Shabbat Shalom
During the last week of December, my wife and I traveled to Washington DC with the sole purpose of being tourists for two days. I have been to DC countless times, typically for meetings or for lobbying on the Hill, but haven’t been a tourist there in over 20 years. We took time to walk […]
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On Wednesday, Cindy Shapira (our Federation Chair of the Board) and I experienced one of the most beautiful expressions of tzedakah in our recent memories. As Cindy and I were completing a meeting in our Federation offices, we walked into the lobby to see Erin from our accounting staff writing up a receipt for a short, Russian […]
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I visited several Mitzvah Day sites all over town. Everyone, over 1,000 strong, seemed to be having fun while making a difference in our Pittsburgh community. This was something special to experience. It’s important to remember that while the Federation has sponsored Mitzvah Day for 15 years, there are 364 other days that have the […]
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I have three topics this week I want to highlight. Please accept my apology for writing a slightly longer message than usual. 1. Last week, I joined a group of Jewish Pittsburghers on a mission to Buenos Aires. I am not going to write a travelogue, but I do want to share some highlights and takeaways. […]
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Sunday night, the Jewish world will begin the holiday of Chanukah. Our agencies have been and will be “getting their Chanukah on.” I know that the Chanukiah(some refer to it as a menorah) will be lit in the Jewish Association on Aging and Riverview Towers Facilities for the hundreds of our seniors who make their homes there. […]
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A horrific attack in Paris. An attack targeting Jews in Marseilles. An inspiring Federation event for alumni of the Melton program with 150 in attendance. Several terrorist attacks targeting Jews in Israel. Our staff “mitzvah day” volunteering at the Greater Pittsburgh Food Bank. Other terrorist attacks in different countries. A great event sponsored by South […]
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There is so much I could write about this week since a great delegation participated in the Jewish Federations of North America General Assembly in Washington DC that had many memorable moments. Pittsburgh was in a position of prominence as many of our Federation’s initiatives were highlighted at several sessions. To get a taste of […]
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There has been much in the press about the lack of a Pennsylvania state budget and the impact that has on the nonprofits that serve some of the neediest in our midst. This budget impasse impacts many of our Federation agencies that work in the social service area. Our Federation made an offer to all […]
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“Talk the talk and walk the walk”. This expression is used to say that if you are going to say something you actually have to believe and do it. Our Federation leadership has been talking about our commitment to Jewish identity building and Jewish education for many years. And, I think we have done some […]
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It’s hard to pick just one memorable moment from this frenetic week to highlight. There was the opening of the new Holocaust Center space on Sunday with a huge crowd in attendance including, most importantly, our local Holocaust survivors. The first session of this year’s Wechsler Young Leadership program began with an overview of the […]
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The news from Israel has been so disturbing this past week. I kept reading about each terrorist incident targeting Israelis and Jews. This violence has shaken all of Israel. Our national organization, the Jewish Federations of North America, sent an update yesterday to the Federation system reporting: In one tragic attack, gunmen shot and killed […]
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A news story came out in the JTA (Jewish Telegraphic Association) entitled, “Obama Administration Earmarks $12 Million for Holocaust Survivors”. The article goes on to say, “The allocation from the Department of Health and Human Services to the Jewish Federations of North America, to be disbursed over five years…” I invite you to click here to read the […]
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While sitting in my synagogue during Yom Kippur services, I reread the “Al Cheyt” prayer in English. As you probably know, during this prayer we ask for forgiveness for the transgressions WE have made. They are recited in the plural, not the singular. It is done so because we are a community apologizing for our […]
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On Wednesday we fast for Yom Kippur. On Thursday at our Annual Meeting, our Federation will celebrate accomplishments for the past year and look towards the challenges we hope to conquer in the coming year. And the only comparison I’ll draw between the two is that, in a sense, Yom Kippur is the Annual meeting […]
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9/11, Shabbat and Rosh Hashana are all smooshed together in my mind. I’m thinking about the New Year with new possibilities. The apples and honey and my wife’s honey cake will all be devoured starting on Sunday night in the expectation of a sweet year. But today, hours before the restfulness of Shabbat settles in, […]
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Iran. The last month and a half has all been about how to keep Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon. Our Federation has taken a very deliberate approach to provide information representing all sides around the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) to the community. We do so within the following context that was established […]
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At our Foundation Annual Meeting this week, we announced the most successful year in our history, adding over $25 Million to our assets under management. We distributed more than $13 Million back to the community from our Foundation. By all accounts, this was a truly remarkable year of success. While the announcement of this record […]
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I was so upset when walking to Jewish Heritage Night at PNC Park on Tuesday night to see the Jews for Jesus group on the Roberto Clemente Bridge (on what would have been Roberto Clemente’s 80th birthday). I wasn’t that upset that they were there. What makes America great is that they have the freedom […]
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Brian Schreiber of our JCC and I were truly blessed to take part in a retreat sponsored by the Harold Grinspoon Foundation during the last week. Approximately 40 professionals, mostly from Federations and a few JCC’s, all of whom lead organizations involved with PJ Library, participated. The purpose was to brainstorm ways that each of […]
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I have the title of President/CEO of the Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh. I want to admit something. I don’t know everything happening in our community where Federation has a hand in it. This week, I “got schooled” about some of our communal impact. Tuesday night, the Federation distributed checks to college students to assist […]
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