Pittsburgh Jewish Chronicle 11-4-22

Pittsburgh gathers to remember,

Pittsburghers pay respects at Tree of Life building on Oct. 27

Severalhundred Pittsburgh community members gathered on Oct. 27 beneath a sun-filled sky, surrounded by bright autumn foliage at Schenley Park, to remember the 11 Jewish men and women killed four years ago in the deadliest antisemitic attack in U.S. history.

“It is our sacred duty to remember,” Holocaust Center of Pittsburgh Director Lauren Bairnsfather said during closing remarks at the commemoration ceremony. “I am grateful to be part of a community where individuals have been willing to see that we have much more that connects us than could ever divide us.”

The interfaith event was hosted by 10.27 Healing Partnership Director Maggie Feinstein and was attended by survivors of the attack, family members of those murdered, local Jewish lay leaders, rabbis, politicians and members of the Jewish community at large.

“We all stand here together,” Feinstein said, opening the ceremony, “because we remember that we are stronger together. Neighbors, religious and secular leaders have loudly stated that antisemitism has no place in Pittsburgh.”

Eleven candles were lit to begin the service in memory of those killed at the Tree of Life building: Joyce Fienberg, Richard Gottfried,

Rose Mallinger, Jerry Rabinowitz, Cecil Rosenthal, David Rosenthal, Bernice Simon, Sylvan Simon, Daniel Stein, Melvin Wax and Irving Younger. The victims were members of the three congregations housed in the building: Congregation Dor Hadash, New Light Congregation and Tree of Life Congregation.

Rabbi Amy Bardack, formerly of the Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh, and now a rabbi at Congregation Dor Hadash, sang “El Malei Rahamim,” a prayer for the dead often chanted at funerals or at graveside visits.

Bardack said her new role meant focusing on the members of the congregation rather than the community as a whole. She spent much of the day offering pastoral care.

Dor Hadash continues to heal while tackling the work of reconnection following the COVID-19 pandemic, Bardack said, adding that the congregation will hold another service on the Hebrew yahrzeit of those murdered.

Two choirs were featured during the ceremony. The Pittsburgh Youth Choir sang “Peace Round,” “Let There Be Peace on Earth” and “Now I Walk in Beauty.” The Rodman Street Baptist Choir offered renditions of “I Need You to Survive” and “The Blessing.”

Feinstein said the decision to have two choirs

By Adam Reinherz | Sta Writer

Neighbors,

strangers, communal servants and students visited the Tree of Life building on Oct. 27.

Some parties traveled en masse — like a group from Yeshiva Girls High School that recited Psalms and encouraged passersby to “bring light to darkness.” Other visitors arrived alone or in pairs — some with flowers to leave along the fence bordering Shady and Wilkins avenues; some came with pastries and other tokens of appreciation and remembrance.

People brought dogs, stress balls and other things of comfort. Runners — several of whom regularly pass the busy intersection — paused to pay respects; others stopped to gain centeredness and perspective.

As the cool morning temperatures and ashen skies gave way to afternoon sun and blanketing warmth, Pittsburghers once again made their way to a shuttered Squirrel Hill synagogue in remembrance of 11 Jews from Congregation Dor Hadash, New Light Congregation and Tree

By David Rullo | Sta Writer

Doron Almog

 Edward and Diane Cordisco bring flowers to the Tree of Life building on Oct. 27, 2022. Photo by Adam Reinherz

 Survivors and witnesses of the Pittsburgh synagogue

shooting recite Psalm 23 at

commemoration event on Oct. 27.

Photo by Joshua Franzos

For Burton Ziskind, history, ecology and philanthropy mix

By David Rullo | Staff Writer

Home

is important to Burton Ziskind, both familial and ancestral.

The retired Air Force colo nel’s family has deep Pittsburgh roots, and Ziskind delights in discussing his father and uncles, their time in the Steel City and their contributions to the country.

He also has a strong commitment to Israel and the larger Jewish community.

As much as Ziskind loves talking about family, he is just as enthusiastic about preserving ecological sites in both Pittsburgh and Israel. His latest endeavor was in the Jewish homeland, where he supported the creation of a wheelchair-accessible ecological pond, including an amphibian pool surrounded by plants originally depicted in the Bible, dedicated to the memory of his parents Sam, a World War II veteran and editor of the military magazine Soldiers, and Edith, a Holocaust survivor.

“I wanted to something as a legacy for them,” Ziskind said.

The Virginia native donated after learning about LOTEM, a Jewish National Fund-USA affiliate that brings nature to disadvantaged populations, according to Glenn Schwartz, JNF’s executive director, national major donors’ relations.

“One thing about Israel,” Schwartz said, “is that it’s very much focused on living outdoors and being outside and enjoying nature.”

In a recent B’YAchad magazine story, JNF-LOTEM Liaison Gaylee Schif said that

Ziskind’s support for people with disabilities is cherished by the organization.

“Burt’s contribution allows thousands of students a year, no matter their abilities, to experience the beauty and enjoy ment of connecting with the outdoors,” she said.

Ziskind has supported other ecological projects in Israel, as well. While on a final trip with his parents to the country, he visited a location near Be’er Sheva where Abraham and Abimelech were believed to have disputed over grazing land. The pair planted a tree there as a symbol of peace to help settle the disagreement. Ziskind donated funds to help preserve the site, now a 12-acre park named the Ziskind Family Forest.

“It’s a symbol of peace in the Middle East,” he said.

And while Ziskind is proud of his contributions to Israel — and his belief in the Jewish nation — he’s equally proud of his family’s connection to Pittsburgh

–BURTON ZISKIND

and the work he has done to preserve green space here.

The 73-year-old recalled his family’s ties to the city, which include those of his father and two uncles, one of whom argued before the United States Supreme Court.

After completing his military service, Ziskind decided he wanted to do more to leave the world a better place than he found it.

“I decided to pay back the country that I served and loved, in addition to the homeland which we all love, which is Israel,” he said. “The way I do that is through the environment. I’ve also had a passion, long before it was in fashion, to help green the earth.”

Ziskind said he was distressed to see northern Virginia, where he grew up when his father served in the military, chopped up into shopping and strip malls.

“I wanted to do something using that overused phrase, tikkun olam, and leave the world a better place,” he said.

Part of that work included what is now known as the Ziskind Parklet in Point Breeze on Beechwood Boulevard,

he said, noting that the park is near Fred Roger’s home.

“I did that in honor of the war heroes — Jerry, Sam and Jack,” he said, recounting his father and uncle’s names.

Schwartz said that the support of people like Ziskind makes the work of JNF possible.

“It’s because of people like Burt who make a long-term commitment that goes on and on,” he said. “We call them ambassadors to the organization because they are the ones out there talking about us and what we’re doing, telling others what we’re about. They really make a difference for us.”

For Ziskind, support for the environ ment is entwined with his idea of creating a family legacy.

“That’s my lifelong passion,” he said. “Heritage is important. We’re a traditional patriotic family that wants to give back to this wonderful country that’s done so much for us, but also Israel. It’s an opportunity to contribute to both locations.” PJC

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

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p Burton Ziskind with his son Rabbi Simcha Ziskind at the Ecological Pond Photo provided by Burton Ziskind

“I decided to pay back the country that I served and loved, in addition to the homeland which we all love, which is Israel ... The way I do that is through the environment. I’ve also had a passion, long before it was in fashion, to help green the earth.”

Maj. Gen. (Res.) Doron Almog fights for love as new JAFI chairman

By Adam Reinherz | Staff Writer

a resume boasting 34 years of battle, Maj. Gen. (Res.) Doron Almog preached a message of love during a recent visit to Pittsburgh.

Almog, who became chairman of the executive of The Jewish Agency for Israel in August, stopped in Pittsburgh before heading to Chicago the following day for the Jewish Federations of North America General Assembly. While in Pittsburgh, Almog met privately with local leaders and Israeli emissaries.

Joined by his wife, Didi, and representa tives of the Jewish Agency, Almog attended the Oct. 27 commemoration in Schenley Park. While there, he spoke with family members of those murdered at the Tree of Life building four years ago.

“I’m coming to Pittsburgh from a place of love — loving my country, loving my Jewish people, loving the Jewish communities all over the world,” he told the Chronicle.

Heading the Jewish Agency positions Almog in a new global light; to Israelis, however, he’s been well-known for years. Almog was born in Rishon LeZion in 1951. After entering the IDF, he became a para trooper and climbed the ranks of Israel’s most elite units. He fought in the Yom Kippur War; led paratroopers during the 1982 Lebanon War; commanded the Special Forces Shaldag Unit; and helped thou sands of Ethiopian Jews evacuate Sudan.

During the Second Intifada he oversaw the IDF Southern Command, including the Gaza border.

He also was the first soldier to land on the tarmac at Entebbe during the dramatic hostage rescue, and was sent by Prime Minister Golda Meir to hunt down those who murdered 11 Jews during the 1972 Munich Olympics. He eventually retired from the military as a major general.

“Most of my life, I fought terror and antisemitism, but also I’m bereaved family,” he said.

Almog’s brother Eran, a tank commander, was killed during the Yom Kippur War. Decades later, five members of Almog’s family were murdered at the Maxim restau rant in Haifa during a suicide bombing.

Almog and his wife are parents of three children. Their daughter Shoham was born with a heart defect and died when she was 1 month old; their son Eran, named for Doron’s brother, was born with autism and died of Castleman disease at age 23.

“I know what bereavement is,” he said. “I know what it is to live in a home that a loved one is absent, pictures on the wall, memories all over, great longing and always something missing in my life.”

Coming to Pittsburgh, attending the commemoration and speaking with families was a chance to “express my — our — grief, sorrow and pain in respect of the terror attack that took the lives of 11 Jews here in Pittsburgh on Oct. 27, 2018,” he said.

But there were other reasons for the visit as well.

His visit was a chance “not only to show empathy, but to empower and to encourage, [especially] to encourage myself,” he said. “I see the relationship between the state of Israel and any Jewish community in the world as a strategic importance for our existence.”

Before speaking with the Chronicle, Almog met with the Shinshinim and a staffer from Hillel JUC. Almog is aware of the generational differences regarding atti tudes toward Israel.

According to a July 11 Pew Research Report, 56% of Americans under age 30 hold an “unfavorable” view of Israel.

It’s a “great challenge to attract the young generation,” Almog said. While the spirit and dedication of Israeli emissaries working in Pittsburgh gave him “a sense of opti mism,” he said greater efforts must be made. From a global standpoint, “we must do much more in order to guarantee that the young generation is attracted to and under stands more Judaism, knows more about Jewish education, is attracted to Jewish education and also feels the responsibility for Jewish existence.”

During decades of military service, Almog pledged to never leave a soldier behind. He still has that mindset.

“We don’t have the privilege to lose even one Jew because of his choice, or because he thinks that the state of Israel is a bad idea or because he [heard] criticism of the state of Israel … Of course, the state of Israel is by many aspects controversial [among] our enemies, but it is a wonderful state; and for me, the state of Israel — the only Jewish state in the world — is a great pride for me.”

With a belief that relationships and atti tudes are fueled by connections and personal experiences, Almog — a recipient of the

In memory of his son, Almog founded ADI

Negev-Nahalat Eran. The southern-based center maintains “an intensive care hospital wing for babies and adults, a para-medical center, hydrotherapy pool, special education school, green care farm, therapeutic horse stable and petting zoo.” The residential and rehabilitative complex is home to more than 150 children and young adults.

Hearing the phrase “loved ones” during the Oct. 27 commemoration reminded Almog of his visits to the Israeli center.

“People who are suffering, in grief, in pain, what more can we do?” he asked. By answering that question, the singular English phrase “loved ones” can be eluci dated, he continued. Whether aiding those requiring full dependence or helping people who appear seemingly strong, “you under stand what is the power of love.”

What happened in Pittsburgh four years ago, “that terror came from hate,” Almog said. “But what is the opposite of hate? The opposite of hate is love. We need to spread more love in our world; and love starts with the slightest relationship between people, between you and your loved one. Love is the heart. Love is the smile. Love is to see the return and response of people around you to the actions you are taking.” PJC

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

2016 Israel Prize — said each individual can effectuate tremendous change.

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p Maj. Gen. (Res.) and JAFI Chairman Doron Almog meets with Pittsburgh's Israeli emissaries.

Photo by Adam Reinherz

Headlines

Meet Mike Doyle, Republican congressional candidate for District 12

By Toby Tabachnick | Editor

MikeDoyle, a longtime Plum Borough councilman and a vice president of Excalibur Insurance Management Services, is the Republican nominee to represent Pennsylvania’s 12th congressional district.

The new 12th District shares much of the same territory as the former 18th District that was represented by another Mike Doyle, a Democrat who served that district for 27 years and who will retire at the end of this term. District 12 is comprised of the city of Pittsburgh, as well as some eastern and southern suburbs, including parts of Westmoreland County.

Doyle was eager to speak with the Chronicle

and to share his views on what he considers to be the most pressing issues facing America.

This interview was edited for length and clarity. It was conducted via Zoom on Oct. 26.

Tell me why you are running for Congress to represent District 12. Well, when I saw the lines dropped by the Supreme Court back earlier this year, my phone started ringing, and hey’re like, you should consider running. And my initial knee-jerk reaction was to laugh, and say no, that’s just not possible. But then I looked at the district and saw that it was winnable for a Republican, and I looked at the other side, and I saw that the person who was most likely going to win — who did end up winning — is very extreme left politically. She’s a self-avowed socialist. And I just said to myself, there’s just no way that I can sit back and let that type of extremist represent this district. And I decided to throw my hat in the ring.

So why are you the right person?

Well, because I’ve been involved in Allegheny County politics for almost 25 years. I’m an elected councilman in Plum Borough for 17 years. I’ve been president there for 13 and very proud of my record there. I have the history and a reputation of being able to reach across the aisle and get things done. I don’t knee-jerk react. I’m very pragmatic that way. I will literally sit and listen to both sides of the story with the goal to find compromise and move forward for the betterment of my borough. And that’s what I’ve done for the last 17 years. We need more of that in Washington.

I still do business on a handshake, and I ask people to call me out if I don’t keep my word.

We tried to interview Summer Lee. Here’s what happened.

not hold our place, as other requests coming in after ours might take precedence.

By Toby Tabachnick | Editor

StateRep. Summer Lee is the Democratic nominee for Pennsylvania’s 12th District in the U.S. House of Representatives. Her campaign has not made her available for an interview with the Chronicle.

Following Lee’s primary win, the Chronicle reached out to her campaign via email six times (from May 25-July 26) requesting an interview and left two voicemails. We received no response.

On Sept. 30, I reached out via email again and received no response. On Oct. 3, I texted Lee’s campaign manager, Abigail Gardner, and told her that we would be running an interview with Mike Doyle in our Nov. 4 issue and would like to include an interview with Lee as well. Gardner replied, requesting to see the topics of the interview questions in advance and saying that she would “circle back” later in the week.

About an hour later, I sent Gardner the general topics to be discussed during the interview and told her that the interview would need to be conducted by Oct. 28 to be included in our Nov. 4 issue. I also offered to conduct the interview via Zoom for the convenience of Lee, and limit it to 20 minutes.

On Oct. 6, Gardner called me and asked if Lee could respond to written questions via email instead of being interviewed. I responded that I would do everything possible to accommodate Lee’s schedule, but that we were only interested in an actual interview at this time.

Gardner said that Lee wanted to answer questions via email so that she could be more deliberate in crafting her responses; further more, she was very busy and was receiving new requests for interviews every day. I asked that Gardner hold our place in the queue for an interview; Gardner said that she could

Gardner offered to make Lee available for an interview after the election, but said she would need to get back to me about whether we could interview her before the election. She did not get back to me.

I emailed Gardner on Oct. 12 and again on Oct. 24, asking if Lee was available and reminding her that the interview would need to be completed by Oct. 28 to be included in our Nov. 4 issue. She did not respond.

On Oct. 27, Chronicle Staff Writer David Rullo saw Lee at the commemoration event for the Pittsburgh synagogue shooting, and asked her if she would like to comment on why she felt it important to be present at the event. She responded: “Of course, this is obviously such an important moment. I think it’s so important that we know that the rising tide of white supremacy — antisem itism, you know — as that rises, it’s so important that we stand in solidarity with our community, that they recognize that they’re not alone, that none of our commu nities are alone, that we’re going to stand together. Right? Unfortunately, a terrible event, not just for our Jewish community but Jewish history, for Pittsburgh and our greater community. Recognizing that we can never forget that and that we always make sure that we’re in this together and lockstep marching forward.”

In our Oct. 6 phone conversation, Gardner said that the Chronicle already had a chance to interview Lee before the primary at a town hall-style event in April. (See “Congressional hopeful Summer Lee meets Jewish voters,” April 8; jewishchronicle.timesofisrael.com/ congressional-hopeful-summer-lee-meetsjewish-voters.) That event, however, was sponsored by the Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh’s Community Relations Council, and the interviewer was CRC Director Laura Cherner. At the event, Cherner questioned Lee about her views on Israel, including whether

she thought that Israel had a right to exist as a Jewish Democratic state. Lee said she did.

But Lee said she didn’t know if Israel was an apartheid state.

“I don’t necessarily know the answer to that,” she said. “I don’t know that I am as well-versed in the intricacies of this.”

Lee was also questioned at that event about two tweets she posted on May 14, 2021, in the midst of fighting in Israel and Gaza, in which she criticized U.S. politicians for using the refrain “Israel has the right to defend itself” in response “to undeniable atrocities on a marginalized pop.”

Lee said at that event that aid to Israel should be conditioned on progress for peace with the Palestinians. She also said that while

she is not involved with the BDS movement against Israel, she is concerned by efforts to “criminalize a tactic that is rooted in peaceful protest.”

The Chronicle hoped to have Lee clarify some of those statements in an interview before the general election. We also wanted to ask her about her key issues of concern for our country, and how she intended to resolve them should she be elected.

Among Lee’s most ardent supporters are congressional “Squad” members, whom she has endorsed. Some of them, such as Ilhan Omar and Rashida Tlaib, have been publicly chastised for making antisemitic comments.

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p Mike Doyle Photo courtesy of Mike Doyle’s campaign

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p Invitation to Summer Lee fundraising event

Headlines

Josh Shapiro versus Doug Mastriano. Will the Jewish Democrat become Pennsylvania’s next governor?

a Chester Springs resident, of the Democrats.

By Jarrad Saffren | Contributing Writer

According to the polls, Josh Shapiro should win the Pennsylvania gubernatorial race.

The Jewish Democrat leads Republican opponent Doug Mastriano by an average of more than 10 points. As FiveThirtyEight’s aggregation tool shows, recent polls from Suffolk University, Emerson College and others got the same result: Shapiro is ahead by between 10 and 15 percentage points.

But “according to the polls” has become a loaded phrase in American politics in recent years. Before 2016, it usually meant what the numbers showed: a victory for the candidate who was ahead. But then in 2016, Donald Trump defied consistent deficits to stun Hillary Clinton and become president of the United States. Four years later, Trump nearly did the same thing against his Democratic challenger Joe Biden.

Perhaps the fastest-rising star in American politics right now, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, won his gubernatorial race in 2018 after trailing in the polls. In the most high-profile race of the 2021 election season, Virginia Republican Glenn Youngkin did the same. And in that same off-year season, in New Jersey, Republican Jack Ciattarelli nearly upset incumbent Gov. Phil Murphy. The Democrat led by double digits in the polls in late October but only won by 3.2%.

So, should Josh Shapiro trust the polls?

Probably not.

But does that mean he is going to lose in a shocking upset to a man who, as a state senator, tried to overturn Biden’s victory in Pennsylvania in 2020?

Not necessarily.

The Jewish Exponent spent a day with both campaigns to take the pulse of the race. As you should expect by now in American politics, the reality is far more complicated than the numbers show.

Why Shapiro shouldn’t trust the polls

It’s a rainy Saturday morning in early October. Outside of a Phoenixville, Chester County fire hall, the parking lot is almost full. Stickers on the back of one car say, “Doug Mastriano Governor” and “Socialism Destroys Nations.” Another car’s front license plate reads, “One Nation Under God.”

Inside before the meet-and-greet with the Republican candidate, seats are filling up fast. They come from Chester County, the Philadelphia region’s westernmost territory, and the surrounding area.

Many say they love Trump, who endorsed Mastriano before the Republican primary; many others say that they are conservative voters supporting the Republican candidate; and still many others blame the Democrats, who hold power in the Pennsylvania governor’s mansion (Tom Wolf) and in Washington, D.C., for rising crime in communities and prices at gas stations and grocery stores.

Not a single person said they were there to see Mastriano the candidate, the man, the politician. (He’s a first-term senator in the Pennsylvania General Assembly.)

“They are screwing our state,” said Alan Walter,

When asked in what ways Democrats were “screwing” the Keystone State, Walter laughed. But then he said, “Well, I don’t even feel safe going down to Philadelphia.”

Though they may not be drawn to Mastriano the man, supporters kept walking in, even tually filling hundreds of seats. Campaign volunteers later estimated that about 600 people attended, though the real number was probably between 300 and 500. Nonetheless, according to volunteers, the planned meet-and-greet transformed into a rally.

When Mastriano walked through the back door with his wife, Rebbie, they proceeded to a podium that was already set up. The candidate spoke for more than 30 minutes, handing the microphone off to other speakers at various points throughout his remarks.

Mastriano has been described by the mainstream media as extreme, and it’s not an unfair description.

Mastriano said three years ago that women should be charged with murder for getting abortions. He organized buses for the Jan. 6, 2021 protest against the election result that turned into a storming of the Capitol Building in D.C. Earlier in the campaign, he joined a social media site, Gab, known as a safe haven for antisemites and white nationalists. While Mastriano did not say anything antisemitic on the site, he did pay Gab and its founder, Andrew Torba, a $5,000 consulting fee.

During his speech in Chester County, the candidate doesn’t back down from any of those positions. He also brings up a right-wing media opportunist, Norristown native Jack Posobiec, who has more than a million Twitter followers, to offer rambling remarks to the crowd about how dangerous Philadelphia is these days, among other topics. (They mostly yawn and tune him out.)

At the same time, it is not any of these posi tions that Mastriano emphasizes in his speech. Instead, he leads with the issues that seem to be defining this campaign. He also ties them to a Democrat who is in power: his opponent, Shapiro, Pennsylvania’s attorney general.

“On his watch, crime has risen by 40%,” Mastriano said of Shapiro’s tenure as AG.

“One thousand carjackings in Philadelphia alone this year,” he continued. “Are you kidding me?”

“He’s worse than Tom Wolf,” he said later.

The crowd seemed to agree. Mastriano talked in a low monotone, so he’s hard to hear at times. But his hundreds of supporters none theless cheered loudly, and held up campaign signs with the slogan “Walk as Free People” and even stood in unison.

Carolyn Di’Arcangelo, a resident of East Vincent Township, said she believes abortion is “personal” and that she’s “not judging anybody.” But she also said she’s voting for Mastriano.

“I do not want Shapiro because he’s a career politician. I hate career politicians,” she added. “I just don’t like him as a Democrat.”

Later in the day at The Fuge in Warminster, Bucks County, even more supporters turned out for similar reasons. Mastriano and his volunteers said almost 1,000 people showed up and, while that number may have been exaggerated, it was not exaggerated by much.

Why Shapiro might win anyway

By all traditional measures, Josh Shapiro is winning this race.

In addition to his lead in the polls, the Abington resident is convincing the mainstream media to buy his credible argument about how dangerous Mastriano might be for the commonwealth.

On Oct. 9, The Philadelphia Inquirer endorsed Shapiro and said a Mastriano win would “effectively end democracy in Pennsylvania.”

The Jewish Democrat has also outspent his opponent by more than $40 million. The Mastriano campaign just ran its first television ad in early October. And finally, Shapiro, a politician with a career dating almost 20 years, has been his party’s sole candidate since October 2021. Mastriano, on the other hand, won a crowded primary and has not gotten support from the national Republican Governors Association.

As LancasterOnline reported on Oct. 9, many former Republican officeholders in Pennsylvania have endorsed Shapiro.

Yet as Shapiro well knows, in 2022, none of this guarantees anything. And in fact, Mastriano is drawing hundreds, sometimes close to 1,000, supporters on the campaign trail. To beat an opponent who can score, you cannot simply run out the clock.

So on Oct. 8, a sunny Saturday in the Philadelphia area with temperatures in the 60s, the Democrat hit the trail.

In the morning outside of the United Steelworkers’ hall in Media, he used a 10-minute version of his stump speech to motivate his assembled supporters, more than 100 people, most of them members of labor unions, to knock on doors and spread the word. Much like his opponent, Shapiro opens his speech with the issues that are defining this campaign.

On crime, like Mastriano, he promised more cops. On the Pennsylvania economy, like Mastriano, he pledged to drill. And on schools, like Mastriano, he promised more options for kids. (In Shapiro’s vision, that means vocation al-technical programs. In Mastriano’s, it means redirecting state funding to students and families over public schools.)

“We’re running for office not just to win an election,” Shapiro said during his Media speech. “But to meet this moment for Pennsylvania.”

And like Mastriano, Shapiro draws cheers and applause. His crowd is not as big as his opponent’s from the previous Saturday because it’s a canvass kickoff, not a rally, but it’s just as enthusiastic.

Later in the day in nearby Swarthmore, more than 50 people crowd into a small room in a nondescript office building. It’s another canvass kickoff. Only these residents of Swarthmore and its surrounding area are not union members. They are just supporters.

Many believe that, in the wake of Trump’s attempt to “stop the steal” of the 2020 election and Mastriano’s support for it, democracy is in peril; many others want to uphold abortion access for women in Pennsylvania; some are even former Republicans who resent the party’s Trumpian turn.

None, however, mentioned crime or the economy as their reasons for coming out.

“I’m worried that the MAGA part of my party is taking over,” said Pat Brodeur of Wallingford. “And they are going to hurt our future elec tions.” Shapiro has been a state representative, a

Mastriano won the Republican primary in the spring, it took on new meaning.

Mastriano, who Shapiro often portrays as a woman-hating, election-denying friend of the antisemites, became the “big fight.” In his stump speeches on Oct. 8, the Democrat reached the big fight beat around the middle, after he got through his plans for dealing with crime and stimulating the economy, but before he orated his way through his depiction of his rival.

At the day’s last public event, a campaign office opening in West Philadelphia, Shapiro looked out over a parking lot of more than 100 excited supporters. They came from the Main Line, Center City and nearby neighborhoods. It was his most diverse crowd of the day.

And with more Black residents in the audience than at either of his previous two events, the Democrat painted his most vivid picture yet of his opponent.

He said Mastriano was the “only candidate in the nation who is on a white supremacist website known as Gab.” He talked about how a few years ago, Mastriano wore a Confederate uniform for a picture at the U.S. Army War College. And then he paraphrased a Maya Angelou quote, “When someone tells you who they are, believe them,” to emphasize that Mastriano “keeps telling us who he is.”

“In Doug Mastriano’s Pennsylvania, unless you think like him, and look like him, and vote like him, and pray like him, and marry like him, you don’t count,” Shapiro said. “Here’s my view: No matter what you look like, where you come from, who you love or who you pray to, you count in Pennsylvania, and I want to be your governor.”

The crowd hollered.

“I will do everything I can to make sure that Doug Mastriano is not elected,” said Sajda Purple Blackwell, a West Philadelphia resident. “We don’t need white supremacists in office.” PJC

Jarrad Saffren writes for the Jewish Exponent, an affiliated publication where this first appeared.

p Josh Shapiro talks to supporters at a canvass kickoff in Swarthmore on Oct. 8.

Photo by Jarrad Saffren

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Join a lay-led Online Parashah Study Group to discuss the week’s Torah portion. No Hebrew knowledge is needed. The goal is to build community while deepening under standing of the text. 8:30 p.m. For more information, visit bethshalompgh.org.

q MONDAY, NOV. 7

Join Rabbi Alex Greenbaum for Beth El Congregation of the South Hill’s “First Mondays with Rabbi Alex.” This month’s guest is Dr. Cyril Wecht, who will discuss his book “The JFK Assassination Dissected.” During the Zoom-only event, Wecht will raffle a copy of the book. Noon. bethelcong.org.

q MONDAYS, NOV. 7-DEC. 12

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

q MONDAYS, NOV. 7-MAY 15

Understanding the Torah and what it asks of us is one of the most important things a Jew can learn. But most Torah classes begin in Genesis and never finish the first book. If you want a comprehensive overview of the whole Torah, Torah 1 is the course for you. In the first year of this two-year Zoom course, Rabbi Danny Schiff will teach Genesis, Exodus and the first half of Leviticus. In the second year, he will complete Leviticus and cover Numbers and Deuteronomy. $225. 9:30 a.m. foundation.jewishpgh.org/torah-1.

q TUESDAYS, NOV. 8-NOV. 15

Join Rabbi Danny Schiff for “The Afterlife: Jewish Views on What Happens After We Die.” In this Zoom course, learn Jewish approaches to the nature of the after life from ancient times to the present day. $45. 9:30 a.m. foundation.jewishpgh.org/ the-afterlife-jewish-views-on-what-hap pens-after-we-die.

q WEDNESDAY, NOV. 9

Join Barbara Long Jones, curator emerita at The Westmoreland Museum of American Art, and Laurence Glascoe, associate professor of history at the University of Pittsburgh, for “Samuel Rosenberg, Painter: A Vision of the Hill 1930.” Rosenberg, a revered painter and teacher, spent his career in Pittsburgh. Andy Warhol, among many others, was his student. Several of his pieces are in the Rodef Shalom Congregation collection. Free and open to the public. 7 p.m. 4905 Fifth Ave., 15146. rodefshalom.org/rosenberg

q WEDNESDAYS, NOV. 9-MAY 24

Registration is now open for “Melton Core 1: Rhythms and Purposes of Jewish Living.” This 25-lesson course will take you through the year’s cycle — the life cycle traditions and practices that bind us together. Explore not just what is and how is of Jewish living, but the why is that go with them. 7 p.m. $300 per person, per year (25 sessions), includes all books and materials. Virtual. foundation. jewishpgh.org/melton-core-1.

q THURSDAY, NOV. 10

Classrooms Without Borders pres ents a post-film discussion of the film “After Munich” with Francine Zuckerman, moderated by Avi Ben Hur. 3 p.m. cwbpgh.org/event/post-film-discussionafter-munich.

q THURSDAY, NOV. 10-WEDNESDAY, NOV. 16

The Three Rivers Film Festival will show case 18 exciting and thought-provoking independent feature films that you won’t see anywhere else. Along with the screen ings, enjoy Q&As with cast and crew, a chance to vote on your favorite films, and special events like a pinball party on opening night and the 40th anniversary screening of the horror classic, “Creepshow,” on closing night. Films will screen at the Harris Theater, the Pittsburgh Playhouse and The Tull Family Theater. The festival will also include several films screening virtually that you can watch from home. For more informa tion, visit filmpittsburgh.org or email info@ filmpittsburgh.org.

q THURSDAYS, NOV. 10-DEC. 15

Register now for the virtual course “Melton: Social Justice – The Heart of Judaism in Theory and Practice.” This 10-part Melton course highlights the Jewish call to action and provides a prac tical approach for achieving lasting change. Drawing from classic and modern texts, the course explores the communal connection that compels us to support the most vulner able. 7 p.m. foundation.jewishpgh.org/ melton-social-justice-the-heart-of-judaismin-theory-and-practice.

q SUNDAY, NOV. 13

Join the Jewish Genealogy Society for “Jewish Genealogy 101: The Ganze Mishpokhah (The Whole Family).” Learn where to start and how to explore your rela tives’ lives in this all-day seminar led by Emily Garber. Free for JGS-Pittsburgh members; $10 for the general public viewing online; and $15 for the general public attending in person. Boxed lunch is an additional $20. 10:30 a.m. Online or at the Heinz History Center, 1212 Smallman St. heinzhistorycenter.org/event/ jewish-genealogy-101-garber.

Join Chabad of the South Hills for the family fun event, Bowl N’ Fun , two hours of bowling and pizza. All

attendees will be entered into a raffle for a hoverboard. $13/person, $45/family, max. 4:30 p.m. Crafton Ingram Lanes, 252 Crafton Ingram Shopping Center, 15205. chabadsh.com/bowl.

q TUESDAYS, NOV. 15, 22

Join New Light Congregation for its November Lecture Series: Pittsburgh is our Home. Classes will be in person and on Zoom. Free. 7 p.m. Registration required to receive the Zoom link. To register, send an email to janet@newlightcongregation.org or register online at newlightcongregation.org. For a complete list of subjects and speakers, visit newlightcongregation.org.

q WEDNESDAY, NOV. 16

All seniors and friends are welcome to attend the next Squirrel Hill AARP meeting. Speaker Chris Trembulak will present the various Allegheny County advantage plans for 2023 Medicare. There are many changes and Trembulak will discuss highlights of the various plans and respond to questions. There will also be information about the next November Lunch Bunch. If you plan to attend, please bring a contribution of new school supplies, which will be donated in November to local schools. 1 p.m. Rodef Shalom Congregation, Falk Library.

q THURSDAY, NOV. 17—SATURDAY, NOV. 20

The fun and exciting Pittsburgh Shorts and Script Competition film festival will showcase 11 blocks of short films including dramas, comedies, and “Chiller Theater” selections at the Harris Theater, with six additional film blocks available virtually. The 114 films come from 24 countries with 45% directed by women and 35% by and about people of color (films from past festi vals later went on to win Academy Awards). In addition, there will be Q&As with cast and crew, a chance to vote for your favorite films, and more. The festival also includes a script competition with live readings by incredible actors and a conference for local and international filmmakers with work shops, panel discussions and networking events. 809 Liberty Ave. For more informa tion, visit filmpittsburgh.org or email us at info@filmpittsburgh.org.

q TUESDAY, NOV. 22

Join Chabad of the South Hills for a senior lunch featuring an immunization clinic with bivalent COVID booster and flu shots avail able. Lunch includes a healthy eating and diabetes presentation. Wheelchair acces sible. $5/person. Preregistrations required at 412-278-2658. 13:30 pm. 1701 McFarland Rd. chabadsh.com. PJC

Author Jerry Stahl to join Nov. 13 Chronicle Book Club meeting

The Pittsburgh Jewish Chronicle is pleased to announce it will host playwright, screenwriter and author Jerry Stahl on Nov. 13 as the Chronicle Book Club discusses Stahl’s new book, “Nein, Nein, Nein!: One Man’s Tale of Depression, Psychic Torment, and a Bus Tour of the Holocaust.”

From the Jewish Journal: “There’s a laugh on almost every page of ‘Nein, Nein, Nein,’ but for all his wit and somewhat skewed perspec tive, Stahl never loses sight of the gravity of the places he visits ... Stahl’s book shows the thought processes of a man feeling at his lowest soothing his ‘shpilkes’ by experiencing one of the most sobering, draining tours one can possibly imagine. For him, it’s cathartic, and readers might find it to be the same for them.”

Your Hosts

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

How It Works

We will meet on Zoom on Sunday, Nov. 13, at noon. As you read the book, we invite you to share your favorite passages on a shared document you will receive when you register for the meeting.

What To Do

Buy: “Nein Nein Nein.” It is available from online retailers, including Amazon and Barnes & Noble.

Email: Contact us at drullo@pittsburghjew ishchronicle.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

Doug Mastriano’s wife: ‘We probably love Israel more than a lot of Jews do’

Israel. In fact I’m going to say we probably love Israel more than a lot of Jews do.”

By Philissa Cramer | JTA

Asked about his association with a social network that is a haven for antisemitism and for his criticism of his rival’s Jewish day school, the Republican candidate for governor in Pennsylvania briefly had no words.

His wife did. “I would like to make a comment on that real quick,” said Rebecca Mastriano, to applause from supporters in the room. “As a family, we so much love

The exchange, during a press question and answer session at a Doug Mastriano campaign stop on Saturday, offered perhaps the clearest encapsulation yet of a dynamic that has been dominant in the matchup between Mastriano and Josh Shapiro, who is Jewish and favored to win.

Mastriano, who is backed by Donald Trump and espouses beliefs that some have characterized as Christian nationalism, has attracted many far-right supporters, among them Andrew Torba, the founder of Gab, a social network that is rife with antisemitism

State grants awarded to local Jewish institutions

Sixlocal projects — including three spear headed by Jewish institutions — will receive more than $5.8 million in state grant funding, state Rep. Dan Frankel (D-Allegheny) announced last week.

“These projects will directly impact many of our friends and neighbors, whether it’s through accessibility updates for buildings, energy savings and repairs for historic community reli gious centers, or projects to encourage economic development,” Frankel said in a prepared state ment. “They mark a major state investment in our community and in the places we call home.”

The grants awarded include:

• Congregation Beth Shalom rehabilitation and energy savings: $1 million. The project will

include repairing water damage to the structural envelope of the 100-year-old sanctuary building and other updates.

• Hillel Academy gym: $1 million. Hillel Academy will renovate the combined gymna sium and auditorium and second-floor changing rooms, and make window upgrades.

• Yeshiva Schools - Greenfield campus rehabilitation: $1 million. The full project includes the renovation and rehabilitation of the St. Rosalia site at 403 Greenfield Ave.

The other three institutions receiving state grants are: the Western Pennsylvania School for the Blind ($1.25 million), CoNEXUS at Pittsburgh Innovation District ($550,000) and Frick Pittsburgh Clayton ($1 million). PJC

and was frequented by the Tree of Life synagogue shooter.

Rebecca Mastriano’s comment mirrors the sentiment that Trump has expressed in statements about Jews and Israel in 2019 and again earlier this month — that American Jews owe Israel their support, and that Republicans care more about Israel than liberals do — which have earned rebuke outside the Republican Party as a perpetua tion of an antisemitic dual loyalty trope.

One of Mastriano’s top advisers, Jenna Ellis — who formerly worked as a lawyer for Trump, promoting the lie that the former president won the 2020 election — was

criticized for saying Shapiro is “at best a secular Jew.” Shapiro, who keeps kosher and has referenced Shabbat in campaign ads, has accused Mastriano of courting “white supremacists and racists and antisemites.”

The question to Mastriano on Saturday came from Nathan Guttman, a journalist who was reporting for the Israeli broad caster KAN. (Guttman is also the editor of JTA Hebrew, an initiative to make Jewish Telegraphic Agency reporting accessible to Hebrew speakers.)

The latest polls show that Shapiro has widened his lead in the race’s final months; one poll has him up by over 20 points. PJC

Jurors cannot be questioned about their religion, says judge in Pittsburgh synagogue shooting case

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other religious groups that might be opposed to capital punishment not be improperly excluded.

was intentional, noting the event’s working committee opted to include the Pittsburgh Youth Choir rather than the chevra kadisha, which was involved in previous ceremonies.

“Not because we don’t value them but because we wanted to have our focus shift from where we were and what happened and who the helpers were to who carries this forward,” she said. “To the credit of our amazing chevra kadisha, they agreed.”

The poem “Epitaph” by Merrit Malloy was recited by Janet Cohen and Deb Salvin from New Light, Jean Clickner and Beth Silver of Dor Hadash and Ellen Sikov and Rose Gerson of Tree of Life.

An especially touching moment occurred when an emotional Hannah Kaye, whose mother Lori Gilbert-Kaye was murdered at Chabad of Poway six months after the shooting at the Tree of Life building, recited the Mi Sheberach, the prayer for healing.

As in previous years, the survivors and witnesses of the antisemitic attack offered a reading. This time the group recited Psalm 23.

Allegheny County Chief Executive Rich Fitzgerald, Pittsburgh Mayor Ed

Gainey and Pittsburgh Councilperson Er ika Strassburger recited “A Prayer for our Country.”

Strassburger said she was honored to be included in the ceremony but wished it didn’t take a tragedy to bring together the community.

“The work we do is grounded in living life like those whose lives were taken would have wanted us to,” she said.

Gainey said it has always been important for him to be at the Oct. 27 commemoration ceremony, noting that he attended the event before he was elected mayor.

“Remembering life is something that’s an honor,” he said. “Today we come to remember the lives that were lost and in that we find love. In that, we show collaboration and working together. That’s what today means. We continue to say we don’t forget and always choose love over hate.”

Bairnsfather said that the trauma of that day isn’t far removed from the community.

“It’s never so far away that we move on from it,” she said. “But I think we saw our own strength and resilience in the immediate aftermath, and it only grows in this incredible network of relationships and organizations, working together, inside and outside of the Jewish community.”

for the man accused of murdering 11 Jews in the Tree of Life building four years ago will not be permitted to survey potential jurors regarding their religious affiliation, under an order U.S. District Judge Robert J. Colville handed down in response to a motion by the defense.

Attorneys

Defense attorneys filed their motion in August, seeking permission to conduct a onequestion survey of potential jurors regarding their religion. They argued that such a survey was necessary to ensure that Catholics and

As prosecutors are seeking the death penalty, the defendant’s attorneys argued that if those religious groups were not fairly represented on the jury, the defendant would be deprived of his right to a fair trial.

Prosecutors opposed the motion because the law does not require the collection of religious information about potential jurors.

The trial is set to commence with jury selection on April 24. PJC

Toby Tabachnick

Pennsylvania state Rep. Dan Frankel, who represents Squirrel Hill, recently was the target of anti-semitic attacks on Gab. He said that while the community is still traumatized, it is strong and resilient.

“Commemorations like this are an important part of healing,” Frankel said, “and a way to remember and honor the victims.”

James Pasch, Anti-Defamation League regional director in Cleveland, which includes Pittsburgh, attended the ceremony because it is important for the community to come together, he said.

“Both to remember the 11 lives that were lost and all those that were affected by the events that took place, and to show that we will always come together to celebrate and remember their lives and to recommit ourselves to the fight ahead,” Pasch said. “There’s always strength in numbers. Each year I come here, I learn something else about the community and the city of Pittsburgh — its resiliency, determination and the commitment and strength of love.”

Other attendees included state Sen. Jay Costa; Pennsylvania Attorney General and Democratic gubernatorial candidate Josh Shapiro; Republican congressional candidate for the 12th District, Mike Doyle, and his

Democratic opponent, state Rep. Summer Lee; Black Political Empowerment Project founder Tim Stevens; and former Pittsburgh Mayor Bill Peduto.

Republican gubernatorial candidate Doug Mastriano did not attend the ceremony.

Also absent were Tree of Life Rabbi Jeffrey Myers and New Light Rabbi Jonathan Perlman. Feinstein said both were planning to attend but chose not to after becoming ill.

Feinstein said that the ceremony was just one component of the month of commemoration events available to the community.

“It’s about having many different venues where people can go and do what feels right,” she said. “Lots of people did other things in more quiet ways that felt right.”

Jason Kunzman, chief program director of the Jewish Community Center of Greater Pittsburgh, said that commemoration is critical to both individual and collective healing: “I see this as playing a very important role and being able to gain some perspective — taking a moment to contemplate the role that we call can play, making our city and common wealth a better place as we move forward.” PJC

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

Toby Tabachnick

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UDP renews opposition to Summer Lee as Pittsburgh House race appears to tighten

By Matthew Kassel | Jewish Insider

UnitedDemocracy Project, a super PAC affiliated with AIPAC, has reemerged in a Pittsburgh-area House race, recently spending about $80,000 on mailers targeting the Democratic nominee, state Rep. Summer Lee, after a bitterly contested primary during which the group invested millions in an effort to oppose her candidacy.

The new mailer, which was shared with Jewish Insider on Monday by a spokesperson for UDP, accuses Lee of holding views that are “too extreme” for Pennsylvania’s redrawn 12th Congressional District, displaying some of her past social media statements to suggest the progressive Democrat is in favor of defunding the police and abolishing prison, among other things.

“Why do politicians like Summer Lee have to take everything to the extreme?” the mailer reads. “Summer Lee is so extreme she wants to ‘totally dismantle’ the Democratic Party.”

The rhetoric is in many ways reminiscent of ads UDP ran during the May primary, when the group dropped nearly $3 million into the district while backing Lee’s opponent, Steve Irwin, a moderate Jewish Democrat who had gained support from a number of pro-Israel groups in addition to UDP. In a close finish, Lee prevailed by just under a percentage point.

Even as UDP had sought to cast Lee as hostile to policy objectives espoused by the Biden admin istration, the group is now devoting resources to clear a path for the Republican nominee, Mike Doyle, who shares a name with the retiring Democratic incumbent, Rep. Mike Doyle (D-PA), sowing unexpected voter confusion in the final weeks before next Tuesday’s election.

While the party switch drew criticism from Lee as well as her supporters on Monday, Patrick Dorton, a spokesperson for UDP, explained the about-face in the context of what he character ized as an effort “to build the broadest bipartisan pro-Israel coalition in Congress possible.”

UDP was launched by AIPAC, a bipartisan pro-Israel lobbying group, earlier this year, marking its first foray into campaign politics. The super PAC spent millions during the primaries in a number of high-profile Democratic races. Until

now, it had foregone engagement in races pitting a Republican against a Democrat.

In an interview with JI, Dorton claimed that Lee’s Middle East policy views “are out of the mainstream for Democrats in the district,” which is home to a sizable Jewish population. “This is a race with a clear contrast between a pro-Israel candidate and an anti-Israel candidate in Summer Lee, who clearly will be a critic of the U.S.-Israel relationship in Congress,” Dorton alleged.

A spokesperson for Lee’s campaign did not respond to a request for comment on Monday.

Lee defended her approach to Israel during the primary, declaring that she “absolutely” believes in Israel’s legitimacy as a Jewish state. The Pittsburgh lawmaker has expressed support for conditioning U.S. military assistance to Israel, whose government she has also denounced for its treatment of Palestinians.

In social media comments on Friday, Doyle suggested that Lee’s approach has alienated “pro-Israel constituents” within the district, while tying his opponent to past statements in which some of her most prominent supporters, Reps. Rashida Tlaib (D-MI) and Ilhan Omar (D-MN), have endorsed the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement, among other things. Lee has said she opposes BDS.

The congresswomen were among a group of Squad members who hosted a fundraiser for Lee on Sunday, according to a flyer shared with JI.

As of JI’s press time, Doyle did not appear to have publicly outlined his own views on Israel, and a spokesperson for his campaign did not respond to a request for comment from JI on Monday.

Until a couple of days ago, UDP had only

invested in one other general election matchup, spending more than $500,000 to boost Kevin Mullin, a state assemblyman who is competing against a fellow Democrat, David Canepa, in California’s redrawn 15th Congressional District.

But UDP recently determined it was worth revisiting the Pittsburgh contest, five months after the primary, when it commissioned a poll and found “a very competitive race,” according to Dorton.

Though he declined to share the poll with JI or characterize its results on the record, Dorton claimed that UDP had “closely monitored a number of contests in the general election” and would not have entered the race if it did not believe it could make an impact. “We don’t get involved in races where we don’t think we can make a difference,” he said.

He also declined to share whether UDP would invest additional resources in the race.

The media-tracking firm AdImpact revealed on Monday evening, however, that UDP had “just placed” a $627,000 “broadcast buy” opposing Lee.

Meanwhile, the National Republican Congressional Committee is planning to spend six figures in the Pittsburgh race, according to Axios.

Even as Democrats have long performed well in the district, the race appears to have tight ened in recent weeks, due in part to a redrawn House map as well as some apparent uncertainty with the overlap between Doyle’s name and the outgoing congressman he hopes to succeed,

among other factors.

Last week, Lee, who would be Pennsylvania’s first Black congresswoman, released an ad reminding voters that “Democrat Mike Doyle is not on the ballot,” writing on Twitter that she is “running against an extreme anti-choice, pro-NRA Republican who wants to cut Social Security and Medicare” who shares a name with the “retiring congressman.”

In response to UDP’s recent expenditure, Lee claimed on Twitter that “AIPAC is funding my extreme GOP opponent,” before invoking a criticism from the primary, when she and her supporters accused an AIPAC-affiliated political action committee of endorsing more than 100 Republican incumbents who voted against certi fying the 2020 presidential election results.

“AIPAC has repeatedly shown us that democ racy has never been as important as keeping progressives out,” Lee said on Monday.

Her view was soon echoed by Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY), who has endorsed Lee’s campaign. “Shamefully, AIPAC is working for Republican control of Congress and further destabilization of US democracy,” the congress woman said on social media, exhorting her followers to “rally for” Lee “with a volunteer shift or donation today.”

A spokesperson for AIPAC did not immedi ately respond to a request for comment from JI on Monday evening. PJC

This article first appeared on Jewish Insider.

costs

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p State Rep. Summer Lee talks to the press outside her polling station at the Paulson Recreation Center after voting with Pittsburgh Mayor Ed Gainey on May 17, 2022 in Pittsburgh.

Photo by Jeff Swensen/Getty Images

FOR CONGRESS

PRESERVING

WITH ISRAEL.

DOYLE

THE RIGHT MIK E. DOYLE

Stand with Israel and against the anti Semitic rhetoric of radical lawmakers

Crack down on inflation by curtailing out -of -control Washington spending

Secure our border and prevent drugs from flooding into our country

Stand up for law enforcement and stop the spread of crime in our communities

Prioritize American energy production and policies that create jobs

Restore high quality education and give parents a voice in classrooms

Culture

Holocaust Center marks Kristallnacht with two educational programs

happen again and ask how are we going to make sure it doesn’t.”

By Justin Vellucci | Special to the Chronicle

The Holocaust Center of Pittsburgh will mark the anniversary of Kristallnacht, or Night of Broken Glass — a November 1938 pogrom that began state-sanctioned violence against Jews in Nazi Germany — with two different programs this year.

At noon on Nov. 9, the Holocaust Center will host a Zoom lecture with Richard Weisberg, visiting law professor at the University of Pittsburgh, titled “The Nazis and the Law.” Weisberg “will discuss how Nazis worked within the framework of a legal system and the dangerous, incremental ways that they were able to carry out the unthinkable horrors of the Holocaust,” according to the center.

The program will be recorded and made publicly available on the Holocaust Center’s YouTube channel.

The second program, titled “An Evening with Roger Guenveur Smith,” will begin at 6:30 p.m. on Nov. 9 at Chatham University. During the event, Smith, an acclaimed actor, writer and director — who may be best known for his films

with Spike Lee, such as “Do The Right Thing” and “Malcolm X” — will show a recorded screening of his play, “Otto Frank,” followed by a live talkback. The one-man show was performed at the Magic Theatre in San Francisco in March.

In “Otto Frank,” Smith takes on the persona of the father of Anne Frank, “as he weaves through time, navigating loss, his motivations as steward and creator of her legacy, and the terrible sense of tragedy in his time and our own,” Magic Theatre Artistic Director Sean San José told

Broadway World.

The Holocaust Center’s program is free and open to the public; it will not be available for online viewing. Registration is required.

“At the Holocaust Center, we believe the history of the Holocaust is connected to today — and I think that’s what Roger’s work does,” said Lauren Bairnsfather, the center’s executive director. “It’s a little bit edgy, but I want people to think. We need to know that our knowledge about [the Holocaust] is relevant now, to think that it could

Smith, for his part, also sees parallels between Holocaust-era Nazi Germany and the world today.

“Here in Los Angeles, we lament the sentiment of at least four public servants who were recorded last year during what was presumed to be a private conversation. Their chat was released online last week and included disturbing commentary which was, by turns, racist, colorist, homophobic and antisemitic,” Smith told the Chronicle.

“Though unsurprising in a moment where even pop stars have weighed in with a particularly inhumane vehemence, the equal-opportunity bigotry expressed — and unopposed — continues to resonate in a pre-electoral, post-Dodgers L.A.,” he added. “Thirty years ago, speaking to a shattered city, the late Rodney King suggested that we all ‘get along’ and extinguish the fires and sweep up the broken glass. These tasks remain undone in Los Angeles and the world at large.”

Registration information for both Kristallnacht programs can be found at hcofpgh.org. PJC

Justin Vellucci is a freelance writer living in Pittsburgh.

Temple David bakes a rose garden in commemoration of Oct. 27

it’s something everyone thinks about and asks, ‘What can we do to show respect, to remember and not to forget?’”

By David Rullo | Staff Writer

Likebees pollinating rose bushes, Temple David’s social hall was abuzz with activity the evening of Oct. 27.

Interfaith volunteers worked at a frantic pace, packaging cookies baked earlier in the week. The sweet treats, including many cut into rose shapes, were then delivered to first responders, the 10.27 Healing Partnership, the Jewish Community Center of Greater Pittsburgh and Hello Neighbor, in memory of Rose Mallinger.

Mallinger died on Oct. 27, 2018, when a gunman entered the Tree of Life building and murdered the Squirrel Hill resident and 10 other members of the Pittsburgh Jewish commu nity: Joyce Fienberg, Richard Gottfried, Jerry Rabinowitz, Cecil Rosenthal, David Rosenthal, Bernice Simon, Sylvan Simon, Daniel Stein, Melvin Wax and Irving Younger.

Mallinger’s daughter Andrea Wedner, Dan Leger, and four Pittsburgh police officers were injured in the attack but survived.

The gunman targeted members of three congregations housed in the building: Congregation Dor Hadash, New Light Congregation and Tree of Life*Or L’Simcha.

Temple David’s Oct. 27 commemoration program included an interfaith service titled “Dozens of Roses in Memory of One Special Rose.” Deacon Mike Kelly from Catholic Church Christ the Divine Shepherd and Pastor Lindsay White from Cross Roads Presbyterian Church participated in the event.

Mallinger’s grand-niece Rachael Farber and her mother, Beverly, shared the recipe that belonged to both Rose and her sister, Sylvia. The sisters lived in side-by-side houses where they

raised their children. A rose bush grew between the two homes.

Joann White served on Temple David’s 10.27 commemoration committee. She said the congregation decided to bake the cookies because Farber is a member.

“I think for everybody from the Jewish community, everyone has a little different piece of how they are connected,” she said. “Everyone’s connected somehow to some body but they’re probably the most personally connected because it was family.”

Temple David Rabbi Barbara Symons approached members of the Monroeville Interfaith Ministerium with the idea of helping with the events the congregation was plan ning for the four-year commemoration of the massacre at the Tree of Life building.

Great care was given to the project, Symons said, ensuring that all members of the Ministerium could participate if they chose. That included talking with an imam associated with the Ministerium to confirm that Muslim community members could bake the cookies that contained vanilla, an ingredient that includes alcohol, a substance banned in Islam.

The involvement of the Farbers made the project especially meaningful, Symons said, but so did the opportunity to do more than simply

host a commemoration ceremony.

“We wanted to be hands-on,” she said. “There are people who spent hours thinking this through — what does the box look like with typical Temple elegance, and how many [cookies] fit in the box? It seemed to use the diversity of talents within Temple. Everything felt right.”

Included with the baking and decorating, folding boxes and pasting labels atop the completed containers and affixing ribbons, volunteers also delivered the cookies. The scope of the project was large. Symons said there were enough boxes for 2,400 cookies, which were all used.

White said thought went into who received the cookies. Giving cookies to Hello Neighbor, she noted, was a direct reaction to the gunman’s motives: He expressed hate against immigrants before entering the Tree of Life building.

The involvement of the interfaith community, White said, could be traced to Oct. 27, 2018.

“Rabbi is on the Monroeville Interfaith Ministerium, and that horrible morning, they called Barbara and said, ‘Whatever you need, we are coming,’” White recalled. “So many people showed up. There were tears everywhere, the whole community was involved. You know, it’s not all the time, but on this anniversary date,

Deacon Kelly said he wanted to be at the interfaith service to combat hate and show unity.

“The climate in the world is so divisive,” he said. “We need to show solidarity and support one another.”

Pastor Lindsay White agreed, saying cooper ation makes everyone stronger.

“Our congregation has been richer from having a relationship with Temple David,” she said. “This is the time they needed us to show up.” PJC

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

Rose Mallinger and Sylvia Moidel’s sugar cookies

3 cups flour

1 tsp. baking powder

¼ tsp. salt

1¼ cups sugar

1 cup of shortening

3 eggs

1 tsp. vanilla

Sift the dry ingredients.

Add shortening and mix with a fork.

Add unbeaten eggs and vanilla.

Mix well.*

Roll out.

Use cookie cutters to cut cookies into shapes.** Bake at 375 degrees F for 8 minutes.

Decorate when cool.

*It is helpful to refrigerate dough for at least 4 hours before rolling out.

**If sprinkling with colored sugar, do it before baking.

p Shop damage on Kristallnacht in Magdeburg, Germany Photo via creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/de/deed.en/Wikimedia Commons

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p Boxes of cookies ready for delivery

Photo by Kim Rullo

p Volunteers ready boxes to be filled with cookies.

Photo by Kim Rullo

Headlines

Israel to build a museum dedicated to Albert Einstein

An $18 million museum dedicated to the legacy of Albert Einstein will be built in Jerusalem, JTA.org reported.

The Israeli government approved a plan on Oct. 23 to establish a new home for Einstein’s extensive materials, including some 85,000 documents, on the campus of the Hebrew University, which Einstein helped found a century ago.

It’s the world’s largest collection of papers and objects related to Einstein and includes his Nobel Prize and the original notes he produced while developing the general theory of rela tivity in 1916, according to Benyamin Cohen, who is writing a biography of the physicist.

“Albert Einstein is an asset, the biggest brand name in the world for intelligence, science and genius,” Israel’s alternate prime minister, Naftali Bennett, said, adding that he expects the museum to become “a pilgrimage site for anyone who wants to become familiar with Einstein, Jewish intelligence, and intelli gence in general.”

A third of the funding for the museum will come from the Israeli government and the rest from the university and its donors, including art collector Jose Mugrabi.

Taliban approves conservation work on historic Afghan synagogue

Though the Jews of Herat in western

Afghanistan haven’t lived there in decades, the city’s historic synagogue, thought to have been built around the turn of the 20th century, is set to undergo a conservation project with the backing of the Taliban government, JTA.org reported, citing the Art Newspaper.

The 16-month project, set to start in November, is aimed at preventing the collapse of the Yu Aw synagogue’s structure. It is being planned by the Herat municipality and other local organizations, and it is being funded with nearly $500,000 from the Aliph Foundation, a Swiss group aimed at protecting cultural heritage sites in conflict areas. The community mikvah, known as the Hammam-e Mosaie, will also be repaired as part of the project.

The synagogue last underwent a two-year restoration project that was completed in 2009, with funding from another Swiss organization. For a few years, it served as an educational center for women and children, but it was shut down again in 2014 due to seepage from a “poorly constructed, UN-funded munic ipal drainage channel in the adjoining road,” the Art Newspaper reported. It is also not explicitly a Jewish heritage project.

“This is a cultural and historic site, which is not used as a place of worship, and the local government will support its preservation,” Zalmay Safa, the head of Herat’s monuments department, told the Art Newspaper.

IDF adopts all-female tank crews for border defense

The Israel Defense Forces announced on

Today in Israeli History

Nov. 7, 1944 — Hannah Senesh is executed

Oct. 27 that it will permanently adopt the model of all-female tank crews for border defense missions, JNS.org reported.

In a statement, the military said the decision follows a lengthy and comprehensive exam ination process that began two years ago, and which included a training period and a signif icant operational activity period.

An initial pilot program began in 2018, but the IDF chose to launch a second program in 2020.

Tank crew members are chosen according to clearly defined criteria and must undergo an exam based on professional parameters, the IDF stated, before being placed in border protection tank deployments.

The first four female tank commanders in the IDF completed their grueling training course in 2018, before beginning operational duties.

Israel ranks sixth worldwide in marriage rate

An analysis conducted by Confused.com of Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development data showed that Israel has the sixth-highest marriage rate in the world, The Jerusalem Post reported.

Israel was the highest-ranking country outside of Europe, tallying with 5.3 marriages per 1,000 people. That ranks just ahead of the United States at 5.1 marriages per 1,000.

Cyprus topped the list with 8.9 marriages per 1,000 people in 2019.

Hungary ranked second at 6.9 marriages per 1,000 people, followed by Turkey at 5.8.

Gun seller in Colleyville, Texas, incident sentenced to eight years

A man sentenced on Oct. 24 to nearly eight years in prison for a federal firearms violation gave a weapon to a man who used it to hold hostages inside a Texas synagogue before being fatally shot by the FBI, JNS.org reported.

Henry “Michael” Dwight Williams, 33, was charged via criminal complaint in January and indicted the following month.

He pled guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm in June and was sentenced to 95 months in federal prison by Chief Judge David Godbey of the United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas.

“This defendant, a convicted felon, had no business carrying — much less buying and selling — firearms. Whether he suspected his buyer would use the gun to menace a commu nity of faith is legally irrelevant: In the U.S., convicted felons cannot possess firearms,” U.S. Attorney Chad Meacham said.

On Jan. 15, Malik Akram, a 44-year-old British Pakistani armed with a pistol, took four people hostage inside Congregation Beth Israel in Colleyville, Texas, during a Shabbat service. Akram demanded the release of Aafia Siddiqui, a Pakistani and alleged al-Qaeda operative imprisoned for attempted murder and other crimes. Akram released one hostage after six hours, and the remaining three hostages escaped 11 hours into the standoff. FBI officers then entered the synagogue and killed Akram. PJC

Nov. 4, 1995 — Rabin is assassinated Yigal Amir, a Jewish West Bank settler and a law student opposed to the Oslo peace process, fatally shoots Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin after a peace rally in Tel Aviv.

Nov. 5, 1933 — Hebrew U. expansion is outlined

Judah Magnes, the president of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, opens the academic year by outlining a plan for the univer sity’s expansion, including the hiring of 14 professors who have lost their jobs in Nazi Germany.

Nov. 6, 1884 — Hovevei Zion holds first gathering Delegates gather in Katowice — now in Poland, then part of Prussia — for the first conference of the rapidly spreading Hovevei Zion (Lovers of Zion) movement, almost 13 years before the First Zionist Congress.

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

Nov. 8, 1936 — Maccabi Tel Aviv ends U.S. tour

Maccabi Tel Aviv Football Club completes an 11-match soccer tour of the United States with a 4-1 loss to an American all-star team at Yankee Stadium. The tour also includes St. Louis, Boston and Chicago.

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

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

Nov. 10, 2004 — ‘Hatikvah’ is officially declared national anthem

The Knesset officially adopts “Hatikvah” (“The Hope”) as Israel’s national anthem. The action has been delayed for decades over concerns that non-Jewish Israelis feel excluded by the Zionist lyrics. PJC

60 years

Jewish Pittsburgh

Special Pullout Section

Join the Pittsburgh Jewish Chronicle in celebrating its diamond anniversary!

We invite you to help the Chronicle commemorate its first 60 years in a special feature section to be published Dec. 23. The section will take a look back at the last six decades through the photos, stories and advertisements that helped define our community and will set the stage for our next 60 years.

From local events to world a airs, from births to deaths and everything in between, the Chronicle has been the eyes and ears of Jewish Pittsburgh since 1962. We remain dedicated to serving you, our readers, and continuing to provide the news you need and the stories you want to read.

That’s something to celebrate.

To 120!

Feature Section: Dec. 23

space deadline: Dec. 16

Phil Durler, Senior Sales

Compiled by Andy Gotlieb

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

— WORLD —

p Hovevei Zion delegates attend their first conference Nov. 6, 1884, in Katowice.

By P. Kruse, National Library of Israel

p Maccabi Tel Aviv’s U.S. tour in 1936 took the soccer club to four cities.

Ignore the polls. Go vote!

Theupcoming midterm elections on Nov. 8 are important. The outcome will deter mine control of the U.S. Senate, the House of Representatives and leadership and control of state government. In our deeply divided and hyper-partisan political environment, the stakes couldn’t be higher. So, if you care about who is going to represent your interests in the next Congress and in Harrisburg, and you care about any of the issues being debated on the campaign trail, you need to make your voice heard by voting. Candidates you elect will be in a position to make a difference going forward. We urge you to vote no matter what competing

polls are predicting. That’s because we have seen repeatedly that many polls are not reliable predictors of election outcomes. Analysts have differing views on why pollsters keep getting things wrong. Some complain that the polling questions themselves are biased and tend to pre-ordain a result. Other argue that some poll sters improperly focus on registered voters rather than likely voters and assert that likely voters will more accurately predict election results than registered voters who may not actually show up to vote. And then there is the claimed under counting of Republicans because of “shy Trump supporters” or others seeking to avoid vilification or worse for support of more conservative candi dates or positions. This sometimes leads to no answer or misleading answers to polling surveys,

Fear in the face of progress

Guest Columnist Ted Goleman

they will not be returning.

These are folks you have known by sight or by name all of your life. They are the parents and grandparents of your friends. This, of course, is the way of Squirrel Hill. The general degrees of separation, maybe five.

and skews poll results.

Further complicating things are the hot polit ical issues that initially grab voter attention, and then cool down after some period of time. In this election cycle, the abortion issue, the flailing economy and the Jan. 6 hearings may be good examples of hot topic concerns with differing voter impact with the passage of time. Earlier this year, most analysts expected Republicans to make big gains in November, as usually happens for the party that doesn’t hold the White House. But the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, the rollout of the Jan. 6 hearings and the investigation of former President Donald Trump’s handling of classified documents and the rise, fall and threatened further rise of gas prices have all captured voter attention and

served as a rallying point for advocates to push for voter turnout to elect candidates sympathetic to a particular view. That was then. But now, some reports suggest that uneasiness about the economy and immigration may have overtaken abortion concerns or continued focus on the expanding saga of Donald Trump’s legal prob lems, raising new concerns and predictions about control of the House, Senate and state capitols. But who knows? And that’s precisely the point. No matter what you hear from the pollsters, not a single poll result actually votes for a candidate. Only registered voters can do that. Voting is an enormous privilege and empowers each of us to be a part of a communal decision on issues that matter to us. We encourage you to vote by Nov. 8. Your future depends on it. PJC

“Where will I go?”

“This is my home; you’re telling me I have to leave my home and I shouldn’t be upset!”

“I feel like I’m a victim.”

“I don’t trust anybody.”

Pittsburgh’s

Jewish Association On Aging and its past and present board members have always been an integral part of our community. With foresight and imagination, they have navigated the ever-changing roads of care for the elderly. We all owe them our deepest gratitude.

Well, maybe not all, and for sure not the 37 who now remain at Weinberg Village.

I’m here at Weinberg Village as a caregiver. I chose this profession after I retired. In my tenure, I have cared for many from this commu nity including survivors of the Shoah.

Weinberg Village is a community, a neighborhood for the 37. The folks on our floor wave and say hello as they pass by each other’s open doors. When they go to the pop-up beauty salon on the floor, they talk of this neighborhood and the neighborhoods they’ve left behind. In the hallways, they stop and chat.

Sometimes they will stand by a closed door, listening to an account of how their neighbor was taken away by the paramedics the night before. They will bide their time before he or she comes home — or until they get the news that

The 37 have been told they have 60 days to leave, which will be by mid-December. They will have to find a new place to be their last place before this building goes dark. Empty, the building will drift: Imagine an old-masted sailing ship, one last voyage, unteth ered in the waters, beholden to nothing but the memories of those who lived and passed within its decks.

Like Charles Morris and The Jewish Home for the Aged of bygone years, Weinberg Village will become a footnote in family histories.

The 37 talk about the impending event during meals in the dining hall and in the elevator after the doors have closed — as if their concerns should be kept only amongst themselves. They talk in small klatches on the couches and chairs sitting in the sun at the end of the hallways. Time once again chases them.

The family members I’ve spoken to are upset but resolved. It seems to them that this process is being done at hyper-speed, resulting in a sense of chaotic and impersonal urgency.

This is what some of the 37 are saying:

“We will have to make new friends?”

“Where will they send me? Who will I be with?”

“My children can’t take me.”

And, “Why worry about the things you can’t change?”

The 37 have survived the pandemic. Some became sick. Other friends in the hall passed. Those were frightening times — the fear that on any given day that the virus could stop at your door. They knew the odds if it did. The families could not visit. They were isolated.

Through that time it was the wonderfully patient and brave women, the floor aides, who came in every day to give comfort and reassure, to throw a well-timed arm around a shoulder.

In the Chronicle’s Oct. 14 article, the JAA announced it was planning for an extensive and multi-faceted senior urban village on the site of Weinberg Village. But these two events — the closing of Weinberg Village in December and the redevelopment of this site — are not codependent in the immediate sense.

In the article, the Chronicle reported that: “The redevelopment plan is still in its conceptual

WWJSD? (What Would Jonathan Sacks Do?)

Guest Columnist Erica Brown

Westand one week before another polarizing midterm election in the United States. The United Kingdom has gone through two prime ministers in quick succession. Israelis went back to the polls this week for the fifth time in four years. Trust in government is eroding globally. A Pew research study conducted this year revealed that only two in 10 Americans say they trust the government to do what is right “just about always” (2%)

or “most of the time” (19%). These numbers are incrementally decreasing year after year, resulting in the frightening conclusion that public trust in government is near a historic low. WWJSD?

“What would Jonathan Sacks do?” I ask myself. My teacher, Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks, who died in November of 2020 and spoke with prophetic lyricism about leadership was suddenly not here to guide us as a voice for faith and ethics at a time when the world n eeds him most. In moments of ambi guity, he consistently found the right words to restore hope and to help us aspire to a better society. He advised David Cameron, Tony Blair and John Major. Prince Charles (now king) mourned his death and the loss

of his friendship. He was a leader of leaders. But now he is not here. The thought that we would have need of his wisdom occurred to me most painfully on the night I found out he died. It was the Shabbat of Nov. 7. We were tensely awaiting the prolonged results of the American presidential elections. Being Sabbath observant, I waited for Havdalah and then heard with relief that the vote had been decided. Then my daughter called me with the news. “Rabbi Sacks died,” she blurted out. I was shocked and silent. My mind quickly conflated the two events. I knew we would be entering a time of deep civil unrest, and now, the one person I trusted to guide us — even across the Atlantic Ocean — was no longer there to provide reasoned and thoughtful

stages”; “Funding has not been finalized for this project”; “Weinberg Village residents will be offered the opportunity to move into the new facility.” It is that quote that offends the dignity of the 37 and their families. The projected time table, even if realized, does not favor them.

In my opinion, the JAA should have approached this process as resettlement, dealing with a particular and unique group of people with specific and pressing needs, both emotional and physical. Counseling should have been put into place weeks in advance.

I have no doubt this project will be developed with the same sense of empathetic clarity, for the betterment of seniors in our community, as it has always been done by the Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh and the Jewish Association On Aging. But I feel strongly that if the 37 were told the “why” of what they are going to have to endure — that it is for the betterment of future generations — they then would have philosophically welcomed this sacrifice. They deserved that much.

It is in their reflection that in the best of moments we can see ourselves. PJC

Ted Goleman, having retired, became a caregiver. He works mostly within the Jewish community. He believes lives well lived should not be marginalized and histories not forgotten.

direction through the uncertainty, to remind us of the better angels of our nature.

In his article in The Daily Telegraph (Nov. 11, 2016), Rabbi Sacks understood the choppy waters of leadership we were in: “What we are witnessing is the birth of a new politics of anger. It is potentially very dangerous indeed.” More than five years ago, he predicted this political disequilibrium and the impact it would have on the public in Washington and Westminster: “The first sign of breakdown is that people stop trusting the ruling elite. They are seen as having failed to solve the major problems facing the nation. They are perceived as benefiting them selves, not the population as a whole.” Anger, he

Chronicle poll results: Pennsylvania Senate race

Last week, the Chronicle asked its readers in an electronic poll the following question: “Who do you support in Pennsylvania’s Senate race?” Of the 432 people who responded, 77% said John Fetterman and 19% said Mehmet Oz. Two percent of those responding said they were not sure yet, and 2% said “other or no one.”

The Chronicle would like to remind its readers that this is not a scientific poll. Comments were submitted by 75 people. A few follow.

The debates really discouraged me from supporting Fetterman, but I don’t want to give control of the Senate to the Republicans. Then truly nothing will get done! I’m voting for the party, but really lack confidence about the candidate.

Had Mr. Fetterman done the responsible thing and stepped out of the race following his stroke, we might not be finding ourselves in such a quandary. Clearly, his problems go beyond “auditory processing.”

Oz is not a Pennsylvanian and has no idea what Pennsylvanians need or want.

I don’t like Oz, but he is the better of two poor candidates.

John Fetterman will be a fine senator once he fully recovers from his stroke in several months.

Even before John Fetterman had his stroke, I felt that he was too radical for Pennsylvania. While I am not “in love” with Dr. Oz, I believe he has a more sound and steady platform.

I believe that the stroke may have impaired Fetterman’s speech but it has not impacted his ability to think. Dr Oz does not have my best interests at heart; Fetterman does.

Oz is a Pennsylvania outsider and TV performer who changes his positions to suit what’s expedient. Currently, he thinks MAGA fascism is expedient, and that should scare us.

Fetterman is in touch with the people, is thoughtful, has relevant experience and is being unfairly maligned and bullied for a disability that affects speech not cognition.

Oz intends to go from quack physician to quack politician.

I support Fetterman and have donated many times to his Senate campaign. He was a total disaster during last night’s debate. It was not just his stroke that caused his failing performance. He was unprepared, almost disinterested and clearly a terrible debater. He always was dysfunctional as a debater even before his stroke. What a mess it was last night. For those Democrats who have not voted, I have to wonder if they will now

vote for him. I probably would not have.

I don’t think Mr. Fetterman is healthy enough for the job. I think the Democrats are supporting him just to get the number to maintain majority in the Senate and don’t give a hoot about the needs of Pennsylvania.

Never again will I vote for a Republican.

It seems ridiculous that the two candidates are the best Pennsylvania can do.

I want a Democratic Senate. Given that it is likely Josh Shapiro will become governor, it will be easy for Fetterman to resign over

health issues and have Shapiro appoint another Democrat to the seat.

I am absolutely against Dr. Oz, as he represents positions and advocates on issues which I am against, and I believe run counter to my understanding of Jewish values and ethics. I have trouble supporting Fetterman even though he supports positions on issues which align with mine. But I don’t believe he has a very deep understanding of these issues in today’s world. I am also suspicious of his health, mental and physical. I don’t know what I’m going to do to save this Senate from poisonous rancor.

Voted early by mail for John Fetterman. The debate would not have changed my mind.

There’s no way I’d vote for that snake-oil salesman, Oz. Fetterman’s stroke may have affected his auditory processing, but there’s no evidence his cognitive functioning has been impaired.

Two horrible choices. PJC

Toby Tabachnick

Chronicle weekly poll question: Will you or did you vote in the midterm election? Go to pittsburghjewishchronicle. org to respond. PJC

Sacks claimed that what society lacks today, faith can confer but politics cannot: a sense of dignity and worth for all, not just for those with wealth and power.

cautioned, is “a mood, not a strategy.”

His weekly column Covenant and Conversation addressed this in “The Politics of Freedom,” where he argued that Mosaic leadership was about the balance of freedom and responsibility that is shared by all equally. “Biblical Israel is the first example in history of an attempt to create a free society.” This begins with trustworthy leadership. In an interview with Professor Lynn Kaye conducted in 2016, Rabbi Sacks was asked about the American presidential election. He demurred. He was concerned about rabbis who used their pulpits to support particular candidates: “You mix religion and politics, you get terrible politics and even worse religion.” At the same time, he understood that something was amiss in current political discourse: “... I do miss the prophetic voice. Prophets were people who related faith to history, to events.” When we remove religion from political life, we also remove a human izing voice that speaks truth to power. “There are many current issues that are religious; poverty is also a religious issue. Discrimination is also a religious issue. The difficulties women have is also a religious issue.” Elsewhere, Rabbi

Correction

WWJSD? My sense is that he would, as any great teacher, turn the question around. What should we do? We should not retire the duties of citizenship when politics gets ugly. Tyranny lies just on the other side of democracy. This is when we need to strengthen civics education, to volunteer to work polling stations for free and fair elections, to lean into our own leadership and bring others along. We cannot wait for another prophetic voice to emerge. We must be that voice. We need to argue respectfully and restore trust by dispensing it. Most of all, we need to recognize the outsized role that poli tics plays in all of our lives that it never played before. It’s time to shrink its influence so that we can find other, meaningful and joyful ways to interact with those unlike us. Thus begins the politics of hope. PJC

Erica Brown is the vice provost for values and leadership at Yeshiva University and the director of the Rabbi Lord Jonathan SacksHerenstein Center for Values and Leadership at Yeshiva University. Her forthcoming book is “Kohelet and the Meaning of Life.” This first appeared on The Times of Israel.

The Chronicle Book Club’s discussion of “Nein, Nein, Nein!: One Man’s Tale of Depression, Psychic Torment, and a Bus Tour of the Holocaust” will be held on Zoom on Sunday, Nov. 13. Our previous announcement, that the group would meet on Nov. 12, was incorrect. To register for the meeting, email drullo@pittsburghjewishchronicle.org and write “Chronicle Book Club” on the subject line. PJC

Fetterman not capable of serving in Senate

I watched the Fetterman-Oz debate with an open mind, but what became obvious from John Fetterman’s replies to questions is that the stroke has affected his cognition. Unfortunately, as a result of the stroke, Mr. Fetterman is not capable of carrying out the demanding mental and physical duties required of a U.S. senator. He needs to devote himself full time to the therapies and rest required for his possible recovery. Anything else would not be fair to Fetterman or to the country.

Every person, Republican, Democrat or independent, wishes John Fetterman a full recovery from his stroke.

Sheldon Shapiro Pittsburgh

Mastriano’s Christian nationalism would not be good for Jews

Jim Silverman in his Oct. 28 letter says Jews should vote for Mastriano. I guess he missed the fact that Mastriano is a Christian nationalist, similar to Marjorie Taylor Green. Christian nationalism is the belief that the American nation is defined by Christianity, and that the government should take active steps to keep it that way. Christian nationalists want to pass laws that reflect their view of Christianity and its role in political and social life. Jews would be allowed to live in this country but only on the forbearance of the Christian nationalists.

In past generations, to the extent that the United States had a quasi-established official religion of Protestantism, it did not respect true religious freedom. Worse, the United States and many individual states used Christianity as a prop to support slavery and segregation. Under Christian nationalism, Jews, Blacks, as well other non-Christian groups, would be second-class citizens.

Christian nationalism in its most radical form, as has been espoused by Mastriano in the past, and pushed by the far right organizations active in our political landscape today, states that America was founded as a Christian nation and all other religions have no place in American life and/or American philosophy.

I do not believe that is a philosophy Jews can live with.

Marc Yergin Pittsburgh

email: letters@pittsburghjewishchronicle.org

Address: Pittsburgh Jewish Chronicle 5915 Beacon St., 5th Flr., Pittsburgh, PA 15217

Website address: pittsburghjewishchronicle.org/letters-to-the-editor

77% John Fetterman

Who do you support in Pennsylvania’s senate race?

Not sure yet 2% Other or no one 19% Mehmet Oz

Brown:

Continued from page 14

I’ve been in business with the same company for 32 years. So I bring a business acumen to the table, too.

If you’re elected, what are the three biggest issues that you would want to address as a congressman?

No. 1, clearly, is getting the out-of-control spending under control. Inflation is killing this country. It’s strangling everybody — gas and groceries. The No. 1 thing that I think that would curtail all that — I’m going to be known as the energy congressman. We need to get our Keystone Pipeline back on line. We need to get our hands off the necks of the energy producers, the oil and gas people. We have underneath our feet right here in western Pennsylvania enough natural gas to help make this country energy independent. And we need to harness that. And by the way, the last time I checked, we’re right now going to the Chinas of the world, the Saudi Arabias of the world, the Argentinas of the world for our energy. Last time I looked, there’s no EPA over there. We have the cleanest energy ever produced in the world right here in this country. And right now, this administration is not letting us harness it. The second thing is we must get our border under control. Recently, I heard a person say — and I wish I could give them credit, I don’t remember who said it — “I support tall fences and wide gates.” Come to this country. We want you here, but you have to follow our laws and do it legally. My wife is an immigrant herself, and she said that the immigration laws — it takes 10 years sometimes. Well, then let’s look at those laws about coming in; maybe we can shorten that time up. I’m all for listening to that. Right now, Pennsylvania is No. 3 in the country in fentanyl deaths. The term “border state” is not existing anymore. We’re a border state. And if we don’t get the border under control, we’re not a country. So, like I said, I’m for immigration, just do it legally.

The third issue obviously is crime. My opponent is for — in her own words, you can see the videos — defunding the police. She’s a prison abolitionist, and no cash bail. Look at look at all the shootings that are going on in our city right now. Every day you turn on the news, and there’s another shooting. Well, if it was left up to Summer Lee, those people would be all walking on the streets the very next day, if not the same day. I just don’t understand. I would love to hear the reasoning why that is a good idea. We’re going to lose control of our streets. People won’t be safe in their own neighborhoods.

What would you do to crack down on crime?

Fund the police. I have a great police depart ment here in Plum, and we make sure that they are equipped with the best and most up-todate equipment. They need to be funded. They need to be supported. They need their ranks increased. And the bottom line is they need to be thanked for what they do.

Are you talking about some sort of federal funding for local police?

Absolutely. There’s enough money out there to pay for all these little pet projects that all these congressmen and senators have. How about we start putting the money toward our police and law enforcement and first responders?

Your opponent has made an issue out of your name, saying that you’re capitalizing on your name hoping that people will confuse you with the Democratic Mike Doyle. What is your response to that?

Well, people are having a lot of fun with the name, that’s for sure. She’s a little worried about the name. Listen, I didn’t get in this race to dupe anybody. Like I said before, I’ve been involved in Allegheny County poli tics for about 25 years, an elected official myself for 17 years. I can’t help that my name is Mike Doyle. She’s talking about my name because she doesn’t want to talk about the issues.

Recently, we were both on Jon Delano [KDKA]. He interviewed us both. He asked Summer Lee straight up, “Are you going to join the Squad should you win this election?” She didn’t answer the question because she knows that her views and the Squad’s views are too radical. They don’t mesh with the people in this district.

Would you support a federal ban on abortion similar to the one that Lindsey Graham has introduced? No. I would not. I am pro-life, but I support the exceptions: rape, incest and health of the mother, life of the mother.

What if any types of gun control legislation would you support?

Well, I honestly haven’t read every gun law that’s on the books right now. But I will tell you this: I gotta believe that if they’re all enforced, I think there’s enough gun laws on the books to take care of these problems. Obviously, there’s other things that need to be done. I’m a firm believer that the guns don’t kill people; people kill people. I honestly believe that, at the heart of the problem, the root of the problem is mental health. And we need to put some money behind that, too, and help these people.

Tomorrow marks four years since the massacre at the Tree of Life building. I’m sure you’re aware that antisemitism is rising all over the country. What if anything should Congress do to curb the rise of antisemitism?

Listen, this is a both-party issue, and I will fight Democrats and Republicans if they make antisemitic comments. O bviously, there’s no place in civilized society, let alone our government, for a ntisemitic comments. I support the Jewish community. I will be at the ceremony [commemorating the shooting at the Tree of Life building] tomorrow. That was just a tragic, tragic day. The person that committed those crimes at the Tree of Life obviously was not a well indi vidual. I don’t have the answer right now, how we can do that, but we need to sit down to have these discussions and figure out ways to so this doesn’t happen again.

So you’re saying that you would condemn antisemitic actions and comments coming from both the left and the right?

Correct.

Do you want to weigh in on Doug Mastriano’s recent association, and then disassociation, with Gab?

I’d rather just talk about my race. Sen. Mastriano, I’ve never met the man. You know, he’s running his race, and I’ll run mine.

Let’s talk a little bit about Israel. Do you support unconditional U.S. aid to Israel for defense?

Yes.

Why?

They’re a democracy, and they’re our biggest ally in that region. And they are the linchpin to democracy in that region. We’re shoulder-to-shoulder with Israel as far as I’m concerned.

Should the U.S. be doing more to work out the conflicts between the Palestinians and the Israelis?

Yes, I believe anything the U.S. can do to help in that region, they should be doing. Israel’s interests are American interests.

Do you have a position on the Iran nuclear deal?

I think that Iran getting nuclear weapons is a disaster. And we should do everything we can — sanctions, whatever we have to do — to strangle that. That would be detrimental to the region, and the world for that matter.

So would re-entering the Iran nuclear deal help curb nuclear weapon development in Iran, or should we not reenter the deal?

I’m not that well versed on it, quite frankly. I do know that Iran getting nukes is a terrible thing. So anything that we can do to with other allies in the region to squash that sanction-wise, we should be doing.

Anything else you want to tell our Jewish community before the election?

Well, I’m looking forward to seeing everyone tomorrow. I look forward to standing and praying with you, in memory of the people that died in that terrible act. And once I get elected to this position, I would love to partner with the Jewish community. You will have a friend in me and I look forward to learning the issues and working with you side-by-side. PJC

Toby Tabachnick can be reached at ttabachick@pittsburghjewishchronicle.org.

Lee:

Continued from page 4

On Oct. 30, a fundraiser was held for Lee on Zoom titled “Summer with the Squad,” featuring Reps. Ayanna Pressley, Ilhan Omar, Cori Bush, Rashida Tlaib and Jaamal Bowman. The event also featured Alexandra Rojas, executive director of Justice Democrats. Lee’s fundraiser event invitation read: “Summer cannot wait to fight alongside these changemakers.” PJC

Note: On Friday, Oct. 28, shortly before Shabbat, Lee’s campaign emailed the Chronicle a few written statements, ostensibly in response to the general interview topics I

sent to Gardner on Oct. 3. The Chronicle will not be publishing those statements for the following reasons: I made clear to Gardner that we were only interested in live interviews with the candidates; the topics to which she responded were broad, while the questions I intended to ask Lee were more specific; providing us with prepared statements did not allow for follow-up questioning; and, her opponent was neither provided with topics in advance nor given the option of crafting written statements to the Chronicle. Lee’s positions on various issues can be found at summer forpa.com/home.

Toby Tabachnick can be reached at ttabachnick@pittsburghjewishchronicle.org.

Interviews with candidates for District 17

TheChronicle interviewed the Republican and Democratic candidates for Pennsylvania’s 17th congressional district last summer. You can find the interview with Jeremy Shaffer (Republican) at jewishchronicle.timesofisrael. com/meet-17th-district-congressional-candidate-jeremy-shaffer. Our interview with Chris Deluzio (Democrat) can be found at jewishchronicle.timesofisrael. com/meet-17th-district-congressional-candidate-chris-deluzio. Both inteviews were published in our July 8 issue. PJC

Toby Tabachnick

Doyle:

Headlines

of Life Congregation who were murdered inside the building four years ago.

Before heading to work at UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh, Rachel Goldberg walked north along Shady Avenue from her Squirrel Hill home. After arriving at the edge of the Tree of Life property, she removed her phone, pulled up several chapters of Tehillim and quietly prayed.

Goldberg does this every year on Oct. 27. “It’s important to show up and try to eliminate hate,” she said.

Moments later, Edgewood resident D’Ray Wise told the Chronicle his annual visit to the Tree of Life building was both a reminder and a way to take action.

“I don’t live in the area anymore, but I still come up every year. I’m a person of consistency, and I care for everyone — especially with things going on right now. I truly care about supporting the Jewish community as they go through remarks that were recently made by someone in the celebrity realm,” Wise said.

Maggie Feinstein, director of the 10.27 Healing Partnership, said she wasn’t focusing on acts of hatred, the perpetrator or the upcoming trial.

“On this day, I remember the 11,” she said.

Several feet from Feinstein, representatives of the 10.27 Healing Partnership, JFCS and the Center for Victims stood beneath a canopy. The team of therapists greeted passersby and offered

coffee and other treats.

“Our purpose is not to do therapy here, but really to provide support for people who might need it on an emotional day,” Stefanie Small, director of clinical services for JFCS, said. “Sometimes people need a hug. Sometimes people need a holding hand. Sometimes people just need a smile; sometimes people need a little bit more than that. And so we’re here to provide whatever people need in the moment that they need it.”

Squirrel Hill resident and Jewish Community Center of Greater Pittsburgh President and CEO Brian Schreiber brought pastries to the corner of Shady and Wilkins. Before walking to the nearby Pittsburgh Police Zone 4 Station to distribute the treats, Schreiber gave a baked good to Officer David Shifren, who stood near the Tree of Life building.

“The first responder community was incred ibly helpful,” Shreiber said. “They say they’re just doing their jobs, but they went above and beyond. They put their lives on the line to help save people, and did save people, and we just wanted to show some appreciation.”

Shifren, a community resources officer in Zone 4, said the acknowledgment is a reminder of bonds shared throughout the area.

When the event happened four years ago, members of diverse faiths came together to support Pittsburgh’s Jewish community; this is a city of bridges, but it’s not just “physical structures,” Shifren said. There are “bridges here between religious backgrounds, ethnic

backgrounds and social backgrounds.”

Hours later, Abby Franzen-Sheehan brought cuttings from her Squirrel Hill garden. She said her gift of zinnias and hydrangeas was essential.

“Every year, I feel obligated to come and pay my respects,” she said. “Community is so important and our neighbors are so important. We share the same air, share the same space, the same God made us. We need to remember each other today with kindness.”

Gifts, prayers and acts of kindness help elevate the memories of Joyce Fienberg, Richard Gottfried, Rose Mallinger, Jerry Rabinowitz, Cecil Rosenthal, David Rosenthal, Bernice Simon, Sylvan Simon, Daniel Stein, Melvin Wax and Irving Younger, students from Yeshiva Girls High School explained.

“The 11 murdered are still living through us,” Leah Rosenfeld said.

“We are bringing light back to a place where someone can put so much darkness,” fellow

student Basya Taub said.

Shortly after the students finished afternoon prayers, Monroeville residents Edward and Diane Cordisco arrived with a handful of flowers.

When asked about the bouquet of baby’sbreath and roses, Edward Cordisco replied, “I just love the white because it symbolizes to me there’s still light in this tragedy.”

What happened here four years ago was “just terrible and some wonderful lives were taken by a force of hatred that’s out there,” he added. “And I saw the white this morning, and I was like, ‘I don’t know, there are all these terrible things that may happen [but] there’s still something that might be joyful.’”

Before heading to the afternoon commemora tion ceremony at Schenley Park, Feinstein noted how many people told her that they felt “drawn” to the corner of Shady and Wilkins.

There’s something “we feel in our bones,” Feinstein said. “And I think about how remark able it is that all of our neighbors feel that at the same time.”

Although it’s “normal” to experience the impacts of the trauma four years after the event, emotions don’t follow a definitive path, Feinstein added.

“I just want people to know that there’s no timeline for any of this, and that whatever you feel is reasonable,” she said. PJC

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

p Yeshiva Girls High School students pray at the Tree of Life building on Oct. 27, 2022.

Photo by Adam Reinherz

Celebrations

B’nei Mitzvah

Andres Ilan Friedman will be called to the Torah as a bar mitzvah on Nov. 5, 2022, at 10 a.m. at Rodef Shalom Congregation. Andres is the child of Karla and Ben Friedman and the grandchild of Judith and Edward Friedman and Rosa Emilia Villatoro. He is a seventh-grader at Falk School, where he participates in Model UN Club and Giant Puppet Dance Club. He enjoys playing soccer, reading manga and playing D&D with his friends. For his bar mitzvah project, he documented his mother’s family’s journey to the United States during the civil war in El Salvador and helped to raise funds for the Latino Community Center in Pittsburgh.

Marti Weisberg, daughter of Rikki Hommel and David Weisberg, became a bat mitzvah on June 18, 2022, in Jerusalem. Marti is the sibling of Ozzy Weisberg and the granddaughter of Gail and Charles Weisberg and Susan and Richard Hommel. Marti is a seventh-grader at Jefferson Middle School in Mt. Lebanon. PJC

The mitzvah of Hakhel

gathering together

week’s Torah portion we celebrate

forefather Avraham, whom G-d commanded to leave his birthplace and travel to the land of Israel where he would continue to spread the knowledge of G-d to the entire world.

We are taught that Avraham would gather the men, our matriarch Sara would gather the women, and they would teach them about G-d and his ways.

Avraham and Sara were the greatest example of leadership: On the one hand, they would meet people individually, feed them and through kindness and impress upon them the belief in G-d; on the other hand, they also gathered the masses and spoke to inspire the population through lectures and teachings.

Each Jewish male and female is a son and

The Lubavitcher Rebbe of Blessed Memory made it a point to highlight the importance of gathering together during this year of Hakhel — to use every effort to gather Jewish men, women and children together as much as possible. Gathering with others and group celebrations of our traditions and beliefs is always important, but this year it is the call of the hour!

Next week we mark the Hebrew anniver sary of the tragedy at the Tree of Life building. Jews had come together in celebration of faith and tradition and, for a tragic moment, hatred and evil broke the bonds of community and the fabric of togetherness.

This year and this week are the perfect times to strengthen and heal, to exemplify Avraham, Sara and the Kings of Israel, who gathered the masses together. If you are a leader in your home, office, community or class (which we all are), it’s time to Hakhel — gather!

Gather people together this coming Shabbat on the anniversary of that tragic day and transform it into a day of bonding with other

daughter of Avraham and Sara, and their virtues, examples and DNA run within each of us. G-d gave us the great gift of being a light unto the nations as well as the emissary of G-d to our families, friends, acquaintances and community. We enhance their lives by inspiring them to a deeper connection with G-d and through being a messenger, a partner with G-d, in taking care of their needs.

Giving individual attention is best in certain times and situations; other times, groups and community are most effective.

From the time that the Jewish people entered the land of Israel, every seven years there was a special mitzvah that was fulfilled during the holiday of Sukkot. The mitzvah, called Hakhel, would be celebrated by all Jewish men, women and children — even newborns. They would all gather together in the Holy Temple, where the King of Israel would read from the Torah, recreating the experience of Mount Sinai and the giving of the Torah for the entire people.

This year, 5783, is the year that this mitzvah, the Hakhel gathering, would be celebrated.

Jews, and celebrate faith in G-d and the gift of the mitzvot that were given to us by G-d on Mount Sinai.

But it doesn’t end this Shabbat; let’s utilize this entire year to throw away all the devices and distractions of life, and focus on the bonds and connections we have with others. We are a special nation, a unified people and there is no gift greater than developing our connection with more amazing and loving people.

Remember that what unites and sustains us is G-d, His Torah and His mitzvot. So, furnish these gatherings with inspiration from the Torah and find ways to make a mitzvah the center of the event. Our special bonds will become ever stronger and we will merit the true unity of all the Jewish people, the true Hakhel — gathering — with Moshiach, may he come speedily in our days. PJC

Rabbi Elchonon Friedman is the spiritual leader of Bnai Emunoh Chabad. This column is a service of the Vaad Harabanim of Greater Pittsburgh.

Rabbi Elchonon Friedman

Giving individual

is

certain

other

groups

most effective.

BRUNNER: Betty Brunner passed away on Oct. 31, 2022. Beloved wife of Joseph Brunner for 63 years. Survived by her beloved son Albert Brunner and his wife Melanie; her beloved grandchildren Lisa Brunner, Carrie and her husband Jon Fischer, Samantha and her husband Luke Straight, and Sherri Brunner. She was also the beloved great-grandmother to Shoshana and Joseph Fischer. “Grandma” was the backbone of the family business for decades, loved traveling the world with her husband and spending time with her grandchil dren and great-grandchildren, and could always be counted on to know the goings-on of the British royals. Graveside services and interment were held on Nov. 2, 2022, at Beth Abraham Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum (ushmm.org/). Arrangements entrusted to Ralph Schugar Chapel, Inc., family owned and operated. schugar.com

COOK: Maxine Cook, on Wednesday, Oct. 26, 2022. Beloved wife of Arthur Cook. Loving daughter of the late Edward Unikel and late Edith Unikel, and adopted daughter of the late Freda Unikel. Sister of Alan Unikel, Henry Unikel, Harold Unikel, Marjorie Unikel and Rosalyn Starcich. Sister-in-law of Arlene Alferd and Sheila Fine. Services and interment private. Contributions may be made to UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, Development, UPMC Cancer Pavilion, Suite 1B, 5150 Centre Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15232 or Canterbury Place Family Hospice, 310 Fisk Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15201. Arrangements entrusted to Ralph Schugar Chapel, Inc., family owned and operated. schugar.com

ISAACSON: Jeffrey Jacobs Isaacson, beloved son, father, grandfather and friend, passed away on Oct. 25, 2022, at the age of 66. He is survived by his parents, Yvette Isaacson and Kenneth Isaacson, his two children Rachel and Morris Isaacson, five grandchildren and his devoted caregiver and friend Aleks Bykov. Jeffrey was born and raised in Pittsburgh, and spent his career as an accountant with the United Jewish Federation. Jeffrey, known for his warm and witty sense of humor, courageously fought a long battle with multiple sclerosis and will be buried in a private ceremony. Services were held at Temple Sinai. Contributions may be made to the National Multiple Sclerosis Foundation (nationalmssociety.org) and the Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh (Jewishpgh.org). Arrangements entrusted to Ralph Schugar Chapel, Inc., family owned and operated. schugar.com

KULLER: Dr. Lewis H. Kuller, public health professor emeritus at the University of Pittsburgh, passed away on Oct. 25, 2022, at the age of 88.  He passed peace fully after a brief illness with his family by his side.  As chairman of the University of Pittsburgh’s Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, from 1972 until 2002, Dr. Kuller established multiple large research programs in aging, women’s health, diabetes, cancer and cardiovascular disease — including the landmark Women’s Health Initiative (WHI) and the Cardiovascular Health Study — which made impactful contributions to our understanding of the progression of disease and principles of prevention. His awards and accolades over the years are numerous and include the American Public Health Association’s John Snow Award, the Chancellor’s Distinguished Research Award from the University of Pittsburgh and the American Heart Association’s Peter J. Safar Pulse of Pittsburgh Award. Dr. Kuller took great joy in teaching and mentoring students. He continued to work with purpose and passion until his death. He had a network of colleagues around the world and together they worked daily on advancing public health research.  Dr. Kuller was born in Brooklyn, New York, and is a graduate of Hamilton College and earned his MD at the George Washington School of Medicine, and doctorate at Johns Hopkins University. He also served as medical officer in the United States Navy and as president of the Armed Forces Epidemiological Board. Outside of the office, Dr. Kuller’s favorite pastime was gardening. He also cared deeply for his seven boxer dogs over the span of 60 years. He enjoyed traveling and relaxing with family and friends on the Hawaiian island of Kauai. In Pittsburgh, he was a supporter to the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, as well as the Phipps Conservatory, Carnegie Museum and the Zoo. Dr. Kuller is survived by his wife Alice, children Gail Enda (Stephen) of Dallas, Texas, Anne Kuller (Brian Adams) of San Diego, California, and son Steven Kuller (Laura) of Camp Hill, Pennsylvania, as well six grandchildren, Helen, Grace, Sophie, Charlotte, Eliza and Margot. He was preceded in death by his brother Alan. Dr. Kuller and Alice have been members at the Tree of Life Congregation for over 45 years. A family graveside service was held on Friday, Oct. 28, 2022. A university memorial will be held at a later date In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to Lewis H. Kuller Scholarship Award, which supports student tuition, books, fees, research and travel for students in the Department of Epidemiology — or a charity of your choice. Contributions can be made online at L ewis H. Kuller Scholarship Award or mailed to: Lewis H. Kuller Scholarship Award, University of Pittsburgh Philanthropic & Alumni Engagement, PO Box 640093, Pittsburgh, PA 15260. Arrangements entrusted to Ralph Schugar Chapel, Inc., family owned and operated. schugar.com

Pauline Dobkin

Irwin Goldston

Anonymous

Robert “Bobby” Cohen

Jack Sussman

Isaac Goldstein

.................................................................... Louis Kaddell

Carol Simon Margolis

Anonymous

Toby Perilman

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Toby Perilman

Theodore S. Pinsker

Theodore S. Pinsker

Theodore S. Pinsker

Shirley E. Preny

Shirley E. Preny

Ronald Tepper

Sanford Zaremberg

Louis David Simon

Herbert B. Marks

Traci Michele Perilman

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Capt. Morris A. Rudick

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Beloved Departed

Morris Krantz

Harry Tepper

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

Sunday, October 30: Benjamin C. Brown, Evelyn Wolk Caplan, Ruben Cohen, Sarah N. Cohen, Dr. Bernard Cramer, Samuel T. Greenberg, Frank Grossman, Dr. Seymour A. Herron, Ida Kaplan, Dena Katzenberg, Morris Krantz, Minnie M. Lavine, Raymond Paul Lazier, Rebecca Paris, Adolph Roth, Nina Ruben, Anna Sadowsky, Leonard Schulhof, Helen R. Seiavitch, George Sherman, Doris Wechsler

Monday, October 31: Goodman George Altman, Jacob L. Berkovitz, Leo Berkovitz, Sylvia Breman Braun, William Cohen, Sidney Leo Friedman, Jennie Gernstat, William Glasser, Helen B. L. Hersh, Norman Katz, Rachel Klahr, Arnold Klein, Nathan A. Kopelman, Phillip Levy, Edwin E. Lichtenstul, Michael J. Niderberg, Paul Numerosky, David Rosen, Meyer David Rosenthal, Harry H. Samuels

Tuesday, November 1: William Darling, David Friedman, Miriam Magadof Glantz, Sadie Goldberg, Goldie Gross, Sam L. Herer, Louis Kaufman, Sarah Krimsky, Louis Max Labovick, Diana Z. Myer, Capt. Morris A. Rudick, Philip George Savage, Goldie Schwartz, Mary Smalley, Sara R. Solow, Dr. Marshall Steinberg

Wednesday, November 2: Belle Abramson, Leroy E. Broder, Samuel Chaban, Bella Chotiner, Edward Goldstein, Isadore Goodman, Samuel Greene, Regina Labowitz, Sam Markowitz, Jennie Murstein, Minnie Protetch, Samuel Segal, Ben Smolar, Ben Vinocur, Florence H. Weiss

Thursday, November 3: Freda S. Barbrow, Sadie Brand, Philip L. Escott, Lottie Haas Fried, Esther Green, William S. Lichtenstul, Mollie Malt, Addie Mayer, Ida Stein Morgan, Dr. Irving Perlmutter, Louis Pollock, Rose Richmond, Anna Snyder, Dorothy J. Spolan, Max Stein, Selma Zober

Friday, November 4: Irving Clovsky, Bessie Cohen, Samuel E. Jacobson, Sarah Levine, Max Lipkind, Doris Lipner, Joseph Mandel, Herbert B. Marks, Grace Miller, Aron Reznick, Lena Schuster, Myra Fern Seder

Saturday, November 5: Dorothy Bender, Harold I. Freed, Elizabeth D. Gusky, David Lederman, David Jacob Lerner, Grace Levenson, Anna Roth Levitan, Eugene Marchbein, Benjamin Miller, Freda (Fritzi) Paul, Michael Pirchesky, Esther Portnoy, Rose Schultz Saltsburg, Isaac Serrins, Harry Tepper, Jessie S. Yorkin

@pittsburghjewishchronicle.org.

Jewish Association on Aging gratefully acknowledges contributions from the following:

THIS WEEK’S YAHRZEITS —

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Lawrence N. Adler, M.D.

Dr. Henry Goldstein Elaine Arlott Arthur Speizer

Reggie Bardin Evelyn Letwin

Reggie Bardin Joseph Bardin

Stewart Barmen Frances Turk

David and Judith Clovsky

Irving Clovsky

Suzy, Bradley, and Douglas Cohen

Anonymous Helen Pearl Cushner

Jerrilyn Ruth Perilman

Sara Schwartz Rudick

Barry Reznick................................................................... Aron Reznick

Richard, Mindy, and Logan Stadler Noah Saxen

Anonymous Harold I. Freed

Edris C. Weis Martha Weis

Samuel Zaremberg

Obituaries

SCHACHTER: Allan Bert Schachter, M.D., on Sunday, Oct. 30, 2022. Beloved husband, father, grandfather and friend, passed away surrounded by family. He was 81. Born to Eugene and Dorothy Schachter, Allan grew up in Squirrel Hill, graduating from Taylor Allderdice High Schoolin1959.Hewentontoreceivehisbachelor’sdegree from Washington and Jefferson College in 1963 and his medical degree from Chicago Medical School in 1967. After completing his residency in urology at UPMC, he entered private practice. In 1974, Allan founded the CenterforUrologicCare.Hepracticedurologyfornearly 40 years. With offices in Pittsburgh and Weirton, West Virginia, Allan loved taking care of patients. Wearing his signature bow ties, he warmly provided care to people as if they were his own family. Allan met his wife, Ruth, in the third grade at Wightman Elementary School. They were married for 59 years, raising three daughters together. Allan and Ruth were active members in the Pittsburgh Jewish community. Allan loved Pittsburgh, partic ularly for its people and sports teams. His children and grandchildren share his love for

Restaurants

the Pittsburgh Steelers and will think of him every time they wave their terrible towels. Allan also enjoyed music and art; he and Ruth created a beautiful home together with pieces of art they purchased from Pittsburgh galleries and during their travels. An avid golfer, Allan was passionate about the game from an early age. He learned to play at Schenley Golf Course. Allan won the Pittsburgh City Golf Championship in 1957 and 1958, played on the W&J golf team, and was inducted into the Pittsburgh Jewish Sports Hall of Fame in 2002. A longtime member of Oakmont Country Club — where everyone knew him as “Doc”— he loved bringing friends to play his favorite golf course in the world. He will forever be remembered on the fairways and greens. Allan was deeply loved by his family and friends, who were drawn to his warmth, humor and authenticity. Nothing gave him more pleasure than to bring happiness to people; his generosity and kindness touched so many lives. Allan is survived by his wife, Ruth Gordon Schachter, their children Julie Friedman (Andrew), Marjie Heberlee (Brent), and Molly Stumacher (Roger), and grandchildren Caleb, Lily and Mia Friedman, Samantha and Lauren Heberlee, and Ryan and Sarah Stumacher. Services were held at Ralph Schugar Chapel, Inc. Interment Beth Shalom Cemetery. Donations may be made in his memory to the Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh or to the Jewish Community Center of Pittsburgh. schugar.com PJC

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In memory of the 11 Jews murdered on Oct. 27, 2018, at the Tree of Life building, community members joined Repair the World Pittsburgh and the 10.27 Healing Partnership for several

p A Jewish Cemetery & Burial Association of Greater Pittsburgh volunteer helps clean a cemetery.

p Volunteers inoculate logs at Grounded’s Tranquility Garden.

p Young volunteers assemble activity supply kits at Friendship Circle Pittsburgh.

p Bakers and friends prepare for an upcoming program.

p Friendship Circle Pittsburgh promotes teen wellness with swag. Photos courtesy of Repair the World Pittsburgh

Photos courtesy of 10.27 Healing Partnership

p Debris is moved during a day of service. Photos courtesy of Repair the World Pittsburgh

Congrats on an undefeated season

Hold your horses

A breakfast to bond

p Chabad of the South Hills welcomed community members for an evening of steak and scotch in the sukkah. Photo by Levi Rosenblum

p Young artists join Kesher Pittsburgh to paint stones with messages of love and hope.

p Community Day School eighth-graders gather after completing their last varsity soccer game. Photo courtesy of Community Day School

p A Kesher Pittsburgh volunteer leads a reflection. Photos courtesy of Repair the World Pittsburgh

preparation of Parshat Noach, the Weiger School at Temple David brought

p Ear-resistible

p The Steelers lost, but we don’t carrot at all. Photos courtesy of Rabbi Barbara Symons

p Adrienne Indianer, Col. Golan Vach and Julian Elbling Photo by Jim Busis

Pittsburgh Israel Bonds welcomed Col. Golan Vach, commander of the IDF’s Search and Rescue Unit. Vach has overseen more than 27 complex rescue operations around the world, including in Haiti, the Philippines, Mexico, Brazil, Albania and Egypt. Vach was part of last year’s rescue mission at the Surfside building collapse.