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August 21, 2026 | 8 Elul 5786

Candlelighting 7:51 p.m. | Havdalah 8:50 p.m. | Vol. 69, No. 34 | pittsburghjewishchronicle.org

LOCAL The voices of survivors

Advice for attack victims

ADL launches new initiative to help universities address antisemitism

Shoresh kickoff gives taste of Greenfield-based community learning

NOTEWORTHY

By David Rullo | Senior Staff Writer

Page 2

REGIONAL

you go to do something, but there aren’t a lot of Seinfeldian — kind of talk about nothing, just go to meet up with a friend — spaces in the community,” Goodman said. “We want to offer that.” Despite lacking kitchen equipment, seating and even coffee, Shoresh is already brewing up excitement. Classes covering Talmud, Chassidut and Hebrew language are currently offered inside the former bank. Last week’s program enabled Shoresh-goers and potential patrons to sample representative educational offerings. Positioned behind teller windows, Goodman taught a class on Shoresh’s etymology. “When you come up with the name of an organization, you might ask the question, ‘Why did you pick that name?’ So, my class is just going to be on what the word ‘shoresh’ means and why I picked it,” he said. (“Shoresh” translates to “roots” in Hebrew.) In a small room downstairs, Pittsburgh Jewish educator David Harris-Gershon examined the slogan “No justice, no peace,” and its connections to the weekly Torah reading, which includes the words, “Justice, justice shall you pursue.” On the building’s main level, Cantor Julie Newman similarly referenced Parsha Shoftim and integrated its teachings while leading a yoga class.

s students were returning to campuses across the country last week, the Anti-Defamation League announced a new initiative, “When Antisemitism comes to Class,” designed to help colleges and universities address antisemitism. The initiative includes the Campus Classroom Reporting mechanism, a portal serving as a support channel for students, staff and faculty who have “concerns about antisemitism or biased content related to Jews or Israel in classroom experiences, instructional framing, assignments or faculty conduct,” according to the ADL. It also includes two new reports: “Antisemitism Among Faculty and in the Classroom: Trends, Patterns and Institutional Dynamics,” and “The Faculty Factor: Inside the Networks Driving Anti-Israel and AntiZionist Activism on Campus.” In a statement announcing the new initiative, Jonathan Greenblatt, ADL’s CEO, said that antisemitism doesn’t just occur through student protest chants or anti-Israel encampments, but can also be present in syllabi, lectures or even casual remarks by professors. “Because classrooms and faculty organizing spaces are largely invisible to those outside the institution, this problem has been allowed to fester with far less scrutiny than it warrants,” Greenblatt said. “Universities cannot claim to be addressing antisemitism seriously if they ignore what happens behind the classroom door and inside faculty governance.” The Campus Classroom Reporting Mechanism will allow students, faculty and staff to report concerns about perceived antisemitic or biased content; ask whether a specific classroom dynamic, course requirement or interaction may raise antisemitism concerns; talk through a situation involving Jews, Jewish identity or Israel before deciding whether to make a formal complaint; and get help understanding what support options are available.

Please see Shoresh, page 14

Please see ADL, page 14

Antisemitism in West Virignia

p Rabbi Mark Asher Goodman teaches a class about Shoresh’s origins on Aug. 12.

Photo by Adam Reinherz

Synagogue vandalized

Page 3

ISRAEL A lasting reminder

Tel Aviv’s Hostages Square

Page 4

LOCAL Fall Arts Preview

Dance, comedy, theater

Page 8

Adam Reinherz | Senior Staff Writer

he first drips of a new coffee shop delivered more than a caffeine rush. As co-founders, supporters and community members happily danced to live klezmer music inside Shoresh, a sense of enthusiasm and optimism about the Greenfield-based venture was palpable. “We are so excited for this coffee shop opening up,” Greenfield resident Erin Sussman told the Chronicle during Shoresh’s Aug. 12 kickoff. “I feel like Squirrel Hill has a lot of community spaces. We’re really excited to have one just down the street.” “I do not live in Greenfield, but I do live within walking distance of six different coffee shops, and can personally testify to the role that they play in building community — that’s how I’ve met so many different people in my neighborhood of Garfield, just by going to the same coffee shop over and over again,” attendee Alexis Obernauer said. Attended by about 45 people, “Taste of Shoresh” featured snacks, learning and music. “This is just an opportunity for people to see what we’re building here at Shoresh,” co-founder Frances Lasday said. Lasday and co-founder Rabbi Mark Asher Goodman hope that Shoresh becomes a gathering site and Jewish communal educational center in Greenfield. “There are a lot of Jewish institutions where

Celebrating 18 Remarkable Difference Makers September 4

Headlines ‘We are in a time of biblical proportions’: What survivors of past shul attacks want Central Synagogue to know — LOCAL— By Benyamin Cohen | Forward

hen Audrey Glickman heard about the Friday night attack at Central Synagogue, a prominent congregation on Manhattan’s East Side, she had a visceral, immediate reaction. “My first thought with anything like this is: They’ve been invaded,” she said. “And I know how that feels.” Glickman, 69, survived the October 2018 Pittsburgh synagogue shooting — the deadliest antisemitic attack in U.S. history that killed 11 worshippers from three congregations. She was leading services for Tree of Life Congregation when she heard the rat-a-tat of gunfire. She grabbed fellow congregant Joe Charny, then 88, and raced up the stairs into a small room filled with bags of clothes to be donated to those in need. Together, huddled and scared, they hid under their prayer shawls until it was over. In New York City this weekend, an attacker struck a congregant and a security guard, then was arrested and charged with hate crimes. Police said no one was seriously hurt. “You never shake that feeling that somebody came into your space and invaded your safety, and you can’t undo it,” Glickman said. “My heart goes out to them.” The suspect in New York, Larry Montes, 46, was charged with felony hate crimes and told police afterward that the attack was religiously motivated, citing hostility toward Jews and Black people. Montes, who has two prior misdemeanors, was granted bail at his Saturday night arraignment and is due back in court Thursday. The attack landed amid a citywide surge: New NYPD data shows anti-Jewish hate crimes in New York rose 8.5% during Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s first seven months in office and made up 57% of hate crimes citywide, with July alone seeing a 53% jump from a year earlier. Glickman said she hopes New York officials can eventually give the congregation answers.

p Pittsburgh synagogue shooting survivor Audrey Glickman sounding the shofar outside of the Tree of Life building as a call to action. Still courtesy of Trish Adlesic

A federal jury sentenced the Pittsburgh synagogue shooter to death in August 2023. “I hope they have the kind of investigators that we had here to figure out what went on,” she said. “When you can close up the case, it feels a lot better.” But Glickman said every targeted congregation eventually has to answer a harder question: How do you stay open to strangers, newcomers and the unaffiliated, while keeping the people inside safe? For that answer, she said, members of Tree of Life Congregation turned to a friend: the Rev. Eric Manning of Mother Emanuel AME Church in Charleston, South Carolina, where a gunman killed nine Black worshippers during a Bible study in 2015. Manning and then-Tree of Life’s Rabbi Jeffrey Myers leaned on each other. Myers invited Manning to speak at the funeral of Rose Mallinger, the oldest of the shooting victims, and the two clergy have stayed close in the years since. Manning’s advice to Glickman’s congregation has stayed with her: “You can’t close your doors.” Nearly eight years later, Glickman still goes to shul most mornings, and still worships on Shabbat with Tree of Life, which

continues to meet in borrowed space while its building is rebuilt. Her message for the congregation in Manhattan: “We’re here, and we know how they feel,” Glickman said. “It’s not a good feeling, and we shouldn’t have to live with this. We are in a time of biblical proportions.”

‘The walls will never be high enough’

Rabbi Charlie Cytron-Walker, 50, has an unusually direct connection to Central Synagogue. In January 2022, a gunman held Cytron-Walker and three congregants hostage at Congregation Beth Israel in Colleyville, Texas, after Cytron-Walker let him in from the cold and offered him tea. The gunman, Malik Akram, had done his research, the FBI later found: He’d chosen the synagogue because it was the closest one to the federal prison holding Aafia Siddiqui, sentenced to 86 years for attempted murder and other felonies. Akram demanded her release and ordered Cytron-Walker to get America’s equivalent of a chief rabbi on the phone. He’d seen photos of Central Synagogue’s senior rabbi, Angela Buchdahl, with President Barack Obama and insisted that Cytron-Walker call her.

Cytron-Walker didn’t know her personally; he tracked down a number and left her a voicemail. The 11-hour standoff — caught in its entirety on the synagogue’s security cameras — ended with all the hostages escaping unharmed. Authorities shot and killed Akram on the scene. “While it was sad to hear that there was an attack at Rabbi Buchdahl’s congregation, I was very grateful to hear that the security protocols they have in place minimized any disruption,” Cytron-Walker said. He was struck by how quickly the congregation returned to prayer. “You always have to weigh, when there’s a disruption, what the community needs in that moment,” he said. “What the community needed was not to let what turns out to be a minor incident ruin the night — to be able to celebrate Shabbat as a community despite the disruption.” Cytron-Walker, now the spiritual leader of Temple Emanuel in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, said Jewish congregations have to hold two values at once. “We have to live our values of loving the stranger,” he said. “Judaism has always been a part of the world, even when we try to isolate ourselves from it. The walls will never be high enough.” At the same time, he said, “it is also a Jewish value to protect our own lives, to value our own lives. We should employ that with the rational part of our brain, not the emotional part. We shouldn’t panic, but we should be prepared.” Just like Glickman, Cytron-Walker said he hopes Central Synagogue receives the kind of support that helped his own congregation heal. “The Jewish people are not only receiving hate,” he said. “We’re also receiving love and support. It may not always be as much as we want, and when we do receive it, let’s offer gratitude and allow that to help with our healing.” PJC This story was originally published on the Forward. To get the Forward’s free email newsletters delivered to your inbox, go to forward.com/newsletters.

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Headlines Hate crimes down 7% nationwide from 2024-25, but 64% of religion-based hate crimes last year targeted Jews, per FBI data — NATIONAL — By JNS Staff

ate crimes were down about 7% in the United States from 11,404 incidents in 2024, to 10,606 in 2025, the Federal Bureau of Investigation said last week as part of an announcement of what it said was the “largest year-to-year decline in violent crime rates since FBI estimations began in 1936.” Still, Jews were disproportionately targeted in hate crimes last year, according to FBI data. Of 2,572 religion-based hate crimes last year, 1,647 (64%) targeted Jews — or 15% of all hate crimes. Jewish Americans, who number about 7.5 million, make up about 2.4% of the U.S. population, according to the Pew Research Center. Arabs were targeted in 130 incidents (5%) and Muslims in 233 (9%) last year, according

to FBI data. Of the 1,818 offenses against Jews (13.8%) last year, the overwhelming majority (1,003) involved vandalism or other property destruction. There were also 541 intimidation offenses, 118 simple assaults, 51 aggravated assaults, 39 other larceny, 12 burglaries or breaking and entering, 11 thefts from buildings, seven robberies and six arson offenses. The FBI also recorded five weapon law violations, four extortion and blackmail offenses, three murders and non-negligent manslaughter offenses, three instances of pornography and obscene material, two con jobs, two thefts of motor vehicles, two instances of shoplifting and one count each of criminal sexual contact, drug or narcotic violation, hacking or computer invasion, identity theft, kidnapping or abduction, other unspecified offense, sodomy, theft from motor vehicle and weapon of mass destruction.

There was no other weapon of mass destruction offense against any other faith group, and just one other faith group was also victim of murder and non-negligent manslaughter — two such offenses targeted the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, per FBI data. In 2025, the only category of hate crime that exceeded the number of anti-Jewish crimes was the 3,048 anti-Black hate crimes. Black people make up about 14.4% of the population, according to the Pew Research Center, which suggests that in 2025, a Jewish American was about 225% more likely to be the victim of a hate crime than a Black person was. Muslims are estimated to make up about 1% of Americans, suggesting that in 2025, a Jewish American was about 190% likelier than a Muslim American to be the target of a hate crime. In 2024, Jews were targets of 2,095 (17.5%) of the 11,949 hate crimes, and about 70% of the 3,010 religion-based hate crimes,

according to FBI data. Arabs were targeted in 158 (5%) of the religionbased hate crimes, and Muslims in 261 (9%). So far in 2026 — when FBI data draws on about 90% coverage of the country in January to March, 85% in April, 80% in May, 75% in June, 57% in July and 21% in August — the FBI has recorded 6,792 offenses as part of 5,741 hate crime incidents, 1,442 of which (25%) have been religion-based hate crimes. Jews have been targets of 829 hate crimes so far, or 57% of all religion-based hate crimes and 14.4% of all hate crimes. Arabs have been targets of 65 (4.5%) and Muslims 138 (9.6%) of all faith based hate crimes. There have been about twice as many antiBlack hate crimes as anti-Jewish ones, suggesting that so far in 2026, per available FBI data, Jews have been about 210% more likely to be hate crime targets than black people have, and about 150% likelier than Muslims have. PJC

The congregation’s Rabbi Joshua Lief told the Herald-Star that police are investigating the act, calling it a “hate crime.” Temple Shalom was founded in 1849. According to the congregation’s website, it has approximately 75 families and includes a religious school. Lief told WTRF that there has been an outpouring of support from the community, as well as some negative comments online saying

that “Jews are not welcome.” “It’s been a little disturbing,” the rabbi said. A Facebook post by the congregation garnered more than 100 messages of positive support. Another post, written by the Weirton Daily Times, gave rise to several negative comments, including: “Rabbi Joshua Lief is the one who Report drew it,” “A Joo did it,” and “Its sooo small how did anyone see it???? And on ONE BRICK???? illegal Thats not even worth a call, just wash it off.”

Lief told the paper that he hoped the graffiti was an isolated incident. “I’m hopeful that this was someone just doing something stupid that they thought was perversely funny,” he said. “It would be wonderful to discover that they didn’t mean it hatefully, though there’s sadly no other way for us to take it.” PJC

Antisemitic graffiti scrawled on Wheeling synagogue wall

— REGIONAL —

swastika was painted on Temple Shalom in Wheeling, West Virginia, last week. Wheeling is about 60 miles southwest of Pittsburgh. The Nazi symbol was painted on the Reform congregation’s wall on Thursday, Aug. 13 and was removed before Shabbat services on Aug. 14.

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Headlines ‘History cannot be erased’: ‘Hostages Square’ in Tel Aviv is formalized in official name change — ISRAEL — By Deborah Danan | JTA

he plaza that became the center of Israel’s campaign to bring home the 251 captives Hamas seized on Oct.7, 2023 is now formally called “Hostages Square,” establishing a permanent reminder of the more than two-year struggle that ended with the return of the final hostage in January. Mayor Ron Huldai unveiled new signage at the plaza outside the Tel Aviv Museum of Art on Wednesday, formally adopting the name Israelis had used for the site for close to three years. Hostage families and their supporters gathered at the square for mass rallies, weekly Shabbat gatherings, vigils and public events demanding the release of those held in Gaza. The plaza was also filled with crowds celebrating as hostages returned home. “History cannot be erased, and we must not allow it to be forgotten,” Huldai said at the unveiling. “The decision to name this place ‘Hostages Square’ is intended to ensure that this chapter in the history of the state of Israel, from Oct. 7, 2023, until the return of the final hostage, Ran Gvili, on Jan. 26, 2026, will be remembered for generations.” The formal designation settles a debate over whether or not the site’s role in one of the more significant events in Israel history should be remembered or erased. After a deal was announced in October

p Hostages Square in Tel Aviv during the Iron Swords War in Israel, March 2024

Photo courtesy of wikicommons/Chenspec

2025 to free the remaining living hostages, Dani Miran, whose son Omri spent 738 days in Hamas captivity, personally urged Huldai to rename the plaza “Returnees Square.” Other proposals included “Heroes Square” and names emphasizing unity, while relatives of hostages whose bodies were still being held in Gaza argued that the existing name should remain until everyone was returned. The last hostage, police officer Ran Gvili, was returned to Israel on Jan. 26 after his remains were recovered in Gaza. The following day, the clock in Hostages Square that had counted the time since Oct. 7 was stopped after 844 days. The site still carries a political charge: In July,

protesters met at the square to call for an official inquiry into the lapses that facilitated the Oct. 7 attacks, something Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has fiercely resisted. The alleged failures of the day have become an issue ahead of Oct. 27 elections. Rebecca Geller, who handled international communications for the Hostages and Missing Families Forum and spent much of the war alongside hostage families at the square, said she was glad the name was being formally preserved. “Whatever the space will be in the future, it will be important to honour” what it meant during the war, she said. “It gave the families a place to come to feel the support of the community, to get out of the house and to be

nourished through the worst times of their lives, body and soul.” By July, Tel Aviv’s municipal naming committee had backed Huldai’s proposal to make “Hostages Square” the plaza’s official name, saying it had become a national symbol of solidarity and the campaign to return the captives. Until then, the site was officially known as the plaza outside the Tel Aviv Museum of Art despite “Hostages Square” becoming its universally recognized name. “This was the site of a courageous and determined struggle led by families who did everything they could to bring their loved ones home,” Huldai said. “Tel Aviv-Yafo had the privilege of being their home, and together with residents of the city and people from across Israel, this square became a center of solidarity, mutual responsibility and an unwavering demand: Bring them all home.” “This square will remain a testament to the families, to their struggle and to the commitment never to give up on anyone. We will not allow this story to be forgotten.” The square may now be permanent, but Google has yet to get the memo: as of Aug. 17, its Maps listing marked Hostages Square as “permanently closed.” Geller said the square remains a difficult place to visit. “I struggle to return there — even when I’m just going to the art museum — because it always brings up the emotion that was held there,” she said. “For me, it will always be Hostages Square.” PJC

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Headlines Parents doing great educating kids Judaically, not always financially, OU program planner says — NATIONAL — By Mike Wagenheim | JNS

everal Jewish groups told JNS that they are ready to help, as Jewish Americans, like all Americans, are struggling with price increases. Some 55% of Americans say affordability is the main issue as Election Day approaches in November, according to a recent Gallup poll. “There’s no real middle class anymore in the community,” Baruch Niebloom, founder of the financial tech nonprofit frum.finance, which works with Orthodox Jews, told JNS. “So many people are getting tuition discounts from schools, because they don’t have the income.” “It’s not only people who are struggling. It’s people who are wondering if they’re OK to retire, if they can afford a house, if they’re just starting out, if they’re newlyweds, first job, whatever it may be,” Stacey Zrihen, a financial planner who volunteers with the Orthodox Union’s Living Smarter Jewish program, told JNS. Zrihen trains a team of about 100 volunteer coaches, and she deals with a community that doesn’t tend to have a written budget. Financial planning “hasn’t historically been taught in schools,” she told JNS.

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“I think parents, who are doing a great job educating their kids Judaically, are not always doing a great job educating them financially,” she said. Both those in their mid-40s and 50s and younger couples, “who are just starting out, who don’t have a great blueprint for what it looks like,” are having difficulty, according to Zhiren, who said that the OU program gets thousands of annual requests. “The clients that we’re working with are struggling more than in the past,” she said. “When I got married 33 years ago, the costs of our home, our car, those costs have multiplied — some of them even tenfold.” Even as nearly every household now needs to bring in two incomes, there is a limit to revenue, and families ought to focus on cutting costs, according to Zhiren. “I call it the household black hole category,” she said, of purchases from stores like Amazon, Target, Walmart and Costco, which she said often go beyond necessities. “I think there are people who are taking vacations, because it’s something that we do and we’d like to do,” she said. “It’s a wonderful thing if you can do it, but I don’t think that has to be something that’s considered a necessity.” “If it is, the way that it’s done might look a

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AUGUST 21, 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 SUNDAYS, AUG. 23–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 Join a lay-led online Parashah study group to discuss the weekly Torah portion. No Hebrew knowledge needed. The goal is to build community while deepening understanding of the text. 8:30 p.m. For more information, visit bethshalompgh.org/online-parashah. q TUESDAYS, AUG. 25–DEC. 22 Join Beth El’s Rabbi Alex Greenbaum and his Bible/Talmud Adult Education class for a thought-provoking weekly session of Bible and Talmudic study. This program is available both in person and virtually. Call the office at 412-561-1168 to receive the Zoom link or to make an in-person reservation. 10:30 a.m. 1900 Cochran Road. bethelcong.org q WEDNESDAY, AUG. 26 Chabad of Squirrel Hill presents Sushi & Study, a series exploring the how’s and why’s of foundational

mitzvot with Rabbi Sruly and Chani Altein. This month, we will be discussing Pathways to the Divine: Prayer and Tefillin. 7:30-8:45 p.m. $15 per class/$150 per year. 1700 Beechwood Blvd. chabadpgh. com/jewishstudy q WEDNESDAYS, AUG. 26–DEC. 23 Explore the weekly Torah portion with the mystical and interpersonal lens of the Hassidic rabbis with Rabbi Mark Asher Goodman. Hassidut for the People is a fun and engaging class taught online and in person meant to help learners find deeper meaning in Torah and in themselves. All levels welcome. 10 a.m. $5. Shoresh PGH, 4300 Murray Ave. Contact rabbimark@shoreshpgh. org for more information. shoreshpgh.org/classschedule-and-events q SUNDAY, AUG. 30 Join Chabad of the South Hills for a trip to Jewish New York. Visit the Rebbe’s resting place and Chabad world headquarters; take part in a Crown Heights tour. Enjoy shopping and a meal at a delicious kosher restaurant. Fly roundtrip to New York City. 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. $125. chabadsh.com/jny Tree of Life Congregation and Rabbi Hannah Estrin invite you to pay your respects to the dearly departed during their Kaver Ovot service at Memorial Park Cemetery. 10 a.m.-noon. Memorial Park Cemetery, 2062 Reis Run Road, Franklin Park, PA. treeoflifepgh.org

Are you interested in a High School program for your teen? 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? Come learn about a completely new approach. Short core classes and choose your own path. Field trips together and make your own schedule. Here are some examples:

For more information, join one of these sessions. For parents* July 8, 7:00 PM

Rabbi & Cantor led classes Books & Podcasts of Jewish content 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

Pay your respect to those who have passed at the Pliskover Cemetery Memorial Day (Kever Avot) ceremony. Sara Stock Mayo will assist with graveside prayers. 10 a.m.-noon. Pliskover Cemetery, Green Oaks Drive, Kennedy Township, PA. pliskover.com Join Tree of Life Congregation for an afternoon of food and family fun at its end-of-summer picnic. Guests will have complete access to the pool, mini golf, basketball and the gaga pit. 2-6 p.m. Individual members: $10 each; children 10 and younger are free. A la carte members and non-members: $12 each. Goldstein Pavilion at the JCC Family Park, 261 Rosecrest Drive, Monroeville, PA. treeoflifepgh.org q WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 2 Join Beit Kulanu for Biblical Garden Open Door Tour: Free, docent-led tour of the congregation’s Biblical Botanical Garden the first Wednesday of the month. 12:15-1 p.m. Free. 4905 Fifth Ave. rodefshalom.org/garden Join Chabad of the South Hills for a pre-High Holiday seniors’ lunch. Enjoy a delicious lunch with honey cake, a holiday program and presentation on “Are You Lost in the Senior Living Jungle?” Wheelchair accessible. 1 p.m. $5 suggested donation. 1701 MacFarland Road. chabadsh.com q WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 3 Rendezvous in Beit Kulanu’s Biblical Botanical Garden with drinks and hors d’oeuvres for a free

Summer Garden Concert with the Jake Epstein Trio. Apps start at 6:30 p.m. and music from 7-8:30 p.m. The concert is free but registration is required. 4905 Fifth Ave. BeitKulanu.org q SUNDAY, SEPT. 6 All kids are invited to a Pre-Rosh Hashana Challah Bake, where they’ll make and braid their own challah to take home and enjoy entertainment by juggler Howard Mincone. 2:30-4 p.m. $10/child. Chabad of Squirrel Hill, 1700 Beechwood Blvd. chabadpgh.com/kidscooking q THURSDAY, SEPT. 10 Join the Holocaust Center of Pittsburgh for an evening with local Holocaust survivor Irene Skolnick as she shares her story of resilience. 6:30 p.m. Chatham University’s Eddy Theatre. 1157 Murray Hill Ave. Register at hc-irene. eventbrite.com q TUESDAY, SEPT. 15-17 Rooted in the aftermath of the deadliest antisemitic shooting in the United States, the Eradicate Hate Global Summit has grown to become the world’s most comprehensive, multidisciplinary conference to prevent hate-fueled violence, convening people committed to building relationships and forging solutions to address this growing issue. $150$325. David L. Lawrence Convention Center, 1000 Fort Duquesne Blvd. To learn more about the summit, see the full agenda, and register, visit eradicatehatesummit.org. PJC

Join the Chronicle Book Club!

he Pittsburgh Jewish Chronicle invites you to join the Chronicle Book Club for its Aug. 30 discussion of “As a Jew: Reclaiming Our Story from Those Who Blame, Shame, and Try to Erase Us – A Defiant Memoir of Heritage, Identity, and Antisemitism,” by Sarah Hurwitz. A New York Times bestseller, “As a Jew” is an “urgent exploration of how antisemitism has shaped Jewish identity and how Jews can reclaim their tradition, by the celebrated White House speech-writer and author of the critically acclaimed ‘Here All Along,’” according to Amazon.com. “In As a Jew, Hurwitz documents her quest to take back her Jewish identity, how she stripped away the layers of antisemitic lies that made her recoil from her own birthright and unearthed the treasures of Jewish tradition. With antisemitism raging worldwide, Hurwitz’s defiant account of reclaiming the Jewish story and learning to live as a Jew, without apology, has never been timelier or more necessary.”

What to do

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

Your hosts Organized by the Religious School of Congregation Beth Shalom & Beit Kulanu and open to all.

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

How it works

We will meet on Zoom on Sunday, Aug. 30, at 1 p.m.

www.pittsburghjewishchronicle.org 6

AUGUST 21, 2026

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Headlines — NATIONAL — Judge throws out Trump’s Harvard antisemitism lawsuit, citing lack of evidence

A federal judge threw out the Trump administration’s lawsuit that had accused Harvard University of having “turned a blind eye” to Jewish and Israeli students, ending for now the most high-profile campus antisemitism case in the legal arena, JTA reported. The judge, Richard Stearns, ruled Aug. 13 that the government’s evidence for Harvard having committed Title VI civil rights violations were “too isolated and episodic to support a plausible inference that any institutionalized noncompliance with Title VI persists at Harvard to this day.” In a statement, U.S. Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon told the Jewish Telegraphic Agency that the government disagrees with the ruling and is “assessing next steps.” Trump’s suit against the Ivy League school, first filed in March, was a cornerstone of his administration’s aggressive and contentious fight against campus antisemitism. Harvard was among the most prominent schools to have experienced severe tensions, including incidents

directly targeting Jewish students and “Zionists,” in the aftermath of the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas attacks in Israel. The school settled cases with some Jewish students and put forward its own plans to fight antisemitism. Yet unlike some other schools, Harvard resisted the government’s efforts to make concessions and pay a fine in order to resolve Title VI cases. The school also fought the Trump administration’s 2025 freezing of more than $2 billion in federal funds to Harvard, which the government argued was punishment for failing to address campus antisemitism. Sterns wrote that the government’s case in the Title VI suit was flawed because it relied on incidents almost entirely from the 2023-24 school year and couldn’t be considered “ongoing.” He also criticized the Trump administration’s practice of withholding funds from schools accused of Title VI violations, writing, “Congress’s intent was not to penalize a wayward funding recipient but instead to incentivize it to bring itself into compliance with TItle VI.” Title VI is the section of the Civil Rights Act requiring institutions that receive federal funds not to discriminate on the basis of race, color or national origin.

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

Aug. 21, 1982 — Troops arrive to oversee PLO withdrawal

American, French and Italian troops arrive in Beirut to supervise the evacuation of about 14,000 PLO fighters through Sept. 1. PLO Chairman Yasser Arafat leaves the Lebanese capital for Tunisia on Aug. 30.

Aug. 22, 1891 — Sculptor Jacques Lipchitz is born Sculptor Jacques Lipchitz, whose “The Tree of Life” stands outside Hadassah Hospital on Mount Scopus, is born in Lithuania. In his later years he draws inspiration from Judaism for his work.

p Jacques Lipchitz’s “Tree of Life” stands at Hadassah Hospital on Mount Scopus.

By zeevveez, CC BY 2.0

Aug. 23, 1903 — Herzl’s last Zionist Congress opens

His second play, “The King’s Clothes,” establishes him as one of Israel’s leading playwrights and a stage revolutionary.

Playwright and translator Nissim Aloni is born in a poor area of southern Tel Aviv.

Mamdani says meeting with rabbis was ‘candid and productive’

New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani told reporters on Aug. 13 that his closed-door meeting with rabbis on Aug. 10, which reportedly covered areas of deep difference, was “candid and productive,” JTA reported. “My door will always be open to every Jewish New Yorker, and that is a door that is open not only to a conversation but also to a commitment of what it actually looks like to deliver on the ideal of a city where not only is everyone safe, but everyone belongs,” Mamdani said during the press conference when asked about the meeting.

Assailant who attacked congregant, guard at NYC Shabbat services charged with hate crimes

Police have charged Larry Montes, 46, of the Bronx, with hate crimes, accusing him of attacking a congregant and a security guard at Manhattan’s Central Synagogue during Friday night Shabbat services on Aug. 14, the New York City police commissioner said, JTA reported. “Montes has now been charged with two counts of assault as a hate crime and one count of criminal mischief as a hate crime, among other charges,” Commissioner

Jessica Tisch wrote in a post on X. Montes, who was arrested at the scene, disrupted Shabbat services before being apprehended by a security guard, according to Tisch. “As synagogue security was escorting him out,” Tisch wrote, “he struck a member of the congregation, damaged synagogue property, and then spit at and headbutted a member of the security team.” Tisch, who grew up attending the iconic Reform synagogue, said that an NYPD sergeant who was working on a paid detail on site “immediately stepped in and took the individual into custody.” “I have spoken with the rabbi of the synagogue, and I’m relieved that no one was seriously injured,” she said. While noting that the investigation is still ongoing Tisch said that there are no other known threats at the moment, and that additional NYPD resources were deployed to Central Synagogue. For the police commissioner, however, the event was also personal, as she described the synagogue of her childhood as “a place of comfort and peace,” both “in joy and in sorrow.” “What happened there tonight is deeply painful,” Tisch added. “A place of worship should never be a crime scene.” PJC –Compiled by Zoe Bell

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Aug. 25, 1918 — Conductor Leonard Bernstein is born

PRICES EFFECTIVE SUNDAY, AUGUST 23 – FRIDAY, AUGUST 28, 2026 Candle Lighting Time Friday, August 21, 2026 • 7:51 p.m.

Jewish composer and conductor Leonard Bernstein is born in Massachusetts. He makes his first trip to the Land of Israel in 1947 to conduct the future Israel Philharmonic Orchestra. He leads a 1967 concert for Jerusalem’s unification.

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Aug. 26, 1903 — Russian newspaper publishes ‘Protocols’

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“The Protocols of the Elders of Zion,” the most widely distributed antisemitic publication in history, is first published in Znamya, a Russian newspaper. The Times of London proves it is a fraud in 1921.

Aug. 27, 2001 — PFLP commander is assassinated

Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine Secretary-General Abu Ali Mustafa is killed when helicopter-fired missiles strike his office in Ramallah. Israel takes responsibility for the assassination. PJC

The Sixth Zionist Congress, the last led by Theodor Herzl, convenes in Switzerland. It is the largest so far, with approximately 600 delegates, and explores a plan for a temporary Jewish homeland in East Africa.

Aug. 24, 1926 — Playwright Nissim Aloni is born

A spokesperson for Harvard did not immediately return a request for comment.

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p A soccer tournament, an elementary school and the military wing of the PFLP are among the Palestinian institutions that carry Abu Ali Mustafa’s name.

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AUGUST 21, 2026

Fall Arts Preview

Gorodenkoff/Adobe Stock

Conscious of moment, ‘Never/Mind’ comes to Pittsburgh — DANCE — Adam Reinherz | Senior Staff Writer

here’s an irony to the words “never mind.” Definitionally, the phrase means pay no heed, but dismissal requires initial awareness. Roni Koresh, the artistic director of Koresh Dance Company, appreciates that moment between cognizance and rejection. It’s why he created “Never/Mind.” The contemporary dance performance, which Pittsburghers can enjoy Oct. 16 at Point Park University Pittsburgh Playhouse, utilizes “elegance, beauty, sensuality and just wonderful physicality” to impart a message, Koresh, 64, said by phone from his studio in Center City, Philadelphia. There are periods in life, he said, where people “give you suggestions of what to do.” If it happens enough, “it starts becoming really annoying because it’s kind of swaying you from your own integrity and your own vision.” After experiencing the phenomenon repeatedly, Koresh said he finally responded, “Never mind.” The expression reflected a desire to “do my thing,” he said. “If you have a great idea, you go do it yourself. You go and put it out there, and I will come and gladly sit there and watch it and be inspired by it.” Koresh’s newest work is born of that sentiment, as it’s about “freedom of expression, freedom of artistic expression,” but there’s a deeper, more personal element weaving through the show. “I’m going through a lot right now: emotionally, mentally and physically, because of what is going on politically,” he said. “I’m Jewish, so all of this — what’s happening as far as antisemitism and people all over the world rejecting Israeli anything, Israeli products, Israeli humans — that’s very painful.” Adding distress is the diminishment of arts-related funding, he continued. 8

AUGUST 21, 2026

p Heavens Haystack from contemporary dance performance “Never/Mind”

Photo by Contigo Photos + Films/Stephanie Ramones

“What people don’t understand is that my company and other companies that are touring companies rely on income from traveling, and touring and performing in many different places — that’s how you pay your dancers,” he said. Without funding, theaters often cancel shows. “They tell you, ‘We love you, but we can’t afford bringing you.’ So it’s a double whammy, and it’s affecting everything because I still have to come up with a budget

p Fringe Bar from “Never/Mind”

to sustain the organization.” “Never/Mind” seizes the moment by exclaiming, “I didn’t get my funding. Never mind. I’ll figure it out,” or, when one’s identity is attacked, it’s the same, he said. “Never mind. I’m proud to be who I am, what I am. I know what culture I come from. I know the achievements and what we have done and we’ve been there before, and we will be there probably in the future.”

Photo by Contigo Photos + Films/Stephanie Ramones

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Koresh told the Chronicle he’s a “citizen of the world” and a “channel” to allow people to “put out beautiful and inspiring things.” He refuses to see the current climate as an impediment to his responsibilities and hopes others can do the same. “You can’t avoid all the noise, but you have to kind of shut yourself out from it and go to work. That’s all you can do. This is why I was drawn to the arts, because in the arts, in my studio, when we work, that’s my world. I create the world that I want to live in. I just create a world where things are beautiful, things are amazing. And yes, of course, I also depict things that are real, and present them out there, but in my work the outcome is always hope.” “Never/Mind” is a call to inspire, he explained. “Never mind the noise,” he said. “Never mind that we have wars that are erupting. Never mind all of that. Go do what you do. Make the world a better place through what God gave you. God gave you a talent. Don’t waste it.” Koresh said he often tells his troupe their responsibility isn’t to propel showgoers to become dancers. Instead, it’s to remind audiences that “there are people out there, which are the dancers, that are giving everything they have through thick and thin, through hardship and lack of financial resources, and they are doing what they love to do.” When attendees see that, he continued, it’s a push to return to painting, piano or any hobby, “something that you really loved and you neglected it, and you didn’t think maybe that you were good enough,” and simply say “never mind what everybody thinks about you. Go and do what you really love to do.” Making that choice adds a “drizzle” to the environment, he said. The world doesn’t change instantaneously, “but if it grows one plant, wonderful.” PJC Adam Reinherz can be reached at areinherz@pittsburghjewishchronicle.org. PITTSBURGHJEWISHCHRONICLE.ORG

Fall Arts Preview For Shelly Cohen, working with Disney’s ‘The Lion King’ is a ‘dream job’ — THEATER — David Rullo | Senior Staff Writer

helly Cohen said her mother, Adina, inspired her career in the entertainment industry. “I was going to UC Davis and thought I was going to be a vet. I love animals but had a change of heart. It was my mom, who’s one of my biggest inspirations, that said ‘You love editing movies. You should go and study films. She really pushed me into chasing my dreams,” Cohen recalled. That advice paid off well. Cohen’s career has included stints in both film and stage productions and she’s worked with some of the biggest names in the industry. She’s currently the associate company manager of Disney’s “The Lion King,” which she calls her “dream job.” “I live 15 minutes from Disneyland and have loved Disney since I was a little kid,” she said. “‘[The] Lion King’ is a legacy show. It’s been on Broadway for almost 30 years.” The breadth of the show is expansive. It has toured the world for more than two decades, traveling with 115 people and 21 trucks, which are responsible for the show’s nightly productions. “The scope and the size is incredible,” Cohen said. “The amount of time it takes to put on the show, strike it and move it to the next city — it is a hurricane effort. It’s done in nine languages around the world. That’s nine productions

p Shelly Cohen

Photo by Matthew Murphy

currently going on around the world.” Each, she said, connects with audiences and continues to inspire those who see it. That may be because of the inclusiveness of the show which includes African music, more than one language and Balinese puppetry. The puppets, she said, add to the magic of the show, breaking the “fourth wall” between the audience and performer. “One of the most incredible things to watch — I’ll go out with my boss and we’ll sit in the front of the show and watch people react,” she said. “It’s a very special thing to see people’s eyes light up when they see the elephant go down the aisle and things like that.” Cohen’s professional career began to take shape after graduating from college with an internship at the Shakespeare Theatre Company in Washington, D.C. Next up was a stint with Broadway at Music Circus in Sacramento, California. After work with several other companies,

Cohen spent six years helping to bring a smile to children’s faces on productions of “Trolls Live,” “Paw Patrol Live” and “Sesame Street Live,” before working on several films — “Space Jam: A New Legacy,” Aaron Sorkin’s “Being the Ricardos” and Steven Spielberg’s “The Fabelmans.” She said that in her role as associate company manager at “The Lion King,” she focuses on the logistical needs of the show. Together with her supervisor, she said, she manages the housing, travel and financial aspects of the show, including payroll and human resources, and maintains union rules and guidelines. “It’s kind of what you do in an office setting, but we travel with the show and have a little office setup where the cast and crew can come and talk to us if they have questions,” she said. Those components, she said, combine to make each day unique. The next stop is Canada. “I have to make sure every person has a hotel room and a plane ticket, that their name is spelled correctly, that they have their passports,” she said. “Every day is different, which I love.” “The Lion King” has done approximately 10,000 performances in 90 cities across North America, Cohen said. “I take pride in myself because the show has been able to perform in cities it’s never been to, like Monterrey, Mexico. It’s probably one of my favorite highlights. There’s a new theater in Greensboro, North Carolina, that just opened while I was on the show. Being able to say we played somewhere for the first time is a

SEP 26 Manfred Honeck, conductor Lang Lang, piano

SUSAN & MARTY MCGUINN GUEST ARTIST FUND

BEETHOVEN Piano Concerto No. 5, “Emperor”

big deal because it’s been in 90 cities over the course of 23 years,” she said. Cohen’s role with “The Lion King” is more than simply a job. It’s provided a link to her grandparents, who were Holocaust survivors. “It’s about what they’ve passed on,” she noted. “I love keeping [those] traditions that they have taught me. I have a very supportive family that is very big about hard work and service. It’s something both my grandparents and parents have passed on.” Her Jewish background, she said, has imbued in her the importance of being humble and being kind to everyone, something she keeps in mind traveling from city to city and country to country with “The Lion King.” “If I could be half the person my mom is, I’d be the happiest person in the world. She escaped communism. She’s my hero. She’s remains humble and kind and finds joy in everything.” That includes finding joy in her daughter’s role in Disney’s “The Lion King.” “This is my dream job. This is everything I’ve wanted to do. I’m getting to live my dream. I remember, I sent my business card to my mom with Mickey Mouse on it and she started to cry. She said, ‘You’ve wanted this since you were 2 years old.’” PJC

Disney’s “The Lion King” will be staged Sept. 9-27 at the Benedum Center. Tickets can be purchased at trustarts.org/production/ 105572/list_performances. David Rullo can be reached at drullo@ pittsburghjewishchronicle.org.

MUSIC WORTH SHARING. From legendary guest artists to inspiring classical concerts and unforgettable evenings at Heinz Hall, the Pittsburgh

Romantic Rachmaninoff OCT 16 & 18

Juraj Valčuha, conductor Alisa Weilerstein, cello

Jeff Goldblum

& THE MILDRED SNITZER ORCHESTRA WITH THE PSO

Symphony’s 2026/27 season offers performances you’ll remember long after the final note.

OCT 6

Single tickets are on sale now visit pittsburghsymphony.org PITTSBURGHJEWISHCHRONICLE.ORG

PITTSBURGH JEWISH CHRONICLE

AUGUST 21, 2026

Fall Arts Preview Comedian Daniel Geneen wants Pittsburghers to like him — and not — COMEDY — Adam Reinherz | Senior Staff Writer

aniel Geneen is a nice Jewish comedian committed to upsetting his audience. The Toronto-born stand-up, who often riffs on his own masculinity, neurosis and pleasantness, doesn’t want showgoers to leave angry, but he’s more than happy to exploit his amiability for laughs. “When I do longer sets — like if I’m doing an hour — I always want to actually piss people off at some point, and then have them come back around,” he told the Chronicle by phone from New York City. The tactic, according to Geneen, prevents comedic hazards. “I think for me, it’s easy to fall into the trap of always just being likable, and sort of safe and making fun of myself. But I think if you’re not ever coming across as unsavory at all, that you’re not digging deep enough and you’re not being honest enough,” he said. “In my opinion, really good comedy is saying something that we all think but you’re not really supposed to say, and then figuring out how to explain why we’re all human, and it’s not our fault, and we’re all just doing our best.”

AUGUST 21, 2026

Photo by simone_n/Adobe Stock

Geneen, who is slated to perform at Sunken Bus Studios on Sept. 24, is excited to welcome Pittsburghers inside his head. “I try to write jokes about the outside world, but everything just gets related back to me,” he said. “I can’t write a joke about seatbelts; I write jokes about how I feel about putting a seatbelt on, and maybe that’s very Jewish of me.” The persistently self-conscious stand-up, who holds a masters in journalism and publishing from The New School and a degree in classic culinary arts from the International Culinary Center, previously interned at “The Howard Stern Show” and worked for the national website

Eater making food-related videos and podcasts. At age 28, Geneen formally entered comedy. “I started stand-up late because I was horrifically afraid of it,” he said. “It was just the thing in my life I’ve been most afraid of, and I did it, and unfortunately it went really well.” What he means, he continued, is that “often, successful comedians have the right level of delusion — like you need to be delusional about how good you are right away. But if you remain delusional, then you never really get funny,” he said. “I had the right level of delusion where I was always able to be self-critical enough to keep growing, but not

PITTSBURGH JEWISH CHRONICLE

too self-critical to quit.” Geneen, now 36, is striving for comedic mastery. To get there, he’s relying on accessible material: bits about dating, spirituality and self-understanding. He said he loves “talking about how Jews love psychedelics.” Why? “Because there’s nothing more Jewish than being Buddhist,” Geneen said. The comedian is well aware that certain jokes appeal to a select audience. “I’ll just kind of ramble at some points and it’ll be so neurotic,” he said. “There’ll be a few people that laugh, and I know they’re usually Jewish.” Geneen’s material doesn’t yet possess “some great story arc.” Still, he said, there’s much to laugh at and plenty to connect with. “I want people to know that I actually am interested in the sort of shared experience of life and anxiety,” he said. “I think if I’ve gotten good at anything, it’s bringing people into my head.” What they’ll find there is rather human: worry, humor and relentless awareness. Whether in Pittsburgh or on another stage, “I want people to come inside my head for an hour,” he said. “I think that’s actually what makes comedy fun — if you can think through someone else’s brain.” PJC Adam Reinherz can be reached at areinherz@pittsburghjewishchronicle.org.

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Fall Arts Preview This Jewish museum is lending art across America — with one condition — ART — By Simone Saidmehr | The Forward

ake a stroll through the Cleveland Museum of Art. Look closely in the Korean art galleries, and you will find a Jewish ritual spice container. Among its collection of Italian Baroque art, you’ll stumble upon a marble Jewish marriage panel. In the Middle East galleries, 19th-century Torah finials from Tbilisi, Georgia, blend seamlessly with the Islamic art that surrounds them. Until recently, none of those objects were there. Like many art and history museums across the U.S., Cleveland had almost no Jewish ceremonial art on display. The few that do often display it in separate galleries exclusively reserved for Jewish art. Now, Cleveland is just one of about a dozen museums across the country participating in a quiet initiative led by New York’s Jewish Museum, which is lending works from its collection to institutions that have little or no Jewish works on view. The Jewish Museum has one condition: Don’t put them in a Judaica gallery. “Jewish culture exists because for 3,500 years it’s been wandering the global diaspora,” said James Snyder, the director of the Jewish Museum, the art museum at the helm of the initiative. “How it looks is a function of its engagement, not its disengagement.”

p Marriage wall panel or table top, Italy, 18th to early 19th century, inlaid marble with cut stones Photo courtesy of The Jewish Museum

An Iraqi menorah adorned with peacocks belongs in a Middle East gallery, he argues, where visitors can see that the peacock was a common decorative motif across the region’s art, regardless of religion. A German Torah crown belongs among European decorative arts to tell the story about how, for centuries, Jewish ceremonial silver was largely crafted by non-Jewish silversmiths after Jews were barred from joining silver-making guilds. The initiative addresses a longstanding absence of Jewish ceremonial art in many of the country’s leading encyclopedic museums — institutions that showcase works from

civilizations around the world and throughout history. Museum directors across the country who spoke to the Forward admitted that before collaborating with the Jewish Museum, they lacked Jewish ritual art in their galleries. Bill Griswold, the director of the Cleveland Museum of Art, said that while the museum has had significant collections of Islamic, Christian, Buddhist and Hindu works, it “didn’t have a single important object of Jewish ceremonial art.” This, despite the fact that Cleveland has one of the country’s largest Jewish populations. At the Toledo Museum of Art, curator Robert Schindler said there was “exactly zero Judaica”

there until November 2025, when the museum purchased a rare 12th-century Afghan kiddush cup for $4 million — a record price for Judaica. The Toledo museum also joined the Jewish Museum’s lending initiative; a 13th-century synagogue inscription from Cairo will be displayed in a gallery that intends to compare different world religions. “It’s a gap in the collection, and it’s a gap in the stories and narratives that we’re telling,” said Schindler. “This is sort of a very active way of trying to reckon with, and also make up for some of the things that we just didn’t collect previously.” Jewish Museum curator Danny Smith Salfati calls the partnerships “artistic interventions,” each one tailor-made. Staff from the Jewish Museum work alongside local curators to identify objects that naturally fit within existing galleries. They also train docents on the Jewish significance of the objects and how they fit into the historical narrative of the gallery where they are placed. Museum directors say the response has been overwhelmingly positive. At the Detroit Institute of Arts, hundreds of visitors have shown up for events dedicated to the viewing of objects that include one of the oldest known Torah shields in the world and a casket from the 15th century adorned with zodiac symbols. Judith Dolkart, the museum’s deputy director, said the interest has prompted the museum to think seriously about adding Jewish ceremonial Please see Museum, page 14

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AUGUST 21, 2026

Opinion ‘We are all Jews here’: A shiva call in Jerusalem Guest Columnist Mark A. Sindler

he usual plans were in place for a recent trip of mine to Israel: air travel, hotel, itinerary, gatherings with friends and family. Less than a week in, something else would unexpectedly enter the mix: making a shiva call. It would prove to be a powerful moment. While in Jerusalem, I had planned to meet a longtime acquaintance to catch up on common interests and to share in recent events. In the midst of figuring out the “when” and the “where,” he made a very sobering request. Would I join him in paying respect to a family whose oldest son and sibling had just passed? Not just anyone, but a member of the Golani Brigades’ 13th Battalion. A member of the IDF’s premier infantry regiment. A soldier whose life ended at age 25.

I didn’t know William Shakin, a lone soldier who hailed from Great Neck, New York. I didn’t know his family. I didn’t know anyone in his unit. Moreover, my friend had no connection with the deceased or his family. At first blush, we were both complete unknowns to the family and vice versa. Why then join others as a source of comfort to total strangers ? When first reading my friend’s email asking me to join the shiva, I hesitated. Anecdotally and from firsthand exposure, my sense is that one’s death and its aftermath produce a duality. On the one hand, eyebrows are raised when someone with whom contact is limited or nonexistent nonetheless reaches out, whether it be in person or by extending a personal note. Equally surprising is finding others who might be deemed close or dear and yet never extend a consoling word or warm hug. In a land far from home and facing the prospect of being in the midst of others whose lives have been recently devastated, I wasn’t sure what to say, how to convey empathy, let alone how to be in this moment. What if I froze? How could my presence communicate derech eretz (proper behavior, respect

of others)? Within the hour of learning of this addition to the “itinerary,” I set aside the thought that this was about me. Others were suffering, and most assuredly it was solely about them. When arriving, we found about a dozen others with the Shakin family. Fluent in English, they were seated in low chairs against a wall to receive visitors and to discuss their son and brother. He was affectionately known as Will. We listened to fellow Golanis who trained with him and served alongside him. He was a masterful gunner, capable of turning a 25-pound machine gun into a sniper weapon complete with scope. Pursuit of a graduate degree in social work from Yeshiva University abruptly yielded to his desire to defend the state of Israel in the aftermath of Oct. 7. My friend and I listened as others regaled Will’s short life. Eventually, the family asked about our connection to him. I said that we had never met or conversed. Our paths never crossed. A perplexed look emerged, leading one to ask why we appeared. My only response was that we are all Jews here. And among this gathering of us, these latest events compelled not just an appearance but also

an effort to share in the worst that an individual could endure. I could not have rehearsed that line if I tried: We are, in effect, one nation to which geography or other distances or obstacles are no bar. It’s harrowing that such a brave soul was cut down so early in life. And yet my experience that evening gave me a front-row seat to the tightly-knit fabric of the Israeli community. It’s not just a city, a region, or a sector. It is an interconnected, fiercely supportive dynamic that will quickly band together when unfathomable, unspeakable events envelop one of its own. I will never get a chance to meet William “Will” Shakin. I did encounter looks of utter despair one day after his parents and brother and sister buried him at Har Hamenuchot in Jerusalem. Amidst this searing pain, I shed a tear that night in honoring the life of a man cut down in the service of others. He was a fellow Jew, whose name I will not soon forget. It is reason enough to help comfort those he left behind. PJC Mark A. Sindler and his family reside in Squirrel Hill.

Curious about Jewish studies? Reject insinuations and join our conversations Guest Columnists Rachel Kranson and Michal Friedman

s the directors of the Jewish studies programs at the University of Pittsburgh and Carnegie Mellon University, we found it disheartening that our local Jewish newspaper provided space for an article that denigrates our field as a “terrible waste.” We will not bore the readers of this paper by tearing apart the shoddy data referenced in the article. Critical thinkers can look up the study and note its biases and weaknesses themselves. What saddens us most about the article is not the faulty research that undergirds it, but rather that it mischaracterizes the field of Jewish studies and makes gross generalizations about its practitioners. As local

representatives of the field, we would like to clear the air, tell you about our work, and warmly invite you to take part in our classes and programs. Jewish studies is an academic subject, not an advocacy organization, and our colleagues hail from many backgrounds. We are not all Jewish, as knowledge and training rather than Jewish identity offer entry into our guild. Individual Jewish studies scholars uphold a range of political opinions about Israel, Palestine and everything else. As a field, we are no more interested in convincing our students to adopt a political ideology than we are in converting them to Judaism. Rather, professors of Jewish studies teach students about the richness of Jewish history, religion and culture in all of its complexity. Students in our classes will understand why many Jews around the world adopted strong attachments to the Zionist movement and the state of Israel. They will also understand why, before WWII, both the religious establishment in Eastern Europe and the leaders

of the American Reform movement insisted that Zionism would be detrimental to the welfare of Jewish people. We do not offer our own viewpoints on these issues but offer the tools and contexts to think them through. To paraphrase our Oberlin College colleague Shari Rabin, our classrooms are not debate clubs or political advocacy training sessions. They are laboratories for encountering ideas. Perhaps the most important thing we offer our students, however, is an introduction to our methodologies. At a moment when people can’t seem to differentiate propaganda from truth or fact from fiction, our students understand that a scholar must be able to back up every claim with primary source evidence. Moreover, we give our students the opportunity to try their own hands at scholarly research, when we encourage them to interpret historical documents, take them on field trips to archival collections, show them how to read archeological field reports, or instruct them on how to conduct their own oral histories or ethnographies.

In the end, what offers coherence to our field is not ideological uniformity but strict standards for how we know what we know. Individual scholars may have different interpretations of the evidence, and at times bitter disagreements over political differences as well. But we will engage with quality scholarship from the people with whom we disagree. In our own subfield of Jewish history, we respect the years of labor that go into searching the archives and discovering what made our subjects tick. We know the time and effort that goes into interpretation, writing, carefully citing every claim, submitting our scholarship to rigorous peer review, and readying our work for publication. What makes us scholars is not just that we read many books or offer a compelling lecture (though we do these things as well), but because we adhere to the highest standards of humanistic research and make original contributions to the field. Please see Kranson and Friedman, page 13

Beyond the debate over ‘antisemitism’: The case for rehumanization Guest Columnist Lauren A. Bairnsfather

have worked in Holocaust museums and Jewish professional spaces for 30 years. I have also worked in universities and other secular spaces during that time, helping people of different backgrounds understand the Holocaust and recognize antisemitism around them. Moving between these worlds has taught me the danger of groupthink and the importance of reaching beyond the

AUGUST 21, 2026

conversations we have among ourselves. That work has become increasingly urgent amid rising antisemitism, particularly since the Pittsburgh synagogue shooting in 2018 and the Hamas attack on Israel on Oct. 7, 2023. Over the past week, former colleagues and organizations I worked alongside during my eight years leading the Holocaust Center of Pittsburgh have faced intense criticism over the use of the terms “Zionism” and “anti-Zionism.” But the intensity of this debate points to a deeper problem that cannot be resolved by arguing over definitions alone. How serious is the problem? Antisemitism is not an abstraction. Jews make up about 2% of the U.S. population

but are the targets of roughly 70% of religion-based hate crimes reported to the FBI. A 2026 Brandeis University study including students from over 300 colleges in the U.S. found that 47% of Jewish college students surveyed had experienced prejudice because they were Jewish, while 37% described their campuses as hostile toward Jews. Antisemitism presents a real danger to Jews — and ultimately to non-Jews as well — and many people outside Jewish communities struggle to recognize and respond to it. Yet as antisemitism has become more visible, the language we use to describe it has become increasingly contested. What is antisemitism? What is Zionism? What is anti-Zionism? Even within Jewish

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communities, we do not always agree. These debates matter, but arguments over terminology are not making Jews safer. They cannot be the center of our response. This moment calls for something more fundamental: rehumanization. So how do we do that? We begin with history. For Jews, that means relearning our story and telling it with pride and wonder. Our story is not only about survival through millennia of exile and persecution, but also one of migration, adaptation, creativity, resilience and renewal. My own approach is to teach the long Please see Bairnsfather, page 13

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Opinion Chronicle poll results: Wearing Jewish symbols or clothing in public

ast week, the Chronicle asked its readers in an online poll the following question: “Do you feel unsafe wearing Jewish symbols or clothing in public?” Of the 314 people who responded, 30% said, “Yes”; 24% said, "No”; and 46% said, “Yes in some places, no in other places.” Comments were submitted by 92 people. A few follow. If I were in parts of New York City — or worse, London or Paris — I would definitely feel afraid, but not in Pittsburgh. I generally cover my yarmulke with a baseball cap when I’m out in public. I’ve been doing that for years, however, not just recently. I did not wear my Star of David on vacation last week for the first time in my adult life. I did not feel safe traveling with it on. I have two necklaces that aren’t especially Jewish looking. One is a Tree of Life and the other is a mezuzah that looks like a gold

Kranson and Friedman: Continued from page 12

Meanwhile, while public discourse is saturated with discussions of Israel and Palestine, our research and classes consider a much fuller range of topics. The Jewish studies program at the University of Pittsburgh includes three historians: one who studies the early modern period, one an expert on the Jews of Pittsburgh, and one who researches the history of Jewish women. It also features an archeologist of Second Temple Judaism; an anthropologist studying Israeli medical ethics; authorities on Primo Levi and Paul Celan; a scholar of

Bairnsfather: Continued from page 12

history of the Jewish people, from our ancient beginnings in Canaan to the present. That history helps explain who Jews are, how our communities came to exist throughout the world, and why nearly half of the world’s Jews now live in Israel. It also explains why the story of American Jews is more complicated than contemporary racial categories often suggest. The Holocaust offers an important lesson in how we tell that story. In the United States, we have taught the Shoah in

Wearing Jewish symbols or clothing in public

This is the first time I felt this way in 45 years of life. It’s so sad. I even feel unsafe with having a mezuzah on my front door.

sometimes on other days. But my decision to not wear it all the time is more based on not wanting to deal with potential problems rather than fear for my safety.

I proudly wear Jewish symbols and will not allow the haters to prevent me from doing so. I wear my Jewish star and Tree of Life earrings each and every time I make a presentation about my parents’ Holocaust survival.

Because I do not support Netanyahu’s policy in regard to Gaza, and because people usually equate Zionism with being Jewish, I do not wear my star anymore. I do not want anyone to think I support Netanyahu.

Sadly, my beautiful Mogen David purchased in Israel many years ago has remained mostly untouched in my drawer. At one time I proudly wore it on a daily basis.

After antisemitic comments by co-workers somehow became socially acceptable at work, I started to conceal my Star of David pin underneath my jacket lapel.

I get nervous when I’m in places where I don’t know anybody, so before I enter an establishment, I think about where I am and if I’m uncertain, I tuck my Star of David into my blouse.

After 10/7 I started wearing a small but visible Jewish star necklace. I wear it proudly everywhere. PJC

I have been verbally attacked twice in the last three years when on my way to shul. I still wear a kippah on shul days and

Chronicle weekly poll question:

post-Holocaust Jewish philosophy; a sociologist of Holocaust memory; and more. CMU boasts historians of Sephardic Jews, the Holocaust and Yiddish culture in the former Soviet Union, Irish and Jewish nationalisms, as well as a political scientist studying the psychology of contemporary antisemitism. You are welcome to contact any of us to find out more about our work. We would be thrilled to share how we know what we know. You are also invited to participate in our upcoming events. Those who join us can learn from Rachel Perry, who will introduce you to four Jewish women who told their stories of surviving the Holocaust through the medium of visual art. You can take part in an evening

with award-winning Yemeni-Israeli author Ayelet Tsabari, who will discuss her novel “Prayers for the Brokenhearted.” And once again, we will be partnering with the Pittsburgh Jewish Book Festival to host Professor Miriam Udel, a preeminent scholar of Yiddish children’s literature. Contact us at jsp@pitt.edu or Cmu-jack-buncher-jewish-studies@lists. andrew.cmu.edu to join our mailing lists. To members of the Pittsburgh Jewish community: Our public programs are quite popular, free of charge and always open to you. If you are inclined to dismiss the richness of Jewish studies as a vehicle of “indoctrination and delegitimization,” then by all means stay home. But if you are curious about how scholars and artists think

about Jewish religion, history and culture, come and learn with us. You will be joining a fascinating conversation. PJC

extraordinary detail since the 1980s. But our most compelling teachers were never the documents. They were the survivors. Survivors reached students not simply because of the historical details they conveyed, but because of the human connections they formed by bravely sharing their stories. Students encountered an individual human being. History had a face, a personality, a family, a life before persecution and a life afterward. As we lose these survivors, Holocaust museums and educators have embraced technology to preserve their testimonies. These tools can transmit information to millions, creating remarkable ways for future generations to continue to “interact” with survivors

after they are gone. But information alone rarely creates the human connection that drives empathy and understanding. That insight should shape how we confront antisemitism today. Jews are facing powerful propaganda that draws upon age-old stereotypes while using the language and technologies of the present. Holocaust history itself is being inverted and redeployed, with Jews cast as the Nazis who once persecuted and murdered them. Our response cannot simply be to retreat into our own communities or argue more forcefully over definitions. We must continue the work of building relationships, both with each other and beyond Jewish

spaces. Making Jews safer does not require making other communities less safe. In fact, our safety is interdependent, and our histories have much to teach one another. So let us continue to debate terminology. But when we seek connection with people outside Jewish spaces, let us begin somewhere else: with our stories. Let us teach the story of the Jews. Let us invite people to encounter us as individual human beings rather than as abstractions in someone else’s political argument. PJC

30%

46%

Yes

Yes in some places, no in other places

24% No

barrel. I wear those anywhere. I wear a Star of David or a chai more selectively. I wear my Star of David anyway. I refuse to be made afraid to be Jewish. If someone approaches me (which hasn’t happened yet), I plan to try to educate them.

— Compiled by Toby Tabachnick Have you been to Israel since Oct. 7, 2023? Go to pittsburghjewishchronicle.org to respond. PJC

Rachel Kranson is director of Jewish Studies and associate professor of Religious Studies at the University of Pittsburgh. Michal Friedman is associate teaching professor and the Jack Buncher endowed chair in Jewish Studies at Carnegie Mellon University. Editor’s note: The article referenced in the first paragraph of this piece is “The terrible waste that is Jewish Studies at American universities” (Aug. 14), authored by British historian and columnist Dominic Green, and was reprinted from The Jewish Chronicle of Great Britain.

Lauren A Bairnsfather is a past executive director of the Holocaust Center of Pittsburgh and now serves as CEO of the Anne Frank Center USA.

— LETTERS — Honoring Sister Gemma Del Duca

I can personally attest to Sister Gemma DelDuca’s dedication, commitment and love for Israel and the Jewish people ("Sister Gemma Del Duca honored for lifetime of work by Congregation Emanu-El Israel," Aug. 14). I had the privilege of getting to know and work with Sister Gemma during my career with Israel Bonds/Development Corporation for

Israel. We worked closely with her and the National Catholic Center for Holocaust Education on numerous Israel Bonds events and Israel Bonds honored her for her work. Sister Gemma DelDuca deserves all of the accolades that come her way. Harold F. Marcus Philadelphia

We invite you to submit letters for publication. Letters must include name, address and daytime phone number; addresses and phone numbers will not be published. Letters may not exceed 500 words and may be edited for length and clarity; they cannot be returned. Send letters to: letters@pittsburghjewishchronicle.org or Pittsburgh Jewish Chronicle, 5915 Beacon St., 5th Floor, Pittsburgh, PA 15217 We regret that owing to the volume of correspondence, we cannot reply to every letter. PITTSBURGHJEWISHCHRONICLE.ORG

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AUGUST 21, 2026

Headlines Shoresh: Continued from page 1

The diversity of educational and spiritual opportunities is praiseworthy, Obernauer told the Chronicle. “I work in theological education at Pittsburgh Theological Seminary and am supremely happy about new forms of spiritual community and adaptive and innovative ministry — in terms of how can we bring people together in new ways that tap ancient wisdom while meeting lifestyle preferences of contemporary audiences.”

“We’re really trying to hit all of the different ways in which Jews connect with their religion and their spirituality: the head, the heart, the body,” Goodman said. Flooring and furniture will help the mission. “We just submitted our stamped architectural plan to the city, and we’re starting to do the back-and-forth revisions,” Lasday told the Chronicle. Once the city grants approval, the hope, she continued, is that renovations begin this fall. Also underway are conversations with the Vaad Harabonim of Pittsburgh. Lasday and Goodman said they’ve spoken

with Rabbi Yitzi Genack of the local Vaad about ensuring that Shoresh is a certifiedkosher establishment. “It is going to take a little while to figure out between the equipment that we have, the building permit, the health department and the Vaad exactly what we’re going to be able to serve for the community, but we are going to be a kosher institution that this community will be proud of,” Goodman said. “We’re hoping to be accessible to as much of the community as we can be,” Lasday said. Creating such a space requires communal commitment, the co-founders explained. During last week’s event, the two

announced the start of a $100,000 fundraising campaign. There’s a $50,000 match, Lasday said. “We’re hoping to raise the rest of the [$50,000] over the next week.” “We’re trying to raise the money for this amazing community institution that will be something that Pittsburgh’s Jewish community will be proud of for the next 100 years,” Goodman said. The goal is that it should be “something that’s bright and vibrant and supplemental to the existing Jewish community.” PJC

faculty members, several of which are still being resolved. The report notes that in a 2025 ADL/ Academic Engagement Network survey of more than 200 Jewish-identifying faculty, nearly three quarters reported observing anti-Jewish activity that originated from other faculty, staff or administrators causing them to feel “traumatized.” Anti-Israel and anti-Zionist faculty and staff have sought to influence university policy, curricula, institutional ties and public discourse, the report found. Antisemitic tropes, the targeting of Jewish organizations and individuals, open hostility toward Jewish students and colleagues, protests which have led to clashes with law enforcement, arrests and property damage, are all cited in the report. These same networks, the report states, challenge institutional relationships with Israel, advance the BDS movement and seek to disrupt university events. Some faculty participated in the wave of anti-Israel encampments across the country or canceled classes in solidarity with the protesters. In some cases, the encampments were protected by faculty from law enforcement, the report said. Faculty with an anti-Israel agenda have used resolutions and statements to influence public discourse in favor of BDS resolutions, a push for amnesty for students who violated campus

conduct policies and obstruct the adoption of formal antisemitism definitions, it said. Two groups — Faculty and Staff for Justice in Palestine and the American Association of University Professors — along with several unions are highlighted for their growing influence and anti-Zionist and anti-Israel rhetoric. The post-Oct. 7 campus protest movement, the report concludes, “is sustained by an interconnected network of faculty activists, professional associations, unions, student organizations, and community groups that increasingly operate across organizational and geographic boundaries.” No Pittsburgh college or university was cited in the report, but several — including the University of Pittsburgh and Carnegie Mellon University — have been touched by anti-Israel, anti-Zionist or antisemitic activity. Pitt was home to two anti-Israel encampments after Oct. 7, one of which resulted in several arrests, including some that are still being adjudicated. Three Pitt students were physically attacked in two separate incidents around the campus, as well. Earlier this year, Pitt’s Working Group on Antisemitism, convened by Chancellor Joan Gabel, issued its final report, making recommendations in five broad areas: institutional capacity to respond to antisemitism; institutional policies; training, education and contextual understanding; incident response and enforcement mechanisms; and external events and off-campus influences. The university issued a response to the report, agreeing with much of the group’s findings, and stating what steps it was taking to combat antisemitism on campus and to ensure the safety of Jewish students, faculty and staff. A group of self-identifying “Jewish faculty, staff, students, and alumni of the University of Pittsburgh, and “friends and allies of our Jewish colleagues and neighbors” published an open letter voicing criticism of the Working Group’s report and created its own list of suggested steps for Pitt to undertake. Those steps included situating the university’s “responses

to antisemitism within a broader context that recognizes antisemitism as one of many kinds of injustice that impact members of the University of Pittsburgh community.” The group sought signatures from the community and said the letter would be presented to Gabel. It is unclear how many people signed the document or if it was delivered to the chancellor. Pitt’s chapter of the American Association of University Professors also published a letter, saying it was “deeply alarmed” by the Working Group’s report and the university’s response, and that it was “concerned about the process through which the report and the response were generated, about their implications for academic freedom, and about the proposed path forward.” A letter from the Faculty and Staff for Justice in Palestine called for Pitt to “rescind and renounce” the Working Group’s report. Throughout the summer, Carnegie Mellon University saw several anti-Zionist messages painted on its Fence, including “Death to Zionism” and “By Any Means Necessary,” which prompted a response from CMU President Farnam Jahanian. He 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.” CMU is reportedly in the process of investigating several students for their role in painting the messages. At Point Park University, a professor urged students to “stand up against Israel’s attacks on Palestine by staying educated, boycotting, contacting their elected officials and protesting,” during a 2024 lecture, according to the school’s newspaper, The Globe. The Chronicle reached out to Pitt and CMU for comments about the ADL’s new initiative but did not receive a response before publication. PJC

the conflict, confronting challenges such as disputes over public-facing staff members wearing keffiyehs to work and protests and vandalism tied to accusations that museum officials were providing support to Israel during the Gaza War. Jewish museums were not immune to that strife. According to a survey by the Council of American Jewish Museums, 81% of Jewish museums in North America and Europe reported antisemitic or anti-Israel harassment after Oct. 7. “Museum staff were making statements that were shifting to the left, and shifting to pro-Palestinian, anti-Israeli,” Snyder said. “Museum boards were shifting the other way: pro-Israeli, shocked, horrified, and that was producing conflict in museums … it was in every museum in town.” Once he took the helm, Snyder created a post-Oct. 7 action plan to help the Jewish Museum navigate the moment, which included

a directors’ talk series and an educational program for staff on the Middle East, racism and antisemitism, and exhibits about the traumas of the war. He also thought hard about the museum’s approach to curation, seeking to explicitly draw connections between Jewish objects and the places and cultures in which they developed. “A culturally specific museum is segregating itself,” he explained. “What you need to do is show that Jewish culture has been in the global diaspora longer than any other single culture for 3,500 years, demonstrating resilience and engagement worldwide.” Suddenly, Snyder began receiving calls from directors of encyclopedic museums across the country. How could they build a collection of Jewish art and artifacts in their spaces? His answer was blunt. “You really can’t today,” he told them. Most major Judaica already belongs to museums or private collectors, and

when important objects do come to market, private buyers often outbid institutions, he said. Instead, he offered them another solution: borrow from the Jewish Museum. “Take a dozen from us and don’t put them in a room,” Snyder recalled telling museum directors. “Sprinkle them. Take something from the Italian Renaissance, German Baroque, British Imperial, American Colonial, Asian …” Smith Salfati says this initiative fulfills part of the Jewish Museum’s mandate. “We’re introducing Jewish material and Jewish concepts and Jewish ideas that are not widely known,” he said. “And debunking myths about what Judaism is and looks like.” Snyder agrees. “We see part of our job as dispersing Jewish culture across the landscape of our own American diaspora,” Snyder said. “It’s what we feel is our mandate — and one that’s all the more relevant because of the times we’re in.” PJC

ADL: Continued from page 1

The report “Antisemitism Among Faculty and in the Classroom” focuses on six areas: one-sided framing and the blurring of education with advocacy; the introduction of “pro-terrorism” narratives; academic incentives and the subtle pressure to conform; classroom dynamics and the singling out of students; faculty governance, institutional positions and support for BDS initiatives; and, faculty activism and its influence on academic culture. The report concludes that university faculty play “a significant role” in how “political and identity-related issues are experienced within higher education.” A “discernable trend” was found among multiple campuses and disciplines “in which discourse surrounding Israel, Zionism and Jewish identity is framed in ways that go beyond critical inquiry.” These trends were found over a wide spectrum, including individual classroom interactions and institutional choices about curriculum and programming. The “Antisemitism Among Faculty in the Classroom” report identifies a recurring pattern of “pro-terrorism” narratives in coursework, extra credit for attending anti-Israel rallies, and singling out Jewish students, resulting in a double standard that normalizes bias. The ADL’s second report, “The Faculty Factor,” concentrates on networks of professors and staff members who actively participate in or lead anti-Israel and anti-Zionist organizing on and around campus. Since 2024 some faculty, the ADL found, have collaborated with anti-Israel and anti-Zionist student groups, providing “institutional cover for student activists,” normalizing “hostility towards Israel as legitimate academic discourse,” and “creating hostile environments for Jewish students, staff and faculty.” According to the report, this behavior has resulted in disciplinary cases against some

Museum: Continued from page 11

art to its permanent collection. Griswold said the Cleveland museum has welcomed more guests in this calendar year than in recent history, a surge he attributes in large part to interest in the works on loan from the Jewish Museum. “When I’ve been in the galleries, and these works have been on view, there have been people gathered around these vitrines [glass cases], fascinated to discover something really new in the context of our collection,” he said. Snyder began his tenure at the Jewish Museum in October 2023, just three weeks after the Oct. 7 attacks on Israel. He found himself navigating a moment of extraordinary tension. Museums across the country are still wrestling with pressure to take a stance on 14

AUGUST 21, 2026

p Anti-Zionist statements were both chanted and hung outside of an antiIsrael encampment at the University of Pittsburgh’s Cathedral of Learning in the summer of 2024. Photo by David Rullo

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

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

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Headlines Education: Continued from page 5

little different if you’re trying,” Zhiren told JNS. She said other areas, like hiring cleaners, sleepaway camp and dining out, can be cut back if necessary. Shalom Goodman, co-founder and executive director of Collective Kindness, a nonprofit that he formed in 2023 to support Jewish families navigating financial challenges, told JNS that he left a Wall Street Journal editorial role in 2024 after seeing the Jewish communal struggles. “I heard about a family around Passover that did not have enough food, and I just asked around, ‘Who wants to help out?’” he said. “I got around $5,000 in under half an hour.” “If you help out a guy, it always ends up with you helping others,” Goodman, who is an ordained rabbi, told JNS. “It evolved.” The project went from aiming to give families a little extra money to Goodman realizing that families earning $80,000 or more could be underwater. Debt appeared to him to be the primary culprit, so he paired families with financial experts who could help dig them out of debt. But then he found that some in that field were dishonest and prioritized making money off those in debt rather than helping them get out of debt. “We saw an opening of just honest experts, who know all the options out there, who we pay hourly to work with you” and “who aren’t earning any extra money” as commissions for directing families toward particular options, he said. Collective Kindness lays out all of the potential debt resolution options in advance, in case

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PLAN AHEAD:

Protect Yourself and Your Loved Ones – Your Way

families want to try to implement those on their own, and it offers its experts for those who are feeling overwhelmed by the process, according to Goodman. He isn’t sure if the debt problem in the Jewish community has worsened of late, but Collective Kindness has expanded its operations. As its services become better known, “a lot of people are opening up. ‘Hey, I’ll be honest, I do have high APR debts,’” he told JNS. People who register for his nonprofit’s Kosher Debt Help initiative report average credit card debt of more than $60,000, with average interest rates over 23%. One-time emergency help is a specialty of the Jewish community, Goodman told JNS, but debt can be an endless cycle that calls for deeper solutions. His organization’s program helps reduce those interest rates for some 560 families to an average of under 1.5%, giving those coming for help not only some financial relief in the short term but also the education needed to carry that forward, he said. Niebloom, of frum.finance and a former senior software engineer at HubSpot, told JNS that “what we found is a lot of other organizations are focused on either putting out the fire directly or on very short-term planning of just how to do cash flow, which leaves a lot of gaps.” “There’s a big undercurrent of not knowing how to reach long-term goals like tuition and retirement, and because it’s so ill-defined, you end up with this cloud over many people, really at all income levels,” he said. Many Orthodox Jews fear that increasing their incomes will lead to losing government benefits that they need, but Niebloom tells them that they can avoid that by making the right financial decisions. PJC

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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

a a a

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

a a a a

Avi Cohen Community volunteer Rebecca Elhassid Community volunteer Meyer “Skip” Grinberg Community volunteer Tsipy Gur Classrooms Without Borders, founder and executive director

Rachael Heisler Pittsburgh City Controller

a a a a

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 Lidji Director of the Rauh Jewish History Program & Archives at the Heinz History Center

Fraidy and Dovie Nadoff Community volunteers

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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

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AUGUST 21, 2026

Torah Self-reflection ahead of the new year Rabbi Yisroel Rosenfeld Parshat Ki Teitzei Deuteronomy 21:10 — 25:19

he month of Elul is a time dedicated to preparation for the approaching new year. We spend this month in self-reflection. We consider our actions in the past year and think about what changes or improvements we might make in the coming year. Many see this time as an opportunity to reflect on our relationship with G-d, and this is certainly an important factor. However, our Sages instruct that a prerequisite to “making ourselves right” with G-d is resolving, to the extent possible, any disputes and tension with our fellows. Before asking for G-d’s grace, we show ourselves capable of showing that grace to those around us. Included in this process is meeting the financial obligations we’ve

incurred throughout the year. In this week’s Torah portion the Torah tells us, “You must not withhold the wages of a poor or destitute employee . . . you must give him his wage on his (promised) day.” While the parameters of this mitzvah can be complex, and depend on many situation-specific factors, in a general sense it requires that we pay our employees or contractors as agreed. This payment must be made soon after the work or contract is completed. In fulfilling G-d’s commandments, we are in some ways considered G-d’s “employees” and the reward G-d gives is the “payment” we receive. Yet all too often it seems that reward is delayed, whether to the after-life or even until the Messianic era. Commentaries wonder, how is this consistent with the teaching that G-d adheres to the commandments which He gave to us? Is G-d unduly delaying the “payment” we are due? By exploring this question, we will gain a deeper understanding of the nature of our

Celebrations Bar Mitzvah

Nathan Ross Miller will celebrate becoming a bar mitzvah at Congregation Beth Shalom on Aug. 22, 2026. He will be joined by his parents, Sara Morrison and Benjamin Miller; his younger brother, Aaron; and his adoring grandparents, Michele and Allen Morrison of Jamaica Plain, Massachusetts; Judith and Martin Greenberg of East Rockaway, New York; and Rebekah and Marc Miller of Plainview, New York. Nathan is passionate about manga and anime, and he enjoys designing games (roleplaying, card, video, word) for his friends. Nathan is a rising eighth grader at Colfax Middle School and a longtime attendee of J&R summer camps.

Engagement

Mindy and Jeff Weiner, of Monroeville, are excited and proud to announce the engagement of their son, Dr. Benjamin William Weiner, to Cara Elaine Bloom, daughter of Dr. Ronald and Dee Bloom of Carmel, Indiana. Ben is the grandson of Arlyne Fenster and the late E. Jerry Fenster, and the late Shirley and Irv Weiner. Cara is the granddaughter of Louise Newman and the late Leonard Newman, EJ Bloom, the late Milton Bloom, and the late Maxine Bloom. Ben is a graduate of the University of Pittsburgh and The Ohio State University College of Medicine and is an internal medicine and pediatrics hospitalist practicing with the Indiana University Health System. Cara is a graduate of Indiana University where she also earned her Doctor of Occupational Therapy and is an occupational therapist with Community Health Network. Ben and Cara reside in Indianapolis and are planning a May 2027 wedding in Carmel, Indiana.

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mission as G-d’s chosen people and the powerful impact of our efforts in the service of G-d. The task we have been “contracted” to complete is nothing less than the transformation of the world into one that reflects and reveals the Divine presence in all of reality. This is certainly not an individual task or one that can be completed in one lifetime. It is a mission that requires the unique and individual contribution of each and every one of us, across generations. Each mitzvah we do builds on the efforts of all of those who came before us and combines with the mitzvahs of all of our fellow Jews today. We will experience the ultimate reward for this task upon its completion, with the onset of the Messianic era. This is consistent with the requirement that a contractor be paid at the completion of the job. In the meantime, we are certain that G-d will provide us with health, prosperity and protection from harm, thereby enabling us to focus on accomplishing the mission we have been given (Maimonides, Teshuva 9:1).

This perspective gives deeper appreciation for the significance of our efforts. When we recognize that we are not alone in this task, we will not feel lonely or overwhelmed by the vastness of the undertaking. When we reflect on how far we as a people have come, we will not question our ability to make a difference. When we see ourselves as part of a mission that is greater than just ourselves, we achieve a self-transcendence that can help overcome the stresses of our reality. We do our part and are certain that, like a small child on the shoulders of the generations of giants who preceded us, it will be our mitzvah which will finally tip the scale, and bring about the coming of Moshiach, even before the end of this year. PJC Rabbi Yisroel Rosenfeld is the rabbi at the Lubavitch Center and the executive director of Chabad Lubavitch of Western Pennsylvania. This column is a service of the Vaad Harabonim of Greater Pittsburgh.

Wedding

Dr. David Spokane and Sharon Spokane announce the marriage of their daughter Karissa Lynn Spokane to Drew Austin McElrath, son of Harry and Lori McElrath, all of Beaver, Pennsylvania. Karissa’s grandparents are Mel and Bette Spokane of Cranberry Township, and Richard and Barbara Augustine of Melbourne, Florida. Karissa is in her fourth year of dental school at West Virginia University and Drew is a finance associate senior at PNC. The couple were married on Aug. 6 on the Amalfi Coast in Italy. They will make their home in Pittsburgh. PJC

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Obituaries FRANKEL: Mark Stephen Frankel, on Aug. 1, 2026. Beloved son of Dan and Debbie Frankel; loving brother of Erica and Aaron Frankel; also survived by aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, cousins and many friends. Mark graduated from the Kelley School of Business at Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana. After graduation, Mark moved to San Francisco, where he spent the span of his career working for healthcare tech companies as a program manager. A voracious reader, Mark also enjoyed music, hiking, travel and playing golf, albeit not well. Mark especially enjoyed spending time with his group of friends, hosting dinner parties for them and cooking Thanksgiving dinner for his family. He also volunteered as a cook with 18 Reasons, a nonprofit cooking school. Mark was a huge sports fan and loved rooting for all Pittsburgh teams, especially enjoying games long distance on the phone with his dad. Services and interment were private. In lieu of flowers, donations in Mark’s memory may be made to JFCS (Jewish Family Community Services), 5743 Bartlett Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15217, and to 18 Reasons, 3674 18th Street, San Francisco, CA 94110. Arrangements entrusted to Ralph Schugar Chapel, Inc. schugar.com KELLMAN: Barbara Escott Kellman passed away peacefully in Maplewood, New Jersey, on Aug. 12, 2026, at the age of 103. A devoted wife, mother, grandmother and aunt, Barbara was known for her strong spirit, generous hospitality and deep love for her family. Born in New Rochelle, New York, to Philip and Bess Routman Escott, Barbara shared a loving marriage of 62 years with her husband, Milton, until his passing. Together they raised three sons: Paul Michael Kellman, H. David Kellman, M.D., and Gerald Allan Kellman, who predeceased her. Barbara is survived by Paul and David, their spouses, Adele Laslie Kellman and Roberta Sales, and her grandchildren, Simon B. Kellman (spouse Alicia McCauley) and Allison Kellman Tudor (spouse Nicholas Tudor), as well as her great-granddaughter, Emmy Tudor. She was also especially close to her many nieces and nephews in Pittsburgh, including the Kline, Brady and Siniakin families. Her children remember being part of a large extended family and sharing many happy occasions with their Pittsburgh and Charleroi cousins, with the support of Barbara and her husband. Barbara lived all her married life in Monongahela, Pennsylvania, and at Deep Creek Lake, Maryland, with winters in Pompano Beach, Florida. Weekends with Barbara and Milton at the family cottage at Deep Creek are among her family’s most cherished

memories. There, Barbara welcomed a house full of guests with home-cooked meals, comfortable beds and the feeling that there was always room for one more. She would make different meals for Milton, to be sure he had what he liked. Barbara insisted that every visitor write in her Deep Creek book before leaving, and at the end of the summer would delight in reading each message. Music was a lifelong pleasure for Barbara, particularly opera and violin, and she never forgot a melody. She also loved traveling with Milton. Barbara brought a clear sense of style to everything around her; whether that was ensuring she had a carefully chosen outfit for each special occasion, or that every room in her home was considered down to the last detail. In addition to taking care of her home and family, she also worked for many years alongside Milton at the Monongahela Iron and Metal Company. Barbara’s life was defined by her devotion to the people she loved. She had a generous nature, a strong sense of family, and a gift for making those around her feel cared for and welcome. Her family will remember with gratitude the many meals she prepared, the homes she made comfortable, the adventures shared at Deep Creek, and, above all, the love and care she gave so freely throughout her long and remarkable life. Barbara was a big supporter of the Hebrew Free Loan Association. Contributions in her memory may be made to the Milton Kellman Family Fund at the Association (4905 5th Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15213). Services and interment were private. Arrangements entrusted to Ralph Schugar Chapel, Inc. schugar.com SIEGEL: Betty Mae Siegel, aged 98, passed away at home in Pittsburgh. A devoted wife, daughter, mother, aunt, grandmother and friend, she loved cultural and artistic pursuits. Born and raised in Pittsburgh, she graduated from the University of Pittsburgh and received an M.A. from Duquesne. A former teacher, Betty Mae was actively involved in the Agudath Achim congregation in Chippewa and pursued many volunteer activities, including Hadassah and the Lawyers’ Wives Club of Beaver County. In Pittsburgh, she worked with the Food Bank and Red Cross. She and her husband of 52 years shared a love of travel, history and gardening. She was predeceased by her husband, Barry, and two sons, Neil and Lee. She is survived by her daughter, Fern, and two grandsons, Eli and Nathan. She will be greatly missed by all who cherished her kindness and generosity of spirit. Services were held at Agudath Achim Cemetery. Donations can be made to the Beaver Area Memorial Library, 100 College Ave., Beaver, PA 15009 or the Hebrew Free Loan Association of Pittsburgh, 4905 Fifth Ave., Suite 211, Pittsburgh, PA 15213. Arrangements entrusted to Ralph Schugar Chapel, Inc. schugar.com Please see Obituaries, page 19

Jewish Association on Aging gratefully acknowledges contributions from the following:

A gift from ...

In memory of...

Anonymous . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Charlotte Charapp Anonymous . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Hannah Lillian Rice Marjorie Halpern . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Louis Farber Marlene Halpern . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Zelda Glantz Sherry Cartiff . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Irene Posner David & Judith Clovsky . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . William Phillip Clovsky Marilyn Friedlander . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Isadore J . Ficks Linda Levine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Theodore Kohut Howie & Shelley Miller . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Izzy Miller Robert & Judi Miller . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Larry Miller Toby Perilman . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Harry Louik Toby Perilman . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Florence B . Perilman Toby Perilman . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Esther Bennett Lisa D . Pollack . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Charlotte Levy Pollack Linda & Jeffrey Reisner and Family . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Norma Davis Brodell Marc Rice . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Hannah Lillian Rice Simma & Lawrence Robbins . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Francis Nadler Lois L . Solomon Z"L . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Norris Lee Lipman David Wolfson . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Cyril Freda Wolfson Contact the Development department at 412-586-2690 or development@jaapgh.org for more information.

THIS WEEK’S YAHRZEITS — Sunday August 23: Harry Barnes, Solomon Cantor, Sarah Libby Caplan, Eva Ruth Emas, Ethel Geduldig, Bertha Knina, Rose Lucille Levison, Minnie Linetsky, Tauba Loffer, Samuel Mermelstein, Morris Morgan, Jack Rattner, Jacob Ellis Rosenberg, Mollie Rutner, Charles Schwelling, Israel Seidenstein, Annabelle L . Sharon, Jennie Beck Wintner Monday August 24: Nathan Beck, Jack Gusky, Erna Landsberger, Joseph L . Lebovitz, Louis Levy, Morris L . Lieberman, Anna Belle Nadler, Hannah Lillian Rice, Donald Rosenthal, Pearl Seltzer, Mary Simon, Judith Stein, Rose Uram, Bessie Weiner Tuesday August 25: William Phillip Clovsky, Arleen Cohen, Charlotte J . Goodman, Samuel M . Hepps, Samuel Jacob Miller, Anna Singer, Jewel Steinberg Surloff, Esther Zinman Wednesday August 26: Donald Baker, Belle Borofsky, Norma Davis Brodell, Jacob Broudy, Israel Louis Gordon, Herman Horowitz, Hyman J . Jacobs, Morris Kalson, Theodore Kohut, Morris Mandel, Mollie Markowitz, Samuel M . Rosenzweig, Frank Rubenstein, Besse Schugar, Jacob Schwartz, Abraham I . Silverman, David Sinaiken, Joseph Slinger, Esther Wishnovitz Thursday August 27: Max Breverman, Harvey Deaktor, Isadore J . Ficks, Etta Glass, Howard Sylvan Guttman, Ethel Kanselbaum, Norris Lee Lipman, Isreal Miller, Sidney Pariser, David Vinocur, Mary Weintraub Friday August 28: Morris Abrom, Michael Balmuth, M .D ., Jacob Berman, Mendel Binstock, Ben Cartiff, Martin David Gillis, Goldie Harris, Simon Jonas, Esther Friedberg Levy, Charles Papernick, Charlotte Levy Pollack, Louis A . Robins, Florence H . Szobel, Cyril Freda Wolfson Saturday August 29: Ben Astrov, William Flom, Aaron Green, David Lester, Francis Nadler, Mamie Grace Rosenbloom, Pauline Roth, Shiffra Schneirov, Pauline Naomi Shorr, Mendel Silverman, Edith Symons, Emanuel L . Wasser

AUGUST 21, 2026

PITTSBURGH JEWISH CHRONICLE

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Obituaries Obituaries: Continued from page 18

SMOLAR: Harold Smolar, age 96, on Monday, Aug. 17, 2026. Devoted son of the late Katie and Ben Smolar. Survived by Connie, his beloved wife of 72 years; cherished children Marcia (David), Barbara (Michael) and Ben (Lori); seven grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. Predeceased by brothers Sam and Max. Harold was born and raised in Pittsburgh, a graduate of Taylor Allderdice and the University of Pittsburgh. He was incredibly proud to work and carry on the legacy of his family’s business, Cantor and Smolar, an iconic landmark in the community for 70 years. After retirement, he and Connie enjoyed winters in Florida, but always were very ready to return to their home and family in Pittsburgh at the end of the season. Harold will be deeply missed and remembered for his resilience, generosity and devotion to his family. The Smolar family extends a special thank you to dear friend Sharise, who throughout this past year was an amazing, dedicated caregiver. Graveside services and interment were held at Beth Shalom Cemetery. Contributions may be made to Congregation Beth Shalom, 5915 Beacon Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15217 or UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, UPMC Cancer Pavilion, Suite 1B, 5150 Centre Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15232. Arrangements entrusted to Ralph Schugar Chapel, Inc. schugar.com SOKOL: Elaine “Lainey” Sokol, beloved wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, passed away peacefully on Aug. 10, 2026, at age 94. Born on June 7, 1932, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Lainey carried her warmth and love of family with her throughout a life that spanned Philadelphia and Pittsburgh, and most recently Phoenix, Arizona. Lainey was the cherished daughter of the late Lillian and Benjamin Cohn (z”l) and the beloved wife of the late Joseph Sokol (z”l), with whom she shared 55 loving years of marriage. She is survived by her loving and devoted children: Rochelle “Shelley” Daniels; Fern Hast-Murphy (Robert Murphy) and Jeffrey (Jill) Sokol. She was a proud and loving Grammie to Lauren (Brandon) Tauberg; Ethan Daniels (Oliver Solomon);

“Don’t be pushed by your problems; be led by your dreams.”

Ryan (Amy); Brandon (Amanda) Hast; Meghan Murphy, Logan Murphy, Samantha Sokol and Amanda Sokol; and great-Grammie to Hayden and Hudson Tauberg; and Ella, Era and Ali Hast. Lainey loved her Turner Classic Movies (TCM) channel and was and devoted patron of the arts. As a subscriber of the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, she treasured visiting Heinz Hall for the performing arts. Classical music brought her immense joy and remained one of the defining passions of her life. After moving to Pittsburgh in the mid-1960s, Lainey dedicated herself to volunteer work with organizations supporting individuals with special needs. Her compassion, generosity and dedication touched many lives and reflected the kindness that defined her character. Lainey will be remembered for her warm and welcoming nature, style, compassion, deep love of her family and her lifelong Philadelphia accent. Graveside services and interment were held at Beth Shalom Cemetery. Contributions in memory of Elaine Sokol may be directed to the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, Hospice of the Valley (Phoenix, Arizona), or a charity of the donor’s choice. May her memory forever be a blessing. schugar.com Please see Obituaries, page 20

Community Monument Unveiling Join the Jewish Cemetery & Burial Association of Greater Pittsburgh as we honor those laid to rest this past year at the

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Sunday, August 23, 2026 • 11:00-11:45AM 309 Oakwood Street • Shaler Township, PA 15209 Officiated by Rabbi Dovid Small A sacred service of prayers and remembrance in the spirit of kavod ha-met (honoring the deceased) All are welcome • Info: JCBA • 412-553-6469

Judy Tabor Smizik May 27, 1949 – Aug. 15, 2026

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Obituaries Obituaries: Continued from page 19

WECHT: It is with deep sorrow as well as gratitude for a long, well-lived life that we announce that Sigrid Ronsdal Wecht passed away on Sunday evening, Aug. 16, attended by family. She was 87. Sigrid was born on Jan. 5, 1939, in Asker, Norway. She lived her early childhood under German military occupation, as Wehrmacht soldiers seized and held her native land from April 1940 until May 1945. After the war ended and her parents separated, Sigrid and her mother left Norway for the United States. Sigrid rapidly acquired English fluency, attending schools in the Baltimore area. Sigrid and her mother then returned to Norway, where Sigrid completed high school. Sigrid traveled and worked in Europe, developing fluency in additional languages and beginning university studies in France. She then rejoined her mother, who had settled permanently in Baltimore. As a new immigrant to the USA, Sigrid was inspired to enlist in the United States Armed Forces. Since the Air Force recruiter told her that her multilingualism would qualify her for the Defense Language Institute at Monterey, she enlisted in that branch. Instead, the Air Force sent her to bases in Idaho, Texas and Alabama. It was during her service as an airman at Maxwell U.S. Air Force Base in Montgomery, Alabama, that she was introduced to Cyril Wecht, who was serving as a captain in the U.S. Air Force Medical Corps there. Upon Cyril’s military discharge, the couple moved in with Sigrid’s mother in Baltimore, as Sigrid completed her military service at Andrews Air Force Base, and Cyril continued his medical residency and attended law school. Sigrid and Cyril

moved to Cyril’s hometown of Pittsburgh. Sigrid converted to Judaism, and the couple married at Rodef Shalom Congregation in 1961. Their first child, David, was born in 1962, followed soon by Daniel, Benjamin and Ingrid. The 1960s and 1970s were occupied with all the joys of family life, and the Wecht home alongside Schenley Park in Squirrel Hill was always full of happy friends and beloved pets. With her children grown, Sigrid returned to school in the 1980s, enrolling in the University of Pittsburgh to complete her bachelor’s degree, followed by both her master’s degree in public and international affairs, and her law degree. For several years, Sigrid practiced law with her husband, Cyril, and her son, David, and then worked alongside Cyril for many years at Cyril H. Wecht and Pathology Associates. Among Sigrid’s greatest passions in life were travel and art. Blessed with the opportunity to visit many parts of the world, she not only observed and documented, but also took pleasure in directly interacting with people of many different languages and cultures. A great lover of literary fiction, live music, theater and museums, she pursued these passions throughout her life as well. An athlete since childhood, Sigrid was an avid tennis player, competing both in leagues and alongside Cyril, with whom she comprised a formidable doubles team. She also enjoyed cross-country and downhill skiing, and enjoyed ski trips, vacations and rugged outdoor adventures with her family over many years and in many places. Beginning in the mid-90s, Sigrid entered what was perhaps the most meaningful chapter of her life — as the beloved “Grandma Siggi,” a role she played with energy, creativity, devotion and love. In addition to her children, David (Valerie), Dan (Anna), Ben (Flynne) and Ingrid (Harold Balk), Sigrid is survived by 11 grandchildren, Dylan (Alyssa Mursch), Sophie, Zoe, Gabriel, Nathan, Jacob, Sarah, Alexander, Macey, Emma and Jessica. Services were held at Ralph Schugar Chapel, Inc. Interment Homewood Cemetery, Star of David Section. In lieu of flowers, contributions in Sigrid’s memory can be made to StandWithUs. standwithus.com. schugar.com PJC

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separate separate burials burials of of damaged damaged prayer prayer books books and and other other sacred sacred Why It’s Acceptableprovided and Encouraged inthe Judaism to Pre-Plan for Funeral andJCBA, Burial texts, a service to community by the texts, a service provided to the community by the JCBA, New Chesed Shel Emeth Cemetery were in 2013, This field graves, established in 1913 inand Shaler2021. Township were held held inof2007, 2007, 2013, 2018, 2018, and 2021.

In Judaism, preparing for life’s major transitions—including death—is deeply rooted in tradition and faith. Pre-planning your funeral and burial is not only practical but also aligns with Jewish values of respect, dignity, and care for both the living and the deceased.

3. Adhering to Jewish Burial Customs Jewish burial traditions, including prompt burial and simple, unadorned caskets, reflect the value of humility and equality in death. Pre-planning ensures these customs are followed, preventing misunderstandings or complications. It helps ensure that the body is treated with the utmost respect, in accordance with Jewish law, while safeguarding your wishes.

6. Making Personal, Thoughtful Choices By pre-planning, you have the opportunity to personalize your funeral in ways that reflect your beliefs, values, and preferences. Whether it’s selecting a specific cemetery, making arrangements for a tahara (ritual purification), a chapel or graveside service, you are able to make informed, meaningful decisions that align with your spiritual path and values.

when Old Chesed Shel Emeth ran out of space, demonstrates If more information on free burial sacred mission to bury the indigent. In addition, four in 4. Embracing Life’s Journey If you you would wouldourlike like more information on free burial in New ShelpartEmeth Judaism teachesChesed that death is a natural of life, and Cemetery planning Conclusion Pre-planning for a funeral and burial is an accepted, for itburials is seen as an extension of living a conscious and responsiseparate of damaged prayer booksTownship and other sacred This field graves, established in events 1913who in Shaler encouraged, and meaningful practice in Judaism. It not ble life. Justof as we prepare for important life such as wed- are Chesed Shel Emeth for those indigent, Chesed Shel Emeth for those who are indigent, only honors JewishJCBA, values and traditions but also provides or barChesed mitzvahs, pre-planning for ran funerals and burials is demonstrates texts,when adings service provided to the by the Old Shel Emeth outcommunity of space, a sense of peace and security for you and your loved ones. a reflection of taking life seriously, acknowledging that death our sacred mission buryFarthe indigent. In addition, four this responsibility, you are helping ensure In embracing is an inevitable step in the to journey. from being morbid, it were held in 2007, 2013, 2018, and 2021. please contact us at the information provided below. that the sacred rites of passage in death are handled with demonstrates a thoughtful approach to the full cycle of life. please contact us at the information provided below.

1. Fulfilling the Mitzvah of Kavod HaMet (Honoring the Dead) One of the central commandments in Judaism is Kavod HaMet—the obligation to honor the dead. This mitzvah is fulfilled by ensuring a proper and respectful burial. By pre-planning, you are ensuring that your funeral and burial will adhere to Jewish customs, sparing your loved ones from the burden of making these arrangements under emotional distress. Planning ahead is an act of kindness, showing care for both the departed and those left behind.

separate burials of damaged prayer books and other thesacred same care and thoughtfulness as in life. 5. Financial Responsibility texts, aJewish service provided to the community by the If you would like more information onToJCBA, free burial in Another value is Tzedakah—acts of justice and ask questions and/or begin the process of pre-planning responsibility, including financial care for oneself and others. were held in 2007, 2013, 2018, and 2021.the funeral and burial of a loved one or for yourself,

2. Relieving the Burden on Family Death can be an overwhelming experience for families. In Judaism, the grieving process, or avelut, is a sacred time for mourning. Pre-planning allows family members to focus on mourning and healing rather than being consumed with logistics. By removing the guesswork of funeral arrangements, you provide a gift of peace to your loved ones during a time of emotional vulnerability.

Pre-planningShel for your funeral and burial you to lock Chesed Emeth forallows those who are pleaseindigent, contact the Jewish Cemetery & Burial Association in today’s avoiding on your family If youcosts, would likefinancial more strain information on later. free burial in Pittsburgh at 412-553-6469. We are here to of Greater It’s a contact way of practicing (repairing the world) by provided guide you. please ustikkun at olam the information below. Chesed Shel foraren’t those who with are indigent, ensuring that those whoEmeth survive you burdened unexpected expenses. us at the information provided below. please contact

For more information about JCBA cemeteries, to volunteer, to read our complete histories and/or to make a contribution, For more information about JCBA cemeteries, to volunteer, to read our complete histories and/or to make a contribution, please visit our website at www.JCBApgh.org, email us at office@jcbapgh.org, or call the JCBA office at 412-553-6469 For more information about JCBA cemeteries, toJCBA volunteer, read our complete and/or make a contribution, For more information about cemeteries, to to volunteer, to read our completehistories histories and/or to make to a contribution, please visit our website at www.JCBApgh.org, email us at office@jcbapgh.org, or call the JCBA office at 412-553-6469 please visit our website at www.JCBApgh.org, email us at office@jcbapgh.org,or or call JCBAJCBA office atoffice 412-553-6469 please visit our website at www.JCBApgh.org, email us at office@jcbapgh.org, callthethe at 412-553-6469 JCBA’s expanded vision is made possible by a generous grant from the Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh’s Jewish Community Foundation

JCBA’s expanded vision is made possible by a generous grant from the JCBA’s expanded vision is made ofpossible by a generous grant from the Jewish Greater Pittsburgh’s Jewish Community Foundation JCBA’s expanded vision isFederation made possible by a generous grant from the Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh’s Jewish Community Foundation Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh’s Jewish Community Foundation

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AUGUST 21, 2026

PITTSBURGH JEWISH CHRONICLE

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Community Machers and Shakers

The Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh hosted the annual Ira and Nanette Gordon Professional Achievement Award Reception. Sharon Feinman, division manager of AgeWell at the JCC, Pittsburgh Jewish Community Center, was recognized as the 2025 awardee. Shelley Parver, associate director of Planning and Impact, Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh, was recognized as the 2026 awardee. The Ira and Nanette Gordon Community Professional Achievement Award honors an early-career Jewish communal professional whose leadership, service, creativity and commitment strengthen the Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh, its beneficiary agencies and the Jewish community locally and overseas. Eligible nominees are early-career professionals serving on staff at the Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh, or one of its local core partners, who have demonstrated exceptional leadership potential.

p Sharon Feinman

p Shelley Parver

Summer soiree

Summer snips yield growth

More than 200 young Jewish adults from across Pittsburgh gathered at Over Eden Rooftop for Chabad Young Professionals’ sixth annual Summer Soirée. The Aug. 13 evening affair celebrated Jewish life, unity and community.

p Take it to the roof.

Photo courtesy of Chabad Young Professionals

Ready, set, arrange

Community Day School teachers organized their classrooms and prepared for the arrival of students.

p Julianna Pagliaro readies her room before the first day of school.

Photo courtesy of Community Day School

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Photos courtesy of Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh

After clipping herbs in the garden, Friendship Circle of Pittsburgh members delivered cuttings to Bunny Bakes for use in the bakery. The activities, according to organizers, built confidence, responsibility and connection within the community.

p Fresh and local

Photo courtesy of Friendship Circle of Pittsburgh

Nothing can stop the blob

A familiar summer scene took place at Emma Kaufmann Camp as campers braved the blob.

p Might as well jump.

PITTSBURGH JEWISH CHRONICLE

Photo courtesy of Jewish Community Center of Greater Pittsburgh

AUGUST 21, 2026

TEEN TOV

A collaboration between CDS and Our Giving Kitchen!

Learn, give, and grow with friends every other week through hands-on chesed, immersive modern Hebrew experiences, and enriching Torah learning. Wednesdays, 7-8:30 PM | Sept. 2 - May 19 (every other week) Our Giving Kitchen (2621 Murray Ave.) Kosher Dinner Provided | $360 Registration Fee Open to Jewish teens grades 9-12

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AUGUST 21, 2026

PITTSBURGH JEWISH CHRONICLE

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