Pittsburgh Jewish Chronicle 11-5-21 by Pittsburgh Jewish Chronicle

November 5, 2021 | 1 Kislev 5782

Candlelighting 5:54 p.m. | Havdalah 6:53 p.m. | Vol. 64, No. 45 | pittsburghjewishchronicle.org

NOTEWORTHY LOCAL Paying respect Consul general of Israel visits Pittsburgh on Oct. 27

Schenley park event commemorates Oct. 27 attack and honors 11 lives lost

who lit a candle in honor of her husband, Officer Jerrod Withrow, who died last summer after a battle with colon cancer. Withrow, as part of the South Hills Critical Incident Response Team, was one of the first responders to the shooting at the Tree of Life building. In a voice that often broke with emotion, Tree of Life Rabbi Jeffrey Myers chanted “El Malei Rahamim,” a traditional prayer for the souls of the departed. After reading the English translation of the prayer, and the names of the 11 people who were killed, his voice filled with rage as he said those killed were murdered while sanctifying the name of God. Both of Pittsburgh’s chevra kadishas (Jewish burial societies) were represented at the ceremony. Malke Frank and Jonathan Schachter of the New Community Chevra Kadisha read the poem “Each of Us Has a Name” by the Israeli poet Zelda. Rabbi Elisar Admon, of the Chevra Kadisha of the Vaad Harabonim, recited Psalm 23. Ha’Zamir: The International Jewish Teen

’Rae Wise stood outside the Tree of Life building for 11 minutes on Oct. 27, 2021. He did the same thing last year, and the year before. Wise, a Shadyside resident who didn’t know any of the 11 Jews murdered on Oct. 27, 2018, said returning to the corner of Shady and Wilkins avenues is a chance to remember life’s fragility and the responsibilities we share. “Your life can be taken, any day at any point,” Wise said. “Life is short and we have to grow like a tree and just be good people.” Traveling to the building and standing silently outside for 11 minutes isn’t particularly remarkable, he said. He wishes more people did so. “Everyone in the community, whether I know them or not, matters,” Wise said. “We’re a big part of making our city and our community strong.” Since 2019, Madeline Ellgass has traveled on Oct. 27 from her Mt. Washington home to the corner of Shady and Wilkins to deposit flowers. This year, she left a bouquet of orange roses near Tree of Life’s temporary fence. She was hoping to bring yellow flowers, she said, because yellow is a “bright, uplifting color,” though orange was the best she could do. But Ellgass — whose middle name is Rose — knows the flowers’ hue and species don’t matter. Bringing flowers is “just something small for me to feel like I can acknowledge what happened here,” she said. “I think it brings me some peace in knowing that, as a community, a lot of people come together today.” Throughout Oct. 27, 2021, individuals and groups arrived at the Tree of Life building. Before 9 a.m., mental health professionals set up a tent south of the building, where until 3 p.m. representatives of Jewish Family and Community Services, Center for Victims and the 10.27 Healing Partnership greeted visitors and offered space for listening and healing.

Please see Event, page 14

Please see Visitors, page 14

LOCAL Child care and COVID

 From left: Allegheny County Executive Rich Fitzgerald and Pittsburgh Mayor William Peduto Photo by David Rullo Page 5

LOCAL Tapping into creativity

YouTube show is next project for beer maven Kenny Gould Page 7

Visitors to Tree of Life building mark Oct. 27 Adam Reinherz | Staff Writer

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Jewish child care centers keeping kids safe

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By David Rullo | Staff Writer

eneath an overcast sky and surrounded by brightly colored autumn trees, hundreds of people gathered to remember the 11 Jewish men and women killed three years ago in the deadliest antisemitic attack in United States history. Members of the Jewish community, local and state officials, first responders, clergy, a former Pittsburgh Steeler, the consul general of Israel in New York, and the larger Pittsburgh community together remembered the lives of Joyce Fienberg, Richard Gottfried, Rose Mallinger, Jerry Rabinowitz, Cecil Rosenthal, David Rosenthal, Bernice Simon, Sylvan Simon, Daniel Stein, Melvin Wax and Irving Younger, during a ceremony in Schenley Park coordinated by the 10.27 Healing Partnership. The interfaith service was hosted by Maggie Feinstein, director of the 10.27 Healing Partnership, and it began with the lighting of 11 candles by the victims’ families. Alan Hausman, vice president of Tree of Life Congregation, next honored the first responders and welcomed Lisa Withrow,

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Swastika in Mt. Lebanon

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Getting to know: Ali Karlin

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ADL coming to Pittsburgh

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Israeli consul general visits Pittsburgh on Oct. 27 — LOCAL — Adam Reinherz | Staff Writer

mbassador Asaf Zamir has several messages for Pittsburgh’s Jewish community. Some he shared while here on Oct. 27 to mark three years since the attack at the Tree of Life building. Others, he said, will be shared the next time he comes to town. Zamir’s visit, which was his first since becoming Israel’s consul general in New York two weeks ago, was a chance to observe, he said. Typically, a consul general meets with civic leaders, members of the media and representatives of a city’s Jewish Federation in an effort to bolster support for Israel. During his day in Pittsburgh, Zamir did meet Mayor William Peduto and Tree of Life’s Rabbi Jeffrey Myers, and gave interviews to local press, but his visit was without a political agenda, he said. “I just came to pay my respect, to sit here, and to see and to listen,” Zamir told the Chronicle. Unlike current Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennet, who (within his role as then-minister of the diaspora) spoke at Soldiers & Sailors Memorial Hall & Museum one day after the attack in 2018, Zamir was not a part of this year’s public commemoration in Schenley Park. Instead, Zamir represented Israel by quietly attending the formal gathering and quickly departing after the program’s conclusion. Zamir, 41, has been in politics for more than a decade. He is the former tourism minister of Israel and served as the deputy mayor of Tel Aviv. He lived in Florida for several years as a child and speaks fluent English. The new consul general’s time in

p Ambassador Asaf Zamir

Pittsburgh was limited to several hours, but he said he enjoyed visiting the city and was impressed by both Peduto and Myers.

Photo by Adam Reinherz

Speaking with the rabbi, Zamir said, was “powerful, emotional and important.” And meeting with the mayor, after he’s done so

much for the Jewish community and has been such a “great friend to Israel,” was a priority, Zamir said. After the attack, Peduto did “a lot of amazing work and was very committed. I wanted to say thanks.” On future trips to Pittsburgh, Zamir wants to “showcase the beautiful things” happening in Israel. He acknowledged, though, that doing so might be challenging when it comes to younger Jews. “I feel that there is a growing disconnect with younger Jews all over the nation, and I’m not sure that we’re giving them the tools they need sometimes to see, or understand, or deal with the complexity of Israel,” he said. Despite this increasing divide, Zamir will work to engage and unite people, regardless of their age or place of residence. “I have a goal to reconnect all Jews to Israel on their terms,” he said. “I think every Jew in the world should have his own private identity, feeling, towards Israel. I think Israel is everyone’s, and I think we haven’t always done a good enough job in being inclusive in that aspect. And I want to try to change that.” But that’s a goal for another day, he said. What Zamir wanted people to know on Oct. 27 was that “when things like this terror attack happen thousands of miles away from Israel, everyone’s stomach in Israel turns like it happened in their backyard,” he said. “I think a lot of people here don’t realize that anymore or don’t have a deep understanding of that anymore.” Oct. 27 was a chance to pause and remember that connections exist independent of politics or time, he said, because “at the end of the day, the Jewish people are one people.” PJC Adam Reinherz can be reached at areinherz@ pittsburghjewishchronicle.org.

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Headlines Passport to Israel program ending, but Federation will keep funding trips — LOCAL — By Justin Vellucci | Special to the Chronicle

he Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh is sunsetting a program that helps fund trips to Israel, but is offering other funding avenues in its place. The Passport to Israel program, which has been providing matching funds for nearly 30 years to Pittsburgh-area students and young adults taking extended trips to Israel, will end on May 31, 2022, officials at the Federation confirmed to the Chronicle. The program is no longer accepting new enrollments, but financial matches still will be honored for new contributions – up to $200 – made up to May 31, according to a letter emailed to account holders. In light of the change, the Federation’s Israel Scholarship Committee has agreed to increase subsidies to Community Day School eighth-graders traveling to Israel from $1,300 to $1,600, beginning in spring 2023. CDS students are the largest users of the Passport to Israel program. Adam Hertzman, the Federation’s director of marketing, said the Federation will Please see Passport, page 15

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p CDS students ride camels in the Judean Desert during their eighth-grade trip in 2018 .

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Photo courtesy of Community Day School

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Headlines Swastika made of masking tape found at Mt. Lebanon’s Jefferson Middle School — LOCAL — By David Rullo | Staff Writer

or the fourth time this year, a swastika was found at a school in the Mt. Lebanon School District. Created out of masking tape and fixed to the back of a dry erase board in an eighthgrade classroom, the swastika was the third one discovered this year at Jefferson Middle School. A fourth incident occurred in May at Lincoln Elementary School. The masking tape swastika was found on Oct. 27, the same day the Pittsburgh Jewish community commemorated the 11 people murdered at the Tree of Life building in the deadliest antisemitic attack in United States history. The Mt. Lebanon School District sent two letters to parents and families addressing the discovery of the antisemitic symbol. Jefferson Middle School’s principal, Sarah Shaw, wrote in her letter that “there is no place for this type of behavior in our school and community on this day or any day. This incident serves as a reminder that this difficult yet important work needs to continue at JMS and in our community.” While noting that the school district had “no evidence that the timing, however impactful, was intentional,” she acknowledged that “Oct. 27 is a poignant day for the Pittsburgh Jewish community and human beings of all faiths.” Shaw’s letter included links to various resources aimed at battling hate, including the Anti-Defamation League’s “Talking to Young Children About Bias and Prejudice.” Superintendent of Schools Timothy Steinhauer wrote in a letter posted on the district’s website that he had been in touch with area rabbis, and that the district takes “incidents like this very seriously.” Both the school administration and Mt. Lebanon Police were investigating the matter, Steinhauer wrote, adding that several educational activities had been scheduled at the school. “There is no tolerance for discriminatory behavior in our schools,” Steinhauer wrote. “We will take appropriate disciplinary action for those found responsible for this incident.” Laura Cherner, director of the Community

 Mt. Lebanon’s Jefferson Middle School

Photo by RJ Tabachnick

“ There is no tolerance for discriminatory behavior in our schools. We will take appropriate disciplinary action for those

”

found responsible for this incident.

— TIMOTHY STEINHAUER, SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS Relations Council of the Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh, called the recurrence of antisemitic incidents in Mt. Lebanon “disturbing” but said she appreciated the school district’s response. “Dr. Shaw has been incredibly cooperative,” Cherner said. “So has Dr. Steinhauer. Administration-wise, it’s really all you can ask for — but it keeps happening.” Cherner said there are a host of reasons that could cause middle schoolers to display antisemitic behavior. “They’re impressionable, so the things

they see at home, the things they’re watching on the news, whether it’s on in the background, what they’re watching online — that has an impact on students,” she said. Even lessons about World War II might be provocative for students seeking attention, Cherner added. “It’s important to get to the bottom of it,” she said, “and make sure it doesn’t keep happening.” Rabbi Alex Greenbaum of Beth El Congregation of the South Hills thinks the timing of the swastika could be linked to a recent eighth-grade history unit

about World War II. Two weeks ago, Greenbaum, Rabbi Amy Greenbaum, also of Beth El, and Rabbi Aaron Meyers of Temple Emanuel of South Hills had been invited to speak at Jefferson Middle School — and their talk was scheduled for Friday, Oct. 29, coincidentally two days after the swastika was found. When a child creates a swastika at school, Greenbaum said, “it’s important to know where that comes from. In this case, it was because they were studying the Holocaust in that school. I think it partly comes from educating children about what happened. They read Holocaust books and had a Holocaust speaker.” The rabbis’ talk at Jefferson Middle School, Greenbaum said, wasn’t planned because of antisemitic incidents at the school, but rather to teach the students about the consequences of hate — although he noted that the school did ask him to talk about the swastika once it was found. Mt. Lebanon Police had not returned a call from the Chronicle prior to publication. PJC David Rullo can be reached at drullo@ pittsburghjewishchronicle.org.

ADL looks to expand reach in Pittsburgh — LOCAL —

he Anti-Defamation League will be expanding its on-the-ground presence in Pittsburgh. The anti-hate organization is seeking a parttime community engagement manager that will report to Regional Director James Pasch, who is based in Cleveland, Ohio. Currently, there are no ADL employees located in Pittsburgh. The new community engagement manager will work with the Greater Pittsburgh Jewish

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community and other organizations in the city to “complement their efforts,” Pasch told the Chronicle. “We are looking for somebody that’s going to help grow our programs and engagement in Pittsburgh.” He pointed to ADL’s “No Place for Hate” and other education programs already offered in the city. Pasch said the new manager, who will initially work 20 hours a week, will be the primary point of contact with volunteers and community leaders and will form new relationships while working with synagogue

leaders and school leaders. The new hire will also work to build partnerships and coalitions across the city. Pasch said he’s looking for someone with a passion and commitment to ADL’s mission and who wants to dedicate the next part of their career to fighting hate broadly in Pittsburgh — not just that aimed at the Jewish community. It’s extraordinarily important, Pasch said, to have an ADL staffer based in Pittsburgh, which he noted has a thriving Jewish community with nearly 50,000 Jews and 27,000 Jewish households.

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“In many ways, Pittsburgh is the heartbeat of the Jewish community and the heartbeat of the nation when it comes to fighting hate,” Pasch said, speaking one day after the third commemoration of the Oct. 27 massacre at the Tree of Life building. “We are incredibly proud of what the Pittsburgh community has done in responding to such a horrific incident of hate. Having somebody on the ground who’s partnering with the community day in and day out is an important part of our mission.” PJC — David Rullo PITTSBURGHJEWISHCHRONICLE.ORG

Headlines Jewish early learning centers thrive despite ongoing pandemic issues

p Community Day School Early Childhood Center student Alana Binning Photo provided by Community Day School

— LOCAL — By David Rullo | Staff Writer

hildren attending local Jewish early childhood programs are thriving — despite the lingering pandemic and the mitigating strategies to fight it. “Children are resilient,” said Liza Baron, director of the Early Childhood Development Center at the Jewish Community Center of Greater Pittsburgh in Squirrel Hill. “Children do better with change than adults do sometimes.”

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The JCC requires masks for everyone over the age of 2. While most of the children have no issues with masks, Baron said, wearing them is more challenging for younger children and those with sensory issues. So, teachers have used “really gentle encouragement,” Baron said. They explain that, by wearing masks, those attending ECDC are helping themselves and their peers stay healthy. While all staff members and visitors over the age of 12 at the JCC must be vaccinated if they are medically able, there is an exception to the policy that applies to the ECDC: Because the center receives some government funding, parents of children enrolled there

are not required to be vaccinated. Children with unvaccinated parents, however, are unable to participate in other JCC activities, like swimming or dance classes. Pamela Stasolla, assistant director of Beth Shalom’s Early Learning Center, said that masks have been a way of life at the institution since it reopened in June 2020, and that children have come to accept wearing them. “They don’t interfere with anything,” Hilary Yeckel, director of the center, said. “They don’t hinder the children at all. They’re still thriving and doing well.” At Community Day School’s Early Childhood Program, masks are required for teachers, staff and children over the age of 2, said Andrea Erven-Victoria, head of early childhood and lower school at CDS. Frequent hand washing and sanitizing takes place throughout the day as well, she said. One difference between CDS’ early childhood students, ages 3-5, and the rest of the school is the social distance requirement. “We realized very quickly that you can keep eighth-graders apart all day but that’s not developmentally appropriate for 3- and 4-year-olds,” Erven-Victoria said. “So, we are not having them distance during the day while they are masked.” Although the issue of masks and vaccinations has been polarizing at school board meetings across the country, Erven-Victoria said that hasn’t been the case with CDS’ early

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childhood program. “Our families have been amazingly supportive of everything we are doing to keep their kids safe and to keep the community safe,” she said. “We have such supportive families, even when we have to call them and say, ‘You need to come and pick up your child because they have a runny nose and have sneezed.’ Whereas, in other years, we might have let them stay in school, this year we’re not, and the parents have been amazingly understanding. “I think they’re excited to have their kids here, even if that means wearing a mask,” she added. At Hillel Academy, the children enrolled are “pretty awesome at wearing masks,” said Ruth Pohuly, the director of Hillel’s Early Childhood Center. “We weren’t sure that was going to be the case, but they’ve done very, very well.” Hillel’s ECC also requires parents to drop off their children outside the building, limiting the number of people inside who might pose a risk. Parents have not complained about the school’s COVID-19 policies, according to Pohuly. “Ultimately, they want their kids to be in school, so I think they’re wiling to do what they need to in order to make that happen,” she said. “It’s hard to find child care right now Please see Daycare, page 15

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Calendar Submit calendar items on the Chronicle’s website, pittsburghjewishchronicle.org. Submissions also will be included in print. Events will run in the print edition beginning one month prior to the date as space allows. The deadline for submissions is Friday, noon. q FRIDAY, NOV. 5-NOV. 24 Chabad of the South Hills’s Chanukah toy drive is taking place for hospitalized and underprivileged children. They are collecting new, unwrapped toys. Toys can be dropped off until Wed., Nov. 24, at Chabad of the South Hills, 1701 McFarland Road, Monday-Friday 9:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m., or call 412-3442424 to make arrangements. q SATURDAY, NOV. 6 Join Moishe House Pittsburgh for the “We Are” Campaign Kickoff Party. Every year, Moishe House has a “We Are” campaign — an opportunity for each house to raise money for Moishe House while also showcasing what makes us unique, fun and special. Bring your skates, rollerblades or just yourself! Come chat and have a drink and get excited and ready for the big project reveal. It’s going to knock your socks off. Register at forms.gle/ xT4vqQsKZqC6E99K9. Join Temple Sinai for a free in-person concert with musician Dan Nichols to celebrate Rabbi Emeritus Jamie Gibson’s 32 years at Temple Sinai. 7 p.m. 5505 Forbes Ave. templesinaipgh.org/event/dannichols-concert1.html q SUNDAY, NOV. 7 Come one, come all to the most amazing yard sale in Squirrel Hill: The Moishe House Yard Sale, supporting the We Are Campaign. They have furniture, Judaica, games and more. Find a little piece of Moishe House history to take home with you, or a cheap dresser for your dorm room, or something you never knew you needed. All purchases will support We Are; donations are welcome, too. Plus: Meet new residents Anne and Samantha — they’re great. 9 a.m.-noon. Moishe House front house and garage. forms.gle/ xT4vqQsKZqC6E99K9 Join Temple Sinai for a siyyum to dedicate the completion of their new Torah honoring Rabbi Emeritus Jamie Gibson. Gibson and Soferet Linda Coppleson will write the final word of the Torah as the community shares the joy of the completion of their new Torah honoring Rabbi Gibson’s 32 years of service to Temple Sinai. 10 a.m. 5505 Forbes Ave. templesinaipgh.org/event/Siyyum.htmlJoin Join Classrooms Without Borders for the film “What Will Become of Us” and a postscreening discussion with filmmaker Stephanie Ayanian, Rev. Fr. Hratch Sargsyan and Anthony Barsamian in conversation with Dr. Mark Cole. 3 p.m. classroomswithoutborders.org/what-willbecome-of-us q SUNDAYS, NOV. 7, 14, 21, 28 Join a lay-led Online Parashah Study Group to discuss the week’s Torah portion. No Hebrew knowledge is needed. The goal is to build community while deepening understanding of the text. 8:30 p.m. For more information, visit bethshalompgh.org. q SUNDAYS, NOV. 7-NOV. 21 In this new series, Halakhic Conversations, Foundation Scholar Rabbi Danny Schiff will discuss a variety of controversial halakhic issues relevant to the lives of contemporary Jews with Poale Zedek Rabbi Daniel Yolkut. Ranging from end-oflife issues to the difficult test of coronavirus to the use of technology, the conversations will consider how the halakha is applied to today’s cutting-edge issues. 10 a.m. foundation.jewishpgh.org/halakhicconversations

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q MONDAY, NOV. 8 Join Classrooms Without Borders for a virtual tour of Israel. Monthly tours with guide and scholar Rabbi Jonty Blackman via Zoom. 4 p.m. For more information and to register, visit classroomswithoutborders.org. Learn more about the Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh’s Mega Mission over Zoom. The mission will take place in Israel on June 13-21, 2022. This is your chance to hear the details and ask all of your pressing questions. RSVP required to receive Zoom link. 6 p.m. jewishpgh.org/event/mega-missionnovember-info-session The Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh presents Disability Rights and the Power of Advocacy. Join Aaron Kaufman, senior manager of legislative affairs in Jewish Federation of North America’s Washington, D.C., office; Laura Cherner, director of the Community Relations Council; and Dr. Josie Badger, disability activist and consultant, to learn what advocacy is all about, how it works and its importance to improving the lives of people living with disabilities. 7 p.m. jewishpgh.org/event/ disability-rights-and-the-power-of-advocacy q MONDAYS, NOV. 8, 15 Join Congregation Beth Shalom for a weekly Talmud study. 9:15 a.m. For more information, visit bethshalompgh.org. q MONDAYS, NOV. 8-DEC. 20 Foundation Scholar Rabbi Danny Schiff will examine the accounts of some of the most interesting righteous gentiles in the Tanakh in his new course Righteous Gentiles in the Hebrew Bible. $55 for all 11 Zoom sessions. 9:30 a.m. foundation.jewishpgh. org/righteous-gentiles q TUESDAY, NOV. 9 In the workshop Making the Case for Israel, Foundation Scholar Rabbi Danny Schiff will offer tools for how to respond to Israel’s critics in 2021. This is a course for those who want to see Israel prosper and who would like to know more about how to answer the accusations that are now being made against Israel. $40 for all Zoom sessions. 9:30 a.m. foundation.jewishpgh.org/making-thecase-for-israel Classrooms Without Borders presents Hollywood Composers: Musicians in Exile with Inbal Megiddo, cello and Jian Liu, piano. 4 p.m. classroomswithoutborders.org/hollywoodcomposers-musicians-exile-inbal-megiddo-cellojian-liu-piano q TUESDAYS, NOV. 9, 16 Join Classrooms Without Borders for their weekly book discussion, of “People Love Dead Jews: Reports from a Haunted Present” with Dr. Josh Andy. The book is a startling exploration of how Jewish history is exploited to flatter the living. 4 p.m. Free classroomswithoutborders.org/weeklybook-discussions-people-love-dead-jews-reportshaunted-present-dr.-josh-andy/ q TUESDAYS, NOV. 9-NOV. 30 Join Rabbi Daniel Yolkut for “Messiah,” an exploration of the history and philosophy of one of the most powerful (and destabilizing) ideas in the Jewish experience: Messianism. A fascinating deep dive into the personalities and perspectives that shaped history-changing movements from Christianity to Zionism and continues to be a misunderstood but critical Jewish belief to this day. $75 for all Zoom sessions. 11 a.m. foundation. jewishpgh.org/messiah q TUESDAYS, NOV. 9-MAY 24 Sign up now for Melton Core 2, Ethics and Crossroads of Jewish Living. Discover the central ideas and texts that inform our daily, weekly and

annual rituals, as well as life cycle observances and essential Jewish theological concepts and ideas as they unfold in the Bible, the Talmud and other sacred texts. $300. 9:30 a.m. foundation.jewishpgh. org/melton-2 q WEDNESDAY, NOV. 10 Classrooms Without Borders, in partnership with Liberation75, is excited to offer Confronting the Complexity of Holocaust Scholarship: Reflections on the Past, Present, and Future of Holocaust Studies. Documentary filmmaker David Fisher will discuss “Six Million!?” 3 p.m.classroomswithoutborders.org/confronting_ the_complexity_of_holocaust_scholarship Join CCAR Press in celebrating the publication of their newest book, “Because My Soul Longs for You: Integrating Theology into Our Lives.” The volume explores how we experience God through means both conventional and unexpected, including prayer, text study, poetry, food, music, service, movement, meditation, interpersonal connection and much more. The editors, Rabbi Edwin C. Goldberg and Rabbi Elaine S. Zecher, will discuss the book’s lessons, and contributors will share insights on their chapters. 7:30 p.m. ccar.zoom.us/webinar/ register/WN_FCTW_la6Q4--jVjrxKZNdg q WEDNESDAYS, NOV. 10, 17, 24; DEC. 1 Bring the parshah alive and make it personally relevant and meaningful. Study the weekly Torah portion with Rabbi Mark Asher Goodman. 12:15 p.m. bethshalompgh.org/life-text q WEDNESDAYS, NOV. 10-DEC. 1 Join Temple Sinai to study the weekly Torah portion in their hybrid class available on Zoom. Open to everyone. 12 p.m. templesinaipgh.org/ event/parashah/weekly-torah-portion-classvia-zoom11.html q WEDNESDAYS, NOV. 10-JAN. 24 Through illuminating source texts and captivating case studies, Outsmarting Antisemitism — A fourpart JLI course on the absurdity of antisemitism considers the sources of this ancient scourge, along with the appropriate strategies for overcoming it. 7:30 p.m. Zoom or in person.chabadsh.com q WEDNESDAYS, NOV. 10-JAN. 26 In The Jewish Moral Virtues, Foundation Scholar Rabbi Danny Schiff will explore Jewish teaching on critical moral virtues. Based on the qualities listed in the 13th century Sefer Maalot Hamiddot (The Book of the Choicest Virtues), Rabbi Schiff will explore the contemporary application of these moral virtues to our 21st century lives. $65 for all 13 Zoom sessions. 9:30 a.m. foundation.jewishpgh.org/jewishmoral-virtues q THURSDAY, NOV. 11 Classrooms Without Borders, in partnership with the Maltz Museum of Jewish Heritage and Liberation75, is excited to offer the opportunity to watch the film “Muranow” and engage in a postfilm discussion with the documentary film director Chen Shelach and CWB Scholar Natalia Aleksiun. 3 p.m. classroomswithoutborders.org/muranowpost-film-discussion-natalia-aleksiun-chen-shelachfilm-director/ Join fellow Ben Gurion Society members for an incredible day of tailgating before the showdown: Pitt vs. UNC. Tickets are limited. Please provide a working email and cell phone number. Tailgating details will be sent out closer to the event. 5:30 p.m. jewishpgh.org/event/bgs-pitt-football-gameand-tailgate Join Jewish National Fund-USA and real estate professionals from coast to coast for an inside look at the Israeli real estate market and for a virtual tour exploring some of JNF-USA’s major

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infrastructure in Israel. Enjoy specialized breakout rooms of your choice with industry leaders focusing on topics including retail and hospitality, commercial and office space, development and architecture, and residential real estate. 6 p.m. jnf.org/events-landingpages/israel-real-estate-road-trip q THURSDAYS, NOV. 11-JUNE 30 The Alan Papernick Educational Institute Endowment Fund presents Continuing Legal Education, a six-part CLE series taught by Foundation Scholar Rabbi Danny Schiff. Earn up to 12 CLE credits. Each session is a stand-alone unit; you can take one class or all six. 8:30 a.m. With CLE credit: $30/session or $150 all sessions; without CLE credit: $25/session or $125 all sessions. For a complete list of dates and topics, visit foundation.jewishpgh.org/continuinglegal-education. q FRIDAY, NOV. 12 Come celebrate Shabbat with Moishe House. Enjoy a great homemade meal with us! While it’s not required, attendees can support the We Are campaign while dining. Due to COVID concerns, attendance is limited to 10 people.7 p.m. forms.gle/ xT4vqQsKZqC6E99K9 q TUESDAY, NOV. 16 Moishe House kicks off their monthly book club reading “I Saw Ramallah” by Mourid Barghouti. 7 p.m. forms.gle/xT4vqQsKZqC6E99K9 q THURSDAY, NOV. 18 Join Moishe House for their Chanukah White Elephant. Chanukah is a time for celebrating the miracle of G-d with family and friends. It is also a time for saddling strangers with hilarious and bizarre presents. Bring a wrapped gift ($10 or less) to Moishe House, leave with something even weirder than you could’ve imagined. 7 p.m. forms.gle/ xT4vqQsKZqC6E99K9 q FRIDAY, NOV. 19 Join Moishe House as they virtually shul shop. This month, tune into Rodef Shalom’s virtual service. They’ll provide the wine and/or grape juice on their front porch before everyone Zooms together. forms. gle/xT4vqQsKZqC6E99K9 q SATURDAY, NOV. 20 Join Congregation Beth Shalom for their annual fundraiser. Come together to play: MATCH GAME: CBS Style. Inspired by the TV show, watch as a member of the audience or as a contestant (in person or online) and match wits with their panel of CBS stars featuring honoree and guest panelist Mindy Shreve. 7:30 p.m. 5915 Beacon Street. bethshalompgh.org q SUNDAY, NOV. 21 Stop by Moishe House for a beautifully packed, home-cooked Friendsgiving meal, then eat and chat with us over Zoom. After that, it’ll be up to you whether or not to tell your mom that Resident Sam’s a better cook than she is. 7 p.m. forms.gle/ xT4vqQsKZqC6E99K9 q MONDAY, NOV. 29 Join Chabad of the South Hills for their Chanukah Seniors Lunch. The festive holiday program will include a delicious kosher lunch and hot latkes. $5 suggest donation. Wheelchair accessible. 1701 McFarland Road. chabadsh.com q TUESDAY, NOV. 30 Join JNF-USA virtually for our annual Breakfast for Israel featuring keynote speaker, New York Times bestselling author and award-winning journalist Yossi Klein Halevi. 8 a.m. Free. jnf.org/ breakfastforisrael PJC

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Headlines ‘Next Exit’ to showcase interesting places, cool people — and cold drinks — LOCAL — Adam Reinherz | Staff Writer

enny Gould, a beer-focused storyteller, has drafted a new chapter — this time with a travel show. “Next Exit” will be another vehicle for Gould, a Jewish Pittsburgh-based author, journalist and entrepreneur, to share his love of brew with a dedicated audience. The 15-minute pilot, which went live at 6 p.m., Nov. 3, on YouTube, takes viewers on a tour of classic Steel City haunts, including Pittsburgh Brewing Company (both its former Lawrenceville location and new East Deer site), Kelly’s Bar & Lounge in East Liberty and Chengdu Gourmet in Squirrel Hill. At each stop, Gould — whose Hop Culture Magazine Instagram account surpassed 100,000 followers — learns about the venue, its menu and cultural contributions to the surrounding area. “Next Exit” was inspired by popular shows including “Parts Unknown” and “Chef ’s Table,” Gould told the Chronicle. The idea, he said, is using “beer as a lens but not the subject.” In that way, the Please see Exit, page 15

 Kenny Gould stands outside Chengdu Gourmet in Squirrel Hill.

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Headlines Getting to know: Ali Karlin — LOCAL — By Justin Vellucci | Special to the Chronicle

uestion: What do Steven Spielberg and buying bagels for Rosh Hashanah at The Bagel Factory have in common? Answer: Ali Karlin, who works as senior manager of the Genesis Prize Foundation, and who recently moved to Pittsburgh. The annual $1 million Genesis Prize, dubbed the “Jewish Nobel” by Time magazine, honors outstanding professional achievement, contribution to humanity and commitment to Jewish values. Spielberg won the prize in 2021. Karlin, who was born in Westchester County, New York, and attended high school in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, moved to the Steel City two months ago from Cary, North Carolina, a Raleigh suburb. The move was triggered by her Steelers fan of a husband, Brad, who took an executive medical director position with Highmark. The couple has two children, ages 3 and 5. Though the Karlins are looking to move to Fox Chapel — they’re currently renting in Oakmont — they already have made the rounds in Pittsburgh, stopping at haunts from the aforementioned Bagel Factory in Squirrel Hill (they also tested Smallman Street Deli

bagels) to the Pittsburgh Zoo leading into Jewish philanand PPG Aquarium. thropy. She started in management consulting, “We love the zoo!” Karlin working largely with members said. “We’ve found it to be so engaging and accessible. of the federal government. From parking lot to tiger is 10 A member of a JCC board minutes. Most other places I’ve in northern Virginia, Karlin been, it’s an hour.” was asked by a peer about Karlin’s family has already coming to Hillel International in joined the Jewish Community Washington, D.C. She took the Center in Squirrel Hill. And leap there and, after 18 months, Ali Karlin they’re also flirting with the idea p followed her boss to the Genesis Photo courtesy of Ali Karlin of joining a pickleball league. Prize Foundation. She’s been with While they are still seeking out the right that foundation for eight years, starting in New synagogue — they are currently unaffiliated York and working remotely for the past six years. — Karlin said they are also looking for the “We’re doing change and transformation best fish tacos in town. work,” Karlin said. “We believe … we can “So far, Mad Mex is the best we’ve found,” inspire the next generation of Jews.” Karlin laughed. Karlin’s post is considered a senior leaderMostly, they have been overwhelmed, she ship position at Genesis, she said. In addition to said, by the reception they have received overseeing public relations in North America, from Pittsburghers of all stripes. she also has her hands in grant-making. “Warmth and sincerity are probably the Steven Rakitt, president of the Genesis Prize first two comments that come to mind,” Foundation, stresses the significance of the Karlin told the Chronicle. “It sounds so grant-making and fundraising elements of the cliché but I haven’t moved into a community laureate selection process. Since its inception in where so many people wanted to help me — 2013, the Genesis Prize has leveraged the annual and were so caring. $1 million award into philanthropic initiatives “We feel welcomed,” she added. “We value totaling $45 million, with grants going to 197 that for our children — a place where they nonprofit programs in 31 countries, directly can learn and live their Jewish values.” impacting the lives of tens of thousands of Karlin had an interesting trajectory people, Genesis Prize officials said.

“That’s really what this is about — tens of thousands of Jewish voices from all over the world,” Rakitt told the Chronicle. “It’s very much a creative philanthropic enterprise that’s making a real impact.” The finalists for the 2022 Genesis Prize are Pfizer Chairman and CEO Albert Bourla, actor Sacha Baron Cohen, designer Diane von Furstenberg, author Yuval Noah Harari, actor Scarlett Johansson and Nazi hunter Serge Klarsfeld. Voting is now open online until Dec. 17. Since 2020, the vote of global Jewry has been a factor of paramount importance in laureate selection. Last year, some 200,000 Jews on six continents cast their votes for one of the 2021 finalists. The outcome of the public vote is taken into consideration by the Genesis Prize committee, which retains the ultimate discretion in selecting the laureate. The 2022 laureate will be announced early next year and the Genesis Prize Foundation plans to honor the laureate at a gala ceremony in Israel in mid-2022, COVID-19 situation permitting, officials said. In 2022, though, Karlin will be planted in Pittsburgh. “We’re excited to make the move a little north,” she told the Chronicle. “And there’s such a robust Jewish community here.” PJC Justin Vellucci is a freelance writer living in Pittsburgh.

Join the Chronicle Book Club! November selection: ‘Squirrel Hill: The Tree of Life Shooting’

he Pittsburgh Jewish Chronicle invites you to join the Chronicle Book Club’s Nov. 21 meeting, when we will be discussing “Squirrel Hill: The Tree of Life Synagogue Shooting and the Soul of a Neighborhood” by journalist Mark Oppenheimer. The author will join us during the Zoom meeting. “Squirrel Hill: The Tree of Life Synagogue Shooting and the Soul of a Neighborhood,” published earlier this month, tracks the events of Oct. 27, 2018, and their aftermath. Oppenheimer interviewed 250 people as he worked on his

retelling of the stories of Oct. 27, and visited Pittsburgh more that 30 times to do his research. Prior to and during our meeting we will be soliciting questions from the community to pose to Oppenheimer about his book.

Your Hosts

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

How It Works

We will meet on Zoom on Sunday, Nov. 21, at 2

Trial of Oct. 27 shooter could be set for July 2022

ederal prosecutors submitted a timeline to U.S. District Judge Donetta Ambrose proposing that the trial of the man accused of murdering 11 Jews in the Tree of Life building be set for July 11, 2022. The document was filed in U.S. District Court on Oct. 27 — exactly three years from the date of the attack, the most violent act of antisemitism in U.S. history. Other dates on the timeline proposed by prosecutors include Nov. 15, 2021, as the deadline for all mental health testing and examination of the defendant to be completed. Attorneys for the defense submitted their own proposed timeline, with no specific

8 NOVEMBER 5, 2021

p.m. to discuss the book. As you read it, we invite you to share comments and join discussions in our Facebook group, Chronicle Connects: Jewish PGH. We invite you to join now if you are not already a member of the group. Please submit your questions for Oppenheimer on Chronicle Connects, or email us at newsdesk@ pittsburghjewishchronicle.org.

What To Do

Buy: “Squirrel Hill: The Tree of Life Synagogue Shooting and the Soul of a

Neighborhood.” It is available at Riverstone Books, Amazing Books and Records, and Barnes & Noble, and is also available on digital format from online retailers. Email: Contact us at drullo@pittsburgh jewishchronicle.org, and write “Chronicle Book Club” in the subject line. We will send you a Zoom link for the meeting. We are looking forward to what promises to be a lively discussion! PJC — Toby Tabachnick

Cantata in memory of Oct. 27 victims to be streamed Nov. 9

trial date listed. They did, however, submit a schedule for scores of motions, including many designed to limit the introduction of evidence, such as a motion to exclude victim impact evidence during the guilt phase of the trial. The defense also proposed May 16, 2022, as the date to file motions regarding the scheduling of the trial, “addressing COVID-19 issues and the time needed for defense investigation.” Defense attorneys have been trying to negotiate a plea deal to avoid the death penalty. PJC — Toby Tabachnick

cantata composed to memorialize the 11 people killed in the Tree of Life building was performed by the Concert Nova Chamber Ensemble on Oct. 27, in Cincinnati, Ohio, and will be streamed online on Nov. 9, at 7 p.m. “Tree of Life Cantata” was composed by Jack Lindy, a retired psychiatrist and composer in Ohio, who contacted several Pittsburghers after the Oct. 27, 2018, attack to get a sense of those who were killed. The work was presented by ish, a Cincinnati group that “brings artists and communities together to explore Jewish and Israeli cultural heritage through the arts.” It is best known for producing Cincinnati’s

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biennial Jewish and Israeli arts and culture festival. This calendar year marks the 200th anniversary of the establishment of Jewish community life in Cincinnati, and several bicentennial events have been planned to celebrate. One of the events includes the broadcast of Lindy’s “Tree of Life Cantata.” The concert will also include a quartet piece by Pavel Haas, a composer who was murdered during the Holocaust. Nov. 9 marks the 83rd anniversary of Kristallnacht. For free tickets, go to jewishcincy200.org/ calendar/tree-of-life-cantata-debut. PJC — Toby Tabachnick PITTSBURGHJEWISHCHRONICLE.ORG

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NOVEMBER 5, 2021 9

Headlines — WORLD — From JTA reports

Jewish dating site for Persian Gulf launches

Last month, Bahrain’s Jewish community celebrated the first Jewish wedding in the country in 52 years. The community, along with the Jewish communities in other Persian Gulf countries, is hoping its next project will lead to more weddings. The Association of Gulf Jewish Communities launched a new dating website for Jewish singles in six of the region’s Arab countries Sunday. The Jewish Singles in the Gulf site features a questionnaire that a group of matchmakers will then use to match up participants. The aim of the site is to encourage Jews in the Gulf countries to put down roots there, organizers said.

Rabbis call on Bennet and Biden to take climate change seriously

Rabbis in the United States and in Israel called on the leaders of their countries to take the issue of climate change seriously ahead of a gathering of world leaders to address the issue. President Joe Biden and Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennet are attending the

2021 United Nations Climate Change Conference, which began in Glasgow, Scotland, Sunday. A group of major Israeli Orthodox rabbis, largely from the modern Orthodox community, wrote a letter calling on Bennet to treat climate change as a matter of the utmost importance in a letter last week. They called climate change a matter of worldwide “pikuach nefesh,” invoking the Jewish legal term for the requirement to preserve life, a requirement which overrules nearly all other commandments in Jewish law. The letter was signed by a group of 20 influential rabbis in the modern Orthodox community in Israel, according to Israeli news site Makor Rishon. A separate call to action was made last week by a group of American rabbis and other religious leaders in the form of a prayer, modeled on the traveler’s prayer, for Biden.

Celebrities sign letter denouncing cultural boycott of Israel

More than 200 celebrities, including actors Mila Kunis, Billy Porter, Neil Patrick Harris and Helen Mirren, signed an open letter opposing efforts to boycott an LGBTQ film festival in Tel Aviv. The letter published last week is a response to calls from activists with the boycott, divestment and sanctions movement against

Israel to boycott the Tel Aviv International LGBTQ+ Film Festival, also called TLVFest, an annual film festival showcasing LGBTQ films that was founded in 2006. It was organized by Creative Community for Peace, an organization of entertainment industry professionals that works to counter cultural boycotts against Israel. “In Israel, movies have the unique power to bring together Jews, Arabs, and people of all races, ethnicities, and backgrounds in collaboration under a shared love of the arts, working together towards the common goal of telling their stories, and building bridges of compassion and understanding,” the letter reads.

Greece’s top court rules against ritual slaughter

The highest court in Greece has ruled against allowing ritual slaughter, fulfilling fears that some Jewish leaders voiced last year after the European Union’s top court ruled in support of such bans. Last December, the EU’s highest court upheld the bans imposed in regions of Belgium against slaughtering animals for meat without stunning them first. The ruling meant that slaughter in accordance with Jewish law, which requires animals be conscious when their necks are cut, would be prohibited in those regions, as it is in some

other parts of Europe. The bans on kosher slaughter, or shechitah, are part of a struggle across Europe between animal welfare activists and Muslim and Jewish community representatives. In recent years, anti-immigration activists and politicians who are unhappy about the immigration of Muslims in Europe have joined the debate. A similar fight is unfolding around nonmedical circumcision of boys, or brit milah in Jewish tradition.

Israel declines to sign UN statement on China’s treatment of Uighurs

Israel chose not to sign a United Nations statement expressing concern about welfare of the Uighurs, a Muslim minority group in China that has been forced into “re-education camps,” which some have likened to concentration camps. While the United States, United Kingdom, Germany and Australia were among the group of 43 countries that signed the statement last month, an Israeli diplomatic official told The Times of Israel that the Israeli government had “other interests that it has to balance” in its relationship with China. The two nations have grown closer over trade ties in recent years. PJC

www.pittsburghjewishchronicle.org

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

For as long as we live, they too will live,

Nov. 5, 1990 — Meir Kahane is killed

Rabbi Meir Kahane, 58, is fatally shot by Egyptian-American El Sayyid Nosair in a New York hotel. Kahane was elected to the Knesset in 1984 as the head of Kach, which later was banned for inciting racism.

Nov. 6, 1987 — Singer Zohar Argov kills himself

for they are now

Mizrahi music star Zohar Argov, who is known as the “The King” but is haunted by drug addiction, hangs himself in jail at age 32 after being accused of attempted rape.

a part of us as,

Nov. 7, 1944 — Hannah Senesh is executed

We Remember Them.

Hannah Senesh, a poet and Haganah paratrooper, is killed by a Hungarian firing squad in Budapest five months after being captured while trying to cross the border from Yugoslavia.

Nov. 8, 1923 — Future Pashkaner Rebbe is born

Yisrael Meir Friedman Ben-Shalom, the future Pashkaner Rebbe, is born to a Hasidic and Zionist family in Romania. He and his wife, Zipporah, smuggle themselves into Palestine in 1946 and soon found a kibbutz.

Nov. 9, 1952 — Israel’s first president dies

Chaim Weizmann, the first president of Israel, dies at his Rehovot home after a yearlong illness. A native of Poland, he moved in 1904 to England, where his political friendships contributed to the Balfour Declaration.

Nov. 10, 1975 — U.N. defines Zionism as racism

The U.N. General Assembly passes Resolution 3379, defining Zionism as racism, on a 72-35 vote. The resolution is revoked in December 1991 in connection with the Madrid peace conference.

Nov. 11, 1902 — Air Force founder Yisrael Amir is born

Yisrael Amir is born in Vilna in Lithuania. He makes aliyah in 1923 and rises through the Haganah. Despite no aviation experience, David Ben-Gurion names him the first Israeli Air Force commander in May 1948. PJC

Lee & Lisa Oleinick 10 NOVEMBER 5, 2021

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NOVEMBER 5, 2021 11

Opinion Renewal Guest Columnist Jonathan Weinkle

t was a revelation to both of us when I said it. “These mental health challenges are no different than your chemical dependency. You take medication every day to help keep you sober, and it works. And you’ve stayed in therapy for years because you need the continued reminders and recentering. The medication is one more piece of that puzzle — so you can remember to use the tools you learn in therapy. This illness is never going away — but if you do what you need to do every day it doesn’t need to control you. The trauma that happened to you, and you’ve had a lot of it, isn’t going to ‘un-happen,’ but you can get to a point where you remember it as past, instead of reliving it like it’s still happening.” These were all things I knew, but connecting it this way for the person I was speaking to the other day made it more real, more sensible, than it had ever been before. Three years have passed since my co-worker Rich Gottfried, my mentor Jerry Rabinowitz, my bus stop buddy Cecil Rosenthal and eight other neighbors and friends were killed in the terrorist attack on our community at the Tree of Life building. At the time of the attack, other synagogues around the country, including mine, were in the middle of reading one of the most challenging passages in the Torah, the binding of Isaac. Returning to that text recently opened a lot of old wounds even as it provided opportunities for closure for others.

According to tradition, Isaac was 37 years old at the time of the akedah, and the next time we see him he is 40. The midrash leaps into the void and asks, “Where did he go for those three years?” I have my own ideas, but you’ll have to wait to read the book. For now, let’s go with the tradition that says he went to learn at the academy of Shem and Ever, the son and grandson of Noah. Which raises another question: What did he learn in those three years? I can’t answer for Isaac, but asking that question led me to ask: What have I learned in the three years since this catastrophe? The conversation above gave me the answer. Everything in our world that is dear to us, the things that seem like they are forever, the people who are always by our sides, the systems (biological, societal or technological) that hum along from day to day unnoticed, is actually held together by thin threads, just one glitch (or germ) away from coming apart at the seams. And every day, we do work, hard, important, unnoticed work, to stop that from happening. My favorite line in the morning service comes just after the Barkhu, the call to prayer. It is the line, Ha-mehadesh bekhol yom tamid ma’aseh bereishit – “Who renews the work of creation every day, continually.” It makes me think of a God who is the polar opposite of the Deist, “blind watchmaker” deity that the Founding Fathers believed in. Their God made the heavens and the earth, turned the crank a few trillion times to wind the mechanism, and left it run without lifting a finger to this day. The vision of God we get in this line of prayer is intimately involved, constantly refreshing and recreating the universe so that it does not wink itself out of existence — and in the process giving us a gift each and every day we are blessed enough to wake again.

If you’ve read my work before now you understand that I run on the idea that we are tasked with modeling our behavior after God’s behavior. Here, too, that rule holds. We have to be constantly engaged in holding our lives, our relationships, our world together. That applies to the mundane, like cooking dinner, doing laundry, paying bills or putting gas in the car, as it does to the worldly important, like defending the right to vote or improving the environment (by, er, not putting gas in the car and walking instead). It applies to our health, to eating well, to exercising and to getting enough sleep, and to our mental health — to monitoring our social media use, tuning in to our emotions and allowing ourselves spiritual and mental space to recharge. All too often, we see ourselves slip on one of these tasks, and face the consequences. Sometimes the price is not having clean socks, and sometimes it is a Category 5 hurricane. Sometimes we sprain an ankle, other times we are diagnosed with a cancer, a heart attack or a nervous breakdown. Our social environment is no different than our physical one. Three years ago, I did not worry about my safety or my health while praying in synagogue. Today I cannot help but worry about both. I cannot help but notice, and thank, the armed security guard at the door — or the unarmed maintenance staff who check the notebook to make sure all the attendees over 12 are vaccinated against COVID-19. I cannot help but check my mask to make sure it hasn’t fallen off my nose, and I cannot pooh-pooh my 9-year-old’s runny nose and bring him along without a second thought. The truth is that our secure, warm environment of a few years ago didn’t just happen. It was the product of years of

struggle, dedication, dumb luck and incredible good will, and absent even one of those things could have looked a lot different. Our good fortune in the public health arena was a credit to the incredible progress in the science of vaccination and sanitation — and was not universally shared by those who are often neglected by progress, either in this country or abroad in poorer countries. Only by renewing that work each day did we merit (sort of) continuing to enjoy that fortune. A year-and-a-half of working in a pandemic has come not only with incredible medical challenges, but also with the fraying of every system we depend on: phones, internet, supply chain, medical records, having adequate staff — not just my own health center, but the entire system. It wasn’t a healthy system to begin with, and many have argued that it is only thanks to the incredible inborn masochism of clinicians, nurses and allied health professionals that we were able to make it work at all. One of the many tragedies of the shooting was losing people like Rich and Jerry who did that God-imitating work of sustaining this fragile system because they knew people depended on it, who didn’t let it fail and continued to ensure that people’s teeth and thyroid, gums and guts, sealants and souls got the care they needed and deserved. The lesson of these turbulent three years has been that everything breaks down — body, mind, soul, society — and when it doesn’t, it’s because of the effort we put in to keep it from doing so. I’ve finally begun to learn not to scream about, “Why can’t things just work?” when they stop, and begin marveling that they work at all to begin with. Just the Please see Weinkle, page 15

At the UNHRC, why not focus on countries with egregious human-rights records? Guest Columnist Daniel S. Mariaschin

he United States was again elected this month to the United Nations Human Rights Council after an absence of more than three years. The U.S. fully deserves to be recognized as a global leader in promoting human rights. Often, however, election to the world’s preeminent human rights body is not founded upon countries’ merit but political horse trading. In fact, none of the 18 vacant seats to be filled at the start of 2022 was contested; each will essentially have been claimed in advance by a “candidate” government without assurance of governments’ actual performance in protecting human rights or of equal opportunities for a stint on the council. Case in point: Since the establishment of the council, around 120 of the 193 U.N. member states have enjoyed membership on it, some repeatedly.

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Among the countries perennially left out is one subjected to far more harsh treatment by the body than any other: Israel. This comes as no surprise to those within the U.N. system. After all, Israel is one of the United Nations’ most longstanding members, dating back to 1949, and it has also gotten more than its fair share of attention from the Security Council. Yet it has not been one of the 130 countries to have had at least one term in that powerful forum either. That’s unlike Algeria, Libya, Syria, Iran, Iraq, Lebanon and Yemen. To sum it up: Over the course of nearly 75 years, one side of the Arab-Israeli conflict has repeatedly had a voice, and vote, on relevant matters in key international institutions. The other hasn’t. One side has wielded an automatic majority in these critical settings — there are some 60 Arab and Muslim U.N. member states — and the other is the world’s only Jewish state, Israel. But the inequity is not limited to questions of mere representation. When the United States withdrew from the Human Rights Council in 2018, The

New York Times characterized the pullout as protesting “frequent criticism of Israel’s treatment of Palestinians.” No country is immune to fair criticism, but this portrayal, sadly commonplace, represents nothing short of journalistic malpractice. What the council dishes out to Israel is not “criticism” but simple demonization, delegitimization and double standards. At the council, what is the only country permanently probed under a dedicated agenda item? Israel. The only country even tarred as racist under yet another agenda item? Israel. The country targeted with more condemnatory resolutions than all others? Israel. The country that has been the subject of more “emergency” sessions than all others? Israel. The country repeatedly targeted with so-called fact-finding missions whose one-sided findings are endorsed in advance? Israel. The country scrutinized in perpetuity, though not its violent adversaries, by a “special rapporteur”? Israel. The only country subjected to a discriminatory corporate blacklist? Israel. Too many outsiders assume that the U.N.’s sky-high output of anti-Israel excoriations

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reflects the real-world misbehavior of a uniquely and wildly aggressive Israel. In actuality, Israel serves as a convenient target for scapegoating and unjust isolation at the world body, despite an astonishingly humane record in the face of practically unequaled and unending existential threats. Iran, Hamas, Hezbollah and Islamic Jihad — all openly committed not to limited territorial or political claims but to the outright destruction of the Jewish state — have never been condemned by the Human Rights Council for their fanaticism and terror. As America rejoins the UNHRC, it must make clear that the body’s own legitimacy rests upon abandoning bias and bigotry in the pursuit of human dignity. Only concrete and substantial change at the council will make the body worthy of American membership and sustained investment. That change should start with ending the council’s singular fixation upon defaming Israel at the expense of highlighting the world’s most egregious and systemic human-rights abusers. PJC Daniel S. Mariaschin is CEO of B’nai B’rith International. This piece first appeared on JNS. PITTSBURGHJEWISHCHRONICLE.ORG

Opinion Italy’s ‘Day of the Dead’ reflects a Jewish past Guest Columnist Rabbi Barbara Aiello

s Italians prepared for Giorno dei Morti, the Day of the Dead that is observed each year on Nov. 2, our local grocery stores, fruit markets and newsstands were busy stocking the commemorative candles that Italians light at home or take to the cemetery to place at the graves of their loved ones. But here in Serrastretta, in my Calabria mountain community, vestiges of Yizkor traditions are among many of the lost Jewish traditions that for centuries continue to hide in plain sight. “We have the short white candle,” says Rosaria, proprietor of the local edicola, (newsstand) that doubles as a variety store reminiscent of times gone by. “The red candles have the Catholic symbols, the

crosses and the picture of Jesus,” Rosaria explains, “but the white candle is plain, just perfect for the laici in our town.” Laici is the Italian word for “secular,” and here in our village the word often serves as code for residents whose ancestors include the “crypto-Jews,” also called the b’nei anusim, a phrase that refers to the Spanish Jews who fled expulsion and forced conversion and eventually found safe haven in our Calabrian mountains. It was here that these secret Jews clung to Jewish traditions slowing embedding them into common Christian practice so that their beloved heritage might survive. Calabria’s Day of the Dead observance offers one example. Publicity surrounding the Day of the Dead often focuses on Mexico and other Latin American countries, where singing, dancing and colorful celebrations dominate the day. By contrast, in Spain, the day is characterized by somber mourning and remembrance as Catholics observe a tradition likely borrowed from their Jewish co-religionists. Today, Calabresi Italians who boast

Spanish ancestral roots continue the practice. The candle is lit at sundown, or erev, and then at the dawning of the day known as both the Day of the Dead or as All Souls’ Day, a special mass is offered where the names of those who died during the previous 12 months are read aloud. It is a somber and reflective day where congregants are encouraged to make a monetary donation in honor and memory of loved ones who passed on. Are these Yizkor traditions? It is entirely possible that the practices of Spanish anusim Jews directly influenced Italian Catholic observance. Historians and scholars allude to a possible overlap when they study the origins of the Yizkor service, an observance that first appeared in a holy day prayer book written in the 11th century by none other than one of Rashi’s students. At the same time and in practically the same French neighborhood, a Catholic prelate crafted the very first church service for the Day of the Dead. Coincidence? It could be, but a

Chronicle poll results: Impact of social media Last week, the Chronicle asked its readers in an electronic poll the following question: “Are you concerned about the negative impact of social media on children and teenagers?” Of the 162 people who responded, a vast majority, 91%, said “Yes,” with 52% blaming “society as a whole,” and 39% mostly blaming the “social media companies.” Only 6% of respondents said they were not concerned, with 6 people saying, “I think they will manage and get past it.” Thirty people submitted comments. A few follow.

t disturbs me a great deal but I just don’t know how we would go about putting the genie back in the bottle. And do we, as parents, not have some controls over the content our children are consuming? Going through my teenage years was difficult enough to navigate in the ’60s and ’70s when the internet and Twitter were not an issue. Social media, with its cowardly anonymous comments and its total lack of courtesy and respect, has made it exponentially more difficult for today’s teens. There has to be some accountability. Parents have abrogated their responsibility by not checking to see what their teens and preteens are posting. I blame society as a whole because everything has become acceptable with no accountability. We need more systematic studies of the impact of social media on all ages. A society that does not value education is the culprit.

Are you concerned about the negative impact of social media on children and teenagers? 4%

No, because I think they will manage and get past it.

Not sure.

39% Yes, and I mostly blame the social media companies.

Rabbi Barbara Aiello, originally from Pittsburgh, is the first woman and first non-Orthodox rabbi in Italy. She opened the first active synagogue in Calabria since the Inquisition and is the founder of the B’nei Anousim movement in Calabria and Sicily, helping Italians discover and embrace their Jewish roots.

Social media can intensify the peer-to-peer stress that can falsely elevate some kids while torturing others. Same dynamics as through the generations, more potent weapons.

the antisemitic violence of Oct. 27, and the BDS movement. It is destructive for all parties, not just teenagers and children, and I am glad never to have been on Facebook. PJC

Like most things, social media can be very, very good and it can be very, very bad. Parents have the responsibility to establish guidelines for their children and teach them to navigate them. Being off social media on Shabbat is an amazing corrective, cutting down use by 1/7. Add in all the chagim and you’ve got a start in finding balance.

— Toby Tabachnick

2% No, because I think the harm is over-stated.

52% Yes, and I mostly blame society as a whole.

I am also highly concerned about the negative impacts of social media on adults, given how much Facebook has led to radicalization. It helped feed the violent assailants of Jan. 6,

This week’s Chronicle poll question:

In a survey just released by the American Jewish Committee, 40% of American Jews said that fear of antisemitism spurred them to change their behavior over the past year. Have you changed your behavior in the last year due to fears arising from antisemitism? Go to our website, pittsburghjewish chronicle.org, to respond. PJC

— LETTERS — Social media will give people what they want. And as you can clearly see from school, kids have a lot of bullying in their lives. Is it any wonder it’s the same online? Schools need to treat phones as if they are part of school, with monitoring and discipline. Phones manufacturers should make it easier for parents and teachers to read their kids’ messages, instead of locking down the devices. Social media companies certainly play a key role. However, the notion that every human — no matter young or how immature — should be using a phone for self-entertainment and social interaction raises questions about parental permission, role modeling and lackluster monitoring. It is probably naive to expect a company to stomp out, for example, individual bullying.

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, fax or email letters to:

Chronicle coverage of Eradicate Hate Summit incomplete

It’s astonishing that the Chronicle’s article about the Eradicate Hate Global Summit included Bend the Arc’ s criticisms of the inclusion of George Bush and Tom Ridge, but nothing about the far more insidious inclusion of Salam al-Marayati of the Muslim Public Affairs Council (MPAC), who was scheduled to appear on three different panels, including one on deradicalization (“Oct. 27 attack plays prominent role at Eradicate Hate summit,” Oct. 22). Among other anti-Israel comments, Al-Marayati has defended Hamas and Hezbollah and has suggested that Israel was behind the 9/11 attacks. Surely our community deserves this information, as well as that of the topics covered at the conference. It was also surprising to see the Chronicle’s photo of Fareed Zakaria addressing the conference (“Community,” Oct. 29). Though less an egregious presence than al-Marayati, Zakaria, among other questionable behaviors, is an opponent of the Abraham Accords, described Mahmoud Abbas as “indeed a moderate” and, consistent with that characterization, blamed Israel and the United States for Abbas’ years-long failure to hold elections — a charge he ultimately was forced to withdraw. It seems that the organizers of the summit were capitalizing on the Tree of Life tragedy to further agendas little related to the antisemitism that precipitated those murders. Ann Sheckter Powell Pittsburgh Address & Fax: Pittsburgh Jewish Chronicle 5915 Beacon St., 5th Flr., Pittsburgh, PA 15217 Fax 412-521-0154

Letters to the editor via email: letters@pittsburghjewishchronicle.org

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coincidence not easily dismissed. The families in my village who choose Rosaria’s unadorned white candle may be signaling an obscure connection to a Jewish memorial that has been lost to them for centuries. We can’t be certain, but rather than dismissing a possible connection, we extend the hand of Jewish welcome to those whose Judaism may be little more than a tiny, flickering flame. As she hands me my white candle, Rosaria recalls our own hidden traditions. “Rabbina, this candle is for the synagogue. When you light it, you will show everyone on the Day of the Dead, that in our village Judaism never died.” PJC

Website address:

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Choir performed two pieces: “Shalom Aleichem” and “B’shana Ha-Baha.” Each of the three congregations that lost members during the massacre read pieces commonly used in their own services. Carol Black and Barbara Caplan of New Light Congregation read Psalm 97; Congregation Dor Hadash’s Marty Gaynor and Dan Leger read the Emma Lazarus poem “The New Colossus,” and Psalm 122; and Kara Spodek of Tree of Life read “10.27 Poem” by Shana Haus. More than a dozen survivors and witnesses of the shooting took the stage and together recited “This Is My Prayer.” County Executive Rich Fitzgerald and Mayor William Peduto recited the familiar “A Prayer for Our Country” — the same prayer they shared at the 2019 commemoration of the massacre at Soldiers & Sailors Hall and Museum. An interfaith cadre of clergy offered various remarks of solidarity. The group included Imam Chris Caras of the Islamic Center of Pittsburgh; Episcopal Diocese of Pittsburgh Rev. Canon Natalie L.G. Hall; Rev. Vincent Kolb of the Sixth Presbyterian Church; Center of Life’s Pastor Tim Smith; and Rabbi Ron Symons of the Jewish Community Center of Greater Pittsburgh. Brian Schrieber, the JCC’s president and CEO, chanted the prayer for healing, “Mi Sheberach,” before Eric Lidji of the Rauh Jewish Archives concluded the commemoration. “Today we come together in person, as individuals and as a community, to remind ourselves that we are commanded to remember them and remind ourselves that we have accepted the commandment to remember them,” Lidji said. Pittsburgh’s Jewish community continues to work through a long healing process, Schreiber told the Chronicle prior to the event. “I think three years in, we have a different opportunity to reflect,” Schreiber said. “We’re not just reacting from the shock and the trauma but we’re beginning to think about what this means in terms of long term, and having the opportunity to reflect and see who

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At 9:54 a.m. — a time when Mayor William Peduto asked the city to “hold a moment of silence and reflection” — members of the Mallinger family quietly stood near the Tree of Life building. Their matriarch, Rose Mallinger, was one of the 11 people murdered during the attack. Her daughter, Andrea Wedner, was shot and seriously injured. About 40 minutes later, more than 30 students from Yeshiva Schools of Pittsburgh arrived with cards, flowers and other materials in tow. The high schoolers asked passersby to “find the kind” and perform good deeds in memory of Joyce Fienberg, Richard Gottfried, Rose Mallinger, Jerry Rabinowitz, Cecil Rosenthal, David Rosenthal, Bernice 14 NOVEMBER 5, 2021

p Rabbi Jeffrey Myers sings an emotional version of “El Malei Rahamim.” Photo by David Rullo

p Hundreds gather in Schenley Park to commemorate the massacre of Oct. 27.

are we, what do we want to be, what do we learn from this and how do we move forward.” Peduto said Pittsburghers now feel more solidarity than before the Oct. 27, 2018, massacre. “At the least, Pittsburghers take a pause before they mention or think of someone as being different,” Peduto told the Chronicle. “You know, the city was built out by rivers and mountains that separated us and we built that out by different ethnic groups. There was always this cultural divide. After Tree of Life, we really understood that an attack against one was an attack against all. I believe that was a cultural shift.” Fitzgerald called the massacre “one of the darkest days in our history,” and a moment no one will forget. He noted the community has invested in the security of synagogues and other institutions and is now more prepared than it was three years ago. The Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh has played a large role in helping Jewish institutions upgrade their security, said Adam Hertzman, the Federation’s director of marketing. Pittsburgh was a safe city prior to the attack, he said, and is a safer city now. “We’ve made great strides in security and safety,” Hertzman said. “I think the biggest

change has been the individual improvements to building security, a lot of which were from local, state and federal dollars that Federation helped procure.” This year’s commemoration was in person, after being held virtually last year because of COVID-19. Feinstein said the Schenley Park site was selected because it was outdoors and was accessible to older adults and people with disabilities. Earlier this year, 17-year-old Taylor Allderdice High School student Olivia (last name withheld upon request) raised funds to plant 11 trees on Prospect Drive — the location ultimately selected for the commemoration. She said she wanted to do something that could help create a private space for the families. “Trees mean a lot in Judaism,” she said. “They represent life and death. It seemed fitting for it to be trees.” Lauren Apter Bairnsfather, director of the Holocaust Center of Pittsburgh, said it was “beautiful” to stand with hundreds of friends and remember the 11 loved ones taken from the community too soon. Even in the face of mounting antisemitism, she said, there are reasons to be hopeful: “As we saw, we have allies in Pittsburgh who will

Photo by Toby Tabachnick

work with us to counter hate and build a better world.” Barry Werber, a member of New Light Congregation who survived the attack, was pleased the outdoor commemoration allowed him to see other survivors and victims’ families and “to come together as a community. It was wonderful to see different groups getting out and supporting us, and, especially, the family members.” Tree of Life’s Myers said what he found most comforting was the hugging. “We didn’t have any hugging last year — [the commemoration] was prerecorded,” he said. “A good, deep, intense hug is, to me, the most powerful piece of unspoken communication that exists. It can say so many things without a person saying a word. There’s a power to it. We all know that after a deep hug, you feel better. “The power of community to be together is incredible, particularly in Pittsburgh, which is just an incredible city,” Myers added. “But the power of hugging and uplifting each other, it’s just so assuring and gives me strength.” PJC David Rullo can be reached at daverullo@ pittsburghjewishchronicle.org.

Simon, Sylvan Simon, Daniel Stein, Melvin Wax and Irving Younger. Bayla Fishman, a Yeshiva Schools graduate and current programming manager at the school, said the students’ response to the murder of 11 Jews is driven by a teaching of the late Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson, who believed that “in order to dispel darkness we have to bring kindness.” Along with encouraging fellow visitors to appreciate and acknowledge the good in others, and to volunteer at nonprofits, Fishman and the Yeshiva students handed out Shabbat candles. Lighting the wicks each Friday night is an easy way to eliminate darkness, the students said. Around 10:45 a.m., Delilah Hollander arrived with nearly 20 classmates and Please see Visitors, page 20

p Chatham University President David Finegold and Delilah Hollander, a Chatham University student and Dor Hadash member Photo by Adam Reinherz

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continue to work with Estelle Comay and the Sholom Comay Endowment Fund, which has backed the Passport to Israel program in some form since around 1992. Hertzman stressed the Federation is not walking away from its commitment to help fund travel to the Jewish state. “Far from it,” said Hertzman, who added that the Passport to Israel program had grown confusing. “This is the Federation working with a generous donor, trying to make it easier for people to go to Israel. Federation will continue

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because staffing is a problem everywhere.” Hillel is experiencing its own staffing issues, Pohuly said, but she isn’t sure if those issues are due to the pandemic. “I think staffing in general is a nationwide problem,” she said. “I feel like last school year, everyone was happy to have a job. Now I’m not sure that’s the case, but we are working very hard to try and find the right people.” Hillel isn’t alone in experiencing staffing woes, said Kate Louik, director of Temple Emanuel of South Hills’ Early Childhood Development Center. Like many other industries, child care centers are experiencing

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beverages become a mechanism for helping viewers understand an area’s “culture, tradition and place.” Gould, 30, has been telling this story for nearly a decade. First at Gear Patrol in 2013, then after founding Hop Culture in 2017, he’s relied on detailed text and rich imagery to narrate larger tales. In subsequent years Gould applied the format both at Hop Culture, and in pieces for Forbes, Thrillist and Bon Appétit, to explore unique bonds between maker, drinker and place, and enable readers to appreciate that beer is much more than a (not always) mildly alcoholic refreshment to be slugged back after a long day.

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fact that we exist is pretty miraculous; that we usually can go to worship and gather without getting sick or getting shot even more miraculous; that we sometimes have people as special as the ones we lost that day is maybe the greatest miracle of all. Learning this lesson has also helped me understand another mystery of Torah. The Shabbat before Purim, we read a few lines from Deuteronomy urging us to “Remember what Amalek did to you … blot out the PITTSBURGHJEWISHCHRONICLE.ORG

to support and give funds for teens and young adults through its Israel Scholarship program.” The Israel Scholarship program provides funding on a first-come, first-served basis to teens in ninth grade or above, and young adults through age 27. “Exceptions may be made for pre-teens on a case-by-case basis,” according to the Federation’s website. The letter emailed to Passport to Israel account holders echoed the Federation’s commitment to continue to help fund Israel trips, and said the Federation would “continue to offer generous need-based funding for qualifying families.” CDS parent Merav Amos, whose daughter Maya hopes to travel, COVID-permitting,

to Israel with her eighth-grade class this spring, said she “was never confused” about the program. “I understand it,” Amos, an Israeli now living in Squirrel Hill, told the Chronicle. “But if, frankly, they’d rather do it another way, I don’t see a problem.” Mara Svoboda, the parent co-chairing CDS students’ trip fundraising efforts, also wasn’t deeply concerned about the change. She has three children at the school, including one in eighth grade. “It’s like a lot of things — the details will come eventually,” Svoboda said. Current participants in the Passport to Israel program now have two options, officials

said. They can request their fund be liquidated and the entire balance returned, and then they will no longer be entitled to matching funds. Or they can make one more deposit of $200 this year, which will be matched along with the previous deposits made for a trip to Israel. Participants no longer will be required to have four years of deposits to receive matching funds, officials said. If they decide to utilize this fund for an Israel trip, they will be matched $100 for each $200 deposit made before May 31, 2022. A total of $800 is the maximum match. PJC

a drastic staffing shortage, she said, and complicating that shortage are the difficulties of operating during a pandemic. If a teacher has a child who “gets sent home from school because they either test positive for COVID or have a classmate that tests positive for COVID, then I’ve lost a teacher for their period of quarantine,” Louik said. Everyone on Temple Emanuel’s ECDC staff is vaccinated, Louik said, and the center has a policy of universal masking — something Louik said the students have come to embrace. “I find that children are really responsive to the idea of being a helper,” she said. “So, when we talk to children about needing to wear their masks and needing to wear them properly, they take that very seriously and

we’re proud of them for that.” One issue most of the early learning centers have yet to wrestle with is whether they will require 5-year-olds to get vaccinated now that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved Pfizer’s COVID vaccine for children ages 5-11. “That’s an interesting question,” Hillel’s Pohuly said. “There are no requirements for vaccinations for children at the moment. I don’t know if that’s something that is going to happen. I know a lot of people have signed their kids up for vaccines though.” CDS, however, has already made its decision: The school will require the vaccine for children 5 and over. While discussions in both Jewish and secular early learning centers are

currently centered on the pandemic and vaccines, Louik thinks the conversation should be broader. “COVID has really shone a light on challenges within the child care industry that have always been there, but because of the virus have been held out in stark relief,” she said. “We are essential workers, and child care workers are woefully underpaid for the value they give to children and families in our country. I think it’s critical that, at this time, we galvanize the energy around protecting our child care industry and make lasting change. … It could be one small glimmer of light that can come out of a really dark time.” PJC

Gould’s efforts proved successful: Hop Culture expanded to a team of 10 people who hosted 35 beer festivals nationwide and crafted a newsletter reaching 100,000 readers each week. But even with that growth, a lack of resources precluded Gould from tapping into video. All that changed in late 2020 when Hop Culture was acquired by Next Glass, a venture-backed parent company to Untappd, BeerAdvocate and Oznr. Gould came on as Next Glass’s creative director and began overseeing design and branding for the parent company’s platforms. He realized that, like Hop Culture, each of Next Glass’ brands boasted a unique audience, and began thinking about how best to reach those groups individually and collectively. Gould entertained the idea of video, and with Next

Glass’ support started working on “Next Exit.” After he and Tisha Hulburd, Next Glass’ chief marketing officer, developed a script, Gould and a Pittsburgh-based crew of two videographers and a sound technician spent a day filming in late July. Several weeks after post-production, “Next Exit” was ready for release. The show’s first season will include five more episodes, though the location of each has yet to be determined. For the pilot, it was important to portray “the city that I love in a really positive light,” Gould said. Moving forward, he continued, the hope is that viewers will reach out and help others discover “cities that may not be thought of as the most popular tourist destinations.” Once the season is complete, Gould

doesn’t know whether Next Glass will want to bring the series to a network or streaming service, or manage distribution internally. “It’s something we’ll figure out,” he said. For now, the goal of the show is to follow a formula that helped Hop Culture transition from its humble origins — Gould started the company of one, with zero advertisers and no followers, inside his then-Shadyside apartment — into a global brand. “We’re going to try something, talk to people about their experience with it, iterate and make it better,” Gould said. And with that as the process, he continued, “Next Exit” will help a lot of people find “interesting places, cool people and cold drinks.” PJC

memory of Amalek — don’t forget.” So what is it — remember, or don’t remember? Amalek were the tribe who pursued the Israelites in the desert and picked off the stragglers — they preyed on the weak. It was in opposition to behavior like that that the Israelites were commanded to look after those people, to ensure that they were protected, not hunted. We might have thought, in our pre-10/27/18 world, that we had succeeded in blotting out the memory of Amalek. But Amalekite behavior doesn’t disappear. It has to be actively remembered, and be continuously blotted out wherever we see it, or it will return

to take the lives of our friends and neighbors. The problem with all of this work of maintaining and sustaining, whether it is a safe society, a stable environment or a healthy person is that it is exhausting. We are bone tired, all of us, and on days like today more than ever. When the alarm goes off and it is dark (and at the end of October, before daylight savings ends, it is always dark when my alarm goes off), it is nearly impossible to even get out of bed. But the mere fact of my eyes being open, and having covers to hide under, means that Someone has been busy keeping the universe from flying apart while I slept (or attempted to sleep). When I turn

on the lights, I see the line from the prayer, framed on my bedroom wall: Ha-mehadesh bekhol yom tamid ma’aseh bereishit — “Who renews the work of creation every day, continually.” Even today. PJC

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Justin Vellucci is a freelance writer living in Pittsburgh.

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

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

Jonathan Weinkle MD, FAAP, FACP is a primary care physician in a community health center in Pittsburgh. He is not a rabbi, though he has often been accused of being one. He is an amateur singer-songwriter, teaches at both Chatham University and the University of Pittsburgh, and is the author of the book “Healing People, Not Patients.” NOVEMBER 5, 2021 15

Life & Culture As Broadway returns, here are 7 Jewish reasons to head back to the theater

important composers in the history of American musical theater, is Jewish… and what’s more Jewish than a show about neurotic New Yorkers? There is also an interfaith couple in the show, one-half of which is played by Israeli-American actor Etai Benson (“The Band’s Visit”). Another selling point for Broadway fans: The show’s co-star, stage legend Patti LuPone, also participated in a star-studded concert production of “Company” in 2011. Where and when: Starts previews Nov. 15 with an official opening of Dec. 9 at the Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre, 242 W. 45th St. Bottom line: See it if you are a fan of Stephen Sondheim, Patti LuPone or new interpretations of classic shows.

— THEATER — By Linda Buchwald | JTA

hanks to safety measures such as vaccination and mask requirements, Broadway shows are playing again after a shutdown that lasted a year and a half, the longest in Broadway history. The first show to open was the Bruce Springsteen concert “Springsteen on Broadway” in June, followed by Antoinette Chinonye Nwandu’s play “Pass Over” in August. Those two limited engagements have closed, but there are now 26 shows running on Broadway, with more set to open or reopen in the coming months. Many of the shows flipping their lights back on, or for the first time, have Jewish content — from straight plays to musicals, dramas to comedies. Here are seven shows to see with Jewish themes, characters and/or authors.

The Lehman Trilogy

This 2014 epic play by Italian playwright Stefano Massini, adapted into English by Ben Power, spans 163 years as it traces the history of the Lehman Brothers, both the family and the beleaguered financial services firm: from its beginnings as a fabric shop founded by the German-Jewish immigrants in 1844 Alabama (where the Lehmans made their first fortune buying and selling slave-harvested cotton) through its instrumental role in the 2008 financial crash that destroyed the business (along with millions of American livelihoods). The production, directed by Sam Mendes, features an extraordinary rotating office set designed by Es Devlin, stunning IMAX-level projections by Luke Halls and performances from Simon Russell Beale, Adam Godley and Adrian Lester. Though Massini is Catholic, he has a fascination with Jewish culture and speaks Hebrew — which might explain why there is occasional Hebrew in the play, as well as a focus on how Jewish immigrant families lose their traditions over time as they assimilate in America. Particular attention in the play is paid to Jewish mourning rituals… appropriate for a play that often seems to be mourning the death of the American dream on the altar of unchecked capitalism. Where and when: Playing through Jan. 2 at the Nederlander Theatre, 208 W. 41st Street Bottom line: See it if you are interested in American history and capitalism, and don’t mind sitting through a show that is three hours and 20 minutes long (there are two intermissions).

Caroline, or Change

This is the first revival of the sung-through musical that opened on Broadway in 2004, the same season as “Avenue Q” and “Wicked.” It tells the story of Caroline Thibodeaux, a Black maid for a Jewish family in 1963 Louisiana, as she and her employers respond to the rapidly advancing Civil Rights movement; the show, which opens with a Confederate memorial being torn down, will likely resonate with audiences in 16 NOVEMBER 5, 2021

p “Come From Away” at the Gerald Schoenfeld Theatre on Broadway

Photo courtesy of Apple TV+

entirely new ways in 2021. The book is by celebrated Jewish playwright Tony Kushner (“Angels in America”), with a score by Jeanine Tesori (“Fun Home”) that incorporates klezmer and traditional Jewish melodies, as well as Motown, soul and other sounds of the era. It also might be the only Broadway musical with a Chanukah song (“The Chanukah Party”). Sharon D. Clarke reprises her Olivier-winning performance in the title role, and the cast includes Jewish actors Caissie Levy (“Frozen”), Chip Zien (“Into the Woods”) and Stuart Zagnit (“Newsies”). Where and when: Playing through Jan. 9 at Studio 54, 254 W. 54th St. Bottom line: See it if you like musicals that are more introspective than showy spectacle, or if you are interested in the Civil Rights movement.

stories of those who were there, shows what happens when people are kind to each other in the darkest of times. The writers of the show, Canadian couple David Hein and Irene Sankoff, are Jewish and drew on their backgrounds to expand on the very Jewish theme of welcoming the stranger. There’s also an explicitly Jewish moment in the show, where people of different religions pray at the same time in different languages, with a rabbi character (based on a real rabbi whose flight was grounded that day) singing “Oseh Shalom.” During that scene, one of the locals opens up to the rabbi about his Jewish past. Where and when: Currently playing at the Gerald Schoenfeld Theatre, 236 W. 4th St. Bottom line: See it if you like upbeat musicals based on true stories about people coming together.

Chicken & Biscuits

Company

In this comedy by Douglas Lyons, sisters Baneatta (Cleo King) and Beverly (Ebony Marshall-Oliver) gather their families to mourn their father and celebrate his life at his funeral. Directed by Zhailon Levingston, who made history as the youngest Black director ever on Broadway, the production-in-theround gives the audience the experience of being at a Black church. Michael Urie plays Logan Leibowitz, the Jewish boyfriend of Kenny Mabry (Devere Isaac Rogers), Baneatta’s son. Logan is the only white character, acting as a stand-in for the white members of the audience. He asks questions during the service that some audience members might be thinking, but he is not just there as an outsider: His relationship with Kenny is shown to be a positive one and (spoiler alert) he is eventually accepted by the family. Where and when: Playing through Jan. 2 at Circle in the Square Theatre, 235 W. 50th St. Bottom line: See it if you are in the mood for a sitcom-style comedy.

In Stephen Sondheim’s classic musical, first staged in 1970, protagonist Bobby turns 35 by trying to explain to all his married friends why he isn’t married. This genderbent revival, first staged at London’s West End in 2019 and directed by three-time Tony winner Marianne Elliott, flips the script: Bobby is now a woman named Bobbie, played by Katrina Lenk — who, between a breakthrough part as an Israeli cafe owner in “The Band’s Visit” and a one-time stint as a gender-swapped Tevye in “Fiddler on the Roof,” has cornered the market on Jewish stage roles for non-Jewish women. Sondheim, one of the greatest and most

Girl From the North Country

The characters in this jukebox musical — set in Duluth, Minnesota, during the Great Depression — aren’t Jewish, but the show is shaped around the music of Bob Dylan, whose Jewish upbringing and consummate everyman folk persona have long fascinated critics and biographers. Wanderers come and go through the boardinghouse of Nick and Elizabeth Laine (Jay O. Sanders and Mare Winningham); Irish playwright Conor McPherson wrote the book, and 20 classic Dylan tunes are performed in a reinvented context as Depression-era folk ballads, with beautiful arrangements by Simon Hale. Where and when: Currently playing at the Belasco Theatre, 111 W. 44th Street. Bottom line: See it if you love Bob Dylan and want to hear his songs in a new way.

A Commercial Jingle for Regina Comet

This one is technically Off-Broadway, but any musical that mentions Sukkot deserves a spot on this list. The music, book and lyrics are by Jewish writer-actor duo Ben Fankhauser and Alex Wyse, who also star. They play a Jewish songwriting team tasked with writing a jingle for a new fragrance for the fictional pop star Regina Comet (Bryonha Marie Parham). The two frequently refer to their start writing Shabbat musicals at Jewish summer camp, and much of the humor in the show is of the Borscht Belt variety. Where and when: Playing through Nov. 21 at DR2 Theatre at Union Square East, 103 E. 15th St. Bottom line: See it if you need a silly, escapist musical comedy. PJC

Come From Away

After the planes crashed into the World Trade Center on Sept. 11, 2001, the U.S. airspace closed, forcing 38 planes to be diverted to the Gander airport in Newfoundland, Canada. The people of Gander took in the “plane people” until they could get back in the air. This long-running musical, using the true

p Ben Fankhauser, Bryonha Marie Parham and Alex Wyse in a scene from “A Commercial Jingle for Regina Comet” Photo by Matthew Murphy

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The fear of scarcity, the hope of abundance Rabbi Doris J. Dyen Parshat Toldot | Genesis 25:19 - 28:9

he word toldot can mean “generations,” “history” or even just “story.” All those meanings are relevant here. This parshah continues both the intergenerational story of Abraham’s family and the chronicle of the Jewish people’s spiritual history. It also offers a useful perspective on human development going forward. Parshat Toldot has many narrative episodes: Rebecca’s troubled pregnancy; the birth of fraternal twins Esau and Jacob; sibling rivalry between the brothers for their father Isaac’s attention and affection; the birthright swindle between Jacob and Esau; a famine that forces Isaac’s family to migrate for survival; a tense struggle between Isaac and the Philistine ruler Avimelech over wells and water rights; and Rebecca and Jacob’s trickery to make Isaac give Jacob the blessing meant for Esau. It is striking how much all the episodes in Toldot are linked by a central thread: the fear that there isn’t enough — the assumption of scarcity. Rebecca fears she won’t have enough strength to survive her painful (life-threatening?) pregnancy. Esau is so afraid he’ll die from lack of food that he’s willing to give Jacob his birthright as a firstborn son. The root of Jacob’s name means not only “heel” of the foot, but also “supplanter,” “(negative) consequence,” “insidious” and “deceitful.” Jacob grabs Esau’s heel at birth and later schemes to supplant him. During the famine, Isaac fears starvation and so he risks moving his family into dangerous Philistine territory to find food. There he must contend with King Avimelech’s fear that there won’t be enough water for both their groups. Rebecca convinces Jacob that he won’t have enough resources to survive

unless he resorts to deceiving Isaac over the blessings. Finally, although blessings are meant to be life-affirming, Isaac’s blessings to his sons, marred by deception, result only in fear and anger: The blessings give Jacob a promise of Divine favor, but they instill in Esau a hatred so deep that he swears to kill Jacob. The parshah ends as Jacob flees in fear for his life. Toldot teaches that the fear of scarcity generates many evils: self-centered, “me-first” attitudes in individuals; rivalrous, destructive behavior within families; and resentment and enmity between groups of people — the “haves” and the “have-nots.” In our own time, with human-caused climate change, this primal fear has begun to dominate life worldwide. Water scarcity in many places is causing crop failure, deforestation, desertification and the increased likelihood of dangerous fires. Elsewhere, severe storms and rising seas reduce the amount of livable land and drinkable water. The fear of food and water shortages prompts selfish, deceitful behavior among nations, while the reality of famine is causing huge global migrations of people hoping — like Isaac — to find livable conditions for their families. Parshat Toldot offers this warning not only to Jews, but to all humanity: It is an illusion to think there are no negative consequences from showering the blessing of abundance on some while withholding it from others. If we do not want to relive Toldot on a worldwide scale, humans must create a new narrative. What can we do to change the fear of scarcity into the hope of abundance? What stories do we want the next generations — our children and grandchildren — to tell about us? Shabbat Shalom. PJC Rabbi Doris J. Dyen is the spiritual leader of the Makom HaLev kehilla. This column is a service of the Greater Pittsburgh Rabbinic Association.

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Obituaries B OL N E R : E d w a rd Bolner, age 82, passed after a valiant fight with COVID-19 on Oct. 29. While vaccinated, his body was weakened by chemotherapy. A kind and gentle man, he enjoyed socializing, sharing stories, tracking the stock market and rarely missed a Pittsburgh Steelers or Pirates broadcast. He will be missed most by Jill, his wife of 61 years. He often joked that he invited Jill on a date in 1958 and then never had to make another decision again. He is survived by his three children, Leslie Schorr (Bruce) of Mt. Lebanon, Mike Bolner (Kathy) of New York City and David Bolner (Danielle) of Weston, Connecticut, as well as his six grandchildren, Scott, Kevin, Alexis, Grace, Mason and Blaine. He is also survived by his 104-year-old mother, Isabel; his sister Lois; and his cousin Dr. Richard Paul. Ed Bolner lived most of his life in Squirrel Hill, moving full time to the Twin Eagles community in Naples, Florida, in 2014. An avid intramural and fraternity athlete in high school and college, he graduated from Allderdice High School and the University of Pittsburgh. He enjoyed playing sports throughout his life including youth baseball, intramural football, golden gloves boxing, softball in his 20s, tennis until his 50s, then golf through his later years. He was telling “dad jokes” before the term was coined. One of his favorite jokes was that he wanted his obituary to highlight that he was a proud member of Sam’s Club and Costco. He will be missed by everyone that knew and loved him. Graveside service and interment were held at Homewood Cemetery, Star of David Section. The family requests that donations be made in his honor to the Jewish Community Center of Greater Pittsburgh, 5738 Forbes Ave., Pittsburgh, PA 15217. Arrangements entrusted to Ralph Schugar Chapel, Inc. schugar.com MATTES: Jerome Mattes, age 89, on Tuesday, Oct. 26. Beloved husband of the late Luella M. Mattes. Loving father of Morris Simon Mattes and Esther Leah Stanton. Services were held at Ralph Schugar Chapel, Inc. Interment Homewood Cemetery, Star of David Section. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society (HIAS), 333 Seventh Ave., New York, NY 10001-5004. schugar.com TREGER: Albert Treger, M.D., died on Oct. 25, after a long illness. He was 89. Treger was a Brooklyn native. The son of Jewish immigrants from Poland, he was the eldest of three children. He had two sisters, Marilyn Zimmerman, late of New York, and Shirley Lipkin, of California. Treger attended Stuyvesant, a specialized high school in New York. He entered Cornell University on a scholarship at age 17. After his junior year, at age 19, he entered medical school at New York University. His medical training took him to Rochester, New York, for his internship; Cleveland, Ohio, for his residency; and Denver, Colorado, for a fellowship in cardiology, the clinical specialty he practiced in Pittsburgh from 1967 to 1998. Treger and his wife, Rosalyn, met at Cornell and married in 1955. Their children, Flora, Marian, Jesse and Daniel, were born during PITTSBURGHJEWISHCHRONICLE.ORG

his training. He was incredibly dedicated and hardworking. He cared deeply about his patients, and about providing for his family. Upon his retirement, his colleagues described him as one of the most dedicated physicians they knew. He was a quiet yet caring man who took great pride in his children and their accomplishments. He was especially proud that his children shared his love of learning and education, and that all earned advanced degrees in the sciences and the arts. He had two granddaughters, Elissa and Isabel Treger, whom he loved dearly. His daughter Marian passed away suddenly in December 2020. He had a lifelong curiosity about the world around him. His interests ranged from Oriental history to textiles, especially Oriental rugs. He and his wife traveled to Iran, Russia, Turkey, Israel, Jordan, Japan, England and Mexico. He remained a voracious learner into retirement, taking classes at the University of Pittsburgh and later at the Osher Institute for Lifelong Learning. He never stopped being curious about the world around him, and he never stopped giving his family the benefits of his wisdom and generosity. The Treger family thanks the many home healthcare workers and hospital staff who helped him over the past year. Services were held at Ralph Schugar Chapel, Inc. Interment Homewood Cemetery. Contributions in Dr. Treger’s memory may be made to the Marian Treger Fellowship for Enduring Creativity (VCCA, Attn: Development, 154 San Angelo Drive, Amherst, VA 24521 — checks should be made payable to the Virginia Center for the Creative Arts; please include “Marian Treger Fellowship for Enduring Creativity” on the memo line) or the charity of one’s choice. schugar.com VeSHANCEY: Nancy VeShancey, on Saturday, Oct. 23. Beloved wife of William S. VeShancey. Beloved mother of James Ve Shanc e y, R ob e r t (Tina) VeShancey and the late Steven VeShancey. Sister of the late Carol Cowan and the late Barbara Lieberman. Grandmother of Zachary and Hannah VeShancey. She was born and raised in Pittsburgh. She graduated from the University of Pittsburgh with her B.A. in education. She was a cherished mother and grandmother. Her grandchildren meant the world to her. She was also an avid reader, and had a lifetime love of learning. She was a lover of the arts, particularly the opera, amateur investor and spent many years as a tax preparer. She was an avid gardener and devoted considerable amounts of her spare time cultivating both her indoor plants and outdoor gardens. She and her husband Bill lived for 70 years in Western Pennsylvania and spent the past 19 years in Sarasota, Florida. Service and interment were held at West View Cemetery. Contributions may be made to the Anti-Defamation League, 605 Third Ave., New York, NY 10158. Arrangements entrusted to Ralph Schugar Chapel, Inc., family owned and operated. schugar.com

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THIS WEEK’S YAHRZEITS — Sunday November 7: Miriam Abramovitz, Martin Bass, Bernard Israel Bernstein, Samson Finn, Hermina Gropper, Lillian Karp Grossman, Goldie Handelsman, Celia Harris, Samuel E. Jacobson, Anna Miller, Harriet M. Nicholson, Harry Seiavitch, Sarah Silberblatt, Goldie Stein, Irving Troffkin, Sylvia S. Vinocur, Molly Weiss Monday November 8: Irving Broverman, Abraham J. Caplan, Sam A. Caplan, Dr. Samuel Cirota, Louis Daniels, Harry Gomberg, Bernard J. Grinberg, Isadore Kurfeerst, Esther Cohen Lubovsky, Dorothy Miller, Leah Rosen, Rae F. Schwartz, Sara Schwartz, George Stern, Frances Turk Tuesday November 9: Hyman Balis, Bessie Glantz Bauman, Martin A. Berezin, Norman Black, Charles G. Brown, Dr. Frederick Carlton, Joseph Chernovitz, Abe M. Cohen, Esther Eisman, Carle Joseph Enelow, Yetta Gerson, Selma Jeremias Kostova, Abe Kotovsky, David Isadore Mandelblatt, Seymour H. Miller, Irving Nixon, Anna E. Reubin, Sidney Rosenfeld, Fannie Katzman Rubenstein, Walter Sigel, William Weinberg, Florence Bella Wolf Wednesday November 10: Hannah R. Adler, Shirley Ankin, Minnie Berkovitz, Wilfred Irwin Berman, Bernard Caplan, Harriet Friedlander, David Glick, Nathan Levenson, Mildred Levinson, Sadie Levy, Celia Maglin Lupovitz, Samuel Margolis, William Rosenbloom, Charles Saltsburg, Thelma Sapir, Freda Schwartz, Samuel F. Shaeffer, Michael Supowitz, Elizabeth Kramer Swartz, Solomon Weinstein, Robert H. Wolf, Leo Arthur Zober Thursday November 11: Max Cohen, Helen Pearl Cushner, Max Engelberg, Arthur Firestone, Annie Friedman, Gertrude Glasser, Samuel Morris Goodman, Evelyn B. Letwin, Norman H. Marcus, Rosa Rokhkind, Jeannette Samuels, Mildred Schoenberger, Samuel Silverman, Jean Walters Friday November 12: Joseph Bardin, Ida G. Barniker, Emma Eligator, Olga Engel, Nathan Granoff, Abe Herman, David Kaufman, David Klein, Fruma Chaya Leebov, Rachel Levy, Rose Rosenberg, Lucy Sachnoff Saturday November 13: Benjamin Aberman, Cecelia Edith Greenberger, Milton E. Helfer, Sarah Herring, Bertha Brown Horovitz, Samuel Kaufman, Adolph Lefkowitz, Bessie Jenoff Lincoff, Dorothy Margolis, Lester Marshall, Harry Meyers, William Rakusin, Charles Ruttenberg, Israel J. Saul, Louis David Simon, Samuel Westerman

“Little Arlington” This re-dedicated 2012 WWII Memorial may be the finest monument to Jewish veterans in Western Pennsylvania. It sits proudly in New Castle’s Tifereth Israel Cemetery replacing the 1948 original memorial to the eight local Jewish servicemen who had made the ultimate sacrifice.

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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NOVEMBER 5, 2021 19

Opinion Obituaries: Continued from page 19

SAFIER: Dr. Joel Safier, born May 20, 1938, Mc ke e s p or t , Pennsylvania, passed away peacefully at his home in Pittsburgh. He is survived by his beloved wife of 59 years, Judith Barad Safier; his two sons, Andrew Jacob (Linda DeMercurio) Safier, and Dr. Robert Adam Safier; his brother, Ronald Lee Safier (Doreen), and sisterin-law, Steffi Gold. Also, survived by nieces, Susan Farber, Nancy Cohen, Shari Caspert, and nephew, Jon Safier. His niece, Jodi Ayne Safier preceded him in death. Survived by great-nieces, Rachel and Taylor Cohen, and Jenna, Abby and Drew Safier. Greatnephews, Jed, David and Jack Farber, Carson Cohen, and Jason and Matthew Caspert. Joel graduated from Washington & Jefferson College and the University of Pittsburgh

Visitors: Continued from page 14

administrators from Chatham University. Hollander, a Chatham University freshman and a member of Congregation Dor Hadash — one of the three congregations attacked — said she was in Israel last year on Oct. 27, and instead of feeling “alone” again, she wanted to assemble a group, on site, focused on remembering the lives that were lost. Hollander briefly recounted her memories of each person killed — anecdotes that transpired during services, in the hallways or at kiddush on Saturday mornings. “I don’t pretend to speak for any other person from Dor Hadash, or our sister congregations, Tree of Life and New Light, but I know that I will never forget the lives these people lived,” she said. “I will never stop honoring their lives, and I implore each and every single one of you to remember them. But more than that, remember your

School of Medicine. He completed two years of his residency at Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh, where he specialized in pediatrics. He spent his final year of residency at Children’s Memorial Hospital in Chicago. He spent two years in the U.S. Air Force at Grand Forks, North Dakota, where he practiced pediatrics on the Air Force base. He then moved to Mt. Lebanon and joined Arnold M. Steinman in private practice. He was later joined by Drs. Judy Giga, Ned Ketyer, Kathy Walczak and Ray O’Toole until he retired in 2002. He absolutely loved what he did and was loved by all of the families he cared for. Even to this day, former patients would recognize him and say, “There’s Dr. Safier.” His son Robert cares for children whose parents were some of Joel Sapier’s former patients. He was an avid Pittsburgh sports fan and was one of the few who truly witnessed the “Immaculate Reception” in person. He loved going to theater and one of his claims to fame was that he saw “Les Miserables” 14 times. He enjoyed golfing, bridge, and spending time with his family

and friends. Those who knew him appreciated his dry and witty sense of humor. Upon his retirement, he and his wife spent winters in Long Boat Key, Florida. Service and interment private. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh, Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh, Division of Child Neurology or Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh, Free Care Fund. Arrangements entrusted to Ralph Schugar Chapel, Inc., schugar.com.

life, your community, the people around you, and the world we live in as a thing to be celebrated.” Hundreds of people stopped by the corner of Shady and Wilkins avenues throughout the day, with many finding comfort at the nearby tent, where therapists and canine advocates stood ready to welcome passersby. Alliyah Kimbrough and Stephanie Rodriguez, both from UpStreet Pittsburgh, a teen mental health program of JFCS, said some people wanted to talk, while others enjoyed petting the dogs. One woman showed up on a bike and left cookies that she said Jerry Rabinowitz would have liked. People seemed grateful, Rodriguez said, that someone was there to support them. Around 1:30 p.m. almost 50 middle and high school students from Hillel Academy of Pittsburgh arrived at the Tree of Life building to recite Psalms. What happened there three years ago is very much “a part of their history,” said Rabbi Yisroel Smith, an assistant principal at the school. “It’s

important for the students to come here and reflect on the people who died and the event.” Although most of the teenagers were in Pittsburgh on Oct. 27, 2018, two members of the group were not: Israeli natives Ruth Goren and Efrat Schusshein arrived in Pittsburgh a few weeks ago to serve a year of voluntary national service. Neither Goren nor Schusshein had come to the corner of Wilkins and Shady prior to Oct. 27, 2021. Standing there helped them appreciate the city they’d heard so much about before their arrival. “Being here makes us feel connected to the whole community of Pittsburgh,” Goren said. Schusshein said she got the feeling that people wanted “to be together and support each other.” Barb Feige, Tree of Life’s executive director, said that throughout the day several people walked by and left mementos. Others signed the guest book or offered a kind word to people standing nearby. Many individuals drove by and offered acknowledgement by

ZYTNICK: Jay Zytnick, on Sunday, Oct. 24. Beloved husband for 25 years of Kimberly Zytnick; loving father of Zachary, William, Matthew and the late Aaron Zytnick; son-in-law of Lynne Erlich. Brother-in-law of Joni Zytnick. Uncle of Michael Zytnick, Amanda Sawyer and Alexa Zytnick. Also survived by best childhood friends Alan (Becky) Scott and Dr. Howard (Michelle) Ferimer. Born and raised in Pittsburgh, he was a graduate of Taylor Allderdice High School and the University of Pittsburgh as a biochemistry major. A devoted and

loyal family man, he sacrificed his own dreams to help his family in the real estate business. As one tenant stated, “he had hands of gold” — it was his art, he could fix anything. Full of kindness, generosity, and deeply committed to integrity, he was principled beyond reproach. He and his treasured wife overcame adversity and built their own thriving real estate business in recent years. A longtime friend of Dominic Mineo and regular at Mineo’s Pizza, Zytnick was affectionately known there as “Guido.” He will be terribly missed and forever remembered and loved by all who knew him. He was a true mensch. Services and interment private. Contributions in his memory may be made to Animal Friends, 562 Camp Horne Road, Pittsburgh, PA 15237; Connecting Champions, 6101 Penn Ave., Suite 201, Pittsburgh, PA 15206; or Alex’s Lemonade Stand, 333 E. Lancaster Ave., #414, Wynnewood, PA 19096. Arrangements entrusted to Ralph Schugar Chapel, Inc., family owned and operated. schugar.com PJC

honking or waving from their cars. Whereas the first year after the attack felt very traumatic, and the second year was largely dictated by the pandemic, this year people seemed to be developing more of a routine in how they approach the day or the building, Feige said. “There’s a lot of us who are still grieving in our own ways, and healing isn’t a straight path,” she said. She thinks people are beginning to figure out for themselves “what they need to do to heal.” Tree of Life was there to help with that, having people on site ready to listen, Feige explained, because as much as the congregation is committed to honoring the victims, the focus is also on supporting the community. The aim of Tree of Life on Oct. 27, and the other 364 days a year, she said, “is give back as much as we can, just be here and say thank you.” PJC Adam Reinherz can be reached at areinherz@ pittsburghjewishchronicle.org.

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Community Challah baking and commemorating

Pressing ahead while recognizing the past

The Jewish Federation Volunteer Center welcomed young adults to Friendship Center of Pittsburgh for challah baking on Oct. 25. The challah baking event was a lead-up to an Oct. 29 gathering, titled “Together at the Virtual Table program,” which commemorated the tragic events of Oct. 27, 2018.

On Oct. 24, National Council of Jewish Women, Pittsburgh section; Repair The World Pittsburgh; and 10.27 Healing Partnership welcomed 25 volunteers to label more than 3000 books for the NCJW Children’s Rooms in the Courts. The event was held in memory of Joyce Fienberg (z”l) who was a longtime volunteer at NCJW Pittsburgh.

p Participants came from the Jewish Federation Volunteer Center I-Volunteer program, a partnership of the Jewish Federation, Friendship Circle and Repair the World.

p Marnie Fienberg, Misi Bielich and Kate Rothstein

Photos courtesy of NCJW, Pittsburgh Section

p The Fienberg family, friends and community members p James Scannel, center, helps make challah

p The Albert family labels books. p Friendship Circle Director Rivkee Rudolph, right, leads volunteer Sheryl Milch in the mitzvah of “taking challah.”

p Emily Ford discovers a sticky situation.

22 NOVEMBER 5, 2021

Praying in memory of the deceased

Photos by David Bachman

PITTSBURGH JEWISH CHRONICLE

t Hillel Academy of Pittsburgh students (from left) Meira Yolkut, Sori Rodkin and Sima Reinherz recite Psalms outside the Tree of Life building on Oct. 27.

Photo courtesy of Hillel Academy of Pittsburgh

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Community Pumpkin Day at JESP

p Jewish East Suburban Preschool at Temple David planned a Pumpkin Day for their 2-year-olds, 3-year-olds and pre-K classes.

p Hay, we’re having a good time

Photos courtesy of JESP

Cooking together for good JFCS joined interfaith groups in welcoming Afghan refugees. The Oct. 24 event enabled 25 Muslims, Jews and Evangelical Christians to meet and cook meals in preparation for the arrival of 15 new Afghan families.

p Joseph Marsh enjoys some Afghan food after an afternoon of cooking.

p Heidi and Zack Poole enjoy Afghan food together at the end of the cooking class.

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p Candice Williams-Murrell chops onions to prepare Afghan meals for new refugee arrivals.

p Mastoorah Fazly and Zermina Sarwari, along with help from their daughters, led volunteers in an Afghan cooking class to make food for new refugee families.

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Photos courtesy of JFCS

NOVEMBER 5, 2021 23

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