Posts
The Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh’s Community Relations Council (CRC) condemns the anti-Semitic remarks made by a member of the Gateway Board of School Directors targeting Rabbi Barbara Symons. We are appalled by the actions of Steve O’Donnell, who has since resigned from the board. On separate occasions Mr. O’Donnell mocked the rabbi’s yarmulke, declined […]
Read More ➜
The state of Israel is turning 70, and Pittsburgh is invited to the party. The Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh is hosting a community-wide celebration for Yom Ha’atzmaut, the 70th Independence Day of Israel, on April 19. It’s from 4-8 p.m. at the Jewish Community Center in Squirrel Hill. All events will be outdoors, weather […]
Read More ➜
This week’s Shabbat message is written by Becca Hurowitz, our Federation’s Senior Campaign and Mission Manager. Photos by Joel Weinberg The Jewish community of Morocco, at one time 350,000 strong, is now reduced to a mere 3,000 Jews throughout the country. In several mass migrations in the 19th and 20th centuries, this historic Jewish community fled […]
Read More ➜
Hello, I’m Daniel Lebowitz. As an active teen in the Pittsburgh community, I have participated in numerous programs, both religious and secular; however, Diller Teen Fellows Pittsburgh was the program that impacted my life the most. At first, I was reluctant to be part of Diller Pittsburgh Cohort 6, but quite quickly my feelings changed. Growing […]
Read More ➜
Through the generous support of a local, private family foundation and in partnership with the Jewish Agency of Israel (JAFI), the Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh will be bringing two 18-year-old Israelis to Pittsburgh for a year of service beginning August 2018. The “Shinshinim” program (derived from “shnat sherut” in Hebrew that translates to “a […]
Read More ➜
How many people remember that the city of Houston was ravaged by Hurricane Harvey in August? With our fast moving news cycle, it may seem like a blur in the past. That hurricane did major damage to Houston. As an email from our national Federation system stated: Harvey dumped a trillion gallons of water over […]
Read More ➜
I’ve written enough (for now) about the 2017 Greater Pittsburgh Jewish Community Study funded by the Jewish Community Foundation of the Federation. Instead, I’ll let our local media share their insights with you: http://triblive.com/local/allegheny/13327741-74/pittsburgh-regions-jewish-population-is-growing-prosperous-and-moving-to-suburbs-study https://patch.com/pennsylvania/pittsburgh/pittsburghs-jewish-population-rise-study-says http://wesa.fm/post/researchers-say-pittsburghs-jewish-population-highly-educated-and-continues-grow#stream/0 http://www.post-gazette.com/local/city/2018/02/20/study-Pittsburgh-Jewish-community-growing-spreading-out/stories/201802200058 https://jewishchronicle.timesofisrael.com/jewish-pittsburgh-growing-but-denominational-affiliation-dropping/ WTAE-TV — https://youtu.be/qF5i3ZisJGU KDKA-TV — https://youtu.be/nJhIdkg3TjU In the words of Matt Boxer who is one of the key researchers […]
Read More ➜
As part of the Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh’s ongoing commitment to excellence in Jewish early childhood education, a new peer-to-peer professional network of six Studio Educators from our Pittsburgh JECEI/Bonim Beyachad early childhood education centers has been formed. Studio Educators from Beth Shalom, Community Day School, Squirrel Hill JCC, Temple Emanuel, Temple Ohav Shalom […]
Read More ➜
I am a bit obsessed. I have written multiple times about the release of the Pittsburgh Jewish Community Study, funded completely by the Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh’s Community Foundation. Tuesday is THE day that our first data collection since 2002 will become public. This past week, two major U.S. communities released their own studies, […]
Read More ➜
Our community’s nine Pittsburgh JECEI/Bonim Beyachad early childhood education centers continue to find inspiration from the Reggio Emilia approach and its deep connections to Judaism. Dr. Gabe Goldman, one of the Federation’s Pittsburgh JECEI/Bonim Beyachad consultants and Director of Outdoor Jewish Classroom, draws upon his experiences in uncovering some of these connections in his recent […]
Read More ➜
Change is so hard. What one is accustomed to (a house, a building, a route to work, etc) becomes ingrained into our memories and into our actions. Yesterday morning, as an example, my intention when leaving my house was to stop to buy a cup of coffee on my way to work. Without thinking, I […]
Read More ➜
At a Federation program last night, Arielle di Porto, the Director of the Aliyah Division of the Jewish Agency for Israel, spoke about her work in helping Jews from areas of the world under distress and/or danger escape to Israel. The Jewish Agency’s efforts in this area are extraordinary and life-saving. They are monitoring the […]
Read More ➜
The Jewish population of Pittsburgh has grown to 47,600 according to a new study the Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh will release at 5:30pm on February 20 at Rodef Shalom. The Pittsburgh Jewish Community Study covers topics related to Jewish life and needs in the Greater Pittsburgh area Jewish community. Other key findings include the […]
Read More ➜
Ethiopian National Project ENP SPACE in Karmiel and Tirat CarmelENP SPACE (School Performance and Community Empowerment) provides 7th-12th grade Ethiopian-Israelis and 20% non-Ethiopian-Israelis with a holistic support system that combines scholastic, social, emotional and nutritional interventions. ENP works as Federation’s arm alongside the Ethiopian-Israeli community; it is a grassroots initiative that aims to advance excellence […]
Read More ➜
Akko Center for Arts & Technology Beauty Education in IsraelA-CAT, the first center of its kind in Israel, offers courses and workshops in a range of art and technology subjects, in a unique educational setting. This program offers beauty courses to establish home-based small businesses for Arab and Jewish women including Nail Building and Makeup […]
Read More ➜
HaShomer HaChadash COVID-19 National Course of Action to Prevent Food Shortage in IsraelHaShomer HaChadash is a Zionist organization focusing on our collective obligation to take responsibility for the land of Israel, and the land in Israel. HaShomer HaChadash educates thousands of people on the spiritual, historical and strategic importance of the physical land of Israel. […]
Read More ➜
Beit Issie Shapiro Smart Snoezelen: Offering Innovative Multi-Sensory Environments to Treat Children with DisabilitiesBeit Issie Shapiro is Israel’s leading developer and provider of innovative therapies and state-of-the-art services for children and adults across the entire range of disabilities impacting on over half a million people annually. Beit Issie’s Smart Snoezelen integrates cutting-edge technology to offer […]
Read More ➜
Ayalim Association Student Program for Social-Activism in KarmielAyalim promotes social development in Israel’s social and geographical peripheries by building student villages throughout the Negev and Galilee. The Ayalim student village in Karmiel was constructed in 2010 and houses 30 students and 6 volunteers who are part of the village community. The village was established in […]
Read More ➜
American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee JDC (the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee or “The Joint”) is the leading Jewish humanitarian organization, working in 70 countries to lift lives and strengthen communities. Humanitarian Assistance for Needy Jewish Elderly in Moldova Through its Hesed center in Moldova, the JDC ensures the well being of needy Jewish elderly […]
Read More ➜
December 25, 2017 – A volunteer serves meals on Mitzvah Day at Riverview Towers so regular staff can be home for the holiday. – Photo by Josh Franzos Federation’s Mitzvah Day was an unbelievable success by all measures: number of volunteers, number of organizations impacted and numbers of people helped by our volunteers. For those that have […]
Read More ➜