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July 3, 2026 | 18 Tammuz 5786

Candlelighting 8:36 p.m. | Havdalah 9:43 p.m. | Vol. 69, No. 27 | pittsburghjewishchronicle.org

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Headlines 250 years: Since the beginning, part of the American journey — LOCAL —

and leadership helped shape modern Jewish religious practice throughout North America.

Jonas Salk (1914–1995) – Medicine

By Yafa Negrete | Special to the Chronicle

Working at the University of Pittsburgh, Dr. Jonas Salk developed the first successful polio vaccine. His breakthrough protected millions of children around the world and remains one of the greatest achievements in modern medicine.

he story of America is also the story of the communities that helped build it. For more than two centuries, Jewish Americans have contributed to the nation’s civic life, culture, science, commerce and public service. These Pittsburgh-connected individuals and families represent a small sample of the many Jewish Americans whose work helped shape both our city and our country. Their contributions are highlighted on the cover of this week’s Chronicle, which I designed.

Sophie Masloff (1917–2014) – Politics

Known affectionately as “Mayor Sophie,” Sophie Masloff became Pittsburgh’s first female and first Jewish mayor, serving from 1988 to 1994. Her dedication to public service made her one of the city’s most beloved political leaders.

Josiah Cohen (1840–1930) – Civic leadership

The Kaufmann Family – Commerce and community building

Attorney, judge, Civil War veteran and community leader, Josiah Cohen was one of the most respected Jewish public figures in 19th-century Pittsburgh. He helped strengthen both the city’s civic institutions and its growing Jewish community.

Barney Dreyfuss (1865–1932) – Baseball

Owner of the Pittsburgh Pirates, Barney Dreyfuss, helped transform professional baseball. He played a key role in creating the modern World Series and helped establish many of the standards that shaped America’s national pastime.

Gertrude Stein (1874–1946) – Literature and art

Born in Allegheny City, now Pittsburgh’s North Side, Gertrude Stein became one of the most influential literary voices of the 20th century. Her famous phrase “A rose is a rose is a rose” remains one of the best known lines in American literature. She also championed groundbreaking

modern artists, including Pablo Picasso and Henri Matisse.

Thee I Sing” (1931), helped define Broadway during the 20th century.

Otto Stern (1888–1969) – Science

Joseph Slepian (1891–1969) – Innovation

Nobel Prize-winning physicist Otto Stern taught at Carnegie Institute of Technology (now Carnegie Mellon University) from 1923 to 1933. His pioneering experiments revealed fundamental properties of atoms and particles and helped advance modern physics.

George S. Kaufman (1889–1961) – Theater

Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright, director and producer George S. Kaufman was one of the most influential figures in American theater. His works, including “Of

A prolific inventor and electrical engineer at Westinghouse, Joseph Slepian earned more than 400 patents. His innovations in electrical power systems, lightning protection and industrial technology helped modernize American industry.

Rabbi Solomon B. Freehof (1892– 1990) – Reform Judaism

For decades, Rabbi Solomon Freehof served Rodef Shalom Congregation in Pittsburgh and became one of the most influential voices in Reform Judaism. His scholarship

Through Kaufmann’s Department Store, the Kaufmann family helped shape Pittsburgh’s commercial life for generations. Their philanthropy supported institutions such as the Irene Kaufmann Settlement, Emma Kaufmann Camp and organizations that later became part of today’s Jewish Community Center, leaving a lasting legacy of community service and civic engagement.

A shared legacy

From medicine and science to sports, literature, religion, business and public service, these Pittsburghers reflect the many ways Jewish Americans have contributed to the nation’s growth and success. Their achievements remind us that the American story has always been enriched by people of diverse backgrounds working to build stronger communities and a better future. PJC Yafa Negrete is an artist who lives in Pittsburgh.

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Headlines ‘Stumbling towards each other’: Interfaith leaders reflect on year of ‘reckoning with antisemitism,’ launch new book — LOCAL — By Octavia Liku | Staff Writer

ocal Christian and Jewish community members filled the halls of Beit Kulanu on June 24 to reflect on the progress of a yearlong initiative — and a new book — aimed at confronting antisemitism within the Christian tradition. Over the past year, the Rev. Liddy Barlow, executive minister of the Christian Associates of Southwest Pennsylvania, and Noah Schoen, manager of community engagement at the Holocaust Center of Pittsburgh, convened clergy and community leaders for text study, workshops and group discussions focused on examining how antisemitic messaging has been ingrained in some biblical teachings. The effort culminated in the release of “The Root is Holy: Reckoning with Antisemitism as Christians,” a collection of sermons from 26 local Christian leaders intended as a resource for those seeking to address anti-Jewish sentiment within their own tradition. About 90 people attended the launch event, which was facilitated by Barlow and Schoen. Leaders across religious and denominational lines were in attendance, including Emily Loeb, director of the Holocaust Center of Pittsburgh; Pastor Jonathan Lynn of Emmanuel Lutheran Church; Kathy Emmons, co-host of the Evangelical faith-based radio show “The Ride Home with John and Kathy”; Rabbi Aaron Meyer of Temple Emmanuel of South Hills; and Rabbi Daniel Fellman of Beit Kulanu. “What we do in this project is stumble towards each other as Jews and Christians,” Schoen said. “We don’t always get it right. In fact, we’re definitely not going to get it right all the time. But we try.” More than 100 Christian leaders participated in the text study sessions, which included a sermon workshop at the Southwestern Pennsylvania Synod, where participants could bring their questions directly to their Jewish colleagues. Rabbis joined these study groups, offering advice and forming connections with Christian clergy. Christian leaders were also encouraged to bring related educational programming into their own congregations. Eleven programs were developed through the initiative, reaching over 550 people across Greater Pittsburgh. An additional 16 programs were independently organized, reaching almost 300 more people. “The Root is Holy: Reckoning with Antisemitism as Christians” traverses Hebrew scriptures, Jesus’ life, teachings and death, the Apostle Paul’s teachings, antisemitism in modern times, personal reflections and finally, a list of steps Christians can take to continue to combat antisemitism within their community. In the foreword of the book, Schoen wrote that Christians should reckon with antisemitism not only on behalf of the Jewish community, but also as a means of

p Christians and Jews gather on June 24 to discuss confronting antisemitism in the Christian tradition. Photo by Octavia Liku

p Noah Schoen, manager of community engagement at the Holocaust Center of Pittsburgh, speaks at the June 24 event. Photo by Octavia Liku

deepening connection to their faith. “There is room for everybody in this work,” he wrote. Kathy Emmons, an Evangelical Christian, emphasized that contending with antisemitism within her faith required “vulnerability,” “curiosity” and “unflinching honesty.” “I was afraid that I, as a Christian, might be urged to lessen my commitment to the scriptures,” she said. “I know that might sound overly dramatic, and I don’t mean it that way, but to me I wondered if in a group of people — some of whom were Jewish — they might ask me to be less of a Christian.” After attending a text study, Emmons was “persuaded, even convinced,” that there were moments where she had misread, misinterpreted or “minimally understood” biblical passages. “The greatest thing that Noah said to me early on was, ‘Kathy, don’t worry about saying the wrong thing — you probably will, but it’s OK,’” she said. “We all know that this work will require something of us.” Others emphasized the importance of solidarity, especially amid a rise in antiJewish sentiment across the country. Fellman expressed that the interfaith collaboration, and by extension, publication of the book, marked an “extraordinary moment” following the Pittsburgh synagogue shooting. “Here we are as Jews in 2026, in a world where antisemitism is reemerging from the far right and the far left, and we feel more alone and more safe than ever before. It’s a dichotomy. It doesn’t make sense that we would feel more alone and more safe at the same time, but it’s where we are,” he said. “I read through sermon after sermon in this book, and I thought to myself, ‘My God, this is a miracle that Christian ministers are willing to speak out and call antisemitism for what it is. This is a mark of transformation.’” Discussion of antisemitic messaging

invited to share their final reflections with the room. Some described a sense of unity, while others noted that tensions surfaced during group discussions. Regardless, one common thread emerged: hope. “The more we start reckoning in those small groups, the more we start doing this work together as whole churches, or as a neighborhood ministerium of congregations. The more people and institutions enter this conversation, the more reckoning starts to change the climate of whole communities,” Barlow said. “Both Christians and Jews move from feeling defensive or anxious to feeling open and collaborative. We make room for one another more graciously, and connect with one another more spontaneously. We begin to develop the ties of trust and understanding that make us more able to live and work together. That’s our dream for reckoning with antisemitism as Christians.” PJC

connected to recent conflicts, including the Hamas-Israel war, was limited during the event. Barlow told the Chronicle that she considered the past year of work as an “entry point” for further discussion. “Antisemitism is a complex issue that you can approach from a lot of different [angles]. I think we saw this approach through Christian scripture and also liturgy, prayers and theology to be an entry point to help Christians begin to do this work, ask these questions, and build these relationships,” Barlow said. “My hope is that as Christians start to have this openness that they’ve developed through this perspective, that they’ll be better equipped to have conversations about other manifestations of antisemitism.” The event was designed as “an opportunity to listen, but also as an opportunity to share,” according to program organizers. Attendees of all faiths were encouraged to break out into small groups and express their fears, hopes and apprehensions to each other. At the end of the night, participants were

Octavia Liku can be reached at oliku@ pittsburghjewishchronicle.org.

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JULY 3, 2026

Headlines CMU Fence emblazoned with ‘Death to Zionism’ — LOCAL — By David Rullo | Senior Staff Writer

he Fence at Carnegie Mellon University was again painted with messages targeting the Jewish community. Yiddish words translating to “Death to Zionism” were painted on one side of The Fence on the night of June 28, along with the historical Bund saying, “Wherever we live, there is our country.” The other side of The Fence was painted with the message, “Forcing ideological conformity on Jews is antisemitic.” The Palestinian flag also was painted on The Fence. The Bund is a Jewish socialist, anti-Zionist movement that emerged in Poland, Russia and Lithuania in the 19th century. Historically, it promoted Jewish political and cultural autonomy, the Yiddish language and the idea that Jews have a right to live and organize where they reside. By the evening of June 29, two photos of The Fence were included on the Instagram page cmufence. The first, depicting the painted fence with the anti-Israel messaging, was credited to “a few Jewish students.” A screed is included with the photo, calling Israel an “apartheid regime.” It goes on to say that “expecting a diverse nation of people to subscribe to one particular ideology,

p The CMU Fence was painted recently with messages in Yiddish, including one translating to “Death to Zionism.” Photo courtesy of Julie Paris

is in fact antisemitic.” In the lead-up to World War II, the Bund encouraged Jews to stay in Europe instead of joining the Zionist movement. Consequently many Bundists, along with millions of other Jews, were murdered in the Holocaust. A second photo on the cmufence Instagram account showed The Fence painted over in black, with only the Palestinian flag remaining. The post accompanying that photo was titled, “Shameful Censorship by CMU,” and railed against the anti-Israel messages being scrubbed. The most recent anti-Zionist messaging follows two other anti-Israel messages painted on The Fence in early June. The first contained the phrase “By any means necessary,” an axiom seen by many as justification

for a political movement to use any means available — including violence — to achieve its goals. The earlier anti-Zionist messages were widely criticized by local Jewish community members and prompted a response from CMU President Farnam Jahanian, who wrote that it “is categorically unacceptable for an anonymous message painted on CMU property to incite or imply support for violence, and it is equally unacceptable for members of our campus community to feel physically threatened or unsafe.” He acknowledged that some members of CMU’s campus community, as well as “the broader Pittsburgh Jewish community,” felt the messages were “antisemitic and threatened their sense of safety and belonging.”

The most recent anti-Israel messages seem to be a reaction to the Jewish community’s concerns and the university’s response to the previous messages on The Fence. Created in 1923 by seniors commemorating their graduation, The Fence has been a space for students to share opinions and events with the campus community. Over the years, it has been an occasional source of controversy. In 2025, the university took the unusual step of painting over a message that read “No rapists on our campus,” during a visit by President Donald Trump, and closing access to The Fence. It was the first time in at least a quarter-century that access was limited. Following the controversy, Jahanian convened The Fence Working Group. The group delivered its final report on May 15. David Knoll, vice president of public affairs at the Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh, said the new messages on The Fence were “troubling.” “That’s the bottom line,” he said. “It’s troubling that this is the third time in two weeks that language targeting the Jewish community has been on The Fence. Any language that incites or implies support for violence is totally unacceptable.” It is also “unacceptable,” he said, “to make members of the CMU community feel physically threatened or unsafe.” Please see Fence, page 10

Jewish Diaspora Movement seeks to decentralize Israel in Jewish life — NATIONAL — By David Rullo | Senior Staff Writer

new Jewish organization has been created with the intention of decentralizing Israel in Jewish life, and it already has at least two Pittsburgh organizations as members. The Jewish Diaspora Movement is “a constellation of communities, projects, and leaders who embrace life-affirming, vibrant, diverse expressions of Jewishness and a commitment to all peoples’ liberation,” according to its website. The organization aspires to act as a hub for Jewish cultural and religious projects while rejecting the assumption that “Jews need an insular culture or a militarized ethnostate.” The group’s website lists 53 organizations that are part of the coalition, two of which are based in Pittsburgh: Kesher Pittsburgh, and Ratzon: Center for Healing and Resistance. Ratzon is described on its website as “a queer, Jewish, anarchist community based in Pittsburgh” that organizes “anti-zionist Kabbalat Shabbats, holiday gatherings, reading groups, public ritual as resistance, and more.” Other members of the Jewish Diaspora Movement are a cadre of far-left Jewish groups, including Jewish Voice for Peace, IfNotNow and the American Council for Judaism. Keshira HaLev Fife is Kesher Pittsburgh’s founding kohenet, or Hebrew priestess. Fife said that since Kesher Pittsburgh was founded 12 years ago, it has been committed to building community. “At that time, it wasn’t rooted in a conscious choice to detach ourselves from Israel per se,” Fife said in an email to the Chronicle. “Rather, it was inspired by an inquiry into what it would mean to ground ourselves in a love of Jewishness, ritual, community and Jewish culture.” 4

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Image by BreakingTheWalls via iStock

The intent, she said, was not to preserve Judaism; instead, it was done for the “sake of those who were coming together, that Judaism might be a meaningful touchstone and a source of joy and connection for all of us.” Kesher Pittsburgh, Fife said, has been a center of connection “regardless of identities, political positions, belief/lack of belief in G-d, etc.” “It feels exciting and aligned to be a part of a movement that shares these values and where people are actively supporting one another as we build and grow, even across lines of difference,” Fife said. As for the topics of Israel, Zionism and anti-Zionism, Fife said she doesn’t find the terms useful because of their many definitions, and also because the terms often “end up shutting down conversation rather than inviting curiosity.” In the end, she said, the issue is “how we continue to create a community that honors the different ways of being Jewish (including different ways of relating to Israel/Palestine),

that encourages asking hard questions and wrestling with what arises, that supports deepening into spiritual practice as a way to find grace and connection in a world that is so hard on us in so many ways.” The use of the terms “Zionism” and “anti-Zionism,” Fife said, flattens identities, “missing nuance, withholding compassion and forgetting not only our humanity but our divinity.” She said that Kesher Pittsburgh joined the Jewish Diaspora Movement to be a part of an initiative “where we can celebrate our Jewishness just as it is, with a commitment to the liberation of all people, including Jews.” The Jewish Diaspora Movement’s roots go back to 2022 when Rabbi Alissa Wise and Rabbi Jessica Rosenberg participated in Jewish Voice for Peace’s planning conversations as part of its Rabbinical Council. In a piece on JDM’s website, Wise wrote that in 2023, the pair began “conducting one-to-one meetings with Jewish communal leaders who have been building Judaism outside of Zionism, diasporist Jewish communities, liberatory

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Judaism and Judaism beyond nationalism.” Wise wrote that their organizing was paused when “we put down the project to focus on the urgent work of trying to stop the unfolding genocide in Gaza.” They reconvened in 2024, realizing, she said, that the “political moment had created a sense of urgency and inevitably for this kind of movement building. The need for a liberatory Judaism to rise to upend supremacist Judaism was essential.” The organization officially launched on Shavuot, 2024, as a “compelling counterweight to supremacist Judaism.” Wise wrote that the new organization prioritizes “autonomy (minimal hierarchy, self-organizing), participation (democratic decision-making, shared leadership, and shared carrying out the work of our movement), and transparency (clear communication channels and processes).” The group seeks to become “a defining cultural force in Jewish life,” according to its website, aiming to provide “liberatory Jewish perspectives to media outlets and interfaith partners” and developing “new modes of practice and relating that help us build thriving communities for ourselves and our non-Jewish neighbors.” In the FAQ section on its website, the question “Why Jewish?” is answered with: “Jewish legacy institutions are actively causing harm by aligning with oppressive state power, funding Israel (and therefore the ethnic cleansing and genocide of Palestinians), conflating antizionism with antisemitism, and refusing to engage in meaningful dialogue with dissenters.” JDM continues to onboard groups for its “founding minyan.” PJC David Rullo can be reached at drullo@ pittsburghjewishchronicle.org. PITTSBURGHJEWISHCHRONICLE.ORG

Headlines Friendship Circle’s Health Ambassadors advocate for accessibility across Pittsburgh — LOCAL — By Octavia Liku | Staff Writer

or many individuals with disabilities, even a routine doctor’s appointment can mean navigating ableist biases, inaccessible resources and rising costs. A new Friendship Circle initiative — Health Ambassadors — empowers young people to overcome these barriers one workshop, interview and clinic visit at a time. The Friendship Circle is a nonprofit organization within the Jewish community that offers young people with a wide range of abilities the opportunity to “be firmly connected in the community through friendships and relationships, access to wellness supports and employment opportunities,” according to the Friendship Circle’s website. The Friendship Circle’s Health Ambassadors program seeks to uplift the voices of teens with disabilities to advocate for greater accessibility across the healthcare landscape. The program was guided by Dr. Elizabeth Miller, chief of Adolescent Medicine at UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh. The Health Ambassadors initiative comes just two years after the University of Pittsburgh, commissioned by the FISA Foundation, published a report titled “A Far Cry from FAIR.” The report concluded that the disparities across Pittsburgh’s healthcare system “inevitably [led] to unfair differences in health outcomes, unnecessary complications, avoidable suffering, and even death.” Talia Akiva, teen programming and

p Friendship Circle’s Health Ambassadors

operations manager at The Beacon, an initiative of the Friendship Circle, said the report confirmed what “people with disabilities already knew.” “Youth with disabilities are often overlooked. A lot of our health ambassadors were talking about how when they’re in doctor’s appointments, the doctor speaks directly to their parent when they’re fully capable of talking about their own medical history and their own things that they’re going through,” Akiva said. “They have lived experiences that we can pull from that I think are often overlooked [by] doctors and researchers, and so it’s important to actually learn from the people that are being impacted.” The Health Ambassadors program is comprised of nine teens, parents and recent high school graduates from the Friendship Circle community. The ambassadors began with “learning sessions” at The Beacon, where

Photo courtesy of the Friendship Circle

they gained insight into disability advocacy, healthcare and ongoing research. They also visited local clinics and interviewed various experts in the field, including a physician assistant and a clinic manager. “They walked all around thinking about accessibility in all different ways, starting from how they got [to the clinic] and the cost of the bus, and if it was easy to find it, if the doors were big enough for wheelchairs and how someone would get on the bed if they were in a wheelchair,” Akiva said. “They really looked at everything.” The program culminated in the creation of an evaluation tool that can be used to assess a clinic’s accessibility. Earlier this month, the ambassadors visited the Center for Adolescent and Young Adult Health in Oakland to assess the inclusivity of the clinic’s resources. Health Ambassador Ekow Opoku-Dakwa

noted that while the clinic was already “welcoming,” there were a few accessibility issues that needed to be addressed. He emphasized that the health ambassadors’ “collaborative approach” could help spread awareness and facilitate these changes. “Young people with disabilities make up a good portion of the medical system and I think [it’s important] to share about their experience in order for them to be more present in the decision-making process,” Opoku-Dakwa said. Beyond addressing accessibility issues across the Pittsburgh healthcare system, the program also created an opportunity for members of the community to share vital resources with each other. One example that came up within group discussions was the “PH-95 loophole,” which allows individuals under the age of 18 to receive access to Medicaid, regardless of their parents’ income. “It’s kind of hard to find these resources, and they’re hidden unless you look for them,” Akiva said. “We want to share with our greater Friendship Circle community what our health ambassadors have learned, and allow space for more people to talk about their experiences.” On June 17, the ambassadors presented their findings at the FISA Foundation Awards. Akiva hopes that the Health Ambassadors community will continue to expand, encompassing a vast range of experiences and perspectives. “There’s a saying in the disability community — ‘nothing about us without us,’” she said. “We want them to be heard.” PJC Octavia Liku can be reached at oliku@ pittsburghjewishchronicle.org.

Tree of Life secures up to $18 million in financing from Allegheny County — LOCAL — By David Rullo | Senior Staff Writer

llegheny County has agreed to finance up to $18 million in support of the redevelopment of The Tree of Life. The financing initiative follows a vote by the Allegheny County Industrial Development Authority, which authorized tax-exempt financing for the rebuilding of the structure, according to a statement released by The Tree of Life. Construction has begun at the corner of Shady and Wilkins avenues, the site of the most violent antisemitic attack in United States history. Eleven members of three congregations — Congregation Dor Hadash, New Light Congregation and Tree of Life Congregation — were murdered on the morning of Oct. 27, 2018: Joyce Fienberg, Richard Gottfried, Rose Mallinger, Jerry Rabinowtiz, Cecil Rosenthal, David Rosenthal, Bernice Simon, Sylvan Simon, Daniel Stein, Melvin Wax and Irving Younger. The county financing will support the construction work as well historical preservation and restoration efforts, security and accessibility improvements. The financing is a tax-exempt loan, according to project manager Craig Dunham of Dunham reGroup. PITTSBURGHJEWISHCHRONICLE.ORG

“We will enter into a loan agreement with a bank and that loan will be structured as a tax exempt loan, which means there’s a lower interest rate and a few other things,” Dunham explained. “The [Allegheny County Industrial Development] Authority issues the loan with the bank and the Tree of Life.” Because of the nature of the financing, Allegheny County isn’t issuing the money itself. “[T]here’s nothing coming from Allegheny County,” Dunham explained. Major construction on the site is expected to begin this fall. Michael Bernstein, chairman of The Tree of Life board of directors, said they were grateful for the financing. “The support of County Executive Sara Innamorato and Allegheny County Economic Development is critical to the success of our project and long-term sustainability of our institution,” he said. More than $50 million of a $60 million fundraising goal has been raised to support the construction of the building and future programming. Funding has come from a variety of sources, Carole Zawatsky, CEO of The Tree of Life, told reporters in May during an on-site announcement that early-phase construction had begun. “Over 2,000 individuals have contributed, some making $18 gifts,” she said. “Those gifts are really significant for some people. … There

p The Tree of Life’s new building design

Rendering courtesy of Studio Libeskind

are gifts as large as $10.6 million from the state of Pennsylvania, and we are incredibly thrilled to have that. There are gifts from Pittsburgh foundations, $3.5 million and $2 million.” In addition to construction, the funds raised will support the establishment of a museum and robust programming, as well as seed operations costs and program reserves to ensure the institution’s long-term financial stability and health, as well as the creation of the 10/27 Memorial. Robin Cohen, The Tree of Life’s chief financial and operations officer, said that tax-exempt financing is common practice for nonprofit organizations undertaking capital projects. “The financing enables organizations to bridge the gap between the time the cost is

incurred and the time funds are raised,” she said. Designed by Studio Libeskind, The Tree of Life will include exhibition space, classrooms, a social hall and a 300-seat sanctuary/theater featuring the congregation’s historic stained glass windows, and will offer both religious and cultural programming. The site also will be home to the 10/27 Memorial. “When it reopens,” Bernstein said, “The Tree of Life will be a beacon of hope and a center for celebrating our shared humanity while learning about one another and forging connections across differences.” PJC

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David Rullo can be reached at drullo@ pittsburghjewishchronicle.org. JULY 3, 2026

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 SUNDAY, JULY 5 Join the Jewish Community Center to celebrate America’s 250th anniversary with American’s Potluck Picnic. This is an opportunity to unite across neighborhoods and honor our diverse

connections to our country. There will be yard games, a singalong and plenty to eat. 4 p.m. Free. JCC Family Park, 261 Rosecrest Drive, Monroeville, 15146. Registration strongly encouraged at jccpgh. formstack.com/forms/america_250_potluck_rsvp q SUNDAYS, JULY 5–DEC. 20 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

Protect Yourself and Your Loved Ones – Your Way We provide expert help with long term care planning, powers of attorney, wills, trusts and special needs. We help you implement legal and tax strategies to protect your wealth during your life and afterwards.

q THURSDAYS, JULY 16, AUG. 20, SEPT. 3 Rendezvous in Beit Kulanu’s Biblical Botanical Garden with drinks and hors d’oeuvres for free live musical performances. Apps start at 6:30 p.m. and music at 7 p.m. The concert is free but registration is required. 4905 Fifth Ave. BeitKulanu.org

mhm@ahmpc.com 4927 William Flinn Highway Allison Park, Pennsylvania 15101 We make house calls!

q MONDAY, JULY 20 Discover the art of quilling — turning delicate paper strips into stunning flowers, patterns, and art pieces — with Yamit Presman at Chabad of Greenfield’s Jewish Women’s Circle Quilling Workshop,

Join Us! PGHJGS membership is only $18/year and includes free access to regular programming, help sessions, past program recordings, and more. Learn more and sign up at pghjgs.org/membership.

Upcoming Programs

SUN, AUG 16, 2026

WED, SEPT 9, 2026

q MONDAYS, JULY 6–DEC. 21 Join Congregation Beth Shalom for a weekly Talmud study. 9:15 a.m. For more information, visit bethshalompgh.org. q TUESDAYS, JULY 7–DEC. 22 Join Beth El’s Rabbi Alex Greenbaum and his Bible/Talmud Adult Education class for a thoughtprovoking 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

PLAN AHEAD:

WED, JULY 15, 2026

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.

“Welcome to New York: All About Arrival Records” with Alec Ferretti 5-7pm/In-Person at Heinz History Center OR Virtual on Zoom/$5

featuring a homemade ice cream and sorbet bar. 7:15 p.m. $18. ChabadofGreenfield.com/JWC q SUNDAY, AUG. 2 Join Chabad of the South Hills for the 2nd Annual South Hills Jewish Festival, celebrating Jewish life and culture. Live concert with Chassidic singer Berel Faiden, cultural crafts, kosher wine tasting and food, fun zone, petting zone. 1 p.m. Free. 1700 Bower Hill Road. chabadsh.com q TUESDAY, AUG. 4 Join the Holocaust Center of Pittsburgh for Holocaust 101: The Fundamentals of Holocaust Education, the first program in its 2026–2027 series of teacher trainings. The training is designed for teachers across grade levels and subject areas, whether you are new to teaching the Holocaust and antisemitism or looking to deepen your existing practice. Each session will offer practical guidance, classroom-ready resources, and time to think through common challenges with other educators. Act 48 credits available. 9 a.m. Allegheny Intermediate Unit, 475 East Waterfront Drive. eventbrite.com/e/holocaust-101-thefundamentals-of-holocaust-education-tickets1990912143816 q WEDNESDAYS, AUG. 5, SEPT. 2 Join Beit Kulanu for Biblical Garden Open Door Tours: Free, docent-led tours of the congregation’s Biblical Botanical Garden the first Wednesday of the month. 12:15 p.m. Free. 4905 Fifth Ave. rodefshalom. org/garden PJC

Join the Chronicle Book Club!

he Pittsburgh Jewish Chronicle invites you to join the Chronicle Book Club for its July 12 discussion of “A Guide for the Perplexed,” by Dara Horn. From Amazon.com: “Software prodigy Josie Ashkenazi has invented an application that records everything its users do. When she visits the Library of Alexandria as a tech consultant, she is abducted in Egypt’s postrevolutionary chaos with only a copy of the philosopher Maimonides’ famous work to anchor her, leaving her jealous sister Judith free to take over her life. A century earlier, Cambridge professor Solomon Schechter arrives in Egypt, hunting for a medieval archive hidden in a Cairo synagogue. Their stories intertwine in this spellbinding novel of how technology changes memory and how memory shapes the soul.”

Amazon and Barnes & Noble, and through the Carnegie Library system. Email: Contact us at drullo@pittsburgh jewishchronicle.org, and write “Chronicle Book Club” in the subject line. We will send you a Zoom link for the discussion meeting. Happy reading! PJC

Your hosts

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

“The Admiral and The Submarine: The (South) Hills Are Alive with The Sounds of BBQ” with Jonina Duker

How it works

1-2:30pm/Virtual on Zoom/$5

What to do

We will meet on Zoom on Sunday, July 12, at 1 p.m. Buy: “A Guide for the Perplexed.” It is available from online retailers, including

“10 Generative AI Prompts Every Genealogist Needs to Know” with Blaine Bettinger 7-8:30pm/Virtual on Zoom/$5 Learn more about these and other programs at pghjgs.org/programming.

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Headlines JAA speaker series to demystify the end-of-life doula profession — LOCAL — By Emma Riva | Special to the Chronicle

he only two truly universal human experiences are birth and death. So, why is it so hard to talk about the latter? Most of us clam up when we try to talk about mortality. One profession, however, has made easing conversations about death and palliative care its central mission: the end-of-life doula. A new free speaker series beginning July 9 at the Jewish Association on Aging aims to demystify what end-of-life doulas do and to open conversations about end-of-life planning and care. Just as a birthing doula assists a woman with every step of the birth process, an end-of-life doula is a companion for a dying person every step of the way. “They may be assisting with such things as making decisions, educating on what to expect as things get closer to death so people are not surprised or scared, providing nonjudgmental support, helping with life review and legacy projects, assisting with practical tasks allowing time for family respite, or just spending time at the bedside providing support,” Stacey Tabanli, director of the JAA’s Sivitz Hospice and Palliative Care, told the Chronicle. Tabanli is an end-of-life doula and a

Photo by Chinnapong via iStock

registered nurse. While end-of-life doulas are not necessarily medical professionals, there is often overlap. End-of-life doulas may use tools like Reiki, aromatherapy, guided imagery, breathing exercises and gentle touch, but do not administer medical care in lieu of hospital or hospice services. “The goal is to educate and not give opinions or make recommendations, to collaborate with the whole family and care team, and respect the client’s autonomy,” Tabanli said. The upcoming speaker series, hosted by INELDA (The International End-of-Life Doula Association), will have resources available for anyone interested in the career path of end-of-life doula work. Sivitz Jewish Hospice and Palliative Care wanted to develop its own doula program, so it connected with

INELDA to help educate interested staff and community members. Though the program is hosted by the JAA, Tabanli noted that end-of-life doulas serve people of all ages. Conversations around death are often framed as only relevant to the elderly, but doulas “can provide support to people of any age who are facing a terminal illness, a life-limiting condition, or who are in the dying process,” Tabanli said. Omni Kitts Ferreira, INELDA’s director of education, will speak at the first iteration of the series, titled “Invitation to a Sacred Calling.” Anyone who attends will be able to talk directly to practicing doulas and ask questions about the work. JAA officials felt a particular pull to work with INELDA because of Judaism’s emphasis

on respecting death as a part of life. The Jewish funeral tradition of mourners filling the grave with dirt is a profound goodbye. Then, the tradition of sitting shiva and the 30 days of shloshim ensure that the bereaved are supported through grieving and given adequate time to reintegrate into their lives while still honoring their loss. Saying kaddish daily after a loved one’s death can be both grounding and spiritually comforting. But caring for the dying person while they are still alive is also a mitzvah in Judaism. “[Judaism has] a moral obligation rooted in the principle kol Yisrael areivim zeh la’zeh — All Israel is responsible for one another,” Tabanli said. “Bikur cholim, or the commandment of visiting the sick, is a significant mitzvah in Judaism that emphasizes compassion, community support and spiritual connection.” Tabanli shared that Rabbi Dovid Small, the JAA’s director of pastoral care, tells staff that “in Judaism, every moment of life is cherished and precious. To take care of someone at their last moments of life on this world is both honorable and especially important. We say the Shema to affirm our faith and to help the person transition in a calm and serene way.” Part of an end-of-life doula’s role is to comfort the dying person in a culturally sensitive way. INELDA provides education for Please see Doula, page 10

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JULY 3, 2026

Headlines A tale of two marches: LGBTQ Jews face cheers and heckles at NYC Pride — NATIONAL— By Grace Gilson | New York Jewish Week

illon Perez was both heckled and embraced for being Jewish as he waved a large rainbow flag with a Star of David at New York City’s Pride March on Sunday. Marching earlier in the day with “Jew York Pride,” Perez was greeted with cheers and cries of “Jewish pride” from spectators. But hours later, after joining a second Jewish contingent hosted by the liberal pro-Israel group Zioness, Perez endured booing and spectators shouting “free Palestine, f–ck Israel.” “There’s a sensitivity over this word, a Zionist,” Perez, 30, said. “The way that it sparked something in the crowd was definitely different between the two, you know, that’s just a fact.” While both groups waved Pride flags featuring the Star of David and aimed to celebrate the intersection of their identities Sunday, the split-screen experience reflected the complicated reality many LGBTQ Jews say they face at Pride events post Oct. 7, and in the LGBTQ community at large. Sheri Krell, 39, marched with the

p The “Jew York Pride” group marches in the New York City Pride March on June 28, 2026.

Zioness contingent, which carried a large banner featuring the name and slogan “unabashedly progressive, unapologetically Zionist.” She said that despite the heckles the group faced, the experience underscored the importance of showing up with outwardly Jewish symbols at Pride.

“The pain you feel today is the strength you’ll feel tomorrow.”

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JULY 3, 2026

“Yes, there was verbal harassment, but on the other hand, I think it was important to still be there and still take up space and to still represent queer Jews in the Pride parade,” Krell said. “Because as much hate as we received, we also received a lot of positivity.” Alex Kaufman, 33, a partner of Zioness who organized their contingent Sunday, said that things had come to a “boiling point” in queer communities, with spaces becoming “largely inhospitable to Jews, often who are Zionist or who maintain some semblance of ties to Israel.” “The reason why we came together today was to offer Jewish queer people a safe space to celebrate Pride, where they could bring their full identities in safely and be who they are without any reservation,” Kaufman said. But while the Zioness group was met with hostility Sunday afternoon, the Jew York Pride group experienced a much different reaction. A marcher in the Jew York Pride contingent, Rivka Schafer, had also braced herself for the antisemitic heckling she had endured in past years at NYC Pride, but the boos never came. Instead, as Schafer and dozens of LGBTQ Jews made their way down the parade route under the blazing sun, they were met with cheers from spectators as they handed out hundreds of Pride flags featuring a star of David. “Things definitely have cooled down a lot in the past few years,” Schafer, 21, said. “I think the Pride two years ago was pretty scary. I think this year, I was not afraid.” An estimated 75,000 marchers, including New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani and New York Gov. Kathy Hochul, and 2 million spectators packed the streets for the 56th annual NYC Pride March Sunday, which was themed “For All of Us.” But for many Jewish participants, the festivities unfolded against a backdrop of growing unease. “It’s been a lot harder to be Jewish in queer spaces, and often hard to also be

PITTSBURGH JEWISH CHRONICLE

Photo by Grace Gilson

queer in Jewish spaces as well,” Schafer said. “And so I think that we’ve seen record numbers of people here needing to find community.” Last year, Ottawa’s Pride Parade was canceled after pro-Palestinian protesters blocked the route, and in 2024, Jewish Lesbians in New York began hosting their own Pride celebration, Shalom, Dykes, after organizers of the Dyke March hosted their parade under the theme “Dykes Against Genocide.” On Saturday, California Jewish State Sen. Scott Wiener said in a post on X that he had been harassed “verbally and physically” while attending a trans march in San Francisco earlier in the week. Nate Shalev, the co-founder of Shalom, Dykes, said that LGBTQ Jews had begun to “understand where they’re being excluded and where it’s okay to go.” “I think the distinction is when we’re talking about a connection to Israel, and that we’re talking about being inclusive of Zionists,” Shalev said. “When we’re talking about that side of things, there can become this dichotomy of what kind of Jews are welcome.” For many attendees Sunday, the Jew York Pride contingent offered a rare opportunity to celebrate both their LGBTQ and Jewish identities without feeling forced to choose between them. Alec Burroughs, a 32-year-old Modern Orthodox paradegoer, said it was increasingly challenging to be deeply steeped in both a Jewish and an LGBTQ identity. “Marching with this group is a beautiful way of bringing those two things together in a way that feels open and accepting,” Burroughs said. For the Jew York Pride contingent, the day began at Congregation Beit Simchat Torah, New York City’s pioneering LGBTQoriented synagogue, where paradegoers and supporters schmoozed over rainbow bagels and rugelach. Please see Pride, page 10

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Headlines — WORLD — Half of Americans think the U.S. is ‘too supportive’ of Israel

A new survey found that 48% of American voters think the United States is “too supportive” of Israel, the highest since the pollster started asking the question in 2017, JTA reported. The survey published last week by Quinnipiac University also found that 60% of respondents reported that military intervention in Iran was “not worth it” as opposed to 34% of voters who said it was “worth it.” The number of respondents who think the U.S. support of Israel is about right is 38%, while just 7% think the U.S. is not supportive enough of Israel, the poll found. Broken down by party, 66% of Democrats think the U.S. is too supportive of Israel, while 9% think it is not supportive enough and 18% think U.S. support for Israel is about right. Among Republicans, 20% think the U.S. is too supportive of Israel, 69% think American support for Israel is “about right,” and 6% think the U.S. is not supportive enough. Among independent voters, 55% think the U.S. is too supportive of Israel, 34% think U.S. support for Israel is about right, and 7% think the U.S. is not supportive enough. The poll data were released one day after three Democrats critical of Israel swept their House primary races in New York City, and in races around the country even some reliably pro-Israel Democratic candidates distanced themselves from the pro-Israel lobby AIPAC. A survey last year by Gallup found dwindling support for Israel among Democrats, as well as waning support among Republicans.

Feds open antisemitism investigation into National Education Association

The Trump administration is launching an antisemitism investigation into the National Education Association, the influential public school teachers union, over purported employment discrimination, JTA reported. The probe is based on allegations that Jewish members of the NEA were harassed and “physically intimidated” during the organization’s 2025 annual convention, including a reported case of NEA members appearing to cheer at mention of the 2025 attack on a march for Israeli hostages in Boulder, Colorado. The complaint, based on the accounts of several Jewish NEA members, also spotlighted recent controversies, such as materials from the union that labeled a map of the state of Israel as “Palestine” for Indigenous People’s Day and a handbook that failed to identify Jews as the primary victims of the Holocaust. They further alleged that the union’s diversity hiring guidelines harmed its Jewish members. The Brandeis Center for Human Rights Under Law, a legal group that has brought several other such antisemitism cases to the Trump administration, filed the complaint that triggered the NEA investigation. The case is being handled through the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, whose authority to investigate employment discrimination also extends to union membership. In a statement to JTA, the NEA said, “We take concerns like this seriously and are reviewing the matter through our established processes.” The union added that it “does not tolerate antisemitism in any form and

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

July 3, 1904 — Theodor Herzl dies

Theodor Herzl, the founder of the World Zionist Organization, dies of cardiac sclerosis p Theodor at 44 in Austria Herzl, shown in seven years after he Switzerland in 1901, organized and led organized the First the World Zionist Zionist Congress. Organization from His body is reburied 1897 until his death. in Jerusalem in Central Zionist Archives 1949.

July 4, 1976 — Hostages are rescued at Entebbe

Israeli commandos storm the airport in Entebbe, Uganda, to rescue 106 hostages from a hijacked Air France flight. All seven terrorists, 20 Ugandan soldiers, three hostages and one Israeli soldier (Yoni Netanyahu) are killed.

July 5, 1950 — Knesset enacts Law of Return

The Knesset passes the Law of Return, offering an open immigration door to all Jews. It formalizes a policy in place since the provisional government revoked British limits on Jewish immigration in May 1948. PITTSBURGHJEWISHCHRONICLE.ORG

July 6, 1973 — Conductor Otto Klemperer dies

Otto Klemperer, a German Jewish conductor and composer, dies at 88 in Zurich. He fled to the United States after the Nazis came to power in 1933. He performed in the state of Israel in 1970 and gained citizenship.

July 7, 1969 — U Thant: “Open warfare” along canal

U.N. Secretary-General U Thant says he is considering withdrawing U.N. observers from the Suez Canal zone because Egypt and Israel have shot across the canal daily for three months.

July 8, 1989 — Judo champ Yarden Gerbi is born

Harvey Fishbein, a lawyer for Hernandez, told the The New York Times Monday that the Supreme Court’s order meant Hernandez would not get a new trial, adding that his team was “terribly disappointed.” Patz vanished in May 1979 while walking to his school bus stop in New York City for the first time. The 6-year-old became one of the first missing children whose photograph appeared on milk cartons nationwide, but despite years of searches and public appeals, he was never found.

is committed to ensuring that all members and students, including Jewish members and students, can work and learn in a safe and welcoming environment.” The NEA has previously said its map labeled “Palestine” “does not meet our standards,” and updated its Holocaust handbook in response to the pushback.

Supreme Court reinstates murder conviction in Etan Patz disappearance case

The Supreme Court last week reinstated a murder conviction for the man convicted of killing Etan Patz, the 6-year-old Jewish boy whose 1979 disappearance riveted the nation, JTA reported. In a 6-3 vote, the justices reimposed the conviction of Pedro Hernandez, who was found guilty of kidnapping and murdering Patz in 2017 and was serving a 25-year sentence until a New York federal appeals court ruled last year that he was entitled to a retrial. The justices granted an appeal from New York prosecutors who urged them to overturn the decision last year, writing in an unsigned opinion that the lower court “exceeded its authority in holding that Hernandez is entitled to relief.” “Today the Supreme Court agreed with the findings of multiple lower courts and upheld the trial conviction of Pedro Hernandez for the horrific murder of Etan Patz, which changed a generation of New Yorkers,” Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg said in a statement Monday. “This office has remained steadfast in its pursuit of justice for Etan and the Patz family and will continue to stand by this important conviction.”

AI eye scan can detect anemia, according to Israeli study

Researchers at Tel Aviv University and Sheba Medical Center have developed an artificial intelligence system that can detect anemia and estimate key blood markers using a brief video scan of blood vessels in the eye, JNS reported. The proof-of-concept study, published in npj Digital Medicine, analyzed 224 participants and found the system identified anemia with 82.8% accuracy while showing strong correlation with laboratory measurements of hemoglobin and red blood cell counts. The technology converts high-magnification video of the eye’s conjunctiva into data on blood flow, which is then analyzed by AI. Researchers said the method could eventually enable faster, noninvasive screening, particularly in areas with limited access to medical care, though larger studies are needed before clinical use. The research was supported in part by Israel’s Innovation, Science and Technology Ministry. PJC — Compiled by Toby Tabachnick

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Yarden Gerbi is born in Kfar Saba. Gerbi wins eight national judo championships and rises to the top of the world rank- p Yarden Gerbi is ings. She becomes Israel’s first judo the first Israeli to win world champion a world judo title and won an in 2013 and wins Olympic medal in the sport, one of Olympic bronze in Israel’s strongest 2016. internationally.

July 9, 1959 — Wadi Salib riots begin

Riots break out in the Haifa’s Wadi Salib neighborhood after police officers shoot Yaakov Elkarif while trying to arrest him for being drunk and disorderly. The rioting is Israel’s first mass civil disturbance. PJC

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Headlines The Chronicle presents 18 Difference Makers — LOCAL — By Toby Tabachnick | Editor

e asked the community to nominate individuals who embody the value of tikkun olam — repairing the world — for our inaugural class of 18 Difference Makers. The nominations came in by the dozens, and we were not surprised. Caring for others is a foundation of Jewish Pittsburgh. With so many deserving candidates recommended for the honor, it wasn’t easy for our panel of judges to select just 18 individuals. We hope that those who were not selected this year will be nominated again in the future. The Chronicle created 18 Difference Makers to shine a spotlight on 18 community members who are making a difference in southwestern Pennsylvania. “We were thrilled to receive such an overwhelming response for nominations, and we’re even more thrilled to honor these 18 deserving and talented individuals,” said

Fence: Continued from page 4

Julie Paris, StandWithUs’ Mid-Atlantic regional director, noted that “Death to Zionism” is not a critique of Israeli government policy. “Zionism is the belief that the Jewish people have the right to self-determination in their ancestral homeland,” she said. “This idea is central to the identity of the overwhelming majority of Jews. Calling for the ‘death’ of Zionism is therefore experienced by many Jews as a call to eliminate the world’s only Jewish state and an attack on their identity.” Contrary to what the most recent messaging appears to champion, Paris said that those who painted the message are attempting to define for Jews which beliefs about their own

Doula: Continued from page 7

end-of-life doulas about religious rituals from every faith that will best serve their clients. “Oftentimes, when someone thinks of the role of an end-of -life doula, they think

Jim Busis, the Chronicle’s publisher and CEO. “Our community is enriched by countless talented and compassionate people who give so much of themselves in service to others,” he said. “We’re proud to celebrate 18 individuals nominated by their peers and to recognize the lasting difference they are making throughout Jewish Pittsburgh.” The criteria for Difference Makers were as follows: They had to be at least 18 years old by April 26, 2026, and have been successful in making a difference in southwestern Pennsylvania’s Jewish community; have taken an active role in the community, whether through a nonprofit organization, volunteer group or professional endeavor; and demonstrate “mensch-like” characteristics, those of honor and integrity. Nominees need not have been Jewish, but the nominee’s efforts must help better southwestern Pennsylvania’s Jewish community. Additionally, in recognition of a lifetime of community service, the Chronicle created the Lifetime Achievement Award, which is proudly bestowed this year on Karen Wolk

Feinstein, outgoing president and CEO of the Jewish Healthcare Foundation. The Difference Makers and Feinstein will be featured in a special section in the Friday, Sept. 4, issue of the Chronicle as well as on jewishchronicle.timesofisrael.com. For sponsorship and ad opportunities, and other information, contact Amy Weiss at aweiss@pittsburghjewishchronicle.org.

identity and history are acceptable. “We hope CMU uses this moment to deepen education about Jewish history and ensure that The Fence remains a place for robust debate, rather than rhetoric that targets or marginalizes any community,” Paris said. In a community message, Jahanian confirmed the translation from Yiddish of the phrase “Death to Zionism,” and said the CMU police responded to the “latest threatening message” by “launching an investigation and engaging the appropriate local and federal authorities. We also heard from members of our Jewish community, who described the translated text as alarming and antisemitic and shared concerns about their physical safety and well-being.” Jahanian confirmed the university painted over the controversial messaging “following

conversations with concerned community members.” “I am grateful for the individuals who made this decision onsite and who recognized that a call for ‘death’ violated our longstanding policy against such threats of violence, including threats based on an individual or a group’s affiliation or identity,” he wrote. “Moving forward, we will continue to quickly remove threatening language wherever it appears on campus, fully investigate these incidents and intervene as necessary.” Anonymous messages, he noted, are open to interpretation and “[l]anguage that can reasonably be viewed as threatening — whether performative or substantive, direct or ambiguous, painted on the Fence or printed in a flyer — has no place at Carnegie Mellon.” Jahanian noted that over the years there have been other strongly worded

this can be depressing. On the contrary, the process can be really uplifting. It can be so comforting to people, and [we] can stop people from being so scared,” Tabanli said. For the event, Tabanli hopes attendees come away with a better understanding of JAA’s services and a better idea of what options they have for their own end-of-life

care. JAA also welcomes volunteers who want to learn more about hospice care. One doesn’t need to be a death doula to become more involved in the lives of the terminally ill. “Visiting the sick is a fundamental Jewish value, reflecting the importance of caring for others in times of need,” Tabanli said. It brings both immediate comfort to the sick

Here is the inaugural class of Difference Makers: Rabbi Yisroel and Chani Altein, codirectors of Chabad of Squirrel Hill Dean Aseef, shaliach at the Jewish Community Center of Greater Pittsburgh Michael Bernstein, The Tree of Life board chair Nina Butler, director of Bikur Cholim Pittsburgh Debra L. Caplan, Jewish Healthcare Foundation, board of trustees and volunteer, and WHAMglobal (Women’s Health Activist Movement Global), founding chair Avi Cohen, community volunteer

Pride: Continued from page 8

Paradegoers were warned Sunday morning of potential “hecklers” during the festivities, but the Jew York Pride contingent encountered little hostility along the route. Carrying signs reading “We’re Here, Queer, and Jewish!” and “Frum and Proud” as well as Israeli and Jewish pride flags, the Jew York Pride contingent was flanked by four security guards trained in de-escalating potential confrontations with spectators. “It feels like such a bracha [blessing] to me that I’m able to even have a flag like this, to be able to wave it around, to be in a space where I can say yes, I’m Jewish and I’m queer and I’m here and I’m not gonna disappear,” Schafer, who carried both Israeliand Jewish pride flags, said. Dancing and cheering behind a car 10

JULY 3, 2026

p Dillon Perez waves a Jewish pride flag at the New York City Pride March on June 28, 2026. Photo by Grace Gilson

adorned with Jewish pride flags and blaring music, the Jew York Pride marchers this year were split into two groups: A youth group hosted by Keshet, the national LGBTQ

Jewish advocacy group, and Jewish Queer Youth, and an adult group led by Shalom, Dykes and Eshel. For Rachael Fried, the executive director of

PITTSBURGH JEWISH CHRONICLE

Rebecca Elhassid, community volunteer Meyer “Skip” Grinberg, community volunteer Tsipy Gur, Classrooms Without Borders, founder and executive director Rachael Heisler, Pittsburgh City Controller Jeff Herzog, community volunteer The Rev. Jonathon Jensen, Calvary Episcopal Church Rona Kaufman, associate professor at Thomas R. Kline School of Law of Duquesne University Eric Lidi, director of the Rauh Jewish History Program & Archives Fraidy and Dovie Nadoff, community volunteers Julie Paris, Mid-Atlantic regional director of StandWithUs Rabbi Chezky and Bassie Rosenfeld, co-directors of Our Giving Kitchen Kelly Schwimer, executive director of the Jewish Cemetery & Burial Association PJC Toby Tabachnick can be reached at ttabachnick@pittsburghjewishchronicle.org. political statements that were allowed to remain because they did not violate CMU’s policy against threats of violence. Other phrases painted alongside “Death to Zionism,” he said, did not constitute a threat and are “inconsequential” to the university’s investigation. “CMU has long been a place where individuals learn, teach, discover and disagree without jeopardizing the safety and wellbeing of others. We must continue to engage one another thoughtfully — even, and especially, when confronting difficult and deeply divisive issues,” he wrote. “Only by doing so can we sustain the culture of trust, curiosity and mutual respect that defines Carnegie Mellon at its best.” PJC David Rullo can be reached at drullo@ pittsburghjewishchronicle.org. person and spiritual rewards to the visitor.” The free workshop “Invitation to a Sacred Calling” will take place Thursday, July 9, at 6 p.m. at the Jewish Association on Aging, 200 JHF Drive. PJC Emma Riva is a freelance writer living in Pittsburgh. Jewish Queer Youth, a nonprofit that supports LGBTQ youth from Orthodox, Hasidic and Sephardic/Mizrahi homes, Sunday’s march was a reminder that some Jews can still have a place at Pride. “It might be easy to look at the broader scope of what’s going on in the country and the world, and assume that queer Jews are not welcome in pride,” Fried said. “The concerns are real, and we should take them seriously, and also not let the fear of that get in the way of our Jewish queer joy.” Jaimie Krass, the president and CEO of Keshet, said that rising antisemitism and anti-LGBTQ hate across the country has only reinforced the importance of showing up at Pride. “We need to model that we do belong, that we understand that belonging is sometimes something that we have to fight for, and that we’re not alone in that fight,” Krass said. PJC PITTSBURGHJEWISHCHRONICLE.ORG

Thoughts on America at 250

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Liberty, justice and responsibility: The Jewish ideas behind the American Experiment Guest Columnist Barbara Burstin

n 1790 President George Washington assured the Hebrew Congregation in Newport, Rhode Island, that the new government of the United States “gives bigotry no sanction, to persecution no assistance …” Those words were more than a statement of toleration; they were a ringing declaration of religious liberty. For Jews who had long faced restrictions, blatant discrimination and violence in Europe, Washington’s statement represented something extraordinary: the promise of America. As the nation celebrates its 250th anniversary, however, it is worth asking not simply what America has meant for Jews, but what Jewish ideas and values have meant for America. No Jews sat in the Constitutional Convention, and none were among the Founding Fathers. Yet many of the ideas that shaped the new nation were deeply familiar to the generation that created this government because they were rooted in the Hebrew Bible and the experience of the Jewish people. Benjamin Franklin, John Adams and Thomas Jefferson proposed that the seal of the United States depict the Israelites crossing the Red Sea with an inscription “rebellion to tyrants is obedience to God.” The design was never adopted, but its symbolism was revealing. The American Revolution was understood by many through the lens of the Exodus story — a people escaping oppression and claiming liberty. The same influence appears elsewhere. The inscription on the Liberty Bell, “Proclaim liberty throughout the land to all the inhabitants thereof,” comes directly from Leviticus. (25:10) Most of the men who drafted the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution were well acquainted with the Hebrew Bible. Many even studied Hebrew in college since it was often required at that time. They didn’t have to look very far to encounter the powerful words of Genesis: “So God created Man in his own image … male and female he created them.” The implications were profound. If every person is created in God’s image, then every human being possesses an inherent worth that does not depend on birth, status, wealth, or power. Such ideas helped create the intellectual environment in which the Declaration of Independence could proclaim that “all men are created equal.” The Hebrew Bible also emphasized justice, moral accountability, and the responsibility of those in authority to the people and to one another. Former Supreme Court Justice Ruth PITTSBURGHJEWISHCHRONICLE.ORG

Bader Ginsburg displayed in her chambers the biblical injunction from Deuteronomy (16:20), “justice, justice shall you pursue.” She knew that the demand for justice runs through the Jewish tradition. The Hebrew concept of tzedakah, often translated as charity, reflects the belief that generosity is not merely an act of kindness, but is a matter of righteousness. The influence of Judaism on the new republic rested less upon direct contact with Jews than upon its ideas. There were only a few thousand Jews living among nearly two and a half million Americans in the late 18th century. Most of the Founders hardly knew any Jews. Yet biblical concepts of liberty, covenant, justice, religious freedom and moral responsibility became part of the moral vocabulary of the new nation.

duty of every man.” Two years after his death in 1938 the Pittsburgh Board of Public Education voted unanimously to name its new school on the Hill in his honor. Rabbi J. Leonard Levy brought similar values to the public square. A charismatic religious leader and reformer, he preached that no city could produce happiness unless “righteousness be done.” As a vice president of the Voters League he worked alongside A. Leo Weil in his fight to improve city government. Levy set out a vision for American Jews when he said that “Our purpose as Jews is not to go back to our old land, but in the new world, to set ourselves on the side of liberty and justice and truth and right and to teach that aspect of religion which shall enable men, to accept

America opened its doors to Jews, but Jews in their turn helped strengthen America by embracing and advancing ideals that were deeply rooted in their own tradition. Those ideals decades later would find expression not only in political documents but in the lives of American Jews themselves. Pittsburgh’s Jewish community offers compelling examples. In 1929 Maurice Falk established the Falk Foundation with a gift of $10 million in memory of his first wife, Laura. He explained that “it is my firm belief that any surplus of material wealth which may come to a man is properly to be regarded as a trust to be employed for the welfare of mankind.” The foundation was dedicated to the uplift and betterment of humanity. Falk’s philanthropy reflected a belief that privilege carries obligations. A. Leo Weil demonstrated that same conviction in public life. He was head of the Voters League at a time in the early 20th century when according to Lincoln Steffens, a famed “muckraker,” Minneapolis was an example of police corruption and St. Louis an example of financial corruption, but Pittsburgh was an example of both! Weil, a wealthy corporate lawyer was determined to tackle the corruption and graft of the Magee-Flynn machine, which he considered a violation of the public trust. Rabbi Samuel Goldenson likened Weil to the prophet Amos, who “could forget himself utterly in the championship of some noble cause or in his indignation against some wrong perpetrated upon innocent persons.” As a young man, Weil resolved to give one-third of his time and money to the “welfare of humanity.” He did that and before his death, he commented, ”I have done only that which I conceive to be the like

the Divine Fatherhood and establish a human Brotherhood.” In 1904, only three years after his arrival in Pittsburgh, Levy spearheaded the formation of the Pittsburgh Peace Society with Andrew Carnegie accepting the role of honorary president. He urged the writing of a “peace novel” that would have the same impact that “Uncle Tom’s Cabin” had. In 1905, in an age of widespread racism, Levy boldly invited Booker T. Washington, the preeminent Black leader of the day, to address the congregation on “Race Problems in the United States.” He believed liberty and justice belonged to all people regardless of race or background. Jewish women also played important roles in advancing these ideals. Bertha Floersheim Rauh founded or led a staggering number of reform organizations, appropriately earning a whole host of laudatory epithets, including “Pittsburgh’s First Citizen,” “Mother Pitt,” “Pittsburgh’s Foremost Citizen” and “Pittsburgh’s Best Citizen.” In 1922 she was officially appointed “Director of Charities” of Pittsburgh, the first woman to be appointed to a mayoralty cabinet in Pennsylvania. The Silberstein sisters, Sadie Silberstein Alter and Florence Silberstein Reizenstein, were totally dedicated to social justice, and both won the Distinguished Daughters of Pennsylvania Award. Sadie Alter was the president of the Urban League from 1936 to 1941 and a charter member of Camp James Weldon Johnson, a camp for Black youth. She was described by the Pittsburgh Courier, a national African

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American newspaper with a local section, as a “conscientious and militant worker in efforts to breakdown racial discrimination and misunderstanding.” Her sister, Florence, even outdid Sadie in her social activism. As one notable Pittsburgher said, “there is nobody I can think of who had as great and as lasting an impact as Florence Reizenstein.” In 1946 Reizenstein pushed Mayor David Lawrence to set up a new city agency, the City Unity Council, devoted to improving community relations. Reizenstein served on the Pittsburgh Commission on Human Relations, a successor to the City Unity Council. She also was a founder and vice president of the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission. She became a vice president of the local chapter of the NAACP and helped found NEED — the Negro Education Emergency Drive — to fund scholarships for Black students. The Reizenstein school (no longer in existence) was named after her. Sophie Friedman Masloff became the first female and first Jewish mayor of the city of Pittsburgh. She was a beloved character who had character. Her compassion for the neediest in the city was incontrovertible and her integrity was unchallenged. She was a devoted public servant who steered this city through tough economic times to make it a better place for all Pittsburghers. These individuals differed in background, temperament and occupations. Yet they shared a common belief that justice requires action, not merely words. Their lives reflected values deeply rooted in Jewish tradition — values that also helped shape the American experiment. On the 250th anniversary of this nation, there is much to celebrate. America has been a remarkable blessing to millions of people, including our Jewish ancestors. Yet the story runs in two directions. America opened its doors to Jews, but Jews in their turn helped strengthen America by embracing and advancing ideals that were deeply rooted in their own tradition. Pittsburgh Jews demonstrated that liberty, justice, human dignity and responsibility to others are not merely ideals to be admired but obligations to be lived. From Maurice Falk’s philanthropy to Sophie Masloff’s public service, Pittsburghers helped translate enduring Jewish values into public action. They have demonstrated the enduring connection between Jewish values and the American experiment. It is a connection that has allowed this nation to flourish over the generations. America for 250 years has held out the promise of freedom and opportunity. Even in this turbulent and challenging time, America still stands, and will continue to stand, as a unique and radiant beacon of hope. PJC Barbara Burstin teaches at the University of Pittsburgh and has written several books on Pittsburgh Jewish history. JULY 3, 2026

Thoughts on America at 250 A semiquincentennial tribute

Mordecai is not listed on warrantee maps for 1769. It’s unlikely he arrived that spring. Available documentation suggests he got here between January 1772 and July 1775. If so, he may have had two or even three children and possibly a fourth on the way. It’s unclear, though, whether his wife and children accompanied him. A corroborating detail comes from the 1829 death certificate of their son Samuel Mordecai, whose birth is listed as Virginia, 1775. In the years surrounding the Declaration of Independence, Virginia held a claim over parts of present-day western Pennsylvania. Or perhaps Samuel was born as the Mordecais arrived or left through Virginia that year. It is also unclear whether the Mordecais and Levys reunited here. Levy is believed to be the first Jew to live in what we now call Pittsburgh for any extended period. He arrived around 1760 and left around 1762 or 1763 after being taken hostage by native tribes. It is unclear whether his wife, Susannah, ever stepped foot in this part of the state. Assuming such a reunion did occur, no

documentation survives describing the Levys’ well-appointed cabin, nor any documentation of the Mordecais’ reaction to it. Sharfman’s account is grounded in research but is ultimately fiction. He was “bringing the past to life.” Reality is less conclusive but has the advantage of being real. Sharfman bases his story largely on “Two Jewish Functionaries in Colonial Pennsylvania,” a 1967 article by legendary Jewish genealogist Malcolm Stern. The article presents Mordecai as atypical, a Litvak amid the western Sephardim of colonial America. Mordecai came from Telz, apparently from a rabbinic family. It’s unclear why he left Europe — why he alone of all the Lithuanian Jews of that era came over. In a one-eyed-leading-theblind situation, he became a religious authority in North America. He appears in many betterknown Jewish debates of the 18th century: the Kohen engaged to a convert, the man accused of shaving on the Sabbath, and the secret interfaith wedding. (As an aside, that interfaith couple made an arrangement. They would raise their future daughters as Jews and their future sons as Christians. Their ostensibly Christian but halachically Jewish son Samuel Pettigrew became mayor of Pittsburgh in the 1830s.) Mordecai’s time in western Pennsylvania was a brief interlude in a life lived back east in Philadelphia, Easton, Allentown, Lancaster, Baltimore and Richmond. Stern assumes Mordecai left our side of the state because he wasn’t as good at distilling as his Scotch-Irish competitors. That is also fiction, backed by nothing more than a hunch. We know Mordecai was here because he sold his distillery to Joseph Simon in a deed dated July 19, 1775. It situates the property “on Suck’s Run near Pittsburg (sic).” In “The Jewish Experience in Western Pennsylvania,” historian Jacob Feldman uses colonial era records to locate this property on land east of town called “Bellefield.” Bellefield was an early name for part of Oakland, and so for years, I have used that scrap of information to place Mordecai’s business near the current site of the Cathedral of Learning. I assumed they set up east of town to intercept travelers coming from the other side of Pennsylvania. This is also

fiction, based on my own assumptions. In maps from the late 18th and early 19th century, Suck’s or Suke’s Run begins downtown near the Panhandle Bridge and branches throughout the Hill District, creating all its distinct hills and hollows. So perhaps the distillery was along current Fifth Avenue. Anytime I research the past, I imagine the scene. And as the research unfolds, the scene changes. There is a hint of vaudeville to it. The characters rush around, adapting to my evolving understanding of the past. Now they have one kid in the wagon, now three, now none. A well-appointed cabin springs into existence and then suddenly it disappears. This is especially pronounced for eras without much documentation. I am sympathetic to Sharfman. I also want these 18th-century pioneers to say something profound about the origins of our Jewish community in Pittsburgh. They might not. Sharfman’s book argues that the earliest Jewish families in North America gradually abandoned their Jewishness through assimilation but established the institutional framework that allowed future waves to build Jewish lives on this continent. That might have been true in Philadelphia, but not in western Pennsylvania. You can imagine an alternate reality where Mordecai was a great success. His distillery grows, attracting Jewish workers from back east. They establish a synagogue, a cemetery and a school around the turn of the 19th century, laying the foundation for a Jewish future here. That didn’t happen. Mordecai and the others did not establish any communal presence here. If they hadn’t come, history might have developed exactly as it did, with Jewish merchants arriving in the late 1830s and creating new institutions in the 1840s. When you strip away all the fiction, what remains is a document: a deed of sale between two Jewish merchants roaming the wilds of western Pennsylvania one year prior to the Declaration of Independence. In its quiet and modest way, that is profound, too. PJC

diversity. In evolutionary biology, there is a foundational concept known as genetic diversity, which describes natural variations in the inherited traits within a given species. Genetic diversity promotes survival by helping the species withstand destructive outside forces, like disease or environmental change.

millennia is most clearly illustrated in the definition of Jewish identity itself. We are not just a religion — indeed, one need not even believe in G-d to be a practicing Jew. We are not just a culture — alternatively, we inhabit or have inhabited nearly every dominant culture across the globe, and simply attending an Ashkenazi,

culture, nationhood and race/ethnicity has surely helped us survive countless attempts at our eradication. Judaism could have collapsed after the destruction of the Second Temple; instead, our ancestors devised brilliant new ways of translating Jewish practice into our homes and local communities. We could have assimilated entirely into the new lands in which we sought safety and opportunity; instead, Jews largely maintained a sense of community and identity even within often-times hostile host countries. And of course, we could have easily been wiped out during centuries of violent pogroms, but our geographic dispersion meant that even the deadliest extermination attempts (two-thirds of European Jews during the Shoah) left many communities intact to pass on traditions, values and practices. As we approach the 250th anniversary of the founding of our nation, itself a great melting pot, I am struck by how our diversity — as Jews and as Americans — is often framed as a sign of impending doom, rather than a source of resilience. Open any newspaper and you will hear all about how the Jewish community,

Guest Columnist Eric Lidji Special to the Chronicle

he British signed a treaty with the Six Nations in November 1768, acquiring a large swatch of Appalachia. A few months later, in April 1769, a Land Office opened in Philadelphia to handle claims for surveyed lands across western Pennsylvania. Some tracts went to Jewish businessmen from back east, including Levy Andrew Levy, David Franks and Joseph Simon. These men came to these parts for extended stretches and sent agents to supervise their interests. They never really quite settled here permanently. The first Jewish family in western Pennsylvania is thought to be Mordecai Moses and Zipporah (De Lyon) Mordecai. They ran a distillery east of downtown. In his 1977 book “Jews On The Frontier,” Rabbi I. Harold Sharfman provides a vivid account of their arrival “in the valley at the approach to Pittsburgh” in spring 1769 with their young daughter Esther bouncing alongside them in their cushioned wagon: “The Mordecai family was given a hearty reception by their old friends the Levy Andrew Levys. Crude as their cabin appeared from the outside, the Mordecais were certainly surprised within. The interior was like a fashionable Philadelphia residence. The culture-conscious Mordecai glanced at almanacs, spelling books, English and Hebrew books, and copies of ‘Gentleman’s Magazine.’ Zipporah’s fancy was caught by Susannah’s gold lockets and hair powder, as well as gold and silver thread. All the Mordecais admired the newly planted pear and cherry trees brought over the mountains from the East for transplanting.” Such a commonplace encounter between two Jewish families in 1869 or 1969 would hardly be noteworthy. A meeting in 1769, on the other hand, would mark the beginning of Jewish communal life in our region, and so the story pulses with intensity. Unfortunately, almost none of it happened. Some is imagined. Some is false.

Still here Guest Columnist Andrea Beth Goldschmidt

“T

hey tried to kill us; they failed; let’s eat!” This quote never fails to get a chuckle at Jewish holiday dinner tables. It touches on so many aspects of our story as Jewish people: the endless attempts to convert, expel and exterminate us; our remarkable persistence and remarkable insistence on remaining Jewish in the face of adversity; and of course, our universal love of food. It is now clear to most of us, in 2026, that they are still trying to kill us — both literally and figuratively. So why are we, a tiny people who have never made up more than about 4% of the world’s population, still here? Is it due to some inherent quality of Judaism? Is it a function of G-d’s protection or our status as the chosen people? I believe one significant factor that has contributed to our survival as Jews is our 12

JULY 3, 2026

p A pen and ink portrait of Mordecai Moses Mordecai on bone, c. 1750

From the Sheftall Family Trust and Congregation Mickve Israel in Philadelphia and the John L. Loeb, Jr. Database of Early American Jewish Portraits

Our diversity is what makes us beautiful and what makes us a people. Greater diversity enhances the likelihood that some members of a species will evade these destructive forces, thus enabling them to pass on their traits — including those that helped them survive — to the next generation. In this way, genetic diversity drives adaptation by facilitating the perpetuation of the very traits that enabled survival, thus helping the species develop fortitude in the face of future threats. The application of this concept to explain the survival of the Jewish people over the

Sephardic, or Mizrahi seder will clearly highlight the vast cultural differences among Jews. We are not just a nation — more than half the world’s Jews live outside our ancestral homeland, Israel. And we are certainly not just a race or ethnicity — Jews come in every color, shape and size imaginable. Instead, I have heard Jews described as a people, which seems appropriate as it attempts to invoke all four of these features. Our diversity across religious practice,

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Eric Lidji is the director of the Rauh Jewish Archives at the Heinz History Center and can be reached at rjarchives@heinzhistorycenter. org or 412-454-6406.

Please see Goldschmidt, page 14

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Thoughts on America at 250 America at 250: The revolutionary idea that protects Jewish freedom Guest Columnist Rabbi Mendel Rosenblum

n the early 1800s, Jews throughout Europe watched with enormous hope as Napoleon Bonaparte swept across the continent. He promised liberty, equality and emancipation. After generations of discrimination and oppression, many Jews believed a new era finally had arrived. Under the Russian czar, Jewish life was often harsh and restrictive. Compared with that reality, the choice seemed obvious. If you were a Jew living in Eastern Europe, why wouldn’t you pray for Napoleon’s victory? Yet one man did the opposite. Rabbi Schneur Zalman of Liadi, (known as the Alter Rebbe) the founder of Chabad, believed Napoleon’s triumph would ultimately harm the Jewish people. According to Chabad tradition, during Napoleon’s campaign against Russia, the Alter Rebbe viewed the conflict as one that would shape not only the political future of Europe, but the spiritual future of the Jewish people. On one Rosh Hashanah, he rose before dawn to sound the shofar, praying that Napoleon would not prevail.

At first glance, his position seems almost impossible to understand. The Alter Rebbe certainly appreciated the value of freedom. But he feared that political freedom, precious as it was, could come at a spiritual cost. Once Jews were welcomed into European society, many would gradually exchange their Jewish identity for social acceptance. Tragically, that concern proved well founded. In much of Europe, emancipation was followed by widespread assimilation. If that were the entire story, we might conclude that freedom itself is dangerous. But then there is America. The Lubavitcher Rebbe often referred to the United States as a malchus shel chesed — a “kingdom of kindness.” America became home to one of the largest and most vibrant Jewish communities in the world. Chabad established thousands of centers across the country, encouraging Jews to live openly and proudly as Jews. What was different? Part of the answer, I believe, can be found in a remarkable letter written by George Washington in 1790 to the Hebrew Congregation in Newport, Rhode Island. Responding to the congregation’s greetings, Washington wrote that in the United States, “it is now no more that toleration is spoken of, as if it were by the indulgence of one class of people that another enjoyed

the exercise of their inherent natural rights.” Instead, he explained, every citizen possesses those rights as a matter of principle, not by the generosity of someone else. Those words represented a remarkable break from the way Jews had lived for centuries. For most of history, freedom flowed downward. Kings granted privileges. Governments bestowed rights. Minorities survived because those in power allowed them to. Freedom had to pass through the hands of the governing class before it reached the people. America turned that idea upside down. Washington was telling the Jewish community that their rights were not favors extended by government or by the majority. They were inherent. Government did not create them and therefore could not claim ownership over them. Its responsibility was to protect them. To anyone familiar with the Torah, those words sound strikingly familiar. The Torah begins by teaching that every human being is created b’tzelem Elokim — in the image of God. Human dignity is not bestowed by rulers. It is woven into creation itself. If every person is created by God, then our most basic rights come from Him as well. That same idea appears in the Declaration of Independence, which proclaims that all people “are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights.” The founders

America, happy 250th birthday Guest Columnist Bruce Ledewitz

any people, on both sides of the political divide, feel that America’s experiment in constitutional democracy is unravelling. If we want to sustain it, we have to understand what we are in danger of losing. We have to ask: What is the foundation of our political system? The first appeal of the Declaration of Independence, whose 250th anniversary we mark this July 4, was to truth: “We hold these truths to be self-evident.” Not to God, or equality, or rights, but to truth. Before any political commitments can be advocated, there must first be a societal consensus that truth is real and that reason and open debate are the appropriate means to seek it. That is why the most important elements of constitutional democracy are not judicial review, or the separation of powers, or federalism — as crucial as these things are — but freedom of speech and of the press. We can see in the world today that there can be elected despots and captive parliaments. But no country with free speech and a free press will ever suffer autocracy. President Donald Trump is a unique threat to constitutional democracy, not because he abuses executive power — he is hardly the first — but because he lies: about the 2020 election, about climate change, about everything. Time magazine was prescient when it featured the question “Is Truth Dead?” on the cover of its PITTSBURGHJEWISHCHRONICLE.ORG

April 3, 2017, issue, in light of Trump’s election. Constitutional democracy cannot work without a settled cultural consensus that reasoned debate will lead society closer to truth, although, of course, never fully attaining it. If you believe that it is useless to discuss matters with your political opponents — if for example, you have never had a serious conversation with someone who voted for Donald Trump — then you are part of the threat to American constitutional democracy. And, of course, the same thing goes for all those Trump supporters who refuse to engage their liberal and progressive opponents. When elected officials refuse to be interviewed by media outlets they oppose — whether it is the Pittsburgh Jewish Chronicle or FOX News — they undermine our democracy. When they cancel town halls with constituents or skip rallies they once would have attended out of fear of voter backlash, they proclaim their lack of faith in debate as the path to truth. The current lack of faith in the power of reasoned debate has reduced American democracy to mere power-seeking, rather than truth-seeking. Political consultants will now tell you that the only way to win an election in America is to turn out your base to a higher degree than the base of your opponent turns out. The goal is not persuasion but to attain 50% + 1. Winning is everything. A healthy constitutional democracy does not operate that way. It operates on consensus. The current lack of faith in truth has convinced many people that free speech is not worth its cost. And, clearly, there are costs to free speech. Antisemitism in particular has always utilized free speech to spread its hateful message. Many people are familiar with the Skokie controversy

from the late 1970s in which the ACLU waged a successful legal battle to enable neo-Nazis to stage a march in a Chicago suburb that was home to a substantial number of Holocaust survivors. As a result, the ACLU lost thousands of members. In the end, there was no march. This association with antisemitism has caused some people to lose faith in the principle of free speech. But efforts to suppress speech do not eliminate hateful ideas. One can easily see this with regard to Holocaust denial. In much of Europe, Holocaust denial is a crime. In America, such denial is protected speech. But this has not led to the erasure of such denial in Europe; nor to its spread in the United States. The focus on anti-Israel rhetoric has obscured the true nature of threats to Jewish students on college campuses in recent years. In the period following the Hamas attack on Israel, Jewish students were confronted with large demonstrations chanting of pro-Palestinian slogans, such as “Palestine shall be free from the river to the sea.” Of course, such “freedom” would necessarily entail the expulsion or elimination of millions of Jews. There were many calls for the suppression of such speech. Pennsylvania Supreme Court Justice David Wecht recently pointed to the Democratic Party’s tolerance of such chants as part of his reason for leaving the Democratic Party and registering as a political independent. But not only are these expressions protected by the First Amendment, as well as by the Pennsylvania Constitution; they had nothing to do with the plight of Jewish students on college campuses. Jewish students were not threatened by protected speech. They were faced with assaults and harassment. Rocks were thrown through the windows of Jewish organizations. Large swaths of campuses were essentially

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were not claiming that government creates rights. They were declaring that government exists to protect rights that already exist because they come from the Creator. Perhaps that helps explain why America proved so different from Napoleonic Europe. Napoleon offered the Jewish people emancipation through the state. America’s founding vision rested on the belief that our rights precede the state because they come from God. Those are not merely two different political systems. They produce two different ways of understanding the relationship between the individual, society, and the Creator. As our nation marks its 250th birthday, that distinction is worth remembering. For the Jewish people, America has been an extraordinary blessing. Here we have been able to build synagogues, schools, charitable institutions and vibrant communities while remaining proudly Jewish. That is something our ancestors could scarcely have imagined. Perhaps one of America’s greatest contributions is not only that it championed freedom, but that it grounded freedom in something higher than government itself. That idea was revolutionary 250 years ago. It remains revolutionary today. PJC Rabbi Mendel Rosenblum is rabbi of Chabad of the South Hills.

off-limits to anyone wearing a kippah. College administrators allowed a total breakdown of campus security and failed to protect the rights of a substantial group of students to function normally. This breakdown in security had nothing to do with speech. It’s not freedom of speech when a person blocks my path on a sidewalk, screams in my face and physically pushes me. All that is a crime and it was a disgrace that timid college administrators failed to prevent it. That failure of college security was used by the Trump administration as a pretext for pressuring universities to limit speech, while simultaneously threatening foreign students with deportation for their protected speech. These government actions just compounded the wrong done to Jewish students by characterizing them as the reason for a crackdown on speech. On America’s 250th birthday, speech and debate are still on firm legal ground. The courts have time and again resisted efforts to limit the constitutional protections of unpopular speakers. But courts can only do so much. Constitutional democracy rests on a societal faith that truth is the goal and free speech the necessary path to that goal. Free speech is something to be celebrated, not just tolerated. If we keep to that faith, America may one day celebrate its 500th anniversary as the same country we know and love today. Without it, I doubt there will be many future American birthdays to celebrate. PJC Bruce Ledewitz is professor of law emeritus at the Thomas R. Kline School of Law of Duquesne University. The views expressed in this article do not reflect those of Duquesne University. JULY 3, 2026

Opinion Chronicle poll results: America’s next 250 years

ast week, the Chronicle asked its readers in an online poll the following question: “Looking ahead to America’s next 250 years, what should be the nation’s highest priority?” Of the 201 people who responded, 49% said “strengthening democracy”; 21% said “combating hate, including antisemitism”; 15% said “building greater national unity”; 11% said “improving education”; and 4% said “growing the economy.” Comments were submitted by 68 people. A few follow. Building greater national unity covers all of the above. There are lots of very ignorant Americans these days. Education is everything. The rest follows. I think we need to work on all of them. Reestablishing and securing the boundaries and authority of the three branches of our government should be the top priority.

Goldschmidt:

Continued from page 12

and the larger country, have never been more divided (although we’ve been warned that Judaism is in decline for at least the 46 years I’ve been alive — here in Squirrel Hill, it feels pretty alive to me!). Everywhere you turn, you

Looking ahead to America’s next 250 years, what should be the nation’s highest priority? 4%

Growing the economy

11%

Improving education

15%

Building greater national unity

21%

49%

Strengthening democracy

Combating hate, including antisemitism

I believe ignorance is the bedrock of hate, greed, discrimination, poverty, injustice, war and the loss of hope in the human spirit. Education is the seed to grow a kinder, safer and more just world. PJC — Compiled by Toby Tabachnick

National security should be the top concern. Too many countries are creating weaponry that could threaten our country. Wars will never be the same. It is more

Truth be told, the highest priority should be that of global warming. If we don’t solve that problem, there will be no nation to worry about!

Chronicle weekly poll question:

will encounter attempts to eliminate our diversity — to make us a more homogenous people, to turn us against one another. I would argue that our diversity is what makes us strong, as both Americans and of course as Jews — that our diversity, as in nature, is what helps us withstand those outside forces that will likely never stop seeking our destruction. Instead of rejecting this diversity — ignoring the

opinions of Jews (or Americans) with whom we disagree, dismissing their perspectives as un-Jewish, antagonistic, or simply wrong — now is the time to turn toward one another, to create space in our vast tent for those with whom we, at times, seem more different than alike. At best, this can help us identify areas of connection — even amidst vast and seemingly insurmountable gaps in viewpoint — and at worst, it can help us sharpen our own arguments. It is up to each and every one of us to figure out why we’re still here. What makes you a Jew? Is it doing your best every day to fulfill the mitzvot? Is it your gallows humor, or your love of matzoh ball soup? What makes the person next to you a Jew? Is it their commitment to tikkun olam? Their love for the Jewish state? While it can be tempting to avoid those whom we deem as “too different” — I’ve been told by many, many Israelis that avoidance of conflict and coded/veiled disagreement (“I appreciate your point, but…”) are very American traits — take a look inside any Jewish text and you will understand that working through arguments is foundational to Judaism and to elevating our

understanding of sacred text. Two Jews, three opinions as the saying goes. Our diversity is what makes us beautiful and what makes us a people. In fact, despite what often feels like a hopeless outlook, I would argue that we are stronger now than we have been at many times in our past — with both the ability to live openly as Jews in most American Diaspora communities and the protection of our own state. And without lapsing into tired cliches, destructive outside forces in nature can paradoxically fortify the species by allowing resilience traits to flourish. So this week, I invite you to take a risk. Talk to a someone who practices differently than you, or who doesn’t share your politics. Ask them questions, listen to their answers and share yours. Even if you never see them again, I guarantee you will learn something — about them and about yourself. That is a precious gift, and I am certain it is why we’re still here. PJC

Come learn about a completely new approach. Short core classes and choose your own path. Field trips together and make your own schedule. For more information,

Rabbi & Cantor led classes join one of these sessions. Books & Podcasts of Jewish content For parents* July 8, 7:00 PM Torah study classes Fifth & Morewood Jewish summer camp learning Madrichim Religious School aide program For parents* July 23, 8:00 PM Synagogue teen trips Zoom Field trips to Schugars, Murray Avenue Kosher, For teens August 25, 8:00 PM Rauh Jewish Archives, etc. Fifth & Morewood Modern Hebrew *Teens welcome if they are in town Jewish Film Festival Religious Services (including the sermon) Visits to Jewish museums anywhere in the world Questions? Contact Organized trip to Israel RabbiFreedman@BeitKulanu.org And more

Organized by the Religious School of Congregation Beth Shalom & Beit Kulanu and open to all. JULY 3, 2026

You can’t achieve any of the other goals on this list without a vibrant democracy. Ours is under attack by a right-wing autocrat preaching hate and trying to restrict voting rights. Democracy must be strengthened in the wake of Trump’s disastrous corrupt administration. Building national unity means combating antisemitism.

But your teen is so busy? Wish they could add a bit more Jewish community? sigh Hey, what if they could design their own track?

It is truly a challenge to select just one. Combating hate hopefully will lead to a stronger democracy and greater national unity, based on democratic principles.

Building unity is the way to a stronger democracy. Congress is largely ineffective because its members are afraid to be seen as collaborating with the “other” side. Moderate candidates have a hard time getting elected because the current primary systems allows the ones who are on the fringes of their party to decide, and people would rather vote party line than consider anyone else.

National healthcare should be on the list.

Are you interested in a High School program for your teen?

Here are some examples:

difficult to fight as new weaponry is developed.

What is your favorite frozen summer treat? Go to pittsburghjewishchronicle.org to respond. PJC

Andrea Beth Goldschmidt is an associate professor of psychiatry at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine.

Clarification:

In “At The New Riverview, residents share in spirituality on Shabbat” (June 26), the Shabbat service referred to as lasting 40 to 50 minutes is the Friday afternoon service. The Saturday morning service runs longer, approximately 90 minutes to two hours. PJC

STEPHANIE DAVIS

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412.260.4149 (phone or text) sdvoice18@gmail.com Serving PA and FL Please contact Medicare.gov, 1-800-MEDICARE, or your local state health insurance program (SHIP) to get information on all of your options.

MEDICARE INDIVIDUAL PHONE NUMBER: 412-790-2881

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Life & Culture Food, festivities and fireworks: Independence Day event round-up Historic Village, 401 Meadowcroft Road Avella, PA 15312 When: July 4, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Cost: $15

— LOCAL— By Octavia Liku | Staff Writer

hether you’re looking to explore living history, gather with loved ones or watch fireworks blaze through the night sky, Pittsburgh offers plenty of ways to celebrate Independence Day. As the nation commemorates the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, organizations across the city are marking the milestone with special events and activities.

America’s 250 Potluck with the Jewish Community Center

Join the Jewish Community Center of Greater Pittsburgh on July 5 to celebrate America’s 250th anniversary with an interfaith community potluck. Guests are invited to bring a dish to share while enjoying yard games, a sing-along and family friendly activities. Where: JCC Family Park, 261 Rosecrest Drive, Monroeville, PA 15146 When: July 5, 4 p.m. Cost: Free More information: Register at jccpgh. for mst ack.com/for ms/amer ica_250_ potluck_rsvp.

See the fireworks

The city’s annual Fourth of July celebration

Fourth at the Fort

Image by Jehan-Jehan via iStock

will take place at Point State Park, along the North Shore Great Lawn and the Grandview Park Bandstand. Festivities kick off at 4 p.m., featuring main stage performances by pop and indie artists Kahone Concept, Eternal Boy and the Plain White T’s. The night will culminate in a dazzling firework show starting at 9:35 p.m. Where: Point State Park, Liberty Avenue, North Shore Great Lawn, and the Grandview Park Bandstand. When: July 4, 4-10 p.m. Cost: Free

Explore living history at the Heinz History Center

The Heinz History Center is commemorating

Independence Day with special programs celebrating the nation’s 250-year anniversary. Visitors can experience living history demonstrations, historical reenactments and interactive exhibits that explore Pittsburgh’s role in the country’s founding.

Meadowcroft Independence Day Celebration

Explore American History at Meadowcroft’s 18th-century frontier trading post and 19th-century rural village. The celebration will include historical demonstrations, traditional games and hands-on activities that showcase life during the birth of the nation. Where: Meadowcroft Rockshelter and

Fort Pitt Museum’s annual Fourth at the Fort event features Revolutionary War re-enactors, cannon firings, historical demonstrations and a flag raising ceremony. Guests can also explore “Pittsburgh’s Revolution,” a new exhibition examining western Pennsylvania’s role in the American Revolution. Where: Fort Pitt Museum, 601 Commonwealth Place, Pittsburgh, PA 15222 When: July 4, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Cost: $15

Board the Ferris wheel

Take in breathtaking views of Pittsburgh’s skyline aboard the Piatt Company’s Salute to Service Ferris wheel on Pittsburgh’s North Shore. Half of all ticket proceeds will benefit the Veterans Leadership Program, a nonprofit organization that seeks to support veterans after service. Where: Art Rooney Avenue, Pittsburgh When: July 1-5, 2-9 p.m. Cost: $11.20. PJC Octavia Liku can be reached at oliku@ pittsburghjewishchronicle.org.

AN INVITATION TO A SACRED CALLING Discover the Path of an End-of-Life Doula This free workshop is provided by Sivitz Hospice with the Jewish Association on Aging and presented by INELDA (the International End-of-Life Doula Association) featuring guest speaker Omni Kitts Ferrara, the director of education for I NELDA, to learn about the role of doulas at end-of-life. Participants can converse directly with practicing doulas to better understand how they might benefit from working with an end-of-life doula and obtain answers to frequently asked questions. Please join us if you are supporting someone living with a terminal illness or are interested in how Sivitz Hospice end-of-life doulas may support you in planning for your own care or that of your loved ones. For those interested in becoming an end-of-life doula, Sivitz Hospice can help you train to become one — learn more during the workshop. All are welcome to this event. Light refreshments will be provided.

Featured Moderator: Omni Kitts Ferrara, Director of Education, INELDA.org

DATE: Thursday July 9th at 6pm SPONSORED BY THE JEWISH ASSOCIATION ON AGING For additional information or to register contact Sharyn Rubin at 412-521-1171 PITTSBURGHJEWISHCHRONICLE.ORG

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JULY 3, 2026

Life & Culture Take a look at the antisemitism command center inside Gillette Stadium — NATIONAL— By Jackie Hajdenberg | JTA

OXBOROUGH, Massachusetts – For the past five years, a specialty “command center” that researches antisemitism has been operating inside the New England Patriots’ home stadium in this Boston suburb. Wall-sized screens, refreshed every minute, show live updates on public conversation topics related to antisemitism. Tweets featuring antisemitic dog whistles are also blasted onto an enormous dashboard — hand-me-down technology formerly used by the Patriots during team practice to run plays. The command center is where the Blue Square Alliance Against Hate monitors more than 1 billion social media posts every day. It’s a project of the Patriots’ Jewish owner Robert Kraft, the Boston-area philanthropist who founded the alliance in 2019. Last week, the nonprofit anti-hate organization announced the formation of a new advisory board featuring a slate of high-profile names: former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice; Warner Bros. CEO David Zaslav; Bank of America CEO Brian Moynihan; Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff; and Dentons CEO Kate Barton. The advisory board will guide the organization on strategy and “deepen institutional relationships,” its website said. The statement said the board will help further the mission of the roughly dozen analysts who staff the command center. They monitor trends in antisemitic rhetoric online, craft research reports based on their findings, and use search engine optimization to make links with their resources float to the top of Google search results. The wall-sized screens are filled with word clouds, pie charts, bar graphs, tweets and Facebook posts, detailing what everyday Americans encounter online. Since Oct. 7, 2023, the Blue Square Alliance has been on particularly high alert, monitoring shifts in the online conversation around antisemitism, which often included ordinary social media users swapping the word “Zionist” for “Jew” in derogatory ways, the group says. But in late February, when the United States and Israel entered the war with Iran, the Blue Square Alliance began noticing new trends in their data. “What we saw, especially right after the operation began, is Hitler glorification was the first thing to spike,” Rotem Leiba, a lead analyst at Blue Square Alliance said. “In terms of all the antisemitic things we’ve seen happening at this time, Hitler glorification was the first to spike.” Using Brandwatch, the social media monitoring software, the team found that terms like “Hitler was right,” “We owe Hitler an apology,” and “Hitler knew what he was doing” appeared with increasing frequency — more than it did in the aftermath of Oct. 7. A new term, “Hitler in heaven,” also began popping up across social media, topping similar sentiments at 21.4 million impressions. One area they are still investigating is bots: Studies have shown that automated software programs frequently amplify levels of hate speech. “We are starting to talk to other partners that can help us understand who are the actors behind these conversations and … their echo chambers, and who’s the one publishing it,” Leiba said. Efforts to manipulate public opinion and 16

JULY 3, 2026

p Steven Fransblow (left) and Adam Katz (right) look at the real-time dashboard at the Blue Square Alliance Against Hate command center in Foxborough, Massachusetts. Photo by Jackie Hajdenberg

inflame social tensions are often pinned on Russia, Iran and other countries, although most of those bots Blue Square is tracking appear to be homegrown, Leiba explained. “Even some of the bots that we have seen in some reports amplifying content are bots that are created domestically, not necessarily from foreign actors.” As Israel and the United States joined forces to attack Iran, and Israel pursued its proxies in Lebanon, rhetoric dehumanizing Jews also spiked. CyberWell, a compliance partner to social media organizations that helps them follow content moderation and regulatory policies, also found similar results. Tal-Or Cohen Montemayor, founder and executive director of CyberWell, said the users would compare Jews to “rats, pigs, monkeys, or cockroaches in the comments section — that’s human beings being really disgusting.” The Foxborough-based command center resembles that of the Secure Community Network in Chicago, where the group that coordinates security for Jewish institutions set up an office in 2021 to monitor antisemitic threats. At the stadium, which will also have hosted seven matches by the end of the current FIFA World Cup, it’s clearly Kraft’s team’s turf. Photos of Kraft, framed op-eds he wrote about antisemitism on college campuses and pictures from his alma mater, Columbia University, decorate the office. Blown-up images of the Patriots’ Super Bowl rings adorn the hallways leading into the command center. The alliance is part of a crowded field of antisemitism watchdogs that includes Cyberwell, the Combat Antisemitism Movement, the Secure Community Network and the Anti-Defamation League’s Center for Antisemitism Research. The ADL and Blue Square Alliance announced the formation of a partnership in February to expand educational programming on antisemitism prevention in schools and providing support for synagogues and faith communities. “They’ve built delivery trucks going to all these different places, and the trucks aren’t full,” Katz said, referring to their blue square pins and other “blue square content” and “blue square messaging.” “We have stuff we’re trying

to get onto delivery trucks to get to these places. It’s an obvious match.” Their efforts are based on the idea that monitoring can help identify rising risks of violence and detect dangerous trends before they escalate. Susan Benesch, who directs the Dangerous Speech Project at Harvard University, has written that such early warning systems are helpful, but only so long as they are matched by actions. In a working paper for the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum, Benesch suggested steps like promoting “counterspeech” by influential members of a community, changing the design of social media platforms that amplify such speech, or strengthening social norms in the communities from which the hate speech and misinformation emerges. Blue Square may be the most public-facing of these monitoring efforts, and, with Kraft’s money and platform, the best known, thanks to its Super Bowl ads and its association with America’s most popular sport. Having captured the public’s attention, the alliance is seeking to shape its discourse. When regular internet users look up an antisemitic conspiracy theory or a trending dog whistle, Blue Square wants its results to be the first they see. “Our default use case is: What does mainstream America see and hear on this topic?” explained the group’s president, Adam Katz. Steven Fransblow, chief data and technology officer at the Blue Square Alliance, provided a typical example. “We’re trying to crack the code on: How can we continue to be surfaced when Candace Owens says, ‘go research this,’” Fransblow explained. “They’re finding us, versus Reddit.” Owens, a far-right commentator who frequently promotes antisemitic conspiracy theories, has nearly 8 million followers on Twitter, and nearly 6 million subscribers on YouTube. Once a well-regarded voice in the conservative political space, she has been disavowed by her former supporters in more recent years as her content has become increasingly anti-Israel and antisemitic. In January, Owens suggested that her former employer, the conservative podcaster Ben Shapiro, who is Jewish, sought to grab the

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mantle of Turning Point USA’s slain founder Charlie Kirk, saying Shapiro was acting as if he was promised the role “3,000 years ago.” The “3,000 years ago” phrase is an antisemitic meme, mocking Jews for claiming ancestral ties to the Land of Israel and alleging they exploit history to assert a nefarious agenda. That phrase, which Blue Square says arose as early as 2014, but took off after Oct. 7, is one that the organization is working to counteract with its web presence. Search “3,000 years ago” and “Jews” in Google and hits explaining its antisemitic intent pop up from the American Jewish Committee, CyberWell, the Times of Israel and social media sites like Reddit and Quora. This week, anyway, Blue Square’s explanation of the term showed up on the second page of search results. The alliance has its critics. A controversial $15 million Super Bowl ad, which aired in February, featured a Jewish high school student who discovers a Post-It note scrawled with the words “Dirty Jew.” Critics of the word choice found it outdated or unrealistic, or called the ad spending outlandish, arguing that there are better ways to address antisemitism or help the Jewish community. Katz defended the ad, saying it was a vindication of the “command center” and its data-driven approach to monitoring antisemitic language and memes. “We were looking at what are the most ubiquitous slurs on social media that are happening with high volume and frequency and are understandable by everybody,” Katz said. “And that’s why we went with ‘dirty Jew.’” According to BSA’s research, the phrase “dirty Jew” made nearly 500 million impressions across 140,000 posts on X, Facebook, Instagram, Threads, Reddit, Bluesky, and 4Chan between 2023 and 2025 — an increase, Fransblow said, of 174% from the previous three years. “With the Super Bowl, you have 30 seconds,” Katz added. “It’s got to hit and land with as close to 140 million people as possible. So you’re trying to find language that is recognizable, that is ubiquitous, that is common, that is inarguably antisemitic.” Added Katz, “We can’t afford to be too subtle.” PJC PITTSBURGHJEWISHCHRONICLE.ORG

Life & Culture Jewish day school enrollment is rising across denominations — NATIONAL — By Grace Gilson | JTA

fter decades of declining enrollment in non-Orthodox Jewish day schools, a new report from Prizmah: Center for Jewish Day Schools found enrollment is now growing across denominations. Within Prizmah’s network of 305 Jewish day schools, which includes 122 nondenominational schools and 153 Orthodox schools, enrollment increased from 94,008 students in the 2021-2022 school year to approximately 101,041 students in 2025-2026, marking an increase of 7,000 students, or 7.5%. In the 2025-2026 school year, overall enrollment grew by more than 1,000 students. The report found that non-Orthodox school enrollment has increased by 3% from 2021 to 2024, while Orthodox schools have seen a 7% increase. Reform day school enrollment has also risen by 5%, reversing years of declining trends. The report marked the first time that Prizmah had reported growth across decades charting enrollment across the denominational spectrum of Jewish day schools. Paul Bernstein, the CEO of Prizmah, attributed the growth to several factors, including rises in the Jewish population of some communities, the declining quality of education in certain public school systems

Photo courtesy of 10’000 Hours/Getty Images

and new philanthropic investments in Jewish day schools. While Bernstein said that there had been an influx in enrollment during the COVID-19 pandemic, spurred in part by parents seeking in-person learning, he said the continued enrollment growth in the years since had reflected a broader shift. “We’ve had growth in enrollment every single year in the last five years, and that’s because the understanding of the quality of day schools and the value of having an education in a Jewish day school is really much clearer to families,” Bernstein said. Bernstein noted that until now, enrollment had been declining consistently in the non-Orthodox systems. “There were people out there who questioned whether day schools, and in particular non-Orthodox day schools, might have a future,” he said. Indeed, the now-shuttered Avi Chai Foundation reported in its 2018-2019 census of Jewish day school enrollment in the United States that enrollment in non-Orthodox

Jewish day schools had fallen by over 16% over a 20-year period. Part of the challenge with attending day schools has been one of cost, with affordability becoming the defining challenge for many. But some communities have seen heavy investments from local philanthropies as a result, including $90 million from the Mandel Foundation in Cleveland, the Generations Trust in Toronto and tuition subsidy programs in Chicago and Seattle. Rabbi Mitchel Malkus, the head of school at the Charles E. Smith Jewish Day School in Rockville, Maryland, pointed to cost as keeping away even more prospective students. The average Jewish day school tuition for the last school year was over $23,000, according to Prizmah. “One reason that we hear a lot that people don’t choose our school is just the cost, that the costs are very, very significant,” Malkus said. “A lot of people who would like to enroll their kids can’t come,” The Prizmah report found that in Florida, which has statewide private school vouchers, Jewish day school enrollment had increased by 1,370 students, or 15%, from 2021 to 2024. Bernstein also said some families’ experiences of antisemitism post-Oct. 7 had contributed to a surge in engagement, a trend that has been widely reported by American Jewish philanthropies. “There is an element of the negative,

the experience of antisemitism,” Bernstein acknowledged. “But actually, what the research on the surge really shows, is that actually there’s a real positive involved in this, which is people wanting to be more connected to the Jewish community.” Rabbi Leonard Matanky, the dean of Ida Crown Jewish Academy, a Modern Orthodox High School in Skokie, Illinois, said that enrollment at his school had risen from 214 in 2021 to 254 last school year, or by just under 20%. Matanky attributed the consistent growth in recent years to factors including “the quality of education, the desire for connection by parents, and the understanding of the ever-growing importance of being in a Jewish school.” For some parents, Matanky said, concerns about the broader social climate in public schools had also made Jewish education more appealing for parents. Last summer, Chicago saw the launch of a new Jewish high school within city limits, a project that some parents said reflected growing demand for Jewish education amid allegations of antisemitism in the city’s private and public schools. “When you’re living in a society that unfortunately doesn’t always share values, with what used to be assumed values, the public schools Please see Enrollment, page 20

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JULY 3, 2026

Celebrations

Torah

Engagement

Five daughters and the challenge of inheritance

Jeffrey and Lisa Brand of Murrysville are proud to announce the engagement of their daughter, Jennifer Rae Brand, to Daniel Andrew (Drew) Gordish. They were engaged on Nov. 28, 2025. A July 18, 2026, wedding is planned. The parents of Drew are Daniel and Jeanine Gordish of Penn Trafford. Jennifer and Drew are planning a fall honeymoon trip to Europe. Mazel tov!

Rabbi Amy Bardack Parshat Pinchus Numbers 25:10 – 30:1

J Weddings

Julie Stern and Jon Olbum are delighted to announce the marriage of their daughter, Orly Olbum, to Daniel Hefter, son of Wendy and David Hefter of Pikesville, Maryland. Orly and Daniel were married in Pittsburgh and will be living in Baltimore.

Paige Taper and Zachery Thomas, both of Pittsburgh, were married June 6, 2026, at The Willow in Johnstown, Pennsylvania. Paige is the daughter of Eric and Lori Taper. Zachery is the son of Chris Thomas and Angela Cook. Following the ceremony, the couple enjoyed a reception surrounded by family and friends. They honeymooned in the Virgin Islands and will reside in Pittsburgh. PJC

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ane Austen’s 19th-century novel “Pride and Prejudice” centers on a marriage plot driven by a looming crisis. Mr. Bennet has five daughters but no sons. His estate is entailed, meaning it can only be inherited by a male descendant. Upon Mr. Bennet’s death, a distant relative stands to inherit everything, leaving his wife and daughters penniless. Desperation for the daughters to marry wealthy men becomes the engine of the story. The practice of entailment — restricting inheritance to male heirs only — was common in 18th- and 19th-century Britain. Interestingly, this week’s parashah contains a Biblical law more progressive than that of Austen’s time. At this point in the Torah, it is understood that only men can inherit property. Parashat Pinchas introduces us to the five daughters of Zelophechad, who step up and challenge this law, arguing that their father deserves to have his property stay in the family despite having had no sons. Moses takes their claim to God, who rules in the daughters’ favor: “The plea of Zelophehad’s daughters is just: you should give them a hereditary holding among their father’s kinsmen; transfer their father’s share to them.” God then announces an emendation of the laws of inheritance. From that time forward, men who have no sons will be able to bequeath their estates to their daughters. The Torah is a sacred text that also reflects the social context of ancient times — namely, patriarchy. Men are the central actors in biblical narrative. They are the leaders entrusted with authority, and the ones to whom many laws are implicitly addressed. The Ten Commandments, for example, are directed to males, written in the secondperson masculine singular. Of course, we have female figures who are strong and have agency (the matriarchs in Genesis, Miriam, Queen Esther). Those formidable women

notwithstanding, the story of the daughters of Zelophechad is an aberration. For one thing, they are named. Many female characters in the Torah — such as Noah’s wife, Lot’s wife, and Pharaoh’s daughter — are not given names. They are defined in relation to their husbands or fathers. In this short narrative however, each of Zelophechad’s daughters is named. Secondly, the story is unique in that it is the only time that God changes a law in response to a plea by women. Finally, rabbinic tradition amplifies and expands upon the just nature of the daughters’ claim. Consider these two examples: 1. Rashi, summarizing Midrash Tanhuma: “Their eye saw what Moses could not see.” In other words, the daughters perceived an injustice that Moses himself was blind to. 2. Sifrei BaMidbar: “Scripture comes to teach us that the strength of the women in that generation was greater than that of the men, the men saying (Bamidbar 14:4) ‘Let us make a leader and return to Egypt,’ and the women saying (Ibid. 27:4) ‘Give us a holding’.” Here, the midrash sees the righteousness of the daughters as evidence of the strength of all the women of that time, who were not decreed to die in the wilderness. What are we to make about this unusual power and deference given to these women? In her book “Countertraditions in the Bible,” Israeli scholar Ilana Pardes argues that the Torah, while generally patriarchal, is not homogenous. Peppered in small places in the Tanakh are “counter-traditions,” texts which reflect an anti-patriarchal element. While the dominant narrative elevates men as actors and agents, there does exist a counterculture of sorts that comes to light in certain verses. The narrative of the daughters of Zelophechad is one such instance. It is our job as close readers to pay attention to these aberrations and bring them to light. PJC Rabbi Amy Bardack is the spiritual leader of Congregation Dor Hadash, Pittsburgh’s Reconstructionist Community. This column is a service of the Greater Pittsburgh Jewish Clergy Association.

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Obituaries ABRAMS: Dr. Rochelle Braunstein Abrams, who supported the U.S. space program as an aerospace software engineer for nearly half a century — designing, testing and maintaining flight software for NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center and NOAA’s Polar Operational Environmental Satellite (POES) Project — died on Saturday, May 30. She was two days shy of her 84th birthday. Rochelle died peacefully under hospice care at her home in a memory care community in Falls Church, Virginia, with her two daughters, Fern and Eve Abrams, by her side. Rochelle was born in Pittsburgh in 1942 to Leonard and Florence (Hiller) Braunstein and grew up amid a large, extended family of cousins, aunts, uncles, grandparents and her younger sister, Janet. Rochelle excelled in school, particularly mathematics, science and poetry. As a grade school student visiting Pittsburgh’s planetarium, she was captivated by the prospect of humans venturing to the moon and beyond. She attended Taylor Allderdice High School and eventually went on to earn a B.S. Magna Cum Laude in chemistry (1963) and a PhD in chemistry (1967), both from the University of Pittsburgh. At 16 years old, Rochelle’s cousin, Sylvia Braunstein, introduced Rochelle to Sylvia’s classmate at Carnegie Tech (Carnegie Mellon University), Marshall Abrams, from Jersey City, New Jersey. Rochelle and Marshall married four years later and were together for 58 years until his death in 2020. After both earned PhDs at the University of Pittsburgh, they moved to Maryland, and eventually settled in the Forest Glen Park neighborhood in Silver Spring where they raised their family. After the birth of her second daughter, Eve, Rochelle returned to full-time work, first at the Computer Science Corporation, and then at a series of NASA contractors. She worked on the POES Project— a constellation of polar orbiting weather satellites intended to improve the accuracy and detail of weather analysis and forecasting — for nearly three decades. These satellites provided high quality weather and climate data to NOAA as well as supporting a host of scientific endeavors: climate research and prediction, global sea surface temperature measurements, ocean dynamics research, volcanic eruption monitoring, forest fire detection, global vegetation analysis and more. Rochelle worked supporting these satellites into her late 70s. Rochelle also supported the Hubble Space Telescope and the Space Telescope Data Archive and Distribution System. Through the course of her work, she received numerous performance awards and commendation letters from NASA Goddard, and its prime contractor, Boeing. To carry on her legacy, she and Dr. Marshall Abrams established the Dr. Rochelle Abrams Space Across the Curriculum Educator Scholarship Training Program to train and support teachers in exciting and educating school children about space. Rochelle is survived by her two daughters, Fern and Eve Abrams, her sons-in-law Greg Schatz (Eve Abrams) and David Talmage (Fern Abrams), as well as her two grandchildren of choice, Zoe and Isabel Alexander. Donations in Rochelle’s name can be made to the Jane Goodall Institute or the League of Women Voters.

ARNOWITZ: Mayer (Mickey) Martin Arnowitz, of Pittsburgh, died on June 20, 2026, with his wife and partner of 50 years by his side. He was 90 years old. A beloved and loving husband, father, grandfather, and uncle to his many nieces and nephews, Mickey was a cherished partner in conversation because he was interested in everything and always wanted to learn more. In that spirit, even up to the last few years of his life, Mickey and Joyce traveled the world together from Africa to the Amazon. Mickey was a caring brother to William Arnowitz, Roslyn Arnowitz, Wilma Yahr and Claire Weiner. Throughout his life, he also gave love to many pets of all sizes, from white-furred Slovak Cuvac’s mountain dogs to rescued cats and even once upon a time to koi. He loved an evening out with family and close friends, especially if it included fine dining and a great bottle of wine. Mickey is survived by his wife, Joyce Baradon Arnowitz; his children Andrew Arnowitz, John Arnowitz and Michael Leventon (Laura Leventon); and his grandchildren, Max and Anna Leventon. Graveside service and interment were held at Homewood Cemetery. The family appreciates your thoughts at this time. In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to a charity of your choice. Arrangements entrusted to Ralph Schugar Chapel, Inc. schugar.com ELYANOFF: Helen W. Elyanoff, age 86, of Pittsburgh, passed away on Sunday, June 21, 2026. Daughter of the late William and Eva (Klee) Weiss. Beloved mother of Brian (Dawn) and Kevin (Amanda) Elyanoff. Proud and loving grandmother of Sofia Elyanoff. Beloved partner and companion of Sheldon Haberman. Dear sister of the late Sidney (Joann, her dear friend) Weiss, Felice Goldstein and Jerome Weiss. Also, survived by many nieces and nephews. Helen was a faithful member for 50 years of Beth El Congregation. She loved shopping, reading, gambling and traveling, however, her greatest love was the time she spent with family. Helen built a successful career in the commercial insurance brokerage industry serving as vice president with the Marsh McLennan Agency. Throughout her years with the company, she was respected for her professionalism, leadership and dedication to her clients and colleagues. She took great pride in her work and the relationships she built during her career. Funeral service was held at Beth El Congregation, 1900 Cochran Rd., Pittsburgh, PA 15220, on Wednesday, June 24, 2026. Interment in Beth El Section of Mt. Lebanon Cemetery. Arrangements entrusted to William Slater Funeral Service, Scott Twp., 15220 (412-563-2800). slaterfuneral.com Please see Obituaries, page 20

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Obituaries Obituaries: Continued from page 19

FINEGOLD: Lessa Caplan Finegold, beloved mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, passed away on Sunday, June 28, 2026. She was 95 years old. Born in Rochester, Pennsylvania, to Mildred (Karnold) and Mitchell Caplan. Happily married to stockbroker Jerome Finegold for 55 years; he predeceased her in 2009. Lessa graduated from the University of Pittsburgh at age 20. She went back to Pitt in her 40s and got a master’s in library science, then to Duquesne to get an English teaching degree. Subsequently, she worked in the Pittsburgh Public Schools, running a school library for over 20 years. An avid bridge player, she achieved Ruby Life Master at age 92. Passionate about astrology, reading, collecting and traveling, Lessa will be remembered for her vivacious spirit, her humor and her curious mind. She is survived by her daughter Ellen (Owen) Bregman of Westport Connecticut, son Clifford Finegold of Pittsburgh, two grandchildren and a cherished greatgrandson. She was predeceased by her brother Irving Caplan in 2015; she is also survived by her sister Phyllis Caplan of Pittsburgh. She and her family were very grateful for the care she received from the staff at Schenley Gardens in the past year. Interment private. Her wish is to be interred at Arlington National Cemetery next to her husband, a WWII prisoner of war. Arrangements entrusted to Ralph Schugar Chapel, Inc. schugar.com FREEMAN: Marcia Sue Freeman, on Thursday, June 25, 2026. Beloved wife of Robert Freeman. Loving mother of Michael (Lisa) Freeman and Rick Freeman. Sister of Iris Riemer and the late Eileen Pechersky. Grandma of Lily Freeman and Michelle (Chris) Fischbach. Great-grandma of Kenzie, Joey, Haylee, Cassidy, CJ, Colton and Madi. Also survived by nieces and nephews. Services were held at Temple Emanuel of the South Hills. Interment Mount Lebanon Cemetery-Temple Emanuel section. Contributions may be made to Temple Emanuel of the South Hills, 1250 Bower Hill Road, Pittsburgh, PA 15243. Arrangements entrusted to Ralph Schugar Chapel, Inc. schugar.com FRIEDMAN: Deborah “Debbie” Friedman passed away peacefully on June 21, 2026, in Pittsburgh, surrounded by the love of her family. She was 78 years old. Born on May 1, 1948, in Chicago, Debbie lived a life defined by purpose, service, curiosity and deep connection to others. She leaves behind a legacy not only in the institutions she helped build, but in the family she nurtured, the friendships she sustained, and the countless lives she touched. Debbie is survived by her adoring children, Jake Dizard (Kate Taylor), Max Dizard (Brittany Colatrella), and Rachael Dizard (Joel Svensson); her beloved grandchildren, Audrey, Raphael, Joaquin and Carmelo Dizard, and Isaac, Samuel and Gabriel Svensson; her brothers, Robert Friedman (Elizabeth) and Daniel Friedman (Denise Pollack); several nephews and a niece;

Enrollment: Continued from page 17

are not as safe of an environment as once upon a time,” Matanky said. “It isn’t necessarily physical safety, it can be communal safety, it can be a sense of acceptance.” The Chicago Jewish Day School, a multi-denominational school that serves junior kindergarten through eighth grade,

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also reported rising enrollment, from 220 students in the 2024-2024 school year to 254 for the coming year. Cortney Stark Cope, the director of admissions at the school, said the “unique” amount of growth stemmed from a collaboration between local Jewish day schools in marketing to parents and a new “Tuition Accessibility Program” launched three years ago by the Crown Family Philanthropies that had helped offset tuition costs.

and a host of devoted friends who became family over the course of her life. She was preceded in death by her husband, Nick Toia, and her parents, Ruth and Jerry Friedman. Debbie grew up in Pittsburgh’s Stanton Heights neighborhood. Her intellectual curiosity, social conscience and independent spirit began developing at a young age and guided her throughout her life. She attended Peabody High School before continuing her education at Grinnell College, Roosevelt University and the Bowman Gray School of Medicine. Debbie began her professional career as a physician assistant in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. After returning to Pittsburgh, she found her life’s calling at Jewish Residential Services (now The Branch), where she served as executive director for more than 25 years. Recognizing early on that people with disabilities deserve the dignity of full community participation, she helped establish residential programs and the Howard Levin Clubhouse. Her vision helped advance inclusivity in Pittsburgh, transforming the lives of countless individuals and families. Debbie believed that a meaningful life was built through active engagement — a philosophy she embodied in everything she did. She raised her three children with unwavering love, constantly teaching by example. And nothing delighted her more than bringing people together. As a matriarch of a large extended family and an extraordinary hostess, Debbie forged traditions that strengthened family bonds across generations. Her Friday-after-Thanksgiving gathering became a beloved annual tradition for the extended Dizard, Friedman and Kalson clans. An enthusiastic cook, she expressed her love through food, conversation and the simple act of making everyone feel welcome. No beach vacation was complete without the paella pan she insisted on packing, ensuring that family and friends would gather around a memorable meal even if far from home. Her resilience was perhaps most evident in her 17-year battle with cancer. Diagnosed with lymphoma in 2009 and later with pancreatic cancer, Debbie refused to allow illness to define her life or narrow her world. Despite adversity and intense physical struggle, she remained remarkably vibrant. More than once, doctors entering the room would glance around and ask, “Where’s the patient?” Through those years, Debbie continued to invest herself fully in the people and places she loved — even into her final hours. Above all, Debbie cherished family. Her children and grandchildren were her greatest joy, along with decades-long friendships that remained a source of strength and happiness throughout her life. Those who love her will remember Debbie’s radiant smile, distinctive eyeglasses, beautiful laugh, as well as her quiet yet constant humming and, of course, her sporadic eruptions into song. Debbie’s legacy is now carried forward by the generations of people who are better for having known her, along with a community shaped by her leadership. Her example of a life well lived continues to inspire many. Services were held at Congregation Dor Hadash (Beit Kulanu building — Levy Hall). Interment Podolier Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations to The Branch made in Debbie’s honor are graciously welcomed. Arrangements entrusted to Ralph Schugar Chapel, Inc. schugar.com PJC She also said rising antisemitism in nonJewish schools had spurred some parents to seek alternatives, particularly in the wake of Oct. 7, 2023. Gila Ogle, a fellow at Prizmah’s Day School Leadership Training Institute and the head of the Silver Academy, a Jewish day school in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, said that enrollment had nearly doubled over the past year, from 34 students in the 2024-2025 school year to 64 this year.

“The Jewish engagement we have is a definite factor for families who are looking for a safer environment,” Ogle said. “It’s not just a safe Jewish environment, but a safe environment overall for their kids.” Looking ahead, Bernstein said he expects to see more of the same if philanthropic investment in day schools continues. “We’re extremely optimistic that the growth will not only be sustained but actually could accelerate,” Bernstein said. PJC

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Life & Culture Israel’s path to a World Cup berth would be easier through Asia. Here’s why it’s sticking with Europe. — SPORTS — By Deborah Danan | JTA

EL AVIV — More than five decades after Israel’s only World Cup appearance, the Israel Football Association says it has no intention of trying to leave Europe for the Asian regional qualifying system that once took the country to the tournament, before Arab-led boycotts helped force it out. The launch this month of the tournament hosted by the United States, Mexico and Canada has renewed attention to Israel’s absence from the World Cup. Despite a thriving local soccer scene and success in competition abroad, the only time the country appeared in the tournament was in Mexico in 1970. That’s because Israel seeks to qualify through the Union of European Football Associations, whose ranks are so strong that even a solid campaign can become a long shot for the World Cup. Even titans like four-time World Cup winner Italy failed to qualify this year. Israel is the only non-European country trying to reach the tournament through UEFA, while most of its neighbors seek places through the Asian Football Confederation. Israel was ousted from the Asian soccer body in 1974. It bounced around the qualifying zones for a few years — it played in the Oceania qualifiers ahead of the 1986 and 1990 World Cups — before settling in the European grouping in 1991. Shlomi Barzel, head of communications for the Israel Football Association, said a return to Asia is not on the table, both because Israel does not want to leave European soccer, where it has built a standing, and because he does not believe the Asian confederation would accept it back. The only upside to such a move, he joked, would be if Israel’s opponents boycotted matches against it: “Israel would automatically qualify.” A boycott of Israel did affect the team’s path to the 1970 World Cup. North Korea was ejected from the Asian qualifying tournament after refusing to play in Israel. As a result, Israel advanced to the final round after winning only two games against New Zealand. In the finals, Israel faced an Australian team already exhausted after fending off South Korea, Japan and Rhodesia (itself in the Asian tournament after being banned in Africa over its white governing regime). In the tournament in Mexico, Israel’s all-amateur team defied expectations, losing 0-2 to Uruguay but notching draws against Sweden and Italy before being eliminated. Four years later, Israel was effectively ejected from the Asian Football Confederation following a resolution introduced by Kuwait that passed 17 to 13, with six abstentions. The vote came a day before a high-profile Israel-Iran game in Tehran that Iran won 1-0 on an Israeli own goal. Today, Barzel rejects the premise that

JULY 3, 2026

p A banner is held by pro-Israel fans outside Villa Park, home of the U.K. team Aston Villa, before its UEFA Europa League match against Israel, Nov. 6, 2025. Photo by Jacob King/PA Images via Getty Images

rejoining the AFC would guarantee Israel a place in the World Cup going forward. “It would be a little patronizing and arrogant for me to say that,” he said, adding that he was not sure Israel would beat teams such as Jordan or Qatar. Barzel also cited Israel’s place inside UEFA’s institutions as a benefit for sticking with the current arrangement. Current IFA chairman Moshe “Shino” Zuaretz was elected to UEFA’s Executive Committee in April 2025, despite the war in Gaza and growing calls to sanction Israeli soccer, while former IFA chairman Avi Luzon previously served in a senior role on the same body. Institutional backing has extended beyond Europe, Barzel said, pointing to the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, where Israeli fans were allowed to attend despite the absence of diplomatic ties. He also cited the global soccer body FIFA’s decision to move the 2023 under-20s World Cup from Indonesia to Argentina after Indonesia objected to hosting Israel’s team. Israel went on to finish third. Still, Israel’s formal place in international soccer has done little to shield its teams and supporters from hostility. Maccabi Tel Aviv fans were attacked in Amsterdam after a match against Ajax in November 2024, and the club’s supporters were later barred from attending an Aston Villa match in a decision that became a political and policing scandal in Britain. Despite its absence from the World Cup, Israel has remained a political flashpoint around the event, which U.S. President Donald Trump vowed to make “an unprecedented success.” Speculation that Trump’s hopes for a World Cup untainted by war spurred his push for a ceasefire with Iran prompted a denial from the top White House official dealing with the World Cup. That didn’t keep the conflict from seeping into the events.

In Boston on June 19, kilt-clad Scotland fans waiting in blocks-long lines to board shuttles to the stadium where their team would face Morocco accepted Palestinian flags from activists lining the route. Hours before Canada’s opening match on June 12, activists draped a “Kick Israel out of FIFA” banner over a World Cup logo near one of Toronto’s busiest highways. Days later, a viral video from Iran’s match against New Zealand in Los Angeles showed security guards confiscating an Israeli flag from a fan — who was told they were acting on orders from their superiors — while other spectators behind him held Palestinian flags. Trump’s special envoy for global partnerships, Paolo Zampolli, told Israel’s Kan public broadcaster he was “very disturbed” by the incident in Los Angeles, adding that there was “no place for antisemitism or double standards in sports.” Zampolli, who had previously urged FIFA to replace Iran with Italy at the World Cup, called on the soccer body to treat the episode seriously. Barzel drew a distinction between the flag incident, which he said was likely a poor decision by stadium staff, and any official FIFA policy against Israel, noting that Israel’s flag is displayed alongside those of other member associations at official FIFA and UEFA events. FIFA generally discourages flags of teams not playing in a given match, he said, and added that Israeli teams have grown used to seeing Palestinian flags in soccer stadiums. “Personally, I don’t get worked up by flags — they don’t scare me,” he said. Yoav Borowitz, head of sports at Kan, said FIFA appeared wary of flags being used as protest symbols, pointing to the Iranian lionand-sun flag, the country’s flag before the 1979 revolution installed the current theocratic regime, which some fans waved at the

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same match. FIFA’s failure to clarify whether Israeli flags were allowed in stadiums in the days after the incident, he said, “shows where Israel stands at the moment.” “There were official FIFA stewards there,” he said, “and if the fan was effectively forced to remove the flag, then I would have expected FIFA to have issued a response by now and said that Israeli flags are allowed into stadiums, just as Palestinian flags are allowed into stadiums, just as the flag of any country is allowed into stadiums.” Any limits placed on Israel’s soccer association have been imposed solely on security grounds, Barzel said, though in October UEFA came close to holding an emergency vote on whether to suspend Israel over the war in Gaza. At FIFA’s congress in Vancouver in April, when Palestinian Football Association president Jibril Rajoub refused to shake hands with Israel FA Vice President Basim Sheikh Suliman despite repeated appeals from FIFA President Gianni Infantino, who called on the sides to “give hope to the children.” Despite such gestures, Israel continues to compete as usual — almost. It has been unable to host matches at home for close to three years because of war and has had to play its home World Cup qualifiers in neutral third countries. It is hosting several contests this fall in Moldova, which last year gained an Israeli embassy, and direct El Al routes, for the first time. (Russia, by contrast, has had its national teams and clubs suspended from FIFA and UEFA competitions since its invasion of Ukraine.) Despite the controversies, FIFA has kept pressing ahead with its vision of soccer as “a force for unity, peace and hope,” including reported discussions about opening a new under-15’s tournament in the United States in September with a symbolic match between Israeli and Palestinian youth teams. PJC PITTSBURGHJEWISHCHRONICLE.ORG

Community Machers and Shakers

Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh presented the 2026 William and Olga Stark Young Leadership Award to Michael Milch on June 16 for outstanding service to the community. Milch, according to Federation representatives, has set a standard for others to follow in meeting the needs of the Jewish people in Pittsburgh and worldwide.

Rona Kaufman received the Murray Award for Faculty Scholarship from the Thomas R. Kline School of Law of Duquesne University. Kaufman was recognized for her work in Jewish Legal Studies.

p Jeff Finkelstein, president and CEO of the Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh (left) and Michael Milch Photo by David Bachman

p Rona Kaufman

Saying thanks and eat up

Bocce and buddies

Chabad House on Campus hosted a barbecue in appreciation of University of Pittsburgh police.

p Sharing bread and gratitude

Photo courtesy of Chabad House on Campus

Photo courtesy of Rona Kaufman

Friendship Circle of Pittsburgh spent the day at the Bocce House playing games and making memories. The Friends on the Town event offered participants a chance to connect, compete and escape the summer heat.

p Let’s roll.

Photo courtesy of Friendship Circle of Pittsburgh

Summer servings

With summer temps soaring, Community Day School’s Camp Lion campers enjoyed several meaningful indoor activities.

p Gus Ruccio, left, and Gil Gershon bake challah as a leadup to Shabbat.

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p Andrew Bloom lets his imagination and coloring skills run wild.

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Photos courtesy of Camp Lion

JULY 3, 2026

The Pittsburgh Jewish Chronicle announces its inaugural class of

Mazel tov, and thank you, to our 2026 18 Difference Makers, who embody the doctrine of tikkun olam! Lifetime Achievement Award, Karen Wolk Feinstein

Outgoing president and CEO of the Jewish Healthcare Foundation Rabbi Yisroel and Chani Altein Co-directors of Chabad of Squirrel Hill

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Dean Aseef Shaliach at the Jewish Community Center of Greater Pittsburgh Michael Bernstein The Tree of Life board chair Nina Butler Director of Bikur Cholim Pittsburgh Debra L. Caplan Jewish Healthcare Foundation, board of trustees and volunteer, and WHAMglobal (Women’s Health Activist Movement Global), founding chair

Avi Cohen Community volunteer

Thomas R. Kline School of Law of Duquesne University

Rebecca Elhassid Community volunteer

Eric Lidji Director of the Rauh Jewish History Program & Archives

Meyer “Skip” Grinberg Community volunteer

Fraidy and Dovie Nadoff Community volunteers

Tsipy Gur Classrooms Without Borders, founder and executive director

Julie Paris Mid-Atlantic regional director of StandWithUs

Rachael Heisler Pittsburgh City Controller

Rabbi Chezky and Bassie Rosenfeld Co-directors of Our Giving Kitchen

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Jeff Herzog Community volunteer The Rev. Jonathon Jensen Calvary Episcopal Church Rona Kaufman Associate professor at

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Kelly Schwimer Executive director of the Jewish Cemetery & Burial Association

Look for a special section on Sept. 4 celebrating the honorees!

To inquire about individual or corporate sponsorship packages, placing congratulatory ads or for any other questions, please contact Amy Weiss at 412-613-0697, or aweiss@pittsburghjewishchronicle.org.

JULY 3, 2026

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