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September 4, 2026 | 22 Elul 5786

Candlelighting 7:29 p.m. | Havdalah 8:27 p.m. | Vol. 69, No. 36 | pittsburghjewishchronicle.org

NOTEWORTHY LOCAL Representing Israel in Japan

Local teen competes in lacrosse championship

Page 2

Pittsburgher Local NCJW evaluates its future as national organization joins push for Peloton to pushes ‘five-year plan’ address Jewish users’ concerns over antiZionism By David Rullo | Senior Staff Writer

LOCAL

Up in the air

Evan H. Stein’s flying high

Page 3

HOLIDAYS

Kosher wine recommendations Page 39

LOCAL “Yes, and...”

Improv comes to Hillel Academy

Page 46

Please see NCJW, page 10

Please see Peloton, page 10

p Members of NCJW’s transitional board, front row (from left): Eileen Lane, Teddi Horvitz, Molly Braver; second row: Andrea Glickman, Karen Lightman, Judy Cohen, Ellen Olshansky, Leah Kamon; third row: Kate Rothstein, Lynn Snyderman. Missing from photo: Cindy Shapira and Becca Tobe Photo courtesy of Leah Kamon By David Rullo | Senior Staff Writer

Here’s to a sweet new year

NCJW sections have three options, eJewish Philanthropy reported: integrate, affiliate or disaffiliate. The offer to affiliate was only presented to a few sections. To continue using the NCJW name, sections need to align with the national organization’s key focus areas outlined in the five-year plan: demanding reproductive freedom, advancing economic opportunity, safeguarding civil rights and fostering safe communities. By 2030, the goal, according to the plan, is to have influenced state and national policies; build a new field structure and regional staffing model; engage a million “changemakers”; launch the NCJW Center for Leadership; introduce new tools for advocacy; deliver high-impact training and expertise in policy, community building, programming and coalition work; and create blueprints for success. Some local sections have already been impacted by the plan. In May, the national organization cut ties with its Los Angeles section, citing a “strained relationship,” according to the Forward.

ittsburgher Julie Paris considers herself a “die-hard Peloton fan.” “I own every piece of Peloton equipment out there,” she said. Because of that devotion, Paris, along with several other Jewish community members who regularly use the workout equipment (some have even gone as far as creating a Facebook page, the “Official Jewish Peloton Riders”) felt betrayed after an incident involving Adrian Williams. Williams is a high-profile Peloton instructor who collaborated on an Instagram post with Ayat, a Palestinian restaurant chain that has spread anti-Zionist messaging. The post showed Williams displaying a “Discover Palestine” page on the restaurant’s menu, with a map of Israel labeled as “Palestine.” Ayat’s owner has a long history of spreading “anti-Zionist libel,” talking about settler colonialism and genocide, according to Paris, the Mid-Atlantic regional director of StandWithUs. The restaurant previously faced backlash for printing on its menu the words “From the river to the sea,” an anti-Zionist phrase calling for the elimination of the state of Israel. Williams deleted his controversial Instagram post and created a new post, which said: “My last dining series post had an unintended, opposite effect, so I removed it.” And while he stopped short of issuing an apology, Williams wrote that he had

ational Council of Jewish Women Pittsburgh is in a period of transition, according to co-President Andrea Glickman. “There are external forces that have caused us to really take a look at ourselves internally and figure out who it is that we are and who we want to be,” Glickman told the Chronicle. A transitional board — which includes two former executive directors — was created over the last few months, she said, to take a comprehensive look at the organization and determine how to “best protect our mission from a local perspective.” The evaluation has come at a time of change for national NCJW. In August 2026, the national group released a revised five-year plan (first released in 2025) titled “NCJW Forward.” According to a story in eJewish Philanthropy, in order to continue to use the NCJW name, local chapters — or sections, as they are called in the organization — were told they need to align with the national organization’s shift from community service to advocacy.

Special Section begins on Page 11

Headlines Pine-Richland teen visits Tokyo while representing Israel — LOCAL— By Adam Reinherz | Senior Staff Writer

eagan Surloff strengthened her connection to Israel by visiting Japan. The Pine-Richland High School student and Team Israel lacrosse player recently returned from Tokyo after competing in the 2026 World Lacrosse Women’s Championship. “It was the coolest experience I ever had,” Reagan, 17, said. From July 23 to Aug. 3, she and members of Israel Lacrosse’s Festival Team competed against club and national teams, as well as developmental squads, from around the world. As a member of the Festival Team, Reagan played alongside “Jewish and Israeli athletes from both the U.S. and Israel who share a love for the game and a connection to Israel,” according to Israel Lacrosse. Apart from playing about 10 games with the Festival Team, Reagan said she watched Israel’s National Team finish third in the global tournament. “They were breaking records and just performing at such a high level,” she said. By defeating the Haudenosaunee 7-4 on Aug. 2 in the bronze medal match, Israel’s National Team claimed its “first-ever medal at the women’s championship and posted its best finish in the event in its fourth appearance, previously finishing sixth twice,” according to World Lacrosse. Representing Team Israel — and being a fan — proved both memorable and enlightening, Reagan explained.

p Reagan Surloff represents Israel Lacrosse while competing in Tokyo.

Photo courtesy of Reagan Surloff

“When the National Team won the bronze medal, we sang ‘Hatikva’ and it was so powerful,” she said. There was just this “sense of belonging.” In that moment, with members of the National Team — who Reagan described as the “highest Division 1-level players” — having secured Israel’s best global finish, the camaraderie was clear, she said. “Everyone was coming together, all the fans, we were down right by the field, and all of the players were arm-in-arm. It was just very powerful and a beautiful thing to see.” Although Reagan showcased her blue and white garb at the podium ceremony and during games, she and her teammates were advised to exercise more discretion elsewhere due to safety concerns. Whether inside the hotel, on the streets

or during Uber rides, “we couldn’t wear our gear,” she said. Even after games, leaving the stadium, “we would have to flip our shirts inside out, which was really unfortunate, but that’s what we had to do.” Somersaulting between visible and hidden Israeli pride was interesting, she explained. “When we did get to represent, you better believe we represented,” she said. “We had our flag, we were screaming.” At the same time, “honestly, I felt like I understood their concern.” Reagan said she felt safe the entire time away and praised the host country and its culture. She said her experiences abroad were instructive: She marveled at the absence of public trash cans and the cleanliness of the streets. She spoke with awe about the

politeness of strangers and said that going to Tokyo and playing lacrosse there was “kind of like living out my dream almost.” Years ago, Reagan’s grandfather Paul Surloff — a dedicated public school teacher and administrator with over four decades experience — traveled to Japan as part of a foreign exchange program. “He was a principal, and he was invited by a school district in Japan,” Reagan said. Between the pictures her grandfather showed her of Tokyo, and the souvenirs she was given by her grandmother Francine Surloff, Reagan fell in love with Japan. “I wanted to go to Tokyo forever,” Reagan said. “It’s been my dream destination since I was very little, and so when the opportunity arose that I could go to my dream destination and play my favorite sport, I was like ‘That’s just so perfect. How do you turn that down?’” Having checked that box — and even visited Tokyo Disney Resort, a Japanese theme park, along the way — Reagan said her trip offered so much more than an opportunity to play lacrosse. “It’s really so much deeper than that. It’s the connections. It’s the nationalism. It’s the pride. That’s what makes Team Israel so strong,” she said. “Obviously they’re a very talented group of young women and girls, but they are just so strong and prideful, and when there’s adversity they don’t just sit down and take it. They’re going to fight back. If they’re knocked down, they’re coming out 10 times harder. It’s just such a beautiful team dynamic, and it’s very successful.” PJC Adam Reinherz can be reached at areinherz@pittsburghjewishchronicle.org.

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Headlines Looking up, looking down, looking everywhere: Evan H. Stein talks pilot life

p Ronen and Evan H. Stein in flight

Photo courtesy of Evan H. Stein

— LOCAL — By Adam Reinherz | Senior Staff Writer

eciting daily prayers is an opportunity to acknowledge the heavens and earth. Evan H. Stein appreciates the realms better than most. For years, the Friendship resident and Pittsburgh Jewish Chronicle board chair has flown a Cessna 182 Skylane, a Grumman Tiger and a Cessna 177 Cardinal with fellow members of the ABC Flying Club. Headquartered at Allegheny County Airport in West Mifflin, the 30-member ABC Flying Club provides access to the three aforementioned aircraft, numerous flight opportunities and a “community of aviation enthusiasts,” Stein, 44, said. The aerophile’s involvement with the

club dates to 2018, though his lofty interests began earlier. In 2012 — given his penchant for curiosity — Stein registered for a flight lesson. Over the next six years, he completed additional lessons when he could. “I was on the slow and steady track,” he told the Chronicle. In 2018, after recording more than 60 hours of flight time and receiving his private pilot license, Stein joined the club. Membership in ABC has various perks, but one of the biggest benefits, he said, is the ability to take friends and family in the air. On Sept. 19, Stein will do so with his two sons: Sam, 8, and Ronen, 6. After departing from Allegheny County Airport, the three-party crew will travel 16 nautical miles to Pittsburgh International Airport — a trip Stein estimates should last about 8 minutes in the air. After touching down,

the Steins will run in the FlyBy 5K and 2-Mile Fun Run/Walk. The race, according to host P3R, enables participants to run through the airport’s taxiways and gain a “true behind-the-scenes look” at portions of the airport largely unseen. Though Stein has previously flown with his children, he’s excited to do so again. As a family, “our time is programmed,” he said. “We go to school, then we go to afterschool activities, and baseball, and soccer, and Sunday school.” The difference of being in a space at 5,000 feet is “there’s no distractions,” he continued. “I look out the window and I point to something, and [my children] are seeing what I’m seeing. There’s no text messages, right? There’s no emails. There’s no notifications.” In the air and on the ground quality time is a commodity. Making use of moments is critical, he explained. Whether with his pilot’s license or past involvements, Stein has long sought to follow his interests and keep learning.

After pondering the specificities of buoyancy and pressure, he got “scuba diving certified,” he said. “I got a ham radio license because I was interested in how radio repeaters work, and walkie-talkies.” But aviation felt different, he said. “It was just this thing that’s untouchable.” Stein realized, however, he should follow his interests, learn and see where he lands. It’s a recipe he hopes his children and others employ. “Life’s short, man. If you don’t get out there and do it, and learn it, this knowledge isn’t going to come to you. You got to go out and grab life,” he said. Pursuing knowledge and chasing wonder is more than an intellectual charge. For Stein, doing both has engendered a self-transformation and yielded a sense of the divine. “We experience the earth every day,” he said. “How many of us have experienced the heavens — like immersed themselves in heaven? That’s spiritual.” PJC Adam Reinherz can be reached at areinherz@pittsburghjewishchronicle.org.

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SEPTEMBER 4, 2026

Headlines Greece inks record $3.5 billion deal to buy comprehensive missile defense system from Israel — WORLD — By Emanuel Fabian | The Times of Israel

srael and Greece on Monday signed a massive €3 billion ($3.5 billion) deal, under which Israel will build Greece a multi-tiered air defense array, as the countries continue to shore up their defense cooperation. The “Achilles Shield” agreement will see Israel export several systems, including David’s Sling and SPYDER, manufactured by Rafael, and BARAK MX, manufactured by Israel Aerospace Industries, according to the Israeli Defense Ministry. The ministry said it is the “largest defense export deal in the history of Israel-Greece relations, and one of the largest in the history of the State of Israel.” It also marked the first time that Israel will supply another country with a “complete defense array against a wide range of threats,” including ballistic missiles and drones. Multiple other countries, including the United States and Ukraine, have expressed a desire to emulate Israel’s missile defense systems, including Iron Dome, following their frequent use in the country’s multifront war. With strong economic and diplomatic ties, Greece and Israel operate an air training center

p Defense Ministry Director General Amir Baram (left) and his Greek counterpart, Ioannis Bouras, sign a sale of Israeli systems to Greece, Aug. 31, 2026.

Photo courtesy of the Israeli Defense Ministry

on Greek territory, hold annual joint military drills and cooperate on anti-drone systems and cybersecurity. Last year, Athens bought 36 Israeli-made rocket artillery systems for about $739 million. The deal also comes amid growing tensions between Israel and Turkey over Ankara’s push to expand its influence in Syria. Turkey is Greece’s traditional foe and the weapons systems would largely be expected to help

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Athens defend against its neighbor. The deal was signed on Monday at the ministry headquarters in Tel Aviv by Defense Ministry Director General Amir Baram and his Greek counterpart, Ioannis Bouras. “Under the deal, Israel will build Greece a comprehensive, multi-layered air defense array, drawing entirely on Israeli-made systems and on the extensive operational experience Israel’s defense establishment has gained during the war,” the ministry said. The statement said that a supplementary deal, valued at €26 million, was also signed for the sale of Rafael’s Drone Dome systems. Additionally, the ministry said Israel will “expand industrial defense cooperation with Greece, including the transfer of knowledge and technology to the local industry.” “This project marks another milestone in defense cooperation between Israel and Greece, a key strategic partner in the Eastern Mediterranean. Greece’s choice of Israeli technology as the backbone of its most ambitious air defense buildup program in the past decade reflects the depth of trust built between the two countries,” the statement added. Defense Minister Israel Katz said the decision to deepen defense cooperation was made on his last visit to Greece. “Israel and Greece share common strategic

interests and face shared regional challenges. At a time when actors with hegemonic ambitions are seeking to expand their influence and undermine stability in the region, Israel and Greece will continue to deepen their defense and strategic cooperation, and will act with determination to preserve stability and safeguard their security and shared interests,” Katz said in apparent reference to Turkey. Baram said the deal is “a direct application of the Ministry’s strategy: growing defense exports as a key driver of IDF force buildup, of Israel’s foreign policy influence, and of a stronger national defense industry and economy.” “Government-to-government deals at this scale are more than diplomatic and economic wins — they drive the expansion of Israel’s production lines, build up stockpiles, and strengthen the country’s munitions independence.” Greece has traditionally invested at least 2% of gross domestic product in its defense, owing to decades of tension with Turkey. Lately, Greece has sought to strengthen its position on the EU’s Eastern Mediterranean border, close to the conflict zones of the Middle East. It now spends nearly 3.5% of its gross domestic product on defense, a higher proportion than many fellow NATO countries. Meanwhile, Israel secretly signed a memorandum of understanding to extend defense cooperation with Finland until 2034, including research and development and equipment purchasing, Finland’s Yle public broadcaster reported on Saturday. According to the report, the deal, which extends the original MOU signed in 2013, also establishes a joint coordination group to meet annually to discuss the defense relationship. The report drew criticism from Finland’s left-wing Green League party head Sofia Virta, who wrote on Facebook that the government’s policy on Israel “is Finland’s historical shame,” citing Israel’s treatment of Palestinians. Finland inked the first-ever agreement for the sale of Israel’s David’s Sling air defense system in November 2023, a month after the Hamas-led Oct. 7, 2023, massacre that sparked the war in Gaza. PJC Times of Israel staff and Agencies contributed to this report.

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Bomb Shelters Built by Pittsburgh Jewish Federation Save Lives in Israel. Kim Salzman | Director, Israel and Overseas

On the afternoon of March 24, sirens sounded in Karmiel,

Israel. Two children playing soccer knew they had less

than 30 seconds to find safety. They ran to the nearby bomb shelter. Rockets landed close by, sending metal shrapnel against

the structure. The children were not injured.

The shelter that saved them was built thanks to the Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh. It is part of over $11 million raised by our community for Israeli relief efforts following the October 7, 2023, Hamas attacks and the ongoing war. Donors to the Federation’s Israel Emergency Relief Fund and Community Campaign

helped make shelters like this one possible in the days after October 7. They are not fancy, but when a missile is incoming from Iran or Hezbollah, luxury doesn’t matter. Protection does. Through donor generosity, the Federation funded several shelters in its Partnership2Gether region of Karmiel and Misgav, specifically in open areas such as sports fields

Federation-sponsored bomb shelters in Federation’s partnership region of Karmiel/Misgav

where reaching a permanent shelter would otherwise be difficult, if not impossible. The hope was that they would never be needed.

But because of Pittsburgh’s support, lives were saved.

“It’s an honor to tell you how much we appreciate your donation of the bomb shelters here. Your donation saved lives. Thank you from the community of Karmiel.” —Moshe Koninsky, Mayor of Karmiel

THAT’S FEDERATION THAT’S FEDERATION

We support Israel by helping victims of terror, equipping hospitals, training first responders and more.

Learn more

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SEPTEMBER 4, 2026

Calendar Submit calendar items on the Chronicle’s website, pittsburghjewishchronicle.org. Submissions also will be included in print. Events will run in the print edition beginning one month prior to the date as space allows. The deadline for submissions is Friday, noon. q SUNDAY, SEPT. 6 Join Chabad of Squirrel Hill for a women’s mini retreat, a day of enjoyable, relaxing and meaningful workshops to help prepare for the High Holidays. 11 a.m. Chabad of Squirrel hill, 1700 Beechwood Blvd. $54. chabadpgh.com/retreat All kids are invited to a Pre-Rosh Hashanah Challah Bake, where they will make and braid their own challah to take home, and enjoy entertainment by juggler Howard Mincone. 2:30 to 4 p.m. $10/child. Chabad of Squirrel Hill, 1700 Beechwood Blvd. chabadpgh.com/ kidscooking q SUNDAYS, SEPT. 6–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 TUESDAY, SEPT. 8 Join StandWithUs for its Community Reception at 6 p.m., honoring Lou and Amy Weiss, and Marjorie Manne. Register at standwithus.com/ events/pgh-2026/. Venue shared after RSVP. q TUESDAYS, SEPT. 8–DEC. 22 Join Beth El’s Rabbi Alex Greenbaum and his Bible/Talmud Adult Education class for a thoughtprovoking weekly session of Bible and Talmudic study. This program is available both in person and virtually. Call the office at 412-561-1168 to receive the Zoom link or to make an in-person reservation. 10:30 a.m. 1900 Cochran Road. bethelcong.org q WEDNESDAYS, SEPT. 9–NOV. 11 Join Hazzan Barbara Barnett as she leads a 10week Shabbat davening class. Whether you want to follow along with confidence, sing every niggun with the kahal, or step up to lead Kabbalat Shabbat, Shacharit, Torah service or Musaf yourself — this class builds the skills for it. Work through Friday night and Shabbat morning davening, piece by piece. 7:30 p.m. Congregation Beth Shalom, 5915 Beacon Street. bethshalompgh.org/shabbatdavening-class q WEDNESDAYS, SEPT. 9–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/class-scheduleand-events 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 SUNDAY, SEPT. 13 Volunteers are needed to organize, sort and box used books to be distributed to houses of worship. Join community members for High Holidays of Hope: Rosh Hashanah, Book of Life Book Sort. Book drop-off Sept. 1-11 at either JCC location. 3 p.m. Squirrel Hill JCC: 5738 Forbes Ave.; South Hills JCC: 345 Kane Blvd. To register, visit jccpgh. formstack.com/forms/rosh_hashanah_volunteer_ registration. Join Camp Gan Israel Chabad Squirrel Hill and Community Day School for Shofar in the Park with activities, treats and more. 4 p.m. 6424 Forward Ave. chabadpgh.com/shofar

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. q MONDAY, SEPT. 21 Engage in teshuvah (repentance) by listening, remembering and empowering storytellers at High Holidays of Hope: Yom Kippur, Bearing Witness: Hope and Resilience Through Listening. Join in the mitzvah of deeply understanding other people’s experiences and finding hope together this Yom Kippur. 3 p.m. JCC Squirrel Hill, Levinson Hall, 5738 Forbes Ave. jccpgh.formstack.com/forms/high_holidays_ of_hope_2026 q WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 30 Join Chabad of the South Hills for Seniors in the Sukkah. Enjoy lunch, a holiday program and shake the lulav and etrog. This month’s topic is resources in the community for seniors. 1 p.m. $5 suggested donation. Wheelchair accessible. RSVP at 412-278-2658. 1701 McFarland Road. chabadsh.com PJC

Join the Chronicle Book Club!

“Peace of mind is not the absence of conflict from life, but the ability to cope with it.”

he Pittsburgh Jewish Chronicle invites you to join the Chronicle Book Club for its Nov. 1 discussion of “Returning: A Search for Home Across Three Centuries,” by Nicholas Lemann. From Amazon.com: “Nicholas Lemann, a veteran New Yorker correspondent, grew up in New Orleans, the son of German Jews in a world of gilded privilege. Yet in contrast to his parents’ generation, which always sought to downplay their religious background, Lemann was intrigued by his roots, thinking he wanted to be like Jack Burden, the ever-curious reporter in Robert Penn Warren’s 'All the King’s Men.' “And like his fictional hero, who gets drawn into a web of Southern political intrigue, Lemann in ‘Returning’ delves deeply into the family story from their arrival in the 1830s as peddlers from Germany, to their becoming plantation owners and department store owners after the Civil War, to their emergence as aspirants in the aristocratic world of New Orleans, where they could never quite belong.”

What to do

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

Your hosts

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

Lee & Lisa Oleinick

How it works

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

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Headlines Some young Jews are pulling back from Jewish life over Israel discourse, study finds

p An Emergency Solidarity Shabbat at Washington Square Park on May 3, 2024, in New York City Photo by Selcuk Acar/Anadolu via Getty Images

— NATIONAL — By Grace Gilson | JTA

early four in 10 Jewish young adults say events affecting Jews in recent years have led them to pull back from Jewish spaces or become more selective about where they participate, with disagreements over how Israel and the Palestinians are discussed as a leading reason, according to a new survey. The survey, which was conducted by Sense Worldwide and commissioned by the Jim Joseph Foundation, found that 39% of respondents have engaged less, engaged more selectively or disengaged entirely from Jewish spaces due to “events affecting Jewish people in the last few years.” Among those nearly 40% of respondents, 42% of them said that it was because their “views don’t align with how Israel/ Palestine is discussed, and I don’t feel there’s room for nuance,” and 40% said they engaged less because they did not want to “experience biased, one-sided messaging.” Forty-eight percent said it was because “conversations often feel hostile, toxic, or unproductive.” And among all respondents, when asked

what would make Jewish experiences more appealing to them, 30% said that they would be attracted to experiences that were more cultural and less religious, and 26% said “spaces where non-Zionist and anti-Zionist views can be expressed without being labelled antisemitic.” At the same time, the study found that young Jews have hardly abandoned Jewish life. Three-quarters of Jewish young adults in the United States say they regularly do something Jewish, though most are finding their connections outside of synagogues and traditional Jewish institutions, according to the study. A small group of participants, 4%, also offered an explanation of the lasting impact that Jewish experiences had had on them. The study found that the clearest negative theme among those respondents was disillusionment around Israel and Zionism and the way it was presented in Jewish education or community spaces. “A negative legacy I have been reflecting on is what I now understand to be a biased education/perspective on Israel,” one respondent wrote. The study surveyed 2,071 Jewish adults aged 22 to 40 from December 2025 through April 2026. Respondents were sampled from panels created by NORC and GenLabs, and the margin of error

was +/- 3.4%. The survey found that 75% of Jewish young adults say they regularly do something Jewish in their lives, with 45% saying their only form of participation was informally, often at home with family or friends. Just 30% said they regularly participate formally in Jewish life, including through institutions or organizations. That divide was also reflected in where respondents said they most often feel a sense of Jewish connection. Fifty-five percent cited family and 44% cited Jewish friends, compared with 19% who cited Jewish community organizations or groups. Sixteen percent said they found connection through social or political causes connected to Jewish identity, and 13% said they felt most connected through experiences related to Israel. “The research gives us a much fuller and accurate understanding of where, how, and why Jewish young adults seek out and experience Jewish life,” said Stacie Cherner, the director of research and learning at the Jim Joseph Foundation, in a statement. “Now, importantly, we can begin to translate these insights to action.” The Jim Joseph Foundation, which commissioned the survey, is a funder of 70 Faces Media, JTA’s parent company.

Another study of Jewish engagement across generations by the Jewish Federations of North America in March found that 40% of Jewish American adults describe themselves as engaged with their local Jewish community, while 60% were unengaged. When asked how often they take part in “anything that feels Jewish,” 20% of respondents said very often or often, while 24% said sometimes, 33% said rarely and 22% said never, the new survey found. Those without earlier Jewish experiences were much less likely to participate at all. Among those who rarely or never participate in Jewish life, 52% said it was because they “don’t feel a strong connection to Jewish life,” while 38% said it “feels too religious” and 36% said it “doesn’t feel relevant to my life right now,” the survey found. Among the 11% who have engaged more with Jewish spaces in recent years, the most common reason was wanting to feel a stronger sense of solidarity with the Jewish community, cited by 71%. And of that 11%, 61% said they wanted to “be around people who understand what I’m feeling,” and 54% said Jewish spaces felt safer or more supportive than other spaces. Eight percent said they sought spaces where nonZionist and anti-Zionist views can be expressed without being labelled antisemitic. PJC

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Headlines — NATIONAL — 66% of likely in-state voters think Shapiro doing well or should do more on Israel

A new poll gives Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, a Democrat, a double-digit lead over his Republican challenger in a race for reelection this fall that could serve as a stepping stone toward the 2028 Democratic presidential nomination, JNS reported. Shapiro led state treasurer Stacy Garrity, 55% to 39%, in the New York Times-Siena College-Philadelphia Inquirer survey. Six in 10 Pennsylvania likely voters approved of Shapiro’s performance in office, with 33% disapproving. A big Shapiro win would allow him to tout his vote-getting abilities in the most populous swing state and all but a must-win state for Democratic presidential candidates. In fact, 86% of likely Pennsylvania voters said that they were very or somewhat likely to support Shapiro if he sought the White House, and 58% said a presidential run would not prevent him from being an effective governor. Shapiro, who is Jewish, has been a staunch supporter of Israel’s right to exist and defend itself, even as other Democrats moved away from the party’s traditional backing of the Jewish state after Oct. 7. Almost half of likely voters (47%) said that Shapiro’s position on Israel was about right, with 14% saying he was too supportive and 19% saying he was not supportive enough of the Jewish state.

The poll of 760 voters was conducted Aug.17-21. The margin of error for likely voters was 4.6 percentage points.

Police open hate crime investigation against Toronto teacher invoking anti-Jewish tropes

The Toronto Police Service hate crimes unit is investigating teacher Abbas Hamze for remarks about “Zionists,” according to a report in the Forward. Canadian Jewish groups, including the Jewish Federations of Canada’s advocacy arm and B’nai Brith Canada, have called his speech, which went viral online, “blatant antisemitism.” Hamze’s remarks invoked antisemitic tropes, accusing “Zionists” of performing “black magic” as well as raping and killing children. He spoke at the intersection of Bathurst and Sheppard, in the heavily Jewish Toronto neighborhood of Bathurst Manor – Clanton Park. According to his LinkedIn profile, Hamze is an instructor at several Canadian colleges. In his speech, Hamze claimed that “British colonizers have planted this cancerous, false Zionist state of Israel … right in the heart of Islam.” Later — wearing a keffiyeh and reading from his phone into a megaphone emblazoned with the Lebanese flag — the instructor repeated numerous antisemitic conspiracy theories, including the debunked idea that Jews have caused or deserved centuries of persecution. “The Zionists have never had a country of

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

Sept. 4, 1975 — Israel, Egypt disengage

In Geneva, Israel and Egypt sign the Second Disengagement Agreement (Sinai II), part of an incremental peace process brokered by U.S. Secretary of State Henry Kissinger through shuttle diplomacy.

Sept. 5, 1978 — Camp David Summit begins President Jimmy Carter convenes Egyptian President Anwar Sadat and Is r a el i Pr i me Minister Menachem Begin and their teams at a Maryland retreat to hammer out an interim deal known as the Camp David Accords.

p Egyptian President Anwar Sadat and Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin greet each other at Camp David as President Jimmy Carter watches. U.S. National Archives

Sept. 6, 2007 — Israel destroys Syrian reactor

In Operation Orchard, eight Israeli aircraft destroy a suspected nuclear reactor, built with North Korean help, at the military site of Al Kibar in northeastern Syria. The U.S. government knows about the secret mission.

Sept. 7, 1865 — Rav Kook is born

Rabbi Abraham Isaac HaCohen Kook, who PITTSBURGHJEWISHCHRONICLE.ORG

promotes religious Zionism and writes acclaimed religious books, is born in Latvia. He serves as the first Ashkenazi chief rabbi of Palestine from 1921 to 1935.

Sept. 8, 1908 — Theologian Eliezer Berkovits is born

Liberal Orthodox theologian Eliezer B e rkov it s , w ho champions expanded rights for women, is born in Nagyvarad, Transylvania. He serves as a rabbi and teaches in Germany, England, Australia and the United States until he retires to Israel in 1975.

their own because of their mischief,” Hamze said. “They are the most kicked-out people in the world who are making black magic and horrible things.” He went on to say that Jewish corruption is “crystal clear in Epstein Island where they have the Jewish leaders from all around the world.” He accused “Zionists” of having “raped, and killed, and ate children at the same time.” In a joint statement, Canadian Jewish groups described Hamze’s claims as “antisemitic blood libels that have been used for centuries to justify hatred and violence against Jews.” “Allowing this behaviour to go unchecked is to normalize antisemitism as an everyday feature of life in this city,” it stated. The city’s police have opened an investigation. However, online, some said that Hamze had been speaking at the street corner for months without police intervention.

IDF dismantles Hamas ambush position near Gaza hospital, school

The Israel Defense Forces struck and dismantled a structure in Jabalia last week that the military said was used by Hamas as an ambush position and weapons-storage site, killing several terrorists, JNS reported. The position was about 50 meters from the Yellow Line, 70 meters from Kamal Adwan Hospital and 170 meters from a school, according to the IDF. The Yellow Line is the position Israeli forces withdrew to under the Gaza ceasefire. The military said Hamas terrorists had

Sept. 9, 1948 — Cinematheque director Alon Garbuz is born

Alon Garbuz, the director of the Tel Aviv Cinematheque for four decades, is born in Givatayim. Under his leadership, the cinematheque establishes a permanent home and becomes Israel’s top film society.

Sept. 10, 1923 — Gush Shalom founder Uri Avnery is born

Three-time Knesset member Uri Avnery, who founds the Gush Shalom peace movement and befriends Yasser Arafat, is born in Germany. He fights in the 1948 war, then advocates a partnership with the Arab national movement. PJC

Yair Netanyahu was target of Iranian assassination plot in Florida — report

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s 35-year-old son Yair was the target of an Iranian assassination plot while he was living in Florida, Newsmax reported last week, citing a U.S. law enforcement source. The report came a day after Netanyahu told Israel’s Channel 14 in a phone interview that “Iran targeted one of my sons. Iran tried to kill, to murder one of my sons,” according to The Times of Israel He did not say which of his two sons was the target, or provide any further details on the plot. But according to the source that spoke to Newsmax, Israeli intelligence learned in December 2025 that Iran was planning to kill Yair in Florida, where he had spent much of his time in recent years. Intelligence agencies believed that Iranian agents were “on the ground” in the Miami area conducting surveillance of the younger Netanyahu’s movements, according to the report. Yair Netanyahu was told to immediately leave Florida and return to Israel, the report said, adding that he did so without packing his belongings and has been living in Israel ever since. PJC — Compiled by Toby Tabachnick

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p Rabbi Eliezer Berkovits argued that Jewish law could be reformed over time and criticized the lack of rights for women in Jewish tradition.

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Headlines NCJW: Continued from page 1

By August, five sections were disaffiliated, with some spinning off into independent organizations. Two sections, NCJW Houston and NCJW Sarasota-Mantee, have closed, according to eJewish Philanthropy. Glickman said the Pittsburgh section has made no decision regarding its future with the national organization. “It’s among the issues that our transitional board is evaluating,” she said. The Pittsburgh section of NCJW, she pointed out, is over 130 years old. “We have a tremendous legacy we’re looking to protect — and that doesn’t mean we’re going to stay the same because we have this really rich, robust history,” Glickman said. “Our mission may lead us to go in a different direction moving forward.” The transitional board is looking at fundamental questions, she noted, such as: what does the community need from the organization today; where can the group have the greatest impact; what is the financial structure needed to be sustainable; and, what type of relationships are needed to pursue the best support for the future of the organization. “It’s an existential review of the organization,” Glickman said. “It’s an important

“We have a tremendous legacy we’re looking to protect — and that doesn’t mean we’re going to stay the same because we have this really rich, robust history. Our mission may lead us to go in a different direction moving forward.” –ANDREA GLICKMAN time for us, but we’re looking at it through a positive light.” The Pittsburgh section, she said, has been mostly aligned with the national organization’s priorities and advocacy issues, and she doesn’t expect much divergence from that. The work of the transition board is expected to take a minimum of a year, she said, and will include not simply an internal evaluation but external conversations with stakeholders and partners in and beyond the Jewish community. The transition board has just begun its efforts, Glickman said, and recently attended a retreat to kick off its work. Glickman doesn’t expect the Pittsburgh section’s fundraising to be affected if it decides to disaffiliate with the national

organization, she said, because local funders and supporters are “connected to the work we do locally, whether it’s community service work, supporting programs at Thriftique or the children’s rooms in the courts, or our advocacy work. It’s all based on what we’re doing locally.” Still, Glickman acknowledged that it has been a challenging time for nonprofits. She noted a lack of support by the federal government, and said that many foundations and other funders have had to focus on basic needs like hunger, poverty and housing, which has impacted NCJW Pittsburgh. The section had to temporarily pause its MomsWork program, formerly known as the Center for Women, which sought to empower women through financial

Peloton: Continued from page 1

been “reflecting” since his original post. “To everyone who approached me in the spirit of love and education I am grateful. I am listening closely and learning. I promise to keep growing and to stand firmly against hatred, and I hope you will join me. Let’s communicate moving forward in the spirit of love. My commitment is entirely to our shared growth, never to limiting or shrinking our potential or who we are,” he wrote. Paris said this wasn’t the first time Peloton instructors posted “problematic” content, including lies accusing Israel of genocide and amplifying people like social media influencer and preschool teacher Ms. Rachel, who has used her platform to promote anti-Israel messages. It’s the same type of dangerous misinformation and propaganda, Paris said, rooted in anti-Jewish bigotry that “is causing the harassment, threats, discrimination and physical violence that many Jews are experiencing today in their communities.” Paris wasn’t alone in her outrage. Jewish Peloton users took to Facebook, Instagram, Substack and TikTok, among other platforms, to voice their concerns. Paris said Peloton’s customers are looking for the organization to enforce its stated policies, which prohibit hate and discrimination in all forms, and which apply to both official Peloton content and community content created by users, including

SEPTEMBER 4, 2026

p Julie Paris (back row, second from right) and a group of concerned Peloton users met with company representatives after one of its instructors created an Instagram post labeling a map of Israel as “Palestine.” Photo courtesy of Julie Paris

Peloton team members, instructors and content creators both on and off the platform. That’s important, she said, because instructors like Williams maintain robust media platforms, attracting large followings. Paris took to social media to voice her concerns, and StandWithUs created an online letter writing campaign, urging Peloton to enforce its community guidelines. Paris was pleasantly surprised, she said, to receive an invitation from the company to come to New York and, along with 29

other people, meet with Peloton’s executive leadership. She said it took some work for everyone to attend the meeting, “but it showed how important it was for us to be heard, and also how much it meant that Peloton leadership was willing to take this first step to hear from us.” Peloton, Paris noted, even hired “an incredible” mediator, who spoke with individuals before the meeting. And while she said that those who attended the meeting felt heard, and the meeting was productive, she is interested in next steps.

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well-being, community and resources, with a focus on mothers. It has also scaled back in other areas over the last several months, Glickman said, as the section takes the time to “strategically position ourselves for a better financial future.” Glickman said that in her more than two decades with the organization, its mission has been clear: “We are a group of progressive Jewish women who support the rights of women, children and families in the region and we protect individual rights and freedoms.” Saying that she is “forever an optimist,” Glickman said the transitional board is comprised of “phenomenal” women and that the organization has received support and guidance from “professional advisers,” which makes her feel positive about the future. “We’re in this unique position where we have the opportunity to work with a really solid group of women to help formulate our strategy and focus moving forward,” Glickman said. “We’re looking at honoring our legacy while positioning ourselves for the future. We’re here to improve the conditions of people in community and advocate for issues that are important to us. That will always be what we do.” PJC David Rullo can be reached at drullo@ pittsburghjewishchronicle.org. “We want Peloton to be successful,” she said. “I’m a member. We want it to do well. We just want them to do better. We want to make sure that they’re treating their Jewish members equally, that everyone feels welcome. So, I think this was a good first step. I felt like they listened and cared. The question is, what comes next,” she said. Peloton told the group that it would follow up after the meeting, according to Paris. She hopes the situation has created an opportunity for education, which she called “the most critical step.” The Peloton experience has offered some hope, Paris said, but noted that it isn’t unique. She said that Peloton is only one of thousands of companies that need education on contemporary antisemitism, anti-Jewish bigotry, anti-Zionism and Jewish identity. “The failure,” she said, “is to connect the dots on why this matters so much.” If there are any take-aways this far into the narrative, Paris said, it’s that the Jewish community is united in standing up against antisemitism and anti-Zionism. “We’re not going to allow our story to be taken from us,” she said. “We’re going to continue to stand up and stand proud. I hope we never need to do one of these campaigns again.” The Chronicle reached out to Peloton for comment but did not receive a response before press time. PJC David Rullo can be reached at drullo@ pittsburghjewishchronicle.org.

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Celebrating our community’s 18 Difference Makers — SPECIAL SECTION —

he Chronicle’s staff and board are delighted to celebrate our inaugural class of 18 Difference Makers, those whose dedication, compassion and commitment to others exemplify the powerful Jewish imperative of tikkun olam — repairing the world. Difference Makers was created to honor the extraordinary individuals whose passion, dedication and service are strengthening our

Jewish community and creating a lasting, meaningful impact throughout southwestern Pennsylvania. Their commitment inspires others, brings people together and helps to shape a stronger, more vibrant community. Several months ago, we put out a call for nominations. They in came in by the dozens, and we were not surprised. Caring for others is a hallmark of our community. “Jewish Pittsburgh is enriched by countless talented and compassionate people who generously give their time and energy in service to others,” said Jim Busis, the Chronicle’s

publisher and CEO. “We’re honored to celebrate 18 individuals nominated by their peers and to recognize the meaningful difference they continue to make in our community.” The criteria for Difference Makers were as follows: They had to be at least 18 years old by April 26, 2026, and have made a difference in southwestern Pennsylvania’s Jewish community. All our Difference Makers have taken an active role in the community, whether through a nonprofit organization, volunteer group or professional endeavor, and all have

demonstrated “mensch-like” characteristics, those of honor and integrity. Additionally, in recognition of a lifetime of community service, the Chronicle created the Lifetime Achievement Award, which is proudly bestowed this year on Karen Wolk Feinstein, immediate past president and CEO of the Jewish Healthcare Foundation. In the pages that follow you will learn a bit about each of our Difference Makers, as well as our Lifetime Achievement Award honoree. We find their stories inspiring, and hope you will, too. PJC

THANK YOU

Dr. Tsipy Gur

MAZAL TOV to the 2026 Pittsburgh Jewish Chronicle’s 18 Difference Makers.

And a special Mazal Tov to Beth Shalom members Rebecca Elhassid and Meyer “Skip” Grinberg.

Tsipy, May your leadership continue to inspire thoughtful, compassionate, and courageous learners. Your vision has transformed education, empowering educators and students to challenge hatred, injustice, and discrimination. With deep gratitude and admiration, we celebrate your extraordinary leadership, your bold vision, and all that you have done to open minds and hearts through Classrooms Without Borders.

!‫יישר כוחך‬ Your team at Classrooms Without Borders

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SEPTEMBER 4, 2026

18 Difference Makers Karen Wolk Feinstein: Lifetime Achievement Award honoree — SPECIAL SECTION —

bout 35 years ago, Karen Wolk Feinstein was tapped to create and lead a new entity, launched from the proceeds of the sale of Montefiore Hospital, a healthcare institution established and funded by Pittsburgh’s Jewish community. What she accomplished in the ensuing decades is nothing short of remarkable. Under Feinstein’s leadership, the Jewish Healthcare Foundation’s reach extended far beyond the local Jewish community, and became a world-renown philanthropic and advocacy group. Feinstein retired as president and CEO of JHF on July 1. Feinstein recalled the beginning of her tenure at JHF, when the concept of establishing a local healthcare foundation driven by Jewish values was mostly undefined. She and her team created the JHF “from scratch,” she told the Chronicle. “I mean, there was nothing,” she said. “No one had a model. It didn’t have a name. It didn’t have offices. We had no idea what it was going to be. And every Jewish person had their own opinion. So I just ignored it and created something that has been very viable.” The success of the JHF, Feinstein said, is her greatest professional accomplishment, but within the scope of the foundation’s work, there are several areas which she describes as “particularly notable.” “We’ve been very successful with our women’s health agenda and our senior services

p Karen Wolk Feinstein

agenda,” she said. “I’m also very proud that the foundation and I took a lead in 1991 in being activists for HIV/AIDS, when other foundations would touch it. And the board was totally supportive. Some of our rabbis came forward. It was just a wonderful coming together of the Jewish community and the foundation, and

Photo courtesy of the Jewish Healthcare Foundation

we became well known nationally. We were leaders in HIV activism.” The foundation, under the guidance of Feinstein, also became known globally for its work in patient safety. What motivates Feinstein to give back so meaningfully to the community?

“I think I was wired that way,” she said. “At the core, I’m a problem solver. When there’s a problem, it really gets me focused and puts me in action.” She was influenced, she said, by her exposure in the 1960s to civil rights abuses in this country, and she became involved in the war on poverty early in her career. “I think it was mostly a sense that great steps forward were possible, and that’s what I wanted to do with my life,” she said. “There were so many movements then that I found very worthy, and I do love when people come together with a common goal that I think is good for humanity and helps relieve suffering. When people come together and are active and try to fix something, I get a thrill off of that.” Here are Feinstein’s responses to the four questions posed by the Chronicle to all our 2026 honorees: 1. How long have you lived in Pittsburgh? Most of my life, except for 16 years in the Boston area. 2. What advice would you give your 16-year-old self? Shoot high. Big aspirations inspire good work. Fear of failure is a harmful emotion. 3. What does tikkun olam mean to you? That my time on Earth should help make life better for people who are suffering. 4. If you could have dinner with one person — living or deceased — who would it be and why? Ronan Bergman. I would like his advice about how Israel restores confidence and understanding within and beyond the Jewish community. PJC

Rabbi Yisroel and Chani Altein Rabbi Yisroel and Chani Altein are the co-directors of Chabad of Squirrel Hill. Their nomination read, in part: “They run so many outstanding programs that include everyone from all walks of life, bringing people together. It’s such a kiddush Hashem! These two special people exemplify how Jews have a love for one another, and they are difference makers in our community.”

Another nominator praised Chani’s weekly Torah classes, monthly Lunch and Learn sessions — which typically attract more than 75 women — and periodic challah baking sessions. Chani, wrote another individual “has brought together every part of this community … from every walk of life, from every Jewish persuasion, with no judgment or

care about your level of observance. She brings joy and happiness to everyone she meets.”

How long have you lived in Pittsburgh? 23 years.

What advice would you give your 16-year-old self?

Chani: Never let discomfort keep you from doing what’s kind or right.

What does tikkun olam mean to you?

Congratulations on this well-deserved honor

Rachael Heisler

Chani: Revealing the Divine spark within everything we do and encounter. Yisroel: As we say at the end of every prayer in the “Aleinu,” our goal is “to perfect the world under the sovereignty of G-d.”

If you could have dinner with one person — living or deceased — who would it be and why?

Chani: Esty Heller, an author whose writing I really enjoy. Yisroel: Not quite dinner, but a farbrengen with the Rebbe. Please see Difference Makers, page 13

www.pittsburghjewishchronicle.org 12

SEPTEMBER 4, 2026

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18 Difference Makers Dean Aseef

Difference Makers: Continued from page 12

Dean Aseef is the community shaliach at the Jewish Community Center of Greater Pittsburgh. “Dean embodies the very purpose of shlichut: to build deep, lasting relationships between Israeli and American Jews,” his nomination reads. “Through the JCC’s Israel engagement initiatives, he has created meaningful opportunities for people across the community to connect with Israel’s culture, people and lived experience. “From the moment he arrived, Dean immersed himself fully in the community. He has played a central role in organizing Israel engagement programming, educational initiatives and large-scale community events,

helping ensure that connection to Israel is not abstract, but deeply personal and human.”

How long have you lived in Pittsburgh?

I have lived in Pittsburgh for about a year and a half. I am originally from Haifa, Israel, but Pittsburgh already feels like a second home to me.

What advice would you give your 16-year-old self?

Listen to yourself more and worry less about what other people think. Trust your own path, even when it looks different from the path others expect you to take.

What does tikkun olam mean to you?

To me, tikkun olam means trying every

day to become a better person, do good, and have a positive impact on the people and communities around me. It means helping make the world a better place by leading by example, being a role model and spreading kindness wherever I can.

If you could have dinner with one person — living or deceased — who would it be and why?

I would have dinner with my grandfather, Ze’ev. It has been almost a decade since he passed away, and I miss him deeply. I would love to talk with him about Maccabi Haifa, the soccer team he taught me to love, hear one of the many jokes he always had ready, and simply have a few more hours to sit with him and enjoy his company.

Michael Bernstein What does tikkun olam mean to you?

Michael Bernstein is board chair of The Tree of Life. His nomination reads: “Michael’s combination of vision, patience, collaborative spirit and business acumen enables him to lead The Tree of Life to build a locally-grounded institution with broad national impact and reach. … Michael combines humility, intellect and passion for what The Tree of Life stands for and can be in a way that makes him an inspirational force in our wonderful community.”

Be sensitive to the world around you and try to give more than you take. For me, this starts with trying to be a good husband, father, son, brother, friend and colleague. I’m blessed to have the time and means to broaden this circle to include my community, but it really does start with trying to be a positive force to those closest to you.

If you could have dinner with one person — living or deceased — who would it be and why?

My sister Marci, who passed away when I was 5 and she was 8. I’ve spent a lifetime missing the warmth of an older sister’s love and would want to experience it just one more time.

How long have you lived in Pittsburgh?

All of my 59 years, except for four years of college.

What advice would you give your 16-year-old self?

Show up. Most of my success has come from simply showing up and doing the

Nina Butler

work. Little victories, day after day, add up to huge successes over time. And be patient.

SKIPPY G at home, or navigating a medical crisis far from their support system, Nina is often the first call — and the steady presence that follows. “She coordinates meals for families in crisis, organizes transportation to and from medical appointments, arranges housing for out-of-town families, and connects individuals with resources they didn’t even know existed. Her ability to anticipate needs is nothing short of extraordinary.”

How long have you lived in Pittsburgh?

“As the driving force behind the Bikur Cholim of Pittsburgh, Nina Butler has taken on the sacred responsibility of ensuring that no one in our community faces illness alone,” writes her nominator. “With remarkable sensitivity and unwavering dedication, she orchestrates a vast network of care. When someone is hospitalized, recovering PITTSBURGHJEWISHCHRONICLE.ORG

Over the many, many years of our friendship, we have shared so much: Joys and challenges, children and grandchildren, sadness and simchas, all co-mingled in the Kos Chaim, the Cup of Life. We are blessed to accompany each other on this journey and are proud to call you FRIEND.

I’ve called Pittsburgh home for 49 years, ever since my new husband — a proud thirdgeneration Pittsburgher — brought his new bride here the morning after our wedding. Nearly five decades later, what started as our story has become a multigenerational one: We now have a sixth-generation Pittsburgh crew carrying the legacy forward!

Kol HaKavode, Dan and Ronna Askin

Please see Difference Makers (Butler), page 15

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Michael Bernstein

Michael, your leadership in renewing and rebuilding the Tree of Life is helping to shape its future with vision and purpose. Mazel tov on this well-deserved honor.

Skip Grinberg

Skip, your decades of leadership and service to Pittsburgh’s Jewish community, as well as the greater community, have touched countless lives. Mazel tov on this richly deserved honor.

Tsipy Gur

Tsipy, through your dedication to Holocaust education, you empower teachers to bear witness and teach future generations. Mazel tov on this truly meaningful honor.

Rachael Heisler

Congratulations, Rachael, on being named one of Pittsburgh’s 18 Difference Makers of 2026! Your courage, friendship, and commitment to our Jewish community are an inspiration to us all.

The Rev. Jonathan Jensen

Mazel tov, Reverend Jensen, on this wonderful and well-deserved honor, and with gratitude for being an advocate and dear friend of the Tree of Life Congregation. Your congregation has truly been welcoming beyond measure.

Eric Lidji

Eric, through your leadership of the Rauh Jewish Archives, you preserve the stories and history of Jewish Pittsburgh for generations to come. Mazel tov on this well-deserved recognition.

We thank and congratulate all of the 2026 18 Difference Makers. Each and every one has made invaluable contributions toward making our community a better place for all.

With gratitude, The Solomon Family

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18 Difference Makers Difference Makers (Butler): Continued from page 13

What advice would you give your 16-year-old self?

Although your outstanding 2,000-plus student public high school in Southfield, Michigan, offers an incredible range of academic, athletic and extracurricular opportunities, NCSY is providing something you won’t find in any classroom: the chance to explore Judaism in a deeper, more meaningful way. The ideas, friendships and experiences you’ll discover through NCSY will transform not only your own life, but the lives of your

future family. Investing in your Jewish journey today is giving you — and one day your children and grandchildren — a sense of purpose, identity and meaning that many people spend a lifetime searching for. Jump in with both feet; don’t hesitate!

What does tikkun olam mean to you?

Tikkun olam is typically translated as “repairing the world,” but I prefer to think of the world not as broken, but as unfinished. Rabbi Jonathan Sacks taught that God invites us to become His partners in completing creation. Partnering with God? What a concept!

As I work to support patients and families, I often face challenges that seem impossible — until, somehow, the right person, resource, or solution appears just when it’s needed. My role is to channel the kindness and generosity of others where it can do the most good. But there’s no doubt in my mind that God is blowing wind into my sails.

If you could have dinner with one person — living or deceased — who would it be and why?

Without a doubt, I dream of having just a few more hours with our late son, Mikey. Mikey had a rare and magical ability to inspire ordinary people to behave in extraordinary

ways. The lessons I learned from him became the foundation for my desire to “pay it forward” by building Bikur Cholim/Friends of Jewish Patients. Mikey treated everyone he encountered — from world-renowned specialists to hospital janitors — with the same warmth, respect and genuine appreciation. He offered a smile, a joke, a compliment, or a story to each, bringing a little sunlight into people’s days, regardless of how much he himself was struggling. When you asked Mikey how he was feeling, his answer was always, “Day by glorious day.” Those words have become a guiding principle for me, and I strive every day to live up to the example he set.

Debra L. Caplan Debra L. Caplan is “a visionary leader whose decades of service have made a profound impact on the Jewish community,” her nomination reads. As immediate past chair of the Jewish Healthcare Foundation’s board of trustees, and founding chair of WHAMglobal, “she has advanced initiatives in community health, workforce development, and women’s leadership. Her decades of involvement have helped ensure JHF remains a driving force for innovation and community health in the region.”

Mazel tov to Skip Grinberg and all of this year’s honorees! Your dedication, leadership and meaningful contributions to our community are deeply appreciated. Thank you for all that you do.

With love and admiration, Jan and Ed Korenman

Please see Difference Makers (Caplan), page 17

Congratulations to Karen Wolk Feinstein, PhD for her dedication and service to our community.

A True Difference Maker We actively hire and provide services without regard to age, race, gender, color, national origin, ancestry, sexual orientation, religious affiliation, or disability.

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Congratulations

DEBBIE CAPLAN 18 DIFFERENCE MAKERS Your leadership has opened doors for more than

15,000

young people across our region.

We are proud to celebrate you!

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18 Difference Makers Difference Makers (Caplan): Continued from page 15

“She has served on the boards of the Jewish Community Center of Greater Pittsburgh and UPMC Health Plan, as chair of the WQED board, and as president of the Pittsburgh Chapter of the International Women’s Forum,” and has held senior leadership roles at Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Allegheny Health Network. She served as interim CEO of Partner4Work, advancing workforce development across Allegheny County. “Today, as

Avi Cohen

executive-in-residence at The Forbes Funds and principal of HobartHumphrey LLC, she advises nonprofit leaders in governance and strategy, mentoring the next generation of civic leaders.”

How long have you lived in Pittsburgh?

I grew up in Squirrel Hill and for approximately 20 years I lived in western Massachusetts and Boston for college, graduate school and work. The time away helped me gain a broader perspective on the world and also appreciate how special Pittsburgh truly is.

Avi Cohen manages a medical equipment gemach and “personally delivers equipment all around the area to hundreds of people,” his nomination reads. “I suspect virtually no one realizes just how much stuff he has loaned to people. And it’s not just that: People donate old equipment to him, sure, but he also uses his own money to purchase equipment when stock runs low or to repair things. Some medical items are one-time use, and he just buys a replacement when someone borrows the item, but you would never know it from the website; it looks to the borrower like a loan. ... When the old location for the heating and AC gemach was not available, he stepped up to take it on."

What advice would you give your 16-year-old self?

Be kind, curious and adventurous. Take risks and enjoy your youth!

What does tikkun olam mean to you?

Social justice and repairing the world take many forms. Giving back and taking action to support one’s community always resonated with my family. I have tried to carry that philosophy forward in my professional and communal work.

If you could have dinner with one person — living or deceased —

who would it be and why?

This is a tough question as there are so many people who I would love to have dinner with. One of the people that stands out for me is Marie Curie. The only person to receive a Nobel Prize in two different scientific categories, her pioneering work on radioactivity laid the groundwork for modern radiation oncology, not to mention being a woman in science. She also strongly advocated for scientific research to be a public good and that the resultant advances should benefit as many as possible. Of course, I’d love it if her husband, Pierre, joined us, as well!

How long have you lived in Pittsburgh?

doing my part to leave the world a little better than you found it. For me it’s not about grand gestures; if it was, I would be lost. It’s as simple as treating people with kindness, helping where you can and making a positive difference in the lives of those around you.

What advice would you give your 16-year-old self?

If you could have dinner with one person — living or deceased — who would it be and why?

About 11 years. We’ve been in the Pittsburgh area for around 20 years altogether, but spent about nine of those years living on a farm in Fayette County before moving back.

I’m not sure my 16-year-old self would have listened, but I would have told him to focus on developing the skills you’ll need for life, and let growing up happen naturally. The rest tends to fall into place.

What does tikkun olam mean to you?

My personal take on tikkun olam means

My mother. She was a truly special person who always had time for everyone, no matter who they were. As I’ve gotten older, I’ve come to appreciate even more how rare and meaningful that quality is. I’d love the chance to sit down with her again. Please see Difference Makers, page 19

“Mazel tov, Skip! This honor is so incredibly well deserved. I am deeply grateful for all the wonderful memories we have shared over the years. Your devotion, leadership and extraordinary contributions to the Pittsburgh Jewish community have created a truly legendary, lasting legacy.” –Lenny Silberman

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Mazel Tov to

Michael Bernstein on being named one of the Pittsburgh Jewish Chronicle’s 2026 Difference Makers! The Tree of Life board congratulates our chair, Michael, for this wonderful achievement. We could not think of anyone in our community who better defines the purpose of this honor – someone who embodies and exemplifies Tikkun Olam in every facet of their life. Michael, you show us all what it means to be Rooted in Humanity through your generous spirit, bold optimism and dedication to making the world a better place. Grounded in deep Pittsburgh roots, you set an example of what showing up for your community looks like through your unwavering commitment to our vision and your empathic and compassionate leadership. Thank you for all you do for The Tree of Life and the greater Pittsburgh community. You have our profound appreciation and admiration.

Want to honor this milestone with a donation to the reimagined The Tree of Life? Visit thetreeoflife.org/donate or scan the QR code. 18

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18 Difference Makers Rebecca Elhassid

Difference Makers: Continued from page 17

“Across Pittsburgh’s Jewish community and beyond, Rebecca has become a force for connection, resilience, and principled action — someone who not only envisions change, but rolls up her sleeves to make it happen,” writes her nominator. “As a founder and ongoing leader of Beacon Coalition, Rebecca has created a platform for meaningful engagement and communal responsibility. She is not a figurehead; she is the engine. Whether organizing, strategizing, or doing the unglamorous logistical work, she consistently leads from the front, modeling a standard of commitment that inspires others to follow. This same hands-on leadership was evident in her work supporting weekly Bring Them Home rallies, where her presence was both steadying and galvanizing. ... At Congregation Beth Shalom, Rebecca serves as a dedicated lay leader, including as a gabbai, and plays a vital role in sustaining a vibrant, egalitarian Conservative Jewish community.”

How long have you lived in Pittsburgh? 13 years.

What advice would you give your 16-year-old self?

I would tell her to spend less time worrying about having the right answers and more time asking good questions. The people I’ve learned the most from are the ones who stay curious, listen carefully and are willing to rethink their assumptions. And I would tell her she is never going to make it as a freelance writer.

What does tikkun olam mean to you?

I have always understood tikkun olam through the lens of Rabbi Isaac Luria’s teaching of the shattering of the vessels. I’ve always imagined it as a puzzle with pieces scattered throughout the world, waiting for someone to put them back into place. To me, our responsibility is to be on the lookout for those pieces and do what we can to restore them — whether that means shoveling a neighbor’s walkway, making a meal for someone during a difficult time, or using your own skills to strengthen the broader community. For me, tikkun olam is the understanding that each of us has both the ability and the responsibility to put some of those pieces into place, even though none of us will ever see the complete picture.

If you could have dinner with one person — living or deceased — who would it be and why?

I would choose Jacob Birnbaum. He made it his mission to recruit American Jews to the cause of rescuing Soviet Jewry and accomplished what many believed was impossible. He never became the public face of the movement he devoted himself to building. He believed in uncompromising grassroots organizing while also recognizing that lasting change required bringing the established Jewish and non-Jewish leadership along with him. He understood that asking American Jews to take responsibility for Soviet Jews would also strengthen American Jewry itself. Guided by a deep belief in Klal Yisrael, he built a movement that changed the future of both Soviet and American Jews without fame, wealth, or political office. I’d love to ask him how he balanced urgency with coalition-building, how he inspired people to dedicate years to a cause whose outcome was anything but certain, and whether, looking back, he believed the movement strengthened American Jewry in the ways he hoped it would. Please see Difference Makers, page 20

Mazel Tov to our dear friends and fellow community members whose dedication, kindness and leadership have helped make Pittsburgh’s Jewish community such a vibrant, caring and special place. Your impact is truly inspiring, and we are so proud to celebrate all that you do. With warmest congratulations, Meryl and David Ainsman

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18 Difference Makers Meyer “Skip” Grinberg Difference Makers:

Continued from page 19

Skip Grinberg has taken on a host of volunteer roles for more than 40 years, including president of: the Pittsburgh Marathon; the Jewish Cemetery and Burial Association; the

How long have you lived in Pittsburgh?

Jewish Assistance Fund; and Community Day School. He has chaired the Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh’s Community Relations Council and Partnership2Gether initiative, and was executive director of the Jewish Education Institute. He was a recipient of the Jefferson Award from the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette as an “Outstanding Citizen of Pittsburgh,” and has

I have always lived in Pittsburgh, except for 15 years for college, law school and military service.

What advice would you give your 16-year-old self?

Be true to yourself. Align your actions with your values and personal beliefs

What does tikkun olam mean to you?

Tikkun olam is our responsibility to improve the world through charity, kindness and social action.

Mazel Tov Debra Caplan! We could not be prouder to call you our cousin!

Love, Robbie Caplan and family and Donna and Stan Hersh and family

been recognized by the Jewish National Fund and the ZOA, among other organizations. His nominator listed several of the groups and projects that Grinberg has assisted, and added that he “has raised funds for special needs children in Israel” and “has served on the board of directors of Yeshiva Schools of Pittsburgh and many other community organizations.” “Through all these organizations he has served, Skip has made a meaningful contribution to both the Jewish and Pittsburgh communities.”

If you could have dinner with one person — living or deceased — who would it be and why?

President Teddy Roosevelt. I admire him because he advocated progressive reforms that raised the standard of living for the immigrants and underprivileged. He protected citizens from corporate exploitation. He was a strong supporter of conservation and championed food and drug safety. Please see Difference Makers, page 21

Thank you to the Pittsburgh Jewish Chronicle for creating this thoughtful opportunity to express our gratitude and appreciation for these remarkable honorees. Through their dedication to tikkun olam—repairing the world— they continue to bless our community and make a lasting difference in many lives. With heartfelt gratitude, Sheila Reicher Fine

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18 Difference Makers Zipora “Tsipy” Gur

Difference Makers: Continued from page 20

Tsipy Gur is the founder and executive director of Classrooms Without Borders. “She moves mountains to ensure history isn’t just something we read about, but something we truly feel,” her nomination reads. “She has spent decades proving that to change the future, we must change how we teach the past. “And how better to do that than by taking educators to the places where history was made? Since 2011, she has personally led over 2,500 educators through Poland, Germany, Israel and the U.S. South. She knows you cannot fully grasp the weight of the Holocaust or the Civil Rights movement from a textbook — you must stand on the ground where history happened. “When the pandemic hit, Tsipy was undaunted, pivoting to global Zoom programming to help educators understand the instruments of bigotry. Again, following the events of Oct. 7, she recognized a critical gap in day school education. While many felt paralyzed, Tsipy launched intensive seminars that served as teacher lifelines, focusing on the unbreakable bond between the Jewish people and the Land of Israel.”

How long have you lived in Pittsburgh?

I came in 1974 to Pittsburgh to do a Ph.D. with my husband.

What advice would you give your 16-year-old self?

Don’t be afraid and believe in yourself.

What does tikkun olam mean to you?

Changing the world one person at a time (my Classrooms Without Borders mission) through education.

If you could have dinner with one person — living or deceased — who would it be and why? Janusz Korczak, who devoted his life to children and education. He believed that children deserved dignity, respect and a voice. During the Holocaust, he refused opportunities to save himself and stayed with the children of his orphanage until the very end. Please see Difference Makers, page 23

Mazel Tov to our wonderful brother-in-law, Skip! We are so incredibly proud of all you have accomplished and the meaningful difference you continue to make. Celebrating you with so much love and pride! With love, The Malewski Family

CONGRATULATIONS Professor

Rona Kaufman on being named one of 18 Difference Makers for 2026! duq.edu/Law

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Celebrating Excellence & A Spirit of Service To Michael Bernstein, we could not be prouder to see your dedication, passion, and hard work recognized with this year ’s Difference Maker Award. The impact you have made on our community is profound, and we are grateful for the heart, integrity, and energy you bring to everything you do. With all our love, admiration, and pride, Larry and Sandy Rosen, Tommy Bernstein and Donna Kaplan and families



Honoring a Remarkable Cohort Likewise, behind every great community are individuals who refuse to stand by, choosing instead to lift others. Because of you, our community is stronger, kinder, and more vibrant. • Rabbi Yisroel & Chani Altein • Dean Aseef • Nina Butler • Debra L. Caplan • Avi Cohen • Rebecca Elhassid

• Meyer “Skip” Grinberg • Tsipy Gur • Rachael Heisler • Jeff Herzog • The Rev. Jonathon Jensen • Rona Kaufman

• Eric Lidji • Fraidy and Dovie Nadoff • Julie Paris • Rabbi Chezky and Bassie Rosenfeld • Kelly Schwimer

"The greatest use of a life is to spend it on something that will outlast it." Congratulations to All of the 2026 Difference Makers

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18 Difference Makers Rachael Heisler

Michael Bernstein Difference Makers: Continued from page 21

Rachael Heisler is Pittsburgh’s City Controller. But, as her nominator writes, “in the deepest sense, is a mensch,” and “has great compassion and affinity for her many Jewish friends, going back to her college years, even though she’s not Jewish herself.” It’s in her public service role “that Rachael most embodies tikkun olam, striving daily to make Pittsburgh a better city. She actively works as well for the betterment of Pittsburgh’s Jewish community. As a top elected official, she’s spoken out against prejudiced, anti-Israel and antisemitic statements and policy, even as other elected officials shied away from speaking up." "Rachael leads by example. She played a key, public role combatting the ill-conceived ballot initiative that would have prohibited the City of Pittsburgh from doing business with Israel or any entities tied to Israel. She joined Jewish leaders and the Jewish Federation in opposition, filing a lawsuit against the ultimately failed initiative. Pittsburgh’s Jewish community can count on Rachael being a staunch ally and friend. She does so not because it’s politically expedient (sometimes the opposite), but because she deeply believes it’s the right thing to do. It’s in alignment with her upbringing and values.”

How long have you lived in Pittsburgh?

I moved to Pittsburgh in 2003 to attend Pitt. I stayed after graduation but went to D.C. from 2011 to 2017. I moved back to Pittsburgh in 2018 and will never leave.

What advice would you give your 16-year-old self?

I am so happy with how my life has played out and where I am now. I don’t know that’d I want to alter the trajectory of this very blessed life. So, perhaps, “You have a lot of fun ahead of you!”

What does tikkun olam mean to you?

makes all the difference at The Tree of Life – and we’re so proud that he’s being recognized for it. Congratulations, Michael, on being named one of the Pittsburgh Jewish Chronicle’s 2026 Difference Makers!

Tikkun olam instructs me to live my values and work, every day, to make the world around me better.

If you could have dinner with one person — living or deceased — who would it be and why?

With gratitude, The Tree of Life Staff

I was very close with my maternal grandparents, Mary Alice and Jim Dykstra. I was so lucky to have my grandma until 2020, but my pappap died when I was 13. My memories of him, and of them together, are limited. I would love to have dinner with them now. Please see Difference Makers, page 25

Mazel Tov to Nina Butler and to all of the 18 Difference Makers! Through her devoted work with Bikur Cholim, Nina helps those who come to Pittsburgh for medical care feel supported, cared for, and never alone.

Want to honor this milestone with a donation to the reimagined The Tree of Life? Visit thetreeoflife.org/donate or scan the QR code.

Congregation Poale Zedeck is proud to celebrate Nina and the extraordinary difference she makes in the lives of so many.

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CONGRATULATIONS DIFFERENCE MAKERS KAREN WOLK FEINSTEIN Lifetime Achievement Awardee

DEBRA CAPLAN RACHAEL HEISLER The Jewish Healthcare Foundation proudly congratulates our Board Trustees Debra Caplan and Rachael Heisler on being named Difference Makers and our founder and CEO emeritus, Karen Wolk Feinstein, on receiving the Lifetime Achievement Award, and celebrates all of this year’s honorees.

Jihf.org Improving health care through innovation, advocacy, collaboration, and education

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18 Difference Makers Jeff Herzog Difference Makers:

Continued from page 23

For more than two decades, Jeff Herzog served with distinction as the executive director of Rodef Shalom Congregation, “where his dedication, leadership, vision and steady guidance strengthened the organization’s impact and outreach,” wrote his nominator. “He also taught Sunday/Religious School at Rodef Shalom for many years.” Since his retirement, Jeff has continued to demonstrate his passion and devotion to improving the lives of others. He has contributed countless volunteer hours, creative energy and commitment to a wide range of community programs and charitable causes, including: East End Cooperative Ministry, the Sharpsburg Food Pantry, the JFCS Refugee Program, the Squirrel Hill Food Pantry, The New Riverview apartments/Jewish Association on Aging, Global Links, The Branch, the Rotary Club and other initiatives/programs that promote community well-being, inclusion and collaboration.

How long have you lived in Pittsburgh?

I was born and raised in Pittsburgh but left the city to attend undergraduate and then graduate school. Later, I served as a Peace Corps volunteer for two years in Costa Rica, and then as a Peace Corps director in Honduras for an additional two years until 1977.

What advice would you give your 16-year-old self?

Travel often and learn from every culture and individual you meet. Each person has worth and insights, and there can be much to be learned from each, no matter their age or socio-economic status. Secondly, you only truly give when you give of yourself. Lastly, your true wealth is not the money you have but is your family and friends.

Congratulations

Dean Aseef

JCC Community Shaliach For being chosen as a Jewish Chronicle Difference Maker

What does tikkun olam mean to you?

Tikkun olam means to me being an active partner with G-d in improving the world. It is the seeking out of social justice through civic engagement. More importantly, it is the essence of my Judaism.

If you could have dinner with one person — living or deceased — who would it be and why?

I would choose to have dinner with President John F. Kennedy. With demonstrated culture, intelligence and wit, he was a president that most Americans were very proud to call our leader. What I really admired most about him, however, was his vision for the future — whether that be a space program to reach the moon within a decade, or challenging citizens to do more for their country rather than asking what it could do for them. Great vision is a characteristic that few people have! I wonder what he would say about this country today.

The Rev. Jonathon Jensen

The Rev. Jonathon Jensen is rector of Calvary Episcopal Church. “In the aftermath of the Pittsburgh synagogue shooting,” his nominator wrote, “he extended an open invitation to the Tree of Life congregation: Come. Use our sanctuary, our offices, whatever you need. We are here.” His invitation was immediate and for seven-plus years has been enduring. Jensen embodied that same impulse when he invited Rabbi Aaron Bisno, in his “time of need,” Bisno writes, to serve as Calvary’s first rabbi-in-residence, “modeling what it means for Christians and Jews to be there for one another and to share in religious life.” Additionally, through “Faith Night,” a multi-year interfaith skating event, he brings together Christians, Jews and Muslims — just to enjoy sharing an evening of fun together.

Mazel Tov to Eric Lidji, Director of the Rauh Jewish History Program & Archives, and Skip Grinberg, member of the Rauh Advisory Committee, on being named to the Pittsburgh Jewish Chronicle’s inaugural class of 18 Difference Makers. Your dedication to preserving the stories, memories and artifacts of Jewish Pittsburgh ensures that our community’s rich history will continue to educate, inspire and connect generations to come. We are deeply proud of your meaningful work and this truly well-deserved honor. With admiration and appreciation, The Advisory Committee of the Rauh Jewish History Program & Archives at the Heinz History Center

Please see Difference Makers (Jensen), page 26

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18 Difference Makers Difference Makers (Jensen): Continued from page 25

“Jonathon Jensen doesn’t just speak about world repair. He actively engages in it.”

How long have you lived in Pittsburgh?

Since 2014, when I moved to Pittsburgh to become rector or senior priest at Calvary Episcopal Church.

What advice would you give your 16-year-old self? Do the best you can with the best information and resources you have at the time.

What does tikkun olam mean to you?

Tikkun olam means joining God in the work of restoring what is broken. A great lesson of ministry is that loving your neighbor takes the initiative and bears

the burden of imagination. After a tragedy, it’s easy to say, “Let me know if there’s anything I can do.” But that places another burden on someone already overwhelmed. Instead, ask, “What can I offer that I know how to do well?” At Calvary, we know how to share our space. When Tree of Life needed a place for their High Holidays, we simply said, “Our home is your home.” Strangers became neighbors, and neighbors became friends.

If you could have dinner with one person — living or deceased — who would it be and why?

the rise of anti-Zionism within academic spaces is not merely rhetorical — it has real legal consequences, influencing how discrimination claims are evaluated and often dismissed. Recognizing the absence of a coherent body of scholarship addressing these issues, she co-founded the Center for Jewish Legal Studies to build exactly that: an intellectual infrastructure capable of integrating doctrine, history, and lived experience into a durable field of study. "Her leadership of the national Law and Antisemitism Conference further reflects this mission. The conference has become a central forum for developing

this emerging field — bringing together scholars, litigators, and policymakers to engage rigorously with the legal dimensions of antisemitism and to build a community dedicated to this work."

Not counting the obvious one for me of Jesus, it would be C.S. Lewis. He wrestled with questions that matter and endure. How does suffering change a person? What makes someone a saint or a monster? How does grace work in ordinary lives? I would also ask what he believed at the end of his life that he wished he had known at 30.

Rona Kaufman A professor at Duquesne University School of Law and co-founder of the Center for Jewish Legal Studies, Rona Kaufman is “widely recognized as an expert in gender and the law and civil rights,” her nomination reads. “She has brought that expertise to one of the most pressing and underdeveloped areas in legal academia: the study of antisemitism and its modern manifestations. “Through her scholarship, teaching, and institutional leadership, she is helping define antisemitism as a serious subject of legal inquiry, one that demands doctrinal clarity, historical grounding, and real-world application. … She has emphasized that

How long have you lived in Pittsburgh?

In one sense, since 2010 — I moved here to join the law faculty at Duquesne and never left. But my Pittsburgh story really begins in 1993, when I arrived as an undergraduate at Pitt. Those years shaped me. I found a second home with Shmuel Please see Difference Makers (Kaufman), page 27

The staff and board of the Pittsburgh Jewish Chronicle congratulate our inaugural class of 18 Difference Makers, and our Lifetime Achievement Award recipient, Karen Wolk Feinstein. Thank you for making our community a better place and inspiring others to do the same!

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18 Difference Makers Difference Makers (Kaufman): Continued from page 26

and Sara Weinstein at what is now Chabad on Campus, I served as a USY adviser at Beth Shalom, and I taught Hebrew school at both Rodef Shalom and Tree of Life. My love for Squirrel Hill took root then and has only deepened in the decades since. Coming back in 2010 felt less like moving to a new city than returning home — and there is little I’m more grateful for than having raised my children in this beautiful, tight-knit Jewish community.

What advice would you give your 16-year-old self?

So much. Learn Torah, and learn it young, so that it can be your compass for the rest of your life. Find the work that sits at the intersection of your particular gifts and your deepest passions, and do that. Surround yourself — always, and only — with the people you love most. Do yoga. Eat well. And don’t be afraid to use your voice, or to stand unapologetically for who you are and what you believe. The truth is, these are all things I do now; it simply took me years to arrive here. If I could, I’d spare her some of that wandering. But I’ve also made my peace with the fact that the wandering is the point — that becoming who you are is meant to take a whole life.

What does tikkun olam mean to you?

For me, tikkun olam is a Jewish value — not a secular one — and I hear it as a specifically Jewish call. The phrase means “repair of the world,” and its roots are in our texts, not in a generic ethic of doing good. The repair is inseparable from Judaism and from God; it is about ordering the world toward the Divine, not toward whatever any of us happens to decide is good. We say it in the Aleinu, at the close of every prayer service: l’takken olam b’malchut Shaddai — to repair the world under the sovereignty of God. The phrase lives in the Mishnah, too — mipnei tikkun ha-olam,

“for the sake of the repair of the world” — where the rabbis enacted concrete laws (Gittin, chapters 4–5) to keep society just and functioning: protecting the vulnerable and redeeming captives, for example. And in the Kabbalah, tikkun is the gathering of the divine sparks scattered when the vessels shattered, a cosmic repair we accomplish through the mitzvot. So I push back, gently but firmly, on the way the phrase has been universalized into “do whatever you’d like to make the world better.” That is not what it means. Tikkun olam is the obligation to repair the world according to Jewish thought, through the commandments we were given. As it says in Pirkei Avot, “It is not upon you to complete the work, but neither are you free to desist from it” (Avot 2:16) — and, especially as I get older, I realize that the specificity is what gives it meaning.

If you could have dinner with one person — living or deceased — who would it be and why?

My savta, Etel Weinberg. She was a Holocaust survivor, and I held my questions back — I didn’t want to reopen wounds or cause her pain, so I listened to whatever she shared, but I didn’t ask too many questions. I would love to sit with her now and ask everything I never asked: what her life was like before and during the war, how she understood her place in the world, the roles Judaism, secularism and Zionism, and feminism, played in her upbringing, what it meant to be a Jewish girl and young woman in the 1920s and 1930s. I’d ask her about making aliyah in 1948 and about immigrating to the United States later in life. My grandmother was extraordinarily intelligent, independent and capable at a time when women didn’t have the opportunities to reach their full potential. I wonder who she might have become had she enjoyed the opportunities I’ve had. I’d ask her about feminism, motherhood, marriage, love and friendship. Even as a young child, I felt a deep connection to my savta. I think that if I knew the answers to all the questions I never asked, that connection would be even deeper and it would be a source of insight into my own life as well.

Eric Lidji Eric Lidji is the director of the Rauh Jewis Archives at the Senator John Heinz History Center. Since 2017, he has gathered and maintained the history of the Jewish community of western Pennsylvania, making it freely available throughout the world. He curates “The Jewish Encyclopedia of Western Pennsylvania” and oversees the Rauh Jewish Archives Small Towns Jewish History Project. He also initiates and runs extensive programming and outreach in the greater western Pennsylvania area. “In addition to his book about Rabbi Walter Jacob and his pivotal role in preserving, protecting and archiving materials” following the Pittsburgh synagogue shooting, “his efforts to reach out to the broader western Pennsylvania Jewish and non-Jewish groups in our region makes him truly worthy of this recognition,” wrote one of his nominators. PITTSBURGHJEWISHCHRONICLE.ORG

Mazel Tov, Skip, on being honored as one of the Pittsburgh Jewish Chronicle’s 18 Difference Makers! You are a wonderful husband, a devoted father, an amazing grandfather and a truly extraordinary person who is always there for others. Your kindness, generosity and love have touched so many lives, and this honor is so beautifully deserved. Congratulations with all my love, Your wife, Mary

How long have you lived in Pittsburgh?

I moved to Pittsburgh in October 1995. The week I arrived happened to be the week Please see Difference Makers (Lidji), page 29

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SEPTEMBER 4, 2026

Julie Paris, Mid-Atlantic Regional Director StandWithUs Mazel Tov! StandWithUs proudly congratulates Julie Paris, Mid-Atlantic Regional Director at StandWithUs, on being named one of the Pittsburgh Jewish Chronicle’s inaugural 18 Difference Makers. Julie’s tireless advocacy, inspiring leadership and dedication to educating and strengthening the Jewish community, have already made a lasting impact! We are deeply grateful to her for all she does for Israel and the Jewish people. With admiration and gratitude always, AM YISRAEL CHAI! Roz Rothstein, Jerry Rothstein, Esther Renzer, and Your StandWithUs family!

SEPTEMBER 4, 2026

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18 Difference Makers Difference Makers (Lidji): Continued from page 27

when the Torah portion of Noah is read. There was a major rainstorm on Friday night. Everyone got to shul wet from the knees down.

What advice would you give your 16-year-old self?

Pay close attention to everything and take good notes.

What does tikkun olam mean to you?

Everyone wakes each day to a world filled

with opportunities to help, right at arm’s reach. It can be easy to miss these moments, and easier still to ignore them. Helping others requires perceptiveness, creativity and even some risk taking. When someone makes the effort, that to me is tikkun olam.

If you could have dinner with one person — living or deceased — who would it be and why?

repair and they are without adequate funds, David steps in, tools in hand, asking for nothing in return. Several times he has employed the unemployed who are desperate for income but even more in need of self-esteem.”

Pay attention to your life today because much of your experiences become the blueprint for your future.

Every night when I have dinner with my family, I feel grateful to have them in my life from day to day. Any unexpected guest at the table is a bonus.

Fraidy and David Nadoff Fraidy and David Nadoff have “made service not an occasional act, but the very rhythm of their lives,” writes their nominator. “Their generosity begins with the most basic essential human need: nourishment. Week after week, they stock a public walk-in freezer with kosher food, ensuring that individuals and families facing food insecurity can find dignity, sustenance and relief. Their home, too, is a haven. They regularly welcome boarders who need a kosher Shabbos environment or a place for out-of-towners to stay while caring for loved ones in the hospital, offering warmth, stability and genuine hospitality. This

has often resulted in their acquiescing to being surrogate parents for those children needing a temporary break from a disruptive situation in their own home. “They prepare and deliver home-cooked kosher meals to those who would otherwise do without. Fraidy crafts professional-quality sheitels, often below her cost, for women battling cancer who cannot afford them, restoring comfort during unimaginably difficult times. David builds caskets for families unable to bear the cost, honoring the deceased with dignity and compassion. … “When a person’s home needs a critical

How long have you lived in Pittsburgh?

David has been living in Pittsburgh his whole life and Fraidy has been here since the early 1980s.

What advice would you give your 16-year-old self?

What does tikkun olam mean to you?

Each of us has the obligation to bring awareness of G-d into this world in his own unique way.

If you could have dinner with one person — living or deceased — who would it be and why?

There is always one more question I could ask my mother.

Julie Paris Julie Paris is the Mid-Atlantic regional director of StandWithUs. “In an era defined by unprecedented challenges to Jewish identity and safety, Julie has been more than a leader; she has been a tireless strategist, an educator, and a courageous defender of our community’s right to exist without apology,” her nomination reads.

“When a divisive anti-Israel referendum threatened to appear on the 2024 ballot, Julie didn’t just voice opposition—she mobilized. Through StandWithUs, she worked in lockstep with legal experts and local coalitions to ensure that the discriminatory policy initiative was defeated before it could fracture our city

— not once, but twice! “She has mentored dozens of Pittsburgh students, giving them the knowledge needed to face hostility on campus. By providing these young leaders with facts, history, and Please see Difference Makers (Paris), page 31

Congratulations to The Rev. Jonathon Jensen, Rachael Heisler, Rona Kaufman, Tsipy Gur, Julie Paris, Eric Lidji, and all of this year ’s 18 Difference Makers! Your passion, dedication, and leadership make our community a better place to live, grow, connect, and belong. I am honored to celebrate each of you and grateful to be judged by the company I keep!

Mazel Tov! Rabbi Aaron Bisno, Bespoke Rabbinics Temple Ohav Shalom

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Beit Kulanu

Calvary Episcopal

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SEPTEMBER 4, 2026

Congratulations to the 2026 Pittsburgh Jewish Chronicle 18 Difference Makers! Your contributions, compassion and commitment to others help Jewish Pittsburgh flourish. Thank you for making a lasting difference in our community.

Congratulations to

Rabbi Yisroel and Chani Altein on being named among the Jewish Chronicle’s inaugural 18 Difference Makers! Your warmth, dedication, and unwavering commitment to building a vibrant and welcoming Jewish community have touched countless lives. Through Chabad of Squirrel Hill, you have created a place where everyone can feel at home, find connection, and experience the beauty of Jewish life. We are proud to work alongside you and grateful for all that you do for our community. Mazel Tov on this well-deserved honor! Rabbi Yehuda and Nechama Gorkin Rabbi Yanky and Devorah Leah Davidson Dr. Yaakov and Amy Guterson

SEPTEMBER 4, 2026

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18 Difference Makers Difference Makers (Paris): Continued from page 29

the confidence to speak their truth, she is ensuring the continuity of Jewish pride in western Pennsylvania. “From her advocacy at the East End Food Co-op to her collaboration with the District Attorney’s Office on antisemitism training for law enforcement, Julie has proven that she will show up wherever Jewish people are being marginalized. She understands that silence is not an option.”

How long have you lived in Pittsburgh?

I was born and raised in Fox Chapel and moved back to Pittsburgh in 2004. I’ve been living in Squirrel Hill ever since!

What advice would you give your 16-year-old self?

I’d tell her to trust her gut, throw herself into what she loves, and stop worrying about pleasing everyone. I was so lucky to have parents who backed me completely and gave me the space to see the world. Having that support gave me the safety net and confidence to step outside my comfort zone, think bigger and truly discover who I was.

I’d also tell her to embrace the unknown, stop letting the fear of failure hold her back, travel every chance she gets, and get to Israel sooner! That was around the time I first started feeling a real pull toward the Jewish community, so I’d tell her to lean right into those roots; that’s where her purpose lies. Oh, and I’d definitely tell her to buy Apple stock, and not wait so long to try guacamole and Indian food!

years ago. She was my inspiration and the person who taught me what unconditional love and strength look like. If I could have just one more dinner with her, I’d love to tell her about my family, share the work I’m doing today and just feel the warmth of her presence again. On a broader level, inspired by the work I’ve done over the last 25 years, I’d love to have dinner with Golda Meir, Israel’s

first female prime minister. She stood strong in the face of immense international pressure and remains a symbol of resilience, wit, and conviction. She lived by a quote that was also a motto my mom lived by: “Pessimism is a luxury that a Jew can never allow herself.” Please see Difference Makers, page 33

What does tikkun olam mean to you?

To me, tikkun olam (repairing the world) is a call to leave our communities better than we found them through our daily choices. It means taking responsibility, fighting indifference with education, and talking to one another. I’ve always seen Israel, a country built by refugees and survivors, as a living example of this. It’s a place that takes its own hard-won lessons and turns them into tools to help the world, whether through medical breakthroughs, agricultural tech, or disaster response. It shows us what repairing the world looks like when put into practice.

If you could have dinner with one person — living or deceased — who would it be and why?

To our Fabulous Cousin, Skip! We are so proud of your accomplishments! This is a well-deserved honor! Hugs, Abby and Edwin

On a personal note, it would be my mom, Dede Fink (z”l), who passed away five

We Are So Proud Of You!

Dear Safta:

Congratulations on being named one of Pittsburgh's 18 Tikkun Olam Difference Makers! We've learned so much from you about what it means to have a strong Jewish identity, and about the importance of working to bring peace across nations and religions. We are so lucky and so proud to have you as our grandmother!!

Love, Zev, Eliana, Talia, Soli, and Naomi www.pittsburghjewishchronicle.org PITTSBURGHJEWISHCHRONICLE.ORG

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SEPTEMBER 4, 2026

In Honor of Rebecca Elhassid Dear Rebecca, You have always been someone who makes a meaningful difference. Your unwavering commitment to improving the world and your dedication to the community are truly inspiring, and this wonderful recognition reflects the incredible person you are. Congratulations on being named one of the 2026 Difference Makers. We are all immensely proud of you, grateful for the inspiring example you set, and excited to see the many lives you will continue to touch. You have earned every bit of this well-deserved honor. With all our love, Audrey Corson and Dan Kazzaz Jeremy Kazzaz Zachary Kazzaz Margie and Natan Naider Jerry Kazzaz Jeffrey and Sue Kazzaz Amos and Colleen Kazzaz Shira and Cobi Weissbach Adam and Ariel Naider David and Shanna Naider Sarah Kazzaz and Eric Eidelman Zoe and Dan Jarmon Arianna Kazzaz Talya and Stephen Owens Irene and Dan Simpkins Beth and Danny Douek Eve and Howard Shapiro Jan Solomon and Ken Simonson

SEPTEMBER 4, 2026

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18 Difference Makers Bassie and Rabbi Chezky Rosenfeld

Mazel Tov! The JCBA Board of Directors and Staff proudly congratulate

Kelly Schwimer & Meyer “Skip” Grinberg on being named among The Pittsburgh Jewish Chronicle's 18 Difference Makers

Kelly Schwimer

JCBA Executive Director

Meyer “Skip” Grinberg

JCBA Past President

We are honored to recognize two outstanding leaders whose commitment and service continue to make a difference to the Jewish Cemetery & Burial Association and the entire Pittsburgh Jewish Community. — JCBA Board of Directors and Staff

Difference Makers: Continued from page 31

Bassie and Rabbi Chesky Rosenfeld are the founders and directors of Our Giving Kitchen, a volunteer-powered nonprofit based in Squirrel Hill, dedicated to addressing food insecurity. Recognizing the stark disparities in food access and founded during pandemic, “Chesky and Bassie have built an organization grounded in compassion, dignity and action,” their nominator writes. “At any given cooking session you can hear upbeat, inspiring Jewish music mixed with talking and laughing from volunteers of all ages from across Pittsburgh as they come together to prepare fresh, nutritious meals which are distributed through a discreet and dignified storefront, ensuring that neighbors in need are supported with both care and respect. “OGK is driven by their belief that giving has a transformative ripple effect. By creating hands-on, meaningful volunteer opportunities, the organization fosters a lasting culture of tikkun olam with generosity and purpose. OGK is a place where differences fade, unity grows, and a shared commitment to helping others takes center stage.”

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How long have you lived in Pittsburgh?

Chezky: I was born and raised in Squirrel Hill. Bassie: I moved here about 14 years ago after we got married.

What advice would you give your 16-year-old self?

Take advantage of the time you have during these years to learn and grow as much as you could, and don’t be afraid to take on big challenges before you feel ready.

What does tikkun olam mean to you?

Tikkun olam means helping reveal the goodness and holiness that already exists in the world. We do that through acts of kindness and inspiring others to do the same.

If you could have dinner with one person — living or deceased — who would it be and why?

Rabbi Levi Yitzchak of Berdichiv, who was famous for seeing the good in every person. I would love the opportunity to learn from him how to see every person through that lens. Please see Difference Makers, page 35

Helping another is how we lift each other up and how we keep our community strong. Mazel Tov Meyer “Skip” Grinberg As a cherished and visionary President and Board Member, Skip has led with warmth, compassion, and unwavering dedication to strengthening the economic security of the Western PA Jewish community. We deeply appreciate his steady guidance, his heartfelt commitment, and the way his leadership inspires all of us to nurture a vibrant and supportive community. His impact is felt everywhere. Skip truly exemplifies Difference Making Leadership.

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SEPTEMBER 4, 2026

Congratulations to our Dad and Grandpa, Skip Grinberg, on being named a 2026 Difference Maker! Your quiet generosity, humility, and unwavering dedication to others have shaped who we are and inspired everyone lucky enough to know you. You have strengthened the institutions and communities dear to you, helping ensure they will thrive for the next generation. Thank you for always showing us what it means to lead by example. With all our love, The Grinberg Families David, Roslyn, Ily, Shayna & Maya Lee, Jenn, Alexandra, Henry & Eve Benjy, Ellen, Izzy & Eliza

SEPTEMBER 4, 2026

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18 Difference Makers Kelly Schwimer

Skip,

Difference Makers:

Continued from page 33

Kelly Schwimer has focused her career in Jewish communal service, including roles with the Jewish National Fund, the Pittsburgh Jewish Chronicle, and now as executive director of the Jewish Cemetery & Burial Association of Greater Pittsburgh, where she has served since 2022. “Kelly leads with vision, compassion and an unwavering commitment to Jewish values in work that is essential yet often overlooked,” her nominator wrote. “She is deeply passionate about preserving the dignity and sanctity of Jewish cemeteries across southwestern Pennsylvania, ensuring each is maintained according to the highest standards of Jewish law and custom. Her impact extends beyond Pittsburgh to communities including Beaver Falls, Hopwood, New Castle, White Oak, McKeesport and Johnstown. “Under Kelly’s leadership and vision, the JCBA has moved toward a sustainable, forward-looking model. She has strengthened organizational infrastructure that includes a team of talented staff and a dedicated working board of directors, enhanced the unrestricted endowment, and prioritized engaging youth and young adults — recognizing they will steward this sacred mission into the future. She also established the Orphaned Cemetery Fund to care for abandoned sites and is currently launching a paid internship program to cultivate the next generation of Jewish communal leaders.”

How long have you lived in Pittsburgh?

I’ve called Pittsburgh home for nearly my entire life. The only exception was a wonderful 10-year chapter in the Detroit area, where I built my career before returning home. Pittsburgh has always been where my heart, my family and my commitment to serving the Jewish community have been rooted.

From your earliest days of giving back as a member of AZA, to your college years with Pi Lambda Phi, and throughout your entire career, service to others has always been part of who you are. Even in retirement, your commitment to helping people and strengthening our community continues with the same energy and heart. We have watched with admiration as so many organizations have benefited from your hard work, wisdom, generosity, and genuine care for others. What advice would you give your 16-year-old self?

I would tell my 16-year-old self: “Through all the highs and lows, the victories and disappointments, the joys and sorrows, everything is going to be OK. You are stronger and smarter than you think you are.”

What does tikkun olam mean to you?

To me, tikkun olam is sharing your inner light with others every day, even in the smallest ways. Just as importantly, it’s helping people recognize the light within themselves. When we lift one another up, we don’t just change individual lives, we help repair the world, one act of kindness and one human connection at a time.

One memory that will always stand out is the incredible amount of time and dedication you gave to Community Day School while your sons attended — and how your commitment continued long after they graduated. That says so much about the kind of person you are. You have been an inspiration to us, to our family, and to the entire community. Congratulations, Skip, on this well-deserved recognition.

With love and admiration, Milt and Judy Grinberg & Harold Grinberg and Linda Jeub

If you could have dinner with one person, living or deceased, who would it be and why?

Without question, my older brother. He was just 31 years old when he died tragically, and I was only 23. We were robbed of decades we should have shared. As I’ve grown older, I’ve realized how much we have in common, and I’m convinced we would have become the closest of friends. I’d treasure the chance to hear about the life he never got to live and to tell him about mine. Without a doubt, we would do things we would never want our parents to know about. My only hesitation is knowing how difficult it would be to say goodbye all over again. PJC

MAZAL TOV, Jeff Herzog! from your Beit Kulanu family www.pittsburghjewishchronicle.org PITTSBURGHJEWISHCHRONICLE.ORG

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Yasher Ko’ach to Michael Bernstein Debra L. Caplan Rebecca Elhassid Meyer “Skip” Grinberg Tsipy Gur Rachel Heisler on making such a positive difference in our community! Each of you is an incredible inspiration to all of us. Including those who live in the Pittsburgh Jewish Diaspora!

Linda and Jeffrey Solomon

SEPTEMBER 4, 2026

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Heartfelt congratulations to Kelly Schwimer and Skip Grinberg on this truly well-deserved honor. Your remarkable dedication, leadership and service to the JCBA and our community have made a meaningful and lasting impact. Thank you for all you do to strengthen, inspire and bring our community together. With admiration and appreciation, Goldberg, Kamin & Garvin

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September 19, 2025 | 26 Elul 5785 he city of Pittsburgh is one step closer to stopping the type of BDS referendumNOTEW that Not On Our Dime ORTHY is attempting to have added to the May 20 ballot.LOCAL That referendum would prohibit the city from doing business with Israel Rabbis prepare for High Holidays or any entity conducting business in the Jewish state. Pittsburgh Mayor Ed Gainey has signed ordinance 1425, a referendum that City Council approved last week. If the referendum passes a ballot vote in May, it will amend the Home Rule Charter to prohibit discrimination “on the basis of race, religion, ancestry, sex, sexual orientation, age, gender identity disability, place of Wordsorof expression, inspiratio birth, national origin nor association or affiliation with any nation or foreign state in  Members of the Aponte Ortiz family gather after arriving in Pittsburgh. JFCS is Page 3 LOCAL continuing to work with refugees and immigrants like the Aponte Ortiz family, despite a conducting business of the City.” The mayor did not sign the other referfederal stop work order. Photo courtesy of JFCS A messag e from an ally endum passed by City Council last week different government agencies, including — ordinance 1426, which asks voters if the By David Rullo | Senior Staff Writer the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Home Rule Charter should be amended to n Pirkei Avot, Rabbi Tarfon famously Department of State and the Department of prohibit “the use of the Home Rule Charter wrote, “It is not your responsibility to Homeland Security. Amendment process to add duties or oblifinish the task, yet you are not free to “People who enter the U.S. with the status gations beyond the lawful scope of the withdraw from it.” of refugee are the most vetted individuals city’s authority.” It’s a lesson JFCS has learned well. allowed into the country,” Golin said. “The While Gainey said that the intent behind The Pittsburgh social service organiza- process typically takes several years.” ordinance 1426 is commendable, “serious Rachael Heisler tion is one of only about 10 national refugee When they reach the United States concerns about its legal soundness were to speak at Ohav Shalom resettlement agencies that contract with the and start working with JFCS, or another raised in Council’s deliberations.” In an email U.S. Department of State to bring refugees agency, the clock has already begun ticking. to the Chronicle, the mayor saidPage he shared 4 LOCAL into the country. Refugees are given 90 days of intensive these concerns and, as a result, returned Refugee status is a form of protection assistance — someone from an agency like Chronic ordinance 1426 to the council unsigned. le and student advocat es the same granted to people who are designated by the JFCS meets them at the airport, finds them honored “Returning a bill unsigned is not United Nations as unable to stay or return a place to live, enrolls their children in as a veto and will allow the bill to take effect to their home country because of fear of school, helps the adults find employment after 10 days, in time for the City Clerk to file prosecution based on political affiliation or and ensures that they have health insurance. the referendum with the County Elections demographic criteria, JFCS President and The assistance agencies also provide cultural Division and have it placed before the voters orientation to teach acceptable behavioral in May,” Gainey said. CEO Jordan Golin explained. The United States, he said, deter- norms that might differ from the refuJulie Paris, a Squirrel Hill resident and mines how many people with refugee gees’ home country. StandWithUs Mid-Atlantic regional director, status will be admitted into the country. Please see Immigrants, page 13 Please see Gainey, page 13 Extensive screening is conducted by several StandWithUs' commun ity reception

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CONGRATULATIONS

Dr. Tsipy Gur

Congratulations to Dr. Tsipy Gur, Executive Director and Co-Founder of Classrooms Without Borders, whose vision and tireless leadership have touched thousands of educators— and, through them, countless students in the United States and Israel. No city is too distant, no classroom too small, and no challenge too great to dissuade Tsipy. Whether she stands in Warsaw, Jerusalem, or Pittsburgh, she stands for the vital work of opening minds and hearts, and we are honored to stand behind her.

!‫ בשעה טובה‬,‫כל הכבוד‬ The Board of Directors of Classrooms Without Borders

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Life & Culture Sweet beginnings and bold reds: A Rosh Hashanah wine guide — HOLIDAYS — By Emma Riva | Special to the Chronicle

osh Hashanah coincides each year with the season when winemakers across the northern hemisphere begin the harvest. It’s easy to forget that a bottle you see on a store shelf or behind a bar was once a bunch of grapes swelled to ripening by the sun, and cooled by night air, but every drop of wine comes from the earth. It’s fitting, then, for wine to have a place in the High Holiday season, when we explore life’s cycles and the earth’s relationship to the divine. Rosh Hashanah is beginning, renewal and new life. One of the foods most associated with Rosh Hashanah is honey, serving as a symbol of sweetness in the new year. An ancient form of alcohol production is the making of mead — a beverage created from fermented honey — so if you want to put a unique spin on honey’s place at your table, mead could be a fun choice. Laufer Honey Mead ($12.69, Mevushal), produced by Mendel Laufer in California, is an available kosher option. I wouldn’t recommend drinking mead with food, as the sweetness will be somewhat overpowering, but it’s a tasty apéritif that puts a creative spin on a Rosh Hashanah tradition.

Photo by Didgeman via Pixabay

Another reimagining of a traditional Rosh Hashanah food is apple-infused wine. Carmel Buzz Apple Moscato ($12.69, Mevushal) is a sweet wine infused with green apple that can make a refreshing pre-dinner sip or function as a dessert wine. You could also consider serving a kosher hard cider from a brand with kosher certification, like J.K. Scrumpy’s or Angry Orchard. A list of which popular hard ciders are kosher is available from star-k.org. Now that we’ve gotten the funkier picks out of the way, let’s think about dinner. For brisket or another heavy meat dish, consider tempranillo, a versatile red grape that goes through dramatic changes with age. This varietal naturally has a rich fruit flavor, but the Spanish style is let to sit in oak to develop flavors of clove, smoke and vanilla. The four aging categories are Joven, Crianza, Reserva, and Gran Reserva, often ascending both in price and in flavor

complexity. (For a red wine, the minimum ages are as follows: Joven is young and has minimal or no time in oak; Crianza has 24 months of age with six or 12 in oak depending on the region; Reserva has 36 months of age with 12 in oak; and Gran Reserva has 60 months of age with 18 in oak). The Elvi Herenza Rioja Crianza ($27.99, not Mevushal) is a wine that has both earth and fruit flavors that will complement the richness of brisket. From the same producer, the Gran Reserva 2019 ($119.99, not Mevushal) will show a grace and subtlety that a younger wine might lack. There’s something about a holiday like Rosh Hashanah that feels like it requires an older wine — after all, the holiday is more than 2,000 years old. Malbec can also be a good dinner wine for Rosh Hashanah. Originally from Cahors, France, this grape is now hugely popular in Argentina and is also grown in Israel. The Yaffo Reserve Malbec ($36.99, not Mevushal) comes from the Judean Hills and promises both plum notes and a hint of smokiness from French oak aging. The Chateau Alvignes Cahor 2016 ($24.99, not Mevushal) shows a less fruit-forward expression of Malbec with a smooth finish and a note of spice. If red wine isn’t your thing but you still want a wine with structure and power,

Sancerre might fit the bill. What’s great about Sancerre — sauvignon blanc from the Loire Valley — is that it’s enjoyable for both the person who knows nothing about wine and the person who knows everything. It’s both refined and straightforward, which to me is what French winemakers do best, never sacrificing quality but also not making their products overly complex. Domaine De Panquelaine Sancerre 2025 ($33.99, Mevushal) is an available kosher Sancerre with hints of stone and fruit notes of citrus. Its nearby cousin, Pouilly-Fumé, the same grape from a different part of the Loire Valley, offers a flintiness that can be fun with a white meat dish or a salad. You can get that kosher for $36.99 from Baron De Mamour (Mevushal). There’s a pageantry and festive atmosphere to Rosh Hashanah that feels like a primer for the solemnity of Yom Kippur. The High Holidays are a reminder that through both good times and bad, we have each other to laugh, cry, and share wine with. Just as winemakers sort through the fruits of the harvest and see what will survive through fermentation and what won’t, the High Holidays invite us to reap the benefits of what was good and face the consequences of what wasn’t. L’shana tova. PJC Emma Riva is a freelance writer living in Pittsburgh.

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Opinion A friendship written in words Guest Columnist Debby Tepper Glick

f there were such a thing as Cancer Airlines my friend JF and I would qualify as frequent flyers. The two of us managed to accrue a significant number of miles over the years. Sadly, JF cashed in his miles last month. Prostate cancer finally grounded him for good. As I reflect on our friendship it occurs to me that JF and I couldn’t have been more different. JF was a devout Catholic. I am a High Holiday Jew. He was a staunch Republican. I am a bleeding heart liberal. JF was athletic and excelled at shooting hoops. I do not have an athletic bone in my body and excel at Netflix and Hulu. So how do two people from different political and religious backgrounds establish a friendship? The lyrics from “Fiddler on the Roof ” come to mind: “Matchmaker, matchmaker, make me a match.” Our matchmaker turned out to be our hometown newspaper, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. In 2009 JF wrote a piece titled “The Passage

of Time, Life Reflected in a Cereal Bowl.” He had me at hello. I was charmed, and I emailed him to let him know he had a fan. Over the years it became our tradition to express our appreciation to one another whenever one of us was lucky enough to have an essay appear in print.

entirely different lenses. But neither of us was interested in converting the other. I wasn’t about to become a Republican and he wasn’t about to start voting like me. We were simply two curious people who cared about each other’s welfare. That was enough. That was more than enough.

Everything I know about JF came through his words, and everything he knew about me came through mine. And yet I felt that I knew him.

Perhaps that was one of the more special parts of our friendship. We were a Catholic and a Jew, a Republican and a Democrat, being present for one another through life’s trials and tribulations. Cancer Airlines had put us on the same flight, and somehow the journey had brought us closer. Where to find good lox in Pittsburgh, solid writing and cancer updates became major themes in our email exchanges. Then last month I knew there was trouble on the horizon when he wrote his hoop days were over. His cancer had spread, and he was experiencing weakness and weight loss. Hospice had been called in. Still he wrote that he would continue to pray for me every day. He ended the email by letting me know he was ready to go. “I’ve had a good run,” he wrote. And then added, “An interesting situation for me ... like having a confirmed seat on an airplane but not knowing when the plane is scheduled to take off.” That was JF: departing with a meaningful metaphor, faith and grace. Godspeed, JF. And may your flight be a smooth one. PJC

JF and I never met in person. Not once. We never sat across a restaurant table or shared a cup of coffee. Everything I know about JF came through his words, and everything he knew about me came through mine. And yet I felt that I knew him. Perhaps there was something liberating about a friendship conducted through email. We had no small talk or awkward introductions. We simply checked in on one another when the time felt right. We didn’t become friends because we agreed on the issues of the day. Quite the opposite. We looked at the same world through

An appreciation for our hometown newspaper wasn’t the only thing we had in common. When cancer came knocking at both of our doors, what choice did we have other than to open the door and cope as best we could with our unwanted guest? When I hit some turbulence this past year, JF let me know that he was praying for me every day. He also sent my name to his prayer circle posse and I was added to its list. I returned the favor by asking my son, a rabbi, to say a Mi Shebeirach, the Jewish prayer for healing for JF.

Netanyahu. It did not even begin with the current Israeli government. It has been building for more than two decades. In 2004, the Presbyterian General Assembly approved “phased, selective divestment” from companies doing business with Israel. The vote was 431-62. That same General Assembly set in motion the creation of what became the Israel/Palestine Mission Network, an advocacy structure within the denomination devoted to the conflict. That was the turning point. The significance of 2004 was not merely that Presbyterians passed another Middle East resolution. Churches, unions and civic organizations pass resolutions all the time. Most are forgotten before the delegates get home. The Presbyterians built an institution. The network developed educational materials, cultivated activists and kept Israel before the church. Every General Assembly became another opportunity to move the ball down the field. There were occasional moments when

the church seemed to recognize where it was heading. In 2006, the General Assembly stepped back from its Israel-specific divestment language and acknowledged the “hurt and misunderstanding” its actions had caused Jews and Presbyterians. But the machinery remained in place. In 2014, the church-affiliated Israel/ Palestine Mission Network produced “Zionism Unsettled,” a study guide that challenged not simply Israeli policies but Zionism itself. Jewish organizations protested that the publication distorted Jewish history and denied the Jewish people’s right to national self-determination. The church eventually stopped selling the publication on its website and declared that it did not represent the denomination’s official position. But, once again, the institution that produced it remained. That same year, the General Assembly approved divestment from Caterpillar, Motorola Solutions and Hewlett-Packard because of their connections to Israeli activities.

The vocabulary then grew steadily more extreme. In 2022, the Presbyterian General Assembly declared that Israeli policies toward Palestinians constituted “apartheid.” In 2024, it voted to divest from Israel bonds. The Israel/Palestine Mission Network changed its name to the Palestine Justice Network. And now, in 2026, we have arrived at “genocide.” Occupation. Apartheid. Genocide. There is a progression here that is difficult to ignore. I am reluctant to label an entire Christian denomination antisemitic. The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) has more than a million active members, and I doubt that most Presbyterians spend their days thinking about Israel, much less plotting against it. But that raises an even more troubling question.

to compete in the world of macroaggressions that dominate the news and command our attention. Quoting recent statistics from The J7 Large Communities’ Task Force Against Antisemitism, journalist Hen Mazzig (Future of Jewish, July 30, 2026) writes that the report found that “2025 was the deadliest year for antisemitic violence in the diaspora since the 1994 Jewish community centre bombing in Buenos Aires.” Mazzig makes the point that, “Behind those murders sits a much larger pattern of everyday hostility.” Stabbings and

shootings get all the attention, but smaller microaggressions are quietly telling the antisemitism story. I can relate. Last year while sitting at an outdoor café in Rome, a woman approached me to comment on my Jewish jewelry. She noticed my blue Star of David and she thanked me for wearing it prominently. We chatted a bit, sharing “Jewish geography,” while a waiter watched us closely. When the woman returned to her table the waiter approached

Debby Tepper Glick is a mother, grandmother and writer living in Mt. Lebanon, and can be reached at watchestwo@gmail.com.

The Presbyterians’ war against Israel: A call to action for American Jewry Guest Columnist Stephen M. Flatow

y a vote of 454-15 this summer, the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)’s General Assembly declared Israel’s war against Hamas in Gaza to be a genocide. It urged Presbyterians to boycott Israeli products and lobby Congress for an arms embargo against Israel. The assembly also voted unanimously to divest from Palantir Technologies and GE Aerospace because of their ties to Israel’s military and intelligence services. One could read those votes and conclude that the Presbyterians have simply been swept up in the anti-Israel passions that followed Oct. 7. That would be a mistake. The Presbyterian Church’s campaign against Israel did not begin with the Gaza war. It did not begin with Prime Minister Benjamin

Little things mean a lot Guest Columnist Rabbi Barbara Aiello

ome of us might remember a popular song from the 1950s, “Little Things Mean a Lot.” It was sung by Kitty Kallen, aka Katie Kalinsky, daughter of Russian immigrants, and in 1954 it topped the charts as Kitty sang about how tiny 40

SEPTEMBER 4, 2026

behaviors are more significant than one might think. Kitty sings, “Blow me a kiss from across the room, Touch my hair as you pass my chair. Little things mean a lot.” That’s the positive. Today the flip side might be called “microaggressions,” something the rise of antisemitism has spawned. Experts tell us that antisemitic microaggressions are everyday verbal, behavioral or environmental indignities that communicate hostile, derogatory or negative slights about Jewish identity, culture or religion. These slights are “micro,” often too small

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Please see Flatow, page 41

Please see Aiello, page 41

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Opinion Chronicle poll results: Categorizing Judaism

ast week, the Chronicle asked its readers in an online poll the following question: “How would you primarily categorize Judaism?” Of the 254 people who responded, 46% said, “a religion”; 34% said, “a people”; 11% said, “an ethnicity”; and 9% said, “a civilization.” Comments were submitted by 73 people. A few follow. We are a people with a civilization, an ethnicity and a religion. To call Judaism “a religion” is to buy into others’ attempts to reduce us and make us more malleable. It’s easy to say “ethnoreligion,” but the truth is, it’s a family. Most are born into it, some join through other means. It comes with practices and customs, and even if you’re thousands of miles away from home, there is a kinship with those you meet.

Flatow: Continued from page 40

Why has Israel become such an institutional obsession for their church? There are brutal wars taking place around the world. Christians are persecuted and murdered because of their faith. Authoritarian regimes imprison dissidents and crush religious freedom. Governments deny women basic rights and execute political opponents. Where is the Presbyterian divestment machinery for them? Where are the study guides? Where are the networks? Where are the decades of General Assembly resolutions? Israel, alone among the nations, seems to merit a permanent church infrastructure dedicated to examining its sins. The usual explanation is that the church is committed to social justice and has increasingly viewed the Israeli-Palestinian conflict through the simple lens of oppressor and oppressed. Once Israel was assigned the role of oppressor, the rest followed almost automatically. Facts became secondary to categories. The murder of 1,200 people in Israel on Oct. 7 did not change the category. The

Aiello: Continued from page 40

me, placing a full glass of water on my table. Then he used his elbow to knock the glass forward, spilling water all over me. The waiter joined his friends, laughing and pointing while I tried to dry my clothes. In April I was in hospital after a bad fall. As I was about to be taken for surgery, a nurse approached my bed. He heard that I was Jewish and asked if it were true. When I responded that “Yes. I’m Jewish,” the nurse leaned over my head and shouted into my face, “Are you a ZIONIST?” Frightened and

How would you primarily categorize Judaism? 9%

A civilization

11%

An ethnicity

46%

A religion

34%

A people

We are a people with a shared ancestry and system of beliefs. It is all of the above and no one thing primarily. That is what is so difficult. Per Dara Horn: Judaism predates the idea of religion or ethnicity. We are a people — Am Yisrael. It’s impossible to categorize Judaism. It’s really all of the above, and then some. Maybe a “tribe” would work.

Judaism is a religion. We Jews are a people. Judaism is a complex set of communal and individual constructs that defines and supports a civilization that exists alongside with, and to some extent, influences other civilizations. Mostly a religion, plus ethnicity, plus civilization. It’s very difficult to categorize. We Jews are a people, a culture, and a religion all rolled into one. I don’t think you can separate one from the other. PJC

It is a religion which is defined by social justice, lifelong learning, and the directive to help repair the world — and my goodness, does the world of 2026 need repair!

Judaism is not just a religion; it is so much more. And you can’t say ethnicity, because there are Jews from all over the world with different customs and favorite foods. Civilization, if you look up the definition, doesn’t work either. That’s why I said “a people.”

taking of hostages did not change the category. Hamas’ deliberate embedding of its military infrastructure among civilians did not change the category. Israel was the oppressor. Palestinians were the oppressed. The verdict had effectively been written before the evidence was heard. There is also a lesson here for American Jewry. For years, Jewish organizations treated each Presbyterian vote as a new crisis. There would be meetings, statements of disappointment and renewed calls for interfaith dialogue. Then attention would move elsewhere until the next General Assembly. The anti-Israel activists did not move on. They built networks. They mastered church procedure. They wrote study materials. They cultivated delegates. And they returned year after year. In 2004, the vote for selective divestment was 431-62. Twenty-two years later, the genocide resolution passed 454-15. That is not a sudden reaction to Gaza. It is what institutional success looks like. So what should American Jewry do now? First, we should stop pretending that another carefully worded expression of “deep disappointment” will reverse a campaign that

has been building for two decades. Dialogue has value when both sides are listening. But dialogue cannot become a substitute for recognizing what is taking place before our eyes. Jewish organizations should document and publicize the Presbyterian Church’s record on Israel — not merely its latest resolution, but the entire progression from divestment to attacks on Zionism, to apartheid accusations and now genocide. Church members, elected officials and the public should understand that this is not an isolated response to the Gaza war. It is a sustained institutional campaign. Second, we need to invest in institutions of our own. As president of the Religious Zionists of America, I see how difficult it is to compete with organizations that employ advocates, develop educational materials and maintain networks that operate year after year. Pro-Israel organizations cannot simply mobilize when the next General Assembly, campus resolution or boycott campaign appears on the calendar. We need sustained education about Zionism. We need to prepare young Jews to answer the accusation that Jewish national self-determination is inherently racist or colonialist. We need relationships with Christian leaders who are prepared not merely to attend an Israel solidarity dinner but to challenge anti-Israel campaigns within their own denominations.

And we need to show up. That may be the simplest lesson of the Presbyterian story. The activists who transformed their church’s policy toward Israel did not win because every Presbyterian in America became hostile to the Jewish state. They won because they organized, persisted and remained in the room. American Jewry should learn from them. Not their hostility to Israel. Their persistence. The Presbyterian Church once worried that its actions had caused “hurt and misunderstanding” in the Jewish community. Today, it applies the gravest accusation imaginable to the Jewish state while demanding that the United States deny Israel the weapons it needs to defend itself. Perhaps the Presbyterians should ask themselves how they traveled so far. American Jewry should ask an equally uncomfortable question. Why did we fail to stop them? PJC

somewhat rattled I said, “Let’s talk later.” In the scope of extreme antisemitic violence these microaggressions are just that — micro. But experts say that the impact is cumulative and that while a single comment might seem small, experiencing them over and over is often compared to “death by a thousand cuts.” A kippah is a small thing, literally and figuratively. It is not mentioned in the Torah, but in the world of Jewish ritual items the kippah commands attention as it maintains a place of honor at Jewish family simchas, especially weddings and b’nai mitzvah celebrations. Often these events

are memorialized with a loving inscription printed inside each kippah. Having officiated at more than 200 of these events, I’ve brought home many inscribed kippot: “Mazel Tov Josh and Abby,” reads one, while another features “Kyle’s Bar Mitzvah 2002.” This year, however, the kippah message was different. No obvious Hebrew phrases, no identification of the ceremony and no inscription of the bar mitzvah’s obviously Jewish surname. Instead, inside the kippah we find, “Italy 2026 BSG.” BSG’s mom put it this way: “With all that’s happening, it’s better not to call attention to a Jewish ceremony.”

I understand the concern and the caution about what Jewish organizations call the “new normal,” but I feel we Jews and our children are paying a price. What are the long-term effects of these microaggressions if indeed “little things mean a lot?” PJC

— Compiled by Toby Tabachnick

Chronicle weekly poll question: What is your favorite fall Jewish holiday? Go to pittsburghjewishchronicle.org to respond. PJC

Stephen M. Flatow is president of the Religious Zionists of America-Mizrachi (not affiliated with any Israeli or American political party) and the father of Alisa Flatow, who was murdered by Iranian-sponsored Palestinian terrorists in April 1995. This article was first published by the Jewish Standard.

Rabbi Barbara Aiello is the first woman and first non-Orthodox rabbi in Italy. She opened the first active synagogue in Calabria since Inquisition times and is the founder of the B’nei Anousim movement in Calabria and Sicily that helps Italians discover and embrace their Jewish roots. She is originally from Pittsburgh.

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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SEPTEMBER 4, 2026

Celebrations

Torah

Bar Mitzvahs

Days of Awe: 9/11 and Rosh Hashanah

Riley Herman, son of Erin and Chris Herman, will become a bar mitzvah on Saturday, Sept. 5. Grandparents are Malori and Barry Asman of Mt. Lebanon, and Linda and Claude Herman of Chicago.

Judah Kaushansky, son of Nate and Jessica Kaushansky, will become a bar mitzvah on Saturday, Sept. 5, at Temple Ohav Shalom in Allison Park. He is the grandson of Ralph and Sandra Jones of Pleasantville, Pennsylvania, and Mark and Luba Kaushansky of Sunny Isles Beach, Florida. Judah is a magnanimous personality and good-hearted soul. He has many passions, including Michael Jackson, dance, Godzilla, movies, music, travel and all things tech. His joyful presence and kindness are welcomed warmly everywhere he goes. Judah is a survivor of congenital heart disease, having been born with Truncus Arteriosus. This extremely rare condition required open-heart surgery immediately after his birth, along with many other interventions including a pacemaker and tracheostomy. In 2013, he became the youngest recipient of the MAZE procedure at Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh. Judah continues to have regular procedures and hospital stays, which have taught him patience, resilience and strength. For his bar mitzvah project, he is writing a comic book for children about what to expect during and how to manage medical procedures. Judah is a remarkable young man, and his family is very proud of him.

Wedding

Freada and David Jaffe are excited to announce the marriage of their daughter, Jennifer Isabel, to Asaph Kupferman. Asaph is the son of Debra and Michael Kupferman of Houston, Texas. Jennifer and Asaph were married on July 30, 2026, at The Rockleigh, Rabbi Yitzchak Sprung of United Orthodox Synagogues officiated the ceremony. Jennifer is the granddaughter of Huvvy Simon and the late Meyer Simon, and Alice and Norman Jaffe. Asaph is the grandson of Shulamit Yoshor and the late Joseph Yoshor, and Carole and Max Kupferman. Jennifer’s sisters, Emily and Alexandra Jaffe, served as her maids of honor, and Gabrielle Kupferman, sister of the groom, was one of many bridesmaids. Asaph’s brother, Jacob Kupferman, served as best man, along with many friends as groomsmen. Jennifer and Asaph both graduated from the University of Pennsylvania, and work and live in New York. May Jennifer and Asaph “build a true Bayis Ne’eman B’Yisrael.” PJC

THANK YOU

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Rabbi Daniel Yolkut Parshat Nitzavim-Vayeilech Deuteronomy 29:9 – 31:30

ext week we will experience a powerful calendrical conjunction: Rosh Hashanah will begin as the United States marks the 25th anniversary of 9/11. Personally, though, every Rosh Hashanah brings back memories of 9/11 In the fall of 2001, I was 25, completing my rabbinical training at Yeshiva University and working as an assistant rabbi in New Jersey. Since the previous Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish world had been plunged into the terror of the first year of the second intifada, and a constant sense of dread and terror and sadness. On the Shabbat of Sept. 8, I delivered an optimistic sermon about the potential, even in a year of such terror, to find meaning in blessing in the 10 days left before Rosh Hashanah. Three days later was 9/11. There was a family in the synagogue who lost a loved one in the twin towers, and the day before Rosh Hashanah I visited the shiva house. As someone who was just beginning my rabbinate and about to start my adult life, it had a very powerful impact on me. What do you say to a woman who lost her parents in Auschwitz and now her son in the towers? I was scheduled to speak that evening at the opening service of Rosh Hashanah. Feeling unequal to the task, I sat quietly by my computer sorting out how to frame Rosh Hashanah to a community in trauma. This is a lightly edited text of what I said, and as I look back 25 years — now as a husband and father — the ideas continue to resonate with me even more after the many crises of the last quarter century, and I hope my musings are meaningful for you as well.

Rosh Hashanah 2001

There is ancient prayer still recited in many synagogues at the last moments before Rosh Hashanah called Achos Ketana, and its chorus, I think, starkly resonates this year: “Tichleh shana u-kileloteha, may the past year with its curses end.” Without hyperbole, this has been a year that seems to have been shadowed by horrible curses. To the images of 5761— from that first picture of an American yeshiva student in Israel beaten at the hands of savages, to the bodies of soldiers in Ramallah, to school buses and discos and pizza shops, to the unspeakable horror that hit so close to home and that we still have yet to fully fathom — we can only add our assent to the prayer: Truly, let this year quietly find its way out the door without leaving more heartbreak in its wake. However, it will be impossible to begin this new year of 5762 without last year’s images intruding into the prayers of the next two days. And each of us will find a line of our own in the machzor that will be infused with a new urgency against the gloom that shadows over our hearts. For me, though, I already know what piece of liturgy will burn my lips when I utter them tomorrow: “Adam yesodo me-afar, ve-sofo le-afar — man comes from the dust, and to the dust he will inevitably return.” “Banafsho yavi lavchmo — at risk of his life he seeks his daily bread, and death stalks

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doing the business of regular life.” “Mashul ke-cheres ha-nishbar … uchachalom ya’uf — like broken pottery, dried grass, like a passing shadow, like a dust in the wind, like a passing dream, which too easily can be twisted into a nightmare.” The reality of 5761 belies the need to voice this in words. None of us needs a new reminder of the frailty of existence, of how delicate are the gossamer threads that support our civilization, of how quickly our illusions of normalcy can be shattered. But what is the conclusion of all of this sober, heart-wrenching evaluation of our lives? How must we conclude? “Ve-Atah, Hu Melech, Kel Chai ve-Kayam! You are the King, the ever living God!” When all else fails us, when this world shows itself to be an alma de-shikra, a world of falsehood and illusion, we are forced to reaffirm that only thing that is real and true and enduring is the King of Kings, and that realization is the heart of what Rosh Hashanah, or the Coronation Night, the Night of Coronation, is all about — and with each shofar blast tomorrow we proclaim our fealty to His dominion. Yet why does He need this? Why does One who is Infinite need our coronation? The 16th-century sage, Maharal of Prague, responded to a similar question: Why must we begin each Amidah prayer with a litany of praise? Do we really imagine God as a primitive, egocentric despot who will not grant our needs without the verbal baksheesh of “the great, the mighty and the awesome?” The Maharal explains that fundamental to the prayer experience is the need to internalize the idea that we are directing the needs of our hearts to the proper address, that he in fact is the rofei cholim, the healer of the sick, the matir assurim, the liberator of the confined, and is and will ultimately be the Mechayeh ha-Meisim, the One who can do the impossible and revive the dead. To truly pray means confronting the painful truth that neither army nor intelligence agency, skyscraper nor stock market is a guarantee of safety, security or happiness, but are mere extensions of the shards of pottery that are our lives. The opening of the Amidah in praise of God addresses not His need, but ours: To believe that the words we are mouthing have meaning requires a daily mental coronation, and similarly, this evening of Rosh Hashanah, this Night of Coronation, is the pathway that allows ourselves to truly beseech Hashem for a year of salvation that we all, individually and collectively need so desperately. And so as night falls, and 5761 limps out, unmourned into history, and the new year of 5762 begins, we once again shoulder the awesome task of coronation, searing into our souls that, now and forever, You are the One, the only One, with the power to fulfill our deepest prayers. Let us join that chorus of song for the King of Kings, and may Avinu Malkeinu, our King who is also our tremendously loving father, grant our heartfelt prayers for an immediate inscription in the Book of Life. PJC Rabbi Daniel Yolkut is the rabbi of Congregation Poale Zedeck. This column is a service of the Vaad Harabonim of Greater Pittsburgh. PITTSBURGHJEWISHCHRONICLE.ORG

Obituaries BARNETT: Ruth Barnett, of Palo Alto, California, died peacefully on Saturday, Aug. 22, 2026, at the age of 85. She was born on Sept. 25, 1940, in Pittsburgh, the daughter of Harry and Anna (Tenenbaum) Topol, who had come from Poland. She loved growing up on Mellon Street, and the friendships she formed in those days lasted the rest of her life; her Pittsburgh friends were an extended family. She was a graduate of Peabody High School and the University of Pittsburgh. She moved to California in the early 1960s, settling in Livermore for more than 50 years. There, she raised her two sons and was active in the small and tight-knit Jewish community at Congregation Beth Emek. Returning to school, she earned her teaching credential and a master’s degree from California State University, Hayward. She spent decades as a special education specialist in the Tracy Unified School District. She continued her own education throughout her career, always looking for new methods to bring out the potential in all her students, especially in reading. Even after retiring in 2004, she continued to volunteer as a reading specialist. Travel and concerts were her hobbies, easily combined with family and friends. Joan Baez, Bob Dylan and Bruce Springsteen were among her favorites, and she once snuck a Springsteen concert into a trip to Ireland. What she treasured most was time with her grandchildren and her nephews — hours of playing, often down on the floor, and, ever so subtly, also teaching. She is survived by her sons, David Barnett (Andi) and Steven Barnett (Maria); her grandchildren, Jake (Samantha), Owen, Jonah and Hannah; her brother, Mitchell Topol (Barbara); her nephews, Michael and Aaron (Teresa); and her grandnephew, Christopher Beau Topol. She was preceded in death by her parents and by her sister, Frances Topol. Services were held at Ralph Schugar Chapel, Inc. Interment Adath Jeshurun Cemetery. Contributions to the Lucile Packard Foundation for Children’s Health (my.supportlpch.org). schugar.com

grandmother to Marcus, Alex, Brandon, Brittany and Juliet; and a beloved aunt and great-aunt and friend. At the heart of Susan’s life was her daughter, Jaqueline. Their bond was one that only a mother and daughter can fully know, shaped across a lifetime by tenderness, history and a love uniquely their own. Motherhood lived deeply within Susan, and Jaqueline was one of the great loves and defining relationships of her life. Her beloved husband, Samuel Mahfood, was the love of Susan’s life. Theirs was a love of companionship, tenderness and deep belonging, built through the years and through the quiet intimacy of knowing and being known. With Samuel, Susan found home in another person. He was her lovey, in life and in death. Children held an especially tender place in Susan’s heart. She delighted in their innocence, imagination and natural capacity for wonder. She taught yoga to children and brought puppets, play and gentleness into their world. Perhaps she understood children so beautifully because some essential part of Susan remained open to wonder too. In her earlier decades, Susan’s natural elegance found expression in fashion and beauty. She worked as a model and merchandise buyer, and later in hospitality, makeup artistry and consulting, education, and the teaching of poise and social graces. As her life unfolded, her attention turned increasingly toward the inner world. Susan became a Reiki Master, yoga teacher, breathwork practitioner, healer and light worker. She was quietly devoted to healing and to bringing greater peace, connection and consciousness into the lives of others. She was drawn to tarot and numerology, crystals and angels, nature and the mysteries of spirit, while holding close the history, traditions and ceremonies of her Jewish heritage. Susan seemed to understand intuitively that some of the most meaningful parts of being human cannot be seen. They can only be felt. She gave angel medallions to those she loved. She loved gardenias, the sea and warm sand, old movies, crystals and giraffes, beautiful penmanship, thoughtful cards, mahjong with the girls and family game nights.

New Chesed Shel Emeth Cemetery

KRASTMAN: Deborah Ann Krastman, on Saturday, Aug. 29, 2026. Beloved wife of Donald Krastman. Loving mother of Frank David Krastman, Robert Laurence Krastman and Sarah Gavriella (Joseph Brian) Birchansky. Sister of Sandra (late Barry) Liever. Sister-in-law of Philip Krastman. Nanny GaGa of Emma Florence and Jenny Chava Birchansky. Also survived by nieces and nephews. Debbie was a registered nurse for 20 years. She stopped working to raise her three children. She was a proud mother and grandmother, supporting her children in their endeavors. She so enjoyed her grandchildren by playing and reading to them. She was an excellent cook making her brisket and matzo ball soup. She was a self-taught pianist learning to play by ear. She was the ultimate fashionista. Debbie was a very compassionate, selfless and giving person. Services were held at Ralph Schugar Chapel, Inc. Interment B’Nai Emunoh Cemetery. schugar.com

Please see Obituaries, page 44

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RECK-MAHFOOD: Susan Reck-Mahfood lived her 81 years with a rare and unmistakable grace, moving gently through the world and leaving love wherever she went. There are women whose beauty is something one sees, and there are women whose beauty becomes something one feels. Susan embodied both. Soft, elegant, feminine and deeply kind, she had a way of making people feel cared for. She understood the beauty of small gestures, the sacredness of attention and the quiet power of making another person feel seen. On Aug. 29, 2026, Susan passed from this life surrounded by the love she had spent a lifetime giving. Born to Bertha and Salven Reck, Susan was a beloved sister to Wayne, Burton Ronald, the late Jeffery, Harold and Michelle. A beloved wife to Samuel. She was a mother to Jaqueline, Celeste (Kevin) and George (Valerie); a cherished

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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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PITTSBURGH JEWISH CHRONICLE

SEPTEMBER 4, 2026

Obituaries Obituaries: Continued from page 43

She loved tea and green juice, her beloved car Iris, and the quiet elegance of wearing white. And there was always room for a sneaky late-night chocolate Kiss. Through all the chapters of Susan’s 81 years ran one golden thread: She gave love. She gave it to her family, to the children she cherished, to those she taught, and to those who came into her care. Through healing, presence, tenderness and an abiding belief in the goodness and possibility within people, Susan devoted much of her life to helping others feel more whole, more connected and more deeply seen. Her impact cannot be measured simply by what she accomplished, but by what she awakened in others. She brought softness where it was needed, healing where it was possible, and love wherever she could. Hers was a life lived with an open heart, and the world was made gentler by her presence in it. Susan gave love. And in doing so, she reminded us what a beautiful life can be. Now, in the meantime, take a deep breath, smile, and don’t forget to celebrate life. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to

Jewish Association on Aging gratefully acknowledges contributions from the following:

A gift from ...

In memory of...

Anonymous . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Esther Kochin David & Judith Clovsky . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . William Phillip Clovsky Barbara Shaer DeLuce . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Harry Doltis Barbara Shaer DeLuce . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Sandor Shaer Mark Diamond . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Leopold Diamond Richard Glick . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Ruthe Glick Steven Kohane . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Regina Kotlyar Linda Levine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Albert Rosenfeld Linda Rattner Nunn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Jack Rattner Ellen Pearlstein & Steven Vecchio . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . David & Jeannette Pearlstein Lynn & Jeff Rosenthal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Donald Rosenthal Jerry & Ina Silver . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Joseph Mirow Joyce Unitan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Aaron H . Zwick Joyce Weinstein Levinson . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Dr . Larry A . Levinson Edris Weis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Dora Shaffer Edris Weis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Mildred Tannenbaum Contact the Development department at 412-586-2690 or development@jaapgh.org for more information.

THIS WEEK’S YAHRZEITS —

Sunday September 6: Bess Abrams, Hanna Balkman, Abraham Bennett, Sara Cukerbaum, Israel Feldman, Eva S . Friedman, Max Garfinkel, Selma Halle, Sadie Jacobs, Helen Markowitz, Theodore Miller, Jane Moravitz, Lt . Albert Rosenfeld, Albert Sleisenger

Monday September 7: Leo Morris Americus, Rose Berger, Nathan Drucker, Emma Faigen, Isaac Horn, Paul Kaufman, Emil Joseph Klein, Sarah Levenson, Joseph Mirow, Benjamin Newberg, Abraham Ohringer, Samuel Patkin, Leonard B . Rosen, David B . Saltsburg, Maurice Stern, Lawrence Norman Tunkle, Gertrude Wanetick, Edmund Wechsler, Ben Weiner Tuesday September 8: Bertram B . Biggard, Beckie C . Cadison, Harold Benjamin Cramer, Harry Doltis, Louis Gordon, Jr ., Murray F . Hoffman, David Samuel Katz, Louise Mendelson, Emma Mersky, Lena Myer, Roy Ruttenberg, Harry Silberman, Belle Simon, Sylvia F . Stern Wednesday September 9: Robert Amper, Ida Bardin, Anna Bernstein, Joseph Morris Fisher, Rose E . Litman, Morris Merwitzer, Manuel Howard Neft, Reah Ogun, Rose Orr, Frances Pasekoff, Tybie Poser, Saul Seegman, Abe Sieff, Himie Simon, Abe Siniakin, Lester H . Strauss, Freda Weiss

St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in honor of Susan and her lifelong love of children. Services honoring Susan’s life were held at Ralph Schugar Chapel, Inc. A private interment was held at Beth Shalom Cemetery, Susan’s final resting place. schugar.com WALKER: Kim Simon Walker. Kim Simon Walker’s life started its journey on Dec. 27, 1954, and completed its cycle on Aug. 25, 2026. It was a full life. In her early years, although polio had been conquered in the mid-1950s, Kim was dealt a cruel blow when she contracted rheumatic fever. Although now rare, during the ’50s and into the ’60s, rheumatic fever was a feared childhood illness that often had dire consequences with lifelong effects. This led to a year of confinement at home, and of her missing school at Colfax Elementary School. She had weekly home visits by our local legendary family practitioner, Dr. David Flom, as well as by visiting teachers to keep her current on her lessons. It was a hard life for anyone, let alone a child, to face a year of isolation and confined to bedrest, but she was tough and she persevered, and overcame this early setback. As she moved on, finishing Colfax and then high school at Taylor Allderdice in 1972, Kim later enrolled at Penn State, attending the campus in Erie, Pennsylvania. It became clear as time went on that scholastics were not her primary interest and she left academic life and pursued a career as a dental hygienist at Northeastern University. In a word, Kim excelled. She was able to easily market her talents as a top-rated hygienist and had a wonderful several-year stint living and working in Boston, Massachusetts, with a close friend from high school as her roommate. Always, a lover of great food, they perfected their own spin on a New England boiled seashore dinner, featuring only the freshest fish and lobster. After she moved back to Pittsburgh, she explored a career in high-end retail clothes sales. This again was a perfect career choice for Kim, although her folks could not help but notice that Kim also used her time in retail to develop and refine her taste for only the most exquisite clothes and shoes ... something she carried with her throughout her life. It was at Sak’s Fifth Avenue where she met the love of her life, Henry Walker, and this blossomed into a marriage, and they later relocated to Florida. While the marriage did not last many years, they remained close friends until Henry’s untimely passing. Kim’s abilities on the sales floor were unparalleled, and as time went on, and in different retail establishments, she succeeded repeatedly. Always a risk-taker, she left the world of high-end retail clothes, and opened her own business, selling advertising novelties and specialties over a wide swath of western Pennsylvania. Again, success! She bought a Chrysler convertible and was on the road for days at a time. As time went on, however, Kim’s physical health began to suffer as various musculoskeletal problems surfaced, that required more types of treatment. It was never clear if these were residual problems from her early bout with rheumatic fever. Notwithstanding, Kim turned a deaf ear to this array of physical challenges and took up and again excelled at figure skating ... an incredibly rigorous activity. She was a frequent visitor to the Schenley Park ice rink and never lost the opportunity to ice skate whenever she could. Kim also was a longtime pet lover and had a series of very memorable housecats that also became her lifelong friends. She had a special talent for training the cats and giving them almost human characteristics. Lastly, until recently, Kim remained a sun worshiper and in summer, could always be found poolside, keeping company with her girlfriends from her high school days. She leaves her older brother, Michael (Carrol) and daughter Paula, and her younger sister, Erin (Bruce) and sons Samuel and William, and her two cats, Lulu and Izzy. In lieu of flowers, please consider contributing to Humane Animal Rescue, Animal Friends or Animal Advocates or the animal shelter of your choice. Services were held at Ralph Schugar Chapel, Inc. Interment private. schugar.com PJC

Thursday September 10: Annie Lazier Barovsky, Samuel Caplan, Alexander Cohen, Paula Cohen, Richard Crone, Fannie Dubin, Mathilda Horn, Lillian Koss, Lena Levine, Morris Marks, Evelyn Pearlstein, Sam Ruben, Sally Schaffler, Dr . Stanley M . Taxay, Edward Weinberger, Abraham Zwibel

The Original

Friday September 11: Maurice Robert Colker, Benjamin F . Cooper, Irving Farbstein, Jack H . Goldstone, Solomon Lehman, Max Levine, Jesse Levy, Beulah Lobl, Philip Seltzer, Minnie C . Serrins, Isadore Simon, Sheldon N . Topp, Herman Louis Turk Saturday September 12: Anna Chinn, Anne Betty Frand, Louis Frischman, Henry Goldberg, Lena Roscow Goldberg, Sorali E . Lubarsky, Marilyn Hope Manela, Jack N . Pearlman, Sandor Shaer, Samuel Silverblatt, Karl Solomon, David Terner

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Life & Culture Hillel Academy school year starts with jokes, educational truths and ‘yes, and’ — LOCAL— By Adam Reinherz | Senior Staff Writer

he principles of improv are propelling students and teachers at Hillel Academy of Pittsburgh toward better instruction and communication. On Aug. 25 and 26, Juda Alcabes, the self-described “improv therapist,” worked with educators and teens on a series of trainings. After traveling from his home in Boca Raton, Florida, Alcabes, a licensed therapist and professional comedian, met with administrators and teachers on Aug. 25. “What’s the deal with school?” he asked. As participants mulled over the prompt, Alcabes explained that his Pittsburgh visit wasn’t about trying to “blow up the structure of a classroom”; rather, it was to remind everyone about certain norms. Children are taught by adults, and there’s often a funny dynamic, he said. Adults — whether teachers or parents — routinely want kids to talk to them and to learn, but they too often rely on ineffective approaches. Alcabes referenced a recent engagement with his own son, who just returned from overnight camp. After asking how the summer was, Alcabes said his son replied, “You know.” Alcabes said he reacted by saying, “That’s it?” and thinking, “That’s the whole thing?

p Juda Alcabes, the "improv therapist," meets with educators on Aug. 25.

Photo by Adam Reinherz

You were away for a month. It cost me like eight grand to get you there.” The reality, he told the group of nearly 70 educators, is that there are better ways to connect with young people and elicit feedback — and most teachers already know this. Some students are more verbal. Some are

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less. But in the moment, when there’s a need to cover specific material, “you don’t really get a chance to think about this kind of stuff on the fly because you got a lot to do.” Leaning on a classic comedic form can help, he explained. Improv, which is predicated on the rule of “yes, and,” requires parties to accept and develop whatever reality a scene partner creates, he said. By saying “yes,” a party acquiesces to the narrative. By saying “and,” a party builds on what’s there. Alcabes — first with teachers, then the following day with high school students — demonstrated how to use the “yes, and” approach through various games. Each activity allowed participants to further communication and create trust. It’s about “going back to the art of connection,” he told the Chronicle. If teachers and students, or colleagues, or peers, see “we’re connected, things are a lot breezier.” And truthfully, he continued, “at the end of the day, a teacher could not teach without a student.”

The concept is more than a maxim. Respectful communication, Alcabes explained, means recognizing that teachers and students may have different statuses in the classroom, but both sides need one another to succeed. Alcabes said he’s seen the communicative tactic work countless times, especially when a situation requires “modification of behavior from a student.” A student is more likely to be receptive if they “actually feel like a partner in it.” The mindset shifts to “like, hey, we’re doing this together.” Rabbi Yisroel Smith, Hillel Academy’s fifth to 12th grade boys principal, told the Chronicle he has followed Alcabes’ material for years online. Having the “improv therapist” finally work with Hillel Academy educators and students was incredible, Smith said. The staff was able to see that there’s a space “between rigidness and freedom where people really thrive.” And students learned that “if you operate within rules, and you’re respectful of everyone, everyone can have a lot of fun more than if you just make it about [yourself] and tell a joke at someone else’s expense.” Hillel Academy student Elisheva Sunshine, 16, praised the Aug. 26 workshop and said Alcabes conveyed a sentiment that “you don’t have to be so stuck in your ways” and that adopting an “anything could work” mindset can be beneficial in multiple settings. Classmate Ahuva Isenberg, 17, agreed and described Alcabes’ approach as a fun reminder that “whatever comes out of your brain in that moment” doesn’t have to be perfect. By using the tools of improv, experiences can be shared and connections can be created, even when “everything doesn’t make sense.” Although school is a place to foster learning, improv can impart educational truths that extend beyond dates, equations and spelling, Hannah Swedarsky, 17, explained. Committing to the rules of “yes, and” is something “you could take on as a lesson, and people could actually learn from you.” PJC

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

Together we survive.

WE STAND WITH ISRAEL

Together we find strength and seek peace. Together we make the world better and life sweeter.

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Choose from one of the ads shown or have us customize your greeting (add $15 to ad cost). For more information, call Amy Weiss at 412-613-0697 or email aweiss@pittsburghjewishchronicle.org

SEPTEMBER 4, 2026

p Juda Alcabes, center, leads an improv game wtih Hillel Academy of Pittsburgh students on Aug. 26. Photo courtesy of Hillel Academy of Pittsburgh

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Community Learning is for teachers, too

Community Day School educators prepared for the start of the school year by participating in a series of trainings. The workshops reviewed best practices and raised questions including, “What should students experience? What should families experience? What should staff experience? And what should visitors notice?”

p Educators strategize optimal tactics.

Photo courtesy of Community Day School

Macher and Shaker

David Korman will receive the inaugural Pro Bono Legacy Award from the Allegheny County Bar Foundation at the ACBF’s Fall Foundation Reception on Sept. 15 at Hotel Monaco in Downtown Pittsburgh. Korman, an emeritus attorney, has supported public interest causes and assisted those with low incomes through pro bono legal services and other volunteer endeavors. He currently participates with the Allegheny County Bar Foundation, the American and Pennsylvania Bar Associations, Neighborhood Legal Services, Jewish Family & Community Services and Casa San José.

p David Korman

Photo courtesy of Allegheny County Bar Foundation

Annual apple trip is awesome

Friendship Circle of Pittsburgh members traveled to Simmons Farm for apple picking. The annual event, which marked 18 years, enabled participants to enjoy the outdoors, meet new people and grow community.

p Collecting apples and memories

We walk together

Jewish Community Center of Greater Pittsburgh’s Clubhouse afterschool program introduced “Walking Bus Buddies,” a new program that pairs the oldest Clubhouse participants with kindergarteners. Each day, school-aged buddies make their way together from Colfax K-8 to the Squirrel Hill JCC. The program, according to JCC representatives, provides older children an opportunity to be “leaders, mentors and role models, while giving our kindergarteners a familiar face and a sense of security as they navigate a new routine.”

p Building friendship, building community

Photo courtesy of Jewish Community Center of Greater Pittsburgh

Beit Kulanu and the Buccos

It’s always Steelers season

p Front: Mirit Sands and McKenzie Nash. Back: Danie Oberman, Alex Dolinger, Hannah Feldman and Ari Hoffman Photo courtesy of Beit Kulanu

p Here we go.

Beit Kulanu’s young adult group joined community members at Jewish Heritage Night at PNC Park on Aug. 18.

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Photo courtesy of Friendship Circle of Pittsburgh

Sally and Howard Levin Clubhouse colleagues enjoyed a Pittsburgh Steelers preseason game on Aug. 21.

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Photo courtesy of The Branch

SEPTEMBER 4, 2026

High Holidays of Hope Rosh Book of Life Book Sort Hashanah

Book Drive: September 1-11 at both JCC locations

Start the New Year with a mitzvah

Jews are often referred to as People of the Book, and on Rosh Hashanah we pray to be inscribed in the Book of Life. In that spirit, we are collecting gently used children’s books to be distributed to houses of worship.

Book Sort: Sunday, September 13 • 3-5 pm at both JCC locations On September 13, volunteers will organize, sort and box the used books. Give used books a second chance by donating and boxing gently used titles! Join in the city-wide Won’t You Be a Leader Campaign.

Interested in volunteering? Register here

Yom Kippur

Bearing Witness: Hope and Resilience Through Listening Monday, September 21 • 3-5 pm • JCC Squirrel Hill For all the times we didn’t listen, engage in teshuvah (repentance) by remembering, hearing and empowering storytellers. Join in the mitzvah of deeply understanding other people’s experiences and finding hope together this Yom Kippur. We welcome people observing Yom Kippur and those who are interested in learning more through a short service.

RSVP here

For more information, contact Elisha Serotta • eserotta@jccpgh.org

SEPTEMBER 4, 2026

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