Jeff Finkelstein

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.

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

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

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.

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.

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

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

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

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

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

Now, perhaps more than ever in our lifetimes, we must be one nation, one people, with one heart.

I have so much to say and don’t know what to say. I think this post I saw on Facebook says so much with few words. Remember each of the hostages this Shabbat. Shabbat Shalom and please contribute to our Israel Emergency Relief effort (now at over $5 million).

Some of you may know that when I was in high school, I had decided that my future path would be to become a Conservative Rabbi.