I couldn’t be prouder about how our Federation has demonstrated strong, focused leadership these last few weeks. From our response to the antisemitic graffiti at the Federation building and Chabad of Squirrel Hill, to how we have responded to the blatantly antisemitic, anti-Israel attempt to include a misguided referendum on the City of Pittsburgh’s November ballot; we are standing up for our community.

In our vocal opposition to this referendum, we are also standing up for the safety and financial security of the city of Pittsburgh. If it were to be included and passed in November—which we are working hard to avert—Pittsburgh would be significantly impacted.

Instead of sharing the details in my own words, I am going to let the media “do the talking”:

• Jewish Federation, City controller challenge referendum (jewishchronicle.com)
• Critics: Proposed ballot referendum in city is antisemitic, illegal (triblive.com)
• Plan to prohibit Pittsburgh from doing business with Israel (audacy.com)
• Editorial: Should Pittsburgh voters decide to cut business ties with Israel? (triblive.com)
• Referendum to ban Pittsburgh from conducting business with Israel faces legal challenges (post-gazette.com)
• Official in Gainey administrations signs petition on referendum that Jewish leaders have condemned (cbsnews.com)
• Rep. Dan Frankel: Pittsburgh BDS efforts won’t bring peace (triblive.com)

There are many more articles, radio programs and television newscasts that have shared this story.

Our petition to reject the referendum will go before a judge in downtown Pittsburgh on Monday. In the meantime, I want to express gratitude to so many who have worked with us (in no particular order and apologies if I’ve inadvertently left someone or some entity out):

• The Plaintiffs (along with myself)
  • Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh
  • Rabbi Seth Adelson
  • Cantor Laura Berman
  • Rabbi Daniel Fellman
  • Rabbi Yitzi Genack
• Our Legal Counsel
  • Ronald L. Hicks, Jr and Carolyn B. McGee from Nelson Mullins
  • Efrem Grail from The Grail Law Firm
• Organizational Partners
  • StandWithUs
  • The Beacon Coalition
• 150 volunteers who culled through every signature on the original petition to determine if they were or were not valid.
• The Federation staff team

I also want to thank our Senators, Bob Casey and John Fetterman, and Representative Dan Frankel for their strong statements against the referendum. Additionally, I applaud City Controller Rachael Heisler for doing the right thing by challenging this referendum. We believe that we are the first city to experience this sort of ballot strategy, motivating us even more to be triumphant. Please also watch the following video where I address the community at large about the nature of this referendum and what it means for Pittsburgh.

Shabbat Shalom.