Posts by Jeff Finkelstein
An Extraordinarily “Normal” Year
This is an incredibly resilient community that is working on our healing while keeping up with our normal “stuff”. That normal “stuff” is made possible, in large part, by your support of our Community Campaign. Thank you!
Read MoreCommunity-wide Tikkun Leil Shavuot
Late night of study – taking place tomorrow (Saturday) night. Be there! No reservations required! Free cheesecake! Amazing learning with high quality and diverse classes!
Read MoreUnity, Not Uniformity
We strive for a diverse community that can come together to work on the big issues facing our people and be supportive and understanding of one another, even with those with whom we differ.
Read MoreMaking the World a Better Place–Community Campaign Back on Track
Lighting a torch at the Yom Haatzmaut (Israel Independence Day) celebration in Jerusalem opened me up to new experiences and introduced me to new individuals making a difference in Israeli society.
Read MorePittsburgh’s Secret Sauce
Pittsburgh’s Jewish community is being recognized for both our tragic losses and our incredible resilience.
Read MoreBeing 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…
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