CONVENING JEWISH ORGANIZATIONS AND SYNAGOGUES

As the spread of COVID-19 continues, the Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh is focusing on health and safety. All Jewish agencies and synagogues are planning with an abundance of caution to protect vulnerable people in the community.

Federation supports a coordinated response to the recent outbreak of coronavirus in the United States by convening agencies across Jewish Pittsburgh. Together with our partner agencies, local organizations and congregations, Jewish Federation is trying to slow the virus’s spread and to maintain essential functions in the event of a local outbreak. Jewish Federation is:

• Bringing together organizations to speak with experts and to share best practices;
• Working closely with local first responders and elected officials to monitor both health and security;
• Increasing cleaning in the Jewish Federation’s offices and preparing for the possibility of remote work;
• Putting into place new protocols for visitors to our offices to limit people who are sick or who have traveled to countries with concentrations of coronavirus cases.

The Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh continues to monitor the spread of the coronavirus closely. Although many of us are limiting interactions to enhance safety, we are still Stronger Together.

CANCELING/POSTPONING JEWISH FEDERATION EVENTS

We regret to inform you that we have postponed or canceled all upcoming events through the end of Passover, April 16. We do so with an eye to Judaism’s foundational teachings about the preservation of life. Our staff will be working on the communications to those attending each program and communicating directly with them shortly.

Other organizations will make their own decisions about the safety of holding upcoming events and will continue to work on and implement their own emergency responses. Our topmost concern is the safety and health of the people in Jewish Pittsburgh. We are especially mindful that otherwise healthy adults and children could spread this illness to the most vulnerable populations among us.

Please let us know if you have any questions. Thank you for your understanding during this period of uncertainty.

RESOURCES

Jewish Federation continues to update resources that can help you to understand how to keep yourself safe, what to do in the event of an outbreak and which Jewish agencies are available to help. Agencies in Jewish Pittsburgh offer not only physical health resources but also mental health counseling, financial support for people experiencing hardships due to the virus, supports for homebound seniors and other resources. Keep up-to-date at on this site.