The start of a ceasefire between Israel and the terrorist group Hamas, and the release of all living hostages held in Gaza, was met with elation and optimism by Pittsburgh’s Jewish community.
The Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh said it was “grateful to all parties whose tireless efforts made this day possible.”
In a prepared statement, Federation officials noted that the 20 living hostages returned were among the original 251 kidnapped from Israel on Oct. 7, 2023.
The hostages, Federation said, were held “through 18 major Jewish holidays and 105 Shabbat dinners. Jewish families in Israel, in Pittsburgh and around the world had empty chairs at our tables, yellow ribbons on our lapels, and fractures in our hearts.”
Federation also said it mourned the 28 deceased hostages still in Gaza at the time of the ceasefire. Hamas was required to deliver their remains to Israel within 72 hours, but as of press time, Hamas had returned only 13 bodies.
“We pray for their families and loved ones to be able to give them the proper burial they deserve,” Federation officials said. “May they be comforted among all the mourners of Zion.”
Laura Cherner, Federation’s Community Relations Council director, said Federation was “especially grateful and relived that Alon Ohel, from our partnership region of Misgav, has been reunited with his family.
“We sincerely hope this moment marks the beginning of lasting peace in the region,” she
continued. “In order for that to be a reality, it will require the continued cooperation of all nations and parties involved in the ceasefire plan.”
Julie Paris, StandWithUs Mid-Atlantic regional director, said she was “overwhelmed with joy and relief” at the return of the 20 living hostages after “738 agonizing days.”
“This is a sentiment, I know, that is flooding Israel and the entire global Jewish community,” Paris said. “The safe return of our beloved hostages to their families today is the moment we’ve all been fighting for.”
Since Hamas’ Oct 7 attack, StandWithUs has campaigned for the release of all those kidnapped by the terrorist group.
“The fight to keep their names alive has been a global imperative, and here in Pittsburgh, the sustained efforts of our community prove that tireless advocacy can make an impact,” Paris said. “From vigils, rallies and concerts, to the silent witness of the Yellow Piano at the JCC in honor of Misgav native Alon Ohel, every banner and every gathering over these last two years mattered.”
Since the Oct. 7 attack, Rona Kaufman, a Duquesne University associate law professor, has been addressing anti-Zionism and the fissures created by the war on college campuses and in progressive spaces.
She said she was thankful that the living hostages were returned but that her heart “really still goes out to those whose dead children are still in Gaza.”
Kaufman said that on a trip to Israel as a
By Adam Reinherz | Senior Sta Writer
Seven years after the Pittsburgh synagogue shooting, the city is being called to unite again. With both Oct. 27 and the yahrzeit of those killed approaching, the community is encouraged to remember, volunteer and learn.
Listed online at 1027healingpartnership. org, various in-person and virtual activities are intended to inspire reflection, communal betterment and personal meaning, according to 10.27 Healing Partnership Director Maggie Feinstein.
On Oct. 27, 2018, 11 congregants from three congregations — Dor Hadash, New Light and Tree of Life — were murdered during Shabbat services in the Tree of Life building: Joyce Fienberg, Richard Gottfried, Rose Mallinger, Jerry Rabinowitz, Cecil Rosenthal, David Rosenthal, Bernice Simon, Sylvan Simon, Dan Stein, Irving Younger and Melvin Wax. Since that heinous crime, community members have routinely undertaken meaningful pursuits to remember and honor lives lost.
Bret Stephens chats with Pamela Nadell
A decorative rock left outside the Tree of Life building on Oct. 27, 2022.
Photo by Adam Reinherz
Pittsburghers stand in solidarity with the hostages at a vigil in Squirrel Hill in January 2025.
Photo by Sandy Zell
Headlines
Pittsburgh Yiddish festival celebrates language, music and memory
By Adam Reinherz | Senior Staff Writer
Pittsburgh is gearing up to celebrate Yiddish culture with a vibrant lineup of upcoming events. Scheduled for Nov. 13-16, the activities are part of a festival funded by a seed grant from the Yiddish Book Center, according to organizers.
The festival, which organizers are calling, “L’Chaim, Pittsburgh Celebrates Yiddish,” is being operated in collaboration with Congregation Beth Shalom and the University of Pittsburgh’s Jewish Studies program, and aims to welcome both Yiddish enthusiasts and those curious about its culture, Shadyside resident and event co-organizer Roz Becker said. Becker, 76, pointed to multiple programs focusing on Yiddish language, music and history as offering pathways toward new insights.
On Nov. 13 at 6:30 p.m. at Beth Shalom, author and Columbia University professor Jeremy Dauber will discuss the life and writing of Yiddish titan Sholem Aleichem. Along with hearing about the legendary author and playwright from Dauber, attendees can also enjoy live klezmer music and refreshments.
On Nov. 14, at 4 p.m. at Carnegie Mellon University, Anna Shternshis will present “Our Town Is Now a Cemetery: Soviet Yiddish Amateur Songs and the Rituals of Holocaust Commemoration, 1945–1947.” Shternshis, who directs the Anne Tanenbaum Centre for Jewish Studies at the University of Toronto, will discuss post-war efforts in the Soviet Union to preserve Holocaust memory and detail a haunting song sung in 1945 by Shikl Gershberg about a July 1941 massacre by German and Romanian troops that killed 437 people in his Ukrainian town.
Throughout the festival weekend, additional learning events will include a Friday
p World War I era poster in Yiddish to encourage food conservation. Caption (translated) "Food will win the war - You came here seeking freedom, now you must help to preserve it - Wheat is needed for the allieswaste nothing." Color lithograph, 1917 Image courtesy of United States Library of Congress' Prints and Photographs division via Wikimedia Commons
evening talk by Rauh Jewish Archives Director Eric Lidji at Rodef Shalom Congregation and music from the Unified Congregation Choir. On Saturday night, also at Rodef Shalom Congregation, a concert will feature Jeff Warschauer and Deborah Strauss, performers who have delighted audiences for more than 25 years with pieces drawing from klezmer and Yiddish culture.
While upcoming events may ignite fresh enthusiasm for Yiddish — a language with a history spanning more than a millennium — some Pittsburghers have already begun exploring it.
Since Sept. 7, learners at Rodef Shalom Congregation have joined Becker and Point
Breeze resident Karen Brean for weekly Yiddish language study. The first student meetup drew 17 participants, with even more turned away due to limited space, Becker said.
Brean, a festival co-organizer and fellow Yiddish teacher and enthusiast, said there’s a palpable energy experienced when studying Yiddish with others in person.
Many people know about Yiddish through jokes, “but there are so many levels to it,” Brean, 71, said. The “expressive language” so often used by Yiddish poets and artists “speaks to us.”
people spoke Yiddish, according to YIVO Institute for Jewish Research.
Today, there are fewer than 1 million Yiddish speakers, according to Rutgers University.
The loss of Yiddish and those who employed its nuance is profound, but small efforts can spark new connections and understandings, festival organizers told the Chronicle.
“Yiddish has such a rich culture,” Becker said. “It’s a treasure of our heritage.”
Registration, tickets for the Saturday evening event and additional information are available at rodefshalom.org/yiddish. PJC
Adam Reinherz can be reached at areinherz@pittsburghjewishchronicle.org.
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p Women surrounded by posters in English and Yiddish supporting Franklin D. Roosevelt, Herbert H. Lehman and the American Labor Party teach other women how to vote, 1935. Photo courtesy of Kheel Center, Cornell University Library via Flickr
On Jewish issues, where do our candidates stand?
Beacon Coalition is a non-partisan organization standing up for the rights and wellbeing of Jews in the United States.
Election Day — Nov. 4
Beacon Coalition vets candidates for political office in three areas: combatting antisemitism, upholding democracy, and championing pluralism.
These evaluations are based on the candidates’ voting records, public statements, and interactions with the Jewish community.
Read more about these and other candidates on our website.
Allegheny County Council — At Large
Defending democracy Combatting antisemitism
held by Bethany Hallam (D); this special election will decide the minority-party seat.
Mike Embrescia (R) - Incumbent
Allegheny County Council — District 3
Lissa Geiger Shulman (D)
endorsement of Governor Josh
Mike Embrescia is the appointed Allegheny County AtLarge Councilman and is Chief Development Officer at Carnegie Robotics. Embrescia used his social media to address the 2024 assault outside the Capital Jewish Museum, writing, “Antisemitism is real. Racism is real.” Embrescia has shown willingness to challenge members of his own party, citing his endorsement of Governor Josh Shapiro over Doug Mastriano, whom he described as “divisive.” In response to Beacon Coalition’s questions about BDS, Embrescia wrote “The BDS movement is a blatant corruption of political, economic, ethical, and humanitarian considerations.”
Alex Rose (Labor)
Alex Rose is a political activist and volunteer. He has publicly acknowledged Jewish holidays and spoken out against antisemitic incidents. Rose is running under the Labor party and has worked on the campaigns of Democrats. In a court hearing, when asked if he was a loyal Democrat, he described himself instead as “a loyal activist.” Rose did not return the Beacon questionnaire.
Mayor of Pittsburgh
Corey O’Connor (D)
Corey O’Connor has served as Allegheny County Controller since 2022 and as a city councilman from 2012-2022. He has attended Jewish community events regularly throughout his time as a public official. He spoke out against the local BDS attempts. He told Beacon Coalition, “My focus is on good governance that delivers real results for Pittsburgh. I believe in leadership that unites rather than divides.” On antisemitism, O’Connor said “Our leaders should have been more proactive in addressing this crisis, publicly acknowledging the scope of the problem, standing unequivocally against antisemitism, and working directly with the Jewish community to implement real solutions.”
Tony Moreno (R)
Tony Moreno is a retired Pittsburgh police detective. He has not held prior elected office. Moreno has criticized city officials over continued city-funded payments to a former city employee who was charged with ethnic intimidation for antisemitic harassment. Moreno did not return the Beacon Coalition questionnaire.
Judicial Retention
Beacon recommends voting YES on all five statewide Judicial retention questions:
Supreme Court: Christine Donohue, evin
Dougherty, David echt
Superior Court: Alice Beck Dubow
Common ea t Court: Michael ojcik
Lissa Geiger Shulman is a policy consultant who has not held prior office. In her response to a Beacon Coalition question about the rise in antisemitism in Pittsburgh, Geiger Shulman noted, “Unfortunately, the actions of some elected leaders here in our region have failed to condemn antisemitic acts and knowingly or unknowingly suppressed the majority of Jewish voices.” In response to a question about her understanding of ionism, she said, “I believe that Jews have a right to self-determination and statehood in their ancestral home, Israel. I do not believe that Jews should be asked to condemn ionism or the actions of the Israeli government or its citizens in order to be allies in the broader fight for democracy, civil rights, and social justice.” She told Beacon Coalition that she would have voted against the 2024 ceasefire resolution that came before County Council. Geiger Shulman has participated in Jewish community events in ox Chapel.
Christopher Lochner (R)
Christopher Lochner served as Edgewood Borough Manager and as Hampton Township Municipal Manager for nearly four decades. He opposes BDS, and, in response to a Beacon Coalition question about balancing free speech protections while addressing harassment or intimidation, Lochner stated, “Protecting free speech is one thing, but not hate speech. Protecting free speech while condoning and participating in violent behavior as part of that speech is not the same thing in my opinion, and those who engage in violent or intimidating behavior should be held accountable for it.”
Allegheny County Council — District 8
Michelle Naccarati-Chapkis (D) - Incumbent
Michelle accarati-Chapkis has represented District on Allegheny County Council since 2021. She abstained from voting on the 2024 ceasefire resolution. Her remarks during the debate emphasized concern for both Israeli and Palestinian lives, as well as local Jews and Muslims, and she acknowledged the divisiveness of the issue. She has attended Jewish community events, made public statements recognizing Jewish holidays and denounced antisemitic incidents in Pittsburgh. Her voting record indicates a rejection of political extremism.
Michael Dell (R)
Michael Dell has served on Plum Borough council and is a CPA. Limited information is available about Dell’s positions or past interaction with the Jewish community. Dell did not return the Beacon Coalition questionnaire.
Pittsburgh City Council — District 8
Erika Strassburger (D) - Incumbent (unopposed)
Erika Strassburger has served on Pittsburgh City Council since 201 and was the primary sponsor of two City Ordinances to ensure that Pittsburgh rejects BDS-driven bias, upholds anti-discrimination protections, and prevents special interest groups from misusing the Home Rule Charter. Strassburger has consistently engaged with the Jewish community and opposed illiberal political trends.
Headlines
JCC
center renovations prioritize wellness and community
By Emma Riva | Special to the Chronicle
The Jewish Community Center of Greater Pittsburgh prides itself on not just being a gym but a true community space — and renovations to its fitness center in Squirrel Hill double down on that mission.
When the JCC team first planned to renovate its outdated racquetball courts, however, it was the height of the pandemic. So, the staff put on construction gear and did it all themselves.
The newest iteration, this time done by professional contractors, allowed JCC President and CEO Jason Kunzman, Fitness Director Laurie Wood and Fitness Division Director Elie Golin to spend more time designing the space around members’ needs.
“We had the opportunity to invest more intentionally and do the work more professionally,” Kunzman said. “This work represents a deepening of our commitment to functional fitness. It prepares you to better participate in the daily activities of life, like lifting, pulling and bending.”
to wait to use them, so adding more allows for more people to work out simultaneously.
At many gyms, waiting for the squat rack can feel like waiting in line at the DMV. “We have five squat racks, more than double what I’ve seen anywhere else,” Golin said. So, there’s no need to stand around waiting when what you came to do is squat.
Membership at the JCC comes with a complementary personal training session, and the new space now has private space allocated for those sessions.
“We use a non-invasive 3D scanner called Styku, but for something so personal and intimate, it’s better to have a private space,” Golin explained. “Trainers can also use the recovery room, and training machines are meant for all ability levels. We really try to be a community-driven approach to all of this.”
The next phase of the renovation will be redesigning the Platinum member rooms, which include the sauna and whirlpool spa.
Additions to the recovery room and a focus on restorative movement after exercise also serve to make those movements more sustainable. Kunzman had just taken a HIIT (high-intensity interval training) class at 7 a.m. the day he spoke to the Chronicle, and noted, “I’m sore, so I guess it worked!”
But for those times JCC members are feeling sore, the space now has massage guns, compression pants, foam rollers and dedicated classes in the recovery room for individuals to learn more about cooling
down from working out.
Wood kept her eye on trends in the fitness industry for the renovation, including a suggestion box for members. The top suggestion might be a sign of the times — punching bags.
“We also saw the need to have dedicated space for dynamic movement like sled pushes and speed training,” Wood said. She saw HIIT and functional fitness as two of the most significant trends in the fitness world in 2025 and wanted the gym to reflect that.
Wood and her team have redesigned
“We could call this Phase 1, ‘Fitness Redefined,’ and the next phase is ‘Wellness Redefined,’” Golin said. The renovations for the Platinum member rooms will include all new tiling, single-person locker rooms in the male changing area, and updates to the sauna and steam room machinery.
“We really want to take a comprehensive approach to both fitness and wellness. But what’s going to set us apart and make us feel comfortable for people is that we’re attacking all elements of fitness: physical health, mental health and social interaction, all combined into one.”
Wood agreed that what makes the JCC special is the effort that staff put into relationships with members.
disrupting each other.
The JCC is an inclusive place to exercise, not just because of the many demographics of people who use it, but also because the space now has maximum usage and inclusivity built into it, according to JCC leadership. Where many gyms can feel daunting, the JCC is designed to be comfortable for members, regardless of age or fitness level.
“We also doubled up on our most popular training tools, because we saw people waiting,” Wood said. Machines like the chestpress or hip adductor are used so many times throughout the day that members often have
for intergenerational interactions, something rare in many spaces in contemporary life. At a visit to the JCC gym, you’re just as likely to see a local bubbie as you are an Allderdice or Central Catholic studentathlete lifting.
Above all, the team designed the space to be welcoming.
“I just want people to want to be there every day and want to work out with us,” Golin said. PJC
Emma Riva is a freelance writer
in Pittsburgh.
JCC staff celebrates renovations to its fitness center with a ribbon cutting event on Oct. 10. Photo courtesy of the JCC of Greater Pittsburgh
Celebrating city and its residents, Pittsburgh Walk of Fame
By Adam Reinherz | Senior Sta Writer
Anew tribute to notable Pittsburghers debuted on Oct. 20 as the Pittsburgh Walk of Fame held its first induction ceremony at the Strip District Terminal. The 10 inaugural inductees included George Benson, Nellie Bly, Andrew Carnegie, Rachel Carson, Roberto Clemente, Michael Keaton, Fred Rogers, Jonas Salk, Andy Warhol and August Wilson. Granite blocks featuring bronze stars and details regarding the inductees were installed more than a week ago.
The site, which Pittsburgh television producer and emcee Rick Sebak called a “very cool addition to our city,” was years in the making.
Pitched by Nancy Polinsky Johnson and James Rudolph almost a decade ago, the project was inspired by similar walks of fame in other cities.
Rudolph credited Johnson’s perseverance and said seeing Pittsburgh’s Walk of Fame come to life is a “dream come true.”
Johnson agreed and said, “This really is a dream of mine that others have bought into.”
For nearly 90 minutes Monday morning, presenters celebrated inductees. Brief bios were shared. Photos were taken. Descendants and representatives of inductees delivered appreciative remarks.
River City Brass Band performed. Despite days of inclement weather, the sun shone — an unusual local occurrence, noted several speakers — throughout most of the program.
The program was met with steady, appreciative applause from the audience, though actor and former McKees Rocks
Attendees traverse the Pittsburgh Walk of Fame on Oct. 20. Photo by Adam Reinherz
Actor Michael Keaton and Pittsburgh Walk of Fame Executive Director Nancy Polinsky Johnson celebrate during an Oct. 20 event at the Strip District Terminal. Photo by Adam Reinherz
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.
SUNDAYS, OCT. 26–DEC. 28
Join Chabad of Squirrel Hill for its Men’s Tefillin Club. Services and tefillin are followed by a delicious breakfast and engaging discussions on current events. 8:30 a.m. 1700 Beechwood Blvd. chabadpgh.com.
Join a lay-led online Parashah study group to discuss the weekly Torah portion. No Hebrew knowledge needed. The goal is to build community while deepening understanding of the text. 8:30 p.m. For more information, visit bethshalompgh.org/ online-parashah.
MONDAYS, OCT. 27-DEC. 29
Join Congregation Beth Shalom for a weekly Talmud study. 9:15 a.m. For more information, visit bethshalompgh.org.
Join Temple Sinai for an evening of mahjong every Monday (except holidays). Whether you are just starting out or have years of experience, you are sure to enjoy the camaraderie and good times as you make new friends or cherish moments with
long-term pals. All are welcome. Winners will be awarded Giant Eagle gift cards. All players should have their own mahjong cards. Contact Susan Cohen at susan_k_cohen@yahoo.com if you have questions. $5. templesinaipgh.org.
WEDNESDAYS, OCT. 24–DEC. 31
Temple Sinai’s Rabbi Daniel Fellman presents a weekly Parshat/Torah portion class on site and online. Call 412-421-9715 for more information and the Zoom link.
Bring the parashah alive and make it personally relevant and meaningful with Rabbi Mark Goodman in this weekly Parashah Discussion: Life & Text. 12:15 p.m. For more information, visit bethshalompgh.org/life-text.
Join Chabad of the South Hills for Baby Loves Shabbat, music and movement for ages 0 to 3. Challah making and Shabbat songs. 3:45 p.m. 1701 Bower Hill Road. chabadsh.com.
SUNDAY, OCT. 26
Join the Pittsburgh Jewish community for the 10.27.2018 Commemorative Volunteering Day in service and in spirit to honor the 11 people killed in the Pittsburgh synagogue shooting. Learn more about available opportunities and register at 1027healingpartnership.org/volunteering-2025.
bagel factory and delicatessen
Stop in for some of your fall favorites: Pumpkin babka mu ns, co ee cake, pumpkin & cinnamon french toast!
MONDAY, OCT. 27
Gather in honor and remembrance of the 11 people killed in the Pittsburgh synagogue shooting. Join with your neighbors, family, friends and community at the Commemoration Ceremony to mourn those lost and commit to bringing kindness into the world in their memory. All are welcome. 6:30 p.m. Jewish Community Center of Greater Pittsburgh, 5738 Forbes Ave. 1027healingpartnership.org/event/ commemoration2025.
WEDNESDAY, OCT. 29
The Holocaust Center of Pittsburgh presents “Voices from the Shadows — LGBTQ+ Experiences During the Nazi Era.” Eric Marcus introduces Making Gay History’s podcast series on the experiences of LGBTQ+ people during the rise of the Nazi regime, WWII and the Holocaust. Drawing on extensive research conducted for this first-ofits-kind audio documentary, Marcus shares archival clips during his presentation that brings this painful, often hidden history to life through the voices of the people who lived it. 6 p.m. Rodef Shalom Congregation, 4905 Fifth Ave. hcofpgh.org/event/ save-the-date-voices-from-the-shadows-lgbtqexperiences-during-the-nazi-era.
WEDNESDAY, NOV. 5
Warm up with homemade matzoh ball soup, potato pancakes
Chabad of the South Hills invites you to attend its November Senior Luncheon. Enjoy a delicious lunch and presentation on brain health by Comfort Keepers. Wheelchair accessible. $5 suggested donation. 1 p.m. 1701 McFarland Rd. chabadsh.com.
Kerry Wallach will deliver the inaugural Edith Balas Memorial Lecture. Her talk, “Recovering the Lost Worlds of Jewish Artist Rahel Szalit,” will focus on her process of rediscovering Rahel Szalit, one of the best known Jewish women artists in Weimar Germany, whose work was largely forgotten in the
wake of the Holocaust. Free. 5:15 p.m. Cathedral of Learning, Humanities Center (602), Fifth Avenue at Bigelow Boulevard. calendar.pitt.edu/ event/recovering-the-lost-worlds-of-jewish-artistrahel-szalit.
WEDNESDAYS, NOV. 5-DEC. 10
Join Chabad of the South Hills for a new JLI course, “The Kabbalah of Meaning,” exploring Jewish wisdom for finding the purpose that connects parts of life. No previous Jewish learning required. Online or in person. This course will satisfy the continuing education requirements of physicians, healthcare professionals, psychologists, social workers, LMFTs and LMHC/LPCs. 7:30 p.m. chabadsh.com.
THURSDAYS, NOV. 6, JAN. 15, MARCH 12, APRIL 30, JUNE 25
In the ever-evolving landscape of legal practice, understanding the interplay between faith and governance is crucial for lawyers. Join Rabbi Danny Schi for an engaging CLE series that explores many intriguing questions. Individual classes: $45 with credit/$40 without credit. 8:30 a.m. Virtual. For a complete list of class dates and subjects, visit Jewishpgh.org/event.
SUNDAY, NOV. 16
Join Young Peoples Synagogue for a Jewish Pittsburgh bus tour of the North Side hosted by Eric Lidji, director of the Rauh Jewish Archives. Breakfast at 9 a.m. in the YPS social hall at Denniston and Forbes; the trolley leaves at 10 a.m. $36. Open to YPS members, guests and the Jewish community. For more information, call Rebecca Spiegel at 412-421-3213, or email rebecca.spiegel1@verizon.net. Deadline to register is Nov. 3, 2025. PJC
Join the Chronicle Book Club!
The Pittsburgh Jewish Chronicle invites you to join the Chronicle Book Club for its Dec. 7 discussion of “Hostage,” by Eli Sharabi.
What to do
Buy: “Hostage.” It is available at area Barnes & Noble stores and from online retailers, including Amazon and Barnes & Noble. It is also available through the Carnegie Library system.
Email: Contact us at drullo@pittsburghjewishchronicle.org, and write “Chronicle Book Club” in the subject line. We will send you a Zoom link for the discussion meeting. PJC
From Amazon.com: “On October 7, 2023, Hamas terrorists stormed Kibbutz Be’eri, shattering the peaceful life Eli Sharabi had built with his British wife, Lianne, and their teenage daughters, Noiya and Yahel. Dragged barefoot out his front door while his family watched in horror, Sharabi was plunged deep into the suffocating darkness of Gaza’s tunnels. As war raged above him, he endured a grueling 491 days in captivity, all the while holding onto the hope that he would one day be reunited with his loved ones.
“Eli Sharabi’s story is one of hunger and heartache, of physical pain, longing, loneliness and a helplessness that threatens to destroy the soul. But it is also a story of strength, of resilience, and of the human spirit’s refusal to surrender. It is about the camaraderie forged in captivity, the quiet power of faith, and one man’s unrelenting decision to choose life, time and time again.”
Your hosts
Toby Tabachnick, Chronicle editor
David Rullo, Chronicle senior staff writer
How it works
We will meet on Zoom on Sunday, Dec. 7, at 1 p.m.
The Hon. Hugh F. McGough
The Hon. Dan Regan The Hon. Dwayne D. Woodru
The Hon. Alan D. Hertzberg The Hon. Beth A. Lazzara
Hon. Jennifer Staley McCrady
corner of the world, a group of historians began meeting to talk about, ‘How did we miss this story?’”
Reams of books, she said, have been written about Jewish accomplishments, Jewish communities, Jews in America, “and we missed this story. That led me down this path.”
Nadell’s book begins in colonial America, travels through the new country and the Civil war, into the 20th century and World War II, and concludes with a chapter on the antisemitism experienced by communities in Charlottesville, Virginia; Pittsburgh; Poway, California; Jersey City, New Jersey; Monsey, New York; and Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack on Israel.
The book’s final chapter discusses the author’s view of the Oct. 7 massacre in the hours immediately following it. It does not include the two-year war and its aftermath, which has led to a marked increase in antisemitism and anti-Zionism across the country and globe.
Until events like the Unite the Right march in Charlottesville, where attendees chanted “Jews will not replace us,” Nadell said that many Jews in America believed antisemitism was relegated to the fringes of society and not significant.
Stephens postulated that it was the rise of conspiracy theories — he spoke of the speculation that Barack Obama wasn’t born in America — and the belief that Jews are privileged, which helped give rise to the current strain of antisemitism.
“I think in much of the United States, particularly in academia, is this idea that successful people are privileged, and
and ultimately Jews. The pattern, she said, has continued in Hollywood and in the publishing industry.
Speaking to the title and content of the book, Stephens and Nadell discussed the historical record of antisemitism in America, which began in at least 1654 when Jews arrived in New Amsterdam under the governorship of Peter Stuyvesant, whom Stephens called “antisemitic.”
Nadell said antisemitism in America presented a counter-tradition to the American experience.
Conspiracy theories, she said, pushed the idea that, like in Europe with the Rothschilds, Jews would come to America and gain power and influence.
“You read in your book the effects of the revolutions of 1848 and the perception that the Rothschilds had financed the regimes that suppress these kinds of early manifestations of workers, popular revolutions,” Stephens said. “This is obviously when Marx comes of age and turns into a rabid antisemite.”
He asked Nadell about antisemitism on the left, something the author said she was careful to trace and document.
“It really flares up after the Six Day War,” she said. “Jews are white, Jews are privileged, and the people need to be championing those that are Black and brown and are oppressed.”
Propaganda from the Soviet Union also fostered and promoted antisemitism, Nadell said.
Antisemitism, Stephens offered, shapeshifts throughout history. Nadell agreed
At the same time, Nadell said Holocaust denial was taking place, which included ads placed in college newspapers by antiJewish groups, saying they should be able to present their “truth” about what happened in
Near the end of the interview, Stephens asked about the New York mayoral race and Democratic nominee Zohran Mamdani’s refusal on several occasions to denounce the phrase “Globalize the
Tree of Life CEO Carole Zawatsky interrupted to signal that it was alsmost time to begin taking questions from the audience, due to the length of the program. She joked that she was “cutting you off because of my anxiety at this particular line of questioning.”
The program concluded with Stephens asking Nadell if she was optimistic about
“I am optimistic because all of you are here and those of you online,” she answered. PJC
David Rullo can be reached at drullo@ pittsburghjewishchronicle.org.
Pittsburgh Jewish Book Festival
Congregation Beth Shalom
November 8 - Thursday, November 13, 2025
Bret Stephens interviews Pamela Nadell about her new book “Antisemitism, An American Tradition” at an event hosted by The Tree of Life on Oct 19. Photo by David Rullo
Headlines
Pittsburgh dancer performs at Karmiel Dance Festival during ceasefire announcement
By David Rullo | Senior Staff Writer
You’ll have to excuse Maria Angelica Caruso if she seems a little jet lagged.
“Over the last 14 weeks I’ve traveled 59,000 miles,” Caruso said. “That’s twice around the world. I’ve been on tour in Singapore, Japan, China, Brazil and Italy. I’ve been at the beginning part of distributing scholarships, so I’ve been everywhere.”
Part of that travel brought Caruso to Karmiel, Israel — Pittsburgh’s sister city in the Jewish Agency for Israel’s Partnership2Gether Global Network — for its annual dance festival.
Caruso is the founding director of Bodiography, a Pittsburgh dance company, dance conservatory, fitness program and a dance movement therapy system. While she isn’t Jewish, her connection to the Jewish community goes back to when she first launched her dance company.
“I walked by the Yeshiva School, and I went in and was like, ‘Talk to me about how I can serve the community.’ I used to teach 15 or 20 classes a week at Yeshiva for all women,” she said. “The joke is that I’m the Catholic Jew.”
Through that initial connection, Caruso became more integrated with Pittsburgh’s Jewish community.
She credits her friend, Julie Paris, with suggesting she perform at the Karmiel Dance Festival.
“I said, ‘Let’s do it,’” Caruso remembered. She first made the trip to Israel in 2018, which required a certain amount of chutzpah — Caruso went alone and didn’t speak Hebrew.
“I got picked up by a driver who didn’t speak English. I didn’t have a good translator at the time. I walked into this massive amphitheater with thousands of people. I thought, ‘This is so crazy.’”
Caruso said she quickly made friends with many people associated with the partnership, including a couple she calls her “Israeli parents,” Galit and Arie Erner. They took care of her during the entire trip, she said, including letting her stay in their home rather than at a hotel.
“I performed ‘Metamorphosis’ for the first time. It really catapulted my whole career,” she said. “It changed my whole life.”
The connection continued in 2019 when Caruso returned to the dance festival with her full company. Dancers from Karmiel also visited Pittsburgh.
Fast forward a few years, through the pandemic and two years of war, and Caruso decided to return to Karmiel to perform a new piece she created as a sequel to “Metamorphosis.”
She bought plane tickets, planning to go to the dance festival, scheduled for August
“The more lives I change, the more light there’s going to be in the world.”
-MARIA CARUSO
2025. Several of her friends questioned the viability of going to a country at war to dance, but Caruso was insistent that it was important to attend and perform.
“This is completely apolitical,” she said. “This is about the arts. This is about healing. It’s about prayer and unity. It’s about humanity. I believe it’s a true humanitarian
effort to connect people, especially during times of struggle.”
Caruso did not cancel her plans, but they did change when the dance festival was rescheduled to begin Oct. 8.
“I was preparing for my journey. It was such a somber day on Oct. 7 to make my way there. I arrived on the 8th. This whole time I’m praying for peace, praying for a ceasefire. It was such a prayerful journey for me,” she recounted.
Those prayers were answered when a ceasefire was signed while Caruso was in Israel.
“When a ceasefire was announced, it was unbelievable. It was mind-blowing. I went home and showered and just sobbed. It was so emotional.”
It wasn’t the only highlight for Caruso during her time at the festival, though.
“I met Luis Har, who was held hostage for 129 days. He gave me a hug and told me that all he wanted was to dance when he got out, so he joined this community of older dancers to perform,” she said.
She met the mayor of Karmiel as well, something she considered an honor since she was the only dancer from abroad to attend the festival this year.
Caruso also gave away $17,500 in scholarship money for students to study in Pittsburgh with her.
“I had intended to give away three scholarships to Bodiography for a six-week summer intensive,” she said. “I ended up awarding all the choreographers that were acknowledged a scholarship.”
Caruso’s connection to the Jewish community doesn’t surprise her friend Julie Paris, who she’s known for more than two decades.
“Using dance to bridge communities has always been her life’s work,” Paris said of Caruso. “Her performing ‘Incarnation’ at the 2025 Karmiel Dance Festival, despite two cancellations due to the war, is a truly heroic act of love and commitment. She has forged deep, long-lasting relationships within the Jewish community, giving countless hours of energy and support. I’d like to thank Maria for showing Israel and the world that, despite these difficult times, we are dancing again, thanks in large part to her solidarity and inspiring determination.”
Caruso’s commitment to the Jewish community, Paris said, will be celebrated by StandWithUs and Chabad of Squirrel Hill at a Nov. 20 community challah baking event.
For Caruso, her path is simple.
“The world’s been a dark place over the last few years,” she said. “This is the focal point of my life. The more lives I change, the more light there’s going to be in the world.” PJC
David Rullo can be reached at drullo@ pittsburghjewishchronicle.com.
p Meeting Karmiel’s Mayor Moshe Koninski was just one highlight for Maria Caruso at the annual Karmiel Dance Festival. Photo courtesy of Maria Caruso
p Maria Caruso performed at the 2025 Karmiel Dance Festival. Photo courtesy of Maria Caruso
Headlines
Man who set Gov. Shapiro’s home on fire gets 25 to 50 years
The man charged with setting fire to the mansion of Pennsylvania’s Jewish governor during Passover was sentenced to decades in prison after pleading guilty last week, JNS reported.
Cody A. Ballmer, 38, reached a plea deal, the Dauphin County District Attorney’s Office said. He agreed to a sentence of 25 to 50 years in state prison in exchange for pleading guilty to attempted murder, aggravated arson, 22 counts of arson, burglary and other charges. The incident was widely condemned as antisemitic.
Police accused Ballmer of breaking into Democratic Gov. Josh Shapiro’s mansion on April 13, the second day of Passover, and setting it on fire. Security footage showed what prosecutors said was Ballmer scaling the property’s fence, breaking a window with a sledgehammer and throwing a Molotov cocktail inside before breaking a second window and entering the home.
Shapiro had held a seder at his home before the attack, and his family and guests were sleeping in the mansion at the time. Footage shows Ballmer striking two doors, including one that would have led to the occupants, but he was unable to break through.
Ballmer threw a second Molotov cocktail in the dining area before fleeing, igniting another fire. Prosecutors said the mansion sustained “substantial damage.”
Shapiro, his wife, three of their children, 15 guests and two Pennsylvania State Police troopers were all inside the mansion at the
time. Everyone was evacuated safely, and no one was injured.
Ballmer was arrested 12 hours after the attack and told police he was upset by Shapiro’s stance on the Israel-Hamas war.
Ballmer told police he would have beaten Shapiro with his hammer had he been able to reach him.
Mike Johnson denounces Young Republicans’ group chat that praised Hitler as JD Vance downplays uproar
House Speaker Mike Johnson last week said Republicans “roundly condemn” a leaked group chat in which Young Republican officials joked about gas chambers, praised Adolf Hitler and used racist, antisemitic and homophobic slurs, as well as an American flag with a swastika that was found in a Republican congressman’s office, JTA reported.
When asked whether he feared extremist or pro-Hitler views among young Republicans, Johnson replied, “No.”
“Obviously, that is not the principles of the Republican Party. We stand for the founding principles of America,” Johnson said in a press conference. “We have stood against that. We fought the Nazis. We roundly condemn it, and anybody in any party who espouses it, we’re opposing that.”
Johnson’s remarks capped two days of intensifying fallout from a Politico exposé that published thousands of messages exchanged over months by rising Republican operatives around the country.
In the cache reviewed by Politico, participants joked “Everyone that votes no is going to the gas chamber,” celebrated “Great. I love Hitler,” and traded demeaning references to
Today in Israeli History
Oct. 27, 2018 — Israel strikes 80 Gaza targets
Black people, Jews and LGBTQ people.
Vice President J.D. Vance sought to downplay the severity of the situation.
Vance said in an interview on “The Charlie Kirk Show,” “The reality is that kids do stupid things. Especially young boys, they tell edgy, offensive jokes. Like, that’s what kids do. And I really don’t want us to grow up in a country where a kid telling a stupid joke — telling a very offensive, stupid joke — is the cause of ruining their lives.”
Kamala Harris on whether Israel committed genocide: ‘We should all step back and ask this question’
Former Vice President Kamala Harris held back from labeling Israel’s actions in Gaza a “genocide” last week but said it was an appropriate question, JTA reported.
“A lot of folks in your party have called what’s happening in Gaza a genocide. Do you agree with that?” correspondent Eugene Daniels asked Harris during an interview on MSNBC’s “The Weekend.”
“Listen, it is a term of law that a court will decide,” Harris responded. “But I will tell you that when you look at the number of children that have been killed, the number of innocent civilians that have been killed, the refusal to give aid and support, we should all step back and ask this question and be honest about it, yeah.”
Throughout Harris’ book tour for her new memoir, “107 Days,” the former vice president has drawn pro-Palestinian protests who have accused her of being a “war criminal” and of supporting “genocide” in Gaza during her term. She has at times rebuffed the protesters and also given airtime to their concerns.
Pro-Hamas hackers disrupt North American airports
A group calling itself “Turkish hacker Cyber Islam” hacked into terminal communication systems at multiple North American airports last week, using them to broadcast pro-Hamas propaganda, JNS reported.
The cyber-attacks reportedly took place at Harrisburg International Airport in Pennsylvania, Kelowna International Airport and Victoria International Airport in the Canadian province of British Columbia and at Windsor International Airport in Ontario.
Video documentation posted by passengers included a recorded message on the public address system with a female voice saying “Free, free Palestine” and cursing Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and U.S. President Donald Trump.
Flight information screens displayed pictures of Hamas terrorists killed by Israel, including Mohammed Deif, Abu Obeida, Ismail Haniyah and Yahya Sinwar, among other images, along with the message: “ISRAEL LOST THE WAR, HAMAS WON THE WAR HONORABLY” and “You are a pig, Donald Trump.” A grotesque caricature of Netanyahu was displayed along with a message cursing the Israeli leader.
CTV News reported that two flights — one inbound and one outbound — were delayed at Kelowna. Fox News reported that a Delta flight boarding at Harrisburg at the time of the incident was searched out of an abundance of caution
Canadian and American authorities are investigating the incidents, which the airports said did not contain any threats directed at airlines, passengers or employees. PJC
— Compiled by Toby Tabachnick
Items are provided by the Center for Israel Education (israeled.org), where you can find more details.
Oct. 24, 1915 — HusseinMcMahon correspondence starts Sir Henry McMahon, the British high commissioner in Cairo, and Hussein Ibn Ali, the sharif of Mecca, exchange letters in which the British promise to back Hussein’s bid to lead a restored Arab caliphate.
Sir
War I.
Oct. 25, 1976 — World chess Olympiad opens in Haifa
Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin and the president of the International Chess Federation open the Chess Olympiad in Haifa amid a Soviet boycott. Only 48 of the federation’s 90-plus countries send teams.
Oct. 26, 1943 — Journalist Ron Ben-Yishai is born
Ron Ben-Yishai, a war correspondent and recipient of the 2018 Israel Prize, is born in Jerusalem. He begins as a radio reporter in 1966, switches to TV in 1969, and covers wars worldwide for TV, radio and print.
After an overnight barrage of roughly 30 rockets from the Gaza Strip toward Israel, the Israeli Air Force strikes 80 Gaza targets, including Hamas weapons plants, training sites and observation posts.
Oct. 28, 1948 — Israel adopts state flag
The iconic banner with two blue stripes and a blue Star of David becomes the official Israeli flag more than five m onths after the establishment of the state. The First Zionist Congress adopted the flag in 1897.
Flag
lead a Yom HaAtzmaut (Independence Day) parade in Ramat Gan in May 1951, about 2½ years after the Israeli flag’s official adoption.
By Hans Pinn, National Photo Collection
Oct. 29, 1973 — Israeli-Egyptian Kilometer 101 talks start
The first talks between Israeli and Egyptian generals after the Yom Kippur War begin in Israeli-controlled territory 101 kilometers (63 miles) east of Cairo. The talks go beyond military matters to political issues.
Oct. 30, 1991 — Madrid Peace Conference begins
The Soviet Union and the United States convene a three-day Middle East peace conference in Madrid that includes all Arab states contiguous to Israel, the Gulf Cooperation Council, and Palestinians from the West Bank and Gaza. PJC
p
bearers
of Israel,
p
Henry McMahon was the British high commissioner in Cairo during World
Headlines
Continued from page 1
teenager, her madrich was Ruby Chen. Chen’s 19-year-old son Itay was murdered by Hamas. As of press time, Chen was still waiting for the return of Itay’s body.
“I’m thinking of people like him for whom there hasn’t been closure yet,” she said.
A ‘remarkable’ deal
Jennifer Murtazashvili, founding director of the Center for Governance and Markets and a professor at the University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public and International Affairs, called the ceasefire “one of the most remarkable foreign policy deals we’ve seen in recent memory.”
President Donald Trump, Murtazashvili said, was able to engage the needed participants — not just Israel and Hamas, but Qatar and Turkey as well.
“He got them all together and said, ‘We have to do this. This is not an issue between Israel and Gaza. It’s a much broader regional issue. It’s a bottom-up and top-down problem.’ He tackled all of it.”
The ceasefire deal, she said, is “quite remarkable.”
B ecause of the deal and the tapestry of countries that came together to support the peace plan, Murtazashvili said she wouldn’t be surprised to see countries other than Israel respond if Hamas continues to test the ceasefire, as it did on Oct. 19, killing two Israeli soldiers. Israel responded to the attack with a
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In-person volunteering activities
This year, in-person volunteering activities — scheduled for Sunday, Oct. 26 — are again being operated by the 10.27 Healing Partnership in cooperation with several organizations, Feinstein said.
At Beth Abraham Cemetery, in partnership with the Jewish Cemetery and Burial Association of Greater Pittsburgh, volunteers can rake leaves, cut grass, move soil, clean gravestones and collect branches and other debris. The 10.27 Healing Partnership notes this work ensures Jewish cemeteries are preserved and dignified “in accordance with Jewish laws and customs.”
While JCBA has previously collaborated with the 10.27 Healing Partnership on similar commemorative activities, this year they hope to engage more volunteers than ever, Kelly Schwimer, JCBA’s executive director, said.
Although the JCBA volunteering activity is open to people of all ages, the project is not ADA accessible and many tasks “require full mobility.”
At 1922 Murray Ave., in partnership with The Friendship Circle of Pittsburgh, volunteers can make signs and pack bags for the upcoming Walk4Friendship. Scheduled for Nov. 2, at Wightman Park, the annual Friendship Circle program raises funds to help build a more inclusive community for people with disabilities.
On Oct. 26, at the JFCS Squirrel Hill Food Pantry, volunteers can restock shelves with nutritious and kosher food, as well as create welcome baskets and cards for neighbors from the international community.
That same day, at 111 Boulevard of the Allies, in partnership with the Catholic
series of strikes before resuming the ceasefire.
More countries will sign onto the Abraham Accords as a result of the ceasefire, Murtazashvili believes. She pointed to the Sept. 24 speech to the U. N. General Assembly by Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto, in which he said the world must respect Israel’s right to live in security.
Indonesia is the world’s most populous Muslim country and doesn’t currently have diplomatic relations with Israel.
Politicians weigh in
On X, U.S. Sen. John Fetterman, a Pennsylvanian Democrat, wrote “The nightmare finally ends.”
Fetterman has been an advocate for Israel and repeatedly called for the release of the hostages. He credited President Trump for the ceasefire.
“May the hostages have a full recovery and may we never forget those who didn’t make it out alive,” he wrote.
Fetterman’s Pennsylvania senate partner, Dave McCormick, a Republican, said on social media the ceasefire “marks an extraordinary moment as twenty families are able to reunite with their loved ones. The world owes a debt of gratitude to President Trump, Steve Witkoff, Jared Kushner, Marco Rubio, and all the negotiators in the region for this outcome. Yet, this is also a solemn day for the hostage families whose loved ones will not return alive. We pray that today marks the beginning of a new chapter of peace.”
Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro wrote on X that the ceasefire offered “hope and opportunity for Israelis, Palestinians, and the entire region.
Much work remains to ensure that Hamas is disarmed and removed from power so that Gaza can be rebuilt and a path toward a broader and deeper peace can be forged in the region.”
U.S. Rep. Summer Lee, who represents Squirrel Hill, has been a vocal critic of Israel and its prosecution of the war, and has repeatedly called for the U.S. to stop supplying funds and weapons to the Jewish state. She began calling for a ceasefire shortly after Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack. Two days after the ceasefire agreement was announced, she posted on social media: “A ceasefire in Gaza is a critical step to ending the genocide, surging aid, and reuniting Palestinian and Israeli families. As we continue to work for true, just, and lasting peace, this deal must hold. We owe it to every Palestinian killed, every home and hospital destroyed, to demand accountability for the war crimes committed, and we must keep pushing for an end to the occupation.”
Anti-Israel reaction
Many local pro-Palestinian advocates met the news of a ceasefire with either indifference or derision.
Students for Justice in Palestine at Pitt, which has held numerous anti-Israel rallies and helped to coordinate and promote the encampments at the University of Pittsburgh, has been silent about the ceasefire but continues to post critically about Israel’s response to Hamas’ breach of the agreement.
Other local anti-Israel advocates have responded to the ceasefire by promoting conspiracy theories about Israel and the hostages. Several have routinely referred to
Charities Diocese of Pittsburgh, volunteers can package dental care kits for later distribution to those in need through Catholic Charities’ dental clinic and the Allegheny Outreach team. The project is in memory of Dr. Richard Gottfried, who with his wife, Dr. Peg Durachko, volunteered his services as a dentist at Catholic Charities for many years. After Gottfried was killed in the synagogue shooting, Catholic Charities dedicated its dental clinic in his name.
Finally, at the Jewish Community Center in Squirrel Hill, in partnership with Vitalant and the Jewish Community Center of Greater Pittsburgh, and in memory of Irv Younger and Dan Stein, volunteers can donate blood. Details and registration for each of the Oct. 26 volunteer activities is available at 1027healingpartnership.org.
Oct. 27 commemoration
On Oct. 27, at 6:30 p.m. at the JCC in
Palestinian prisoners — many of whom are serving life sentences for their involvement in terror attacks — as “hostages,” equating their fate with the Israeli civilians kidnapped by Hamas. On Oct. 19, a local anti-Zionist activist and community organizer posted on X: “Gaza was starving and Hamas still kept the hostages fed and treated them with dignity. Israel is fat and full and tortured Palestinian hostages for fun.”
The activist followed that post with another bordering on blood libel, accusing Israel of murdering Palestinian “hostages” and “harvesting their organs.”
There is no credible evidence supporting any of those claims.
Those comments are undercut by people like Paris, who continue to highlight the work of the Jewish state and its armed forces in bringing home the hostages and ending the war.
“To be perfectly clear: None of this would be possible without the heroic soldiers of the IDF,” Paris said. “I am so grateful for their unparalleled dedication, their sacrifice, and their relentless determination that helped to bring the hostages home. My heart aches for the 915 soldiers who made the ultimate sacrifice in this war. May their memories forever be a blessing.”
The hostages, whom Paris called “heroes,” are the “embodiment of unimaginable resilience.”
“Their strength, forged in the darkness of captivity in the tunnels of Gaza, shines as a powerful testament to the unbreakable spirit of Israel the Jewish people.” PJC
David Rullo can be reached at drullo@ pittsburghjewishchronicle.org.
Yahrzeit, Torah study and remembrance
On Nov. 8, at 6:30 p.m., in conjunction with the yahrzeit of the 11 people killed in the Pittsburgh synagogue shooting, an in-person Torah study will be held at the JCC in Squirrel Hill. The program will begin with a Havdalah service then follow with Torah study. Though walk-ins are welcome, registration is available online. Also in observance of the yahrzeit, various virtual learning opportunities will be available on Nov. 9. Although the 10.27 Healing Partnership has organized multiple ways for Pittsburghers to join commemorative activities this year, Feinstein said she knows some individuals will choose to engage in alternative remembrances.
Squirrel Hill, the community is invited to participate in a commemorative ceremony complete with song, prayer and candle lighting. The keynote speaker, according to program organizers, will be Jason Lando, who was a Pittsburgh police commander at the time of the shooting.
Ron Wedner, a member of the planning committee, played a key role in shaping the upcoming public program, Feinstein said, giving it added depth and purpose.
For years, Wedner has worked with area schools to remember the 11 individuals killed on Oct. 27 and cultivate artwork for the annual commemoration. This year, Feinstein said, Wedner continued those efforts and is helping students — who, after learning about Oct. 27 through school-based Eradicate Hate clubs — bring posters to the JCC explaining how local young people are working to both remember the past and build a better future.
She said she’s heard of schools, congregations and other communities that have created ways to commemorate the period in years past. “One of the cool parts about Pittsburgh is that people have these smaller communities where they maybe have some way to connect with one another in memory. And we celebrate that too.”
However people choose to recognize the date and yahrzeit, Feinstein hopes people find ways to do so in ways that are “meaningful for them.”
What’s important to keep in mind is “that it’s healthy to remember in ways that feel authentic to you,” she said.
For some in the community, seven years can feel both “near and far from 2018.” Regardless of how one approaches the period, try to recall that “Oct. 27 was a time that pulled people together in really an incredible way,” Feinstein said. “We always have the capacity to keep doing that. It doesn’t go away, even when time passes.” PJC
Adam Reinherz can be reached at areinherz@pittsburghjewishchronicle.org.
p Community members join an Oct. 27 commemoration program at the Jewish Community Center in Squirrel Hill in 2024. Photo by Adam Reinherz
CAIR sues Northwestern University, alleges Jew-hatred training violates civil-rights law
By Aaron Bandler | JNS
The Chicago chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations filed a lawsuit against Northwestern University in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois on Oct. 15, alleging that the private school’s mandatory antisemitism bias training program violates federal civil rights law.
Some 300 students at the school in Evanston, Illinois, who declined to watch the bias training video, were reportedly unable to register for classes. CAIR and others filed the suit on behalf of Graduate Workers for Palestine, a student group at the school.
The suit alleges that the 17-minute video, which Jewish United Fund created, “repeatedly conflates Zionism and Judaism in order to render Zionism impervious to critique” and is “discriminatory,” preventing students from “advocating for Palestinian liberation, equal rights, an end to apartheid in Palestine and for the rights of Palestine’s indigenous people.”
It adds that mandating that students watch the video violates Title VI of the 1964 Civil Rights Act. (JNS sought comment from Northwestern.)
The video states that “Zionism is the belief in the Jewish right to self-determination in some part of their homeland” and that anti-Zionism is “opposition to the Jewish right of self-determination.” It also asks viewers to say whether they think a series of statements were made by anti-Israel activists or former Klan leader David Duke.
“The fact that you can’t tell the difference is terrifying,” the video states.
Paul Eckles, senior litigation counsel at the Louis D. Brandeis Center for Human Rights Under Law, told JNS that the lawsuit tries to “turn anti-discrimination law on its head.”
“They’re trying to argue that having students take antisemitism training is somehow a bad thing and discriminatory, and that’s not the
Walk of Fame:
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resident Michael Keaton received the loudest cheer. As the event drew to a close, Keaton shared his pride in being from Pittsburgh and his appreciation for the impact the city has had on his life.
“There’s nothing like being recognized by your hometown,” Keaton said. “It’s the place that actually makes you who you are.”
case. It’s not the law,” he said. “More education in this area can only be a good thing.”
Eckles, who hasn’t viewed the video, told JNS that “anti-Zionism” has become the “preferred term for some groups who want to engage in antisemitic behavior.”
“Education about anti-Zionism and how it’s being weaponized as something directed against Jews in general is a good thing,” he said.
‘Just nonsense’
In the suit, CAIR and its partners state that “under the pretense of combating antisemitism,” Northwestern “enacted policies and practices that prohibit expressions of Palestinian identity, culture and advocacy for self-determination and silence those, including Jewish students, who express solidarity with Palestinians or even engage in critical academic engagement with Zionism.”
The suit notes that some three dozen Northwestern students still haven’t watched the video or agreed to be subject to its terms and that the school has put a hold on their registration. The school said it “will terminate the student affiliation of students who do not
Peering toward his designated space on the sidewalk, Keaton said, “This means the world to me.”
Keaton hopes the site impacts the masses, but “mostly kids,” he continued. When they “walk through here and they look down at this star of mine and the star of all these people, I hope they look up and they just wonder what’s possible.”
District 8 City Councilperson Erika Strassburger credited organizers with
complete them by Oct. 20, 2025, or by Feb. 2, 2026, depending on whether they preregistered for the fall quarter prior to being placed on a registration hold,” it states.
“Northwestern has not issued any comparable threats nor registration holds to students, who refrained from completing its mandatory sexual misconduct training,” according to the suit.
The suit also criticized Northwestern’s adoption of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s working definition of Jew-hatred.
The suggestion that the widely-used definition is “somehow improper” is “just nonsense,” Eckles told JNS.
“It’s the official definition used by the United States of America. It was during the Biden administration. It is during the Trump administration,” he said. “It’s been adopted by tons of private universities, public universities, states, municipalities, foreign governments. It’s the predominant and preferred definition used these days that explains what antisemitism is and gives examples of what type of conduct is antisemitic.”
selecting inductees who represent various chapters in Pittsburgh’s story. Ranging in age, contributions to civic life and years spent both in the city and beyond, each inductee demonstrates that whether one achieves fame while living in Pittsburgh or elsewhere, “you’re still a Pittsburgher, and you’re doing great things representing the city.”
State Rep. Dan Frankel told the Chronicle he was delighted to partake in “something that shines a light on the
Eckles also said it is “nonsense” that the lawsuit calls Northwestern’s “time, place and manner” rules, which are “standard policies” governing protests at nearly every school, “censorship policies.”
“Schools need basic, uniform policies to be applied to all forms of protest activity on all sides, regardless of viewpoint,” he said. “That’s what Northwestern has done here.”
“Universities need to be doing more things like training and having more clear policies,” he said. “Lawsuits like this are being filed to try and intimidate universities into not doing those things.”
Gerard Filitti, senior counsel at the Lawfare Project, told JNS that the suit “isn’t about civil rights. It’s about waging lawfare to normalize Jew-hatred.”
“The university’s antisemitism training was meant to protect Jewish students and faculty, like every other minority group, from harassment and bias,” he said. “Instead of standing against hate, CAIR is twisting the Civil Rights Act into a shield for antisemitic conduct.”
“No one’s ‘identity’ entitles them to glorify terrorism, vilify Jews or deny Israel’s right to exist,” he said. “If Northwestern caves to this attempt to delegitimize the very idea that Jew-hatred exists on campus, it will embolden extremists nationwide by demonstrating that attacking Jews still carries no consequence in American higher education.”
Miriam Elman, executive director of the Academic Engagement Network, told JNS that “embedding antisemitism awareness into anti-bias training for all incoming students is one of AEN’s best practices and a top priority for our faculty members.”
“The fact that some organizations oppose education aimed at confronting and preventing Jew-hatred is truly disheartening,” she said. “Equally unfounded, and frankly absurd, is the claim that mandatory antisemitism awareness training violates civil rights.”
“More schools should require these student-facing programs, as Northwestern commendably does, not move in the opposite direction,” Elman said. PJC
history of Pittsburgh and the personalities and the people who make it such a special place.”
Each inductee, “in their own fields, changed not just the history of Pittsburgh, but the history of our country — the world in many cases,” he continued. “This is just a lovely opportunity to celebrate them and celebrate us.” PJC
Adam Reinherz can be reached at areinherz@pittsburghjewishchronicle.org.
— NATIONAL —
p The Weber Arch, a gateway to Northwestern University’s campus in Evanston, Illinois, Sept. 28, 2023
Photo by Joss Broward via Unsplash
Seven years later, ‘stronger than hate’ must be more than words
Seven years ago, on Oct. 27, an antisemite wielding an assault rifle stormed the Tree of Life building and shot everyone he saw. He murdered 11 Jews who had come to pray on Shabbat: Joyce Fienberg, Richard Gottfried, Rose Mallinger, Jerry Rabinowitz, Cecil Rosenthal, David Rosenthal, Bernice Simon, Sylvan Simon, Dan Stein, Melvin Wax and Irving Younger. He seriously wounded six others, including four first responders.
He shattered the nerves and hearts of three congregations, Dor Hadash, New Light and Tree of Life.
And he left our community feeling vulnerable, despondent and angry.
As our neighbors joined us in solidarity and healing, vowing that Pittsburgh is “stronger than hate,” we felt united in our mission to stop hate in its tracks — even as we came to the stark realization that a massacre of Jews can happen anywhere. But seven years on, have we made any progress in conquering Jew hatred? To
be sure, since 2018, many organizations have arisen whose mission is just that, but it would be dishonest to claim that those efforts have been successful, at least so far.
In 2024, the ADL tabulated 9,354 antisemitic incidents across the United States
'Stronger
is surging as well. Just last week, New York state's Young Republicans' group chats were leaked, revealing jokes about gas chambers, praise for Adolf Hitler and racist, antisemitic and homophobic slurs. And while we held out hope that the ceasefire between Hamas and Israel would subdue the voices of
than hate' should be a call to speak up, even when it might be unpopular, even when it is uncomfortable.
— a 5% increase from those reported in 2023, a 344% increase over the past five years and an 893% increase over the past 10 years.
Here in Pittsburgh, more than 260 antisemitic incidents have been logged so far in 2025 by the Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh.
Far-right antisemitism continues to surge, and, especially since Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023, attack on Israel, antisemitism from the far left
“progressive” Jew haters, that turned out not to be the case. Instead, they doubled down on their claims of colonialism, genocide and age-old blood libels.
In Pittsburgh, we have seen Jewish college students attacked, a self-identified Hamas operative vandalizing Chabad of Squirrel Hill and the Federation, individuals’ property defaced and violent threats levied at local officials who support Israel. In Harrisburg, our Jewish governor’s residence
was firebombed in an apparent attempt to murder him and his family — on Passover.
“Stronger than hate” should be more than a slogan. It must be a charge. A mandate. A demand for vigilance and courage.
It should be a call to build, and maintain, coalitions with our neighbors. A call to hold elected officials accountable when they amplify Jew hatred, whether through libels about Israel or through shameful antisemitic tropes.
"Stronger than hate" should be a call to speak up, even when it might be unpopular, even when it is uncomfortable.
And it should be a call to transcend whatever fear and anxiety persist to fully embrace our heritage, celebrate our peoplehood with pride and joyfully join together in community as often as we can.
Seven years later, we still feel the pain and the loss. But we should also remember and draw on the love and the strength that we felt then.
Seven years later, let’s commit to honoring those we lost with action by embodying the essence of truly being stronger than hate. PJC
Hamas isn’t acting like a defeated force, which puts the entire Gaza ceasefire at risk
Standing in front of an adoring crowd at the Knesset last week, President Donald Trump told Israel’s leaders that “you’ve won” in Gaza.
“What a victory it’s been,” he said in a speech that was maundering even for the famously loquacious president.
Speaking before Trump — hours after the 20 remaining living hostages were released by Hamas — Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was only slightly less triumphant, boasting that Trump’s plan “ends the war by achieving all our objectives.”
All of the prime minister’s objectives have now been achieved,” his spokeswoman had said three days earlier, as the ceasefire came into effect.
There is one problem, however.
No one seems to have informed Hamas that it has been defeated.
Trump’s 20-point plan, if fully implemented, would indeed spell an unmitigated victory for Israel and likely a fatal blow to any Hamas plans to rule Gaza in the foreseeable future.
But it is nowhere near being fully implemented. Only two of the 20 clauses have b een fully carried out, both of them concessions by Israel. It released thousands of Palestinian prisoners and gave up any potential plan to push Gazans to emigrate. Hamas, on the other hand, seems determined to show that it controls events on the ground. It has slow-rolled the release of the 28 slain hostages. By Sunday, it had handed over only 12, six days after the end of the 72-hour
window to give up all 28 bodies.
Senior Israeli officials mince no words in their rejection of Hamas — and White House — excuses that the terror group is struggling to find or access the remaining bodies. “We know, as a matter of fact, they can easily bring back a significant number of dead hostages and give them back according to the agreement,” said Foreign Minister
any opposition in Gaza. It has carried out public executions, and its operatives have put uniforms back on, riding around Gaza in pickup trucks brandishing rifles.
This is not the behavior of a whipped organization that is about to hand over power and give up violence.
Sunday’s deadly attack on IDF troops in Rafah was the logical next step for Hamas.
If there is not a vigorous Israeli response, and a clear message from Trump that the IDF is free to respond to further violations, Hamas will continue pushing the bounds of the deal until it falls apart.
Gideon Sa’ar on Thursday. Defense Minister Israel Katz, a day earlier, instructed the IDF to prepare plans to return to war if Hamas continues to avoid fulfilling its obligations.
Not about to step down
Hamas does not seem especially bothered by such threats, whether they come from Jerusalem or Washington.
Hamas politburo member Mohammed Nazzal told Reuters on Saturday that Hamas would not commit to disarming, a central component of Trump’s plan. This despite Trump’s threat that the terror group could be dealt with “violently” if it refuses to give up its weapons.
Hamas is not trying to hide its weapons or its determination to violently eliminate
It had been testing how serious the Trump administration was about the terms of the ceasefire, and how determined he was to keep Israel from enforcing them by fire.
Hearing the White House make excuses for it, and seeing the IDF watching from behind the new “yellow line” in Gaza, no one should be surprised that Hamas continued to test the boundaries of the ceasefire.
Trump’s repeated declaration that “the war is over” has made that reality less likely to emerge. He has signaled to Hamas that the threat of a renewed IDF push into Gaza City is off the table, and that it has plenty of space to maneuver before it risks paying a significant price.
Leaving a coherent Hamas organization
inside of Gaza all but guarantees more conflict in the Strip, and keeps Trump’s vision of an age in which “peace and respect can flourish among the nations of the broader Middle East” a distant dream.
Hamas has shown time and again that it can suffer immense damage and return stronger than it was before. It did so after Operation Cast Lead in 2008, Operation Protective Edge in 2014, and the repeated smaller operations in Gaza since the Israeli pullout in 2005.
True, it has never taken anything like the punishment Israel inflicted since its Oct. 7, 2023, invasion, but it remains armed, motivated and the strongest force in Gaza besides the IDF.
There is a pathway to defeating Hamas through the U.S.-backed agreement, but it is a narrow one. It will only work if Hamas understands that it has no wiggle room, and that any violation will be met by military force.
The White House is clearly determined to maintain the ceasefire, and has taken the position until now that keeping Israel from responding in force will make it more likely for Hamas to be disarmed and toppled by other means. But that fundamentally misreads what Hamas is and what it responds to.
If there is not a vigorous Israeli response, and a clear message from Trump that the IDF is free to respond to further violations, Hamas will continue pushing the bounds of the deal until it falls apart.
“Peace through strength,” Trump likes to say.
There is no better time to prove that adage. PJC
Lazar Berman is the diplomatic reporter for The Times of Israel, where this first appeared.
Guest Columnist Lazar Berman
Opinion
Chronicle poll results: Hamas/Israel ceasefire
Last week, the Chronicle asked its readers in an online poll the following question:
“How long do you think the Hamas/ Israel ceasefire will hold?” Of the 236 people who responded, 57% said less than a month; 32% said 1-6 months; 2% said 6 months to a year; 6% said longer than a year; and 3% had no opinion. Comments were submitted by 64 people. A few follow.
I think it will hold because Hamas is weakened and doesn’t have support like before.
As much as I would like to live in hope, I’m too much of a realist to trust either side.
It depends entirely on the international will to enforce it. Will the Arab world own their part in the problem or will they look away as Hamas rearms? Will the U.N. acknowledge its gross failings and bias and facilitate others taking the lead, or will they continue to do as commanded by the antiIsrael faction? Will the U.S. do the hard work or just claim victory and glory and move on? Will anybody actually disarm
and expel the terrorists and reform jihadist schools? I hope, but I am skeptical.
Hamas is already playing games and has indicated it has no intention of disarming or disbanding.
A call to continue the Jacobs’ legacy of goodness
As I read David Rullo’s moving account of “Rabbi Walter and Irene Jacob’s ‘butterfly effect’ of positive change” (Oct. 17), I felt renewed gratitude for two extraordinary lives that shaped so many others.
As Walter Jacob’s successor as Rodef Shalom’s senior rabbi (2004–2022) and now as the congregation’s rabbinic scholar, I am proud that we honored our teacher with the 2016 Pursuer of Peace Award, proceeds of which helped establish the Walter and Irene Jacob Giving Fund within Mainstay Life Services. I was gratified to read in the Chronicle’s article that the Jacobs’ recently announced bequest to Mainstay ensures their goodness and generosity will continue to benefit families for generations to come.
Walter and Irene taught me many things — most essentially, that pain provides us with opportunities and loss can yield blessings.
In the face of personal tragedy, together they quietly and resolutely chose to live facing forward: to raise children and disciples, to engage the world with empathy, to busy themselves with worthwhile pursuits, and to be a blessing wherever and however they could. This special couple were certainly a blessing to me in my life.
As we have just marked Rabbi Jacob’s first yahrzeit (Oct. 20 / 18 Tishrei), I invite all who were touched by this beautiful couple to honor their memories through acts of gardening (or simply appreciating nature’s beauty), acts of study (or learning for its own sake), acts of tzedakah (or giving in celebration of a loved one), and acts of kindness (or simply living by their example) and sharing it with others. This, I shall do.
Whether on the pulpit — in my work within Pittsburgh’s Jewish community, in both this city’s East End and North Hills, or in interfaith settings — or off the pulpit, when I’m simply Aaron with neighbors and friends, and Dad to my kids, I continue to be inspired by Walter
There is too much history, animosity and hatred for this to truly last. While Hamas may have triggered everything, Israel has a lot of blame here, too.
I don’t trust Hamas to abide by many of the parts of the agreement, especially returning the deceased and disarming. They are already murdering their own citizens.
With multiple Arab nations on board with the ceasefire, this may be the first step to lasting peace in the Middle East.
Hamas is committed to killing Jews and destroying Israel; I don’t see that changing anytime soon.
Iran will do everything do make sure conflict and death continue, and tunnels continue to be built.
As long as Netanyahu is in charge, there will not be peace.
Hamas has said it wants to destroy Israel, so I was really surprised they agreed to a ceasefire to begin with. I doubt that they’ll disarm, and I expect them to begin their fight again soon. They’ve won over the public, which blames Israel for the starvation of Gaza residents, so, from their perspective, why should they stop now ?
If they can’t give back the deceased hostages remains, then how can they keep the peace? This was a huge part of the bargaining.
Israel would have signed just about anything to get all of the hostages back. It had no choice. But the result is an agreement that does little except buy time for both sides to rearm. PJC
— Compiled by Toby Tabachnick
Chronicle weekly poll question: Do you believe antisemitism in the U.S. will decrease following the ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas? Go to pittsburghjewishchronicle.org to respond. PJC
and Irene’s example and life lessons. And I am proud to embrace and to amplify their model of positive change in the world.
The Jewish butterfly effect, indeed.
Rabbi Aaron B. Bisno, Frances F. and David R. Levin Rabbinic Scholar, Rodef Shalom Congregation Pittsburgh
Antisemitism persists — so must our vigilance
I found the results of the Chronicle’s antisemitism poll interesting and revealing (“Chronicle poll results: Affected by antisemitic incident,” Oct. 17).
I am 81 years old. I have not been directly affected by any incidents recently. However, since I was a teenager, I have been aware, every day of my life, of being Jewish, sometimes for good reasons and sometimes for bad reasons.
Antisemitism comes in different forms, some blatant, others more subtle (remarks from friends or acquaintances who don’t know something said is offensive). Most people know nothing about Jews and the Jewish religion except what they hear on television or social media. Interestingly, people that I have known for many years still cannot grasp that I don’t celebrate Christmas, or that Christmas has no meaning for me, no matter how many times I have explained.
Antisemitism has been around for over 1,000 years, and unfortunately probably always will be. Thank God the hostages are finally returned.
But can it happen again?
We must remain ever vigilant!
Daniel Rubenstein Pittsburgh
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Life & Culture
Roasted butternut squash salad with maple vinaigrette
Ingredients
Maple vinaigrette:
By Jessica Grann | Special to the Chronicle
Idon’t know about you, but whenever we wrap up a holiday I feel as though I could be happy eating salad and soup for a solid month afterward.
Whenever I have a lone butternut squash that needs to be cooked I reach for this recipe. I enjoy the savory and sweet flavors in this salad, and mixing them together in different bites keeps it fresh andinteresting.
The maple vinaigrette is a fantastic dressing that seems to get better when paired with walnuts, squash and red onion or shallots. The flavor and texture are next-level, so this is much more interesting than your average garden salad — plus the squash adds another layer of vegetables to your plate.
This recipe pairs well with poultry. I make it every year for Thanksgiving, but you’ll kick yourself if you wait that long to prepare it because it’s perfect for the entire autumn season.
Most of the components can be made ahead so this can be thrown together in 5 minutes at the time of your meal.
2 tablespoons oil
2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
2 tablespoons maple syrup
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
1 small clove of garlic, about 1 teaspoon minced
Pinches of salt and black pepper to taste
Salad:
1 large butternut squash, peeled and cubed, about 4-5 cups of prepared squash
2 tablespoons oil for roasting the squash
Sprinkle of kosher salt
1 package of field greens, about 5-6 cups of loosely packed lettuce
¼ cup thinly sliced shallot or red onion
½ rounded cup of lightly toasted walnuts
Optional: Shaved parmesan or blue cheese crumbles
Preheat your oven to 400 F and place the wire rack in the top third.
Carefully peel and cut the butternut squash. Scoop out the seeds and cut into cubes. You could also buy pre-peeled and pre-cut containers of butternut squash from the market. You need about 4 cups in total,
and up to a cup more will work fine without any changes to the recipe.
Put the cubes into a large bowl, drizzle with 2 tablespoons of oil and stir well. Pour the squash onto a sheet pan, making sure to scrape any excess oil from the bowl over the squash.
Sprinkle with kosher salt and roast the squash. It usually takes 40-45 minutes to get it fork-tender, but it might take less or more time depending on the size of the cubes.
Remove the squash from the oven and set aside to cool. You can make the squash a day ahead, just cover it well and refrigerate. Add all ingredients for the maple vinaigrette into a Ball jar, put the lid on tightly and shake until it’s emulsified. This is the easiest way to mix dressing and also gives you a storage jar if you have any left over, but you could alternatively use a whisk
Toast the walnut halves in a heavy-bottomed pan for between 3 and 5 minutes. Stir often and be careful not to burn the nuts. Once they’re fragrant and toasted,
remove them from the pan immediately and set aside; you could also do this step ahead of time.
It’s easier to arrange this salad on a platter as opposed to a bowl. Arrange the ingredients to your liking and drizzle with about half the dressing, but only if you’re sure it will all be eaten at your meal. Otherwise, dress the salads individually at the table. Sometimes I add thinly sliced apple or pear for some sweet, crispy bites. You can also add ¼ cup of dried cranberries if you want to add more color or texture.
This salad is pareve/vegan. When serving this with fish, I always add cheese to the salad and my favorite options are shaved parmesan or blue cheese, which packs a big punch when paired with the maple vinaigrette. This serves 4 people as a side salad. If you’re adding protein and making a dinner out of it, this will amply serve 2 and keep diners interested until the very last bite.
Enjoy and bless your hands! PJC
Jessica Grann is a home chef living in Pittsburgh.
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p Roasted butternut squash salad with maple vinaigrette
Photo by Jessica Grann
Life & Culture
Susan Stamberg, iconic Jewish ‘founding mother’ of NPR, dies at 87
By Andrew Lapin | JTA
When Susan Stamberg first sat behind the microphone to host a newfangled broadcasting venture called National Public Radio, in 1972, some board members had a concern: She sounded too Jewish.
a longtime USAID staffer, and the duo moved to Washington, D.C. Susan recalled that her husband, whose father founded a congregation in Allentown, Pennsylvania, grew up “where being Jewish was really an issue.” Her fatherin-law “was insistent that we, too, join a temple in Washington. I said, ‘Well, Why?’” she recalled in 2011. “That’s how I came to know that the entire world was not Jewish like the world in which I had grown up.”
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p Susan Stamberg is honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on March 3, 2020, in Hollywood, California.
Photo by Tommaso Boddi/WireImage
Life & Culture
Rabbi Moshe Hauer, OU leader admired across Jewish world, is dead at 60
By Philissa Cramer | JTA
American Jewry is reeling following the sudden death of Rabbi Moshe Hauer, the executive vice president of the Orthodox Union who was widely known and admired across denominations.
Hauer, the O.U.’s public face since 2020, died of a heart attack at his Baltimore home on Tuesday, Oct. 14, the holiday of Shemini Atzeret. He was 60. His death was not announced until Wednesday night, the end of the Simchat Torah holiday.
“Rabbi Hauer was a true talmid chacham, a master teacher and communicator, the voice of Torah to the Orthodox community and the voice of Orthodoxy to the world,” the Orthodox Union said in a statement announcing his death. “He personified what it means to be a Torah Jew and took nothing more seriously than his role of sharing the joy of Jewish life with our community and beyond.”
A levaya, or funeral service, took place Thursday morning at Baltimore’s Bnai Jacob Shaarei Zion Congregation, the Orthodox congregation Hauer led for 26 years before taking the O.U. position five years ago.
“You taught us with such clarity, you taught us with such force, with such conviction, you taught us who you want us to be,” said Rabbi Daniel Rose, Hauer’s successor at the synagogue, in a speech he said was short because Hauer’s body and family were due on a flight to Israel for his burial. Pausing to cry, he went on, “I can’t ask you anymore. I think you taught us well enough that we don’t need to ask you.”
Hauer was an exemplar of Modern Orthodoxy’s historical blend of religious and secular expertise. After being ordained at
p Rabbi Moshe Hauer, executive vice president of the Orthodox Union, speaks at the group’s biennial gala, held at Cipriani’s in New York City, in February 2025. Photo courtesy of the Orthodox Union
Ner Israel, an Orthodox yeshiva in Baltimore, he earned a master’s degree in engineering from Johns Hopkins University. He was the founding editor of Klal Perspectives, an online journal elevating Orthodox perspectives on contemporary issues.
In 2023, Hauer testified about antisemitism on American college campuses at a hearing of the House Committee on Education and the Workforce. The hearing prompted investigations of several universities for allegedly failing to protect students from antisemitic harassment.
Sen. Josh Hawley, the Missouri Republican who in 2023 worked with the O.U. to pass a Senate resolution condemning Hamas and campus antisemitism, issued a statement saying he was “deeply grieved by the death of my friend.”
Hawley said: “His sudden death is a tremendous loss to America and to friends of Israel
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everywhere. Rabbi Moshe was a man of remarkable integrity and kindness, and also foresighted leadership. He was a true and dear friend to me.”
Hauer also sometimes was required to speak hard truths to his community. In 2020, he met with Anthony Fauci, then director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, in forming the O.U.’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Hauer then urged congregations to exceed the government’s reopening guidelines. In 2023, he denounced a rampage by Jewish settlers in the West Bank, saying, “We cannot understand or accept this.”
A wide array of Jewish voices mourned Hauer and expressed shock at his sudden death.
“We just spoke this past Friday and texted on Monday, when he was overflowing with joy at the miracle of the hostages’ freedom and the unmistakable hand of Hashem in it,” tweeted William Daroff, president of the Council of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations. “Rabbi Hauer was a trusted advisor, cherished colleague, and wise counselor to me, a bridge-builder whose faith, humility, and moral clarity inspired all who knew him. His loss leaves a deep void for all who loved and learned from him.”
Rabbi Shlomo Peles of the Jewish Relief Network Ukraine, a Chabad organization, praised Hauer’s willingness to work with his movement.
“Rabbi Hauer constantly mobilized on behalf of the Rebbe’s Shluchim [emissaries], and especially for those in Ukraine,” Peles said in a statement. “Rabbi Hauer acted with genuine care, a broad heart, and a shining countenance.”
“Klal Yisroel has lost a leader who was universally respected as a talmid chochom of stature, a man of integrity, humility, vision, wisdom and depth,” Agudath Israel, an advocacy group representing haredi, or ultra-Orthodox, Jews, said in a statement.
“Rabbi Hauer created Kiddush Hashem in all of his encounters with the outside world, and he leaves behind an impressive list of significant accomplishments. The loss to our community is incalculable.”
“The Jewish people has lost a sage,” said Rabbi Rick Jacobs, president of the Union for Reform Judaism, in a Facebook post that
included a photograph of himself sitting with Hauer in the official residence of Israeli President Isaac Herzog during a communal mission in July.
Jacobs recalled that Herzog had noted with some surprise that the president of the Reform movement was sitting next to a leader of the Orthodox Union. “I told President Herzog that it was completely natural for me to sit next to my friend and cherished colleague,” he wrote. “Yes, we disagreed on so many issues but shared a profound respect and love for one another. …. Rabbi Hauer’s humble leadership helped point the way for a more respectful and mutually responsible future for the Jewish people grounded in Torah.”
When he was tapped as its new executive vice president in 2020, succeeding Allen Fagin, Hauer pledged to address the rising costs of the Orthodox lifestyle — the O.U. supports federal “school choice” policies in order to offset the high costs of day school tuition — and expressed his commitment to Modern Orthodoxy, which in contrast to haredi Judaism seeks to balance a strict adherence to Jewish law, or halacha, with a deeper engagement with modernity.
“Our community expresses this commitment by engaging with the world around us, as well as with all members of Klal Yisrael and by addressing every modern issue and contemporary challenge from within the value system of Torah,” he told the New York Jewish Week at the time. “We undertake all of these responsibilities while also completely dedicating ourselves to a growing engagement in Torah study, prayer and halachic observance.”
To that point, he added, the O.U. “is completely committed to maximizing — within the framework of halacha — the engagement of Jewish women in every aspect of Jewish life. This is an organizational and communal priority.”
Sheila Katz, CEO of the National Council of Jewish Women, wrote in a Facebook post on Wednesday night that she had been so shocked to hear of her friend’s death that she texted him hoping that it was not true. She said she had just spoken to him last week, in the latest installment of an ongoing conversation that transcended their differences.
“Our very different realities came up over and over again. I loved learning how he lived his life, and he seemed to love learning how I lived mine. Difference, but mutual respect, was at the core of our deep friendship,” Katz wrote.
In the Jewish Week interview, Hauer pledged to improve “relationships beyond the confines of our community.”
That was also the message of one of his last public statements, shared on Oct. 3. In it he described the upcoming Sukkot holiday as an opportunity for connection among Jews from “ideologically diverse places.”
“Even those who usually live separately must seize opportunities for contact and connection,” he said.
Hauer’s survivors include his mother, Miriam Hauer; his wife, Mindi Hauer; their sons Yissachar, Yehuda Leib and Shalom; daughters Devorah Walfish, Batsheva Neuberger, Chana Schneiweiss and Rachel Hauer, and their spouses and numerous grandchildren. PJC
Emeritus David Zubik
Emeritus James A. Gibson
Life & Culture
Pittsburgh Catholics partner with Philly man to create new Torah ark for Jewish camp
By Braden Hamelin | Contributing Writer
Camp Tel Yehudah, a Jewish teen leadership camp in New York, recently received a newly designed Aron ha-Kodesh (Torah ark) thanks to a partnership between a Philadelphia Jewishman and a family of Catholic artisans from Pittsburgh.
The need for the new Aron ha-Kodesh at the camp became apparent last year when the organization felt that the holy ark they had was no longer dignifying Torah readings or inspiring the community.
To remedy the situation, Roger Korman, an observant Jewish Philadelphian and the camp committee chair for Tel Yehudah, contacted the Sirofchuck family in Pittsburgh.
“It was a huge challenge because this was not a matter of finding a standard piece of religious furniture that would fit into a synagogue or in any location. It had to be appropriate to the camp setting, a teen setting, where the natural surrounding is inspiring,” Korman said.
“The camp is located in a deep valley of the Delaware River, surrounded by mountains and woods, and the natural environment creates a community we wanted to have. We wanted to find someone who could create a centerpiece for this community, who understood nature, whose life was infused with it.”
Korman explained that he met Paul and Mandy Sirofchuck, artisans who have been
Over the years, Korman has reached out to the Sirofchucks to design pieces for his family’s living spaces.
Paul Sirofchuck is an architect, designer and wood craftsman, while Mandy Sirofchuck is a stained glass artist. The couple’s daughter, Clair Sirofchuck Maier, is a painter, and her husband, Christopher Maier, assists Paul in the workshop.
Korman said that the Sirofchuck family is very spiritual, which allowed for him to form a sense of kinship with them over a shared devotion to their religions.
That background created an environment in which Korman felt that the family was ideal
to help create the new Aron ha-Kodesh, despite them not being Jewish.
“When it came time to build something, create something for Tel Yehudah, I thought, ‘Well, who is someone who understands the inherent nature of wood as a business, as a divine creation?’” Korman said.
Paul Sirofchuck said the process of creating the ark was a learning experience for the whole family, adding that Christopher Maier engaged in many long philosophical discussions with Korman during the process.
Mandy Sirofchuck said that they learned about the purpose of the ark, and the family was able to find a similarity to the tabernacle in the Catholic faith. They approached the project as if they were creating something they would have in their church.
“[We] had to learn, as any architect would learn. If you were doing a hospital or recreation hall, or a municipal building, you have to learn how it’s used, all the functionality of it, so that you can actually do something that functions properly. Then you can let your artistic ability exceed that and take over. So, I had to learn a lot about Judaism, and it’s not that different from Catholicism when you break down the components,” Paul Sirofchuck said.
Working on the ark, he continued, was a joy and “a once in a lifetime opportunity,” and the final product exceeded all of his expectations.
Mandy Sirofchuck said that the design of the ark had a Tree of Life theme, and they incorporated five leaves on the front to represent the five books of the Torah.
She said that the couple wanted to include symbolism around the Jewish faith, including stained glass that represented the eternal flame. She added that there were several design elements showcasing the camp and its setting in nature.
Paul Sirofchuck attributed the success of the design elements to the “hand of God” stepping in.
“I think it was rather successful in getting the image across, more successful than I thought it would ever be. That’s when the hand of God steps in and you just start doing stuff, and you don’t know why you’re doing it, but when you stand back at the end, it’s like, wow, somebody else had a hand in this,” he said.
The ark was delivered to the camp a few days before summer started this year. During one of the weeks when the camp was in session, the family saw the piece in use.
The manner in which the kids reacted to the ark, Paul Sirofchuck said, was a great joy, and he hopes the piece has a lasting impact on the way campers relate to their faith.
“So, hopefully the things they experience at camp, and seeing the Aron and the sacredness of that house for the Torah, hopefully that leaves some lasting impression on them that, five, 10, 20 years down the road, they say, ‘You know what? That impacted my life and definitely brought me closer to my faith.’” PJC
Braden Hamelin is a writer for the Philadelphia Jewish Exponent, an affiliated publication where this first appeared.
9 am Registration Opens at Friendship Circle 10 am Walk Starts
Finish Line, Ceremony, and Grand Carnival Celebration, following the walk at Wightman Park!
Presenting the Fred Rock Founders Award to Dr. Tracy Prizant Levy For her leadership as Board Chair during Friendship Circle’s foundational years—including our move into the Murray Avenue
space—and for her vision in guiding our continued growth into the
The new Aron ha-Kodesh at Camp Tel Yehudah Photo courtesy of Camp Tel Yehudah
Life & Culture
Documentaries about the Pittsburgh synagogue shooting streaming on Sunday
3 p.m. “Violins of Hope: Greater Pittsburgh”
WQED will be streaming several programs on Sunday, Oct. 26, to mark seven years since the Pittsburgh synagogue shooting, including local documentaries and national reflections.
“These stories remind us what it means to stand together — to reject hate, embrace understanding, and keep the memory of our neighbors alive through art, dialogue, and community,” WQED officials said.
The programming schedule follows, with descriptions of the films provided by WQED.
12 p.m. “Repairing the World: Stories from the Tree of Life”
This program documents Pittsburgh’s powerful community response to hate in the aftermath of the deadliest antisemitic attack in U.S. history. Through the voices of survivors, family members, diverse Pittsburgh residents and leaders, the film shows unity in a moment of crisis, the resilience of a vibrant city, and a community working together to understand what it means to be “stronger than hate.” Stream on PBS.org or in the PBS app or visit the filmmaker’s official website, repairingtheworldfilm.org.
1:30 p.m. “Tree of Life: A Concert for Peace and Unity”
This special concert was performed at Heinz Hall in remembrance of the Pittsburgh synagogue shooting. Taking place one month after the tragedy, on Nov. 27, 2018, the concert was free to the public. Renowned Israeli-American violinist Itzhak Perlman joined Music Director Manfred Honeck, the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, PSO Principal Clarinetist Michael Rusinek and the Mendelssohn Choir of Pittsburgh. The musicians hoped to provide an opportunity for the Pittsburgh community to find comfort, strength and solace through music, hope and unity. Stream on PBS.org or in the PBS app.
This documentary tells the story of the Violins of Hope exhibit. This collection of precious instruments, once played by Jewish musicians during the Holocaust, traveled here from Israel to be shared and celebrated. For seven weeks, over 50 regional arts organizations, educational institutions, service providers and faith-based groups across southwestern Pennsylvania joined in presenting programming around the exhibit and its vital history. Stream on YouTube.
3:30 p.m. “Eva
A-7063”
Eva Mozes Kor was a leading global figure in the fight to keep the lessons of the Holocaust alive, delivering a message at once controversial and immensely powerful: Forgiveness. Kor survived Auschwitz, where at age 10, she endured inhuman experiments by notorious Nazi doctor Josef Mengele. Stream on PBS.org or in the PBS app.
5 p.m. “The U.S. and the Holocaust: Insight and Understanding”
This program offers a deeper understanding of the three-part PBS documentary that explores America’s response to one of the greatest atrocities of the 20th century. Featuring exclusive insights from filmmakers Ken Burns, Lynn Novick and Sarah Botstein, we learn how the creative team made decisions about who to interview and what to include to shape this landmark film. Exploring a range of questions that remain relevant to society today, the program reveals how the film can be used as a tool to bring critical conversations about the Holocaust into American homes and classrooms.
“Tree of Life: Reflections”
Hear from the late Dr. Joe Charny and Audrey Glickman, who survived the shooting and narrowly escaped death. They later attended the Concert for Peace and Unity and were profoundly moved by the experience. Stream on PBS.org or in the PBS app. PJC
— Toby Tabachnick
After the flood: A blueprint for rebuilding a broken world
When the flood waters recede and Noah and his family emerge from the ark, a brand new drama unfolds: Now what?
Everything that ever was is gone. All life, all nature, all industry, all society — it’s all gone. So, now what to do?
Three important things take place in succession, and we can learn from each of them.
1. Noah brings a thanksgiving offering to G-d. He does not allow himself to wallow in survivor’s guilt. He doesn’t allow himself to go down the rabbit hole of, “Why did I survive when so many others did not?” He survived. He is here, and he knows he is here for a reason. He thanks G-d for the gift of life and shows his appreciation with a gift.
2. G-d gives Noah permission and a mandate to repopulate the world. By commanding Noah and his children to “Be fruitful and multiply,” G-d is urging them to rebuild what was destroyed. Though the destruction may be discouraging, and one might wonder what the point could be in rebuilding if everything might be destroyed again, G-d tells them to rebuild.
3. G-d brings out the rainbow, and with it, declares for all the world to hear, “Never again.” G-d swears that the flood shall never again be visited upon the world, and that what happened once will never happen again.
To summarize: Noah says, “Thank you!”; G-d says, “Rebuild!”; and then G-d declares, “Never again!”
We find ourselves in a similar period today. A destruction of a different kind has come
to an end, please G-d. Jewish history is no stranger to periods of destruction and the calm at the end. But we must be careful to follow the formula laid out, by Divine Providence, in this week’s Parshah.
First, we must be thankful. Without getting bogged down in philosophical entanglements about what happened and why, we must be grateful for our lives and be prepared to do good with life. So first of all, “Baruch Hashem.” Second, we must focus on remembering what we lost and what needs rebuilding. We must not focus on the destruction and the tragedy. We are not a tragic people; we are a holy people. We are relentlessly devoted to rebuilding, as we have done over and over again, countlessly over the course of history. We remain dedicated to our Divine mission, regardless of how many times we get shoved off course — we always come back. Rebuild! That is our slogan. By marrying, building large, happy families and homes filled with proud Jewish spirit and timeless traditions, we rebuild what has been lost.
And finally, “Never Again!” is our prayer and G-d’s blessing. It is not a plan of action. Those who hurt us before pay no heed to our cries of “Never Again!” The world pays no heed. That much is clear. Our hopes for the future lie in G-d’s hands, and in our commitment to the Torah’s values and their dissemination throughout society. Simply declaring, “Never Again” — while surely an admirable prayer — is not a plan. Rebuilding is a plan, and with G-d’s help, it will indeed never happen again. Moshiach will come, the sun will shine, one giant, final rainbow will spread beautifully across the world, and our tears will be dried forever. PJC
Rabbi Moishe Mayir Vogel is executive director of The Aleph Institute – North East Region. This column is a service of the Vaad Harabonim of Greater Pittsburgh.
Daniel Rubin of Squirrel Hill announce the engagement of their daughter, Jamie, to Eric Kurss. They celebrate along with Eric’s parents, Robin and Dr. David Kurss of Buffalo, New York. PJC
— STREAMING—
Obituaries
CARTIFF: Noel Cartiff, on Saturday, Oct. 11, 2025. Beloved husband of Patricia Lancaster. Proud father of Melanie (Ben) Marcus of San Francisco, California. Also three grandchildren: twins Jordan and Hanna Marcus of San Francisco, California, and Sophia Marcus of Tel Aviv, Israel. Also survived by nephews Brian (Marissa) Cartiff and Shaun (Lisa) Cartiff. Son of the late Gertrude and Albert Cartiff and brother of the late Richard (surviving spouse Rosalind) Cartiff. Noel was a proud Navy veteran. Graveside service and interment were at National Cemetery of the Alleghenies. Contributions may be made to Animal Friends (thinkingoutsidethecage.org). Arrangements entrusted to Ralph Schugar Chapel, Inc. schugar.com
GRINBERG: Ellen Pasekoff Grinberg, on Thursday, Oct. 9, 2025. Beloved wife of the late Richard L. Grinberg. Loving mother of Bryan (Sonia Hinshaw) Grinberg and Edye Grinberg. Daughter of the late Harold and Beulah Pasekoff. Sister of Bonnie P. Levey and the late Lee Pasekoff. Sister-in-law of Bob (Debbie) Grinberg, Max (Deb) Warren and Deanna Pasekoff. Aunt of Hayley, Emma, Jeremy, Barrie and Samantha. Services and interment private. Contributions may be made to Tree of Life, 2000 Technology Drive, Suite 220, Pittsburgh, PA 15219. Arrangements entrusted to Ralph Schugar Chapel, Inc. schugar.com
Nancy Gusky, age 83, of Mt. Lebanon, passed away surrounded by her family, on Oct. 12, 2025, at 3 p.m. Nancy (Atlas) Gusky was born on March 20, 1942, in Washington D.C. She is predeceased by her mother, the late Harriet (Pivowitz) Rosenbaum, stepfather, Phineas Rosenbaum, and husband, Henry Gusky. Nancy grew up in Grand Rapids, Michigan, and later in Kalamazoo, Michigan. She attended the University of Michigan where, during her freshman year, she met her husband of over 58 years, Henry Gusky. They married on Sept. 1, 1963, and lived first in Washington, Pennsylvania, and then moved to Mt. Lebanon where they resided for over 50 years. During the 1980s and 1990s Nancy and her close friends Carol Knox and Jane Decker operated a popular and successful catering business for 20 years, helping others to celebrate special occasions. Nancy spent considerable time and effort volunteering at several organizations, including her time as co-chair of Friends Indeed of the Pittsburgh section of the National Council of Jewish Women. Nancy loved to entertain and cook and always had a house full of guests during holidays and celebrations. She made everyone feel welcome with her delicious home-cooked meals and beautifully decorated tables.
Nancy had a passion for gardening, always maintaining an elaborate and beautiful flower garden that was an oasis in the neighborhood. She loved designing colorful arrangements. Nancy was also an active bridge player and played twice a week until the very end. With her late husband, Nancy shared a love of sports, rooting for her favorite University of Michigan and Pittsburgh sports teams, always making sure to watch her beloved Steelers. While she would cheer louder than anyone in the house, she often turned off close games because they made her too nervous. She was a very social and loving person who had many lifelong friends from all stages of her life. Both Nancy and Henry were deeply devoted to their family, always putting loved ones first. They made sure to be present for both the big and small moments, the births of their grandchildren, birthday parties, and baby showers. Nancy was truly a wonderful and loving grandmother. Nancy had an incredible strength about her. As a two-time breast cancer survivor, she was the epitome of resilience and positivity. Nancy is survived by her sons, Edward Gusky (Halina) of Novi, Michigan, and Steven Gusky (Amy) of Vienna, Virginia, grandchildren Oliver, Claire, Liev, Luka and Lucy. Services were held at Temple Emanuel of the South Hills. Interment Mount Lebanon Cemetery-Temple Emanuel section. To honor Nancy Gusky, in lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Henry and Nancy Gusky Family Scholarship Fund at the University of Michigan: giving.umich.edu/basket/fund/798942. Arrangements entrusted to Ralph Schugar Chapel, Inc. schugar.com
LAUTMAN: Sharron “Sherry” Lautman, on Friday, Oct. 17, 2025. Beloved wife of the late Gerald S. Lautman. Loving mother of Mitchell Lautman, Mark (Lea Ann Reilly) Lautman and Helene (Charles) Michael. Cherished sister of the late Stanley Shapiro. Devoted grandmother of Steven (Sierra) Lautman and Drew Michael; great-grandmother of Rinoa and Grayson. Sherry was born and raised in Squirrel Hill. She attended the University of Pittsburgh before her marriage to Gerald (Jerry). She was an avid reader and loved restaurants, the theater, travel and fashion. Sherry was the never-ending hostess, always bringing family and friends together for special occasions. Services and interment private. Contributions may be made to the Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh, 2000 Technology Dr, Pittsburgh, PA 15219. Arrangements entrusted to Ralph Schugar Chapel, Inc. schugar.com
Please see Obituaries, page 20
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Contact the Development department at 412-586-2690 or development@jaapgh.org for more information. THIS WEEK’S YAHRZEITS —
Sunday October 26: Phillip Americus, Dora Berenfield, Claire Ann Block, Fanny C Caplan, Ethel Epstein, Ida Sadowsky Frankel, Jack Goldman, Feige Gottlieb, Rae Hadburg, Nachame Levine Horvitz, William I Isaacson, Ida A Klodell, Alvin S Mundel, Rose Ratowsky Ohl, Gertrude Palkovitz, Morris Pattak, Sheila D Siegman, Frank Silverberg, Lois Snyder Krash, Edith B Thall
Monday October 27: Mary Beth Alman, Janice Gay Barovsky, Anne Tauber Dym, Louis Kaddell, Fannie Klein, Elizabeth Rothstein, Saul Schilit, Molly Schutte, William Schwartz, Frank Shakespeare, Gilbert Shepse, Freda Ulzheimer, Abe Wekselman
Tuesday October 28: Jules Joseph Anatole, Hyman Bales, Albert Blumenthal, Raye Coffey, Rachel Cohen, Jennie B Glass, Minnie Hoffman, Louis Kaddell, Robert Klein, Jerome Meyer, Sylvia Steinberger Moskovitz, Arthur B Moss, Helen Sachs, Michael Stone, Wolfe Tex, Roxine M Weinthal
Wednesday October 29 : Milton Cohen, Rose Elinow, Fannie Titlebaum Frank, Elizabeth S Kalovsky, Frank Mayer Marcosky, Dr Geneva Markus, Mary Opter, Elaine R Rubin, Morris Spector, Fae Velardi, Dorothy Weinberg, Harry Wishnev
Thursday October 30: Sol Feinberg, Isadore Feldman, Milton Gottlieb, Isadore Krouse, Sylvia R Melnick, Minnie Toig Pearlman, Louis Rosner, Arthur Sonnenklar, Harry Sparks, Regina Brown Wand, Sarah Weinbaum
Friday October 31: Pauline Berzosky, Anna Birnkrant, Leonard Farber, Hanna Ficks, Jeanette Kohen Kuperstock, Hannah Rae Levine, Barnett Marcus, Lillian Pretter, Henry Rosenfeld, Rae Sablowsky, Sam Schllessinger, Peter Shaffer, Meyer Shepman, Alberta Myers Walken, Adolph Weitzen, Miriam Yahr, Max Zweig
Saturday November 1: Vivian Cuff Boyd, Sarah Braverman Ives, Mildred Caplan, Frances Citron, Marcia Green Farbstein, Eva Frank, Reva Cohen Goldberg, Sarah B Gordon, Lawrence L Green, Rose K Judd, Jacob Levinson, Samuel Nathan, Jerrilyn Ruth Perilman, Sara Recht, Sam Sambol, Herman Solow, David Srulson, Tobe L Unger
Making Moments Matter
Headlines
BBC censured for failing to disclose Gaza documentary’s Hamas link
By JNS Staff
The U.K.’s Office of Communications, the country’s broadcasting watchdog, censured the BBC on Oct. 17 over its documentary “Gaza: How to Survive a Warzone,” calling it “materially misleading.”
“As this represents a serious breach of our rules, we are directing the BBC to broadcast a statement of our findings against it on BBC2 at 21:00, with a date to be confirmed,” said Ofcom.
The BBC reported that the last time it was sanctioned by Ofcom and ordered it to make an on-air apology was in 2009.
The hour-long documentary film was broadcast on Feb. 17. It follows the conflict through the eyes of three children, and is narrated by Abdullah, 14, who is listed in the film’s credits as Abdullah al-Yazouri.
Abdullah’s father is Ayman Alyazouri, deputy minister of agriculture in the Hamasrun government. The child’s family ties were not revealed to viewers.
“Difficult roads often lead to beautiful destinations.”
“Our investigation found that the program’s failure to disclose that the narrator’s father held a position in the Hamas-run administration was materially misleading,” Ofcom reported.
“It meant that the audience did not have critical information which may have been highly relevant to their assessment of the narrator and the information he provided,” it added.
The BBC said that its director general
Obituaries
Obituaries:
had apologized earlier for the documentary, saying there had been “a significant failing in relation to accuracy.”
Peter Johnston, director of the BBC’s Editorial Complaints and Reviews department, in a 31-page review of the documentary published on July 14, laid most of the blame on the production company, Hoto Films.
“[Hoto Films] had to bring this information to the BBC’s attention” but did not and is therefore “the party with the most responsibility for this failure,” Johnston wrote.
However, Ofcom said the BBC‘s failure threatened to “erode” the high level of trust audiences would have placed in a BBC program about the Israel-Gaza war.
Israel’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs posted to X about Ofcom’s findings on Oct. 17, saying, “Transparency isn’t optional. It’s a fundamental requirement of journalistic ethics.” PJC
Continued from page 19
SIMON: Mr. Stanford D. Simon, affectionately known as Stan, passed away peacefully on the 28th of September, 2025, at the age of 95 in Phoenix, Arizona. Born on June 2, 1930, in Pittsburgh, Stan was a man whose life was marked by dedication, service and an unwavering love for his family and friends. Stan’s journey in life was rich with accomplishment and joy. After serving his country with honor as a U.S. Air Force veteran, he pursued higher education, studying business administration at Duquesne University. His career as a home furnishings manufacturers’ representative was not just a job but a testament to his passion for helping others create beautiful spaces to live their lives. His professional success was matched by his commitment to his community as a 32nd Degree Mason and Shriner, where he made lasting contributions and friendships. A man of faith, Stan lived his life according to the principles of Judaism, which guided him in all his endeavors and instilled in him values that he shared generously with everyone he met. He was a beacon of love, thoughtfulness and kindness, attributes that were felt by all who had the pleasure of knowing him. Stan’s interests painted the picture of a man who cherished life’s simple pleasures. He was an avid runner, swimmer and handball player, maintaining a healthy and active lifestyle well into his later years. His love for the arts was evident in his skillful violin play and the joy he found in listening to classical music. Yet, above all, it was the quality time spent with his family and friends that Stan valued the most. The laughter and stories shared during these moments are the treasures that his loved ones will hold onto forever. Stan was predeceased by his beloved wife, Sandra (Sandy) Simon. He is survived by a family who adored him: his son Andrew Simon, daughter-in-law Halise Diamond, and his cherished granddaughters Lindie and Kylie Simon. Each of them carries a part of Stan’s spirit and will continue to honor his legacy through their lives. Funeral services were held in Columbus, Ohio. In lieu of flowers, contributions in Stan’s memory may be made to the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research. PJC
— WORLD —
p The logo on the front of BBC Broadcasting House is seen through a television camera viewfinder in London on July 10, 2023.
Photo by Leon Neal/Getty Images, via JNS
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Afew years back, when nepo baby discourse was at its most heated, actor-director Ben Stiller emerged as an elder voice of reason.
“Untalented people don’t really last if they get a break because of who they are or know or are related to,” Stiller tweeted to The Black List founder Franklin Leonard, who was opining on “Let Me Go (The Right Way),” a short film whose creative team included the progeny of Steven Spielberg, Stephen King and Sean Penn. Access is access, Stiller conceded, but the children of celebrities face their own challenges.
If one needed further proof, they might look to an early pan of “The Ben Stiller Show” knocking him for his pedigree, among the many pieces of ephemera kept by Stiller’s father, Jerry. Or to the cassette tapes in which Jerry confronted his wife and comedy partner, Anne Meara, about her drinking, All of it was stored in a kind of archive at the Stillers’ apartment on Riverside Drive. Ben digs through those bankers boxes and scrapbooks in a new documentary, “Stiller & Meara: Nothing is Lost.”
The subtitle is a nod to a line from one of Meara’s plays, “After-Play,” and an audio recording where Jerry tells his father, Willie,
that a tape recorder would preserve his voice forever. Taken with Jerry’s packratting — he kept everything — it’s named for a theme of l’dor v’dor. Nothing is lost from generation to generation. Talent may pass down, but so too do the mistakes our parents make. It was, Ben admits, an inherited impulse that drove him to bring a camera to the family apartment after Jerry’s death in 2020,
Stephanie was articulate, sensitive and detailed as she helped us navigate and then select what she felt best suited our needs.
SHARYN AND LARRY RUBIN
at the age of 92. Jerry was an inveterate home moviemaker with his Super-8, paving the way for his son’s ambition to direct. Shooting the home as he and his sister, actor Amy Stiller, prepared it for sale, Ben tells his parents’ love story while meditating on his own family life.
Letters to Anne from Jerry show an early marriage divided by the itinerant gigs of theater folk, a reality that was only resolved when Jerry decided they should form a comedy duo. Anne, wanting to be a serious actor, at first resisted, but the routines — which they’d improvise into a tape recorder — helped to launch their careers.
Their repeat appearances on “The Ed Sullivan Show” made them famous, and they solidified their act by drawing from their backgrounds, debuting the alter egos, the couple Hershey Horowitz and Mary Elizabeth Doyle. They did the Irish-Jewish thing years before “Bridget Loves Bernie” — and with an actual Jew, unlike the Irish Catholic irl David Birney. In their sketches they swap admiration over their respective culture — reduced to planting trees in Israel and Notre Dame football — though in reality Meara had converted to Judaism. (Sullivan, married to a Jewish gal, is said to have teared up.)
Ben follows in their footsteps at the Ed Sullivan Theatre, when he’s there as a guest on Colbert for directing “Severance.” Sullivan’s show was high stakes, he reflects, and his mother would handle the stress by drinking.
While Anne had an ease in her performance and flair for comedy, we learn that Jerry drilled his lines — he was both a perfectionist and perhaps a little less than a natural. While Anne got fulfillment from life outside of acting, Jerry needed to perform and to be loved, but was most devoted to Anne. When their c areers became solo acts, their marriage grew stronger.
Ben considers his parents’ upbringing as a way to understand his own. Anne’s alcoholism is linked to unresolved trauma from her mother’s suicide; on a piece of writing Ben finds in the apartment, Anne describes how her mother “turned on the gas and inhaled eternity.”
Jerry’s working-class parents loved Jack Benny and George Burns, but didn’t support his ambition to become an actor. Anne thought it may have come from an urge to shield him from rejection. Willie’s thwarted desire to act is attested to in an interview Jerry taped with him, showing the project of this film isn’t exactly new for the family.
When it came to Ben and Amy, Jerry wanted them to find another path, for the same reason. (Jerry, as has been noted elsewhere, couldn’t have been more different as a father than Frank Costanza in “Seinfeld” — he was the type to nurse Ben through a bad LSD trip or drive to his camp when he was homesick.)
The siblings recall their latchkey childhood, when their parents were on tour, and speaking to his own children Ben realizes he repeated this absence while making efforts not to. When he began working with his wife, actor Christine Taylor, he feared some of the same frictions his parents suffered would emerge, and when they were separated, he felt like a failure given their resilience.
In the process of making the film, during COVID, the couple reconciled.
“Nothing is Lost” is a tender tribute that finds its poetry in between generations. A match cut of a home movie of young Ben (Benjy) to one of his sons, Quin, shows symmetry right down to the same missing baby teeth. It’s graceful when tackling the tough question of the advantages Ben may have gained.
Ben said he wanted, in his early career, to distance himself from them. But as Taylor notes, he used one or both of his parents in just about all of his work.
“Because I wasn’t stupid, they were funny,” Stiller reasons.
It runs in the family.
Ben Stiller’s “Stiller and Meara: Nothing is Lost” is playing in select theaters beginning Oct. 17. It debuts on Apple TV+ Oct. 24. PJC
PJ Grisar is a Forward culture reporter. This story was originally published on the Forward.
p Anne Meara, Jerry Stiller and Amy and Ben Stiller in an archival image from the 1960s Photo courtesy of Apple TV+
Up on the roof
The Friendship Circle of Pittsburgh welcomed its Young Adult Network and Friends on the Town members for a pasta dinner, ice breaker and lawn games. The Sept. 18 event introduced The Collab — a new partnership between the Friendship Circle, Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh, Jewish Community Center of Greater Pittsburgh, Sally and Howard Levin Clubhouse and Ariel Matz Consulting.
Ready for a spark
Community Day School students and parents joined in a candle making activity. The program was part of the Jewish day school’s “Do Jewish” campaign.
Beth El Congregation of the South Hills Religious School students transformed appliance boxes into sukkahs during the congregation’s annual “One Big Sukkah Sunday.” Participating students selected themes before decorating the boxes. Once the installations were complete, the representative dwellings were placed in Sufrin Family Chapel. Aiding instruction was a visit to the synagogue’s
p This refrigerator box is getting even cooler.
p It’s a Steelers sukkah Sunday.
Photos courtesy of Beth El Congregation of the South Hills
p
Photo courtesy of The Friendship Circle of Pittsburgh
Picture perfect
While touring the newly renovated Functional Fitness space at the Jewish Community Center in Squirrel Hill, visitors posed for a fun photo.
Photo courtesy of Jewish Community Center of Greater Pittsburgh
Kick it
Chabad at Pitt welcomed students for a Krav Maga and pizza night.
