Pittsburgh Jewish Chronicle 2-14-25 by Pittsburgh Jewish Chronicle

JFCS pledges to keep working for Pittsburgh’s refugee and immigrant community

By David Rullo | Senior Sta Writer

In Pirkei Avot, Rabbi Tarfon famously wrote, “It is not your responsibility to finish the task, yet you are not free to withdraw from it.”

It’s a lesson JFCS has learned well.

The Pittsburgh social service organization is one of only about 10 national refugee resettlement agencies that contract with the U.S. Department of State to bring refugees into the country.

Refugee status is a form of protection granted to people who are designated by the United Nations as unable to stay or return to their home country because of fear of prosecution based on political affiliation or demographic criteria, JFCS President and CEO Jordan Golin explained.

The United States, he said, determines how many people with refugee status will be admitted into the country. Extensive screening is conducted by several

different government agencies, including the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Department of State and the Department of Homeland Security.

“People who enter the U.S. with the status of refugee are the most vetted individuals allowed into the country,” Golin said. “The process typically takes several years.”

When they reach the United States and start working with JFCS, or another agency, the clock has already begun ticking.

Refugees are given 90 days of intensive assistance — someone from an agency like JFCS meets them at the airport, finds them a place to live, enrolls their children in school, helps the adults find employment and ensures that they have health insurance. The assistance agencies also provide cultural orientation to teach acceptable behavioral norms that might differ from the refugees’ home country.

By David Rullo | Senior Sta Writer

he city of Pittsburgh is one step closer to stopping the type of BDS referendum that Not On Our Dime is attempting to have added to the May 20 ballot. That referendum would prohibit the city from doing business with Israel or any entity conducting business in the Jewish state.

Pittsburgh Mayor Ed Gainey has signed ordinance 1425, a referendum that City Council approved last week. If the referendum passes a ballot vote in May, it will amend the Home Rule Charter to prohibit discrimination “on the basis of race, religion, ancestry, sex, sexual orientation, age, gender identity or expression, disability, place of birth, national origin or association or affiliation with any nation or foreign state in conducting business of the City.”

The mayor did not sign the other referendum passed by City Council last week — ordinance 1426, which asks voters if the Home Rule Charter should be amended to prohibit “the use of the Home Rule Charter Amendment process to add duties or obligations beyond the lawful scope of the city’s authority.”

While Gainey said that the intent behind ordinance 1426 is commendable, “serious concerns about its legal soundness were raised in Council’s deliberations.” In an email to the Chronicle, the mayor said he shared these concerns and, as a result, returned ordinance 1426 to the council unsigned.

“Returning a bill unsigned is not the same as a veto and will allow the bill to take effect after 10 days, in time for the City Clerk to file the referendum with the County Elections Division and have it placed before the voters in May,” Gainey said.

Julie Paris, a Squirrel Hill resident and StandWithUs Mid-Atlantic regional director,

Poor man's niçoise salad

 Members of the Aponte Ortiz family gather after arriving in Pittsburgh. JFCS is continuing to work with refugees and immigrants like the Aponte Ortiz family, despite a federal stop work order.

Photo courtesy of JFCS

Robert Kneschke/Adobe Stock

Headlines

Pitt considers sanctioning Students for Justice in Palestine

— LOCAL —

By David Rullo | Senior Staff Writer

After nearly a year-and-a-half of anti-Israel and anti-Zionist protests, encampments and social media posts — including posts targeting the University of Pittsburgh — Students for Justice in Palestine at Pitt has caught the attention of the school’s administration. It’s simply not in the way they most likely intended.

SJP, which self-identifies as a group attempting to “provide the Pitt commu nity with a better understanding of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict through advo cacy, awareness and charity in the hopes of attaining peace in the region and freedom for the Palestinians,” drew the focus of univer sity administrators following a “study-in” at Hillman Library, according to The Pitt News.

The December event was promoted on social media by SJP, as well as by other anti-Zionist and anti-Israeli groups like Pitt Divest from Apartheid and Jewish Voice for Peace Pittsburgh.

In a post since removed, SJP urged supporters to “Join us for a study session with your friends who support Palestine! The more the merrier!!! Come slay finals!!!!”

During the event, as university police attempted to have protesters leave the library, SJP created a multi-slide social media post titled “Pitt admin & police threaten students with arrest for studying.” The post contains video of an officer asking students to turn over their student IDs, leave or face possible arrest, and an unseen and unidentified person confronting a university official standing next to a second police officer.

The event and SJP’s online response were the catalysts for the university seeking to sanction the group. Proposed

on probation through the end of 2025; and requiring club leaders to engage in a series of “educational conversations” to learn university event policies and leadership strategies, among other topics, according to The Pitt News, which reported that it had viewed SJP documents and emails.

A disciplinary conference was held on Jan. 22 and included SJP leaders and Director of Student Conduct Matthew Landy, who alleged that SJP, a registered student organization, failed to comply with the “lawful direction of a university official or other lawful authority having just cause and acting in the performance of their duties,” according to The Pitt News. Students at the study-in, the Office of Student Conduct claimed, ignored requests by university staff and police to vacate the library.

A Feb. 4 hearing followed the conference. Pitt spokesperson Jared Stonesifer said in an email to the Chronicle that the University of Pittsburgh aims to promote civic dialogue

and uphold the constitutionally protected

ronment of respect and concern for others and unequivocally denounce antisemitism and all forms of hate,” he said.

The university, he noted, maintains the right to regulate and monitor the time, place and manner in which events, including demonstrations, may occur.

Before the Feb. 4 hearing, Pitt’s Student Government Board issued a Feb. 1 statement on Instagram standing by SJP. The statement said the board felt that the university “imposed undue expectations on undergraduate students. These include several ambiguous references to policy violations which students have been given minimal opportunity and incomplete time to complete their defense.”

SGB attempts to reframe the issue as one in which the university is flexing its proverbial muscles against minorities, claiming that SJP is largely composed of “students of color, particularly Arabs and Palestinians. Historically persecuted groups such as

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SGB “uplifts the voices of minoritized students and expects the University to do the same,” its statement continues, and calls on the university to reexamine its “conduct processes and surrounding communications. We believe communication between student organizations and administrative bodies should be handled with timeliness, transparency, and procedural cause to equitably provide all students with the tools they need to successfully engage in campus and academic life.”

Stonesifer said that “any assertion or suggestion that the University is not following its policies or procedures or has any bias in this student conduct hearing is baseless.”

Since becoming aware of Pitt’s attempts to sanction SJP, the group has taken to social media and claimed “In the past month, the University of Pittsburgh has forcibly relocated and defunded pro-Palestinian events under Zionist pressure. Now, it’s moving to effectively suspend SJP for the rest of the academic year.”

SJP also published a letter on Instagram signed by several other university and non-university groups demanding Pitt dismiss all disciplinary proceedings against SJP, be transparent in university conduct policies, show equitable application of these policies and “end the University’s suppression of Palestinian advocacy on campus.”

Despite possible sanctions against cosponsoring events, SJP nonetheless cosponsored a “Liberation Shabbat” on Jan 24 with Jewish Students Bund and Ratzon Pittsburgh.

A decision from the Feb. 4 hearing has not been announced. PJC

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

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p An anti-Israel encampment at the University of Pittsburgh last spring

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Headlines

Pittsburghers experience immersive Jewish weekend at Chabad Young Professionals Summit

By Deborah Weisberg | Special to the Chronicle

Four Pittsburghers were among hundreds of young Jewish adults from around the globe who gathered in Brooklyn, New York, to talk about navigating challenges ranging from dating and relationships to rising antisemitism.

Ben Koby, Ayala Rosenthal, Rachel Level and Julia Schwartz represented Pittsburgh at the Chabad Young Professionals International Jewish Leadership Summit Jan. 17 through 19, which included expert workshops, think tank sessions and networking opportunities.

About 700 Gen Zers and millennials from 30 countries took part in the event, including secular as well as religious Jews. Many were graduate students or newly-minted graduates embarking on careers.

“There’s an emerging demographic of young Jews who are waiting longer to get married, or who are moving to new cities to begin a job,” said Rabbi Avi Winner, a spokesman for CYP. “As they make big choices about their future, our focus at CYP is to provide them with a sense of community and a system of peer support.”

The weekend was designed to provide an immersive Jewish experience, which appealed to Koby, a PhD student in the chemistry program at Carnegie Mellon University, and co-president of the Jewish Graduate Student Association at CMU.

“I didn’t know what to expect but figured it would be interesting,” said Koby, 28, who grew up in a Conservative home in Louisville, Kentucky. “I feel very Jewish — very involved — and I thought maybe it would be spiritually powerful for me.”

The conference was based in Crown Heights, with Hasidic families opening their homes to participants, some of whom had never kept Shabbat.

Although Koby had “hung around the campus Chabad group” as an undergraduate at the University of Pittsburgh, he said, “dipping my toe into the community in Crown Heights was a new and very cool experience.”

The culture “definitely has a magic to it,” said Koby, who was exposed to everyday Hasidic life through visits to neighborhood businesses, melaveh malkah (Saturday evening dinner), “and the best kosher food I’ve ever had.” He was moved during a visit to Ohel Chabad-Lubavitch in Queens, where the Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem M. Schneerson, is buried.

“It was very reflective,” said Koby. “I could write a letter and ask for blessings and guidance.”

The conference’s keynote speaker was Jim Kapenstein, a senior vice president at The Walt Disney Co., who talked about his ability to balance Jewish values and traditions with career success.

It was inspiring for young observant

professionals to hear, said Shoshana Hoexter, who attended the conference as director of JGrads Pittsburgh, an organization serving Jewish students at Pitt, Chatham, Duquesne and other area universities.

Hoexter chose the Pittsburgh delegation, whose attendance was subsidized by CYP.

who talked about being offered millions to stay and close a deal on Shabbat, and did not take it,” Hoexter, 45, recalled. “He talked about how one of the ways he makes it work is by

having really great people working for him, who can take his place until the Sabbath is over and he can step back in.”

Rosenthal, 23, and a student at Pitt’s graduate school of social work, attended the conference primarily to meet other young

Rosenthal, who grew up in the Chabad movement, said that the conference was geared toward less observant Jews, and seeing them experience the Hassidic lifestyle was “reinspiring.”

“I was really looking for community,” she said. “It’s kind of lonely to be in the world right now and connecting with people who you know have your back — and who know

One of the weekend’s key activities was a speed dating event that enabled conference-goers to explore meeting a potential partner.

“A big impetus for community building is to have young Jews meet each other and develop relationships,” said Winner, 28. “’Met at Chabad’ is all about helping people settle down with someone who shares their values. It’s better than dating apps or walking into a bar.”

Even for those not looking for dates, there were opportunities throughout the weekend to make new friends or reconnect with old ones, Rosenthal said, noting that one of the conference highlights was “gathering in a big room for a Shabbat meal, which was very bonding.”

“In relation to the climate of the world and antisemitism — and anti-Zionism often coinciding with antisemitism — there’s something about being in a space where you don’t have to wonder if it’s safe to be Jewish or a topic is too touchy to bring up,” she said. “It’s nice to be with people I can be myself around.”

The conference concluded with participants encouraged to further embrace their Jewishness, and carry the experiences of the weekend into their everyday lives, Winner said.

“At the closing ceremony a lot of them made commitments to light Shabbat candles, volunteer, perform mitzvahs or launch events back home.” PJC

Deborah Weisberg is a freelance writer living in Pittsburgh.

p From left: Comedian/actor Michael Rapaport, Ben Koby and Shoshana Hoexter

Photo courtesy of CYP

p The Pittsburgh delegation to the CYP international conference

Photo courtesy of CYP

Headlines

Inside Israel offers fresh approach to educating Pitt students on Israel and international affairs

By Adam Reinherz | Senior Staff Writer

Aprogram predicated on nuance is steamrolling ahead. Two weeks after launching, Inside Israel is engaging University of Pittsburgh students in rigorous and meaningful conversation about the Jewish state, foreign relations and geopolitics.

Operating under the auspices of Hillel Jewish University Center, Inside Israel brings together 20 college students for weekly dinner and discussion.

The conversations, which are student-led, build on assigned materials, including podcasts, opinion pieces and news reports from publications such as The Atlantic or The Times of Israel.

Asher Goodwin, a Pitt senior, has partaken in similar Israel-related education since arriving on campus.

Inside Israel furthers past efforts by meeting the moment, he explained.

The program is built on a realization that students need to “learn about topics in a nuanced way, in an environment which lacks nuance,” Goodwin said. “We see a lot of black and white on Instagram and things that are overly simplified. I thought that it would be pretty important to provide students with an opportunity to think a little bit more critically, explore multiple sources on different topics and engage in discussion amongst each other.”

On Tuesday evening, Goodwin led a discussion about the “Axis of Resistance.”

C onversation involved the Muslim Brotherhood, the Iranian Revolution, relations

between Iran and Hamas, Iran and Hezbollah, and Iran and the Houthis, Goodwin said.

Ever since Oct. 7, 2023, interest in Middle Eastern affairs has risen on campus, he explained. Providing a discussion-based forum ensures an “outlet where students could hash it out a little bit more.”

Brian Burke, IACT director of Israel and Jewish Experiences at Hillel JUC, worked with Goodwin to develop Inside Israel.

Burke is proud of the program’s mix of students, he said. “Most of the people have prior knowledge of Israel. Some people are very involved with Jewish life on campus. Most of the students are Jewish. Some people are new to Hillel JUC.”

What makes the group particularly interesting is it includes “people with different political views, people who voted differently in the November presidential election,” Burke added.

While Inside Israel offers students — each of whom receives a $150 stipend — a space for

conversation, Goodwin is hoping to push the boundaries a bit further. In coming weeks, he’s considering including readings from Al Jazeera and tasking participants with exploring unfamiliar political takes.

“I think it’s a good mental exercise to give somebody a role or a position to play — almost as if it was a debate — and assign them to argue that,” Goodwin said. “In that sense, when you have a discussion, even if you don’t believe the things that you’re necessarily debating, it forces you to take a different perspective and explore some of the rationale.”

Inside Israel is a five-week program. Asking participants to dedicate time to not only pause previous judgment but advocate alien views isn’t about increasing sympathy for extremism but gaining comprehension, according to Goodwin.

“You can’t ever come to a full conclusion without hearing the other side. Essentially, it’s as simple as that,” he said. “With this conflict, and the region in a greater context, there’s not

just one actor. If you want the full picture, you’re going to need to hear every story.”

Students are craving “safe spaces” to learn, Burke said. Inside Israel is generating weighty discussions, based on substantive materials, where students are “seeing complicated issues and talking about them in meaningful ways.”

Dan Marcus, executive director and CEO at Hillel JUC, called the program a “sophisticated learning environment” much needed by today’s students.

“At a time when there are so many challenges on campus with regards to Israel and antisemitism, providing students with a sophisticated and deeply analytical context to think about Israel, to learn about Israel and be able to educate others about Israel is vitally important,” he said.

Enabling participants to explore serious issues with sensitivity and thoughtfulness is one goal; having students replicate those practices is another, Goodwin said. The value of Inside Israel is modeling how to create an environment where there’s “an initial expectation to respect one another’s opinion, to be an open space where you’re not shouting other people down, where you’re willing to really just listen to what people have to say.”

Many people crave respectful learning spaces. The secret to creating one is “fostering an environment where students are willing to listen and hear their peers speak about things, or even listen from different sources,” he continued. “It comes from the willingness: If you’re not willing in the first place, you’re never going to learn.” PJC

Adam Reinherz can be reached at areinherz@pittsburghjewishchronicle.org.

By Adam Reinherz | Senior Staff Writer

Robin Judd, a history professor at The Ohio State University, has a new take on an old story. Following World War II, Jewish survivors — mostly women, but some men — married members of the Allied forces.

Speaking with the Chronicle before her Feb. 24 talk at the University of Pittsburgh, Judd said her grandmother belonged to the Jewish war bride demographic: “I learned of that when I was about 8 years old and was forever fascinated by it.”

As a child, Judd believed her grandmother’s status was unique.

It wasn’t until “I started doing the research I realized that her experience was in many ways much more common,” Judd said.

After completing her doctorate in Jewish and German history at the University of Michigan, Judd began teaching at The Ohio State University in 2000.

She didn’t start her Buckeyes tenure seeking to unravel the story of post-WWII marriage; earlier in her career she explored the history of religion, antisemitism and debates concerning circumcision and kosher slaughter in central Europe. In multiple classes, though, Judd

included Holocaust survivor memoirs. Several of the materials, she said, included accounts written by women who describe “meeting the men that they would eventually marry.”

Reading the memoirs generated questions about the “uniqueness” of Judd’s grandmother’s experience, she said.

“I started to do the research — not sure

whether the research would turn into an article or a book — and it became clear, as I started doing the research on this book project, that there was a book to be told and it was going to be a big book. And by that, I don’t mean in terms of page length, but rather that there were Holocaust survivors from all over Europe and North Africa who marry American, British and Canadian military personnel. And so it was going to be a transnational story, which would require me to learn military policies and various years of occupation, or immigration laws in different countries, and how those changed over time .”

Judd endeavored to tell the story by visiting archives in the U.S., Canada, England, Belgium and Israel. The trips furthered her appreciation of both her grandmother’s story and those of other Jewish war brides.

“The short of it is that, in some ways, her story was not at all uncommon: that for many Jewish women and some Jewish men, marriage to a member of the American, British or Canadian military allowed them an opportunity to immigrate,” she said.

Judd added that her work sparks “new ways of talking about the history of the Holocaust, and particularly some of the kind of gendered, if you will, approaches to ways of entering the history of the Holocaust.”

Judd’s efforts have garnered praise from

academicians and Jewish readers. Her 2023 book, “Between Two Worlds: Jewish War Brides After the Holocaust” received two National Jewish book awards and was named one of Jewish Women’s Archives’ Summer 2024 Book Club picks.

Coming to Pittsburgh is a chance to share stories from the text but also learn more about the people who fill its pages.

“There is a Pittsburgh angle that I’ll be talking about,” Judd said. Elements of the narrative “have been a mystery to me, so I probably will be asking if anyone knows anything more, or can point me to any directions.”

Along with searching for answers from Pittsburghers, Judd’s upcoming talk is an opportunity to remind listeners about not only the “intertwined” relationship between military personnel and survivors, but to understand how previous travails impact the present, she said. This is a story “around immigration and the challenges of immigration, and the sensitivities, perhaps, that we have today as 21st-century readers to that historical past.”

Judd’s talk, “Jewish War Brides after the Holocaust,” will occur at the University of Pittsburgh’s Cathedral of Learning, room 501, on Feb. 24, from 6-7:15 p.m. PJC

Adam Reinherz can be reached at areinherz@pittsburghjewishchronicle.org.

Photo courtesy of Asher Goodwin

Headlines

Antisemitism experts

to shape

Tree of Life’s museum and educational programs

By Toby Tabachnick | Editor

While The Tree of Life hasn’t begun construction on its new facility at the corner of Wilkins and Shady avenues, the organization is nonetheless already working to uproot antisemitism and identity-based hate, according to its CEO Carole Zawatsky.

Part of that work includes assembling a committee of antisemitism experts — The Tree of Life’s Academic Advisory Council — who will advise Tree of Life leaders as they create a museum devoted to educating visitors on historical and contemporary antisemitism.

T he building will also serve as a memorial to the 11 people, from three congregations, murdered in the antisemitic attack in the Tree of Life building on Oct. 27, 2018: Joyce Fienberg, Richard Gottfried, Rose Mallinger, Jerry Rabinowitz, Cecil Rosenthal, David Rosenthal, Bernice Simon, Sylvan Simon, Dan Stein, Melvin Wax and Irving Younger.

The advisory council’s newest members are Amy Spitalnick, CEO of the Jewish Council for Public Affairs and a former press secretary for J Street, and Daniel Greene, a history professor at Northwestern University. Greene is also a subject matter expert at the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, and in 2018 he curated “Americans and the Holocaust,” an exhibition at that museum that commemorated its 25th anniversary.

Spitalnick and Greene join 10 other council members, including Pittsburgh hi storian Barbara Burstin; Abraham Foxman, national director emeritus of the Anti-Defamation League; Jeremy Issacharoff, former ambassador of Israel to Germany; and Yolanda Savage-Narva, assistant vice president of racial equity, diversity and inclusion for the Union for Reform Judaism.

The diversity of the advisory committee members is one of its strengths, Zawatsky said. Several members, such as Greene, she noted, come from “deep museum backgrounds.”

“They will really be able to help us think deeply about how you exhibit objects, artifacts and tell a story,” she said. “How do you tell a story of trauma without traumatizing? How do you use artifacts and text to encourage people who are visiting the museum to think about the one act that each of us can do to move from bystander to upstander? How does telling stories help a community heal?”

Greene, she said, “has both the framework of being an historian and the experience of having been the curator for significant exhibitions at the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum,” she continued. “And then Amy Spitalnick is on the ground out there, speaking about how we can uproot antisemitism, partnering with the most significant individuals and organizations in having important conversations. Having Amy’s

It’s important, Greene said, to understand that antisemitism has a history, and that attacks like the Pittsburgh synagogue shooting don’t happen in a vacuum.

voice at the table as we develop the programmatic framework and the exhibition for The Tree of Life helps to ground us in really ensuring that we are inviting all of the most important voices in.”

Spitalnick is no stranger to antisemitism stemming from white supremacism, the motivating factor of the Pittsburgh synagogue shooter. Before taking the helm of the JCPA, she was executive director of Integrity First for America, which won a groundbreaking lawsuit against the neo-Nazis and white supremacists who chanted “Jews will not replace us” and were responsible for the violence at the Unite the Right rally in Charlottesville in 2017. The Pittsburgh synagogue shooting occurred around the time Spitalnick was beginning her work on the lawsuit.

The Tree of Life’s work is essential, Spitalnick said, as acts of hate continue to rise in the U.S.

“We’re seeing record levels of antisemitism,” she said. “We’re seeing record levels of violence targeting Jews, and it’s part of a broader rise in increasingly normalized extremism. And so looking over the last decade — you can just look at the numbers — it’s both the big horrific events like Tree of Life, and it’s also the individual hate crimes and incidents that we’re seeing increase on a significant basis, year over year.

“It’s real,” she stressed. “Jews are not imagining this. And we also need to understand it in the broader context of overall rising extremism in this country. We know that, for example, beliefs and conspiracy theories are deeply connected to antisemitic belief. That’s what the data and research shows. And so it’s no surprise that at a time when we’re seeing these sort of conspiracy theories become normalized in our public

discourse or in our politics, it also leads to a rise in direct hate violence.”

There was a 288% increase in antisemitic incidents in the U.S. in 2024, peaking in April, according to a report published last month by the World Zionist Organization and the Jewish Agency for Israel. Much of that surge correlates to a rise in anti-Israel extremism.

In October 2024, the Anti-Defamation League reported that there were more than 10,000 antisemitic incidents in the U.S. in the year since the Oct. 7 Hamas terrorist attack in Israel — “the highest number of incidents ever recorded in any single year period since ADL started tracking in 1979.”

Both the far-right and the far-left have espoused antisemitic conspiracy theories, Spitalnick noted.

“I think the Pittsburgh community understands all too well the invasion and replacement conspiracy theories that fueled the Tree of Life attack, much like the Charlottesville attack, the Poway attack, the El Paso attack, the Buffalo attack and others, particularly post-Oct. 7,” she said. “We’re also seeing a rise in certain conspiracy theories connected to Jewish, or so-called Zionist, control or power.

“This is what’s unique about antisemitism,” she continued. “It’s not simply a form of prejudice or bigotry hating Jews because of who we are or what we look like or what we do or don’t practice. It’s also this insidious, pernicious conspiracy theory rooted in these lies and tropes about control and power, and that shows up in different forms across the political spectrum, and even removed from any one particular political ideology. This idea of Jews being all-powerful or controlling or a puppet master has been around for millennia, and we are just in this moment seeing how it’s manifesting in

very acute and dangerous ways.” Spitalnick participated in The Tree of Life’s first public program on Sept. 26 at Sixth & I, a synagogue and cultural center in Washington, D.C. The program, “Antisemitism, Democracy and the Struggle for an Inclusive America,” also featured Rep. Jamie Raskin of Maryland, and Maya Wiley, president and CEO of The eadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, and was moderated by Savage-Narva

We talked explicitly about antisemitism in all forms,” Spitalnick said of the program. “Antisemitism can’t be considered a partisan issue or even a political or

She is eager to do the work of The

I’m a granddaughter of Holocaust survivors, and it is just incredibly meaningful to get to be a part of this effort,” she said. “I have such deep admiration for the Pittsburgh community, and the ways in which this horrific tragedy ultimately became something that spurred action and community solidarity in a way that so many across the country should learn from.”

Greene, too, said he is honored to be a part of the advisory council.

“That was a horrific day, and so to see a memorial and an educational space rise here is really important,” he said, speaking from Chicago. “I think it’s important to American Jews, but I think it’s important to a group far beyond American Jews. So I hope that this can be a space of teaching and learning. I hope it can be a space of memorialization of the victims, and I hope it can be a place of real dialogue, where we can have some difficult conversations about the history of antisemitism in the United States, contemporary manifestations of antisemitism and the way that antisemitism is not a Jewish problem, but it’s an American problem right now.”

It’s important, Greene said, to understand that antisemitism has a history, and that attacks like the Pittsburgh synagogue shooting don’t happen in a vacuum.

“That horrific attack on that day did not come out of nowhere,” he said. “There’s a history that does connect to white supremacy in the United States, to this idea — this hateful, false idea — of a replacement theory that Jews are somehow pulling the strings behind events in the United States and events in the world. And I think that this space, The Tree of Life, has an opportunity to help people understand that conspiratorial thinking feeds antisemitism, and that we’re seeing more and more conspiratorial thinking in our societies, and more and more of an assault on truth. And antisemitism thrives in spaces where conspiratorial thinking thrives.” Education, he said, is an important tool in the battle against hatred and bigotry, as are law and advocacy.

“But I deeply believe in educational spaces as important spaces to help people understand the history and the ways that conspiratorial thinking is feeding

p Daniel Greene

Photo by Yancey Hughes Photography p Carole Zawatsky

Photo courtesy of West End Strategy

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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.

 FRIDAY, FEB. 14

Join Chabad of the South Hills for Kids Do Shabbat, a family Shabbat experience where kids run the show. Candle lighting followed by a four-course, kid-friendly dinner. Come dressed in your Shabbat ﬁnest. 5 p.m. 1701 McFarland Road. chabadsh.com/Shabbat.

 SUNDAY, FEB. 16

Join Temple Sinai for “Building a Resilient Community for Children & Adolescents: A Discussion.” Enjoy brunch followed by a discussion on mental health as part of Jewish Disability Awareness, Acceptance, & Inclusion Month. Speakers are Dr. Elizabeth Miller, who specializes in care for adolescents and young adults, and Carly Coons, a licensed social worker with the Blue Dove Foundation. 10 a.m. $10 in advance/$18 at the door. Free to watch on Zoom. templesinaipgh.org/ programs-events.

We Never Heard from Them Again: Researching Relatives Who Died in the Holocaust puts the systematic murder of Jews and other persecuted populations during World War II into historical context before showing attendees how to research the fate of long-lost relatives. Webinar. 1 p.m. $5. pghjgs. org/event-details/we-never-heard-from-them-againresearching-relatives-who-died-in-the-holocaust-withjane-ne -rollins.

Tree of Life Congregation, in collaboration with Parkway Jewish Center, welcomes the public to join them for a special Chocolate Tu B’Shevat Seder

Please note, tree nuts will be served. $5. 11 a.m. 201 Penn Center Boulevard, Building 1, Suite 530, 15235. Register at 412-521-6788. treeoﬂifepgh.org.

Refugee Mariam Al Ahmad will cook and host a Syrian luncheon at Rodef Shalom Congregation. Al Ahmad, her husband, Ahmed, and their ﬁve sons are excited for the opportunity to share their delicious Syrian cuisine with the Pittsburgh community. $30 adults; $20 children, 5-17. 1:30 p.m. 4905 Fifth Ave. thrivepittsburgh.org/events.

 SUNDAYS, FEB. 16–JULY 27

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.

 MONDAYS, FEB. 17–JULY 28

Join Congregation Beth Shalom for a weekly Talmudstudy. 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 longtime 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, FEB. 19–MARCH 12

Join Chabad of South Hills for Decoding the Talmud Get inside the story, substance and signiﬁcance of the book that deﬁnes Judaism. 7:30 p.m. 1700 Bower Hill Road. To register, visit chabadsh.com.

“Your problem isn’t the problem. Your reaction is the problem.”



WEDNESDAYS, FEB. 19–JULY 29

Temple Sinai’s Rabbi Daniel Fellman presents a weekly Parshat/Torahportionclass 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 ParashahDiscussion: Life & Text. 12:15 p.m. For more information, visit bethshalompgh.org/life-text.



FRIDAY, FEB. 21

Join Rodef Shalom’s Cantor Toby Glaser for a 20s & 30s Kabbalat Shabbat. Get to know other young Jewish professionals and close out the week with apps, wine and great company. Registration required. 7 p.m. 4905 Fifth Ave. rodefshalom.org.

 MONDAY, FEB. 24

Join Robin Judd for Between Two Worlds: Jewish War Brides After the Holocaust. Rudd will share her award-winning research on the women Holocaust survivors who married American, Canadian and British military personnel in the wake of World War II. This talk will be the second annual Renee Sachs Memorial lecture in Holocaust studies. 6 p.m. Free. Cathedral of Learning, 4200 Fifth Ave. calendar.pitt.edu/event/ between-two-worlds-jewish-brides-after-the-holocaust.

 WEDNESDAY, FEB. 26

Join Chabad of the South Hills for February’s seniors’ lunch, discussing the power and impact of socialization while aging. 1 p.m. $5 suggested donation. Wheelchair accessible. 1701 McFarland Rd. chabadsh.com.

 FRIDAY, FEB. 28

Join Chabad of the South Hills for a Community Shabbat Dinner. Enjoy a lively dinner with delicious food and great company. 5 p.m. $18; family max $45. Hampton Inn, Murtland Ave, Washington, PA. chabadsh.com/dinner.

Lee & Lisa Oleinick

Join Rodef Shalom Congregation and Thousand Bridges Opera Company following Shabbat services for the Look to the Light concert, a free recital inspired by the poetry of Langston Hughes to celebrate Black History Month, featuring soprano Alicia Jayourba with Jaime Cohen at the piano. 7 p.m. Free. rodefshalom.org/light.

 SATURDAY, MARCH 1

Big Night is the JCC’s largest annual fundraiser, celebrating community and supporting vital programs. This year’s Big Night Olympics promises games, music, global cuisine and more — all for a great cause. A party with a purpose. 7:30 p.m. JCC of Greater Pittsburgh, 5738 Forbes Ave. bit. ly/bignight25.

 SUNDAY, MARCH 2

Join B’nai Emunoh for its ﬁrst Jewish community vendors and crafters fair. Handmade jewelry and pens, handcrafted leather items, crocheted alef beis letters, Hello Kitty items, Dead Sea products, beauty, health and wellness products and more. 11 a.m. B’nai Emunoh, 4325 Murray Ave.

 SATURDAY, MARCH 8

Families with young children are invited to spend Shabbat morning with Rodef Shalom at Shabbat with You. Drop in for a light breakfast, play date, sing along with Cantor Toby and a Shabbat activity with Family Center Director Ellie Feibus. 9 a.m. $5 per family. Rodef Shalom Congregation, 4905 Fifth Ave. rodefshalom.org/shabbatwithyou.

Congregation Beth Shalom’s Sisterhood Shabbat will honor Elaine Catz, Elisa Marlin and Carolyn Slayton. Casey Weiss, CDS head of school and former assistant principal at Hillel Academy, will be the featured speaker. 9:15 a.m. 5915 Beacon St. bethshalompgh.org/sisterhoodshabbat5785 PJC

Join the Chronicle Book Club!

The Pittsburgh Jewish Chronicle invites you to join the Chronicle Book Club for its March 2 discussion of “10/7: 100 Human Stories,” by Lee Yaron, an Israeli journalist. Yaron’s account of the Oct. 7 attacks in Israel and their aftermath was named the book of the year at the 74th National Jewish Book Awards, making her the youngest author to win the honor. The Jewish Book Council, which sponsors the awards, said that “10/7: 100 Human Stories” provides “a vital window into the history of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and how internal political turmoil in Israel has affected it, offering the narratives not of politicians or the military but of the lives of everyday people who lived tenuously on the border with Gaza.”

Your hosts

Toby Tabachnick, Chronicle editor

David Rullo, Chronicle senior staff writer

How it works

We will meet on Zoom on Sunday, March 2, at 1 p.m.

What to do

Buy: “10/7: 100 Human Stories.” It is available at area Barnes and Noble stores and from online retailers, including Amazon. It is also available through the Carnegie Library system.

Email: Contact us at drullo@pittsburgh jewishchronicle.org, and write “Chronicle Book Club” in the subject line. We will send you a Zoom link for the discussion meeting.

Happy reading! PJC

— Toby Tabachnick

Headlines

Federal health department to investigate medical schools over pro-Palestinian graduation protests

A tool for policing campus antisemitism, which since Oct. 7 had been largely limited to the U.S. Department of Education, is now expanding into other federal departments under President Donald Trump’s directive, according to JTA.

The Department of Health and Human Services announced earlier this month that it, too, will be conducting Title VI investigations into allegations of antisemitism.

The first investigations are into four elite medical schools — at Harvard, Columbia, Brown and Johns Hopkins universities — that the department said received “reports of antisemitic incidents during their 2024 commencement ceremonies.”

In a statement, HHS said it will seek to determine whether those medical programs “acted with deliberate indifference regarding events that may have impacted Jewish students’ rights to access educational opportunities and benefits.” And authorities are signaling that federal funding for medical research at these universities could be on the line if they fail to comply, with the release spotlighting hundreds of millions of federal dollars that have reached the schools under investigation.

“The reviews come in response to reported incidents of antisemitism and displays of offensive symbols and messaging during the ceremonies, including alleged expressions of support for terrorist organizations,” a press release from the department announced on Feb. 3.

The expansion of Title VI investigations

comes as Trump is reportedly taking steps to dismantle the education department, which also opened five new Title VI probes this week

The two departments and the Justice Department are represented in Trump’s new federal task force that pledges to tackle campus antisemitism more aggressively. (The Biden administration also favored Title VI as an enforcement tool and the former president’s education department opened some investigations into medical schools specifically.)

At least one of the new HHS investigations appears to be inspired by a study published in an Israeli medical journal by two American Jewish doctors. The study’s authors, Steven Roth and Hedy S. Wald, reviewed footage of recent commencement ceremonies at a range of medical schools, including Harvard, for signs of clothing or behavior they considered “either openly antisemitic or potentially offensive or insensitive.” (The study was summarized in a New York Post article cited by HHS investigators in a letter to Harvard, according to the Harvard Crimson.)

Roth and Wald — the latter is a Brown professor and commissioner of The Lancet medical journal’s Commission on Medicine, Nazism and the Holocaust — found that 2.5% of the graduating cohort they studied wore “symbols representing antisemitic themes” and 1.7% wore buttons, banners or signs or engaged in verbal protests.

Australian man arrested after allegedly throwing bacon during antisemitic hate crime

Police in the Melbourne, Australia, area have arrested a man who they say threw a “packet of bacon” at someone who interrupted his attempts at antisemitic graffiti, JTA reported.

Today in Israeli History

Items are provided by the Center for Israel Education (israeled.org), where you can find more details.

Feb. 14, 1978 — Carter proposes aircraft sale to Saudis

President Jimmy Carter announces a plan to sell advanced fighter jets to Israel, Egypt and Saudi Arabia as one, all-or-nothing package for congressional approval, drawing Jewish criticism despite his claim that they are defensive weapons.

Feb. 15, 2017 — Netanyahu visits

Trump White House

Less than a month into his term, President Donald Trump hosts Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in the Israeli’s first trip to Washington since his speech to Congress against the Iran nuclear deal in March 2015.

Feb. 16, 1910 — Children’s author Miriam Roth is born Miriam Roth, who elevates children’s literature in Israel, is born in Slovakia in the Astro-Hungarian Empire. She makes aliyah in 1931 but doesn’t begin writing her 23 children’s books until the 1970s.

The arrest, announced Feb. 4, is the latest in a string as police crack down on antisemitic incidents in Melbourne and Sydney, home to Australia’s two largest Jewish communities.

The incident took place in a park on Jan. 31, the Victoria Police said in a press release. A 68-year-old man was seen allegedly scrawling “prejudice motivated graffiti” on a fence when “a passerby approached the male offender and was spat on and had a packet of bacon thrown at him,” the statement said. He was charged with three crimes including “offensive graffiti.”

“There is absolutely no place at all in our society for antisemitic or hate-based symbols and behaviour,” the police statement said. “Police will always treat reports of such crime seriously.”

The mayor of the suburb where the incident took place said it was a “cowardly” attack meant to stir fear in local Jews who are already reeling from the arson of a prominent synagogue in December.

Officials in Sydney say they believe actors paid by foreign governments are behind many of the recent antisemitic incidents there.

Bacon and other pig products, which are not kosher to eat under Jewish law, have been used in antisemitic assaults before and have historically shown up in antisemitic imagery. In January 2020, an upstate New York woman was charged with a hate crime after allegedly throwing pork at a local synagogue in the middle of the night.

Education department probes Jew-hatred at Columbia, Berkeley, Northwestern, Portland State, Minnesota

The U.S. Department of Education opened five investigations of alleged Jew-hatred on Feb. 3 at Columbia University, Northwestern University, Portland State University,

the University of California, Berkeley and the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, JNS reported.

The investigations, under Title VI of the 1964 Civil Rights Act, come shortly after U.S. President Trump told the federal government to respond to Jew-hatred “vigorously.”

“Too many universities have tolerated widespread antisemitic harassment and the illegal encampments that paralyzed campus life last year, driving Jewish life and religious expression underground,” stated Craig Trainor, acting assistant secretary of education for civil rights.

“The Biden Administration’s toothless resolution agreements did shamefully little to hold those institutions accountable,” Trainor said. “Today, the department is putting universities, colleges and K-12 schools on notice: This administration will not tolerate continued institutional indifference to the wellbeing of Jewish students on American campuses, nor will it stand by idly if universities fail to combat Jew-hatred and the unlawful harassment and violence it animates.”

Rep. Tim Walberg (R-Mich.), chair of the House Education and Workforce Committee, said “for the past two years, our committee has uncovered an appalling amount of antisemitism taking place on college campuses.”

“We’ve also heard heartbreaking testimony from Jewish college students who were excited to attend their dream university only to face threats and harassment from their own classmates and teachers,” he said. “I’m glad that we finally have an administration who is taking action to protect Jewish students and hold schools like Columbia, Northwestern and UC Berkeley accountable for their failures.” PJC

— Compiled by Jarrad Saffren

Feb. 17, 2013 — Musician Shmulik Kraus dies Shmulik Kraus, one of Israel’s most influential musicians, dies of swine flu in Tel Aviv at 77. Beyond a solo career, his collaborators included Esther and Avi Ofarim, Arik Einstein, and one-time wife Josie Katz.

Feb. 18, 1577 — Safed Jews petition for protection

The Jews of Safed (Tzfat), the largest Jewish community in Ottoman Palestine during the 16th century and which is going through a period of growth, petition the sultan for protection from persecution by local officials.

Feb. 19, 1936 — Strategy meeting plans Zionist land purchases

The Jewish Agency convenes a meeting of Zionist leaders, chaired by Moshe Shertok, to discuss how to keep purchasing land for the growing Jewish population in Palestine despite anticipated British restrictions.

Feb. 20, 2009 — Netanyahu invites Kadima, Labor to join coalition

Benjamin Netanyahu, whose Likud finished second in the Knesset election, is given the opportunity to form a government and invites Tzipi Livni of Kadima and Ehud Barak of Labor to join a centrist coalition. PJC

F-15 Eagle remains the backbone of the Saudi air force.

Summer Camps 2025

ZOA: Pittsburgh Scholarship to Israel Program 2025

Ø Three $1,000 scholarships will be awarded: judged on Jewish activities, volunteerism, and an Israel essay.

Ø All applicants must be Jewish and permanent residents of Allegheny, Armstrong, Beaver, Butler, Fayette, Washington, or Westmoreland Counties in Pennsylvania.

Ø Applicants for Summer 2025: Pittsburgh ZOA Scholarships are available for students entering their Junior or Senior year of high school in the Fall of 2025.

Ø Applicants for Summer 2025: Pittsburgh ZOA Scholarships are available for students entering their Junior or Senior year of high school in the Fall of 2025

Ø Structured Summer Israel programs must fulfill ZOA: Pittsburgh Program Objectives and must be approved by ZOA: Pittsburgh

Ø Structured Summer Israel programs must fulfill ZOA: Pittsburgh Program Objectives and must be approved by ZOA: Pittsburgh.

Ø Completed applications must be submitted by February 28, 2025

Ø Structured Summer Israel programs must fulfill ZOA: Pittsburgh Program Objectives and must be approved by ZOA: Pittsburgh.

Ø Completed applications must be submitted by February 28, 2025

The above is only a partial list of rules. For complete list and an application, please

Ø Completed applications must be submitted by February 28, 2025

The above is only a partial list of rules. For complete list and an application, please

 Pittsburghers at Camp Young Judaea Midwest

Photo courtesy of Camp Young Judaea Midwest

Summer Camps 2025

With inclusion in mind, JCC creates ‘The Cove’

By Adam Reinherz | Senior Staff Writer

Cracking frozen earth should melt some hearts. Amid Pittsburgh’s winter weather, members of the Jewish Community Center of Greater Pittsburgh broke ground on a nearly $3 million project at the James & Rachel Levinson Day Camp. The mid-January ceremony in Monroeville signaled a new phase in the JCC’s inclusion efforts.

For more than five years, the organization has invested in hirings and resources to increase inclusivity. Establishing a “sense of belonging and value,” as the American Camp Association describes, required a shift in culture and approach, according to Rachael Speck, JCC chief program and innovation officer.

Efforts developed thanks to a partnership between the JCC and inclusion experts, including April Artz. Over time, implementing positive behavior supports, embedding professionals on site and meeting each camper’s needs demonstrated benefits for not only neurodiverse but neurotypical campers as well; as such, a quest for inclusion bettered all.

Speck believes a “new investment in the facility” will similarly improve the collective camp experience.

Savoring sun and shade

J&R dates to 1969. The suburban camp is beloved by those who cherish childhood summers filled with open fields, hot sunny days, popsicles and bus songs. Situated on the 100-acre Henry Kaufmann Family Park in Monroeville, J&R’s near endless outdoor space enables numerous activities, including swimming, archery, creek hikes and gardening.

“Family Park is a treasured commu nity asset,” said Speck, who directed the camp before her promotion as the JCC’s chief program and innovation officer. The challenge, however, is that as enroll ment and needs have surged, an absence of abundant shade and shelter has become more glaring.

“Our enrollment has increased by 30% over the past five years,” she said. “Expected enrollment this summer is around 600 unique campers.”

With help from state Sen. Jay Costa and state Rep. Brandon Markosek, the JCC secured a $2 million grant from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania to expand facilities at the Monroeville park.

incorporates principles from ASSPECTS (Autism Supportive Space Evaluation Criteria for Transition Spaces). Based on specific guidelines, the design index incorporates regard for minimizing background noise, logical sequencing and defined functions.

Once complete, The Cove will offer flexible, multipurpose spaces that

Establishing a “sense of belonging and value,” as the American Camp Association describes, required a shift in culture and approach, according to Rachael Speck, JCC chief program and innovation officer.

The funding, JCC’s Chief Development and Marketing Officer Fara Marcus said, was from the Redevelopment Assistance Capital Project and will support improvements benefiting the “entire community, with a special focus on neurodiverse children.”

In addition to the state grant, the JCC has raised private funds to cover the almost $2.8 million project, Speck added.

accommodate diverse needs. The building’s 5,000 square feet aren’t just vacuous, but contain dedicated areas for lowstimulus options that reduce distractions and “promote a calm and inviting atmosphere,” Speck said.

The benefit of these adaptive spaces will be utilized all summer, but perhaps most noticeably on “challenging weather days,” she continued. Previously, there was little respite from thunderstorms or

Among The Cove’s numerous benefits are air conditioning and adjustable recessed lighting. Additionally, multimedia and STEM areas will provide children with alternative environments throughout the day.

“The building is being intentionally designed for neurodiverse kids to be successful, but this is for the entire camp community,” Speck said. “It checks a ton of boxes in terms of what our needs are.”

New numbers, renewed commitment

Several summers ago, the JCC recognized the necessity of adapting its camping experience. The desire to promote inclusion mirrored growing awareness of increased rates of autism spectrum disorder diagnoses.

A 2023 report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention noted that one in 36 children, aged 8, was estimated to have autism spectrum disorder. The estimates, which covered 2020, were higher than those during 2000–2018.

Similar findings were reported in October by JAMA Network Open, which noted that diagnoses among young adults rose between 2011-2022.

Jason Kunzman, JCC’s president and CEO, pointed to the growing numbers and said the JCC is “committed to redefining what’s possible and creating a welcoming space for every child.”

Speck said that little time will elapse before campers, parents and community members can observe the organization’s pledge firsthand: With J&R set to begin June 23, fewer than five months remain until the start of camp.

Completing The Cove requires adherence to a dedicated timeline, but the JCC is committed as ever to promoting inclusion and serving its constituents, Speck said.

“We broke ground in January, and this is going to be done in time for summer 2025,” she continued. “It’s going to be a game changer.” PJC

Adam Reinherz can be reached at areinherz@pittsburghjewishchronicle.org.

— CAMP —

p JCC is creating The Cove to better inclusion at J&R Day Camp. Image courtesy of Jewish Community Center of Greater Pittsburgh

p Given its sensory comforts and dedicated spaces, The Cove is being designed with multiple parties in mind. Image courtesy of Jewish Community Center of Greater Pittsburgh

p JCC staffers join the Jan. 13 groundbreaking at the Family Park in Monroeville. Photo courtesy of Jewish Community Center of Greater Pittsburgh

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Summer Camps 2025

The lifelong skills of a camp

Every summer, camps welcome hundreds of young campers eager for adventure, friendship and new experiences. Behind the scenes of this transformative experience are camp counselors — the unsung heroes who make it all happen. Finding this staff team each summer isn’t easy. It takes months to recruit, interview and hire this special group from all over the world.

As the person responsible for hiring at a summer camp, I face the challenge of convincing these prospective applicants (as well as their future employers) of the authentic, lifelong value of this experience. Why should a college or prospective employer take another look at an applicant who has camp counselor experience on their resume? I believe there are many reasons.

Here are just a few:

Face-to-face communication skills

As our society moves further and further into digital communication, employers note many Gen Z applicants struggle with effective face-to-face conversations. Resident summer camps offer the unique employment opportunity of living where you work. Face-to-face communication is not optional but essential. Camp counselors have no choice but to communicate in this style based on the camp environment. In order for our staff to live and work as an effective team, they must learn how to communicate directly. This includes sharing ideas, planning programs and discussing positive and constructive feedback respectfully without damaging the working relationship between fellow staff members.

The “soft skills”

The Oxford dictionary defines “soft skills” as personal attributes that enable someone to interact effectively and harmoniously with other people. These skills often include but are not limited to adaptability, problem solving,

empathy, resilience and compassion. The Harvard Business Review states soft skills are foundational to great leadership and set high performers apart from their peers. They’re also increasingly sought by employers. They are also part of daily camp life.

Here’s a simple example: Camps are at the constant mercy of Mother Nature. Even with the most detailed organization and planning, her ever changing weather patterns teach staff members how to always think on their feet and adapt to the new circumstances. More importantly, these reactions are always done in front of an audience. Camp counselors react to every situation knowing the campers will follow their lead. Counselors quickly learn to assess situations, create alternatives and then implement these creative solutions with enthusiasm.

This type of experience forces counselors to practice all five soft skills named above, and is a great answer to many of those “Tell me about a time when…” questions you might get in an interview.

Putting others’ needs before your own

At my camp, counselors live in a cabin with eight to 10 campers. With this living arrangement, counselors are on the front lines keeping their campers safe physically and emotionally. From helping a shy camper make their first friend to cheering someone on as they conquer a challenge, they create moments that matter. These small but significant acts can transform a camper’s summer and, in some cases, their outlook on life. But the bigger discovery is finding fulfillment and happiness by helping others.

Project Real Job

The American Camping Association has also taken up the cause of advertising the lifelong career benefits of a camp counselor experience with Project Real Job. This resource not only helps advertise these valuable skills to employers, it also helps counselors communicate these career enhancing skills on resumes and applications. PJC

Nici Mahen is the assistant director at Falcon Camp. nici@falconcamp.com.

Guest Columnist

Nici Mahen

 Campers and counselors at Falcon Camp

Photo courtesy of Falcon Camp

JCC DAY CAMPS 2025

Dear Families,

For more than 60 years, JCC Day Camps have been creating community and enriching the lives of our campers, families and staff. Camping empowers children to build confidence and self-esteem and develop physically and emotionally through focused activities and group interaction. Our camps prepare children for life’s journeys through facilitating connections, instilling values, promoting personal growth and bringing the fun.

We can’t wait for your family to join our camp community and be part of an amazing summer experience. Happy Camping!

David May-Stein, JCC Day Camps Director

J&R Day Camp

K-grade 8

JCC Family Park, Monroeville

June 23-August 15

Promoting an inclusive environment and creating a community with activities such as sports, swimming, creative and performing arts, STEM, nature, ropes challenge course, gardening, cooking and more.

Contact David May-Stein dmay-stein@jccpgh.org

Specialty Camps

Grades 1-8

JCC Squirrel Hill

1 Week Camps July 7-August 15

1-week focused camps providing campers opportunities to explore interests and gain knowledge, skills and proficiency in areas including STEM, creative arts and sports

Contact Brandi Tedesco btedesco@jccpgh.org

South Hills Day Camp

K-age 14

JCC South Hills

June 16-August 15

Providing a well-rounded, age appropriate experience in a safe environment with sports, aquatics, arts & crafts and nature, campers are encouraged to explore new interests and cultivate skills.

Contact Emma Litwak elitwak@jccpgh.org

Performing Arts Camp

Grades 4-10

JCC Squirrel Hill

June 16 - July 11

Providing students a substantial musical theater experience with expert instruction and training in all aspects of musical theater— acting, voice and dance.

Contact Kathy Wayne kwayne@jccpgh.org

Headlines

Immigrants:

Continued from page 1

Support continues after that initial period. The agency brings in about 300 refugees a year and con-tinues to provide assistance, working with refugees until they are successfully integrated into the community and are able to thrive on their own.

When Donald Trump was elected in November 2024, JFCS knew there would be changes to the U.S. refugee resettlement program. Organizational leaders were surprised, however, when, in January 2025, they were told they could no longer assist those already in the United States.

“The president has completely shut the door on refugees,” Golin said. “No refugees are coming in and through the executive order that cut off aid to foreign countries — that order means that any refugees who arrived in the States — we were told we can no longer provide services for them.”

Some of JFCS’ clients were in the country for less than two weeks when the agency received the government’s stop work order.

“It literally said, ‘stop work,’” Golin said, “meaning that those refugees, these newly arrived refugees, who are like deer in the headlights trying to figure out what’s going on, no longer receive services from refugee resettlement agencies and if they

need help, I don’t know, call 911.”

Golin said that every resettlement agency was forced to decide how it would react to the government’s stop work order. JFCS, he said, has deemed it to be immoral and unethical to abandon refugees and will continue to work with them, despite not getting paid.

spoke in favor of both referendums at a Feb. 3 public City Council hearing. She said that she appreciates Gainey signing ordinance 1425 and his “strong stance on advancing Pittsburgh’s anti-discrimination policies.”

“His leadership in this area is vital for building an inclusive and welcoming city,” she said.

Paris said that she was disappointed, however, in Gainey’s decision to not support ordinance 1426, legislation which she believes is crucial to protect Pittsburgh from extremists seeking “to exploit our democratic process to promote hate.”

“I hope he will reconsider this position and support both bills and take a vocal stand against Not on Our Dime,” she said. “This deeply misleading campaign does nothing to help Palestinians or Israelis. It only deepens divisions and hostility in our community, jeopardizes our city’s financial stability and distracts from the issues that matter most to the people of Pittsburgh.”

very concerned about the policy of halting all federal grants and loans because that would create a huge financial impact on our organization and it would have a huge financial impact across the country, in multiple places, on various levels of the government, for for-profit entities and nonprofit entities.”

JFCS, he said, has begun additional

“We made the commitment, not just to the federal government, but to the families when we picked them up at the airport that we would provide services. It doesn’t matter where the funding comes from.”

–JORDAN GOLIN

Not every agency has made the same decision, something Golin understands given the limited resources available.

The government’s long-term plans are unknown, Golin said, and may have longreaching implications for more than just refugee resettlement. JFCS also provides immigrant legal services, food assistance, counseling, guardianship services, youth and

fundraising to continue its services.

Ivonne Smith-Tapia, director of JFCS’ Refugee and Immigration Services, said it’s the policies, not the politics, that matter to the agency.

“We talk about how different decisions made by the federal government, state government, local government impact the work we do and impact the lives of the people that we serve,” she said.

tion nonprofit that works to combat antisemitism, also spoke in favor of council’s two referendums at the public hearing.

He stressed that both referendums are important.

“They work in slightly different ways to protect the fiscal stability of the city of

of Life in the days, weeks and months, and actually years since the shooting.”

She said JFCS leaders were “shocked” by the policies announced in January.

Pittsburgh and to make sure that the Home Rule Charter amendment process is not getting abused,” he said.

He said he is disappointed that Gainey isn’t supporting both ordinances.

“One was passed unanimously, and the other was passed overwhelmingly by City

The council’s referendums will be presented for voter approval in May.

Anti-Zionist group Not On Our Dime is attempting to gather more than 12,500 signatures so that its referendum also will be added to the ballot. That referendum seeks to amend the Home Rule Charter to establish “a financial policy to divert funds from governments engaged in genocide and apartheid — such as the state of Israel and corporations doing business with them,” implement “investment policies with goals to reduce arms production and promote human dignity” and increase “transparency of City business relationships and investments.”

City Council’s referendums were introduced by Councilperson Erika Strasburger, District 8, in reaction to Not On Our Dime’s ballot proposal, and co-sponsored by

“It was very distressing for us,” she said.

That distress wasn’t simply because of the stress it caused JFCS’ clients.

“Many of our staff are part of immigrant communities,” she said, “so we felt all these decisions not only professionally but personally. The decisions impact concrete things and services. They sent a message.”

It’s as if the government is saying immigrants are no longer welcome here, Smith-Tapia said. Suddenly, she and her staff, who feel like the United States is their home, are worried.

“They’re not only thinking, ‘How am I going to continue to provide services to the population we serve,’ but are also thinking, ‘Am I safe here? Am I going to have a job?’ It’s added to the stress and anxiety,” she said.

If there’s a silver lining, Smith-Tapia said, it’s JFCS’ commitment to its work.

“We made the commitment, not just to the federal government, but to the families when we picked them up at the airport that we would provide services,” she said. “It doesn’t matter where the funding comes from.”

For Golin, JFCS’ commitment is existential.

“We literally couldn’t live with ourselves if we abandoned these people who are so vulnerable,” he said. PJC

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

Bob Charland, District 3; Anthony Coghill, District 4; Daniel Lovelle, District 6; and Bobby Wilson, District 1.

Strassburger said that she was concerned with the effect the BDS referendum, if passed, would have on the city, noting that a partial list of companies the city would no longer be able to do business with included Amazon, Apple, Caterpillar, City Bank, Coca Cola, Dell, General Electric, GoogleAlphabet, HP, IBM, Intel, JP Morgan Chase, McAfee, McDonald’s, Micron, Microsoft, Nestle, Oracle, Pepsi, Qualcomm, Siemens and Toyota, among others.

“We can’t subject our residents to the threat of service disruptions because we can’t contract with a mainstream corporation that happens to operate in a country that some don’t like,” she said during the public hearing.

Even if Not On Our Dime gathers enough signatures for its referendum to be added to the ballot, it will still likely face legal challenges before the May election. PJC

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

Continued from page 5

antisemitism right now,” he said. “And I think that The Tree of Life space is envisioned as an educational space that will make that kind of difference for people.”

While construction on the building will not begin until late summer or early fall, Zawatsky said, some educational projects are already in the works, such as an exhibition slated to open at the University of Pittsburgh in March. The Tree of Life is partnering with the Rauh Jewish Archives to display “many of the gifted items that came into The Tree

This will be the first time that the commu nity “will get a sense of some of those very moving objects,” and will be a sort of preview of what “the museum exhibition on site will feel like.” The intention is for the exhibit to travel around the country, she said.

The Tree of Life continues fundraising, Zawatsky said. So far, it has raised just under $41 million; its comprehensive campaign is $60 million, but the shortfall will not prevent construction from beginning.

Contemporary antisemitism — on both the far-right and the far-left — will be covered at the museum, she said. “The story

is not over, so to speak.”

While The Tree of Life will be telling that story, it will not be making policy statements.

It’s important for us to be an educational institution, to shine a light on antisemitism, to think about how you can bring light into these darkest times, to give people a pathway to helping to uproot antisemitism, but we are not a policy organization, and we’re not an advocacy organization,” Zawatsky said. “There are great institutions in the Jewish world doing that work.” PJC

Toby Tabachnick can be reached at ttabachnick@pittsburghjewishchronicle.org.

Gainey:

Tree of Life:

p Mayor Ed Gainey at a June 2024 press conference, with his former communications director, Maria Montano

Photo by David Rullo

p Amy Spitalnick, speaking at a Sept. 26, 2024, panel on antisemitism and democracy that The Tree of Life co-hosted at Sixth & I

Photo by Ari Strauss

My Jewish family was forced out of our homeland. We must not let Gazans suffer the same fate.

Igrew up on stories of exile. My family was forced out of Iraq and Tunisia for being Jewish — homes stolen, communities erased and history rewritten. To this day, too many people insist it was “voluntary migration,” as if nearly a million Jews in Arab lands simply woke up one morning and decided to leave behind centuries of roots, culture and history.

I’ve spent years pushing back against that erasure, making it clear that my family — and so many others — were forced to leave. And yet, today, I see a disturbing echo of that same denial. The same people who overlooked Mizrahi Jews’ suffering are now casually advocating for the forced displacement of Palestinians as “the only option” to deal with Hamas’ terror.

Reactions to President Donald Trump’s statement last week about removing Palestinians from Gaza ranged from some voices applauding it as a necessary step — one online commentator even told me it was time to “try something new to solve this conflict” — to anti-Israel activists using it as “evidence” of Israeli intentions, to extremists on both sides seizing it to justify their absolutist solutions for this conflict.

I see things differently, because I don’t have to imagine what forced displacement does to a people. I see it in my own family, even 75 years later. My grandmother still speaks of Baghdad — not just as a city, but as her other homeland that was taken from her. The trauma of being uprooted never left her, nor did the deep pain of knowing that an entire world of Jewish life in Iraq was erased in a single generation. Yes, we rebuilt. Yes, Israel gave my family refuge. But what was

lost can never be fully regained.

This is what’s missing from the argument that Palestinians would be “better off” leaving Gaza — that they would have safer, more comfortable lives if they were resettled elsewhere. It’s the same logic that was used to justify the expulsion of Jews from Arab lands. And while my family may have found security in Israel, that doesn’t mean the original trauma was justified. Nor does it account for the cultural and communal

I am not talking about efforts — if they exist — to give Gazans who wish to seek refuge elsewhere the ability to do so. That is their right. I am talking about the fantasy that all Palestinians in Gaza will be wiped out or relocated to some as-yet-undetermined place, as if that were a serious solution.

Of course, the plan to displace Gazans that Trump floated, alongside Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu last week, is unlikely to end up getting carried out.

The more we entertain the idea that one side must be erased for the other to live, the further we get from any future that isn’t defined by endless war.

annihilation that came with it.

The destruction of Gaza under Hamas’ rule is undeniable. But forced displacement doesn’t solve that problem — it only ensures that the pain and resentment of this war will last for generations. I am not blind to the fact that anti-Zionists today demand the ethnic cleansing of Jews from Israel. Not only is that hateful, but it fundamentally denies the Jewish people’s historic connection to the land of Israel. That’s racism. And it’s unacceptable.

Indeed, the loudest voices in the “Free Palestine” movement aren’t calling for a two-state solution. They’re not talking about peace. They want Israel gone. They want Jewish sovereignty erased. They don’t see Oct. 7 as an atrocity — they see it as a model.

But you don’t fight anti-Zionist eliminationism with eliminationist rhetoric of your own. You don’t counter the fantasy of erasing Israel by proposing the same for Gaza.

That’s not strength. That’s surrender — to the idea that this is a zero-sum war where one side must be erased for the other to survive.

Let’s be honest: Relocating Palestinians from Gaza is never going to happen. No Arab country will get on board. Saudi Arabia rushed to release a statement making it clear they won’t normalize relations with Israel without a Palestinian state. Egypt and Jordan have always said they won’t take in Palestinians from Gaza. No American administration — least of all one that ran on ending wars and tightening borders — will commit troops to enforce it or open the gates to Palestinian refugees.

This is political theater.

We’ve seen this play before. Netanyahu and Trump previously dangled West Bank annexation only to “concede” it in exchange for the Abraham Accords. Now, Trump is floating this logistical insanity — likely knowing it will never happen — to position himself as the only one who can “negotiate it down.”

But here’s the real danger: While world leaders understand this is just bluster, the people watching — especially online — think it’s real. And that’s a serious threat to us. Because when these extreme ideas enter

the mainstream, they don’t just fade away. They stick. They fuel conspiracies. They get used to painting all Jews as complicit in a plan that doesn’t even exist. And once again, we become the scapegoat.

Political leaders pushing these ideas aren’t protecting Jews. They’re making us targets. Jews deserve better than to be associated with unrealistic, cruel proposals that will almost certainly never happen but will absolutely be used against us.

And if there’s one thing I know from my family’s history, it’s that displacement only creates new wounds; it does not heal old ones. The Jews who were expelled from Arab lands never found justice, and Palestinians won’t either if they are forcibly removed from Gaza.

Hamas started this war. Hamas is responsible for this war. But the people in Gaza shouldn’t have to pay for a tyranny that rules over them with an iron fist. Many of them, as we’ve seen from footage throughout this war, oppose Hamas and do not want to live under their control.

The more we entertain the idea that one side must be erased for the other to live, the further we get from any future that isn’t defined by endless war.

There are no magic wands here. No shortcuts. And no amount of forced migration — of Jews or Palestinians — will bring the peace we all deserve.

The only way forward is to dismantle Hamas, empower Palestinian leaders who reject extremism and invest in a long-term solution where both peoples can live with security, dignity and self-determination — without adding to the traumas that must be overcome another episode of ethnic cleansing like what my family experienced. PJC

Hen Mazzig is an Israeli author and the founder of TLVi.org, a nonprofit dedicated to combating hate and misinformation online. This article first appeared on JTA.

From Auschwitz to Gaza: The unfolding horror and its implications

In late February 1945, among the first reports on the horrors of Auschwitz was one by a Polish officer, Lt. Wacław Lipiński, who wrote in the Polpress Bulletin, “Those who have survived don’t look like human beings, they are mere shadows.”

Decades later, those words find a chilling echo in the images of three Israeli hostages — Eli Sharabi, Ohad Ben Ami and Or Levy — freed on Feb. 8 from Hamas captivity. Emaciated, pale and visibly broken, they emerged as specters of their former selves as they were forced onto a stage in Deir al-Balah, one of Gaza’s less war-torn areas. There, Hamas paraded them

before the cameras, presenting their suffering as a statement of defiance. Behind them, a banner read: “We are the Nakba,” a chilling promise of continued destruction.

The event was a grotesque spectacle. The hostages, under the gaze of masked Hamas militants and Al Jazeera’s cameras, were made to listen to a speech before being forced to speak themselves. Sharabi learned from his captors that his older brother, Yossi, also a hostage, had been murdered in captivity. Upon his return to Israel, he learned that his wife and two daughters were murdered in their home in Be’eri on Oct. 7, 2023. Ohad Ben Ami, whose mother lamented that he now looked like an 80-year-old man, was reunited with his wife, Raz, who had been kidnapped alongside him and was released in November 2023. Or Levy, who had been covered in his wife’s blood at the Nova music festival, where she was murdered — returned to his 3-year-old son, the only surviving member

of his immediate family.

The display of these survivors is a stark reminder that Hamas continues its brutality despite its military defeats. Their tunnels and hideouts in Gaza still bear witness to the inhumanity they perpetrate. The images of these men before their abduction — healthy, strong, posing with their families — fuel anger and despair. Some of the first hostages released, possibly strengthened with vitamins in the final weeks, gave the illusion of a hopeful recovery. But this latest group underscores a grim truth: Hamas is not just a terrorist organization; it is an embodiment of cruelty at its most extreme. Hamas has been accused of beheading children, raping and mutilating women, and burning entire families alive — acts of unspeakable horror.

President Donald Trump, who has framed Hamas as an unrelenting terrorist threat, has advocated for the complete eradication of its

presence in Gaza and beyond. He said that he had seen images of Oct. 7 and understood the horror that Hamas had committed. In contrast, international bodies such as the United Nations have often failed to grasp the gravity of the situation.

For Israel, the urgency to eliminate Hamas has only intensified, alongside a broader strategic focus on its main backer — Iran.

The latest round of negotiations focuses on a second phase of the hostage deal, potentially allowing the release of even more Palestinian prisoners, including those serving multiple life sentences. But Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has signaled that Israel will not let the horrors of these past months go unanswered. Gal Hirsch, the Israeli official responsible for hostage affairs, has warned Hamas to cease its mistreatment of captives. Yet such warnings

Chronicle poll results: Discontinuing DEI

Last week, the Chronicle asked its readers in an electronic poll the following question: “Do you approve of President Trump discontinuing DEI programs in the federal government?” Of the 435 people who responded, 68% said no; 29% said yes; and 3% said they weren’t sure. Comments were submitted by 107 people. A few follow.

We have legitimate concerns that leadership needs to be facing, like climate change and the cost of living, and attacks on these programs are neither beneficial nor useful to anyone who isn’t hell-bent on culture wars.

It is racist, cruel and serves no purpose other than to intensify the worst attitudes about our fellow citizens. There was a time when Jews were excluded from jobs, schools, hotels, etc., in this country, because there were too many of us who wanted to exercise our civil rights. Are we going back to a time when white men only need apply for jobs, schools and the like?

A person should get any job based on their qualifications, experience and education.

After only two weeks in office, he has totally proven that he is a dictator. I fear for the future of this country.

DEI programs are good in theory, but have become dangerous to Jews as they deem Jews as oppressors.

As a country, we are strengthened by diversity and inclusion.

I think by now it’s clear that with whatever genuinely good intentions there were behind DEI initially, it’s been abused and used to silo and self-serve particular minority groups over others.

Reviewing a program before making changes is OK. But killing it without any review is unacceptable. We don’t know whether DEI is good or bad — only that some don’t like it.

Diversification helps assure that the government represents and serves all members of our society, attracts the best qualified from our entire population, and provides opportunities and advancement for groups previously disqualified. If well managed, it benefits the entire country. Our history has shown that eliminating the goal of equality and inclusion could lead to exclusion.

DEI tries to right wrongs, but it goes too far in the opposite direction and is now causing more racism than it’s solving. We need a color-blind world right now.

DEI is bad for Jews. At the heart of DEI is a simple binary: The world is divided between oppressors and the oppressed. According to DEI, Israel is a bastion of Jewish whiteness, with a racist commitment to shattering the lives of nonwhite Palestinian Arabs. Hence, the campus groups most associated with DEI are now leading the antisemitic charge.

I’ll approve of getting rid of DEI when women get paid as much as men for the same work and there is the same percentage of people of color in government and boards of directors as in the general population. DEI was a Band-Aid on a wound Trump is rubbing salt into right now. PJC

— Compiled by Toby Tabachnick

Chronicle weekly poll question: Who should control Gaza after the war? Go to pittsburghjewishchronicle.org to respond. PJC

may ultimately prove meaningless in the face of an adversary that thrives on terror.

Hamas envisions Auschwitz, but Israel stands as its historical antithesis. The nation has already demonstrated its resilience and military prowess — crushing Hamas, confronting

Warwick defends vote on council bill

Hezbollah, neutralizing Syrian military sites and pushing Iran into a defensive stance. But Netanyahu faces a critical paradox: Hamas, by showcasing its atrocities, aims to pressure Israel into a ceasefire that would guarantee its survival. For Israel, the challenge is to rescue its hostages while ensuring Hamas’ complete destruction — a process that cannot be accomplished overnight and requires a longterm strategic plan.

As rage and sorrow simmer, patience emerges as Israel’s primary weapon, followed by decisive, uncompromising action. Trump’s vision — a radical and clear-cut approach — suggests that new, determined forces must enter the equation. Meanwhile, mediators like Qatar, widely seen as complicit in Hamas’ activities, must be sidelined. This is the first major shift that must take place. Trump may already understand this. Whether the rest of the world

will follow suit remains uncertain. PJC Fiamma Nirenstein is an Italian-Israeli journalist, author and senior research fellow at the Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs. An adviser on antisemitism to Israel’s foreign minister, she previously served in the Italian parliament (2008–2013) as vice president of the Foreign Affairs Committee. This article first appeared on JNS.

This letter is to address concerns raised about my “no” vote on City Council Bill 1426. (“Pittsburgh must not be a pawn for ideological extremists,” Feb. 7.)

I voted “yes” on Bill 1425, introducing a ballot referendum to amend the Home Rule Charter to prohibit discrimination in who may conduct business with the city. But given the current climate in Washington D.C., its companion bill, 1426 — which prohibits the use of the Home Rule Charter Amendment process to “add duties or obligations beyond the lawful scope of the city’s authority” — gives me pause.

The current administration and the Republican legislature supporting it are doing everything in their power to normalize and codify discrimination and bigotry at the highest level of government, with the intent of overriding the power of states and local municipalities. We are watching it happen in real time with neo-Nazi salutes at federal ceremonies, “anti-DEI” policies, executive orders against trans kids playing sports and the elimination of due process for undocumented immigrants — just to name a few. For this reason, I believe it is ill-advised to proactively hamstring Pittsburgh voters’ ability to pursue ballot referendum measures to amend the Home Rule Charter in ways that a higher body of government may deem illegal. Also, 1425 and 1426 will have no impact on whether the Not on Our Dime referendum measure appears on the ballot, as all three measures would appear together for voters in May — leaving it in the hands of the courts anyway.

In short, basic protections for all sorts of disenfranchised and minority groups are at risk of being outlawed nationally by the Trump administration. If Pittsburghers want to address that through the Home Rule Charter referendum process, we should preserve our ability to do so.

I hope that helps clarify my vote.

Barb Warwick

Pittsburgh City Councilmember, District 5

Regarding Warwick, Judaism counsels to ‘judge favorably’

I know Councilwoman Barb Warwick as a diligent and careful representative, who attends many of our community’s events for meaningful conversation, not photo-ops. I’m comfortable with how she pledged to not support the ridiculous upcoming anti-Israel proposal, cautioned against its enforceability even if successful, then voted to approve one of her colleague’s two ventures to insure against it.

So I was dismayed by the vitriolic guest column accusing her of “failing to forcefully oppose” the group of citizens who brought the proposal, and “remaining silent” on their motivations (“Pittsburgh must not be a pawn for ideological extremists,” Feb. 7).

The Torah warns against political calumny often, and harshly.

When Miriam and Aaron were overly critical of Moses out of some resentments, the Lord rebuked them for not considering the unique relationships and difficulties of his leadership position and inflicted Miriam with leprosy for a week.

When Korah led 250 prominent Israelites in rebellion, preying on doubt to cloak their own ambition in a guise of justice, the Lord made the earth swallow them up.

And when the 10 spies badly exaggerated the dangers awaiting Israelites in Canaan, fear-mongering and causing unnecessary strife, not only did the Lord punish their whole generation, but those misrepresentations set back the entire Jewish nation 40 years!

I don’t believe that opinion article merits quite those censures. I share in the rage and anxiety that this war and the ignorant antisemitism it has stirred inflict daily. I just feel most grounded responding to Jews’ adversities with timeworn Jewish values.

Dan L’Chaf Zechut, or “judging others favorably,” means giving people benefit of doubt when judging their intentions. Machloket L’Shem Shamayim or “disagreements for the sake of heaven” means noting the distinction between constructive debate and destructive egocentric conflict. Much of politics is about conversation, but I fear we’ve been terrorized out of using those helpful tools. Let’s strive to center them again.

Bram

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Reichbaum Squirrel Hill

Life & Culture

Poor man’s tuna niçoise salad

For the vinaigrette:

¼ cup red wine vinegar

¾ cup olive oil

By Jessica Grann | Special to the Chronicle

When I’m overdue for a vacation with lots of sunshine, I cook the foods that I’ve had in my favorite places — and niçoise salad takes me right to where I want to be.

This salad is overflowing with vegetables and drizzled with a garlicky, herb-filled vinaigrette that you’ll want to keep on hand to enjoy with other meals.

The ingredients are simple, but the flavors are intense. Instead of searing a more expensive tuna fillet, I use Italian tuna stored in olive oil — hence this is the “poor man’s” version that still tastes like a million.

Niçoise olives are not always easy to find, so you can substitute any other black olive, preferably cured in oil.

You can prepare the ingredients hours before serving, then assemble the salad when you need it. I love to serve this for Shabbat lunch when I’m having a fish course, and it’s a beautiful option for a nice dinner any day of the week.

The salad and dressing are pareve.

Ingredients

For the salad:

1 bag spring mix or spinach

5-6 eggs, medium- to hard-boiled

1 pound trimmed green beans, steamed

1 pound small potatoes, boiled or steamed

1 large English cucumber or 6 Persian cucumbers, thinly sliced

1 pound cherry tomatoes, whole or halved

¾ cup niçoise olives or oil-cured black olives

2 cans Genova yellowfin tuna in olive oil

2 tablespoons finely chopped shallot

2-3 cloves garlic, minced

3 teaspoons Dijon mustard

¼ teaspoon sea salt

¼ teaspoon black pepper

1 teaspoon dried parsley

1 teaspoon dried dill

½ teaspoon dried marjoram

½ teaspoon dried thyme

¼ teaspoon sugar

You can prepare the eggs, potatoes and green beans a day ahead, just wrap them well and store individually in the fridge.

If you have a steamer pot with a tight-fitting lid, you can steam all the ingredients over medium-high heat. The eggs take 7-9 minutes, depending on how well done you prefer them. The green beans take 6-8 minutes, and the potatoes take about 20 minutes, or until fork-tender.

You can blanche the green beans and boil the potatoes and eggs the conventional way, if that’s easier for you.

Rinse the eggs, green beans and potatoes in cold water as soon as you take them off the stove. This keeps the green beans and the potatoes firm, and soaking the eggs in a bowl of cold water keeps them from overcooking.

When preparing the salad, slice the vegetables and eggs however you like.

Open the tuna cans and use a fork to flake the tuna into another boil, with the oil. The olive oil from the fish has salt and a lot of flavor. Don’t grind the tuna down too fine.

Add a little black pepper if you like.

Use a mixing bowl or a Mason jar to prepare the vinaigrette.

Add the vinegar, Dijon mustard, shallots, garlic, herbs, salt and pepper, and whisk well.

Whisk in the olive oil slowly in a steady stream and don’t stop whisking for about 2 minutes. This will emulsify the oil with the vinegar and keep the dressing from separating.

all together.

I drizzle the vinaigrette over the potatoes and green beans before adding them to the platter, then serve the extra dressing on the side for those who’d like more.

This dressing will keep nicely in the fridge for about 2 weeks if sealed well.

This salad looks best laid out on a large platter. You can put the vegetables in groups over the top of the lettuce, or you can mix it

Top off the salad with the chunked tuna and olives and serve with crusty bread or garlic croutons.

Enjoy and bless your hands! PJC

Jessica Grann is a home chef living in Pittsburgh.

p Poor man’s tuna niçoise salad

Photo by Jessica Grann

Torah Celebrations

Bat Mitzvah

Hayley Alexis Wasserman will be called to the Torah as a bat mitzvah at B’nai Torah Congregation, Boca Raton, Florida, on Feb. 15, 2025. Hayley is the daughter of Jamie and Evan Wasserman of Boca Raton; sister of Sydney; granddaughter of Dr. Robert and Debbie Cohen, formerly of Pittsburgh, and Dr. Bryan and Hedy Wasserman, of Boca Raton; great-granddaughter of Jacqueline Weiser, formerly of Pittsburgh, of Delray Beach. Hayley has a passion for baking and her mitzvah project will share her love of sweets by preparing and delivering homemade baked goods to residents of local elderly homes to bring joy, comfort and connection to seniors.

Engagements

Dr. David Spokane and Sharon Spokane announce the engagement of their daughter Julia Alana to Peter Kazas, son of George and Silvia Kazas, all of Beaver, Pennsylvania. Julia’s grandparents are Mel and Bette Spokane of Cranberry Township, and Richard and Barbara Augustine of Florida. Peter is the grandson of the late Martin and Sheila Silverman, and Peter and Maria Kazas. Julia is in law school at Duquesne University and Peter is a facility leader at FASTER Fitness and sales director of Calithea Enterprises, LLC.

Lori and Eric Taper joyfully announce the engagement of their Paige Elizabeth Taper to Zachery omas, son of Chris omas and Angela Cook. Paige is the granddaughter of the late Rae and Eugene Kubitz, and the late Lillian and Harold Taper. Zach is the grandson of the late Joann Chapman. Paige is a registered nurse and Zach is a union carpenter. A June 2026 wedding is planned.

Steven and Wendy Kahn, of Portland, Oregon, are very pleased to announce the engagement of their daughter, Rebecca Kahn (Pittsburgh JCC director of Jewish teen leadership) to Zev Woskoff, son of Scott Woskoff and Sara Shutkin of Whitefish Bay, Wisconsin. PJC

One people, with one heart

This week we read in shul of the Sinai experience — how God appeared before the entire Jewish people assembled at Mount Sinai, proclaimed the Ten Commandments and gave them the Torah. Our Sages teach that when the Jews assembled at Sinai, they gathered “as one person, with one heart.” At that moment, all the Jewish people joined in unity and harmony with one another. The Hasidic teachers tell us that it was only in the context of that unity, where each person felt themself to be one with everyone else, that it was possible for ordinary human beings — with all our flaws and foibles — to receive the Torah. How could ordinary people hope to express Godliness in every facet of our lives? We all well know how we’re prone to making wrong choices, to being lazy or impatient or irate with others. How could we possibly promise to God that we’d live each day aspiring to holiness?

The answer is that we are indeed limited when we think in terms of ourselves alone. But when we bring others into our lives, when we truly value and genuinely appreciate one another, then our strengths combine with those of our friends and our neighbors, and all the folks we cherish for who they are. As individuals, we could never hope to become God’s people. But when we come together as one, with one heart, then there are no limits to what we can achieve.

The Talmud tells of the incredible patience displayed by the great sage Hillel the Elder. One day, so the story goes, someone wagered that he could make Hillel angry. It was just before Shabbos and Hillel was preparing for its arrival. The man rushed to Hillel’s home and cried, “Hillel the Elder! Where is Hillel the Elder?” At the time, Hillel was washing himself, but he interrupted his preparations, wrapped himself in his clothes and went to the one who was calling him. “What do you want, my son?” he asked. The man proceeded to ask foolish and nonsensical questions, one after another, and to each one Hillel responded patiently. Finally, the man burst out, “I hope that there are not many more in Israel like you! Because of you I have lost 400 pieces of gold, for I had bet that I could make you angry. ”

Hillel replied, “Better that you should lose 400 pieces of gold, and 400 more after that, than it should be said of Hillel that he lost his temper!”

The Hasidic masters said it is no coincidence that this story took place just before Shabbos. For, in fact, this generosity of spirit and forbearance toward others was part of Hillel’s Shabbos preparations. When the Sabbath neared, and Hillel readied himself to experience the day with God, he thought also about how he might bring others into his life. And with that spirit, he felt ready to experience the holiness of the Sabbath. PJC

Rabbi Levi Langer is the dean of the Kollel Jewish Learning Center. This column is a service of the Vaad Harabonim of

Obituaries

FINKELSTEIN: Arthur “Poppa” Finkelstein passed away on Jan. 1, 2025, at the age of 96. Arthur was the beloved husband of the late Thelma “Nana” Finkelstein. He is survived by his children, Judy Kramer (Howard), Jay Finkelstein (Megan) and Jill Eidelman (Gary). He was the beloved Poppa to his grandchildren Justin Kramer (Eva Davis), Stacy Kuckley (Josh) Scott Kramer, Zach Finkelstein (Dianna Devito), Seth Finkelstein, Taylor Finkelstein, Sara Eidelman Michaels (BJ), Joshua Eidelman, Eric Eidelman (Sarah Kazazz), and great-grandchildren Charlotte Kramer, Henry Kramer, Gabriel Michaels and Theo Kuckley. Arthur, first and foremost, passionately loved his family. He enjoyed family vacations at

Beth is survived by her mother, Phyllis Subar of West Bloomfield, Michigan; her husband of 35 years, Michael; her three children, Eric (Abigail), Max Zack, and Alana (fiancé Samer); her grandson, Joshua; her three brothers, Jeffrey (partner Marie Cooke), Neal (Carol), and Lorin (Flora); sister-in-law Stephanie; an aunt and uncle in Israel and many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. She is also the daughter of the late Seymour Subar and daughter-in-law of the late William (Bill) and Barbara Yoffee. Carol Beth was born on July 29, 1963, in Detroit, Michigan, to Phyllis and the late Seymour Subar. She graduated from the University of Michigan in 1985, where she met her husband and the love of her life, Michael. They were married in 1989. After a short stint in Washington, D.C., Carol Beth and Michael settled in Pittsburgh where they raised three children, Eric, Max Zack and Alana. Carol Beth was always very creative and artistic, exploring and mastering a variety of art forms throughout her life, including interior design, artisan bread baking, beading, paper quilling, jewelry making, drawing, sketching and water coloring. She was instrumental in founding Pittsburgh Urban Sketchers and her work has been displayed around the city (some of her creative legacy can be found at Carolbeth.com). Seeing the faces of people enjoying her artwork always filled her with happiness. Carol Beth was also a passionate teacher and worked in school administration in Pittsburgh’s Jewish community. She taught Hebrew school for over 15 years at Beth Shalom and Rodef Shalom synagogues. She worked in the administration at Community Day School, applying her phenomenal organizational talents and skills. And she individually tutored dozens of students to prepare them for their bar/bat mitzvot. Watching her students learn, grow and succeed brought her an immense amount of joy, particularly when she saw them take pride in their own accomplishments. Those who knew Carol Beth will remember her for her infectious smile, her ability to light up a room, and her selfless pursuit of helping others. She had a rare gift of leaving a lasting impact on all who crossed her path. A special thank you to Dr. Helen Analo, and the entire team of doctors, nursing and support staff at Allegheny Health Network, West Penn Hospital and Allegheny General Hospital who provided Carol Beth with unwavering guidance, support and strength through her long, roller coaster journey and battle with cancer. Also, thank you to Sivitz Jewish Hospice for their compassionate care during this difficult time. “Life is too short not to do what you enjoy. I have many interests, but all of my joys lead to one motive in life: making others happy.” — Carol Beth. Donations in memory of Carol Beth may be made to 412 Food Rescue, 6140 Station Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15206, Sivitz Hospice c/o Jewish Association on Aging, 200 JHF Drive, Pittsburgh, PA 15217, or any cause or charity of your choice. Services were held at Ralph Schugar Chapel, Inc. Interment Beth Shalom Cemetery. schugar.com PJC

Contact the Development department at 412-586-2690 or development@jaapgh.org for more information. THIS WEEK’S YAHRZEITS —

Sunday February 16: Myer Borovetz, Saul Frank, Marcus Gropper, Max Halle, Irving Hochhauser, Lillian Y Horwitz, Samuel M Krause, Ernest Metzger, Mildred Pechersky, Jennie Pink, Elsie L Plesset, Freda Z Rosen, Rose Rosenfeld, Irving Ross, Alexander Roth, Mark J Serbin, Philip Solomon, Leon Stein, Mabel Z Swartz, Lois Cohen Waldman

Monday February 17: Bertha Ackerman, William Barnett, Newman Cohen, Esther Goodman, Ethel Greenberg, Myer Grossman, Selma B Katz, Sally Marcovsky, Rose Schlessinger

Tuesday February 18: Fannye P Balkman, Edith Cohen, Reuben A Cohen, Hattie Debroff, Hannah R Eliashof, Rose Fireman, Celia Glantz, Herman Glass, Robert Kane, Rose Klein, Haim Lazarus, Dr William B Lieberman, Mathilda Marcus, William D Orr, Rena Pollock, William Racusin, Sara Rubenstein, Philip Schmeiser, Frank Stark, Joseph Stein, Geraldine Tyson, Ruth Weinberger, Arthur Weiner

Wednesday February 19: Rose Avner, Jacob E Canter, Gerald Lee Goldman, Lena Gutkind, Aaron Hirschman, Irving Krasnopoler, Samuel Pasekoff, Edward Schultz, Bella M Sherman, Isaac Wolovitz, Oscar Zeidenstein

Thursday February 20: Mary Americus, Phillip Caplan, David Cohen, A L Davidson, Sara R Kitay, Miriam F Kopelson, William M Lowenstein, Melvin Morgan, Esther Phillips, Abraham Ripp, Sylvia Rosen, Pauline Salkovitz, Milton Sapir, Benjamin Silberman, Abraham Silverberg, Frances Simon, Jacob I Slotsky, Norman “Hemmy” Stern, Wilma J Tumpson, Herman Weisberger, Harry A Wilkofsky, Rose Zwick

Friday February 21: Irwin Alper, Dorothy Buckdrucker Lewinter, Harry N Cohen, Jacob Gerber, Harry Glick, Belle Green, Joseph Hirsh, Benjamin Horvitz, Vivian S Hyman, Hyman Koss, Sarah Liebman, Eli London, Abe Markowitz, Esther Rice, Sophie Rosen, Cele Rosman, Jack Weber, Anna Witt

Saturday February 22: Ida S Barron Hochberg, Morris Marvin Berger, Max Coffee, Frieda Feinberg, Reuben Goldstein, Rose Goldstein, George Kalb, Rae G Labovitz, Bertha Lieber, Meyer Maglin, Anna Myers, Lillian W Rothman, Benjamin Sachs, Sara Stuart, Jacob D Titlebaum, Tillie T Udman, Eli G Weinthal, Fannie Williams

D’Alessandro

This is one in a series of articles about Elder Law by Michael H. Marks., Esq.

Michael H. Marks is an elder law attorney with offices in Squirrel Hill. Send questions to michael@marks-law.com or visit www.marks-law.com.

What is probate? When is it or isn’t it needed? What does it cost and how long does it take?

Probate is a process of transferring property (and responsibility for debts) from someone who died, to whoever else who will get it next. The process is supervised by local government authorities to make sure that it’s all done right – that the bills and creditors got paid, and whatever’s left over goes to the people who are supposed to get it.

Here is a key idea: It’s not a horror or a nightmare. It’s a clerical, legal PAPERWORK PROCESS. My clients in a probate estate administration almost never see a Judge. It’s just paperwork – all of which can be required legally to accomplish certain practical goals.

When is probate NOT needed? When assets are left behind that have the name of a surviving person already attached to them as e.g. joint depositors with right of survivorship on a bank acct, joint owners with right of survivorship (including husband and wife) of real estate, Pay on Death beneficiary on life insurance, or a retirement account or investment account. Those transfers bypass probate and go to the named beneficiary, most like directly and automatically. Those written designations are like signed, in advance, written instructions from the person who died to the company, telling the company “when I die, give the money to this person.” The

WHAT IS PROBATE?

company will then give the money to whoever is named, without needing to wait for any probate or probate court paperwork.

Sometimes, for smaller amounts of certain kinds of funds, (e.g. bank deposits, wages owed to a decedent, life insurance or PA unclaimed property, or amounts less than either $10,000 or $11,000) can be paid to an immediate family member without probate paperwork. There are other exceptions, too.

When IS probate needed? You need probate legal paperwork to get access to property left behind in the name of the decedent only, when there is NO beneficiary named to receive it automatically. Then, the bank, insurance or investment company ordinarily won’t release the money EXCEPT to the person officially appointed by the local authorities to be in charge as an Executor or Administrator - – with legal responsibilities to act properly and report back on their actions.

Is it unusual to have some probate proceedings and some non-probate at the same time? No, it is very common. For example, Mrs. Brown, a widow, might have her daughters’ names on her bank accounts and insurance policies, but kept her house in her name only. The bank account is a non-probate asset while the house must pass through probate. What does probate cost? There are filing fees for official filings but most of the expense is for attorney fees to navigate a foreign system of bureaucratic paperwork. As a general rule of thumb or guideline idea, for many middle class individuals’ estates, the attorney fees might be in the range of about five (5%) percent of the total assets, plus or minus -- and subject to variation.

Larger estates with economies of scale tend to cost less as a portion of assets. Estates with relatively greater or lesser proportions of probate vs. n0n-probate assets affect the bottom line, too

How long does it take? (Surprise:) It depends, on, for example, how many participants are involved, how many banks or financial companies, and - sometimes - on if they happen to be more or less cooperative. If there’s real estate to be sold, then longer, perhaps a year, as a general notion, but again, plus or minus.

Most of the time spent close to the end is often just waiting for approval of the Pennsylvania Inheritance Tax Return.

Does Pennsylvania Inheritance Tax depend on assets going through probate or not? Generally, no. It depends more on what type of asset, how it was held or transmitted, and who it is going to receive it in relation to you.

When DO you want assets to go through probate? Suppose I want my estate to go into Trust, created under my Will, for the benefit of my children, If I name them directly as beneficiaries, the accounts will pass outside of probate directly to my kids as beneficiaries –BUT then they will bypass the trust provisions under my Will, which is not what I want. Here, a trade-off or compromise would be to do some extra legal probate estate paperwork, so assets pass under my Will, through probate, and into the trust created under that will.

Can I leave IRA or retirement account money under a Will through probate? You can, but often it’s better for tax purposes to name beneficiaries directly when appropriate.

At Marks Elder Law, we help people every day with issues like these. I invite your questions and feedback. Please let me know how I can help you and your family.

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Community

We got the beat Jewish day school students from Hillel Academy of Pittsburgh and Yeshiva Schools of Pittsburgh

and

Chabad House on Campus welcomed students for dinner

discussion.

Beth El Religious School participated in World Wide Wrap. The annual program, which was sponsored by Beth El’s Men’s Club, enabled students and parents to learn about the mitzvah of wearing

p The ties that bind

Photos courtesy of Beth El Congregation of the South Hills