Jeff Finkelstein

Alon, You Are Not Alone!

By Jeff Finkelstein / Friday, February 14, 2025 / 0 Comments

Although I’ve never met him, I’ve written and spoken about Alon Ohel with the media. He is the face I hold in my mind when I think of the Israeli hostages. On Sunday, the media reported that Alon is still alive.

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Establishing Our Cuba Conexión

By Jeff Finkelstein / Friday, January 24, 2025 / 0 Comments

This week, I’m handing the forum off to Emma Renfrew, our Women’s Philanthropy & Engagement Manager, as she discusses her time in Cuba.

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Refuse To Sign

Standing as a United Pittsburgh

By Jeff Finkelstein / Friday, January 10, 2025 / 0 Comments

Life today seems to have our Jewish community constantly moving from one issue, crisis or challenge to another.

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Feration Provided Concrete Sheilds at Misgav School

Inspiring. Emotional. Powerful. 

By Jeff Finkelstein / Friday, December 6, 2024 / 0 Comments

For the first time, I heard an air raid siren and had just 90 seconds to reach a shelter.

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412 Days, 412 Days Too Many

By Jeff Finkelstein / Thursday, November 21, 2024 / 0 Comments

I love the 412. While my wife and I were not born and raised in Pittsburgh, we have made it our beloved home for 26 years. Today, 412 carries another meaning.

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Virtual Block Watch

Keeping Our Community Safe Through Collective Vigilance

By Jeff Finkelstein / Friday, November 1, 2024 / 0 Comments

You can volunteer to be part of our security strategy at Federation which includes the Virtual Block Watch, an initiative that allows residents and businesses with doorbell or security cameras to support our community safety efforts.

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People sitting together during Shabbat

Empowering the Next Generation

By Jeff Finkelstein / Friday, September 20, 2024 / 0 Comments

It’s been a difficult few years in Pittsburgh given the shooting in 2018, the pandemic, the trial for the shooter, the war in Ukraine and the war in Israel. It’s moments like the ones I had over the last week that remind me what our Federation is all about: creating a Jewish community where everyone feels included, supported and inspired.

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A Time for Celebration

By Jeff Finkelstein / Friday, August 30, 2024 / 0 Comments

In the last few weeks, a lot of tremendous achievements occurred for our Pittsburgh Jewish community.

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Federation President & CEO Jeff Finkelstein with local rabbi and other plaintiffs being interviewed outside of Pittsburgh City Hall

Standing Up Against Antisemitism

By Jeff Finkelstein / Friday, August 16, 2024 / 0 Comments

I couldn’t be prouder about how our Federation has demonstrated strong, focused leadership these last few weeks.

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Highlighting Achievements in the Face of Challenges

By Jeff Finkelstein / Friday, July 5, 2024 / 0 Comments

At our recent staff picnic, I asked my colleagues to help remind me of what we (our donors, volunteers, partner agencies and staff) accomplished in the face of unbelievable challenges during the fiscal year that ended on June 30th.

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Solidarity With a Country Suffering

By Jeff Finkelstein / Friday, June 28, 2024 / 0 Comments

Truthfully, you cannot fully comprehend what has happened since the Hamas terrorist attack on Oct. 7, 2023 without being in Israel, so I’m not going to attempt to share everything. Instead, here is just one story. The single person’s story formed a thread that traveled with us from the north to the south to central Israel.

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Tikkun Leil Shavuot

A Pre-Shavuot Reflection in Difficult Times

By Jeff Finkelstein / Friday, June 7, 2024 / 0 Comments

Instead of a longer, cohesive message, I have a few thoughts to share ahead of the next week.

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Communities2Gether: Rebuilding Homes in Times of Need

By Jeff Finkelstein / Friday, April 26, 2024 / 0 Comments

This week Kim Salzman, Director, Israel & Overseas Planning & Impact, writes about a newly formed partnership with Kibbutz Nir Yitzchak to help rebuild the area.

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Bringing Reality to Campus

By Jeff Finkelstein / Friday, April 12, 2024 / 0 Comments

This week Rachel Soloff, Community Relations Council Associate, writes about her trip to Israel with Campus Ambassadors.

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A family holding up a photo of their kidnapped relatives

Taking Action in the Rise of Anti-Israel Beliefs

By Jeff Finkelstein / Friday, March 29, 2024 / 0 Comments

I am so proud of what we as a Federation have done since October 7 to stand with Israel.

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Solidarity Mission to Israel

It’s All Unthinkable and Yet, I Can’t Stop Thinking About It

By Jeff Finkelstein / Friday, March 1, 2024 / 0 Comments

I am sharing some brief vignettes and reflections from the past week I spent in Israel.

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Yad Sarah airlift of medical supplies supported by JFNA

Operation Breath of Life

By Jeff Finkelstein / Friday, February 9, 2024 / 0 Comments

Federations support Yad Sarah in airlifting medical supplies due to transportation issue caused by Houthi terrorists.

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Jewish gravestone with flowers

Norman Finkelstein, Zichrono Livrocho

By Jeff Finkelstein / Friday, January 19, 2024 / 0 Comments

As I eulogized my father at his funeral, I said, “I am a Jewish communal professional, as my father was, because my father was.

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Call For Israel Now

Doing Our Part: Call Congress!

By Jeff Finkelstein / Friday, December 8, 2023 / 0 Comments

The fight for political autonomy continues today, extending beyond the heroic efforts of those defending Israel.

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We Stand With Israel at March for Israel in DC 11-14-2023

Beyond the March: The Unseen Efforts of Federation Staff

By Jeff Finkelstein / Friday, November 17, 2023 / 0 Comments

None of what you see emanating from your Federation happens without this hard-working team of highly professionalized staff.

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