sure. But I am doing this program because it’s going to give me more tools to be able to serve in Pittsburgh and the communities I find myself in. That’s why I’m doing it.

Do you have anything that you’d want to see happening differently in the Pittsburgh Jewish community in the future?

I know a big emphasis of our work has revolved a lot about identity and how we

Pathways: Continued from page 3

officials working together, a fact board president Frank Rapp confirmed. He recounted chasing Gov. Tom Wolf through a parking lot with ACH’s executive director for an impromptu meeting, something he said Blake called “The Hill District Way.” Wolf was impressed and agreed to help. Wheatley said Blake is like his little sister and recalled an early conversation in a barbershop. see ourselves within the Jewish community. There’s been a lot of talk about younger Jewish people feeling disconnected. From an end-goals point of view, I would love to see more engagement from people my age, especially about issues both domestic and international related to Israel. I think one thing that needs to happen before that can be achieved is listening a little bit more from establishment leaders. The younger generation has a different experience. They have a different way of looking at things, and I think they’re not right all the time — I know I’ve been wrong personally on countless occasions — they bring something to the table, and it’s worth listening to and taking seriously. I think a lot of those opinions and methods of going about things are grounded very much in Jewish values and how we see our own Jewish values. I think that needs to

“I told her she is what we want to hold up as an example for our young ones, especially in the Hill, where she’s born and bred,” he said. “She saw something, and she did something in her community that will stand the test of time.” Weaver said the arts are essential to the Hill’s history and ACH brings that history full circle into the present. “By instilling passion for the arts in young people, it’s bringing it into the future, as well.” PJC David Rullo can be reached at drullo@ pittsburghjewishchronicle.org. be taken a little bit more seriously.

What else would you like to say?

I really want to say thank you to Laura, first and foremost, but also to Jeff and Brian and everybody at the Federation — all the different people I’ve met and I had the opportunity to work with. It was a short stint. I wasn’t exactly sure how long I was going to be with the Federation in this position. But being able to work within my community and do something for the city and the community that has done so much for me, I’m very grateful for that. I’m just glad that they gave me the opportunity to learn under some brilliant people over at the Federation and within the various different Pittsburgh communities, Jewish and otherwise. PJC. Ethan Beck can be reached at ebeck@ pittsburghjewishchronicle.org.

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JULY 29, 2022

Life & Culture Filmmakers spotlight Gabby Giffords’ remarkable return in new documentary — FILM — By Kathy Shayna Shocket | Contributing Writer

n their newest collaboration, Julie Cohen and Betsy West, the filmmakers known for their documentaries about powerful women, including the late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg (“RBG”) and culinary icon Julia Child (“Julia”), now spotlight former Arizona congresswoman and Tucson resident Gabrielle “Gabby” Giffords. “Gabby Giffords Won’t Back Down” portrays Giffords’ relentless journey in the face of the tragic assassination attempt that changed her life in an instant on Jan. 8, 2011. Giffords was shot at point-blank range in the head during her “Congress on Your Corner” constituent event outside a Tucson grocery store. The gunman killed six people, including a 9-year-old girl and wounded 12 others. In the panic of the mass shooting, some media outlets first reported Giffords was dead. Directors Cohen and West, the Academy Award-nominated, Emmy-winning filmmakers, personalize the remarkable story of Giffords’ grueling recovery and her triumphant comeback. They also capture the personal story of Giffords and her husband, Mark Kelly,

a former NASA astronaut and current Arizona senator. With unprecedented access to filming the couple over two years, blended with Kelly’s home videos of Giffords in the hospital and rehab trying to regain her speech and mobility, Cohen and West give moviegoers a very candid view of Giffords’ perseverance. Speaking with the filmmakers following the film’s premiere in Washington, D.C., with Giffords, they recalled the first time they met the couple during the pandemic over a Zoom call. “A virtual meeting didn’t seem like the best way to begin a relationship, especially with someone who has aphasia, a brain condition that makes communication challenging,” said Cohen. “But within a few minutes of meeting Gabby and her husband, Betsy and I were texting each other that we had to make a documentary about this phenomenal person.” The directors said they were also compelled by the couple’s love story, which is reflected when Kelly retires from NASA in the wake of his wife’s profound injuries and assumes the role of caregiver. Eventually, Giffords resigned from Congress to focus on her recovery. And a decade later, Kelly would decide to run and win the Senate seat once held by the late John McCain.

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p Gabby Giffords giving a speech in an archival scene from “Gabby Giffords

Won’t Back Down”

The filmmakers wanted to highlight these pivotal roles. In fact, in the film, Kelly reveals how he first thought his job going into space was risky, but as it turns out, it was actually his wife’s job that was riskier. Cohen and West were also drawn to Giffords’ spirit, her love of music (which is incorporated artfully into the film and played a significant role in Giffords’ recovery) and her sense of humor. Not only did Giffords tell them in that very first Zoom meeting that she was a fan of Ruth Bader Ginsburg and a fan of their “RBG” film, but she lifted her foot into the view of the camera to show she was wearing RBG socks. Film footage shows Giffords as a rising political star before the assassination attempt on her life, including her 2007 victory, when she became Arizona’s first Jewish congresswoman. Celebrating her bat mitzvah in 2021, at age 51, at which she chanted prayers, sang along with the congregation and played “Amazing Grace” on the French horn, is part of Giffords’ incredible comeback story. There’s a brief clip included in the film of Giffords practicing for her bat mitzvah. Cohen and West recalled that during that filming, they were talking off camera with Rabbi Stephanie Aaron, the spiritual leader of Congregation Chaverim in Tucson. “We spoke to Rabbi Aaron, who is Gabby’s rabbi and who Gabby is quite close to and had been close to before she was shot as well,” they said. “The rabbi was in the hospital visiting her,

Image courtesy of Briarcliff Entertainment

in the early days when Gabby was first at the medical center in Tucson before she was transferred to Houston, and the rabbi talked about that during those early occasions being so concerned about Gabby’s survival that she even said a prayer. There’s a Jewish prayer that you say when you fear that the angel of death is near and Rabbi Aaron did say that prayer over Gabby in those early days.” Today, Giffords’ transformation over tragedy keeps her busy running her organization Giffords.org, a nonprofit dedicated to preventing gun violence. And, most recently, she’s been traveling to promote the film. After the recent screening at The Loft Cinema in Tucson, Giffords and Kelly sent a video for the special presentation at Harkins Theatres Camelview at Fashion Square in Scottsdale, explaining the reason for their absence. “Presidential Medal of Freedom,” said Giffords proudly, of the nation’s highest civilian honor at which she was presented on July 7, along with 17 other recipients, including the late John McCain. As we see Giffords traveling on her recumbent trike in the film, she says, “I couldn’t walk, I couldn’t talk, now I’m giving speeches again. I tell myself move ahead. I don’t look back. Words once came easily and today I struggle to speak, but I have not lost my voice.” PJC Kathy Shayna Shocket writes for the Jewish News in Arizona, an affiliated publication where this first appeared.

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Opinion Tobin: Continued from page 12

that might be recognizable to the people of the Jewish state. The context for this controversy was a primary race in Maryland in which Donna Edwards, a former member of the U.S. House of Representatives, was seeking to get her old seat back. Edwards has powerful ties to the Democratic Party establishment and was endorsed by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. But she was beaten by Glenn Ivey, a challenger who, like Edwards, is an African American and a liberal Democrat. But unlike Edwards, who has a history of being a bitter opponent of Israel, Ivey is supportive of the Jewish state. Ivey benefited from support from AIPAC’s political action committee and that of other pro-Israel groups while Edwards was helped by J Street. That prompted a Times article in which reporter Jonathan Weisman, someone with a long record of anti-Israel bias, sought to portray the actions of pro-Israel activists as somehow ominous or illegitimate — something that would never be written about the efforts of the supporters of any other group or industry that sought to advance its cause. The voters in Maryland’s 4th Congressional District may not regard support for Israel as a litmus test issue, but the majority were clearly influenced by arguments about Edwards being out of step with the best interests of her community. If pro-Israel donors helped bring about this outcome by highlighting her poor record, it may dismay left-wing ideologues, such as those at The Intercept, who regard AIPAC as part of a sinister Zionist conspiracy. But holding people accountable for their records is the essence of democracy. As the party’s left-wing base has fallen under the influence of those who espouse intersectionality and critical race theory, the ability of anti-Israel extremists to win primaries and gain seats in Congress has called into question the viability of a bipartisan consensus in favor of the Jewish state. With the ranks of congressional “Squad” growing beyond the original quartet of celebrity politicians, moderate forces have sought to stem the tide by backing candidates in Democratic primaries who, though liberal or left-wing in their politics on a host of other issues, still support Israel and oppose those who seek to demonize it. Giving the lie to the “pro-Israel” part of its slogan, J Street has been investing considerable resources to backing candidates who are not supportive of Israel. This is in part a response to AIPAC’s decision to drop its tradition of not seeking to directly intervene in elections by rallying support for pro-Israel candidates, be they Democrats or Republicans. Pro-Israel forces have lost a lot of these battles. “Squad” members like Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) have not only knocked off mainstream Democratic incumbents but then go on to become feted as their party’s rock stars who are fawned over by the media, late-night television hosts and pop-culture institutions. But the willingness of what’s left of the pro-Israel faction of the Democratic Party to resist this trend is viewed as somehow illegitimate 18

JULY 29, 2022

Torah by those who subscribe to the left’s groupthink mentality. The effort to save the Democratic Party for the pro-Israel cause may be doomed in the long run if the intersectional left continues to gain ground while AOC and her openly antisemitic House colleagues like Reps. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.) and Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.), and their allies, ultimately begin to replace the geriatric leaders of the party. But that ought not to deter those who are working to defeat leftists who share their animus for Israel, as well as their willingness to both tolerate and engage in antisemitic rhetoric. In some cases, as in Ohio, where Rep. Shontel Brown defeated Nina Turner — a former Bernie Sanders campaign chair and would-be “Squad” member in a Democratic primary — pro-Israel groups have been successful. The same thing happened this month in Maryland with Ivey’s defeat of Edwards. But rather than acknowledging that opposition to Israel is not as universally popular as they thought, Ben-Ami used the Times — whose sympathetic and enthusiastic coverage of J Street has been a major factor in its ability to pose as a major player in Washington — to attack supporters of Israel as racists. The J Street charge about targeting communities of color and women of color is fiction, especially when you consider that many of the candidates AIPAC backed are themselves Black and, in Brown’s case, female. It is also a direct product of the same intersectional and CRT ideology that seeks to turn every discussion into one about race and to label those who speak up for Israel as part of the oppressor class. These toxic beliefs act as a permission slip for antisemitism because they treat all support for Zionism as inherently racist. So, for the supposedly “pro-Israel” J Street to play the race card in this fashion illustrates how deeply invested they are in the very forces they would be opposing if they actually cared about the Jewish state’s survival. Yet it’s also understandable since J Street’s purpose has always been to help a specific kind of Democrat gain power and use it as a weapon against Israel. During the presidency of Barack Obama, that meant supporting every attack his administration launched against Israel, in addition to its efforts to appease Iran. That J Street’s positions were completely out of touch with mainstream public opinion in Israel — both on concessions to the Palestinians and Iran — demonstrated their irrelevance when it came to the realities of the Middle East. But J Street is anything but irrelevant when it comes to the war over the future of the Democratic Party. It is fully engaged not just in efforts to eradicate what’s left of the pro-Israel wing of the party, but also ready to demonize and falsely brand those who wish to salvage bipartisanship on the issue as racist. That it is mimicking the catechism of the antisemitic left is not surprising. However, it does send a clear warning to anyone who wasn’t already aware of just how dangerous their efforts are for Israel, the Democrats and American Jewry. PJC Jonathan S. Tobin is editor-in-chief of JNS (Jewish News Syndicate) where this first appeared.

Make the best of Israel By Rabbi Zalman Gurevitz Parshat Matot-Massei Numbers 30:2 - 36:13

ree trip to Israel. No age restrictions: You can apply even if you have previously been to Israel on Birthright! Many years ago, a pious Jew asked the Tzemach Tzedek (the third Chabad Rebbe, 1789-1866) for a blessing to make aliyah from Russia. The Tzemach Tzedek told him: Why do you need to go to Israel — “Make Israel over here.” At the time (in the 1850s), there was not much going on in the Holy Land, no kosher McDonald’s or scuba diving in Eilat. Jews had limited access to the holy sites like the Western Wall or Cave of the Patriarchs. So why would anyone what to take a one-way trip to Israel? While from a physical perspective Israel was not doing well, from a spiritual perspective it was like paradise. Jews living in Israel were supported by their community back home for the most part, they did not work and were able to dedicate their lives to studying Torah. So why would the Rebbe discourage his student from making this holy trip? What makes the land of Israel a special place? Yes, there are the holy sites and it is our homeland; however, there is more to it. For the Jewish people, entering Israel was the cumulation of centuries of various forms of exile. Entering Israel symbolizes the end of their dealing with external struggles. It’s our homeland. When you are home, there is nowhere to run. No one will ever ask you why you came home or what are you doing at home; it’s just your place where you belong.

While there is still work to do, it’s peaceful work. On a spiritual level, the Jewish people entering the Holy Land symbolize their service to G-d by fulfilling his commandments and studying his Torah in a way that it encompasses your whole self. Your action, speech and thoughts are all dedicated to doing a mitzvah without the need to worry about anything! Now that we know what Israel is, we can work on our free trip to Israel. You may be living in Jerusalem and still need a trip to Israel. “Make Israel over here” no matter where you find yourself, whether geographically far from the Holy Land or emotionally far from holiness. We may have challenges, but when you do a mitzah, you have the ability to do it with every fiber of your being completely present. This is the timeless wisdom in our sages’ advice. Why did the Tzemach Tzedek discourage his student from traveling to Israel? He could have gone to Israel and made Israel in Israel. Sometimes we look for the easy way out. I’ll jump on a ship and travel to a holy place and that will solve all my problems, but that’s just a distraction. We need to realize that we have the strength within us to serve HaShem no matter where we are. We can make it a holy place: We don’t need to wait till we reach a better physical or emotional place. So, while our goal is to get to a better place, the place we are in is exactly where G-d wants us to be. Make the best of it. PJC Rabbi Zalman Gurevitz is the rabbi at the Rohr Chabad Jewish Center in Morgantown, West Virginia. This column is a service of the Vaad Harabanim of Greater Pittsburgh.

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Obituaries HORN: Richard Edward Horn, dearly beloved husband of Maxine Abrams Horn, passed away on July 21, 2022. A lifelong Pittsburgh resident, he was preceded in death by his parents, Morris and Selma Horn; his brother A. Belber (Kathie) Horn and sister Barbara Horn (late Marvin) Rom. In addition to his wife of 65 years, he is survived by his adored daughters Deborah (Sam) Berkovitz, Anne (Lawrence) Weidman, and Judith Horn. He also leaves behind grandchildren Dr. Rachel Stewart (husband Dr. Shane Eikenberry), Natalie Stewart, Noah Berkovitz (fiancée Alura Goodwine), Eli Berkovitz, a most cherished great-grandson, Angelo Berkovitz, sister-in-law Barbara Gold and other extended family members, all of whom were dear to him. After graduating from Taylor Allderdice High School, Richard spent two years at the Coast Guard Academy during which time he was a crewman on the tall ship Eagle as it crossed the Atlantic. Love of sailing led later to many summers on Lake Arthur and Chesapeake Bay with family and friends and sailing with his faithful crew in the Annapolis - Bermuda and Annapolis Newport races. In 1952, he transferred to the University of Pittsburgh but not long after enlisted in the United States Navy where he became a naval aviator and served proudly for four years. His allegiance to the Navy was well known to those around him who never saw him without his aviator wings in his lapel. Richard returned to Pittsburgh to be married and to work in the family business, Pitt Metals. Finally finishing his degree in Chemical Engineering in 1967, he went on to innovate in much of the company’s manufacturing and held several patents in electrochemical and membrane processes. In so doing he changed the focus of the company which then became Pitt Metals and Chemicals. Subsequently he became a registered professional engineer. In retirement, he remained busy and involved in the community as a substitute teacher in chemistry and physics at public and private schools; as a biology instructor on RiverQuest; as a tutor at Pittsburgh Literacy Council; as a forensic investigator; and finally, as an active volunteer at the VA in Oakland, a place he loved and honored. Special thanks to his caregiver Ken Woodsen who provided compassionate care over the past year. Graveside services and Interment were held at B’Nai Israel Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to a charity of one’s choice. Arrangements entrusted to Ralph Schugar Chapel, Inc. schugar.com LEVIN: Eric David Levin, 57, of Butler, Pennsylvania, passed away peacefully at 5:05 p.m. on Saturday, July 16, 2022, at his home surrounded by his family. Born Aug. 7, 1964, in Butler, Pennsylvania, he was the son of the late Bernard H. “Bernie” Levin and Marilyn

B. Levin. Eric was a 1982 graduate of Butler High School. He then went on to attend Washington & Jefferson University from 1982-1986. During his junior year, he spent a semester at American University. Upon earning his undergraduate degree, Eric attended the Widner University-Delaware Law School from 1986-1989. He proudly practiced law in the Butler community for 30 years. He found gratification helping children and their families for eight years, serving as the Juvenile Court Master. Eric was president of Congregation B’nai Abraham Synagogue, a member of the Center Township Baseball Association and sat on the board of directors for Irene Stacy. Like his father and brothers, he was a proud member of the Masonic Lodge and the Shriners. Eric enjoyed bowling, blackjack, and all sports. Above all else, he loved spending his time amongst family and friends, especially his children. Eric is survived by his wife, Michelle (Leff) Levin whom he married on June 2, 1996; his 22-year-old triplets: Jordan, Marni & Kayla Levin, his two brothers: Scott Levin and his wife Ronna of Pittsburgh and Joseph Levin of Butler, Pennsylvania; his sister-in-law: Jackie Shear and her husband Howard of Pittsburgh; his father-in-law Henry Leff of Pittsburgh; his nieces: Katy & Erica Levin and Margo Fischgrund and her husband Justin and his nephew: Brad Shear. Eric was a genuine friend to all, with an open and generous heart and a kind word for everyone he met. If he met you one time, you were a friend for life. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his mother-in-law, Harriette Leff. In lieu of flowers, the family has requested memorial donations be made in Eric’s honor to his beloved Congregation B’nai Abraham, 519 N. Main St. Butler, PA 16001. Online condolences can be given at thompson-miller.com. SHAPIRO: Florence Shapiro, born in Pittsburgh on Aug. 8, 1926. Died peacefully on July 19, 2022, in Palm Desert, California. She was preceded in death by her parents Samuel and Celia Goldstein, sister Lillian Lebowitz and brother Irvin Goldstein. She was the loving wife of the late Albert Shapiro, mother of William Shapiro and Marc (Joe Feringa) Shapiro. She was adored by her grandchildren Keith (Beth) Shapiro and Alison Shapiro. Recently she felt blessed to attend the bar mitzvah of her great-grandson Harris Shapiro. Also survived by nephews David and Joey Lebowitz. She will be missed by many dear friends and family who were all a very special part of her very special life. To honor her, please remember her. Private services will be held graveside. Arrangements entrusted to Ralph Schugar Chapel, Inc., family owned and operated. schugar.com

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

Anonymous . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Nathan Fishman Edward M. Goldston . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Bluma Shaindel Labovitz

Howie & Shelley Miller . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Lawrence Miller Ted Pinsker . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Herbert Goldstein Ted Pinsker . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Larry Rudick Mr. & Mrs. Joel Platt . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Robert Platt Dr. Susan Snider and Family . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Mildred E. Snider Dr. Susan Snider and Family . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Wilma Shlakman Marilou Wagner . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Sarah Hoffman Reifman Marilou Wagner . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Michael Joseph Wagner Iris Amper Walker . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Norman Amper Contact the Development department at 412.586.3264 or development@jaapgh.org for more information.

THIS WEEK’S YAHRZEITS —

Sunday July 31: Frank Burnstein, Matel Cooper, Rae Danovitz, Charles Goldberg, Louis Harris, Mollie Lappin, Anna Levenson, Harry Levine, Nathan Lewis, Harry W. Liebman, Sol Rosenblum, Ruth Rebecca Sherman, Meyer Silberblatt, Elizabeth Young Monday August 1: Norman Amper, Samuel Fargotstein, Esther F. Horelick, Hilda Goldstein, David Lee Greenfield, Martin M. Kramer, Jessie W. Levenson, Ruth Grinberg Lincoff, Dorothy S. Pollock, William S. Winer, Merle M. Pearlman Tuesday August 26: Rose Cramer, Bessie Rini Glass, Dr. Abraham D. Goldblum, Sophia Goldstein, Morris L. Kaufman, Helen S. Luptak, Gertrude Mitchel, Alvin J. Moldovan, Benjamin Olender, Eli Racusin, Harry Rapoport, Rae Rosenthal, Rose Smith, Philip Wekselman Wednesday August 2: Harry Adler, Mollie R. Bennett, Marvin B. Bernstein, Hannah Bromberg, Ida Cantor, Robert Congress, Dorothy Crutch, Sophia Freedman, Helen Handelsman, Dora Kaufman, Sarah Kleinerman, Gizella Krause, David Levine, Anna G. Rosenthal, John Schwartz, Leonard Skirboll, Irene Weitzman Thursday August 3: Lt. Richard Stanley Ackerman, Jack Neville Berkman, Ben Cowen, Albert Edelstein, James J. Gluck, Rebecca Goisner, Leonard Klevan, Samuel Maysels, Jacob Melnick, Rose Paul, Ethel R. Perer, Bernard A. Price, Molly Schwartz, Leah Shapiro, Max L. Siegle Friday August 4: Lillian Brody, Sarah Cohen, Pauline Davis, Nathan Fishman, Lawrence M. Grossman, Anne Levine, Ethel Linder, Ida Mandel, Maurice L. Moritz, Bernard Murstein, Judith Ashinsky Rosen, Martha Schwortz, Jacob Sheffler, Jack Sherman, Sidney Siegman, Harold Leighton Winkler Saturday August 5: Fryma Maete Berenstein, Herbert Cohen, Beatrice Galler, Julius Hemmelstein, Bluma Shaindel Labovitz, Irwin Levinson, Eva Corn Makler, Sophia Weinerman Sands, Eleanor J. Slinger, Harry Weisberg

JCBA Operations Manager The Jewish Cemetery and Burial Association of Greater Pittsburgh is seeking a full time administrative professional to join the staff of this growing cemetery association. Responsibilities: • Serve as primary operations professional for organization that manages Jewish cemeteries; Position reports to the Executive Director • Carry out day-to-day duties of the Association • Manage contractors and vendors • Coordinate burials • Coordinate two fundraising appeals each year • Maintain databases, and coordinate website updates Qualities that we are seeking in an organized self starter include efficiency, reliability, responsiveness, and sensitivity. Skills we are seeking include common software usage. Interested candidates may apply by submitting their resume to jcemetery81863@gmail.com and marking it “Operations Manager”

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

Please see Obituaries, page 20

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Obituaries Obituaries: Continued from page 19

TAUBERG: Madelain N. Tauberg, on Wednesday, July 20, 2022. Beloved wife of the late Dr. Herbert R. Tauberg. Beloved mother of Dr. James A. H. (Cindy) Tauberg and Joan (Rodger) Gurrentz. Daughter of the late Samuel and Rose Nowling. Grandmother of Jennifer

Bush: Continued from page 6

Antisemitism watchdog Canary Mission captured screenshots of Ayesh’s now deleted controversial tweets. In a statement to JNS, Canary Mission said Ayesh’s social media posts were “some of the very worst” they had archived on their website. They added that they demonstrated “a deep and consistent hatred for Jews, whether they live in the U.S. or Israel.” “Congresswoman Bush’s tolerance of Ayesh’s antisemitism sits in stark contrast to her opponent Missouri State Senator Steve Roberts, who has condemned antisemitism in the clearest of terms,” said a spokesperson for the organization. “Cori Bush has long known that many of her friends and supporters are anti-Jewish bigots,” said Roberts in an open letter shared on his campaign website. “Instead of walking away she decided to cash their checks and hop on their payroll.” Roberts is running against Bush in the Aug. 2 Democratic primary for Missouri’s first congressional district. In the letter, Roberts also said that he had a romantic relationship with Ayesh “some years ago.” “After a period of getting to know each other, her views became clear to me and — unlike Cori Bush — I chose to reject hate and walk away,” he said. “Cori Bush is openly antisemitic, and her hatred and constant demonization of Israel is indefensible and offensive,” Roberts told

(Jason) Kwicien, Dr. Brandon (Lauren) Tauberg, Joshua Tauberg, Ryan (Shannon) Gurrentz and Jessica Gurrentz. Also four great-grandchildren: Madison, Bryce, and Ryder Kwicien and Hayden Tauberg. Madelain graduated from Taylor Allderdice High School in 1945 and met her future husband, Herbert, that same year. They married in 1949 and were together for 56 years before Herbert passed. Madelain was a devoted volunteer in the Squirrel Hill and Pittsburgh communities. She was an active member of LHAS, Southside and St. Joseph

Hospital Society, NCJW, American Cancer Society, Rodef Shalom Congregation’s Sisterhood, Biblical Botanical Garden and Rabbi Freehof ’s Book Club, OSHER, Gardens Unlimited (a Pittsburgh garden club famously known for their half lemon on a peppermint swizzle stick during the Garden Market), Vocational Rehab Center, the Pittsburgh Council of International Visitors and the Squirrel Hill Intellectual Tasting Society. Madelain loved traveling the globe with her husband, her children, and her grandchildren. She also enjoyed playing

mahjong and hosting her husband’s poker club, entertaining husbands and wives alike. She was the ultimate hostess, opening her home and her heart to all who crossed her path. Graveside services and interment are private. Contributions in Madelain’s memory may be made to the National Council of Jewish Women Tauberg Endowment Fund at the Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh, 2000 Technology Drive, Pittsburgh, PA 15219. Arrangements entrusted to Ralph Schugar Chapel, Inc. schugar.com family owned and operated. PJC

JNS. “She has repeatedly voted against vital and bipartisan U.S. defense funding for Israel, including replenishing the Iron Dome Missile defense system, which protects hundreds of thousands of innocent civilian lives each year,” he said. “Cori Bush’s lies about Israel are not only irresponsible and wrong. Her words are dangerous because they help fuel the growing and continued threat of violence against the Jewish community,” Roberts added. In a 2018 testimony before the Missouri House of Representatives defending the BDS movement, Ayesh said that she had befriended Jewish people, worked with them, and that “some of them” were the “closest people” to her. According to Ayesh, her “problem is not with the existence of Israel,” adding that she “definitely” does not “condone violence.” Ayesh’s Twitter history, however, tells a different story. In November 2012, Ayesh wrote, “I should put a sign on that door that says if your yahoodi [Jewish] please kill yourself cause you aren’t welcome anywhere.” “#crimesworthyoftherope being a Jew,” “I would love to 7ajer 3al yahood [throw stones at the Jews],” “never trust a Jew,” and, “#ThingsWeAllHate Jews,” and, “Jews #WorstThingInTheWorld,” were some of her tweets between 2011 and 2014. Shortly after her 2018 testimony, Ayesh on Facebook commented on a video she shared of her testimony, writing, “the yahood [Jews] just came off really aggressive and kept repeating the same things one

after the other.” Most recently, Ayesh compared the invasion of Ukraine to the struggle of Palestinians, tweeting in February 2022 that many who oppose the actions by the terrorist group Hamas are “encouraging armed resistance by Ukrainian citizens ... but somehow have an issue with Palestinians doing the same.” Bush’s friendship with the controversial activist goes back to 2017, when the two were photographed together ahead of a panel discussion at the Badil Resource Center in Bethlehem. In 2020, Ayesh helped set up a fundraiser for the congresswoman, featuring talks by Palestinian American activist Linda Sarsour and Palestinian American House Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.) — both proponents of the BDS movement — as guests. Bush also attended the fundraiser. Bush herself is a vocal supporter of and a member of “the Squad” alongside Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Ilhan Omar and Tlaib. Bush previously described Israel’s relationship with Palestinians as an “apartheid system.” She has also claimed that “Black and Palestinian struggles for liberation are interconnected.” Several Jewish groups expressed concern over Bush’s association with Ayesh, including the Simon Wiesenthal Center, which questioned whether Bush shares Ayesh’s worldview. “What part of this antisemitic activist did Rep. Bush not know about? Her wish to see Israel and the world’s largest Jewish community burn and be reduced to ashes?

Her support for Hamas terrorism?” said Simon Wiesenthal Center Associate Dean Abraham Cooper. “Do these sentiments reflect Cory Bush’s world view? If not say so and return the money!” StopAntisemitism Executive Director Liora Rez told JNS that Bush’s association with Ayesh was “appalling,” adding that Bush “profits off of someone who wants to ‘watch Israel burn to ashes along with every Israeli in it.’” Ayesh responded to news of her past social media posts in a July 13 Twitter thread criticizing Canary Mission for documenting them, writing she was “being harassed” over “horrible things” that she posted “once upon a time.” Ayesh justified her tweets, claiming that they “came from a place of both pain & anger,” adding that she now has “learned how to assign academic terminology to what I had witnessed, experienced, & continue to experience at home & abroad.” Neither Ayesh nor the American Muslims for Palestine responded to JNS’ requests for comment. “Neveen Ayesh wants to run for office one day & her thread is perfect for understanding a classic journey in modern antisemitic linguistics,” said the Canary Mission in response to Ayesh’s thread. “Your antisemitism has been consistent from the time you were ‘young and dumb’ to the present day,” the watchdog said, adding, “You still say ‘horrible things.’ Your non-apology doesn’t work. No one buys it.” PJC

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JULY 29, 2022

Life & Culture Retro review: ‘Crossing Delancey’ is a quintessential look at Jewish romance — FILM — By Ethan Beck | Staff Writer

or Izzy Grossman, being in a relationship would only be a complication. Between her job at a bookstore uptown in New York City, her close relationship with her grandma and her busy schedule, she’s happy and comfortable with her life. But in “Crossing Delancey,” Joan Micklin Silver’s fantastic 1988 dramedy, Izzy’s Jewish grandma Ida pushes and pries Izzy about when she’ll settle down. Eventually, Ida decides to take matters into her own hands and hires a local matchmaker to find someone for Izzy to marry. Adapted from a play by Susan Sandler, “Crossing Delancey” is the quintessential Jewish rom-com, a deeply textured and wellcrafted movie that’s moving and charming in the same breath. Micklin Silver manages to comfortably capture 1980s New York, Jewish intelligentsia and a blooming romance, all with a sense of care that’s uncommon. Part of the film’s strength comes from Amy Irving’s incredible performance as Izzy. Irving allows an engaging kind of indecision to define her character as she’s thrown into silly and complicated situations throughout the movie.

p Amy Irving in “Crossing Delancey”

Irving was nominated for a Golden Globe in the Best Actress in a Motion Picture — Comedy or Musical category for her performance.. Actress Jenny Slate once described Izzy as “a progressive, intelligent, Jewish New Yorker who was so bonded to her grandmother, but not necessarily to her cultural traditions.” So, while Izzy agrees to a meeting with the matchmaker, she doesn’t carry much interest in being set up with Sam Posner (Peter Riegert), a local Lower East Side pickle maker. “There’s gotta be something happening

between two people, there’s gotta be heat,” explains Izzy during a back-and-forth with her grandma about why she thinks matchmaking doesn’t work. As her bubbie schemes, Izzy remains wrapped up in the literary scene at the bookstore where she works. While there, she meets writer Anton Maes (Jeroen Krabbé), who frequents the Screenshot from trailer store and often flirts with Izzy. The two go to lunch once or twice and, during these scenes, Krabbé plays his character with such self-seriousness that you know he’s supposed to be a jerk. It’s easy to understand why Izzy is drawn to Maes initially, but where “Crossing Delancey” gets interesting is when Izzy finds herself thinking more and more about Posner. After Izzy tells Posner at the matchmaking meeting that she isn’t interested and attempts to set him up with her friend, she feels like she’s made a mistake. Chaos and

mixed signals ensue. One of the other strong suits of “Crossing Delancey” is how it indulges tangents, allowing them to shape Izzy’s character without always moving the plot along. An era of New York City that’s long gone is showcased with love, Izzy’s bookshop always has a surprise in store and Sandler’s script always allows space for these fun detours. The cast surrounding Izzy is just as important to making the sweet realism of “Crossing Delancey” work. Reizl Bozyk, who plays grandma Ida, takes her history in the Yiddish theater world and applies it to a role she was born to play. And Riegert in his role as Sam Posner has a straightforward warmth, balanced by his character’s outward working-class gruffness. Micklin Silver has made many great movies throughout her career as a director. 1977’s “Between the Lines” is a nearly perfect portrayal of local journalism, and she meditated on the wounded male ego in 1979’s “Chilly Scenes of Winter” with expertise. But “Crossing Delancey” is an excellent example of what makes her a great director, attuned perfectly to the everyday romance that exists in all of our lives. PJC

Ethan Beck can be reached at ebeck@ pittsburghjewishchronicle.org.

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JULY 29, 2022

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Community NCSY Garden Sizzler The annual NCSY Garden Sizzler welcomed donors and attendees for an evening of food and conversation. Speakers praised the organization’s efforts and ability to support 21 different summer programs for Jewish youth.

p Mayor Ed Gainey and his daughter Alexa enjoy the evening activity. p The Honorable Rich and Catherine Fitzgerald join fellow attendees.

p Rabbi Daniel Wasserman and Judge Danny Butler are all smiles.

p Avi Avishai takes a break from the fun-filled affair.

Photos by Sanford Riemer

Summer fun at Hillel Camp

July is inching toward its end, but good times keep rolling at Hillel Camp, where participants enjoyed crafting, foam parties and friendship-building activities.

p Saving the earth starts with a craft.

p Friendship is the best treat.

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Photos courtesy of Hillel Academy of Pittsburgh

p Summer is the sweetest time.

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JULY 29, 2022

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