There are so many wonderful things happening because of Federation right here in Greater Pittsburgh, from PJ Library programs for our youngest community members to Agewell Pittsburgh. I know many of my weekly messages continue to address the shooting last year and will continue doing so today. It is not because the other “normal” things are not critical and beautiful, it is merely because we are fast approaching the one year marker and there is so much activity that is taking huge bandwidth of Federation staff time to plan, in addition to their normal day to day work.
As you probably know, there are major activities planned for October 27th and all of the details can be found at pittsburghoct27.org. Our Federation staff are the ones doing the “heavy lifting” to make all these activities a reality and I could not be prouder of their focus on the details and their dedication. In alignment with our local efforts, our national Jewish Federation system (the Jewish Federations of North America) is organizing something I find so powerful that every time I speak or write about it, I get goosebumps.
They have developed a program called “Pause With Pittsburgh”. At just before 5:00 pm on October 27th, as we in Pittsburgh begin our formal program at Soldiers and Sailors, anyone who preregisters at pausewithpittsburgh.com will receive a text message prompting them for a moment of silence. Soon thereafter, they will receive another text with a link to the livestream of what will be taking place at Soldiers and Sailors. This will connect Jews not only around the country and continent, but around the world with us as we remember our fallen. I so appreciate that the Jewish Federations of North America worked closely with our Federation to make sure that everything is appropriate (unlike other national organizations and their activities). They followed our local lead of being victim centered and trauma informed.
I hope many of you will be with us in person on October 27th at 5:00 pm at Soldiers and Sailors, but if you can’t please consider registering at pausewithpittsburgh.com and please share this link with your friends and family who may not live in Pittsburgh who might be interested.
Shabbat Shalom. And a Chag Sameach for Shemini Atzeret and Simchat Torah early next week.