May 22, 2020 | 29 Iyar 5780
Candlelighting 8:19 p.m. | Havdalah 9:25 p.m. | Vol. 63, No. 21 | pittsburghjewishchronicle.org
Jewish organizations adjust to region’s shift to yellow
NOTEWORTHY LOCAL Loss of a leader
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Discussing death with children in the age of COVID-19
Doris Rudolph was community stalwart. Page 2
By Adam Reinherz | Staff Writer
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still work remotely and that in-person meetings will not occur for the time being. Federation CEO and president Jeff Finkelstein “is keeping in mind the principle of pikuach nefesh,” Hertzman said. “There is no reason for the Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh to be aggressive with regard to reopening things for ourselves, and every reason to be cautious.” The Federation is not planning any major live programs through 2020, said Meryl Ainsman, Federation’s board chair, but is looking into “alternative ways” to hold some of its annual events, such as its campaign kickoff, Apples and Honey Fall Festival and Mitzvah Day. The Jewish Association on Aging, which was an early adopter of best practices to keep its staff and residents protected from
OVID-19 has put the topic of death and dying “in our collective consciousness in a way that we’ve never seen in our lifetimes,” noted Rabbi Melanie Levav, director of PJ Library New York. “In the wake of this pandemic, it’s become an issue that’s crossed many more people’s minds and in new ways.” As of press time, almost 90,000 people had died in the United States due to COVID-19, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and many thousands more have died worldwide. “This is an opportunity for us as parents to think about how we grapple with death and dying, and how we might talk about it with our kids,” said Levav during a May 6 webinar. The best way to address the topic, according to Cindy Snyder, clinical director of Pittsburgh’s 10.27 Healing Partnership, “is to let our children lead the conversation, or open up the conversation, but that means we need to be willing to go wherever they’re going to take us.” Children are naturally curious, and often want to hear additional facts after an initial conversation, explained Lulu Orr, care navigator at Jewish Family and Community Services. “I think sometimes we try to wrap things up with a bow and say, ‘OK, I’ve given my little talk and I’ve explained what happened and we’re good,’ but children, no matter their age, always want more information,” Orr said. “It doesn’t matter if it’s about death or if it’s about what’s available at the ice cream store. The number one thing is just being honest and truthful, and especially answering their questions and encouraging them to ask questions.” Numerous factors, such as a child’s age or exposure to COVID-19 concerns, might
Please see Reopening, page 14
Please see Children, page 20
Upsherins
A rite of passage Page 4
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The Jewish Association on Aging remains vigilant during the yellow phase.
Cheers!
Photo courtesy of Jewish Association on Aging
By David Rullo and Adam Reinherz | Staff Writers
A Shaking things up with cocktails Page 16
s Allegheny and other surrounding counties entered the yellow phase on May 15, pursuant to Gov. Tom Wolf ’s plan for a staged reopening of the commonwealth, Jewish organizations cautiously prepared to move forward after being shuttered since mid-March. Despite the governor’s easing of some restrictions on business operations and social gatherings, most local Jewish institutions and congregations will not be quick to open their doors or to change the procedures under which they have been operating for the last two months. The Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh, for example, will continue “doing everything the way we have been,” said Adam Hertzman, the Federation’s director of marketing, who noted that employees will
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