Posts
12 Jewish early childhood educators just returned to Pittsburgh from a study seminar, Exploring Reggio through a Jewish Lens, in Italy (October 19 -29). The Reggio Emilia Approach is an educational philosophy based on the image of the child, and of human beings, as possessing strong potentials for development and as subjects of rights who learn […]
Last Shabbat I was in Jerusalem. There is nothing like being there as the streets quiet down, the sun sets over the Old City and you see families spending time with each other walking to their synagogues, walking to the old city, walking to a park for a picnic or to a restaurant. The purpose […]
The Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh and the Jewish Community Center of Pittsburgh (JCC) are pleased to announce that South Hills Jewish Pittsburgh will transition from the Jewish Federation to the JCC. South Hills Jewish Pittsburgh (SHJP) launched in July 2014. Private donors funded SHJP with the help of the Jewish Federation to strengthen the […]
“No one in Reggio wants to teach others how to “do school.” What we seek to do rather is to try and deepen our understanding, together with others, of why it was possible in Reggio Emilia for an (educational) experience founded after the war, to grow and consolidate with time… What we want to do […]
As part of Pittsburgh’s continuing commitment to excellence in Jewish Early Childhood Education, in 2015 under the direction of Carolyn Linder, the Federation hosted The Wonder of Learning: The Hundred Languages of Children traveling exhibition from Reggio Emilia, Italy. In conjunction with the exhibition’s presence in our city, the 2015 summer North American Reggio Emilia […]
Our Pittsburgh Cohort has safely arrived in Italy and has joined 51 other Jewish early childhood educators from Boston, Chicago, District of Columbia, Israel and Maryland. To help frame our time together in Reggio Emilia, yesterday, we were given a walking tour of the city and learned more about its rich history by parent volunteers […]
I see Federation everywhere. When this week’s Pittsburgh Jewish Chronicle arrived (now being sent for free to every identified Jewish household due in large part to support from the Federation), I read a story about the Pittsburgh visit of the Israeli Consul General for Israel. Federation put together the public gathering with Dani Dayan and […]
On October 19th, a cohort of 12 Jewish early childhood professionals, led by Carolyn Linder, Federation’s Director of Early Childhood Education met to discuss their journey for a 10-day seminar in Italy, exploring the Reggio Emilia Approach through a Jewish Perspective. This unique experience will focus on the professional growth of the participants as they […]
One would probably expect me to write about Yom Kippur this week, but I will leave that to our skilled and inspirational Rabbis at our Pittsburgh area synagogues. I had planned to write about last night’s Shore Whitehill Award, an award established by the Federation that “celebrates volunteers who promote the inclusion of people with […]
Cosponsors: Beth El Congregation, Congregation Beth Shalom, Jewish Community Center, New Light Congregation, Rodef Shalom, Shaare Torah Congregation, Temple Emanuel of the South Hills, Temple Sinai הִ נֵּה מַ ה ּטֹוב ּומַ ה נָּעִ ים שֶׁ בֶׁת אַ חִ ים גַם יָּחַד Heenay ma tov u’ma naim shevet achim gam yachad “How good and pleasant […]
There is so much I could write in depth about this week. There is a Shabbat dinner taking place tonight for young adults with many of our young adult community programs in collaboration. The Apples and Honey Festival put on by Federation this past Sunday at the Waterfront drew hundreds of families. Our Federation Draft […]
I was speaking yesterday to one of my colleagues from the Jewish Federations of North America (JFNA). He had traveled down to Houston as part of the ongoing effort by our national Federation system to help with the clean-up and relief effort there. He shared with us the devastation impacting the Jewish community, both to […]
I have to mention four things that happened this week. I will be brief with all, but I think all deserve mention: Hurricane Harvey – The national Federation system opened a mailbox over the weekend to collect donations to help flood victims including those in the Jewish community. Our Federation, through emergency funds that we […]
Brian Eglash, our Chief Development Officer, makes the case for why now is the time to engage, not disengage, with Israel. Read about it in the Times of Israel…
On Tuesday of this week, our entire Federation staff came to work in old t-shirts and shorts for a day of cleaning out. In fact, our garbage and recycling bins are literally overflowing right now. We felt it was important to be able to determine what really needs to be kept, what can be scanned […]
Last Sunday, the Federation’s new Jewish Community Security Director conducted the first of two training session for staff and volunteers of area congregations in preparation for the upcoming High Holidays. Over 100 attended and this Sunday morning at the second session, we are expecting over 90 participants. This newly created position of Security Director, conceptualized […]
How “Israeliness” can play a role in securing the future of American Jewry. Read about it in The Tower…
Wednesday evening, in a small program at the Heinz History Center, a group of us gathered for the launch of the publication of a book entitled Buncher: 25 Years of Investing in People. The Buncher Family from Pittsburgh has been a driving force in Jewish communities around the world in training and cultivating both professional and […]
The Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh announces the hire of Sara Spanjer as Young Adult Division director. In this position, Ms. Spanjer will focus her efforts on leadership development and manage all fundraising activities related to the Young Adult Division, including cultivation and solicitation of donors ages 22–45. Ms. Spanjer’s first day at the Jewish Federation […]
Shalom! I’m Roy Faigenbaum, a rising Senior at the University of Pittsburgh from Philadelphia, majoring in Political Science, Urban Studies, and Philosophy. The best part about the triple major combination that I am engaged in is the unique mentality that I find myself approaching situations with; Political Science leaves me critical, while the Urban Studies […]