Style Jewish punks Israeli punk rock bands make waves here Page 12
THE JEWISH CHRONICLE thejewishchronicle.net february 10, 2011 adar 1 6, 5771
Vol. 53, No. 41
Pittsburgh, PA
$1.50
Campus police limited access to Hillel-JUC event
Standoff continues
BY TOBY TABACHNICK Staff Writer
convened inclusion committees that work year round and have their own programs and activities, February has been designated as the month to bring attention to the still-unfilled needs of those with disabilities, according to Linda Marino, special needs coordinator for the Jewish Family & Children’s Service. “We’re trying to get the word out this month,” Marino said. “We’re trying to get people to think about it.” More can be done. For instance, Langer noted a congregation in California that has both a special
The University of Pittsburgh Police restricted last week’s publicly advertised Hillel Jewish University Centersponsored lecture to students after 30plus anti-Israel protestors showed up to disrupt the event. The anti-Israel protestors responded by posting a video of the event on YouTube, which they recorded without permission, and in violation of the speaker’s security directive, according to Aaron Weil, executive director of Hillel JUC. Sgt. Benjamin Anthony, a veteran of the Israel Defense Forces, visited Pitt, Monday, Jan. 31, to speak about the cost of conflict and the values that soldiers share during wartime. The Pittsburgh Israel Public Affairs Committee (PIPAC), College Republicans and Panthers for Israel hosted the event along with Hillel. While the flyer advertising the lecture said the event was open to the public, the intention of the sponsoring groups was to limit attendance to students only because of space constraints, according to organizers of the event. “There was a miscommunication,” said Mia Jacobs, president of the Hillel JUC student board. “It should not have said ‘open to the public’ on the flyer.” A pro-Palestinian group arrived en masse for the lecture. “The Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) reached out to the wider Pittsburgh community,” Weil said. “Over 30 individuals who were strongly opposed to Sgt. Benjamin Anthony — about half of whom were not students — came prepared to disrupt the event.” “We had the event in a room that was set up for about 80 people,” said Samantha Vinokor, PIPAC president. “We didn’t expect such a large turnout
Please see Disability, page 23.
Please see Protestors, page 23.
Iman Mosaad photo
Protesters pray in front of a tank in Cairo’s Tahrir Square, Jan. 30. Far from Cairo, the unrest in Egypt is stirring tensions along the Israel-Egypt border. See story, page 10.
Jewish Disability Awareness Month means ‘inclusion’ BY TOBY TABACHNICK Staff Writer
Nancy Langer understands the challenges of integrating a special needs child into the Jewish community. Her 8year-old son, Martin, has autism. “It’s a struggle,” said the Mt. Lebanon resident, and member of Beth El Congregation of the South Hills. “But one thing I have noticed: I think there has been a move lately to pay more attention to the issue of including people with special needs.” There’s even an entire month devoted to the issue.
February marks Jewish Disability Awareness Month, and activities are being planned in the city and suburbs to raise community sensitivity toward those with special needs. Those events, combined with the ongoing efforts of various organizations throughout the area, can help to open doors to Jewish life for those with physical and mental challenges. “Our ultimate goal,” said Terry Feinberg Steinberg, director of special education services for the Agency for Jewish Learning (AJL), “is that people won’t need us — that everyone is just included.” Although some congregations have
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Times To Remember
KINDLE SABBATH CANDLES: 5:31 p.m. EST. SABBATH ENDS: 6:32 p.m. EST.