Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh

Roll for Insight: Community-Building Roleplaying Game Club
2025-06-09 17:30 - 19:30 (America/New_York) | 10.27 Healing Partnership
Meet every other week on Mondays from 5:30pm-7:30pm to connect and grow with new friends through playing tabletop role playing games designed to inspire emotional depth!

We’ll band together to use RPGs to explore the intersection of identity, emotional resiliency, and games, to fight isolation and disconnection and to meet new people and form friendships. We will play one-shots, longer campaigns, well-known titles and indies, and we will use time before and after the game to find grounding, connect, discuss and reflect on these often-silly but sometimes profound forms of art and play.

SteelTree Impact Meeting
2025-06-09 18:00 - 21:00 | Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh, 2000 Technology Drive, Pittsburgh, PA, 15219, United States
Questions? email Jenna Rosenbloom at jrosenbloom@jfedpgh.org

Sound of Jewish Music
2025-06-09 19:00 - 20:30 | JCC Katz Performing Arts Center, 5738 Darlington Rd, Pittsburgh, PA, 15217, United States
An evening of women’s music, art, dance and words of inspiration.

Israel in Depth
2025-06-10 09:30 - 10:45 | Zoom
$100 for this 6-session series.
Tuesdays at 9:30 AM, Apr. 29 – Jun. 10.
Please Note: No class on June 3.
As Israeli society changes post-October 7, Rabbi Schiff will host a series of classes focusing on the updated realities of Israel in 2025. A lineup of first-class Israeli experts will discuss the army, the arts, the justice system, tourism, the rabbinate, welfare and other areas.

WOMEN'S EVENT: Women Who Lead
2025-06-10 19:30 - 21:00 | Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh, 2000 Technology Drive, Pittsburgh, PA, 15219, United States
Be inspired by Meryl Ainsman and Cindy Shapira, two of the trailblazing women whose visionary work as Board Chairs of the Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh helped charter the organization’s course and shape the Federation’s role within the Greater Pittsburgh Jewish community.
Cindy Shapira is president of the Shapira Foundation and formerly served as Chair of the Board of Directors of the Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh, vice chair of the Jewish Federations of North America board, executive committee member of the Jewish Agency for Israel, and board member of the Jewish Funders Network. She is a director on the Birthright-Taglit governing board. She currently is chairwoman of PA’s State System of Higher Education board of governors, the founding chair of the PA State Board of Higher Education, a vice-chair of the Brandeis University board of trustees, a director of the Association of Governing Boards of Colleges and Universities, and a board member of the Allegheny County Airport Authority. Cindy holds a B.A. from Wellesley College, and MPA from the Harvard Kennedy School, and an Ed.D from the University of Pennsylvania.

Meryl Ainsman has spent most of her adult life in leadership roles in the local and global Jewish community. Meryl served as Chair of the Board of Directors of the Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh from 2017-2020 after serving as a board member for several year, and she is now Chair of the Buncher Institute for Leadership Development (BuILD). She has also served as Board Chair of the Jewish Community Center of Greater Pittsburgh (2007-2010) and has served on the boards of Jewish Federations of North America and the Global JCC Association. Meryl currently sits on the boards of Tree of Life, Inc. and the Eradicate Hate Global Summit. Meryl is the retired manager of the law firm of Ainsman Levine, and still maintains her role as the Executive Director of the Philip Chosky Foundation.

Federation Board Meeting
2025-06-11 08:00 - 09:30 | Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh, 2000 Technology Drive, Pittsburgh, PA, 15219, United States
JFGP Board Meeting

Briefing on Current Situation in Israel
2025-06-13 13:00 - 13:30 | Virtual
Please join Jewish Federation of North America for a special 30-minute briefing on the situation in Israel following last night’s military action against Iran’s nuclear program.

Light Candles at: 8:33 PM
2025-06-13 20:33 | Pittsburgh, 2201 Pennsylvania Furnace Rd, Pennsylvania Furnace, PA, United States
Parshat Behaalotecha, Light Candles at: 8:33 PM Blessings: https://chabad.org/87131#blessings Brought to you by Chabad.org

Shabbat Ends: 9:42 PM
2025-06-14 21:42 | Pittsburgh, 2201 Pennsylvania Furnace Rd, Pennsylvania Furnace, PA, United States
Parshat Behaalotecha, Shabbat Ends: 9:42 PM Blessings: https://chabad.org/87131#blessings Brought to you by Chabad.org

CKids Jewish Discovery Club
2025-06-15 10:30 - 12:30, 2025-06-22 10:30 - 12:30 | Chabad of the South Hills’ New Building, 1700 Bower Hill Road, Pittsburgh, PA, 15243, United States
Open to all. No membership or affiliation required.

Aleph Champ Hebrew Reading
Love for being Jewish
New and Exciting Content Each Week
Rockin Holiday Events
0-4 Torah Tots
5-11 Super Jew
12-13 BMX Bar/Bat Mitzvah Experience

YAD Sunday Café
2025-06-15 12:00 - 14:00 | Yinz Coffee, 5607 Baum Blvd., Pittsburgh, PA, 15206, United States
Get cozy for a slow Sunday with YAD. Join us at our next Sunday Café event to bring the young adult community together for a fun afternoon of coffee, socializing and relationship building. The first cup is on us!
JEWS & BREWS
Save the date for these informal gatherings at a new locale each month.
There are no upcoming events.

Three Rivers Botanical and Nature Artists/3Rivers BANA
2025-06-16 09:00 - 2025-08-18 09:00 | Rodef Shalom Congregation, 4905 Fifth Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA, 15213, United States
This exhibit features drawings inspired by the Rock Garden in the Biblical Botanical Garden at Rodef Shalom Congregation. An opening reception is scheduled for Wednesday, June 18 from 6:00 P.M. to 7:30 P.M.

Anger and Self-Mastery in Jewish Thought
2025-06-16 09:30 - 10:30, 2025-06-23 09:30 - 10:30 | Zoom
$60 for this 4-session series.
Mondays at 9:30 AM, June 9 through 30.
Right now, a lot of people feel angry. What does Judaism have to teach us about the power of anger? Is anger to be subdued and avoided? Or is it sometimes praiseworthy? Most importantly, when consumed by anger, what would Jewish teachings have us do?

JCC Board Meeting #5
2025-06-16 17:15 - 19:00 | JCC Squirrel Hill, 5738 Forbes Ave, Pittsburgh, PA, 15217, United States
JCC Board Meeting

Tariffs, Reparation and Income Inequality: The Jewish Wealth and Justice Seminars
2025-06-17 09:30 - 10:45 | Zoom
This series is canceled. We apologize for the inconvenience. Please contact Ilana Schwarcz at learning@jfedpgh.org if you have any questions or concerns.
$55 for this 3-session series.
Tuesdays at 9:30 AM, June 17 – July 1.
Tariffs. Reparations. Income Inequality. In three seminars, Rabbi Schiff will discuss these three critical current issues through the lens of Jewish tradition. What insights does Judaism have to offer on the intersection between wealth and justice as it pertains to these challenging concerns?

Story Time in the Garden
2025-06-17 13:15 - 14:30 | Rodef Shalom Biblical Garden, 4905 Fifth Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA, 15213, United States
Young children and their grown-ups are invited to join Librarian Sam Siskind for a story in our garden, followed by a crafty activity!

From Stigma to Strength: Understanding Mental Health History and Managing Anxiety in Uncertain Times
2025-06-18 18:00 - 19:00 | Virtual
This session explores the evolution of mental health understanding and provides practical tools for today’s challenges.
About the Presentation:

We will dive into the historical roots of mental health stigma.
Discuss how current global challenges trigger anxiety.
Learn about evidence-based strategies for maintaining well-being despite circumstances beyond our control.

You’ll leave this presentation with an understanding of how far we have come in destigmatizing mental health conditions, and you will have the tools to support yourself and others to stay grounded and empowered during uncertain times.

Supported in part by the Alex Seed Mental Health Fund and Rodef Shalom Congregation

Heritage and Hope: A Journey to Poland and Vienna
2025-06-19 - 2025-06-26 | Poland, Poland
Join Jewish Pittsburgh on a mission to Poland and Vienna, Austria with renowned educator Tzvi Sperber.
June 19-26, 2025
Five Nights in Poland & Two Nights in Vienna, Austria

Special Briefing: Understanding the Israel-Iran Crisis
2025-06-19 15:00 - 16:00 | Zoom
Webinar and Q&A From Israel With Yisrael Klitsner
As part of our ongoing commitment to solidarity during this time, please join us virtually for an insider briefing and open Q&A with a special community resource, Yisrael Klitsner. Yisrael Klitsner is a fellow at the Jewish People Policy Institute. He previously served as diaspora affairs advisor to Prime Minister Naftali Bennett and was the Director of Strategic Engagement for AIPAC in Israel.
This event is open to the public, with a reminder about our audience protocols adopted from the Jewish Federation’s Community Relations Council:
Respectful speaking and listening are essential, even though there may be widely differing opinions present. This is rooted in a core Jewish value, Derech eretz kadmah l’Torah, proper conduct precedes study. We call upon those attending any programming to engage in mutual respect at all times. Verbal or non-verbal attempts to interrupt and disturb a program, as well as uncivil behavior towards speakers, other members of the audience, JCC staff and/or program organizers may result in removal from the premises and affect future participation in JCC programs.

Jewish Association on Aging Board of Directors Meeting
2025-06-19 16:30 - 18:00 | Jewish Association on Aging, 200 JHF Drive, Pittsburgh, PA, 15217, United States
JAA Board of Directors Meeting

Special Briefing on Operation Rising Lion
2025-06-20 11:00 - 12:00 | Zoom
Join Jewish Federations for a system-wide update on Operation Rising Lion. Get the latest developments, including insights from acclaimed Israeli journalist Haviv Rettig Gur.
Haviv Rettig Gur is an Israeli journalist who serves as the political correspondent and senior analyst for The Times of Israel. In June 2010, he was nominated to be the spokesman of the Jewish Agency for Israel, their first native English speaker to be spokesman in over 50 years.

Shabbat Social
2025-06-20 18:00 - 19:30 | JCC Squirrel Hill, 5738 Forbes Ave, Pittsburgh, PA, 15217, United States
Registration for this event is closed. If you would still like to attend, please contact Meryl Franzos at mfranzos@jfedpgh.org.

Celebrating Zionism and Our Connection to Israel
Gather together for a pre-Shabbat soiree, celebrating our shared connection with Israel! Enjoy hors d’oeuvres and Israeli wine while having meaningful conversations about our shared Jewish story.
Dietary Laws Observed • Street Parking
PRICING
$25 Per Person
Amy Albertson, a Jewish advocate from California, promotes Jewish diversity, Zionism and combatting antisemitism through social media and speaking across the country. While living in Israel for six years, she created “The Asian Israeli” to explore her identity as a Chinese-American Jewish woman. Amy has been active in Jewish life for over a decade, from campus leadership at Portland State University to working for Jewish nonprofits after making Aliyah. She consults with Jewish and pro-Israel organizations and serves on multiple boards. In 2023, Hadassah Magazine named her one of “18 American Zionist Women You Should Know.”
Thank You to Our Host Committee
Craig Bainbridge
Danny Brode
David Cathers
Daniella Eglash
Hannah Feldman
Raychel Franey
Destin Groff
Ari Hoffman
Sam Kline
Caedyn Krahling
Rachel Luzer
Michael Milch
Polina Neft
Lauren Rosenblum
Rachel Schaffer
Moshe Yaghoubian

Supporting Partners

20s & 30s Shabbat
2025-06-20 19:00 - 21:00 | Rodef Shalom Biblical Garden, 4905 Fifth Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA, 15213, United States
Join us for a relaxed summer evening in our Biblical Garden as we welcome Shabbat with this abridged monthly service. Get to know other Pittsburgh young Jewish professionals and close out the week with wine, apps, and great company! Registration required.

Light Candles at: 8:36 PM
2025-06-20 20:36 | Pittsburgh, 2201 Pennsylvania Furnace Rd, Pennsylvania Furnace, PA, United States
Parshat Shlach, Light Candles at: 8:36 PM Blessings: https://chabad.org/87131#blessings Brought to you by Chabad.org

Shabbat Ends: 9:44 PM
2025-06-21 21:44 | Pittsburgh, 2201 Pennsylvania Furnace Rd, Pennsylvania Furnace, PA, United States
Parshat Shlach, Shabbat Ends: 9:44 PM Blessings: https://chabad.org/87131#blessings Brought to you by Chabad.org

South Hills Jewish Fesitval
2025-06-22 13:00 - 16:00 | Chabad of South Hills, 1700 Bower Hill Rd, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
Join us for a vibrant celebration of Jewish life and culture at the South Hills Jewish Festival! This family-friendly community event will feature:

Kosher Wine Tasting
Kosher BBQ
Cultural Crafts
Fun Zone for Kids
Live music
Petting Zoo
And more!

Enjoy delicious food, hands-on activities, and joyful entertainment for all ages!
We look forward to joining together and celebrating Jewish life in the South Hills!

Federation Update From Israel on Operation Rising Lion
2025-06-23 12:00 - 13:00 | Virtual
Join us for an important virtual briefing addressing the current situation between Israel and Iran. The Federation’s Kim Salzman, Director, Israel & Overseas Planning & Impact and Gefsky Community Scholar Rabbi Danny Schiff will be joined by Tsach Saar, Deputy Consul General for Israel in New York. Together, they will provide context, analysis and implications for Israel and our local community.
This timely update will help you better understand the evolving regional dynamics and their relevance to our Jewish communal priorities.
Tsach Saar, Deputy Consul General, plays a pivotal role in managing the diplomatic activities of Israel’s Consulate in New York. His responsibilities include fostering relationships with elected officials and various community leaders in the consulate’s areas of operation. He leads the consulate’s engagement with Jewish communities and major organizations.
Rabbi Dr. Danny Schiff is the H. Arnold and Adrien B. Gefsky Community Scholar. He is a noted teacher and researcher in Jewish ethics.
Kim Salzman is the Director of Israel & Overseas Planning & Impact for the Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh and author of Straddling Black and White, a novel exploring issues of immigration to Israel.

NCJW PGH Board Meeting
2025-06-23 17:00 - 18:30 | NCJW Pittsburgh, 1620 Murray Ave, Pittsburgh, PA, 15217, United States
Regular meeting of the NCJW Pittsburgh Board of Directors.
