ISRAEL AT WAR October 13, 2023 | 28 Tishrei 5784
Candlelighting 6:25 p.m. | Havdalah 7:22 p.m. | Vol. 66, No. 41 | pittsburghjewishchronicle.org
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Hundreds of Pittsburghers rally in support of Israel Pittsburghers in Israel and Israelis in Pittsburgh share fears By Adam Reinherz | Senior Staff Writer
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members and civilians. Tree of Life Rabbi Hazzan Jeffrey Myers and Temple Sinai Cantor David Reinwald opened the rally with a rendition of the “Star Spangled Banner” followed by remarks from Federation Board Chair Jan Levinson, who said the community had come together not only to share Israel’s grief, but also its resilience. Joining Levinson to speak during the 30-minute program were Federation President and CEO Jeff Finkelstein; Dr. Deborah Gilboa; Federation’s Gefsky Community Scholar Rabbi Danny Schiff; Shaare Torah Rabbi Yitzi Genack; JCC Board Chair Scott Seewald; and JCC President and CEO Jason Kunzman. The mayors of Karmiel and Misgav, Federation’s Partnership2Gether region, spoke via video. Finkelstein acknowledged the many
eora Goldberg, 18, spent four hours in a bomb shelter during Simchat Torah. “It was on and off, whenever we heard the sirens,” she said, speaking by phone from her dormitory in Jerusalem. As of press time, Hamas had fired more than 4,000 rockets at the Jewish state. Goldberg described the situation as “very stressful,” and noted the deluge of war-related stories flooding her social media accounts. “It feels scarier when all the information is coming at once,” she said. The Hillel Academy of Pittsburgh graduate arrived in Israel last month for a year of study at Midreshet Tehillah, a seminary in Jerusalem’s Har Nof neighborhood. Twenty miles west, fellow Hillel Academy graduate Kovi Biton, 18, said, “Nowhere is safe.” Speaking by phone from Yeshivat Reishet in Bet Shemesh, Biton described the rockets and told the Chronicle, “You can see flashes at night. You feel like you are in war.” More than 900 Israelis were killed, 2,500 injured and 150 taken hostage since Hamas attacked Israel by land, sea and air on Oct. 7. Biton said his school issued a “lockdown,” but even isolating within a bolstered gymnasium is frightening. “You can hear the ground rumbling, and you don’t know if it’s from bombs dropping or planes flying overhead,” he said. As of press time, it was reported that at least 11 U.S. citizens were among those killed, and many U.S. citizens are being held
Please see Rally, page 10
Please see Reaction, page 10
Hundreds of community members rallied at the JCC in Squirrel Hill in support of Israel on Oct. 8. By David Rullo | Senior Staff Writer
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ocal and state politicians, rabbis and Jewish community leaders were among more than 500 people at the Jewish Community Center of Greater Pittsburgh’s Levinson Hall rallying in support of Israel. An additional 100 people joined online. The Sunday, Oct. 8 event was organized by the Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh. Both the 10.27 Healing Partnership and
StandWithUs, a pro-Israel education and advocacy organization, had representatives present. The rally was a response to the terrorist attack on Israel launched from Gaza by Hamas, which began the previous morning — nearly 50 years to the day from the start of the Yom Kippur War — as the country was celebrating Shemini Atzeret and Simchat Torah. The terrorist group infiltrated 22 Israeli towns, launching thousands of rockets and attacking by land — through seven breaches in the security wall separating Gaza from Israel — by sea and by air, using gliders. As of press time, more than 900 Israelis and 11 Americans were murdered by the terrorists, including more than 250 celebrating at a music festival. More than 2,500 Israelis were wounded and more than 150 people were taken captive and transported to Gaza, including both military
Photo by Josh Franzos
For up-to-date coverage of the war in Israel, go to pittsburghjewishchronicle.org. e-crow / iStock / Getty Images
Headlines JAA’s new dining plan met with skepticism from some community members — LOCAL — By David Rullo | Senior Staff Writer
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ot everyone is on board with the Jewish Association on Aging’s new dietary policy. In August, the JAA announced that it would no longer have a kosher kitchen in Weinberg Terrace, its personal care facility on Bartlett Street in Squirrel Hill. Instead, residents could request kosher meals, but they would be prepared off-site at the JAA’s main campus, then sealed and double-wrapped. After weeks of public comments concerning this plan, the JAA revised it. The JAA announced last week that fresh kosher food, prepared under the watch of a VAAD mashgiach at its main campus, would be served on regular plates under the supervision of a volunteer mashgiach at Weinberg Terrace. Karen Gusky, a community organizer who has spoken out about the JAA’s decision to offer non-kosher food, said she isn’t satisfied with the new plan. She is particularly worried that the VAAD may not be able to find and train enough volunteers. She said that the JAA, in citing financial concerns as the main reason for converting the kitchen at Weinberg Terrace to nonkosher, wasn’t transparent with the community. “We didn’t know there were financial difficulties,” she said. “They should have told us this. We could have set up a GoFundMe page.” Gusky is also concerned about non-kosher residents eating alongside kosher residents. She’s worried there’s a danger presented
p Karen Gusky
p Drone shot of the JAA campus
Image provided by the Jewish Association on Aging
[Karen] Gusky said that more than 530 people signed a petition urging the JAA to reconsider maintaining Weinberg Terrace as an all-kosher facility. by something as simple as sharing a roll. “You don’t know if there’s milk in that roll and you’re eating meat,” she said. “This is not a solution.” Gusky said that more than 530 people signed a petition urging the JAA to reconsider maintaining Weinberg Terrace as an all-kosher facility. There is also a new Facebook group, Unity Pittsburgh Voices,
dedicated to the cause. “This is a big deal,” she noted, saying that she hears from people regularly who are concerned about the situation. Gusky is worried about the options for local kosher seniors going forward. “What’s going to happen to me? I don’t want to leave Pittsburgh. Where am I going to go for kosher food?” she said. “The
Photo courtesy of Karen Gusky
Jewish community are the ones that gave money in the first place because Weinberg Terrace was a kosher place. … Why do I have to go to Cleveland or New York or Florida?” Former Weinberg Terrace Executive Director Rena Becker said she believes the JAA’s new plan won’t satisfy many community members, who will continue to voice their displeasure. The group plans another public meeting, she said, but that the date has not yet been set. Rabbi Shimon Silver, who is a member of the VAAD, said that it is in the process of finding volunteers to supervise meal service at Weinberg Terrace. Those interested in volunteering “should apply to the VAAD with the recommendation of their rabbi,” he said. Silver said that the work isn’t difficult, but that the volunteers will need to get state clearances, which could take some time to be approved. PJC David Rullo can be reached at drullo@ pittsburghjewishchronicle.org.
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OCTOBER 13, 2023
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Headlines Pennsylvania’s politicians react to Gaza’s attack on Israel
Please see Politicians, page 11
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OCTOBER 13, 2023 3
Headlines Jill Machen takes a bow after more than 30 years of JCC high school musicals — LOCAL — By Justin Vellucci | Special to the Chronicle
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very year, for the better part of three decades, students have brought down the curtain on high school musicals at the Jewish Community Center of Greater Pittsburgh with a special coda. Often running 10 minutes, the pieces give the cast’s graduating seniors a stage to recap four years of their JCC theater experience with a medley of songs from previous productions. And every one, since they started in the early 1990s, has featured an homage to the woman at the center of it all: Jill Machen. “It’s just so touching. Those things — every year, they get me,” said Machen, whose 34-year tenure as the JCC musicals’ director, producer and choreographer ended after “Freaky Friday” wrapped its run in February. “These shows, they were just a safe place for them to be. That remained constant. What could be better than giving kids an experience that makes them feel good?” “A lot of kids, they didn’t find their niche at school, and they’d find it in the musicals,” she said. “If you weren’t on a sports team — this was the same way. We were a team, a winning team.” Machen continues to satiate her theater bug at Winchester Thurston School and for Hillel Jewish University Center of Pittsburgh. But her achievements are the stuff of Pittsburgh legend at the JCC, including dozens of productions and hundreds of student actors from 13 area high schools. Joyce Offerman grew up in musical theater with Machen. Machen later directed Offerman’s daughter, Weasie, in at least three JCC musicals before she graduated from Taylor Allderdice High School in 2009. “Jill is just extraordinary — she’s a mom, she’s a coach, she’s a teacher, she was all these things rolled into one for those kids,” said Offerman, a mother of two who lives in Shadyside. “She’s got a sixth sense of how to make these shows work. I just adore her. She has a gift about her.” Machen doesn’t slow down. But she does look back. The Pittsburgh native reminisced with the Chronicle about theater credits dating back before her memory began. She sang and danced in shows as a young child. In junior high, Machen acted in a JCC presentation of “Sweet Charity” at the YMCA in Oakland. The theater bug bit hard. She starred each year in high school in JCC musicals led by Gerry Buncher, then “the man behind the shows,” Machen said. In 1981, after graduating college, Machen came back to the JCC to direct 90 kids in “Annie With A Twist,” a mashup of “Annie” and “Oliver” that Machen created. In 1989, the JCC called again, and 4
OCTOBER 13, 2023
p Jill Machen Photo by Lauren Renee Photography
p The cast of the JCC’s production of “Mama Mia,” directed by Jill Machen
Photo by Sara Stock Mayo
“Jill is just extraordinary — she’s a mom, she’s a coach, she’s a teacher, she was all these things rolled into one for those kids. She’s got a sixth sense of how to make these shows work.” –JOYCE OFFERMAN Machen directed high school students in the musical “Leader of the Pack.” She didn’t leave until more than three decades later. In the early years, Machen scraped by on limited budgets for ambitious productions. She remembers painting cardboard sets with watercolors borrowed from the JCC’s preschool. It didn’t stay that way long. The musicals, which were staged in Levinson Hall and later Katz Theater to sold-out crowds, benefited from Machen’s professional eye, work ethic and attention to detail. For 15 years, she even helped lead workshops in New York City for Broadway actors and insiders. Machen had little tricks that, some say, made her shows so appealing. For example, she’d never first pick a musical, then look for a cast. She’d always see who auditioned, then build shows around them. As her musicals gained momentum, Machen combed through thrift shop bins and worked with a glue gun — never a sewing needle — to create costumes, eventually assembling a massive arsenal. She hired professionals to handle sound. Students, excited to be part of the productions, fundraised through bake sales, car washes and cabaret events to offset budgets that eventually ran into thousands of dollars. “She’s a woman who knows her craft,” said Rachael Speck, JCC’s director of children and family division, day camping and teen engagement. Born in Harrisburg and raised
in Little Rock, Arkansas, Speck came to Pittsburgh’s JCC 10 years ago, when Machen was well into her tenure. “She really helped to elevate and professionalize theater here, while at the same time finding a place for every teen,” Speck said. Machen’s teens went on to shine pretty brightly. She directed journalist Bari Weiss and Benjy Grinberg, who worked with native sons Mac Miller and Wiz Khalifa. Amy Lutz became a news anchor, Ilana Toeplitz a theater professor, Kate Rogal a TV and movie actress. Dozens went on to become parents, doctors and lawyers. Pittsburgh native Andee Lowenstein raised three children in Churchill and, later Squirrel Hill — and all participated in JCC musicals. “Jill’s a miracle worker,” Lowenstein said. “Some of these kids could sing, some not so much. And she made all of them look like Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers out there.” This being the JCC in Squirrel Hill, many teens hailed from Taylor Allderdice High School or were Jewish. (Like the JCC, there weren’t religious requirements for Machen’s musicals.) But Machen employed orchestra pits with musicians from Winchester Thurston School or Pittsburgh Creative and Performing Arts. There were actors from Central Catholic. Some came from as far as Fox Chapel and Montour schools Jill Machen’s daughter Lindsay Machen, who is an ophthalmologist outside
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of Philadelphia, said her view of her mother’s musicals “really started with admiration.” “It made me feel and appreciate that I had the cool mom,” she said. “Having a mom in the theater made the house lively and fun and musical. And these shows, they just felt like such a spectacle. “She tried to give teenagers a place where they’d be wholly accepted, where they could be themselves,” she added. Jennifer Machen, Machen’s younger daughter, starred in her mom’s shows as an infant. She was also bitten by the theater bug. Her first speaking role came in elementary school: Adelaide in “Guys and Dolls.” Her mother directed her as a Winchester Thurston freshman as a sidekick to Lindsay Machen’s lead in “42nd Street.” Jennifer Machen acted professionally in New York City. Today, she lives in Chicago. “She expected a lot, but we kind of knew that,” Jennifer Machen said of her mom. “She gives 110% and expects that from everybody else.” “She taught me a million things; she taught me to listen and then respond, which is a huge thing in acting,” she said. “Her motto, ‘If you’re not five minutes early, you’re late.’ That’s really stuck with me.” Machen also inspired student actress Carin Bendas Blazer, who grew up in Greenfield Please see Machen, page 11
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Headlines Cherishing family, art and baseball: Jewish-American curator settles in at Andy Warhol Museum — LOCAL —
Duchamp and Andy Warhol. Awol Erizku is an Ethiopian artist who Garvey has known for the last decade. The two are collaborating on an exhibition that will open in March 2025 at the Warhol. Garvey said bringing attention to lesserknown artists is part of the museum’s mission in addition to preserving the legacy of Andy Warhol — who encouraged new artists at his studio, The Factory, in New York City. He plans to start a residency program in Pittsburgh for regional, national and international artists and then exhibit their work at the museum. Garvey, who lives in the South Hills, said that he’s sampled different museums and cultural events each week since his move to Pittsburgh, including the opening of the Violins of Hope exhibit. “We’ve been doing everything possible,” he said. “The type of person I am, when I’m in a place, I’m invested in that place. We want to get to know as many artists as possible.” Given his interests, that will certainly include more than a few Pirate games. PJC
By David Rullo | Staff Writer
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aron Levi Garvey lives by the words of his great-grandmother: “Be better to the world.” Garvey’s great-grandmother Sylvia Zuckerberg Marx, her brother Max and her sister Pearl, were raised in the Hebrew Orphan Asylum of New York in Harlem because their parents could not take care of them. After leaving the orphanage, Sylvia went back to take care of her family. “So, this woman telling me to be better to the world, to be a good steward and to be better to the world than it is to us, that’s where it all started,” Garvey said. Since July, Garvey has served as the chief curator at the Andy Warhol Museum. Before moving to Pittsburgh, he was the Janet L. Nolan director of curatorial affairs at the Jule Collins Smith Museum of Fine Art at the Auburn University in Auburn, Alabama, and was the chief curator and vice chair of programs at The Hudson Eye/Jonah Bokaer Arts Foundation in New York City. He is the co-founder and board adviser of the Long Road Projects Foundation, Inc. — an artist residency program and edition publishing house — in Jacksonville, Florida and Erie, Pennsylvania. The Steel City transplant said art, family and baseball as the three central interests in his life. Before moving to Florida while in high school, Garvey lived in New York with his great-grandparents and grandparents in what he called “a super tightknit household.” His interest in baseball was nurtured by his grandfather, Sol, who lived a few blocks from Yankee Stadium, as well as his great-grandmother, who played ball in the orphanage. While his grandfather didn’t have a great love of the game, he saw it as an American tradition, and, as an immigrant, viewed it as a way to assimilate. It was through baseball that Garvey first got interested in art and museums, taking trips to the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum. From there, he began branching out, taking trips to places like the Thomas Cole National Historic Site, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Brooklyn Museum, The Cloisters and the New York Historical Society Museum and Library. “It started out as trips to keep me occupied but then it took off from there,” he said. “I started dragging them (his family) to museums. I always had a plethora of art supplies — sketchbooks, painting supplies — and would sit at the kitchen table with my bubbie and we would draw.” Like baseball — which he loved, but didn’t think offered career prospects — Garvey realized he was better suited to art history than the creation of art.
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p Aaron Levi Garvey
Photo by Abby Warhola
“I knew I wasn’t going to be an artist; art history was truly where my mind was,” he said. “I thought like an artist but tied in the historical component.” Combining his interests with his heritage and love of family, he labels himself a “Jewish-American curator.” His work focuses “on the cross section of contemporary art culture and community building by creating accessible public programs and exhibitions within institutions and alternative spaces,” according to the Warhol Museum’s website. “I was at synagogue with my grandparents constantly,” Garvey said. “I was in Hebrew school three days a week leading up to my bar mitzvah. I’m genetically Jewish but am also thoughtfully, traditionally a Jew. I take pride in it.” Using the words of his great-grandmother as a mission statement, Garvey practices the Jewish tradition of tikkun olam, or making the world a better place, both in his personal and professional life. He and his wife, Stevie, have offered space for both of his wife’s sisters to live with them and their daughter, while they began their careers. “My bubbie was always telling me, if you have more than you need, help others,” he said. “So, I have a habit of doing that.” Professionally, he hopes to support younger artists. While in Auburn, he helped create an endowment to acquire the work of living Jewish artists, he said, noting that they probably needed the money and recognition more than dead Jewish artists. He’s also helping artists who he sees as following the heritage of artists like Marcel
David Rullo can be reached at drullo@ pittsburghjewishchronicle.org.
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OCTOBER 13, 2023
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Calendar Submit calendar items on the Chronicle’s website, pittsburghjewishchronicle.org. Submissions also will be included in print. Events will run in the print edition beginning one month prior to the date as space allows. The deadline for submissions is Friday, noon. q SUNDAY, OCT. 15 Chabad of the South Hills presents “The Daughter of Auschwitz: An evening with Tova Friedman,” a survivor of the Holocaust. 7:30 p.m. $10. 1701 McFarland Road. chabadsh.com/lecture. q SUNDAYS, OCT. 15 – 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, OCT. 15 – 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, OCT. 16 – DEC. 18 Join Congregation Beth Shalom for a weekly Talmud study. 9:15 a.m. For more information, visit bethshalompgh.org. q MONDAYS, OCT. 16 – MAY 13 H. Arnold and Adrien B. Gefsky Community Scholar Rabbi Danny Schiff presents Torah 2. Understanding the Torah and what it asks of us is perhaps one of the most important things that a Jew can learn. In Torah 2, Schiff will explore the second half of Leviticus and all of Numbers and Deuteronomy. $225. Zoom. jewishpgh.org/event/ torah-2-2/2023-10-09. q TUESDAY, OCT. 17 “The Fruits of Hate: A French City During the Holocaust,” gallery talk and reception. Join David Rosenberg and French language majors from Grove City College to learn about the research behind his project and the lives of its subjects, and to hear new English translations of personal and official accounts of the roundup previously available only in French. 7 p.m. carnegiecarnegie.org/event/the-fruits-ofhate-a-french-city-during-the-holocaust-gallery-talkand-reception. q WEDNESDAYS, OCT. 18 – DEC. 6 Join H. Arnold and Adrien B. Gefsky Community Scholar Rabbi Danny Schiff for The God Class. Schiff will discuss Jewish views of God and how they’ve developed through the ages. 9:30 a.m. $150 Rodef Shalom Congregation, 4905 Fifth Ave. jewishpgh.org/event/the-godclass/2023-09-27. q WEDNESDAYS, OCT. 18 – DEC. 20 Join AgeWell for an intergenerational family dynamics discussion group, led by intergenerational specialist/presenter and educator Audree Schall. Third Wednesday of each month. Free. 12:30 p.m. South Hills JCC. q WEDNESDAYS, OCT. 18 – 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 WEDNESDAYS, OCT. 18 – MAY 15 The Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh virtually presents two Melton courses back-toback: “Ethics” and “Crossroads.” In “Ethics,” learn how Jewish teachings shed light on Jewish issues. “Crossroads” will present an emphasis on reclaiming the richness of Jewish history. 7 p.m. $300 for this 25-session series (book included). jewishpgh.org/series/meltonethics-crossroads.
How did Jewish children conceal their presence during the Holocaust and what effect did hiding have on child survivors? This talk will expand the story of Krakow Jews as told in the film “Schindler’s List” by zooming in on Jewish children’s experiences and what that conveys about the German occupation of Krakow, Poland. 5 p.m. Cathedral of Learning, room 501. ucis.pitt.edu/esc/events/hidingsurvive-jewish-children-krakow-poland.
q THURSDAYS, OCT. 19 – OCT. 26 Join the 10.27 Healing Partnership and the Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy for our healing consciousness-building forest bathing series at the Frick Park Environmental Center. We will take 90-minute gentle walks throughout Frick Park while nurturing our connection to the natural world through reflective practices. Forest bathing involves gentle walking in the woods in community with others and with trained forest bathing practitioners from the Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy, as well as trauma-informed staff from the 10.27 Healing Partnership. Meet at Frick Environmental Center 2005 Beechwood Blvd, Pittsburgh, PA 15217. 10 a.m. Free. Registration required. pittsburghparks.org/ event/forest-bathing-frick-environmentalcenter-8-25-2023/2023-09-28/.
q THURSDAY, OCT. 26 Join The Branch for its annual meeting as it welcomes the CEO of the Blue Dove Foundation to discuss transforming the way the Jewish community understands and responds to mental illness. 7 p.m. Sally and Howard Levin Clubhouse, 2609 Murray Ave.
q FRIDAY, OCT. 20 The Squirrel Hill AARP chapter invites seniors to learn of the changes in the 2024 Medicare supplements, Part D, advantage plans, and every competitive company on the market. Presenter will be Bonnie Bloom, manager of the Health Insurance Store. 1 p.m. Rodef Shalom Congregation, Falk Library, 4905 Fifth Ave. For additional information, please contact Marcia Kramer, 412-656-5803. q MONDAYS, OCT. 23 – DEC. 4 Join H. Arnold and Adrien B. Gefsky Community Scholar Rabbi Danny Schiff for Modern Jewish Philosophy. In this course, Rabbi Schiff will introduce the great Jewish philosophers of modernity and will make their important ideas understandable and relevant to today. $95. Zoom. jewishpgh.org/event/modern-jewishphilosophy/2023-10-16. q TUESDAYS, OCT. 24 – NOV. 14 Join H. Arnold and Adrien B. Gefsky Community Scholar Rabbi Danny Schiff for The Jewish Calendar. Sometimes the holidays come “early” and sometimes the holidays come “late.” Why? In this series, Rabbi Schiff will explore the Jewish texts that gave rise to the Jewish calendar. How does the cycle of the Jewish year actually work, and what meaning does it offer to us? 9:30 a.m. Zoom. $55. jewishpgh.org/series/ the-jewish-calendar. q WEDNESDAY, OCT. 25 Join the 10.27 healing partnership at the Squirrel Hill JCC for a day of wellness, selfcare and healing in anticipation of the fifth year Oct. 27, 2018, commemoration. A variety of free wellness opportunities will include an open arts studio, acupuncture, group improv, yoga and reiki-infused sound bathing. All members and non-members of the JCC are welcomed. JCC, 5738 Forbes Ave. 1027healingpartnership.org/ event/day-of-healing-commemorative-self-care. Join the Holocaust Center of Pittsburgh for Hiding to Survive: Jewish Children in Krakow, Poland.
q FRIDAY, OCT. 27 – SUNDAY, OCT. 29 Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre’s season opener tells powerful stories of tragedy, hope and human connection. The program’s central work, “Sounds of the Sun,” is a world premiere by Jennifer Archibald, which celebrates the life of Florence Waren, a Jewish dancer who lived in Paris and worked with the French Resistance during World War II. Also included is the emotional “Monger,” created by award-winning Israeli American choreographer Barak Marshall. The world premiere is presented in partnership with Violins of Hope Greater Pittsburgh. Byham Theater, 101 Sixth St. Tickets can be purchased at pbt.org.
q WEDNESDAY, NOV. 1 Join Pittsburgh Jewish Chronicle Senior Staff Writer David Rullo as he celebrates the publication of his book “Gen X Pittsburgh: The Beehive and the ’90s Scene.” Rullo will be joined by Beehive founders Scott Kramer and Steve Zumoff,as well as several of the people featured in the book. Performances by Liz Berlin, Phat Man Dee and Circus Apocalypse. Tiki Lounge, 2003 E. Carson St. Press only, 6-7 p.m. Public, 7-11 p.m. q WEDNESDAYS, NOV. 1 – DEC. 6 Chabad of the South Hills presents a new six-week JLI course, “The World of Kabbalah – Revealing How Its Mystical Secrets Relate to You.” Discover the core mystical and spiritual teachings of Kabbalah and their relevance to everyday life. Learn to think like a Jewish mystic and gain powerful insights to fuel deeper selfunderstanding and personal growth. 7:30 p.m. Chabad of the South Hills, 1701 McFarland Road. chabadsh.com. q SUNDAY, NOV. 5 Join H. Arnold and Adrien B. Gefsky Community Scholar Rabbi Danny Schiff and Nina Butler for this year’s Global Day of Jewish Learning – Pittsburgh Edition. As people gather for Jewish learning all over the globe, we will take part locally, focusing on the global theme of “The Values We Hold Dear” plus a light brunch. 10 a.m. $12. JCC Squirrel Hill, 5738 Forbes Ave. jewishpgh.org/event/the-values-we-hold-dear. PJC
Join the Chronicle Book Club!
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he Pittsburgh Jewish Chronicle invites you to join the Chronicle Book Club for its Nov. 5 discussion of “The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store,” by James McBride. From The New York Times: “The book is a murder mystery locked inside a Great American Novel. The story opens in 1972, with the discovery of a skeleton buried in a well in Pottstown, Pa. The identity of the corpse is unknown but the few clues found (a belt buckle, a pendant and a mezuza) lead authorities to question the only Jewish man remaining from the town’s formerly vibrant Jewish community. However, instead of a simple whodunit, the novel leaves the bones behind and swings back to the 1920s and ’30s, to Chicken Hill, the neighborhood in Pottstown where Jewish, Black and immigrant folks make their homes. It’s a community of people bonded together by the links of love and duty, and it’s here that McBride’s epic tale truly begins.”
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
Your Hosts:
Toby Tabachnick, editor of the Chronicle David Rullo, Chronicle senior staff writer
How and When:
We will meet on Zoom on Sunday, Nov. 5, at noon.
What To Do
Buy: “The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store.” It is available at area Barnes & Noble stores and from online retailers, including Amazon and Barnes & Noble. It is also available through the Carnegie Library system.
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OCTOBER 13, 2023
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Headlines Local Jewish college students host rally in support of Israel
— LOCAL — Cloaked in Israeli flags, students showed support for Israel on Oct. 9 in Oakland.
Photo by Adam Reinherz
— LOCAL — By Adam Reinherz | Senior Staff Writer
F
amiliar songs blasting from a speaker in Schenley Plaza signaled the support of 125 local college students for the Jewish state. As “Hatikva” and Naomi Shermer’s “Jerusalem of Gold” played, the young adults — many sporting Israeli flags draped over their University of Pittsburgh gear — swayed, hugged and sang along. Eitan Weinkle, a senior at Pitt and an organizer of the Oct. 9 event, told the Chronicle that despite feelings of isolation, loneliness or uncertainty, the Jewish community must congregate and “fight the hate.” “We can’t let it beat us,” he said. Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack against Israel has left more than 900 Israelis dead and 2,400 wounded. Weinkle, the president of Student Coalition for Israel at Pitt, said that following Saturday’s horror he heard from a friend in the Israeli army who was “presumably on his way into Gaza.” That conversation, and the ensuing days, awakened Weinkle to the terror befalling Israel. “This one hit different,” he said. “This is the kind of hate that makes me create an exit plan when I go into any synagogue. This isn’t politics. It’s nothing other than terrorism.” Sharon Basch, an Israeli-American and president of the Jewish Law Students Association at the University of Pittsburgh School of Law, said the program in Oakland was an essential public demonstration. “Especially on campuses around the United States of America, Jewish students are scared. They’re intimidated, and events like this don’t necessarily lead students to stand up and fight, but to hide because they are afraid of backlash, afraid of being attacked, which is common on campuses. Standing out here shows to not only each other that we’re here and we support each other, but
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to the rest of the population and the rest of the world that we’re not willing to back down when people threaten us,” she said. Ilan Gordon, a junior at Pitt and fellow event organizer, said that several students wanted to delay Monday’s gathering. “People thought it was too soon,” he said. Gordon said he rejected that idea and pushed ahead with the program, which was sponsored by both Chabad on Campus and Hillel JUC. Cloaked in a large Israeli flag, Gordon returned to the stretched circle of students on Schenley Plaza. For nearly an hour, the group recited psalms, sang, embraced and listened to words of encouragement from leaders of both Jewish campus groups. “We will stand together in solidarity,” Rabbi Shmuli Rothstein, of Chabad at Pitt, said. Efrat Mishani, a Jewish agency Israel fellow to Hillel JUC, encouraged a positive outlook. Hours after the event, Mishani continued engaging with students, offering hugs and reminding young adults of their inherent power. “As someone who served in the army, there is nothing more important than hope,” she told the Chronicle. “The Jewish people possess a magic that I can’t explain; it gives you the strength to do what you can do.” Mishani, 28, moved to Pittsburgh last year after completing her bachelor’s in political science and communications and a master’s in political science, all at Tel Aviv University. During her time in the IDF, she served as an officer in the military police. The challenge of military service is offset by support, she explained. “It’s not easy being a soldier,” she said. “You become a soldier at 18, and you do it out of pure love for your country. When you see those kids supporting us you realize it’s not only my needs and my wants but that you are doing something bigger. It’s hard, and I’m not saying that it’s not, but you have to grab that hope from somewhere.” PJC Adam Reinherz can be reached at areinherz@pittsburghjewishchronicle.org.
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Headlines
IDF says Gaza border finally sealed, bodies of 1,500 terrorists found inside Israel — WORLD — By Emanuel Fabian, ToI Staff and Agencies | The Times of Israel
T
he Israel Defense Forces said it had finally regained control over its suddenly porous border with the Gaza Strip Tuesday morning, some 72 hours after Hamas terrorists blew through sections of the barrier and launched an invasion that saw over 1,000 Israelis slaughtered or kidnapped. As Israel continued to grapple with the emerging enormity of Saturday’s massacres and the military was formally notifying hostages’ families that their loved ones were being held in Gaza, air force planes bombarded wide swaths of the Strip. Meanwhile, some 300,000 reservists girded for a possible ground invasion, sweeps to locate terrorists feared still hiding inside Israel continued and tensions on the northern border threatened to snowball into a second front. The IDF said it had managed to seal the border, mining areas around breaches as a stopgap against further incursions. The death toll in Israel from the surprise attack and subsequent battles rose above 900, according to reports. Over 500 people
p Israeli soldiers board an IAF heavy transport plane in an undisclosed European country, late on Oct. 9. Photo courtesy of the Israel Defense Forces
remained hospitalized, many with life-threatening injuries; over 2,700 have been injured since Saturday. “In the last day, not a single terrorist entered via the fence,” said the Israel Defense Forces’ top spokesman, Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari. Despite earlier indications, Hagari said that the military had not identified any tunnels crossing from Gaza into Israeli territory.
The IDF estimates that there are a small number of terrorists still hiding in Israeli territory. Overnight, Israeli security forces killed at least one Palestinian terrorist near Kibbutz Sa’ad. Troops also exchanged fire with terrorists in Kissufim and Monday night saw police kill another terror suspect near Mishmar Hanegev, some 24 kilometers (15 miles) inside Israel.
Lt. Col. Richard Hecht said the bodies of 1,500 terrorists had been located around southern Israel. Hundreds more have been killed in Israeli strikes in Gaza, according to Hamas health officials. The Israeli toll includes at least 123 soldiers, the military said, adding 38 new names to its tally Tuesday as it works to inform families of the deaths. The ZAKA rescue group said 100 bodies had been recovered from Kibbutz Be’eri alone. Another 260 people were slain at an outdoor music festival, the organization said. In addition to the devastating death toll, some 150 people are thought to have been abducted from Israel and taken into Gaza by the terrorists who infiltrated on Saturday. The captives include women, children and the elderly. Social media was filled Saturday with horrifying videos of men, women and children being carried, dragged and driven into the Strip, many of them appearing to have been abused. There were also videos published of dead Israelis taken, including soldiers, the bodies of some of whom were paraded in the streets. Officers were fanning to inform Israeli families that their relatives are being held in Please see Gaza, page 22
The JCC is concerned and deeply saddened by the recent series of attacks against Israel. Such unprovoked acts of violence bring suffering and pain to innocent people, and they undermine the prospects for peace and stability in the region. Our thoughts are with the victims, their families and all those affected by this tragic sequence of events. We send wishes for strength and comfort to the people of Israel and reiterate our unwavering support for Israel and its right to exist as an independent, democratic Jewish state.
Jason Kunzman, President and CEO Scott E. Seewald, Chair of the Board
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OCTOBER 13, 2023
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Headlines — WORLD — Democrats lash socialist organization for backing rally supporting Hamas attack
The progressive Democratic Socialists of America organization was harshly condemned by other Democrats on Sunday for backing a New York City rally in support of Saturday’s Palestinian terror onslaught against Israelis, The Times of Israel reported. Organizers billed the rally as supporting the Palestinian “right to resist,” shortly after Gaza terrorists slaughtered many hundreds of Israeli civilians in a surprise attack. The protest was derided by New York democratic leaders, including Governor Kathy Hochul, Lieutenant Governor Antonio Delgado, New York City Mayor Eric Adams, Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine, Sen. Chuck Schumer, Rep. Richie Torres and New York City Comptroller Brad Lander. In response to criticism, the national chapter of DSA doubled down, saying the Hamas attack was “not unprovoked,” adding: “Take to the streets to join a protest.” “The NYC-DSA is revealing itself for what it truly is — a deep rot of antisemitism that must be universally condemned for celebrating the deadly terrorist attacks against Israel,” Torres said. Congress members affiliated with or supportive of the organization did not respond to requests for comment about the protest, including Reps. Alexandria OcasioCortez, Jamaal Bowman, Cori Bush, Greg Casar and Rashida Tlaib.
The protest saw participants cheer the terror onslaught, celebrate the killing of Israelis and mock Israeli counter-protesters. Progressive student groups also backed the rally, including at least five pro-Palestinian advocacy organizations from the City University of New York. At Harvard, at least 36 student groups signed onto a statement saying they “hold the Israeli regime entirely responsible for all unfolding violence,” without mentioning the terrorist atrocities.
week, X CEO Linda Yaccarino said the platform is taking steps to counter antisemitism. “We appreciate X’s stated intent over the last few weeks to address antisemitism and hate on the platform,” the ADL’s statement said. “This has been useful; more needs to be done; and, as we have with other companies, in the spirit of collaboration, we are hopeful that we can continue to engage with X on this important matter.”
ADL to resume advertising on X after weeks of Elon Musk attacks
Brett Ratner, the director and producer of Hollywood blockbusters who is seeking a comeback from allegations of sexual misconduct, has emigrated to Israel, JTA.org reported. Last week, Ratner posted an Instagram story showing the passbook that Israel issues to new immigrants, granting them tax breaks and other benefits. He captioned it in Hebrew, “Brett Shai Ratner.” He appears to have posted more recent Instagram stories from Israel, according to a report in Walla. The Instagram posts came just a week after he published a photo of himself, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Sara Netanyahu and pro-Israel figure Alan Dershowitz together at the United Nations. Ratner and Dershowitz were special guests of Netanyahu at his speech to the body. The director was for a time a business partner of James Packer, the Australian media mogul who is close to the Netanyahu family. Ratner — who directed blockbusters, including the “Rush Hour” series, and
Following weeks during which Elon Musk attacked the Anti-Defamation League and threatened to sue it for billions of dollars, the Jewish civil rights group announced that it would resume advertising on X, the social media platform Musk owns, JTA.org reported. In a statement on Oct. 4, the ADL said X, along with similar sites, still “has a serious issue with antisemites and other extremists using these platforms to push their hateful ideas and, in some cases, bully Jewish and other users.” But the group cited declarations by the leadership of X, which Musk renamed from Twitter, that it would combat antisemitism. Musk has had livestreamed conversations recently with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as well as a group of largely rightleaning Jewish men in which he spoke out against antisemitism while also emphasizing his commitment to free speech. Also last
Today in Israeli History — ISRAEL — Items are provided by the Center for Israel Education (israeled.org), where you can find more details.
Oct. 13, 1969 — Allon proposes home rule for West Bank
Deputy Prime Minister Yigal Allon reveals his plan for home rule for the 650,000 Arabs in the West Bank. They would have full autonomy in municipal affairs, education, religious policy, commerce and police.
Oct. 14, 1994 — Rabin, Peres win Nobel Prize
The Norwegian Nobel Committee p Yasser Arafat, announces that Shimon Peres and Israel’s Yitzhak Yitzhak Rabin Rabin and Shimon receive the Nobel Peres are sharing Peace Prize in Oslo the Nobel Peace on Dec. 10, 1994. By Ya’acov Sa’ar, Israeli Prize with the PLO’s Government Press Office Yasser Arafat for achieving the Oslo Accords in 1993.
Oct. 15, 2002 — Political cartoonist Ze’ev dies
The father of Israeli political cartoons, Yaakov Farkash, known as Ze’ev, dies at 79. A survivor of Buchenwald and Dachau, Farkash was introduced to Zionism in a refugee camp and made aliyah in 1947.
Oct. 16, 1986 — Terrorists capture flyer Ron Arad
Ron Arad, 28, an F-4 Phantom II navigator, is captured by Amal terrorists after bailing out over Lebanon. He is never seen in Israel again. He is believed to have been killed in 1988 or 1992.
Oct. 17, 1973 — Oil is weaponized against Israel’s allies
After a U.S. airlift resupplies Israel’s military during the Yom Kippur War, oil ministers from Arab states cut exports by 5% and recommend an embargo of Israel’s allies. Libya begins such an embargo Oct. 19.
Oct. 18, 1991 — Israel, Soviets resume relations
The Soviet Union and Israel resume full diplomatic relations for the first time since June 1967. The two countries established consular ties in 1987. The full expansion is based on Israel’s agreement to participate in the Madrid peace conference.
Oct. 19, 1948 — Navy fights first major battle
The Haganah, the Wedgewood and the p The INS Haganah, Noga attack an which was used to Egyptian troop carrier smuggle Jewish near Ashkelon in the immigrants into first major battle for British-controlled the Israeli navy. The Palestine, serves as Egyptian ship must be a warship in 1948. towed home. PJC
Disgraced Hollywood director Brett Ratner immigrates to Israel
produced others, including “Horrible Bosses” — was swept up in the early wave of “#MeToo” allegations about powerful Hollywood figures. In 2017, six women accused Ratner of sexual harassment and misconduct. He denied all charges, but major studios cut ties with him.
Avowed Holocaust denier is running for school board in Minnesota
One of the candidates on the ballot for an upcoming Minnesota school board election is an avowed Holocaust denier who has called for all Jews to be sterilized and tattooed with the Star of David, all synagogues to be closed and all Jewish children to be forcibly removed from their parents, JTA.org reported. Vaughn Klingenberg is one of seven candidates on the ballot for three open seats in Roseville, a suburb of the Twin Cities. In addition to his views on Jewish people, which he recently published under his name on a blog, he visited two area synagogues during the recent High Holidays, actions that have earned condemnation from the state’s attorney general and local Jewish leaders alike. “He has our attention. He’s clearly tried to get the attention of the public by spewing hateful, antisemitic rhetoric, which is obviously untrue but is also dangerous,” Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison told a local news channel. PJC — Compiled by Andy Gotlieb
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9
Headlines Rally: Continued from page 1
politicians in the room before noting that “this is the worst loss of Jewish life since the Holocaust in a single day.” He spoke of the work that the Jewish Federations of North America and the Jewish Agency for Israel have done since the attack, including the launch of the JFNA’s 2023 Israel Emergency Fund and JAI moving 1,000 people from the south of Israel in one day. Federation’s annual campaign, Finkelstein said, will need to raise “significant dollars for specific needs in Israel.” One of the evening’s most poignant moments occurred when Gilboa spoke about her son who is serving in the Israel Defense Forces. She asked those in attendance to raise their hand if they knew someone about to be in uniform in defense of Israel. Hundreds of raised hands filled the hall. Schiff spoke about the need for solidarity. “We are a people united in sorrow, united in anxiety for all those taken captive and united in our determination that the Jewish people will live in its homeland in peace with God’s help, for decades and centuries to come,” he said. “Tonight, there are no Reform Jews or Conservative Jews or left-wing Jews or rightwing Jews. There is just Am Yisroel, one heart beating together.” Genack then recited a prayer for the Jewish hostages. Kunzman and Sewald spoke of the JCC’s commitment to support Israel, its leadership and people. The Greater Pittsburgh Jewish Clergy Association closed the program with a rendition of “Hatikvah,” Israel’s national anthem. Numerous politicians gathered with the hundreds of community members, crying and hugging in support of one another, many with family members and loved ones in Israel. Pittsburgh City Councilmember Barb Warwick, whose district includes Squirrel Hill,
p Dr. Deborah Gilboa spoke about her son in the IDF at the rally in support of Israel. Photo by Josh Franzos
called the terrorist attack “a huge tragedy for the community.” Allegheny County Executive candidate Joe Rockey said it was important for people to stand together in light of Hamas’ terrorist attack. “When one part of our community is challenged, everyone is challenged,” he said. “What’s going on in Israel is completely wrong and needs the support of all of Pittsburgh.” State Sen. Devlin Robinson, serving District 37 which includes Allegheny County, was adamant in his belief that “no moment in the past has led to anybody taking up arms and deciding to murder civilians and kidnap elderly women and babies. We should call this a terrorist attack and call out the rogue, terrorist nation funding it.” He attended the rally, he said, to show his solidarity with the Jewish people and Israel. State Rep. Dan Frankel, whose 23rd District includes Squirrel Hill and Greenfield, said that the Pennsylvania Jewish Coalition was working on a resolution in support of Israel. “This is terrorism on a scale we have never seen,” he said. “It exceeds what happened on 9/11, and it needs to be called out by all of us and it needs to be unequivocal.” U.S. Rep. Chris Deluzio, who recently returned from a trip to Israel, also strongly condemned the terrorist actions of Hamas and
p Community members receive signs to display in support of Israel at the rally organized by the Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh. Photo by Josh Franzos
said he stood in solidarity with the Jewish state and the Jewish community in Pittsburgh. “I’m a member of the Armed Services Committee,” he said. “I take the responsibility seriously. I will be back in Washington this week and I’m sure we’re going to be digging into how we got to this point, where the intelligence failures were and what our security assistance looks like going forward. That commitment is steadfast.” Bhavini Patel, who last week announced her candidacy to challenge U.S. Rep. Summer Lee in the Democratic primary, said it was important in moments like this to lead with love and kindness. “When your community is hurting, you show up for your community and you extend that love in a deep and passionate way so that your neighbors know that you stand in solidarity with them,” she said. Summer Lee, who represents Squirrel Hill, did not attend the rally. Pittsburgh Mayor Ed Gainey, former Mayor Bill Peduto and Steve Irwin, chair of the Anti-Defamation League’s Cleveland Region, which includes Pittsburgh, were all in attendance. StandWithUs Mid-Atlantic Regional Director Julie Paris thanked Federation for putting together the rally so quickly and said the
Reaction: Continued from page 1
hostage in Gaza. Yisrael Klitsner, 36, said he’s “always been on the cusp between America and Israel.” Born to American parents, Klitsner was in an elite Israeli combat unit for three years before serving in the reserves for “many more years.” Klitsner moved to Pittsburgh from the Jewish state in 2022. His connection to the war “is just like every other Israeli’s: firsthand, secondhand and thirdhand.” He described someone he served with who “died fighting Hamas terrorists inside of Israel,” as well as friends whose loved ones attended the nature party near Kibbutz Re’im and are now missing. The all-night outdoor music festival was interrupted Saturday morning when Hamas launched rockets and then fired gunshots at hundreds of fleeing partygoers, The Times of Israel reported. Video footage shows festival attendees scrambling for safety, while others were abducted by Hamas. Zaka, a volunteer group whose members retrieve remains of the deceased following terror attacks and other disasters, collected more than 260 bodies from the site of the southern music 10
OCTOBER 13, 2023
p After hearing about the attacks in Israel, Hillel Academy of Pittsburgh students recited Tehillim and prayed for the soldiers, captives and injured on Oct. 9. Photo by Adam Reinherz
festival, according to The Associated Press. U.S. antisemitism envoy Deborah Lipstadt tweeted that the Oct. 7 terrorist attacks were “the most lethal assault against Jews since the Holocaust.” “The numbers speak for themselves,” Laurie Wasser-Klitsner told the Chronicle. “I don’t think that there’s a family in Israel who hasn’t been touched by this.” Wasser-Klitsner, 36, moved to Pittsburgh last year to complete a fellowship at UPMC. “If you don’t have someone in your family who was immediately affected, then you know a family that was. And most of us have siblings fighting in this war now who were called up for reserve duty,” she said. Israel has drafted 300,000 reservists since Saturday. It’s the largest call-up in the country’s 75-year history, Reuters reported. Naama Perel-Tzadok listed family members
who’ve been summoned. “Almost everyone we know,” she said. Perel-Tzadok, 39, left Israel last year to complete a doctorate in music composition at the University of Pittsburgh. Being so far from Israel right now is extremely challenging, she said. “We feel very bad. We feel sad. We are very worried. We are devastated, actually. We can’t eat. We can’t sleep. Our bodies are here, but our hearts are in Israel and we feel very helpless. We have nothing to do from here — even just to donate blood — we feel very distant,” she said. Pittsburghers, she said, can help. “It’s really important to stand with Israel, to strengthen the soldiers and strengthen the people in Israel,” she said. “This is so important to our morale and to our mental health, knowing that people are seeing us, and hearing our voice, and holding us and supporting us.”
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organization was glad to participate. “Pittsburgh stands strongly with Israel, now and forever,” Paris said. “At StandWithUs, we stand unequivocally with the people of Israel and the Israel Defense Forces, as they fight back against this murderous terrorist onslaught.” StandWithUs, she said is working to educate people about the attack and to fight misinformation. Paris said people can show support for Israel by sharing content from StandWithUs and other reputable sources; commenting positively on social media about the Jewish state; reporting hateful social media comments and posts; and attending pro-Israel rallies, vigils and events. Federations across the country, Finkelstein said, are raising funds for needs in Israel that haven’t been fully identified yet. “I don’t know what the future will bring, but we know the needs are going to be enormous,” he said. “ Schiff voiced the needs of the community by citing the familiar refrain pronounced after reading a book in the Torah: “Chazak — may it be strong; chazak — may we be strong; v’nitchazek — may we strengthen each other in the difficult days that lie ahead.” PJC David Rullo can be reached at drullo@ pittsburghjewishchronicle.org. Klitsner also stressed the importance of showing solidarity with Israel. “This is the lowest moment that Israel has ever experienced, and standing with them in any way is certainly a good thing to do,” he said. “Pittsburgh is a community who has come across hatred firsthand, in its worst form,” he continued. “And the hatred that has been assigned to Israelis is something that just needs to be recognized and called out. Israel should be empathized with in the deepest way, and I know that Pittsburghers know how to do that because I’ve already witnessed it.” Messages, comments and calls have signaled support since Oct. 7, but Klitsner and Perel-Tzadok both worry about transient sentiments. “When the IDF starts its operation, everything is going to change, and the whole world is going to be against us,” Perel-Tzadok said. “I think we’re about to see Israel do things and go on the offensive in ways that it hasn’t in the past,” Klitsner said. “No matter what your political leaning is — no matter what your ideological or religious or otherwise affiliation is — this moment, this heart-wrenching moment that we’re living and breathing today, should be with you.” PJC Adam Reinherz can be reached at areinherz@pittsburghjewishchronicle.org. PITTSBURGHJEWISHCHRONICLE.ORG
Headlines Politicians: Continued from page 3
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Machen: Continued from page 4
and graduated from Taylor Allderdice High School in 2002. After acting in “The Boyfriend” freshman year, Blazer took roles in “Grease,” “42nd Street” and “Smile.” “As a teenager, I remember imagining what I would write in my Tony Award acceptance speech — I love the confidence! — and Jill Machen was always the first person I thanked in that imaginary speech,” Blazer said. “Observing Jill and looking up to her for so many years, I learned that there are so many ways to be a successful artist,” she added. “Being on Broadway isn’t the only way to make a difference and to be successful in your field. I’ve used my acting to make a difference in so many young lives.” Nancy Polinsky Johnson, a self-described “theater geek” in her youth, moved to Pittsburgh in 1985 but didn’t enter Machen’s orbit for several years. The WQED personality and former Shady Avenue publisher still regrets that she didn’t push her older son, Michael, to audition for Machen’s musicals earlier. PITTSBURGHJEWISHCHRONICLE.ORG
The cast of the JCC’s production of “The Boyfriend,” directed by Jill Machen
Photo by Sara Stock Mayo
She said her son “has always been such an incredibly funny guy, with great comic timing, and I think Jill recognized that.”
Johnson kept going to Machen’s shows even after her kids stopped performing in them. “She’s a creative director, a dynamic
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choreographer,” Johnson said. “She works well with young people. And she brings a level of professionalism that I didn’t expect. She brings out something in these kids — it surprises and delights me more every year.” At the same time, Machen worked at the JCC, she led musicals for 12 years at Taylor Allderdice. For the past 20 years, she’s taught dance, directed the middle school musical and choreographed the upper school musical at Winchester Thurston. For the latter, she’s won Gene Kelly Awards, which honor excellence in high school musical theater in Pittsburgh. For the past 15 years, Machen also has helped stage Hillel JUC’s “Campus Superstar” — think of “American Idol” or “The Voice” for Pittsburgh college students. “I do have a lot of energy,” Machen laughed. “I think it’s from hanging out with 14- to 18-year-olds for so long!” That doesn’t surprise her daughter Jennifer. “It’s sad future generations won’t get Jill Machen shows,” she said. “But she’ll continue to shine bright in so many ways.” PJC Justin Vellucci is a freelance writer living in Pittsburgh. OCTOBER 13, 2023 11
Opinion Now, in the awful quiet of this moment Guest Columnist Noah Efron
B
y the time you read this, maybe it won’t make sense anymore. I am writing the day after hundreds of Gazans with guns, grenades and handheld rockets rampaged through 20 nearby towns and farming settlements, murdering and kidnapping hundreds of people, the youngest not yet 2 and the oldest almost 90; all this while thousands of missiles were fired on cities as far north as Tel Aviv, where I live. For most of us, today is oddly quiet. The cafes are mostly closed, because who’d want to sit in them? The stores are mostly closed, because who’d want to shop? School is canceled, because who’d want to be far away from their kids? And meetings are mostly canceled, because who can pay attention? Most of us are scrolling through our social feeds while listening to the radio and trying to take in the stories we’re reading and hearing: the guy being interviewed on the news, Yoni Asher, describing how he learned from his wife’s “Find My iPhone” app that she and their two girls, 4 and 2, were kidnapped to Gaza; the woman, Adva Adar, who posted to Facebook a picture she found in the news, of an old woman in a jeep, surrounded by young men with guns, and wrote, “This is my grandmother, Yafe Adar, 85 years old, kidnapped with no resistance to Gaza”; the people describing phone conversations with
sons, sisters, daughters, mothers, moments before they were murdered; people posting pictures of people with instructions of who to call if you know their whereabouts or what became of them. The rockets have mostly stopped coming (there have been a few in the south) and the Gazans with guns have mostly left or been driven out of the towns and settlements they
Some will say (some already have) that Hamas attacked us because Benjamin Netanyahu’s government is bumbling and incompetent, concerned with two things only, keeping Netanyahu out of jail and making the Talmud the law of the land. Before all that starts, it’s maybe worth taking note of three things we’ve seen so far, through this tragedy. The first, that whatever
One of the terrible shocks of this thing is that we weren’t protected: How could they have let this happen? attacked, or killed there, the politicians and the generals are sequestered in their bunkers planning the counter-attack on Gaza that is sure to come, and most of us are dumb from the shock of it all, and the horror. It is a moment of strange and awkward quiet. Soon it will pass. There will be a counter-attack on Gaza that will produce its own tragedies, and there will be fights here and abroad about how much counter-attack is too much, or too little. The great rift in Israeli society that has been all we’ve talked about since January will reappear, grafting itself onto current events. Some will say (a few already have) that Hamas attacked us because the protesters created the impression that Israel is weak and the IDF is weak.
we say, we most of us live our day-to-day lives believing that the institutions of the state can and will protect us. One of the terrible shocks of this thing is that we weren’t protected: How could they have let this happen? How did the intelligence people not see it? How did the army not meet it head-on? How did the government not plan for something like this? It is equally true that — like the Yom Kippur War — what happened yesterday will corrode our belief in the state, because, after all, the intelligence people did not see it, the army did not meet it head on, the government did not plan for it, and didn’t seem to have a clue about what to do, as it was happening. But who knew how deep our faith was, for us to be so shocked at the failures of our institutions?
A second thing we’ve seen is how deeply we are connected, not just with the people who believe the things that we believe or vote the way that we vote. The grief over Yoni Asher’s wife and kids, or Adva Adar’s grandmother, this is not a sectorial thing. I first heard Yoni Asher on the ultra-Orthodox news site, Be-Hadrei Haredim, where the man’s politics or religion could not have mattered less. He was one of us, and we felt for him. We have spent a lot of the past year worrying about the divisions between us, with good reason, but it is worth noticing the limits of these divisions. We share more than we can see, save for at moments like this. The third thing worth taking note of follows the second, and it is that — much more than the things we normally think of, like high-tech or soldiering — Israel’s national genius is for affinity, for compassion. Speak to most anyone on the street today. In the awful quiet of this moment, we are all Yoni Asher, wrecked with worry. We are all Adva Adar. It is a terrible thing, and it is a beautiful thing. Soon, maybe already by the time you read this, the quiet will be gone, the fighting will have started, in Gaza and among ourselves. But for a brief moment, at least, we can see these things now, as the gifts that they are. PJC Noah Efron hosts TLV1’s “The Promised Podcast.” He teaches history and philosophy of science at Bar Ilan University and has served on the City Council of Tel Aviv-Jaffa. This first appeared on The Times of Israel.
Israel’s choices in Gaza all lead to the destruction of the Hamas regime Guest Columnist Yaakov Lappin
T
he mass-murder rampage conducted by Hamas death squads on southern communities in Gaza on Saturday has seen Israel unleash unprecedented air power against Hamas targets in the Gaza Strip, but it is clear that this is only a prelude to further Israeli action. The Israeli security cabinet will have received a number of options from the Israel Defense Forces for the type, scope and objectives of the military campaign that Israel will choose as its response to the atrocities. Meanwhile, calls to investigate the multiple, catastrophic failures of intelligence and operational readiness will be placed on hold until after the war. Whatever the security cabinet ends up choosing, it will have to order a major ground maneuver in order to destroy the Hamas terror army and regime, following the horrific war crimes it rained down on Israeli southern communities. Any action short of this would undermine Israel’s strategic standing in the Middle East 12
OCTOBER 13, 2023
and form a green light for Hezbollah, Iran and other adversaries to attack as well. The security cabinet released a statement on Sunday after convening and making a series of operational decisions, and stated that its goal is “to achieve the destruction of the military and governing capabilities of Hamas and Islamic Jihad in a way that will preclude their ability and willingness to threaten and attack the citizens of Israel for many years.”
the IDF’s retaking of the south being complete on Monday, the cabinet’s likely choices are more about long-term actions. The cleansing of Gaza of Hamas’ military wing, the Al-Qassam Brigades, headed by Mohammed Deif, and its regime apparatus, headed by Yahya Sinwar, will likely take many weeks and months. It will involve intense urban warfare combat, going street to street, and destroying Hamas’ terrorist squads in their bunkers,
With the last of the defensive stages of the IDF’s retaking of the south being complete on Monday, the cabinet’s likely choices are more about long-term actions. That statement alone entails a ground operation since none of those goals can be accomplished from the air alone. As such, the IDF is amassing armored, artillery and infantry formations along Gaza’s border, as it waits for further instructions. With the last of the defensive stages of
tunnels and multi-story buildings. To put things in perspective, “Operation Defensive Shield,” launched by Israel in Judea and Samaria in 2002 following a murderous wave of Palestinian suicide bombings and shootings, took some three years to complete. Israel will have to also think about the day
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after a ground maneuver in Gaza. To that end, one option will be to install an Israeli military administration in the Gaza Strip following the first weeks and months of the operation. A second option would be to withdraw from Gaza in a number of months, but to keep launching cross-border raids and airstrikes to prevent Hamas from building up its force. The first option — that of a military administration — seems more likely in light of the fact that the concept of withdrawing and enabling Hamas to rear its head again seems unfathomable in the fallout from Saturday’s mass slaughter. Any concept of Fatah taking over Gaza in the near future will not be realistic since it will not want to ride into Gaza “on Israeli tanks” and lose its legitimacy. However, in the long-term future achieving a degree of Palestinian autonomy in Gaza together with an IDF presence there and full freedom of action, to prevent the rise of any new Islamist-jihadist terror army, could emerge. That is too far in the future to contemplate now, however, as the impending war takes center stage. Please see Lappin, page 13
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Opinion Chronicle poll results: ChatGPT
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ast week, the Chronicle asked its readers in an electronic poll the following question: “Have you used ChatGPT?” Of the 190 people who responded, 77% said no and 23% said yes. Comments were submitted by 32 people. A few follow. I have no idea what ChatGPT is. I asked two very technical questions and it gave usable answers. It composed a love poem that was suitable to send to my girlfriend.
Have you used ChatGPT?
Continued from page 12
A completely different scope
The transformative nature of the current situation was expressed on Monday morning by IDF International Spokesperson Lt. Col Richard Hecht, who stated: “The scope of this thing is completely different.” By then, the IDF struck more than 1,000 targets in Gaza and was still clearing seven to eight zones in southern Israel that had terrorists in them. Several hundred terrorists were killed, both in Israel and Gaza.
AI is here to stay, so make it your friend and learn it or go home.
23% Yes 77% No
I’ve read some things that I suspect were written by a chatbot. Hecht named Kfar Aza, Kibbutz Be’eri, Nirim, Alumim, Sha’ar Hanegev and Holit as places where there is still fighting with terrorists. The IDF has deployed four divisions — an enormous amount of military force — to the south, as it completes its defensive posture while acknowledging that this phase of neutralizing terror squads took longer than it originally assessed. Airstrikes were focused on the Gazan regions of Beit Hanoun and Shajiah, in northern and eastern Gaza, respectively, which were used as Hamas staging areas by murder squads trying to get into Israel. In addition to the four divisions sent south, the IDF is focusing a mobilization effort to
he following organizations in Israel are seeking donations to help those affected by the brutal attack by Hamas. These organizations all are on the front line, providing assistance where needed:
Magen Adom Israel mdais.org/en/donation
IDF Soldiers Fund in Israel ufis.org.il/en/donation-en/
Hadassah Hospital Israel hadassah.org/donate/simple
Zaka Israel zakaworld.org/
United Hatzalah Israel israelrescue.org/ Leket Israel leket.org/en/online-donation/
It’s only as accurate and unbiased as it’s taught to be, or as the generic internet. That is a concern Jews need to monitor very proactively. Yes, but just to improve on a sentence or paragraph I had written. I have not used it for original thought.
Where to donate to help Israelis at this time of crisis
T
I’m old-school. I prefer to think for myself and do my work myself. I hope I never need to.
It’s a great tool that provides very basic information for very elementary research and content creation functions. However, it still needs a person to check for accuracy and to personalize the narrative style, tone and structure.
Lappin:
I tend to use technology for the basics; I do not get involved with all kinds of apps.
The Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh also has established an emergency relief fund for Israel. Donations can be made at: jfedpgh.org/ israel-emergency-relief. PJC — Toby Tabachnick
the north, while also moving many battalions inside of Israel to prevent a “Guardian of the Walls” type scenario of mass internal disturbances in Arab-Israeli areas. The IDF has secured some 20 breach points on the border, holding them with tanks and air cover, but was still dealing with a trickle of terrorists entering from Gaza early on Monday. “There are major generals with infantry soldiers in the field fighting,” said Hecht.
When used correctly, a very useful tool. But people must realize it is not a search engine — it just matches patterns — so what you get back may not be accurate. I experimented and almost everything it said was flat-out wrong. If it doesn’t cite sources, assume it’s hallucinating. If it does cite sources, check to make sure they’re real; sometimes they’re made-up. Very interesting, with great possibilities for good or bad purposes. Should be regulated ASAP. PJC — Compiled by Toby Tabachnick
Chronicle weekly poll question: Do you have close friends or relatives living in Israel? Go to pittsburghjewishchronicle.org to respond. PJC
The evacuation of southern communities was well underway by Monday. PJC Yaakov Lappin is an Israel-based military affairs correspondent and analyst. He is the in-house analyst at the Miryam Institute; a research associate at the Alma Research and Education Center; and a research associate at the Begin-Sadat Center for Strategic Studies at Bar-Ilan University. This first appeared on JNS.
— LETTERS — Our mayor is a mensch
Standing shoulder to shoulder with the crowd at the back of the JCC’s Levinson Hall at the Israel Solidarity Gathering, dressed in casual Sunday clothing, was a man who looked uncannily like Mayor Ed Gainey. He was so unobtrusive, so blended within the gathering, I doubted my eyes ... until after “Hatikvah,” when those near him shook his hand and I realized he was indeed our mayor (“Hundreds of Pittsburghers rally in support of Israel,” online Oct. 9; this issue, Page 1). His response to our thanks was simply, “We must pray — that’s what we have to do.” He exited with the masses, without fanfare. He simply came for us. What a mensch. Dena Taub Pittsburgh
Summer Lee’s statement on Hamas attack is misleading
At first glance, Rep. Summer Lee’s note on the Hamas butchery might seem reasonable, but it is rife with calumnies (“Pennsylvania’s politicians react to Gaza’s attack on Israel,” online Oct. 9; this issue, Page 11). She advocates urgent de-escalation while Israel is engaged in a defensive campaign and while Israelis are being savaged with impunity. She accuses Israel of purposely targeting civilians and implies that Gaza is occupied when Israel withdrew in 2005. Finally, she drags out the “cycle of violence“ trope. This trope equates Israel, which has made countless peace overtures, with its genocidal enemies Hamas and Iran. Further, it suggests that Hamas’ rape, torture, murder and abduction of Jewish children, mothers, fathers and grandparents is part of a legitimate response to Jews praying at the Dome of the Rock, which shares space with the Al-Aqsa Mosque. It is horrifyingly clear that Summer Lee does not represent this Jew from Squirrel Hill. Rona Kaufman Squirrel Hill
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Life & Culture Roasted butternut squash soup — FOOD — By Jessica Grann | Special to the Chronicle
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his vegan roasted butternut squash soup hits the spot when the autumn days start turning colder. Plain squash soup can be a bit thin, so my recipe has lovely warming spices, potatoes and coconut milk to yield a creamy and flavorful soup. If you have an aversion to cooking savory foods with coconut milk, don’t worry — you will not taste any coconut flavor in the soup. Roasting whole squash in the oven before preparing the soup is key. I know a lot of people who have had kitchen accidents trying to cut or peel raw squash. Roasting the whole squash is not only safer, but it’s easier and gives you a more complex flavor. This recipe is for a large batch — it makes more than 4 quarts of soup and will serve 8-12 people. If you’re not serving a crowd, freeze half of this soup and have something wonderful to pull from the freezer to use at a later time.
Ingredients:
3-4 large whole butternut squashes (6 cups cooked squash) 2 cups diced onions 4 large cloves garlic, peeled and sliced 2 tablespoons olive oil 3 cups Yukon Gold potatoes, peeled and diced
1 liter of vegetable broth 1 tablespoon cumin 1 tablespoon ground ginger or 2-3 teaspoons of fresh ginger 1 teaspoon cinnamon 1 tablespoon sea salt 2 teaspoons Aleppo pepper or 1 teaspoon of cayenne pepper 1 tablespoon sugar 1 15-ounce can of coconut milk Pepitas for garnish
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p Roasted butternut squash
p Roasted butternut squash soup
Photos by Jessica Grann
The squashes can be prepared a day ahead if you like. Wash them, then cut 3 or 4 small slashes a few inches deep on each squash with a sharp paring knife. Roast the squashes in the oven on a baking tray for about 2 hours at 350 F. There is no need to peel or cut them before roasting. Roasting them whole, as opposed to roasting chunks of peeled raw squash, improves the texture of the soup and makes the flavor more complex. Some squash are larger than others, so cooking time may vary. When the squashes start to brown and a knife can be easily inserted into the thicker part near the top of the globe, remove them from the oven to cool. It can take up to 2 hours for them to be cool enough to handle easily. I often do this step in the morning, then finish the soup later in the day. Once the squashes are cool, cut them in half lengthwise with a knife and scoop out the seeds. You can discard the seeds and the stringy interior. The skin should peel off easily, but you can use a sharp spoon or paring knife to get every last bit of flesh away from the skin. Scoop every bit of squash out and set it aside. Make sure that all of the seeds are removed. Reserve the juice that spills out on the baking sheet when the squash is cut. Put 2 tablespoons of olive oil into a large soup pot and heat it on medium-low. Add the diced onions and sauté for 10-15 minutes, or until the onions are translucent and starting to brown. Peel and dice the potatoes while the onions are cooking, and set them aside. Add the sliced garlic to the onions and cook for 1-2 minutes, then add the ginger, cumin and cinnamon. Stir the spices into the oil and onions until the onions look wellcoated, then add the potatoes, stirring those as well to get them covered in the onion and spice mixture. You may have between 1-2 cups of reserved fluid from the roasted squash;
pour that into the pot over the potatoes before adding 1 liter of vegetable broth. Add salt and red pepper of your choice. Cover the pot and turn the heat up to medium. Boil softly for 20-25 minutes or until the potatoes are fork-tender. If you see that the soup is rapidly boiling, reduce the heat so that it’s at a gentle boil. Remove the lid and add 6 cups of roasted squash with 1 tablespoon of sugar. Cover the pot and reduce the heat to medium-low. Simmer for another 25 minutes so that the flavors really sink in. Remove the pot from the heat and use an immersion blender to puree the soup. Once the consistency is smooth, check the soup for flavor and add more salt and pepper to taste. You can add another teaspoon of each of the other spices if you like, but be careful not to add too much. A key to good home cooking is getting the flavors to meld well so that the soup is wonderfully aromatic but you don’t taste one flavor strongly over another. Vegetable broths have different levels of sodium, so this soup may need a bit more salt to bring out the taste. The pepper in this soup does not make it taste spicy. If you want more spice, feel free to add more pepper in half-teaspoon increments to taste. When you’re happy with the flavor, add a can of coconut milk and blend the soup again using an immersion blender until the white from the coconut milk can no longer be seen. Serve the soup immediately, or cool fully and store it in the refrigerator or freezer for later use. If you freeze the soup, allow it to thaw completely before warming it. This looks especially pretty if garnished with roasted pepita seeds and a little red pepper for color. Enjoy and bless your hands! PJC Jessica Grann is a home chef living in Pittsburgh.
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Life & Culture Codex Sassoon, oldest near-complete Hebrew Bible, in Israel for permanent display — HISTORY — By Jessica Steinberg | The Times of Israel
T
he Codex Sassoon, the world’s oldest nearly complete copy of the Hebrew Bible, arrived in Israel last week and will be permanently displayed at the ANU Museum of the Jewish People in Tel Aviv. The book, written by a single Jewish scribe on 400 pages of parchment about 1,100 years ago, was purchased in May through the Sotheby auction house in New York for over $38 million, becoming among the most expensive books ever bought. The buyer, Alfred H. Moses, an attorney and a former U.S. Ambassador to Romania, acquired the Codex Sassoon on behalf of the American Friends of ANU and gifted it to the ANU Museum of the Jewish People (formerly the Museum of the Jewish Diaspora). Before the public auction, speculation about where the book would end up led to anxiety that it might be sold to a private collector. The seller, Swiss financier and collector Jacqui Safra, had owned the volume since 1989. The manuscript changed hands multiple times over the years, reemerging when Jewish book collector David Solomon Sassoon purchased it for £350 in 1929. It had last been exhibited in 1982 at the British Museum before being auctioned again
p ANU Museum welcomes the Codex Sassoon to its new home on Oct. 5.
Photo courtesy of Peri Bindelglass
through Sotheby’s in 1989 when it was sold to a dealer for £2,035,000 (about $2.5 million), who sold it to Safra, a member of the prominent Safra banking family, that same year. The Masoretic codex comprises all 24 books of the Hebrew Bible, handwritten roughly 1,100 years ago on 792 pages of sheepskin and missing only about eight pages. It includes vowels and cantillation marks that indicate how to read it properly. Its writing and layout recall those of Torah scrolls read in synagogue. On Oct. 5, the ancient manuscript arrived in Israel from New York on a historic El Al flight where the carefully packed book was placed in the cockpit for travel, considered the safest place on the plane. Upon landing, El Al pilot Captain Amos Aldaag removed the codex from the secure cell and carried it to the tarmac, where a delegation
including Avigdor Kahalani, a decorated Israeli veteran of the 1973 Yom Kippur War and a former lawmaker, and singer Shuli Rand, as well as museum staff, their families, and other guests, welcomed the manuscript back to Israel. ANU chairperson Irina Nevzlin said the Codex Sassoon, as the oldest bible in the world, offers a basis for remembering that Jews are one people. “These are days of renewal, of a new year, of Simchat Torah,” said Nevzlin. “These are also very complex and challenging days in Israel and throughout the world, and we are all looking for what unites us rather than what divides us; we all want to hold and touch something eternal, which has existed for thousands of years, which tells the story of our people.” The codex was at the center of a farewell event on Oct. 3 at Sotheby’s New York headquarters where the auction house’s experts cautiously prepared it for travel. According to a report in the New York Jewish Week, the Codex Sassoon was wrapped in layers of Tyvek, a breathable, synthetic material often used in packaging and construction. The book was then placed inside a specialty cardboard box, wrapped in more layers of Tyvek, and nestled inside a suitcase for its journey to Tel Aviv. Senior Judaica specialist at Sotheby’s, Sharon Liberman Mintz, also the consultant on the record-breaking sale to Moses, told the
New York Jewish Week that saying farewell to the Codex Sassoon was “a little bittersweet.” “But it’s found such a wonderful new home and I’m really excited about it. There are millions of people who are excited on the Israel side, there is tremendous enthusiasm for this book to be available to the public at the ANU museum,” she said. “It was a total triumph for the codex to go to such a great place.” Shulamith Bahat, CEO of ANU-America, who traveled on the flight with the Codex Sassoon told the New York Jewish Week that its new permanent residence “is the right place for it to be — in Israel and at the Museum of the Jewish People. “This book is the crown of the Jewish story and we are telling the entire story of the Jewish people,” Bahat said. She added of the codex: “It does something to people that is beyond, in my opinion, comprehension. Every Jew is connected to it and every person in the world is connected to it.” “The Hebrew Bible is the most influential book in history and constitutes the bedrock of Western civilization,” Moses said in May at the Sotheby’s auction. “It was my mission, realizing the historic significance of Codex Sassoon, to see that it resides in a place with global access for all people,” added Moses, who chairs ANU’s honorary board. PJC JTA contributed to this report.
The Most Frequently Asked Questions About Bar and Bat Mitzvah Planning By Shari Zatman When working with families to plan their Bar and Bat Mitzvah celebrations, I hear many of the same questions. As a professional event planner who has been bringing to life Bar and Bat Mitzvah celebrations for almost 20 years – and as a Jewish mother who has planned my own children’s Bar Mitzvahs – I am well prepared to answer these commonly asked questions:
How do we incorporate my child’s mitzvah project? When families are unsure of what a child should do as a mitzvah project, I make suggestions according to the child’s interests and abilities. Often, I incorporate what the child has done for a mitzvah project into the details and decor for the post-service kiddush luncheon. This is a special way to highlight the project beyond just mentioning it at the service or in a program.
What planning priorities should we focus on first? I always start with identifying & securing the venue and creating the event’s timeline. Once the date has been secured, prioritize the biggest and most time-sensitive decisions. Then, work through the finer details.
How do we decide what we want for entertainment and activities? Entertainment and activities help drive the energy of the party. It should be prioritized in the planning process. I have many sources for options both locally and regionally that offer enjoyable, interactive entertainment according to interests and budgets.
How do we create a great event flow for our celebration? A great experience is one that feels natural and is achieved through a detailed event timeline. Because I have planned and directed these events for decades, I know exactly how to create and execute a seamless event – and help others do the same. Should we use printed or digital invitations? The choice is yours, although I am seeing more families opting to use digital save-the-dates and invitations. I assist them in selecting the most appropriate platform to use. We work together to craft the wording and review digital proofs to make sure all of the conveyed information is correct. Then, I provide support in collecting all the necessary information we need from guests. What if we are less traditional? How should we do the service? I can help you to determine what style of service and celebration works for you. Whether or not you are affiliated with a synagogue, I can assist with where you can hold the service, style of service (Shabbat morning or Havdalah) and what your needs may be at the venue. I also make recommendations for religious and community leaders who can help with preparing the child and leading the service. What should the dress code for our event be? Let’s start with this question: How do you imagine seeing yourself dressed for the event? Work from that as a starting point. The dress code should be clearly communicated to guests in the invitation. It can be helpful to provide examples for vague dress code titles. For example, “party attire” can leave guests curious. In this case you may want to share suggested examples of clothing options that may be appropriate.
Do we need to show a photo montage video? Videos can be incorporated as a presentation and worked into the timeline of the party, along with other viewing possibilities. There are several creative ways to handle this if families are interested. I have resources to create the videos, although some families enjoy creating their own. Either way, I’ll arrange to have the appropriate audio and visual support for viewing at the event. Do we need to give out favors or gifts to our guests? It’s always a nice touch to provide party favors. Sometimes, the activities at the celebration can include providing a take-home item. In those cases, adding favors is not necessary. Regardless of what guests take home with them, it will be the experience and memories that last a lifetime. These milestone events are so special and memorable. Whether it be a la carte services to help with particular areas of priority or full-service planning and directing of the event, I am here to support my clients. I find joy in alleviating the anxiety that can often be associated with families when they are planning on their own. How can I be of support to you? Shari Zatman is a professional Event Planner, Designer and Consultant with more than 25 years of event industry experience. Perfectly Planned by Shari focuses on luxury events such as parties, mitzvahs, weddings, corporate and non-profit events. She also provides event coaching and consulting for event professionals. Shari appears regularly on KDKA’s PITTSBURGH TODAY LIVE as a local event expert, sharing creative ideas for your own events. More details about Shari and her services are available at www.perfectlyplannedbyshari.com.
For more information or to work with Shari and her team, contact 412-901-0082 or info@perfectlyplannedbyshari.com. 16
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Celebrations
Torah
Bar Mitzvah
Was it an apple? Maybe we’re not supposed to know.
Yigal Goodman will become a bar mitzvah on Oct. 14, 2023, at Congregation Beth Shalom. Yigal’s parents are Noa Slemrod Goodman and Mark Asher Goodman. He is the sibling of Etta Goodman, and the grandchild of Marshall and Sonia Slemrod, and Marilyn Goodman, Jay Smith, James Goodman and Jamie Diamond. “Iggy,” as he is known, is a voracious reader of sci-fi and fantasy books, especially Brandon Sanderson. He is fascinated with history, particularly of Europe and the Middle East. He loves strategy board games, role-playing games and chess. He also enjoys playing soccer with the CDS Middle School team and dancing. Above all else, he is incredibly kind and thoughtful of others. He spent the months of April and June volunteering with Days for Girls, a nonprofit organization that creates hygiene packs for women in developing nations. If you get the chance, you should ask him why there were no potatoes in the Garden of Eden. PJC
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T
he Latin word malum — meaning both evil and apple — has led to the interesting phenomenon of Adam and Eve being depicted in the Garden of Eden as having just taken a bite out of a ripe, juicy apple. In the vast majority of artwork, from the painting “Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden” by Titian (c. 1550), to the 2013 New Yorker cartoon “Adam and Eve Embrace in the Garden of Eden” by Lee Lorenz, it is clearly an apple that was the source of their misfortune.
“They must have taken the leaves from the tree closest at hand, the Tree of Knowledge.” Rabbi Yehuda says they are both wrong. He argues for wheat, explaining, “... a child does not know how to call his father and mother until he tastes the taste of grain.” As humans grow older and are able to process more complex grains, so, too, are they able to process more complex understanding. My favorite explanation comes from Bereshit Rabbah (15:7). After positing Rabbi Aba of Ako’s guess that the fruit was a citron (etrog), we find a compelling answer from Rabbi Azarya and Rabbi Yehuda bar Simon. They say (in the name of Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi): “God forbid (we guess what the tree was)! The Holy One Blessed
The biblical text uses the word pri, a generic word for fruit, to describe the infamous produce. Jewish scholarship has many ideas as to what fruit might be referenced in this text and apple is nowhere on the list. But the rabbis of old would have been perplexed by this image. The biblical text uses the word pri, a generic word for fruit, to describe the infamous produce. Jewish scholarship has many ideas as to what fruit might be referenced in this text and apple is nowhere on the list. Indeed, scholars argue that it could not have been an apple, as apples would not have grown in that region of the world at that time. In Brachot (40a), we find the rabbis arguing about the type of fruit in the garden. Rabbi Meir argues that it was grapes: “Nothing brings wailing and trouble upon [humans] even today other than wine.” A strong argument, especially with the proof of Noah’s behavior in our next parsha. In the same passage, Rabbi Nehemya claims the fruit was a fig. How else could Adam and Eve have so quickly accessed the fig leaves with which they fashioned their clothes?
be God never revealed the [type of] tree to Adam, and nor will God reveal it in the future…” We should not blame the tree for human behavior and thus we will keep its identity hidden. Here, Jewish tradition balances the value of curiosity with that of honor for all creatures. Perhaps the television series “Dragnet” was channeling this message when it began each episode with the words: “The story you are about to see is true. The names have been changed to protect the innocent.” We should always strive to protect the reputation of others, even when that means we might not know all of the facts ourselves. PJC
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Rabbi Emily Meyer is an educator and the founder of Doodly Jew on Facebook. She is a visiting rabbi at Temple Ohav Shalom. This column is a service of the Greater Pittsburgh Jewish Clergy Association.
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Obituaries BROIDO: Michelle Sara Broido, on Thursday, Oct. 5, 2023. Survived by best friend of 50 years and husband, Richard Oberndorf. Also survived by stepdaughter Alyson Austin (Charles Werner), stepson Ryan Oberndorf (Megan), sister Lynne Price (Gary), niece Leanne Price, step-grandchildren Cayden and Ava, and grandnephew Jacob. Donations may be made to the BroidOberndorf Fund for a Jewish Future, Centennial Fund, Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh, 2000 Technology Drive, Pittsburgh, PA 15219 or to UPMC Family Hospice, 700 Bower Hill Road, Pittsburgh, PA 15243. No flowers, please. Funeral and burial at Gan Hazikaron Cemetery, Skylawn Memorial Park, San Mateo, California. Funeral will be both in person and virtual. Service timing and information about virtual access will be posted at skylawnmemorialpark.com/obituaries/Michelle-Broido/#!/TributeWall. Arrangements entrusted to Ralph Schugar Chapel, Inc., family owned and operated. schugar.com DUKEHART: Leslie “Les” Dukehart, on Monday, Oct. 9, 2023. Beloved husband of the late June Whitehill-Dukehart. Loving father to Richard Dukehart of Pittsburgh and Karin Dukehart of Denver. Grandfather to Jamie, Alyssa, Zachary and Justin Westwood. Also great-grandfather to Hannah, Maven, Luca, Maxwell, Ember, Fiona, Lily and Grace. Also survived by loving partner Iris Walker and dear friends and cousins Erwin and Stephanie Greenberg. Leslie was a fixture in the home improvement industry for over 75 years. He was an avid golfer and skier. He also enjoyed playing gin and poker, and was well known at the local casinos. Leslie was very generous and the life of the party. He will be truly missed. Services were held at Ralph Schugar Chapel, Inc. Interment private. Family owned and operated. schugar.com HART: Jonah Maxwell Hart, beloved by so many, passed peacefully in his sleep on the morning of Monday, Oct. 2. Jonah valiantly fought glioblastoma for the last 13 months. Despite the impact of cancer on his physical body, Jonah continued to embrace all that life can offer until the very end. Jonah was a source of light, humor and strength to all who knew him. Jonah was born in Pittsburgh on Sept. 4, 2006. He joined his parents, Chris and Lorien Hart, and big sister, Abigail, in their Highland Park home. His childhood was full of gathering with other kids on the block. There were many moments that included ice cream cones, days splashing around and lemonade stands. It was a wonderful place to grow up and Jonah was essential to its spark. He began attending Montessori Centre Academy (MCA) when he was 3 and quickly grew, not only in his intellectual knowledge, but also in how to make friends, be a part of a larger community and engage the natural world. Jonah continued at MCA until the sixth grade when he began at the Barack Obama Academy of International Studies. A young man of many talents, Jonah was a rabid Michigan Wolverine fan, a beautiful artist, a competitive speed cuber, a crafty magician, a black belt in Taekwondo, a late-night gamer, a fierce deck hockey player, a daredevil bmx bike rider, a double black diamond skier, but most importantly, a beloved friend, brother and son. While attending Obama Academy from sixth grade until his passing, Jonah was a straight-A student who fully participated in the school’s International Baccalaureate Program. He was on track to be a class valedictorian, maintaining his standing even as he endured daily radiation. He was a proud member of the Obama Class of 2024. Of all of the places in the world, Camp Harlam was his favorite. He began attending sleepaway camp as a 7-year-old and made it his summer home every year since. He accompanied his fellow campers on a trip to Israel in 2022 and spent this past summer as a counselor-in-training. As you pull into the camp in Kunkletown, there are signs that say, “Welcome Home,” and this was true for Jonah. Jonah’s summer home filled him with joy and he filled it with his humor and wisdom. As a fifth-generation Wolverine, Jonah comes from a long line of Michigan scholars, including his sister, parents, grandparents, great-grandfather, cousins, aunts, uncles and family friends. He was cheering for his first Michigan football game when he was just days old and regularly went to “The Big House” for home games. He is survived by his parents, Chris and Lorien Hart; sister, Abigail Hart; more best friends than he could count; as well as many grandparents, aunts and uncles, cousins, friends, teachers, extended family, neighbors and fans of his hair. A memorial service was held at Temple Sinai. In lieu of flowers, the Harts ask that donations in Jonah’s memory be made to The Outlier Fund: theoutlierfund.org. Arrangements entrusted to Ralph Schugar Chapel, Inc., family owned and operated. schugar.com HERSHMAN: Marian Neustadt Hershman, on Monday, Oct. 9, 2023. Beloved wife of the late Sherman Hershman. Loving mother of Larry (Tiffany) Hershman of Forest Hills; Joseph Hershman of Fort Myers, Florida; Mark Hershman of Louisville, Kentucky; and William Hershman of Braddock Hills. Cherished grandmother of Seraphim and Emmett Hershman; Lizabeth Hershman; Brian, Brandon and Alyssa Hershman; Ryan and Ben Hershman. Great-grandmother of nine. Marian was a graduate of the University of Pittsburgh, School of Nursing,
Jewish Association on Aging gratefully acknowledges contributions from the following:
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Anonymous . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Betty Ainsman Anonymous . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Sophie Masloff Anonymous . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Sam & Clara Esther Choder Anonymous . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Jennie Friedman Anonymous . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Stanley & Miriam Friedlander Anonymous . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Leah Lieberman Anonymous . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Fannie Griglak Morton S . Alman . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Mary Beth Alman Helene Friedman . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Sidney Leo Friedman Amy R . Kamin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Louis Kaddell Sharon Galanty Knapp . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Ida Sadowsky Frankel Sharon Galanty Knapp . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Anna Sadowsky Aaron Krouse . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Ida Magdovitz Krouse Cindy & Harold Lebenson . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Marlene Harris Janice E . Mankin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Sanford (Sandy) Mankin Mrs . Alvin S . Mundel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Alvin S . Mundel Ann Notovitz . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Israel Samuel Martin, Andrea & Helene Sattler . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Michael Sattler Anchel Siegman . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Sheila D . Siegman Yvonne & Barry L . Stein . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Edith Thall Iris Amper Walker . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Herbert Walker Ruth Yahr . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Sigmund Yahr
Contact the Development department at 412-586-2690 or development@jaapgh.org for more information.
THIS WEEK’S YAHRZEITS —
Sunday October 15: Betty Ainsman, Harry Barash, Bernard M . Bennett, Ruth Mermelstein Cramer, Rhoda Fisher Jonas, Freda Leff, Jacob Levenson, Lillian B . Martin, Charles Monheim, Traci Michele Perilman, Sadie Schnitzer Monday October 16: Fagie Cohen, Oser Cohen, Robert Cohen, Edward Dobrushin, I . Louis Eckhouse, Morris Freeman, Israel Gershon, Dorothy Goldstone, Marlene Harris, Albert Hendel, Jacob Katz, Louis A . Livingston, David Miller, Eugene Moskovitz, Morris Pechersky, Peter Pink, Sarah Ruth Saul Rosenberg, Berde S . Ruttenberg, Sarah Sable, Myer Skirboll, Louis Stern, Rose Wyatt, Bertha Cooper Young, Henry L . Zacks Tuesday October 17: Gabriel Abramovitz, Morris Beck, David Cohen, Evelyn Hepps Cushner, Fanny Davidson, Sarah Samuels Finkelhor, Bertha Handelman, Adolph Klein, Louis Klein, Bertha Kruman, Rhea K . Landau, Ruda Bella Rose, Mollie Finegold Ruttenberg, Israel Samuel, Jacob Schnitzer, Abe Shulman, Tibie Verk, Abraham Wechsler, Sigmund Yahr Wednesday October 18: Yetta Angel, Benjamin Bondy, Herman Brown, Sarah Schnitzer Elling, Mollie Goldenberg, Sorly Cukerbaum Gordon, Jay Helfant, Miriam Shifra Heller, Benjamin Herskovitz, Jacob Kaufmann, Samuel Levinson, Anne B . Litman, Belle Rosenson, Meyer Rosenthal, Adolph Rutner, Samuel Shire, Morris Shulgold, Ben Spokane, Samuel J . Sugerman, Meyer Veshancey, Jacob Weinstein Thursday October 19: Phillip Americus, Dora Berenfield, Claire Ann Block, Fanny C . Caplan, Ethel Epstein, Ida Sadowsky Frankel, Jack Goldman, Feige Gottlieb, Rae Hadburg, Nachame Levine Horvitz, William I . Isaacson, Ida A . Klodell, Alvin S . Mundel, Rose Ratowsky Ohl, Gertrude Palkovitz, Morris Pattak, Sheila D . Siegman, Frank Silverberg, Lois Snyder Krash, Edith B . Thall Friday October 20: Mary Beth Alman, Janice Gay Barovsky, Anne Tauber Dym, Louis Kaddell, Fannie Klein, Elizabeth Rothstein, Saul Schilit, Molly Schutte, William Schwartz, Frank Shakespeare, Gilbert Shepse, Freda Ulzheimer, Abe Wekselman Saturday October 21: Jules Joseph Anatole, Hyman Bales, Albert Blumenthal, Rachel Cohen, Jennie B . Glass, Minnie Hoffman, Louis Kaddell, Robert Klein, Jerome Meyer, Sylvia Steinberger Moskovitz, Arthur B . Moss, Helen Sachs, Michael Stone, Wolfe Tex, Roxine M . Weinthal
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Obituaries Obituaries: Continued from page 19
and was a Registered Nurse and Pediatric Nurse Practitioner. She worked as a nurse for the Pittsburgh Public Schools and for summer camps, including Camp Ramah and Emma Kaufmann Camp. Marian also filed taxes with H&R Block and as a volunteer for the AARP. She was a lifelong member of Hadassah. Services were held at Ralph Schugar Chapel, Inc. Interment Beth Shalom Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to a charity of one’s choice. schugar.com LEVINE: Macy Irving Levine, M.D., of Pittsburgh, died peacefully at home on Oct. 7, 2023, at the age of 103. He was born in Johnstown, Pennsylvania, son of the late Elliot Benjamin and Ida (Leuin) Levine. He survived the Johnstown Flood of 1936 in Westmont. Macy came to Pittsburgh to attend the University of Pittsburgh, followed by the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine. Upon graduation, he enrolled in the United States Army and served in occupied Japan at the end of WWII. He returned to Pittsburgh after being discharged and began his esteemed career as an internist/allergist for well over 60 years. He met his beloved late wife, Evelyn (Finesman) Levine, while at the VA Hospital. Macy and Evelyn were active tennis and Scrabble players, travelers and students, always feeding their curiosity. After the untimely death of Evelyn, he spent several years with his companion, the late Alice Neft. Macy is survived by his loving children Alan (Beth) Levine, Amy Levine, Paul (Amy Nathan) Levine and Robert (Gili Meerovitch) Levine. He is also survived by his grandchildren Sarah (James Petras) Levine, Hannah, Perry and Emma Levine. He was predeceased by his sister, Sylvia Catchen. Services were held at Ralph Schugar Chapel, Inc. Interment Podolier Cemetery. Contributions may be made to the Hebrew Free Loan Association, or the charity of your choice. schugar.com
MAKAGON: James David Makagon, 80, passed away suddenly at his Henderson, Nevada, home on July 21, 2023. He was born in Pittsburgh to the late Dan and Stella Makagon on Jan. 15, 1943. He grew up in the Highland Park area of Pittsburgh. He was a graduate of Peabody High School and the University of Wisconsin. He is survived by his children and brother Stuart. WALDMAN: Louis Waldman, age 93, on Tuesday, Oct. 3, 2023. Beloved husband of Ann Jean Waldman for over 62 years; loving father of Ivan (Jackie) Waldman of Chevy Chase, Maryland, and Carl (Shari) Waldman of Fredericksburg, Virginia. Brother of the late Dorothy Goldstine and Florence Safron. Proud Zayde of Miles and Emma Waldman. Dr. Waldman graduated with honors from the University of Toledo with a Bachelor of Science degree in chemical engineering in 1951. Upon completion of a year’s fellowship in nuclear science and engineering in 1952, Dr. Waldman accepted a position with the Westinghouse Electric Corporation at the Bettis Atomic Power Laboratory. This laboratory was established with dual roles for developing nuclear propulsion for the U.S. Navy under the leadership of Admiral Hyman G. Rickover, and a civilian nuclear power plant demonstration for the Atomic Energy Commission. Dr. Waldman was part of the team that invented nuclear submarines. Dr. Waldman was awarded a Master of Science Degree in chemical engineering (1956) from the Carnegie Mellon University (Carnegie Institute of Technology). He continued his post-graduate studies at the University of Pittsburgh and obtained a Ph.D. in chemical engineering. Dr. Waldman also taught chemical engineering thermodynamics from 1965-1966 at Carnegie Tech while also employed by Westinghouse. Dr. Waldman retired from Westinghouse Electric in 1994 following a total of 42 years of research and development which led to 25 papers published, many of which were presented at American Nuclear Society meetings and are referred to in five published textbooks. He will be greatly missed for his sharp wit, gentle ways and big smile. Graveside services and interment were held at Beth Shalom Cemetery. Contributions may be made to the School of Engineering at either the University of Pittsburgh or Carnegie Mellon University, or a charity of your choice. Funeral arrangements entrusted to Ralph Schugar Chapel, Inc., family owned and operated. schugar.com PJC
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SHOULD I MAKE MY ACCOUNTS OR MY DEED JOINT WITH SOMEONE ELSE? This is one in a series of articles about Elder Law by Michael H. Marks., Esq. Michael H. Marks is an elder law attorney with offices in Squirrel Hill and Monroeville. Send questions to michael@marks-law.com or visit www.marks-law.com. People ask me this question constantly. The classic lawyerly answer is: it depends! The answers differ for property such as real estate, or bank accounts, IRA/retirement account money, non-IRA investments, and assets that are appreciated value or not. It depends on the all the details, such as the personal relationship, age and life expectancy, and practical, financial and tax considerations. There is more than one way to put someone else’s name on your property. Making an asset “joint” usually means specifically “Joint Owners (or Depositors) with Right of Survivorship.” Another way though is to name a beneficiary as a “Transfer on Death” or “Pay on Death” (TOD or POD), or “In Trust For” beneficiary (for a PA bank account). That way, instead of someone becoming a joint owner now, they don’t acquire any present ownership or control access now, and only get it after the present owner dies. (And don’t forget that you can also name beneficiaries on income streams like pensions and annuities too.) For my client - usually the present owner of the property - there are always advantages and disadvantages to consider when assigning joint owners. Advantages: First, naming someone as joint owner or beneficiary means that when you die, the property will go to that person directly and automatically, avoiding probate. Second, for actual joint ownership (not just TOD or POD), if more than a year goes by before you die, they’ll pay less in Pennsylvania Inheritance Tax.
20 OCTOBER 6, 2023
The third advantage is that especially for real estate, adding someone onto your deed can sometimes help protect your property against your future potential cost of long-term care - but it’s complicated. Finally, giving away property now also removes the future growth from your taxable estate. Disadvantages: Any time you put your property in someone else’s name, you become vulnerable to their legal or financial problems. Also, after you give up control of your property you may need their cooperation and signature to make changes. Note that for something like a bank account you’re not as locked in as, for example, a deed to real estate. If you want to take your son or daughter off your bank account and they say no, you can just take the money out and open a new account without them. But if you put their name on your deed, you can’t remove their names on your own, unless they agree and sign too. Next, if you make someone a joint owner or joint depositor on your account (not just TOD or POD) and they die before you, you’re going to pay Pennsylvania Inheritance Tax on inheriting back part of your own money! It seems very unfair, but the PA Department of Revenue doesn’t stop to ask whose money it was before you made it joint. Usually, kids and younger people are around after parents and elders, but we know it happens the other way sometimes. (If I still have my own elderly parent on my account, they’re likely to go before me, and what goes up the family tree must come back down, with costs and taxes in both directions.) Another disadvantage applies for property that’s appreciated or grown in value. If you give someone a part ownership interest during your lifetime, they may later owe capital gain tax on gain during your lifetime that they wouldn’t owe if they inherited it all from you when you died. For this reason, sometimes even though you have a chance to make
appreciated property joint before the owner passes away to avoid probate costs and reduce inheritance tax, it may end up costing more in capital gain tax. (This illustrates how all such decisions can be complicated and need in-depth consideration to make the best choice.) One more drawback: for real estate, some transfers to your closest relatives are exempt, but other transfers will cost you for something called “Deed Transfer Tax,” such as to an unmarried partner, niece or nephew, cousin, friend (or even to your own LLC). The last disadvantage can be a big one for an older person who may need nursing home care sooner rather than later and wants Medicaid to pay for it Giving away something of value may interfere with your eligibility for Medicaid if you apply during the five years after making a gift – Medicaid’s socalled “five-year look back period” – though there
are exceptions that make some gifts allowable. Especially for older clients who may need longterm care, there are a lot of moving parts in the decision-making. Making joint ownership or TOD/POD plans for an elderly client can work better if the owner is younger, healthier, has longterm care insurance, or has other financial assets or wealth that will later figure into a comprehensive asset protection plan. However, transfers are often part of emergency asset protection planning when nursing home care is needed now. One more thought: sometimes transfers into certain kinds of trusts are advantageous (but IRA or retirement money heading into a trust creates special complications).
At Marks Elder Law, we help people every day with issues like these. I invite your questions and feedback. Please let me know how I can help you and your family.
helping you plan for what matters the most
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.
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OCTOBER 13, 2023 21
Headlines Gaza: Continued from page 8
Gaza by Hamas, according to Army Radio. On Tuesday morning, Hagari said 50 families had already been informed after saying the army had managed to gather information about all Israelis being held the night before. The families of many of those who were taken had said that they felt abandoned by Israeli authorities after officials were slow to respond to pleas for help or information. Amid a threat from Hamas that it would begin executing hostages in response to Israeli strikes in Gaza carried out without warnings, the IDF said Tuesday it struck more than 200 targets in the Gaza Strip overnight, including a weapons storage site in a mosque, an apartment used by Hamas’s antitank guided missile forces and a high-rise tower used by the terror group, among other military installations. Hecht said the military struck hundreds of Hamas targets overnight in Gaza’s City Rimal neighborhood, which is home to many Hamas ministries and government buildings. He said residents were being notified over social media to evacuate before the strikes but did not elaborate further. He advised any Palestinians able to leave the Gaza Strip for Egypt to do so. “Rafah crossing is still open. Anyone who can get out I would advise them to get out,” Hecht said. After hours of nonstop strikes overnight,
Rimal residents left their homes at daybreak to find some buildings torn in half by strikes, while others were reduced to mounds of concrete and rebar. Cars were flattened and trees burned out in moonscapes that had been residential streets. The Gaza health ministry run by Hamas said 687 Palestinians have been killed and another 3,800 have been wounded in the Gaza Strip since the start of fighting on Saturday. More than 187,500 people have been displaced in Gaza since the beginning of the conflict, according to a report from the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. UNRWA, the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, is hosting more than 137,000 people in schools across the territory. The report says airstrikes have razed 790 housing units and severely damaged 5,330 in the territory of 2.3 million people. Both Israel and Gazans have described the Israeli attacks as unprecedented in intensity. After days of near-constant barrages on Israel, Gazan rocket fire had largely halted since Monday night, though sporadic fire from Gaza toward border communities resumed briefly overnight and again Tuesday morning, triggering sirens. There were no reports of any injuries. With the U.S. already delivering critically needed munitions and military equipment to Israel, IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi held a first phone call with his U.S. counterpart, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Charles Q. Brown Jr, who entered
the role earlier this month. The Israeli military said the U.S. general “stated that he stands by the IDF and that we will receive all the aid we need.” John Kirby, a spokesman for the National Security Council, confirmed Monday evening that the first batch of military aid in the wake of the violent assault by Hamas terrorists is “making its way” to Israel. And a U.S. official warned Hezbollah to stay out of the fighting, hours after the Iran-backed terror group exchanged mortar fire with Israel and an attempted infiltration from Lebanon. The delivery came as President Joe Biden prepared to give formal remarks on the attacks from the White House on Tuesday afternoon, after he confirmed that at least 11 Americans were among those killed in the Hamas attack. More have been taken captive, Washington believes. Thailand said Tuesday that 18 of its nationals were among those killed in the devastating onslaught by the terror group. A report in Axios claimed that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had told Biden that Israel had no choice but to order a ground invasion of Gaza, which would likely mean a drawn-out engagement. The military said 300,000 reservists have been called up, though not all will necessarily take part in the fight, with troops also being sent to protect Israel’s other borders, as well as West Bank settlements and towns inside Israel. A senior government source said Monday
that the war is expected to continue for many days, perhaps many weeks, and possibly longer than that. Shortly afterward, the Home Front command advised Israelis to stock up on water, food and other supplies for at least three days, leading to panic-buying and empty supermarket shelves across the country. The IDF later tried to assure Israelis that the advice was standard and had not been intended to warn Israelis that they were about to be under an emergency situation. Netanyahu on Monday outlined Israel’s battle plan against Hamas terror, likened the group to the Islamic State group, and warned of more “difficult days ahead” for the battered and bleeding nation. “This war was imposed upon us by a despicable enemy — by savages who celebrate the murder of women, children, and the elderly,” he said. “The atrocities carried out by Hamas have not been seen since the atrocities of ISIS. Children bound and executed with the rest of their families, young girls and boys shot in the back, executed, and other atrocities that I will not describe here.” He also called on opposition parties to join an emergency cabinet. “The divisions among us are ended. We are all united. And when we are united, we win,” he said. According to reports, Netanyahu’s Likud and Benny Gantz’s National Unity party were nearing an agreement for a unity government, with an announcement expected later Tuesday. PJC
U2’s Bono changes lyrics in tribute to Israeli music festival victims of Hamas attack — NATIONAL — By Gabe Friedman | JTA
T
he original lyrics of U2’s hit song “Pride (In the Name of Love)” were about Martin Luther King, Jr. But on Sunday night, the band’s singer Bono changed some of the song’s lyrics to pay tribute to Israeli victims of Hamas’ attacks. In a break in their performance of the song at the newly-opened Sphere venue outside of Las Vegas, Bono mentioned the Supernova music festival by name. Over 250 festival-goers at the event held in the desert in southern Israel were killed on Saturday as Hamas militants opened fire and looked to take many hostage. “We sing for those, our people, our kind of people — music people, playful, experimental people,” said the 22-time Grammy-winner, who has for decades been an antiwar activist who has commented on conflict around the world. He then sang an altered verse dedicated to the victims: “Early morning, Oct. 7/Sun is rising in the desert sky/Stars of David, they took your life/They could not take your pride.” The original verse references King’s assassination in Memphis on April 4, 1968. Bono was not the only celebrity to comment on the weekend’s violence. Madonna, who is known to be a student of Kabbalah, posted a graphic video to Instagram showing footage
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p U2 performs in Las Vegas, Sept. 29, 2023.
of Hamas violence. She wrote a long caption, including “My heart goes out to Israel. To Families and Homes that have been destroyed. To children who are lost. To Innocent Victims who have Been Killed.” Other celebrities to post messages of support for Israel include Israeli “Wonder Woman” star Gal Gadot, Zoey Deutch, Jamie Lee Curtis, Amy Schumer, Kylie Jenner,
Jennifer Love Hewitt, Sarah Michelle Gellar, Mandy Moore and Sofia Richie — the daughter of Lionel Richie who converted to Judaism before marrying her Jewish husband. On Instagram, Jewish comedian Sarah Silverman reposted a note aimed at activists and others who have celebrated Hamas’ violence. Broadway star and Grammy-winner Josh Groban
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Photo by Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for Live Nation
re-posted a note from Israeli-American composer Or Matias, who was music director for the hit show “Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812,” which starred Groban. Matias said that he has been “vocally critical of Israel’s government” but added that those who are silent in the wake of the attacks are “not purely pro-peace. You are anti-Israel.” PJC PITTSBURGHJEWISHCHRONICLE.ORG
Community Magical party with friends
The Friendship Circle of Pittsburgh hosted a Sukkot party on Oct. 4. The outdoor gathering included a photo booth, dinner, music and a magic show.
p Taking the photo booth to the streets
p An edible sukkah is no fluff.
Photos courtesy of The Friendship Circle of Pittsburgh
Sukkah crawl after dark
Little hands, big responsibility
p From left: Rabbi Yitzi Genack, David Brinn and Rabbi Eliezer Shusterman get in the holiday spirit. Photo courtesy of Shaare Torah Congregation
p Cleanliness is next to godliness.
Shaare Torah Congregation hosted its first annual Sukkah crawl. The holiday event enabled 60 people to visit multiple sukkahs and enjoy drinks, conversation and words of Torah.
Prior to Simchat Torah, members of J-JEP learned how to clean a Torah.
Photo courtesy of J-JEP
In the parsha
Temple Sinai celebrated Simchat Torah with a service and contributions from temple youth and the Temple Sinai Band.
p Cantor David Reinwald, right, reads from the Torah.
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p Rabbi Daniel Fellman, right, points out a passage.
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Photos by Dale Lazar
OCTOBER 13, 2023
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