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Community cosponsors: Jewish Community Center, Temple Sinai, Rodef Shalom, BBYO, Community Relations Council Democracy cannot succeed unless those who express their choice are prepared to choose wisely. The real safeguard of democracy, therefore, is education. – Franklin D. Roosevelt Two thousand years ago, when seeking a new public leader, the Talmud mandated that the right […]
This past week, I had the experience of being surrounded by women who are inspired to be a part of something bigger than themselves. I traveled to Washington, DC with a group of 20 women from our community to be a part of the International Lion of Judah Conference, which convenes more than 1,300 women […]
Five members of Knesset (MK’s) have been in Pittsburgh for the last day. They came as part of a program of the Jewish Agency for Israel (one of our main overseas partners) and the Jewish Federations of North America in order to expose Israeli lawmakers to Jewish North American life. They visited Toronto, Cleveland and […]
We had a magical Annual meeting this year. Just as we do every year, we honored over 35 volunteers from organizations and synagogues. These individual dedicate their time and talent to strengthen those institutions and to help further their missions. In the end, each helps us reach more Jews and serve their needs. In addition […]
In just a few weeks, several members of Knesset will be traveling to Pittsburgh as part of a delegation of the Jewish Agency for Israel and the Jewish Federations of North America. They will visit Toronto and Detroit, in addition to Pittsburgh. The goal of this journey is to educate Knesset members about our Jewish […]
This week, I am proud that Jessica Smith, our Director of Campaign and Financial Resource Development, has asked to share thoughts about an experience she had this summer: The interesting thing about the Annual Campaign is that it is, by its very nature, ANNUAL. It is cyclical. It is virtually, the same each and every […]
Through the year, the Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh has invited the community to “Do Good in the ’Burgh and Around the World” by contributing to the Federation’s Annual Campaign. Now the organization invites the community to the Federation’s annual meeting, to see the good that has resulted through Federation participation. The meeting — Tuesday, […]
I’ve been writing pretty much weekly for the last 12 years. I enjoy taking a little bit of time as Shabbat approaches to reflect on what I experience and to share my impressions and thoughts about our Federation, our Jewish community and our Jewish world. Often times, I receive feedback, luckily, almost always positive. It’s […]
I love this time of year. Sure, the weather is pretty nice and the number of night meetings/events in the Jewish community drops over the summer, but what I really love is seeing Jewish camp updates all over my Facebook feed. From the camp where my son is, to the Jewish camps where my friends’ […]
I spent about 5 1/2 days in France this past week. The first few days were spent in Sarcelles as part of a seminar for a group of Federation CEO’s and the second part was in Paris as a participant in the Jewish Agency for Israel’s Board of Governors meetings. I learned a tremendous amount […]
The Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh will provide more than $22 million in allocations and grants to human services and community-building programs in 2016. The allocations, announced by the Federation’s Board of Directors, will support programs in Pittsburgh and in Jewish communities around the world. The allocations and grants consist of resources from the Federation’s […]
The Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh is pleased to announce that Rachel Lipkin has joined the organization as development associate in charge of the women’s philanthropy of the Federation’s Annual Campaign. Ms. Lipkin earned her master of public administration degree from The Ohio State University. While interning at the Jewish Federation of Columbus, she was […]
Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh has named Susan G. Berman, PhD, the recipient of the Gerald S. Ostrow (z”l) Volunteer of the Year Award. This award recognizes the special efforts of a volunteer leader who has dedicated significant service to the community and has fostered partnerships among the Jewish Federation and its agencies. Dr. Berman […]
The Federation’s Vision Statement exclaims that we are striving “to build a thriving, vibrant and engaged Jewish community”. Another way to say that is we are trying to build a strong Jewish community. This past Saturday night, we were able to build community by bringing the diversity of our community together for our annual Tikkun […]
Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh’s SteelTree Fund will give three organizations a total of $13,875 in fourth-round 2015–16 funding: Community Day School (CDS), The Friendship Circle and Chabad of Pittsburgh. The grant to CDS will fund a new program called Shabbat-in-a-Box. The goal of the program is to engage families with CDS through participation with […]
The Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh, the Greater Pittsburgh Rabbinic Association and the Holocaust Center of Pittsburgh are incensed and heartbroken over a mass shooting at Pulse, an LGBT nightclub in Orlando, Fla. The shooting — which occurred early Sunday, June 12 — left 49 dead and 53 injured. “This is a profound act of […]
I will not be writing a message next week so I want to take this opportunity to alert you about an important and wonderful activity taking place next Saturday night (June 11th). The Annual Tikkun Leil Shavuot will take place at the Squirrel Hill JCC from 10 pm until 1 am. This comes from a […]
When I received my Master’s Degree from Brandeis University in 1993, it was in Jewish Communal Service. At the time I began my career, I became a member of the Jewish Communal Service Association. I “Googled” the definition of the word service and this was the first to appear in my web browser: “the action of helping or doing work […]
I warn you right at the outset of this week’s post – THIS IS A SOLICITATION. Do you own a business that pays income tax to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania? Do you know someone who owns such a business (they don’t even have to live in Pennsylvania – the company just has to be here)? If […]
This week’s Torah portion, Kedoshim, begins with: And the Lord spoke to Moses saying, Speak to the entire congregation of the children of Israel, and say to them, You shall be HOLY (Kedoshim), for I the Lord, your God am holy. It then goes on with a listing of things we should do (and not do) in […]