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March 13, 2026 | 24 Adar 5786

Candlelighting 7:07 p.m. | Havdalah 8:06 p.m. | Vol. 69, No. 11 | pittsburghjewishchronicle.org

Rodef Shalom, Temple Sinai create ‘a house for all of us’

NOTEWORTHY LOCAL The case for college in Israel

Low cost, high value

LOCAL

There were a few other stipulations for the name, Battistone said. “We decided that we wanted to use Hebrew,” he said. “We felt that was important being a synagogue. We also weren’t entertaining any geographical names. We weren’t looking for ‘East End Synagogue’ or ‘Reform Synagogue of Pittsburgh.’ We wanted it to be more than a physical address. We were looking for something that embodied the journey we’ve been on for the last two years.” More than 200 submissions were received before three were chosen by leaders from both congregations, including senior staff, members of the unification committee and board members. The three choices were then put forward for members to rank. The new name was ranked as the first selection by about two-thirds of the respondents. In the end, they didn’t need to venture far from the original theme. The new congregation, which will be housed at the current Rodef Shalom location, will go by the name Beit Kulanu, meaning “a house for all of us.”

srael’s chief rabbinate may soon have full control over prayer at all parts of the Western Wall, following a Feb. 25 vote (56 to 47) in favor of a preliminary reading of a bill in the Knesset, introduced by Knesset member Avi Maoz, who is part of the far-right Noam party. The bill, which would imprison anyone for up to seven years for praying at the Kotel contrary to Orthodox standards, has caused anxiety and alarm for progressive Jewish groups both in Israel and the Diaspora. The Association of Reform Zionists of America released a statement saying, “the holiest site of the Jewish people must allow all Jews to pray as they wish — Israelis and Jews from the Diaspora alike.” It went on to say that “at a time when Jewish unity is needed, the Israeli government is isolating 85% of the world’s Jewish population from one of our faith’s holiest sites. This affects bar/bat/b’nai mitzvahs, conversions, life-cycle moments, and basic dignity of prayer. It is a backwards step from a democratic Israel that celebrates religious pluralism, where all forms of Jewish identity are celebrated.” The Union of Reform Judaism condemned the preliminary vote, calling it “unprecedented,” and saying that the Kotel “does not belong to one stream of Judaism.” It noted that outside of Israel, 85% of Jews worship in egalitarian communities. Criminalizing non-Orthodox prayer at the Western Wall, it said, “would alienate millions of Jews from the State of Israel at a time when Jewish unity is both fragile and essential.”

Please see Unification, page 18

Please see Bill, page 18

Tracing the steps of our foremothers

Page 3

LOCAL An interfaith spring celebration

Passover and Holi Page 4

LOCAL Both sides of the canvas

The art of Allan Rosenfield Page 21

Non-Orthodox leaders react to bill that would give Israel’s chief rabbinate control of Kotel By David Rullo | Senior Staff Writer

Page 2

Yeshiva Girls’ inspirational trip to the Jewish state

p Beit Kulanu, the new congregation resulting from the unification of Rodef Shalom Congregation and Temple Sinai, will be housed in Rodef Shalom’s synagogue building. Photo courtesy of Rodef Shalom Congregation By David Rullo | Pittsburgh Jewish Chronicle

fter Rodef Shalom Congregation and Temple Sinai announced plans to unify last year, there was a pressing matter that needed to be resolved as the two Reform congregations began pondering clergy, staff, finances and buildings: a new name. Leadership from both congregations wanted a fresh, distinctive name that did not include any words from the former names, which carried special meaning for their members, explained Bill Battistone, president of Rodef Shalom. Those four words, he said, have served the community well and, like the jersey number of a retired sports star, deserved to be retired and hung in the rafters. When it was announced that the unified congregation would have a new name, members were asked to submit suggestions based around the theme “a house for all,” which makes “space for the legacies of both congregations while pointing to a future that reflects openness, welcoming and belonging,” Battistone and Temple Sinai President Marcie Solomon wrote in an email.

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Headlines Program at Hillel Academy to spotlight Israeli universities for U.S. applicants an organization that facilitates immigration to Israel for North Americans. Kreisberger returned to the U.S. after graduating college. Those interested in a similar path, he said, should consider that a year of tuition in the U.S. costs about the same amount “as I paid for my entire degree.”

— LOCAL — By Adam Reinherz | Senior Staff Writer

ith Jewish life on campus guiding the decisions of many U.S. college applicants, an Arizonan is coming to Pittsburgh to tell students and families to consider post-secondary schooling in Israel. Eli Kreisberger, the North American engagement manager for JLIC College in Israel, will speak at Hillel Academy of Pittsburgh on March 17 at 6 p.m. Open to the entire community, the program, Kreisberger said, will cover college in Israel, various programs and pathways, and “what living in Israel as a student is really like.” Kreisberger, 25, is a graduate of Reichman University, an Israeli institution known for welcoming more than 2,500 students from 90 countries. Though Kreisberger is happy sharing personal reflections from his time abroad, he plans to showcase 11 universities affiliated with JLIC (Jewish Learning Initiative on Campus), a program of the Orthodox Union. Those 11 universities, Kreisberg said, vary in location and offerings. Spanning from Haifa to Beersheba, the educational centers provide nearly 90 programs for international students, with courses delivered solely in English or transitioning to Hebrew over time. On each of its affiliated campuses, JLIC enhances the college experience by giving students a Jewish communal hub, Kreisberger said. Operated typically by a young married couple, each JLIC community provides

Added experience

p Attending college in Israel is a calculation worth considering.

Photo by ThisIsEngineering via Pexels

students on campus with Shabbat and holiday programming, learning opportunities, “whatever you’re looking for.” Kreisberger called JLIC a “Modern Orthodox organization,” but said events cater to Jewish students from various backgrounds. “You have people from all over the place, all over the world, different observances, just a giant melting pot.”

Costs, culture, consideration

Over the past five years, growing numbers of U.S. high school graduates have chosen to attend universities in Israel. Diversity of Jewish life is one factor drawing students abroad. The other, Kreisberger said, is increased antisemitism in the U.S. “There’s

no way to sugarcoat it. Antisemitism on college campuses in America is horrible. Even with the war having died down a little bit, antisemitism still exists, it’s reared its ugly head, and it’s not going away anytime soon.” Economics is another driver, he said. Whether students plan on making aliyah or returning to the U.S. after graduation, attending college in Israel makes financial sense. Tuition in Israel ranges between $5,000-$18,000 per year, according to OU representatives. Students who ultimately move to Israel, and are under age 27, may be eligible for free tuition, according to Nefesh B’Nefesh,

In addition to speaking publicly in Pittsburgh, Kreisberger plans to hold separate sessions with students and other interested parties. Lauren Lieberman, director of college counseling at Hillel Academy and an independent educational consultant, hopes community members use Kreisberger’s visit as an opportunity to broaden perspectives on the college application process. Many families spend considerable time exploring various options. Hearing about different opportunities increases one’s “confidence” when it comes to making a choice, she said. Lieberman sees Kreisberger’s visit as a valuable tool for decision-making. “Since Oct. 7 Jewish families are thinking differently about what life looks like on a college campus,” she said. Kreisberger’s talk will address the ability to receive a high-quality education, lower tuition costs and opportunities to explore Judaism differently; those issues are worth considering, Lieberman said. The program is simply a chance for students and families to “think more broadly, and about what matters and why.” PJC Adam Reinherz can be reached at areinherz@pittsburghjewishchronicle.org.

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Headlines Yeshiva students explore Jewish women’s legacy in Israel — LOCAL — By Adam Reinherz | Senior Staff Writer

early 6,000 miles from Pittsburgh, a group of Jewish high school students gained a sense of positivity and connection. Yeshiva Schools of Pittsburgh brought 26 girls to Israel for a nearly 10-day trip designed to deepen their appreciation for Judaism, the Jewish state and the role of Jewish women. Traveling across the country, students studied texts, sang together and explored Jewish life through a carefully curated educational lens. The impetus for the trip was a “number of factors,” said Leah-Perl Shollar, Yeshiva’s dean of 7-12 Curriculum & Instruction. “Israel is sort of the call of the hour in the sense that after Oct. 7 and the explosion of antisemitism around the world a number of things really surfaced for us.” The Pittsburgh synagogue shooting, the pandemic, Oct. 7 and two years of war have all profoundly affected local Jewish adolescents, Shollar said. “Our students — Jewish kids growing up in Pittsburgh — have been through a lot of really traumatic events,” she said. During repeated conversations with staff, students expressed reluctance to “feel like victims” and a desire for “positive, affirming experiences.” Yeshiva administrators, recognizing their responsibility to nurture the next generation of Jews, knew they didn’t “want to just sit around and talk about how terrible it is right now for the Jewish people,” Shollar said. Visiting Israel generates positivity while helping answer the question of “What does it mean to be a Jewish woman?” For months, Shollar and her colleagues culled biblical and rabbinic materials related to Rachav, Bruriah, the daughters of Zelophehad, Serach bat Asher and other legendary figures. The Talmud calls women a “nation of their own,” Shollar said. The trip needed to reflect that sentiment and leave students feeling a sense of “walking in the footsteps of our ancestors.”

p Yeshiva Schools of Pittsburgh Girls High School students gather in Israel.

While exploring sites north of Jerusalem, educators described numerous Jewish women who battled Roman rule during the Second Temple period. In Safed, students learned about Beruriah, a Talmudic sage regarded for her interpretations and wit. During a boat ride across the Sea of Galilee, students decorated tiny tambourines — an ode to Exodus 15:20 — discussed the prophetess Miriam and reviewed materials regarding the miraculous well, named for Miriam, which was known for providing water to wandering Israelites during a 40-year span in the desert and supposedly remains hidden beneath Galilean waves. The trip, according to Dobie Thaler, principal of grades 7-12, intentionally blended textual study with lived experience. Students gained a unique approach to history by learning “on the road, on the go and in the field,” she said. The biblical matriarchs — Sarah, Rebecca, Rachel and Leah — are often treated as the sole heroines of Jewish history. Readings and site visits granted wider appreciation, Yeshiva 10th grader Sarale Rosenblum explained. Throughout the trip, students constantly

carried packets with printouts. Questions related to the texts were raised in each locale, but greater academic insight wasn’t the only takeaway. Familiar activities, such as distributing candles to strangers on Friday afternoon and celebrating Shabbat, were also meaningful experiences. Spending Shabbat in Jerusalem’s Old City and walking together as a school to the Western Wall were amazing, Sarale, 15, said. “We were all united.” Being in Israel as a school, learning about different Jewish women and “connecting, brought a lot of things to life,” Yeshiva 11th grader Leah Friedman said. Although students enjoyed an academically curated experience, there’s no reason others can’t achieve similarly empowering outcomes, she explained. “Knowing about your history and your roots matters,” Leah, 16, said. Without this understanding it’s difficult to “take things that past women have done and make it real.” Now back in Pittsburgh (they returned before the current conflict with Iran began), Yeshiva administrators wish to continue mining the

Photo courtesy of Yeshiva Schools of Pittsburgh

school trip for meaning. “We’re still unpacking all of it,” but one idea is to assemble photos, video, writings and art produced by students and share it with the wider community, Shollar said. The ideas communicated through this exercise would make clear that many adolescents never venture terribly far from Pittsburgh and that an inundation of “negativity in the news” creates an effect, Thaler said. Yeshiva recognized that “we needed to change that experience.” Educators understand that “everyone has their own experience with Judaism, God and the land. Some people get stuck in their experience, and that shapes who they are.” Taking students out of the classroom and bringing young adults to Israel enabled them to “open their eyes,” she continued. “We saw them find their connection. We know it’s there. That was our agenda for our girls, and we’re passing that along to the rest of our community — everyone can and should go out and explore and find that connection.” PJC Adam Reinherz can be reached at areinherz@pittsburghjewishchronicle.org.

Investigation underway after antisemitic broadcasts, threats to mayor, heard on Pittsburgh radio frequencies — LOCAL — By David Rullo | Senior Staff Writer

ntisemitic messages, threats to Pittsburgh Mayor Corey O’Connor and allusions to the Pittsburgh synagogue shooter have been broadcast over local emergency communications channels during the last week. And while local law enforcement and, possibly, federal authorities investigate the breach, radio silence seems to be the rule among those investigating. The messages began March 2 in the afternoon. They continued into the week and included antisemitic messages, Nazi songs, praises for Hitler and threats against O’Connor. Both the Pittsburgh synagogue shooter and the 2009 shooter who killed three Pittsburgh police officers were also praised in messages. And while city, county and law enforcement officers haven’t said much because of the open investigation, they have shared that the radio systems that allow the county and Pittsburgh public safety personnel to communicate weren’t hacked, nor do they believe the perpetrator acquired lost or stolen radio equipment. PITTSBURGHJEWISHCHRONICLE.ORG

Photo by cottonbro studio via Pexels

If someone wanted to broadcast over law enforcement radios in Allegheny County, it wouldn’t be difficult to access the analog channels. Equipment can be bought online and requires little technical knowledge. Cara Cruz, public information officer with Pittsburgh’s department of Public Safety, said that the county, not the city, was investigating the messages. She did note that city law enforcement had increased patrols at religious institutions in response to events in the Middle East. Kasey Reigner, Allegheny County public information officer, told the Chronicle that county officials understand the anxiety the Jewish community feels given the content of the messages. “This is an active investigation so there isn’t much more we can comment on,” she said.

That message was repeated by FBI Public Affairs Officer Bradford Arick. “I can neither confirm nor deny FBI Pittsburgh’s involvement in this investigation at this time,” he said. Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh Community Security Director Shawn Brokos said that the organization is “aware of this troubling incident. We have faith in the investigation and will monitor its progress.” Pittsburgh City Councilmember Barb Warwick, whose district includes parts of Squirrel Hill, called the matter “very concerning and frightening.” She said the messages, occurring at a time when the Jewish community was celebrating Purim and the Muslim community was observing Ramadan, were “an example of how we’re seeing white supremacist, neo-Nazi messaging trickling down and negatively impacting our community.” She said that antisemitic, racist language and hate crimes are becoming normalized throughout the world and can be seen everywhere from Florida to Australia to the attack at Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro’s residence, which was set on fire during Passover last year. Warwick said since the radio systems are run by the county, she didn’t know whether it was

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possible to update the system from analog to a more secure digital platform. O’Connor, whose mother is Jewish, said he isn’t stopping the work he’s doing, noting that the perpetrator was “full of hate.” “It’s something that we know too often about in this city and across the country,” he said. Like others, he’s confident in law enforcement’s ability to both investigate the crime and protect his family, which was his first concern when he heard the threats targeting him. “It’s shocking. It’s upsetting. Your mind goes to your family and kids,” he said. “Someone asked me about security and I said, ‘I have all the faith in the Pittsburgh police, so I’m not worried about my safety’ but it does get people riled up.” The city, he said, continues to monitor the situation, especially considering what’s happening in Iran. “I know the community and we know what’s happening overseas is scary to our residents. We’re paying close attention,” he said. Anyone with relevant information is asked to call the County Police Tip Line at 1-833-ALL-TIPS. PJC David Rullo can be reached at drullo@ pittsburghjewishchronicle.org. MARCH 13, 2026

Headlines Passover meets Holi: Pittsburgh event brings Jewish and Hindu neighbors together — LOCAL — By Deborah Weisberg | Special to the Chronicle

ittsburgh’s Jewish and Hindu communities will welcome spring together at an interfaith event in Monroeville on Sunday, March 15. Several synagogues, Hindu temples and cultural organizations will fete the traditions of both Passover and Holi with food, music, dance, storytelling and crafting at Chinmaya Sanjeevani mission from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. The free, family-friendly gathering was made possible by a grant from the Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh to the nonprofit pro-Israel advocacy group StandWithUs. “It’s about two wonderful communities coming together in a joyful way,” said Beth Vander Stoep, assistant director of Federation’s community relations council. “A celebration of diversity and multiculturalism.” A similar event held at the Hindu Jain Temple of Monroeville last summer drew about 170 people and “kicked a longtime friendship into high gear,” Vander Stoep said. “It was packed, and it was so joyful we said, ‘Let’s do more of this.’” That led to the formation of a 22-member Jewish-Hindu cohort, Om-Shalom, that included representatives from Federation, the Hindu American Foundation, StandWithUS, and the Anti-Defamation League to explore additional opportunities to further understanding and strengthen bonds. A six-week series of activities ranged from cooking together to technology exchanges to discussions about combatting prejudice. The March 15 event will help advance the consort’s mission, with a focus on the holidays. “The intent is for there to be a shared cultural experience with Hindu families giving a sense to Jews what exactly Holi is about, and for Jews to give a sense to Indians what Passover is about,” said Congregation Beth Shalom Rabbi Seth Adelson. “The goal isn’t to convert each other to our respective traditions but to build bridges and friendships.” Holi fell on March 4 this year, and Passover will begin April 1. Although the holidays differ in their respective origins — with Holi celebrating the victory of good over evil through devotion to a deity, and Passover commemorating the Israelites’ Exodus from Egypt — they share elements of rebirth and renewal associated with spring. “Passover is of a more serious nature in

p Leaders from Pittsburgh’s Hindu and Jewish communities gather following a June 8, 2025, program.

Photo by Adam Reinherz

“Together these festivals remind us that light overcomes darkness and that freedom is precious and must be protected.” –GEETIKA TANDON that it is intimately tied to the creation of the Jewish people as we emerged from slavery,” Adelson said. “But it has joyous elements as well. Families gather and have great food and tell stories.” “If we happen to get a little colored paint on us, that will add to our joyous experience,” he said, referring to rangoli, the ancient Indian art of creating intricate patterns with brightly hued powders or sand to symbolize auspiciousness and prosperity. It will be part of the March 15 festivities, said Bhavini Patel, a civic leader and entrepreneur who is helping organize the event. “We’ll be going outside and ‘throwing’ colors.” The day also will feature Israeli and Indian folk dancing, crafting for kids and a childfriendly telling of the story of Exodus. Udipi Café will prepare a vegetarian buffet of Indian and Jewish dishes, including matzah, grape juice, saltwater and macaroons. Kosher food is available on request.

Julie Paris, Mid-Atlantic regional director of StandWithUs, said commonalities between Hindus and Jews run deep and include global diaspora, religious pluralism, and ties dating back thousands of years to their respective ancestral lands. “We share the same values and challenges,” Paris said, noting that both groups have experienced hate, with Hindu-phobia and antisemitism on the rise. After the Pittsburgh synagogue shooting, she said, “the local Hindu community was one of the first groups to reach out to us, and it did the same after Oct. 7.” While March 15 is designed to be festive, it reflects a more serious mission, said Patel, who helped lead the Om-Shalom cohort. “It’s setting a strong example of what it means to show up for one another, to lift one another up and show cultural solidarity.” “During times when things feel chaotic

and confusing, it is one way we can inspire.” Geetika Tandon, director of philanthropy, Midwest & Northeast, at the Hindu American Foundation, is also helping plan the event, which she sees as part of a continuum encompassing ongoing educational programming, cultural exchanges and shared celebrations — “perhaps even a joint Diwali and Sukkot gathering.” “Together these festivals remind us that light overcomes darkness and that freedom is precious and must be protected,” she said. “Communities truly grow stronger when they stand together.” Registration for the event closed March 6, with limited wait-listing offered. For more, visit bethshalompgh.org/holi-passovercelebration. PJC Deborah Weisberg is a freelance writer living in Pittsburgh.

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Headlines — WORLD — Gavin Newsom says some ‘appropriately’ call Israel an ‘apartheid state’ while questioning US military aid

California Gov. Gavin Newsom provided sharp criticism of the Israeli government during an interview last week, suggesting that he agreed with claims that it is an “apartheid state” and questioning U.S. military aid to the country, JTA reported. Newsom, a likely 2028 presidential candidate, offered his rebuke of the Israeli government during an event with the hosts of “Pod Save America,” a political podcast, while promoting his new memoir, “Young Man in a Hurry: A Memoir of Discovery.” During the conversation, while suggesting that Israel’s alleged influence over the United States’ strikes in Iran was “pretty damn self-evident,” Newsom took aim at Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. “The issue of Bibi is interesting because he’s got his own domestic issues. He’s trying to stay out of jail, he’s got an election coming up, he’s potentially on the ropes, he’s got folks, the hard line, that want to annex the West Bank,” said Newsom, adding that “others are talking about it appropriately as sort of an apartheid state.” When a host of the podcast asked Newsom whether he believed the United States should consider “rethinking our military support for Israel,” the California governor replied, “It breaks my heart, because the current leadership in Israel is walking us down that path where I don’t think you have a choice.”

Newsom’s comments come shortly after the politician vowed he would “never” accept AIPAC funding, a stance that has increasingly become a litmus test for Democratic candidates amid record low support for Israel among its base.

Poland returns 91 Jewish objects to Greece, decades after they were stolen by the Nazis

A trove of sacred Jewish objects from Greece that was stolen by the Nazis and displaced for decades in Poland is finally heading back home, JTA reported. Poland returned 91 religious and ceremonial artifacts to the Greek government at a ceremony in Warsaw last week. Among them were Torah scrolls, a Torah mantle and silver finials that adorned a scroll’s wooden rollers — fragments of a rich Greek Jewish heritage that was nearly wiped out. This marks the first time Poland has repatriated cultural property held under its care that was illegally taken from another country. The Nazis stole the objects from synagogues in Thessaloniki, a port city once known as the “Jerusalem of the Balkans.” Jews made up half of Thessaloniki’s residents in 1919. Some 59,000 Greek Jews, over 83% of the country’s Jewish population, were killed in the Holocaust. These items were seized by the Einsatzstab Reichsleiter Rosenberg, a Nazi agency dedicated to looting Jewish valuables, as it plundered homes, synagogues, cemeteries and cultural institutions across Greece in 1941. The objects were transferred to Nazi depots in southwestern Poland and rediscovered at a castle in Bożków after the war.

Today in Israeli History — ISRAEL — Items are provided by the Center for Israel Education (israeled.org), where you can find more details.

March 13, 1881 — Czar Alexander II is assassinated

Czar Alexander II of Russia is assassinated in St. Petersburg. The response to the killing includes a rash of pogroms. His successor, Alexander III, enacts new restrictions on Jews and sparks mass emigration.

March 16, 2017 — MK Basel Ghattas accepts plea deal

In the first use of the MK Impeachment Law, Basel Ghattas, an Arab member of the Knesset for the Joint List, signs a plea p Knesset member deal on charges he Basel Ghattas, used his position shown in 2013, said to smuggle cell- he was the victim of phones and docu- discrimination. ments to prisoners. By Orrling, own work, CC BY-SA

In 1951, the Polish Ministry of Culture moved them to the Jewish Historical Institute in Warsaw, where they remained until now. This return follows years of advocacy and provenance research. The Greek government formally requested the collection’s restitution in 2024, and the World Jewish Restitution Organization coordinated with Greek and Polish authorities to facilitate it. Now, the objects are headed to the Jewish Museum of Greece in Athens.

Paraguay is first to file brief in support of Israel in South African case before UN court

Paraguay filed a legal brief with the International Court of Justice, the main United Nations judicial body in The Hague, stating that the court must not use a broad definition of “genocide” in its case against Israel for alleged misconduct in Gaza, JNS reported. “There is no legal or normative basis for accommodating expansive interpretations of the elements of genocide,” Paraguay stated last week. It added that the Genocide Convention sees “genocide” as having “unique and exceptional character” and that it adopted that understanding “in the immediate aftermath of the Second World War, in response to the Holocaust, during which 6 million Jews were annihilated, in an unprecedented scale and systematic nature.” Paraguay said that it doesn’t support the claims of either party in the case, South Africa or Israel. All of the other 15 states that have

intervened in South Africa’s case have filed material against the Jewish state. Paraguay is the first to file in support of Israel.

Carlson draws criticism, ridicule for claim Chabad fueling Iran war to build third Temple

Tucker Carlson, the former Fox News host who regularly shares antisemitic conspiracy theories, is drawing another round of criticism and ridicule for a show last week, which he titled a war update on “Israel’s true motives, potential false flags and oncoming global crisis,” JNS reported. Some 25 minutes into the show, Carlson blames Chabad, the Chassidic group that he says has “super nice people engaged in all kinds of charitable activities,” including “drug rehab.” “Chabad has been pushing in a pretty subtle way, unless you look carefully, for the reconstruction of the third Temple,” he said. “It’s not just Chassidic groups from Brooklyn, and it’s not just IDF soldiers. There are amazingly a lot of American evangelical leaders, Christian Zionists whose main point is rebuilding the third Temple.” In the description of the episode, Carlson wrote, “Could this be a religious war designed to rebuild the third Temple on the ashes of Al Aqsa? Hope not.” Yaacov Behrman, a Chabad spokesman, stated that Carlson’s “claim about Chabad and the Temple Mount is a slanderous lie.” “His implication that Chabad is behind the war in Iran is a dangerous blood libel,” Behrman said. PJC — Compiled by Toby Tabachnick

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3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

March 17, 1921 — Mossad’s Meir Amit is born

p The Cordoba Synagogue was the heart of one of the most important Jewish centers in medieval Spain.

By JP Puerta, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

March 14, 1473 — Conversos are massacred in Cordoba

A massacre breaks out in Cordoba, Spain, against the city’s conversos — Jewish converts to Catholicism who are believed to practice Judaism in secret. The violence continues for several days.

March 15, 1972 — Hussein offers federal plan

Jordan’s King Hussein proposes a JordanianPalestinian federation encompassing the West Bank and Jordan under his monarchy, with a regional capital in East Jerusalem and national capital in Amman. PITTSBURGHJEWISHCHRONICLE.ORG

Meir Amit, who builds the Mossad into a renowned intelligence agency, is born in Tiberias. A career soldier who joins the Haganah at 15, he is appointed to head the Mossad in 1963 and stays until 1969.

March 18, 1974 — OPEC lifts oil embargo

OPEC ends the oil embargo it had placed on the United States the previous fall for resupplying Israel during the Yom Kippur War. The embargo quadrupled gasoline prices and produced long lines at U.S. gas stations.

March 19, 1999 — Hanoch Levin premieres last play

Playwright Hanoch Levin’s final play, “Requiem,” makes its debut at the Cameri Theatre of Tel Aviv. The play is based on three short stories by Anton Chekhov. Levin dies of bone cancer at 56 later in 1999. PJC

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Calendar Submit calendar items on the Chronicle’s website, pittsburghjewishchronicle.org. Submissions also will be included in print. Events will run in the print edition beginning one month prior to the date as space allows. The deadline for submissions is Friday, noon. q SATURDAY, MARCH 14 Join Congregation Beth Shalom for their Sisterhood Shabbat honoring Rhoda Judd, Barbara Kaiserman and Yvonne Stein. Erica Zabusky, a creative and effective arts and entertainment industry professional, will be the featured speaker. 9:15 a.m. 5915 Beacon St. Help Beth Samuel Jewish Center celebrate the 65th anniversary of its synagogue building, and all the prayer, simchas, learning and socializing that has happened in this building. Enjoy a pasta dinner and elegant dessert reception, while listening to the memories and pictures of longtime members through the years. The 202526 Pillar Donors will also be honored. RSVP required. 5:30 p.m. $18/adults and teens (13+); kids 12 and under free. 810 Kennedy Drive. bethsamuel.org/65anniversary q SUNDAYS, MARCH 15–JULY 26 Join Chabad of Squirrel Hill for its Men’s Tefillin Club. Services and tefillin are followed by a delicious breakfast and engaging discussions on current events. 8:30 a.m. 1700 Beechwood Blvd. chabadpgh.com Join a lay-led online Parashah study group to discuss the weekly Torah portion. No Hebrew knowledge needed. The goal is to build community while deepening understanding of the text. 8:30 p.m. For more information, visit bethshalompgh.org/online-parashah. q MONDAY, MARCH 16 Anika Walke delivers “Memorial Complexes, Rayzebilder, Testimony: A Spatial Approach to Holocaust Memory in Belarus,” the Third Annual Renee Sachs Memorial Lecture in Holocaust Studies. The lecture introduces works by the Yiddish writer Hirsh Reles and memorials created by architect Leonid Levin to explore how legacies of systematic violence shape the natural and built environment in the former Soviet Union. 5:15 p.m. Free. Cathedral of Learning, Room 501, Fifth Avenue. calendar.pitt.edu/event/prof-dr-anika-walke-talk q MONDAYS, MARCH 16–JULY 27 Join Congregation Beth Shalom for a weekly Talmud study. 9:15 a.m. For more information, visit bethshalompgh.org. Join Temple Sinai for an evening of mahjong every Monday (except holidays). Whether you are just starting out or have years of experience, you are sure to enjoy the camaraderie and good times as you make new friends or cherish moments with long-term pals. All are welcome. Winners will be awarded Giant Eagle gift cards. All players should have their own mahjong cards. Contact Susan Cohen at susan_k_cohen@yahoo.com if you have questions. $5. templesinaipgh.org Join Chabad of the South Hills for Lift Your Life, a Rosh Chodesh Society series. This month’s topic is “The Art of Managing Food and Munching for Meaning.” 7 p.m. 1700 Bower Hill Road. For more information or to RSVP, email batya@chabadsh.com. chabadsh.com q TUESDAY, MARCH 17 Join Eli Kreisberger, North America engagement manager for College in Israel, to explore College in Israel, representing 12 different campuses and a variety of majors and academic paths, locations, environments. Come learn why more Jewish students than ever are studying at institutions on the cutting edge of medicine, technology and scientific research in a vibrant community from 20-plus countries, enjoying the sunniest beaches and tastiest falafel on the planet, all for a fraction of U.S. tuition costs. With dozens of degrees taught in English and unparalleled post-college job placement rates, this is an option worth considering for many students and families. 6 p.m. Hillel Academy of Pittsburgh, 5685 Beacon Street q TUESDAYS, MARCH 17–JUNE 30 Join Beth El’s Rabbi Alex Greenbaum and his Bible/ Talmud Adult Education class for a thought-provoking weekly session of Bible and Talmudic study. This program is available both in person and virtually. Call the office at 412-561-1168 to receive the Zoom link or to make an in-person reservation. 10:30 a.m. 1900 Cochran Road. bethelcong.org

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q WEDNESDAYS, MARCH 18, 25 Join Temple Ohav Shalom for My Grown-Up and Me for children ages 18 months to 3 years of age and their grown-up. Each class includes multi-sensory explorations, art experiences, a story and more. Reach out to center@ templeohavshalom.org with any questions. Register at: forms.gle/Us1YwHmd4MJjyhRf8. q THURSDAY, MARCH 19 (Re)Building the Bridge: a conversation about the Black–Jewish relationship will center on a conversation between Center of Life’s Rev. Tim Smith and Avi Dresner, son of Rabbi Israel “Sy” Dresner, and will trace the history of the African American-Jewish relationship during the Civil Rights Movement and explore ways to collaboratively address racism and antisemitism today. Moderated by Emily Loeb of the Holocaust Center of Pittsburgh. 6 p.m. Free. Hazelwood Brew House, 5007 Lytle St., 15207. eventbrite.com/e/rebuilding-the-bridge-aconversation-about-the-blackjewish-relationship-tickets1981372097280?aff=ebdssbdestsearch q THURSDAY, MARCH 19–MONDAY, MARCH 30 Join Passover2Go in making a difference for homebound seniors by providing them with thoughtful Passover kits, ensuring everyone enjoys this special holiday. Sign up today to volunteer and lend a helping hand. giftpgh.org/passover q SUNDAY, MARCH 22 GIFT’s Intergenerational Mock Seder is a unique program that brings together students, university faculty and seniors for an interactive Passover experience focused on education, connection and community. 4 p.m. Free. giftpgh.org/seder q WEDNESDAY, MARCH 25 Enjoy good food and company at Chabad of the South Hill’s senior lunch. Learn about how to improve balance. Wheelchair accessible. 1 p.m. $5 suggested donation. 1701 McFarland Road. For more information or to RSVP call 412-278-2658. chabadsh.com Weaving in reflections from Jill Joshowitz’s recent trips to Syria, “Reflections on the Dura Europos Synagogue Paintings” will explore the incredible biblical subject matter in the Dura synagogue paintings and their later reception in both Damascus and Pittsburgh. 5:30 p.m. Free. Cathedral of Learning, Room 332, Fifth Ave. q SATURDAY, MARCH 28 Join Temple Ohav Shalom for a Passover playdate for families with children ages 0-5. Children will engage in a dramatic play matzah factory, set up a pretend Passover seder, and enjoy a story time and songs. Event is free and open to any Jewish or interfaith family in the North Hills and surrounding areas. Free. 10 a.m. 8400 Thompson Run Road, 15101 q WEDNESDAY, APRIL 1 Join Chabad of the South Hills for a Passover Seder in a warm and inviting atmosphere with gourmet Passover cuisine, handmade shmurah matzah and a meaningful and interactive seder. No one will be turned out for lack of funds. 7 p.m. 1701 McFarland Road. chabadsh.com/seder q THURSDAY, APRIL 2 Join Beth Samuel for a family-friendly Pesach seder, complete with a kosher-for-Passover brisket dinner. 5 p.m. $45/adult; $25/kids 6-17; free, kids 5 and under ($125 family max). Registration required by March 27 at bethsamuel.org/seder. q FRIDAY, APRIL 17–SUNDAY, APRIL 19 Join Keshet’s one-of-a-kind Shabbat retreats for LGBTQ+ and ally Jewish teens, ages 13-18 and in grades 7-12, to learn, grow and celebrate who you are in a warm and vibrant community. Created by and for LGBTQ+ Jewish teens, Keshet Shabbatonim bring together young LGBTQ+ and ally Jews from across the country to build community and celebrate Shabbat and their Jewish and LGBTQ+ identities. $54. keshetonline. org/shabbaton q THURSDAY, APRIL 30–SUNDAY, MAY 10 Film Pittsburgh’s JFilm Festival, the largest Jewish cultural event in the region, will return to theaters April 30–May 10, 2026. For 33 years, JFilm has showcased Jewish-themed, independent feature films from around the globe. $15 and up. filmpittsburgh.org PJC

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Home Improvement

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Home Improvement 5 budget-friendly bedroom upgrades — INTERIOR DESIGN— By Feature Impact

aking changes to a bedroom doesn’t have to break the bank. Simple swaps, a little DIY and some inexpensive purchases can go a long way toward freshening up the place you lay your head.

Better bedding

If you can’t remember the last time you bought a new comforter, it may be time to snag one. Think beyond the luxury home stores and check out discount home decor retailers and even thrift stores, where you can often find new, unopened bedding at a fraction of the cost. A fluffy throw blanket in a dynamic new color might be the perfect way to rejuvenate your bed.

Playful pillows

Few things spruce up a bedroom more than new throw pillows. Available in a myriad of sizes and shapes – from squares to rectangles to asymmetrical – there is no shortage of ways to use these functional pieces to brighten up a space.

Uplifting light

Old-fashioned lamps, ancient wall sconces and dusty chandeliers can make a room feel stale. Scouring consignment stores and estate sales for new lighting can take a bedroom from dated to delightful without

Photo courtesy of Shutterstock

spending a ton of cash. If big box stores are more your thing, you can find budget lamps in unexpected departments; for example, try the back-to-school sections for dormfriendly finds like twinkle lights and small bedside lamps. These little pops of light can both brighten and cozy up a room with minimal effort.

Punchy paint

Repainting a room is a doable DIY project, and it can make a huge difference in how a

room looks and feels. Give yourself time to peruse the countless paint swatches at specialty paint stores or home improvement stores. If you’ve always gravitated toward earthy tones, maybe opt for a color with a little more depth or saturation. If brighter hues are your thing, go a little darker. If you love the idea of painting but worry about buyer’s remorse, start with an accent wall.

Heavenly hardware

Functional hardware like drawer pulls

and doorknobs can be replaced without much effort or money. Secondhand stores, online marketplaces and even furniture boutiques can be a goldmine for offbeat and unique hardware. Be sure to think beyond your bedside, too. Wardrobe handles, closet rods, sconces, wall hooks and hinges can be swapped out easily and inexpensively. Find more tips and guidance to give your bedroom a budget-friendly upgrade at eLivingtoday.com. PJC

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Home Improvement A guide to growing thriving plants indoors

Consider the soil, pot and growth space

— HOUSEPLANTS—

Use a high-quality potting mix designed for indoor plants along with pots featuring proper drainage. If you prefer decorative planters without holes, consider placing your plant in a smaller pot inside the decorative one to ensure proper drainage. As plants grow, they may need repotted to give their roots room to spread and continue healthy growth.

By Feature Impact

ush greenery can add a sense of calm to many homes and bringing it indoors can help transform nearly any room into a relaxing oasis. Whether you’re a seasoned plant parent or just beginning your indoor gardening journey, this guide can help you get started – and succeed in – growing healthy plants indoors.

Nourish during the growing season

Choose the right plants

Not all houseplants are created equal, and the first step toward a flourishing indoor garden is picking plants that align with your home’s conditions. If your home has several bright and sunny rooms, light-loving varieties will likely thrive. For shadier spots, look for low-light tolerant plants, which are often easier to care for and more forgiving

Provide adequate light

Most houseplants prefer bright, indirect light – that soft glow when positioned just inside a window (and turned regularly for even light). However, some can tolerate lower light levels. If natural sunlight is limited where you live, consider grow lights that mimic the

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sun’s spectrum and help plants keep their color and strong growth without plenty of daylight.

until you see moisture come out of the pot’s drainage holes then let the soil dry before watering again.

Avoid overwatering

Too much water can lead to root rot and is one of the most common mistakes even the most experienced gardeners make. Rather than watering on a strict schedule, check the soil first. If the top inch is dry, it’s usually time to give your plant a drink. Add warm or room-temperature water

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Plants use more nutrients in spring and summer, so feed them with a balanced, diluted fertilizer every 4-6 weeks during active months. In fall and winter, most indoor plants grow more slowly and need less feeding. Also remember to regularly prune dead or yellowing leaves to help plants focus on new growth. Find more tips and guidance to help your indoor plants thrive at eLivingtoday.com. PJC

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Home Improvement What to know before you remodel your home

A & S Carpet Collection CARPET | HARDWOOD | VINYL | CERAMIC/PORCELAIN | AREA RUGS

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— REMODELING— By Family Features

lanning a home remodel is as much about your vision as it is your preparation. With a thoughtful plan, you can refresh your living space, stay on budget and enjoy the process without feeling overwhelmed. Consider these steps to get the process started:

1. Define your goals

Decide what you’re looking to accomplish with your remodel, whether it’s improved functionality, updated style, higher resale value or a combination. Make a simple list of “musthaves” and “nice-to-haves” so you can prioritize upgrades if costs start to climb too high.

2. Set a realistic budget

Determine how much you’re comfortable spending then add a cushion of 10-20% for additional material costs and any surprises behind walls or under floors. Get rough price ranges for materials and labor, which allows you to adjust the scope of your project before the work begins, if necessary, instead of mid-project.

3. Gather ideas and inspiration

Collect photos, paint colors and product ideas in a single place, such as a digital folder or photo album on your smartphone. Pay attention to recurring themes in your inspiration — such as cabinetry, flooring and fixture styles and colors — so it’s easier to choose finishes when the time comes.

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4. Lay out the project timeline

Think about the best time for your household to live through construction, especially if kitchens or bathrooms will be out of commission during the renovation. Talk with potential contractors about timing for each phase so you can plan for temporary living arrangements, if necessary.

5. Choose the right construction crew

Interview a variety of potential contractors, being sure to ask for references and verify licenses and insurance. Once you’ve narrowed your list, request written estimates that include labor and material costs, timelines and payment schedules so expectations are clear before choosing a service provider and signing an agreement.

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6. Finalize design details and materials

Make as many design decisions as possible before demolition, including choosing fixtures, appliances, flooring, tile, paint, hardware and other details. Ordering key items early can help avoid delays and keep the project on schedule once work begins.

7. Prep your home and family

Before construction begins, clear areas where work will be completed of furniture and decor, covering anything that cannot be moved out of the room with plastic sheeting. So everyone knows what to expect while your home is in transition, talk with family members about the impending noise and dust, and make necessary schedule changes to avoid interrupting work. Visit eLivingtoday.com for more resources and home renovation guidance. PJC

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Home Improvement Going beyond aesthetics: 7 home design trends for 2026 — INTERIOR DESIGN— By Feature Impact

eading into a new year, home design is once again evolving. Homeowners are blending comfort, personality, sustainability and connections to the outside world this year. More than just aesthetics, these trends are warm, intentional and rooted in real life. Whether you’re refreshing a room or planning a full-blown makeover, consider these ideas for inspiration that feels both timeless and fresh.

Warm, earthy palettes

This year, say goodbye to whites and cool grays. Instead, cozy earth tones like clay, sage, caramel and rich neutrals create a grounded, inviting atmosphere. Refresh walls or cabinetry with these earthy hues or try color-drenching — using a single hue in varying tones across walls, trim and ceilings — for a bold new vibe that feels both timeless and modern.

Flowing, curved shapes

As homes trend more toward feeling lived-in rather than staged, hard edges and rigid forms are taking a backseat. In 2026, curves are everywhere: soft archways, rounded furniture and curved statement pieces — think circular mirrors or oversized armchairs — create fluid, comforting spaces.

Natural materials and textures

Designs this year celebrate materials that

MARCH 13, 2026

Photo courtesy of Shutterstock

age beautifully, like natural stone, reclaimed wood and textiles that tell a story. Consider woven pillows and throws, handmade pottery, textured walls and wood with visible grain to enrich rooms with sensory detail and an artisanal feel.

Attention to statement details

Personalized nostalgia

Flexible, multifunctional spaces

Blend vintage finds with contemporary art to create a space that’s truly your own. That means vintage finds, heirloom pieces and decor that evokes memory – even quilted textiles or classic checkered tiles – styled in fresh, modern ways to add warmth and individuality.

Small details are getting big attention this year. Swapping out basic cabinet hardware and lighting fixtures for artisanal, tactile metals can help elevate kitchen cabinets or bathroom vanities, turning them into design statements. With hybrid work and lifestyle blending continuing into 2026, rooms should be designed to serve multiple purposes. Reading nooks can double as workstations. Living rooms effortlessly transition from day to night. Adaptable furniture, hidden storage and smart

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layouts help make multifunctional spaces feel intentional and uncluttered.

Outdoor-inspired interiors

The connection to nature grows stronger inside homes with greenery, natural light and materials that echo the outdoors. From indoor-outdoor flow to plant-rich spaces that feel alive and tranquil, biophilic design promotes calm, comfort and connection. Visit eLivingtoday.com to find more design inspiration to make your home more personal and grounded in comfort. PJC

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MARCH 13, 2026

A BIG Thank You to the Community Our Big Night Derby was Photo Finish!

MARCH 13, 2026

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A Letter From Our Big Night Chairs

Dear JCC Supporters, The JCC has been a constant through every stage of our lives. Serving as Big Night Chairs has been our joyful opportunity to give back to the place that has given so much to us—and to so many in our community. Your annual gift helps us provide the wide variety of programs, services and anonymous financial support that we offer every day to our community. We are proud to have provided $2.8 million in assistance last year . Big Night is a race where everyone wins. Thank you for stepping up and helping ensure the JCC continues to go the distance . Your Chairs, Eva Tansky Blum Nancy and Steven Cohen Joshua Shapira

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MARCH 13, 2026

Opinion I don’t know if I’ll be here next week Guest Columnist Cathy Lawi

do not know if I will still be here next week. This is not a metaphor. If a one-ton missile falls on my house, no shelter, however solid, will be enough. I know this. I live with this. And still, every minute I remain alive, I find myself struck by something I can only call admiration: for the people I belong to, for the country that holds us all. The fear is real. It lives in the body, not just the mind. Yesterday, when the sirens sounded and I moved to the shelter with my manicurist, a woman I see often, whose hands are steady and whose smile is warm, I watched something happen to her. A heaviness settled in her chest. Her breathing changed. Standing beside her, I didn’t need words to understand what was happening. This was not a single moment of fear. This was the weight of accumulated years: wars, terrorist attacks, the chronic, grinding knowledge that life can end without warning. The vortex of that trauma, the depth of it, was palpable. I could feel it pulling at her. There are many people like her in this

country. Millions, in fact. The cumulative effect of living under existential threat, for generations, not just years, manifests in ways that are well documented: collective trauma, hyper-vigilance, polarization, a constant hum of unease beneath even the most ordinary days. This is real, and it must be named. To look away from it would be dishonest.

that blooms here even in crisis. Someone built an app for singles to meet in shelters, because why should war stop love? Someone else wrote an algorithm to calculate whether there is enough time to shower before the next siren. I laughed when I heard this, and then I felt something swell in my chest that was not quite laughter and not quite tears.

This is the absurd, brilliant, irreducible will to live, not merely to survive, but to live fully, with humor and ingenuity and romance, even inside the shelter. And yet, and I say this with full awareness of how strange it sounds, if I am truthful, I must also confess to joy. Not the joy of someone who has forgotten the danger, or chosen to ignore it. Not a performance of optimism. A real, quiet, stubborn joy, one that coexists with the fear rather than replacing it. I have been asking myself where it comes from, and the answer I keep returning to is this: It comes from witnessing the extraordinary life force of this people. Consider, for a moment, the creativity

It was recognition. This is who we are. This is the absurd, brilliant, irreducible will to live, not merely to survive, but to live fully, with humor and ingenuity and romance, even inside the shelter. But the image that moves me most is simpler than any app or algorithm. It is the parents. Every time the sirens wail and families scramble into shelters, I see parents doing something quietly extraordinary: They transform the moment. They sing. They invent games. They tell stories. They take the raw material of fear and reshape it, for their

children’s sake, into something bearable, even wonderful. I think of Roberto Benigni in "La Vita è Bella," turning the horror of a concentration camp into a game so his son would not be consumed by terror. What those parents do in these shelters is the same act of love, the same defiant insistence that the human spirit will not be extinguished. I live in a paradox, and I have stopped trying to resolve it. The fear is true. The joy is also true. The danger is real. So is the love, the visible, daily, unashamed love and devotion people show for one another here, in ways that can take your breath away. A country that knows it may not survive has, in some profound and counterintuitive sense, learned something about how to live. I do not know if I will be here next week. But I am here now. And now, for all its terror and its grief, is filled with a people whose resilience, creativity and capacity for love I find, there is no other word for it, magnificent. To witness this, to belong to this: Even in danger, even in fear, I would not trade it. PJC Cathy Lawi is the CEO and founder of Emotionaid, an organization providing first response to emotional distress. With doctoral and post-doctoral degrees in pharmaceutical and cancer research, she is also a certified trauma therapist. This article first appeared on The Times of Israel.

The left won’t let Iranians be grateful for the end of Khamenei’s reign Guest Columnist Nadav Ziv

hen my Iranian girlfriend and I started dating in 2020, some of her family were skeptical of what it meant for her to be with an Israeli man. But after a United States and Israeli military campaign killed Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, we watched Iranian and Israeli flags fly alongside one another during celebrations in the streets of Los Angeles. Families took their kids out for ice cream. Cars and motorcycles streamed down Westwood Boulevard: flags flying, horns blaring, drivers flashing victory signs. At the same time, activists claiming solidarity with the people of Iran demanded an end to strikes. The Democratic Socialists of America decried “an attack on an entire people and region of the world.” The Party for Socialism and Liberation called the U.S.-Israeli campaign “a war for empire.” Some Democratic lawmakers came close to echoing that framing. When leftists and progressives frame this as a war against the Iranian people, while Iranians who lived under Khamenei dance in the streets, the message to Iranians is that they are wrong about their own oppression. 16

MARCH 13, 2026

The celebrations I saw in Los Angeles were not an anomaly. Euphoria bubbled up in London, Berlin, Paris, Sydney, Toronto and Seoul. Inside Iran, verified celebration footage emerged from all over the country. One woman in Isfahan told Reuters she began crying from a mix of joy and disbelief upon hearing the news, and joined others dancing in the street. In southern Iran,

world. Khamenei crushed the 2009 Green Movement, killing dozens and imprisoning hundreds. He met the 2022 Women, Life, Freedom movement with mass arrests, torture and executions. He destroyed the Iranian economy to fund a proxy network spanning Hezbollah, the Houthis, Hamas and Shia militias across the Middle East. He repressed tens of millions of women. And in

Khamenei’s death is only an opening move in what will inevitably be a tough path to Iranian democratization. citizens toppled a monument to Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, the founder of the Islamic Republic. One man could be heard exclaiming, “Am I dreaming? Hello to the new world!” A doctor in Rasht said it was one of the best nights of his life. The catharsis runs deep for good reason. Khamenei presided over decades of theocratic rule, first as president and then as supreme leader, a position he assumed in 1989. Under his command, Iran maintained the highest execution rate per capita in the

January 2026, his security forces murdered thousands of citizens protesting the regime, with some estimating the death toll at more than 30,000. This last entry on Khamenei’s ledger is especially telling. When the DSA calls strikes “an attack on an entire people,” it collapses the distinction between the state and its subjects, a distinction Iranian people have been literally dying to make clear. When millions of Iranians took to the streets in a rush of anti-regime

PITTSBURGH JEWISH CHRONICLE

sentiment, they were met with brutal force and massacred in the thousands. This violence decisively eliminated any remaining possibility that Iran’s government could be remade without foreign intervention or mass death. Yet that change is one that public opinion data strongly suggests an overwhelming majority of Iranians want. When protesters hold signs saying, “Hands off Iran!” or commentators like Peter Beinart denounce violations of Iran’s “national sovereignty,” the sovereignty they are defending is that of the ayatollahs; of a government that has stolen the lives, livelihoods and joy of its people for 47 years. When the DSA calls strikes “an attack on an entire people” or Rep. Rashida Tlaib says that “you cannot ‘free’ people by killing them and destroying their country,” it collapses the distinction between the state and its subjects, a distinction Iranian people have been literally dying to make clear. Yes, there are good reasons to be concerned about U.S. military engagement in the Middle East. Long wars in Iraq and Afghanistan left a trail of destruction with little tangible reward. But while a dark history of imperialism has led many on the left to be skeptical of any military action by the West, the legacy of Western non-intervention is also worth consulting. Please see Ziv, page 17

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Opinion Chronicle poll results: US military strikes against Iran

ast week, the Chronicle asked its readers in an online poll the following question: “Do you support U.S. military strikes against Iran at this time?” Of the 370 people who responded, 49% said yes, 43% said no, and 8% said they weren’t sure. Comments were submitted by 112 people. A few follow.

Do you support U.S. military strikes against Iran at this time? 8%

Not sure

This must be done now, before Iran goes nuclear. The time for appeasement is past. It didn’t work with Germany; it doesn’t work with Iran. I support Israeli military strikes against Iran at this time, as Iran is a real and present danger to Israel, not the U.S. I also support ongoing and heightened U.S. assistance in defending Israel against retaliation, as well as all efforts to protect U.S. bases, citizens and interests throughout the region. Trump did not get approval from Congress. There is no clear plan and objectives. We should applaud President Trump for being the most pro-Israel president we have had in modern history.

Ziv: Continued from page 16

In Rwanda, up to a million people died in 100 days in a genocide in 1994; former President Bill Clinton has since said that failing to intervene early was one of his greatest regrets, and estimated that such intervention might have drastically reduced the death toll. The West watched Cambodia’s killing fields claim well over a million lives, murder which only ended when Vietnam invaded. In a similar contortion of the concept of sovereignty, U.S. officials actually condemned the Vietnamese for cross-border

43% No

49% Yes

I do not support anything this president does. I’m still waiting for a true explanation of why this was necessary at this time, other than to distract from the domestic abominations taking place daily.

interests through its nuclear program and support for terrorism. At the same time, military action carries enormous risks and consequences. I believe the priority should be preventing a nuclear-armed Iran while carefully weighing the costs of escalation and pursuing every realistic diplomatic path. I believe in politicians following the rules. They were created for a reason. If no longer valid, then they should be changed — by an act of Congress, not by a rogue president and his henchmen only interested in maintaining power and control. I am anti-war, but I support the U.S. and Israel trying to end this 47-year conflict by these means. Netanyahu is using this action so he can stay in office. He finally found a U.S. president who also wants to divert attention.

Iran’s regime has long posed a serious threat to regional stability, Israel and U.S.

This moderate pro-Israel Democrat finds it awkward to be endorsing this administration’s actions toward Iran; but I choose to be on the right side of history supporting

aggression, describing it as a violation of international law. Democrats are right to ask tough questions about war powers — Trump decided to attack without seeking congressional approval — and what the plan for the “day after” looks like. But they should also recognize that the status quo is not neutrality. It is a choice to accept the suffering of oppressed people. In the case of Iran, the status quo is a 47-year theocratic dictatorship that represses millions and massacres thousands of its own people in the streets. When Iranians greet strikes with such joy, the least the American left can do is

ask why. The answer is clear. As an engineer in Amsterdam explained, “It may sound strange that we are celebrating the killing of our dictator by the United States and Israel during this war, but the fact is that he was responsible for the deaths of thousands of civilians.” Or, as one Portland State University professor told a crowd, “I hope you never know the sheer desperation of a people praying to be bombed only to be free.” Khamenei’s death is only an opening move in what will inevitably be a tough path to Iranian democratization. But the outpouring of joy by Iranians worldwide tells us this moment is far more complicated than the

— LETTERS — From Rembrandt’s Amsterdam to today’s reality

Western values. Even if it does not guarantee regime change, the U.S. and Israel are trying to help Iran’s citizens. Not the way it’s been done. There was no congressional authorization for war, no plan to evacuate Americans currently in the Middle East (including personnel at U.S. embassies), no planning for what takes place afterward to stabilize the country. The way it’s been done is illegal and sloppy. When a strong someone repeatedly announces that he intends to kill you, you do not have to wait for the attack — you are obligated to save your own life and destroy him, or at least destroy his ability to harm you. Iran’s current (or most recent) leadership wanted to destroy Western civilization as we know it. It was our duty to prevent that from happening. PJC

Chronicle weekly poll question:

Are you concerned that the Democratic Party’s center is turning away from supporting Israel? Go to pittsburghjewish chronicle.org to respond. PJC chants of those protesting the war would have it. American activists castigating the strikes Iranians are celebrating are not standing with the Iranian people. They are standing with the regime that brutalizes them. PJC Nadav Ziv is a writer and researcher whose work covers antisemitism, Israel and misinformation. He also collaborates with academics and Democratic politicians and activists to communicate their stories and ideas. This story was originally published in the Forward. To get the Forward’s free email newsletters delivered to your inbox, go to forward.com/newsletters.

Correction

After reading “Rembrandt has been hailed for his love of the Jewish people — was it all myth?” (March 6), I thought back to an experience that I had in Amsterdam. I wanted to visit the Portuguese Synagogue. Finding the door locked, I rang the bell. A voice asked, in Hebrew, “Yes. Can I help you?” I responded, in Hebrew, that I would like to see the synagogue. After being let in, I asked the person at the desk why he spoke to me in Hebrew. He said that if I answered in Hebrew he knew it was safe to let me in. I was startled. How bad is antisemitism in Amsterdam that such precautions must be taken? Did the Jews of 17th-century Amsterdam feel more secure than the Amsterdam Jews of today? What a sad fact about the times we live in. Mitchell Nyer Pittsburgh

In the March 6 article “Lawfare Project, CMU respond to lawsuit alleging antisemitism, Qatar influence,” the Chronicle referred to Elizabeth Rosemeyer as CMU’s chief diversity officer. She is the university’s assistant vice provost and Title IX coordinator. The article also misstated that Rosemeyer was copied on an email with a link to the Funambulist blog. Rather, it was Wanda Heading-Grant, CMU’s vice provost for community, culture and engagement, who was copied on the email. The Chronicle regrets the errors. PJC

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MARCH 13, 2026

Headlines Unification: Continued from page 1

Temple Sinai’s Solomon said there is “a lot of enthusiasm” around the new name, describing it as “forward-looking.” “It’s a dream for the future,” she said. “It’s not a compromise between some people of Temple Sinai and some people from Rodef Shalom. It’s about honoring our tradition while focusing on the future.” Battistone agreed, saying that “a lot of people have said they enjoy” the new name. “We’re talking about a house that members from Rodef Shalom and Temple Sinai can feel comfortable in,” he said. “That’s the ultimate goal.” And while there’s a lot of work to be done, including formalizing the new name legally, Battistone said, staff and board members will begin referring to the congregation as Beit Kulanu immediately, including using it in their email signature lines, so that people can become accustomed to it. The unified congregation has engaged a branding and marketing group to create a new logo and website while it completes

the legal requirements necessary for the merger. “On June 8 [2025], our congregations voted on the direction of the unification and on March 1, our congregations voted

of both congregations. The clergy — Rodef Shalom’s interim Rabbi David Young, and Temple Sinai’s Rabbi Daniel Fellman and Reinwald — are now operating as one team. Fellman and Reinwald will be the

“From early June forward it should be transparent, not just to the two congregations, but to the community, that we are Beit Kulanu and that we’re unified.” –MARCIE SOLOMON

on a plan,” Solomon said of the unification. “We spent some time building a plan and on March 1 our congregations voted to approve the plan. Legally, the attorney general has to sign off on the plan.” The two congregations continue to move closer together — they celebrated Purim with a unified Purim spiel written by Cantor David Reinwald and performed by members

spiritual leaders of the new congregation and will be joined by a new assistant rabbi, Battistone said. “We plan to hire an assistant rabbi,” he said. “We are engaging with candidates now.” And while no date has been announced as the official launch of the new congregation, Solomon said plans are underway. “We’re going to have our goodbye

Bill: Continued from page 1

The United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism, the largest network of Conservative Jews, called the Knesset vote a “dangerous escalation — and is a clear warning.” In a press release, the USCJ urged members of the Jewish community to sign a petition against the bill and to reach out to the nearest Israeli ambassador or consul general voicing concern about the legislation. The bill also caused concern in Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government. He canceled a meeting of the Ministerial Committee for Legislation in order to prevent the government from backing the bill in a bid to avoid pushback from Diaspora Jews, according to The Times of Israel, but allowed members of his coalition to vote freely. Maoz nonetheless celebrated the passage of the preliminary reading of the bill, saying it would “unify the Jewish people, both those in Israel and those in the Diaspora.” The bill is meant to undercut a Feb. 19 ruling by the Israeli High Court of Justice instructing the government to move forward with upgrades to the Western Wall egalitarian plaza, which was created by the Israeli government as a compromise in 2013 to allow mixed-gender prayer. The plan was approved by the Israeli government in 2016. As part of the plan, one entrance was created, divided into three routes of inspection stations: one for women, one for men and a “mixed” entrance enabling visitors to choose which path they are taking. The northern prayer plaza maintains the customs of Orthodox Judaism. The southern prayer plaza follows Conservative and Reform traditions. Prayer at the Western Wall has been a flashpoint between Orthodox and

p Western Wall

Photo by sangaku via iStock

progressive Jewish groups. Members of the group Women of the Wall — whose mission includes attaining “social and legal recognition of our right, as women, to wear prayer shawls, pray, and read from the Torah, collectively and aloud, at the Western Wall,” according to its website — have been arrested for various activities. A day after the High Court’s decision, two leaders of Women of the Wall — Yochi Rappaport and Tammy Gottlieb — were detained on suspicion of obstructing access at a security checkpoint, an allegation Women of the Wall denied. Rabbi Emily Meyer, lifelong learning coordinator at Temple Emanuel of South Hills, said she believes there is a way to “honor traditional values” and “be inclusive of a broader Jewish community.” “I hope the government can figure out how to make sure that everyone feels at home at the Wall,” she said. Meyer said she traveled to Israel with her family last year and visited the Kotel, calling it an “amazing sight.” “It’s so important throughout Jewish

history,” she said. “For the same reason that we read the Torah, visiting those places hold layers of meaning, which are valuable to me personally. I want to be able to pray at the Kotel. I want my children to be able to pray at the Kotel.” Noting the arrests of leaders of the Women of the Wall, a group with whom she has prayed, Meyer said “it doesn’t show our best Jewish values to have the holy site be a place that feels dangerous.” “I’ve heard the boos and jeers and whistles blown from people who don’t want those voices at the Wall,” she said. Congregation Beth Shalom Senior Rabbi Seth Adelson said that access to the Western Wall for the vast majority of American Jews, who he said aren’t Orthodox, is “a special blessing.” It would be “an insult to the vast majority of Jews in Pittsburgh and around the world” if the proposed bill were to pass, he added. Adelson said he celebrated his son’s bar mitzvah at the egalitarian plaza in 2014. “If this had passed in 2014, I could have been arrested for having a service there,

moments and our celebratory events in late May or early June,” she said. “From early June forward it should be transparent, not just to the two congregations, but to the community, that we are Beit Kulanu and that we’re unified.” The new name, she said, points the way forward. “We have two storied Pittsburgh institutions that are coming together to create Beit Kulanu, a house for all people,” she said. “It’s a house that will sustain us, our congregation and Reform Judaism in a compelling way for the future. I’m excited because now we get to build our story.” Battistone shares that enthusiasm. “I’m really proud of everything that’s been accomplished over the last several years. It’s truly been a team effort and there have been a lot of people who have contributed their time and effort to get where we are,” he said. “This is not the end, but it feels like a chapter closing. It’s been quite an experience. I’m really excited about the opportunity and the future we have together.” PJC David Rullo can be reached at drullo@ pittsburghjewishchronicle.org. for holding a bar mitzvah service there and serve jail time in Israel,” he said. “That seems especially egregious.” The Western Wall, he said, is large enough to have a small area set aside for “Reform, Conservative and Reconstructionistidentified Jews to be able to pray according to their tradition.” Adelson draws inspiration for his beliefs from the Talmud which, he said, teaches that the Second Temple was destroyed because of Jewish infighting. “I think that such infighting in today’s world would do more harm than we can even see from this vantage point.” Rabbi Amy Greenbaum, associate rabbi of Beth El Congregation of the South Hills, also drew inspiration from Jewish tradition, which, she says, “teaches that every Jewish soul stood together at Sinai. It may be that each of us always feels that we have a place to stand and be in prayer in the sacred places of our people.” The Western Wall, she said, is a place where all people come to “pour out their hearts and bring our love, our pain and our hopes to God in our own voice in our own way.” She hopes there will be a return to the 2016 agreement. “As a woman, and as a Jew, I want to feel that I have a place to pray and connect with God and Israel,” she said. It isn’t simply for religious reasons that Greenbaum is drawn to the Kotel. She recalls images of soldiers standing at the Wall in 1967, kissing the stones. The Kotel, she said, represents the hope of the entire Jewish people for this “holy place and by extension the entire state of Israel, even among those who haven’t had the privilege to travel to Israel.” PJC David Rullo can be reached at drullo@ pittsburghjewishchronicle.org.

www.pittsburghjewishchronicle.org 18

MARCH 13, 2026

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Life & Culture The chewy toasty coconut macaroon cake you didn’t know you needed

p Coconut macaroon cake

Photo by Micah Siva

— FOOD — By Micah Siva | The Nosher

host a monthly Shabbat club. And the more people at your table, the more dietary restrictions there are. I’ve always seen restrictions as a way to inspire creativity, so when I had a gluten-free, dairy-free guest RSVP, I knew I had to think outside the box. Naturally, when I think of gluten-free desserts, I often think of the Passover table, where many gluten-containing grains are off-limits. And while this coconut macaroon cake is indeed Passover-friendly (and Passoverflavored), it’s also perfect year-round. It’s a dense, rich, coconutty cake with a hint of lime to brighten it up. If you want a more citrusy cake, you can double the zest, or try using lemon or orange zest. Top this cake with your favorite whipped cream and fruit for a slightly fresher option. You won’t need much more on your dessert table after a night of eating, but trust me, you’ll want leftovers of this decadent dessert.

Ingredients Serves 8-10

4 large eggs 1 cup granulated sugar

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1. Preheat the oven to 350 F and grease a 9-inch cake or springform pan before lining the bottom with parchment paper. 2. Using the whisk attachment, whisk the eggs on medium speed until very well combined. Raise the speed to medium-high, and slowly add the sugar. Increase the speed to high, and whisk for 5–6 more minutes until the egg and sugar mixture is very light and fluffy. Continue until the mixture reaches the “ribbon stage,” where a trail from the whisk holds its shape slightly. 3. Use a silicone spatula to gently fold in the coconut, almond flour, vanilla extract (if using), lime zest and salt until well incorporated. 4. Transfer batter to your prepared pan, smoothing the top with a small, angled spatula. Bake for 28–32 minutes, or until firm and golden brown. 5. Let cool in the pan on a wire rack, then remove from the pan to serve, dusting with confectioners’ sugar. PJC

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Life & Culture

p Two (reversed) views of “Sabbath Queen,” acrylic and mixed media on canvas

Paintings and images by Allan Rosenfield

Canvases at upcoming exhibit invite viewers to see both sides — ART — By Adam Reinherz | Senior Staff Writer

wo sides of a canvas are yielding one mesmerizing sight. Between March 17-May 31, the Jewish Community Center of Greater Pittsburgh’s American Jewish Museum is presenting “Allan Rosenfield: Fluid — Between Surface and Space.” The show, which features works from the Shadyside-based Jewish painter, will deliver a “curious fascinating experience,” museum director Melissa Hiller said. Rosenfield’s works “are not quite painting, they’re not quite sculpture, they’re not quite objects. They’re really, as the title suggests, very fluid, and there’s something vague and mysterious and alluring about that.” Speaking by phone from his studio, Rosenfield said the upcoming show includes a “body of work that I have never shown before.” Several of the pieces feature large, decorated canvases. Hung between bays in the museum’s gallery, the two-sided works, which appear similar to adorned drapes or beautified tents, detail rich colors and design.

“My work reflects a very turbulent inner world, a very imaginative inner world.” –ALLAN ROSENFIELD

“I regard these things that I do almost as mandalas, as points of focus for meditation,” he said. “They’re both iconic and infinitely flexible. It’s almost as if they contain the contradiction within themselves. That’s what I think is most fun about my format — that they embody a symbolic duality, and they can also reflect an actual physical duality.” Rosenfield, 73, began painting two sides of a canvas after spending 18 months in Japan, completing a Fulbright research fellowship at Osaka University of the Arts, nearly 40 years ago. “While I was there, I noticed displays of kimono — both historic and contemporary — and it just hit me that this was almost an aha moment,” he said. Rosenfield asked himself, he continued, “Why can’t I paint on both sides of a canvas and somehow make one side reveal

the other through arranging it, manipulating it? Of course, after that I was off to the races.” The artist, who in addition to living in Japan has visited and taken residence in Europe, the Middle East — including Israel — Philadelphia, Los Angeles and New Mexico, seeks to integrate personal experiences within his work. These pieces are “part of an ongoing search for meaning in my life,” Rosenfield said. “My work reflects a very turbulent inner world, a very imaginative inner world.” At the same time, Rosenfield’s efforts represent “part of an ongoing quest for beauty,” he continued. “I know beauty is given short shrift these days, but I’m kind of a diehard.” Similar to a stage curtain, Rosenfield’s canvases are often suspended from above and gently graze a floor. Those encountering the works will notice

the “inside painting is sometimes quite different from the outside painting,” he said. “It’s hide and reveal. It’s cover and uncover. And it does both at once.” The creative process relies on bleeding and “not staining,” an approach Rosenfield described as similar to batik painting. With such intricacies filling both sides of a canvas, viewers often wish to move the works and see more. Rosenfield discourages such encounters. “Although they are designed to tempt the touch, it’s hard to say it’s OK to touch them in an exhibit setting,” he said. Instead, the works are solely intended to be seen. In a world where countless artists rely on digital engagements, he continued, these pieces invite viewers to experience a different intimacy. “I only have this one way, this direct way, to encounter the art,” Rosenfield said. “Without the viewer, without the physical encounter, the visual encounter, it’s nothing.” “Allan Rosenfield: Fluid — Between Surface and Space” is on view at the American Jewish Museum, JCC Squirrel Hill March 17 – May 31. An opening reception is scheduled for March 26 at 6 p.m. PJC Adam Reinherz can be reached at areinherz@pittsburghjewishchronicle.org.

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MARCH 13, 2026

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his week’s double Torah portion of Vayakhel/Pekudei concludes the book of Exodus. Much of the latter part of the book of Exodus is devoted to the instructions for building and furnishing the Mishkan, the portable Tabernacle. In this week’s portions, the work actually gets done. A tremendous amount of effort goes into this undertaking, and there is ample opportunity for the Israelites to participate. First comes the call for donations of all the fine materials that comprise the Mishkan: the acacia wood, dolphin skin, fabrics, yarns, dyes, jewels, gold, silver and copper. Presumably, these are objects given to the Hebrew slaves by their masters, eager to see them leave Egypt after the plagues started.

Beauty, history, tradition, and Torah references can be a powerful connection when we worship in a synagogue. Material goods are not the only donation. A call goes out from Moses for persons whom the Lord has endowed with skill and ability to perform expertly all the tasks connected with building the Mishkan. It is answered by women skilled in weaving and fabric arts, carpenters, jewel cutters and other craftsmen. If it takes a village to raise a child, one could say it takes a community to build a tabernacle. And so they did. When the work of the Tabernacle is completed, Moses assembles all the children of Israel and blesses them. The last line of the book of Exodus relates: “For over the Tabernacle a cloud of the Lord rested by day, and fire would appear in it by night, in the view of all the house of Israel throughout their journeys.” It must have been comforting for the former slaves to have a visible sign that G-d was dwelling among them. They had seen G-d’s awesome power during their miraculous rescue on the shores of the Sea of Reeds and again at Mt. Sinai, yet still their faith had lapsed time and time again. Traumatized by centuries of slavery, it appears that they needed constant reinforcement to solidify their trust in the Holy One. The concept of worshipping in a physical space like the Mishkan would have been new to them. The Torah does not comment on their worship style during the 400 years of slavery, although the Talmud suggests they had been influenced by the idolatrous practices of Egypt. Before their descent into Egypt, the worship practice of the first three generations of Jews in Israel was to construct an altar on which to sacrifice to God. The

the more thereDESERVE is in lifeSPECIAL to celebrate! MARCH 13, 2026 PITTSBURGH JEWISH CHRONICLE SPECIAL OCCASIONS ATTENTION But soTOVS, is a birthday, a graduation, What is a special birth, SEND YOURoccasion…a CELEBRATIONS, MAZEL AND PHOTOS TO:

Egyptians had temples and priests, but for the Hebrews it was a new concept for a sanctuary space to be part of their worship. When the Mishkan was finished, the former slaves must have been awed and inspired by its beauty and proud of their participation in its creation. For many of us who worship in a synagogue, its beauty is part the attraction. We may appreciate only its esthetic qualities and let its beauty wash over us. Or, we may appreciate it for its history and tradition. At some point in each synagogue’s history, a group of Jews had a dream that it could become a reality, and then worked to make it so, much like the effort put into building the Mishkan. Succeeding generations worshipped in the same synagogue, making the necessary repairs and renovations to keep the building viable. Some of us may see the physical qualities of the synagogue like the ark, the ner tamid (eternal light), and the colors used, and

connect them to the items mentioned in the Torah and in this week’s parsha. Beauty, history, tradition, and Torah references can be a powerful connection when we worship in a synagogue. Yet, our synagogues are so much more than physical spaces, important though they may be. The greatest strength of a synagogue is the people who keep it alive. Each person in the community is unique in what he/she/they metaphorically brings to the Mishkan. Some may be Purimspielers, students, or scholars. Some are bakers, teachers, singers, liturgy leaders, social activists, or benefactors. There may be the person who remembers everyone’s name, or the greeter whose smile is infectious. Each one’s personality also is a gift brought to the warp and the weft of the tapestry that comprises a synagogue. We can look with pride at the beautiful spaces created by earlier generations and maintained by our own. But, by no means is that the only, or even the most important, strength of a congregation. The strength of any congregation, and by extension the Jewish community, is in its people — you and me and the spark of G-d that is within us all. And, speaking of strength — because we have finished the book of Exodus with this week’s parshot — we say, “Chazak, chazak, v’nitchazeik. Be strong, be strong, and let us strengthen one another.” PJC Cantor Michal Gray-Schaffer is the spiritual leader emerita of Congregation B’nai Abraham. This column is a service of the Greater Pittsburgh Jewish Clergy Association. PITTSBURGHJEWISHCHRONICLE.ORG

Obituaries BRAUNSTEIN: Arnold “Arnie” Braunstein, on Monday, March, 2, 2026, age 77, of Castle Shannon. Son of the late Joseph Braunstein and the late Norma Schorr Braunstein. Beloved brother of the late Gary A. Braunstein and the late Norman S. Braunstein. Very special friend of Joyce, Joop, Andy and Weasie Offerman. A special thank you to Arnie’s devoted caregivers from Lifesteps for the past 28 years. The greatest joy in Arnie’s life was a big Kit Kat bar ... enjoy one for him! Graveside services were held at Beth Abraham Cemetery. Arrangements entrusted to Ralph Schugar Chapel, Inc. schugar.com PERILMAN: Deborah Gayle Perilman (1955–2026) was born on April 11, 1955, in Pittsburgh. She was the beloved daughter of Gloria Malno-Perilman and William Perilman, and the cherished granddaughter of Harry and Sarah Saltzman. She is survived by her brothers, Ross Perilman and Ron Perilman, and seven nieces and nephews. Deborah attended the University of Pittsburgh, where she earned a degree in Computer Science at a time when very few women were entering the field. From the very beginning, she stood out — intelligent, determined and decades ahead of her time. Upon graduating, Deborah became one of the first female computer program testers for the Internal Revenue Service. Her work required exceptional precision and integrity, earning her a high-level federal security clearance, a testament to the trust placed in her abilities and character. After her government service, Deborah continued her career in the private sector as a software and SAP tester, building a reputation for excellence. Eventually, she took an entrepreneurial leap and founded her own consulting company in Marin County, bringing her sharp mind and technical expertise to clients who relied on her professional insight. However, Deborah’s ambition could not be contained by a single field. She had multifaceted business interests and never rested on her laurels. Throughout her life, everywhere she lived in the United States, she immersed herself in real estate, buying and remodeling houses with a visionary’s eye. For Deborah, it wasn’t about the profits, but rather her approach to changing industry standards and hearing different drum beats. That willingness to take risks made her

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highly successful, as she turned houses into homes and visions into reality. Deborah spent the majority of her life in California, living in Tiburon and San Rafael before retiring in San Diego. California was her home, the place where she built her career, her independence, and her life. But Deborah was much more than her impressive professional legacy. She possessed a quirky and sharp sense of humor; she was quick-witted, observant, and never afraid to speak her mind. She was especially proud of being a redhead, a trait she embraced fully. Deborah always stood out in a crowd, and she enjoyed that. Her fiery hair was the perfect match for her spirit: bold, distinctive, and impossible to overlook. She was also a devoted “dog mom” to her three beloved companions: Chili, Curry and Franki. They brought her immense joy and loyalty, and she cared for them as true members of her family. Deborah will be remembered for her intelligence, her pioneering spirit in fields where she paved the way for women, and her unmistakable presence. She leaves behind a legacy of determination, courage, individuality and love. ROSEN: Elayne Rosen died at the age of 88 on March 4, 2026, in Pittsburgh, after a long illness. Elayne was born on Dec. 14, 1937, to Rose and Harry Rosen. She was the beloved sister of Roberta (Henry z”l) Recht and Myra z’’l (Warren) Judd; beloved aunt of Jo Recht (Joe Mannino), Michael (Wendy) Recht, Kevin (Karin) Judd and Robert Judd; and beloved greataunt of Brian (Sara) Recht, Hannah Recht (Jeremy Hoskins), Allison Recht, Carrie Mannino, Haylie Judd and Melanie Judd. A lifelong Pittsburgher, Elayne was a devoted daughter, sister, aunt, and friend, and spent her life caring about and for others, both in her professional and personal life. She was a graduate of Chatham College with two master’s degrees in social work, one from the University of Pittsburgh and one from the Hebrew Union College Jewish Institute of Religion in Los Angeles. She first worked at the YWCA as program and outreach director, and part of her work involved introducing newly-arriving women and Please see Obituaries, page 24

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In memory of...

Ellen Blum . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Edgar Danovitz Lois S . Crone . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Benjamin B . Crone Bernard Dickter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Sara Esther Dickter Joan Finkel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Belle Finkel Ellen & Bob Garvin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Ralph Silverman Jean Horne . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Alfred Cohen Karen R . Jurgensmier . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Samuel Rosenfeld Randy Malt . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Lilly Lakey Malt Louise McConaha . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Herbert Rothman Nathaniel S . Pirchesky . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Belle C . Pirchesky Linda & Jeffrey Reisner and Family . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Sara Goldstein Davis Lee & Debra Rosenfeld . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Samuel Rosenfeld Fred Rubin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Jacqueline Rubin Audrey Silverman . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Ralph R . Silverman Edward Simon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Harvey Simon Freda Spiegel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Morris Greenberg

Contact the Development department at 412-586-2690 or development@jaapgh.org for more information.

THIS WEEK’S YAHRZEITS —

Sunday March 15: Freda Benowitz, Alfred Cohen, Allen Cohen, Sonia Fogel, Verner William Friedman, Esther Glick, Max Glick, Anne Fierst Goldberg, Ann R . Klein, Joy Ellen Levin Leff, Leona Levine, Leo Abraham Levine, M .D ., William J . Lewinter, Frank Mandel, Ethel Plesset, Julius Rosenfeld, Aaron Louis Shefler, Morris Simon, Anna Snitkin, Rose Lieberman Solomon, Sam Weiss Monday March 16: Harry Birnkrant, Sara Esther Dickter, Joseph Eisenberg, Nathan Handelman, Mayer Handley, Sidney Jay Israel, Oscar K . Light, Rory Sue Melnick, Belle G . Meyers, Samuel Ostfield, Rowena M . Rosenthal, Mary W . Roth, Isadore Herbert Rudick, Moses J . Sadowsky, Rose Schultz, Milton Schwartz, Beltran Shine, Bertha C . Talenfeld, Geraldine Wald, Ida L . Weinthal, Ethel Zamsky Tuesday March 17: Rabbi A .M . Ashinsky, Pearl Cohen, Henry Dentel, Rita Serrins Glazer, Morris Harris, Hannah Hershman, Joseph Kleinerman, Edward Kornstein, Bella Lencer, Meyer Levine, Lena R . Mallinger, Morris R . Mandelblatt, Gussie Marcus, Joseph J . Reader, Nettie Ripp, Gertrude Rosenberg, Helen R .B . Sand, Samuel Schwartz, Ralph Silverman, Jacob M . Stone Wednesday March 18: Eleanor P . Backer, Louis H . Broudy, Sam Cartiff, Adele Cherkosly, Edgar Danovitz, Maurice Gutmacher,Libbie Broida Hirsh, Esther L . Ives, Sara Louise Leff, Selma B . Leuin, Max Loefsky, Michael Loffer, Evelyn Selkovits Marcus, Eleanor Silverstein, Archie Steinberg, Anna Sarah Waldman Thursday March 19: Edna Anish, Herman Berliner, Morris Bloom, Rose Edith Donofsky, Emanuel Epstein, Cecelia Feingold, George Fink, Audrey Green Frank, Joseph Glantz, Mary R . Goodwin, Bessie Halpern, Lilly Hirsch, Evelyn R . Johan, Samuel Lichtenstul, Bernard Lieberman, Calvin Morgan, Hetty S . Numerosky, Sylvia Peris, Belle Pirchesky, Jacqueline Goodman Rubin, Alvin Schonberger, Anne Schwartz, Anne Simon, Judith V . Tucker, Benjamin Weiss Friday March 20: Philip Blau, Birdye Brody, Mollie Bucaresky, Louis Engelman, Meyer Goldfarb, Charlotte Gordon, Morris E . Greenberg, Maurice Edward Jacobson, Charles Kaufman, William S . Miller, Gerald E . Moskowitz, Sanford A . Rogers, Trudy Rosenthal, Merle Arnold Sands, Fannie Singer, Ida Sissman, Morris L . Speizer, Eileen M . Swartz, Louis Weinberger, Celia Weiner, Samuel Weiner, Zelda Hilda Zamsky Saturday March 21: Earl Belle, William L . Birken, Belle Broder, Elsie Cohen, Dorothy Gross, Leon Hytovitz, Pearle N . Lenchner, Israel Marcus, Allan Jay Mellman, Joseph Melnick, Alvin Milligram, Celia J . Rubin, Leo I . Shapiro, Benjamin Thorpe

PITTSBURGH JEWISH CHRONICLE

MARCH 13, 2026

Headlines Andrea Weiss, trailblazing Reform rabbi who merged scholarship and activism, dies at 60 — NEWS OBITUARY — By Grace Gilson | JTA

abbi Andrea Weiss, a former provost of Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion who made history as the first woman to ordain rabbis in the Reform movement, has died. Weiss died last week surrounded by family at her home in Lower Merion, Pennsylvania, following a yearlong battle with cancer. She was 60. “Andrea brought lev shalem — a whole heart to everything she did,” Cantor Jill Abramson, HUC’s interim head of seminary and director of its Debbie Friedman School of Sacred Music, said in a statement. “Whether in a classroom or a hallway discussion, she has always been a model of what it means to live a life guided by scholarship and sacred purpose. We will miss her presence in these halls and hold her family in our prayers.” Weiss’ death strikes another blow for the leadership of the Reform movement, which has also buried two leaders of HUC who died prematurely while Weiss worked there — Rabbi Aaron Panken, then the seminary’s president, in 2018, and Rabbi David Ellenson, its past president, in 2023. The school of sacred music, meanwhile, is named for another luminary of the movement who died prematurely at 59 in 2011. Born on Sept. 9, 1965, Weiss was raised in San Diego where her family belonged to Temple Emanu-El. In 1987, Weiss received her bachelor’s degree from the University of California, Berkeley, and was ordained as a rabbi at HUC in 1993. Weiss joined the HUC faculty in 2000 alongside Rabbi Lisa Grant, who served as the director of the school’s rabbinical program. “There was actually four of us, four women, who started at the same time, and we really

Obituaries:

p Andrea Weiss, former provost of Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion Photo by Ellen Dubin

changed the whole gender balance of the faculty, which was very exciting, and thinking about long-term potential of what that would mean for the culture of the school,” Grant told the Jewish Telegraphic Agency. During her tenure at the school, Weiss led multiple initiatives including a curricular redesign, the launch of the Virtual Pathway for Rabbinical students and the creation of the Seminary Hebrew Program. Weiss taught several courses at the school, including “The Poetry and Power of the Psalms,” “Literary Artistry of the Bible” and “Teaching Bible to Adult Learners,” a course she co-taught with Grant beginning in 2003. “Rabbi Weiss has been a transformative presence at Hebrew Union College for more than two decades,” said the school’s current president, Andrew Rehfeld, in a statement. “Her scholarship, vision, and fierce commitment to the formation of Jewish clergy have shaped this institution in ways that will endure for generations. We are grateful beyond measure for her service and hold her and her loved ones in our hearts.” Weiss received her PhD from the University of Pennsylvania in 2004, where her research centered on metaphor and biblical poetry,

Continued from page 23

families to Pittsburgh, and helping them to get settled. She then moved to the United Jewish Federation (now the Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh), where she was director of the Urban Affairs Foundation Committee and was instrumental in the founding of the Squirrel Hill Urban Coalition. Among other projects, she also headed a committee that brought injured Israeli veterans to Pittsburgh over several summers. A champion tennis player with a wicked backhand, Elayne played into her late 60s with a tight-knit group of friends, some of whom were featured alongside her on the court in a Teenie Harris photograph included in the Carnegie Museum of Art’s collection. She was an

scholarship that informed her later work including her 2006 book, “Figurative Language in Biblical Prose Narrative: Metaphor in the Book of Samuel.” In 2008, Weiss won the National Jewish Book Awards Book of the Year as the associate editor of “The Torah: A Women’s Commentary,” the first comprehensive collection of Torah commentary written entirely by female scholars. Sen. Elissa Slotkin chose the text to be sworn in on last year. In 2016 and 2020, Weiss led a nonpartisan, interfaith initiative titled “American Values, Religious Voices” that brought together 100 faith leaders to write letters to former President Joe Biden and President Donald Trump as well as Congress during the first 100 days of their administrations. The letters were later published as two books. Weiss described the initiative at the time as “a national, nonpartisan campaign created from the conviction that scholars who study and teach our diverse religious traditions have something important to say about our shared American values.” Grant said Weiss offered a model of Jewish engagement that was validated by the ancient rabbis. “There’s a great Talmudic debate about which is more important, which is greater, study or action, and the rabbis have this back and forth about it, and in the end, they conclude study because it leads to action,” Grant said. “She certainly lived that, that her study and her teaching led her to be an activist as well.” In 2018, Weiss was appointed as HUC’s provost, becoming the first female rabbi to ordain rabbis in the Reform movement. Grant said the honor was “extraordinarily meaningful and very heavy” for Weiss. “She would make the time every year to meet individually for an hour with every single student, to hear about their story, their journey, their learning,” said Grant. “And she would craft that into a short blessing upon ordination.”

As news of Weiss’ death spread on Tuesday, many of her former students and rabbis whom she ordained eulogized her on social media. “Rabbi Andrea Weiss helped me to grasp and appreciate biblical poetry in a way that nobody else could,” wrote Evan Schultz, the senior rabbi of Congregation B’nai Israel in Bridgeport, Connecticut, in a post on Facebook. “Her wisdom helped shape me as a rabbi and a writer. She was brilliant, kind, and genuine.” Rabbi Binyamin Minich, the leader of Kehilat Daniel in Tel Aviv, recalled in a post on Facebook being a part of Weiss’ first ordination cohort. “I remember this feeling of awe, understanding that our 2019 cohort of Israeli Rabbinical Program alumni would be the first ordained by a woman,” wrote Minich. “That meant the idea of women being rabbis settled fully in the Jewish contemporary life and ascended to a next level. It was the real proof of [lalmud velelemed leshmor vela’ashot] – ‘to study and to teach, to preserve and to act.’” Rabbi Shira Koch Epstein, the executive director of Atra: Center for Rabbinic Innovation, recalled connecting with Weiss in 2019 in Jerusalem and hearing about a bar mitzvah project Weiss had helped organize for her son. The project brought his baseball team to Cuba, where they donated equipment and met with locals. “It was a big project that they did that was really inspirational; it inspired my son, Ami, to do a baseball-related mitzvah project for his bar mitzvah,” said Epstein. “Definitely not as ambitious as theirs, but Rabbi Weiss really taught me both Torah and the living Torah, of how to turn what you care about and your interests into tzedakah and action in the world.” Weiss is survived by her husband Alan; her two children, Rebecca and Ilan; her father, Marty; her siblings, Mitch, Laura and Roger; her sister-in-law Catherine; and her nieces, nephews and cousins. PJC

award-winning cook and baker known for her honey cake, mandel bread, lemon chicken and chicken soup, and she loved hosting beautiful, creative and delicious luncheons for her friends and family. She was a true lifelong learner and the social events chair of the Osher program at Carnegie Mellon, creating a warm and welcoming environment for all. Most of all, Elayne cared about people, and took care of her family and friends with a love and generosity of spirit that was unrivaled. She loved baking, gardening and flowers, cats, theater, figure skating (as an audience, not a performer), traveling, and spending time with her friends and family. Anyone lucky enough to have known her is the better for it. Her absence leaves a huge hole in her family, and she will be deeply missed. Funeral services were held at the Ralph Schugar Chapel, with interment at the Beth Shalom cemetery. Donations in Elayne’s memory may be made to Jewish Family and Community Services of Pittsburgh (JFCS) or to a charity of your choice.

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SCHNEIDER: Sylvan Schneider, on March 8, 2026. Beloved husband for 65 years of Shirley Schneider. Loving father of Susan (Karl) Fenster. Devoted Puppie of Elyssa Wenkert, Paige (Matthew) Williams, Abbe Cohen and Emma Fenster; proud great-grandfather of Jordan Williams. Sylvan was a devoted husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather. He was always the life of every activity. Services and interment private. Contributions may be made to Friendship Circle, 1922 Murray Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15217. Arrangements entrusted to Ralph Schugar Chapel, Inc. schugar.com PJC

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MARCH 13, 2026

Life & Culture A Jewish writers initiative launches its first film: A roommate comedy about a Holocaust survivor and his gay grandson — FILM — By Jackie Hajdenberg | JTA

oam Ash didn’t expect his own life to become the inspiration for his first feature film. But that’s what happened when the then-27-year-old was living with his grandparents in 2018. The screenwriter’s conversations with his manager about another script he was working on kept turning to how he had moved in with his Holocaust survivor grandfather after breaking up with his boyfriend. “My manager was like, ‘I think you should actually write about that,’” Ash recalled in an interview. Nearly a decade later, Ash’s film “Bookends,” which is loosely inspired by his own experience, is the first movie incubated by the Jewish Writers Institute Screenwriters Lab to make it to production. It stars F. Murray Abraham, Caroline Aaron and Charlie Barnett alongside Ash, who portrays a character loosely based on himself. The film follows a young gay man who moves in with his grandmother and grandfather — a Holocaust survivor — after a bad breakup, and soon confronts end-of-life issues while navigating a new romance with his grandparents’ doctor. “Bookends,” directed by Mike Doyle, recently premiered at the Santa Barbara Film Festival, where it received the 2026 Stand Up Award sponsored by the Anti-Defamation League, and has since drawn offers of distribution. “Bookends is a work of art that explores the richness, diversity, and complexity of a Jewish family and community,” ADL California regional director Joshua Burt said in a statement. “It is just the sort of storytelling that will help the Jewish community seem familiar to the non-Jewish world, helping everyone embrace one another as part of the wider community.” For Ash, the film is a testament not only to his own story but to the nurturing that came from the Jewish Writers Institute throughout the process, which overlapped with an increasingly fraught time for Jewish creatives. “Over the past couple of years, there has been a lot of fear in Hollywood, there’s a lot of people not knowing if they should include certain subject matter in their work.” Ash said. “I think fear thrives in isolation and love blossoms in community, and [JWI] really created the space where they were saying, ‘there are people out here who want your stories, and there are people out here who believe in them.’” One of multiple initiatives supporting Jewish creatives, the Screenwriters Lab provides financial and networking support for Jewish filmmakers and writers seeking to create Jewish films and television programs. “If we don’t tell our stories, there’s lots of people who are telling alternate versions,

p Noam Ash (left) and Charlie Barnett (right) in the 2026 film “Bookends,” written by Ash

so it’ll be swallowed up,” said Ari Pinchot, a film producer and co-director of the Screenwriters Lab. Pinchot said he was drawn to supporting Jewish screenwriters after premiering his 2012 documentary “Follow Me: The Yoni Netanyahu Story,” about the brother of the current Israeli prime minister who was killed while rescuing hostages during Israel’s raid in Entebbe in 1977. “I realized how much the audience was starving for this kind of Jewish content,” Pinchot said. Pinchot ultimately secured support from the Maimonides Fund, a private foundation, to launch the Screenwriters Lab in conjunction with Crystal City Entertainment, his feature film finance and production company. (Maimonides also supports 70 Faces Media, JTA’s parent company.) To participate in the Screenwriters Lab, applicants must submit a detailed pitch of their script. Cohort members receive a $10,000 stipend and spend three days in New York, three days in Los Angeles, and eight days in Israel. They receive one-on-one mentorship, attend master classes and lectures, and meet with producers, writers, directors, studio heads, distributors, and financiers. Other projects supported by the lab include a script for nonfiction writer Sarah Wildman’s memoir “Paper Love”; a reimagining of “Pride and Prejudice” that takes place at a Jewish summer camp; and “We Canceled Mikvah Night,” a miniseries inspired by the 2024 sex strike in Borough Park that became part of a campaign to help an Orthodox woman obtain her religious divorce. But Ash’s is the first to be completed and seen by the public. Pinchot said “Bookends” exemplifies the Screenwriters Lab’s value proposition. “We love to find stories that aren’t the

typical Jewish story,” Pinchot said of Ash’s film. “And so his approach and his story was really atypical but shine a light on a wonderful aspect of the Jewish community, which is acceptance and multi-generational interactions and people who are trying to find their place within a very tight-knit community.” Noam Ash’s grandparents both died before the film was finished. His grandmother Miriam Friederman Cohen died in 2021

Photo courtesy of Noam Ash

and his grandfather Saul B. Cohen died in 2022. They were both 96 years old at the time of their deaths. But Ash said they both lived long enough to know that he was working on the film. “The film is really a love letter to my grandparents, and the greatest generation,” Ash said. “I do consider my relationship with my grandparents to be one of the greatest blessings of my life.” PJC

Join the Chronicle Book Club!

he Pittsburgh Jewish Chronicle invites you to join the Chronicle Book Club for its April 19 discussion of “Fagin the Thief,” by Allison Epstein, the winner of the 2025 National Jewish Book Award for Fiction. The author will join us for the meeting. From Amazon.com: “A thrilling reimagining of the world of Charles Dickens, as seen through the eyes of the infamous Jacob Fagin, London’s most gifted pickpocket, liar, and rogue. Long before Oliver Twist stumbled onto the scene, Jacob Fagin was scratching out a life for himself in the dark alleys of nineteenth-century London. Born in the Jewish enclave of Stepney shortly after his father was executed as a thief, Jacob’s whole world is his open-minded mother, Leah. But Jacob’s prospects are forever altered when a light-fingered pickpocket takes Jacob under his wing and teaches him a trade that pays far better than the neighborhood boys could possibly dream. “Colorfully written and wickedly funny, Allison Epstein breathes fresh life into the teeming streets of Dickensian London — reclaiming one of Victorian literature’s most notorious villains."

Your hosts

Toby Tabachnick, Chronicle editor David Rullo, Chronicle senior staff writer

How it works

We will meet on Zoom on Sunday, April 19, at 1 p.m.

What to do

Buy: “Fagin the Thief.” It is available from online retailers, including Amazon and Barnes & Noble, and in some local Barnes & Noble stores. It is also available through the Carnegie Library system. Email: Contact us at drullo@pittsburghjewishchronicle.org, and write “Chronicle Book Club” in the subject line. We will send you a Zoom link for the discussion meeting. Happy reading! PJC

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MARCH 13, 2026

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Community Celebrating at ‘Hoppy Hour’

The Friendship Circle of Pittsburgh hosted a “Hoppy Hour” at Bunny Bakes in honor of Sheila Holzer, the 2025 recipient of the Shore Whitehill Award, recognizing Champions of Disability Inclusion in the Jewish Community. Holzer is a longtime volunteer at The Friendship Circle and mother of two Friendship Circle alumni.

p Sheila Holzer, center, joins The Friendship Circle of Pittsburgh’s Ann Grandinetti, left, and Emily Vogt, right. Photo courtesy of The Friendship Circle of Pittsburgh

Macher and Shaker

North Hills native Jess Daninhirsch, a graduating senior at the University of Maryland, College Park, placed 15th in the collegiate Hearst Journalism Awards Program audio storytelling competition for her pieces “Pittsburgh’s Accordion Man: 85, legally blind, and a 1,000 song repertoire” and “Shattering misconceptions about glass recycling in Southwestern Pa.” Daninhirsch wrote the pieces as an intern at 90.5 WESA News in Summer 2025.

p Jess Daninhirsch studies journalism and history.

Photo courtesy of Jess Daninhirsch

p Pittsburgh Mayor Corey O’Connor and Community Day School Head of School Casey Weiss Photo courtesy of Community Day School

Hillel Academy of Pittsburgh Girls High School Varsity team finished third in the Faye Comet & Harriet Stark Girls Invitational. The annual tournament welcomed teams from Maryland, Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Toronto.

p Third’s the word

Photo by Avital Isenberg

Raising voices and funds

Chabad House on Campus welcomed students for a Purim celebration.

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Pittsburgh Mayor Corey O’Connor visited Community Day School to speak about the importance of community.

Cleveland heights

Spotted on scene

p A Purim party not hard to see.

Democratic devotees

Community members gathered at Temple Sinai on March 19 to raise money for Casa San José’s Bond Fund. The fund helps reunite immigrant families by covering immigration bonds, ensuring individuals are not unjustly detained due to financial barriers. More than 200 attendees helped raise over $33,000.

Photo courtesy of Chabad House on Campus

p Cantor Julie Newman and Jonathan Mayo sound the shofar as an alarm to protect neighbors and sound out grief. Photo by Brian Cohen courtesy of Jonathan Mayo

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MARCH 13, 2026

Come curious. Leave wiser. Bret Stephens

Jeremy Ben-Ami

A Pulitzer Prize–winning opinion columnist for The New York Times and the founder and editor-in-chief of SAPIR, a new quarterly devoted to issues of Jewish concern, Bret Stephens is former editor of The Jerusalem Post and a Wall Street Journal editorial writer. He is the author of three books.

President and Founder of J Street, Jeremy Ben-Ami is the grandson of a founding family of Tel Aviv and son of an Irgun leader who fought for Israel’s independence. He has worked on seven presidential and numerous local political campaigns and served as Deputy Domestic Policy Advisor to President Bill Clinton.

U.S.–Israel Relations

Wednesday, March 25 • 7 pm

JCC Squirrel Hill • Katz Theater $36/person For more info: Fara Marcus • fmarcus@jccpgh.org Register here

bit.ly/comecuriousmarch25

This opening panel of the Israel Engagement Series will delve into the foundational pillars of bipartisan support for the U.S.–Israel relationship, while addressing the emerging threats it faces from both American and Israeli political landscapes. The discussion will also explore strategies to preserve this vital alliance in an increasingly polarized environment. Ben-Ami and Stephens, bringing a wealth of knowledge and experience along with their differing ideological perspectives, will contribute to what promises to be a dynamic and enlightening conversation.

JCCPGH ISRAEL ENGAGEMENT SERIES Yisrael Klitsner Series Moderator Klitsner is a fellow at the Jewish People Policy Institute (JPPI) who has deep connections to our community. He and his family lived in Squirrel Hill but returned to Israel after October 7 so he could rejoin his IDF unit. Klitsner, who has served as Diaspora Affairs Advisor to Prime Minister Naftali Bennett, and worked for AIPAC in Israel, is passionate about educating and building community around the state of Israel and its relationship with the United States.

This new series, developed by the JCC of Greater Pittsburgh, invites participants to go beyond the headlines through dialogue and multiple perspectives featuring leading voices and meaningful community discussion. The series will “cover everything under the sun related to Israel, including politics, culture and history,” says Yisrael Klitsner, the moderator of the series. We encourage you to come all the sessions if possible

Session 1 U.S.-Israel Relations • March 25

Session 2 Israel’s Geopolitical Outlook • April 15 Session 3 Understanding Israeli Politics • May 18 Session 4 October 7—The Day that Changed Everything Session 5 Minority Voices—Arab Citizens of Israel After October 7 Session 6 Is Israeli Democracy in Jeopardy?

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PITTSBURGH JEWISH CHRONICLE

The JCC of Greater Pittsburgh is committed to a brave, welcoming space for hard conversations about Israel and related issues. This series is educational and nonpartisan; no speaker or program implies endorsement of any political party, candidate, policy, or single viewpoint. Over the course of the 6-part series, participants will be presented with a wide range of perspectives, some of which they may agree with, and some they may strongly disagree with. That tension is part of the intended learning and ideally will strengthen our communal muscle for constructive dialogue across differences. If your goal is simply to have your current views reaffirmed, this series may not be for you. If you are willing to engage with new ideas, sit with discomfort, and leave with deeper understanding—and perhaps more questions than answers—we invite you to join us: come curious, engage respectfully, and be open to complexity.

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