Pittsburgh Jewish Chronicle 1-8-21

January 8, 2021 | 24 Tevet 5781

Candlelighting 4:53 p.m. | Havdalah 5:57 p.m. | Vol. 64, No. 2 | pittsburghjewishchronicle.org

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rant JFCS donation JOIN THE JEWISH FEDERATION rgh fulfills wishes FOR A LIFE-CHANGING JOURNEY for those devastated by COVID-19 By Adam Reinherz | Staff Writer

adn’t seen her ward in months. When McKeown, a case Guardianship to deliver ld be ic,

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January 8, 2021 | 24 Tevet 5781

Candlelighting 4:53 p.m. | Havdalah 5:57 p.m. | Vol. 64, No. 2 | pittsburghjewishchronicle.org

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State awards $1.1 million grant JFCS donation to help secure Jewish Pittsburgh fulfills wishes for those devastated by COVID-19

NOTEWORTHY LOCAL Chutz-Pow!

By Adam Reinherz | Staff Writer

P

Women heroes of the Holocaust

institutions with immediate requirements such as access control and alarm systems, but additional funding needs remained. The new grant will help cover costs associated with target hardening. In January 2019, conversations about the Pittsburgh Jewish community’s security began among Brokos’ predecessor Brad Orsini, Jeff Finkelstein, president and CEO of the Federation, and state legislators. Orsini and Finkelstein had the opportunity to walk several legislators through the Tree of Life building after the massacre, which “had a tremendous impact and really enforced the need to have additional security in the Jewish community,” Brokos said. “It’s been a long process,” Brokos continued, citing trips to Harrisburg by Federation leaders, and a January 2020 trip to Israel with Finkelstein, then-Community Relations Council Director Josh Sayles and Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf. Federation leaders do not yet know when the Federation will receive the grant money,

atty McKeown hadn’t seen her ward in months. When McKeown, a case manager with JFCS Guardianship Services, approached the door to deliver a gift, she knew there would be little interaction. Because of the pandemic, monthly in-person visits had been replaced by phone calls — but those calls were not even with her ward, a young woman with intellectual disabilities. Instead, McKeown received updates from staff at the residential home. As she reached the home’s doorstep, McKeown deposited a wrapped box containing a karaoke machine — a gift for her ward who dreamed of one day starring on “America’s Got Talent.” McKeown quickly returned to her car. With almost 40 wards under her care, there were dozens more gifts to deliver. Through its guardianship services, JFCS manages each ward’s financial resources and/or makes informed medical decisions on the person’s behalf. Based on each client’s case, needs dramatically vary. Approximately 30 individuals under JFCS’ care have intellectual disabilities; other wards have chronic mental illnesses, like schizophrenia; some of JFCS’ wards have Alzheimer’s or dementia. Weeks prior to McKeown’s December drop-off, Nicole Iole, director of JFCS Guardianship Services, began compiling a list. JFCS Guardianship Services had received a $12,000 donation from Edgar Snyder and Adele Sales, and Iole was tasked with discovering what each ward wanted as a gift. “Most of our clients are indigent,” said Iole. “They live paycheck to paycheck. Some of them are living off of $45 a month because all of their benefits go to the residential provider, so you can imagine they really live most of their life with nothing.” Iole received various requests. One ward

Please see Security, page 14

Please see JFCS, page 14

Page 4

LOCAL ‘That’s What Friends Do’

 From left: Josh Sayles, Jeffrey Finkelstein, Frances Wolf, a JNF representative and Gov. Tom Wolf in January 2020 at a memorial in Israel for the victims of the Pittsburgh synagogue shooting Photo provided by Josh Sayles Page 6

LOCAL A pandemic pulpit

Rabbi Alicia Harris begins career during COVID-19 Page 8

By David Rullo | Staff Writer

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he Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh welcomed the new year with word that a $1.1 million grant had been awarded by the state of Pennsylvania to assist with security upgrades in the Pittsburgh Jewish community. The grant comes from the state’s Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program. The Federation is required to match that $1.1 million grant, bringing the actual amount of community security funding to $2.2 million. The Federation applied for the state grant in August, although Federation leaders had been talking with government officials for months prior to that about ongoing security needs in the Jewish community, said Shawn Brokos, Federation’s director of Jewish Community Security. The amount of funding sought by the Federation was derived from security assessments of community facilities following the massacre at the Tree of Life building. With the assistance of donor funding, the Federation was able to help community

keep your eye on PittsburghJewishChronicle Protecting life is our most precious mitzvah. As you receive the Covid-19 vaccine, members of the Greater Pittsburgh Rabbinic Association invite you to say these blessings: This first blessing begins with words from the prayer Asher Yatzar, a morning blessing thanking God for the miracle of our bodies. Our version notes that just as the pandemic is worldwide, so too are God’s human partners in creating, distributing, and administering these vaccines.

‫�קינוּ מֶ לֶ� הַ ע ֹולָם‬ ֵ ֱ‫בָּ רוּ� אַ ָתּה ה‘ א‬ .‫רוֹפֵ א כָל בָּ ָשׂר וּמַ פְ לִ יא לַעֲ שׂוֹת בִּ ידֵ י כָל יוֹשׂבֵ י ֵתבֵ ל‬ Baruch Atah, Adonai E-loheinu, Melech ha-olam, rofei chol basar umafli laasot bidei chol yoshvei tevel.

Blessed are You, Adonai our God, Sovereign of the Universe, who heals all flesh, working wondrously through human hands. The following is to be said only upon receiving the first dose:

CUT THIS OUT AND TAKE IT WITH YOU

CUT THIS OUT AND TAKE IT WITH YOU

Cantor pens Torah tale

.‫�קינוּ מֶ לֶ� הַ ע ֹולָם ֶשׁהֶ חֱ יָנוּ וְ ִקיְּמָ נוּ וְ ִהגִּ יעָ נוּ לַזְּ מַ ן הַ זֶּה‬ ֵ ֱ‫בָּ רוּ� אַ ָתּה ה‘ א‬

LOCAL A festival of books

LOCAL

Baruch Atah, Adonai E-loheinu, Melech ha-olam, shehecheyanu v’kiy’manu v’higi-anu lazman hazeh.

Blessed are You, Adonai our God, Sovereign of the Universe, who gives us life, sustains us, and has enabled us to reach this moment.

Vaccine bracha

FOOD Lentils and sausage

Headlines ‘Chutz-Pow! Volume IV’ highlights women’s Holocaust stories — LOCAL — By Adam Reinherz | Staff Writer

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fter months of delays due to COVID-19, “Chutz-Pow! Volume IV” was finally released. The newest installment of the comic series focuses on Holocaust-era women’s stories, a subject historians and researchers have long overlooked, explained Lauren Bairnsfather, director of the Holocaust Center of Pittsburgh. “Women’s stories are really neglected in the history of the Holocaust,” said Bairnsfather. “I mean, certainly they’re underrepresented. By dedicating an entire volume of ‘Chutz-Pow!’ to women’s stories, we really put these stories front and center.” In bringing women’s tales to the forefront, writers and illustrators tackled issues ranging from the fluidity of identity to enslavement and physical abuse. These diverse stories need to be told because “women experienced the Holocaust as women,” said Bairnsfather. “When we leave out these stories, we’re really not addressing the big picture.” “Chutz-Pow!,” which is often used as an educational tool in classrooms, has long tackled difficult narratives. For its writers and illustrators, the newest edition has “been the most intricate volume of the series to date,” explained Marcel Walker, “Chutz-Pow!” project coordinator and lead project artist. “There were more moving pieces,” he said. “We were profiling more people,

and there were more creative participants working on it.” The diversity of artists and authors — all with a Pittsburgh connection — enabled better storytelling, Bairnsfather said. The 10 contributors provided unique yet complementary ways to improve the product, Walker said. The challenge was keeping everything aligned once the pandemic hit. Although about 85% of the project was complete prior to March 2020, there Chutz-Pow! Voume IV were still elements  front cover art Art by Marcel L. Walker that needed tightening. Whether it was editorial revisions that we have some Margaret Bergmann, script by Wayne Wise Art by Ann Uland or post-production changes, finishing the really exciting  volume remotely was cumbersome. stories of athletes “My job essentially became the equivalent and spies and clothing designers, and we and who was able to be involved and what of curating a gallery show with a bunch of include stories of LGBTQ heroes of the it’s able to say in this moment,” said Walker. different artists involved,” said Walker. “It can Holocaust,” said Bairnsfather. “We really “The fact that Volume IV [came] out in the be work curating a show with a single artist, bring in important diversity. year 2020, it’s like a miracle. It’s like a miracle but when you’re talking about 10 artists and “Sometimes we tell these stories just to grew right in the middle of the worst situtrying to get the best out of them and making say these people were there,” she continued. ation that it could have. It’s like a flower sure all the work is compatible, that’s a lot of “Groups that we don’t see so well now in 2020, growing in the middle of a garbage heap. To work — good work but it’s work.” we also really didn’t see when we’re talking me, it’s that powerful. We couldn’t have used Volume IV is now available for sale on about histories from the 1930s and 1940s.” it at a better time. This was exactly when we Amazon and at local stores, including For Walker, the volume’s worth rests not needed this thing.”  PJC Phantom of the Attic in Oakland and only in its scope but the timing of its release. Adam Reinherz can be reached at areinherz@ Wildcard in Lawrenceville. “I look at this book as a blessing — the “One thing I can say about this volume is time it came out, and the way it came about, pittsburghjewishchronicle.org.

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Headlines Pittsburgh Festival of Books gains traction with prominent sponsors — LOCAL — By Justin Vellucci | Special to the Chronicle

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he Greater Pittsburgh Festival of Books is marching steadily toward its slated fall 2021 debut in East Liberty. Event organizers told the Pittsburgh Jewish Chronicle they have secured several big-name sponsors — Google Pittsburgh, Duolingo, Bakery Square and the University of Pittsburgh Library, as well as author Richard Snodgrass. “We were able to reach out to some folks for help and I think what you’re seeing is the vision of what this is, what this could be,” said event chairman Marshall Cohen, the Shadyside book collector and consummate book festival-goer who founded the event. “I think it’s appealing to a lot of people.” Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney PC has provided the organizers with legal support, and New Sun Rising, a community-building nonprofit, is working as a fiscal program sponsor. The group has also hired a parttime event coordinator, Bethany Ruhe, the Pittsburgh Current co-founder who has worked in public relations for Carlow

University in Pittsburgh, Direct Energy in Houston, and others. In January, both Cohen and Ruhe said the major push would be to secure a venue for the event; programming would follow based on what the space allows. Cohen is steadfast that the event will be free to attend — and that it should be attended in person. “I don’t want this to be a virtual festival — it loses some of the magic that way,” Cohen said. “I don’t want to plan this to be virtual. I want to plan this to be real. It’s not whether; it’s when.” It’s too early to say which authors from Pittsburgh’s rich heritage and lexicon might be invited to take part, though Cohen’s dream list includes heavy hitters like David McCullough and Michael Chabon. “It’d be nice to have a few Pittsburgh authors talk about ‘writing Pittsburgh,’” Cohen said. “There will be Pittsburgh authors and there will be Pittsburgh connections — that’s what will unfold over the next six or seven months.” The festival has already pegged one homegrown author as a sponsor. Snodgrass was born and raised in Beaver Falls and later moved to San Francisco, returning to

 Logo for the Greater Pittsburgh Festival of Books Art provided by Greater Pittsburgh Festival of Books

Pittsburgh in the early 1980s to write about mill town communities. “Pittsburgh is a storied city that has inspired my writing throughout my life,” Snodgrass said. “With our active literary, artistic and educational community, Pittsburgh is the perfect city for a book festival, and I am honored to sponsor and participate in this important event.” Ruhe also expressed enthusiasm over being involved in an event that could change Pittsburgh’s literary and artistic landscape. “This is Marshall’s baby and I’m happy

 Marshall Cohen

Photo provided by Marshall Cohen

to help with it,” she told the Chronicle. “I’m just really excited. I think this is going to be a great opportunity for the city of Pittsburgh.”  PJC Justin Vellucci is a freelance writer living in Pittsburgh.

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Headlines Former Pittsburgher pens children’s book following synagogue attack he resolutely identifies as a Pittsburgher. Born and raised in Squirrel Hill, Stoehr attended Hillel Academy and Taylor Allderdice High School. He went to the University of Pittsburgh and was mentored as a hazzan by the late, great Cantor Moshe Taube, a staple at Pittsburgh’s Beth Shalom for four decades. So, when anti-Semitism rocked Pittsburgh in the form of the Oct. 27, 2018, synagogue shooting, he did what came naturally: He helped out. Stoehr — whose grandfather Written by Cantor Steven Stoehr attended services at Tree of Life, Illustrated by Amber Leigh Luecke and whose parents were married there — helped commission a  Book cover Image provided by Steven Stoehr new Torah mantle to replace the one damaged in the attack. Now, the story of the mantle and its journey — LOCAL — throughout the U.S. has inspired a book for children, “That’s What Friends Do.” In the book, which Stoehr wrote and Amber Leigh By Justin Vellucci | Specials to the Chronicle Luecke illustrated, a Torah scroll present at hough Cantor Steven Stoehr prays the synagogue during the attack discovers the at a Congregation Beth Shalom in meaning of friendship when a new cover is Northbrook, Illinois, and not at gifted to him by friends of the synagogue. JC BrainHearing DementiaFIN_Eartique 9/14/20 4:28“This PM Page 1 is about Pittsburgh and this is the corner of Beacon and Shady avenues,

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about Tree of Life,” Stoehr told the Chronicle. Stoehr, whose congregation today is based about 40 minutes outside of Chicago, said it’s important and relevant that he’s sharing the story of the Torah mantle with a younger generation. “People use historical moments to teach kids about life,” he said. “The country has been polarized — not just politically, it’s not a partisan view. There’s just so much hatred. So, what do you do? You start with the children.” To craft the book, Stoehr said he took a page out of the book of another Pittsburgh icon: Mr. Rogers. “I wanted to write a little book that showed the world is a much nicer place than it seems to be,” Stoehr said. “Kids have to learn that even a Torah and a cover can become friends and make a difference, too.”  PJC  From left: Cantor Steven Stoehr, Rabbi Jeffrey

Justin Vellucci is a freelance Myers and Cantor Stephen Stein Photo provided by Steven Stoehr writer living in Pittsburgh.

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Headlines Pittsburgh rabbis promote new blessing for COVID-19 vaccine — LOCAL — By David Rullo | Staff Writer

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n an oft-repeated midrash, a woodcutter ventures into the forest alone during the High Holidays to pray. Unsure of the words, he instead recites the alphabet, asking God to combine them in the right order. The Greater Pittsburgh Rabbinical Association wants to make sure the local Jewish community does have the right words to recite when its members are vaccinated against COVID-19, and Rabbi Barbara Symons of Temple David and Rabbi Doris Dyen of the independent havurah Makom HaLev have created a new blessing specifically for the occasion. The duo, who were aided in creating the blessing by other members of the GPRA, worked quickly so that the blessing would be ready before most members of Pittsburgh’s Jewish community began receiving the vaccine. “The goal of the blessing was to encourage people in the Jewish community to get the vaccine so that they can protect themselves and so that they can help stop the spread of the virus in the community at large,” Dyen said. The blessing, explained Symons, elevates

the moment of vaccination and makes it sacred. “We could have simply made a statement and said go,” Symons said. “Judaism teaches over and over to choose life, that the Rabbi Barbara highest mitzvah is  File photo to save a life. This Symons is taking it another step and making this moment sacred.” The blessing will help people understand they are stepping into the field of holiness while being vaccinated, Dyen added. The blessing follows a traditional formula, said Symons, and is introduced in promotional materials by a short narrative framing the moment and reinforcing the Jewish ideal to protect life. The introduction explains that the blessing begins with words from “Asher Yatzar,” a morning blessing thanking God for the miracle of our bodies, and also notes that, like the virus, God’s human partners are worldwide, working to create, distribute and administer the vaccine. After the traditional opening, the blessing states, “ … who heals all flesh, working wondrously through human hands.” That wording is deliberate, Symons

explained: “God created our bodies in a self-healing way. I brought to the conversation that the vaccine was created by sort of mimicking the virus’s elements and having our bodies work on that.  Rabbi Doris God got our bodies Dyen File Photo to work and do this.” The final phrase, “through human hands,” accomplishes two things, Dyen said. “It makes it specific to this activity of getting the vaccine and recognizes that this has actually been a worldwide effort,” she said. “There are people all over the globe attempting to find vaccines that will be effective that people can take without fear of side effects. It’s people in the U.S., in Europe, and Asia. Just as the virus is a pandemic, so are the attempts to bring multiple vaccines.” “Bidei chol yoshvie tevel” literally translates to “through the hands of all dwellers of earth,” said Dyen, noting that those words are included in the Reconstructionist siddur at the end of Kaddish. “We specifically wanted to say we’re God’s human partners in creating, distributing and administering these vaccines,” Symons said.

“It’s through the remarkable gifts of being a human, given by God, that even allows us to create this.” “God works through all of us,” Dyen said, “to help repair the world and continue to give us all life.” The rabbis also decided that upon receiving the vaccination for the first time — the Pfizer vaccine requires two doses — both the new blessing and the shehecheyanu should be recited. Traditionally, the shehecheyanu is recited after doing something for the first time, or after a long period of not doing something, so the rabbis felt it would be appropriate to recite after receiving the first dose of the new vaccine. The GPRA is primarily comprised of rabbis and cantors who are non-Orthodox. There is, however, usually at least one Orthodox rabbi joining colleagues from the Conservative, Reconstructionist and Reform movements in the organization. The group includes pulpit rabbis, rabbis and cantors working with various social service agencies, as well as those, like Dyen, who serve in a pastoral role at medical facilities. “We have a couple of different kippot on,” Dyen said.  PJC David Rullo can be reached at drullo@ pittsburghjewishchronicle.org.

Protecting life is our most precious mitzvah. As you receive the Covid-19 vaccine, members of the Greater Pittsburgh Rabbinic Association invite you to say these blessings:

‫�קינוּ מֶ לֶ� הַ ע ֹולָם‬ ֵ ֱ‫בָּ רוּ� אַ ָתּה ה‘ א‬ .‫רוֹפֵ א כָל בָּ ָשׂר וּמַ פְ לִ יא לַעֲ שׂוֹת בִּ ידֵ י כָל יוֹשׂבֵ י ֵתבֵ ל‬

CUT THIS OUT AND TAKE IT WITH YOU

CUT THIS OUT AND TAKE IT WITH YOU

This first blessing begins with words from the prayer Asher Yatzar, a morning blessing thanking God for the miracle of our bodies. Our version notes that just as the pandemic is worldwide, so too are God’s human partners in creating, distributing, and administering these vaccines.

Baruch Atah, Adonai E-loheinu, Melech ha-olam, rofei chol basar umafli laasot bidei chol yoshvei tevel.

Blessed are You, Adonai our God, Sovereign of the Universe, who heals all flesh, working wondrously through human hands. The following is to be said only upon receiving the first dose:

.‫�קינוּ מֶ לֶ� הַ ע ֹולָם ֶשׁהֶ חֱ יָנוּ וְ ִקיְּמָ נוּ וְ ִהגִּ יעָ נוּ לַזְּ מַ ן הַ זֶּה‬ ֵ ֱ‫בָּ רוּ� אַ ָתּה ה‘ א‬ Baruch Atah, Adonai E-loheinu, Melech ha-olam, shehecheyanu v’kiy’manu v’higi-anu lazman hazeh. Blessed are You, Adonai our God, Sovereign of the Universe, who gives us life, sustains us, and has enabled us to reach this moment.

PITTSBURGHJEWISHCHRONICLE.ORG

PITTSBURGH JEWISH CHRONICLE

JANUARY 8, 2021 7

Headlines New rabbi assumes first pulpit in the midst of COVID-19 — LOCAL — By Adam Reinherz | Staff Writer

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tarting a new position as a pulpit rabbi during a pandemic can be pretty strange. In addition to doing the job almost entirely through a computer screen, Rabbi Alicia Harris’ first few meetings with her congregants were not joyous occasions. “We had some funerals, which were obviously graveside and distanced,” said Harris, 30, a former Pittsburgh resident who’s now the spiritual leader of Congregation Shir Tikvah in Troy, Michigan. “They are a way to meet people, which is kind of a bummer but true.” Unusual situations have been part and parcel of everyday life for Harris during the pandemic. Just before Purim, in early March 2020, rabbinic classes at Hebrew Union College — Jewish Institute of Religion in Cincinnati went virtual. Around that time, Harris and her fellow classmates were scheduling interviews with prospective employers. The first round of interviews were always supposed to be on Zoom, but the second round ended up being on Zoom as well. “Usually, you go out and visit the congregation and sort of get a sense of it, and they

get a sense of you, and that certainly didn’t happen,” Harris said. She considered working for Hillel International, among other employers, but HUC’s placement office spoke highly of Shir Tikvah, and after meeting with the congregation’s lay leaders online, Harris agreed it would be a good fit. She started the job in July, and moved to Oakland County, Michigan, in August. Since becoming a Michigander, Harris has been busy meeting with lay leaders, congregants, colleagues in northern Detroit and members of the state’s board of rabbis. She loves her new community, she said, but in the five months since relocating to Oakland County, she can probably count the number of times she’s actually seen a congregant or colleague in person. When the weather was warmer, Shir Tikvah held a few havdalah services in its parking lot, as well as a Sunday school kickoff and holiday gatherings for Sukkot and Simchat Torah. Harris enjoyed those occasions because they allowed her to finally meet people she had spoken to online, and also gave others “a chance to see me in person, and to see that I have legs,” she joked. But with winter here, and COVID-19 still raging — more than 10% of Michigan’s 523,000 COVID-positive cases have occurred in Oakland County — Harris

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CATERING SPECIALISTS DELICIOUS FRIED CHICKEN

died there due to COVID-19 — for comparison, Allegheny County’s population is 1.216 million, with 952 deaths due to COVID-19. The numbers drive decision making. But operating a congregation online and keeping a synagogue closed isn’t easy, said Harris. “It’s sad to be alone,” she said. “It’s hard Please see Harris, page 15

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

TAKE-OUT SPECIALS

Pepper Steak

doesn’t anticipate resuming joyous in-person events anytime soon. “We know the death rates and we’re seeing what’s happening,” she said. “The reality is we’ve got folks who, if we were to reopen the building, their lives could be in danger. I mean, that’s just the reality here.” Oakland County’s population is 1.258 million. As of Dec. 30, 1,632 people had

— WORLD —

PRICES EFFECTIVE SUNDAY, JANUARY 10 THROUGH FRIDAY, JANUARY 15, 2021 Candle Lighting Time Friday, January 8, 2021 • 4:53 p.m. MEAT SPECIALS

 Rabbi Alicia Harris with a shofar that has been in her family for six generations. Photo courtesy of Rabbi Alicia Harris

Jan. 8, 1978 — Hadassah leader Rose Halprin dies

Rose Luria Halprin, a two-time national president of Hadassah and a Jewish Agency official, dies in New York at age 83. She served as a liaison to the Hadassah Medical Organization while living in Jerusalem in the late 1930s.

Jan. 9, 1952 — Israel accepts German reparations

The Knesset ends three days of debate by voting 61-50 to accept more than $800 million in Holocaust reparations from West Germany over 14 years. The decision sparks protests.

Jan. 10, 1996 — King Hussein makes first public trip to Tel Aviv

Jordan’s King Hussein pilots an army helicopter to make his first public visit to Israel nearly 15 months after signing a peace treaty. He secretly visited Israel in 1977.

Jan. 11, 1929 — IDF Chief Rafael Eitan is born

Rafael Eitan, the 11th chief of staff of the Israel Defense Forces, is born in Tel Adashim. He is wounded four times before reaching the rank of lieutenant general as the chief of staff in 1978.

Jan. 12, 1981 — Bedouin Knesset member is assassinated

Hamad Abu-Rabia, the first Bedouin to serve in the Knesset, is fatally shot at age 51 outside the Holy Land Hotel in Jerusalem over a political dispute with a Druze rival.

Jan. 13, 1922 — Zionist Leader meets with President Harding

Nahum Sokolow, the president of the World Zionist Congress’ Executive Committee, meets with U.S. President Warren Harding for nearly an hour and gains an expression of support for Zionism.

Jan. 14, 2018 — Netanyahu visits India

Benjamin Netanyahu pays the first state visit to India by an Israeli prime minister in more than 15 years, reciprocating a trip to Israel by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in mid-2017.  PJC

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Promising Pandemic Safety Protocols 2200 Murray Avenue Pittsburgh, PA 15217 412-521-2732 www.paytaxeslater.com

James Lange, CPA and Attorney

In 1811, a French chemist, while isolating sodium carbonate from seaweed, added a little too much sulfuric acid. To his utter shock and amazement, a plume of purple vapor burst forth from the ashes. 209 years later, many medical researchers are now endorsing the purple element as an invaluable part of a COVID-19 defense protocol. The French chemist’s mistake led to the discovery of iodine1. Povidone-iodine (whose active ingredient is iodine) is currently being recommended to doctors, nurses, and patients to potentially protect against the spread of COVID-19. With the help of some friends and coworkers, my wife and I have assembled this guide outlining this under publicized intervention along with some others that could help keep you safe. The measures we plan to take are listed and outlined below.

Protocols for Staying Safer in the Pandemic: 1. An experimental, yet promising and relatively benign, protocol that includes using a povidoneiodine (Betadine® is one brand name) solution for gargling and a nasal spray. 2. Wear a commercially available mask that looks a feminine version of a WWI gas mask. This filters the air that you inhale.

“ Jim, I want to say that you have done an amazing job of highlighting the numbers of proactive measures that each and every one of us can take in order to protect ourselves (and others) from exposure to, and transmission of, the deadly virus. BRAVO!!! ” — Martha Stark, MD, Faculty, Harvard Medical School, Founder and CEO, SynergyMed for MindBodyHealth

3. Add an additional filter to the mask as it has an exhalation valve. This additional filter will help protect others from your exhaled aerosols. 4. Use protective eye goggles. 5. Continue to wash hands frequently & properly. Please note we provide details on all of the above in the rest of this article. For a more complete description of items discussed in this article, information on proper usage of these items, and, as a suggestion, links to the products that I purchased for my family, go to https://paytaxeslater.com/ endnotes. I wish I could tell you all these protocols have been peer-reviewed and tested extensively and are 99.9% safe. They are not. As an example, people with certain thyroid conditions should not utilize the povidone-iodine gargle and nasal spray solution. Studies are in process and my reading is that they look promising. We reference and provide links to some of those studies to give you the opportunity to come to your own conclusions. That said, I think they all make sense and my family and I are using them when appropriate. Please keep in mind that the material provided in this article is general in nature and that time and additional studies could prove me wrong. In fact, and I will expand on this later in the article, I

welcome additional information that contradicts, confirms, or adds to the information presented here. I consider this article to be a work in progress. A natural objection to this entire article is that it is outside of my area of expertise and not given the scrutiny that it deserves. I plead guilty on both fronts. Truthfully, I would have liked it to have been written by an expert in infectious diseases and would have liked at least an additional month to work on it. I would have also liked it to have been reviewed by a lot more experts. The problem with waiting is that, although large-scale vaccination efforts are already underway, the short-term outlook for this pandemic is extremely bleak. And, to me, that makes the additional safety protocols outlined here extremely timely. Frankly, I have decided to sacrifice closer scrutiny for speed. That said, hundreds of hours have gone into getting it to where it is now. We have tried to make this information as accessible as possible. The mask is relatively easy to order but requires some fiddling to attach a filter to protect others. Safety goggles seem easy and obvious, but we include a link for the mask and the goggles that we chose. Mixing the povidone-iodine (Betadine® is one brand name) nasal/oral solution is the least familiar so we have attached links to papers that report on current research.

As with all of the health information I pass on, it is meant to offer readers some options to consider. Obviously, I am not a physician nor am I suggesting you use these protocols to go bar hopping and attend large indoor parties with strangers! That said, I care about my “tribe” and want to keep you safe. I have been critically concerned about the virus since March. I have distributed 33,000 KN-95 masks mainly to charities and non-profits, but also many to family, friends, and clients. I’ve tried to be proactive in earlier emails providing information on building your immune system, washing your hands, and wearing KN-95 masks. So this is simply another effort on that continuum. Please feel free to share this information with anyone you think might be interested.

To read our entire article including endnotes, please visit:

https://paytaxeslater.com/langes-advicecolumn/covid-prevention

1.

For the ease of the reader, we have compiled all the endnote references made in this article at https://paytaxeslater.com/ endnotes. On the site you will be able to access all the studies, articles, papers, and other documents cited in this article. The endnotes also include links for those who are interested in purchasing some or all of the items listed in these protocols, as well as usage instructions.

Limit of Liability: Material provided in this article is general in nature and provided only as educational information. Neither the publisher nor the author nor any contributor shall be liable for any damages resulting from any information provided in this article.

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JANUARY 8, 2021 9

Calendar Submit calendar items on the Chronicle’s website, pittsburghjewishchronicle.org. Submissions also will be included in print. Events will run in the print edition beginning one month prior to the date as space allows. The deadline for submissions is Friday, noon. q SUNDAYS, JAN. 10, 17, 24, 31; FEB. 7

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. q SUNDAYS, JAN. 10, 17, 24;

MONDAYS FEB. 8, 15, 22

Beth El Congregation of the South Hills presents its Winter Speaker Series. For a complete list of speakers, topics and times, and to register, visit bethelcong.org/events. q MONDAY, JAN. 11

Join the Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh on a virtual tour of United Hatzalah and learn how they are saving lives in Israel every day. United Hatzalah is an innovative and fast-growing organization whose focus is getting emergency medical attention to people all over Israel. Learn about the Federation’s relationship with and support of this unique organization. 12 p.m. For more information, visit jewishpgh.org/event. The first semester of the school year is ending. For sophomores, juniors and seniors, as well as entering freshmen/women, the last months have been a unique and challenging time. Please join Temple Sinai and JFCS for College During the Pandemic: A Program for Students and Parents. The conversation will be facilitated by Erin Barr and Stephanie Rodriquez from JFCS’s Children Service and Temple Sinai’s Rabbi Darryl Crystal. 7 p.m. For more information and to register, visit templeseinaipgh.org. Join the Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh virtually for a discussion about Domestic Violent Extremism: The Evolving Threat, with John Polcastro and Matthew Trosan of the FBI. 7 p.m. For more information, visit jewishpgh.org/event. Join Classrooms Without Borders in Israel — virtually. Monthly tours with guide and scholar Rabbi Jonty Blackman via Zoom. 7 p.m. For more information and to register, visit classroomswithoutborders.org.  q MONDAYS, JAN. 11, 18, 25; FEB. 1, 8

Join Rabbi Jeremy Markiz in learning 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. q TUESDAY, JAN. 12

Classrooms Without Borders, in partnership with Rodef Shalom Congregation and the Maltz Museum of Jewish Heritage, presents “Our People: Discovering Lithuania’s Hidden Holocaust.” Dr. Efraim Zuroff, Rūta Vanagaitė and Holocaust scholar Dr. Michael Berenbaum will discuss the role played by ordinary Lithuanians in collaborating with the Nazis during the Holocaust. 3 p.m. classroomswithoutborders.org/our-people The Holocaust Center of Pittsburgh’s Education Outreach Associate, Emily Bernstein, interviews Dr. Joe Harmon, the 2018-19

10 JANUARY 8, 2021

Holocaust Educator of the Year. Harmon teaches at Redbank Valley High School. 3 p.m. hcofpgh.org/events q TUESDAY, JAN. 12; FRIDAY JAN. 22;

THURSDAY, FEB. 4

What are you doing in June 2022? The Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh hopes that you will be in Israel with them and hundreds of others from Pittsburgh’s Jewish community. To learn more, join Federation for a Zoom info session. Young adults are invited to attend a special session on Jan. 12 at 6 p.m. Adults should plan to attend on Jan. 22 at noon or Feb. 4 at 7 p.m. For more information and to register, visit jfedpgh.org. q TUESDAYS, JAN. 12 -JUNE 1

What is the point of Jewish living? What ideas, beliefs and practices are involved? Melton Course 1: Rhythms & Purposes of Jewish Living examines a variety of Jewish sources to discover the deeper meanings of Jewish holidays, lifecycle observances and Jewish practice. Cost: $300 per person, per year (25 sessions), includes all books and materials. For more information and to register, visit foundation.jewishpgh.org. q WEDNESDAY, JAN. 13

Classrooms Without Borders presents Voices of Struggle: Martin Luther King, Jr., Malcolm X. Guest speaker Yusef Jonas analyzes how these powerful orators used language to galvanize and inspire activism. 4 p.m. classroomswithoutborders.org Join Temple Sinai and JFCS for Grandparenting During the Pandemic. They will share ideas for the best ways to interact with grandchildren at a distance, thoughts for activities, and there will be an opportunity to share experiences. The conversation will be led by Stefanie Small from JFCS and Rabbi Darryl Crystal from Temple Sinai. 7 p.m. To register visit templesinaipgh.org. q THURSDAY, JAN. 14

Classrooms Without Borders, in partnership with Rodef Shalom Congregation, the Maltz Museum of Jewish History and the University of Pittsburgh Jewish Studies Program, is thrilled to bring together renowned artists and scholars for a special event honoring Primo Levi’s life and work through education and song. 4 p.m. classroomswithoutborders.org q SUNDAY, JAN. 17

Grief Workshop (Part 1): Creating Sacred Community will be the first Moishe House Pittsburgh event in a series led by community member Ami Weintraub. The goal of these workshops is to explore grief rituals within Judaism so participants can obtain tangible tools for dealing with the loss and grief we are experiencing as a society and as individuals. 7 p.m. For more information, visit facebook.com/ moishehouse.pittsburgh. q MONDAY, JAN. 18

Join Beth El Congregation of the South Hills for First Mondays with Rabbi Alex. This month will feature Shoshana Nambi, Hebrew Union College– Jewish Institute of Religion rabbinical student from Uganda. 12 p.m. For more information and to register visit bethelcong.org. q TUESDAY, JAN. 19

The Jewish Pittsburgh History Series, sponsored by Rodef Shalom Congregation, will present

Rodef Shalom Rabbis: J. Leonard Levy, Pacifist by Martha Berg, Rodef Shalom archivist. Rabbi Levy served the congregation from 1901-1917, a period of historic growth. There is no charge to attend this Zoom event. 7 p.m. For details and to register, follow the Jewish History Series link at www.rodefshalom.org. q WEDNESDAY, JAN. 20

Join Moishe House Pittsburgh to write a letter and brighten a friend’s dark winter day. They will even provide stationery, envelopes, and stamps! How convenient. 7 p.m. For more information, visit facebook.com/moishehouse.pittsburgh. Beth Shalom Congregation’s Derekh Speaker Series welcomes five authors from across the country. Sarah Blake will kick off the series, discussing her latest novel “Naamah,” which retells the story of the great flood from the perspective of Noah’s wife. 7:30 p.m. Free. For more information, and to register for the Zoom event, visit bethshalompgh.org/speakerseries. q THURSDAY, JAN. 21

Join the Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh for “Is Israel and Zionism Still Relevant in 2021 to American Jews?” — another fascinating webinar hosted by Neil Lazarus. 12 p.m. For more information, visit jewishpgh.org/event. Classrooms Without Borders, in partnership with Rodef Shalom Congregation, is excited to offer the opportunity to watch the film “Kishon” and engage in a post-film discussion with the film’s producer, Arik Bernstein, and CWB scholar Avi Ben Hur. 3 p.m. classroomswithoutborders.org/Kishon q THURSDAYS, JAN. 21-MARCH 18

Join the 10.27 Healing Partnership and Kohenet Keshira haLev Fife for Jewish Style R&R- Rachamim and Resilience. This series of weekly interactive workshops will be an opportunity to engage in classes that will build on Jewish values, core concepts of resiliency, and mindfulness tools as a way of expanding our resiliency toolbox in this next year. This program is being offered at no cost and is open to all ages. 7 p.m. For more information, visit 1027healingpartnership.org/events. q SUNDAY, JAN. 24

Interested in learning more about a unique gap year program in Israel and Pittsburgh? While serving as a shinshinim you will have the opportunity to immerse yourself in Israeli life and culture, do tikkun olam in Karmiel Misgav, meet with other cohorts across the country, and more, all while having the experience of a lifetime. Open to anyone aged 18-20 in September. Learn more at the MASA Pittsburgh Shinshinim program information session. 11 a.m. jewishpgh.org/event q MONDAY, JAN. 25

Classrooms Without Borders, in partnership with the American Association of Teachers of German, the Consulate General of the Federal Republic of Germany in New York City, and Germany Close Up, invites you to screen the short film “Masel Tov Cocktail” and join us for a post-screening discussion with the filmmaker Arkadij Khaet. 12 p.m. classroomswithoutborders.org q WEDNESDAY, JAN. 27

In honor of International Holocaust Remembrance Day, the Holocaust Center of Pittsburgh presents

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a special, one-night program with Julie Kohner. Kohner will discuss her parents’ book, artifacts, and her mother’s landmark appearance on “This Is Your Life.” 7 p.m. hcofpgh.org/events q THURSDAYS, JAN. 28; FEB. 4, 11, 25;

MARCH 4, 11

The Mishna, the Oral Law in written form, is one of the greatest works of the Jewish people. In this survey course, Jewish Community Foundation Scholar Rabbi Danny Schiff will provide a comprehensive overview of this singular, foundational work. Co-sponsored with Derekh at Congregation Beth Shalom. 9:30 a.m. For more information and to register, visit foundation. jewishpgh.org/mishna. q SUNDAYS, JAN. 31; FEB. 7, 14, 21, 28;

MARCH 7, 14

What does Jewish tradition have to say about God, Torah, mitzvot, suffering, messiah, Israel? In this special course, Pittsburgh Rabbis on Jewish Belief, Jewish Community Foundation Scholar Rabbi Danny Schiff will host 14 Pittsburgh rabbis, each teaching a session on fundamental aspects of Jewish belief. 10 a.m. For more information and to register, visit foundation.jewishpgh.org.  q MONDAYS, FEB. 1, 8, 15, 22;

MARCH 1, 8, 15

Most people associate the term “Haftarah” with opaque prophetic reading on Shabbat morning. This course, Haftarah, will attempt to make the opaque sparkle. Choosing selectively from the most interesting Haftarah portions, Jewish Community Foundation Scholar Rabbi Danny Schiff will seek to imbue meaning in these powerful prophetic passages. 9:30 a.m. For more information and to register, visit foundation.jewishpgh.org. q TUESDAY, FEB. 9

The Holocaust Center of Pittsburgh’s Education Outreach Associate, Emily Bernstein, interviews Dr. Joshua Andy, the 2016-17 Holocaust Educator of the Year. Andy teaches at the Upper School at Winchester Thurston. 3 p.m. hcofpgh.org/events q TUESDAYS, FEB. 9, 16, 23; MARCH 2, 9

Treating Jewish jokes as text, From Sinai to Seinfeld invites students to analyze and interpret the evolving concerns, styles, rhythms, preoccupations and values of the Jewish people that lie buried deep in words that make us laugh as Jews, and that bond us as a people. $50 per person, includes all books and materials. For more information and to register, visit foundation.jewishpgh.org. q WEDNESDAY, FEB. 10

Join the Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh for the annual winter gathering of Pittsburghers. Log on with your fellow snowbirds for an engaging evening with New York Times columnist Bret Stephens. $10 and minimum $500 commitment to the Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh’s 2021 Community Campaign. 5 p.m. foundation.jewishpgh.org/snowbird Beth Shalom Congregation’s Derekh Speaker Series welcomes Neal Bascomb who will discuss “Faster: How a Jewish Driver, an American Heiress and a Legendary Cat Beat Hitler’s Best.” 7:30 p.m. Free. For more information, and to register for the Zoom event, visit bethshalompgh.org/speakerseries. PJC

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JANUARY 8, 2021 11

Opinion I resisted the call to include non-male voices every time I taught Torah. Then I tried it. Guest Columnist Avigayil Halpern

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any of my fellow rabbinical students and friends are enthusiastic about a new strategy for elevating women’s voices in Torah study into the beit midrash this fall. The Kranjec Test — named for Danielle Kranjec, the Jewish educator from Pittsburgh’s Hillel JUC who created it — holds that collections of texts known as source sheets must include at least one non-male voice. It’s the Jewish studies equivalent of the well-known Bechdel test for film, in which movies pass if they include two women having a conversation about something other than men, and it quickly gained currency among my colleagues. On paper, I perhaps ought to have leapt at this new framework. I have been committed to women’s Torah study since I spent summers during high school studying at the Drisha Institute, one of the first institutions in America to open the doors of Talmud study to Orthodox women, and I wrote my undergraduate thesis on finding new modes for feminist Talmud study. I’m currently blessed to spend

my days immersed in full-time Torah study as a rabbinical student, and questions of what feminist and queer Torah are and ought to be are at the forefront of my interests. And yet I balked. My reservations were primarily practical. My current Torah learning involves intense study of Jewish law, and for the course of Jewish history, the vast quantity of received wisdom on areas like kashrut and Shabbat simply has not included writing by people other than men. I worried that adding texts in those areas to meet the Kranjec Test would amount to tokenism at best. My instinct was to look at the absence of non-men’s voices with clear eyes. Yes, it’s a canon written by men! That problem can’t be solved, I thought, by pretending that’s not the case. I am not the first to point out that the problem is not a failure to include existing voices in the Jewish canon but the fact that these voices don’t yet exist. Rabbi Becky Silverstein and my teacher Laynie Soloman made this argument in their response to the original article proposing the Kranjec Test. Some of my Orthodox women friends argued that meeting the test would require turning too often to texts from outside the traditional rabbinic canon. Rabbi Michael Rosenberg framed that criticism, which he ultimately argues against, in his writing about

the Kranjec Test, as “Does such a source sheet send the message that ‘Torah’ is for men, and ‘supplementary materials’ are for non-males?” I also had another concern: Learning Torah as a queer woman is already at times hard, and teaching it can be harder. There are the inevitable moments of hurt and alienation that come from loving a vast body of wisdom that was not created by people who share some of my most fundamental experiences. Along with that comes the workaday burden of sexism I face as a young woman trying to hold the attention of a classroom: interruptions, a student implying that I’m unqualified and the whole genre of experience so familiar to so many of us. Should I now make that process even harder by also taking extra time and energy to seek out a source I otherwise would not have and try to integrate it into my work? Is this not an additional ask for those of us who already strain so much for our Torah? And, on another level, would my voice as the teacher then be made invisible? After all, I was contributing to the Torah I offered by putting it together and teaching it, and I am a woman: Did I really need to put another non-man on the source sheet on top of that? In the middle of all this thinking, I looked around and realized I had unwittingly been adhering to the Kranjec Test without meaning to. At my yeshiva, we start each day of Zoom learning with a 10-minute dvar Torah on

the parsha from a student, and every other Tuesday it was my turn. The first time, I posted to Facebook looking for specific sources about the few verses of Lech Lecha I was planning to speak on. A friend recommended a recorded sermon from a woman teacher, and her Torah was exactly the insight I had been seeking. Two weeks later, preparing to teach my 10 minutes on Chayei Sarah, I was at a loss looking at the commentaries on the page of my Chumash. I turned to the bookshelf behind me and pulled out a book of essays on the parsha, and again the crystallizing insight I needed came from a woman. After that, I committed to myself that each turn I had to teach on the parsha, I would include the voice of someone who was not a man in my dvar Torah. I made this commitment gently, tentatively — every time I told myself, “Well, I’ll see what I can find, and if it becomes too hard, I won’t hold myself to it.” And every time I was able to turn up exciting, fresh Torah with minimal difficulty. The parsha is doubtless the easiest area in which to find Torah teaching from women and other non-men. Thank God, there is such a wealth of weekly divrei Torah by people of all genders across every stream of Judaism, and the weekly parsha is an area where even Orthodox women have been recording their Please see Halpern, page 13

Kaddish on the South Lawn: A photo seen around the world Guest Columnist Karen Lehmann Eisner

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ooking back on 2020, a lot comes to mind. What promised to be a strong year at its start, turned out to be one of the most devastating in a century. Not since the Spanish Flu did so many innocent people lose their lives to disease. Nobody knows for sure how the COVID-19 virus began, but one thing we do know is that it travelled around the world, at record speed, almost as quickly as a thought on social media. Families were separated. Parents could not see their loved ones. People died alone. The virus was the headline-grabber until the sad death of George Floyd in Minneapolis. Then we watched the demonstrations and riots. Suddenly, COVID-19 was no longer the only news item. We had a new source of death and sadness to mourn. But through all this, there were positive things that surfaced as well. Simple things. Good things. People forced to stay home, or quarantine, found creative ways to pass their days. Sharing jokes online, reading, organizing, finally getting to the projects they put off for years. Friends became more important and many new friendships blossomed. New business ideas grew. Some businesses pivoted and thrived. For some, there was hope. Unfortunately, my husband’s father,

12 JANUARY 8, 2021

 An historic event following the signing of the Abraham Accords, davening on the White House lawn. Photo by Karen Lehmann EIsner

Milton Eisner — a stalwart of Pittsburgh’s Jewish community — was dying in early June, in the midst of the Black Lives Matter protests and COVID-19. Despite the risks, our sons flew in from the West Coast and we all drove from Washington, D.C. to Pittsburgh to be at his bedside. Our need to have closure trumped the pandemic. We were fortunate to have that special time together as a family, quarantining for several days and simultaneously saying good-bye to my father-in-law and my children’s grandfather. He died with all of us at his bedside. Not many people and their families had that good fortune. With death, the Jewish faith requires one’s offspring to recite the Mourner’s Kaddish

on a daily basis for 11 months. We all know of the challenges of gathering a minyan these days. But my husband has managed daily to keep the mitzvah of saying Kaddish throughout his period of mourning. While all of this was going on — the coronavirus crisis, demonstrations and riots, and personal losses — quietly and clandestinely, power brokers were working in the Middle East to create an historic peace between the UAE, Bahrain and Israel, marshaled by President Donald J. Trump. This historic declaration of peace marked the first normalization of relations between Arab countries and Israel since that of Jordan in 1994. The original Abraham Accords were signed by the UAE’s Foreign Minister

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Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Bahrain’s Foreign Minister Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani, and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sept. 15, 2020. We were fortunate to be invited to the historic signing of the Abraham Accords, where we witnessed a true miracle on the South Lawn of the White House. When it was over, I realized it was time for mincha, and I organized a group of men so my husband could recite the Mourner’s Kaddish. I stood back and watched the scene. Only moments before, the world had seen a miracle of the signing of the peace accords. Yet, as I watched the men daven (pray) on the very same lawn the agreement was signed, with the White House just yards away, I realized this was the true kiddush Hashem and another historic moment. This scene of both the signing of the Abraham Accords just moments before, followed by a minyan on the White House grounds, cemented not only a future for the State of Israel and the Jewish people, but concretized a spiritual moment that has endured centuries of Jewish life. Being an amateur photographer, I quickly took out my phone and started filming and photographing this momentous moment. This photo that went viral was my small addition to history. We live in special times. I am glad to have been a small part of it.  PJC Karen Lehmann Eisner is an event planner who resides in both Washington, D.C., and New York City. PITTSBURGHJEWISHCHRONICLE.ORG

Opinion Remembering my friend Dick Thornburgh Guest Columnist David H. Ehrenwerth

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uch has been written in the last several days about the impressive career of Dick Thornburgh, two-term governor of Pennsylvania, attorney general under two presidents and undersecretary-general at the United Nations. While these accomplishments are certainly worthy of great praise, Dick’s equally outstanding characteristics as a humanitarian, loyal friend and family member and strong supporter of the Jewish community are not as well known. He passed away on Dec. 31, 2020. I knew and admired Dick for almost 50 years. He mentored me when I was a law student and collaborated with me when he was U.S. attorney and I served at the Pennsylvania Crime Commission. More recently, we practiced law together at K&L Gates and worked jointly at the University of Pittsburgh’s Thornburgh Forum for Law and Public Policy. In his early years as a federal prosecutor, Dick developed a well-earned reputation for fighting organized crime and corruption. This achievement catapulted him into his election as governor of Pennsylvania. Dick is particularly remembered for his skilled but calm handling of the Three Mile Island disaster and his economic reforms. Yet, at the same time, he was very focused on issues

Halpern: Continued from page 12

teaching for decades now. But what this gentle, experimental commitment taught me was not just that it might be easier than I thought to find this kind of Torah on the parsha, but that I felt different when I sought it out. Nothing I learned mitigates the structural concerns that Silverman and Soloman crucially point out, and however far behind men’s Torah written “women’s Torah” is, the Torah of trans and nonbinary people and of Jews of color and disabled Jews has been even

of concern to the Jewish community, including protecting the civil rights and religious freedoms of all citizens. He also was passionately committed to improving the quality of life of Pennsylvanians in areas ranging from mental health and education to controlling violent crime and preserving the environment. Dick met regularly with Jewish groups to hear their concerns and suggestions. (I once took a group of Jewish community leaders to meet with him on a Sunday morning at the Governor’s Residence; we joked as we drove there that we wondered if the governor would serve lox and bagels — and he did.) More substantively, he creatively found ways to assist Jewish institutions facing economic challenges including providing assistance to Jewish seniors’ facilities so they could continue to offer their essential services. Moreover, Dick and his wife Ginny’s passion to support those with disabilities is well known. I didn’t want to leave my law firm to join Dick’s administration but I told him I’d be happy to serve in some more limited way that he thought worthwhile. Not surprisingly, Dick asked me to join the Pennsylvania Board of Vocational Rehabilitation which so ably assists people with disabilities prepare for and obtain employment. When Dick was attorney general, he was the architect of the life-changing Americans with Disabilities Act, the passage of which he considered one of the proudest moments of his life. Dick’s interest in the plight of Soviet Jews is particularly telling. While serving as governor, he made an official visit to

Moscow. On his last night there, he met secretly with a group of refuseniks in a secluded hotel room and was so angered by the denial of their right to freely practice their religion. The group Dick met included the mother of Natan Sharansky. Dick subsequently visited Israel on an economic development mission where he made a point of delivering messages that some of the refuseniks had given him. When serving as attorney general, Dick exercised powers granted to him to enable larger numbers of Russian immigrants to come to this country. As attorney general, Dick also was quite concerned about the growth of hate crimes and he took aggressive action against racial, religious and ethnic crimes. He successfully supported legislation requiring the Justice Department to probe and report the extent of such forms of intimidation. The Jewish community was understandably quite concerned about these issues. I was requested to arrange a meeting between Dick and the national leadership of the American Jewish Committee to discuss these concerns and possible responses. Dick’s schedule was obviously quite full but he quickly agreed to meet and we held a long and productive session at his office. As one can imagine, Dick was inundated with requests to attend dinners and receive awards from a host of organizations, including Jewish ones. He understood the value of his showing his concern for the goals of these groups and supporting their fundraising; he attended a large number of such Jewish events. I recall that long after

he left public office he was asked by a small hospital in Jerusalem that was experiencing financial challenges if he would be honored so the hospital might raise needed dollars. Having been honored so many times, Dick certainly didn’t need to say “yes,” but he did. He gave a lifeline to the hospital and I was very proud to attend this event with him. Beyond all these professional accomplishments, Dick’s thoughtfulness and personal warmth were very special. He always had time for his dear family and friends. When my first wife Kandy was tragically killed in a car accident, Dick was in New York serving as under-secretary-general at the United Nations. As soon as he heard the news, Dick and Ginny flew to Pittsburgh to attend the funeral and be with us. Dick inspired so many people to public service. When I was offered a position in the Obama administration, uncertain as to whether I should leave our law firm, I walked directly from the White House to the firm’s Washington office to see Dick. I explained to Dick my chance to help oversee the federal government’s massive real estate portfolio and mange it to foster economic development. Dick smiled and responded that he thought I should consider the Jewish mandate of tikkun olam or “to repair the world.” I accepted the position. Dick is one of the best examples of someone living a life of tikkun olam that I have ever known.  PJC

more limited. This is, as Rosenberg points out in his article, not just bad for Jews but bad for the Torah. The Kranjec Test is insufficient to solve that problem, which is one that all Jews who care about the Torah should put our attention and resources toward. But what I was not considering when I felt so much resistance to the Kranjec Test was what it might feel like to regularly learn and teach Torah from people who reminded me of myself in a deep way. I have always been blessed, in many spaces and for much of my life, to learn Torah — often from women and sometimes from queer teachers as well — in frameworks that taught me I was its

inheritor and part of the vast conversation of the Jewish textual tradition. I felt close to the Torah, and like I had every right to learn and teach it. I would have told you I was extremely well-adjusted when it comes to learning texts almost exclusively by men. But when I started to regularly learn and teach written Torah from people who were not men, something in me almost imperceptibly began to feel different. It’s hard even a few months in to find the words to capture the different kind of settledness I feel in my chest when I give a dvar Torah that includes a Torah insight from someone like me. I thought that I was as close to the Torah as I

could ever get, but I was wrong. The Kranjec Test made me realize that I am unsatisfied by accepting the absence of women’s voices in Jewish law as a historical reality. Being alive to that absence instead of just pushing past it has made me more aware of who I am when I learn Torah, less willing to brush aside my own experiences and needs. I am less willing to accept the inevitability of who’s not there — making me more aware that I’m there myself.  PJC

— LETTERS — Crematoriums and gas chambers in Poland were run by German Nazis

In regard to the opinion piece “Let our fate be a warning to you: The significance of Holocaust education” (Dec. 9), there is a sentence which states: “In my studies of the Holocaust, hearing the pleas from the survivors to carry on their stories — and hearing the echoing cries of the victims as I stood in the crematoriums and gas chambers in Poland — has changed every aspect of how I live.” We understand that the author is referring to one of the former German camps located on the territory of present-day Poland. However, the expression “crematoriums and gas chambers in Poland” may be misleading for some readers and may suggest that these were camps run by Poles. Please also note that the writer does not mention the perpetrators of these tragic events in her piece about Holocaust education. We are of the opinion that as an educator of Holocaust-related topics, she ought to present the full picture of those events. Bearing in mind the credibility and clarity of the information provided about concentration camps, and in view of historical truth, on behalf of the Institute of National Remembrance we would like to note that the crematoriums and gas chambers, located in then-occupied Poland, were created and operated by Nazi Germans. During the Second World War, the German occupant incorporated part of the Polish lands PITTSBURGHJEWISHCHRONICLE.ORG

David Ehrenwerth is a partner at the law firm K&L Gates.

Avigayil Halpern is studying for rabbinic ordination at the Hadar Institute in New York This article was first published by JTA.

directly into the German Reich, and some were German occupied-territories. In the area of present-day, then-occupied, Poland, there were German concentration camps managed by the German National Socialist police and SS apparatus, and extermination camps. To present the historical truth about German concentration camps in the occupied territory of Poland, the Institute of National Remembrance has created the truthaboutcamps.eu website and numerous articles about the Holocaust and German camps in occupied Poland in the years 1939-1945. Jolanta Nowak Institute of National Remembrance, Poland We invite you to submit letters for publication. Letters must include name, address and daytime phone number; addresses and phone numbers will not be published. Letters may not exceed 500 words and may be edited for length and clarity; they cannot be returned. Mail, fax or email letters to:

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JANUARY 8, 2021 13

Headlines Security: Continued from page 3

or what the parameters are concerning how it can be used, said Brokos. “We are still waiting for those details,” she said, adding that a meeting is scheduled for later this month with state officials at which time Federation leaders will learn more information. “The notion, though, is that these funds will really be used to make structural upgrades, access upgrades, control system upgrades, reinforce glass and the physical elements we need to make to better protect our organizations,” Brokos said. Finkelstein said he was able to speak with legislators about security needs throughout the process and addressed those needs with Wolf during their joint trip to Israel. A trip to Harrisburg with members from the three congregations targeted during the Oct. 27, 2018, shooting also was important, he said. “I think the legislators and the governor have been very supportive of doing something specific for the Pittsburgh Jewish community,” Finkelstein said. Advocacy of several state legislators was key to securing the grant, said Laura Cherner,

“ No one should have to worship in fear. Our First Amendment rights protect the freedom to practice any religion we choose, and we should be protected

”

during that practice.

— SEN. JAY COSTA director of the Federation’s Community Relations Council. “A couple of legislators really went to bat for us and were really supportive,” she said. State Rep. Dan Frankel (D-Allegheny) and state Sen. Jay Costa (D-Allegheny) were among those who helped secure the grant. While pleased with the funding, Frankel said he was saddened by the need for it. “I don’t think we ever thought that we would face an environment in which our community had to protect itself against

terroristic threats from anti-Semitic individuals and groups,” Frankel said. “This is something that goes well beyond our Jewish community. Between the AME Church in Charleston, the Sikh Temple in Wisconsin, mosques in New Zealand, there is clearly a pattern that makes these groups particularly vulnerable. It’s a shame. I never thought it would come to this in Squirrel Hill, in our Pittsburgh Jewish community. “We need to be prepared,” he continued. “This will be of significant assistance to

JFCS: Continued from page 3

asked for a chocolate cake. Another wanted a Pittsburgh Steelers jacket. Someone asked for a Keurig. Several wards wished for tablets in order to connect with family. “Right now, with the coronavirus, they’re very lonely and isolated,” said Iole. “Some of them are sitting in a room with nothing in there, not even a radio.” Tech devices were popular requests — ultimately, two 43-inch televisions, seven iPads, 12 Amazon Fire HD tablets, two iPods and a Nintendo Switch were purchased — but so were simpler items. An older gentleman wanted yarn. A young woman asked for an art set. One of Iole’s wards just wanted a shower chair that wasn’t broken. Like McKeown, Iole carries a caseload of 40 wards. So does Devin Shuman. With the help of another social worker and a fiscal assistant, JFCS oversees more than 130 clients ranging in age from 18 to 98 years old. Those struggling the most, said Iole, are the ones who’ve aged out of Allegheny County’s Office of Children, Youth and Families (CYF). “They’ve somehow been under the radar, and they themselves have been abused by either family members, caretakers, on the street, through sex trafficking, things like that,” she said. “Those are the most horrific stories we have. They’re our toughest because they usually have a lot of trauma, and not a lot of resources to get them the help and services they need.” Clients come to JFCS primarily through contracts with Allegheny County’s Office of Mental Health, Office of Intellectual Disability and Adult Protectve Services, but the agency also accepts private referrals. Someone can come to the program for any number of reasons, but homelessness is a common one, said Iole. 14 JANUARY 8, 2021

 Nicole Iole, left, helps Frank, a JFCS ward, with his new iPad

Before working with guardianship services, clients often migrate between shelters, abandoned buildings and local bridges. One person who recently entered the JFCS program was homeless for 40 years. After conducting a history, JFCS discovered his mother was homeless, too. “It was really the only way he knew,” said Iole. With JFCS’ aid, the man was evaluated and placed in appropriate housing — a staff-supported setting where he’s able to stay for three years and hopefully learn the life skills needed to eventually live on his own. For this man, and each JFCS ward, independence is the objective. “We want to make them be able to live in the most unrestricted environment and be able to do things on their own — that’s our goal,” said Iole. “Of course, we have some individuals that could never do that, but a good portion of our people become pretty self-sufficient.” JFCS began its guardianship services in 1993. Since that time, the program has grown

Photo courtesy of JFCS

from a handful of clients to as many as 150. The guardianship program is consistent with JFCS’ mission “to be there for people through every aspect of life, every change and challenge,” said Dana Gold, COO of JFCS. “The people who end up needing guardianship support are the people who are the most vulnerable in our community.” This became even more evident during the past year, explained Snyder, the local attorney responsible for the $12,000 gift to JFCS Guardianship Services. COVID-19 has caused widespread suffering, but there’s a great disparity between not being able to see family, or hug loved ones, and the suffering guardianship clients are experiencing, he said. During the past year, JFCS has endured a particularly dark period, explained Rebecca Remson, JFCS’ director of development and communications. Since March 2020, 18 wards have died of COVID-19 — more than 10% of those in JFCS’ program.

PITTSBURGH JEWISH CHRONICLE

our community. I’m thrilled Senator Costa supported this as well.” “No one should have to worship in fear,” Costa said in a prepared statement. “Our First Amendment rights protect the freedom to practice any religion we choose, and we should be protected during that practice. These safety grants are an important step, but we’ve got more work to do in expanding our hate crimes laws here in Pennsylvania.” Finkelstein agrees that the work to secure Pittsburgh’s Jewish community does not end with this grant. He pointed to a $5 million fund — now in its second year — for nonprofit security in the state of Pennsylvania, and the Homeland Security grant program, lobbied for by the Jewish Federations of North America. “There’s always more that can be done when it comes to security,” Finkelstein said. “I think we will continue to try to get more grant money from state and federal sources as well as from the very generous foundation and donor community here in Pittsburgh.” Securing the Jewish community is a work in progress, said Brokos. This grant, she said “will be a significant contribution to better secure our organizations.”  PJC David Rullo can be reached at drullo@ pittsburghjewishchronicle.org.

“When you look at those daily death counts, those are people we know and we love,” said Gold. “This stretch has been extremely difficult for our staff who in many ways act as a ward’s parent.” “We’ve always dealt with death — I think it’s part of the job — but with COVID, it’s just crazy,” said Iole. “I got to a point where I hated answering my phone.” After a while, the calls became almost formulaic, explained Gold: In the beginning it was that JFCS couldn’t visit a ward because of distancing requirements, but then some calls became updates from group home or nursing home staff that a ward had symptoms or couldn’t breathe. Follow-up messages often related that the ward required hospitalization, placement on a ventilator or even that he or she had died. Sometimes, the period between calls from initial symptom diagnosis to death was fewer than 24 hours, said Iole. Carrying that much loss was “painful,” said Gold. “Our guardians are very committed. They love their wards.” The guardianship program operates out of a small department at JFCS with little turnover. Iole has been director for 12 years. McKeown has been there for 20 years, and has been with some of her wards since the day she started. Snyder has supported JFCS for 25 years, but only recently learned about its guardianship services after asking JFCS leadership who was severely affected by the pandemic. Upon hearing about the program’s clients and staff, there was no choice but to help, he said. In so many places, wards are people who are often “invisible or nameless,” but not at JFCS, said Gold. “Edgar remembered them and now the community knows them too.” PJC Adam Reinherz can be reached at areinherz@ pittsburghjewishchronicle.org. PITTSBURGHJEWISHCHRONICLE.ORG

Life & Culture Trouble in mind: ‘Shtisel,’ Season 3 — STREAMING — By David Holzel | Contributing Writer

T

wo Jews, three problems. That’s the mathematics behind “Shtisel,” the runaway hit Israeli dramedy about a family of haredi Orthodox Jews. In 2020, the show’s creators and cast faced down a worldwide pandemic to shoot a third season, coming to Netflix in the spring. And oy, the problems! The tsuris this Jerusalem family faces was manifest in the Season 3 opener, which a paying audience previewed online during Chanukah. The Temple Emanu-El Streicker Center in New York City, which staged a pre-COVID in-person talk with the stars of “Shtisel” in 2019, sponsored the Dec. 17 preview, which included a virtual panel discussion with the show’s actors. It’s been five and a half years since production of the second season wrapped. Are the characters older and wiser now? Having watched episode 1, I can say that the answers are “yes” (four years of “Shtisel” time have passed) and “I don’t think so.” Everybody loves “Shtisel” not because the family spends each episode learning Gemara or reading Psalms. It’s because they’re busy exercising their human foibles. Yes, people plan and God laughs. “God, what do you want from your Jews?” Rabbi Shulem Shtisel, the patriarch, cries out during the episode. But sometimes people just run off the rails all by themselves. Shulem (Doval’e Glickman) provides a proof text. The day starts off badly at the Talmud Torah where Shulem is principal. One of the boys has stolen from a teacher

Harris: Continued from page 8

to build community over Zoom. The High Holidays felt very hard, but it is the right decision. To me, this is all a question of pikuach nefesh (saving a life) — how do we show each other that we value each other’s lives so highly? Putting each other at risk is not the way that we do that.” As difficult as it is to shutter a house of worship, weighing in on that decision so soon after starting a job is also hard. “There’s a lot to learn the first year of being a rabbi,” Harris said. “It’s just a ton of work. Any rabbi will tell you you’re just adjusting to living life, and this is a very weird adjustment period.” Harris credits Shir Tikvah’s lay leaders and congregants with providing a soft landing, as well as prior mentorship she received from Rabbi Jamie Gibson at Temple Sinai. Serving as Gibson’s executive assistant for two years after graduating from college was a framework for understanding “how I was going to go about being a professional Jew,” said Harris. Temple Sinai was “where I developed my Jewish identity outside of my family,” she continued. “It’s where I was an adult for the first time, so it’s an important place for me.” Establishing a new home with little ability to explore the surrounding area is especially PITTSBURGHJEWISHCHRONICLE.ORG

p The family gets ready for ‘Shtisel,’ Season 3.

and Shulem goes to the classroom to chastise the boy. Instead of being humbled, the little stinker defies Shulem, who gives the kid a smack in the face. Problems ensue. Akiva (Michael Aloni), the son, the artist, is still painting. The show’s own McDreamy is now a father himself, now married to Libbi (Hadas Yaron). But there are money problems. And being three days away from eviction for not paying the rent isn’t Akiva’s worst problem. And Yossele, Lipa and Giti’s son, who will turn 19 on Purim, would rather learn Torah than have a coffee with the girl the matchmaker has set him up with. Problems. But iron-willed Giti (Neta Riskin) perseveres and Yossele (Gal Fishel) agrees to the meeting, if for nothing else than to keep the family peace. Driving his son to the appointment, Lipa (Zohar Strauss) has some fatherly challenging, but Harris finds ways to unwind and recharge herself. When the weather was warmer, she walked and biked outdoors. These days, she reads, knits, meditates and calls friends and family. The activity she’d really like to resume, though, is the one that’s probably least likely. “I am a salsa dancer,” she said. “Detroit has a great salsa scene, but obviously there’s no dancing happening right now.” “When I was 4, my dad introduced me to the Buena Vista Social Club, and I’ve always sort of been obsessed with it,” said Harris. During visits with her Peruvian aunt, who lived in St. Louis and always kept a constant stream of music playing, the two would regularly dance together to the rhythmic beats. After arriving in Cincinnati for rabbinical school, Harris, a fluent Spanish speaker, got involved in the Latin dance scene. “It gave me such a big outlet,” she said. “It’s an amazing way to meet people and it grew my life in Cincinnati exponentially.” Harris looks forward to a post-pandemic day when people can safely engage in person again, whether it’s schmoozing after services or moving on a dance floor. “The thing I probably miss the most is my friends in my Latin dance scene,” she said, “but I know it will come back. I know it will.”  PJC

Photo by Ohad Romano via Netflix

advice in favor of rushing into marriage: “The less girls you meet, the less you’ll have to compare them to and the happier you’ll be in life.” Or as Shulem notes elsewhere: “When life hands you lemonade, take it.” Yossele meets the girl, whose name is Shira, and a shy chemistry ignites between them. There, at a table in the hotel lobby, he sings to her. She confesses that she goes to the Ramot Forest “when I’m scared.” “Describing yourself as being scared takes courage,” Yossele tells her. He’s smitten. “We had an amazing connection,” he tells his parents the next day. “I love her.” Very. Big. Problem. On “Shtisel,” the problems expand exponentially. There are so many of them in that first episode that there wasn’t any room for Ruchami’s problems. Played by Shira Haas, Ruchami sits behind a desk in the Talmud

Torah’s office in her brief scenes with Shulem, her grandfather. Since becoming an international phenomenon, there has been clamor for more from TV’s favorite halachically observant family. So what took Season 3 so long? “It could have been much longer.” That’s “Shtisel” co-creator and writer Ori Elon speaking during the virtual panel discussion. For Elon, the characters weren’t packed away in mothballs during the hiatus. “I always feel the Shtisel family is living their own lives without me. I imagine them sitting around the table without me,” he said. For the actors, playing a character is like riding a bicycle. “It was great to come back to him,” Glickman said, of Shulem. “I know him.” “The majority of the work of getting to know the character we did eight years ago,” Riskin said. “Even if you haven’t met them for five years, it doesn’t matter.” Eventually, the questioning from SiriusXM’s Jessica Shaw reached for answers that the cast wouldn’t give. The audience was treated to polite responses to variations of “So what’s going to happen this season?” They boiled down to, “I can’t tell you. You’ll have to watch the show.” Riskin delivered the most succinct reply. She pursed her lips and shook her head no. It was dinnertime on the East Coast, nearly midnight in Israel. Despite the late hour, the Israeli actors each lit a menorah. The yoke of Torah requires one set of obligations. The necessity of promoting a TV show another. The cast of “Shtisel” is familiar with both.  PJC David Holzel is the editor of Washington Jewish Week, a Chronicle-affiliated publication where this article first appeared.

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Life & Culture French lentil and sausage soup: A meal in a bowl like to sauté it first for an added texture, but I’m all about saving time and I just add it in right out of the package. Add the sausage and wine/vinegar and cook uncovered for an additional 25-30 minutes. This soup does not have a lot of excess broth, but if you feel that the lentils are really soaking up the liquid, you can stir in water, half a cup at a time, until it reaches your desired consistency. Remove the bay leaves before serving. If you like a little kick in your food, add 1/4 teaspoon of cayenne pepper when you add in the sausage. Because this soup takes almost 2 hours to prep and fully cook, I tend to serve it for Shabbat lunch or for Sunday dinner with loaves of French bread. This is a hearty soup that is a perfect meal all on its own. Enjoy!

— FOOD — By Jessica Grann | Special to the Chronicle

L

entils are a vastly underrated whole grain, and American cooks are not prone to use them in their home cooking. I find lentils to be filling and nourishing, and the longer they soak in the food, the more flavorful they become. There are two different types of lentils, and the type you choose makes a big difference in how a recipe will turn out. Most of us are familiar with green and red lentils, which are wonderful but tend to cook quickly and get mushy. Green and red lentils certainly have their place, but green French du Puy lentils and brown Greek lentils retain their shape and have a nice al dente bite to them. Because of this, they do take much longer to cook. If you can’t tell the difference by the label, the lentils for this recipe are almost round in shape, as opposed to disc-shaped. You can use any kind of sausage to make this soup. I keep a kosher home and don’t have local access to many sausage varieties, so I use beef kielbasa. You can substitute lamb, andouille or any variety that you prefer. This is a classic recipe that also can easily be made vegetarian. Simply use vegetable broth in place of chicken broth and leave out the sausage. There are also very good “no chicken” chicken broths out there in both powdered consommé and liquid forms. This makes a nice, big batch and serves 8. I never make small batches of soup because it’s wonderful to freeze the extra and have an easy reheated supper on a busy night.

French Lentil and Sausage Soup Ingredients 1 pound lentils, such as du Puy 1⁄4 cup olive oil 3 cups chopped onions 3 rinsed and chopped leeks (Note: Leeks

Two notes about fresh herbs and wine in recipes

 French lentil and sausage soup

3 1 2 1 1 2 2 3 3 3 2 1 1⁄4

tend to be sandy and need a good soaking before use) large garlic cloves, minced tablespoon coarse kosher salt teaspoons coarse ground black pepper tablespoon fresh thyme tablespoon fresh rosemary teaspoons cumin cups chopped celery cups sliced carrots quarts chicken broth, plus a little water if needed tablespoons tomato paste bay leaves pound sausage of your choice cup dry red wine, or 2 tablespoons of red wine or balsamic vinegar

Jessica Grann is a home chef living in Pittsburgh.

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Rinse and drain the lentils and place in a bowl. Boil a kettle of water and pour it over the lentils until just covered. Soak the lentils for 20 minutes and drain again. In a large stockpot or Dutch oven, heat the olive oil over medium heat and sauté the onions for 5 minutes. Add the leeks, garlic, salt and pepper and sauté for 15 minutes longer. When the onion mixture looks translucent, stir in the fresh herbs and cumin. Add the carrots and celery and sauté for an additional 10 minutes. Stir in tomato paste before adding the chicken stock, drained lentils and 2 bay leaves. Bring to a boil, place the lid on and reduce the heat to simmer for 1 hour. Dice the sausage into cubes. Some people

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For herbs: It is much more cost effective to grow your own herbs, but if you choose to buy fresh herbs and have extra left over, simply freeze the leftovers to use at a later time. You can also use dried herbs in place of fresh herbs if you’re in a pinch and the recipe calls for fresh. The ratio is 1 teaspoon of dried herbs for 1 tablespoon of fresh herbs. This conversion works for every kind of herb. For wine: When you need small amounts for a recipe, and you’re not going to drink wine with dinner, it can feel wasteful to open up a new bottle just for cooking. Think ahead next time you’re serving wine. If you open up a bottle of wine that you just don’t love, or if you open too much when entertaining and it’s starting to lose its freshness, that is a perfect time to freeze wine for later use in cooking. You can use ice cube trays or just freeze it in a plastic storage bag or container — simply label the type of wine and amount stored on the bag or container. PJC

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JANUARY 8, 2021 17

Celebrations

Torah

Wedding

Imagining a dialogue between the lines Rabbi Emily Meyer Parshat Shemot | Exodus 1:1 - 6:1

T

Laura and Elliot Dinkin of Pittsburgh and Delray Beach, Florida, are delighted to announce the marriage of their daughter, Gabrielle May, to Evan G. Segal, son of Steven and Jane Segal of Elkins Park, Pennsylvania. The couple were married Oct. 24, 2020, in a joyous, intimate and socially distant ceremony at The Union League Club of Philadelphia. Gabrielle is the Community Impact Coordinator of the American Heart Association Eastern Region. Evan is the North East territory Manager for Boston Scientific. The newlyweds reside in Rittenhouse Square, Philadelphia.  PJC

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Did You Know? Agudath Achim Cemetery– Hampton Township For more information about the JCBA, to inquire about plot purchases, to view full histories, to volunteer, and/or to make a contribution please visit our website at www.jcbapgh.org, email us at jcbapgh@gmail.com or call the JCBA at 412-553-6469. JCBA’s expanded vision is made possible by a generous grant from the Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh’s Jewish Community Foundation

Agudath Achim Congregation was founded in 1921 in the Hill District. The congregation celebrated its founding at the home of Simon Ronick on Herron Avenue with speakers including Rabbis Ashinsky and Friedman, and Pittsburgh City Councilman James Malone. Its cemetery is on Wickline Road in Hampton Township, and became a JCBA cemetery in 2009. The JCBA was created in 1992 with the merger of the United Jewish Federation Cemetery Association and the Hebrew Burial Association of Pittsburgh (originally called Chesed Shel Emeth of Pittsburg and incorporated on June 4, 1910.)

he Torah has been described as a flowing river. You can step in and out, but it is always babbling with the voices of generations and communities around the world. We cannot read Torah without questioning, analyzing, debating, and imagining — and these conversations, preserved in our texts and traditions, add layers of meaning to our sacred tomes and to our lives. With that in mind, I offer my vision of a conversation flowing between the lines of this week’s Torah portion. The midwives Shifrah and Puah sat together in the bulrushes in the moments just after sunrise. Shifrah broke the silence with a loud sigh. “How did we even get here?” she wondered rhetorically, but Puah, naive as she was, took the bait. “What am I supposed to say to that? I don’t know how we got here! I don’t even know where we are!” “I know, I know,” Shifrah soothed. “Let’s take things one step at a time and then we will figure this out. Here’s what we know ... ” She sighed in disbelief and despair. “Pharaoh made a decree — and he was very specific — ‘When you deliver the Hebrew women, look at the birthstool: If it is a boy, kill him; if it is a girl, let her live’” (Exodus 1:16). “I can’t do it.” Puah said, holding back tears. “That’s why we are here. We’re going to make a plan. We aren’t going to abandon our neighbors at their time of need.” Puah wanted to trust Shifrah but her fear was so heavy she could barely breathe. Shifrah continued, “We know these women, the Hebrew women. We have shared their greatest joy and their deepest sorrow. They trust us, so we must be trustworthy.” “But if we don’t follow this decree, Pharaoh is going to kill us.” “I just need time to think,” Shifrah said, immediately regretting her brash tone. They stared at the ground hoping something would materialize before their eyes. Shifrah could remember a time before this Pharaoh, a time where things were better. Or maybe not better, maybe just easier for her and those she loved. Things hadn’t been perfect but all too quickly they had shifted from bad to worse. It was time to take a stand: If not now, when (Avot 4:1)? Shifra cleared her throat. “Here’s what we are going to do. We’re going to warn the women, help them make plans to save their sons. We’re going to Yocheved next, right? We helped her deliver Aaron and Miriam. She trusts us and we

can trust her.” “And what will we say to Pharaoh?” asked Puah. “We’ll diminish ourselves in his eyes.” “We shouldn’t have to do that.” “We shouldn’t have to do any of this, but such is life. We’ll tell him the Hebrew women were too strong. By the time we have arrived, they have already given birth (Exodus 1:19). There was nothing we could do.” “I don’t understand.” “Pharaoh can’t take away our power if he thinks we are powerless.” Again Puah wanted so badly to believe. She looked at Shifrah, who seemed to be reading her mind. “It doesn’t help fix the system, but we are just two people. We can only do the good we can do, but we must do it.” “Must we?” asked Puah. “What if we just warned the women and then actually came too late to help them?” “Could you sit idly by while your neighbor’s blood is shed?” (Leviticus 19:16) “We’re not even Hebrews. How did we get into this mess?” “When you are part of a community, you are your neighbor when your neighbor is suffering. ‘In a free society, only some may be guilty but all are responsible.’” (Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel) Puah let some of her anger slide away. She remembered again that they were not fighting some abstract battle of words but facing a real and present problem. “What will people think of us?” Puah asked her friend. “Some won’t like it. Some won’t understand. And some will see us as heroes. They will count us among the best of humanity, those who risk their lives to save others. Some will say that we only did this because we were part of the Hebrew people — maybe even Jocheved and Miriam themselves” (Rashi on Exodus 1:15:2). “Won’t that diminish the risk we are taking?” “It doesn’t matter. Ultimately, what we are doing is more important than why we are doing it or who we are. When we have the opportunity to save a life we must take it, because one who saves a single life, it is as if she has saved an entire world” (Mishnah Sanhedrin 4:5). “I’m in,” said Puah hesitant but resolute. “I just … I wish the world was different.” “Me too,” sighed Shifrah. And the two walked on together (Genesis 22:8).  PJC

Rabbi Emily Meyer lives in Pittsburgh. This column is a service of the Greater Pittsburgh Rabbinic Association.

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Obituaries BRILL: Jean Pretter Brill, 94, passed away Friday, Dec. 25, 2020. She was predeceased by her husband, William Brill, and her four sisters, Barbara Cushner, Ruth Albert, Betty Kuperstock and Joan Mendler. She is survived by her two sons, Martin (Debbie) and Bernie (Linda); along with three grandchildren; and a great-grandson. Jean was raised in Pittsburgh (Carnegie) by her parents, Max and Lillian Pretter. She graduated from Penn State University in home economics in 1946. Jean was a substitute teacher at Greensburg Salem High School and Junior High. She was a member of B’nai Israel Congregation, Congregation Emanu-El Israel and Eastern Star. For the past 15 years, she resided in Harrisburg. A private graveside funeral was held on Dec. 29 at the Congregation Emanu-El Israel Cemetery in Greensburg. In lieu of flowers, please donate to Congregation Emanu-El Israel, 222 N. Main St., Greensburg, PA 15601, or your preferred charity. For online condolences, please visit kepplegraft.com. DANENBERG: Gertrude “Trudi” E. Danenberg passed peacefully on Sunday, Dec. 27, 2020, at the age of 92 from natural causes and COVIDrelated symptoms. Trudi was preceded in death by her parents, Morris and Ethel Epstein, her sister, Lee Simon, and her husband Jerome (“Jerry”) Danenberg. They were married for 62 years. Trudi always lived life to the fullest. She shared her positive attitude, upbeat energy and caring compassion with everyone she met. Her favorite color was purple, she dressed with beautiful combinations and was wonderfully inquisitive — always fascinated by the lives and stories of the people she knew and met. She loved holding people’s hands as she chatted with them and shared her goodness. Trudi, a graduate of Schenley High School, and her sister Lee were orphaned at an early age, with both girls raised to the chuppah by their late aunt and uncle, Blanche and Carl Margolis. Trudi and Jerry were inseparable, and together worked side by side at Berkeley Hills Pharmacy in North Hills and in their real estate business. Mom was the “rental agent,” interviewing potential tenants and giving the thumbs-ups when she got the right vibe. She and Jerry were partners in every sense. They were always gaining knowledge, making notes and planning their next business and travel adventures together. She is survived by her children, Bob (Judy) Danenberg and Rick (Paula Lieberman) Danenberg, two grandchildren, David (Rachel) and Adam Danenberg, and two great-granddaughters, Gabriella and Liora Danenberg. She will be missed by her nieces, nephews and cousins. A special thank you to Weinberg Village, her residence over the past few years. Donations in her memory can be made to the Jewish Association on Aging, Tree of Life Synagogue, or a charity of your choice. Graveside services and interment were held at Homewood Cemetery. Arrangements entrusted to Ralph Schugar Chapel Inc., family owned and operated. schugar.com

KLEIN: Andrew P. Klein. On Wednesday, Dec. 30, 2020; beloved husband of Sherry Bloom Klein. Son of the late Doris (Engleman) and Mack Klein. Brother of Steven (Judy) Klein; brother-in-law of Ethan (Regina) Bloom. Proud uncle of Eric (Halie) Klein and Joshua (Anna Castagne) Klein. Also survived by a great-niece and — nephew, Daphne and Arno Klein and several cousins. Andrew was the owner of Mirror Image Printing and Copying. He was a volunteer at Shadyside Hospital for six years. He graduated from the College of Emporia (Kansas). He was a Mason and a 40 year member and a volunteer of Temple Sinai. He loved his dog Kirby, his pride and joy. Services and interment private. A celebration of Andrew’s life will be held at a later date. Contributions may be made to Pittsburgh Foundation, Anonymous Fund No. 5, Five PPG Place, Suite 250, Pittsburgh, PA 15222 or Animal Friends, 562 Camp Horne Road, Pittsburgh, PA 15237 or Animal Humane Rescue, 6926 Hamilton A., Pittsburgh, PA 15208. Arrangements entrusted to Ralph Schugar Chapel, Inc., family owned and operated. schugar.com LIEBERMAN: Marcia S. Lieberman, 96, of Beaver Falls, died Wednesday, Dec. 30, in her home of more than 65 years. Born on April 9, 1924 in Beaver Falls, she was the daughter of the late Leonard and Ruth (Gordon) Silverblatt. A graduate of the University of Pittsburgh with a degree in sociology and psychology, she spent much of her professional career as a counselor at Beaver County Community College. Following years of service to Gateway Rehab, counseling drug rehab and addiction recovery adults who were in need of their GED certification, she was named 1998 “Volunteer of the Year,” an honor matched by her husband several years later. And, as a direct result of caring for her husband — who had been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s for more than a dozen years at home, she was an active participant in the Alzheimer’s Association Caregiver Support Group. She was also a focus of a 2014 Beaver County Times lifestyle series on aging and caregiving. But the most impactful part of her life may well have been the relationships developed with anyone who met her. Her circle of friends was vast and longstanding, and her positivity, resourcefulness, understanding and caring had a profound effect on the lives of dozens of close friends and hundreds of others throughout her rich life. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband of 68 years, Dr. William B. Lieberman, who died in early 2015. She is survived by her daughter, Kathy Lieberman, Philadelphia; her son and daughter-in-law Jay and Colleen Lieberman, of Rolesville, North Carolina; and two grandsons, Benjamin and Joshua Lieberman. In addition, she is survived by her brother, Ronald Silverblatt,

of Monroeville, and a number of “surrogate adult children,” people that she and her husband mentored throughout their lives. Private graveside services for the immediate family were held Jan. 1 at Agudath Achim Cemetery in Beaver Falls, with Cantor Rena Shapiro (Beth Samuel Jewish Center, Ambridge) officiating. Over the years, she provided her time, energy, creativity and philanthropic support to a great number of local and national organizations. To respect her many interests, donations may be made in her honor to any charity of your choosing. Arrangements by Hill & Kunselman Funeral Home, 3801 Fourth Ave., Beaver Falls, PA 15010, hillandkunselman.com. MARKOWITZ: Mildred (“Middy”) Markowitz, age 86, died Dec. 27, 2020, of complications due to COVID-19. She grew up in Squirrel Hill with parents Yetta and Lou Kravitz and sister Beatrice (“Beatsy”) (Feldshue). She attended Taylor Allderdice High School, where she twirled a baton as a majorette and enjoyed sorority life. At Penn State, she put her talent for wordplay toward a major in advertising. She got a master’s in education from Temple University and worked as an elementary and middle school teacher for the Pittsburgh Public Schools for over 20 years. That she made an impression on her schoolchildren was undeniable: even long after she had retired, former students would approach her and express their gratitude for her teaching. She was married to late newspaperman Jack Markowitz, with whom she had five children, for 40 years. Strongwilled, energetic, a lover of good food, music, and conversation, Middy enjoyed playing bridge and Scrabble, gardening, traveling, writing poetry, and walking in Frick Park. She is survived by her five daughters: Eve Markowitz Preston of New York City; Beth Markowitz of Cordoba, Spain; Hannah Markowitz of Venice, California.; Laura Markowitz of Jericho, Vermont.; and Rachel Markowitz of San Francisco. Six grandchildren living in the U.S. and UK will always have Grammy to remember. Deep thanks to her team of dedicated caregivers. A celebration of her life will be held at a later date. Contributions in her name may be made to any animal protection or medical research charity. Arrangements entrusted to Ralph Schugar Chapel, Inc., family owned and operated. schugar.com POMERANTZ: Phyllis L. Pomerantz. On Tuesday, Dec. 22, 2020, Phyllis L. Pomerantz, passed away at the age of 84 from dementia-related symptoms. She is survived by Martin, her husband of 63 years, and their children, Michael Pomerantz, Ellen (Bentley) Pomerantz, and Linda Pomerantz. Preceded in death by her parents Ida and Harry Goldman, her daughter-in-law Adri Pomerantz, and her son Lowell Pomerantz. Sister of Larry (Helen) Goldman, Grandmother of Philip Wedner, Melinda (James) Hilton, Brendan Pomerantz,

and Lowell Pomerantz Jr. Great-grandmother of Lincoln Hilton, Cooper Hilton, and Hunter Pomerantz, along with many cousins and other relatives. Phyllis worked for almost 30 years at Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) in both the computer science and the robotics departments. As a new hire in the production department, her first office was in a closet on the ground floor. She then moved to a windowed office in the public relations department. Because of her professional work ethic, dedication to her job, the university, and an unwavering ability to complete assignments on time and with perfect execution, she was able to rise through the ranks to work with senior members of the faculty, department deans, and visitors to the university from countries all around the world. Because of her many contacts in the early days of computer science and robotics, Phyllis would be asked to help with projects that required location of old software, and old data files that were no longer available. Whenever Phyllis would travel to California to visit relatives there would always be many of her coworkers on the airplane. She always knew someone wherever she went. Her smile and warm personality would cause friends and acquaintances to always smile back. Phyllis was an early member of Beth Israel Center (BIC), located in Jefferson Hills, Pennsylvania. She enjoyed working with the other BIC members and volunteered for many positions within the synagogue and the sisterhood. Phyllis excelled at organizing, helping others, and baking when called upon to do so for events. She was honored to be entrusted with the yahrzeit correspondences for BIC members and their families which was a vital source of contributions for the synagogue. Contributions in memory of Phyllis may be made to the Jewish Association on Aging, Development Department, 200 JHF Drive, Pittsburgh, PA 15217. Please earmark donations in Memory of Phyllis Pomerantz for the Arbor Unit Art & Music Program. Graveside services and interment were private. When COVID restrictions are removed, a memorial service will be held. Arrangements entrusted to Ralph Schugar Chapel, Inc., family owned and operated. schugar.com SCHWARTZ: Efrem Schwartz: On Tuesday, Dec. 29, 2020. Beloved husband of Elaine Schwartz and the late Teresa Schwartz. Beloved father of David (Roberta) Schwartz, Dan (Dianne) Schwartz and Lila Owens. Brother of Adaire (Manny) Klein and Herschel (Susan) Schwartz. Papa to Bryan Schwartz, David Schwartz, Kelcey Sons, Zacharie Schwartz, Kelly Rudowyj, Chris Dixon, Evan Owens, Aaron Owens, Daniel Schwartz and Leon Schwartz. Great Papa to Ashley, Autumn, Bailey, Alyssa, Braelyn, Drake, Zoe, Dexter, Luka, Nora, Vada, Ethan and Jayme. Graveside services and interment will be private at Betty Rosenberg/Parkway Jewish Center Cemetery. Contributions may be made in memory of Efrem Schwartz to Parkway Jewish Center, 300 Princeton Drive, Pittsburgh, PA 15235. Arrangements entrusted to Ralph Schugar Chapel, Inc., family owned and operated. schugar.com Please see Obituaries, page 20

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JANUARY 8, 2021 19

Obituaries Obituaries: Continued from page 19

SHAPIRO: Harriet Ann (Braunstein) Shapiro; On Dec. 31, 2020, in Palm Beach, Florida. Beloved wife of the late Murray Shapiro. Born in Pittsburgh on Feb. 9, 1927, to the late E. Louis and Fannie Terner Braunstein. Harriet was a graduate of the Fairmont Casements School in Ormond Beach, Florida, and attended the University of Missouri. She is preceded in death by all of her four siblings: Shirley Lando, Melvin Braunstein, Gladys Burstein and Herbert Braunstein. Surviving are her loving son, Allen Shapiro of Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, and daughter, Jillian Barnet (Sam Blancato) of Interlaken, New York; adored grandchildren Amanda, Kate, and Alexander Stephen; special caregivers Tiara Adams and Adelina Campos; as well as many loving relatives and friends. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Disabled American Veterans or Peggy Adams Animal Rescue. Due to COVID-19, burial is private. A celebration of Harriet’s life will be planned at a later date. Arrangements entrusted to Ralph Schugar Chapel, Inc., family owned and operated. schugar.com

TREGER: Marian Sarah Treger, age 60, of Los Angeles, California, passed away Christmas week 2020 of natural causes. She was the loving daughter of Dr. Albert and Rosalyn Treger, and a devoted sister to Flora, Jesse (Candice), and Daniel Treger. Her nieces, Elissa and Isabel, were the lights of her life. She was beloved by her aunts, uncles, cousins, and many dear friends. Marian was born on June 11, 1960. She grew up in Squirrel Hill in Pittsburgh, and was a graduate of Taylor Allderdice High School. She attended Oberlin College and earned a bachelor of arts degree from the University of California, Berkeley. An avid writer and artist, she earned a master of fine arts degree in film from the University of California, Los Angeles. She was one of three students to win the prestigious Samuel Goldwyn Writing Award in 1986. Marian was a talented artist and writer with boundless passion, a keen eye, and the unique ability to shape beauty out of the ordinary. Her wry sense of humor and kind and compassionate heart led to lifelong friendships and family bonds that she cherished and were treasured in return. She was an original, with an infectious

smile, who will be loved and missed forever. In honor of Marian’s commitment to social justice, donations in her memory can be made to the Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society (HIAS) (tinyurl.com/marianhias) or Disability Rights California (tinyurl.com/mariandrc). Due to COVID-19, graveside services and interment will be private. Arrangements entrusted to Ralph Schugar Chapel, inc., family owned and operated. schugar.com WISE: Florence Wise of Pittsburgh, a blessing to our family, passed away peacefully on Saturday, Dec. 26, 2020, at the remarkable age of 101. She was predeceased by her parents, Rae and Harry Karsh, brother, Joe, and her husband, Matthew. Florence will be remembered for her positive outlook on life, her generosity of time, her adaptability to life’s ups and downs, her kindness to those she loved and her commitment to her family and the Jewish community. She was involved in B’nai Brith and Hadassah and volunteered at the UPMC and Rodef Shalom gift shops as well as mentoring young children at Liberty School. Florence grew up in Oakland,

attended Schenley High School and graduated from Carnegie Tech in 1941. After raising her children she entered the workforce at UPMC Presby for 30 years. She traveled in her retirement to Israel, England and all over the USA, but her greatest joy was to visit her grandchildren. Her loving spirit extended beyond the bonds of family and every summer celebrants came from across the country to celebrate her birthday. Mom never missed an election and was proud to cast her vote in this important one. She is survived by her children, Dr. William S. (DeLanie) Wise, Barbara (William (z”l) Fairman, Shelley (Michael) Miner, Ralph H. Wise, and Marla (Bruce) Friedman, 14 grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren. She will be missed by her beloved nieces, nephews and cousins whom she loved, especially Susie Waldman. A special thank you to Marcie Carter and Laura Tillman for their dedication to Mom in these last years. Donations in her memory can be made to Hadassah, Sivitz Hospice, B’nai B’rith International or a charity of your choice. Graveside services and interment private. Arrangements entrusted to Ralph Schugar Chapel, Inc., family owned and operated. schugar.com.  PJC

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 Tents and chairs provided for graveside services at no extra cost.

 Located in Verona PA — 13-miles from downtown Pittsburgh.  No burial vaults used.

 No extra fees for Sunday burials.

 We work with all funeral homes.  We honor all Jewish burial practices.

 Only biodegradable coffins or shrouds allowed.  Currently adding 112 additional grave sites.

Call 412-265-4606 for tour appointments or other information or email Laura@PennForestCemetery.com. All prices on our website: www.PennForestCemetery.com/pricing.

Sunday January 10: Dorothy Kaufmann Abramson, Bessie Adler, Eva Berman, Samuel Bernstein, Lena Bernstein, Rose Schwartz Bodek, Charlie Brown, Pauline Caplan, Aaron Yale Caplan, Anna Klevan Charlson, Renee Cohen, Nathan Dektor, Leroy D. Fienberg, Harry Fingal, Hannah B. Finkelhor, Minnie Fisher, Freda Florman, Morris Frank, Arthur W. Fried, Fannie Friedman, Eli Goldstein, Louis Gottdiener, Benjamin P. Gross, Lucy Grossman, Zola S. Heller, Sylvia Kalmick, Max Kalson, Sarah Katz, Pearl Klein, Anna L. Kramer, Dvorah Chia Kravitz, Pauline Rebecca Krokover, Rubin Lando, Jack Lange, Rose Leventon, Nathan Liff, Joseph Lornblum, Rita Marks, Byrde Marlin, Ben Marowitz, Sam Metosky, Irving R. Pancer, Jennie Perelstine, Jennie Recht, Leonard A. Rice, Nellie E. Rudolph, Harry Schreiber, Harry Selkovits, Samuel Solow, Rose Szobel, Sarah Rachel Teplitz, Morris Vinocur, Hannah Friedberg Weinstein, Elias Weiss, Samuel Wilson, Ezekial Zeckauser, Dora Zeidenstein Monday January 11: Charles Abrams, Irwin Americus, Dorothy G. Beckerman, Beatrice N. Blau, Ruth Boimel, Nathan Cohen, Benjamin Cohn, Ida L. Coploff, Eva Davidson, Rose Rachel Donofsky, Alfred Engel, Abraham J. Epstein, Sophie Freedel, Gertrude Friedlander, Morris Friedman, Anna G. Ganelin, Gittel Glazer, Labe Goldberg, Tillie Goldenberg, Helen T. Goldin, Libbie Goldman, Aaron Harry Goldstein, Isadore Goodman, Sarah Gorman, Harry Gottesman, Sam Greenberg, Dora Harris, Emanuel G. Harris, Mary Unikel Hedeman, Ida Hertz, George Kamler, Joseph Kant, Eva C. Katz, Gershon Katz, Joseph Michael Katz, Abraham H. Kaufman, Harry Legon, Max Levenson, Tillie Levenson, Max Levine, Victor Levine, Esther Mallinger, Julia Mankin, Maurice Markel, Rose H. Mirskey, David Newman, Benjamin G. Ochs, Marian Pollack, Esther Racusin, Samuel Ratusch, Eugene Neil Reuben, Sarah Roth, Anna Ruzenwich, Morris Schaffel, Rose Schwartz, Leah Sheinberg, Nachum Ruben Sissman, Louis Snyder, Rae Solomon, Rose Stone, Dr. Leonard Stutz, Pauline Weiner, Tania York, Benjamin A. Zacks, Isaac Zecher, Abram M. Zieden, Abram M. Ziedman Tuesday January 12: Jacob Arons, Philip Backer, Lillian Bagran, Rachel Baker, Jay Sanford Berkosky, David P. Berman, Jack Berman, Daniel Biederman, Bernard Bigg, Aaron H. Braunstein, Ficzel Broder, Dr. Alfred J. Buka, Esther Cutler, David Dugan, Louis Fineberg, Evelyn W. Finkelhor, Abraham J. Friedman, Genevieve Tyman Friedman, Lawrence F. Friedman, Sam Gerson, Harry Glick, David Glick, James A. Glick, Jacob Goldberg, Jacob A. Goldberg, Nathan Greenberg, Frances S. Winsberg Gusky, Samuel Harris, Sarah Kallus, Abraham Isaac Kamin, Harry Lebow, Betty Lenchner, Dora R. Levenson, Fanny Levine, Abe D. Levy, Bess Levy, Kate Lewis, Jacob Linder, Esther Lipsich, Rose Harris Miller, Violet Semins Paris, Minnie Pecarsky, Bessie Krasik Raskin, Isadore Reisberg, Fannie Finkelpearl Robin, Charlotte Rubin, Ben Scolnik, Abe Seewald, Lena Segal, Jacob Shapiro, Sarah Esther Silverblatt, Rebecca Sisser, Dr. Bernard J. Slone, Fannie Smolevitz, Morris Snyder, Jennie S. Solomon, Esther Charie Solomon, Rose Steinberg, Ann Tergulitza, Myer Toig, Freda Venetsky, Sam R. Weiss, Israel J. Williams Wednesday January 13: Rebecca Betty Alpert, Rechel Americus, Hysora Aron, Fannie Aronson, Blanche Stein Banov, Matilda Barnett, Sallie Beigel, Morris Benkovitz, Irene Bloom, Morris Bronstien, Cecile K. Brown, Ida Schermer Burstin, David Chersky, Hanna M. Cohn, Etta Crawley, Fannie Crutch, Rose Deemer, Lt. Ivan I. Elpern, Florence Ravick Fishkin, Goldie Friedman, Herman Friedman, Rachel Glass, Judith Goldberg, Bessie Goldstein, Maurice I. Gordon, Henry Gross, Harry B. Harris, Leopold Heppenheimer, Amelia Egerman Hertz, Jennie Hoffman, Alex Honig, Pearl Karlan, Samuel Klein, Carl J. Kletz, Albert Lebovitz, James Leff, David Levy, Mathilda Lindner, Ilene Grossman Mattock, Tema Messer, Harold Mittman, Mayer Odle, Mayer Olde, Helen Orth, Bernard Peris, Morris Rosenbloom, Leah Rosenfeld, Louis E. Rosenthall, Beatrice Rita Weil Ruben, Dr. Max A. Rubinstein, Esther Sadowsky, Elizabeth Alpert Sapeer, Anna L. Saville, Max Schlessinger, Harry Schmidt, Gertrude Shakespeare, Morris Shendowich, Rabbi Kalman Slifkin, William Solomon, William Spokane, Morton Stein, Benjamin Stein, Rose Tauber Wasser, Anna Wattenmaker, Rose Wedner, Jonas H. Weil, Goldie Wolfe, Mary Sulkes Wolk Thursday January 14: Joseph Alpern, Emil Bahm, Sylvia S. Berger, Marx Berne, Mendel Braunstein, Rubin Bronstein, Belle Finegold Brown, Frances Levenson Carey, Ruth H. Cohen, Fanny Eisenfeld, Harry T. Feinberg, Morris Fineberg, William Forbes, Nochim Gelman, Max Glickman, Henry Goldberg, Philip Goldblum, Mendel Gropper, Beatrice F. Harris, Dr. Albert Hartstein, Tessie Horwitz, Maurice J. Kartub, Mary Klatzkin, Fannie Fischman Klee, Samuel E. Klein, Dr. Milton E. Klein, Joseph Klein, Louis Klein, Milton E Dr Klein, Norma Marks Klein, Milton E. Klein, Md, Anne Klieger, Rose L. Kline, Samuel Levine, Estelle E. Martin, Jacob Alex Miller, Jacob H. Miller, Bessie Netzer, Harold J. Pasekoff, Rachel Plack, Dr. George Raffel, Irwin Reuben, Samuel Richman, Mollie Robinson, Samuel Robinson, Jacob Rosenberg, Louis L. Schwartz, Eva Seder, Anna Shapiro, Sophie Shapiro, Anna Shapiro, Besse Grinberg Shapiro, Anna Sigesmund, Chaim Silberblatt, Chaim Silberblatt, Solomon Silken, Yetta Singer, Henry Solomon, Elder H. Stein, Bertha Steinitz, Albert J. Supowitz, Rose Tabor, Louis Tenenouser, David Victor, John D. Whiteman, Goldie H. Zacks Friday January 15: Dr. Milton M. Auslander, Abraham Axelrod, Isabelle Pitler Backer, Mollie Barnett, Mollie Barnett, Mollie Beck, Louis Biederman, Freida Steinbach Billig, Max M. Bohrman, Ben Breman, Samuel Darling, Clara Dizenfeld, Samuel Ellman, Philip A. Epstine, Margaret Feinberg, Sarah Feinberg, Anna Ray Fischman, Irvin Frank, Harry Friedman, Louis M. Gardner, Goldie Gold, Fred Goldman, Leon M. Goldsmith, Abrahm Isaac Goldstein, Samuel Shy Goodman, Sidney H. Green, David Joseph Greenburg, Josephine Citron Gross, Louis Grossman, Ruth Arelia Herschaft, Samuel W. Herskowitz, Florence Hiedovitz, Lucille Unger Hill, Isaac Hohenstein, Paul Ibe, Max M. Jacobson, Leah Kabet, Dr. A. Daniel Kaufman, Fannie Klein, Rose Klein, Regina Kossman, Morris Krow, Ethel Krukoff, Sarah Leiber, Geraldine Lerner, Isaac A. Lewis, Rose Linder, Abraham Mandelblatt, Solomon Middleman, Simon Moll, Yitta Moskowitz, Meyer Popkins, Louis Rosenbloom, Louis Z. Rubin, Fani Safir, Joseph Safir, Harry Saul, Blanche L. Schwartz, Bernice Semins, Mabel H. Shaeffer, Lena Shapiro, Sylvia Silberman, William Sivitz, Aba Marjasz Sommerstein, William Sugar, Aba Marjasz Summerstein, Russell Tanur, Joseph Weiss, Bennett Zeff

D’Alessandro Funeral Home and Crematory Ltd.

Saturday January 16: Minnie Astov, Samuel Baem, Bertha Baer, Joseph Baer, Harry N. Bailiss, William Calig, Libbie Callet, Bertha Bickart Callomon, R. Oscar Cohen, Sara T. Davidson, Rinnie Klinkenstein Epstein, George J. Fairman, Hanina Federhar, Harry Friedman, Nathan Goldberg, Sarah Goodman, Rabbi Isaac Goorin, Joseph Gray, Jacob J. Greenberger, Tess V. Hirsh, Dr. John J. Horwtiz, Sara R. Jacobson, Katie Kartub, Louis Katz, Sam Kaufman, Samuel Keilly, Lillian Klein, Max Kweller, Fannie Kwalwasser Lazar, Regina Gluck Lebeau, Schimen Hirsh Levin, Morris Levy, Katie Lincoff, Joseph H. Luxenberg, Maurice A. Marcus, Harry Meyer, Mary Myers, Lt. Louis Newman, Irwin Newman, Louis Pollock, Harry Pretter, Rachael Rapaport, Dorothy Rosenthal, Max Roth, Max Rubin, Mollie Samuel, Nathan Schein, Martin E. Seligman, Jacob Shapinsky, Dr. Abraham Shapira, Otto Slifkin, Florence Stone, Pauline Strauss, Meyer Streng, Moses Tenenbaum, Moses R. Trauerman, Jennie Walk, Irene M. Wolfe, Etta Young, Victoria Zimmer

Dustin A. D’Alessandro, Supervisor • Daniel T. D’Alessandro, Funeral Director

20 JANUARY 8, 2021

“Always A Higher Standard”

PITTSBURGH JEWISH CHRONICLE

4522 Butler St. • Pittsburgh, PA 15201 (412) 682-6500 • www.dalessandroltd.com

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Community When worlds collide: Crafting, Star Wars and Zoom Friendship Circle of Pittsburgh members enjoyed three days of Winter Camp packed with Disney-themed fun, games and entertainment on Zoom.

p This sticky situation could be good.

p There’s no masking the fun at Friendship Circle.

p “May the force be with you.”

p “You underestimate my power.”

Photos courtesy of Friendship Circle of Pittsburgh

Goals for the New Year p The “eyes” have it.

Picture this

p Temple Sinai members Lynn Magid Lazar and Dale Lazar share photos of their grandchildren as part of the World Union for Progressive Judaism’s Chanukah program, “Many Candles, One World.” Screenshot courtesy of Dale Lazar

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p Suzanne Kline demonstrates the importance of keeping one’s eyes open, focused and looking ahead. Photo courtesy of Jewish Association on Aging

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JANUARY 8, 2021 21

KOSHER MEATS

Empire Kosher Fresh Ground Turkey

• All-natural poultry — whole chickens, breasts, wings and more

Sold in 1 lb. pkg.

• All-natural, corn-fed beef — steaks, roasts, ground beef and more • Variety of deli meats and franks Available at select Giant Eagle stores. Visit gianteagle.com for location information.

4

49 lb.

Price effective Thursday, January 7 through Wednesday, January 13, 2021

Available at 22 JANUARY 8, 2021

and PITTSBURGH JEWISH CHRONICLE

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IN THE MIDDLE OF A PANDEMIC, RIETA STILL GETS TO VISIT HER DAUGHTER AND THE CATS.

Business vector created by pikisuperstar - www.freepik.com

WHEN WE GIVE TOGETHER, WE HELP MORE PEOPLE.

Rieta is a resident at AHAVA Memory Care at the Jewish Association on Aging (JAA). When the pandemic hit, her daughter Jo wondered if she would ever see her mother again. Fortunately, JAA implemented rigorous screening and safety policies that would not have been possible without support from Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh. The Federation paid for personal protective equipment (PPE), extra staff, air filtration systems and more.

Because they had money for extra staffing, JAA could set up twice-a-week video chats between Rieta, Jo and of course, the cats. Jo says of JAA's care for Rieta, "They went above and beyond to keep the virus at bay. They really treat her as if she's their mother. It's genuine." Thanks to the donors who give to the Jewish Federation, we can help take care of Rieta's family, thousands of Jewish families in Pittsburgh and millions of people in Jewish communities around the world.

412-681-8000 jewishpgh.org

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PITTSBURGH JEWISH CHRONICLE

JANUARY 8, 2021 23

MEGA MISSION JUNE 13-21, 2022 Sign up for a virtual information session to learn more about this life-changing experience

UPCOMING INFO SESSIONS: Tues., Jan. 12, 2021 at 6-7 PM Fri., Jan. 22, 2021 at 12-1 PM Thurs., Feb. 4, 2021 at 7-8 PM

jewishpgh.org/mega-mission or 412.681.8000

24 JANUARY 8, 2021

PITTSBURGH JEWISH CHRONICLE

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