Passover ends and immediately the activity in the Jewish community starts to move at a frantic pace.  The number of events, programs and meetings is beyond belief and is a testament to the kind of engaged and interested community we have.

I would only mention one such event from this past week, the Yom Hashoah commemoration that the Holocaust Center organized Wednesday evening at Heinz Hall.  Hearing survivors tell their own stories and corporate and civic leaders speak about the work of non-Jews during the Holocaust to save Jews was truly inspiring.  I could literally hear people in the crowd trying to hold back their tears.  We must remember what happened to our people so that it will never be repeated, not only to our people, but to anyone.

Next week, the Federation will host a Yom Hazikaron ceremony (for Israel’s fallen) on Tuesday at the JCC in Squirrel Hill at 8 pm and a Yom Ha’atzmaut (Israel Independence Day) celebration on Thursday afternoon at the JCC.  Both give each of us an opportunity be together as a community to mourn and to celebrate.  I hope to see many of you at one or both.

Shabbat Shalom.