Pittsburgh Jewish Chronicle 3-15-24

By David Rullo | Senior Sta Writer

Allegheny County Council voted overwhelmingly against a motion calling for a cease-fire in Israel’s war against the terrorist organization Hamas.

The vote — 9 to 3, with two council members abstaining and one not present — came at a March 5 meeting after almost five hours of public comments by more than 200 county residents. In the end, the only councilmembers to support the motion were Bethany Hallam, who introduced the motion, and its co-sponsors Dan Grzybek and Anita Prizio.

Jack Betkowski, Samuel DeMarco III, Suzanne Filiaggi, Nicholas Futules, Patrick Catena, Paul Klein, Robert Macey, John Palmiere and Robert Palmosina voted against the resolution. David Bonaroti and Michelle Naccarati-Chapkis abstained.

The motion urged “the United States Federal Government to work cooperatively towards an immediate de-escalation and cease-fire in Israel and Palestine as well as the release of all hostages held in Palestine and Israel.”

About 140 people spoke in favor of the motion, with 72 speaking against it.

a possible cease-fire motion, were repeated.

Dozens of speakers, many wearing keffiyehs, accused Israel of being a murderous, apartheid, colonist state that indiscriminately bombs innocent women and children in furtherance of a genocide, and of trying to push Palestinians out of Gaza, ethnically cleansing it.

Yeshiva

schools raise more than $600,000 for security in

While the purpose of the public comments was ostensibly to discuss Hallam’s cease-fire motion, many used the forum as an opportunity to rail against Israel, its right to exist and what they alleged were historical crimes committed by the state.

Many of those who spoke in favor of the motion said Israel was purposely targeting hospitals in Gaza. The first in a line of speakers from Jewish Voice for Peace, all with coordinated T-shirts, took issue with President Joe Biden’s recent assertion that but for the state of Israel, no Jew in the world would be safe.

“This statement is extremely dangerous and misguided,” she said.

By David Rullo | Senior Sta Writer

During the March 5 Allegheny County Council meeting, Mor Greenberg recounted how her 12-year-old son was harassed on his way home from school while wearing a yarmulka and told of his experience being sworn at while running a lemonade stand.

“As a Jewish mother and wife, my heart skips a beat at the sound of every siren,” she said.

Greenberg told the Chronicle that her children attend Yeshiva Schools of Pittsburgh and, like other Jewish community members, many of the children who attend the school have been targeted with antisemitism since Hamas’ Oct. 7 terrorist attacks.

At times, the atmosphere of the meeting became contentious when several people, all in favor of the resolution, were removed from the meeting for various reasons.

Many of the same falsehoods and antisemitic tropes heard by the council two weeks ago, when it first took public comments about

Several speakers equated the actions of Israel with those of Hitler, attempting to create false equivalencies between Israel’s defensive military mission and those of the Nazi regime during which more than 6 million Jews were murdered.

Others said that a cease-fire motion was just the first step in what they expected from the council, and that they would be urging the council to divest from Israel next.

“Honestly, there’s a whole host of children that have been harassed, and we don’t necessarily report it because sometimes it’s just someone driving by in a car and we don’t even have the license plate,” she said. “There were a group of teenagers that were walking from shul over the Greenfield Bridge, and they were dressed in black suits,

Et odictiumqui andae amusam quistium si de net voloritat Page X

Pittsburgh Zal, for young men

Page 2

LOCAL

AgeWell Pittsburgh celebrates 20 years

Enriching the lives of older adults Page 3

Passover fun with Legos

“A

Temple Sinai and Rodef Shalom: A look back

 Charlene Tissenbaum addresses Allegheny County Council during a March 5 meeting. Council rejected a motion calling for a cease-fire in Israel’s war with Hamas.

Photo by David Rullo

 Yeshiva Schools of Pittsburgh

Photo by Lauren Rosenblatt

Headlines

New study hall to open for post-secondary Chabad students

By Adam Reinherz | Senior Staff Writer

Opportunities for local Torah study are increasing. Beginning next fall, Bnai Emunoh Chabad in Greenfield will house a post-secondary program for young Jewish men.

Operating under the name Pittsburgh Zal ( zal i s Yiddish for study hall), the program, which is a separate entity from the Greenfield synagogue, aims to initially welcome 30 young men, ages 18 and 19.

“Our goal is that, within a few years, we have 80-100 students,” Bnai Emunoh’s Rabbi Elchonon Friedman said, speaking by phone en route to Toronto on a recruiting trip.

Since announcing the creation of Pittsburgh Zal, the last several weeks have sparked great interest among potential enrollees and families, he said: “There’s been a tremendous amount of growth in the number of students that are coming t hrough the Chabad system, and we have heard from many places that there’s a need for more beis medrashim (study halls).”

The importance of a study hall is well noted within rabbinic literature.

Maimonides, the medieval philosopher and sage, wrote, “The sanctity of a house of study exceeds that of a synagogue.”

“Every community needs to be centered around a yeshiva or beis medrash, a place of Torah learning,” Friedman said. “I think the Chabad community has grown to the point where this is the logical next step.”

According to Rabbi Ephraim Lerner, Pittsburgh Zal’s Rosh Yeshiva, the new entity will serve a niche in the Chabad movement’s academic landscape.

Of ten, students graduating from high

school enroll in Talmudic academies that are structured by age. For example, a first-year student will begin Shiur Aleph and a second-year student will belong to Shiur Bet. The difference with Pittsburgh Zal, Lerner said, is that students will be placed in classes based on ability.

“We want the boys to grow at their own level,” he said. “We will focus on teaching them how they can learn on their own.”

Pittsburgh Zal’s curriculum will follow a traditional Chabad format, where nine hours of daily Torah learning are divided between six hours of Talmud and three hours of Chassidus. Unlike a rabbinical school, however, the institution will not grant its students ordination.

A primary goal is that someone leaving Pittsburgh Zal will be able to study and understand biblical and rabbinic

writings, both as a source of personal enr ichment and as a community partner, Friedman said.

This endeavor is no different than other Chabad activities, he continued: “We have always had our mission to reach every Jew in our neighborhood.”

Aiding Friedman and Lerner is Rabbi Moshe Aaron Giesinsky, who will serve as mashpia (spiritual mentor).

As a team, the educators will help students develop academic skills applicable beyond the walls of the study hall.

“Many yeshivas are there for the students to become enriched in Torah k nowledge and a relationship with God, but in Chabad, the Rebbe [Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson] always made a major emphasis on how much the person could be of service to the community and basically change the world around them,” Friedman said.

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He pointed to the concept of shlichus, where a married couple joins a community, often in a remote locale, to amplify the area’s Jewish life.

To date, 4,900 Chabad-Lubavitch emissary families staff 3,500 institutions in 100 countries and territories, according to Chabad.org.

“One of the things that the Rebbe would always stress is that the real goal of spreading Torah and Yiddishkeit is not that you bring Judaism or Torah to that place, but that in that place you uncover it,” Friedman said. “That its source of Yiddishkeit is like a well, that it comes from the place itself.”

The opening of Pittsburgh Zal, he added, demonstrates that Pittsburgh is “a source of learning, enthusiasm and growth.” PJC

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

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p Bnai Emunoh Chabad in Greenfield will house Pittsburgh Zal.

Photo courtesy of Rabbi Ephraim Lerner

p Rabbi Elchonon Friedman

Photo courtesy of Rabbi Elchonon Friedman

Headlines

City Council approves historic designation for Frick Park and B’nai Israel

By Adam Reinherz | Senior Staff Writer

Two beloved spaces are getting more love. Following a unanimous vote by the Pittsburgh City Council on March 5, Frick Park and B’nai Israel synagogue will receive historic designations.

The decision will ensure the sites receive “permanent protection and preservation,” City Councilmember Erika Strassburger said.

Receiving historic designation doesn’t mean altering a space is impossible; rather, the label ensures “physical changes to the exterior are subject to a City review process,” according to Pittsburgh’s Department of City Planning.

The designation also provides access to potential funding, Strassburger said, so whether it’s Frick Park or B’nai Israel, it’s important to ensure that spaces that contribute to “our architectural fabric and social fabric are preserved in perpetuity.”

With its nearly 644 acres, Frick Park is the largest park in the city and represents “an early and influential example of public-private partnership,” according to Preservation Pittsburgh, the nonprofit group that nominated the space for designation.

In 1915, Henry Clay Frick bequeathed to the city 151 acres of land — south of his home on Penn Avenue — for use as a public park. Frick also provided a $2 million endowment to acquire and maintain additional grounds.

The city was responsible for maintaining, improving and embellishing the park, and trustees were charged with “oversight of these

Following Frick’s death in 1919, additional land was added to the park by trustees during the 1920s, ‘30s and ‘40s.

Frick Park’s history showcases a unique regional and national period, Strassburger explained.

“I can’t even imagine carving out that amount of space in this day and age for the preservation of nature,” she said. “We are so fortunate to live in a city that reached one of its many apexes, and moments of wealth, during a time when it was popular to grant money to things like parks, libraries and public amenities.”

B’nai Israel’s tale also marks another element of Pittsburgh history. Located at 327 Negley Ave., the synagogue housed a congregation whose roots began in 1911, according to the Rauh Jewish Archives.

In 1920, B’nai Israel congregants raised money to buy the East End property and, in 1924, the synagogue opened. Designed by famed architect Henry Hornbostel, the space had a large circular sanctuary with a Byzantine design.

In 1995, the synagogue closed. Since then, the building has been used for multiple purposes.

Last June, a ribbon-cutting ceremony was held for The Carina, an apartment community on B’nai Israel’s former grounds.

The intention, according to developers and community leaders, was to transform the sanctuary into a “multipurpose flexible space that is affordable for people to rent.”

“B’nai Israel is clearly undergoing a creative change of use that has the public in mind,” Strassburger said.

“It is such a beautiful building,” Preservation Pittsburgh’s President Matthew Falcone told the Chronicle.

Falcone has worked to ensure that several properties and spaces receive historic designation.

The purpose isn’t to put a staid marker on a fossilized wall. In B’nai Israel’s case, it’s “really important to have this kind of recognition because Jews and Judaism are threaded throughout Pittsburgh’s history,” Falcone said.

B’nai Israel is the second Jewish house of

worship to receive historic designation. Rodef Shalom Congregation in Shadyside, another Hornbostel design, received designation from the city in 2022.

For landsmen looking to shep even greater nachas, Tuesday’s City Council meeting indicated there may be future designations coming for antiquated Jewish spaces.

Members of the city’s Planning Commission unanimously recommended that Beth Abraham Cemetery on Reedsdale Street also receive historic designation. If granted, Beth Abraham will be the first Pittsburgh cemetery to receive the designation, Falcone said.

Regardless of who is buried on their grounds, cemeteries often operate at “razor-thin margins,” which make it difficult to afford repairs and upkeep, Strassburger said. Preserving these spaces and gaining access to funding is essential so people can “learn about their own history, their own ethnic and cultural history, and learn that of others.” PJC

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

AgeWell at 20: valuable partnership continues serving older adults

By Adam Reinherz | Senior Staff Writer

Two decades ago, three Jewish agencies collaborated on a communal project that’s still paying dividends.

Since its inception in 2004, AgeWell Pittsburgh has become a nationally cele brated model of care. Thanks to the program’s services, thousands of area adults age in place; but before AgeWell’s creation, that outcome wasn’t as simple. Years ago, the Jewish Association on Aging, Jewish Community Center of Greater Pittsburgh and Jewish Family and Community Services often ran similar programs for the same demographic.

the program was contacted, responses became less about promoting one of the three partnering organizations than ensuring appropriate care was provided, Golin explained.

“In a nutshell, it sounds really straightforward and simple; but in life, nothing is ever straightforward or simple,” he said.

an “exceptional” model of collaboration among nonprofit organizations.

The result was a murky landscape for older adults.

“When people needed services, they didn’t know where to turn and didn’t know how to get it,” JFCS CEO Jordan Golin said.

Community leaders proposed a fix: As opposed to older adults navigating the complexities of finding programs and care, “the burden should be on the organizations,” Golin said.

Accepting that charge required agencies to adopt a new plan, and “part of the vision

was that we were going to do away with duplicative redundant services,” he continued. “We felt that it wasn’t a good use of community resources.” In lieu of three agencies competing for limited funding and pursuing individualized goals, leaders of the groups decided to streamline services and function as a “single continuum.”

With a single name, single phone number and single website, AgeWell became a simplified place for older adults, their loved ones and caregivers to reach. And, when

Before coalescing efforts, local organizations spent years developing initiatives, building branding and competing for funding. Staff at the JAA, JCC and JFCS took pride in their work, as did volunteers. Eventually, however, members of the three agencies “recognized that really, the importance of simplifying service access for seniors was more of a priority than promoting individual agency branding,” according to Golin, who began his tenure at JFCS in 2001 by working on a federal grant to bring older adults together in a “more efficient way.”

Throughout the early aughts, partnering organizations experimented with ways of working together.

“There were pros and cons of the different models until we finally ended up with the AgeWell Pittsburgh model,” Golin said.

The program was a success and, in 2017, AgeWell received the Lodestar Foundation Collaboration Prize. The national award, which included a $150,000 prize, highlighted

Now 20 years old, AgeWell serves Allegheny County residents ages 60 and above. Whether through access to J Cafe meals at the JCC in Squirrel Hill or use of the center, countless opportunities are available to members, Sharon Feinman, division director of AgeWell at the JCC, said.

“The value of this collaboration is it provides multiple types of services to Allegheny County,” Nadine Kruman, care navigator at the JAA, said.

If someone wants kosher food delivered to their residence, requires home health care or needs transportation to the JCC to socialize, AgeWell provides a “multi-level approach to care in the home,” she said. “If people have made a decision that they want to remain at home, we’re going to do all that we can to make that happen.”

The majority of older adults want to stay in their residences.

According to AARP, 77% of respondents ages 50 and above wish to “remain in their homes for the long term.”

Thanks to AgeWell, “there is a world out there for people that are seniors — whether

p

Frick Park is receiving historic designation following unanimous approval from City Council.

Photo by edenpictures via https://rb.gy/5s1bih

p AgeWell has brought community members together for 20 years.

Photo courtesy of Jewish Community Center of Greater Pittsburgh

Headlines

South Hills Jewish teen creates seder plates, one brick at a time

By David Rullo | Senior Sta Writer

Despite what you might read in your Haggadah this Passover, there are still some Jews who don’t mind building with bricks.

Take Henry Ginsburg. The Upper St. Clair High School senior has built with Legos since the age of 4 when he was first given a box of the colorful bricks from his grandmother’s storage unit that used to belong to his father. Now 18, he’s turned his passion for Legos into a business, building replicas of people’s homes out of the blocks.

This year, when’s not busy with school, making plans for college or revising his business plans for “Henry’s Lego Home Building,” he’s even created an opportunity to collect some tzedakah for a South Hills nonprofit.

Ginsburg has been hard at work over the last several weeks selling a custom-designed Lego seder plate that is food-safe and fully functionable. He is donating all proceeds from the sale to SHIM (South Hills Interfaith Movement), an organization helping to reduce the effects of suburban poverty among the working poor, unemployed, families, single parents, senior citizens, women and the high concentration of refugee families in its service area.

Henry’s Lego Home Building business began during COVID-19, he explained.

“In eighth grade, during COVID, I built a model of my house, and I was pretty proud of it,” he recalled. “I thought it turned out pretty cool. Then I built a model of Fallingwater, and then I had to do a project from the IB [International Baccalaureate] program at my school and it was the culminating project. I chose to start a business.”

He’s working on his 15th house. He markets them online with various levels of customization, from a simple exterior build to models with full interiors, lawns and even options to include people and pets.

His business model, he explained, is built

around his schedule, so if school is too busy or life too demanding he takes a pause.

“I control demand based on how much I can take at once balancing school. If I can’t take on anything, I’ll stop advertising,” he explained. “The moment I advertise, I normally end up getting some sales. It’s pretty popular.”

The concept of creating a seder plate, he said, is about two years old, and probably his dad’s idea, Ginsburg said.

“I had done Jewish things before,” he said. “I did a series during COVID about Passover Legos. I did a Dead Sea model and a piece of matzah and things like that. I think that’s where the seder thing came from.”

Ginsburg decided he wanted to create something more than a simple seder plate replica — he wanted it to be usable. His original design, he explained, didn’t work because food got into the cracks between the Lego pieces. After some thought and a conversation with his father, the budding designer came upon an idea that worked.

“I ended up using a specific Lego piece that is more like a cup. So, the food doesn’t get into the cracks,” he said.

His mother helped, suggesting changing the original colors — blue, white and yellow with the word “Pesach” on it — to the colors of the rainbow.

And, like a typical seder plate, Ginsburg wanted

to include pictures of the food in each space.

Getting the images onto the plates proved more difficult than he anticipated, though.

“That was a challenge,” he said. “I hadn’t done stickers, especially at this scale before, so I ordered one of those Cricut Machines so I can just cut them out. It’s definitely been a learning experience how to make them.”

In the end, those who buy one of Ginsburg’s seder plates will receive a fully functioning Lego kit ready to be built and used for the holiday.

The idea of the user actually piecing together kits purchased from Ginsburg is something that differentiates him from others selling Lego designs online.

“A lot of other folks glue their models,” he said.

That takes away from the joy, he said, and it increases the costs of shipping. The low overhead allows him to ship nationwide. He’s already sent products to California, Georgia, Maine and Massachusetts.

To ensure people will be able to construct the items they’ve purchased, Ginsburg includes custom-designed instructions he created using free software.

Like most of the skills required to run his business — creating a strategic plan, developing a website using one of the popular website builders, deciding when and how to advertise — Ginsburg taught himself the design program.

Ever the businessman, he had two goals with the seder plates: He wanted to gain some brand recognition and he wanted to make something that would have a positive impact on the world,

The Lego entrepreneur sold 70 plates before cutting off orders to ensure he would have the chance to get the plates out by Passover. He said he’ll most likely be able to donate about $1,000 to SHIM.

“It’s exciting,” he said. “I’m happy with that number.”

Next year, he said, he’ll likely use different marketing tactics to reach people and maybe take the idea nationwide.

This holiday season he’ll use approximately 12,000 Lego bricks for the seder plates. And that is something even a Pharaoh with a hardened heart can’t stop. PJC

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

 Henry Ginsburg has loved Legos from a young age. Photo courtesy of Henry Ginsburg

 Ginsburg’s seder plate includes stickers designed by the South Hills teen.

Photo provided by Henry Ginsburg

Headlines

Mock

By Abigail Hakas | Special to the Chronicle

The Pittsburgh City-County Building has sported a unique sight the past few weeks: mock trials run by teams of Pittsburgh high schoolers within the building’s courtrooms. For students at Hillel Academy of Pittsburgh, it was their third consecutive year making it to the quarterfinals of regionals in Coach Donald Garwood’s nearly two decades of leading the team.

The statewide mock trials are run by the Pennsylvania Bar Association, which releases a made-up case set in a fictional town in Pennsylvania that the students argue for every mock trial that year. This year, the students worked on a criminal case accusing a restaurant owner of killing his longtime competitor. Garwood, head of Hillel’s science department, and his team practiced as often as four times a week.

The competition is divided into regions; Allegheny County makes up its own region with a total of 31 teams from 27 schools. Hillel ranked eighth of the teams going into the playoffs, and its first match in the quarterfinals was against the team ranked first: Montour High School.

While Hillel lost to Montour, the Jewish day school team didn’t walk away empty-handed. The months of preparation and weeks of trials taught students the ins and outs of the legal system as they won against Pine-Richland, Upper St. Clair and West Mifflin high schools.

Each trial had a team of seven students: three lawyers, three witnesses and a timekeeper, plus any additional understudies. For Hillel, which has separate learning for boys and girls, the team was separated into two sides: the girls on prosecution and the boys on defense. Teams alternate between prosecution and defense throughout the mock trial competition, giving both sides a chance to compete.

Lawyers and witnesses pair up to prepare for direct and cross-examination. An actual judge presides over the trial and a team of jurors scores every part of the mock trial, from the lawyers’ use of eye contact to the witnesses’ performances.

Aside from being unable to argue precedent based on prior legal rulings, the mock trials closely follow the structure of actual trials to give students real-world experience in the courtroom. Yossi Cohen, 16, who took on the role of lawyer, said he’s now considering a career in law.

“The actual feeling of preparing a case and

the trial. It taught him how to argue in and out of the courtroom. He picked up the habit of taking a deep breath, then thoughtfully considering what and how he wanted to argue before speaking.

A majority of the lawyers’ score is based on how they argue and communicate in the trial. As part of that work, the lawyers must present both an opening and closing statement, something the students write for themselves.

Eliana Elvgren, 16, a lawyer in the mock trials, wrote and memorized a five-minute closing statement.

“Obviously, it was nerve-wracking because you’re in front of a lot of people, and there’s a lot riding on the trial,” she said. “But I was expecting having to memorize a five-minute speech to be a lot harder. I guess it just seemed like this unachievable thing, but it ended up being OK.”

Although the boys and girls rotate prosecution and defense depending on the case and the year, Elvgren has been on the prosecution side for all three years of her involvement.

She doesn’t plan to pursue a career in law but said she has gained transferable skills. One of the most valuable, she said, is being able to take criticism. At the end of each trial, the judge gives constructive feedback on how the students can improve.

Elvgren added that mock trials inspired her to think outside the box, a sentiment echoed by teammate and fellow lawyer Miriam Levari.

“It allows you to think in a way that you don’t really do in school, and I felt like I’m the kind of person that has unique ideas a lot of the time — like, I think about things quite differently,” Levari said. “I felt that I could bring something

appreciation for good lawyers — you have to be so smart to do that.”

But the mock trials aren’t just about legal technicalities: The role of the witness is also vital.

unior witness Alexander Small played a defendant for his second consecutive year. He was scored on how well he memorized the details and facts of his character and on his improvisation during cross-examination. Small spent hours outside of the weekly practices to hone his performance. He intends to tay on with the mock trial team his senior year.

“I love Mr. Garwood. He’s a great guy, great coach, great person overall, and he eally cares,” Small said. “And I want us to succeed.”

Th e students’ dedication can be summarized by Elvgren’s simple declaration: Once you commit, you stay.”

For Garwood, that enthusiasm explains the team’s success against larger schools like Upper St. Clair.

information, even compiling an entire time line of the case. After not trying out in her sophomore year, she came back in her junior year and became one of the three lawyers on the girls’ side.

“I learned a lot about the world of law, and how our government’s law system actu ally works,” she said, “and then also what it means to be a good lawyer, what it means to be good in court, because I don’t think I appreciated it before this. But I have so much

You build experience and that experience-building, I think, carries through to the difference between winning or losing,” he said. “I continue to be really pleasantly amazed by how engaged the students get, how involved and invested in, you know, their team, and in their own personal kind of achievement and growth they are.” PJC

Abigail Hakas is a freelance writer living in Pittsburgh.

p Hillel Academy girls mock trial team

Photo courtesy of Donald Garwood

p Hillel Academy boys mock trial team

Photo courtesy of Donald Garwood

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.

 FRIDAY, MARCH 15

Attend Allegheny County Youth Voting Huddle, a halfday summit for area high school students interested in learning about voting and civic engagement. Lunch, travel assistance if needed, swag and gift certificates will be provided. Pittsburgh Mayor Ed Gainey and Pittsburgh Public Schools Superintendent Walters plan to attend. 11:30 a.m. Free and open to all area high school students. Carnegie Library, 4400 Forbes Ave. lwvpgh.org/resource_library.

Join Rodef Shalom Cantor Toby Glaser for a 20-40 Kabbalat Shabbat. Get to know other Pittsburgh young Jewish professionals and close out the week with wine, refreshments and great company. Registration required. 7 p.m. rodefshalom.org.

 SUNDAY, MARCH 17

Rodef Shalom Congregation and Congregation Beth Shalom invite you to their Purim Carnival, a morning of fun, food, games, and prizes! $5 per child at the door. 10 a.m. rodefshalom.org.

Children in grades 6-8 are invited to join Chabad of the South Hills for a CTeen JR Hamantash Bake 4 p.m. $15. chabadsh.com/cteenjr.

Chabad of Monroeville’s Women’s Circle invites you to enjoy an Artisan Hamantash Bake. Presentation by special guest, Lisa Sto of “DosA Cupcakes.” Mrs. Blumi Rosenfeld will share words of inspiration on the topic of joy and share experiences from her recent trip to Israel. 4:30 p.m. $18. Chabad Jewish Center of Monroeville, 2715 Mosside Blvd. jewishmonroeville.com/JWC.

 SUNDAYS, MARCH 17, 31

Chabad of Monroeville invites you to BLT (Bagel, Lox, Tefillin), an in-person tefillin club followed by breakfast. No prior experience necessary. Te llin available for use. 9 a.m. 2715 Mosside Blvd. RSVP appreciated at chabad@jewishmonroeville.com jewishmonroeville.com/blt.

Join Jewish Studies at the University of Pittsburgh and Carnegie Mellon University for Mizrahi Music, Feminist Perspectives: An Afternoon of Performance and Discussion. The event will include contemporary performances of Mizrahi women’s music, as well as scholarly discussions of the diverse musical styles of Jewish women from the Middle East and North Africa. Join us for lunch, wonderful music and conversation. Noon. Frick Fine Arts Auditorium, 650 Schenley Drive, 15260.

Get into the Purim spirit with Kids in the Kitchen and make festive hamantaschen to take home and share, plus enjoy a magic show. 1 p.m. $10. Chabad of Squirrel Hill, 1700 Beechwood Blvd. chabadpgh.com/kidscooking.

 SUNDAYS, MARCH 17–DEC. 29

Join a lay-led online parshah study group to discuss the week’s Torah portion. No Hebrew knowledge needed. The goal is to build community while deepening understanding of the text. 8:30 p.m. For more information, visit bethshalompgh.org.

Join Tree of Life Congregation at Rodef Shalom Congregation to create your own tie-dye T-shirt for our “Woodstock” Purim shpiel. Bring your own clean white T-shirt or purchase one for $5. 4905 Fifth Ave. treeoflifepgh.org.

 MONDAY, MARCH 18

Join Chabad of Squirrel Hill for an evening of music, merriment, wine and desserts at their Women’s Drum Circle 7 p.m. $18. Chabad of Squirrel Hill. chabadpgh.com/drum.

 MONDAYS, MARCH 18; APRIL 1

Join the 10.27 Healing Partnership and practitioner

Shawn Fertitta on the first and third Monday for Reikiinfused Sound Bathing. Immerse yourself in the

soothing tones of crystal and Tibetan singing bowls. His experience is tailored to calm your mind, body and soul, promoting optimal healing. 10 a.m. South Hills JCC. 1027healingpartnership.org/reiki-infused-sound-bathing.

 MONDAYS, MARCH 18–MAY 13

H. Arnold and Adrien B. Gefsky Community Scholar Rabbi Danny Schi presents Torah 2. Understanding the Torah and what it asks of us is perhaps one of the most important things that a Jew can learn. In Torah 2, Schi will explore the second half of Leviticus and all of Numbers and Deuteronomy. 9:30 a.m. $225. Zoom. jewishpgh.org/event/torah-2-2/2023-10-09.

 MONDAYS, MARCH 18–DEC. 28

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

 TUESDAY, MARCH 19

Join Chabad of the Souths Hills for a pre-Purim seniors lunch including hamantaschen and a presentation by Comfort Keepers on the importance of stimulating the mind. 1 p.m. $5 suggested donation. Wheelchair accessible. Chabad of the South Hills. chabadsh.com.

 TUESDAYS, MARCH 19–MAY 14

Understanding and explaining Israel’s current position requires knowledge of history. In the 10-part course, A History of The Arab-Israel-Iran Conflict: All You Need to Know, Rabbi Danny Schi will provide a full overview of the regional conflict that Israel has experienced over the last century. The cost of taking a course is never a barrier to participation. If price is an issue, please contact the organizer of this course so that we can make the cost comfortable for you. $145. 8 p.m. jewishpgh.org/series/history-of-the-arab-israeliran-conflict.

 WEDNESDAY, MARCH 20

Join AgeWell for the Intergenerational Family Dynamics Discussion Group at JCC South Hills the third Wednesday of each month. Led by intergenerational specialist/presenter and educator Audree Schall. The group is geared toward anyone who has children, grandchildren, a spouse, siblings or parents. Whether you have family harmony or strife, these discussions are going to be thought-provoking, with tools to help build strong relationships and family unity. Free. 12:30 p.m.

Join the Squirrel Hill AARP for its monthly meeting. The speaker will be Mary Bach. Refreshments will be provided. For further information, contact Marcia Kramer at 412-656-5903. 1 p.m. Rodef Shalom Congregation, Falk Library, 4905 Fifth Ave.

Chabad of Monroeville invites you to spend an hour playing mahjong and other games. Come and play, shmooze, learn a word of the Torah, say a prayer for Israel, and, of course, nosh on some yummy treats! RSVP is required at SusanEBurgess@gmail.com or text or call 412-295-1838. 7 p.m. Chabad Jewish Center of Monroeville. jewishmonroeville.com/mahjong.

 WEDNESDAYS, MARCH 20, APRIL 10

Join Congregation Beth Shalom, Rodef Shalom Congregation and Temple Sinai for their Israel Speaker Series, a collaborative series with di erent points of view. Check the website for speakers, location and topics. $18 for all speakers; $10 for one session. 7:30 p.m. bethshalompgh.org/israel-speaker-series-first-session-is-monday-february-5.

 WEDNESDAYS, MARCH 20–MAY 15

The Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh virtually presents two Melton courses back-to-back: “Ethics” and Crossroads.” In “Ethics,” learn how Jewish teachings shed light on Jewish issues. “Crossroads” will present an emphasis on reclaiming the richness of Jewish history. 7 p.m. $300 for this 25-session series (book included). jewishpgh.org/series/melton-ethics-crossroads.

 WEDNESDAYS, MARCH 20–DEC. 18

Bring the parashah alive and make it personally relevant and meaningful with Rabbi Mark Goodman in this weekly Parashah Discussion: Life & Text. 12:15 p.m. For more information, visit bethshalompgh.org/life-text.

Temple Sinai’s Rabbi Daniel Fellman presents a weekly Parshat/Torah portion class on site and online. Call 412-421-9715 for more information and the Zoom link.

 THURSDAYS, MARCH 21–DEC. 5

Join Beth El Congregation of the South Hills for Hope & Healing on Zoom the first Thursday of each month, a 30-minute program led by Rabbi Amy Greenbaum. Chant, breathe, pray for healing and seek peace. Call Beth El at 412-561-1168 to receive the Zoom link. 5:30 p.m. bethelcong.org.

 THURSDAYS, MARCH 21–28; APRIL 11–18

Join Rabbi Amy Bardack and Dor Hadash member Charlie White for a morning Shabbat service study, a nine-session, in-depth study of the structure and content of the siddur, with a focus on the prayers of Shabbat morning. 7:30 p.m. Free for members; $120 suggested donation for nonmembers. In-person with a virtual option. congregationdorhadash.shulcloud.com/event/ class-on-shabbat-morning-services.html.

 SATURDAY, MARCH 23

Join Tree of Life and Rodef Shalom and celebrate A Woodstock Purim. Purim fun will include a Purim service and shpiel with hamantaschen immediately following. 7:30 p.m. 4905 Fifth Ave. treeoflifepgh.org.

Join Chabad of Squirrel Hill for Havdalah followed by a Megillah reading and light refreshments. 8:30 p.m. 1700 Beechwood Blvd. chabadpgh.com.

 SUNDAY, MARCH 24

Chabad of Monroeville invites you to attend their annual Purim celebration in solidarity with our brothers and sisters in Israel. Megillah reading, Israeli music, charity for Israel, your picture at the “Kotel,” orange juice squeezing, caricature artist, letters to Israel, Israeli wines, Israel-themed crafts, interactive Israeli games and full Israeli breakfast bu et. 10:30 a.m $18 adult/ $12 child. Courtyard by Marriott, 3962 William Penn Highway, 15146. jewishmonroeville.com/purimisrael.

Join Chabad of the South Hills for a Purim celebration in Washington, Pennsylvania, featuring a Megillah reading, delicious brunch, hamantaschen and more. Free. 11 a.m. Location given upon RSVP. chabadsh.com/celebrate.

Join Chabad of the South Hills for Purim in the Shuk Featuring a Megillah reading, candy shuk, henna artist, face paint, make your own spice blends, hamantaschen, Israeli-style dinner, Hebrew name bracelets and more. Adults, $18; children, $12; family maximum, $54 chabadsh.com/purim.

 MONDAY, MARCH 25

Roy Sonne returns with a musical selections reflecting his life as a violinist. This concert is a program of the Music and More at Rodef Shalom series. 7 p.m. 4905 Fifth Ave. rodefshalom.org/sonne.

 WEDNESDAY, MARCH 27

Chabad of Monroeville invites you to Kosher Deli Night @ Chabad Monroeville. Take-out. Order by Tuesday 3/26/24 and pick up Wednesday 3/27/2024. $13.50-20. Chabad Jewish Center of Monroeville, 2715 Mosside Blvd. jewishmonroeville.com/Deli.

 THURSDAYS, MARCH 28–APRIL 18

Bring your lunch and join Rabbi Jessica Locketz for Lunch Time Torah: Spring Holiday edition. Learn about the spring holidays — Purim and Passover. The March session will focus on Purim: its eclectic cast of characters, Hollywood-worthy plot and the diverse ways it is celebrated today. O ered in person and online. 1 p.m. 4905 Fifth Ave. $54 for non-members. rodefshalom.org/lunch.

 SATURDAY, MARCH 30

Join Tree of Life Congregation for Casino Night and Game Night, an evening of board and casino games, light bites, nonalcoholic and alcoholic beverages and great company. Try your luck at the craps table, spin the roulette wheel, or challenge each other at mahjong. There will be baskets of goodies ra ed o including a night’s stay at the William Penn Hotel (breakfast included). $18 general admission; $36 for general admission plus 20 chips and 1 drink; $54 for general admission plus 50 chips and 2 drinks. 7:30 p.m. Rodef Shalom Congregation, 4905 Fifth Ave. treeoflifepgh.org/event/casinonight.

 SATURDAYS, THURSDAYS, APRIL 6–MAY 9

The Healing with Nature Mosaic Project is designed to respond to the human experience of grief and loss through the healing power of nature and of creative expression. The six-week, 10 session program facilitated by mosaic artist, Laura Jean McLaughlin, will guide participants in the collective creation of a community mosaic mural, gathering shattered pieces together to tell a story of community healing and resilience. Saturdays, 1-3 p.m. Thursdays, 4-6 p.m. Frick Environmental Center, 2005 Beechwood Blvd. Registration required. 1027healingpartnership.org/ healing-with-nature-mosaic-project.

 SUNDAY, APRIL 7–TUESDAY, APRIL 9

The Pittsburgh Jewish Chronicle’s first-ever Big Nosh will be the biggest three-day celebration of Jewish food our community has ever seen. Enjoy Klezmer music, Judaica and most of all, a lot of great food. Take-out also available via advance ordering on the Big Nosh website. Strictly kosher under the supervision of the Vaad Harabonim of Pittsburgh. 3-8 p.m. Congregation Beth Shalom, 5915 Beacon Street. pjcbignosh.com.

 THURSDAY, APRIL 11

Create a beautiful resin tray with handles and enjoy champagne and sweet treats with Chabad of Squirrel Hill at Resin and Rose. $40. 1700 Beechwood Blvd. chabadpgh.com/resin. PJC

Join the Chronicle Book Club!

The Pittsburgh Jewish Chronicle invites you to join the Chronicle Book Club for its April 14 discussion of “Golda Meir: Israel’s Matriarch,” by Deborah Lipstadt. From The Times of Israel: “In this examination of the pioneering Israeli leader, Lipstadt succeeds in painting a visceral portrait of Golda Meir as a gifted orator and blunt negotiator, a pragmatic, single-minded and often inflexible leader who was wholeheartedly devoted to the Zionist mission.”

Your Hosts:

Toby Tabachnick, editor of the Chronicle

David Rullo, Chronicle senior staff writer

How and When:

We will meet on Zoom on Sunday, April 14, at noon.

What To Do

Buy: “Golda Meir: Israel’s Matriarch.” It is

available at area Barnes & Noble stores and from online retailers, including Amazon and Barnes & Noble. It also has limited availability in the Carnegie Library system.

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 discussion meeting. Registration closes on April 12.

Happy reading! PJC

Headlines

By Martha Berg and Eric Lidji | Special to the Chronicle

In the mid-1940s, Rodef Shalom Congregation was packed. It had a religious school with 900 students. Its High Holiday services filled the grand sanctuary of its Fifth Avenue synagogue and spilled into nearby venues, including the Carnegie Music Hall, the Syria Mosque and Soldiers & Sailors Memorial Hall. Even with membership capped at 1,400, the congregation was still regularly turning away interested families.

Pittsburgh had a persistent class of unaffiliated Jews at the time, between 3,000 and 5,000 people by various counts. Those among them inclined toward Reform had no place to go. Rodef Shalom was the only Reform congregation in Pittsburgh (although there were others in nearby towns), and it was becoming too big to grow any further.

It was a national problem. The Union of American Hebrew Congregations estimated that some 80% of the 500,000 Reformminded Jews in the United States were unaffiliated. Reform temples in many big cities were approaching capacity.

The UAHC wanted dynamic Jewish communities and felt many larger Reform congregations were “growing soft”

in their success. It saw Pittsburgh as a place to test a new idea: creating new congregations specifically to attract these unaffiliated Jews.

The result was Temple Sinai. Seventyeight years later, with these two Reform congregations exploring new

opportunities for collaboration, a review of the archives of both congregations reveals the behind-the-scenes story of a special collaboration.

UAHC Executive Director Maurice Eisendrath pitched the Rodef Shalom board of trustees on the idea in April 1946. As

reported in the minutes, he called Pittsburgh “the most important city in the US in the development of this movement. That is, if Pittsburgh would encourage the formation of a new synagogue with which unaffiliated Jews might be connected, it would, in his opinion, set a marvelous example for the rest of the country.”

The significance of Pittsburgh is not made explicit but may have reflected the influence of Dr. Solomon B. Freehof. The revered spiritual leader of the Rodef Shalom was also immediate past-president of the Central Conference of American Rabbis. He had been privately advocating for a second Reform congregation for at least two years.

Rodef Shalom called a special membership meeting in June 1946 to discuss the idea. President Eugene Strassburger began by acknowledging the events of 1863-1864, when Tree of Life Congregation broke away from Rodef Shalom over disputes about liturgical reforms. He swiftly struck down any comparison. The current proposal for a new congregation “had no connection with any possible split-up, there was no dissention … and no one of our members was expected to leave our congregation.”

David Glick was chair of the Rodef Shalom committee tasked with analyzing the

 Dr. Solomon B. Freehof of Rodef Shalom Congregation watches Leon Falk Jr.

address in the new Falk Auditorium of Temple Sinai during the dedication of an addition to the synagogue complex in May 1958.

Photo by Hans Jonas, courtesy of the Rauh Jewish Archives

Summer Lee staffer identified as person behind anti-Israel Instagram account

Jewish Insider revealed last week that the anonymous operator of a popular Instagram account that became a vehicle for anti-Israel rhetoric is a staffer for Rep. Summer Lee.

“Dear White Staffers,” which initially made its mark by sharing claims of “abusive behavior by and gossip about lawmakers and their staffers” has become “a prominent and vocal anti-Israel platform that some fellow Hill staffers describe as borderline or openly antisemitic,” Jewish Insider reported.

After the deadly Oct. 7 Hamas terrorist attack on Israel, Dear White Staffers shifted

focus from supporting workers on Capitol Hill to “a mostly single-issue anti-Israel advocacy page,” according to Jewish Insider.

The publication said that it linked the Instagram account to a person working for Lee. That person, who previously worked for Rep. Ilhan Omar of Minnesota, appears, “masked but identifiable, in a photo from a ceasefire protest on Capitol Hill, which had been promoted by the Dear White Staffers account.”

Jewish Insider did not identify the Lee staffer by name but said that person publicly identifies as Jewish.

The Dear White Staffers account has almost 120,000 followers.

“Since Oct. 7, the account has evolved

primarily into a stream of anti-Israel commentary, accusing Israel of genocide in Gaza and condemning the administration and Congress for continuing aid to Israel,” according to Jewish Insider. “It has, at times, leaned into antisemitic tropes, accusing one Jewish member of seeking the deaths of children, and blaming Israeli training for the Capitol Police’s response to a cease-fire protest at the Democratic National Committee headquarters that turned violent.”

During the Michigan primary, Dear White Staffers reposted “a seemingly satirical call for Biden to ‘drop a [bomb] on the knesset and personally chokeslam netanyahu on TV with his bare hands,’” according to Jewish Insider. That post was deleted.

Lee did not respond to the Chronicle’s request for an interview or a comment.

During President Joe Biden’s State of the Union Address on March 7, Dear White Staffers posted a photo of Lee donning a keffiyeh alongside Squad members Rashida Tlaib of Michigan and Cori Bush of Missouri. The black and white keffiyeh is an emblem of solidarity with the Palestinian nationalism.

Lee declined to join chants of “four more years” that most other Democrats participated in, according to Axios, and she remained seated during Biden’s reference to a two-state solution, according to a Jewish Insider reporter. PJC

— Toby Tabachnick

Tree of Life, Inc. poised to receive more than $1 million in federal funds

— LOCAL —

The Senate approved a package of spending bills on Friday that includes $1 million for Tree of Life, Inc.’s rebuilding project and $547,000 to support the 10.27 Healing Partnership, which was launched to address mental health needs following the Pittsburgh synagogue shooting of 2018.

The rebuilding effort for Tree of Life is underway. Demolition of the building began in

February in preparation for the construction of a new structure designed by Studio Libeskind in collaboration with Rothschild Doyno Collaborative. It will house an educational center, a museum that explores the roots and manifestations of antisemitism in the United States and the official Oct. 27 memorial on the corner of Shady and Wilkins avenues.

The House passed the spending legislation earlier last week.

The earmarks for Tree of Life and the 10.27 Healing Partnership were requested

by Rep. Summer Lee, whose district includes Squirrel Hill.

“After fighting tirelessly for many many months,” Lee wrote in a prepared statement, “I am especially proud to have officially secured more than $12.6 million for 15 community projects to fight hunger, homelessness and blite [sic]; provide job training, provide mental health, trauma care and wraparound services, fix infrastructure, and educate against antisemitism.”

Lee was one of only 22 House Democrats

to vote against a resolution in November that condemned the support of terrorist organizations and antisemitism on college campuses. The resolution (H. Res. 798) passed on a 396-23 vote. Lee said at the time that while she condemned antisemitism on college campuses “in the strongest possible terms,” she voted against the resolution because it “misrepresented events” and targeted constitutionally protected speech. PJC

— Toby Tabachnick

Headlines

Dean Phillips, Jewish Democrat who ran quixotic presidential campaign, endorses Biden

U.S. Rep. Dean Phillips, the Minnesota Jewish Democrat who ran a long shot campaign for the Democratic presidential nod, suspended his campaign and endorsed President Joe Biden, JTA.org reported.

Phillips sought to tap into frustration among Democrats based almost wholly on Biden’s age; the two barely differed on policy, including on Israel, with both strongly backing Israel in its war with Hamas but expressing concerns about the conduct of the war. In the end, he scored zero delegates.

He alluded to the age argument in his statement on March 6 on X, attaching to it a photo of Biden in 2011, having an ice cream with Phillips’ two daughters. Biden loves ice cream, and Phillips formerly headed a gelato company.

“In 2011, I hosted then VP Biden at my home,” he wrote. “Most notable was his empathy and kindness to my daughters and the catering staff, with whom he sat and had ice cream (surprise-surprise). His decency and wisdom were rarities in politics then, and even more so today. Over a decade later, the only thing that has changed is time — which slows all of us down a bit, including presidents.”

Phillips dropped out after losing to Biden in his own state — not quite getting 8% of the vote, while a campaign to vote uncommitted to protest Biden’s pro-Israel policies scored 20%.

Adam Schiff advances to Senate runoff in California to replace Dianne Feinstein

Rep. Adam Schiff, the California Jewish Democrat who has the backing of AIPAC, advanced to the runoff for the U.S. Senate after the March 5 primary, JTA.org reported.

Protesters interrupted Schiff’s victory speech with cries of “Free Palestine” and “Ceasefire now.”

Schiff’s win is a boost for the American Israel Public Affairs Committee’s affiliated political action committee, AIPAC PAC, and other mainstream pro-Israel boosters.

Schiff — who is running for the seat formerly held by Dianne Feinstein, the state’s longtime Jewish senator who died last year — is a star among Democrats for his lead role in impeaching former President Donald Trump, and he had the backing of much of the party’s California establishment, including Rep. Nancy Pelosi, the former speaker who continues to wield influence.

He will now face Steve Garvey, a Republican and onetime baseball star, in the November election in California’s “jungle primary” system, which requires all candidates regardless of party to compete in a single primary and advances the two top winners to the general election.

American Jewish World Service to lay off 10% of staff, exit 3 countries where it provided aid

The American Jewish World Service, a prominent Jewish international aid group, is set to lay off around 10% of its staff of 120 after it said donors withdrew support from the group,

Today in Israeli History

March 18, 1974 — OPEC lifts oil embargo

New York Jewish Week reported.

The organization also plans to withdraw from three of the 17 countries where it operates, meaning that it will no longer fund causes or development work there. It did not name the three countries.

The planning process for the layoffs began in May 2023 “in tandem with the reality of fewer resources,” a spokesperson for AJWS said. The staff has already learned that layoffs are coming, and those affected will be notified this week and can remain employed until the beginning of May.

The New York City-based nonprofit’s vice president for marketing and communications, Peter Taback, said the layoffs were a “painful decision.” The decision was part of a long-term strategic planning process, he said, and not reflective of a sudden shift.

15,000 aid trucks have entered Gaza since war’s start

Fifteen thousand trucks carrying $1 billion in humanitarian aid have entered the Gaza Strip since the start of the Israel-Hamas war, JNS.org reported.

The trucks carried 184,500 tons of food, 25,240 tons of water and 18,400 tons of medical equipment, Channel 12 reported.

The U.S. has donated the most assistance, about $180 million worth. Germany is the second-largest donor at $150 million, followed by Switzerland ($102 million), Canada ($100 million), the European Union ($99 million) and the United Kingdom ($76 million).

Most of the funds went through United Nations agencies, including the embattled

UNRWA, the United Nations Reliefs and Works Agency, under investigation for its ties to Hamas.

Delivering aid safely and effectively has been an ongoing problem, JNS.org reported. Hamas has been stealing around 60% of the supplies, Israeli security officials estimate.

Longtime Jewish wrestling promoter Paul Heyman to be inducted into WWE Hall of Fame

Over nearly four decades as a professional wrestling promoter, broadcaster and executive, Paul Heyman has been called a number of things: manager, announcer and CEO, as well as “evil genius,” “mad scientist,” “hothead” and “the wise man.”

In April, he will officially add one more title: Hall of Famer, JTA.org reported.

WWE, the leading pro-wrestling promotion, announced on March 4 that Heyman will be inducted into its Hall of Fame in a ceremony on April 5 before WWE’s two-day Wrestlemania XL extravaganza at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia.

The son of a Holocaust survivor, Heyman, 58, began taking photographs at wrestling events as a teenager, using equipment he bought with his bar mitzvah money.

Heyman arguably had the most Jewish moment of his career in 2017 when he said the Mourner’s Kaddish for Goldberg in the ring — anticipating the defeat of the Hall of Fame Jewish pro wrestler. (He began by reciting Latin last rites, then said in an undertone, “That doesn’t work, he’s one of mine.”) PJC

— Compiled by Andy Gotlieb

March 15, 1972 — Hussein proposes federal plan

Jordan’s King Hussein proposes a Jordanian-Palestinian federation encompassing the West Bank and Jordan under his monarchy, with a regional capital in East Jerusalem and the national capital in Amman.

March 16, 1722 — Jewish Berliners receive new constitution

Berlin’s Jewish community is reorganized under a new constitution after Prussian authorities issue statutes regulating the community. The Aeltesten Reglement reinforces Jewish communal autonomy.

March 17, 1921

OPEC lifts the oil embargo it had placed on the United States in the fall of 1973 as punishment for resupplying Israel during the Yom Kippur War. The embargo quadrupled gasoline prices and produced long lines at U.S. gas stations.

March 19, 1999 — Hanoch Levin premieres last play

Playwright Hanoch Levin’s final play, “Requiem,” makes its debut at the Cameri Theatre of Tel Aviv. The play is based on three short stories by Anton Chekhov. Levin dies of bone cancer at 56 later in 1999.

By Moshe

— Mossad’s Meir Amit is born Meir Amit, who builds the Mossad into a renowned intelligence agency, is born in Tiberias. A career soldier who joins the Haganah at 15, he is appointed to head the Mossad in 1963 and stays until 1969.

March 20, 1917 — General, archaeologist Yigael Yadin is born Yigael Yadin is born in Jerusalem. After becoming the second IDF chief of staff in 1949, he retires in 1952 and turns to archaeology. His excavations include Masada, Hatzor, Megiddo and the Dead Sea caves.

March 21, 2013 — Obama addresses Israeli youth

U.S. President Barack Obama delivers a broadcast address to 600 university students in Jerusalem. He pleads for a two-state solution with the Palestinians while declaring that “Israel is not going anywhere.” PJC

p Meir Amit (right) stands with Chaim Herzog in 1962, the year before he became the head of the Mossad.

Pridan, Israeli Government Press Office

Lessons from Allegheny County Council

Last week, after almost five hours of comments from the public — the majority spewing lies about Israel — the Allegheny County Council decisively rejected a motion calling for a cease-fire in Israel’s war against the terrorist organization Hamas (see story on Page 1).

The motion, if passed, would have had no impact on politics in the Middle East, but could have contributed to a climate of rising antisemitism here in Allegheny County.

Despite many of the motion’s proponents — and its three councilmember sponsors — claiming that the motion was evenhanded and a call for peace, the actual wording belied that argument. Embedded in the motion was an attack on Israel, false equivalencies and deceptive allegations. For example, the motion began: “Whereas, all human life is precious, and the targeting of civilians, no matter their faith or ethnicity, is a violation of international humanitarian law ...” — the clear accusation being that

Israel intentionally targets civilians and is in violation of international law.

Or, the demand to “Immediately call for and facilitate a release of all hostages held in Palestine and Israel ...” — thereby equating convicted terrorists being held in Israeli jails with innocent civilians, including children, held in captivity in Gazan tunnels.

defended Israel were eloquent and passionate. We are convinced their presence at the meeting last week made a difference and helped persuade council to do the right thing.

There are a lot of people who are quick to condemn the Jewish state’s very existence, whether out of ignorance or hatred. Either way, they pose a danger to American Jewry,

We must educate ourselves before we cast our ballots.

We are relieved and grateful that the council wasn’t fooled by the anti-Israel activists’ sleight of hand and misinformation, and unequivocally rejected the motion. Nine councilmembers opposed the motion; the three who sponsored it were the only ones who voted in favor; and there were two abstentions. One councilmember was absent.

While those who spoke in favor of the motion outnumbered those opposed by about 2 to 1, our Jewish community members who

and we must be vigilant in correcting misinformation about Israel, whenever and wherever we hear it.

The three councilmembers who sponsored the cease-fire motion and voted to pass it were: Bethany Hallam, a councilperson at large; Dan Grzybek, who represents District 5, including Bethel Park, Dormont, Mt. Lebanon and Upper St. Clair; and Anita Prizio, who represents District 3, which extends from Reserve Township to West Deer Township.

While some of us may dismiss local council elections as secondary, last week’s spectacle proved that even local political bodies can have a dramatic effect on our safety and well-being. We must educate ourselves before we cast our ballots.

And, of course, we also must scrutinize the candidates for our state and federal offices. We have seen over and over again since Oct. 7 how they can and have made a difference in federal policy and public sentiment when it comes to Israel.

Pennsylvania’s primary election is April 23, the first day of Passover. If you won’t be headed to the polls, please vote by mail. It’s easy to get a mail-in ballot. Just go to: pavoterservices. pa.gov/OnlineAbsenteeApplication/#/ OnlineAbsenteeBegin.

Last week, some of those urging the council to pass the cease-fire resolution vowed to continue their quest to demonize Israel; they said a motion to boycott and divest from the Jewish state would be next.

They are not going to relent.

Neither can we. PJC

An elite literary journal imploded over an essay about the war — because it dared to humanize Israelis as well as Palestinians

Guernica magazine, one of the most prestigious literary publications in the United States, retracted an Israeli translator and writer’s essay about coexistence over the weekend.

If that information prompts you to assume the piece in question, Joanna Chen’s “From the Edges of a Broken World,” was stridently Zionist — perhaps even a full-throated endorsement of the devastating bombardment of Gaza, or riddled with Islamophobia, claiming that all Palestinians are Hamas — you’re wrong.

Chen’s essay, which is still readable in an archived version, is a deeply moving piece rooted in profound conflicts she has with Israel, where she moved as a teenager. It expresses grief for both Gazan civilians and the Israeli victims of Oct. 7. The reaction of Guernica‘s volunteer staff, many of whom resigned after the essay’s publication, and the decision to retract the piece is nauseating and unquestionably antisemitic.

If an essay that simply allows Israelis to be human is seen as “an apologia for Zionism and the ongoing genocide in Palestine,” as Guernica co-Publisher Madhuri Sastry declared in her Sunday post announcing her resignation on X, the values of the journal, which claims to be “a home for singular voices, incisive ideas, and critical questions,” are, in fact, chillingly devoid of any freedom of expression.

In her essay, Chen, who was born in the

United Kingdom, describes the experience of moving to Israel at the age of 16, when her family needed a fresh start after the death of her brother. She was overwhelmed by the language and felt no connection to the land or the people.

When her mother encouraged her to join the Israeli army at 18 in order to assimilate better into society, she refused. “We

cradled Jad in my arms for a moment. And I wanted to say, No, thank you for trusting me with your child. Thank you for reminding me that we can still find empathy and love in this broken world.”

Chen articulates both her anguish for the Gazan poets whose work she has translated — unsure if they are still alive, and fearful that if she texted after their welfare it would

To demonize anyone as murderous and oppressive, simply because they live in Israel, is textbook antisemitism.

have the world’s greatest army here,” her mother said. “And I fired back immediately: Who’s we? Speak for yourself. I never served in the army.”

Furthermore, Chen delves into her work to aid Palestinians. She is a volunteer with Road to Recovery, a nonprofit that drives Palestinians from Gaza and the occupied West Bank to hospitals in Israel for medical care they could not otherwise receive at home. (Chen wrote for the Forward about this volunteer work last year.) She briefly stepped away from the organization after Oct. 7, terrified that one of Road to Recovery’s longtime members, activist Vivian Silver, had been kidnapped by Hamas, but returned to it two weeks after Oct. 7. (Silver was eventually found to have been killed.)

In the essay, Chen describes unbuckling a Palestinian child from his booster seat while his father retrieved their luggage in her first trip after the start of the war: “Shukran, shukran, thank you, the father said as I

incur retribution by Hamas — and the Israeli hostages trapped underground in the dark.

Does this really, as Sastry claims, fail “the only metric we have agreed to abide by: it attempts to soften the violence of colonialism and genocide”?

The bizarre failure of those resigning from Guernica to understand the material that sparked their protest is particularly striking given Chen’s advocacy for literature as a source of connection and understanding.

Translation, Chen writes, is what opened her eyes to the politics of her new home, and to her neighbors, both Palestinian and Israeli. She sees the act of bringing forth text from one language to another — she translates in both Hebrew and Arabic — as an inherently personal act. Literary translation demands not just substituting words from one language to the other, she writes, but “deep reading, attention to voice, to the nuances of language.”

In training herself to listen for the

individual textures and intonations of the author’s voice that she was translating, Chen was transported into another world, another understanding. “It enables me to transcend borders and build literary bridges from source to target language, from one people to another,” she writes. “And it was a wake-up call for me.”

It is impossible to understand what, in this language, could possibly be seen as so violent as to prompt mass resignations. In Sastry’s resignation letter, she writes that when she expressed earlier qualms about a prior piece of Chen’s, she was reassured by the rest of the magazine’s leadership that Guernica was committed to “champion anti-imperialist work, and would never act as a mouthpiece for power.” In what way does “From the Edges of a Broken World” violate this mission — aside from the fact that it was written by someone who happens to live in Israel?

To demonize anyone as murderous and oppressive, simply because they live in Israel, is textbook antisemitism.

It is painfully ironic that Sastry sees Chen’s essay as a “mouthpiece for power,” when the entire piece is about building communal ties to Palestinian and Israeli neighbors that defy state power. The relationships Chen describes are not simple: She exchanges worried, and at times charged, texts with Palestinian colleagues after the Hamas attacks. Her husband insists on accompanying her to her first volunteer trip after Oct. 7, until her adult son begs them not to: “If anything happens, we don’t want to lose both our parents.” She shares her own deep qualms about Israel’s military complex.

Please see Berman, page 11

Guest Columnist

Nora Berman

Chronicle poll results: Conscription of Haredi Jews into IDF

Last week, the Chronicle asked its readers in an electronic poll the following question: “Do you believe that Haredi Jews should be conscripted into the Israel Defense Forces?” Of the 328 people who responded, 88% said yes; 6% said no; and 6% said they didn’t know. Comments were submitted by 89 people. A few follow.

I believe that they should be required to be drafted into the IDF, but as a middle-ground position, they would be allowed to assume supporting non-combatant roles such medics, chaplains, communication specialists or logistics/supply positions.

Their roles might need to be somewhat tailored to their being Haredi, but they need to serve their country.

At the very least, they should do some kind of national service.

Yes, I believe all Israelis need to serve. In the long run, I believe it would

Berman:

Continued from page 10

In allowing the real complexity of living in the Holy Land to exist in her essay, Chen affirms a profound, lived solidarity with Palestinians that goes in the face of Israeli nationalist fervor.

It is a much more meaningful statement of compassion and support for Palestinians than Sastry’s, or any of the subsequent protests voiced by those resigning from

Do you believe that Haredi Jews should be conscripted into the Israel Defense Forces?

Let’s leave these poor people alone and not put them in further danger.

I think some Jews should be given the option to study Torah full time. I think there should be a lot of encouragement for Haredi Jews to join the IDF.

Everyone who lives in Israel and benefits from the freedoms of the country should serve.

I don’t think anyone should be drafted. If put to the test, I think Israel would have enough volunteers.

Times have changed. So should they.

I have heard that a number of Haredis have chosen to join the IDF. That’s a better solution.

There would be an extremely rare few young men whose Torah learning is so superlative that they would be the exception. When the future of our country is at stake, everyone needs to have that self-sacrifice. I am speaking as an Orthodox Jew.

How about if all Israelis are conscripted to fight and to spend time learning Torah. Then we are all contributing to the physical and the spiritual. And/or Jews from elsewhere could come to Israel for a year or two to learn in the place of each conscripted person, so we all contribute! Lone Soldiers and Lone Learners! PJC

be empowering to the Haredi community and would strengthen the bond between Israelis.

Guernica. To understand and aid on the ground will always mean more than to virtue signal from afar. That’s equally true when it comes to Chen’s literary work. Her translations form intimate ties with the literal voices of those who are different from her. It creates a new solidarity, a new community that goes beyond language or nation.

Yet even if Chen’s story were different, to censor Israeli voices for bringing humanity to the Israeli experience is wrong.

Even if you happen to think that the

Theoretically, they should be conscripted but not if it causes morale problems within the military. Is there something else that this group could do to protect the country? They do enjoy the benefits of Israeli citizenship and the world is not becoming a friendlier place.

Israeli state is a settler colonialist project, the citizens within it are human beings with unique thoughts, experiences and wildly diverse political beliefs. To remove them from the pages of a literary magazine because of their nationality flies in the face of what good literature is supposed to do, which is to humanize those who are different from us.

To declare that Israeli voices are “mouthpieces for power,” with no regard for what those voices say, harkens back to some of

— Compiled by Toby Tabachnick

Chronicle weekly poll question: Were you pleased with President Joe Biden’s State of the Union Address? Go to pittsburghjewishchronicle.org to respond. PJC

the oldest antisemitic ideas on the books. When Guernica’s staff chose to depart en-righteous-masse, their resignations and statements to that effect only showcased their own moral atrophy. PJC

Nora Berman is the Forward’s deputy opinion editor. You can email her or follow on Twitter @noraeberman. This story originally appeared in the Forward. To get the Forward’s free email newsletters delivered to your inbox, go to forward.com/newsletter-signup.

In praise of a local hero

Oct. 7 will forever be etched in the minds of the Jewish people for eternity. Heroes courageously fought and died on that day and continue to serve in Israel.

And a new brand of hero has emerged in the aftermath of Oct. 7. One of them happens to live among us in Pittsburgh. His name is David Dvir.

I was first introduced to David on Oct. 8 at a rally for Israel at the Jewish Community Center of Greater Pittsburgh. After that, every time I attended a pro-Israel event, he was there. He helped organize the Shabbat dinner in honor of the hostages in early November. One week later, when my wife and I went to Schenley Plaza for a candle vigil for all the lives lost, who was there helping to organize the event? David Dvir.

Sunday, Nov. 19 was the first of weekly community vigils in support of the hostages that David organized with the help of others, including his family and Julie Paris. Since then, these vigils have continued each Sunday at noon on the corner of Darlington Road and Murray Avenue in Squirrel Hill (“Bring them home,” ongoing).

Every week, David organizes a different theme with speakers from all walks of life — clergy, physicians, attorneys, politicians, community members — who come together to speak on behalf of the hostages. David, his family and his minyan of helpers arrive early every Sunday and set up the vigils. If it is cold outside, David supplies heaters; when it rains, he arranges for some type of coverage. Throughout the winter and now into spring, this man has had the strength and resolve to continue this process. David supplies the posters, banners and other supplies needed for each vigil. Every week, he assembles a panel of speakers. There is always a moment of silence for the recently fallen soldiers, and we are also given information about individual hostages and their families.

What is so special about these vigils is the community feeling. Jews from all walks of life are present. Orthodox, Reform, Conservative, all gathered for one purpose.

In my opinion, David is a hero, and I am so happy to call him a friend. I just hope the hostages are released and these vigils become part of Pittsburgh Jewish history.

Dr. Allan Tissenbaum Mt. Lebanon

A call for a ‘cease-fire now’

I have mixed feelings about the cease-fire resolutions that are being considered by local city and county councils (“Chronicle poll results: Cease-fire resolutions,” March 8, 2024). The feelings I have about Oct. 7, however, are very clear: The events of that day were heinous, and retaliation was both an understandable and expected reaction.

Retaliation, however, has not led to the desired outcomes. Hamas still exists, a large number of the hostages have not been freed or have died in captivity, and Israel is not secure. In fact, it can be argued that Israel is now less secure than before since so much of the world has been horrified at its continued bombardment of Gaza and the extreme death and injury toll that innocent civilians have suffered. Pictures of sad, anxious, injured and hungry Palestinian children are now entering our waking and sleeping consciousness. Pregnant women and people with serious health problems in Gaza cannot be cared for and living conditions are unthinkable.

I do not have the answer as to how to help the people of Israel and Gaza live side by side in the future. The trauma that they have been through and continue to go through is beyond what most of us can imagine, and this will undoubtedly affect the path going forward.The only way to start on this pathway is to declare a cease-fire. I realize that complicated preconditions have been part of the negotiations for a cease-fire. As we wait for these conditions to be agreed upon, however, the number of people killed or injured or dying from lack of food and medical care continues to grow.

All I know is that this situation is unbearable. When I found the energy to write this letter, it was a relief to be able to express myself and to add to the growing number of voices who are calling for a “cease-fire now.”

Janice H. Gordon Pittsburgh

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Council:

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Julie Paris, MidAtlantic regional director of StandWithUs, was first to the lectern opposing the motion. She cataloged the long line of misstatements made against Israel during both the March 5 and Feb. 20 meetings.

“Over and over, I’ve heard how Israel was committing genocide and ethnic cleansing, that Oct. 7 was fabricated so that Israel could commit war crimes, that Israel is a settler colonial state that does not have the right to exist, that the International Court of Justice ruled that Israel was committing genocide, that a cease-fire vote is a call for peace and justice, Israelis and Jews are warmongers, Israel is like Nazis and that, apparently, tonight, Zionists are a powerful lobby,” Paris said.

Offering a glimmer of hope in a meeting that teemed with anxiety, Rabbi Yitzi Genack of Congregation Shaare Torah told the council that after he offered comments at the last meeting, he reached out to a pro-cease-fire attendee.

“We exchanged emails and met for coffee for over two hours,” Genack said. “We discussed our personal stories and our views on the tragedies in Israel and Gaza. And we didn’t arrive at a unified position.”

Unlike that meeting, Genack said, the cease-fire motion was a divisive action that would drive a further wedge between communities.

Speaking of the fear in the Jewish community over an uptick in antisemitic attacks since Oct. 7, Mor Greenberg recounted traumatic instances experienced by her children. As she did so, some in attendance shook their heads, seeming to not believe her.

One Squirrel Hill resident who spoke of her cousin who was killed on Oct. 7, called out Hallam for posting a video celebrating the terror attack. It was not the only time Hallam was criticized for her social media post or behavior during the meeting.

One speaker, who stressed the importance

Yeshiva:

Continued from page 1

black hats and a car stopped and started yelling profanities.”

Rabbi Yossi Rosenblum, the CEO and head of school for Yeshiva Schools, anticipated an uptick in antisemitism once Hamas broke its cease-fire with Israel.

“We felt it was necessary to look at everything we were doing from a security perspective and tighten things up,” he said.

His fears came true less than 24 hours after Hamas’ initial attack, he said, when a small group was davening in front of Congregation Shaare Torah and passengers in a car waving Palestinian flags stopped and harassed those praying.

“I witnessed it myself,” he said. “My daughter was there with me.”

Luckily, he said, there were guards present to ensure the safety of everyone praying.

This wasn’t the only time Rosenblum encountered people emboldened in their

of safety in the community, addressed Hallam directly.

“I also urge Ms. Hallam to stay off of her phone and pay attention to what people are saying tonight,” she said, noting the councilperson’s lack of attention as she spoke. Hallam defended her actions.

“I’ll do that,” she said, “but there are people being denied entry right now. So just so you know what I’m texting about right now.”

District 1 Councilperson Jack Betkowski said he was concerned about “what tomorrow will bring” to the community after such contentious dialogue.

District 13 Councilperson David Bonaroti talked about the political theater involved with such a motion, saying a diplomatic solution was needed for the conflict. His tone changed, though.

“Two weeks ago, and today, there were

“On Oct. 7, innocent people were raped and slaughtered by terrorists. That is a fact.”

– DISTRICT

13 COUNCILPERSON

DAVID BONAROTI

Those weren’t the only moments of tension during the meeting. One speaker, who took issue with a rule passed at the beginning of the meeting cutting public comments from three minutes to one minute, ensuring everyone who signed up had the opportunity to speak, was removed from the meeting after failing to leave the lectern at the conclusion of his time.

Of ten the lines of disagreement fell on predictable lines: union members, community organizers, far-left Jewish organizations and political parties supported the motion, while other Jewish community members urged the council to vote it down.

One outlier, though, was Candace Wagner, a Socialist Workers Party candidate for the 12th congressional district, who argued against the motion.

Wagner spoke about the silence surrounding the rape and mutilation of women and girls by Hamas.

“Hamas’ backers, the Iranian regime, are leading an ‘axis of resistance’ against Israel,” she said. “They all share the Iranian rulers’ hatred of Jews.”

After nearly four hours of public comments, council members offered comments.

hate since Oct. 7.

He recounted that, on a recent evening as he walked down Murray Avenue, a car followed him, stopping a few feet in front of him. The passengers shouted antisemitic comments, trying to get the rabbi to respond. The remarks, he said, were “very nasty and terrible.”

Rosenblum wasn’t overly intimidated by the experience, he said, but was certain that students at Yeshiva Schools would have been.

Chaya Engle, chief compliance officer for the school, said that several high school girls were accosted on their way home by a woman who screamed, “You’re killing Palestinians.”

“It’s out there and it’s frightening,” Engle said.

While there haven’t been any physical confrontations reported yet, Rosenblum said one can’t predict when a verbal situation will rise to the next level.

Given the concern and rise in incidents, on Oct. 9, Rosenblum and other Yeshiva

audience members who justified, minimized and outright claimed the events of Oct. 7 did not happen,” he said. “To those individuals: You are wrong. On Oct. 7, innocent people were raped and slaughtered by terrorists. That is a fact.”

He went on to say that violence is happening in the United States and that we don’t value the lives of people in this country.

“I wonder with these types of events, how we have any right to lecture anyone about violence in the world,” he said. “If we are going to be in the business of asking for a cease-fire, then I ask that we start with a cease-fire in the country, particularly in this county,” he said.

Members of the audience shouted “shame” and took issue with Councilperson Samuel DeMarco III when he noted that the Oct. 7 attack was the second-largest terror attack since 9/11. He criticized the motion for not mentioning Hamas and said that those citing the death toll in Gaza didn’t say how many of those killed were terrorists. The audience’s negative reaction prompted Council President Patrick Catena to call for order and threaten to clear the room if disruptions continued.

Schools officials decided they needed to bring in more security guards and increase the number of hours they worked at all three of their facilities.

The price tag, he knew, would be high — nearly $20,000 a month just for the added guard costs. The administration, he said, committed to the enhanced measures even before it knew how it would pay for the additional charges.

The extra security was only the first part of a three-pronged post-Oct. 7 plan at the school, he said.

The second was to provide for the mental health needs of the students who were struggling with the war in Israel and the rise in antisemitism here at home. The last, in typical Chabad fashion, was to increase opportunities to do mitzvahs.

Engle said that in various podcasts and newscasts that she’s listened to, she’s heard of Jewish children not wearing yarmulkas and hiding their Jewish identity. That is the wrong message to be sending, she said.

To pay for the added security, the school

Motion co-sponsor Dan Grzybek, who represents several South Hills neighborhoods — home to the second-largest Jewish community in the county — told the Chronicle after the Feb. 20 meeting that he would not introduce a motion calling for a cease-fire. After the motion was listed on the March 5 agenda, he said he decided to co-sponsor the bill “upon reviewing the motion language and verifying that it met the criteria I was calling for (calls for release of all hostages and is not overly incendiary).” Many who spoke to the language addressing the hostages explained that Israel didn’t capture hostages; it detains prisoners, some who have been convicted of murder. Grzybek attempted to address that point in his statement to the crowd.

“A hostage is someone who is taken as a prisoner by an enemy to force the other people involved to do what the enemy wants. A prisoner is not a convicted murderer,” he said.

C ouncilperson at large Hallam began by acknowledging the pain felt by the Jewish community, but added, “We are literally witnessing terror and genocide on the news and social media in real time.”

She apologized for the incendiary post she retweeted following the Oct. 7 attack, saying she had taken the time since then to learn more about the conflict.

“I have done much research and I have educated myself,” she said.

It was because of that education, she noted, that she decided to introduce the motion.

During District 9 Councilperson Robert Macey’s remarks, proceedings were disrupted again when he made a statement some interpreted as racist. An audience member was forcibly removed by sheriffs for an unknown reason causing many to scream at the public safety officers.

A final outburst occurred after the vote against the resolution when many chanted “cease-fire now” and “blood, blood on your hands,” and “free Palestine,” for several minutes after the meeting concluded and councilmembers left the building. PJC

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

hosted “Here to Stay,” a 36-hour fundraiser with a $600,000 goal. After reaching $600,000, it increased the goal to $650,000 and surpassed that as well. The campaign raised nearly $665,000.

The money, school officials said, will be used to ensure “the community stays safe, strong and proud.”

Paying for the extra security, something Yeshiva Schools considers an absolute priority, might have been the initial reason for the fundraiser, but it wasn’t the only one. In fact, Engle said, the second part of the “safe, strong and proud” tagline is just as important as the first.

“Yes, we need money for security but just as important is to get out there and say, ‘Listen, we’re here to stay and we’re proud Jews. We’re not going anywhere in the face of the antisemitism and we’re teaching our kids to be proud,’” she said. PJC

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

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AgeWell:

Continued from page 3

active seniors or seniors that are homebound,” Kruman said.

In recent years, AgeWell staffer Maddie Barnes has worked with members on numerous educational and social programs.

Her takeaway, she said, is the importance of creating personal connections.

“Social isolation is definitely a big issue for older adults, and the pandemic really exacerbated that,” she said.

For seniors experiencing loneliness, the “serious public health risks” posed include greater rates of dementia, heart disease, depression, anxiety and suicide, according to the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention.

Barnes pointed to the creation of AgeWell at the JCC South Hills as an example of the program’s continued ability to counter social isolation among older adults.

Since launching the suburban initiative last year, more than 800 people have enjoyed meals, volunteering and learning opportunities together, she said: “There is a need. People want those in-person programs, the opportunity to connect and be lifelong learners.”

Barnes is the director of technology and evidence-based programming at

Rodef Shalom:

Continued from page 7

proposal. In his opinion, “because (Rodef Shalom) was so large, it had grown complacent.” A little “friendly competition” might restore some of its earlier dynamism.

After an evening of discussion, membership approved the idea. With that mandate, 16 men gathered in Louis Caplan’s office on Aug. 22 to work out the details.

In attendance was Rabbi Burton E. Levinson, who had been sent to Pittsburgh by the UAHC to lead the proposed congregation. He had already rented an office at 1701 Murray Ave. and secured the Oakland YM&WHA for upcoming High Holiday services. Rabbi Levinson had also approached the National Conference of Christians and Jews to see if any Squirrel Hill churches would temporarily house this proposed Jewish congregation. In a wonderful ecumenical gesture, Asbury Methodist Church and the Church of the Redeemer both opened their facilities that November. For a time, Asbury Methodist Church even installed a temporary Torah ark in one of its sanctuaries.

Despite this momentum, hesitations persisted. Some at the August meeting worried about competition. Squirrel Hill was rapidly gaining new Jewish communal infrastructure in the mid-1940s, prompted partly by the enthusiastic spirit of returning Jewish servicemen. The Irene Kaufmann Center, the Hebrew Institute, and Shaare Torah Congregation were all arriving from the Hill District. Young People’s Synagogue had recently been launched by local Orthodox youth who wanted to

AgeWell at the JCC. She began her job in September 2018. Between the Pittsburgh synagogue shooting one month later, the pandemic and rising inflation, Barnes’ tenure has been marked with several

learn synagogue management. Tree of Life had recently acquired vacant property at Wilkins and Shady.

Tree of Life had always leaned left within the Conservative movement. Some worried that an established congregation with a new building would be more attractive to unaffiliated Jews of Squirrel Hill than an untested Reform congregation. Behind the scenes, Rabbi Levinson even asked Tree of Life’s Rabbi Herman Hailperin to consider re-affiliating his congregation with the Reform movement, but Rabbi Hailperin declined.

One person in attendance questioned whether a congregation could be “artificially stimulated” rather than “formed through the spontaneous desire” of founding members?

The question reflected a Jewish perspective. Speculatively “planting” a new congregation is relatively common within many Christian denominations but was unprecedented to the Jewish scene in Western Pennsylvania at that point. The dozens of Jewish congregations established locally in the century before 1946 all began as loose affiliations of likeminded people who gradually united into congregational bodies.

Despite these concerns, the group proceeded. Rodef Shalom assigned several of its leading members to an organizing committee: Louis Caplan, Leon Falk Jr., Louis Friedman, Louis Reizenstein, Harry Rice and Stanley Rogaliner. It also provided a $7,500 loan. The UAHC added another $5,000. These loans would total $200,000 today.

The Aug. 30 edition of the Jewish Criterion carried a full-page advertisement announcing an upcoming meeting at the

AgeWell,” she said. “In times of need people step up and they’re here for each other.”

That’s the constant in a program whose population keeps changing, Golin explained.

Twenty years ago, many older adults served by AgeWell were Holocaust survivors. That population has “sadly dwindled,” but what remains unchanged is the “desire for people to remain in Pittsburgh, to strengthen our community, to strengthen our Jewish community,”

Golin said.

The commitment has remained AgeWell’s driving force and a model of exemplary behavior, he continued.

“There is a power that goes with collaboration that is above and beyond the sum of the separate parts,” he said. “And I think that AgeWell has not only served as an inspiration for other communities around the country, it’s also served as an inspiration here locally for how collaborations can elevate the quality of the work that we do and the efficiency of the work that we do.

challenging periods.

The past five years were not “necessarily what you would call a ‘normal time,’ but just seeing it, it really made me appreciate my job and specifically

p After a few months of behind-the-scenes work, the Union of American Hebrew Congregations and Rodef Shalom Congregation took out a full-page advertisement in the Jewish Criterion on Aug. 30, 1946, announcing the creation of Temple Sinai.

Hotel Schenley. “The Union of American Hebrew Congregations with the approval of Rodef Shalom Congregation announces the opening of a New Reform Temple to be known as Temple Sinai” (misspelled Sinia).

In introductory remarks at the gathering, Judge Benjamin Lencher reiterated the spirit of the project. “The organization of Temple Sinai has grown out of great need; it was not born out of discord but out of dire need for a more personalized Reform Judaism. Pittsburgh’s second Reform Temple has the blessing of Rodef Shalom,” he said.

“Our community should be really proud of the fact that we are — as a community — really focused on collaboration and partnership, and that we do believe in the importance of working together to accomplish important things.” PJC

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

Toward the end of a long address, Rabbi Levinson said, “By the creation of Temple Sinai we will erase from the record the names of those Jews who do not stand at any synagogue and pray at no altar, whose children are growing up in a world ignorant of God and Israel.” While one synagogue alone could never accommodate thousands of unaffiliated Jews, planting a congregation worked. Temple Sinai opened that fall with ample crowds. It soon converted the old Worthington Mansion into a synagogue.

Rodef Shalom was also encouraged. Over the next decade, it took a proactive role assisting emerging Reform communities in the suburbs, providing expertise and resources to both Temple Emanuel of South Hills and Temple David in Monroeville.

All four congregations kept growing. By the mid-1950s, Temple Sinai had 450 member-families. The congregation soon instituted its own membership cap, leading to whispers about the possibility of a third Reform congregation opening in Squirrel Hill.

Protesting this decision to the Temple Sinai board in January 1954, founding member Harry Buchman focused on the needs of the broader community. “Let us not be satisfied with our accomplishments. Men, women and children of the Jewish faith are knocking at our door wishing to gain admittance but we cannot let them through because the board voted to close our membership. This is not a club — it is a house of worship…” PJC

Martha Berg is the archivist of Rodef Shalom Congregation. Eric Lidji is the director of the Rauh Jewish Archives at the Heinz History Center.

Photo courtesy of the Pittsburgh Jewish Newspaper Project

p Older adults enjoy lunch at AgeWell at the JCC South Hills.

Photo courtesy of Jewish Community Center of Greater Pittsburgh

Life & Culture

Lemon almond chicken salad

By Jessica Grann | Special to the Chronicle

Icreated this recipe based on my memory of a chicken salad that I used to get at a gourmet deli many years ago and that I’ve never noticed again in a local store. It used to be one of my favorite lunches.

I make chicken almost every Friday night, and I always have leftover chicken that I struggle to use, so this recipe works nicely — you can use any kind of simply-flavored roasted chicken, whether white or dark meat.

I use a little bit of avocado oil mayonnaise to bind the ingredients together, but this dish is definitely lighter than a traditional chicken salad. The lemon flavor is present but subtle, and the sliced almonds add to the texture.

This makes a lovely lunch; you can make sandwiches or just add a nice-sized scoop to a green salad.

Lemon almond chicken salad

Ingredients:

2 cups cubed or shredded cooked chicken

½ cup diced sweet onion or sliced green onion

½ cup diced celery

Fresh lemon juice; start with half a lemon, add more to taste

⅓ cup sliced almonds

2-3 tablespoons mayonnaise, more if desired

Salt and pepper to taste

Remove the skin from the chicken and cut the meat away from the bones, then either dice or shred the meat. (You can also use cooked plain boneless chicken, lightly

seasoned with salt and pepper.)

Add the chicken, diced celery and onion of your choice to a medium-sized bowl, and add the juice from half a lemon (typically about 2-3 tablespoons). Mix it and let it rest on the counter for about 15 minutes, then taste to see if it needs more lemon or salt.

When the flavor is right, add mayonnaise to taste. This salad needs at least 1 tablespoon of mayonnaise per 1 cup of chicken. I use mayonnaise lightly with this recipe, but you can add more to taste. If you use only breast meat then you may need a little extra.

A smaller amount of lemon juice adds a soft lemon fragrance to the salad. If you desire a more intense lemon flavor, add more lemon juice to taste.

Mix in the almonds last unless you are making this a day ahead. In that case, mix the almonds in before serving.

Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate until you’re ready to serve. I keep this in the fridge for about two days after preparation.

If you’re serving this as a salad, you can garnish the top with extra almonds or fresh parsley to add a bit of color.

Enjoy and bless your hands! PJC

Jessica Grann is a home chef living in Pittsburgh.

Israel will officially participate in Eurovision after its latest song submission is approved

—

MUSIC —

By Jacob Gurvis | JTA

After its first two song entries were denied, Israel was approved to compete in this year’s Eurovision music competition.

The European Broadcasting Union, which

runs the annual contest, approved Israel’s most recent submission, titled “Hurricane,” which had been revised after its firstchoice song, “October Rain,” was rejected because of the competition’s rules against political messaging. That song had been submitted along with another option, “Dance Forever,” which was also denied. Both songs’ lyrics alluded to Hamas’ Oct. 7 invasion of Israel and its massacre at

an outdoor music festival.

Kan, Israel’s public broadcaster, announced that Eden Golan, who had been chosen last month to represent Israel in the contest, would perform “Hurricane” at the competition in Malmo, Sweden, in May. The approved song has the same melody as “October Rain” but with new lyrics.

The English lyrics of “October Rain,” which were reported by the newspaper Israel

represent our country with respect,” Golan said in Hebrew in a video message posted to her Instagram account after “Hurricane” was approved. “I intend to do everything to represent our country with pride and to give it my all so we can get the maximal result.”

Israel’s presence in this year’s Eurovision has drawn calls for boycotts from artists in a number of countries — including Iceland, Denmark, Finland, Norway

– EDEN GOLAN

Hayom, had included the lines: “Who told you boys don’t cry / Hours and hours / and flowers / Life is not a game for the cowards.” (“Flowers” is Israeli military jargon for fallen soldiers.)

The lyrics to “Hurricane” were not immediately available. Israel has won Eurovision four times, most recently in 2018.

“This year it is more important than ever that we stand on that stage and

www.pittsburghjewishchronicle.org

p Lemon almond chicken salad

Photo by Jessica Grann

For

Torah Celebrations

Birth

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Finding God

here do we look for God? Where do we find God? How do we convince our children of the existence of an unseen God? These are complex theological questions many of us have asked during our lifetimes, but the answers are not easy.

The Israelites in the desert had a much easier time of finding God, as explained by this week’s parsha, P’kudei. P’kudei is Hebrew for records, referring to the copious records Moses bid the Levites to keep of the Mishkan — the desert sanctuary — and its furnishings. Instructions for setting up the portable desert sanctuary comprise the middle section of the parsha. It is only in the last five verses of P’kudei that our ancestors are told very explicitly where they can find Adonai.

Besides God’s constant reassuring, visible presence, it is significant that God continued to appear “in the view of all the Israelites throughout all their journeys” (Exodus 40:38). In many other religions, including the other two Abrahamic religions, God revealed God’s self only to one person, or a few people. Muslims believe that the Koran, the holy religious text of Islam, was revealed solely to the prophet Mohammed. In Christianity, Jesus was transfigured into the “Son of God” before only two disciples; and his resurrection from the dead was viewed by two women, according to one gospel, or by his 11 disciples in another. The practitioners of these two world religions must operate on faith of the experiences of a few for their belief system. In contrast, all the Israelites who came out of Egypt were witness to G-d’s presence in their rescue, in the giving of the Torah at Sinai, and during their 40-year sojourn in the wilderness.

In our generation, we are called to be more creative in finding God. We are not the neophyte Israelites of over 3,000 years ago who needed to see God’s presence to believe.

“When Moses had finished the work [on the Tabernacle], the cloud covered the Tent of Meeting, and the Presence of G-d filled the Tabernacle. Moses could not enter the Tent of Meeting because the cloud had settled upon it, and the Presence of Adonai filled the Tabernacle. When the cloud lifted from the Tabernacle, the Israelites would set out on their various journeys; but if the cloud did not lift, they would not set out until such time as it did lift. For over the Tabernacle the cloud of Adonai rested by day, and fire would appear in it by night; in the view of all the house of Israel through all their journeys.” (Exodus 40:34-38)

How comforting it must have been for the Israelites to have a visible sign that their God was with them, and traveled with them. For other peoples of this time period and before, all gods were gods of a place. These gods did not travel with their people; their worshippers had to come where they were believed to live. For instance, the god of the Nile for the Egyptians, Hapi, could not be worshipped outside of the Nile valley.

However, the God of the Israelites could be worshipped anywhere. This difference would be cemented in the Israelites’ consciousness hundreds of years after the events of Exodus, when the southern Israelite tribes were taken in captivity almost 2,000 miles away to Babylon. Though they “lay down and wept for thee, Zion,” (Psalm 137:1) they were consoled by prophets like Jeremiah that God had not deserted them, and their God was with them always.

The Israelites had a visual reminder that God is with them; we have no such obvious sign. Several questions were asked at the beginning of this d’var Torah. In attempting to answer these questions for our time, I find it helpful to ponder the following religious school prayerbook poem:

“God, everywhere we turn we feel Your power and Your holiness. We feel You with us when we hear a newborn baby cry.

We feel You with us when we touch a soft flower.

We feel you with us when we see a rainbow after a storm. We feel You with us when we are loving and loved.

We feel You with us when we do a mitzvah.

We praise You, Eternal God.

Everywhere we turn, You are there.”

(Mishkan T’filah for Youth)

A little simplistic, perhaps, but definitely on point. In our generation, we are called to be more creative in finding God. We are not the neophyte Israelites of over 3,000 years ago who needed to see God’s presence to believe. After more than 3,000 years of the Jewish religion, God expects more of us. It is up to us to rise to the challenge.

As this is the last parsha in the book of Exodus, we say the following: Chazak, chazak, v’nit’chazeik — be strong, be strong, and we shall be strengthened. PJC

Cantor Michele Gray-Schaffer is the spiritual leader of Congregation B’nai Abraham. This column is a service of the Greater Pittsburgh Jewish Clergy Association.

Cantor Michele Gray-Schaffer Parshat P’kudei | Exodus 38:21 – 40:38

Obituaries

BARNETT: Rosa Doris Barnett (Averbach) died Saturday, March 2, 2024, at the age of 81. She was the wife of the late Raymond P. Weinstein and the late Edward C. Averbach, and companion of Kenneth R. Bock. Rosa was the mother of Ted and Timothy (Natalya Yanovich) Weinstein, Stuart (Pearl) Averbach, Renee (Rick) Beitman, Elaine (Louis) Yellin, and “mother” to Andy Pearl. She was the grandmother of Lauren, Elyse, Sara, Julia, Emma, Solomon, Paul, Anna and “grandmother” to Anton, Tommy, Eva and Amelia. Rosa was the great-grandmother of Jacob, Arabella, Molly and Jonah. She was a graduate of Colfax Elementary School, Taylor Allderdice High School, the Pennsylvania State University, the University of Pittsburgh and the Art Institute of Pittsburgh.

CHERKIN: Jack L. Cherkin, 82, of Pittsburgh, passed away on Feb. 11, 2024. He was born on Aug. 19, 1941, in Monessen, Pennsylvania, to Ralph and Ruth (Kingsley) Cherkin. Upon graduation from high school, Jack attended Penn State University and then Duquesne University to receive his law degree. Jack practiced law in the Pittsburgh area for many years. In addition to running a successful law firm, Jack enjoyed playing tennis, gardening, watching sports, collecting model cars, and spending time with friends and family. He is survived by his daughter and son-in-law, Libby and Chris Pearsall; his brother, Alan Cherkin; and sister and brother-in-law, Barbara Cherkin Girson and Howard Girson. Additionally, he is survived by his grandchildren and nieces and nephews. Jack was predeceased by his daughter, Rebecca Cherkin; his sister, Marlene Cherkin Udell; and his wife, Pamela Moray Cherkin. A private Zoom memorial service will take place at a later date. In Jack’s memory, donations may be made to the American Heart Association or Parkinson’s Foundation.

MEYERS: Herbert “Herb” E. Meyers, age 90, passed away suddenly on Monday, March 4, 2024. He was born in Pittsburgh on May 21, 1933, to Max and Sadie (Wittlin) Meyers. Herb was preceded in death by his son Andy Meyers, his parents, his brother Robert Meyers, and his brother-in-law Freddie Kitman. He is survived by his devoted wife, Ryna (Kitman) Meyers, of 65 years; his beloved son James “Jim” (Kim) Meyers of Pittsburgh; and his dearest grandchildren, Andrew Thomas and Kira Rose Meyers, who lovingly referred to him as “Poppy.” He is further survived by his extended family, Lance and Nicole Ruttenberg and their children, Elle, Reese and Brooklyn, who also lovingly referred to him as Poppy, and several nieces and nephews. Herb graduated from The Kiski Prep School where he was an outstanding football player and boxer. He was also a standout in baseball and was asked to try out for the Pittsburgh Pirates, but his passion for science led him to college where he completed his undergraduate studies at the University of Pittsburgh in 1954. He then went on to receive his Doctor of Dental Surgery from the University of Pittsburgh, and then completed his periodontal residency training at the University of Pennsylvania and Boston University in 1959. He returned home to Pittsburgh and joined a periodontal practice with Dr. Louis Baraff and became one of the first practices to specialize in periodontics. In 1977, Dr. Fran Ceravalo joined as his partner. In 1989, he went into practice with his son Jim and they worked together at Oakland Periodontal until his retirement in 2008. Oakland Periodontal today remains one of the premier institutions for the treatment of periodontal disease and dental implants. Now in its 67th year of existence and still run by his son, the longevity and quality of treatment and the loyalty of a devoted staff is a credit to Herb’s vision. In addition to his practice, he also served as a professor of dental medicine at the University of Pittsburgh School of Dental Medicine and he enjoyed immensely the opportunity to run into students who went on to build their own successful careers in dentistry. In addition to his career, Herb kept up his athletic prowess by excelling in racquetball, becoming a nationally-ranked doubles player, and has several tournament wins to his name including a national title. He and Ryna were also members of Westmoreland Country Club, where they enjoyed time with family and many wonderful friends. Herb spent time at the club playing tennis and it is where he would “try” his hand at golf. Later he had fun days at the pool with his grandchildren. Herbie was also a passionate Pittsburgh sports fan and a frequent Steeler tailgater, holding season tickets for 80 years. He was an avid reader who loved to engage in discussions regarding current events. He had an incredible dry wit and sense of humor and there is no one who had the chance to sit and talk to him who wouldn’t credit him with well thought-out insights and a perspective that could be appreciated. He remained fully engaged in the world and world events even as he turned 90. Herb and Ryna raised two wonderful sons. He was a loving and proud father to Andy and Jim. Andy was a professional photographer in California and New York, while Jim joined Herb in his periodontal practice. He was immensely proud of both of his sons and he was recognized by all of his children’s friends and those who knew him as a great dad. There isn’t a friend of his boys who didn’t enjoy being with Herbie. Herb and Ryna’s love of travel took them around the world, and their love of animals took them on safari to East Africa and then again to South Africa. Their passion for the theater took them to NYC for many Broadway shows.  In his retirement years, he spent many winters in Florida enjoying the beach and dinners with close friends. It was, however, his grandchildren who became the light in his life. He loved them and they returned his love tenfold. Although a boxer and football player in his younger years, there was no sign of this toughness when he became Poppy. Of all of Herbie’s accomplishments, it was always his family that meant the most to him. Herb was a dedicated husband to Ryna, a loving father to Andy and Jim and an engaged and ever-present grandfather to Andrew and Kira, who he adored. He was beloved by his patients and friends. He was an athlete and an academic and to those who knew him, he was as fine a man you could meet. He will be dearly missed by so

many. He was easy to love and loved by all who knew him. Herb has been laid to rest next to his beloved son Andy. In lieu of flowers, the family respectfully suggests memorial contributions to the Friendship Circle of Pittsburgh. Please make checks payable to the Friendship Circle of Pittsburgh and mail to Friendship Circle of Pittsburgh, 1922 Murray Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15217 or online fcpgh.org, in memory of Herbert Meyers. Service and interment were private. Arrangements entrusted to Ralph Schugar Chapel, Inc. schugar.com

ORTENBERG: Frances W. Ortenberg, on Tuesday, March 5, 2024. Beloved wife of the late Leonard Ortenberg; loving mother of Joseph (Shelly) Ortenberg, MD, Nancy Ortenberg, and the late David Ortenberg. Daughter of the late Joseph and Rosabelle Weisberg. Sister of Cecele Miller and the late Rebecca Siegel. Adoring Granny to five granddaughters: Sydney (Sal) Camilleri, Adison and Ella Ortenberg, Isabelle and Grace Wilson. Also survived by nieces and nephews. Fran was a graduate of Carnegie Tech (Carnegie Mellon University) with bachelor’s degrees in music and education. She was coordinator for the Centers for the Musically Talented Program and a retired music educator in the Pittsburgh Public Schools. A gifted musician who played numerous instruments, Fran was a violinist with the McKeeesport Symphony Orchestra for over 40 years. Services were held at Ralph Schugar Chapel, Inc. Interment Beth Shalom Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to a charity of the donor’s choice. schugar.com

SELAVAN-SCHWARCZ: Ida (Chaya Sara) Cohen Selavan-Schwarcz, 93, passed away early Friday morning, Feb. 16, 2024, the 7th of Adar I, 5784, in Jerusalem, Israel, and was buried in the Kfar Sava Nordau Cemetery. Survived by son Rabbi Barnea Levi Selavan in Jerusalem, Israel; and daughter Batya Selavan in Cincinnati, Ohio; five grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren; and brother Rabbi Dovid Cohen in Brooklyn. Born and raised in Brooklyn to older parents, after three siblings died young, Ida was deliberately called “Bubbele” from birth to help her merit living to become a grandmother, which she did. In eighth grade she earned 100 in eight subjects, unprecedented in New York City. Finishing a three-year Dropsie College doctoral program in two years, she came by boat to Israel in the 1950s and married Amos Selavan. To further his psychology studies and practice, they left for Chicago Illinois, Indiana, Pennsylvania, and then Pittsburgh. Here Amos earned his

Please see Obituaries, page 20

Jewish Association on Aging gratefully acknowledges contributions from the following:

A gift from ...

In memory of...

Annette Alper .Frieda Alper

Lisa Campbell

Rita M Friedman

The Goldberg Family . . . . . . . Harvey James Roth

The Goldberg Family . . . . . . Azriel Mayer Sachs

Michael Maas . . . . . . . .Julius Jakob Maas

Michael Maas .Dorothy N Maas

Randy Malt Lilly (Lakey) Malt

Maxine & Larry Myer Trudy Rosenthal

Linda Rattner Nunn .Shirley Rattner Lieberman

Barbara Ostrow . . . . . . Frances Barniker

Theodore Pinsker Herbert Rudick

Julie Plitt Evelyn Frank

Lee & Debra Rosenfeld Samuel Rosenfeld

Audrey Silverman . . . . . . . Jean G Semins

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

Mitchell Toig . . . . . . . . Harry Levy

Contact the Development department at 412-586-2690 or development@jaapgh.org for more information. THIS WEEK’S YAHRZEITS —

Sunday March 17: Fred Kalson, Ruth Shatum, Myer N Shipkovitz, Harvey Simon

Monday March 18: Sarah Baker, Bernard Golanty, Dorothy Rubin

Tuesday March 19: Libby Berlow, Anne Davis Ginsberg, Joseph Horvitz, Gertrude Judd, Lilly Lakey Malt, Harvey James Roth, Azriel Meyer Sachs, Bernard Weiss, Isaac Young

Wednesday March 20: Louis C Burstin, Dora Cohen, Fannie Orlansky, Nat Rubin, Samuel Williams

Thursday March 21: Minnie Abelson, Ethel Chesterpal, Harvey N . Goldstein, Dorothy Morantz, Lester Poser, Jean G Semins, Goldie Simon

Friday March 22: Joseph H Braemer, David L Ekker, Jack Elkovitz, Ida Kramer, Pearl Wintner Rosen, Kenneth S Samowich

Saturday March 23: Harry Davis, Gary Lee Kress, William A Lubarsky, Steven L Ochs, Lena Pavilack, Malie Silverman, Dorothy Sloan, Helen Tepper, Sarah Leah Zinner

Tiphereth Israel Cemetery – Shaler Township

Tiphereth Israel Congregation was organized about 1890 by a small group of Orthodox Jews living on the Hill. The congregation was chartered in 1912. Rabbi Eliyahu W. Kochin served as rabbi to the congregation for almost forty years and established the Pittsburgh Jewish Seminary, later called the Hebrew Religious Academy. He and his wife’s graves are pictured here.

The first burials were in 1912. Located at the top of Oakwood Street in Shaler, and adjacent to Anshe Lubovitz and New Chesed Shel Emeth, the cemetery has been extremely well cared for by a dedicated group of volunteers long connected to the earliest of the shul’s families. The cemetery has kept these families close. With pride, the congregation donated a Torah in 1950 to Israel’s Hapolem Hamizrachi for use in the religious kibbutzim.

With almost 1000 graves, all on a wooded hillside, the cemetery is one of Jewish Pittsburgh’s most interesting and tranquil. Noted burials include former Boston Celtic Morris “Moe” Becker, Murray Goldstein-Specialist 5 in the US Army-Vietnam, beloved Pittsburgh icon Mary Marks, and family sections for the Guskys, Kochins, and Siffs. A particularly touching memorial is to Pvt. Jacob Miller, killed in action in WWI.

Special recognition is given to longstanding Tiphereth Israel Cemetery Chair Harvey Wolsh and to the Gusky Family for their many decades of service. Records of the congregation are housed at the Rauh Jewish Program and Archives.

Tiphereth Israel Cemetery became a JCBA owned cemetery in 2022.

For more information about JCBA cemeteries, plot purchases, to volunteer, to read our complete histories and/or to make a contribution, please visit our website at www.JCBApgh.org, email us at o ice@jcbapgh.org, or call the JCBA o ice at 412-553-6469.

JCBA’sexpanded vision is made possible by a generous grant from the Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh Jewish Community Foundation

Obituaries

Obituaries:

Continued from page 19

doctorate and pioneered in recognizing and treating alcoholism as a disease, and their children received a Jewish education and enjoyed growing up in this warm community. Ida later also earned a PhD at the University of Pittsburgh, taught Yiddish there, and knew 10 languages. She involved herself in many local organizations such as Hillel Academy of Pittsburgh, where her children went to school; National Council of Jewish Women, under whose aegis she produced two volumes of “By Myself I’m a Book” about local Jewish immigrants; Hadassah Women, and others. Ida was known as an expert on Pittsburgh’s Jewish history, writing articles and often lecturing about its personalities, particularly women. Her sense of justice and her mother’s avant-garde fight for women’s workers’ rights perhaps pushed her to research and write about labor relations. Earning a library degree and working in Cincinnati, the moment she reached retirement age she again made aliyah to Israel. In a wonderful 22-year second marriage to Dr. Yosef Meir Schwarcz, father to Louis, Alicia, and to Dan Schwarcz of Pittsburgh, they lived in Arad and Omer, traveling the world and exploring mutual interests. Yosef passed away in late 2018, and Ida returned to Jerusalem, to the Golden Hill protected living facility. She gradually weakened in recent months, while savoring seeing three new grandsons. Ida passed away in Hadassah’s Mount Scopus hospice, lovingly cared for by the organization she represented and supported for decades. The family therefore asks that contributions in her memory should go to Hadassah. Condolences may be sent to selavan@gmail.com and bselavan@gmail.com.

SILVERMAN: Ruth Silverman, on Wednesday, March 6, 2024. Cherished wife of the late Daniel Silverman. Beloved mother of Dr. Michael (Sheryl) Silverman and Jill (Jeffrey) Langue. Sister of the late Rosalind Radman and Perry Gross. Adored grandmother of five: Jordan (Kami) Langue, Steven (Laura) Langue, Michael Langue (fiancée Marissa), Sara (Ben) Finard and Eric Silverman; and one great-grandchild: Carter Daniel Langue. Services were held at Ralph Schugar Chapel, Inc. Interment Beth Shalom Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Adat Shalom Synagogue, 368 Guys Run Road, Cheswick, Pa., 15024. schugar.com

STERNBERGER: Judith “Judy” Sternberger, age 78, of Wilkinsburg, Pennsylvania, loving daughter of Ruth Hilleson Renner Zinman and Isadore Renner, passed away on March 10, 2024, at AGH-Forbes Campus surrounded by her dear friends. She was a loving wife and dedicated nurse in the third floor north telemetry unit of AGH-Forbes Campus until her retirement. Judy’s coworkers were like family to her, providing unwavering support and care especially through her years of cancer treatment. She faced her cancer diagnosis, surgeries, treatments, chemo, radiation and disabilities with courage, patience and hopefulness, always trusting in her doctors’ efforts. She is survived by her friends and coworkers who meant the world to her, including Kathleen Blaszak, Mandy Harshman, Sue Hicks, Regina and John Hudzik, Heather Kensiger, Jess Niggle, Diane Reuther, Betsy Smith, Carol Wuchevich, the nurses of the third floor telemetry unit at Forbes Campus, and any others we are so sorry to have missed. We are so grateful for all of you. Judy is also survived by her stepchildren, Arthur Sternberger III, Joan Wasserman, and Ann Connaghan. She was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Arthur Sternberger Jr., whom she lovingly cared for until his passing. Services and interment were private. Arrangements entrusted to Ralph Schugar Chapel, Inc. schugar.com

ZITNER: Dolores (Debbie) P. Zitner of Squirrel Hill passed away on March 6, 2024, surrounded by her three children, in Rockville, Maryland. She was 90. She was predeceased by George Zitner, her husband, the love of her life and partner in parenting, adventure and travel. Debbie was born Oct. 22, 1933, in Philadelphia and became a teacher, eventually at Colfax School in Squirrel Hill. With her best friend, she owned a catering business. She was a life master bridge player and a loving wife and parent with a generous disposition that made her lasting friendships throughout life, including at the Regency condo building, where she spent several decades of her life. She is survived by three children: Aaron Zitner (Ricki Farber); Ruth Zitner (Mark Finkelpearl); and Sarah Chupack (Joel Chupack); as well as grandchildren Max, Emily, Talia, Matthew, Nathaniel, Zoe, Shira and Alana; and her sister, Jocelyn Gaines. A funeral service was held at the Homewood Cemetery. Donations can be made to the Jewish Association on Aging, Attn: Development, 200 JHF Drive, Pittsburgh 15217 or  jaapgh.org/donate with a request to support Mollie’s Meals Food Delivery, a group to which Debbie devoted her time as a driver and a cause she cared about deeply. PJC

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412-661-4456 www.kaminrealty.kamin.com

412-661-4456 www.kaminrealty.kamin.com

Life & Culture

Accepting Oscar, Glazer says don’t use our Jewishness and Holocaust to justify Gaza war

By JTA and Times of Israel Staff

As widely predicted, “Oppenheimer,” the biopic of Jewish nuclear physicist J. Robert Oppenheimer, swept a number of categories at Sunday’s Oscars, including best picture, in a year unusually heavy with Jewish nominees.

But the most talked-about Jewish moment of the night came courtesy of Jonathan Glazer, writer-director of the cerebral Holocaust drama “The Zone of Interest,” who used his acceptance speech to comment on the Israel-Hamas war.

Standing alongside producers James Wilson and Len Blavatnik during his acceptance speech for best international feature, Glazer, who is Jewish and came to Israel on a five-month program when a student at London’s Jewish Free School, denounced Israel’s occupation of Palestinian territory, which he said had led to “dehumanization” that had affected both Israelis and Palestinians.

“Our film shows where dehumanization leads at its worst. It’s shaped all of our past and present,” Glazer said.

“Right now, we stand here as men who refute their Jewishness and the Holocaust being hijacked by an occupation which has led to conflict for so many innocent people,

whether the victims of October the 7th in Israel or the ongoing attack on Gaza,” he added to

“All the victims of this dehumanization. How do we resist?” he said, to more applause.

Glazer’s reference to Israel’s war in Gaza came after pro-Palestinian protesters snarled traffic around the Dolby Theatre as the Oscars kicked off.

In a previous award acceptance speech last month, Wilson criticized “innocent people being killed in Gaza” as something people should face head-on, rather than from behind “the walls we construct in our lives which we choose not to look behind,” in an allusion to the film’s depiction of Nazis and their families as willfully ignorant of the murder of Jews just beyond their gardens.

Blavatnik, meanwhile, is one of several major donors to suspend their support for Harvard University over its response to Hamas’ atrocities on Oct. 7.

Glazer’s comments elicited a range of reactions, including kudos from critics of Israel who mistakenly thought he had called Israel’s actions in Gaza “a holocaust” and castigation from prominent Jewish voices who misinterpreted his comments as saying that he was rejecting his own Jewish identity, rather than rejecting the use of the Holocaust to justify the “occupation.”

A founder of IfNotNow, a far-left Jewish group that has accused Israel of “genocide” and called for a cease-fire, said Glazer’s speech offered evidence of growing dissent against Israel among Jews. “More and more Jews are making clear that their Jewish values lead them to speak out against Israel,” Yonah Liberman tweeted.

Glazer, who was the first person to mention the conflict on stage, concluded by dedicating his Oscar to a real-life Polish resistance fighter whose story was featured in the film. He did not specifically call for a cease-fire in the Israel-Hamas war.

But a range of celebrities at the awards show — including musician Billie Eilish; director Ava DuVernay; and actors Mark Ruffalo, Mahershala Ali and Ramy Youssef — wore red pins supporting a cease-fire, in what is seen as a show of support for Palestinians.

“It’s really inspiring that so many artists here have been down for the cause and are wearing these pins,” said Youssef, who is Arab-American and a leader of the Artists for Ceasefire movement, on the red carpet before the show. (Youssef traveled to Israel to film his recent autobiographical show.)

In a statement, Artists for Ceasefire said it was urging President Joe Biden and Congress to “call for an immediate de-escalation and ceasefire in Gaza and Israel before another life is lost.”

It appealed for “an end to the bombing of Gaza, and the safe release of hostages.”

The statement mentioned that “more than 30,000 people have been killed over the last 5 months” – quoting the unverified toll from the Hamas-controlled Gaza health ministry that does not distinguish between fighters and non-combatant civilians. It also included an assessment that a child “is being killed every ten minutes in Gaza,” and cited UNICEF in describing the dire humanitarian crisis in Gaza where aid supplies have been drastically curtailed during the fighting.

The statement made no specific mention of the event that led to the war: the Palestinian terror group Hamas’ devastating Oct. 7 attack on Israel that killed 1,200 people, mostly civilians, amid horrific atrocities including widespread gang rape, torture and mutilation of victims, among them children. The thousands of attackers who burst into Israel from Gaza that day also abducted 253 people of all ages who were taken as hostages in the Palestinian enclave.

Israel responded to the attack with a military campaign to topple the Hamas regime in Gaza, destroy the terror group, and free the hostages of whom over half are still being held captive, dozens of them believed no longer alive.

According to a BBC tally, only IsraeliAmerican film producer Avi Arad was seen

wearing a yellow ribbon pin to show solidarity with the hostages.

The pins, sponsored by Bring Them Home, an Israeli hostages advocacy group, have shown up on the chests of a handful of other celebrities at previous events. J Smith-Cameron and John Ortiz both wore a yellow ribbon pin at the Golden Globes earlier this year.

Milo Machado-Graner and Swann Arlaud, stars of “Anatomy of a Fall,” both wore Palestinian flag pins at the Oscars.

Meanwhile, a commercial funded by Robert Kraft to raise awareness of antisemitism also aired during the ceremony.

However, the plight of hostages did get a personal shout-out at Elton John’s party for the Oscars in Los Angeles with freed hostage Mia Schem attending the event. Schem was kidnapped on Oct. 7 from the Supernova desert rave, where Hamas terrorists massacred 364 people.

Schem wore a white gown decorated with an oversized yellow rhinestone ribbon pin to raise awareness of the hostages still in Gaza, as she attended the annual 32nd Elton John AIDS Foundation Academy Awards Viewing Party.

Schem, a tattoo artist, was still wearing a full cast on her right arm, where she was shot during the Hamas attack. She underwent surgery while being held in Gaza, and was freed during a week-long truce in November.

Schem, her mother, and brother are in the U.S. to speak about the remaining hostages, visiting New York, Toronto, and Washington, D.C., where she attended Biden’s State of the Union address.

The winningest film of the night was “Oppenheimer,” based on the life of the “father of the atomic bomb,” which took home eight awards in total, including for Christopher Nolan for best director. Also scoring wins for the film were lead actor Cillian Murphy and supporting actor Robert Downey Jr., the latter for playing Oppenheimer’s real-life Jewish political rival, Lewis Strauss. The film features a great deal of discussion about its subject’s Judaism, including his efforts to recruit Jewish scientists exiled from Nazi-occupied Europe.

“Oppenheimer” and “The Zone of Interest” were two of an unusually large crop of Jewish nominees this year. Also competing in the best picture category were “Barbie,” the megahit musical comedy that incorporates the real-life doll’s Jewish inventor Ruth Handler (it won one Oscar, for best song), and “Maestro,” Bradley Cooper’s biopic of Jewish conductor-composer Leonard Bernstein (which stirred controversy with its makeup but went home empty-handed).

In addition to best international feature, “The Zone of Interest” also won the Oscar for best sound. The film’s unnerving approach to sound design spliced the noise of the unseen Auschwitz death camps onto the soundtrack while foregrounding the lives of the Nazi family whose patriarch was charged with overseeing it.

A handful of Jewish winners emerged from the evening as well. One was Arthur Harari, the co-writer of French best-picture nominee “Anatomy of a Fall,” who won for best original screenplay alongside his life and writing partner, Justine Triet. Harari has Mizrahi ancestry. Members of that film’s creative team wore Palestinian flag pins to the show. PJC

p Jonathan Glazer

Photo by Raph_PH, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Community

Bring them home

Community members and elected officials gathered on the corner of Darlington Road and Murray Avenue in Squirrel Hill to demand Hamas’ release of an estimated 134 hostages. The captives have been held in Gaza since Hamas attacked Israel on Oct. 7.

Celebrating in the Sunshine State

Fifteen Pittsburgh teens joined 4,000 Jewish peers at BBYO’s international convention in Orlando, Florida. The Feb. 13-17 gathering enabled teens, staff, alumni and stakeholders to hear speakers and performers, including Tiffany Haddish and Noa Tishby.

Oh, what a night

It’s a giving society

The Young Women’s Giving Society of the Jewish Women’s Foundation of Greater Pittsburgh awarded three grants during their funding meeting. The evening of grantmaking, led by YWGS co-chairs Paige Cohen, Jessica Levenson Durst and Lauren Katz, celebrated Ruth’s Way, Strong

p Pennsylvania state Rep. Jared Solomon speaks during the March 10 gathering.

p JWF members and representatives of Ruth’s Way, Strong Women Strong Girls and the Yeshiva Girls School

Photo courtesy of Jewish Women’s Foundation of Greater Pittsburgh

p From left: Mel Schwartz, Haliel Selig, Noa Tishby, Ava McKenney and Shauna Maenza

Photo courtesy of Haliel Selig

Members, supporters and friends of the Jewish Community Center of Greater Pittsburgh celebrated Big Night with live music, dancing, food, a raffle and silent auction. Money raised at the March 9 event provides scholarships and support for programs, including early childhood education and older adult activities. Longtime former President and CEO Brian

p From left: Jimmy Ruttenberg, Lori Ruttenberg, Dory Levine, David Levine, Suzanne Schreiber, Brian Schreiber, Nancy Ostrow and Woody Ostrow

Photo courtesy of Jewish Community Center of Greater Pittsburgh

p Sandy Zell and Barbara Zell participate in the weekly event. Photos by Jonathan Dvir

University of Pittsburgh students enjoyed an evening of pizza making and job-hunting advice from Pitt alumni Matthew and Samantha Lefkowitz.

Photo courtesy of Chabad House on Campus