Posts
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 […]
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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 […]
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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 […]
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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 […]
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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, […]
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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 […]
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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 […]
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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 […]
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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 […]
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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 […]
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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 […]
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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. […]
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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 […]
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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 […]
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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 […]
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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 […]
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Last week, I wrote a “P.S.” to my Shabbat message and I want to reiterate it here as my main message. The tax plan has been sent to the President for his signature and he will sign it into law, according to news reports, in early January or possibly before. Whatever your politics and your […]
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This Shabbat we will read, Mikketz, my Bar Mitzvah Torah portion from 35 years ago. Joseph is asked to interpret to Pharaoh what his dream of seven fat cows eating seven lean cows and seven fat ears of grain swallowing seven lean ears of grain means. Joseph explains that there will be seven years of […]
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My message this week is in the form of a short video. Federation’s reach is both local and international. Too often, we lose sight of the kind of impact all of us has on the Jewish world outside of the 412 and 724 area codes. This video will highlight the kind of social service and […]
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Twelve local Jewish early childhood educators from a wide range of Pittsburgh institutions attended a study seminar, Exploring Reggio through a Jewish Lens, in Italy in October. Read about it in the Pittsburgh Jewish Chronicle…
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