Biden commutes death sentences Momentum
By David Rullo | Senior Sta Writer
President Joe Biden is taking 37 people off federal death row. That leaves just three federal prisoners awaiting execution, including the man who murdered 11 Jewish worshipers in the Tree of Life building on Oct. 27, 2018.
Those whose sentences Biden commuted will now serve life sentences in prison.
“Today, I am commuting the sentences of 37 of the 40 individuals on federal death row to life sentences without the possibility of parole,” Biden announced in a statement released Monday.
Along with the Pittsburgh synagogue shooter, Biden did not commute the sentences of two other people whose crimes included mass shootings or acts of terrorism: Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, otherwise known as the Boston Marathon Bomber, one of the two brothers responsible for killing three people and wounding 281 others in 2013; and Dylann Roof, a white nationalist who murdered nine people at a historically Black church in Charleston, South Carolina, in 2015.
“I’ve dedicated my career to reducing violent crime and ensuring a fair and effective justice system,” Biden said in a statement. “Today, I am commuting the sentences of 37 of the 40 individuals on federal death row to life sentences without the possibility of parole. These commutations are consistent with the moratorium my administration has imposed on federal executions in cases other than terrorism and hate-motivated mass murder.”
The Biden administration announced a moratorium on federal capital punishment in 2021 in order to study the protocols used.
Most of the 37 prisoners whose sentences were commuted were convicted for “less high-profile offenses, such as murders tied to
drug trafficking or the killings of prison guards or other inmates,” according to CNN.
“Make no mistake: I condemn these murderers, grieve for the victims of their despicable acts, and ache for all the families who have suffered unimaginable and irreparable loss,” Biden said in his statement. “But guided by my conscience and my experience as a public defender, chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, Vice President, and now President, I am more convinced than ever that we must stop the use of the death penalty at the federal level. In good conscience, I cannot stand back and let a new administration resume executions that I halted.”
Anti-death penalty activists, as well as 67 congressional Democrats, including Rep. Summer Lee, who represents Squirrel Hill, had urged Biden to use his executive powers to grant clemency for all 40 federal inmates on death row, including the Pittsburgh synagogue shooter.
A Nov. 20 letter to Biden signed by Lee and other members of Congress said exercising those powers granted in the Constitution would “address longstanding injustices in our legal system, and set our nation on the path toward ending mass incarceration.”
The letter encouraged Biden to help “broad classes of people and cases,” including the elderly, chronically ill, those on death row, people with “unjustified sentencing disparities” and women punished for defending themselves against their abusers.
In a series of open letters, a group of human rights activists, former correction officials and crime victims asked the president to commute the death sentences of federal prisoners, noting that President-elect Donald Trump supports
death
and
Momentum, a group that defines itself as empowering women to “change the world through Jewish values that transform communities,” takes mothers, wives and other women from across the U.S. on trips to Israel, where participants engage with residents of the Jewish state and bolster identity by developing advocacy skills.
Though Momentum dates to 2008, Pittsburghers began formally participating in 2017. Since then, Chani Altein, co-director of Chabad of Squirrel Hill, has led four of Pittsburgh’s five contingents, including the recent Dec. 2-8 experience.
In years past, Momentum’s trips brought 650-700 women to Israel; this year, because of
Attorney's bike trips empower teens
The origins of Noah's scroll
“Funny Girl” to open at the Benedum
Hannah Shankman plays Fanny Brice
16
visuals6x/Adobe Stock
Tara Surloff stands near the Western Wall.
Photo courtesy of Tara Surloff
Still from “Repairing the World: Stories from The Tree of Life”
Photo courtesy of "Repairing the World"
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Headlines
Less is more, or less is less
CEO and Publisher
Jim Busis
“Less is more” is usually attributed to the famed architect Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, who advocated for simplicity in architecture. I’m a big fan of the concept, of keeping things clear and simple. I think it should apply to many things that we do at the Chronicle, including many of our news articles, and yes, including this fundraising pitch.
However, it shouldn’t apply to everything at the Chronicle. For example, some news articles and opinion pieces can’t be made too simple because the facts and the issues are too complicated and nuanced. They take time to research, write and edit. Even more so, it shouldn’t be applied to the Chronicle itself. When it comes to the Chronicle overall, less is less. Many of you tell us that we provide a vital role in the community, presenting news and information that you need to be an engaged member of the Pittsburgh Jewish community — news and information that, in many cases, no one else provides, and certainly not with the skills and perspectives of professional journalists from within our community. Our community is rich, with vibrant individuals and organizations, good news to share, and yes, bad news that people need to know. And no, what the algorithms show you on social media from who-knowswhat-source isn’t a substitute for the quality journalism that we provide.
It takes resources — people and money — to do this work every day. Doing journalism is less expensive than providing services that
require buildings, but it still requires funds, a need that grows as the internet continues to eat away at reliable journalism and inflation stubbornly persists. While we’re pleased to see our advertising revenue grow
news publishers to participate in its inaugural Jewish Journalism Fellowship. In addition, every year we win awards from the American Jewish Press Association and the Press Club of Western Pennsylvania.
You count on us to bring you Jewish Pittsburgh, and we count on you — our readers, our supporters, our fellow community members — to help provide us with the resources we need to continue to serve you every day online and every week in print.
despite industry trends, we rely heavily on the support of you, our readers and fellow community members.
So overall, for the Chronicle less is less. The more you support us, the more we can provide you the news and information you want, wherever and whenever you want it. Conversely the less you support us, the less we can cover important stories and the less we can distribute the news in the ways that you want it.
We’re not only pleased that so many in our community recognize our value, but also that we are appreciated outside of our community. This year Press Forward, a new national organization to support local journalism, selected the Chronicle as the only Jewish news publisher in the country to receive one of its inaugural grants. In 2022 the Press Club of Western Pennsylvania gave the Chronicle its Service to Journalism award, and in 2020 the Maimonides Fund selected us as one of a handful of Jewish
Once again, we ask for your generous support. You count on us to bring you Jewish Pittsburgh, and we count on you — our
readers, our supporters, our fellow community members — to help provide us with the resources we need to continue to serve you every day online and every week in print.
Looking around the country, we see that Jewish communities that support their local Jewish newspaper generously have a quality local news product, while those that don’t support their Jewish newspaper have either a very poor one or none at all. Less is less.
Although some of you have generously made contributions this year, this is our first and only campaign for 2024. We ask you to help maintain award-winning, critical news and information about and for the Pittsburgh Jewish community with your contribution.
Thank you for reading, caring and doing what you can to help. Less is less, but more is more. PJC
Jim Busis is publisher and CEO of the Pittsburgh Jewish Chronicle.
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Headlines
Two wheels and one mission: Jewish lawyer’s bike trips empower kids to lead
way of seeing things than when you’re riding in a car at 70 miles an hour.”
By Deborah Weisberg | Special to the Chronicle
Pittsburgh attorney Mark Rubenstein has turned his passion for cycling into a life-changing path for hundreds of low-income, inner city kids.
Since founding the nonprofit Pittsburgh Youth Leadership in 2006, Rubenstein, 71, of Swisshelm Park, has taken groups of boys and girls as young as 13 adventuring in every state except Hawaii, exposing them to opportunities they couldn’t have imagined.
“Some of these kids have never been outside Pittsburgh or their own neighborhoods,” Rubenstein said. “We open their eyes to things they didn’t know existed.”
The idea for PYL evolved from a cycling trip across Canada that Rubenstein and his wife, Claudia, took with their son, Jake, when he was 12.
“I saw how it gave him a sense of accomplishment, focus and determination,” Rubenstein recalled. “He learned a lot about life and himself and had rich experiences. Traveling on a bike thousands of miles gives you a very different
It occurred to Rubenstein, who practices criminal defense law, that similar forays could have an even more profound impact on at-risk youths, and so he launched PYL with an 800-mile ride to Acadia National Park in Maine.
Participants have pedaled through 25 national parks and the Alaska wilderness. They have gone coast to coast twice. Some rides, like one on Alabama’s Selma to Montgomery Historic Trail, are especially memorable, Rubenstein said.
“We watched the movie ‘Selma’ beforehand so the kids would understand Bloody Sunday
“About 99% of our kids have graduated high school and 35 or 40 have been the first in their families to go to college.”
–MARK RUBENSTEIN
Since then, Rubenstein and his staff have logged over 558,000 collective miles with more than 250 participants.
They average a dozen all-expense paid trips a year to various parts of the country, from Montana’s snowcapped peaks to the New Hampshire shore, thanks to support from 20 foundations and more than 80 individual donors.
and the history of the place, and then we rode across the Edmund Pettus Bridge to the steps of the state capitol where Martin Luther King gave one of his most famous speeches.
“The sun was setting and I got the idea of bringing his speech up on my phone. We took turns reading it,” Rubenstein recalled. “Watching the kids’ faces was very moving for me.”
crazy stuff, but we’re not really about that at all,” he said. “We’re about mentoring and guiding kids on a better path in life through the lessons and relationships they develop on trips and during the year.”
PYL sponsors group meetups at a climbing facility and occasional dinners aimed at maintaining community and helping kids avoid “the temptations of the street,” Rubenstein said. “So far we’ve been pretty successful.”
“About 99% of our kids have graduated high school and 35 or 40 have been the first in their families to go to college,” he said. “We help them see the potential in doing something better than maybe getting a job down the street at McDonald’s.”
Although PYL began as a family-run venture, it has grown to include paid staff recruited from the ranks of former participants.
“There’s kind of a competition to become a staff member. That’s a goal for a lot of kids and one of the best things we have going,” Rubenstein said. “They have a pretty profound influence on kids who think they can never make it in the world because they are Black and poor.”
Tae Ferris, 22, of Mt. Washington graduated to a staff position because he wanted to give back.
Another journey, which included a stop in Niagara Falls, reinforced how little some kids know about the natural world, Rubenstein said. “When we got there they were just stunned. One kid from Garfield came up to me and said, ‘This is so cool! Who made this?’ like it was something from Disney.”
Three years ago, PYL entered a partnership with the prestigious National Outdoor Leadership School, which awards 10 PYL kids a year a full $5,000 scholarship to its 16-day course in the Wind River Range in Wyoming.
“We cycle there and the kids do intensive high-mountain backpacking. We choose kids who have the physical skills and determination,” Rubenstein said. “We’re all about leadership.”
Rubenstein is quick to point out that bikes are just the vehicle for PYL’s deeper mission.
“We get lots of attention for our cycling because we go thousands of miles through
“ The program helped me grow my perspective on the world, and understand my capabilities,” said Ferris, who took his first PYL trip when he was 15. “A lot of the kids have responsibilities on trips. They learn how not to panic during problem solving, how to be in a genuine community and work as a group to reach a goal.”
The program has been transformative for many PYL participants, like Hassan Davis, whom Rubenstein met when Davis was in eighth grade.
“I said ‘What are you going to be when you grow up?’ and he said ‘I’m going to be in the Air Force,’” Rubenstein recalled. “Although he stuck with the program he did not score high enough on his SAT equivalent to make it into the military.”
p Participants of PYL 2023 Winter Trip 1, from West Virginia to North Carolina via Ohio, Kentucky, Virginia and Tennessee, with Mark Rubenstein, second from right Photo courtesy of Pittsburgh Youth Leadership
p Participants on a 10-day cycling journey through Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, Montana and Wyoming Photo courtesy of Justin Hanlon
Headlines
Pittsburgh City Paper honors anti-Israel group; StandWithUs responds
By Toby Tabachnick | Editor
StandWithUs, an international nonprofit supporting Israel and fighting antisemitism, has launched a campaign urging the Pittsburgh City Paper to rescind an award it conferred on an anti-Zionist student group and to issue a public apology for its “error in judgment.”
On Dec. 18, Pittsburgh City Paper announced that Students for Justice in Palestine at the University of Pittsburgh had won its 2024 People of the Year Award in the activism category for “bringing the Gaza crisis to Pittsburgh.”
Students for Justice in Palestine at Pitt, a student group affiliated with the university, has engaged in a plethora of anti-Israel activities since Hamas invaded Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, murdering 1,200 people, using sexual violence as a tool of war and kidnapping more than 250 individuals into Gaza.
its call for Pitt to divest from all Israel-related businesses and funds. A statement in the article from an unidentified representative of SJP accuses Israel of genocide.
“Since the Hamas attack of Oct. 7, 2023, Israeli military operations in Gaza have reportedly killed over 44,000 people, displaced millions of Palestinians, bombarded hospitals, universities, and civilian property, and caused starvation, to the dismay of many Pittsburghers,” the Pittsburgh City Paper article claims.
But a study published earlier this month by the UK-based Henry Jackson Society found that the casualty statistics provided by the Hamas-run Healthy Ministry in Gaza fail to distinguish between civilian and combatant casualties. While Gaza officials claim more than 44,000 people were killed following its Oct. 7 terrorist attack on Israel, they do not acknowledge that more than 17,000 of those who died were Hamas terrorists.
On Instagram, SJP has reposted several unsubstantiated claims against the Jewish state, including that “Israel beheaded a child and burned displaced Palestinians alive in their tent.”
The group also has accused Israel of committing “genocide” and has called for both Pitt and Carnegie Mellon University to divest from Israel, while leading anti-Zionist chants at various protests and rallies.
and voiced an increasingly radical call for confronting and ‘dismantling Zionism on U.S. college campuses,’” according to the Anti-Defamation League.
StandWithUs is asking the community to email the Pittsburgh City Paper, “letting them know that SJP is a hate group that deserves condemnation, not an award.”
The national SJP organization has “explicitly endorsed the actions of Hamas and their armed attacks on Israeli citizens
In the article announcing SJP’s award, Pittsburgh City Paper praises SJP’s advocacy against Israel, including its public rallies and
“Students for Justice in Palestine has a troubling history of promoting bigotry and sowing division,” said Julie Paris, Mid-Atlantic
Village is the area’s most welcoming Personal Care and Memory Support community… just minutes from Regent Square and Squirrel Hill
Juniper Village at Forest Hills provides everything you’ll need to enjoy an active and healthy lifestyle at an affordable price without the expense of a large buy-in fee. You’ll find us comparable to an apartment complex with all the privacy you desire. Here at Juniper, we’ll pamper you with conveniences such as delicious meals, housekeeping, entertainment, transportation, care services, and most of all friendships.
Anti-Zionist statements were both chanted and displayed at an anti-Israel encampment outside the University of Pittsburgh’s Cathedral of Learning last spring. The encampment was the work of groups like Students for Justice in Palestine.
Photo by David Rullo
Submit calendar items on the Chronicle’s website, pittsburghjewishchronicle.org. Submissions also will be included in print. Events will run in the print edition beginning one month prior to the date as space allows. The deadline for submissions is Friday, noon.
FRIDAY, DEC. 27
Join Tree of Life Congregation for Shabbat Chanukah Latke Fest, a Shabbat and Chanukah celebration, featuring homemade latkes and other delicious goodies before services. After services at Rodef Shalom, join them for a new rendition of the beloved dreidel song submitted by congregants and played by Rabbi Je rey Myers’ band along with sufganiyot. 5 p.m. treeoflighpgh.org.
SUNDAY, DEC. 29
Drive through the streets of Pittsburgh with menorahtopped cars and music, share the joy and spread the Chanukah light during Chabad of Squirrel Hill’s Menorah Car Parade. Meet at Rodef Shalom parking lot, 4905 Fifth Ave. at 4:30 p.m. chabadpgh.com.
SUNDAYS, DEC. 29–JULY 20
Join Chabad of Squirrel Hill for its Men’s Tefillin Club. Services and tefillin are followed by a delicious breakfast and engaging discussions on current events. 8:30 a.m. 1700 Beechwood Blvd. chabadpgh.com.
MONDAYS, DEC. 30–JULY 27
Join Congregation Beth Shalom for a weekly Talmudstudy. 9:15 a.m. For more information, visit bethshalompgh.org.
Join Temple Sinai for an evening of mahjong every Monday (except holidays). Whether you are just starting out or have years of experience, you are sure to enjoy the camaraderie and good times as you make new friends or cherish moments with longtime pals. All are welcome. Winners will be awarded Giant Eagle gift cards. All players should have their own 2024 mahjong cards. Contact Susan Cohen at susan_k_cohen@ yahoo.com if you have questions. $5. templesinaipgh.org.
WEDNESDAYS, JAN. 1–JULY 29
Temple Sinai’s Rabbi Daniel Fellman presents a weekly Parshat/Torahportionclass on site and online. Call 412-421-9715 for more information and the Zoom link.
Bring the parashah alive and make it personally relevant and meaningful with Rabbi Mark Goodman in this weekly ParashahDiscussion: Life & Text 12:15 p.m. For more information, visit bethshalompgh. org/life-text.
MONDAY, DEC. 30
Join Chabad of Squirrel Hill for lighting the Mitzvah Menorah and enjoy live music, a stilt walker, photo booth, donut decorating and more. Free. 4 p.m. Corner of Beacon Street and Murray Avenue. chabadpgh.com.
Join Chabad of the South Hills for its annual Chanukah Festival featuring a grand menorah lighting, fire show, fire truck gelt drop, latkes, donuts, hot drinks, a photo booth, music and more. Free. Register in advance to be entered into a ra e for Chanukah swag. 5 p.m. Dormont Pool parking lot. chabadsh.com/menorah.
THURSDAY, JAN. 2–FRIDAY, FEB. 28
Pittsburgh-area Jewish students are invited to apply for ZOA: Pittsburgh’s scholarshipto Israel program, taking place in summer 2025. The scholarship is open to junior and senior high school students in the fall of 2025 who are traveling to Israel on a structured study trip. Applications are due by Feb. 2, 2025, and can be requested by emailing pittsburgh.zoa.org.
A ZOA committee judges applications and three $1,000 scholarships will be awarded.
SATURDAY, JAN. 4
Families with young children are invited to spend Shabbat morning with Rodef Shalom at Shabbat with
You. Drop in for a light breakfast, play date, sing-along with Cantor Toby Glaser and a Shabbat activity with Family Center Director Ellie Feibus. 9 a.m. $5 per family. 4905 Fifth Ave. rodefshalom.org/shabbatwithyou.
Join Congregation Bet Tikvah and Temple Sinai’s Pride Tribe for a Hanukkah party. It will be a night of fun, light and games. Potluck: They will provide the latkes, you share your favorite winter treat. Free. 6 p.m. templesinaipgh.org/event/posthanukkah-party.
SATURDAY, JAN. 18, SUNDAY, JAN. 19
Join Tree of Life Congregation as it hosts Ebenezer Baptist Church for a special joint Martin Luther King Jr. Shabbat Service. The following day, Ebenezer Baptist Church will host Tree of Life Congregation for its own Martin Luther King Jr service. Tree of Life: 4905 Fifth Ave. Ebenezer Baptist Church: 2001 Wylie Ave. treeoflifepgh.org.
FRIDAY, JAN. 24
Join Rodef Shalom’s Cantor Toby Glaser for a 20s-40s Kabbalat Shabbat. Get to know other young Jewish professionals and close out the week with apps, wine and great company. Registration required. Free. 7 p.m. 4905 Fifth Ave. rodefshalom.org. PJC
Join the Chronicle Book Club!
The Pittsburgh Jewish Chronicle invites you to join the Chronicle Book Club for its Jan. 26 discussion of “The Immortalists” by Chloe Benjamin. Overview: “It’s 1969 in New York City’s Lower East Side, and word has spread of the arrival of a mystical woman, a traveling psychic who claims to be able to tell anyone the day they will die. The Gold children — four adolescents on the cusp of self-awareness — sneak out to hear their fortunes. The prophecies inform their next five decades. Golden-boy Simon escapes to the West Coast, searching for love in ‘80s San Francisco; dreamy Klara becomes a Las Vegas magician, obsessed with blurring reality and fantasy; eldest son Daniel seeks security as an army doctor post-9/11; and bookish Varya throws herself into longevity research, where she tests the boundary between science and immortality. A sweeping novel of remarkable ambition and depth, ‘The Immortalists’ probes the line between destiny and choice, reality and illusion, this world and the next. It is a deeply moving testament to the power of story, the nature of belief, and the unrelenting pull of familial bonds.”
Your hosts
Toby Tabachnick, editor of the Chronicle
David Rullo, Chronicle senior staff writer
How it works
We will meet on Zoom on Sunday, Jan. 26, at 1 p.m.
What to do
Buy: “The Immortalists.” It is available at area Barnes & Noble stores and from online retailers, including Amazon. It is also available through the Carnegie Library system.
Email: Contact us at drullo@pittsburghjewishchronicle.org, and write “Chronicle Book Club” in the subject line. We will send you a Zoom link for the discussion meeting.
Happy reading! PJC
— Toby Tabachnick
Headlines
By Eric Lidji | Special to the Chronicle
The text message read, “Idea for a future Chronicle article: deep historical dive on this rare piece of Pittsburgh Judaica from the Noah’s Ark ride at Kennywood.”
Attached was a photograph. It showed a scene from the ride: Noah’s wife, ghastly pale, standing over her equally ghastly husband. Her left hand holds a scroll of Hebrew text. Translated, the text lists some of the pairs of animals bound for the ark: donkey and jenny, sheep and ewe, bear and sow, wolf and she-wolf, bull and cow, and so on.
Perhaps the deep dive idea was a joke, but it seemed like a fun challenge.
The Heinz History Center holds the records of Kennywood Park. The collection contains more than 135 linear feet of material documenting the history of the beloved amusement park from its creation into the 21st century. The collection was processed and partially digitized through a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities, making it easier to navigate in search of tidbits of information about aspects of the park.
Journal.
Kennywood Park opened in 1899 and grew quickly under its president Andrew S. McSwigan. He died in 1923 and was succeeded by son Andrew Brady McSwigan. Also eager to expand the park, Brady McSwigan began sniffing around Noah’s Ark.
LeRoy Raymond of Venice, California, invented the Noah’s Ark ride in 1919. He sold the rights the following year to the Dentzel Carousel Co. of Philadelphia. Dentzel installed the ride across the country, making it a leading amusement park attraction.
Brady McSwigan communicated with William Dentzel at the start of August 1924, asking where the Kennywood Park team could see Noah’s Ark. Dentzel suggested parks in Detroit, North Bergen, Philadelphia and Reading as nearby options. He offered to build the ride at Kennywood Park for around $18,000, but the project stalled.
Dentzel made another pitch in 1927. He offered to build and install Noah’s Ark for $20,000 and provided references for satisfied customers. But the project stalled again.
Dentzel died in 1928, and the Noah’s Ark Corp. was reorganized into the American Amusement Construction Co. Kennywood Park seemed ready to install Noah’s Ark in 1930 but delayed the project during the initial uncertainty of the Great Depression.
Amid that economic turmoil, the Philadelphia Toboggan Co. bought the plans for Noah’s Ark for $500 and bought the rights to build the ride for an additional $500.
This early information comes from “You Can Still Find Noah’s Ark,” a history of the ride by Charles Jacques Jr. from the January 1986 issue of Amusement Park
According to Jacques Jr., Robert S. Stuart of the Philadelphia Toboggan Co. “agreed to deliver a set of wooden composition figures for $500 to use in connection with the construction of [Kennywood’s] Noah’s Ark. However, he never delivered them and the figures were ultimately carved by Brady McSwigan’s sister.” No mention of a scroll.
The project finally advanced in early 1936. Amid the appropriately high waters of the St. Patrick’s Day flood that inundated most of the Pittsburgh riverfront in March 1936, contractors began building a Noah’s Ark at Kennywood. It was the last version of the ride built and today is the only surviving version of the ride in North America.
The May 1936 issue of the Voice of Kennywood newsletter noted, “Inside and outside this modern ‘Ark’ you’ll find every manner of device for making your visit with Noah a hilarious one… Oh, sure, there are animals… yes, you’ll see Mrs. Noah, too… and the old skipper, himself, with a bag of tricks unmatched by any of the modern comic strips… ‘Old Man Noah knew a thing or two,’ and he still does.” No mention of a scroll.
The Kennywood collection includes a series of letters between McSwigan and Leo Kathe of Cleveland dated February and April 1937. Kathe had been hired to spruce up Noah’s Ark and the Laff In the Dark ride. The list of projects for Noah’s Ark includes monkeys, lions, a bear, a cow and a skeleton — no mention of Noah, his wife, or a scroll.
Surviving film footage from the 1930s and 1940s shows the original version of the ride. It’s an orange-hulled boat rocking atop Mt. Ararat. Noah and his wife are seated — without a scroll — on the railing, while animals poke their heads from the windows.
Noah’s Ark became one of the most
Noah’s wife holding a scroll of Hebrew text listing the pairs of animals bound for travel on the ark Photo by Seth Glick
Headlines
Minnesota’s largest synagogue defaced with spray-painted swastikas
Temple Israel in Minneapolis, the largest synagogue in Minnesota, was vandalized on Dec. 16 with spray-painted swastikas, city law enforcement stated.
Police say the crime is under investigation and that they have taken steps to address safety concerns at the synagogue.
Surveillance footage shows the suspect wearing a white hoodie, black face covering, black jogger pants and tan boots who, in less than two minutes, spray-painted two swastikas on doors and a pillar outside the building before fleeing in a silver Honda Civic.
A delegation of Minneapolis legislators condemned the crime, stating that it is “committed to uplifting and protecting the safety and freedom of religion for all of our constituents.”
“We are horrified to see these hateful symbols on Temple Israel,” the legislators said. “Regardless of one’s background, ethnicity or race, we must all condemn this vile act of hatred together. By taking a stand against antisemitism, we will create a more inclusive – and tolerant society for all.”
Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, who is Jewish, wrote in response to the crime that “when hate is embraced or tolerated, it is emboldened.”
“I’ve seen antisemitism increase over the last year, yet too few have spoken out against it, opting for the safety of silence,” he wrote. “No matter one’s ethnicity or race, when any group is targeted, it’s on all of us to condemn it.”
Keith Ellison, Minnesota’s attorney general, said his office is monitoring the situation and “will never hesitate to step in to protect Minnesota’s Jewish community, our religious freedoms, and basic human decency.”
“Painting swastikas on a synagogue is an appalling act of hate that no one should tolerate,” Ellison added. “It is a direct threat to Jewish Minnesotans and a stark reminder to all of us that we must stand with each other to protect our shared values and one another.”
Montreal synagogue firebombed for the 2nd time in just over a year
Assailants firebombed a synagogue in a Montreal suburb for the second time in just over a year, the latest in a series of attacks on Canadian Jewish institutions since Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023, invasion of Israel.
As in the other recent attacks on Canadian Jewish sites, no one was injured in the incident.
Mordecai Zeitz, the emeritus rabbi at Congregation Beth Tikvah, a modern Orthodox synagogue in the suburb of Dollard-des-Ormeaux, said the congregants met for morning prayers on the morning of Dec. 18 outside the synagogue.
Today in Israeli History
Dec. 30, 2002 — Ruling: Reservists must serve in territories
Dec. 27, 2008 — Operation Cast Lead begins Israel launches Operation Cast Lead after Hamas breaks a six-month cease-fire. The 22-day operation aims to stop rocket fire at civilians, stop Hamas terrorism and stop weapons smuggling into Gaza.
Dec. 28, 1917 — Britain picks Arab advocate as Jerusalem governor
Gen. Edmund Allenby names Ronald Storrs the military governor of recently captured Jerusalem. An advocate for Arab interests and a weak Zionist, Storrs remains the governor of Jerusalem and Judaea until 1926.
Dec. 29, 1901 — JNF is founded
The Jewish National Fund, known in Hebrew as Keren Kayemeth L’Israel, is launched after an impassioned speech from Theodor Herzl inspires the Fifth Zionist Congress to approve the idea on a 105-82 vote.
“We were able to recite the morning prayers in an abbreviated way,” he said. “We did not close even if we had to go outside to avoid the fires on the inside, but we had the fires of Jewish identity and Jewish pride very much front and center, in front of the charred doors of the synagogue.”
Police told the Montreal Gazette there were no injuries and that witnesses reported seeing a suspect at the site prior to the arrival of police. The building suffered minor smoke damage in addition to its front glass shattering.
Assailants tossed a firebomb at the same synagogue in November 2023 just weeks after Hamas’ invasion, which launched Israel’s multi-front war. There have been a number of similar attacks on Canadian Jewish institutions since then, including shots fired at Jewish schools. In August, bomb threats were sent to dozens of Jewish institutions across Canada.
This week’s attack also comes after a violent pro-Palestinian demonstration in Montreal in late November where protesters burned Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in effigy. And it comes roughly two weeks after an Australian synagogue was firebombed.
Estonian University cuts ties with Israeli institution, drawing government rebuke
An Estonian university has cut ties with an Israeli university, setting off a chain of rebukes from the government, and
pressure from its board.
The rector of the Estonian Academy of Arts, or EKA, now says the decision to cut ties will be reviewed. The rector, Mart Kalm, also said critics of the decision had misinterpreted a “technical matter” for an ideological one.
“I should apologize for my imprecise wording, which has upset people, taken on a life of its own, and allowed misunderstandings to arise,” Kalm said on an Estonian news show.
The firestorm erupted after EKA canceled a design anthropology workshop with a visiting Israeli professor earlier in December.
The workshop with Jonathan Ventura, a professor at Shenkar College in Tel Aviv, was slated for February.
EKA also said it now has no partnerships with Israeli or Palestinian universities, citing “difficult international and in-house sentiments” surrounding Israel’s war in Gaza. In a statement on Dec. 17, the university said that it “sympathizes with all those who are suffering in the current war.”
The statement added, “EKA wants to provide a safe study, work and creative environment for its members, students and staff, regardless of generation, religion or worldview.”
Estonian Prime Minister Kristen Michal rebuffed the move in a press conference, saying, “I believe the academy should reconsider this decision.” PJC
— Compiled by Jarrad Saffren
The Israeli Supreme Court rules that IDF reservists may not refuse to serve in the West Bank and Gaza because those who agree to military service give up the right to be conscientious objectors on locations.
Dec. 31, 1973 — Golda Meir wins election
Israelis elect the eighth Knesset. The Alignment wins 39.6%, keeping Prime Minister Golda Meir in power. The election was postponed by the Yom Kippur War, whose backlash forces Meir to resign in April 1974.
Jan. 1, 1995 — Full Yom Kippur War report is released
The 1,500-page Agranat Report, the government’s official assessment of the IDF’s performance in the October 1973 war, is released, minus 48 classified pages, almost 21 years after the preliminary report was issued.
Jan. 2, 2002 — Smuggled arms are seized before reaching Gaza
Israeli navy commandos leave Eilat in helicopters at night to intercept t he Karine-A, a ship carrying 50 tons of Iranian weapons to Gaza. The Israelis seize the shipment before dawn Jan. 3 without firing a shot. PJC
p A drawing by a Sderot schoolgirl in November 2008 depicts her and her friends as targets of Kassam rockets fired from Gaza.
— WORLD —
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during his first term as president after a nearly 20-year pause.
Over the last 50 years, groups have pushed for outgoing presidents to pardon or commute sentences of federal prisoners under the theory that outgoing presidents don’t have anything to lose politically, according to David Harris, the Sally Ann Semenko endowed chair and professor of law at the University of Pittsburgh’s law school.
Harris noted that President Bill Clinton pardoned Mark Rich, a businessman convicted of making oil deals with Iran during the Iran hostage crisis, on his last day in office.
“It was a very unpopular thing to do and one that people thought was way out of line, but nobody could do anything about it,” Harris said.
The president’s power to pardon and commute federal sentences is unlimited, he explained. And while a president could summarily commute the sentences of all federal prisoners on death row, the only way that action would make logical sense is if the country’s chief executive didn’t believe in the death penalty.
“It seems to me that you’d have to give extremely serious thought, critical thought, to the idea of commuting all federal death row
Momentum:
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the war, only 50 women went, Altein said.
This month's trip was planned before Oct. 7, 2023. Once the Israel-Hamas war began, however, the trip was postponed. Of the 16 Pittsburghers who registered, 10 backed out.
Surloff heard about an available spot and decided to join, even though it would differ from other Momentum programs.
Previously, cohorts traveled to Israel and then spent almost a year back in their own communities, gathering for programs, studying together and continuing what Momentum calls a “Journey of Growth.” This year’s Journey, because of the timeline and the trip’s postponement, occurred before visiting Israel, Altein explained.
Reason to go
sentences because that would include people who are obviously guilty of some of the worst crimes,” Harris said.
If a president commutes a sentence rather than pardons a prisoner (a commutation is a change of sentence while a pardon wipes out a conviction), victims, family members of those murdered and those who testified in federal death sentence cases could feel betrayed, Harris said.
As to why the federal government would continue to seek the death penalty under a president who put a moratorium on the punishment, Harris said that the sentence is reserved for “the worst of the worst.”
“If it has any justification,” he said, “it is because there are some crimes that are so bad that nothing else will do.”
Harris said that large swaths of the American public don’t agree with the death penalty and studies have shown it doesn’t work as a deterrent to crimes, so it’s only value is punishment.
“Once the government decides to pursue it and brings along the community as its witnesses, and you have a substantial part of the community supporting it, to turn around and reverse that with a stroke of the pen would be a really, really strong act,” he said.
Anthony and Howard Fienberg are the sons of Joyce Fienberg, who was murdered during the Oct. 27 attack at the Tree of Life building in
Squirrel Hill. They sent a letter to Biden urging him not to pardon or commute the convicted murderer’s sentence.
They cited several reasons why they believe it is not in the country’s best interest for a change to the sentence, including the honor of the justice system and the work of the jury; the importance of death row limiting the shooter’s ability to spread antisemitic and racist rhetoric; the convicted murderer’s lack of remorse; and the need to honor their mother and others murdered during the attack.
“Nothing will bring back our mom,” the pair wrote, before noting that the U.S. justice system confronted the shooter’s crimes and provided a fair trial that delivered a balanced verdict.
Marc Simon’s parents, Sylvan and Bernice Simon, also were murdered during the Pittsburgh synagogue shooting. The murderer, Simon said, was given a fair trial and found guilty by a jury of his peers who believed he deserved to be put to death for the severity of his crimes.
Simon said that while the Constitution grants the president the power to pardon and commute sentences, that power should only be granted to the direct victims impacted by such “heinous crimes.”
“It is my duty to honor and respect what I truly believe would have been my parents’ wishes regarding disposition of the perpetrator
to sit beside other women and hear their stories, Altein said.
Some of the women were mothers of lone soldiers. Other women lived in Karmiel/Misgav, Pittsburgh’s sister city, Altein continued.
“For me, personally, since Oct. 7, I have never felt as strongly about how fortunate we are and blessed we are to have Israel as our homeland, and to have it there, to be a safe spot for all of us, especially as antisemitism is rising all around the world,” she said. “I’m even more drawn to Israel out of gratitude and out of a sense of belonging, and you do feel it when you get there.”
Speaking with shop owners in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv was particularly affecting, Surloff said.
who brutally and senselessly murdered them and nine others for simply being a member of the Jewish faith and for freely practicing their religious beliefs and tenets,” he said.
A change in sentence, Simon said, would be a miscarriage of justice and circumvention of the legal system, and would discount and show disrespect for the lives and horrific deaths of the 11 victims: Joyce Fienberg, Richard Gottfried, Rose Mallinger, Jerry Rabinowitz, Cecil Rosenthal, David Rosenthal, Bernice Simon, Sylvan Simon, Dan Stein, Melvin Wax and Irving Younger.
In the case of the Pittsburgh synagogue shooter, Simon said, the death penalty isn’t about retribution; rather it provides “proper, fair and effective justice for the families, as well as to serve as a deterrent to others from committing similar criminal acts.”
Tree of Life CEO Carole Zawatsky noted that while not everyone agrees, “many in our community considered the sentencing of the attack’s perpetrator as the justice their loved ones deserved and the start of a new chapter. They found some semblance of closure in the culmination of an emotionally charged and grueling trial for which they waited years through countless delays.”
PJC
David Rullo can be reached at drullo@ pittsburghjewishchronicle.org.
“It’s quite different,” she said.
Conversations can offer insight into the reality many Israelis are facing, she continued. Altein referenced discussions with young female soldiers about “why they chose to enlist or even go back after Oct. 7.” She mentioned conversations with wives of soldiers, who spoke about “how the divorce rate has increased since the war,” as well as talks with young mothers about the challenges of raising “three kids under the age of 4.”
Conversation after conversation was impactful, but so were site visits, Altein continued.
Jumping in so late left Surloff with fewer months to prepare for the excursion.
Still, meeting other women with similar interests was valuable, she said.
For years, Surloff has felt connected to Judaism and the Jewish state. Those feelings grew post-Oct. 7: “The rise of antisemitism in this country, and around the world, is appalling to me. And I just want to speak out, because I feel like that’s the right thing to do.”
Surloff’s dedication is driven by her personal history.
“I was raised Catholic and converted to Judaism more than 20 years ago,” she said. “I went through the whole process of a Jewish wedding, raising Jewish kids, two bat mitzvahs, but I felt like I was missing a part of me.”
Surloff and her family observe the High Holidays, “and some of the smaller ones,” she continued. “We don’t keep a kosher home, but I felt like we do all of the cultural aspects of Judaism, not necessarily as much of the religious aspects.” Every Friday night she lights Shabbat candles, “but I feel like we allow the secular world to dictate how Jewish we are — that sounds terrible, I know, but if it’s Shabbat, and my daughter has a lacrosse game, we go to the lacrosse game.”
Visiting Israel at this point, alongside women from diverse Jewish streams, was significant, she said.
“What drew me to it, honestly, had a lot to
do with my connection to Judaism and being a Jewish mother and raising Jewish kids, specifically post-Oct. 7,” she said. “I feel responsible. I chose Judaism for my children. I made the decision before I got married that I wanted to be Jewish. I went into this conversion, and I went into my marriage, with the understanding that I was going to raise my kids Jewish. And I feel like I can’t allow my kids to grow up in a world where they are treated differently because they are Jewish.”
Lauren Lieberman, a Squirrel Hill resident and Momentum participant, said she joined the trip because of the “unique opportunity” of visiting Israel now.
“I wanted to see, with my own eyes, and hear firsthand stories from people living there,” she said. “I have gotten to the point where I feel like I don’t know how to sift through all the media to determine what is real.”
Lieberman’s assessment isn’t unusual, as faith in the Fourth Estate has reached historic lows.
In October, Gallup reported that only 31% of respondents have a great deal or even a fair amount of trust in the mass media’s ability to report the news fully, accurately and fairly.
Going to Israel wasn’t only a chance to glean understanding of a situation, but of herself.
“Being a Jew in America and defining both that identity and my connection to Israel isn’t straightforward,” she said. “When it comes to Israel, Gaza, antisemitism being so front and center right now, I wanted to gain experiences firsthand.”
Sounds from the ground
For nearly a week, Lieberman, Surloff and Altein toured Israel, met with residents and spoke to fellow U.S. travelers.
Bus rides between sites were opportunities
“They were so grateful for us being there because their economy is struggling,” she said. “They don’t have the tourism. And every Israeli that we talked to, whether it was a student while we were picking sweet potatoes or meeting people in cafes, was so grateful for us being there.”
In July, The Times of Israel reported that 46,000 Israeli businesses had closed since Oct. 7.
And as of September 2024, the war had already cost the Jewish state about $95 billion — or almost 18% of Israel’s annual gross domestic product, according to the Jerusalem Center for Security and Foreign Affairs.
Included within the economic toll of Oct. 7 and its aftermath is Israel’s waning tourism.
Earlier this month, Israel’s Central Bureau of Statistics reported that 61,500 people visited the Jewish state in November 2024. The number marks an increase from the 38,300 who visited in November 2023, but a sizable decrease from the 330,700 who visited in November 2022.
“Businesses are closed, hotels are closed, restaurants and shops are struggling. There are very few tourists there right now. It was hard to see the impacts of the war in so many levels of society,” Lieberman said.
“Wherever we went, whether they were the tour guides, the soldiers, the shopkeepers, the cab drivers, everyone was thanking us so much for coming,” Altein said. “People were so grateful, and it just made us feel so good about being there.”
Get going now
Altein wants others to visit Israel now, even if they’ve gone before.
Momentum took the group to the Nova Music Festival memorial near Kibbutz Re’im as well as Mount Herzl, Israel’s national cemetery. One of the Israeli women on the bus was a teacher and pointed out where several of her students were buried, Altein said.
“I think one of the biggest impressions I’ve left with is the example of a country that’s both broken and whole, fragmented and unified, joyous and sad all at the same time. I was reminded of how much our lenses are shaped by what’s closest to us,” Lieberman said.
In the week since returning from the Jewish state, Lieberman has begun processing some of her experiences.
“There is no replacement for being in a place and actually talking to people there,” she said.
Yes, there are people who say that organizers curate tours and purposely select sites and individuals to best articulate a narrative, but “even so, even if they are only a small segment of the people there, it doesn’t make those stories untrue,” Lieberman said.
Since returning to Richland Township, Surloff also has given considerable thought to the trip. She’s posted on social media, journaled about her visit and repeatedly told others how safe she felt in Israel.
“I have never been in a place where everybody was like me, where I wasn’t afraid to wear my Star of David,” she told the Chronicle.
“Going to Israel is one of — if not the most — significant ways we can support Israel during this time,” Lieberman said. “Most things worth doing take some courage, risk, vulnerability and this was no different. I’m so glad I went.” PJC
Adam Reinherz can be reached at areinherz@pittsburghjewishchronicle.org.
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“So I told him, ‘We’re going to cheat like rich people cheat,’ and I hired a tutor. Hassan did all the work and I was the second person he called, after his mother, when he got accepted. The day he finished basic training he came to my house with an Air Force hoodie.”
Davis is now part of the detail that travels on Air Force One, Rubenstein said. “He was with Biden when he flew to Israel, and was with the president when he hugged Netanyahu. It wouldn’t have happened without PYL.”
Rubenstein fills a void for many of the kids whose fathers are not present in their lives.
“On the forms the kids fill out, where the father’s info should be, 50% of the time it’s just a line,” Rubenstein said. “Usually single mothers are the ones giving consent and it’s pretty easy to secure — they’re so happy their kids are going to be in a program that is doing some good.”
The contract includes a zero-tolerance clause stipulating that any infraction of the rules will result in being sent home by Greyhound bus.
“We’ve had to do it a few times, when a kid has brought weed or a weapon or gotten into a fight,” Rubenstein said. “These are common things for them in their everyday
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regional director of StandWithUs. “Across the nation, reports have emerged of SJP members threatening and inciting violence against Jewish students, harassing and assaulting student leaders and calling for the expulsion of Jewish student organizations.
“Following the Oct. 7 massacre, national SJP shockingly referred to the murder, torture, rape and kidnapping of innocent people — including U.S. citizens — as a ‘historic win.’ Additionally, SJP’s actions at the University of Pittsburgh have been equally concerning, marked by disturbing protests, rallies and fundraisers. These include setting up illegal anti-Israel encampments on campus, calling for the expulsion of Hillel JUC, and blocking entrances to Jewish student events,” she added.
The City Paper’s award, Paris said, is “particularly problematic because an award for activism should not honor people who attempt to achieve their goals through
Scroll:
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beloved attractions at Kennywood, especially after a 1969 update added an open-mouthed blue whale, along whose squishy tongue generations of families entered the chamber of lite thrills and giggles. Still no scroll.
By the mid-1990s, Noah’s Ark needed repairs. Kennywood commissioned a complete overhaul timed to its 60th anniversary in 1996. The boat was rebuilt, and the story was changed. The ride became a spooky tour of a millennium-old archeological site. The blue whale was removed and structures were added to house more scenery.
life, but we don’t allow them on our trips.”
About 90% of PYL participants stay with the program.
The vast majority are Black, with many coming from The Neighborhood Academy in Garfield, and Pittsburgh Classical Academy in the West End, where cycling is part of the curriculum.
College-bound Neighborhood Academy senior Nathaniel Shelton, 18, has cycled with PYL for the past four years, including to North Carolina’s Outer Banks, and from Cumberland,
violence and bigotry. It contradicts the whole concept of activism and goes against American values. The PCP should be honoring real activists working tirelessly for positive change and if it truly wants to honor
Maryland, to Washington, D.C., encountering “both high and low points” along the way.
A NOLS scholarship recipient, he pedaled for two hours in a massive thunderstorm en route to the Rocky Mountains and tackled steep hills in West Virginia.
“I’ve had some of the greatest times of my life with friends and I’ve overcome adversities,” said Shelton, of Monroeville. “When I face a difficulty, I can look back at what I have accomplished on the trips.”
zations that are tied to multiple designated terror organizations, including Hamas, Palestinian Islamic Jihad, and the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine.”
SJP’s activities at Pitt, StandWithUs writes,
StandWithUs is asking the community to email the Pittsburgh City Paper, “letting them know that SJP is a hate group that deserves condemnation, not an award.”
activists with regards to the conflict, the PCP should be honoring activists promoting peace, coexistence and a better future for Palestinians and Israelis.”
In its form email to City Paper Editor-inChief Ali Trachta, StandWithUs notes that SJP “reportedly receives funding and other forms of support from non-governmental organi-
A document in the collection lists the subcontractors involved in this project. It credits the Creegan Company Inc. of Steubenville as “producers of scenes inside the ark, including Noah and ‘Mrs.’ Noah.” (For the record, a Midrash names her Naamah.)
Creegan Company was a creator of animatronic characters used for various purposes around the world. George Creegan and his wife, Joann, started the company in 1964, eventually becoming one of the largest companies of its kind in the country.
Creegan closed in 2010. The company planned to continue offering maintenance services for many of its projects around the world, but its warehouse was destroyed in a 2013 fire, taking 50 years of company history
lthough not particularly athletic when he joined PYL at 14, Shelton shed 30 pounds during his first year with the rogram while gaining self-discipline and confidence. He now competes on his school’s wrestling team.
PYL participants needn’t go far to broaden their world since local outings have benefits, too.
“When the Pittsburgh cycling community has group rides we bring a group,” said ubenstein. “These are fairly affluent white people and when we show up with a bunch of Black kids they are very welcoming. They love our kids.”
ubenstein said he takes no salary and, even after 19 years, PYL remains a labor of love. He has formed long-term bonds with many participants, some of whom are now in their 30s.
He has scaled back his law practice and performs most of his legal work gratis. About 90% of the money raised for PYL goes directly to programs and office expenses, he said.
“Claudia is an attorney, and we live simply. We are two old hippies who don’t need to make a lot of money so one of us left the money-making world.”
“I feel blessed with a lot of great kids and they have flourished. It’s a wonderful experience…good for the soul.” PJC
Deborah Weisberg is a freelance writer living in Pittsburgh.
In addition to using StandWithUs’ alert “to urge the Pittsburgh City Paper to retract its award to SJP and issue a public apology for this significant mistake,” Paris said, concerned individuals “can contact the paper and its parent company, Block Communications, directly to express their concerns. It is also crucial to support the students and Jewish student organizations on campus who have been targeted by SJP’s actions. Those wishing to take further action can join StandWithUs in supporting Jewish, Israeli and Zionist students through our initiatives and efforts, including providing free legal assistance to victims of antisemitism. They can also write op-eds and letters to the editors in newspapers to express their concerns.”
included hosting a fundraiser forIslamic Relief USA, an affiliate of Islamic Relief Worldwide. The U.S. State Department cut ties with IRW due to “repeated antisemitism exhibited by its leadership and the German government ended projects with the group due to its ties to the Muslim Brotherhood.”
with it. George Creegan died in 2018.
The Kennywood Park Records contain many of Creegan Company’s conceptual drawings for the updated Noah’s Ark ride in 1996. None show a scroll with Hebrew text. One drawing shows a jolly Noah helming the ship’s wheel. Fan footage of the ride on YouTube from 2001, 2007 and 2014 shows an identical scene, not the current tableau.
That would suggest that the current scene of Noah, his wife, and her scroll was added during the 2016 update that reintroduced the beloved blue whale back to the ride.
The Kennywood Park Records arrived at the Heinz History Center in 2016 and contain few details about this last update.
Trachta did not respond to a request for comment before press time.
StandWithUs’ form letter to the City Paper can be found at standwithus.quorum.us/ campaign/103934. PJC
Toby Tabachnick can be reached at ttabachnick@pittsburghjewishchronicle.org.
Available coverage online focuses heavily on the reconstruction of the whale, which was created by Dimensional Environments out of Donegal. I was unable to find any mention of the contractor responsible for creating the new scene of Noah and his wife. Park representatives were also unable to recall it. How frustrating to have been bested by a simple yet elusive fact from just eight years ago! It is a reminder of the persistent gap between life and the historical record. PJC
Eric Lidji is the director of the Rauh Jewish Archives at the Heinz History Center and can be reached at rjarchives@heinzhistorycenter. org or 412-454-6406.
p Nathaniel Shelton biked to the highest paved road in the U.S., Mt. Evans, with PYL
Photo courtesy of Nathaniel Shelton
Kindling the lights in the New Year
Guest Columnist
This year as Diaspora Jews kindle the Chanukah lights, we’ll be crossing an unusual boundary of sorts. Just as we kindle the last two candles on our menorah, we’ll be saying goodbye to year 2024 of the Gregorian calendar and (happily, I suspect for most), trading it in for the auspicious and encouraging beginning of 2025.
15 months have passed since the Oct. 7 terror attacks in southern Israel, and we are still searching for closure and for many Jews, a renewed sense of belonging in their communities.
That’s because this season, Chanukah won’t end until the second day of January. We’ll still be wrapping up one holiday of light, joy and promise as we embark on celebrating another. Many will barely have time to put away the dreidels and sufganiyot before unfurling their party favors and uncorking the champagne.
As it should be this year.
The secular year of 2024 brought its own profound darkness to the world. The war and the antisemitic protests in our communities and on campuses have tested our faith in humanity and our confidence in our ability to coexist with neighbors who share divergent viewpoints. It’s forced thousands to choose between their identities as Diaspora Jews and their belief and commitment to a Jewish homeland. Nearly
with each successive blessing.
Today, most Jewish communities follow Hillel’s teachings. It is a natural inclination for Jews to try to build upon something that can grow, even with something as tiny as a
It seems appropriate that we should finish the very last minutes of this year of loss and darkness bathed in the light of an almost fully lit menorah.
The great sage Hillel taught that there is power in the light that Chanukah puts forth and that we should always build upon such opportunities, never detract from them.
“One elevates to a higher level in matters of sanctity and one does not downgrade,” the Talmud explains. His debates with his contemporary Shammai over this point were legendary. Shammai believed one should kindle all eight lights at once on the first night and then successively decrease the number of candles throughout the holiday. According to the interpretations of the amoraim (the Jewish scholars of the third through fifth centuries C.E.), Shammai’s reasoning was based on the number of outgoing days of the holiday, which decreases
candle flame of light.
This isn’t the first time in which the Chanukah lights have helped communities come to terms with tragedy. Gabriel Weinstein, the Jewish Project’s project manager for digital content and communications, notes on the organization’s website that following the Pittsburgh synagogue shooting in 2018, communities around the world were able to find healing as they lit their holiday candles. Then, like now, Chanukah came at a time “when the global Jewish community desperately need[ed] an opportunity to celebrate the sanctity of Jewish tradition. Each night [brought] a new candle and a fresh opportunity to celebrate an elevated sense of holiness.”
But this year, as we carry the Chanukah
That time an antisemite came after me
Guest Columnist
Last week, after an exhausting work shift, I lazily loaded onto an MTA shuttle bus running along the J-line in Manhattan. A man of medium build, clad fully in what appeared to be military surplus fatigues, was sitting central in the back seat, his face concealed behind a frayed, black bandit’s bandana. Despite what I could discern as muffled screams escaping from his tattered cloth, I, like most New Yorkers taking public transportation on a weekday, was disinterested in my surroundings and proceeded to ignore him. My phone offered me a comfortable window into a preferable world outside of the city and, with my head down, I took full advantage of it.
The shouting man’s presence took dominion over the bus as if we had entered his church, the back row of seats delegated as his altar from which he preached. The seconds went by, and his aggression intensified into an enraged soliloquy, the volume of which no headphones could dampen. Positioned away from him near the front of the bus, I paid little mind to the content of his ramblings, assuming they were no more than generic, hateful platitudes. “Blah blah blah. Something something Jews! Something something Palestine!” And it went on. Some passengers smacked their lips in annoyance.
Others rolled their eyes. A few appeared mildly scared. “Suck my d--k! Jewish rats… something something occupation… Palestine will be free!”
And then, the ultimate mistake. I glanced in his direction, and our eyes eclipsed.
That was when I became a Jew. And not just any Jew. I was his Jew.
But the abuse continued, and his words became more threatening. “I should f---in kill you, Israeli pig!” A few commuters took note and gave me the proverbial, “Sucks to be you right now” look. It’s one that many New Yorkers give each other these days.
But there was no Daniel Penny on this bus. I was on my own. I took the expressions of
In a city that deliberately fosters a paradigm in which mad men are emboldened with a messianic sense of entitlement to intimidate and stalk with impunity, it is the Jews who suffer most, and whose affronted dignity is acknowledged least.
“There’s one among us!” he roared, his bandana crumpling up and down over his chin as his jaws flapped rabidly. “F---ing Jewish rat! They’re everywhere!”
I quickly looked away, pretending it wasn’t me he was talking to, but his gouging eyes were fixated.
“Why don’t you suck my d--k you sickly Jewish pig! F---in’ rat Jew! Ugly a-- Jew!”
With only a few more stops to go and given the cramped space between us that gave him no clear pathway to me, I figured he would eventually lose interest.
light forward, we do so with renewed optimism. The month has brought hope for the end to Israel’s war with Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah in Lebanon. It has brought hope for the return of hostages and a sense of closure for their families. Israelis who were displaced by terror attacks and war are slowly returning to their communities. The Startup Nation, which only a couple of years ago was seen as a powerful incubator for global change, is once again moving forward.
This will be only the fourth time in more than 100 years that Chanukah will coincide with the secular New Year. Hillel’s teaching of the elevating power of this holiday was intended as universal guidance. But this year, it carries unique meaning. It seems appropriate that we should finish the very last minutes of this year of loss and darkness bathed in the light of an almost fully lit menorah. It seems even more fitting that we should celebrate its brightest lights as we kindle a new and hopeful year of change.
PJC
Jan Lee is an award-winning editorial writer and former news editor. Her articles and op-eds have been published in a variety of Jewish and travel publications, including the Baltimore Jewish Times, B’nai B’rith Magazine, Jewish Independent and The Times of Israel. This article first appeared on JNS.
vision for signs of law enforcement nearby. I snuck a glance over my shoulder to see him burrowing towards me. I walked faster. I could see people standing around a deli on the next corner. Witnesses! Thank God!
I hurried over and stopped outside the deli, hoping the small crowd itself was a sufficient deterrent. I dropped my bag to the street, turned, and found him feet away. He was closer than I had realized. Without hesitation, he approached and began circling me, yelling more obscenities about Jews and Palestine. I stiffened my posture, tightened my jaw, and readied my hands in a boxing position. Did he have a gun? A knife? A razor?
He sized me up. Then he threw up his shoulders and lunged his still-covered face toward me like a rabid dog on a leash. He was close enough that I could feel his breath. We locked eyes. I said not a word.
Then, after a pregnant moment of silence, he whispered, “You’re lucky I like you. You’re lucky I like you.”
indifference as my cue to leave, despite being several stops away from my destination. I pressed the button and the bus pulled over under the Cypress Hills station. I slithered my slim frame through the crowd, hopped off, and stood idly on a Jamaica Avenue corner.
As the bus was about to depart, the shouting man pushed his way through the closing doors onto the curb. The bus pulled away, abandoning me.
I turned away and walked briskly, continuing my strategy of feigned ignorance, while scouring with enlivened peripheral
And with that, he snaked past me into the distance, never to be seen again.
Relieved but still residually anxious, I walked back to the subway station and took the next bus home. By the time I went to bed, the adrenaline had given way to indignation.
Having spent none of my 42 years on this earth as a member of the Jewish faith, I tended to keep my mouth shut when conversations around the Israeli-Palestinian conflict devolved into heated arguments, only ever
Please see Shore, page 13
Garrett Shore
Jan Lee
Chronicle poll results: Donating to Israel
Last week, the Chronicle asked its readers in an electronic poll the following question: “Did you donate to any organization that does work in Israel in 2024?” Of the 182 people who responded, 82% said yes and 18% said no. Comments were submitted by 38 people. A few follow.
Given the enormous needs in Israel, we have moved all our charitable donations, with the exception of our synagogue, to Israel-specific organizations, the organizers of which we know personally.
As Jews, it is important and essential to our survival to support organizations providing help to Israel. Israel is in a constant state of recovery.
We need to support organizations in Israel that have a vision for the future beyond endless war. I gave much more this year than I ever have.
Continued from page 12
offering my “thoughts and prayers” to anyone whose passions or families were tangled there. But that night, it dawned on me:
In a city that deliberately fosters a paradigm in which mad men are emboldened with a messianic sense of entitlement to intimidate and stalk with impunity, it is the Jews who suffer most, and whose affronted dignity is acknowledged least.
I annually support (financially and by personal enthusiasm) the dedicated ZOA and StandWithUs groups that always have Israel’s back.
I donated to the Jewish Federation Emergency Fund.
I donate to J Street.
I donate at least twice per year to either Magen David Adom or the Friends of the IDF.
We have donated many hundreds of dollars to varieties of places where there has been need: to organizations that feed the hungry, that provide trauma relief work for anyone, to provide soldiers with updated equipment, to provide soldiers with special extra meals beyond what the IDF can provide, etc.
I can offer no useful suggestions or solutions to the very tangible plague of Jew hatred erupting on our streets. But what I can offer is testimony of the everyman’s existential angst that accompanies a society complicit in antisemitism. PJC
Pass the Antisemitism Awareness Act
Guest Columnist
William Daroff
The most painful aspect of the rise of antisemitism in the United States is the targeting of our children. In the aftermath of the Hamas pogrom of Oct. 7, 2023, campuses throughout the country became sites of exclusion, discrimination and violence against Jewish college students.
take account of the International Holocaust Remembrance Association’s working definition of antisemitism in order to determine when harassment on campus may be motivated by anti-Jewish animus and therefore violates federal anti-discrimination statute. Despite the ostensibly arcane nature of the legislation, the Antisemitism Awareness Act would prove a game-changer for both Jewish undergraduates and students at the K-12 level.
Jewish Americans, proud exponents of the civil rights tradition in this country, are turning to such remedies to address this problem. Introduced in both the U.S. House and Senate, the Antisemitism Awareness Act instructs the Department of Education to
The meaning of ‘genocide’
In order to effectively combat antisemitism, it is necessary to define it. The IHRA definition’s merits include concrete examples of antisemitism that capture not only traditional anti-Jewish hatred and Holocaust denial but also modern antisemitism targeting Jewish Americans for association or perceived association with or connection to the state of Israel.
This connection seems more than vindicated by the events of the last 15 months. The
There used to be a tapestry displayed outside my office at the Jewish Community Center of Greater Pittsburgh. It depicted Jews praying during Yom Kippur. The Jews were in uniform, with distinctive spiked Prussian helmets on their heads. The year was 1870. The soldiers were in a unit on the outskirts of Paris, participants in the Franco-Prussian War. They were fighting for their motherland. They were Jews, but also proud Prussians.
Several decades later Raphael Lemkin coined the term “genocide,” a word used to describe the Nazi plan to exterminate the descendants of these soldiers. The Jewish victims of the Nazis were loyal German citizens. Their families had lived in Germany for generations. They had no plan to drive out or kill non-Jewish German citizens.
On the other hand, Jews and Arabs living in Israel/Palestine have different national
campus antisemites demand the expulsion of Hillel (Jewish student centers) in the name of “anti-Zionism.” Their comrades on the streets lay siege to synagogues and rampaged through Jewish neighborhoods invoking the same logic. Do not heed the pedantic debates in academia. Look reality square in the face: Anti-Zionism is antisemitism.
The Antisemitism Awareness Act merely recognizes this reality and equips the Department of Education to protect our Jewish students. Congress must look up from its squabbles about funding vehicles and judge confirmations to pass this critical legislation right now — our students can wait no longer for relief.
Despite the urgent nature of the issue, Congress has been sitting on its hands. Though the House overwhelmingly passed the AAA last spring, the Senate refuses to budge. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer did not
I donated more than in any other year, due to PTSD, hardships faced by displaced communities and those out of work due to restrictions caused by this war.
I donated to several organizations that do work in Israel in 2024. Jewish National Fund, Hadassah, Friends of the IDF and United Hatzalah were four of them.
The United States, the country in which I live, requires my support.
If I had any money to give, I would donate to Israeli charities. PJC
— Compiled by Toby Tabachnick
Chronicle weekly poll question: What is your favorite Chanukah tradition? Go to pittsburghjewishchronicle.org to respond. PJC
Garrett Shore is a New York City tour guide, photographer, and documentarian. For decades, he has been chronicling how the history and culture of New York influence today’s political and economic realities. This article first appeared on The Times of Israel.
schedule a vote on the bill.
The Senate must stop hemming and hawing. Our children are suffering. The path forward is clear. Especially with ongoing negotiations on several large legislative packages, there are many avenues to passage that are waiting to be capitalized on. Now is the time to stand up and be counted.
American Jews — and decent Americans of all faiths — demand Congress do the right thing: Pass the Antisemitism Awareness Act. One way or another. PJC
William Daroff is CEO of the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations, the senior professional guiding the Conference’s agenda on behalf of its 50 national member organizations. This article first appeared on The Times of Israel.
aspirations. The lack of accepting the aspiration of the other has led to over a century of bloodshed, culminating in the current horrible situation.
To me, using the term genocide to describe what Israel is doing in Gaza is repugnant. Yes, there are Palestinians and Israelis who would like to drive out or kill the other, but it is not genocide. It is due to a hatred built up after years of conflict.
The article “Amnesty International’s antisemitic agenda” (Dec. 13) reports that the organization accuses Israel of genocide. Many organizations and individuals have used that term since Oct. 7. You may call what Israel is doing in Gaza immoral, but don’t call it genocide. Calling it genocide cheapens the original meaning of the word.
Mitchell Nyer Pittsburgh
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HAPPY
Brie en croute
— FOOD —
By Jessica Grann | Special to the Chronicle
This is one of my go-to recipes when I’m looking to impress. It looks fancy and complicated but if you can make a deli roll, you can make brie (or Camembert) wrapped in puff pastry for your next get-together. It’s a beautiful treat to serve for canapes and is an especially nice addition to a cheese board. The cheese melts nicely and tastes so good with the pastry. Just add a bit of jam or preserves to the cheese, wrap it in the puff pastry, paint on an egg wash and that’s pretty much it.
To elevate the look, I took puff pastry strips and made a second basketweave to lay over the pastry-wrapped brie wheel; it added so much to the appearance.
This takes 5 minutes to prepare: Just pop it in the oven and voila — you have a beautiful appetizer.
I love fig preserves with brie but you can use any jam, even a savory one, as long as it pairs well with the cheese.
The rind on brie is edible. When you’re eating brie cold, you can remove the rind and just eat the soft cheese from the center. When you’re baking brie, whether it’s wrapped in pastry or not, you must leave the rind on the cheese to keep intact when it’s hot, otherwise you’ll have a glob of hot cheese spread across your baking dish.
The intensity of brie’s flavor can vary depending on the maker. Some rinds have very little flavor, and some have a strong note of what I can only describe as ammonia. Some of us love stinky cheese and can’t get enough of it, but it can be an acquired taste. If you don’t care for the flavor of the cheese rind when it’s cold, then that brand won’t work for you when it’s hot. There is no way to avoid eating the rind once this is baked.
This brie en croute is easy to serve: Simply cut wedges and you get the pastry and cheese all in one bite without the need for extra bread or crackers. This is a perfect treat to serve if you’re having guests for the New Year.
Ingredients
Makes 8 pieces
1 sheet puff pastry
1 8- or 9-ounce wheel of brie or Camembert cheese
3 tablespoons fig preserves or a jam of your choice
1 egg whisked, for the egg wash
line a small baking dish with crumpled parchment paper.
Sprinkle a pastry board or clean countertop with a bit of flour and lay out the puff pastry sheet, sprinkling a little more flour. The pastry is in a rectangular shape. Use a rolling pin to spread the pastry sheet, increasing the diameter 1 to 2 inches all the way around, but keeping it in a rectangle.
Use a pizza cutter or a sharp knife to slice the pastry sheet in half. Slice it across the diameter, leaving two equal-sized pieces of pastry.
Unwrap the cheese and set it in the middle of the bottom piece of pastry.
Spread 3 tablespoons of jam across the flat top of the cheese, then pull up the pastry from the sides and fold them over the top. There will be some extra pastry that doesn’t seem to tuck in well. You can trim it a bit if you wish to but I’ve seen no difference in the outcome by tucking that in as best as I can.
Brush the top and side seams with egg wash, which will help to close the pastry.
Take the second half of the puff pastry and slice about 10 1-inch wide slices from top to bottom. The slices will end up 1-inch wide by about 6 or 7 inches long. Take two of these slices to start the basketweave top. Lay one slice horizontally and one over it vertically, creating a plus sign shape, laying over the wrapped cheese wheel. Take a third piece and lay it top to bottom, weaving the pastry over and under, leaving as little space as possible between the strips, then continue until you have used all of the pastry.
If you’re new to weaving pastry and need a visual tutorial, search for videos online to help.
Tuck the ends of the basketweave strips around the sides toward the bottom and carefully put the pastry onto the prepared dish and parchment paper, then brush the entire thing with egg wash.
ILLUMINATING WHAT’S
POSSIBLE
Jason Kunzman, JCC President & CEO Scott E. Seewald, JCC Board Chair Staff & Board of the JCC
A sprinkle of turbinado or a similar coarse sugar for an optional garnish
Thaw one sheet of puff pastry according to the directions on the package. I used the Pepperidge Farm brand of puff pastry for this recipe because I like the size of pastry sheets. They come two sheets to a box so you’ll have an extra left over for another recipe.
Preheat the oven to 400 F. Place the oven rack in the middle of the oven and
If you have coarse turbinado sugar, sprinkle a little on top but don’t make an extra trip to the store if you don’t have it on hand. It adds texture and a little sparkle but not much to the overall flavor.
Bake for 35-45 minutes, until golden brown.
Cool for 10 minutes before serving. You can rewarm this whole if you cover the dish well in foil.
Enjoy and bless your hands! PJC
Jessica Grann is a home chef living in Pittsburgh.
p Brie en croute Photo by Jessica Grann
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Life & Culture
Hannah Shankman relishes role of Fanny Brice in ‘Funny Girl’
“I saw the movie when I was very young and felt very drawn to the character,” Shankman said. “Barbara Streisand left such an imprint on it.”
By David Rullo | Senior Sta Writer
Actress Hannah Shankman likes to play strong, Jewish women with chutzpah.
For the last four months, she has had the opportunity to portray one of the original feisty heroines of the stage.
Shankman is the lead in the touring production of “Funny Girl,” playing Jewish comedian and actress Fanny Brice.
“‘Funny Girl,’ to me, is about someone who is unapologetically herself and that sense of self is intertwined with Jewish humor,” Shankman said. “She really paved the way for so many Jewish comedians like Sarah Silverman, Joan Rivers and Jerry Seinfeld.”
Those comedians, she said, were formative for Shankman’s own sense of humor and sense of self.
“Playing Fanny feels like I get to be authentically funny in a way that is really special,” she said.
That sense of self is essential to the role, given that most audiences are more familiar with the movie, which premiered in 1968, rather than the musical, which opened in 1964. Both the original Broadway production and the film starred another strong, Jewish woman with chutzpah — Barbara Streisand.
Not surprisingly, Streisand’s portrayal left an impression on the young actress.
There was more to the role that drew Shankman in, though. She felt connected to Brice’s longing to be a part of the entertainment industry while also having a personal life.
The comedian’s search for a workable balance between the two felt very tangible and real to her, she said.
“It’s such an honor to play such a beautifully nuanced, flushed out, iconic Jewish woman,” Shankman said. “It feels very exciting.”
Of course, part of that excitement that goes along with any musical is the songs. The score to “Funny Girl,” Shankman said, is “incredible” and “beautifully written.”
Performing nightly is nothing new to Shankman. Her credits include Broadway productions of “Les Miserables,” “Side Show,” “Hair” and “Wicked,” and she has toured nationally with “The Band’s Visit,” “Les Miserable’s 26th Anniversary Tour” and “Rent.” Her resume is rounded out with off-Broadway and workshop performances, film and television appearances, as well as regional theater roles.
She’s even appeared in Pittsburgh with Pittsburgh Public Theater’s production of “Company.”
“I love Pittsburgh,” she said. “This will be my third or fourth time to the city. I deeply loved working at the Pittsburgh Public Theater. It was an incredible experience.”
Shankman’s acting credits might seem
surprising since she originally viewed herself strictly as a singer.
“I made a big switch,” she said, “and ended up going to school for straight acting, nonmusical theater. I started to think of myself as an actor.”
She soon realized, though, that the two disciplines were connected.
“You can’t really sing in musical theater without acting and you can’t act a song unless you know how to sing. It’s so interwoven.”
In the end, she said, she prefers to think of herself as a vessel for storytelling rather than an actor, singer or dancer.
And while Shankman feels connected to Brice, she said she didn’t grow up in a traditional Jewish household, despite her
father being Jewish.
“I am from a culturally Jewish, non-religious Jewish background,” she said. “But I am so much more Jewish than anything else. I grew up celebrating Chanukah, but we also celebrated Christmas and Easter. My parents were very open to letting us choose our own path.”
A story that has become a family legend might have something to do with her parents’ openness. As Shankman explained, her father grew up, like most American Jewish boys, studying for a bar mitzvah and going to Hebrew school. One day, though, his father told him that would no longer be the case.
“He was like, you’re not going anymore. And when my dad asked why his dad wouldn’t tell him. It’s family lore now. There are so many different stories. My favorite is that it was [either] Hebrew school or the pool club.”
Shankman’s background didn’t blunt her enthusiasm for playing Brice, and she believes that anyone who attends a performance will find a reason to smile.
“The show is a love letter to the theater,” she said. “You’re going to see incredible tap dancing, an amazing score. It’s humorous and touching and heartfelt. Really, it’s a story about perseverance and self-love that I think everyone can connect to.”
“Funny Girl” runs Jan. 7-12 at the Benedum Center. PJC
David Rullo can be reached at drullo@ pittsburghjewishchronicle.org.
Hannah Shankman as Fanny Brice in “Funny Girl” Photo by Matthew Murphy for MurphyMade
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Celebrations
Pearl Elizabeth Booker, who makes all the places she goes more interesting and beautiful, will become a bat mitzvah on Dec. 28, 2024, at Congregation Dor Hadash. Pearl is the daughter of Kate and Mac; the older sister of Teddy and Sol; the granddaughter of Marty, Ann, Dan and Debby; and the beloved Pearly of uncountable friends and relatives.
Torah
AMalcolm and Rebecca Dombrowski announce the birth of their son Ezra Julian on Dec. 13, 2024. Ezra is named for his uncle Julian. Ezra is the grandson of Joseph and Bonnie Shore Dombrowski, and Karen and John Glatz. Greatgrandparents are Barbara and Jack Shore, and Paul and Ruth Lyle.
Ashley Gold and Eli Glazier of Washington, D.C., are thrilled to announce the birth of (Mordecai Ran), younger brother of Clara, on Oct. 11, 2024. Proud grandparents are Cathy and Mel Gold, Carrie and Jeff Glazier and great-grandfather Lenny Glazier. Oscar is named for great-grandparents Marilyn and Ray Recht, Morris Jalazo
Seema Pollack Gross of Shadyside is pleased to announce the marriage of her son, Max Louis Pollack, to Marlee Tessler , daughter of Stephanie and Corey Tessler, of Scarsdale, New York. Max’s father is the late Mark Pollack. His grandparents are Barbara Rosenberg and the late Jerry Rosenberg, and Bernie Pollack and the late Jane Pollack, all of Pittsburgh. Marlee’s grandparents are Charlene and the late Seymour Guyer, and Sandra and Neil Tessler. The couple were married in Greenwich, Connecticut, and reside in New York City. PJC
Rabbi Hindy Finman
Parshat Miketz
Genesis 41:1 – 44:17
s an avid crier, I’ve come to realize the importance of letting people I’m close to know this about me. When it’s not blatantly obvious why I’m crying, I appreciate when someone asks, “What type of tears are these?” This question shows me that the person who sees me crying is aware of my processing style and wants to support me in that moment. The range of emotions that elicit tears spans in all directions — from being overwhelmed by nature’s beauty to feelings of excitement, frustration, anger, exhaustion, hunger, appreciation, success or kindness. You get the point.
of Genesis to cry. Of the 16 times crying is mentioned, 15 of the criers are men, with Joseph being the No. 1 crier (big fan of that!). Earlier in the parsha, he cried when he first encountered his brothers; there he turned away but did not leave the room. So, why now does Joseph leave the room to cry?
I find the answer in verse 32:
“They served him (Joseph) by himself, and them (the brothers) by themselves, and the Egyptians who ate with him by t hemselves, because Egyptians could not eat bread with the Hebrews, for that is an abomination to the Egyptians.” (The Schocken Bible, Everett Fox)
My favorite type of tears?
Tears of laughter shared with my siblings.
I process emotions through tears in both public and private spaces. I don’t hide them, nor do I apologize for them. I’ve learned the value of a good cry and deeply appreciate being in spaces where I can cry with others for all sorts of reasons. My favorite type of tears? Tears of laughter shared with my siblings. I come from a large family and we’re all pretty close, though we don’t get to see each other as often as we’d like. When we do, it’s usually during late-night gatherings, sprawled across the living room, reminiscing about the past, that we often are laughing until tears stream down our faces, clutching our stomachs and trying not to laugh so loudly that we wake our parents. I know this is a real blessing, probably the greatest blessing I have. I also recognize that not all families share this dynamic, nor do all (Jewish) leaders feel comfortable with their tears, whether in public or private.
Take Joseph in this week’s Torah reading, Parshat Miketz. His story — from rags to riches — culminates in a somewhat anonymous reunion with his brothers. He recognizes them, but they don’t recognize him. During a second reunion, which includes his brother Benjamin (born of the same mother, Rachel), Joseph is so overcome with emotion that he leaves the room, cries, washes his face and returns to instruct everyone to sit down and eat (Genesis 43:30–31).
Commentators speculate on why Joseph cried. Perhaps it was because he had just learned that his father, Jacob, had been in mourning since his disappearance. Or maybe it was because Benjamin had named all his children after Joseph’s qualities.
Perhaps Joseph cried because of the unjust systems of racism embedded in his identity. He was second in command in Egypt but mourned by the Hebrews. He belonged to both worlds yet wasn’t fully accepted by either. When he saw his brothers for the second time, now including Benjamin, he realized he had never been forgotten — he had been missed, mourned and loved. It’s possible he longed to sit at the same table with his siblings, reveal his identity and cry with them until his tears of sadness turned into tears of laughter. But he knew he couldn’t — not yet. He would have to wait. Those tears, I believe, were tears of longing for a moment when his worlds could collide peacefully, when he could be fully reunited with his family, and when Egyptians and Hebrews could share the same table. The first time he turns away because he recognizes them; it’s a surprise reunion that stirs something in him. This time, it’s tears for his own hidden identity and desire for shalom bayit — peace in the home. And for that he must hide his tears because it’s not the right moment to advocate for peace and reveal his identity. That happens in next week’s Torah reading. My blessing for all of us, as we continue to celebrate Chanukah and move into 2025, is to be like Joseph: Have a good cry or two or three. But may our tears be of joy and laughter, rooted in a celebration of peacebuilding and communal healing, around diverse dining room tables, where everyone feels seen, valued and embraced. May our shared moments foster unity and understanding, and may we carry the light of Chanukah into the year ahead, spreading warmth and hope to all.
Shabbat Shalom and Happy Chanukah! PJC
For me, the question isn’t why Joseph cried but rather why he left the room. Would it have seemed strange for an Egyptian chief of staff to shed a few tears after hearing about a family’s plight during years of famine? It’s not unusual for male leaders in the book
Rabbi Hindy Finman is senior director of Jewish Life and director of the Center for Loving Kindness at the Jewish Community Center of Greater Pittsburgh. This column is a service of the Greater Pittsburgh Jewish Clergy Association.
ABEL: Susie Schwartz Abel of Weston, Massachusetts, previously of Wayland, Massachusetts, passed away on Dec. 10, 2024. Susie was born in Pittsburgh to Milton and Bertha Schwartz. Beloved and devoted wife of Howard Abel for 63 years. Mother to Julie Abel of Watertown, Massachusetts, and Karen Abel Lucero and her husband Mike Lucero of Pelham, New York, previously of Kirkland, Washington. Loving grandmother to Josh, Jordan and Sydney Lucero. Sister to Barbara Kohn Welsh and her husband, Bob Welsh; pre-deceased by her brother Charles Schwartz. Susie was the loving aunt of many nieces and nephews whom she loved dearly. Her three grandchildren were her pride and joy and although they were separated by 3,000 miles, she never missed a birthday or milestone. Susie was a longtime member of Sudbury River Tennis Club, the Wayland Garden Club and along with husband, Howard, one of the oldest and most active members of the Wayland Swimming and Tennis Club where Susie played tennis, swam many laps and socialized with everyone. Susie loved to play bridge and mahjong and was an avid Celtics fan. Over the decades, she hosted many holiday dinners, which always included her famous brisket and apple pie. Susie and Howard loved to travel and were fortunate to have traveled around the world. Susie was a successful sales representative and for over a decade she enjoyed selling handcrafted gifts to small businesses throughout New England. She will be missed dearly by all who knew her and especially her husband and daughters. Donations in her memory may be made to MakeA-Wish® Massachusetts and Rhode Island, 133 Federal St. 2nd Floor, Boston, MA 02110. Services were held at Congregation Or Atid, 97 Concord Road, Wayland, Massachusetts, followed by burial at North Cemetery, Old Sudbury Road, Wayland, Massachusetts.
MYERS: Renee Leslie Myers (Aug. 7, 1951 – Dec. 7, 2024), beloved wife, mother, grandmother, sister, educator and friend, passed away on Dec. 7, 2024, at the age of 73. She was a lifelong champion of education and inclusion, and her dedication to improving the lives of others was evident in both her professional work and personal relationships. Born on Aug. 7, 1951, Renee grew up with a deep passion for learning and a commitment to making a difference. She earned her doctorate in education administration and spent much of her life shaping educational systems, especially in the areas of special needs inclusion and teacher training. In the 1970s and early 1980s, Renee worked for the Allegheny Intermediate Unit in Pittsburgh, where she helped design a groundbreaking curriculum that included children with special needs into the mainstream Pennsylvania public school system. She then moved to the North Allegheny School System in the 1980s, where she served as assistant superintendent and was instrumental in teacher training initiatives. Renee’s career continued to evolve throughout the years. In the 1990s, she transitioned into academia, joining the University of Pittsburgh School of Education as a professor. In 2002, she relocated to Denver, Colorado,
Jeffrey Lewis Landerman, Deceased December 23, 2023, of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania No. 02-24-01279
Michelle Landerman, Administrator; 1649 Jamestown Place, Pittsburgh, PA 15235 or to Bruce S. Gelman, Esquire, Gelman & Reisman, P.C., Law & Finance Bldg., 429 Fourth Avenue, Suite 1701, Pittsburgh, PA 15219
Sunday December 29: Rose Cohen, Isaac Dobkin, Stuart
Zelda
L Kaplan, Morris L Karp, Frank Levine, Meyer Levy, Ella Farber Lipman, Harry Marshall, Csipa Shapiro, Marc Wells Shapiro
Monday December 30: Marci Lynn Bernstein, Thelma Chizeck, Julius B Epstein, Miriam Ginsberg, Jacob Goldblum, M .D , Lawrence Louis Green, Mollie G Kartub, David Aaron Liebman, Bella Marians, Dorothy Mustin, Anna Natterson, Rebecca Oppenheim, Annette Reidbord, Edward David Rosenberg, Howard Bernard Schwartz, Selma Schwartz, Milton Shermer, Bertha Tabachnick
Tuesday December 31: Samuel Avner, Helen N Broida, Esther F Busis, Jacob Coon, Murray D Goldstein, Samuel Litman, Mary Malyn, Louis Marlin, Alex Pollack, Nathan A Potosky, Annette Reicher, Sara B Rosenberg, Hattie Shire, Max Shulman, William Silk, Della Ruth Stearns, Louis F Stein, Mildred Weiner
Wednesday January 1: Milton Backal, Baruch Berenstein, Bert Bergad, Sydney Bertenthal, Fredric Alvin Green, Samuel M Hyman, Minnie Van Praagh Jacobs, Philip Katz, Joseph Levy, Ella Markowitz, Louis Miller, Gust H Oppenheim, Ralph Pecarsky, Sol E Podolsky, Abraham W Shapiro, Rae Specter, William B Waldman, Bernard H Weiss, Ann Whiser
Thursday January 2: Harry I Alpern, Isadore Caplan, Samuel Davis, Samuel Finkel, Louis Gallet, George J Golden, Joseph Goldhamer, Celia Kaddell, Charles Kanselbaum, Lina Kapner, Phillip Larry Katz, Louis Kessler, Sarah E Kramer, Blanche Levine, Louis Monsein, Jacob Robinson, Shirley B Samuels, Sarah Stein, Albert Zweig
Friday January 3: Pearl Alinikoff, Ethel Berry, Beyne R Bricklin, Ida Briskin, Sheldon A Cohen, Thomas Cohen, Abe Darling, Charles Finesod, John J Fischer, Morris R Gordon, William L Kann, Arnold Kanselbaum, Gertrude C Kimball, William Krapin, Samuel Fishel Londo, Sgt Max Marcus, Mary Podolney Goldberg, Mollie Rubin Pretter, Joseph Recht, Harry Rice, Charlotte June Ruthrauff, Erma R Spielberger
Saturday January 4: Edna Sarah Bennett, Max L Berg, Moses Bluestone, Paul Cooper, Sadie Mermelstein Feinberg, Celia Garber, Henrietta Goldman, Phillip Goodman, Nathan Greenberg, Rose B Gross, Ethel Farber Hoyt, Yetta Klein, Dr Marvin Kurfeerst, Celia Levin, Racille Light, Ruben Marcus, Samuel Neustein, Belle Mandell Rodin, Ruth Sachs, Bessie Sands, Abraham Schulman, Julius Shapiro, Louis Shapiro, Raymond Weinberg, Bella Zeman Contact
Sandra Estelle Snyder a/k/a Sandra E. Snyder, Deceased November 9, 2024, of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania No. 02-24-07538
Andrea A. Friedenberg, Executrix; 1009 Flemington Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15217 or to Bruce S. Gelman, Esquire, Gelman & Reisman, P.C., Law & Finance Bldg., 429 Fourth Avenue, Suite 1701, Pittsburgh, PA 15219
Jewish Association on Aging gratefully acknowledges contributions from the following:
gift from ...
memory of...
Ruthrauff
Richard Harris,
Sparks Hepner, William
Operations Coordinator: Full-Time – Hybrid
The Jewish Cemetery & Burial Association of Greater Pittsburgh (JCBA) is a rapidly growing non-profit organization dedicated to maintaining the dignity, preservation, and respect for Jewish cemeteries across the Greater Pittsburgh area.
Position Summary:
The Operations Coordinator will play a critical role in the day-to-day operations of the JCBA, supporting the Operations Manager in overseeing cemetery maintenance, burial scheduling, record-keeping, and community relations. This position requires excellent organizational skills, technology expertise, attention to detail, and a commitment to providing respectful and professional service.
Responsibilities:
Operations Support:
• Coordinate daily cemetery operations, including burial scheduling, site preparation, and maintenance activities.
• Maintain accurate burial and cemetery records, ensuring compliance with internal policies and legal requirements.
• Collaborate with groundskeeping staff to ensure the cemeteries are maintained to a high standard, including landscaping, grave marking, and signage.
• Support the Operations Manager in developing and updating operational procedures to enhance efficiency and service quality.
Customer Service:
• Serve as a point of contact (intake for all JCBA calls) for families and funeral homes, handling inquiries with empathy and sensitivity.
• Provide compassionate assistance to grieving families, ensuring all requests are handled respectfully and promptly.
Administrative Duties:
• Manage cemetery databases, ensuring accurate and timely input of all burial and plot information.
• Assist with billing and financial record-keeping in coordination with the Operations Manager and accounting team.
• Facilitate all work orders between families and cemetery caretakers.
Project Support:
• Assist with special projects as assigned by the Operations Manager, and/or Executive Director including cemetery restoration initiatives, events, community education and outreach and volunteer coordination.
• Provide logistical support for cemetery tours, educational events, and community outreach efforts.
Qualifications:
• Experience: 2+ years of experience in operations coordination, administrative support, or customer service. Experience in a cemetery, funeral home, or religious institution setting is a plus.
Education: Associate or bachelor’s degree in business administration, operations management, or a related field preferred.
Required Skills/Experience:
• Proficiency in MS Office Suite (Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint); video meeting platforms (Zoom, Teams); project management software (Airtable or Monday.com); and database management software. Experience with cemetery management software is a plus. Must be comfortable and able to learn new software and troubleshoot digital issues.
• Strong organizational and time-management skills, with an ability to handle multiple tasks efficiently.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with a compassionate and respectful approach.
• Knowledge of or willingness to learn Jewish burial customs and practices.
Work Environment:
• Must be comfortable working in outdoor settings and prepared to occasionally work on weekends or holidays as needed to accommodate burial services.
• Physical ability to walk (steep hills/stairs) in cemetery settings (all weather), bending, and light lifting is required.
Benefits:
• Competitive salary and benefits package, including health, dental, and vision insurance, mileage reimbursement, and paid time off.
How to Apply:
Interested candidates should submit a resume including salary requirements and cover letter detailing their experience and interest in the position to: resumes81863@gmail.com or by mailing to JCBA, P.O Box 81863, Pittsburgh, PA 15217.
For more information about JCBA cemeteries, plot purchases, to volunteer, to read our complete histories and/or to make a contribution, please visit our website at www.JCBApgh.org, email us at o ice@jcbapgh.org, or call the JCBA o ice at 412-553-6469.
JCBA’sexpanded vision is made possible by a generous grant from the Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh Jewish Community Foundation
Obituaries
Obituaries:
Continued from page 19
where she joined the faculty of CU Denver and continued her work as a teacher trainer. She later became a pioneer in online teacher training, working with Northern Colorado University, Jones University and Colorado Mountain College, the latter at which she helped develop the seminal courses for its teacher education curriculum. A loving and caring individual, Renee was deeply devoted to her family. She is survived by her devoted husband of 39 ½ years, Gerald, her son, David, her daughter, Stacy, and her cherished grandchildren, Avery, Jake, Quinn, Liam and Noah. She is also survived by her sister, Joanne, and brothers, Charles and Howard. Renee was known for her compassion, joy and the unwavering love she gave to her family and friends. Despite facing a series of serious medical challenges throughout her adult life, including brave and valiant battles with various health issues, Renee’s resilience and positive spirit never wavered. In the fall of 2024, she finally succumbed to fungal endocarditis, a condition that attacked her artificial mitral valve. But her strength and love of life remained a constant source of inspiration to those who knew her. Renee was deeply loved, respected and cherished by all who had the privilege of knowing her. She was a beacon of kindness, always seeing the best in others and bringing out the joy in life. Her legacy of service to others, her pioneering work in education, and the indelible impact she made on everyone she met will continue to inspire for generations. A celebration of Renee’s life will be held in mid-January 2025 in Denver, Colorado. A graveside service will take place in the Vail Valley in late spring or early summer, where a portion of her ashes will be interred in the B’nai Vail Cemetery in Minturn, with another portion spread on Vail Mountain — a place that was dear to her heart. Renee’s family and friends will forever miss her warmth, wisdom and boundless love.
SADOFSKY: Charlotte F. Sadofsky, of Oakland, died on Friday, Dec. 20, 2024, at 94 years of age. She was the beloved wife of the late Frank Sadofsky and is mourned by her two sons, Moshe Sadofsky and David Sadofsky Baggins, and their wives Susan Kirch and Teddi E. Baggins. She is the cherished grandmother of Sierra B. Weiss and the late Zachary M. Baggins. Charlotte was an artist, exceptional cook, organizer, teacher, friend and inspiration to many in her community. Under her guidance anything became possible. Contributions suggested to organizations involved in Jewish education and to Young Peoples Synagogue. Graveside services were held on Dec. 23, 2024, at Beth Abraham Cemetery. Arrangements entrusted to William Slater II Funeral Service, Scott Twp., (412-563-2800). slaterfuneral.com PJC
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Life & Culture
Righteous Among the Neighbors: Bill and Mardi Isler
By Natalie Morgan and Annabelle Thomas Mt. Lebanon High School
Righteous Among the Neighbors is a project of the Holocaust Center of Pittsburgh that honors non-Jewish Pittsburghers who support the Jewish community and take action to uproot antisemitism. In partnership with the LIGHT Education Initiative and Mt. Lebanon High School, student journalists interview honorees and write profiles about their efforts. This year’s Righteous Among the Neighbors honorees are Dr. Joshua Andy, Terri Baltimore, Arlene and Jeff Berg, Josiah Gilliam, Bill and Mardi Isler, James Lucot, Bill Peduto, Lynne Ravas and Selina Shultz. To learn more, visit hcofpgh.org/righteous-among-the-neighbors.
SIn recognition of their efforts, Bill and Mardi Isler have been honored as Righteous Among the Neighbors by the Holocaust Center of Pittsburgh.
“Mardi wasn’t keen about living in the city, but we discovered Squirrel Hill,” Bill Isler said. “My friend was head of the JCC at the time, living two blocks from me, and I could walk to work. The distinctive nature of Pittsburgh is just absolutely amazing. The friendliness of Squirrel Hill — you didn’t have to be Jewish to be part of the JCC.”
The couple began their journey working on various community service projects. Today, Mardi Isler serves as president of the Squirrel Hill Urban Coalition. However, it was after a visit from her brother more than a decade ago that she was inspired to do something for the community.
importance of maintaining and nourishing connections with everyone in the community, even in the hardest of times.
“No one knew what to do during the pandemic,” Bill explained. “But we decided to do something to connect people, even if it was from a distance.”
quirrel Hill has been home to Bill and Mardi Isler for more than 40 years, and during that time, the couple has made it their mission to further their community in service, support and connection through associations like the Jewish Community Center and the Center for Loving Kindness. Their work toward improving their neighborhood has undoubtedly benefited the Squirrel Hill area, and they are determined to use the connections encouraged by the JCC to unite people beyond religion.
While both share a love for Pittsburgh, their story began outside of the city. Bill Isler grew up in Brookline and joined the Army for a couple of years while Mardi Isler grew up in eastern Pennsylvania. They met and bonded over their similar standpoint on education.
“We both ended up in early childhood education,” said Mardi Isler, who was awarded an early Head Start grant.
After dedicating years to education, the Islers returned to Pittsburgh from Harrisburg and Bill Isler began working with the Fred Rogers Company in 1983. It was during this move that the couple settled in Squirrel Hill.
“In 2008 my brother came to visit,” she said. “He said, ‘That’s the worst looking entrance to a community I’ve ever seen, and your neighborhood is so beautiful; you should really do something about that.’ We put together a series of community meetings and they said, ‘We want a welcome sign.’ I had to do it through the coalition, and of course they were interested. I became chair of the Gateway Committee.”
Bill Isler began his service to the community through the JCC’s Center for Loving Kindness.
The Center For Loving Kindness began before the massacre on Oct. 27, 2018, originating as a project seeking to end violence against young women. The center then grew from its original mission when its leaders realized that the community needed to work on kindness and civic engagement.
“People don’t talk anymore,” Bill Isler said. “If you disagree, you don’t talk. [People] develop attitudes on their own and they don’t want collaboration. So, the JCC started the Center for Loving Kindness and the results have been phenomenal. As [the community has] stood up for the Jewish community, the Jewish community has stood up for them.”
The Center for Loving Kindness has been involved within the community through book readings and holiday services.
While based on Jewish values and holiday traditions, Bill Isler explained the inclusivity of the JCC.
“It’s called the Jewish Community Center, but it’s the community center,” he said. “The idea for Center for Loving Kindness is really a regional type of project, rather than just for Squirrel Hill.”
To Bill and Mardi Isler, Squirrel Hill is a community without insulation. For that reason, their service to the community exemplifies the
The couple encouraged their neighbors to participate in “porch parties,” in which they’d set up a time where everyone could bring drinks and food to their porches and have socially-distanced celebrations. They’d sing songs, have conversations and try to bring back a sense of normalcy that everyone missed. Bill and Mardi Isler knew the importance of neighborly connection and refused to sacrifice the power of community even in the face of an ongoing pandemic.
This wasn’t the first disaster that challenged the community. The Pittsburgh synagogue shooting on Oct. 27, 2018, occurred at the Tree of Life building, just blocks from the Islers’ house. The victims included friends, family and neighbors, and the tragedy left many members of the Squirrel Hill community grieving.
The couple didn’t want to just focus on the bad, though. Instead, what they took away from the shooting was the astonishing community response, specifically from Allderdice High School. Within hours after the shooting, high school students had organized a vigil for which thousands of Pittsburghers gathered in the street, showing their grief and support for the victims and their families.
“We say there’s no degree of separation, and in western Pennsylvania that’s true,” Mardi Isler said. “This was not a Jewish event. It was a community event that happened to people in your community.”
No matter what the world has thrown at them, Bill and Mardi Isler, and their surrounding community, have grown stronger from the hardships they’ve faced. They credit this strength not to their efforts, but the power of the connections they’ve found here in Pittsburgh.
“You go into some communities, and it’s very isolated, but this community is anything but,” Bill Isler said. “The fact that young people are involved, there’s a lot to be learned. You are the future; we’re counting on you.” PJC
Natalie Morgan and Annabelle Thomas are seniors at Mt. Lebanon High School.
p Bill and Mardi Isler Photo by Brian Cohen
Community
In preparation of hosting the JCC Maccabi Games, an Olympic-style sporting event, this summer,
A lot of letters in a party
Hillel Academy of Pittsburgh hosted CHANUKAPALOOZAH. The Dec. 22 event featured crafts, cookie decorating, latkes and opportunities for STEM learning.
Macher and Shaker
Marvin Sheppard received Achieva’s Award of Excellence in Employment for outstanding leadership of the employment program at the Sally and Howard Levin Clubhouse.
Photo courtesy of Jewish Community Center of Greater Pittsburgh
Community Day School hosted Chanukah Spirit Day. In preparation of the fun-filled holiday,
Photo courtesy of Community Day School
Gannon Anderson, Achieva board chair
Photo courtesy of The Branch
Lights and strikes Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh partnered with Chabad Young Professionals on a
p In search of the kingpin
Photos by Joshua Franzos
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