Much of our Federation’s communications are handled through social media, such as Facebook. These platforms allow us to quickly and quite often, communicate about things happening in our community and our Jewish world. If you are not on Facebook or if you do not follow the Federation on Facebook, you may have missed these few items:
1. A wonderful video our Community Relations Council worked on with the Black Empowerment Project and the City of Pittsburgh to encourage everyone to vote in this very important election. You can check it out here. View Larger on YouTube
2. UNESCO passed a terribly slanted and biased resolution regarding Jerusalem and Israel. Our Jewish Federations of North America issued the following statement:
“Today, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) adopted a resolution that aims to change the status quo of the Temple Mount… and declare the Western Wall a part of the al-Aqsa Mosque compound. Jewish Federations are bitterly disappointed that UNESCO would seek to fan the flames of religious and cultural conflict.
The resolution is an affront to the Jewish people and our over two-millennia connection to the Western Wall and the Temple it once supported. By acknowledging the holy sites both on and around the Temple Mount solely by their Arabic names, this resolution seeks to invalidate any claim the Jewish people have to our holiest site. The result of this aggressive effort will be to heighten the already palpable religious tensions in Israel and the surrounding region. At no point does the proposal acknowledge a Jewish association with the Wall, one that clearly dates to ancient times. Instead, it ignores a Jewish connection to the site altogether. This gross attempt to erase history by UNESCO is unconscionable.
We urge the United Nations to see this for the anti-Israel attack that it is, to consider the damaging effects this change will have on Israel and the entire Middle East, and to condemn it in absolute terms.”
3. We are now in Day 29 of our 100 Days of Giving where our Facebook page brings you a short piece about how you make a difference. In the past week, we’ve learned about the overseas work of ORT, about an upcoming Young Adult Event called Sukkahfest, about the upcoming Jewish Residential Services building development, and about a Holocaust Center program.
If you are on Facebook, follow us to stay connected. Our Facebook page is called “Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh” and can be reached here.
Wishing you a Shabbat Shalom and a happy Sukkot. Go Steelers!
P.S. Simchat Torah is coming up next week either on Sunday or Monday night depending on your practice. Federation encourages you to find a place in one of our welcoming Pittsburgh area synagogues to celebrate the annual completion of the reading the Torah and our start back at “In the Beginning”.