Pittsburgh Jewish Chronicle 6-26-20

JUne 26, 2020 | 4 Tammuz 5780

Candlelighting 8:36 p.m. | Havdalah 9:45 p.m. | Vol. 63, No. 26 | pittsburghjewishchronicle.org

With COVID-19 restrictions loosened, some Jewish Pittsburghers venture to rejoin communal Jewish life

NOTEWORTHY LOCAL Federation’s COVID-19 grants

$1.50

Local Jewish leaders reflect on racial justice Compiled by Kayla Steinberg | Staff Writer

G

eorge Floyd’s death has animated the fight against racism across the globe — including in our own community.

In the wake of Floyd’s killing while being arrested in Minneapolis on May 25, 2020, there have been protests and demonstrations in support of the Black Lives Matter movement, calls for the defunding of police and a range of directives from national and international voices on how best to show allyship with people of color.

The Chronicle checked in with some leaders of Pittsburgh’s Jewish community and asked them to share their reflections and suggestions on race relations and how to move forward. Some responses have been edited for length. To read all responses in their entirety, go to our website, pittsburghjewish chronicle.org.

More than $1 million in pandemic relief Page 2

LOCAL Juneteenth

phase of Gov. Tom Wolf ’s COVID-19 reopening plan on Friday, June 5, Jewish businesses, institutions and synagogues slowly have begun to reopen their doors and welcome back community members, albeit with new guidelines and regulations.

When Congregation Poale Zedeck, an Orthodox shul in Squirrel Hill, reopened for Shabbat on June 12, member David Oshlag felt the time was right for him to begin

Rabbi Amy Bardack, director of Jewish Life and Learning at the Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh: I believe that each of us who feels committed to combatting systemic racism  Rabbi should take the time to Amy reflect on how to be an effecBardack File photo tive ally. For some, protesting feels right, while for others, that may not be possible due to COVID-19 or other concerns. Action can take many forms, such as writing letters to local officials, supporting Black-owned businesses or donating to nonprofits that address inequities. For me personally, learning as much as I can about the issues, and then speaking with friends and family about what I have learned, is a top priority.

I have found the following resources to be an important part of my education on systemic racism: • The documentary film “13th” by Ava DuVernay; • “Eloquent Rage” by Brittney Cooper; • The episode “American Police” on NPR’s

Please see Reopening, page 16

Please see Reflect, page 16

Faith leaders fight racism Page 4

LOCAL Birding Jews Thrill of the hunt Page 6

 Community members have begun working out at the JCC once again, practicing social distancing, even with trainers. Photo courtesy of Jewish Community Center of Greater Pittsburgh

By David Rullo | Staff Writer

L

ike Nahshon from the Midrash — who was the first to leap chin deep into the Red Sea — someone had to be the first to dip their toe into the water and prove the walls would not come crashing down by returning to services at a synagogue and jumping onto an exercise machine at the Jewish Community Center of Greater Pittsburgh.

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Headlines Federation provides more than $1 million in grants in response to COVID-19 — LOCAL —

By Justin Vellucci | Special to the Chronicle

T

he Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh last week awarded some $100,000 in COVID-19 emergency relief funds to Jewish nonprofits and local organizations, bringing its pandemic assistance total to more than $1.1 million.

Most of the impact will be felt close to home, though about $25,000 of the $107,598 designated most recently will serve homebound seniors in Israel and the former Soviet Union, according to Adam Hertzman, the Federation’s director of marketing.

Locally, though, the funds packed a punch; the $1,109,114 in total grants awarded has helped deliver meals to home-bound seniors throughout Greater Pittsburgh, fund school lunch programs at Yeshiva Schools, pay for health screeners at Jewish facilities and much more.

The JCC of Greater Pittsburgh received $186,385 in pandemic-related assistance from the Federation. Those funds have

helped with everything from home-delivered meals and equipment needs to paying health screeners at the Squirrel Hill facility, JCC President and CEO Brian Schreiber said.

“We’re at a point of incredible resource compression,” Schreiber told the Chronicle.

“That fund is helping us serve the community in a real way.”

The Federation awarded $197,900 to Jewish Family and Community Services, Hertzman said. Through support from the Federation and the United Way of Southwestern Pennsylvania, JFCS purchased a van to safely deliver food to individuals and families who are home-bound due to COVID-19.

“We are grateful for the support that the Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh has provided to the entire community, strengthening our ability to effectively respond to the COVID-19 crisis,” said Jordan Golin, president and CEO of JFCS. The Jewish Agency on Aging received $136,7000 in pandemic grants from the Federation, which includes four allocations ranging from $15,000 to $67,000.

The grants support increased demand for Mollie’s Meals home delivery service,

“ We’re at a point of incredible resource compression. That fund is helping us serve

”

the community in a real way.

— BRIAN SCHREIBER, JCC PRESIDENT AND CEO

disposable paper products for resident meals, additional sanitizing equipment and staff scrubs for on-campus use, said Tinsy Labrie, the JAA’s director of marketing and public relations. Those funds also paid for personal protective equipment (PPE) including masks, face shields, disposable gowns and gloves.

“As always, but particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic, JAA’s number one priority is the health and safety of our residents and staff,” JAA President and CEO Deborah WinnHorvitz said. “Medical supplies and personal protection equipment are critical, especially as we compete for them with healthcare organizations around the world; supplies are short and, as a result, prices are on the rise. We are incredibly grateful for the support of the Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh for its quick, timely, and flexible response with much-needed funding to address our varying levels of need. These funds help JAA protect the most vulnerable among us — seniors and those who care for them.”

Numbers don’t quite tell the whole picture. Hertzman said the COVID-19 emergency relief funds p JAA’s Nurse Kathy Moriarty is equipped with reported to Chronicle did not PPE, funded in part by the Jewish Federation of Photo provided by Tinsy Labrie include additional PPE provided Greater Pittsburgh. to a wide variety of Jewish agenfor donors’ $60,000 and $100,000 matches. cies and congregations, as well as Community Campaign funds help feed previous grants allocated for 2020-21 that the Federation released for pandemic relief. hungry Pittsburghers, assist the unemployed, On June 15, the Federation closed its support those with special needs, fund Jewish annual Community Campaign, having education and help the Federation respond amassed some $13.6 million in commit- to emergencies such as COVID-19. PJC ments to be distributed next year, Hertzman Justin Vellucci is a freelance writer living said. The goal for the campaign was $14 million, and the campaign did raise enough in Pittsburgh.

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Headlines Jewish Healthcare Foundation helps fight the spread of COVID-19 in Pennsylvania with a lot of moving parts. Our role is to make sure we have those pieces in place.�

As part of the Consortium, JHF is helping to recruit and train tracers for almost all

By David Rullo | Staff Writer of southwestern Pennsylvania, Ferguson said, including Armstrong, Beaver, Butler, he Jewish Healthcare Foundation Cambria, Fayette, Green, Indiana, Somerset, has partnered with the Pennsylvania Washington and Westmoreland counties.

Department of Health and 50 other The Allegheny County Health Department organizations to create the Southwest PA is part of the consortium as well, Ferguson COVID-19 Contact Tracing explained “but as the lead organiConsortium. The consortium zation, it is coordinating contact is the first of its kind to support efforts within the county.�

COVID-19 contact tracing in the The JHF has a history of helping commonwealth. with this type of service, Feinstein Without a vaccine, contact explained. She pointed to the tracing is essential to contain foundation’s efforts during the the pandemic in Pennsylvania early days of HIV, its assistance and prevent another largecommunicating information scale outbreak, according to the about the Affordable Care Act Pennsylvania Department of Health. and health care exchanges, and Medicaid’s “We have had a lot of experience orga- Community Health Program, as examples nizing the region when there is a tight of its previous work. time pressure for important health issues,� “The thing that we’re best at is the orgaexplained Karen Wolk Feinstein, JHF’s nization and coordination to make sure that president and chief executive officer. the training is there and it gets to the right Contact tracing begins when a person people, to make sure we are recruiting the is identified as having been infected with right people and that they are not, in effect, COVID-19, explained JHF’s Chief Policy bumping into each other,� she said.

That recruitment is ongoing and will take place with the Consortium’s partners through colleges and universities, community action agencies and other organizations, according to Ferguson.

In a press release, Pennsylvania Secretary of Health Dr. Rachel Levine called contact tracing an “essential function of public health, as we work to identify those who have come into contact with COVID-19.� Levine said that she was “encouraged by the partners who are taking part in these efforts and looking forward to the work that will be done in the southwest region.�

The Jewish Healthcare Foundation is “an essential partner,� that helped to “quickly mobilize the initial membership of the regional consortium as part of the efforts to conduct contract tracing for all COVID-19 cases in Pennsylvania,� Levine said in p Contact tracing with a phone app a statement to the Chronicle.

Photo by kzenon/iStockphoto.com The work of recruiting and training contact tracers has already begun.

Officer Robert Ferguson. Contact tracers The Consortium, Ferguson said, is a reach out to everyone that has come in great example of “people in southwestern contact with the individual identified Pennsylvania coming together and pulling during the time frame when they may have their own assets and resources to respond to been infectious, urging those people to this moment in time, and lead.� self-quarantine.

While there is an immediate focus on the Feinstein pointed out that contact tracing coronavirus outbreak currently affecting is not simply making phone calls and the region, Ferguson has an eye toward the cautioning people about their risks. Those future as well. contacted may have questions about child“There’s a huge amount of time and effort care, job status, their mental health, how to being directed toward COVID-19 and it’s get groceries and other concerns. JHF, she really important that we focus on it,� he said. explained, helps the tracers know where to “At the same time, we should be thinking get those answers. about how to ensure the infrastructure “You need a lot of organization and doesn’t go away when people have to divert coordination,� she said. “Not only are we their attention to other public health crises.� recruiting and providing ongoing training Anyone interested in working as a tracer for the people who are appropriate for this, can apply at serv.pa.gov. PJC but we have to provide support and backup.

A lot of these aren’t simple calls. People have David Rullo can be reached at drullo@ a lot of questions. This is a huge operation pittsburghjewishchronicle.org.

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JUNE 26, 2020â&#x20AC;&#x192;3

Headlines Local rabbis join other faith leaders to condemn racism on Juneteenth — LOCAL —

By Adam Reinherz | Staff Writer

L

ocal clergy and community members gathered at Hazelwood Green, on the corner of Second and Hazelwood Ave, to decry systemic racism, acknowledge Juneteenth and promote activism. The June 19 event was organized by Rev. Tim Smith, CEO of the community empowerment organization Center of Life, and featured speakers from diverse backgrounds who collectively signaled the need to support Black lives.

“We come together today as the community of faith in the wake of the murder of George Floyd at the hands of four police officers in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and to encourage people of faith everywhere to step forward to speak out and take action,” said Smith. “Today we stand together to say unequivocally that Black lives matter.”

“I’m here to stand together with Tim and the community to say that Black lives matter,” echoed Rabbi Moishe Mayir Vogel, executive director of the Aleph Institute — North East Region. “Every human being is important. We’re all made in the image of God, and when a human being is killed it is a part of God that’s taken. Therefore, we’ve got to do whatever we can to give everyone the resources, and especially at a time like this

p All the clergy in attendance at the Juneteenth observance.

when we’re all mourning Mr. Floyd who was taken, we’re here to say, ‘Black lives matter.’”

“The Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh stands unequivocally in solidarity with the Black community against police brutality and all forms of systemic, structural racism,” said Josh Sayles, director of the Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh’s Community Relations Council. “I’m proud to stand here as a representative of the Jewish community with faith partners and law enforcement officials on the 155th anniversary of Juneteenth.”

First celebrated in Texas in 1865,

Photo by Jim Busis

Juneteenth is a holiday that commemorates the emancipation of slaves in the United States.

“When I lived in Texas more than two decades, ago I learned that Juneteenth is a really big deal in Texas,” said Rabbi Seth Adelson of Congregation Beth Shalom. “I’m glad that it’s a big deal now on the national stage. Emancipation, like revelation, is also an ongoing thing. We have to continue to work toward that. We have to continue to try to fulfill the words that Pastor Tim mentioned earlier, the quotation from Leviticus, ‘v’ahavta l’reacha kamocha, You

shall love your neighbor as yourself.’”

Rabbi Jeremy Markiz, director of Derekh and Youth Tefillah at Beth Shalom, noted that in recent weeks, through dialogue and participation in other demonstrations, his understanding of racism has evolved.

“There was a pastor who spoke at the interfaith clergy gathering at Freedom Square, maybe two weeks ago and he spoke about his experience going for a run,” recalled Markiz.

The speaker’s comments didn’t merely address what it feels like to run as a Black Please see Juneteenth, page 17

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Headlines New Chabad center in Erie aims to open for 2020 High Holidays â&#x20AC;&#x201D; LOCAL â&#x20AC;&#x201D;

By Justin Vellucci | Special to the Chronicle

C

habad of Western Pennsylvania is looking to make a splash in Erie.

Chabad, known for its hyperlocal Jewish outreach efforts, is sending a young New York City-bred rabbi and his family to the northwestern Pennsylvanian city to establish the groupâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s presence in the coming months. Though COVID-19 makes timelines difficult to predict, the organization hopes to have a private residence set up in time for Rosh Hashanah services this September.

Erieâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Jewish population â&#x20AC;&#x201D; split among the unaffiliated and two synagogues, at an estimated size of under 500 people â&#x20AC;&#x201D; has declined along with the cityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s broader population, as most Rust Belt cities have. Chabad The Kivman family will be establishing a Chabad in Erie. Photo courtesy of Rabbi Dovie Kivman leadership, however, said it does not measure p the regionâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s importance in headcounts.

Rabbi Dovie Kivman will lead the mission Lifelong Erie resident Mark Tanenbaum Erieâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s population in 2019 was slightly above 95,000, 6% below where it was a decade to Erie, with his wife, Mushkie, and their met Kivman due to the sound of his last earlier, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. 1-year-old son, Yossele. Kivman grew up in name â&#x20AC;&#x201D; literally. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Dov just called me on the phone because â&#x20AC;&#x153;There are Jews living out there and thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Crown Heights, Brooklyn, and has served all we need to know,â&#x20AC;? said Rabbi Yisroel there, as well as elsewhere in the U.S., in my name sounded Jewish â&#x20AC;&#x201D; he was right,â&#x20AC;?

Rosenfeld, executive director of Chabad of Kazakhstan, and at a yeshiva in Safed, Israel. laughed Tanenbaum, a member of Erieâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s sole â&#x20AC;&#x153;Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re going to open a Chabad house and Reform synagogue, Temple Anshe Hesed.

Western Pennsylvania. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We go to visit them, The two have discussed what forms help them out â&#x20AC;&#x201D; thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s what Chabad is all itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a home where every Jew is welcomed and everything about Judaism is fun and Chabad might take in Erie, Tanenbaum said. about all over the world.â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x153;I want to be an ambassador for our city,â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x153;Whatever it is thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a need for, thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s exciting,â&#x20AC;? Kivman said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I want Jews to enjoy Judaism.

I want it to be fun.â&#x20AC;? said Tanenbaum, who attended the same Erie what weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re there for,â&#x20AC;? he added.

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high school as his parents, as did his children. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I love the city and living here has been great.

To have a Chabad option in Erie is great.â&#x20AC;?

Though Erieâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Jewish population is not large, Tanenbaum, the director of a performing arts group in the city, stressed it is very interwoven into the cityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s fabric. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re very inviting and real here â&#x20AC;&#x201D; thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s very Erie,â&#x20AC;? Tanenbaum said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;You know the old expression, â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;six degrees of separationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;? In Erie, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s two. I like that.â&#x20AC;?

The cityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Jewish Community Council could not be reached for comment as of press time.

Rabbi Mark Goodman lives in Pittsburgh and commutes to Erie to lead services at Brith Sholom, the cityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Conservative shul.

Membership at his synagogue, he said, is â&#x20AC;&#x153;very, very smallâ&#x20AC;? but some members observe Shabbat and occasionally trek to Cleveland for kosher meats. Yizkor services, during which the dead are memorialized, are heavily attended. â&#x20AC;&#x153;More Yiddishkeit is important,â&#x20AC;?

Goodman told the Chronicle. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I wish them (the Kivmans) the best of luck.â&#x20AC;?

For Rosenfeld, who oversees Chabad chapters in Pittsburgh, Altoona, State College and in West Virginia, the Kivman family is only the beginning of the story for Erie. â&#x20AC;&#x153;[Chabad in] Pittsburgh started that way in the 1940s, with one family,â&#x20AC;? he said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Today, we have 300 Chabad families here â&#x20AC;&#x201D; but the entire Jewish community, we work with.â&#x20AC;? PJC Justin Vellucci is a freelance writer living in Pittsburgh.

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Headlines Jewish birders are a species, but don’t always flock together — LOCAL —

By Adam Reinherz | Staff Writer

A

lmost 30 years before becoming a founding member of the Three Rivers Birding Club, Jack Solomon visited Acadia National Park. It was the summer of 1970, and Solomon, a camping enthusiast, had planned a nearly two and a half week trip to the 47,000-acre park in Maine.

Growing up, “a lot of the kids in my neighborhood, which was Homewood, liked to go camping,” said Solomon. “We had a particular interest in snakes. The scoutmaster of our local troop was the herpetologist at the Pittsburgh Zoo.” Acadia is home to seven species of reptiles and 11 species of amphibians, according to park resources.

Although Solomon had some knowledge of frogs, toads and lizards, the 1970 trip introduced him to other wildlife. During a ranger-guided hike, Solomon peered through a borrowed telescope and observed a ruddy turnstone.

“The bird was out there on the flat clam shells,” he said. “The tide was low so the whole connection between Bar Harbor and the island was exposed and pretty dry.”

Solomon continued staring at the migratory bird, which subsists on crabs, mollusks and barnacles, when another sight caught his attention.

“As we watched the tide come in, I saw someone who was hubcap deep in seaweed,” said Solomon with a laugh. Between “the excitement of seeing that bird through good optical equipment” and watching someone trying to save his car from going under, “the whole event is etched into my memory.”

The Acadia vacation ignited Solomon’s interest in birding. After returning to Pittsburgh, where he was attending law school, Solomon began buying past issues of Audubon, a journal of the National Audubon Society, and attending events hosted by the Audubon Society of Western Pennsylvania.

Solomon met his wife, Susan, also a birder, at an Audubon meeting during that period.

Finally, upon completing law school, Solomon purchased a pair of binoculars.

“They were $35 and I treated them like they were an incredible investment,” he said.

“I’m amazed I saw anything, but I had a lot of fun with those and I learned a lot.”

As Solomon’s knowledge grew, he began sharing insights.

Ryan Tomazin, president-elect of the Brooks Bird Club, one of the nation’s oldest birding groups, met Solomon years ago and praised the fellow Jewish birder’s ability to teach.

“I love talking to him and spending time with him because he’s got so many stories and so much depth and intelligence,” said Tomazin. “He’s very self-deprecating, which is always a good thing, especially when you’re out looking for birds and trying to tell people what you see and don’t see.”

Like Solomon, Tomazin was introduced to nature as a child.

Between wildlife cards that his parents had purchased, and a friend’s field book he regularly read on the bus ride to school, Tomazin began learning more about the world outdoors. His interest in birding, however, began 31 years ago as a camper at the Oglebay Institute in West Virginia.

“Every morning we went on bird walks

6 JUNE 26, 2020

p Jack Solomon in the 1970s

Photo courtesy

of Jack Solomon

and I thought that was kind of neat, and the woman who was in charge started noticing that and encouraged that,” said Tomazin.

One camp led to another camp, which led to more reading on the subject, and eventually Tomazin was hooked.

There are several ways to bird, he noted.

Some people go out by themselves, others participate as a group. Some birders keep written logs of species sighted, other birders rely heavily on apps.

Unlike those who are interested in the scientific aspects, “I am more from the Roger Tory Peterson school of just holistic birding where I kind of feel the bird more than overanalyze it,” said Tomazin. “Some people see birds as an indicator for humans, and I see birds as, hey, they were here first.”

Tomazin recently returned from a 10-day birding trip, where he observed 121 species of birds.

Being able to hear the different voices, and knowing which trees birds like black-throated blue warblers, magnolia warblers and hermit thrushes tend to rest in, allows him to feel like “I’m in on their secret,” he said.

Brooke Barker and Boaz Frankel wouldn’t necessarily consider themselves bird whisperers, but the Squirrel Hill residents have had their own adventure in communicating with the warm-blooded vertebrates.

While living in Amsterdam, Barker and Frankel discovered that crows have the ability to identify humans.

According to University of Washington researchers, crows are “capable of discriminating among individual people and remembering those who have aided or threatened them in the past.”

“After I learned this fact, I got obsessed with having a crow like me,” said Barker, who is the author of “Sad Animal Facts.”

In their quest to befriend crows, Barker and Frankel placed mats on their balcony, taped their passport photographs to the windows and waited.

After a few weeks, the number of crows increased, said Barker.

In retrospect, she isn’t sure how effective the passport photos were, but said there is value in trying something similar at home these days.

“I really recommend it as a quarantine activity,” she said.

Even before living in Amsterdam, Frankel had regularly birded with a group in Prospect Park.

“It was thrilling, especially in New York where you don’t think about it being a vibrant wildlife scene,” he said.

There were conversations with other birders, who would say, “This bird hasn’t been seen in New York for a year, and it might not be seen for another year,” he

p A red headed woodpecker spotted in West Virginia

Photo by Ryan Tomazin

p Jack and Susan Solomon stand with the National Wildlife Refuge mascot at Santa Ana National Wildlife Refuge in Texas.

Photo courtesy of Jack Solomon

recalled. “It felt like a secret treasure hunt.”

Frankel recently returned to birding after experiencing a walk through Squirrel Hill where he encountered “a bunch of little brown birds,” he said. “It’s a category of birds we see and don’t pay much attention to.”

Frankel noted each bird’s features, returned home and opened his copy of “National Geographic Field Guide to the Birds of North America.”

“It was clear that I was looking at four different types of birds,” he said. “It was mind blowing.”

“The more you read about it, the more you know about them and things start to make sense,” said Rabbi Akiva Sutofsky, a Squirrel Hill resident.

Sutofsky’s interest in birding developed during the COVID-19 closures, as he found himself increasing the time he spent walking in Schenley Park.

After noticing different sounds and chirps, Sutofsky purchased a pair of binoculars.

“It’s changed the whole experience,” he said. “You get to see these beautiful birds magnified and up close.”

Around the same time, Sutofsky’s son’s science teacher sent home a two-page list of Pennsylvania birds.

Identifying the various species was so much fun that Sutofsky purchased a

PITTSBURGH JEWISH CHRONICLE

“500-page book from Readers Digest from like a million years ago,” he said.

The book helped in that it took a subject and brought it to life, he added.

For instance, while walking on a trail near the Greenfield Bridge, Sutofsky and his son found a red tailed hawk nest with three eyases.

“The book said that on day 45 they will take their first flight. We tracked them, and almost to the day we saw them take their first flight,” he said.

Sutofsky realizes that he too is a fledgling when it comes to birding, but is excited to continue discovering more.

“I saw a bald eagle. I saw the biggest woodpecker in North America, the pileated woodpecker. I saw amazing hummingbirds,” he said. “The most beautiful bird I saw is called a scarlet tanager.”

The medium-sized American songbird is similar to a cardinal.

Sutofsky noted that as much as he’s learned about birds these last few months, he’s also discovered a few things about humans.

“Some people could care less,” he said, “but it is really amazing how many beautiful birds there are and we never take the time to notice.” PJC Adam Reinherz can be reached at areinherz@ pittsburghjewishchronicle.org.

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Calendar >>Submit calendar items on the Chronicle’s website, pittsburghjewishchronicle.org.

Submissions will also be included in print. Events will run in the print edition beginning one month prior to the date as space allows. The deadline for submissions is Friday, noon. q

FRIDAY, JUNE 26

As part of the Continuing Legal Education Series, Rabbi Danny Schiff, foundation scholar at the Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh, will explore Coronavirus in Jewish Law. Exploring Jewish texts, Rabbi Schiff will present the unique insights of Judaism on complex contemporary topics. Get up to 10 CLE ethics credits or Social Work Continuing Education Units (CEUs).

With CLE/CEU credit: $35/session.

Without CLE/CEU credit: $30/session.

8:30 a.m. jewishpgh.org/event/20192020-continuing-legal-educationseries-5/2020-06-26 q SUNDAYS, JUNE 28;

JULY 5, 12, 19, 26

Join a lay-led Online Parashah Study Group to discuss the week’s Torah

portion. No Hebrew knowledge is needed. The goal is to build community while deepening understanding of the text. For more information, visit bethshalompgh.org/online-parashah. q

SUNDAY, JUNE 28

Looking for a way to do tikkun olam while social distancing? Join Moishe House Pittsburgh and the Squirrel Hill Urban Coalition (SHUC) for A Socially Distant Cleanup. SHUC will be providing gloves and trash bags to participants in Squirrel Hill who sign up in advance, and some Squirrel Hill businesses will be offering discounts to those who participate. All participants should wear a mask and gloves. Be sure to avoid touching your face (or your phone!) with your gloves on, wash hands afterward, and obey social distancing protocols.

Afterward, please go to the Moishe House Pittsburgh Facebook page and share a post (ex. weirdest find, best passerby reaction, a pic of you in your hero garb collecting garbage). 10 a.m. facebook.com/events/349790269315425 q

MONDAYS, JUNE 29; JULY 6, 13, 20

Join Rabbi Jeremy Markiz in learning

This week in Israeli history — WORLD — Items provided by the Center for Israel Education (israeled.org), where you can find more details.

June 26, 2004 — Musician Naomi Shemer dies

Musician Naomi Shemer dies at age 73 after a long battle with cancer. She wrote her best-known song, the anthem “Jerusalem of Gold,” for a festival in 1967 before the Six-Day War reunified the city.

June 27, 1945 — Shin Bet head Ami Ayalon born

Ami Ayalon, who leads Israel’s navy from 1992 to 1996 and the Shin Bet security service from 1996 to 2000, is born in Tiberias. A Medal of Valor-winning commando, he represents the Labor Party in the Knesset from 2006 to 2009.

June 28, 1967 — Jerusalem officially reunited

Israel publishes the Jerusalem Declaration, announcing the reunification of the city under Israeli sovereignty after the Six-Day War. Prime Minister Levi Eshkol promises holy-site access to all.

June 29, 1946 — British round up resistance fighters

Masechet Rosh Hashanah, a tractate of the Talmud about the many new years that fill out the Jewish calendar at Monday Talmud Study. 9:15 a.m. For more information, visit bethshalompgh. org/mondaytalmud. q TUESDAYS, JULY 14, 21, 28;

AUGUST 4

The ethical use of money is one of the most important areas of Jewish conduct.

The tradition says that when you die, it’s the first question you will be asked: how did you behave monetarily? In Your Money: What Jewish Ethics Has to Say, Jewish Community Foundation Scholar Rabbi Danny Schiff will explore the Jewish principles, and the requisite practices, around the appropriate use of money as understood by Jewish tradition. 10 a.m. foundation. jewishpgh.org/your-money-what-jewishethics-has-to-say q

WEDNESDAYS, JULY 15, 22, 29

The Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh presents a series of webinars with Neil Lazarus, internationally acclaimed expert in the fields of Middle East politics, public diplomacy and

effective communication training.

You must register online to receive the Zoom link via email prior to the webinar. 12 p.m. jewishpgh.org/event/ lazarus-unmasked. q

THURSDAY, JULY 30

Sometimes known as the “Black Fast,” there is no day more laden with sorrow and memory than the Fast of Tisha B’Av. Sign up to participate in a Seminar for Tisha B’Av on ZOOM with Jewish Community Foundation Scholar Rabbi Danny Schiff on the significance of the day, its power through the long sweep of Jewish history, and its contemporary meaning for us in 2020. 3 p.m. foundation.jewishpgh.org/event/aseminar-for-tisha-bav q

WEDNESDAYS, AUGUST 5, 12, 19, 26

Jewish Community Foundation Scholar Rabbi Danny Schiff will explore the current state of Jewish love and marriage, and where it all might be headed, in Twenty-First Century Love & Marriage in Judaism. 10 a.m. foundation.jewishpgh.org/twenty-firstcentury-love-marriage-in-judaism PJC

Turning 65?

Were These Your Classmates?

The British military launches Operation Agatha, a two-week series of weapons raids and arrests of Jewish resistance leaders and fighters, on a day that comes to be known as Black Sabbath.

June 30, 1937 — Religious Kibbutz Tirat Zvi founded

German, Polish and Russian Jews establish Kibbutz Tirat Zvi in the Beit She’an Valley as one of the first religious kibbutzim during the “Tower and Stockade” effort to expand the borders of a future state.

Nathan Lane

Jamie Dimon (GE)

Thinking About the Decision You (and Your Classmates) Need to Make About Health Insurance?

July 1, 1244 — Jews granted rights in Austria

Frederick II, the duke of Austria since 1230, issues a charter extending rights to Jews as a way to boost Austria’s economy. The charter remains in effect until Austria expels its Jews in 1420.

Bill Maher

Oprah Winfrey

July 2, 2010 — Benayoun signs with Chelsea Israeli midfielder Yossi Benayoun leaves Liverpool for fellow English Premier League club Chelsea, owned

by Russian-Israeli billionaire Roman Abramovich.

He returns to the Israeli league in 2014. PJC

If You Are Turning 65 You Have a Limited Time to Make a Decision that May Affect the Rest of Your Life.

Call Dan Askin Today!

412-901-5433

askinsure@msn.com • askinsure.net Health Insurance for Individuals & Seniors Since 1984

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PITTSBURGH JEWISH CHRONICLE

JUNE 26, 2020 7

Headlines Seeing beyond the surface of an old portrait â&#x20AC;&#x201D; LOCAL â&#x20AC;&#x201D;

By Eric Lidji | Special to the Chronicle

T

he Historical Society of Western Pennsylvania published a wonderful article in 1935 called â&#x20AC;&#x153;Pittsburgh Seventies.â&#x20AC;? Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a genre of writing common in the back catalog of our long-running publication: a reminiscence of old Pittsburgh.

What makes this article so much better than the usual account of long-forgotten people and place names is its analysis. The author, J. Ernest Wright, deftly identifies the spirit of the city in the 1870s.

Wright notes the soot and grime, of course, but he is able to see beyond it: â&#x20AC;&#x153;A growing, sprawling, awkward, provincial, but pleasant city was Pittsburgh in the seventh decade of the nineteenth century. Active, adolescent, eager as always, confident, too, as always.â&#x20AC;?

The 1870s followed the hardscrabble frontier-taming flurry of the middle decades of the 19th century and preceded the bloated wealth of the Gilded Age. â&#x20AC;&#x153;It was a decade of widespread physical comforts, of buoyant optimism, an age of correctness and politeness, genteel in behavior and thinking,â&#x20AC;?

Wright explained. â&#x20AC;&#x153;It was an age of social aspiration. People wanted wealth, leisure, and power. And in Pittsburgh they were fast getting it.â&#x20AC;?

Within that setting, an artistic community finally blossomed in Pittsburgh, after decades

of disconnected indiinitially trained in vidual efforts. One of the studios of the few the most important professional artists cultural organizations who were working in launched during those the city, most notably years was the Art the landscape painter Society, founded in George Hetzel.

1873. It arranged some Leisser traveled of the first local exhithroughout Europe, bitions of paintings in attending the great Pittsburgh, and it also art academies. He organized concerts. returned to Pittsburgh A few members to teach a beloved life of the small Jewish drawing class at the community of the Pittsburgh School 1870s were heavily for Design. involved in the Art For a time, his Society, particularly studio was in the same its music scene. Isaac building as Andrew Hirsch played violin.

Carnegieâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s office. The Carrie Naumberg two men met in an Cohen was an early p elevator and became Bertha Rauh had known Martin supporter of Art Leisser for more than 50 years by the friends. Unexpected Society concerts, as time he painted her portrait in 1926. friendships often yield Image courtesy of the Rauh Jewish Archives unexpected benefits. was Bertha Rauhâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s f a t h e r, Samuel Leisser is credited with Floersheim. A young Bertha Floersheim convincing the industrialist to include an art played piano at Art Society concerts. school into his plans for the technical college A leading figure in the Art Society was that is now Carnegie Mellon University.

Martin B. Leisser (1845-1940), who painted At the time that Leisser painted this portrait this portrait of Bertha Rauh in 1926. Leisser of Bertha Rauh, she was 61 years old and was the son of non-Jewish German immi- approaching her professional peak. She had grants to the South Side. There were few served 20 years as the president of the local art classes in Pittsburgh in the 1850s and section of the National Council of Jewish 1860s, let alone art schools, and so Leisser Women and had recently become the head of

the Department of Public Welfare, where she was revolutionizing social services locally.

This portrait initially struck me as being technically accomplished but a bit bland, perhaps a vanity project. It shows Mrs. Rauh in a well-appointed room, looking up from a letter. We have dozens of those letters at the archives. She sent them to colleagues all over the city in her efforts to create partnerships, launch initiatives, and solve problems.

But once I learned about the connection between artist and subject, I saw this painting through Leisserâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s eyes. He captures something of Berthaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s personality â&#x20AC;&#x201D; her refinement, determination, and approachable warmth. He had known her since her childhood. It was an acquaintanceship of more than 50 years, and it transcended their differences in age, gender and faith. The painting is a testament to a small community of likeminded souls.

This is probably what Wright was referring to when he said that Leisser and his local contemporaries were â&#x20AC;&#x153;not great names, to be sure, but native and sincere and productive of a genuine culture which came not from the outside nor from a pretentious surface, but from the temper of the people, and which gave to the city life of the seventies a light and color and sheen that glowed steadily through the film of industrial soot and scum.â&#x20AC;?â&#x20AC;&#x201A; PJC Eric Lidji is the director of the Rauh Jewish History Program & Archives at the Heinz History Center. He can be reached at eslidji@ heinzhistorycenter.org or 412-454-6406.

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Organization Directory ADATH JESHURUN CEMETERY Office: 217 East Patty Lane Monroeville, Pennsylvania 15146 Phone: 412-508-0817 Website: adathjeshuruncemeterypgh.org Email: office@adathjeshuruncemeterypgh.org

President, Barbara Scheinberg; Vice President, Ted Heyman; Secretary, Gail Schmitt; Treasurer, Marty Elikan; Renee Abrams, William Berkowitz, Allan Dalfen, Paul Herman, Beverly Kalson, Earl Kaiserman, Sandy Goppman, Lou Kushner, Alan Sable, Stuart Neft; Susan Cohen, Office Administrator.

••• ADAT SHALOM B’NAI ISRAEL/BETH JACOB A welcoming and inclusive synagogue serving the Fox Chapel & North Hills community

368 Guys Run Road (Fox Chapel Area) Cheswick, PA 15024-9463 Phone: 412-820-7000 Website: www.adatshalompgh.org Email: lrothstein@adatshalom.org

David Lazear, President; David Gurwin, 1st VP; Laurie Singer, 2nd VP; Michele Fryncko, Recording Secretary; Jill Langue, Asst. Recording Secretary; Jim Grenen, Treasurer; Marshall Dayan, Asst. Treasurer; DeDe Fink, Sisterhood President; Yaier Lehrer, Rabbi; Lisa Rothstein, Executive Director; Casey Shapira, Preschool Director; David Haviv, Religious School Director.

••• AHAVATH ACHIM CONGREGATION The Carnegie Shul

Website: thecarnegieshul.org Email: mrmike7777@yahoo.com

Lawrence Block, Pres; Richard D’Loss, 1st; V.P.; Paul Spivak, 2nd V.P.; Elaine Rosenfield, Secy.; Joel Roteman, Treas.; Rosalyn Hoffman, Michael Roteman, Marcia Steinberger, Irwin Norvitch, and Wendy Panizzi, Board of Directors.

••• AIPAC — THE AMERICAN ISRAEL PUBLIC AFFAIRS COMMITTEE Phone: 410-223-4190 Website: aipac.org Email: myaffe@aipac.org

Michael Yaffe, AIPAC Pittsburgh Director.

••• ALEPH INSTITUTE— NORTH EAST REGION Hyman & Martha Rogal Center

5804 Beacon St. Pittsburgh, PA 15217 Phone: 412-421-0111; Fax: 412-521-5948 Website: alephne.org Email: rabbivogel@alephne.org, info@alephne.org

Rabbi Moishe Mayir Vogel, Exec. Dir.; Marty Davis, Chairman of the Board; Eytan Rosenthal CPA, Treasurer, Bill Rudolph, Estelle Comay Esq., Charles Saul Esq., Jon Pushinsky Esq., Charles Perlow Esq., Neil Notkin, & Jim Leiber Esq. Board members ••• AMERICAN TECHNION SOCIETY Advancing Innovation for Israel and the World

6735 Telegraph Road, Suite 365 Bloomfield Hills, MI 48301 Phone: 248-593-6760 Website: ats.org Email: joey@ats.org

Joey Selesny, Regional Director East Central Region.

••• BBYO KEYSTONE MOUNTAIN REGION Phone: 412 600 3989 Website: bbyo.org/region/keystone Email:elevin@bbyo.org

Erica Levin, Regional Director: KMR BBYO

CONGREGATION BET TIKVAH A welcoming, queer-centric, independent minyan.

P.O. Box 10140 Pittsburgh, PA 15232 Hotline: 412-256-8317 Website: bettikvah.org Email: info@bettikvah.org

•••

BETH EL CONGREGATION OF THE SOUTH HILLS 1900 Cochran Road Pittsburgh, PA 15220 Phone: 412-561-1168 Website: bethelcong.org Email: steve@bethelcong.org

Alex Greenbaum, Rabbi; Amy Greenbaum, Assoc. Rabbi / Edu. Dir.; Chris Benton, Exec. Dir.; Susie Seletz, Pres.; Lynda Abraham-Braff, Exec. V.P.; Barry Friedman, Admin. V.P.; William Spatz, Ed. V.P.; Todd Kart, Fin. V.P.; Tricia Burkett, Fundraising V.P.; Elana Glick, Membership V.P.; Karen Balk, Volunteerism V.P.; Beth Pomerantz, Fin. Secy.; Neal Ash, Asst. Fin. Secy.; David Sirota, Treas.; Cindy Platto, Asst. Treas.; Vered Cohen, Rec. Secy.; Lynda AbrahamBraff, Sisterhood Pres.; Jeremy Broverman with Steve Haberman, Men’s Club Co-Pres.; Sadie Kalathunkal, Youth Advisor ••• BETH HAMEDRASH HAGODOL/ BETH JACOB SYNAGOGUE Visit us Downtown. All are welcome.

810 Fifth Ave. Pittsburgh, PA 15219 Phone: 412-471-4443

Stanley J. Savage, Rabbi; Ira Michael Frank, Pres.; Sherman Weinstein, 1st V.P.; Lee Oleinick, 2nd V.P.; Joe Goldston, Secy; Brian Cynamon, Treas.; Stephen A. Neustein, Esq.; Assist. Treas.; Arlene Neustein, Sisterhood Pres.

••• BETH ISRAEL CONGREGATION 265 North Ave. Washington, PA 15301 Phone: 724-225-7080 Website: mybethisrael.org Email: office@bethisraelsynagogue.com Facebook: facebook.com/bethisraelsynagogue

President, The Hon. Gary Gilman; Vice President, Marc Simon; Treasurer, David S. Posner, Esq.; Secretary, Marilyn Posner; Immediate Past President, Richard S. Pataki, M.D.: Rabbi, David C. Novitsky, Esq. Board of Directors: Richard Littman; Stephen Richman, Esq.; Dana J. Shiller, Beth Tully, Fred Weber, Nick Bykowetz.

••• BETH SAMUEL JEWISH CENTER A warm and diverse Jewish community serving the needs of Western Allegheny, Beaver and Butler counties.

Seth Adelson, Senior Rabbi; Debby Firestone, President; Kate Robinson, Executive V.P.; Alan Kopolow, V.P. of Finance; Mindy Shreve, V.P. of Member Engagement; Joseph Jolson, V.P. of Operations; Jordan Fischbach, V.P. Synagogue Life; Adam Kolko, V.P. of Youth; Paul Teplitz, Secretary; Fred Newman, Treasurer; David Horvitz, Immediate Past President; Ken Turkewitz, Interim Executive Director; Rabbi Jeremy Markiz, Director of Derekh and Youth Tefilah; Rabbi Larry Freedman, Director of J-JEP; Hilary Yeckel, Director of ELC; Marissa Tait, Youth Director; Dale Caprara, Controller; Amira Walker, Bookkeeper; Lonnie Wolf, Cemetery Director; Audrey Glickman, Rabbi’s Assistant; Michelle Vines, Events Coordinator; Anthony Colaizzi, Communications and Design Manager; Kate Kim, Assistant Director of J-JEP; Pam Strasolla, Assistant Director of ELC; John Williams, Maintenance Supervisor; Tika Bonner, Receptionist; Rosie Valdez, ELC Operations; Ira Frank, Men’s Club President; Judy Kornblith Kobell, Sisterhood President ••• CONGREGATION B’NAI ABRAHAM A warm, caring, inclusive community.

519 N. Main St. Butler, PA 16001 Phone: 724-287-5806 Website: congbnaiabraham.org Email: congbnaiabraham@zoominternet.net

Cantor Michal Gray-Schaffer, Spiritual Leader; Eric Levin, President; Christine Hood, V. P.; Shirley Grossman, Sec.; Roberta Gallagher, Religious School Director.

••• B’NAI EMUNOH CHABAD 4315 Murray Ave. Pittsburgh PA 15217 Phone: 412-521-1477 Website: bechabad.org Email: bechabad@gmail.com

Elchonon Friedman, Rabbi; Yehuda Cowen, Pres.; Shalom Leeds, VP & Gabbi; Chanani Saks, Treas.; Ivan Engel, Rec. Secy.; Joel Pirchesky, Past Pres.

••• CHABAD OF CARNEGIE MELLON UNIVERSITY 5120 Beeler St. Pittsburgh, PA 15217 Phone: 412-772-8505; Fax: 877-286-1434

Website: chabadofcmu.com Email: Rabbi@ chabadofcmu.com Rabbi Shlomo and Chani Silverman, Co-Directors.

••• CHABAD HOUSE ON CAMPUS Serving the needs of the Jewish college community.

Phone: 412-683-7770; Fax: 412-681-7770 Website: chabadpgh.org Email: home@chabadpgh.org

810 Kennedy Drive Ambridge, PA 15003 Phone: 724-266-5238 Website: bethsamuel.org Email: bethsamueloffice@comcast.net

Rabbi Shmuel, Sara Weinstein, Co-Directors.

Rabbi Shua, Shoshana Hoexter, Co-Program Directors.

•••

Cantor Rena Shapiro, Spiritual Leader; Barbara Wilson, Director; William Snider, Pres.; Sara Braun, V.P.; Karen Beaudway, Past Pres.; Nicole Homich, Secy.’ David Bloomberg, co-Fin. V.P.; Jerry DeSena, Trustee 1; Michele Klein Fedyshin, Trustee 2.

•••

Rabbi Mendy Co-Directors.

•••

CONGREGATION BETH SHALOM Enriching lives through community, lifelong Jewish learning and spiritual growth!

5915 Beacon St. Pittsburgh, PA 15217 Phone: 412-421-2288; Fax: 412-421-5923 Website: bethshalompgh.org Email: office@bethshalompgh.org

CHABAD JEWISH CENTER OF MONROEVILLE 2715 Mosside Blvd.

Monroeville, PA 15146 Website: JewishMonroeville.com Email: Chabad@JewishMonroeville.com

and

Esther

Schapiro,

ROHR CHABAD JEWISH CENTER WEST VIRGINIA UNIVERSITY 424 Brockway Ave. Morgantown, WV 26501 Phone: 304-599-1515 Website: JewishWV.org

Rabbi Zalman and Hindy Gurevitz, Co-Directors.

CHABAD OF THE SOUTH HILLS Bringing the Joy and Relevance of Judaism to the South Hills.

1701 McFarland Road Pittsburgh, PA 15216 Website: chabadsh.com Email: rabbi@chabadsh.com Phone: 412-344-2424; 412-512-3046

Rabbi Mendel & Batya Rosenblum, Co-Directors; Mrs. Mussie Rosenblum, Event Coordinator; Mrs. Barb Segel, Development Coordinator.

••• CHABAD OF SQUIRREL HILL 1700 Beechwood Blvd.

Pittsburgh, PA 15217 Phone: 412-421-0546 Website: chabadpgh.com

Rabbi Yisroel and Chani Altein, Co-Directors; Sara Deren, Director of Jewish Discovery Center; Bayla Oster, Assistant Director of Camp Gan Izzy.

••• CLASSROOMS WITHOUT BORDERS Open Minds. Open Hearts. Providing Holocaust and Israel Education to teachers from all frameworks.

P.O. Box 60144 Pittsburgh, PA 15211 Phone: 412-915-9182 Website: classroomswithoutborders.org Email: info@classroomswithoutborders.org

Dr. Zipora (Tsipy) Gur, Executive Director; Melissa Haviv, Assistant Director; Daniel Pearlman, Programs Manager; Ateret Cope, Operations Manager; Jamie Campbell, Wheeling Program Coordinator; Board of Directors: Robert Glimcher, Chair; Lisa Allen; Michael Bernstein; Kerry Bron; Estelle Comay; Laura Penrod Kronk; Robert Mallet; Victor Mizrahi; Charles S. Perlow; Louis B. Plung; Debbie Resnick; James Rudolph; Hilary S. Tyson.

••• COMMUNITY DAY SCHOOL 6424 Forward Ave. Pittsburgh, PA 15217 Phone: 412-521-1100; Fax: 412-521-4511 Website: comday.org

Avi Baran Munro, Head of School; Bari Weinberger, CFO; Aaron Walker, Head of Jewish Life and Learning; Mark Minkus, Head of Intermediate School and Middle School; Andrea Erven-Victoria, Head of Early Childhood and Lower School; Kelly Binning, Head of Academic and Emotional Services; Sarah DeWitt, Enrollment Management Dir.; Jenny Jones, Institutional Advancement and Donor Relations Dir.; Jordan Hoover, Technology and Strategic Initiatives Dir.; Jennifer Bails, Marketing and Communications Dir.; Derek Smith, Pres.; Debbie Resnick, Immed. Past Pres.; Stav Gil, Treas.; Evan Indianer, Secy.

••• CONGREGATION DOR HADASH Pittsburgh’s Reconstructionist Congregation

4905 Fifth Ave. Pittsburgh, PA 15213 Phone: 412-422-5158 Website: dorhadash.net

President, Donna Coufal; VP of Ritual, Judy Yanowitz; VP of Administration, Melvin Melnick; Secretary, Beth Silver; Treasurer, Jim Silver; Adult Education, Deborah Prise; VP of Youth Education, Dana Kellerman; Life Events, Pamela Weiss; Social Action, Eve Wider; Social Events, Judy Grumet and Ellen Berne; Membership, Janey Zeilinger; Programming, Jean Clickner and Roz Becker; Member-atLarge, Kimberly Latta; Communications Chair, Jim Lenkner; Principal, Dor Hadash Religious School, Karen Morris.

Please see Directory, page 10

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PITTSBURGH JEWISH CHRONICLE

JUNE 26, 2020 9

Organization Directory Directory: Continued from page 9 CONGREGATION EMANU-EL ISRAEL To support Judaism and the welfare of our community

222 N. Main St. Greensburg, PA 15601 Phone: 724-834-0560; Website: ceigreensburg.org Email: office@cei-greensburg.org

Rabbi Leonard Sarko, Sara Rae Perman, Rabbi Emeritus; Irene Rothschild, Pres. & Admin.; Terri Katzman, 1st V.P.; Julie Goldstein, Treas.; Virginia Lieberman, Secy.; Marion Slone, Sisterhood Pres.; Gary Moidel, Men’s Club Pres.; Robert Halden, Archives; Terri Katazman & Virginia Lieberman, Caring; Shoshana Halden, Edu.; Esther Glasser, Endowment; Shirley Shpargel, Library; Robert Slone, Long-Range Planning; Mary Ellen Kane, Membership; Richard Virshup, Physical Properties; Shoshana Halden, Ritual Practices; Terri Katzman & Mary Ellen Kane, Social Action; Mitch Goldstein & Zach Virshup, I.T. ••• FORWARD SHADY APARTMENTS A 117-unit supportive senior housing community offering efficiency, one and two bedroom apartments in a convenient location along Forward Avenue in Squirrel Hill.

5841 Forward Ave. Pittsburgh, PA 15217 Phone: 412-521-3065 Fax: 412-521-6413 Email: forwardshady@srcare.org

Tom Netzer, Pres.; Donna Kruman, V.P.; Terry Lerman, Treas.

••• THE FRIENDSHIP CIRCLE OF PITTSBURGH Building inclusive community for those with special needs, one friendship at a time.

1922 Murray Ave. Pittsburgh, PA 15217 Phone: 412-224-4440 Website: fcpgh.org Email: info@fcpgh.org

Rabbi Mordy Rudolph, Exec. Dir.; Rivkee Rudolph, Dir.; Dr. Laura Marshak, Prof.

Advisor; Ann Grandinetti, Development Assoc.; Leighann Calamera, Grant and Corporate Development Assoc.; Drew Armstrong, Prog. and Member Support Assoc.; Sara Cato, Dir. of Operations; Adina Waren, Dir. of Programs; Gila Zimbovsky, Office Manager; Paige Eddy, Friends on the Town Program Coordinator; Alexa Dines, Friends at Home Coordinator; Emily Vogt, Friends on the Town Program Associate; Alyssa Marchitelli, Program Coordinator; Esti Weiss, Front Desk Assoc.; Cara Paolicelli, Friendship Fellows Director; Board of Dir.’s: Alan Gordon, Chair; Dr. Tracy Levy, Immediate Past Chair; Aaron Morgenstern, V. Chair; Mollie Hanna Lang, Secretary; David Khani, Treas.; Michael Bernstein, Assistant Treas.; David Goldberg, Ina Gumberg, Lee Hurwitz, Kathy Klein, Natalie Moritz, Dorothy Pollon, Rachel Petrucelli, Andrew Rabin, Geri Cohen Recht, Joe Reschini, Cindy Vayonis.

••• GEMILAS CHESED CONGREGATION 1400 Summit St. White Oak, PA 15131 Phone: 412-678-8859; Fax: 412-678-8850 Website: gemilaschesed.org Email: gemilaschesed@gmail.com

Rabbi Moshe Russell, Interim Rabbi; Gershon Guttman, Pres.; vice president Larry Perl; Bruce Gelman, secretary; Richard Bollinger, Treas.; Gabbaim are Gershon Guttman and Alan Balsam.

HADASSAH 60 Revere Drive, Suite 800 Northbrook, IL 60062 847-205-1900 Hadassah.org/midwest midwest@hadassah.org Rochelle Parker, Greater Pittsburgh Rsparker@hadassah.org Ronna Ash Managing Director Hadassah Midwest

•••

HEBREW FREE LOAN ASSOCIATION 4307 Murray Ave. Pittsburgh, PA 15217 Phone: 412-422-8868 Website: hflapgh.org

Nancy Israel, Pres.; Jesse Hirshman, 1st V.P.; Meira Russ, 2nd V.P.; Laurie Moritz, Treas./ Secy.; Ellen Clancy, Dir. of Operations; Aviva Lubowsky, Dir. of Marketing & Development.

••• HILLEL ACADEMY 5685 Beacon St. Pittsburgh, PA 15217 Phone: 412-521-8131; Fax: 412-521-5150

Daniel Kraut, Esq., CEO; Rabbi Sam Weinberg, Principal & Ed. Dir.; Ella Ziff, Dir. of Student Services; Elky Langer, Assistant Principal K-4; Rabbi Oren Levy, Assistant Principal K-4; Yikara Levari, Assistant Principal 5th- 12th-grade girls; Rabbi Yisroel Smith, Assistant Principal Boys High School; Kira Sunshine, Dir. of Admissions; Ruth Pohuly, Early Childhood Dir.; Sarah Hartman, Fin. Mgr.; Selma Aronson, Exec. Admin. to the CEO. ••• THE EDWARD AND ROSE BERMAN HILLEL JEWISH UNIVERSITY CENTER The Mildred and Joseph Stern Building

4607 Forbes Ave. Pittsburgh, PA 15213 Phone: 412-621-8875; Fax: 412-621-8861 Website: hilleljuc.org Email: info@hilleljuc.org

Daniel Marcus, Exec. Dir. & CEO; Danielle Kranjec, Senior Jewish Educator; Rachel Cohen, Dir. of Operations; Jennifer Poller, Dir. of Development; Lori Ferguson, Development and Special Events Manager; Isaac Minkoff, IACT Israel Engagement Coordinator; Ariel Walovitch, Dir. of Engagement; Risa Fruchter, Janet L. Swanson Dir. of Jewish Student Life at the University of Pittsburgh; Alex Zissman, Dir. of Jewish Student Life at Carnegie Mellon University; Andrey Kogan, Israel Fellow; Michael Warshafsky, Board Co-Chair; Matthew Weinstein, Board Co-Chair; Aaron Leaman, V. Chair Fin.; Mitchell Letwin, V. Chair Development; Adrienne Indianer, V. Chair Board Governance/HR; Katie Whitlatch, Immed. Past Chair.

••• HOLOCAUST CENTER OF PITTSBURGH 826 Hazelwood Ave. Pittsburgh, PA 15217 Phone: 412-421-1500 Email: info@hcpgh.org Website: hcofpgh.org

Board Chair: Barbara Shapira; Lauren Apter Bairnsfather, Director; Board: Dr. Barbara Burstin; Marc Friedberg; Paul Guggenheimer; Lori Guttman; Dr. Roy “Jake” Jacobson; Dr. Rachel Kranson; Lawrence M. Lebowitz; Debra Levenson; Dr. James Paharik; Dr. Melissa Marks; Laurie Moser; Dr. Manuel Reich; Harry Schneider; Barbara Shapira; Benjamin Simon; David Sufrin; Hal Waldman; Roberta Weissburg; Dr. Yolanda Avram Willis ••• ISRAEL BONDS 6507 Wilkins Ave., Suite 101 Pittsburgh, PA 15217 Phone: 412-362-5154; 1-800-362-2669 Email: Pittsburgh@israelbonds.com

Julian Elbling, Campaign Chair; Marian Ungar Davis, Advisory Council Chair, Ellen Teri. Kaplan Goldstein, Women’s Division Chair; Adrienne Indianer, Registered Representative; Patty Minto, Office Manager; Harold F. Marcus, Executive Director.

••• ISRAEL HERITAGE ROOM University of Pittsburgh

Susie Rosenberg Phone: 412-298-6698 Website: nationalityrooms.pitt.edu/content /israel-heritage-room-committee Email: Susan.b.rosenberg@gmail.com

Susan Binstock Rosenberg, Chair; Ruth Gelman, Eileen Lane, Dr. Alex Orbach, Judith Robinson, Dr. Adam Shear, Marcia Weiss, Vice Chairs; Ruth Gelman, Treas.; Dr. Nancy Glynn, Corr. & Fin. Secy.; Nancy L. Shuman, Hon. Chair.

••• JEWISH ASSISTANCE FUND P.O. Box 8197 Pittsburgh, PA 15217 Phone: 412-521-3237 Website: jewishassistancefund.org Email: Info@JewishAssistanceFund.org

Skip Grinberg, President; Joyce Berman, VP; Sylvia Elias, VP; Gean Goldfarb, VP; Todd Rosenfeld, VP; Lynn Snyderman, VP; Ellen Primis, Secretary; Harvey Wolsh, Treasurer; Sharon Weisberg, Assistant Treasurer; David Maretsky, Past President; Cindy Goodman- Leib, Executive Director.

••• JEWISH ASSOCIATION ON AGING We honor & enhance the lives of older adults.

200 JHF Drive Pittsburgh, PA 15217 Phone: 412-420-4000; Fax: 412-521-0932 Website: jaapgh.org

Andrew Stewart, Board Chair; Lynette Lederman, V. Chair; Mike Levin, Treas.; John Katz, Secy.; Steve Halpern, Asst.

Secy.; Mitchell Pakler, Immed. Past Chair; Deborah Winn-Horvitz, Pres. & CEO. ••• JEWISH CEMETERY & BURIAL ASSOCIATION OF GREATER PITTSBURGH P.O. Box 81863 Pittsburgh, PA 15217 Phone: 412-553-6469 Website: jcbapgh.org Email: jcbapgh@gmail.com

Gregory Engel, President Sharon Bogarad, Vice President; Stanley Kirshenbaum, Treasurer; Meyer Grinberg, Secretary; Harvey Wolsh, Historian; Barry Rudel, Executive Director; Jonathan Schachter, Administrator ••• JEWISH COMMUNITY CENTER OF GREATER PITTSBURGH Nurturing People, Connecting Community, Each Day, Through Every Age, Inspired By Jewish Values

Squirrel Hill: 5738 Forbes Ave. Pittsburgh, PA 15217 Phone: 412-521-8010; Fax: 412-521-7044 South Hills: 345 Kane Blvd. Pittsburgh, PA 15243 Phone: 412-278-1975; Fax: 412-446-0146 Website: JCCPGH.org

William S. Goodman, Chair of the Board; Carole S. Katz, Samuel W. Braver, Joshua M. Farber, Lori B. Shure, V. Chairs; Merris Groff, Treas.; Scott E. Seewald, Asst. Treas.; Hilary Tyson, Secy.; Jeffrey Galak, Asst.

Secy.; James S. Ruttenberg, Immed. Past Chair; Brian Schreiber, Pres. & CEO. ••• JEWISH FAMILY and COMMUNITY SERVICES (JFCS) Supporting people through life’s changes and challenges

5743 Bartlett St. Pittsburgh, PA 15217 Phone: 412-422-7200; Fax: 412-422-1162 Website: jfcspgh.org

Jillian F. Zacks, Esq, Board Chair; Eric J. Perelman, Carol Robinson, Vice Chairs; Scott I. Americus, Treasurer; David R. Lassman, Secretary; Peter J. Lieberman, At-Large; Jordan Golin, Psy.D., President & CEO. ••• JEWISH FEDERATION OF GREATER PITTSBURGH 2000 Technology Drive Pittsburgh, PA 15219 Phone: 412-681-8000 Website: jewishpgh.org

Meryl K. Ainsman, Board Chair; Charles Porter, Jan Levision, Scott E. Tobe, Vice Chairs; Gilbert Z. Schneider, Treasurer; Stephen F. Halpern, Assistant Treasurer; Dr. Susan G. Berman Kress, Secretary; Ellen Teri Kaplan Goldstein, Assistant Secretary; Jeffrey H. Finkelstein, President & CEO. ••• JEWISH HEALTHCARE FOUNDATION EQT Plaza 625 Liberty Ave., Suite 2500 650 Smithfield St., Suite 2400 Pittsburgh, PA 15222 (412) 594-2550 Website: jhf.org Email: info@jhf.org

Karen Wolk Feinstein, President & CEO; Nancy Zionts, COO & Chief Program Officer ••• JEWISH NATIONAL FUND Jewish National Fund Administrative Center/Mailing Address: 60 Revere Drive Suite 725 Northbrook, IL 60062 Phone: 412-521-3200 Website: jnf.org

Steven H. Schwartz, President. Amy Cohen, Director ••• JEWISH RESIDENTIAL SERVICES From disabilities to possibilities

2609 Murray Ave., Suite 201 Pittsburgh, PA 15217 Phone: 412-325-0039 (administrative office) Fax: 412621-4260 Website: jrspgh.org Email: info@jrspgh.org

Nancy E. Gale, Executive Dir.; Nikki Finch, Off. Mgr.; April De La Cruz, Dir. of Residential Support Servs.; Caitlin Lasky, Dir. Development & Communications; Joseph Herbick, Dir. Sally and Howard Levin Clubhouse; Kadidja Macina, Prgrm.

Supervisor; Alison Karabin, Project Mgr., Families in Transition; Gerri Lynn Sperling, President. Jeffrey Herzog, Vice President; Ellen Berne, Vice President; Lorrie Rabin, Secretary; Paul K. Rudoy, Treasurer.

••• J STREET PITTSBURGH The home for pro-Israel, pro-peace Americans

Facebook: facebook.com/jstreetpittsburgh Email: pittsburgh@jstreet.org

Nancy Bernstein, Malke Frank, Co-Chairs.

••• JEWISH WOMEN’S FOUNDATION OF GREATER PITTSBURGH The Jewish Women’s Foundation supports organizations that improve the lives of women and girls, with a focus on social change.

1620 Murray Ave. Pittsburgh, PA 15217 Phone: 412-727-1108; Fax: 412-681-8804 Website: jwfpgh.org Facebook.com/jwfpgh Email: jcohen@jwfpgh.org

Paula Garret, Lauren Goldblum and Joan Gurrentz, Co-Chairs; Elyse Eichner and Susan Leff, Small Grants Committee Co-Chairs; Paula Garret, Signature Grant Committee, Chair; Judy Greenwald Cohen, Exec. Dir. Please see Directory, page 19

10 JUNE 26, 2020

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JUNE 26, 2020 11

Headlines Security incident at Beth El Congregation

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person attempted to gain access to Beth El Congregation of the South Hills in the early morning hours of Sunday, June 7, according to a June 17 email sent to congregants from Beth El’s executive director Chris Benton and its president, Susie Seletz.

Scott Township Police immediately responded to the security alarm that was activated, but the person had already left the premises.

“The police have fully investigated the incident and increased patrols around our synagogue,” the email stated. Noting that Shawn Brokos, security director of the Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh had been notified, the email added that the congregation continues “to take security seriously, implementing steps recommended by law enforcement and security experts to keep our building, staff, and congregants safe.”

On June 18, Brokos informed executive and security directors of local Jewish

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institutions of the incident.

“Beth El leadership and I worked closely with the police on this matter, and the investigation has now concluded,” that email stated. “Beth El’s security procedures worked just as they should — the alarm went off, police responded, Beth El leadership was notified, lighting and surveillance cameras were well placed and working, and all points of entry were securely locked.”

“This was certainly a suspicious incident,” Brokos told the Chronicle. “But security protocols were in place and the response worked as it should.”

The incident was captured on surveillance videos, which showed the individual attempting to open three doors of the building but not using any force, she said.

There was no vandalism involved.

The incident should serve as a reminder, Brokos added, that “we should always be mindful of security and be vigilant.” PJC — Toby Tabachnick

Words can make a difference

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uring this season of the coronavirus, Shternie Rosenfeld is intent on being a “carrier,” and she wants others to be as well.

“It’s up to each one of us to spread some positivity,” said the executive director and founder of the Pittsburgh-based nonprofit the Jewish Sisterhood. “We could tip the scale and inspire others.”

Since mid-May, Rosenfeld and others have planted more than 50 lawn signs around Greater Pittsburgh, with the words “Kindness, Patience and Hope are also Highly Contagious. Don’t Wait to Catch It … Be A Carrier!”

Rosenfeld got the idea to distribute the signs when she saw a Facebook post by her nephew in Chicago who was erecting the signs around the Windy City.

“It’s such a powerful message,” Rosenfeld said, explaining that she has a strong faith in the power of words.

Rosenfeld reached out to her nephew, who helped her arrange to purchase 100 signs, for which she solicited sponsors to cover the cost.

The words on the signs convey “where we need to be during a tragic situation,” she said, noting that the mission of the Jewish Sisterhood is to “spread positive energy and vibes.”

p The Jewish Sisterhood aims to spread some inspiration around Pittsburgh

Photo provided by Shternie Rosenfeld

Rosenfeld has about 50 signs that are still available to anyone who would like to have one.

“Let’s blanket Pittsburgh with positivity,” she said. “You can’t overestimate the power of words.”

The signs, she said, can help people see the world through a different lens and can help “create a light in the darkness.’

“It looks like a little sign,” she said, “but it is taking something negative and making it positive.”

For more information on how to obtain a sign, free of charge, go to thejewish sisterhood.com or call 412-589-2677. PJC —Toby Tabachnick

“Who Is a Jew” exhibit available online

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avid Rosenberg’s exhibit, “Who Is a Jew? Amiens, France 1940-1945” can now be viewed online at jewsofthe somme.com/exhibit.

The exhibit is organized around a group of identification cards discovered by Rosenberg in the summer of 2017. The cards along with letters and textural information on the site help to tell the story of the Jews of Amiens, France after the Nazi occupation of the country.

Rosenberg, a historian and former archivist at the University of Pittsburgh, premiered “Who Is a Jew” at Temple Emanuel of South Hills in 2019. It has since been exhibited in various locations, including the Holocaust Center of Pittsburgh, throughout the United States and France.

PITTSBURGH JEWISH CHRONICLE

The source material for the exhibit and Rosenberg’s research, totaling 34,754 pages, was added to the Departmental Archives of the Somme on June 15. The records are all related to the persecution of the Jews of the Somme during the Nazi occupation.

The records were previously only available in the National Archives in Paris. The South Hills resident said he made it his goal to have the records “placed in Amiens, where the bulk of the actions documented took place.”

Rosenberg was named a Chevalier dans l’ordre des Arts et Lettres (Knight in the order of Arts and Letters) in 2013 by the French government for his work. PJC — David Rullo PITTSBURGHJEWISHCHRONICLE.ORG

Headlines — WORLD — From JTA reports

TikTok social media platform users target young people with anti-Semitism and Holocaust denial, study finds

The popular TikTok video-sharing service is being used for more than just awkward dances by users, according to a new study in Israel.

Anti-Semites, Holocaust deniers and other far-right extremists are going on the social media platform to reach young people, researchers from the University of Haifa and Israel’s Institute for Counter Terrorism found in a report titled “Spreading Hate on TikTok.” From February through May, it said, there were 196 postings related to far-right extremism, with one-fifth of them related to anti-Semitism and Holocaust denial.

In the same time frame, the study also found 14 postings of Adolf Hitler’s speeches; 11 postings of the Sieg Heil victory salute used by Nazis; 17 videos encouraging violence that featured Nazi or neo-Nazi symbols such as the swastika and sonnenrad, or black sun; and 26 accounts featuring the numbers “88” in their username, the white supremacist numerical code for “Heil Hitler.”

The study first appeared in the Studies in Conflict & Terrorism journal.

TikTok, based in China, has gained

popularity with its short videos of users dancing and lip syncing, among other talents.

Although the platform’s Terms of Service prohibits users under age 13, many who appear in videos are clearly younger.

“While similar concerns were with regard to other social platforms, TikTok has unique features to make it more troublesome,” the study says. “First, unlike all other social media, TikTok’s users are almost all young children, who are more naive and gullible when it comes to malicious contents.

Second, TikTok is the youngest platform, thus severely lagging behind its rivals, who have had more time to grapple with how to protect their users from disturbing and harmful contents.”

The researchers identified TikTok accounts of known extremist groups, then collected posts that featured hashtags associated with extremist movements. Finally they examined the identified accounts and posts, as well as accounts that showed interest in extremism through liking, commenting or following the accounts.

In first, Spanish state calls attempts to boycott Israel a form of anti-Semitism

A Spanish state for the first time passed legislation declaring the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement against Israel a form of anti-Semitism.

The parliament of the Balearic Islands Autonomous Community — one of 17 such entities that make up the semi-federal state kingdom of Spain — made the declaration

in a June 11 motion that was passed unanimously and finalized last week.

It said the Balearic Islands condemn “any form of anti-Semitism” as defined by the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance, and “particularly the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement, or BDS, and calls to boycott Israeli products, scientists, artists and athletes from Israel,” the motion reads. It also spoke about the need to research and educate about the unique Jewish history of the region, whose capital city, Palma, is on the island of Mallorca.

The definition of anti-Semitism referenced in the resolution includes some examples of anti-Israel vitriol, including comparisons between the Jewish state and Nazi Germany.

Spain’s judiciary has repeatedly defined BDS as a discriminatory endeavor, but legislation reflecting this view rarely passes.

Separately, an appeals court in Barcelona on Wednesday ordered a suburb of that city, Molins de Rei, to scrap its 2013 motion declaring support for BDS and calling Israel an apartheid state.

In 2018, an Israeli water polo team’s match against the national women’s team of Spain was canceled because the Nautical Club Molins de Rei refused to host it. ACOM, a pro-Israel group based in Madrid, sued the municipality.

Israeli academic Zeev Sternhell, fascism expert and critic of the settler movement, dies at 85

Israeli academic Zeev Sternhell, an expert on fascism and an outspoken critic of the

settler movement, has died.

Sternhell, an internationally recognized expert and author of several books on fascism and ultranationalism, was the head of the Political Science Department at Hebrew University and taught there since 1966. He died of complications from recent surgery at 85.

Writing in an op-ed in 2001 in the liberal Israeli newspaper Haaretz, Sternhell called on the Palestinians to target settlers with their bombs and leave Jews inside the Green Line alone.

Several months after receiving the Israel Prize for Political Science in 2008, he was injured by a pipe bomb placed near the door of his home in Jerusalem. A radical right-wing settler was convicted of murder and attempted murder for the killing of two Palestinians and attacks on others, including Sternhell.

He was born Zbigniew Orolski in Poland in 1935. His father died fighting in the Polish army, and his mother and older sister were killed by the Nazis. He was provided with false papers identifying him as an Aryan, and was baptized and became an altar boy in Krakow. He was taken in 1946 to France on a Red Cross children’s train, and in 1951 at the age of 16 he immigrated to Israel with the Youth Aliyah organization.

Sternhell was a platoon commander in the Sinai War in 1956 and was a reservist in the Six-Day War in 1967, the Yom Kippur War in 1973 and the First Lebanon War in 1982.

He is survived by his wife, two daughters and grandchildren. PJC

WE'RE OPEN! GET HEALTHY AND FIT WITH US Reserve your lane for lap swim on MINDBODY. For details on our reopening, please go to JCCPGH.org.

Our virtual programming continues online #JCCPGHVirtual The health and safety of our community is the JCC’s top priority. The JCC has worked closely with long-time partner, the Pittsburgh Regional Health Initiative, for continued guidance in our multi-phased reopening plan.

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JUNE 26, 2020 13

Opinion The minister of hate

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— EDITORIAL —

or more than 30 years, charismatic Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan has spewed hatred and vitriol against Jews, white people and the LGBTQ community. And while he appears to be an equal opportunity hater, there is clearly a special place in his arsenal of blasphemy reserved for the Jewish people. According to Farrakhan, Jews were responsible for promoting the slave trade; conspire to control the government, Hollywood and the media; represent “a gutter religion” that is “Satanic,” and falsely claim a connection to the Holy Land.

Yet, even now, with there being little question of how offensive his views, Farrakhan still has people saying, “Sure he’s an antiSemite, but … ” Sort of like the tone deaf observation that “There are good people on both sides.”

Given Farrakhan’s ignoble history of hate, we find it puzzling that there are still people who turn to him for inspiration — either willing to ignore or simply unaware of the truly vicious things he’s said and continues to say in public addresses.

Given Farrakhan’s ignoble history of hate, we find it puzzling that there are still people who turn to him for inspiration — either willing to ignore or simply unaware of the truly vicious things he’s said and continues to say in public addresses.

A recent case in point involved Jewish comic Chelsea Handler, who in support of the wholly justified outrage about the murder of George Floyd, posted on Instagram a clip of a Farrakhan TV appearance, in which he railed about the effect of white supremacy on African Americans. Handler claimed, “I learned a lot from watching this powerful video.” And several surprisingly recognizable

Hollywood personalities “liked” her post.

Predictably, a backlash followed. But not just from the Jewish “termites” vilified by Farrakhan, or from the Jews he accused of inventing anal sex and promoting pedophilia. Handler removed the post, but not before observing that “perhaps Farrakhan’s anti-Semitic views took form during his own oppression. We know now that oppression of

one race leads to an oppression of all races.”

While we doubt that Handler was seeking to excuse Farrakhan’s intolerance, bigotry and hatred, her response leaves us wondering.

And it begs the question of why Handler couldn’t have found a better source to support her promotion of racial justice and equality.

Farrakhan has had decades to reconsider his views and to acknowledge that Jews, gays and white people are deserving of respect.

But he has never apologized for his intemperate remarks, and doubles down on the effort when given the chance. That’s why the close association between Farrakhan and former Women’s March leader Tamika Mallory and Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.) set off alarm bells. If the man himself refuses to change, his allies are likely just as obdurate.

Like rapper Ice Cube, who tweeted last week in defense of Farrakhan, “Why is the truth so offensive that you can’t stand to hear it?”

Even as we seek to connect with and support our brothers and sisters in the African American community, Louis Farrakhan is a bridge too far. Anyone who tries to deny that, or who seeks to justify Farrakhan’s bile, is nothing short of an apologist for hatred, bigotry and indecency. PJC

Moving beyond our differences to see the bigger picture Editor’s Desk Toby Tabachnick

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y in-box has been filled these past couple weeks with Letters to the Editor and other emails regarding racism in America, the protests following the death of George Floyd, and the Pittsburgh Jewish Chronicle’s coverage of those topics.

Let me tell you, people are angry.

Some are angry about the stories and opinion pieces we have chosen to run. Some point to what they consider an unfair bias toward police and an unnecessary emphasis on the destruction that came from what began as peaceful protests.

Some readers are upset because they think we have not given enough space to the anti-Semitic vandalism that occurred in Los Angeles and other places during or after some of the protests. Others are upset that there are Jews supporting the Movement for Black Lives when that organization’s platform contains anti-Israel tenets.

The emails have come from the right and the left, from Jews who identify as Orthodox and non-Orthodox and those who are unaffiliated.

We live in a diverse Jewish community, so it is no surprise that collectively we have a wide range of responses to the current discussion of race in America. The mechanics of how best to rectify racism and its tragic consequences are obviously debatable. What is not debatable is our duty to do so.

In the midst of all the recent emails, the one that has affected me the most was not marked by a tenor of anger, but instead rang of hopelessness and defeat. It has haunted me since I opened it. Written by an African American man, the email detailed his personal decades-long struggle with racism and the various injustices he has endured over the years, including at the hands of the police.

The author of the email — let’s call him “John” — did not want to be identified by his real name, but gave me permission to recount some of his story here.

John, a U.S. Army vet who served this country from 1976 through 1993 and

through Operation Desert Storm, said he nearly died years ago when a police officer held him to the ground, the officer’s knee pressed against his back, all the while using racial epithets. John had just returned from his military service and was having difficulty adjusting to civilian life. The offense for which he was being arrested was minor, he said, and could not have warranted the violent treatment he said he was subject to at the hands of the police. He never attempted to press charges, he said, because there were no witnesses.

John detailed in his email a litany of other injustices he experienced over the years, and the losses he endured, many involving the police and an inequitable legal system.

These events had a profound effect on his mental and physical health and contributed to a depression that ultimately led to a suicide attempt.

“I became invisible once again in the society that I would die for,” John wrote.

“There was no justice for me and my soul had no peace.”

As Jews — especially as Jews in Pittsburgh — we know too well what it means to be

marginalized in this world by those who view us as less than.

We may differ in our political leanings, but it is incumbent upon all of us to acknowledge the pain and realities of discrimination against people of color and to take action to help reverse the dangerous trajectory of racism in America. We may not agree on how best to accomplish that, but shame on us if we do nothing.

Sometimes we get lost in the rhetoric, in the theoretical, finding ourselves drowning in the discomfort or anger that simmers when we read or hear particular views that don’t align perfectly with our own or that deviate from the talking points of our various echo chambers.

I hope we can move beyond that and not lose sight of the bigger picture, a picture comprised of the painful stories and very real demoralizing experiences of countless individuals.

We may disagree on the act of protesting, on the role of police, on particular politicians. But as a community, let each of us commit to make things better, one way or another. PJC

Jewish organizations are in danger.

Our legacy planning should make sure they survive.

Guest Columnist Mike Leven

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y library has the popular book “21 Lessons for the 21st Century,” in which Yuval Harari — a Jew, an Israeli and an acclaimed author — states

14 JUNE 26, 2020

that the Jewish people don’t have a reason to exist anymore. They’ve finished what they had come here to do by contributing to a range of fields, from philosophy and ethics to science and the arts.

Harari consistently downplays the role that Jews have had in shaping the world.

“Jews may be a very interesting people,” he writes, “but when you look at the big picture, you must realize that they have had a very limited impact on the world.”

This message counters how I was raised, how I live my life, and how my wife and I raised our three sons, who are now adults with children of their own. But Harari was right in stating that many Jews may no longer believe that being Jewish is a magical way of moving in our world. Many may not share my conviction that Judaism gives us all a vital set of values, a deep sense of community and a powerful pride that comes with being part of an extraordinary and ancient

PITTSBURGH JEWISH CHRONICLE

people. I fear that these trends put the Jewish future at risk.

I was raised in a Modern Orthodox home and remained observant through college, but after that I became secular. It wasn’t until my early 50s that I reengaged deeply with Jewish life. Since then, I have become involved with an array of organizations, from Birthright to the Jewish Federation to Please see Legacy, page 15

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Opinion The history of ‘Jew Hill’ Guest Columnist Judith Robinson

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y father was born in 1914, the second youngest child of Harry and Dora Ruttenberg, a Jewish immigrant couple. There were six children, three boys and three girls. My father was the youngest son, and I think, his mother’s favorite, a blessing my grandmother extended into the next generation as well. I was her favorite grandchild, hands down.

Anyway, this story concerns Harry, my father’s father, my grandfather, who I remember as an old fellow sitting in a chair across the room from my grandmother, smoking cigars and spitting into a green

Legacy: Continued from page 14

the AEPi Fraternity Foundation.

In the past two decades, I have been part of a range of projects in the Jewish world alongside some of our community’s most significant donors and organizations. My generation gave back, to the best of our ability, to Israel and the Jewish people through our pledges and our philanthropic gifts. We spoke to our children about our Jewish values and about what matters most to us.

But we haven’t always done that in the context of charitable giving.

In the coming decades, our children and grandchildren will soon receive the single largest transference of wealth that the American Jewish community has ever experienced. They also may have different

spittoon. He had very little to say to me or to her. She, however, liked to whisper to me about what a mean man he was. Nonetheless, they were married for 50-plus years, and there were the six children.

One day when I was about 12 my father took me for a ride to see the place he was born and lived the early years of his life.

This was in Greene County, the most southwestern part of Pennsylvania, a coal mining area that borders West Virginia. My grandfather had picked this spot to settle and open a general store, after walking about 400 miles from Ellis Island/New York, peddling matches to farm wives.

Did I mention that on his long trek Grandfather made a stop in Altoona, Pennsylvania, because he had been informed that there were some landsmen living there?

Yes, there were, and in addition there was a young woman of marriageable age, a

recent arrival from Lithuania herself, who was rather plain but sweet-natured and possessed her own wagon. Grandfather negotiated a deal that somehow included a horse as well, and was able to proceed to Greene County, no longer on foot but with a wife, horse and wagon.

This story — the peddler who settled down and opened a store — was quite common, and in fact became the history of retail business in America. Think of SearsRoebuck, Gimbels, Neiman-Marcus, Saks Fifth Avenue, Macy’s, to name a few. My grandfather did the same thing but he did not become a merchant king doing it. He did however, establish a certain notoriety, a certain distinction, even.

The store, Ruttenberg’s, opened in competition to the mining company’s store.

Ruttenberg’s beat them out by selling better dry goods, tools, and fresh farm foods at

feelings about Jewish life and Israel from the people who are leaving them that money, as has been documented in recent studies like the renowned Pew Report from 2013.

The Holocaust and its shadow did not shape them the way it shaped us, despite the rise of anti-Semitism today. Politics have negatively shaped the relationship that our children and grandchildren have with the State of Israel.

Many of my friends who have given decades of volunteer service to the Jewish community have children who are barely interested or affiliated. This reality will have a significant impact on Jewish philanthropy tomorrow.

Many friends in the philanthropic community choose to give through donor-advised funds — charitable investment accounts that have added tax benefits. While I was creating my own donor-advised funds for my sons, my wife wisely asked, “How do you know they are going to spend this Jewishly?” It hit

me like a bolt. I never thought about what was going to happen to my donor-advised funds after I die. Our children don’t have to support the same Jewish causes we do, but they should continue the legacy we started.

I went back and put a clause in our funds stating that 75% of our philanthropic funds will go to Jewish causes. I started the Jewish Future Pledge to invite others — not only Warren Buffet’s billionaires — to pledge that upon their passing, they leave at least 50% of their assets for charitable purposes to continue to support our people.

We are in an existential moment. Perhaps more than ever before, people are thinking about what’s important in life and what legacy they will leave behind. Now is the time to be thinking about what commitments you can make to help Jewish life continue for generations to come.

As the COVID-19 pandemic has made

— LETTERS —

Judith Robinson is an editor, teacher, fiction writer and poet. She lives in Pittsburgh.

clear, no one can predict what challenges the Jewish community will face or what needs it will have. As our world changes, so too will Jewish philanthropy. Some organizations and initiatives will close as new ones emerge.

Yet one thing is certain: The Jewish people and the State of Israel will continue to require significant resources to continue this remarkable project that we have sustained for thousands of years. We will need funds to run schools, synagogues and camps; to support advocacy organizations and strengthen Israel; to connect our young people to their past and link them to our future. And if we don’t worry about how to sustain this future, who will? PJC Mike Leven is former CEO of the Georgia Aquarium, COO of the Sands Corporation and co-Founder of the Jewish Future Pledge.

Corrections:

Erasing history and its symbols is a mistake

During the last 2000 years, Jews should be greatly offended by the art in many of the cultures we have been living in. With the depiction of the destruction of the Temple and plundering of Jerusalem, why does the Arch of Titus in Rome still stand? Should many medieval churches all over Europe be destroyed for their anti-Jewish art and architectural elements? The statue of Bogdan Khmelnitsky, the national hero of Ukraine and the leader of the destruction of Polish Jewry, still stands. Should they take it down because it is offensive to Jews? How about Auschwitz? Shall it be leveled? After all, it is the most vivid reminder of destruction of our people. Can we judge the past and its artistic representation with contemporary values? Instead of destroying them, we should use them as learning opportunities of the past. Removing the statue of Theodore Roosevelt by the leadership of the New York Museum of Natural History just because it MAY offend someone is on the same level as an uneducated mob taking down the statue of General Grant, who was instrumental in winning the Civil War and putting down the KKK. Allowing the history that came before you to be destroyed in favor of the sensibilities of today puts us on the same level as the Taliban destroying the stone-carved Buddhas and ISIS destroying artifacts of the pre-Islamic period.

If we want the artistic representation of our own time to remain in history, we should leave the ones that came before us in place. After all, the art of today may be offensive to the future generations. Check Soviet history as an example. I stand with President Emmanuel Macron: statues should not be removed.

Rahel Kozlova Squirrel Hill

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lower prices. Grandfather made money by the fistful. His customers knew him and liked him. Without any rancor, just as an honest shorthand moniker, he was called “the Jew.” True! My father assured me this was only because Grandfather was in fact, Jewish.

It was another time, an era when political correctness could never have been imagined.

Also to my amusement, and the point of this little historical piece, is some geography.

Greene County is mountainous. Ruttenberg’s stood at the top of considerable elevation.

Take a look, my father said to us on that day we visited. A dusty inclined plane, nothing there but greenery.

What is left is a road sign, and a designation on local maps.

“Jew Hill,” is all that remains. PJC

In “Temple Sinai Rabbi Jamie Gibson retires after 32 years” (June 19), the Chronicle incorrectly stated that Rabbi Jamie Gibson served a congregation in Minnesota before coming to Pittsburgh. Rather, Gibson served Mt. Sinai Congregation in Wausau, Wisconsin for five years prior to his tenure at Temple Sinai.

Also, Gibson was born in Albany New York, not New Jersey, as was incorrectly stated in the article.

The Chronicle regrets the errors.

Correction and clarification

Julie Mattis (“Julie Mattis hired to head Repair the World Pittsburgh,” June 19, 2020), was the creative director of BOOM Concepts, not its founding creative director.

In 2016, one of BOOM Concept’s co-founders, D.S. Kinsel, was recognized alongside Mallis by the Pittsburgh Technology Council as Creator of the Year. PJC

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JUNE 26, 2020 15

Headlines Continued from page 1

attending services again.

“PZ was proactive very early on,” he offered. “They had a medical advisory board they put together and have been monitoring the situation.”

Oshlag described the protocols first put in place by the congregation, which required masks to be worn, as well as preregistration and name cards to designate seats for attendees. Those in attendance were asked if they felt comfortable sitting with family members. Oshlag said he sat next to his son and his wife sat near their daughter.

“The next-closest person was six feet away, so it was very well spaced out and worked swimmingly,” he said.

Like many in the Pittsburgh Jewish community, Shabbat services are a weekly ritual for the Squirrel Hill resident and something he has longed to attend since the pandemic required PZ to close.

“It’s part of our lifestyle,” he said. “It’s something we’ve missed for these many months. We’ve been very respectful of what Rabbi Daniel Yolkut and the medical team has put out, but once they gave us the green light we jumped at the opportunity.”

Although Oshlag feels comfortable attending services or taking a quick jaunt to Home Depot as needed, he believes it is important to follow health and safety guidelines.

Reflect: Continued from page 1

Throughline podcast; • “The New Jim Crow,” by Michelle Alexander; • “Between the World and Me,” by Ta-Nehisi Coates; • The episode “A Decade of Watching Black People Die” on the podcast Code Switch.

I have been part of a group of Pittsburghbased African American and Jewish leaders who meet together to find common ground.

From these colleagues, I have learned about some effective programs in our city such as Voices Against Violence, a nonprofit which supports community-based conflict mediation and street intervention to prevent violence among youth in Pittsburgh.

Programs like that give me hope that we can envision new, restorative ways to create safety and peace in all communities.

Zack Block, outgoing executive director of Repair the World Pittsburgh: In recent two weeks, we watched police officers snuff George Floyd’s breath and life away and a white woman p Zack report Christian Cooper to Block File photo the police simply for asking her to put her dog on a leash in an area where dogs were required to be on leashes. Just weeks before these most recent events, Ahmaud Arbery’s murder by two vigilantes while jogging in plain daylight rose to national awareness.

It is my status as a white Ashkenhazi Jew that requires me to confront my privilege, my white fragility and continue to build

16 JUNE 26, 2020

“Anyone that is 65 or older, or someone that may have a medical condition, is still being cautioned to check with their physician,” he noted.

Robert Davis is also a member of Poale Zedeck and is confident in his decision to attend services again.

“With the mitigation the synagogue has taken, along with being in the green phase, and having a relatively low number of cases in Allegheny County, the risk was so minimal that it felt like it was time to go back to synagogue,” Davis said.

The 45-year-old is not afraid of contacting the virus while davening, confident in the preparation the congregational leadership put in place before welcoming back members.

“I’m not fearful at all,” he said. “The synagogue has taken a thoughtful and cautious approach to reopening.”

Davis, a psychiatrist, believes his medical background gives him “a more reasonable approach. I’m taking a calculated risk but still maintaining a safe practice with what I’m doing.”

The Squirrel Hill resident is a member of the JCC but has not yet been back since it began to again welcome members on June 15, although he is anxious for the center to reopen its outdoor pool and is looking forward to swimming there again.

For Sandy Goldstein, it was both exercise and community that brought her back to the South Hills JCC. “I missed using the elliptical,” said the

Upper St. Clair resident. “I missed the old people that I commiserate with. It’s part of my social gathering and exercising is good for you. It’s a combination of feeling better and meeting people I used to see all the time.”

While acknowledging that there were not many people at the JCC at her most recent visit, Goldstein, a three-time-a-week attendee, expects to see more people when word gets out “about how clean it is and how well-organized it is. I think they’ve done a fabulous job.”

Goldstein, a 74-year-old real estate agent with an 80-year-old husband, relies on common sense practices to stay safe.

“I’ve always washed my hands after I exercise, so I’m not afraid,” she said. “I think washing your hands and wearing a mask is key.”

Andrew Neft tested positive for COVID-19 in early March. With or without the virus antibodies though, he has been anxious to resume attending Shabbat services and Sunday morning minyan at Chabad of the South Hills.

“I felt comfortable going throughout the pandemic,” Neft said. “Once it opened, there was a need for me to go.”

Neft believes that fear of the pandemic has been “overblown.”

For the South Hills resident, attending services at Chabad is just a warmup for plans to travel to Israel with his wife in the fall, alhtough Israel is currently still prohibiting entry to non-citizens or non-residents. Neft remains optimistic, though, that “we will get

back to all the normal stuff soon.”

“It was a matter of examining the risk-reward situation,” for Avi Cohen, who made the decision to begin attending Shabbat services at Chabad of Squirrel Hill.

Cohen feels comfortable at Chabad but has not yet been joined by his wife or three children.

“I have more of the obligation to be there and to be counted for a minyan,” he said.

Cohen has not started attending a daily minyan yet and is cautious about resuming other activities as well. As an example, he said that he attempted to vote by mail-in ballot for the primary but that “there was a mix-up and everything got delayed.” He decided not to vote in person.

“Every event has to be evaluated and I have to decide whether it’s worthwhile to be there,” he explained. “If I come down on the side that I should be there, the next question is how safe is it and have they done enough?”

As of press time, non-Orthodox congregations in Greater Pittsburgh had not yet reopened for services. Many continue to host online services via Zoom or other digital platforms.

For Davis, attending synagogue is part and parcel of Jewish life. He said he hopes the synagogues that haven’t yet reopened, “strongly consider doing so in the near future, in order to preserve their shul community and keep their place in people’s lives.” PJC

my empathy beyond my own lived experiences. According to the Torah, we are all created in G-d’s image. Therefore, we have a shared humanity regardless of race, class, sex, or any other identity. We must work to be an authentic ally and in solidarity with all communities, and at this moment, the Black community is at the forefront of our work.

Authentic allyship and the commitment to anti-racism is very hard work, but it is the work we must do to help usher in the change that our society so desperately needs.

What’s more, this hard work must be incorporated into all of the other work we do as professionals, parents, partners, children, community members and friends. For those of us who are entrusted to represent others through our work, the task feels that much more difficult. We cannot back away from this work, especially now.

To begin to truly understand what it means to be anti-racist, we must first understand that it is OK to feel uncomfortable. It is OK to make mistakes. We will say something wrong or post something inappropriate.

And when we do, we must be open to the possibility that we have more work to do to understand how to get it right. We must recognize the error of our ways, make amends and try again to do and be better.

health, housing — that benefit everyone.

The steady increase in hate crimes across the country makes it clear that none of us — African Americans, immigrants and refugees, Muslims, Jews — is safe unless we are all safe, and we must all look out for one another.

I’ve had an opportunity over the last eight years to volunteer with Center of Life, an economic empowerment organization, in Hazelwood. Engaging with staff at Center of Life has challenged my thinking and deepened my understanding of what it means to be African American in this country. I’d recommend that people seek opportunities like this, leaving their neighborhood and engaging in a sustained way with an organization in another community.

Dor Hadash has joined Pittsburgh Interfaith Impact Network. Organizations like PIIN bring diverse constituencies together to effect change. Finally, finding ways to show up to support one another at very distressing times like these is hugely meaningful — thinking of how the African American, Muslim, and refugee communities came together to support the Jewish community after the attack at Tree of Life. The Jewish community, including Dor Hadash, was invited to participate in memorial services in Larimer and the Hill last year to honor a police officer who was killed in Homewood while trying to calm a neighborhood fight. These are examples of how we can change the way we think about one another.

events and others shake their heads because this is nothing new. People say that “change is slow” and change is happening before our eyes. Folks are realizing their fragility and folks are p Keshira realizing their strength. We haLev Fife are remembering that we can be bold and courageous in our messages and we can speak with love and care.

Sarah Yehudit Schneider teaches that when we feel the tension of paradox, it’s an invitation to look more deeply for the truth.

For a little word, the “and” holds so much.

The paradox that I am holding as true right now is that we are deeply broken and we are entirely whole. The truth inside this is that the world is not binary and that we are capable of being with nuance. And it is our sacred duty to be with it, even when it’s uncomfortable or hard.

Actions I’m taking: As a Jew of color, I occupy a particular space in which I’m simultaneously working in solidarity and supporting Black beloveds and I’m also experiencing racism in real and palpable ways. My voice is being marginalized and centered. What I’m doing can’t be summarized easily — but I’ll highlight three things: First, I’m taking care of myself and I’m encouraging my friends of color to do the same. Caring for ourselves is an act of resistance which says “my body matters and it’s worth caring for” in a culture that acts otherwise.

Secondly, I’m listening deeply to Black leadership, doing my best to amplify the messages that I’m hearing and continuing to

Andi Fischhoff, longtime member of the social action committee at Congregation Dor Hadash: Reflecting on these last weeks, I ask how we in the Jewish community can reach p Andi out to leaders and activists Fischhoff File photo in the African American community to work together to amplify their voices, to create just, equitable systems — in employment, education,

Keshira haLev Fife, Kesher Pittsburgh: The word on my mind these days is “paradox” because I’m seeing it everywhere. Staying home is a sacred act of love and it is incumbent upon us to take to the streets. Some people are outraged by recent

PITTSBURGH JEWISH CHRONICLE

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

Please see Reflect, page 26

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Photo of Keshira haLev Fife by Tiger Webb, Australian Broadcast Corporation

Reopening:

Life & Culture How this iconic Yiddish song became an anthem for Black Americans — MUSIC —

By Arielle Kaplan | JTA

W

hat makes one person tick is totally subjective, but science confirms that people are hardwired to respond to music. It lifts our moods, eases pain and triggers powerful emotions.

Some songs become so popular that they transcend their original meaning. Take “I’ve Been Working on the Railroad” — today it’s known as a popular children’s folk song, but the origins of its lyrics lie in caricaturing Black dialect, and it makes light of the abusive and exploitive conditions endured

by Black laborers. More recent examples include patriotic uses of Bruce Springsteen’s “Born in the U.S.A.” — it’s actually about a Vietnam vet’s desperate situation — as well as the popular wedding song “Every Breath You Take,” by the Police, which is really about an obsessive, jealous ex.

Songs that describe the plight of a particular group can sometimes become the soundtrack for a different plight for a different people. “Eli, Eli,” a Yiddish song first popularized in the 1920s, is one such example. Though the song describes a Jewish person’s persecution because of her faith, it was later embraced by Black jazz artists like Duke Ellington and Ethel Waters, who were drawn to the somber melody and feelings of despair and oppression evoked by the lyrics.

This song — not to be confused with Hannah Szenes’ song/poem “A Walk to Caesarea,” which is commonly called “Eli, Eli,” as it shares the same first line — rose to prominence among African American musicians, though it was first composed by Jacob Koppel Sandler in 1896.

Its lyrics are drawn from the Book of Psalms 22:2, in which King David laments, “Eli, Eli, why hast Thou forsaken me?” (“Eli, Eli, lama azavtani?”). This iconic phrase

is repeated twice in the New Testament: in Matthew 27:46, and in Mark 15:34, marking Jesus’ last words as he’s crucified. Revered by both Christians and Jews as an exclamation of despair, Mizrahi and Sephardi Jews also chant the psalm on Purim for the Fast of Esther.

Sandler wrote “Eili, Eili” (an alternative Yiddish spelling) for a Yiddish operetta, in which a Jewish girl sings a song of despair while being crucified for her faith. The song begins in Hebrew, is followed by Yiddish lyrics and concludes with the Shema prayer.

Here’s an English translation of a portion: In Fire and flame have men been tortured And everywhere we went we were shamed and ridiculed No one could make us turn away from our faith From you, my god, from your holy Torah, your law!

In 1917, the public caught wind of this haunting Yiddish tune when the popular Jewish contralto Sophie Breslau performed it with New York’s Metropolitan Opera.

From there, Sandler’s composition was republished by various artists and by 1927 the popularity of “Eli, Eli” was fueled by Cantor Josef “Yossele” Rosenblatt. He wrote his own version for “The Jazz Singer” — the first motion picture with music — with Al Jolson as Jakie Rabinowitz, a cantor’s son who just wants to make jazz music (albeit, yes, in blackface). Of the cantor’s melancholy melody, a critic wrote: “When Yossele Rosenblatt chanted ‘Eili, Eili,’ angels in heaven seemed to sing along with him.”

When the Black-Jewish musician Willie “The Lion” Smith covered “Eli, Eli,” he catalyzed it as a standard cover for Black artists.

(In fact, he knew the melody and Yiddish diction so well that he corrected a performer singing with the Duke Ellington Band.) The Jewish publication the Forward published a cartoon in the 1920s parodying the fad: Dubbed “An Upside Down World,” a Jewish cantor sang from “Aida” while an African

American man, donning a yarmulke, sang a Yiddish song. The cartoon was meant to illustrate the bond between two vastly different communities who shared a common identity as outcasts.

According to Jeffrey Melnick in his book “A Right to Sing the Blues,” the song’s “expression of faith in most training circumstances” are what turned African Americans onto this Jewish tune.

The performance of the song by Black people “mirrors the historical process by which African American slaves, instructed mostly in New Testament Christianity, found their deeper associations with the Israelites of the Old Testament,” Melnick wrote.

Waters, a Black singer, added “Eli, Eli” to her repertoire in the early 1920s after hearing the amazing response that George Dewey Washington received for his version of the song.

“It tells the tragic history of the Jews as much as one song can,” Waters said, “and that history of their age-old grief and despair is so similar to that of my own people that I felt I was telling the story of my own race, too.”

When Jules Bledsoe, one of the first African American artists to secure regular work on Broadway, performed “Eli, Eli” in 1929 at the Palace Theatre in Yiddish and Hebrew, he “threw the house into a white heat of appreciation” and performed “Ol’ Man River” as an encore.

Incredibly, this Jewish song of sorrow didn’t lose its fire over the years: In 1951, the iconic Black jazzman Lionel Hampton (and his orchestra) performed a beautiful rendition of Sandler’s original song.

As the African American singer and political activist Paul Robeson told Hasia Diner, a historian of American Jewry, responding to a question about why he performs Yiddish music like “Eli, Eli” but not French, German or Italian works: “I do not understand the psychology of these people, their history has no parallels with the history of

Juneteenth: Continued from page 4

person, but all of the thoughts that must be entertained prior to going to exercise, continued Markiz. The speaker went through a whole checklist of “whether or not he should bring his children, whether he should wear headphones, whether or not he should run versus walk, whether or not he should wave to his neighbors.” Hearing all of the “trauma that that constantly is triggering was something I hadn’t heard so viscerally and it impacted me very deeply.”

In recent weeks, there has been a recognizable shift in understanding on a collective and personal level, explained Pastor June Jeffries of New Life Baptist Church.

While driving to the June 19 event, Jeffries began thinking differently about racism and came to the conclusion that “racism is a sickness,” she said. “It’s a sickness that has been so long hidden that when it became exposed many people [became] uncomfortable.”

There were some who said, “I will remain sick and die sick before I admit that I’ve been sick or that I’ve been wrong,’” and there are others who will say, “‘Wow, that’s revelation. It is sick to have no good reason to dislike other PITTSBURGHJEWISHCHRONICLE.ORG

p Rabbi Moshe Mayir Vogel addresses the crowd at the Juneteenth commemoration.

Photo by Jim Busis.

people by the faces of the color of their skin.

It is sick to say that you have better rights and entitlements than other people by the nature

of the color of their skin. It is sick to be raised up in a house where you are taught that you have entitlement and privilege based on the

PITTSBURGH JEWISH CHRONICLE

my forebearers who were slaves. The Jewish sign and tear are close to me. I feel that these people are closer to the traditions of my race.”

In 1958, the African American and Native American singer Johnny Mathis featured the “Jewish Folk Song” on his album “Goodnight Dear Lord,” which debuted on Billboard’s list of the 25 best-selling pop LPs in the U.S. “I’ve always felt a kinship to all religions,” Mathis said. “I was never concerned about what kind of religious music I was singing.

What mattered was that it gave me a lot of satisfaction.”

In the face of racism and anti-Semitism, Black and Jewish people harmoniously wailed this song of despair for more than three decades, a trend that seemed to fade in the 1960s when, as commonly believed, “the once wonderful alliance dissolved and split,” as historian Marc Dollinger told NPR. The reality of this “split” is rather complicated but, as he explains, the rise in Black nationalism in turn inspired Zionism among American Jewish youth — an event further catalyzed by Israel’s victory in the Six-Day War. “The consensus of the 1950s that was Blacks and Jews together became a new consensus of the late ’60s and ’70s, with each of the communities doing the same thing apart,” Dollinger said. “And I saw that both communities were borrowing back and forth through nationalism as a consequence of the rise of Black power.”

In the past few weeks, fueled by the murder of George Floyd, enraged Americans have taken to the streets to protest police brutality and inequality. As Jewish activists, organizations and community members alike rise up to demand justice for Black Americans, perhaps we are returning to that “wonderful alliance.” How beautiful would it be to revive “Eli, Eli” — the shared cry for justice — as a protest song? With its powerful lyrics, every somber note underlies the irrefutable fact that Black lives matter. PJC

nature of the color of your skin.’”

“You can’t legislate love but there’s times people have a heart and do the right things,” said Smith, before introducing Commander Daniel Hermann of Pittsburgh Police Zone 4. “Commander Hermann has demonstrated here in our community that he wants to see the right thing happen. He doesn’t come with all the answers but he comes to support, and he keeps his promise, and this has been so important to us.”

Hermann told the attendees that he was merely there to observe, but noted, “We do what our community asks, and we do it in the best and most professional and humane way possible.”

Rabbi Ron Symons, of the Jewish Community Center of Greater Pittsburgh’s Center for Loving Kindness, said that he was humbled to join with others “in the quest to identify, address, abolish and reform the systems at work in Pittsburgh that cause the continued discrimination and marginalization of Black people. I stand in optimistic hope that this moment is a moment that will bring the ultimate change that we all know needs to happen.” PJC Adam Reinherz can be reached at areinherz@ pittsburghjewishchronicle.org.

JUNE 26, 2020 17

Life & Culture Lessons of a Talmudic oven and Pittsburgh pizza featured in upcoming graphic novel — BOOKS —

By Adam Reinherz | Staff Writer

A

rtist Ben Schachter is taking a slice of the Talmud and seasoning it anew in his upcoming graphic novel, “Akhnai Pizza,” a reimagining of the dispute between Rabbi Eliezer and the sages.

In its original telling, the Talmud notes a disagreement between Rabbi Eliezer and the rabbis. According to Rabbi Eliezer, if one cuts an earthenware oven into segments and places sand between those segments, the oven is ritually pure, as it is no longer a complete vessel.

According to the sages, however, the oven is impure, because regardless of the sand, the oven is functionally still an oven.

Schachter, 46, said he was drawn to the story, not only because of its vivid imagery of a coiled snakelike oven, but because of how the tale unfolds.

As the Talmud relates, after attempting to sway his peers’ position through logic, Rabbi Eliezer calls upon a carob tree, a stream and the study hall’s walls to prove his opinion.

Miraculously, the tree, the stream and the walls all signal agreement with Rabbi Eliezer.

In fact, when Rabbi Eliezer finally asks heaven to support his claim, a divine voice asks the sages, “Why are you arguing with Rabbi Eliezer? Jewish law follows his position

everywhere that he expresses is the city’s best. Local landan opinion.” marks demonstrate preference Despite the divine proclamafor one opinion, but ultimately tion, Rabbi Yehoshua (one of civil disagreement descends the sages arguing with Rabbi into destruction.

Eliezer) rises and says, “It is not “My goal isn’t just to retell the in heaven,” and reaffirms that story, or to teach the story, but to Rabbi Eliezer remains in the tell it and engage the emotions minority and that Jewish law and human responses the charfollows the rabbis’ majority rule. acters show,” said Schachter, The discussion of an oven’s a professor of visual art at St. p Ben Schachter ritual purity status may seem Vincent College in Latrobe. arcane, but that episode — Schachter, a conceptual and the progression of the artist, is well known for tale — gives insight into his yearslong “Eruv Maps” human nature. project. The paintings, which According to the Talmud, used acrylic and thread on after Rabbi Eliezer and the heavy paper, mirror various sages finished their discussion, communities’ eruv maps. Used the sages gathered all of the primarily by Orthodox Jews, items deemed ritually pure by an eruv map visualizes the Rabbi Eliezer, brought them to boundaries within which it is the oven and burned them in a permitted to carry objects on fire. The sages then ostracized the Sabbath. Schachter’s “Eruv Rabbi Eliezer.

Maps” paintings have been These acts not only shed light displayed at museums and p Cover artwork on the personalities of Talmudic for Ben Schachter’s galleries, including the Jewish figures, but reflect modern upcoming graphic novel Community Center of Greater tendencies in a way that can “Akhnai Pizza” Pittsburgh’s American Jewish Photos courtesy of Museum; the Hebrew Union be observed through “Akhnai

Ben Schachter College Museum in New York; Pizza,” noted Schachter.

Set in Pittsburgh, the story’s characters the Youngstown Area Jewish Federation Art begin a friendly argument over which pizza Gallery; the Yeshiva University Museum; the

Yale University Institute for Sacred Music; and the Jerusalem Biennale in 2017.

“Akhnai Pizza” is a bit of a departure from Schachter’s earlier efforts “because I’m really telling stories as opposed to engaging in conceptual laws,” he said. “When a conceptual artist makes a work they often follow rules they set up for themselves, but with the eruvs I was making pictures based on rules that were set up by other people.” When it comes to this graphic novel, “I’m much more interested in telling the story of a minority and majority point of view, and how poorly things go based on that.”

Both the Talmudic episode and Schachter’s retelling offer lessons for readers, explained the artist. “The characters start out as peers of some kind. They might not have been friends, but at least they engaged each other intellectually, and then they have an argument and then there’s violence.” Between the destruction and excommunication “that sounds like an overreaction.”

Schachter, who is crowdfunding the project on Jewcer, began “Akhnai Pizza” approximately eight months ago. He anticipates completing the drawings in another month.

As for where the project ultimately fits within his collective works, “it’s another piece of the puzzle,” said Schachter. Or, perhaps better put, it’s another piece of the pie. PJC Adam Reinherz can be reached at areinherz@ pittsburghjewishchronicle.org.

The JCC’s Center for Loving Kindness strengthens the fabric of the community by amplifying the long-held values of Love your neighbor as yourself and Do not stand idle while your neighbor bleeds as we redefine neighbor from a geographic term to a moral concept.

Be an UPstander and join us in supporting our neighbors.

Learn More: @centerforlovingkindness JCCPGH.org/center-for-loving-kindness 18 JUNE 26, 2020

PITTSBURGH JEWISH CHRONICLE

PITTSBURGHJEWISHCHRONICLE.ORG

Organization Directory Directory: Continued from page 10 JOINT JEWISH EDUCATION PROGRAM (J-JEP) Providing innovative learning experiences that inspire and prepare students to engage meaningfully in Jewish life

4905 Fifth Ave. Pittsburgh PA 15213 Phone: 412-621-6566, ext. 111 Website: www.jjep.org Email: RabbiLF@jjep.org

Rabbi Larry Freedman, Director; Kate Kim, Assistant Director; Aaron Bisno, Rabbi; Sharyn Henry, Rabbi; Seth Adelson, Rabbi; Hal Coffey and Betsy Schwartz, Co-Chairs.

••• KEHILLAH LA LA An inclusive community engaging members in creative Jewish experiences

Phone: 412-335-0298 Website: ravchuck.com Facebook: Kehillah La La Email: ravchuck@gmail.com, ravchuck@yahoo.com

Chuck Diamond, Rabbi and Executive Director; Fred Davis, President; Bobbi Gerson, Treasurer; Mickie Diamond, Secretary.

••• KOLLEL JEWISH LEARNING CENTER 5808 Beacon St. Pittsburgh, PA 15217 Phone: 412-420-0220; Fax: 412-420- 0224 Website: kollelpgh.org Email: info@kollelpgh.org

Rabbi Levi Langer, Rosh Kollel; Rabbi Doniel Schon, Associate Rosh Kollel; Philip Milch, Esq., President; Dr. Frank Lieberman, Vice President; Michael Kaminsky, Treasurer, Mark Sindler, Esq., Secretary; Rabbi Avrohom Rodkin, Director of Education; Stacie Stufflebeam, Director of Development ••• LADIES HOSPITAL AID SOCIETY 3459 Fifth Ave. Pittsburgh, PA 15213 Phone: 412-648-6106; Fax: 412-692-2682 Website: lhas.net

President, Carole L. Kamin; Vice Presidents: Jackie Dixon, Peggy Smyrnes-Williams, Heather Ziccarelli; Secretaries: Denise Shipe, Judy Woffington; Treasurer, Cindy Kacerik; Directors: Brittany Holzer, Linda Melada, Jill Nolan, Denise Pochan, Ruth Rubenstein, Marcia Weiss, Gayle Zacharia.

••• LUBAVITCH CENTER SYNAGOGUE Chabad of Western Pennsylvania

2100 Wightman St. Pittsburgh, PA 15217 (Corner of Hobart & Wightman streets) Phone: 412-422-7300

Rabbi Yisroel Rosenfeld, Mr. Charles Saul, Esq., Pres.; Lior Shkedi, Vice President; Shmuel Huebner, Daniel Wein, Chaya Hoffinger, Chavie Goldshmid, Yosef Goldberg, Yosef Silverman, Arkie Engle, Shimon Zimbovsky, Board Members ••• NA’AMAT USA Pittsburgh Council (formerly Pioneer Women) A voice for Women and Children in Israel. Committed to gender equality, religious pluralism, the status of women in and out of the home, the prevention of domestic violence and education.

4905 Fifth Ave (Inside Rodef Shalom) Pittsburgh, PA 15217 Phone: 412-521-5253 Cell: 412-303-5769 Website: naamatpgh.org • naamat.org Email: naamatpgh@gmail.com

Roselle Solomon and Dorothy Greenfield, Co-Presidents; Barbra Bowman-Labbie, Fundraising VP; Judy Kobell, Treasurer; PITTSBURGHJEWISHCHRONICLE.ORG

Natalie Rosenbloom & Rhoda Judd, Recording Secretary; Barbara Caplan & Elinor Young, Correspondence Secretary; Gail Neft & Diana Spodek, American Affairs & Allied Activities VP; Gloria Elbling Gottlieb, Julian Elbling & Carole Wolsh, Spiritual Adoption/Scholarship Chair; Lisa Steindel, Past President; Jackie Braslawsce, Executive Director.

••• NATIONAL COUNCIL OF JEWISH WOMEN Pittsburgh Section

1620 Murray Ave. Pittsburgh, PA 15217 Phone: 412-421-6118; Fax: 412-421-1121 Website: ncjwpgh.org

Teddi Horvitz, Pres.; Lynn Farber, V.P.; Paula Garret, Treas.; Debbie Levy Green, Imm. Past. Pres.; Cristina Ruggiero, Exec.

Dir.; Megan Rose, Director of the Center for Women (a joint project of NCJW and the JWF); Misi Bielich, Director of the Children’s Rooms in the Courts; Meredith Brown, Manager of Programs and Operations; Lynn Tomasits, Director of Retail-Thriftique; Amy Herlich, Dir. of Development ••• NEW COMMUNITY CHEVRA KADISHA OF GREATER PITTSBURGH Providing the opportunity for interested members of the greater Pittsburgh Jewish community to perform the mitzvah of taharah, the age-old preparation of Jewish deceased for burial, and acts as a resource for education about Jewish end-of-life traditions and practices

Email: NewCommunityCK@verizon.net Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/NCCKPGH/ Website: www. ncckpgh.org Phone: 412-422-8044

•••

NEW LIGHT CONGREGATION/ OHR CHADASH Conservative, Egalitarian • Come Join Us

5915 Beacon St. Pittsburgh PA 15217 Phone: 412-421-1017 Website: newlightcongregation.org

Jonathan Perlman, Rabbi; Barbara L. Caplan, Stephen Cohen, co-presidents; Janet Cohen, Corresponding Secretary; Debbie Salvin, Membership V.P.; Barbara Caplan, Social V.P.; Harold Caplan, Treasurer; Carl Solomon, Fin. Secy.; Ileen Portnoy, Secy.; Sharyn Stein, Sisterhood Pres.; Harold Caplan, Men’s Club Pres.

••• PARKWAY JEWISH CENTER Egalitarian Conservative Synagogue in the East Suburbs

300 Princeton Drive Pittsburgh, PA 15235 Phone: 412-823-4338; Fax: 412-823-4338 Website: parkwayjewishcenter.org Facebook: facebook.com/parkwayjewishcenter/ Email: parkwayjc@verizon.net

Cantor Henry Shapiro, Spiritual Leader; Lynda Heyman, Hal Lederman, Robert Caplan, Executive Committee; Laurie Barnett Levine, Sisterhood Pres.; Rick Sternberg, Office Manager.

••• PASTE Pittsburgh Association of Synagogue and Temple Executives

Drew Barkley (Temple Sinai), President; Leslie Hoffman, Treasurer (Temple Emanuel of South Hills); Barb Feig, FSA (Tree of Life*Or L’Simcha); Lisa Rothschild (Adat Shalom Synagogue); Chris Benton (Beth El Congregation of the South Hills ), Ken Turkowitz (Congregation Beth Shalom), Barbara Wilson (Beth Samuel Jewish Center), Barry Weisband (Rodef Shalom Congregation).

PENN STATE HILLEL 114-117 Pasquerilla Spiritual Center University Park, PA 16802 Phone: 814-863-3816 Email: Hillel@psu.edu Website: pennstatehillel.org

Executive Director: Aaron Kaufman; Chair: Jill Epstein, CFP®, First Vice President, Wealth Management, Wealth Advisor, UBS; Vice-Chair: Todd Goodstein, Owner, Company NameEnergy Transfer Solutions, Inc.; Secretary: Cindy Ruben; Treasurer/ Finance Chair: Jeffrey Ruben, WSFS Mortgage ••• PITTSBURGH JEWISH CHRONICLE Connecting Jewish Pittsburgh

5915 Beacon St., 5th Floor Pittsburgh, PA 15217-2005 Phone: 412-687-1000; Fax: 412-521-0154 Website: pittsburghjewishchronicle.org Email: newsdesk@pittsburghjewishchronicle.org

Evan Indianer, Chairman; Gayle R. Kraut, Secretary; Jonathan Bernstein, Treasurer; Gail Childs, Dan Droz, Malke Steinfeld Frank, Seth Glick, Tammy Hepps, Richard J. Kitay, Cátia Kossovsky, David Rush, Charles Saul, Evan H. Stein, Board Members; Jim Busis, CEO and Publisher; Liz Spikol, Editorial Director; Toby Tabachnick, Editor.

••• PLISKOVER ASSOCIATION, INC. Pliskov Landsleit org, manages Pliskover Cemetery

P.O. Box 8237 Pittsburgh, PA 15217 Website: pliskover.com Email: pliskover@pliskover.com

Kimball Rubin, President; Bruce Ibe, 1st Vice President; Pam Ludin, Vice President of Budgets, Investments, and Audits; Carole Rubenstein, Vice President of Marketing; Steven Speck, Vice President of Membership; Honey Forman, Vice President Scholarship and Special Events; Jared Kaufman, Treasurer; Cheryl Kaufman, Financial Secretary; Joel Dresbold, Recording Secretary. Anastasia Abramson, Marilyn Brody, Marshall Cohen, Cookie Danovitz, Andrew Pearl, Frank H. Rubin, Paula Rubin, Gloria Shapiro, Ruth Stock Zober, Board members.

••• CONGREGATION POALE ZEDECK 6318 Phillips Ave. Pittsburgh, PA 15217 Phone: 412-421-9786 Website: pzonline.org Email: info@pzonline.org

Rabbi Daniel Yolkut, Spiritual Leader; Dr. Louis Felder, Pres.; Joe Ungar, 1st V.P.; Richard Levine, 2nd V.P.; Nathaniel Scholnicoff, 3rd V.P.; Rabbi Ari Goldberg, Fin. Officer; Shifra Poznanski, Rec. Secy.; Todd Stufflebeam, Exec. Dir.; Shifra Poznanski, Stacie Stufflebeam & Naama Lazar, Sisterhood Presidents; Shmuel Isenberg, Men’s Club Pres.

••• RAUH JEWISH HISTORY PROGRAM & ARCHIVES AT THE SENATOR JOHN HEINZ HISTORY CENTER Preserving the History of Western Pennsylvania’s Jews

1212 Smallman St. Pittsburgh, PA 15222 Phone: 412-454-6406 Websites: heinzhistorycenter.org/collections/rauh-jewish-history-program-and-archives; jewishfamilieshistory. org; jewishhistoryhhc.org Email: RJArchives@heinzhistorycenter.org Eric Lidji, Director, eslidji@heinzhistorycenter.org; Adam Reinherz, Chair

•••

RIVERVIEW TOWERS APARTMENTS Live Life Your Way

52 Garetta St. Pittsburgh, PA 15217 Phone: 412-521-7876; Fax: 412-325-7041 Website: riverviewtowers.com

PITTSBURGH JEWISH CHRONICLE

Amy Weiss, Chair, Mitchell Pakler, Vice, Barry Roth, Secretary, Alec Stone, Treasurer, Debbie Winn-Horvitz, Hanna Steiner, Executive Director.

••• RODEF SHALOM CONGREGATION An Inclusive Reform Jewish Community, LGBTQ+ Safe Zone, & Fully Accessible Gathering Place

4905 Fifth Ave. Pittsburgh, PA 15213 Phone: 412-621-6566; Fax: 412-687-1977 Website: rodefshalom.org Email: info@rodefshalom.org

Aaron B. Bisno, Senior Rabbi; Sharyn H. Henry Rabbi; Dr. Walter Jacob, Rabbi Emeritus & Senior Scholar; Barry D. Weisband, Exec. Dir.; Karen Brean, Pres.; Mathew Falcone, Sr. V.P.; Alex Heit VP, Peter Rosenfeld, V.P.; Bob Rosenthal, Secy.; Eric Kruman, Treas.; Joel Katz, Asst. Bill Klingensmith, Asst., Sec; Dir.; Mimsie Leyton, Family Center Dir.; Rabbi Lawrence Freedman, Dir. of J-JEP; Amy Langham, Dir. of Finance & Admin; Lindsey Smith, Interim Dir. of Communications & Marketing; Yael Eads, Dir. of Informal Jewish Life; Mayda Roth, Dir. of Development, Kristin Karsh, HR Manager and Special Projects.

••• RODEF SHALOM BROTHERHOOD

Tim Litman, Pres.; Peter Rosenfeld, Edward Mandell, V.P.s; Don Shaw, Brotherhood Treas.; Al Rosenfeld, Brotherhood Rec. Secy.

••• WOMEN OF RODEF SHALOM

Terir Skerrit, Pres.; Andi Kaufman, Sandie Brand, Marjorie Goldfarb, Goldie Katz, Elaine Rybski V.P.s; Terri Sterrett, Rec. Secy.; Sheila Werner, Assist. Rec. Secy.; Phyllis Feinert, Corr. Secy.; Emmeline Silk, Assist. Corr. Secy.; Gail Lefkowitz, Treas.; Nancy Rosenthal, Assist. Treas.; Marilyn Caplan, Karen Hochberg, Marla Perlman, Ruth Rubenstein, Directors; Marion Damick,Parliamentarian.

••• SHAARE TORAH CONGREGATION At the gateway to the community — come visit or join our family

2319 Murray Ave. Pittsburgh, PA 15217 Phone: 412-421-8855; Fax: 412-521-9938 Rabbi: 412-377-1769 Website: ShaareTorah.net Email: Office@ShaareTorah.net Email Sisterhood: dorseyhannahb@aol.com

Daniel E. Wasserman, Rabbi; Eliezer M. Shusterman, Assoc. Rabbi; Jonathan Young, Pres.; V.P. Adam Rothschild; Secy. Linda Tashbook; Treasurer, Avram Avishai; Brian Cynamon, Jay Luzer, Salomon Murciano and Bryan Shuman, Gabbaim; Sisterhood Pres., Hannah B. Dorsey.

••• TEMPLE B’NAI ISRAEL A Friendly Progressive Congregation with Traditional Values

2025 Cypress Drive White Oak, PA 15131 Phone: 412-678-6181; Fax: 412-896-6513 Website: tbiwhiteoak.org Email: tbioffice@gmail.com

President: Dick Leffel; Vice President: Lindi Kendal; Secretary: Janice Greenwald; Treasurer: Steve Klein; Office Manager: Lisa C. Schonberger; Rabbi: Howard Stein ••• TEMPLE DAVID CONGREGATION Making our house of prayer, learning and gathering into your second home.

4415 Northern Pike Monroeville, PA 15146 Phone: 412-372-1200; Fax: 412-372-0485

Please see Directory, page 20

JUNE 26, 2020 19

Organization Directory Directory: Continued from page 19 Weiger Religious School 412-372-1206 Website: templedavid.org Email: tdoffice@templedavid.org

Barbara AB Symons, Rabbi; Jason Z. Edelstein, Rabbi Emeritus; Beverly Reinhardt, Office Mgr.; Rabbi Barbara Symons, Dir. of Education; Barbara Fisher, School Admin. Assist.; Reena Goldberg, Pres.; Vacant, Exec. V.P.; Harvey Wolfe, Fin. V.P.; Melissa Cooper, Religious School V.P.; Bruce Antonoff, Worship & Ritual V.P.; Kay Liss, Past Pres.; Brett Pechersky, Comptroller; Jay Goodman, Rec. Secy.; Greg Casher, Treas.; Mary Bendorf, Fin. Liaison.

••• TEMPLE EMANUEL OF SOUTH HILLS Living, Learning, Leading Judaism

1250 Bower Hill Road, Pittsburgh, PA 15243-1380 Website: templeemanuelpgh.org Facebook: facebook.com/templeemanuelpittsburgh Twitter: @TEPGH

Aaron C. Meyer, Senior Rabbi; Jessica Locketz, Rabbi and Director of Education; Mark Joel Mahler, Rabbi Emeritus; Iris Harlan, Early Childhood Development Center Director; Leslie Hoffman, Executive Director; Michelle Markowitz, President; Kate Louik, Vice President; Beth Schwartz, Vice President; Lisa Steinfeld, Vice President; David Hepps, Vice President; Jeffrey Young, Financial Secretary; Tracy Barnett, Treasurer; Nate Eisinger, Secretary ••• TEMPLE OHAV SHALOM A vibrant, inclusive Reform community in the North Hills

8400 Thompson Run Road Allison Park, PA 15101 Phone: 412-369-0900; Fax: 412-369-0699 Website: templeohavshalom.org Email: jleicht@templeohavshalom.org

Jeremy R. Weisblatt, Rabbi; Sandy Strover, Preschool Dir.; Jackie Leicht, Temple Admin.; Stefanie Greene, Cantorial Intern; Ken Eisner, Pres.; Arnie Begler, Immediate Past President; Bob Gibbs, Treas.; Yuval Kossovsky, VP Administration Cindy Harrison, VP Fundraising; Herb Cohen, VP Membership; Aaron Brauser, VP Lifelong Learning; Sydne Unatin, VP Preschool; Beth Mongilio, VP Social Action; Sam Joseph, VP Youth; Alysia Knapp, Corresponding Secy.; Andi Turkheimer, Member at Large; Brian Kline, Member at Large; Seth Corbin, Member at Large; Stacy Siegal, Member at Large; Mike Daninhirsch, Men’s Club; Julia Cohen, Women of Ohav.

TEMPLE SINAI 5505 Forbes Ave. Pittsburgh, PA 15217 Phone: 412-421-9715; Fax: 412-421-8430 Website: templesinaipgh.org Email: office@templesinaipgh.org

Darryl Crystal, Interim Sr. Rabbi; Keren Gorban, Associate Rabbi; Laura Berman, Cantor; Rabbi Jamie Gibson, Rabbi Emeritus; Drew Barkley, Executive Dir.; Saul Straussman, President; Alison Yazer, 1st Vice President; Stephen Jurman, 2nd Vice President; Elizabeth Collura, 3rd Vice President; Jerry Katz, Treasurer; Mara Kaplan, Assistant Treasurer; Lynn Rubenson, Secretary; Josh Lederer, Financial Secretary; Immediate Past President: Philip Lehman.

••• TIPHERETH ISRAEL CEMETERY Oakwood Street Shaler Township, PA 15209 Send correspondence to: 2233 Ramsey Road Monroeville, PA 15146 Phone: 412-824-7460 Email: adamwgusky@yahoo.com

President, Harvey Wolsh; Vice President, Adam Gusky; Secretary & Treasurer, Judy Gusky.

••• TREE OF LIFE*OR L’SIMCHA CONGREGATION 5898 Wilkins Ave. Pittsburgh, PA 15217-1299 (Current Office, Shabbat services, operations and deliveries at Rodef Shalom, 4905 Fifth Ave., Pittsburgh, PA 15213) Phone: 412-521-6788 Website: treeoflifepgh.org Email: office@treeoflifepgh.org

Rabbi Hazzan Jeffrey S. Myers, Alvin K. Berkun, Rabbi Emeritus; Barb Feige, Executive Director; Alex Speck, Program Director; Carol Sikov Gross, President; Alan Hausman, Vice President; Irwin Harris, Vice President; Stacey Hausman, Treasurer; Ben Simon, Assistant Treasurer; Sarah Pfeffer, Secretary; Sam Schachner, Immediate Past President.

••• TREE OF LIFE*OR L’SIMCHA MEN’S CLUB

Bob Fierstein, Co-President; David Lilien, Co-President/Treasurer; Michael Eisenberg, Harold Lessure, V.P.s; Irwin Harris, Immediate Past President.

••• TREE OF LIFE*OR L’SIMCHA SISTERHOOD Email: sisterhood@treeoflifepgh.org

Kara Spodek, Co-President, Stacey Hausman, Co-President

TRI-STATE REGION FEDERATION OF JEWISH MEN’S CLUBS

Alex Kiderman, President, Robert Fierstein, David Lilien, Jeremy Broverman, Steve Haberman, Ira Frank, Vice Presidents; Mark Frisch, Secretary; Michael Rosenberg, Treasurer, Irwin Harris, Immediate Past President. Rabbi Seth Adelson, Spiritual Advisor.

•••

Rabbi Shimon Silver, Rabbi; John Earnest, President ••• YOUNG JUDAEA WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA REGION Young Judaea is a Jewish Zionist Youth Movement operating year-round youth activities, volunteering and leadership development, summer camps for children and teens; programs to Israel for teens during the summer, Israel Gap year following high school and college programs.

FRIENDS OF UNITED HATZALAH OF ISRAEL “Israel’s fastest, free emergency medical service... when every second counts, we save more lives!”

Contact: Sharon Schoenfeld, Director of Year-Round Programs Phone: 646-292-2388 Website: youngjudaea.org Email: pghyj@youngjudaea.org, info@youngjudaea.org

2682 Green Road, Suite 101 Shaker Heights, Ohio 44122 Phone: 216.544.3010 Email: cari@israelrescue.org Website: www.israelrescue.org

Youth Advisor: Chaim Steinberg; Committee: Sharon Ackerman, Barbara Baumann, Karen Morris.

•••

Cari Margulis Immerman, Director 17 Midwest/Central States ••• WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA AUXILIARY FOR EXCEPTIONAL PEOPLE To help make a better life for those less fortunate.

Phone: 412-421-4690

Rabbi, Eli Seidman; Treas., Marian Hershman; Activity Director, Ruth Fargotstien.

••• YESHIVA SCHOOLS 70 Years of Changing the World for Good

2100 Wightman St. Pittsburgh, PA 15217 Phone: 412-422-7300; Fax: 412-422-5930 Website: yeshivaschools.com Email: mail@yeshivaschools.com

Rabbi Yisroel Rosenfeld, Dean; Chaim Oster, President; Charles Saul, V.P.; Yonason Sanford, Treasure; Chaya Engle, Secretary; Benny Greenberg, Donna Katz, Skip Greenberg, Shlomo Jacobs Board Members; Rabbi Yossi Rosenblum, Head of School, Mrs. Blumi Rosenfeld, Assist. to the Dean; Rabbi Chezky Rosenfeld, Chief Operating Officer; Rabbi Manis Frankel, Boys School Principal; Rabbi Elimendy Shusterman, Boys High School Principal Mrs. Mindy Small, Boys General Studies Dir.; Mrs. Batsheva Deren, Girls School Principal; Mrs. Nami Friedman, Girls Assist. Principal; Mrs. Leah Shollar, Girls School General Studies Dir.; Mrs. Chaya Sara Barrocas, The Early Learning Center Director.

•••• YOUNG ISRAEL of PITTSBURGH/ CONGREGATION SHAARE ZEDECK Orthodox

5831 Bartlett Street Pittsburgh PA 15217 Phone: 412-421-0508 Email: halochoscope@hotmail.com

news JEWS CAN USE.

YOUNG PEOPLES SYNAGOGUE 6404 Forbes Ave. P.O. Box 8141 Pittsburgh, PA 15217-8141 Phone: 412-421-3213 Website: yps-pgh.org Email: Rebecca.spiegel1@verizon.net

Rebecca Spiegel, President; Diane Spodek, Treasurer; Vice President: Steven Santman; Secretary, Heather Harr; Gabbaim, Allen Spiegel and Harold Scheinman; Allan Zeman, Chairman of the Board.

••• ZIONIST ORGANIZATION OF AMERICA: PITTSBURGH ZIONISM The right of the Jewish people to live in their Jewish homeland in peace.

6507 Wilkins Ave., Suite 102 Pittsburgh, PA 15217-1367 Phone: 412-665-4630 Email: stuart.pavilack@zoa.org

Stuart V. Pavilack, Executive Director; Jeffrey L. Pollock, Esq., President; Stephen A. Neustein, Esq., First Vice-President; Lawrence N. Paper, Esq., Vice President; Andrea Chester, Vice President; Jason Small, Treasurer; Julie Paris, Asst. Treasurer; Judy Kobell, Recording Secretary; Lyn Silverman, Corresponding Secretary; Ira M. Frank, Immediate Past President. Board members: Jeanne Bair, Hirsh Dlinn, Julian Elbling, Alexandra Greenberg, Rhonda Horvitz, Linda Hurwitz, Gerald Kobell, Esq., Linda Safyan, Charles Saul, Esq., Dee Selekman, Joe Titelbaum, Sibyl Treblow, Helene Wishnev, Dr. Murray Gordon, Michael Vanyukov, PhD., Richard Wice, David Weisberg Please send corrections, changes and additions to orgsdirectory@pittsburghjewish chronicle.org. PJC

Every Friday in the

and all the time online @pittsburghjewishchronicle.org.

For home delivery, call 410.902.2308.

20 JUNE 26, 2020

PITTSBURGH JEWISH CHRONICLE

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Life & Culture At a German train station, a unique memorial is dedicated to Jews deported to their death — ART —

By Toby Axelrod | JTA

N

early 80 years after the last train sent Jews to almost certain death from the main railway station in Wurzburg, a memorial to those who perished was dedicated in the German city.

The memorial, designed by artist Matthias Braun, features a collection of suitcases, backpacks and assorted travel gear made of stone, ceramic and other materials.

The luggage — its owners unseen — stands in front of the main station. Nearby are information steles with historical photos.

In a modern twist, one can scan QR codes on the luggage to learn about the Jewish population and history of each town that had someone deported on a train to the Theresienstadt concentration camp outside Prague, in then-Czechoslovakia.

Each sculpted suitcase has a twin in one of those towns.

Josef Schuster, president of the Central Council of Jews in Germany and a Wurzburg resident, told Germany’s main Jewish weekly, the Juedische Allgemeine, that the memorial was likely the first in Germany to feature related monuments “at the central place of remembrance and in the local communities.”

Schuster, in fact, inspired the idea to have

a memorial with separate branches, according to the newspaper.

The last major deportation from the Wurzburg station took place in June 1943.

Before the Holocaust, the Lower Franconia region reportedly had the highest density of Jewish communities in Germany. Between 1941 and 1944, some 2,069 Jews were deported from the area to Theresienstadt.

For the project, local artists were asked to create a symbolic piece of luggage in all 109 towns in Lower Franconia that had prewar Jewish communities. So far, 69 towns have participated.

One suitcase does not refer to a particular town. It is open and contains the poem “Little Ruth,” by the Israeli poet Yehuda Amichai, whose family fled Germany in the 1930s. The verse is dedicated to his childhood friend Ruth Hanover, who was murdered in Stylized pieces of luggage stand at a memorial for deported Jews in front of the main station the Sobibor death camp in Nazi- p in Wurzburg, Germany. The abandoned suitcases are intended to symbolize the loss and occupied Poland. disappearance of Jews and their religious communities during the Nazi era.

Another component of the Photo by Karl-Josef Hildenbrand/picture alliance via Getty Images via JTA memorial is an ongoing youth other local towns. The total costs are expected pandemic, only about 50 people attended the education project, started in 2018, ceremony — the legal limit for now. It was that focuses on lessons to be learned from to reach 250,000 euros (about $280,000). the history.

Due to social distancing measures livestreamed on the website of the project Funders include the city of Wurzburg and designed to hinder the coronavirus initiators, DenkOrt Deportationen. PJC

U

nfortunately, once again a major community crisis, this time the coronavirus pandemic, is underlining the necessity of a local Jewish newspaper and website that keeps you informed about — and in touch with — the Pittsburgh Jewish community.

We’re responding to this crisis with all hands on deck (even if it’s from our homes) to bring you what you need to know and want to know about our community: organizations, events live or virtual, plans canceled or postponed, hardships and help, friends and neighbors.

But even as we deploy more resources we are being hit by the same ƮǞȲƵ ƵƧȌȁȌǿǞƧ ǏȌȲƧƵȺ ƊȺ ƊȲƵ ȌɈǘƵȲ ȺǿƊǶǶ ȁȌȁٌȯȲȌ˛ɈȺ ƊȁƮ ƦɐȺǞȁƵȺȺƵȺ‫ خ‬ We depend heavily on advertising. If organizations cancel events, they don’t advertise them. When businesses close and their ƧɐȺɈȌǿƵȲȺ ǶȌȺƵ ƧȌȁ˛ƮƵȁƧƵ‫ ة‬ɈǘƵɯ ƧɐɈ ƊƮɨƵȲɈǞȺǞȁǐ‫ خ‬yȌ ȌȁƵ DzȁȌɩȺ ǘȌɩ long the upset of normalcy will last.

That’s why we need you, our readers and supporters, now more than ever. Please help us continue our mission of bringing you the Pittsburgh Jewish news you rely on and now need more than ever.

Help us tell the story of our community in crisis, and how once again we will show amazing resilience to continue to thrive into the future. Your emergency gift today helps make this possible and helps connect increasingly isolated people in our community, ǞȁƧǶɐƮǞȁǐ ɈǘƵ ƵǶƮƵȲǶɯ ƊȁƮ Ǟȁ˛Ȳǿ‫ خ‬ Thank you.

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JUNE 26, 2020 21

Life & Culture This Jewish Boston bookseller wants to help you spruce up your Zoom background — BOOKS —

By Penny Schwartz | JTA

I

n early April, just a few weeks after nonessential businesses in Massachusetts were shut down due to COVID-19, the staff at the Brattle Book Shop noticed that some prominent personalities conducting video interviews from home were seated in front of fairly lackluster bookshelves.

So staffers at the legendary 185-year-old antiquarian bookseller in the heart of downtown Boston offered to help them out.

In an April 7 Twitter post, they offered their expertise to prospective customers seeking a more sophisticated look — or at least a tidier one, free of worn copies of old paperbacks. The local media took note of the tweet and soon the phone started ringing.

One caller was an epidemiologist who wanted to feature medical books. Another who suddenly found himself conducting business meetings from home wanted to tone down his valuable collection of rare books. Some callers didn’t really care; they just wanted a good-looking selection.

“Books are giving that first impression,” Ken Gloss, the Brattle’s owner, told the Jewish Telegraphic Agency in a phone interview from the shop, which is located just steps from Boston Common. “What you see of someone’s books tells you about their intellect and their personality, whether you’d like to meet them or not meet them.”

As the world has shifted to virtual gatherings in response to the coronavirus pandemic, millions of people have suddenly gained intimate glimpses of the living rooms and home offices of their friends, co-workers or even strangers who happen to be taking the same online course. And some have grown self-conscious about the image those books are projecting.

Jonathan Sarna, a noted historian of American Judaism, told JTA that he switched to a virtual background after a participant in a webinar he was leading offered to organize the piles of books piled high on his desk.

For those who want to improve the look of their home libraries, Gloss and his staff start by asking about the person’s interests.

Then they scour their massive inventory and arrange a selection of books on a shelf.

Finally they email a photograph to the prospective customer, who can choose to

p “What you see of someone’s books tells you about their intellect and their personality,” said Ken Gloss, who owns Boston’s Brattle Book Shop.

Photos courtesy of the Brattle Book Shop via JTA

p Gloss outside the Brattle Book Shop, which is steps from Boston Common.

purchase any or all of them.

The Brattle has been in Gloss’ family since 1949, when the shop was purchased by his father, George, the American-born son of Jewish immigrants from Lithuania. Ken Gloss took over after his dad died in 1985.

A regular on the popular public television program “Antiques Roadshow,” Gloss is a sought-after lecturer and an appraiser for

clients that include Harvard University and the FBI. He’s also no stranger to using books as decor, curating selections for set designers who need, say, books from the 1950s. He once supplied 6,000 books with red covers for a movie set.

Over the years, the Brattle has sold 16thand 17th-century Hebrew Bibles, volumes of the Talmud, a commentary by the medieval

Jewish philosopher Moses Maimonides and old cookbooks with kosher recipes.

“It tells a huge amount of society and its values,” Gloss said of the cookbooks.

So what books should Jewish readers consider if they’re looking to spruce up their videoconference backdrops?

For an eye-catching aesthetic, Gloss suggests Marc Chagall’s “The Jerusalem Windows.”

For Bostonians, he suggests “The Jews of Boston,” a photo-rich gem co-edited by Sarna, or “The Death of an American Jewish Community,” a timely title that addresses Black-Jewish relations in the city. Books by and about the Boston-born maestro Leonard Bernstein also stand out, he says.

A reader wanting to display Jewish pride might consider books about the late Israeli Prime Minister Golda Meir, Supreme Court Justices Felix Frankfurter or Louis Brandeis, whose letters Gloss has sold. For a sports fan, Gloss suggests titles about Sandy Koufax or Moe Berg, the Major League Baseball catcher who spied for the United States during World War II. One book that struck a chord with Gloss is “Outwitting History: The Amazing Adventures of a Man Who Rescued a Million Yiddish Books,” by Aaron Lansky, the founder and director of the National Yiddish Book Center. Gloss recalled in vivid detail a passage from the book in which Lansky described visits with elderly Yiddish speakers who insisted on feeding him as they told stories about the cherished books they were passing on.

“We’ve experienced that,” Gloss said.

“You’re buying their library. It’s so emotional and so deep to them. They want to talk about it.”

While the bookshelf venture can’t entirely sustain the Brattle, which has been closed for more than two months, Gloss said it has provided some fun for the staff. But there’s a glimmer of hope on the horizon: As of last week, Massachusetts began lifting restrictions on businesses and the Brattle was able to reopen, albeit with restrictions.

The reopening went well, said Gloss, who recently found another reason to celebrate — he became a first-time grandfather, beginning a new generation of book lovers.

“One of my great joys when my children were growing up was reading to them,” he said. “It did not matter exactly what book, but the act of reading. I plan to regularly read to him.” PJC

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JUNE 26, 2020

23

Headlines

Torah

Pennsylvania senator sends personal letter to Netanyahu, Gantz opposing annexation

Don’t lose sight of the ‘small picture’ Rabbi Mendel Rosenblum Parshat Korach | Numbers 16:1-18:32

I

p Sen. Bob Casey

S

Photo by Bill Burke/Page One/via Wikimedia Commons.

en. Bob Casey (D-Pa.) has sent a personal letter to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Israeli Defense Minister Benny Gantz to express opposition to Israel possibly applying sovereignty to the West Bank.

“As Israel enters a hopeful new chapter after over a year of political turmoil, I am concerned that stated plans to move forward with unilateral annexation of the West Bank will not only eliminate the possibility of a two-state solution, but may result in erosion of regional and international arrangements that guarantee Israel’s safety and security,” wrote Casey in the July 3 letter, obtained on Thursday by Jewish Insider. “I ask that you choose an alternate path that will avert further conflict and lay the groundwork for peace.”

Netanyahu’s government plans to enact annexation starting July 1.

“The United States and Israel enjoy an unbreakable bond that goes beyond a typical bilateral relationship between two allies,” wrote Casey. “This relationship permits

space for criticism and concern when necessary. I ask that you choose an alternate path that will avert further conflict and lay the groundwork for peace.”

A group of Casey’s fellow Democrats sent a similar letter last month to Netanyahu and Gantz, a watered-down version of an initial letter that stated that if Israel were to “move forward with unilateral annexation, we could not support that action and would sadly conclude that Israel no longer values the bipartisan support that Congress has provided it for decades.”

The latest version of the letter, obtained by Jewish Insider, states, “If you move forward with unilateral annexation, we could not support that action. This is consistent with long-standing American policy opposing unilateral actions by either party to the conflict. Pursuit of a viable, negotiated two state solution is essential to ensuring our shared democratic values and lasting bipartisan support for Israel in Congress.” PJC — JNS

E S TAT E N OT I C E Letters of Testamentary

Derrick, Sandra Marie of Pittsburgh 31st Ward Deceased No. 02323 of 2020 AKA Sandra M. Derrick, and Sandra Derrick Barbara Jean Feldman, Executrix, 5812 Fredanna St., Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15207

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n this week’s Torah portion, Korach assembled 250 prestigious men and dressed them with tallitot — garments made entirely of blue wool. They stood before Moshe saying, “a four cornered garment requires tzitzit — fringes — and one string must be of techeilet — blue wool; does a garment made entirely of blue wool require a blue string or is it exempt?”

Moshe responded that according to Jewish Law, even a tallit entirely of blue wool requires a string of techeilet in the tzitzit.

One of the ways to explain Moshe’s answer relates to the power of each individual person and act. There are those who see the “big picture,” represented by the whole garment but lose sight of the “small picture,” the individual fringes. Moshe is teaching us that we need to pay attention to both. You know the expression, “He can’t see the forest for the trees”? It means small-mindedness.

He doesn’t see the big picture.

he had no prior connection to synagogue or Jewish life in the past. But the community wouldn’t give up. They said they didn’t care what his personal beliefs were. They just wanted his help to continue running the community in the way it had been until now. They kept bothering him until he finally relented.

Slowly, Michael and Atarah started to become closer to the community. They began thinking about the future of their children and the dangers of assimilation. Even though they didn’t want to become religious, they felt that they should begin exposing their children to a few of the mitzvot. They began lighting Shabbat candles and made kiddush on Friday night.

As our sages teach, one mitzvah leads to another. At this point they wanted to learn more about Judaism but there was nobody to teach them. They felt lost and abandoned.

Atarah offered up a silent prayer that G-d send them someone to teach them.

A few days later, Michael came upon a man with a beard and a hat standing in the shul.

This was a most unusual sight in Tasmania.

Michael invited the rabbi back to his home and the rabbi sat with Michael and Atarah for many hours answering their questions and concerns.

You know the expression, “He can’t see the forest for the trees”?

It means small-mindedness.

He doesn’t see the big picture.

But what about not seeing the trees anymore because of the forest? There are plenty of great thinkers and leaders like that. They are called visionaries because they are able to see the big picture that other people can’t. But is their view of small things as keenly focused?

On Thursday, June 25, we marked the 26th yahrzeit of the Lubavitcher Rebbe of Blessed Memory. Some describe the Rebbe as the greatest visionary of our time, whose goals and agenda were massive, ambitious and all encompassing, the Jewish leader with the biggest vision. While this is true, perhaps he was also the leader with the smallest vision.

He had the smallest concerns and goals.

Let me explain with this story: In the 1970s there was a young Israeli couple, Michael and Atarah, who moved from their anti-religious kibbutz in Israel to Tasmania, one of the most remote and smallest Jewish communities in the world.

The local Jewish families tried to preserve Jewish community life by getting together for Shabbat and the holidays. They had no rabbi, just an ad hoc chazzan with no training. This young Israeli family considered themselves completely secular and did not even participate in these gatherings.

One day, Michael was approached by one of the members of the community. He told Michael that their “chazzan” had moved away and they wondered if Michael could be their new leader since he was the only one who could read Hebrew.

Michael thought this was absurd since

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This led them and their children to a deeper appreciation and commitment to Jewish life.

Eventually Michael and Atarah found out how this rabbi ended up coming to Tasmania. His name was Rabbi Chaim Gutnick and he had received a letter from the Lubavitcher Rebbe that said that rabbis are so busy with their congregations in the big cities that they forget to take care of the people who live in remote areas. The Rebbe mentioned that Tasmania was an example.

Without having any specific instructions, Rabbi Gutnick immediately headed to Tasmania and looked for Jews. By focusing on the “small picture,” an entire family was moved to return to their roots.

The Rebbe — like Moshe — understood that we need to always keep our eyes focused on the “small picture.” The Torah requires us to have the biggest vision for world Jewry while maintaining the smallest vision that can focus on each individual Jew. A fitting response to the Torah’s message would be for each of us to think of one small thing we can do. It may be a mitzvah that we take on, or, perhaps even better, it may be something we do to help someone else do a mitzvah.

But whatever we do, let’s make it personal. Let’s try to be like Moshe and like the Rebbe and let’s not lose sight of the “small picture” too. PJC Rabbi Mendel Rosenblum is director of Chabad of the South Hills. This column is a service of the Vaad Harabanim of Greater Pittsburgh.

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Obituaries FARENCE: Davvee Greenfield Farence, 65, of Fayetteville, North Carolina, formerly of Pittsburgh, died Wednesday, June 17, 2020.

Born in Pittsburgh, on July 22, 1954, she was the daughter of the late Harry “Heshie” Greenfield and Belle (Pollack) Greenfield and the beloved wife of Paul Farence of Fayetteville. Davvee went to Allderdice and Penn Hall for high school and served honorably in the United States Army from which she retired. Davvee had a kind and generous nature. She spent much time supporting disabled veterans. She loved her family and pets. She is also survived by her son, Allen Farence, of Fayetteville, who she adored without reservation. She will be missed by her family, including first cousins Sandra Diaz, Maxine Kahn Rosen (Ron), Barbara Kahn Levy (Stuart), Lisa Pollack (Mark Milchman) and David Pollack (Nelda) and their children and grandchildren. She will also be missed by Allen’s friends James Long, Dan Stine, Susan Hill and Dania Rodriguez, who also felt that Davvee was a second mother to them. In lieu of flowers, if you choose to make a donation, it could be to Operation Home Front (operationhomefront.org) or to any charity that supports disabled veterans.

G OR D ON : Lu c i l l e Cohen Gordon, 98, of Fox Chapel, formerly of New Kensington, died Monday, June 15, 2020. She was born May 29, 1922, in Pittsburgh to the late Irving E. and Mary Levinson Cohen, and was married to Milton S. Gordon M.D. for 53 years, from 1954 until his death in 2007. Dr. Gordon served in World War II and as a MASH doctor during the Korean War. They resided in New Kensington, where Dr. Gordon practiced family medicine his entire career, until 1994, when they relocated to Fox Chapel. Lucille and Milton were the proud parents of Robert L. Gordon of San Diego and Harold J. Gordon of Philadelphia, and the proud grandparents of Emma and Sarah Gordon, twin daughters of Harold. Lucille graduated from Taylor Allderdice High School in 1940 at the age of 17 and was a member of the National Honor Society. Lucille was a legal secretary for many years and took courses at the University of Pittsburgh in the evenings. She then worked for the Office of Price Administration and was in charge of permitting people to use, or not to use, gasoline when it was restricted during World War II. Her last position prior to her marriage was as a private secretary to the highly respected Dr. Solomon B. Freehof, head rabbi of Rodef Shalom Congregation in Pittsburgh. Lucille was a longtime member of the former Beth Jacob Congregation of New Kensington and more recently, Adat Shalom B’nai Israel Beth Jacob Congregation in Fox Chapel, and she was active with many civic organizations, including Citizen’s General Hospital Auxiliary, B’nai B’rith and Hadassah.

She was quite charitable, giving, in small amounts, almost daily. She was grateful for her brother-in-law Norman Gordon’s help in many ways, as they resided in the same condominium building. Also for her good friend of many years, Ruth Silverman of Sarasota, Florida. She was thankful for her caregivers Lynne Porter, Sherael Habay, Tina Bruns, Pat Santarcangelo, Jan Rochez and Sarah Adams, and her physical therapist, Tina Wettengel. Also longtime friend Joan Horcicak, and, in memoriam, Louise Cravener. Mrs. Gordon is survived by her sons and granddaughters, her brother-in-law, her niece Nancy Denmark Klasterka, and nephews Paul and Ron Denmark, as well as great-nieces and nephews. Besides her PITTSBURGHJEWISHCHRONICLE.ORG

husband, she was preceded in death by her sisters, Dorothy Cohen Wolovitz and Corrine Cohen Denmark. Lucille was very involved with her children and grandchildren. They were the light of her life. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Adat Shalom Synagogue, 368 Guys Run Road, Cheswick, PA, 15024, or the charity of your choice.

JUDD: Myra Judd, beloved wife, mother, sister, grandmother, aunt, great-aunt and generous and wonderful friend to so many, died tragically and suddenly in a road accident in Arizona on Monday, June 15. Myra was born in 1945, and lived in Pittsburgh until moving west to Scottsdale, Arizona, with her husband Warren in 2002. Myra was a dynamo, who lit up any room when she entered it. On her trips to visit her family in Squirrel Hill, she would know half the people in any store she entered, who were always excited to see her. She had boundless energy and generosity, she was caring and warm, and people never believed she was as old as her years. She could make any activity or conversation fun, and went out of her way to make everyone around her feel comfortable and happy. Myra was the third and youngest daughter of Harry and Rose Rosen. She was a true daughter of Squirrel Hill, going to Colfax, Taylor Allderdice and graduating from the University of Pittsburgh. Just last month, Myra called from Arizona to lament the news that the “O” in Oakland was closing; she loved their fries and going there was a ritual whenever she came home to visit. Myra is survived

by Warren, her husband of 53 years, sons Robert of Scottsdale and Kevin (Karin) of Irvine, California, her sisters Roberta Recht and Elayne Rosen of Pittsburgh, grandchildren Haylie and Melanie Judd and Kevin Morin, all of Irvine, California, nieces and nephews, and many close friends, who are all heartbroken. Besides her family and friends, Myra’s great love was her dogs. Throughout her life, Myra raised and trained dogs; first, standard schnauzers, then golden retrievers and a border collie. Myra taught obedience and agility classes, and many of her weekends were filled with dog shows, where one or more of her dogs would compete, bringing home many medals. While still in Pittsburgh, Myra was involved with the organization Paws with a Cause, and trained dogs to assist people with disabilities so that they could live more independent lives.

Since living in Scottsdale, Myra was a fixture at the Phoenix Children’s Hospital, where she would take one of her trained dogs each week to cheer up the children, and taught classes in dog training. Tragically, Myra was driving home from her Monday evening puppy class with her youngest dog, Racer, when both were killed in a collision. In a paraphrase of some of the many tributes from her friends on Facebook, the world has lost one of the most generous and lovely people to grace this planet. And one of the most fun. The family requests that contributions be made to the Phoenix Children’s Hospital Foundation, where a fund for the Animal Assisted Therapy Program has been set up in her name. Contributions can be mailed to Phoenix Children’s Hospital Foundation, 2929 E. Camelback Road, Suite 122, Phoenix, AZ 85016, or made online at GivetoPCH.org. Please indicate that the contributions are to remember Myra.

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

In memory of …

A gift from …

In memory of …

Karen & Allison Broudy. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Jacob Stein

Rushie Leff. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Mel Leff

Elinor & Ivan Gold . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Mildred “Mitzie” Gold

Leona Levine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Ella Amper

Marlene Goldstein. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Henry Rudick

Sandra W. Loevner . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Charles J. Loevner

Irwin Goldston . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Max Goldston

Larry Myer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Milton Myer

Gay & Alvin Goldstone . . . . . . . . . Diane Cooper Goldstone

Shirley E. Preny . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Sophia Mallinger

Sharon Green . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Esther Klee

Shirley E. Preny . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Anna Krantz

Lawrence and Shirley Grossman. . . . Lawrence Grossman

Shirley E. Preny . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Aaron Mallinge

Denise Kaiser . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Phyllis Miller Kaiser

Jay Schuetzman. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Rose Freed

Harold & Cindy Lebenson . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Jacob Stein

Freda Spiegel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Leon Robert Greenberg

Mrs. Rachel Leff . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Mel Leff

Ruth Zytnick . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Harry J. Rosen

THIS WEEK’S YAHRZEITS — Sunday June 28: Dr. Fredrick Amshel, Oscar Bennett, Linnie R. Caplan, Barney Drosnes, Esther Gross, Julius H. Harris, Brian H. Ibe, Louis Katz, Charles Paris, Bessie Cohen Silverberg, Joseph Swartz, Florence M. Teitelbaum Monday June 29: Jerome Cohen, Gerson Finkelstein, William R. Finn, Charles Fischer, Charles Greenberg, Minnie Hyman, Estelle Kruman, Fannie S. Lattanzio, Jacob M. Levine, Mildred Mallinger, Tillie Rider, Harry Ruben Tuesday June 30: Samuel H. Adler, Jesse Carl Devon, Jeanne Eisenberg, Millie Escovitz, Harry Alter ”Goisner”, Marion Bergad Halfond, Curtis I. Kossman, Fannie Kisilinsky Lindner, A. L. Mars, Sidney L. Patz, Harry Santman, Ruth Marks Schenk, Belle G. Schiff, Eva Coon Solomon Wednesday July 1: Sylvia Americus, Herman Margolis Buck, Ray S. Freeman, Morris Glasser, Isadore Goldblum, Madeline A. Harris, Joseph Herskovitz, Helen Hoffman, Bertha Jacobs, Fred Kaminsky, Irving Kart, Harry Kurtz, Leah Labovitz, Sarah Linder, Helen Marcosky, Julia L. Miller, Rabbi Morris Moskowitz, Elizabeth Sack, Frances G. Stewart Thursday July 2: David Bregman, Helen K. Davidson, Isaac Glickman, Marcella Cohen Goldberg, Edward W. Harris, Morris L & Mary Ruth Jacob, Edith Liberman, Jerome J. Schwartz Friday July 3: Miriam Bachrach, Mollie Harris Beck, Martin Bergad, Major Donald Broida, Anna R. Fried, Sam Ginsburg, Meier Katzman, Emil Lebovitz, Mel Leff, Jacob Lerner, Sarah Litman, Charles J. Loevner, Meyer Melnick, Rose Moritz, Jacob Rosenberg, Irving Siegel, Bessie Sigler, Josephine Silberman, Gertrude Stalinsky, Michael Joseph Wagner, Nathaniel I. Walken Saturday July 4: Edythe G. Canter, Maurice L. Caplan, Benno Dreifuss, Pearl Evelovitz, Fannie Greenstein, Norman Halpern, Rose Janavitz, Saul Lundy, Verna Goldstein Plung, Beatrice Pollock, David Schwartz, Gussie Golda Snyder, Jacob Stern, Gus Whitman, Henry Wolk

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Please see Obituaries, page 26

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JUNE 26, 2020 25

Headlines Reflect: Continued from page 16

take action even when I know it’s not perfect.

Third, I’m reminding myself and anyone who will listen: Someday those yet unborn will ask, “Did you know what was happening? What did you do?” And I’m holding this prayer: May it be that we can honestly respond “We knew that we’d never be able to do enough, but that didn’t stop us from trying.”

Sara Stock Mayo, member of Bend the Arc: Pittsburgh The Jewish community of Pittsburgh needs to reach out to Jews of color in a meaningful way. Their voices need to be at the center of this p Sara Stock Mayo conversation. If we want to File photo do this work going forward, we must address this issue from within our own community in addition to just looking outward. This work is about dismantling white supremacy and other systems of oppression, which we Ashkenazi, white-passing Jews benefit from. We can be leaders from within our own community by decentering ourselves and building real, lasting relationships of care, concern and action beyond the protests. We must become accomplices rather than simply allies.

Rabbi Jeffrey Myers, Tree of Life: I think that it is crucial to listen to the Black community, and not dare to suggest what we should be doing.

While my faith has always p Rabbi impelled me to help all Jeffrey Myers people, the loving response File photo of the Black community to the massacre at the Tree of Life demands an even more loving and active response.

Rabbi Jonathan Perlman, New Light Congregation: The Jewish community needs to educate itself on racism. They need to understand

Obituaries: Continued from page 25

KANTROWITZ: Susan Hartmann Kantrowitz, 75, passed away surrounded by her loving family on Wednesday, June 17, 2020, after several illnesses. She was the daughter of the late Lillian Miller Hartmann Braunstein and the late Dr. Irving Hartmann. She is survived by her husband of nearly 54 years, Kenneth H. Kantrowitz; her children, Pam Calig, Marci Barnes and Ron Kantrowitz, her sisters Nancy Platt and Marilyn Morris, her grandchildren, Harrison Calig, Henry Barnes, Ross Calig, Dylan Calig, Alana Calig and Willow Kantrowitz, and many beloved nieces and nephews and many dear friends and extended family. Sue graduated with high honor from Taylor Allderdice High School, earned her bachelor’s degree from Carnegie Institute of Technology and her master’s degree in education from the University of Pittsburgh before embarking on a long and successful career in teaching, 26 JUNE 26, 2020

how Black people became the underclass after 256 years of slavery and how that condition persists today even after many government attempts to provide for increased civil rights. The community p Rabbi needs to replicate more twinJonathan ning programs like we have Perlman File photo done at New Light with the Rodman Baptist Church.

I believe that as Jews, we have prophetic call against injustice. I found my voice long ago in attending Peabody High School in East Liberty and rubbing shoulders with African American students. I am color blind in a way that generations before me were not. My most favorite recent memory was learning the Book of Proverbs with my shul members and Rodman Baptist Church for nearly two years. We have a lot in common. They call me “our rabbi.”

My response to our current crisis: More police reform and community alliances with police.

Rabbi Yisroel Rosenfeld, director of the Lubavitch Center of Pittsburgh: In the aftermath of the racial tensions, following the death of George Floyd, I have, perhaps more than ever p Rabbi before, found myself asking Yisroel “What would the Lubavitcher Rosenfeld File photo Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson o.b.m. say?”

The good news is, I don’t have to guess.

Two recurring themes that the Rebbe spoke about at many of his large televised gatherings were: a) the critical importance of establishing a “moment of silence” in every public school to contemplate the basic reality of G-d’s existence; and b) the importance of sharing with the gentile world “the seven laws of Noah,” G-d’s moral code for all humanity as delineated in the Torah.

The Rebbe maintained that we cannot expect to raise a G-dless generation to be good, decent, upstanding citizens. We need to introduce G-d to our children and our families so that they will live lives of meaning, purpose, and morality. As the Rebbe so often

social services and school administration. Sue retired as director of academic studies from Community Day School after 10 successful years there, highlighted by her work on the “Keeping Tabs” project to collect and display 6 million pop tabs, which remains as a permanent memorial on the school campus. She volunteered throughout her life for many causes around Pittsburgh including Hadassah, Temple Emanuel’s Caring Community and Adult Education programming, the Nathan S. Arensen Fund for Pancreatic Cancer Research at the University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute, Gilda’s Club and the Western Pennsylvania Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, to name a few. She was a proud lifelong Pittsburgher and member of its Jewish community. She enjoyed spending time with family and friends, cooking and entertaining, reading scary books, playing mahjong, participating in book clubs, sewing and needlepoint, going to the movies, watching “Pittsburgh” sports, traveling and celebrating happy occasions. Services and interment were private.

Contributions may be made to a charity of your choice. Arrangements entrusted to Ralph Schugar Chapel, Inc., family owned

said: They’ll behave decently and honestly not because of policemen who they can outsmart, but because “There’s an Eye that Sees, and an Ear that Hears ... ” G-d is in charge, and He expects all of us to conform to His code of decent, moral behavior. All 7 billion of us!

During the past two centuries, society had taken giant leaps of progress in terms of science and technology. We’ve done extraordinary things in our role as “partners” with our Creator.

But sadly, we have not protected G-d’s timeless moral truths.

Let these most recent unfortunate events be a wake-up call to each of us, and through us to those around us, that we need more G-d in our lives, not less. We should unapologetically share with our neighbors about God’s expectations of us: that we live up to the Divinely mandated standards of morality, decency, honesty and respect for all people as truly created equal in His Divine image.

Josh Sayles, director of the Community Relations Council of the Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh: In connecting with Black friends, colleagues, and p Josh community partners over Sayles File photo the last several weeks, I’ve noticed a striking parallel between their emotional states during the protests over police brutality and my emotional state shortly after the shooting at the Tree of Life building. When trying to be a friend or ally, I approach with the mindset: “What were my needs and what were the Jewish community’s needs in the weeks after the shooting?” And I adjust from there.

Two weeks ago several colleagues and I published an op-ed in the Forward titled, “Dear Jewish Community: Here’s What to Do Now.” We offered four ways in which the Jewish community should step up. I’d like to emphasize the first two: • Follow the lead of Black organizers.

Just as our Jewish community gets to determine how we understand anti-Semitism and how we want our partners to respond, so too those who are most impacted by these

and operated. schugar.com WEIS: David Howard Weis of Sarasota, Florida, died peacefully in his home the morning of June 14, 2020, just two weeks shy of his 89th birthday.

David was born in Pittsburgh, July 2, 1931. He graduated from Allderdice High School, class of 1949, and went on to get a degree in business from the University of Pittsburgh in 1953. He served his country in the U.S. Army during the Korean War and was stationed in Germany.

David met his match in Edris Tannenbaum in 1957 and they were married a year later.

They lived in Cleveland, Ohio, where their first daughter, Elise, was born then moved back to Pittsburgh where David founded Thermal Industries Inc. Soon after their second daughter, Deborah (a.k.a. Topaz), was born. The family moved to Churchill in 1967. David was passionate about his work.

He was an entrepreneur and an innovator.

Having started his business in the back of a rented garage, Thermal Industries grew into a national company that ultimately

PITTSBURGH JEWISH CHRONICLE

(police brutality) policies must have our support in defining the response.

• Listen to and lift up the voices of Jews of color. The Jewish community is not separate from the fight for racial equity because the fight for racial equity includes cherished members of our Jewish community.

Beyond that, the Community Relations Council of the Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh has been very busy. We issued a statement condemning police brutality and the death of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery and countless others. We launched a public campaign for the 412 Black Jewish Collaborative, which has existed since February 2019 and whose mission is to “catalyze and elevate Black and Jewish relations” in our region. We are regularly in touch with our Black community partners and are standing with them in solidarity and working to get their organizations resources they need. And we have compiled a list of resources to help interested members of the Jewish community learn how to be allies.

Rabbi Barbara Symons, Temple David: What happened to George Floyd is tragic but sadly in these times not unexpected.

Perhaps now, finally, all of our eyes will be opened to the p Rabbi systemic racism that exists, Barbara Symons and, hopefully, deniability File phtoto will become not only unacceptable but pointless.

Through guidance from our Reform Movement and collaboration with the Monroeville Interfaith Ministerium, we are trying to hear the voices of Black Americans and follow their lead — especially those with whom we have already built relationships — and are working toward: an anti-racist curriculum; reading “White Fragility”; conversations based on Black Jews’ voices; inviting candidates for office to share what they will do to fight racism (and other — isms); a panel discussion on religious reactions to racism and more. PJC Kayla Steinberg can be reached at ksteinberg@ pittsburghjewishchronicle.org.

employed several hundred people, many of whom remained loyal employees for 25 to 30 years. He was considered the pioneer of the vinyl window industry. He enjoyed traveling and spending summers at his home in Chautauqua, New York. David was an excellent tennis player. He enjoyed sailing on Lake Chautauqua, playing golf and philosophizing with his Chautauqua friends. One of his favorite pastimes was napping on his porch with an open book in his lap. After selling his business, David and Edris retired to Sarasota, Florida, where David said he was living in paradise. He is survived by his wife of 62 years, Edris, daughter Elise O’Leary and her husband Sean of Lloyd Neck, New York, daughter Topaz Weis and her husband Wolfgang Hokenmaier of Burlington, Vermont, and grandchildren Samantha and Emily O’Leary and Kiki and Robin Hokenmaier. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to National Council of Jewish Women in Pittsburgh or The Weis Family Fund, Chautauqua Institution, Chautauqua, NY 14722. There will be a celebration of life in the Sarasota, Florida, area after COVID-19 restrictions are lifted. PJC PITTSBURGHJEWISHCHRONICLE.ORG

Community Congrats, grads

Contactless simcha

p In honor of Eli Kranjec’s bar mitzvah, friends enjoyed a physically distanced photo-op in the Kranjecs’ driveway. Tom Perel and Amit Tuti stand with a cardboard Eli and improvised Kotel.

Photo courtesy of Danielle Kranjec

Remembering Charleston In marking five years since the June 17 massacre at Mother Emanuel AME Church in Charleston, Pittsburghers gathered and honored those lost to racially motivated violence.

p Lauren Haffner, recent Pittsburgh Allderdice graduate, stands near a decorated car.

Haffner organized a parade for fellow Allderdice grads on June 14. Photo by Lauren Haffner

Window visits continue at JAA

p Audrey Glickman, a survivor of the Oct. 27, 2018, shooting at the Tree of Life building, blew nine shofar blasts, one for each of the victims at Mother Emanuel, while standing outside the Tree of Life building on June 17.

Photo by Michael Eisenberg

p High School graduate Steven Tsoukalas celebrates with Gramma Betty S at Weinberg Village.

Helping out and getting dirty Jewish Community Center of Greater Pittsburgh Center for Loving Kindness volunteers gathered on June 4 in Wilkinsburg for the Project UPstander Day of Action.

u Jack enjoys connecting during a family visit at Weinberg Village.

Photos courtesy of Jewish Association on Aging

Macher and Shaker Squirrel Hill native Daniel Mackler won an essay contest in Jewish ethics sponsored by the Reconstructionist Rabbinical College.

Mackler’s essay is titled “Phenomenology of Hiyuv Out of the Sources of Ethics: Joseph Soloveitchik and Mara Benjamin,” and is a scholarly exploration of the religious experience of obligation, bringing together a traditional and a feminist perspective.

Mackler is set to begin a doctoral program in Jewish thought at New York University.

p A volunteer gets in the weeds at the Christian Church of Wilkinsburg.

Photo courtesy of Jewish Community Center of Greater Pittsburgh

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p Daniel Mackler Photo courtesy of Daniel Mackler

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