Pittsburgh Jewish Chronicle 6-16-23

Shootouts with police, social media posts among evidence presented in synagogue massacre trial

Jewish Association on Aging redevelopment plans announced

By Chronicle Sta and Union Progress Sta

The trial of the man accused of killing 11 innocent worshippers inside the Tree of Life building on Oct. 27, 2018, entered its third week of testimony on Monday. The shooter faces 63 counts, including the obstruction of the free exercise of religious beliefs resulting in death. The federal government is seeking the death penalty.

Those killed were: Bernice Simon, 84, and her husband Sylvan Simon, 86; Jerry Rabinowitz, 66; David Rosenthal, 54, and his brother, Cecil, 59; Dan Stein, 71; Joyce Fienberg, 75; Irving Younger, 69; Melvin Wax, 87; Richard Gottfried, 65; and Rose Mallinger, 97. He also wounded two other congregants and several police officers.

Here is a recap of the trial testimony of Days 6-9. For more extensive and up-to-date coverage, go to pittsburghjewishchronicle.org.

Day 6: SWAT team recounts shootout

The staccato rat-rat-rat of semiautomatic gunfire resounded in a federal courtroom on

June 6 as a jury watched a video recorded outside the Tree of Life building on Oct. 27, 2018.

It sounded like a war zone because it essentially was — a rapid-fire shootout inside the building between the Pittsburgh Police SWAT unit and the mass shooter.

Police had tracked him to a dark top floor classroom, where he opened fire on them with the AR-15 assault weapon he had already used to slaughter 11 worshippers, wound two congregants and then shoot two SWAT team members.

SWAT officer John Persin said memories of all he saw, heard and smelled that day still haunt him nearly five years later.

From his hiding place, the defendant shot SWAT members Tim Matson and Anthony Burke, forcing the team to retreat and execute a rescue of their comrades.

Officers then engaged him in a second gunfight and wounded him.

Video shot from the street outside the building captured a furious exchange of high-velocity rounds.

Persin said the defendant started the shooting.

Please see Trial, page 10

By Adam Reinherz | Sta Writer

Community members learned about significant changes to the Jewish Association on Aging during a June 6 meeting hosted by the Squirrel Hill Urban Coalition. Attorneys, architects and developers described a phased redevelopment of buildings on the JAA’s Browns Hill Road campus slated to begin next year.

The JAA closed its skilled nursing facility, the Charles Morris Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, in January 2021. It closed The Residence at Weinberg Village, a personal care facility, at the end of 2022. Both facilities were on the JAA campus.

“It’s really replacing and upgrading what currently exists,” Shawn Gallagher, a real estate attorney with Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney, said. The JAA provides various state-licensed skilled care levels —including memory care and personal care — but the facilities “are a little bit outdated, and I think they’ve outlived their useful life.”

Ultimately, the goal is to “eventually demolish everything, but it’s going to be a phased development,” Gallagher added.

The initial step will begin with razing Weinberg Village as well as a “really small portion of the Charles Morris building,” Ian Anderson, of PH7 Architects, said. From there, a five-story structure will be

Please see JAA, page 11

 JAA Senior Community

Photo provided by JAA

Photo by Adam Reinherz

Headlines

In Pittsburgh synagogue shooter trial, it really is a matter of religion

— LOCAL —

By David Rullo | Staff Writer

If the accused Pittsburgh synagogue shooter is found guilty and sentenced to death, it won’t be because of the brutality of his crimes. Nor will it be because of the federal hate crimes with which he’s charged, as those aren’t capital offenses.

Rather, it will be because he was found guilty of obstruction of the free exercise of religion resulting in death — for which he faces 11 separate counts.

Before the jury can decide whether the defendant’s actions were meant to obstruct the free exercise of religious beliefs, though, the government will have to connect the crimes to the Constitution.

Why?

“Congress does not have the general authority to make anything and everything they want to a crime,” explained Bruce Antkowiak, a former federal prosecutor and criminal defense attorney, who has taught law at Duquesne University and St. Vincent College. “They have to tie whatever crime they are categorizing to some power given to them in the Constitution.”

Where Congress has the most leniency, Antkowiak said, is through Article 1, Section 8, known as the Commerce Clause, which gives the legislative body the ability “to regulate commerce with foreign nations, and among the several states, and with the Indian Tribes.”

That comes into play in this case through the weapons used by the defendant. If he used a gun manufactured in another state, and that gun crossed state lines before being used in the crime, then the federal government has jurisdiction.

During the trial, prosecutors have elicited testimony showing that the guns and ammunition used by the defendant were manufactured outside of Pennsylvania.

Next, the prosecutors will have to prove that the defendant intended to obstruct the free exercise of religious beliefs of those inside the building at the time of the massacre. That crime is outlined in Title 18 U.S. Code 247, the Church Arson Protection Act, which became a law in 1996. If the obstruction of the free exercise of religion results in death, the death penalty can be imposed.

While the defendant is also charged with 11 counts of committing a hate crime resulting in death, those crimes do not carry the death penalty as a punishment. The reason, explained David Harris, a professor of law at the University of Pittsburgh, is twofold. First, it is difficult to prove the requisite intent of someone accused of a hate crime; and second, some members of Congress are uncomfortable with the idea of sentencing someone to death for a crime where a free speech argument might be made. With a hate crime, prosecutors must prove that a person not only intentionally committed

the crime but also that they did so intending to exhibit hate or to intimidate certain protected groups. And, for some in Congress, that’s a bridge too far.

So, to avoid the imposition of the death penalty, the defense team will focus on the religious obstruction counts. In her opening statement, defense attorney Judy Clarke admitted that her client killed 11 worshippers while they were in the synagogue on Shabbat. She implied, though, that he did so not because of their religion, but because he believed Jews were enabling immigrants to commit genocide by helping them enter the U.S.

Congregation Dor Hadash, one of the three congregations the defendant attacked, has worked with the Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society (HIAS), an organization that assists immigrants. Dor Hadash participated in HIAS’ National Refugee Shabbat, and the defendant commented about that participation on Gab. com, a social media site favored by the far right. Before entering the synagogue on Oct. 27, 2018, he posted to Gab.com: “HIAS likes to bring invaders in that kill our people. I can’t sit by and watch my people get slaughtered. Screw your optics, I’m going in.”

The defendant believed the “unthinkable, nonsensical, irrational thought that by killing Jews, he would attain his goal,” Clarke said.

The government, on the other hand, argued in its opening statement that the defendant intentionally obstructed by force the victims’ free exercise of religious beliefs.

“What he was doing in terms of obstructing,” Harris said, “was the most basic and most direct way of obstructing religious force — using force on these people to kill them as they attempted to worship and gather to worship.”

If the defendant did not intend to obstruct the free exercise of religion, he could have planned his attack to occur somewhere other than a synagogue on Shabbat, Harris said.

As for the defense’s argument that the shooter wanted to kill Jews to stop what he saw as a genocide?

Harris believes that, while the defense isn’t arguing insanity, this is a way to introduce the

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With a hate crime, prosecutors must prove that a person not only intentionally committed the crime but also that they did so intending to exhibit hate or to intimidate certain protected groups.

p Scales of justice

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Headlines

University of Pittsburgh exhibit celebrates Jonas Salk and polio vaccine creation

— LOCAL —

By Abigail Hakas | Staff Writer

Dr. Peter Salk was just 9 in May of 1953 when his father, Dr. Jonas Salk, came home with glass syringes and needles, which he boiled on the stove, and then lined up his three sons and wife to give them a then-experimental polio vaccine. The vaccine trials had not yet begun on a wider scale.

“I hated injections,” said Peter Salk, a researcher at the University of Pittsburgh. “And the thing that marked that occasion in my mind ... that day, the needle must have just missed all the nerves. I didn’t feel it. And then that’s just sort of frozen that experience in my mind. I can see being there in the kitchen, the kitchen table, the light coming in the window and so on.”

The creation and rollout of the vaccine is explored in the University of Pittsburgh’s Jonas Salk Legacy exhibit, which opened on April 28 to celebrate the legacy of the Jewish physician and the 75th anniversary of the Pitt School of Public Health. Materials were donated by the Salk family.

The creation of the polio vaccine is a uniquely Pittsburgh story, starting with Jonas Salk’s work in a University of Pittsburgh laboratory and extending to the 1954 clinical trials. A plaque in the exhibit lists the many Pittsburgh elementary schools where thousands of students were inoculated before the vaccine was deemed safe for widespread use in 1955. Next to the plaque is a consent form that parents signed before the vaccination.

available to the participants by contacting the library.

Several Pitt students were involved in curating the exhibit. Maggie Shaheen, a senior and Philadelphia native, said the work got her interested in Pittsburgh history.

“I’m from the other side of the state of Pennsylvania, and local history never really interested me much there,” she said. “But in Pittsburgh, I find that the local history is really interesting.”

One of the most eye-catching features of the exhibit is an iron lung donated by

paralyzed by polio.

Lily Heistand, a senior who worked on the exhibit, said what impacted her most was the iron lung and “seeing the detrimental way that this virus would just harm these kids’ bodies, and they had to be in this machine just to survive, and how Jonas Salk prevented that happening to so many other kids.”

Pieces of lab equipment came from the Salk Institute in La Jolla, California, where Jonas and Peter Salk worked together.

“The incubator that’s there, I’m pretty sure is the one that I used,” Peter Salk said. “It was right next to my laboratory bench. So, all of these things have, you know, a reality and a tangibility to them that to me, I find really,

Also coming from La Jolla is Jonas Salk’s desk, which sat in his office in Pittsburgh

before moving with him to California in 1965. The desk is protected with a glass sheet and visitors are invited to sit where Salk once sat. Displayed above the desk are a plethora of awards that Salk received for his work, including an American Hero award from Disneyland.

Pitt School of Public Health Vice Dean Jessica Burke hopes that the exhibit will inspire students and visitors to consider a career in public health.

“I want [visitors] to have a better understanding of public health initiatives, vaccination, how important it is for the prevention of disease and the key role that public health plays in many efforts,”

A few quotes from Jonas Salk are spread throughout the exhibit, but Burke said one, in particular, is meaningful to her.

“Hope lies in dreams, in imagination and in the courage of those who dare to make dreams into reality,” Salk said in an acceptance speech for the Jawaharlal Nehru Award for International Understanding.

Peter Salk said that speech was an extension of his father’s work and philosophy, which continues today with the Salk Institute and work fighting cancer and climate change, among other areas of research.

“The acceptance speech that he wrote for that is, it’s a really condensed view version of his overarching thinking about humanity,” Peter Salk said. “And the title of it is haunting to me, which is, ‘Are We Being Good Ancestors?’”

The Jonas Salk Legacy Exhibit is free and open to visitors from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Friday at the University of Pittsburgh’s School of Public Health on 130 De Soto St. in Oakland. PJC

Abigail Hakas can be reached at ahakas@ pittsburghjewishchronicle.org.

p Dr. Peter Salk

Photo by Aimee Obidzinski/University of Pittsburgh

p The entrance to the Jonas Salk Legacy exhibit

Photo by Abigail Hakas p The iron lung displayed in the Jonas Salk Legacy exhibit Photo by John Dillard/UPMC

Chaplains lend an ear and offer help during synagogue shooting trial

more than chaplaincy,” Vogel said. The 10.27 Healing Partnership, JFCS and other agencies are providing “beautiful services

By Adam Reinherz | Staff Writer

As the government continues calling witnesses in the Pittsburgh synagogue shooting trial, one question that won’t be asked is, “Where is God?”

For those seated in the courtroom and monitoring daily updates, however, the case is generating questions of faith. Months before testimony began, representatives of the 10.27 Healing Partnership and JFCS recognized the need for religious helpers beyond Pittsburgh’s cadre of rabbis, spiritual guides and mental health professionals.

The massacre of 11 Jews on Oct. 27, 2018, was an antisemitic attack that prompted “traumatic grief of such a large level,” the 10.27 Healing Partnership’s Maggie Feinstein said. Two of the community’s rabbis — Jeffrey Myers and Jonathan Perlman — are survivors of the shooting. Other local clergy are also tied to the event or to other people who are closely connected. Because of the “overlapping relationships,” Feinstein said, reliance on outside chaplains made sense.

The realization was spurred by community needs that arose during the trial of another mass shooter — in Charleston, South Carolina.

After the 2015 Mother Emanuel Church shooting — in which nine African American worshippers were killed and one was injured — chaplains helped the community during the trial, the Jewish Theological Seminary’s Rabbi Naomi Kalish told the Chronicle.

“A chaplain doesn’t preach or teach,” she said. “A chaplain listens to people give

expression to what they’re actually thinking or feeling. Part of the care that we give is helping people sort that out, then think through that and hopefully heal from

Feinstein and JFCS’ Dana Gold worked with Kalish — an assistant professor of pastoral education at JTS and the Harold and Carole Wolfe director for the Center for Pastoral Education — to create an “additional layer of support” in Pittsburgh similar to what transpired in Charleston.

The result, Kalish said, is that as the trial continues downtown, a team of trained chaplains will rotate through the federal courthouse.

Doing so is “almost unprecedented,” she said. It happened in Charleston, but including chaplains among other caregivers is a stark reminder to “people who have been affected by the incident, both directly and indirectly, that their experience is important while they go through this process.”

Rabbi Moishe Mayir Vogel, executive director of the Aleph Institute – N.E. Regional Headquarters, has worked with chaplains in

local prisons for more than 30 years.

What he’s noticed, he said, is the overwhelming value that chaplains provide: People sometimes “need someone of faith to talk to, or just a word of strength to take them through a horrible crisis.”

Like Kalish and her rotating team, Vogel has assembled a group of chaplains to serve during the Pittsburgh synagogue shooting trial.

Vogel’s 30-member crew is from the Keystone Disaster Spiritual Care Network. Twenty-three of the chaplains are non-Jews. Seven are Jewish.

Maintaining a diverse pool of religious guides is essential, Vogel explained.

The trial is affecting the Jewish community, but greater Pittsburgh is also “going through this trauma,” he said. It’s imperative that anyone who “feels like talking should have where to call.”

Between 8 a.m. and 11 p.m., chaplains can be reached at 484-482-5272.

Regardless of religion, each chaplain is “trained to listen,” and part of that training includes noticing when “something requires

While Kalish and her team offer support at the courthouse, Vogel and his team are reachable by phone. Still, both rabbis would like to increase their group’s presence.

Kalish said she’d like to see chaplains in synagogues, schools and other community

Vogel said he hopes to create a table near the Squirrel Hill farmer’s market where attendees can speak with a chaplain.

Neither Kalish nor Vogel has any intention of detracting Pittsburghers from local clergy, who often have the benefit of providing guidance based on decades-long relationships.

Chaplaincy is not intended to replace the “spiritual and emotional support” offered by local leaders, Kalish said. Visiting professionals are simply presenting individuals with a means of addressing short-term crises, including anger toward God and questions about whether “prayer is meaningful.”

“The goal here is that everything should work harmoniously to provide the community with whatever it needs,” Vogel said.

During the past 4½ years, Pittsburghers have had access to numerous pathways for help, expressing pain and connecting with others. Chaplaincy, Feinstein said, is a way to “gain some sense of spiritual connectivity, awe and wonder when hard things are happening.”

The result is tremendous, but it requires the dedication of two parties, Vogel explained.

These two Jewish women are leading the charge of improving perinatal mental health

By Justin Vellucci | Special to the Chronicle

Two Jewish health professionals in Pittsburgh — one working at AHN, one at UPMC — are changing the face of perinatal mental health in Pennsylvania.

Dr. Eydie Moses-Kolko works for UPMC as a senior adviser for its outpatient perinatal mental health program. She said she became interested in the topic at the end of her residency at UPMC Western Behavioral Health at Magee-Womens Hospital.

“Over my lifetime, I’ve had anxiety and depression that made me curious about psychology as a profession and made me curious about how I would fare psychologically through a pregnancy of my own,” Moses-Kolko, who lives in Point Breeze, said.

Today, she has two young adult daughters. When her first child was born in 2002, she said she was aware of the “stress of juggling motherhood with a career.” She also knew a thing or two about the feelings processed after having a child.

“I definitively feel like I have personal experience myself,” she said.

So, she shared it. And she found, as time went

on, that conversations about perinatal mental health were changing.

“The discussions are a lot more nuanced now,” Moses-Kolko said. “What’s changed is that postpartum depression is a single entity, and there’s a wide spectrum of perinatal symptoms.”

She also looks at the bigger picture, whether it’s the marginalization of certain women or the psychological impact of medica tions and lactation.

“My practice and my interest have turned more to how to repair our communities on a larger scale,” she said.

Rebecca Brent, Psy.D., works for AHN as the program director for women’s behavioral health. She has been involved in perinatal mental health since she became licensed as a

daughter and 10-year-old twins. She didn’t struggle with perinatal depression or anxiety. But she did have experience with infertility and used IVF to help get pregnant.

“There’s such a need for more services,” said Brent, who lamented that most perinatal mental health programs are clustered on the East Coast. “There is no way we can meet the need — about one in five women will have a perinatal mood disorder … we’re just behind. It’s very distressing.”

Things are changing. At AHN, doctors now are screening for both depression and bipolar disorder in all OB-GYN offices during the third trimester of pregnancy and, again, six weeks postpartum. And, though Pennsylvania got a grade of C from a group working with Georgetown University, it was one of the higher

Moses-Kolko and Brent also work together, collaborating in a group called Postpartum Pittsburgh, and sometimes swapping or sharing patients when insurance restrictions dictate it.

Moses-Kolko has a simple answer.

“This person has a hand in the development of future generations,” she said. “Being able to offer care — I feel that’s in my upbringing.” PJC Justin Vellucci is a freelance writer living

Eydie Moses-Kolko

Photo courtesy of Eydie Moses-Kolko

p Rebecca Brent Photo courtesy of Rebecca Brent

p Rabbi Naomi Kalish

Photo courtesy of Rabbi Naomi Kalish

p Rabbi Moshe Mayir Vogel

Photo by Toby Tabachnick

Please see Chaplains, page 11

Jewish Women’s Foundation celebrates 20 years of funding

to support women’s financial independence and stability.

By Abigail Hakas | Staff Writer

The Jewish Women’s Foundation of Greater Pittsburgh is celebrating 20 years of grantmaking this month, having raised $1.7 million to support community organizations.

Patricia L. Siger and Judith Roscow founded the JWF in 2000 to promote societal change for women and girls in the Pittsburgh area and allow donors to better understand where their money was going and what it was being used for.

When Executive Director Judy Cohen joined the organization in 2003, the year it gave out its first grant, there were around 40 trustees. Today there are 172.

Co-chair and trustee Barbara Rosenberger joined the JWF because of its emphasis on expanding the opportunities for young women — which were significantly more limited in her childhood than when her two daughters were growing up.

“The emphasis on what we could achieve was so different — you know, ‘I should become a nurse or a teacher because that’s a great field that you can come back to if you ever need to work,’” she said. “It was a very different way of thinking about growth. My husband and I thought so thoroughly differently, and our daughters were raised to know they could do anything that they wanted.”

On average, JWF receives applications from 40 organizations and gives out 15 grants each year. Grants range from $1,000 to $10,000 and a minimum of 50% of the funding must go to the Jewish community.

The JWF has supported a plethora of organizations throughout its 20 years, from funding a STEM curriculum at Yeshiva Girls School in Squirrel Hill to a soccer program for young refugees with Open Field.

To decide what programs the JWF will fund, trustees read the grants and deliberate in meetings in a model based on collaborative philanthropy.

“It’s hard. And we don’t always agree. And that’s why the discussion is always enlightening to me,” Rosenberger said. “I

hear a different viewpoint on it and I’m like, ‘Wow, I completely missed that.’ And then other times, I think something is so great and nobody else does, and I’m able to offer a viewpoint.”

donating my money, and helping to decide where it goes, was really what kind of thrills me about the Jewish Women’s Foundation,” she said. “In JWF, when you’re pooling money, then you’re making

Members of JWF surveyed the community to see what was missing from local resources for women and found few resources for women in transition, such as divorce, the loss of a job or the death of a spouse.

When it was founded, MomsWork was the Center for Women, but its name changed in March 2022 to focus on mothers who lost their jobs during the pandemic. The program offers educational resources through its podcast “Bridges to Equity,” a network of more than 500 people on LinkedIn and a virtual support group for working moms.

Not every application gets funded, but Rosenberger said one of the benefits of the collaborative philanthropy model is that trustees get an opportunity to learn about organizations that they can then support on their own.

“It’s just been an unbelievable education,” she said. “And there are a lot of organizations making a wonderful difference in our community that I’ve been able to do a small part in helping.”

While JWF is celebrating its 20-year anniversary of grantmaking, Cohen is looking to the future. The pandemic slowed the growth of its trustee network, and she hopes the Young Women’s Giving Society, JWF’s giving circle for women ages 25 to 45, will draw in new members with a financial commitment of $300 per year.

“The idea is the same, that these are young, amazing women that want to learn about issues impacting women and girls and want to be part of a collaborative philanthropy process,” she said. “And it’s the future of the Jewish Women’s Foundation to bring in younger women to let them share in this experience, and hopefully join us as a full trustee sometime down the road when their lives allow it.”

Laurie Gottlieb, co-chair with Rosenberger, said the draw of collaborative philanthropy is that it encourages a more educated decision-making process, and the impact is greater.

“I’ve always been supportive of nonprofits in the community. But the idea of actually

helping you plan for what matters the most

greater impact because you’re giving larger amounts of money.”

In 2012, the JWF did just that by awarding a signature grant of $75,000 annually for six years, totaling $450,000, to support the creation of MomsWork, a National Council of Jewish Women’s program

The JWF hosted a celebratory event at The Playhouse at Point Park University on June 13. Gloria Borger, CNN’s senior political analyst, was the scheduled keynote speaker. PJC

Abigail Hakas can be reached at ahakas@ pittsburghjewishchronicle.org.

p JWF trustees, top row, from left: Carol Sikov Gross; Laurie Gottlieb, JWF co-chair; Sharon Roseman; Ilene Fingeret, JWF grantmaking co-chair; Barbara Ginsburg; Lauren Goldblum, past JWF co-chair; Laurie Weingart; Bottom row, from left: Anne Witchner Levin, 20th anniversary event co-chair; Barbara Rosenberger, JWF co-chair; Jan Engelberg, 20th anniversary event co-chair; and Peggy Gold

Photo by Judy Cohen

With the increasing costs of long-term care, having the help of a legal professional when planning for your family’s future can help you make better decisions that can result in keeping more of your money.

We help families understand the strategies, the benefits, and risks involved with elder law, disability and estate planning.

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

“There are a lot of organizations making a wonderful difference in our community that I’ve been able to do a small part in helping.”

–BARBARA ROSENBERGER

Submit calendar items on the Chronicle’s website, pittsburghjewishchronicle.org. Submissions also will be included in print. Events will run in the print edition beginning one month prior to the date as space allows. The deadline for submissions is Friday, noon.

q SATURDAY, JUNE 17

Join the Pride Tribe of Temple Sinai for Pride Seder, reminiscent of the traditional Passover seder, but including stories and hardships of LGBTQ+ life, celebrating the freedoms that have been achieved and exploring freedoms not yet gained. LGBTQ+ individuals beyond the Jewish community, as well as allies of the LGBTQ+ community, are welcome. 6 p.m. $25/$12 with student ID. RSVP by June 12. 5505 Forbes Ave. templesinaipgh.org/event/PrideSeder23.html.

q SUNDAYS, JUNE 18 – DEC. 3

Join Chabad of Squirrel Hill for its Men’s Tefillin Club. Enjoy bagels, lox and tefillin on the first Sunday of the month. 8:30 a.m. chabadpgh.com.

q SUNDAYS, JUNE 18 – DEC. 17

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.

q MONDAYS AND WEDNESDAYS, JUNE 19 – JULY 12

The Jewish people has given the world a range of extraordinary gifts. Without Jews, these amazing contributions might not exist at all. In the 10-part series, The Gift of the Jews, Rabbi Danny Schiff will detail the most significant 10 gifts that Jews have given to civilization and will explain their importance to humanity as a whole. Mondays and Wednesdays, 9:30 a.m. $140. jewishpgh.org/event/the-gifts-ofthe-jews/2023-06-12.

q MONDAYS, JUNE 19 – DEC. 18

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

q TUESDAY, JUNE 20

Hairdressers, professional mourners and magical

healers find their spotlight in “Women in Talmud: Who Would You Be in the Third Century,” new presentation from scholar Olivia Devorah Tucker. How does our Talmud — the conversations of the first generations of rabbis — discuss the lives of women over 1,500 years ago? What experiences are timeless? Which lost practices could enhance our lives today? 7 p.m. rodefshalom.org.

Chabad of Western Pennsylvania and its centers

invite you to “Judaism for the 21st Century: A Blueprint for Global Transformation,” featuring a keynote address by author Rabbi Simon Jacobson. JCC Katz Performing Arts Theater, 5738 Darlington Road. 7 p.m. Free and open to the public. RSVP to your local Chabad center.

q TUESDAYS AND THURSDAYS, JUNE 20 – JUNE 27

In the lead-up to Tisha B’Av, Rabbi Danny Schiff invites you to join him in a study of the Book of Lamentations and the powerful insights that it offers. This new course explores the history and the context of a book that is filled with tribulations. What lessons can we learn today from Lamentations and from the destruction of Jewish sovereignty that took place so long ago? $70. Tuesdays and Thursdays, 9:30 a.m. jewishpgh.org/event/thebook-of-lamentations/2023-06-13.

q TUESDAYS, JUNE 20 – DEC. 19

Join Temple Sinai for a weekly Talmud class with Rabbi Daniel Fellman. Noon. On site and online. For more information and for the Zoom link, contact Temple Sinai at 412-421-9715.

Join Women of Temple Sinai for Yoga at Temple Sinai, a relaxing class taught by certified yoga teacher Bre Kernick. All levels welcome. No experience required. Ages 16 and older. 7 p.m. $15 a session. templesinaipgh. org/programs-events.

q WEDNESDAY, JUNE 21

Join renowned journalist Yaron Deckel and Laura Cherner for Israel in the Moment: A Changing Middle East and Challenges to Israeli Democracy, a public community-wide event discussing Israel’s current reality. 7:30 p.m. jewishpgh.org/event/israelin-the-moment.

JCBA announces leadership transition

The Jewish Cemetery and Burial Association of Greater Pittsburgh announced that its operation manager, Kelly Schwimer, will succeed Barry Rudel as the organization’s executive director upon Rudel’s retirement in December.

Schwimer joined the JCBA staff in 2022. A graduate of Duquesne University, the Upper St. Clair resident has long been active in Pittsburgh’s Jewish community. She served as director of sales for the Pittsburgh Jewish Chronicle and was on the Jewish National Fund’s development staff. She is a member of Beth El Congregation of the South Hills, Congregation Beth Shalom and Chabad of Squirrel Hill.

“Kelly brings both outstanding manage ment skills and a zeal for our work that adds much to the JCBA,” Harvey Wolsh, the JCBA’s board president, said. “Our board looks forward to having Kelly assume the executive director duties upon Barry’s retirement. Kelly, along with our dedicated and talented board and staff, will continue our successful efforts in restorations and

fund development.

“We wish Barry all the best in his well ­ deserved retirement and thank him for his outstanding service to the JCBA.” PJC

q WEDNESDAYS, JUNE 21 – DEC. 20

Join AgeWell for an intergenerational family dynamics discussion group. Whether you have family harmony or strife, these discussions are going to be thoughtprovoking and helpful. Led by intergenerational specialist/presenter and educator Audree Schall. Third Wednesday of each month. Free. 12:30 p.m. South Hills JCC.

q WEDNESDAYS, JUNE 21 – DEC. 27

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.

q WEDNESDAY, JUNE 21

The Squirrel Hill AARP will hold its end of the year annual luncheon and installation of officers. Matt Sigler will perform a comedy/magic show. Those planning to attend should contact Gerri Linder at 412-421-5868 before June 5.12:30 p.m. $26.25 Roma Bistro Restaurant, 2104 Ardmore Blvd.

Join Classrooms Without Borders for a conversation with Michael Berenbaum and Elliot Resnick on “Representative Sol Bloom: The Moral Conflicts of an American-Jewish Congressman During the Holocaust.” 4 p.m. cwbpgh.org/event/america-and-theholocaust-a-series-of-colloquies.

q SUNDAY, JUNE 25

Shaare Torah Congregation and archivist Eric Lidji host a special Hill District Jewish History tour by trolley featuring sites and stories significant to the shul’s history. 10:30 a.m. $36 per person. RSVP by June 16. shaaretorah.net/event/jewish-history-tour.html.

Women are invited to join Chabad of Squirrel Hill on Zoom for a Rosh Chodesh Gathering. Learn insights about the month of Tammuz during the presentation. 7:30 p.m. chabadpgh.com.

q SUNDAY, JUNE 25

Fill your cup with Chabad of Squirrel Hill by exploring

the teachings of Tanya during Full Circle, a monthly women’s growth group. 7 p.m. 1700 Beechwood Blvd. chabadpgh.com.

q WEDNESDAY, JUNE 28

Young children and their grown-ups are invited to join Rodef Shalom librarian Sam Siskind for a story in the Biblical Botanical Garden followed by a crafty activity. 12:45 p.m. Free. rodefshalom.org/garden.

q THURSDAY, JUNE 29

Should plagiarism be considered a form of theft? In the internet era, should electronic plagiarism be regarded as a less serious or a more serious infraction? In the CLE Plagiarism in the Internet Age, Rabbi Danny Schiff will survey the plague of plagiarism and what Jewish law has to say about it. Open to all — you need not be a lawyer to attend. 8:30 a.m. jewishpgh.org/ event/2022-2023-continuing-legal-educationseries-5.

Ethnobotanist Dr. Jon Greenberg will present how the study of how people use plants can help us better understand the Torah, from identifying the plants and other natural phenomena mentioned in the Tanach, to using information about these plants to shed light on their use in prophetic metaphor. 2 p.m. Rodef Shalom Congregation, 4905 Fifth Ave.

q WEDNESDAY, JULY 5

Join Rodef Shalom on the first Wednesday of the month for free, docent-led tours of its Biblical Botanical Garden. For groups of eight or more, please contact biblicalgarden@rodefshalom.org to schedule a tour. Noon. Free. rodefshalom.org/garden.

q MONDAYS AND WEDNESDAYS, JULY 17 – AUG. 2

There has never been an age in Jewish history without internal Jewish controversies. In the six-part series Contemporary Jewish Controversies, Rabbi Danny Schiff will lead robust discussions about significant Jewish controversies that echo across the contemporary Jewish landscape, including Zoom prayer, intermarried rabbis, the death penalty for acts of terror against Israelis and much more. $85. Mondays and Wednesdays. 9:30 a.m. jewishpgh.org/event/contemporary-jewishcontroversies/2023-07-17. PJC

Join the Chronicle Book Club!

The Pittsburgh Jewish Chronicle invites you to join the Chronicle Book Club for its July 16 discussion of “Call It Sleep” by Henry Roth. From the Jewish Book Council: “When Hen ry Roth lished his debut novel ‘Call It Sleep’ in 1934, it was greeted with considercal acclaim though, in those bled times, lackluster sales. Only with back publi cation thir ty years er did this nov el receive the tion it deserves and still enjoys. ing sold­to­date mil lions of copies wide, ‘Call It Sleep’ is the magnificent ry of David Schearl, the ‘dangerously tive’ child coming of age in the slums of New York.

“First published in 1934, and immely hailed as a master piece, this is el of Jew ish life full of the pain esty of fami ly relationships. It holds the distinc tion of being the first back ever to receive a frontpage review in The New York Times Book Review, and it became a nationwide bestseller.”

Your Hosts:

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

How and When:

We will meet on Zoom on Sunday, July 16, at noon.

What To Do

Buy: “Call it Sleep.” It is available from online retailers including Barnes & Noble and Amazon and through the Carnegie Library system.

Email: Contact us at drullo@pittsburghjewishchronicle.org, and write “Chronicle Book Club” in the subject line. We will send you a Zoom link for the discussion meeting.

Happy reading! PJC

Toby Tabachnick

Toby Tabachnick

p Kelly Schwimer Photo provided by JCBA

Jewish columnist and AIDS advocate Beverly Pollock dies at 99

AIDS. She also became an adopted mother to many of our members who had been rejected by their families.”

By Justin Vellucci | Special to the Chronicle

Beverly Pollock, above all else, was a writer. Her resume, like a cup, overflowed: wife, mother, communications director at Pittsburgh’s United Jewish Federation, Temple David charter member, radio personality, AIDS activist.

But what most remember about Pollock is the word — either in the knee-slapping comedy skits she wrote with Shirley Katz for countless organizations, her touching plays or her long-running opinion column, “Quoth The Maven,” which started in Pittsburgh’s Jewish Chronicle in 1967 and eventually was syndicated in more than a dozen Jewish newspapers nationwide.

Pollock even wrote her own obituary — twice.

“She was kind of before her time — she was born in the wrong era,” said Susan Pollock Stein, Pollock’s daughter, who lives in San Diego. “Nowadays, she would’ve been a journalist. Those outlets just weren’t there for her at the time. These were the years mothers didn’t work.”

A whiz with the pen who loved her family and friends passionately and, in her later years, opened her heart to Pittsburgh’s AIDS community, Pollock passed away on May 29. She was 99.

Though Pollock came of age in western Pennsylvania, she was born a Southerner — in Bessemer, Alabama. At a young age, she moved to Atlanta and later graduated from Agnes Scott College in Decatur, Georgia. She met Mel Pollock, married him and then relocated to Gallitzin, Pennsylvania, outside Altoona. The couple eventually settled and raised four children in Churchill.

Though the history is unclear, Pollock started writing an opinion column titled “Slightly Irreverent” for the Monroeville Times-Express, said Eric Lidji, the director of the Rauh Jewish Archives at the Heinz History Center. Then, in 1967 came “Quoth The Maven,” a topical opinion column in the Chronicle. Pollock helped fan the flames to get it published in 16 Jewish newspapers in the U.S. and Canada.

“My mom was a big part of the Chronicle,” Stein said. “Her column, it’s what everybody turned to first. If you were Jewish, you read the Chronicle. And my mom was kind of a Jewish Erma Bombeck.”

“In addition, she and her writing partner, Shirley Katz, wrote many comedy skits for

Jewish organizations in the ’50s and ’60s, including UJF, Hadassah and Temple David,” she added. “She and Shirley also had a daily radio show for a time and also wrote a skit that helped pass the Truth in Packaging Bill. It was recognized at the signing by President Johnson.”

Pollock helped found Temple David in Monroeville and became active in its sisterhood, Lidji said. This led to a role on the board of the United Jewish Federation’s women’s division. She wrote an exceptional two-minute introduction for the UJF president for an event and quickly landed the job of PR and communications director in 1971, working at UJF through her retirement in 1989.

“The Federation was diversifying a lot during these years,” Lidji said. “Her ability to communicate really well and to write really clearly — all those things would make you very successful at that job.”

Pollock later studied playwrighting at the University of Pittsburgh and wrote two plays that were staged locally – “It’s Business” and “Looking For Magic.”

Shortly after Pollock’s retirement, in 1992, her son Robert died from AIDS in Los Angeles. In 1995, her other son, Larry, also died from AIDS. (Her play “Looking For Magic” examines the AIDS crisis from a parent’s perspective.)

This started a new chapter in the life of

Pollock and her husband: They opened their arms to those suffering from AIDS as a kind of extended family in Pittsburgh.

“In (my sons’) honor and memory, Mel and I founded the ‘Jews with AIDS in the Family’ with the support of Jewish Family and Children’s Service and the UJF in 1992,” Pollock wrote in a draft of her obituary. “I continue to volunteer with AIDS agencies in Pittsburgh; working in the AIDS community helps keep our boys alive. I just turned 87. Which proves some folks take longer to re-write scripts.”

Pollock, during this time, served as a board president for the AIDS awareness group Shepherd Wellness Community, or SWC.

“Beverly was a longtime SWC board member who, along with her husband Mel, provided guidance and support to hundreds of people living with HIV/AIDS,” the group said in a statement about Pollock’s death. “Her dedication and passion helped our SWC members find help and hope during the early years of the epidemic.”

“For many years, Beverly worked tirelessly to help our community grow by employing her expertise in strategic planning, fundraising and community relations,” the statement said. “For many years Beverly facilitated a Parents Support Group, which provided a supportive place for parents when their children became infected by HIV or when they lost a child to

Beverly and Mel Pollock became “adoptive parents” to many young people with HIV and AIDS, at a time when many in society were shunning them, said Scott Peterman, a retired executive director of SWC.

“Beverly and Mel offered them acceptance and unconditional love, along with wise counsel,” Peterman said. “Beverly and Mel were able to share their own journey and offer support to other parents in a way that no one else could.”

Beverly Pollock “made this beautiful and impressive career that had an impact on a lot of people,” said Lidji, who met and interviewed Pollock in Arizona, where her daughter, Sally, lives, in 2019. “I found it really inspirational, her life. I enjoyed getting to know her.”

Mel Pollock died in 2008, after more than 64 years of marriage. Beverly Pollock spent her last years in San Diego, living near Stein.

“Mom’s most important lesson was that family comes first — always,” her daughters, Susan and Sally, wrote as part of her eulogy. “That’s a lesson all her descendants have learned and will teach theirs.”

“She was well-educated, a very Southern lady — very warm-hearted, very beloved,” Stein told the Chronicle. “She was a good mom and she was a remarkable woman — well before her time.” PJC

Justin Vellucci is a freelance writer living in Pittsburgh.

p Beverly Pollock at the celebration of her 99th birthday in 2023

Photo courtesy of Susan Pollock Stein

promotional mailer for “Quoth the Maven”

Image courtesy of the Rauh Jewish Archives

p Shirley Katz and Beverly Pollock, writing partners

Photo courtesy of Susan Pollock Stein

Feds to investigate NY college where an assault survivor group booted a Zionist student

— NATIONAL —

By Andrew Lapin | JTA

The U.S. Department of Education has opened an investigation into the State University of New York at New Paltz surrounding an incident in which a student-led group for sexual assault survivors kicked out one of its co-founders for sharing a pro-Israel Instagram post.

Pro-Israel legal groups filed a complaint with the department last year alleging that the school did not respond forcefully enough to the incident, which they characterized as antisemitic discrimination. They are calling on the school to improve its training on antisemitism, which they define as including targeting students for a “connection to Israel.”

Announced Thursday, the investigation is taking place under the auspices of the department’s Office of Civil Rights, which looks into allegations of discrimination at educational institutions that receive federal funding. It is the latest in a series of investigations opened into allegations of campus antisemitism since the Trump administration broadened the office’s mandate to include certain kinds of anti-Israel speech in 2019.

It is also the first antisemitism investigation to be opened since the Biden administration unveiled a plan last month to combat antisemitism that includes a section on higher education. The 60-page document outlining the plan notes that “Jewish students and educators are targeted for derision and exclusion on college campuses.”

“No student should ever be excluded from campus because of facets of their Jewish identity, let alone survivors of sexual assault,” Julia Jassey, a recent University of Chicago graduate who is the co-founder and CEO of the college antisemitism watchdog group Jewish on Campus, said in a press release celebrating the investigation.

Jewish on Campus brought the federal complaint in partnership with the Brandeis Center for Human Rights Under Law, a pro-Israel legal group that often involves itself in campus conflicts over speech about Israel. The complaint was filed on behalf of two Jewish students at the school, which is located in upstate New York.

A spokesperson for SUNY New Paltz said the university does not comment on pending investigations, adding, “We unequivocally condemn any attacks on SUNY students who are Jewish, and we will not tolerate anti-Semitic harassment and intimidation on campus.” In the immediate aftermath of the controversy, the school’s president condemned antisemitism but indicated that, because the student group was not formally recognized by the university, administrators were limited in their ability to respond.

The federal investigation will focus on two claims: that SUNY New Paltz did not respond appropriately to the exclusion of a Jewish student from a student group, and that students were being harassed on the basis of their Judaism.

The investigation itself does not mean the department believes the claims have merit

The complaint focuses on an episode that CNN featured as part of a prime-time special

violence,” Blotner told CNN’s Dana Bash in the antisemitism special.

One day after the publication of the student

Jewish Committee, but has drawn criticism for saying that certain criticisms of Israel

The Brandeis Center has frequently called for universities to adopt the IHRA definition, yet in

on antisemitism in the United States last year.

It was filed on behalf of Cassandra Blotner, a Jewish student who was, according to coverage by the campus newspaper, removed from the student group New Paltz Accountability over her pro-Israel Instagram post. It was also filed on behalf of another Jewish student, Ofek Preis, who quit the group in solidarity with Blotner. Blotner was a co-founder of the group, which seeks to pressure the university to adopt greater transparency in its sexual assault investigations.

As reported last year by the New Paltz Oracle, a student newspaper, Blotner shared an infographic on Instagram in December 2021 from pro-Israel influencer Hen Mazzig reading, in part, “Jews are an ethnic group who come from Israel,” and, “Israel is not ‘a colonial state’ and Israelis aren’t ‘settlers.’ You cannot colonize the land your ancestors are from.”

Shortly afterward, Blotner said, her fellow group leaders messaged her to request a conversation about her views on Israel. One wrote, “Personally, I think Israel is a settler colonial state and we can’t condone the violence they take against Palestinians.”

Blotner at first refused to have a conversation with other members of the group, then later suggested they talk to the school’s Jewish Student Union — at which point, she said, the group kicked her out. Preis then decided to resign from the group (administrators said she had only been a prospective member).

“They told me that because I’m a Zionist, that that means I’m an oppressor, and that

newspaper article detailing the allegations against the group, New Paltz Accountability appeared to defend its opposition to Zionism in an Instagram post.

“Being against sexual violence but indifferent to colonialism are conflicting ideologies,” the post stated. “Justifying the occupation of Palestine, in any way, condones the violence used to acquire the land. This does not mean we do not support survivors or students with different political beliefs.”

According to the Brandeis Center and Jewish on Campus, Blotner requested that university administrators provide her with a security escort because her interactions with the group left her feeling unsafe on campus, but they declined her request. She graduated last month, thanking the Brandeis Center, Jewish on Campus and Mazzig in an Instagram post that said they “lifted me up when I was down.”

In response to the incident, SUNY New Paltz’s president met with Jewish students and issued a strongly worded condemnation of antisemitism, saying, “Excluding any campus member from institutional events and activities on the basis of differing viewpoints on such matters is a traditionally defined form of antisemitism.”

The university, according to the Brandeis Center, also said that it should adopt the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s working definition of antisemitism. That definition has been endorsed by dozens of U.S. universities, according to the American

this case it said SUNY New Paltz had not gone far enough and called on the school to change other policies in response to the incident. Some previous investigations into schools accused of antisemitism violations have resulted in universities pledging to make tangible changes to their diversity training programs and other initiatives.

That was the case recently at the University of Vermont, which was the subject of a federal civil rights complaint that also partially revolved around a student group for sexual assault survivors excluding Zionists. In 2020, the University of Illinois pledged to take steps to combat antisemitism days after the Department of Education opened up a Title VI investigation into the school.

But other campus communities faced with Title VI antisemitism investigations into Israel-related matters have seen the investigations prompt division and distrust. George Washington University faced its own investigation days after clearing a professor of antisemitism allegations brought against her by pro-Israel groups.

And the University of California, Berkeley saw an investigation opened into its law school after the Brandeis Center’s founder, a former Trump administration official, alleged in an op-ed that it was propagating “Jew-free zones” because an alliance of student groups at the law school pledged not to invite Zionist speakers. The Jewish dean of the law school vehemently denied the charge. PJC

p College Hall at SUNY New Paltz in New Paltz, New York, on May 1, 2013

Photo by crz4mets2 via Wikimedia Commons

The federal investigation will focus on two claims: that SUNY New Paltz did not respond appropriately to the exclusion of a Jewish student from a student group, and that students were being harassed on the basis of their Judaism.

Headlines

Polish city throws children’s bubble party on top of Jewish graves

The chief rabbi of Poland sent an angry letter to the mayor of Kazimierz Dolny, condemning the eastern Polish town for throwing a festive children’s bubble party on the site of a former Jewish cemetery where the dead are still buried, JTA.org reported.

Kazimierz Dolny authorities filled the former cemetery with bubbles for Children’s Day, a holiday celebrated on June 1 in many European countries.

In the letter sent to Mayor Artur Pomianowski on June 6, Michael Schudrich wrote, “The party organized on the yard, which was after all fun on the graves, proves that for the municipal authorities, respect for human burial is not an important value.”

Schudrich said that it was “outrageous” that Pomianowski posted a video of the bubble party on his mayoral Facebook page.

Bartłomiej Godlewskia, Kazimierz Dolny’s deputy mayor, sent a letter in response to Schudrich.

“I regret the wrong decision to organize Children’s Day. We share a common history and a common home, and it was never our intention to hurt feelings — it was human error. I hope that this event will not interfere with our dialogue and cooperation in the future,” he wrote.

The former cemetery, now a children’s play area next to an elementary school, was demolished roughly 50 years ago, but the bodies were not removed.

State Department calls recent Roger Waters concert ‘antisemitic’

The State Department has condemned Roger Waters, calling the former Pink Floyd frontman’s recent concert in Berlin “antisemitic,” JTA.org reported.

A reporter asked at a press briefing on June 5 whether the department agreed with recent comments from Deborah Lipstadt, the department’s envoy for combatting antisemitism, who tweeted criticism of Waters.

“The concert in question, which took place in Berlin, contained imagery that is deeply offensive to Jewish people and minimized the Holocaust,” the department wrote in a response to the question, the Associated Press reported. “The artist in question has a long track record of using antisemitic tropes to denigrate Jewish people.” Waters is a leader in the call to culturally boycott Israel, often promoting the cause of the boycott, divestment and sanctions movement, or BDS. Jewish leaders around the world have long said his harsh criticism of Israel’s treatment of the Palestinians crosses the line into antisemitism.

City of Miami Beach to pay $1.3M to settle Jewish congregation’s discrimination claims

The city of Miami Beach has agreed to pay $1.3 million to a small Orthodox synagogue that accused it of discrimination by sending inspectors more than once a week on average for two years, JTA.org reported.

At the same time, Congregation Bais Yeshaya D’Kerestir agreed to make changes to its parking and noise practices.

The agreement ends an extended dispute over whether the congregation, which meets

Today in Israeli History

— WORLD —

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

June 16, 1933 — Jewish Agency official Haim Arlosoroff is killed

Two men fatally shoot the Jewish Agency’s Haim Arlosoroff, just back from arranging Jewish emigration from Germany, on the beach in Tel Aviv. The crime is never solved.

June 17, 2010 — Haredim are jailed in school discrimination case

Thirty-five Haredi fathers of girls attending a Hasidic school accused of discrimination in Emanuel are jailed for 11 days after refusing a Supreme Court order to send their daughters to a different school.

June 18, 1992 — Artist Mordecai

Ardon dies

Painter Mordecai

Ardon, known for using religious symbolism and developing artwork from realistic to abstract, dies at 95. He directed the Bezalel School of Arts and Crafts from 1940 to 1952.

June 19, 1967 — LBJ outlines 5 principles for peace

President Lyndon B. Johnson lays out five principles for Middle East peace in a speech at the State Department. He does not demand Israel’s surrender of recently captured land.

June 20, 1914

— Poet Zelda is born

Zelda Schneurson Mishkovsky, the poet known as Zelda, is born in Russia. She makes aliyah in 1928 and takes up poetry in 1950. Her poem “For Every Person There Is a Name” is a Yom HaShoah standard.

June 21, 1882 — Filmmaker

Ya’acov Ben-Dov is born

Filmmaker and photographer Ya’acov Ben-Dov is born in Ukraine. He makes aliyah in 1907 and is introduced to moviemaking in 1911 at the Bezalel School of Arts and Crafts. He specializes in documentaries.

June 22, 1989 — NBA player Omri

Casspi is born

Omri Casspi, the first Israeli to play in the National Basketball Association, is born in Holon. The Sacramento Kings select him in the first round of the 2009 NBA Draft, picking him 23rd overall. PJC

in a single-family home owned by its rabbi, Arie Wohl, was a religious institution or a private gathering.

The congregation argued that because its services are invitation-only, the building’s use is similar to that of any other private home and so should not be subject to scrutiny by city inspectors. It sued in April 2022, claiming that city officials visited more than 126 times over two years to enforce various city laws, including 60 times to enforce pandemic restrictions on large gatherings.

The congregation also claimed that the city installed a video camera in 2021 that surveilled only its property, not neighboring buildings.

The city issued repeated code violations because it said a religious institution was operating in a residential building. The city said neighbors of the congregation filed multiple complaints against the property related to building code issues.

Pew: Jews likelier than Catholics, Protestants to worship only in person

Jews are likelier than Catholics and Protestants both to attend religious services in-person only and to attend no services (neither online nor in-person), according to a new Pew Research Center survey, JNS.org reported.

Of 11,377 respondents surveyed in midto late-November, 26% of Jews attended in-person services only — compared to 24% of Catholics and 21% of Protestants — and 55% of Jews attended no services, compared to 53% of Catholics and 36% of Protestants.

Overall, Pew found that many U.S. adults use technology for religious purposes. Some 30% search for information about religion

online; 21% read the Bible or other scripture on websites or apps; 15% listen to religion podcasts; and 14% use websites or apps for praying assistance or reminders.

While 10% of adults — and 15% of Protestants and 9% of Catholics — only participate in online worship, just 6% of Jews only participate in prayer online.

Vienna to tilt statue of antisemitic mayor to shift ‘perspective’

The city of Vienna will tilt the statue of an antisemitic former mayor 3.5 degrees to the right to shift the viewer’s “perspective on it,” a move that some Jewish leaders are calling an inadequate way to deal with a dark chapter of the city’s history, JTA.org reported.

Karl Lueger served as mayor of Vienna for 13 years until he died in 1910. He was known for antisemitic rhetoric that is said to have inspired Adolf Hitler, who lived in Vienna as a young man. Hitler wrote in “Mein Kampf” that he had “undisguised admiration” for Lueger.

The statue, situated in a square called Dr. Karl Lueger Platz in the city’s center, has been hit with vandalism for years by protesters who call for its total dismantling. In 2020, the city put up fencing to deter protesters from spray-painting it.

Oskar Deutsch, president of the Jewish Community of Vienna, told CNN that fully taking down the statue “would be more appropriate and in line with a sincere culture of remembrance,” adding that “squares, streets, bridges and other monuments are still named after antisemites all over Austria.” A street named after Lueger was renamed in 2012. PJC — Compiled by Andy Gotlieb

p Mordecai Ardon influenced Israeli art through his painting and his teaching.

p Zelda Schneurson Mishkovsky was a first cousin to Lubavitcher Rebbe Menachem Mendel Schneerson.

Headlines

Trial:

the Tree of Life building.

Continued from page 1

At one point, police needed to use a flash bang to distract him while they extricated Burke past the entrance of the killer’s hiding place.

But the operation didn’t quite go as planned.

“The flash bang bounced off the doorway and hit me and detonated,” Persin said. “It stunned me.”

His hearing has never recovered fully. He said he can’t hear high-pitched sounds anymore — such as the voices of his children. His tinnitus is with him always.

The day began with testimony from another SWAT officer, Andrew Miller, who recounted the defendant shooting at him in the darkness, his bullets hitting drywall behind him and filling the air with particle dust.

“He was just missing me,” he said of the defendant.

Miller couldn’t see the shooter but fired at the muzzle flash of his gun as it moved across the back of the room in the blackness.

“I didn’t want to get shot,” he said. “I didn’t want to die.”

Matson, the first man into the room, had already been badly wounded. The team dragged him down the stairs to a safer place. Miller said Matson, wounded in the legs and the head, was screaming, “I’m f—ed up, man.”

After medics tended to Matson, Miller ran back upstairs to get back into the fight against the defendant.

Asked by a prosecutor why he took that risk, he had a simple answer: “It’s what we do. It’s what we train for.”

After the defendant had been wounded and crawled out, Miller said he heard him say to another officer, “I had to do it. Jews are the children of Satan.”

Testimony in between the two SWAT men took most of the day and focused on autopsies, which revealed that the defendant shot the congregants multiple times at close range, in some cases with the muzzle of his AR-15 pressed against their bodies.

Three pathologists testified about the victims they examined.

One of the dead, 88-year-old Melvin Wax, suffered a contact wound, with the star pattern on his chest evidence of the rifle pressed against him.

The pathologists all noted that the AR-15 fires high-velocity rounds, up to three times faster than a typical handgun, resulting in catastrophic wounds. Many of the victims had been shot in the head, causing devastating injuries and instant death. Most had been shot multiple times, all at close range.

Police found their bodies strewn throughout the synagogue.

Under questioning, the pathologists noted that the autopsies revealed most of the victims had been healthy.

Rose Mallinger was one of them.

Pathologist Ashton Ennis said she was in great health despite her age — 97.

Day 7: Documenting crime scene

Jurors in the Pittsburgh synagogue shooting trial spent the morning of June 7 hearing about the laborious nature of evidence collection.

Andrea Dammann, a recently retired FBI agent, described the nine-day process — beginning Oct. 27, 2018 — of observing, photographing and documenting shell casings, weapons and personal effects located both inside and near

By the time Dammann arrived at the Tree of Life building that day, Pittsburgh Police had secured the crime scene, taken the defendant into custody, and cleared the building to ensure no one else was hidden and that no other dangers were on site.

Dammann — who had overseen other crime scenes and both trained and managed teams of FBI agents throughout her career — was also told that Pittsburgh police would turn over the scene for processing to the FBI and that Dammann would oversee related activities.

For the next nine days, Dammann worked alongside agents photographing and logging evidence. Some items collected, including the defendant’s weapons and ammunition, were sent to the FBI’s laboratory in Virginia for further testing. Other items were sent to the Allegheny County crime lab.

Dammann said that when she first came to the Tree of Life building on Oct. 27, she did a preliminary walk-through with Pittsburgh Police. She brought along a photographer, and the two labeled each room, designated each of the 11 deceased victims and kept notes about “major things” observed.

She said she walked along the building’s exterior and observed bullet holes in the synagogue’s plate glass windows as well as casings on the pavement. She noticed that the defendant’s vehicle had already been opened and cleared to ensure no other hazards were present.

Dammann described how she then completed a complicated process of evidence collection. She and the photographer designated each room in the synagogue — thereby ensuring clear identification of where evidence was retrieved. Dammann and the photographer provided a label for each of the 11 victims — at that point the deceased had not been identified by the Allegheny County medical examiner. Dammann oversaw that careful measurements of the synagogue were undertaken so that the FBI laboratory could later perform scene-scaled diagrams. She also oversaw hand sketches of the scene.

Dammann described working with Mandy Tinkey, of the Allegheny County medical examiner’s office. While the medical examiner’s team worked through the night identifying the victims, Dammann and the other agents tried to remain sensitive to Jewish burial customs.

“There was a Jewish organization that was there that was kind of advising us on appropriate methods and what they needed,” she said. According to Jewish law, blood and other bodily material must be buried — to the best extent possible — along with the deceased.

Dammann said she and her team honored that precept as best they could.

She also described weapons, shell casings, and the defendant’s personal affects, which were each photographed and logged.

Along with observing photographs of firearms and magazines, jurors saw pictures of the defendant’s vehicle, a 2016 Hyundai Sonata, parked outside Tree of Life’s entrance.

Inside the car, Dammann testified, was a green bag with shotgun shells and magazines, several pairs of safety glasses, an Anthony Arms membership card — a West Mifflin-based gun store — a pack of cigarettes and lighter, paperwork indicating the defendant’s ownership of the vehicle, crates of various chemicals, cleaning supplies, a flashlight, shooting glasses, razor and ear protection for the shooter’s use when firing.

Dammann testified about the painstaking

process of not only documenting each item, but removing bullets and portions of bullets from walls, chairs and even a tree outside the building.

The jury was shown photographs indicating multiple items collected. In several images, were scattered Hebrew worksheets, strewn children’s books and displaced prayer shawls.

Dammann described the defendant’s wallet. Contents included an Allegheny County Sheriff’s Office license to carry a firearm, a commercial driver’s license in the defendant’s name, and a U.S. Concealed Carry Association membership card in the defendant’s name.

In afternoon testimony, Tinkey told how the medical examiner’s office worked into the early hours of Oct. 28, processing victims’ bodies and partnering with members of the Jewish burial society, the chevra kadisha. Despite individuals from the chevra kadisha “praying while we were doing work, nothing about them affected our ability to do our job that night,” Tinkey said.

She added that in deference to Jewish law, county staffers discarded bloodied gloves, protective suits and other personal gear into a separate bag so they could be buried.

Throughout the afternoon, jurors watched body cam footage taken from inside the Tree of Life building, heard from first responders and learned about the defendant’s actions and surrender on Oct. 27.

Michael O’Keefe, a retired tactical commander for the Allegheny County police, told jurors he heard the defendant say, “invaders were committing genocide on our people,” that he “needed to kill Jews,” and that he “has to take action, they are killing our children.”

O’Keefe added that the defendant told authorities he was surrendering because he was shot and that his rifle ran out of ammunition.

Day 8: SWAT officer testimony, DNA evidence and cell phone data

After SWAT officer Anthony Burke was shot in his right hand — his dominant hand — by the man who attacked three congregations in the Tree of Life building on Oct. 27, 2018, he asked another officer to place a pistol in his left hand so he could get back to work.

Burke testified that when he arrived at the Tree of Life building that morning, he joined an emergency team already forming outside, then entered the building to help protect first responders while they cleared the main sanctuary. The officers then headed to “the second chapel” where they saw a man who had been gunned down and heard a woman “screaming erratically.”

Burke described heading up the stairway in the Tree of Life building and hearing gunfire erupt — “rapid, multiple shots” coming from a “pitch-black” classroom — and his colleague and mentor Officer Timothy Matson “screaming in pain.” Matson had been shot in his legs.

Matson, Burke said, was trying to crawl out of the third-floor room, head-first. Burke grabbed a strap on Matson’s vest to help drag him out of the room.

“I could see muzzle flashes,” Burke said, “and drywall fragments falling from the ceiling.”

That’s when Burke’s hand was struck by gunfire.

After he got Matson out of the room, Burke pushed him down a set of five stairs to safety, then tried to grab his rifle, but he couldn’t.

“My hand wasn’t working,” Burke said. “There was a large wound on the top and bottom of my hand.”

He let other officers know he was shot and they applied a tourniquet to help stop the bleeding.

A second round of gunfire began. Burke could hear officers communicating with the defendant, who “said he was hurt and he wanted to give up,” Burke recounted. “He said he wanted us to come in and get him.”

Burke said he heard the defendant say that “he couldn’t stand by and watch Jews do this to this country and all Jews had to die.” Eventually, the officers convinced the shooter to crawl out of the room.

Burke had four surgeries to repair the damage to his hand, he said, and he couldn’t return to work until December 2019. While he can still perform his job duties, he’s been left with sensory issues in two fingers, can’t open his hand completely and has trouble with his fine motor skills, he said.

Earlier in the day, an FBI forensic examiner, Marcy Plaza, headquartered in Quantico, Virginia, detailed the analysis of DNA extracted from a Colt AR-15 rifle, two Glock pistols, a canvas bag, earmuffs and safety glasses found at the Tree of Life building and in the defendant’s vehicle. She said that it was “6 septillion times more likely” that the defendant’s DNA was present on those items than that of an “unknown, unrelated individual.”

Another FBI expert from Quantico, Curtis Thomas, a digital forensic examiner for mobile phones and other electronic devices, testified about the information that was extracted from a cellphone belonging to the defendant, which was locked and encrypted. To gain access, the FBI had to figure out the password. But the phone had been programmed so that if a wrong password was guessed 15 to 30 times, all user data would be erased.

Thomas described the process and software used to override the number of times his team could try a password before the phone erased all data. Once they were successful in doing so and unlocking the phone, they found that, compared to a typical cell phone, “there was a low amount of data used.” For example, the defendant had only one contact entered, and it had been deleted. There were just nine text messages, which all had been deleted.

Cookies — small pieces of data that websites or applications store to remember information about their users — indicated that the user of the phone had been active on Gab.com on Oct. 27, 2018, from 9:47 to 9:48 a.m. Gab.com is a social media site popular among the alt-right and some extremists, and on which there is a lot of antisemitic content.

One photo extracted from the phone depicted the defendant making an “OK” hand gesture. The Anti-Defamation League has classified that gesture as a hate symbol associated with white supremacy and the far right. There were also several photos on the phone of guns and ammunition.

FBI Special Agent Cedric Jefferson, who worked out of West Virginia for the FBI’s Pittsburgh team at the time of the shooting, testified he and his team were dispatched to the defendant’s residence, a one-bedroom apartment in Baldwin, the day of the shooting. Prosecutors displayed several photos of the defendant’s apartment showing what the FBI found there that day, including a paper target hanging on the living room wall depicting the image of a person, computers, three DVDs related to weapon use

Please see Trial, page 11

Headlines

Trial:

Continued from page 10

— including one titled “Top Ten Concealed Carry Mistakes and How to Avoid Them” — a “substantial amount of ammunition” and several firearms, Jefferson said.

The first witness of the day was New Light Congregation’s co-president, Stephen Cohen, who testified that the congregation began leasing space from Tree of Life * Or L’Simcha in 2017 because the financial burden of maintaining its own building in Squirrel Hill had become too great. The three-year lease agreement — “with the probability of extension” — set the rent for the first year at $35,000, with provisions for it to rise each year. Cohen also testified that, after the massacre, the congregation had to find a new space in another congregation.

Tree of Life President Alan Hausman testified that his congregation suffered a financial loss of “tens of thousands of dollars” resulting from the attack, as it lost revenue from its long-term lease agreements with New Light and Congregation Dor Hadash, as well as from income from renting space to individuals and organizations for life cycle events, meetings and other programs.

JAA:

Continued from page 1 erected with the ground floor featuring a garage, common area and memory care; the second floor will house personal care; and independent living units will be on the third, fourth and fifth floors. Phase one will also involve the installation of an underground stormwater management system.

Once that phase is complete, residents of AHAVA Memory Care will move into the new building, which “frees us up to demolish the rest of the buildings and potentially add on an extension to the phase one [structure],” depending on 2026 market conditions, Anderson added.

A primary benefit of creating a multistory structure for residents requiring different care levels is “it allows people to move into the facility and to age in place,” the architect noted. “JAA is a thriving community organization and the hope is that, and the design is that, this property will be a community for the people that are living there — for the

Trial charges:

shooter’s mental state.

Day 9: Focus on shooter’s antisemitic posts

The Pittsburgh synagogue massacre trial continued June 12 with prosecutors focusing on the defendant’s antisemitic social media posts on Gab.com. Those increased in frequency and vitriol in the weeks leading up to the shooting.

Gab CEO and founder Andrew Torba testified that he created Gab as a near-unmoderated alternative to Twitter and Facebook. If a post did not violate the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, it would be allowed on the site.

When the prosecution asked Torba if he had shared false information on Gab, he said, “I’m a Christian, sir, I don’t lie.” The prosecution questioned Torba about posts he allegedly made about the “Great Replacement” theory — a conspiracy theory that suggests immigrants are replacing white Americans. He said the theory is discussed on Gab and that “it could be” something he posted, but that he could not remember all his posts as he has made more than 70,000 on the site.

The defendant made frequent use of images of cats that resembled Adolf Hitler, antisemitic slurs and use of terms such as “gassed” and “oven-dwellers” in Gab posts in the months leading up to the shooting. He also alluded in

residents — and allows them to stay.”

The JAA is partnering on the multi-year project with Continental Real Estate Cos., a Columbus-based developer.

Mike Hudak, a representative of Continental, said the company has developed “more than $750 million of real estate” during the past 25 years, including projects on the North Side and senior care facilities in Moon and McCandless townships.

Barmi Akbar, of Continental Senior Communities, an affiliate of Continental Real Estate Companies, said collaboration with the JAA is being discussed; however, he envisions JAA providing home and community services for people in the independent living areas, and Continental operating the memory care area as well as providing “amenities that include culinary arts and dining experiences that are very unique for these individuals.”

When asked whether the JAA will remain a kosher-certified facility post-development, Akbar replied, “That’s a question we’re working with [JAA CEO] Mary Anne [Foley], and others

several posts to the conspiracy theory that the deaths from the Holocaust had been faked.

His Gab bio reads: “Jews are the children of Satan.”

The defendant’s Gab posts included threats to Jews, with one reading that “it will not be safe here for you.” Another post featured a photo with several handguns and magazines alongside a message reading “My Glock family.”

Bowers had 380 followers on the platform before the massacre, and was a mutual follower of users such as @whiteknight1488, @holocaustliesexposed, and @hitlerwasright.

On Oct. 27, 2018, prior to the shooting, the defendant posted: “HIAS likes to bring invaders in that kill our people. I can’t sit by and watch my people get slaughtered. Screw your optics, I’m going in.”

HIAS’ CEO Mark Hetfield testified that the Jewish organization that helps resettle refugees had organized a welcome campaign for refugees, including a special Shabbat program that was held a week before the shooting. Dor Hadash, one of the congregations attacked, participated in the welcome campaign, which was publicized on the HIAS website.

While the organization was originally founded in 1903 to focus on resettling Jewish

at the JAA. We’ve formally contracted with advisers that have developed multiple Jewish affiliate communities, and the trend right now, to be honest, is it is a diverse group that is living with us today…I’m comfortable saying that today at the JAA we do have a diverse group. Looking at a certified-kosher facility, we want to make sure that we have the right advisers, and that we understand the impact and the consequences to it. So there hasn’t been a final decision made today.”

A JAA representative did not reply to the Chronicle’s request for follow-up regarding the decision of whether to remain a koshercertified facility.

Hudak described total development expenses as “significant.”

“Right now, we’re looking at the vertical construction costs for the building at roughly $50 million, and, on top of that, is site improvement costs of roughly $7 million, and, on top of that, is the expenses of our esteemed attorney, and architect, and all of our consultants and purchase prices,” he said. “It’s a very significant investment,

refugees, HIAS now offers its services to refugees of all religions and backgrounds. This mission is based on the Torah’s message that Jews welcome strangers, according to Hetfield.

The defendant’s Gab account was locked after the shooting and Torba provided law enforcement with records containing information about his activity on Gab, including posts and reposts.

Monday morning’s testimony was dominated by discussion of the firearms and ammunition recovered by law enforcement following the shooting. Among the witnesses was Kevin Kauffman, a retired Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives agent, who testified that the firearms used in the shooting had crossed state lines. PJC

The Chronicle’s Abigail Hakas, Adam Reinherz and Toby Tabachnick contributed to this report, along with Harrison Hamm, Delaney Parks and Torsten Ove, who write for the Pittsburgh Union Progress. This story is part of ongoing coverage of the Pittsburgh synagogue shooting trial by the Pittsburgh Jewish Chronicle and the Pittsburgh Union Progress in a collaboration supported by funding from the Pittsburgh Media Partnership.

to say the least. And again, that’s phase one.”

“We believe that this is going to be a great development,” Gallagher said.

Moving forward, two separate city approvals are needed: zoning approval and plan approval.

“We’re hoping to get on to the Planning Commission’s agenda for review after the summer break,” Gallagher said.

A hearing with the city’s Zoning Board of Adjustment is scheduled for July 6.

Maria Cohen, Squirrel Hill Urban Coalition’s executive director, said that in serving as “the unbiased host” of the June 6 meeting, the organization “gives voice to the hopes and concerns of our residents, institutions, businesses and visitors, and works to preserve and improve and celebrate the quality of life in our vibrant Squirrel Hill neighborhood.” For that reason, she continued, “if you have strong feelings about the project you should consider attending the board or commission meeting and testifying.” PJC

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

Continued from page 2

“To have arguments on the table about his mental state, in a form that is not an insanity defense, lays the groundwork, foreshadows the argument that you should not execute him,” Harris said.

Antkowiak said this type of defense — that the defendant wasn’t focused on Jews praying in a synagogue during Shabbat as a means to obstruct their free exercise of religion — works better when a case is tried before a judge rather than a jury.

Chaplains:

Continued from page 4

“When a person comes for help, we have to be able to listen,” he said. “We know we can’t bring back the 11 people

“A judge is in a better position to make what would amount to a very fine legal distinction,” he said. “Where you are trying this case to a group of lay jurors who are seeing the horrific aftermath of this incident, I’m not sure that subtly of a distinction is going to play well.”

While some might argue that supporting immigrants is not a tenet of the Jewish religion, others will maintain that it’s a core principle, demonstrated by the Torah’s instruction, repeated 36 times, to care for the stranger.

Harris said that principle was illustrated last year after the hostage situation at Congregation Beth Israel in Colleyville, Texas. Asked, after the incident, if he would still welcome a stranger who came to the door

who were murdered. Chaplains know we can’t correct this horrific attack on the Jewish people.”

Still, whether it’s on the phone or in person, “a big part of what chaplaincy is about is feeling the pain of another

of his synagogue, the congregation’s rabbi said he would be more careful, but yes, he would do it again.

Attacking Jews who support immigrants “could be seen as attacking Judaism itself,” Harris said.

There might be additional, more nuanced ways that the prosecutors will try to prove obstruction of religion. For instance, the presidents of New Light and Tree of Life took the stand last week and discussed their congregations’ financial losses connected to the attack. Could this be used as proof that the alleged shooter obstructed the practice of Judaism?

“I would think that this is one of the elements,” Antkowiak said. “It will definitely limit the

person,” he continued. “It’s about offering support, and offering an ear, so people can move forward.” PJC

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

synagogue’s ability to operate as a viable entity.”

In the end, Harris said, the defense’s attempts to chip away at the obstruction of religion charge is less about countering the prosecution’s case, and more “about the longer game of getting into the jury’s mind already in terms of what is the appropriate penalty.” PJC

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

This story is part of ongoing coverage of the Pittsburgh synagogue shooting trial by the Pittsburgh Jewish Chronicle and the Pittsburgh Union Progress in a collaboration supported by funding from the Pittsburgh Media Partnership.

This story is part of ongoing coverage of the Pittsburgh synagogue shooting trial by the Pittsburgh Jewish Chronicle and the Pittsburgh Union Progress in a collaboration supported by funding from the Pittsburgh Media Partnership.

‘Succession,’ ‘Barry’ and the very Jewish nature of unresolved endings

Guest Columnist

Rabbi David Bashevkin

Over the past few weeks, a lot of sad faces were peering at their screens as two popular television shows came to an end. Two HBO staples, “Succession” and “Barry,” aired their season finales in late May. And as happens with all high-drama prestige television, the debates began the moment the episode was over. Did Kendall deserve what he got? Was justice served for Mr. Cousineau? Without revealing any details, it is fair to say that many fans were left with that gnawing feeling of an unresolved ending.

TV endings were not always this way. Decades before “The Sopranos” famously concluded with its cut to black, shows typically concluded with a nice emotional ribbon — loose ends tied up, characters discovering the promised land. On “Cheers,” Sam returned to his bar. “The Mary Tyler Moore Show” ended with an actual group hug. On “Friends,” Ross and Rachel finally got together. “M*A*S*H,” still the most watched television finale of all time, ended with the main character finally returning

home, wistfully looking from a helicopter to the word “goodbye” spelled out in stone. The episode was aptly titled, “Goodbye, Farewell, and Amen.”

Then everything got darker and grittier. Today, TV fans have come to expect unsettling, unresolved and even unhinged endings to their favorite shows. I am here to say that such conclusions are quintessentially Jewish. The Torah itself is an ode to unresolved endings.

final scene have seen Moses walking arm and arm with the Jewish people across the Jordan River, the sun slowly setting as the credits roll? Instead, we are left with our beloved leader buried right outside the land he yearned to enter. Why does the Torah end this way?

Franz Kafka — himself no stranger to unresolved endings (The Trial” ends with Joseph K. being beaten “like a dog”)— took an interest in this question. He writes:

ribbons on top and rarely end with group hugs. Human life ends unrequited, ever yearning, ever hoping. As Aviva Gottlieb Zornberg writes in her magisterial biography of Moses: “Veiled and unveiled, he remains lodged in the Jewish imagination, where, in his uncompleted humanity, he comes to represent the yet-unattained but attainable messianic future.”

As you may already know, the Torah concludes (spoiler alert!) with the death of Moses on the edge of the promised land. I take it for granted now, but imagine reading this for the first time. What?! The leader of the Jewish people, who brought them out of Egypt, received the Torah on Sinai and led them through the desert for 40 years doesn’t live happily ever after in the promised land?

If the Torah were an HBO show, fans would have been outraged. Shouldn’t the

“The dying vision of it can only be intended to illustrate how incomplete a moment is human life, incomplete because a life like this could last forever and still be nothing but a moment. Moses fails to enter Canaan not because his life is too short but because it is a human life.”

In Kafka’s reading, the Torah’s ending reflects the larger reality of human life itself, which is “nothing but a moment,” an exercise in incompleteness. Our personal narratives don’t fit neatly into a box. They don’t have

Jews and Blacks converge to spark alliance

Guest Columnist

Jeff Mendelsohn

Last week, the National Black Empowerment Council (NBEC), along with UJA-Federation of New York and the ADL, hosted a powerful event that brought together a group of Black and Jewish leaders to discuss an admittedly difficult topic — Dave Chapelle’s “Saturday Night Live” monologue and the response of Jews to the antisemitic statements of Kanye West and Kyrie Irving in late 2022. The National Black Empowerment Council has made reanimating the BlackJewish alliance part of its overall mission,

which is to empower Black Americans to close systemic gaps in economic success, education and social justice. The conversation laid the foundation for transformational change.

The oft-heralded Black–Jewish Alliance has weathered numerous storms over the past 50 years, and many in both communities have analyzed reasons for the divergence. Some say that the interests of Blacks and Jews are no longer aligned, making a revived alliance beyond reach. Last week’s panel discussion demonstrated a new path forward that appears when we are willing to illuminate how we each perceive each other and the events that impact us.

The NBEC gathering marked the launch of a new Convergence Initiative designed to reawaken the Black–Jewish alliance based on intensive relationship building, mutuality

and a belief in the power of individual and collective self-actualization. We took stock of the historical relationship — we recalled not only Jewish solidarity with the Civil Rights Movement, but the critical role that African American allies played in supporting Jewish causes, most notably supporting Israel’s survival and the struggle to free Jews trapped in the Soviet Union. But it was important not to dwell on the “golden age” of the past but rather the realities of the present and the promises of the future.

Many Jews perceived Chapelle’s monologue as fraught with antisemitic tropes about Jewish control of Hollywood, the entertainment field and even the larger society. Many Blacks did not see it as antisemitic, in part because they don’t know the history of antisemitism or the genocidal use of these

Where a mirage is within reach

Guest Columnist

Sarah

Tuttle Singer

Ilive in south Jerusalem, right on the edge of the city where it skitters off into the desert

My friend told me that when he was young — not long after the Six-Day War — he used to hike through my neighborhood from

the Old City to the Dead Sea. He’d take off through Jaffa Gate after morning prayers, turn south and head toward Bethlehem. He’d stop for tea and a bag of dates or almonds at Mar Elias, the monastery on Hebron Road.

The priests would hand him a package of letters for their brothers in the middle of the desert at Mar Sabah.

Then, he’d turn east and pass the hill where my apartment building would someday be built from industrious Cold War lines and planes several years later.

Back then, there were only a few stone

houses and, further east, a mosque or two. Maybe a handful of olive trees before the hills softened into sand.

It was a day’s journey. He would leave Jaffa Gate at sunrise, stopping only to drink water and eat a date or an almond to fortify his journey and recite the afternoon prayers.

By afternoon, under the pitiless sun, he’d squint and Mar Sabah would appear before him – gentle and shining – a mirage, only real, within reach.

Wiping his sweaty brow, would deliver the mail to the brothers living in the monastery

And that is perhaps why I love abrupt endings most. They reflect the fabric of life itself. As David Foster Wallace once observed of Kafka’s narratives, they emphasize “[t]hat our endless and impossible journey toward home is in fact our home.” What is more human than an ending that just recursively folds into another beginning of longing and hoping? Moses’ unrealized dream and legacy continues, and begins again, in the minds and hearts of those captured by his story.

So save your group hugs for sitcoms. Real life doesn’t have a neat e”nding. We continue the journey where the last generation left off. An ending that perpetually endures. PJC

Rabbi David Bashevkin is the director of education for NCSY, the youth movement of the Orthodox Union, and an instructor at Yeshiva University. This story, republished via JTA, originally appeared on My Jewish Learning.

other stereotypes. From their perspective, Jewish success is something to be admired as aspirational for the Black community. Chappelle characteristically used humor and satire to address perceived wrongs, particularly about how NBA superstar Kyrie Irving, a Black man who tripped on a live wire and was then publicly shamed for offending those who, as he suggested, appear to be in the power position in this equation.

Jews were shocked by Kyrie Irving’s posting of what they see as an antisemitic movie about Black Israelites because it denies Jewish peoplehood, essentially erasing Jews from the world scene, even as Jews are accused of conspiratorial control. In the wake of Kanye West’s undeniably

Please see Mendelsohn, page 13

carved into the desert. They’d serve him tea and a simple meal, and then he’d continue walking to the Dead Sea. He loved making these journeys around the middle of the Hebrew month so he could see an almost full moon — if not the full moon exactly — rise in the East, swollen and ripe against the salty air.

He’d look toward the red mountains of Jordan and wonder if one day there would be peace between Israel and Jordan, when the

Please see Singer, page 13

And that is perhaps why I love abrupt endings most. They reflect the fabric of life itself.

Chronicle poll results: Artificial intelligence

Last week, the Chronicle asked its readers in an electronic poll the following question: “Are you concerned with the rapid advancement of artificial intelligence (AI)?”

Of the 200 people who responded, 56% said “very concerned”; 30% said, “somewhat concerned”; 11% said, “not concerned”; and 3% said they didn’t know. Comments were submitted by 43 people. A few follow.

We have trouble telling truth from fiction; now we will have to worry about human or machine. Totally frightening!

I am cautiously optimistic about the benefits, yet I have seen enough sci-fi to be concerned.

I believe that it’s a new monster that we will unfortunately come to know all too soon.

Truth be told, I am way more concerned with the rapid decline of actual human intelligence.

Mendelsohn: Continued from page 12

antisemitic rants, Jews reacted strongly to Irving’s posts to prevent the mainstreaming of antisemitism among Irving’s millions of fans. Many Blacks, however, did not understand what triggered the reaction and many thought the response was overly harsh.

Are you concerned with the rapid advancement of artificial intelligence (AI)?

It is a genuine threat. I hope people will take it seriously and not think of it as a partisan issue to fight over. I know a lot of people scoff at this, and others get indignant over “so much government regulation,” but we regulate for health and safety. This is definitely a health and safety issue. I hope everyone tries to convince their members of Congress to set partisanship aside and work on this.

If it’s artificial, it ain’t “intelligence”!

As with any new technology, it can be used for good as well as for bad. We shouldn’t prevent progress, but instead learn how to mitigate unintended consequences and work to prevent nefarious usage.

I am concerned that we are not preparing ourselves for it sufficiently. As with other matters, we have been warned ahead and have failed to think about it until it is nearly too late.

We are already losing interpersonal skills to our detriment, and AI will further deteriorate human interaction.

a prerequisite to true partnership. To paraphrase Hillel, a great rabbi of the first century CE, we cannot truly understand another until we have put ourselves in their place.

The NBEC’s Convergence Initiative stands to revive the Black–Jewish dynamic by bringing together leaders from each community to build meaningful relationships that will pave the way for honest, sometimes difficult, conversations. We will learn how

As a writer and teacher of writing, I value the imagination, creativity and originality of all individuals. AI threatens that; it will squelch our independent thinking and turn us into robots who allow a machine to think and act for us. I fear that AI has more negatives than positives to it. Instead, let’s use our minds and money to improve the education of all our children and make our nation one of engaged, curious, capable citizens.

Singer:

Continued from page 12

borders between us would dissolve, when the desert would yield.

He’d say his evening prayers, and turn around and walk back to Mar Sabah and spend the night in a tiny room, as cool as moonlight.

At sunrise, he’d enjoy a simple breakfast, fortify his knapsack and the priests would give him their letters for their brothers at Mar Elias in Jerusalem, on the other side of the desert.

Anyway. This isn’t my story. It’s my friend’s.

Maybe I’ve read too many sci-fi books, but it seems to me that with AI’s ability to problem-solve, eventually people will become irrelevant. Some of the best minds around have already warned us of this possibility. And yet from a scientific point of view, it’s so tempting ... PJC

— Compiled by Toby Tabachnick

Chronicle weekly poll question: Have you ever served on a jury? Go to pittsburghjewishchronicle.org to respond. PJC

— only a little sustenance, a full waterskin, and some imagination. (H/T Russell Tappan Hawkey.)

Today, Israelis can’t cross into this part of the desert, nor can Palestinians leave it — we have checkpoints, and borders, both physical and invisible. There isn’t an open expanse of sand and sky — there are roads and watch towers and soldiers and stringent laws that divide us.

But maybe someday it’ll be different. Maybe someday we will build a just and lasting peace between us, and the desert will yield

That’s something I love about this place. A mirage is within reach. PJC

This movie, even if offensive, sits on Amazon Prime. Why attack the messenger instead of Jeff Bezos and Amazon who are profiting from the movie? Moreover, forcing Irving to do penance publicly for his action — temporary suspension from the NBA, paying a fine, being forced to sit down with a white Jewish leader to be taught what he did wrong — created a wildly negative image among Black Americans, evoking racist tropes that have haunted African Americans for centuries.

We could debate who was right and who was wrong, but that would miss the point. The real lesson is recognizing that we each interpreted these events based on our own historical traumas. The result is that we interpret key events differently, not out of malice, but out of ignorance of what motivates the other. It is precisely this chasm of perception that the Convergence Initiative seeks to overcome as

to stand in each other’s shoes, even for a moment, and in so doing open new vistas of mutual understanding. The initiative will fuel opportunities to address challenges within our communities but even more so to work together for mutual economic, social and political empowerment. We have much to offer each other, and in creating this model, NBEC is building the engine to fuel real and positive change for Blacks, Jews and the larger American society. PJC

Jeff Mendelsohn is the founding executive director of Pro-Israel America and Pro-Israel America United. During his 10-plus years at AIPAC, he launched and managed the AIPAC Outreach Program, which successfully engaged non-Jewish constituencies, including Hispanics, African Americans and evangelical Christians in pro-Israel activism. This first appeared on The Times of Israel.

I like to think about this story — even just a few decades ago you could walk from Jerusalem through the desert as we could throughout the centuries when we didn’t need travel documents or passports

Sarah Tuttle-Singer is the author of “Jerusalem Drawn and Quartered” and the new media editor at The Times of Israel, where this first appeared.

‘Horrific evil’ warrants the ultimate punishment

I grew up in Squirrel Hill and taught at the Western Penitentiary on the North Side when it was a maximum security prison with lots of murderers. I also volunteered in Maryland state prisons, so I’ve seen life on the inside.

Let’s be clear: Life in prison isn’t a horrible outcome for a murderer unless it’s isolation. Prison creates a society microcosm, and to suggest “life without parole” means a life of suffering and remorse is bogus. Free room and board, health care and entertainment. No, it’s not a country club, but prison life isn’t like it’s portrayed in movies.

The death penalty, not delayed justice, is clearly the only response to the evil and demonic action of the vile murderer responsible for the Pittsburgh synagogue massacre. Put him in prison, and he’ll get a hero’s welcome by his ilk.

There’s little to no question of guilt. Let’s recognize that heinous or horrific evil warrants the most severe punishment: death.

Harvey Cohen Naples, Florida

Address & Fax: Pittsburgh Jewish Chronicle,5915 Beacon St., 5th Flr., Pgh, PA 15217. Fax 412-521-0154

Website address: pittsburghjewishchronicle.org

We will learn how to stand in each other’s shoes, even for a moment, and in so doing open new vistas of mutual understanding.

Life & Culture

Savory tomato tart

— FOOD —

By Jessica Grann | Special to the Chronicle

Savory tarts are an incredible way to showcase seasonal vegetables any time of the year. For this recipe, I used sautéed onions, fresh oregano and basil, beautiful heirloom tomatoes and fresh mozzarella cheese.

It has a Margherita pizza vibe, so people are always happy to see it on the table.

The tomatoes really shine in this recipe. I use various colors and sizes to make it more visually interesting. If you don’t love fresh mozzarella, then I suggest using feta or goat cheese in its place.

This is a fun recipe because once you get the basics down, you can get super-creative with your pairings, changing up the herbs, vegetables and cheeses. I recommend storebought pie crust to make life easier and keeping fresh pots of herbs on hand, which is much more economical than buying herbs at the grocery store.

I serve this for brunch with salad, but it’s also a beautiful appetizer and a lovely dish to take to a party.

Ingredients:

1 store-bought pie crust

3 tablespoons olive oil, divided

Half a large, sweet onion, sliced thin

1 large clove garlic, minced

½ cup fresh herbs, divided; I used a mix of basil and oregano

2 cups tomatoes, sliced

3 ounces fresh mozzarella, or cheese of your choice

¼ teaspoon sea salt, divided

Freshly ground pepper

Set your oven to 400 F and place the oven rack in the middle slot.

Thaw the pie crust according to its instructions. It should still be cool to the touch when you unwrap it. I suggest running a rolling pin over it a few times to make sure that it fits the size of your pan.

Gently lift the pastry and place it over the pan, then use your fingers to press the pastry into the corners and edges. Use kitchen scissors or a sharp knife to trim any

pastry that flows over the edge of the pan. If you don’t have a tart pan with a loose bottom, you can use a 9-inch pie plate for the pastry, but only pat the pastry about halfway up the side of the pie plate. My dairy tart pan is square, so I roll the dough as much as I can, trim the edges and use any extra dough to build up edges where the dough cracks or looks sparse. With square pans, the corners usually need a little extra work. Just take a little strip of pastry and use your fingers to smooth it into any cracks. Pastry is pretty forgiving. If it tears, you can almost always repair it.

Pre-bake the crust for 15 minutes at 400 F. Pre-baking is an important step to ensure that the center of the tart is not soggy from the vegetables and that the dough doesn’t remain raw after baking.

Sauté the onion in 1 tablespoon of olive oil over medium-low heat for 10-12 minutes

— just olive oil and onions, no salt yet.

While the onion is cooking, mince the garlic, slice 2 cups of tomatoes and tear the fresh herbs into pieces. The more natural and organic it looks, the better.

Tear or cut 3 ounces of fresh mozzarella. I like the mini balls for this size tart.

Once the onion is soft and starting to brown, remove it to another dish and add 2 more tablespoons of olive oil to the pan with the garlic and ¾ of the fresh herbs. Sauté on low for 1-2 minutes, until fragrant, but be careful not to burn the garlic.

Remove the pastry and turn the oven temp to 425 F.

Pour the garlic and herb oil over the crust, using a pastry brush to spread it evenly and into the corners and edges of the pan.

Spread the onions evenly over the crust and sprinkle them with salt.

Arrange the tomatoes as you please,

Chai

sprinkle them with more salt and bake for an additional 15 minutes.

Remove the tart quickly from the oven, sprinkle it with cheese and put it back into the oven for 3-4 minutes, until the cheese starts to melt.

Allow it to cool for 10 minutes before serving.

Garnish with the rest of the fresh herbs. Mozzarella cheese has very little flavor on its own, so I usually check to see if it needs a little more salt. If you’re using a different cheese, you may not need much added salt, if any.

This makes 4 nice-size portions for a light meal paired with a salad. I usually cut 9 squares if I’m serving it as an appetizer or on a mezze table. Enjoy and bless your hands! PJC

Jessica Grann is a home chef living in Pittsburgh.

p Savory tomato tart

Photo by Jessica Grann

Life & Culture

L.A’s Gorilla Pies serves ‘Pittsburgh-style’ pizza with a strong Jewish heritage

— BUSINESS —

By David Rullo | Staff Writer

The sign on the door to Gorilla Pies reads “Osher not kosher,” but that doesn’t mean the San Fernando Valley pizza shop doesn’t have deep Jewish roots. In fact, the only thing more tightly tied to the hip Los Angeles-area eatery than its Jewish heritage might be its connection to the Steel City.

Ben Osher owns Gorilla Pies with his brother Jake and is the creator of what he calls “Pittsburgh-style” pizza.

“The most specific thing I can point to is my use of half provolone and half mozzarella,” Osher said, explaining what he calls Pittsburgh-style. “That is definitely one thing Pittsburgh does that not everyone else does.”

As an example, Osher cites Mineo’s Pizza House, with shops in the heart of Squirrel Hill, Mt. Lebanon and Allison Park.

“You need a napkin to dab the grease off the top before you eat it,” Osher said. “It’s the overwhelming amount of provolone cheese that actually breaks when it cooks that give off that grease because mozzarella doesn’t do that.”

Gorilla Pies even serves an off-the-menu secret pie that features French fries.

“Out of respect, I lovingly call it the Primanti,” he said.

Osher has the culinary credibility one hopes to find in a chef. He was a sous chef at Nobu in Los Angeles and Moscow and an executive chef at Mama Shelter in Hollywood. Despite the high-end background, Osher’s roots go back to Pittsburgh, where he worked the less glamorous parts of the food service industry.

“I worked at Gullifty’s when I was 15-and-a-half. That was my first dishwashing job, my first job in the industry. Then I worked at Boston Market, a stone’s throw away to the Blockbuster in Squirrel Hill. Then, one of my mom’s friends had a friend that was a buddy of Tom [Baron], the owner of the Big Burrito Group.”

The connection helped Osher secure a job at the Vertigo Bar, a gastropub in Shadyside that was open for less than a year but gave him his first taste of working with a woodburning pizza oven. That was Osher’s only experience making pizza before Gorilla Pies.

This early blue-collar work, familiar to

most teens trying to make their way into the food industry, was intertwined with his life as a typical teenager growing up in Squirrel Hill, where his family relocated to from California when he was 11.

everything,” he said.

The future restaurateur became a bar mitzvah at Temple Sinai, but his parents eventually became members of Dor Hadash.

we had anything else to do,” he said. “Going out on the town was junior high night at the JCC. I also participated in some plays. In L.A. as a young man, I saw what the JCC was there, and in Pittsburgh it was really different. The term ‘community center’ doesn’t always mean community center, but it does in Pittsburgh,” he said. “It was an absolute hub of community.”

Citing a now-familiar theme, Osher said he was laid off because of the pandemic and decided to take a gamble on himself.

“At 43, I have a number of ideas of the kind of restaurants I’d like to start but, as a creative person, finding my voice was the toughest thing,” he said.

He eventually settled on the idea of a pop-up pizzeria where he made the pies in his own oven. His brother Jake, a DJ and social media influencer who won a $250,000 prize on a VH1 competition show called “Master of the Mix,” helped sample the new signature pies and deliver them.

The pop-up business was getting a lot of orders and rave reviews — until someone filed a complaint with the health department that Osher was running a business out of his apartment. That complaint pushed him to start a business with his brother as a partner.

Gorilla Pies became more of a family affair when the pair’s father found a location for the new restaurant on a site called sellingrestaurants.com. The spot was the former home of a kosher restaurant and next door to a kosher bakery — hence the “Osher not kosher” sign on the door to dissuade customers from coming in looking for kosher food.

Gorilla Pies hasn’t shed its Jewish ties. The restaurant features a picture of Osher’s family from the 1920s in Toledo, Ohio, around a table with apples for Rosh Hashanah. The pizzeria even has a pizza called “The Rabbi,” a decidedly non-kosher take on a Reuben.

The restaurant’s logo pays homage to Pittsburgh, featuring a gorilla wearing a hat with a “P” on the front — a tribute to the Pirates.

And while he says the kosher consumer might have trouble understanding his take on pizza, Osher wants there to be no confusion about one thing.

“I started seventh grade in Reizenstein Middle School. Went to Allderdice. The Jewish Community Center was the center of our universe as kids. That was just kind of

Osher’s JCC connections run deep. He played basketball at the center and coached in its youth clinic.

“It all started with junior high night before

“This is a proud Jewish business,” he stated emphatically. PJC

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

p Ben Osher

Photo courtesy of Ben Osher

Pat Robertson, pastor who personified American Jews’ dilemma with evangelicals, dies at 93

evangelicals with a vast television audience and political influence, Robertson was full of admiration for Jews and deeply supportive of Israel.

By Ron Kampeas | JTA

Pat Robertson was trying to pay Jews a compliment.

“They’d rather be polishing diamonds than fixing cars,” he said in 2014 on his show on the Christian Broadcasting Network, the station the Southern Baptist minister founded in 1960 that had grown into an evangelical Protestant powerhouse.

Robertson made his observation — while chuckling — in a conversation with a rabbi who was sympathetic to his conservative beliefs, Daniel Lapin. He clearly thought that diamond polishing was a good thing, and somehow rooted in biblical precepts.

“What is it about Jewish people that make them prosper financially?” Robertson had said, introducing his rabbi friend. “You almost never find Jews tinkering with their cars on the weekends or mowing their lawns. That’s what Daniel Lapin says, and there’s a very good reason for that, and it lies within the business secrets of the Bible.”

Those remarks were sharply emblematic of a dilemma that has for years dogged the American Jewish establishment and that was personified by Robertson, who died last week at 93. Like many

At the same time, Robertson’s message carried with it the baggage of age-old stereotypes that caused Jews discomfort. Those came alongside a history of statements denigrating feminism, LGBTQ people and Muslims.

“ADL genuinely values the support of Israel these leaders have demonstrated,” an Anti-Defamation League statement said in 1994 after a 60-page report it published on Robertson’s Christian Coalition drew pushback from Jewish political conservatives, led by Lapin. “But this support cannot be used as a shield from legitimate criticism.”

Robertson broadcast his hugely popular “700 Club” show multiple times from Israel, and articulated the argument that biblical prophecy necessitated Christian support for the Jewish state. That view has since permeated the Republican Party.

“The survival of the Jewish people is a miracle of God,” he said in an undated speech posted on his website. “The return of the Jewish people to the land promised to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob is a miracle of God. The remarkable victories of Jewish armies against overwhelming odds in successive battles in 1948, and 1967, and 1973 are clearly miracles of God. The technological marvels of Israeli industry, the military prowess,

the bounty of Israeli agriculture, the fruits and flowers and abundance of the land are a testimony to God’s watchful care over this new nation and the genius of this people.”

Following his death, the American Israel Public Affairs Committee called Robertson “a great friend of Israel and a pioneer in the modern Christian Zionist movement.”

“I was deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Pat Robertson, a brilliant orator and faith leader and an extraordinary friend of Israel and the Jewish People,” David Friedman, former President Donald Trump’s ambassador to Israel, tweeted last week. “Deepest condolences to Gordon and the entire Robertson family. May you derive much comfort from his incredible legacy.”

Yet this “genius” people kept irking Robertson.

In 2014, he called the director of the Military Religious Freedom Foundation, which advocates against proselytizing in the military, a “little Jewish radical.” The subject of that epithet, Mikey Weinstein, was not mourning Robertson.

“I know quite well what it felt like to be savaged by him just for being a Jewish person who fights for civil rights in our armed forces,” he said in a statement.

In 1988, when the ADL asked Robertson to condemn the antisemitism that was emerging in protests against Martin Scorcese’s movie, “The Last Temptation of Christ,” Robertson demanded a quid pro quo: that Jewish groups condemn the movie’s Jewish producers.

In 1995, Robertson got into trouble when he tried to get out of trouble for his 1991 book, “The New World Order,” in which he blamed much of the world’s woes on “European bankers” who happened to be Jewish.

Robertson’s defense was a familiar one. The book, he told The New York Times, was “pro-Israel and pro-Jewish” because among its targets was the United Nations. He added that he had “many, many friends in the Jewish community.”

Robertson was so confident of those friends that he thought they would help propel him to the presidency in 1988. “I would anticipate, especially among Conservative and Orthodox Jews,

Jewish Chronicle

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p Pat Robertson speaks at the Florida Economics Club in 1986.

Photo by Mark T. Foley/Wikimedia Commons

Please see Robertson, page 20

Bar Mitzvah

Seth Landon Childs, son of Jeremy and Beth Childs, will become a bar mitzvah on Saturday, June 17, at Congregation Shaare Torah in Rockville, Maryland. Seth is the grandson of Martin and Jann Childs of Pittsburgh, and Steve and Esther Weissberger of Scranton. Seth has two sisters, Jordyn and Alexa. Seth is finishing seventh grade and enjoys playing basketball, lacrosse, and baseball, as well as spending time with friends, family and his dog Benji. Seth is looking forward to spending his summer at Capital Camps in Waynesboro, Pennsylvania.

Weddings

Elyse and Marty Eichner of Squirrel Hill joyfully announce the marriage of their son, Maxwell Ross Eichner, to Rachel Chiara Fix, daughter of Barbara and the late Milton Fix of Scarsdale, New York, formerly of Johannesburg, South Africa. Rachel is the granddaughter of the late Berjulie and Hubert Press of Johannesburg, South Africa, and the late Filly and Harry Fix of Bloemfontein, South Africa. Max is the grandson of Claryne and the late Sanford Berman of Pittsburgh,, formerly of Steubenville, Ohio, and the late Sally and Sidney Eichner of Akron, Ohio. Surrounded by family and friends, Rachel and Max were married on Feb. 23, 2023, in the beautiful South African countryside at the Kurland Polo Estate in Plettenberg Bay, South Africa. Rachel is the founder and CEO of r. chiara, a fine jewelry company. Max is an M&A lawyer at Kirkland & Ellis, the New York City law firm. Rachel and Max reside in Manhattan.

With great pleasure, Leslie and Lester Frischman announce the Charlotte, to Jake Titlebaum, son of Michelle and David Titlebaum of Westport, Connecticut. The ceremony and reception took place on April 15, 2023, at the Omni William Penn in downtown Pittsburgh. Rabbi Aaron Meyer officiated. Charlotte is the granddaughter of the late Leon and Pauline Kroll and the late Milton and Rosalyn Frischman. Jake is the grandson of Cynthia Weissman, Robert Weissman and the late Carol Weissman, along with Phyllis Titlebaum and the late Alan Titlebaum. Charlotte is a graduate of The Ohio State University and is the talent acquisition team lead at Melio, an Israeli fintech startup. Jake is a graduate of Tulane University and is the sales and operations manager at Radiate Textiles, a family business. The couple is honeymooning in Paris, Barcelona and the Amalfi Coast. They reside in Greensboro, North Carolina, with their

With great pleasure, Ralph and Dodie Roskies announce the marriage of their daughter Adina Lynn Roskies to Colin Frederick Allen on May 28, 2023, in Quichee, Vermont. Adina is The Helman Family Distinguished Professor in the Department of Philosophy at Dartmouth College, while Colin is Distinguished Professor in the Department of History and Philosophy of Science at the University of Pittsburgh. Colin’s parents are Fred and Llewella Allen of Selsey near Chichester, England. The couple will be relocating to be distinguished professors in the Department of Philosophy at the University of California, Santa Barbara. PJC R

Judaism and modernity

Rabbi Yisroel Altein Parshat Shlach Numbers 13:1 – 15:41

Imagine you are told that your family will be moving to a new neighborhood and you are sent ahead of the family to see what the neighborhood is like. You find the neighborhood to be run-down and crime-ridden and see no chance of survival there. You return and share the truth of your findings and cry that this is not going to be good, your family should not be going there. Instead of being thanked for your honest reporting (no fake news here), you are admonished and punished.

This is the story of the spies in this week’s Torah portion. They were sent to Israel to check out the land and found giants and unusual-looking fruits and no chance of their survival. They came back and gave this report and were punished.

Lots of ink has been spilled to explain where they went wrong. I would like to share a Chassidic perspective that I believe is relevant to us today.

The Jews were living in a spiritual oasis. They

back with hard facts and brainstorming about ways to deal with the challenges, they gave up.

In 1950, the Lubavitcher Rebbe, ob”m, whose 29th yahrzeit is commemorated next week on Thursday, assumed leadership of Chabad. On one side of history was the devastation of the Holocaust, and on the other side was a future of modernity and assimilation. While there were those who thought the best way to ensure Jewish continuity was by compromising on Jewish traditions, and others thought the only way to survive was to seclude themselves “in clouds of glory,” creating isolated communities, the Rebbe took the lesson of the story of the spies to heart. Judaism has everything we need to survive the challenges of America, the “golden medina.” We don’t need to withdraw into the “clouds of glory,” nor do we need to look for new sources of inspiration. The Rebbe firmly believed that traditional Torah and mitzvot are the answer to the dangers of modernity. With this he created the vast, evergrowing network of Chabad centers, serving every Jew on whatever level they may be.

The Rebbe used the same ideology to deal with technology. Without compromising on any Jewish law or value, the Rebbe embraced modern technology before it was popular. In

were surrounded by clouds of glory, being fed manna from heaven and had a Mishkan in which G-d’s presence dwelled. They had no material worries and certainly no concerns of Jewish continuity. The spies came to the land and saw what the “modern” world looked like. They would no longer be able to sit and study Torah all day and be sustained miraculously. This new land was one that “consumes its people.” The future of Judaism looked bleak to them. Based on what they saw, they predicted the modern land would consume their children and they would not survive as a people.

G-d was upset. The Torah that he had just given was an eternal blueprint for Jewish life in every circumstance. The spies had completely missed the point of G-d coming down to this world to give them the Torah rather than bringing them up to heaven. The Torah, G-d was communicating, is meant to be experienced in a physical world, not in a spiritual oasis in the dessert.

The spies were sent on a mission to see how Jewish life would be experienced in the new reality of the world, and instead of coming

the 1960s, Chabad began a weekly Tanya class on the radio. In the ’70s, the Rebbe’s farbrengens were being listened to via telephone hookup all over the world and were broadcast in the U.S. on TV. In the ’80s, the broadcasts were updated via satellite to be viewed in five continents, while the transcripts of Shabbat talks were being sent via fax within hours of Shabbos. And by the early ’90s, the first (and still the largest) Jewish website, chabad.org , began to spread Judaism and reach every Jew wherever they are found.

So while we continue to struggle with balancing the modern world and Judaism, let us remember that this struggle began as soon as we were given the Torah. Let us learn from Joshua and Caleb, the two spies who stayed true to their mission, to stand strong and steadfast in our traditions while embracing the world in which G-d gave us the Torah to be fulfilled. PJC

Rabbi Yisroel Altein is the spiritual leader of Chabad of Squirrel Hill. This column is a service of the Vaad Harabanim of Greater Pittsburgh.

In the Court of Common Pleas of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania:

Docket No. GD-23-05640

In re Petition of Brendan Andrew Flicker

For change of name to Brendan Andrew Askin

To all persons interested: Notice is hereby given that an order of said Court authorized the filing of said petition and fixed the 23rd day of June, 2021, at 9:30 AM as the time and the Motions Room, City-County Building, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, as the place for a hearing, when and where all persons may show cause, if any they have, why said name should not be changed as prayed for.

So while we continue to struggle with balancing the modern world and Judaism, let us remember that this struggle began as soon as we were given the Torah.

BURTON: James M. Burton, formerly of Pittsburgh, passed away on April 19, 2023, after a brief illness at the JFK Medical Center in Atlantis, Florida. At the time of his death, James was a resident of Boynton Beach, Florida. He is survived by his sisters Arlene Leslie Burton-Clark of New Jersey and Rochelle Susan Wathey of Illinois; his nephews Anthony David Selmeczy of Illinois, Matthew Jeffrey Martin of California, James Bradley Martin of Arizona, Ian Michael Clark of New Jersey; and by his great-nephews and niece. James was a formidable trial attorney with a law practice in the city of Pittsburgh and was also licensed to practice law in Florida, where he conducted civil mediations prior to his retirement. He was an avid golfer, a college swimmer and judo karate black belt. He was a veteran of the Navy and civilian pilot. He will be remembered with love and missed by his friends, family and by Selky Cabrera, his longtime companion and care provider of 12 years. The family plans to hold a private memorial service in his honor at a later time.

EPSTEIN: Fern Rosenthal Epstein passed away Friday, May 19. She was living in Henderson, Nevada, and was surrounded by her adoring and devoted family. She was born Aug. 9, 1954, and grew up in Squirrel Hill. She lived in Pittsburgh until moving to Nevada about 10 years ago and still remained a devoted Steelers fan. She attended Taylor Allderdice High School and graduated in 1972. Fern is predeceased by her husband, Jeffrey Epstein, brother Larry Rosenthal, parents Charlotte and Mike Rosenthal and Aunt Harriet Kline Levy. Fern was like the Pied Piper. As she met people and showed her generosity, wit, sparkle and unconditional love they became her friends forever. She and her pug Lexie were inseparable.  She was always pampering and doting on Lexie. Fern is survived by her adoring sister Shelley Rosenthal-Homsy (Paul), nephews (who were like her sons) Ernie Homsy and PJ Homsy (Alessandra), GREAT niece Summer and Summer’s sister who is on the way, nephews Evan and Aaron Frebowitz, cousin Jodi Bernstein Kline, and sister-in-law Farren Epstein. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in Fern’s name to St. Jude, stjude.com, which is an organization near and dear to our hearts. A service of Ralph Schugar Chapel, Inc. schugar.com

KLEIN: Ilene Klein, 77, formerly of Center Township, passed away peacefully on June 11, 2023. Born on March 14, 1946, Ilene was the daughter of the late David and Adele Klein. Ilene leaves behind her beloved husband of 42 years, Jay Klein, as well as her son Louis (Nicole) Klein of Pittsburgh. Ilene was the dearly beloved Ammy to her two grandchildren, Addison and Austin, and her grandpuppy, Brody.

Ilene also leaves behind her niece, Kimberly Zytnick, Aspinwall, wife of the late Jay Zytnick, and three grandnephews, Zachary, William and Matthew Zytnick. Ilene was preceded in death by her brother, Charles Klein. Ilene leaves behind an amazing collection of special friends — who she truly considered to be her family. Ilene was a graduate of Aliquippa High School and Edinboro University. She was a devoted and tireless elementary school teacher to countless students in the Hopewell Area School District for over 30 years. In addition to her dedication to her family and her career, Ilene was a volunteer at Meals on Wheels, as well as with Faith in Action. She loved vacationing with family and friends at Myrtle Beach, participating in bowling leagues and playing mahjong with her friends. Friends will be received between 10 a.m. and noon on Friday, June 16, 2023, at Huntsman Funeral Home, 2345 Mill Street, Aliquippa, PA 15001, with a celebration of life to follow thereafter. Interment and a graveside service will then follow at Beth Shalom Cemetery, 1501 Anderson Road, Shaler, PA 15209. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to The Ilene Klein Children’s Fund established at the B.F. Jones Memorial Library, Aliquippa, PA. Donations to the fund can be made online at link.clover.com/urlshortener/N6hrxk.

LANG: Sylvan William Lang, age 79, of White Oak, died on Wednesday, June 7, 2023. He was born in McKeesport on Oct. 12, 1943, and is the son of the late Arthur and Jennie Jacobs Lang. He received his master’s degree in education and taught middle school math and science for McKeesport Area School District until his retirement. He was a member of various organizations including the White Oak Lions Club, where he served as past district governor, McKeesport Sportsmen’s Association, McKeesport Railroad Club, Two Rivers Radio Club, Masonic Lodge 375 in McKeesport, Tall Cedars of Lebanon International and Shriners International. He was also a proud member of Gemilas Chesed Synagogue in White Oak. Sylvan is survived by his wife, Maxine Rosner Lang; daughters, Robin (Jeff Buterbaugh) Smart of White Oak; Hope (Jeff) Bonomo of Steubenville, Ohio; and grandchildren, Hannah Smart of White Oak; Trent Bolek of Steubenville, Ohio; and Jesse Bolek of Steubenville, Ohio. Graveside services were held on Thursday, June 8, 2023, at 4 p.m. at New Gemilas Chesed Cemetery and officiated by Rabbi Mendy Schapiro. Arrangements were handled by Strifflers of White Oak Cremation and Mortuary Services, Inc., 1100 Lincoln Way, White Oak, PA 15131 (Sue Striffler Galaski, supervisor, 412-678-6177). Should friends desire, memorial contributions may be made in Sylvan’s name to a charity of your choice. To share a memory or condolence, please visit strifflerfuneralhomes.com.

LIPPARD: Thomas Eugene Lippard, age 80, of Point Breeze, on Wednesday, June 7, 2023. Attentive and adoring husband of the late Susan Frank Lippard; devoted and loving father of Gregory (Ninka), Adam (Michael), Jed (Todd); proud grandfather of Max, Bryce, Owen, Abraham, and Ari; affectionate son of the late Alvin Isadore and Ruth Green Lippard; honorable brother of Stephen, Gail and Carol. Born during a WWII blackout air raid drill on April 15, 1943, Tom spent the entirety of his 80-plus years seeing, pursuing and bringing the light. Often quoted as saying, “It’s a beautiful thing,” in both his personal and professional pursuits, Tom brought out the best in all who shared in the pleasure of his company. A 1960 graduate of Taylor Allderdice High School in Squirrel Hill, Tom pursued a bachelor’s degree in political science from Haverford College, graduated from the University of Pittsburgh in 1965, and went on to earn his Juris Doctorate from the University of Chicago in 1968. Determined, in his own words, to be an “honorable, effective and dedicated fellow

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

In memory of...

Anonymous Beatrice Helen Amper

Dr. Lawrence N. Adler

K. Broudy

Paula Weiss Callis

Marilyn Caplan

Sherry Cartiff

Barbara & Frank DeLuce

Tibey Falk

Lessa Finegold

Harold & Cindy Lebenson

Samuel H. Adler

Bertha Broudy

Irene Feldman Weiss

Molvin Glantz

Sidney Posner

Fay Doltis Shaer

Anne P. Meyers

Mildred Caplan

Bertha Brookie Broudy

Edythe Greenberg Louis Perr

Edythe Greenberg

Beverly Kenner

Sharon Galanty Knapp

Sharon Galanty Knapp

Jeffrey L. Kwall

Sheila Lawrence

Jack & Bernice Meyers

Howie & Shelley Miller

Charles Greenberg

Louis Kenner

Jacob Galanty

Roselle Brenner

Theda Rose Greenberg

Julius Moskovitz

Anne P. Meyers

Lawrence I. Miller

Mrs. Alvin Mundel Milton Klein

Linda Rattner Nunn

Esther Nathanson

Linda & Jeffrey Reisner and Family

Richard, Mindy, & Logan Stadler

Richard, Mindy, & Logan Stadler

Lois Elinoff Rubin

Jerrold & Ina Silver

Marilou Wagner

Marilou Wagner

Edris Weis

Faye Bloom Rattner

Miriam Bachrach

Lawrence Brodell

Fannie S. Lattanzio

Sandra Platt Rosen

Yetta Hyman Elinoff

Ethel Silver

Michael Joseph Wagner

Sarah Hoffman Reifman

David Howard Weis

Contact the Development department at 412.586.3264 or development@jaapgh.org for more information.

THIS WEEK’S YAHRZEITS —

Sunday June 18: Celia Bergad, Rebecca Bluestone, Caroline Cooper, Tillie Gold, Shelton C. Goodman, Henry E. Hersh, Mollie Kramer, Celia Kweller, Martha Cohen Landy, Charlotte Leff, Helen Levin, Minnie Mendler, Morris A. Robins

Monday June 19: Esther B. Alman, Beatrice Helen Amper, Sarah Rosenbloom Ronay, David Scholnick, Mildred Simon, Blanche Tarlo, William Wanetick

Tuesday June 20: Sally Berger, Bessie S. Bernstein, Cecelia M. Fink, Jacob Galanty, Simon Gastfriend, Sarah Leah Greenberg, Sadye I. Horwitz, Sylvia Herman Kahan, Betty Stern Kaplan, Abe L. Kessler, Harold B. Levy, Dr. Ben Moresky, Henry Norell, Max Rubin, William Bernard Segal, Morry Wise

Wednesday June 21: Anna Alpern, William Brown, Ruth Tolchin Ehrenreich, Morris Finesod, Natalie Geminder, Emma E. Gottlieb, Betty Stern Kaplan, Hyman Sanford Liebling, Z.D., Faye Bloom Rattner, Lois Recht, Sarah Hoffman Reifman, Sidney Schatz, Irving Schiffman, Esther Solomon

Thursday June 22: Paul Braun, Samuel H. Caplan, Ethel Cowen, Theda Rose Greenberg, Nathan Kaiserman, Anna Krantz, Irving Levine, Arnold Pearl, Fay Doltis Shaer, Charles B. Spokane, Sam Weiner, Maurice Meyer Weisberger

Friday June 23: Nathan Ackerman, Rose Shulman Axelrod, Israel Mayer Blumenthal, Emanuel Kauf, Lillian Lookman, Max Markowitz, Edythe Markowitz Merksamer, Anne P. Meyers, Matilda Neuman, Mary Pechersky, Mamie Ripp, Nathan Rosenberg, Dorothy Shakespeare, Pearl Tufshinsky, Ben Wanetick, Margaret Weinberger

Saturday June 24: Louis J. Abrams, Jacob H. Becker, Dr. Hyman Bernstein, Harry Bluestone, Sylvia Caplan, Max Hirsch, Louis Kenner, Louis J. Klein, Abraham Mallinger, Sadie Lebowitz Mittleman, Sol Louis Pearlman, Jennie Roth, Leo Saul Schwartz, Seymour Segal, Ida Mae Bloom Swartz

Association of Greater Pittsburgh. Any interested person is invited to attend. Information may be obtained from W. John Rackley, Esq., 345 Commerce Street, Beaver, Pa. 15009, phone (724)775-8500; Attorney

Obituaries:

TREE OF LIFE MEMORIAL PARK

An initial group of sixteen members met in the home of Gustavus Grafner to form Etz Chaim. Then called by its Hebrew name, the Tree of Life was chartered in 1865. Originally an Orthodox congregation, most of the early members were from Eastern Europe. As the congregation moved from its founding on Fourth and Ross, to Grant, to Oakland’s Craft Avenue, and to Shady and Wilkins in the 1950’s, the growing congregation needed additional ground beyond the cemetery established in 1873 in Sharpsburg.

Land was purchased in the North Hills suburb of Franklin Park along Reis Run Road in 1948, and the first interment was that of Herman Goldman in 1950. This lovely manicured setting is the final resting place for over 1000 graves, with mostly flat markers, and a dedicated section for monuments. Like many cemeteries, Tree of Life Memorial Park is full of large family sections: Gersons, Gordons, Goulds, Lenchners, Segals, and Segalls, and others.

Tree of Life Memorial Park is the final resting place for beloved Tree of Life community members Joyce Fienberg, Rose Mallinger, Cecil Rosenthal, and David Rosenthal. In addition, notable burials include:

Dave Dinkin – Longstanding executive director of the Tree of Life Congregation

Aviva Katz, M.D. – University of Pittsburgh professor, and leader in the field of pediatric bioethics

Meyer Mintz – Early area UJA fundraising professional who worked with everyone from Golda Meir to David Ben-Gurion, pre and post 1948

Sam Nover – Sports announcer remembered for many years in Pittsburgh, and for the last interview held with Roberto Clemente

Ruth and Lester Zittrain – They represented some of the 1970’s Steelers in their contract negotiations in their lengthy Allegheny County legal careers, and endowed the Zittrain Garden at the Tree of Life Building.

The Tree of Life, with its active Cemetery Committee, works with the JCBA on both the Memorial Park and the Sharpsburg cemetery.

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

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

Continued from page 19

worker in my profession, the practice of law,” Tom’s impeccable five-decade career was highlighted by his contributions as a partner at Houston, Cohen, Harbaugh & Lippard (1976-1985), Thorp Reed & Armstrong (1986-1996), and from 1997 until his retirement in 2012, as executive vice president, secretary, and general counsel of TMS International, the largest provider of outsourced industrial services to steel mills in North America. It was his tenure at TMS, where he had served as outside counsel since 1970, that Tom felt most proud, as he was instrumental in guiding the company through a major recapitalization effort and several subsequent private equity transactions. Even more significant than his professional accomplishments, Tom lived a rich, full, and vibrant personal life, always surrounded by the extraordinary embrace of lifelong “friends who are family and family who are friends.” An avid albeit ambivalent golfer, boxing enthusiast, referee and head coach-cussing Steelers season ticket holder since 1970, part-time horseman, world traveler and co-patron of many epic family vacations, and recent founding member of the “Greens Literati” book and golf club, the constant to all of his interests was his love of being with people. And no matter where he was and whom he was with, Tom was, without a doubt, the life of the party. He possessed an uncanny ability to relate to people from all walks of life, to see the world through a “glass half full” mentality, and to use his unique (and irreverent) humor as a conduit for community, connection and care. To be fair, the final years of Tom’s life were not easy, yet he faithfully continued to attend to Frank and Lippard family affairs. While he desired nothing more in his retirement than to travel the world with Susie, his beloved wife of 55 years, he instead served as her primary caregiver prior to her passing in November of 2021. Shortly thereafter, he was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. Through it all, and until the very end when he suffered a stroke just after celebrating his oldest grandson’s graduation, Thomas Eugene Lippard persevered with the same grace, generosity, humility and selflessness that exemplified him as a man. His was, by all accounts, a life well lived. Services were held at Rodef Shalom Congregation. Interment at West View Cemetery of Rodef Shalom Congregation. Contributions can be made in his honor to the Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh, 2000 Technology Drive, Pittsburgh, PA 15219 or Alzheimer’s Association (alz.org), Greater Pennsylvania Chapter, 2835 East Carson St., Suite 200, Pittsburgh, PA 15203. Arrangements entrusted to Ralph Schugar Chapel, Inc., family owned and operated. schugar.com

SPIEGEL: Phyllis Linder Spiegel, a warm and loving mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, passed away peacefully at home in White Oak on April 4 at the age of 94. Phyllis was an avid walker, loved travel and the theater. She truly enjoyed being with people, had a wonderful sense of humor, a smile that would make your day and a sincere desire to live each day to the fullest. Phyllis was born on Nov. 24, 1928, and grew up in Oakland and Squirrel Hill. She went to Taylor Allderdice (class of 1946), graduated with a BA from Pennsylvania College for Women (Chatham) and received her MA in education from the University of Pittsburgh. Phyllis became a first-grade teacher in the Pittsburgh Public School System. In December 1957 she married her beloved husband, the late Marvin Howard Spiegel, moved to McKeesport and left teaching to raise their family. For nearly all of her adult life, Phyllis was very active in her synagogue, Gemilas Chesed, and the local Jewish community. She served as president of Gemilas Chesed Sisterhood, and the local chapters of Hadassah and the Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations Women’s Branch. In the 1970s Phyllis became a realtor and worked at the Wilson Baum Real Estate Agency for over 40 years. Phyllis was very well respected in the profession, served as the president of the Mon Yough Association of Realtors, the vice president (District 6) of the Pennsylvania Association of Realtors and was also very active in the Realtors Association of Metropolitan Pittsburgh. Phyllis is survived by her son Michael (Rita), daughter Barbara, her five grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren. The joy of her life was spending time with her grandchildren Estee (Donni) Taub, Zvi (Sori) Spiegel, Aaron Spiegel, Avigail (Dovid) Bienstock and Miri Spiegel. She also loved her eight great-grandchildren, Hudi, Dovid, Yisroel, Shloimi, Shmuli, Chaim, Moshe Chaim and Menashe. Contributions in Phyllis’s honor may be made to Gemilas Chesed Synagogue, 1400 Summitt St., White Oak, PA 15131. PJC

Robertson:

I would have a tremendous body of support,” Robertson said then. “I’m counting on it from everything I’ve seen.”

The support never materialized; Robertson dropped out of the race early. But he consolidated a style of campaigning that mixed Christian piety with politicking, which Jimmy Carter had pioneered a dozen years earlier and that has now become ubiquitous, at least among Republicans. Mike Pence, the former vice president, has made his evangelical faith inseparable from his politics as he launches a campaign for the 2024 GOP political nomination.

Unlike Pence and other Christians running for office, Robertson was never able — or perhaps willing — to obscure the foreboding

Continued from page 17

manifestations of his beliefs, preaching about an apocalypse in Israel and blaming a stroke that struck the late Israeli prime minister, Ariel Sharon, on his withdrawal from the Gaza Strip (a view which made him persona non grata with the Israeli government for a short period).

In 2002, the ADL’s then-national director, Abraham Foxman, summed up the ambivalence many Jews felt when Christian Evangelicals were planning a Washington rally for Israel at a time when it was beset by the second intifada. Jewish groups were neither discouraging nor encouraging the event, he said.

“There is no alliance,” Foxman said. “The relationship is based on this one, specific issue.” PJC

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Life & Culture

Antisemitism-themed ‘Leopoldstadt’ and ‘Parade’ are big Tony Awards winners

is not only inspirational but a true original.”

By Andrew Lapin | JTA

Broadway made a statement about antisemitism Sunday evening, as two high-profile shows on the subject this season — the play “Leopoldstadt” and the musical revival “Parade” — pulled in multiple major Tony awards.

Some of the shows’ honorees, in turn, made statements of their own linking hatred of Jews with other forms of hatred, including homophobia and anti-transgender sentiment at a time when trans inclusion is under attack in many places.

“Leopoldstadt,” Tom Stoppard’s epic semi-autobiographical play about three generations of a Viennese Jewish family before and after the Holocaust, won four of the six Tonys for which it was nominated, including best play. (It was Stoppard’s fifth Tony, coming 55 years after his first, for “Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead.”)

The “Leopoldstadt” actor Brandon Uranowitz, the only member of the play’s large cast to receive an acting nomination, won for featured actor in a play and thanked Stoppard for writing a show about antisemitism and “the false promise of assimilation.” He noted that members of his family were murdered by the Nazis in Poland.

Uranowitz, who is gay, ended with a plea to parents: “When your child tells you who they are, believe them.”

“Parade,” about the 1915 lynching of American Jew Leo Frank, won two prizes, including best revival of a musical. Alfred

Uhry, who wrote the book to the original 1998 production of “Parade,” wore a Star of David lapel pin when he came up to accept the award for best revival.

Michael Arden, the show’s director, noted in his speech that Leo Frank had “a life that was cut short at the hands of the belief that one group of people is more or less valuable than another,” which he noted is “at the core of antisemitism, of white supremacy, of homophobia, of transphobia, of intolerance of any kind.”

Arden warned the crowd to learn the lessons of the show, “or else we are doomed to repeat the horrors of our history.” He concluded his speech with an expletive, bleeped out by the telecast, as he voiced his support of trans and nonbinary youth.

While “Parade” took the top prize, as well as best director of a musical, its Jewish stars Ben Platt and Micaela Diamond both lost out in their categories — Platt to “Some Like It Hot” star J. Harrison Ghee, and Diamond to “Kimberly Akimbo” star Victoria Clark. But Platt and Diamond did share a moment onstage, performing the “Parade” number “This Is Not Over Yet” in character as an imprisoned Frank and his wife Lucille.

The non-Jewish actor Sean Hayes won best actor in a play for his role as Oscar Levant, the real-life Jewish concert pianist, actor and entertainer who had lifelong struggles with mental illness, in “Good Night, Oscar.”

“This has got to be the first time an Oscar won a Tony,” Hayes quipped, adding that Levant’s “wit and irascibility and virtuosity

There were several other Jewish moments at the show. Jewish Broadway legends John Kander (96 years old) and Joel Grey (91 years old) received the evening’s lifetime achievement awards, with Grey’s actress daughter Jennifer Grey presenting him with his honor. Among the pair’s many achievements: Kander composed and Grey starred in “Cabaret,” a musical set in Weimar-era Germany, and Grey mounted the recent successful Yiddish-language revival of “Fiddler on the Roof.” Kander is also the composer behind “New York, New York,” a new show whose musician characters include a Jewish refugee from Nazioccupied Poland.

Miriam Silverman won the featured actress in a play award for her role in “The Sign in Sidney Brustein’s Window,” a revival of a long-overlooked Lorraine Hansberry play about a Jewish bohemian couple in 1960s Greenwich Village.

Lea Michele, despite not being eligible for a Tony for taking over for Beanie Feldstein in “Funny Girl,” performed her signature tune from the show about the Jewish comedian Fanny Brice. “A Beautiful Noise,” a biographical jukebox musical about chart-topping Jewish pop crooner Neil Diamond, also snuck in a performance of “Sweet Caroline” despite not being nominated for anything. The crowd gamely sang along.

And an unexpected Jewish shoutout came near the end of the ceremony, when the cast of the musical comedy “Shucked,” a show about corn, performed a song instructing viewers about the many places where the vegetable can be enjoyed. Among the options: “Bring it to a bris!” PJC

p A view of the cast of “Leopoldstadt,” which focuses on multiple generations of a Viennese Jewish family

Photo by Joan Marcus

Curiouser and curiouser

The Jewish Community Center of Greater Pittsburgh’s ECDC in the South Hills hosted an Alice in Wonderland party to celebrate the end of the school year. Students enjoyed crafts, activities, a tea party and croquet.

Sing, sing a song

The JCC Chorus performed for Jewish Community Center of Greater Pittsburgh ECDC students at the Wellness Center and at Weinberg Terrace.

Keeping the community clean

Kick it

Rodef

Congregation’s recent Diaper Drive collected more than 9,000 diapers, wipes and period products, as well as

The Jewish Community Center of Greater Pittsburgh hosted its annual dance recital. The event marked months of preparation by area dancers and instructors.

p “The time has come,” the walrus said!

p From left: Salem Leaman, Cathy Battle, Sabina Rosenfeld and Tara Truscott Photo courtesy of Rodef Shalom Congregation

Shalom

$500 for the Western Pennsylvania Diaper Bank.

p “I wonder which way I ought to go.” Photos courtesy of Jewish Community Center of Greater Pittsburgh

p Radio City meets Steel City. Photo courtesy of Jewish Community Center of Greater Pittsburgh

p Sing for the moment.

Photo courtesy of Sharon Davison

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