Posts by Jeff Finkelstein
Being Present in a Moment of History
The Jewish Federation’s Community Relations Council (CRC) invited all the family members of those who were killed and those who were injured along with the leadership of the three congregations to join us on a Federation arranged bus to and from Harrisburg to participate in an historic joint session of the House and Senate.
Read MoreRandom Acts of Beauty & Unity in the Aftermath of Tragedy of Tree of Life Synagogue
Jeffrey Finkelstein discusses the security precautions that were in place before October 27th and the relationships that helped carry the Pittsburgh Jewish community through the days following the attack on the Tree of Life synagogue.
Read MoreBreaking All the Right Records
Because we did little work on the Campaign from October 27th through the end of 2018, we are behind in pace, but are beginning to catch up.
Read MoreMay War and Bloodshed Cease
Last night I drafted my Shabbat message and this morning I decided I couldn’t send it. When I woke up this morning to the horrible news from New Zealand with 49 people slaughtered for just practicing their religion, I knew it couldn’t be business as usual. Federation is opening a mailbox to collect donations to…
Read MoreThank You, First Responders
Jewish Federation put on a program to honor and thank all the first responders, including health care, Fire, EMS and others who did all they could on October 27th to protect and care for the worshipers in and around the Tree of Life Building.
Read MoreTrue Partners
That evolution of our relationship with the people of Israel has shown itself in the response to October 27th.
Read MoreFinding the Right Question
Wherever I go, people keep asking me, “how are you”? I know they are inquiring because of the intensity of the Federation’s work post October 27th and they are deeply sincere and caring by asking about my personal state. I appreciate the thoughts, yet I am completely uncomfortable with the question. Yes, all of us…
Read MoreOur Community Campaign Keeps Us Stronger Together
Our Chief Development Officer, Brian Eglash, spoke to women at the JFNA National Lion of Judah Conference about our response to the October 27th murderous attack at the Tree of Life building.
Read MoreThis Is Really Us
Just last night, another person from outside of Pittsburgh, this one on my Facebook page, commented on how amazing our Pittsburgh Jewish community has been in our response to the murderous attack of October 27th. He actually wrote, “your community inspires us”. People around the world have learned how special this Pittsburgh Jewish community really…
Read MoreThe Power of the Collective Federation Approach
Right now, throughout Ukraine, the Jewish Agency for Israel and the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee are monitoring the political situation with heightened tensions between that country and Russia. There is a sizable Jewish community in Ukraine and our financial support of these two organizations provides food and medicine for Jewish seniors, security for communal…
Read MoreThe New Normal: Acts of Beauty and Unity
On Friday night, after dinner, I did the dishes. Every Friday, my job is to wash the dishes after our family Shabbat dinner. I enjoy doing it because my wife does the bulk of the work in our home. This one is my responsibility. After dinner this past Friday, my wife offered to do the…
Read MoreShabbat of Shalom
This week’s Shabbat message is not to talk about the tragedy of last Shabbat nor to describe all that has gone on this past week, it is merely to say thank you. Thank you to the Pittsburgh Police, Public Safety and FBI for doing a tremendous job not only in capturing an anti Semitic, hateful…
Read MoreThis Is Us
With all the Jewish holidays resulting in very short work weeks, I have not written in quite a while. And because I will be in Israel starting next week for a Federation mission followed by the General Assembly of the Jewish Federations of North America, it may be a few more until I write again.…
Read MoreReJEWvenating Experiences of Jewish Summer Camp and Keshet Inclusion Curriculum
There were two powerful moments I personally experienced this past week that I will briefly share in this message. I joined a group of Federation staff and volunteers at Emma Kaufmann Camp, along with our colleagues from the JCC, to meet with and to evaluate three different programs supported by our Federation and to learn…
Read MoreJewish Moments, Courtesy of PJ Library
A group of staff from the Federation and the JCC met this week to discuss our PJ Library program. PJ Library is funded by the Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh and the Harold Grinspoon Foundation. The JCC, through Federation funding, carries out high quality programs to connect PJ Library families. Before I continue, let’s make…
Read MoreWhere Do I Begin?
I was trying to think about what I should write about this week. Should it be about the high level Federation Board informational meetings we are holding to delve into the approximate $17 Million in tax credits Riverview Towers has been granted? Should I write about the fact that a group of Israeli teens from…
Read MorePittsburgh Children and Young Adults Experience Israel through Various Federation Programs
The Jewish Agency for Israel (JAFI) Board of Governors meeting took place in Jerusalem a week ago. Natan Sharansky, one of my personal Jewish heroes, completed a nine year term as the Chairman of the Executive and Isaac “Bougie” Herzog was unanimously elected to take over that role. I recommend reading about his election, his…
Read MoreA Passion for Jewish Education
When the Agency for Jewish Learning decided to cease operations as an independent agency, the Federation divided the dollars being invested there into two parts: teen work for our community through the JCC and Jewish educational capacity building at the Federation. That led to the development of a new department for Jewish Education and Engagement…
Read MoreWhat Keeps You Up at Night?
Saturday night begins the holiday of Shavuot. I wrote about the holiday a few weeks ago in anticipation of tomorrow’s community wide Tikkun Leil Shavuot. My suggestion back then to attend our program has become even more amplified to encourage each of you to consider attending this unique to Pittsburgh Jewish experience. With 22 different…
Read MoreThe Book of Ruth: Pittsburgh-Style
We are in the middle of a period in the Jewish calendar called the Omer when we count the days from the second day of Passover until the beginning of Shavuot. Yesterday was Lag Ba’Omer, the 33rd day of the Omer. Traditionally during the Omer we refrain from certain activities like listening to live music…
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