Pittsburgh Jewish Chronicle 1-15-21

January 13, 2021, 8:33 am 0 Edit

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Beacon Communities plans to create affordable housing in the former B’nai Israel Synagogue. Rendering provided by Beacon Communities.

Housing

Former B’nai Israel synagogue finds renewed life as affordable housing and more

“We are really approaching the entire development of the site with the lens of a regenerative community,” said Beacon Communities Development Director Courtney Koslow.

Greg Zanis's memorials to the 11 victims outside the Tree of Life building. (Photo by Maureen Kelly Busis)

Rejecting extremism

Pittsburgh approves ADL resolution condemning domestic terrorism

Resolution urges residents of Pittsburgh to adopt ‘anti-extremist values, condemning and rejecting misinformation, disinformation, hate, and extremism in all forms’

A memorial outside the Tree of Life building after the Oct. 27, 2018, anti-Semitic murders of 11 congregants. (Photo by Toby Tabachnick)

Oct. 27 shooting

Estate of couple murdered during Pittsburgh synagogue shooting sues Colt

By Toby Tabachnick

The son of Bernice and Sylvan Simon, as executor of his parents’ estate, has filed a lawsuit alleging that the gun lobby incited the Oct. 27, 2018, killer to anti-Semitic violence.

Sharyn Rubin takes Howard to exercise class (Photo provided by the Jewish Association on Aging)

Seniors

JAA to keep seniors Jewishly connected in wake of Charles Morris closure

By Toby Tabachnick

Long-time JAA employee Sharyn Rubin has been named director of Jewish communal aging services. She will reach out to former Charles Morris residents and others.

Upper St. Clair native Laura Rosenberger began working in President Joe Biden’s administration this week. Photo courtesy of the German Marshall Fund of the United States.

Biden Adminstration

Upper St. Clair native joins Joe Biden’s National Security Council

“She feels a very high calling to be of help and to do what she can to make changes.”

(Photo by cottonbro via Pexels)

Teens

New initiative fosters connections between local teens and Israeli peers

Enter: the Jewish Peoplehood Alliance hopes to forge friendships among high schoolers with common interests.

Marilyn Weinblum stands next to the case displaying Jakob's Torah at the Jewish Community Center of Greater Pittsburgh in 2001. (Photo provided by Marilyn Weinblum)

Holocaust

Pittsburgh’s Holocaust Torahs encompass rich history

By Justin Vellucci

Pittsburgh is home to at least five Torahs rescued from the Holocaust. Here are a few of their stories.

Peyton Klein and Betty Cruz seal the merger of World Affairs Council of Pittsburgh and Global Minds Initiatve with a socially distanced air hug. Photo provided by World Affairs Council of Pittsburgh

Merging Minds

Teen’s Global Minds Initiative merges with World Affairs Council of Pittsburgh

“We will see Global Minds in even more schools, and we will have even more new ways to reach young people once we’re on the other side of all this,” Cruz said.

Fighting Anti-Semitism

A major American Jewish coalition has adopted IHRA definition of anti-Semitism

But what that means may vary for its members.

Larry King interviewing Ross Perot in 1993 (Photo by Jeffrey Markowitz/Sygma via Getty Images via JTA)

News obituary

Larry King, legendary Jewish TV interviewer, dies at 87

He was known for his genial style and his ability to elicit detailed responses from his subjects.

An approximation of the famous Webster Hall Coffee Cake made from a recipe by East End native Elaine Kahn Light. (Photo provided by Rauh Jewish Archives)

Food nostalgia

What happened to the Webster Hall Coffee Cake?

Pittsburghers have been clamoring for the secret to the storied Bavarian coffee cake since 1948.

During the Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh's Young Adult Division event "An Evening With Mayim Bialik," in Feb. 2019, Bialik described the significance of her Jewish identity as an individual and as a celebrity. (Photo by Joshua Franzos)

Television

Mayim Bialik to guest host ‘Jeopardy!’

By Curt Schleier

The Jewish actress will be one of several guests hosts while the show seeks a permanent replacement for the late Alex Trebek

Photo by Michael Dougherty courtesy of flickr.com.

Opinion

Kenneth S. Stern

Can America inoculate against the dire threat of ‘us vs. them’?

How do we rebuild our republic?

OpinionThe cry to vote

Pear and pomegranate salad (Photo by Jessica Grann)

Food

Pear and pomegranate salad for Tu B’Shevat

By Jessica Grann

This beautiful salad can be assembled in fewer than 15 minutes.

Thu 28

January 18 - March 8

Thu 28

Mishna

January 28 , 8:00 am - 5:00 pm

Thu 28

Mishna

January 28 , 9:30 am - 10:45 am

Thu 28

Jewish Style R&R- Rachamim and Resilience

January 28 , 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm

Sun 31

Pittsburgh Rabbis on Jewish Belief

January 31 , 8:00 am - 5:00 pm

Opinion
The prophetic charge of Amanda Gorman’s ‘The Hill We Climb’

By Ronnie Perelis
Rejecting extremism
Pittsburgh approves ADL resolution condemning domestic terrorism
Merging Minds
Teen’s Global Minds Initiative merges with World Affairs Council of Pittsburgh

By David Rullo
Seniors
JAA to keep seniors Jewishly connected in wake of Charles Morris closure

By Toby Tabachnick
Housing
Former B’nai Israel synagogue finds renewed life as affordable housing and more

By David Rullo
Biden Adminstration
Upper St. Clair native joins Joe Biden’s National Security Council

By David Rullo
Oct. 27 shooting
Estate of couple murdered during Pittsburgh synagogue shooting sues Colt

By Toby Tabachnick
MLK Commemoration
Beth El welcomes trailblazing Ugandan rabbinic student to virtual program

By David Rullo
COVID-19
Despite pandemic, Jews at Concordia find community in Jew-‘ish’ residence

By David Rullo
Community unity
Pittsburgh faith community honored by new museum

By Justin Vellucci
New Hire
Classrooms Without Borders welcomes new educator

By David Rullo
Transitions
After three decades, Rabbi Larry Heimer retires from pastoral work

By Justin Vellucci
Kosher Pittsburgh
Goodbye, grape leaves: Hamsah Mediterranean Grill closes

By Adam Reinherz
Holocaust education
‘More than a history lesson’

By Adam Reinherz
Security
No current known threats against Pittsburgh Jewish community

By David Rullo
COVID-19
Vaccination day at the JAA

By Adam Reinherz
Educational retrospective
Newly retired David May-Stein reflects on 30 years in Pittsburgh education

By Adam Reinherz
COVID-19
Mental health professionals on COVID-19 front lines strive for work-life balance

By David Rullo
Saving cemeteries
Jewish Cemetery and Burial Association expands reach

By Justin Vellucci
Books
Beth Shalom Speaker Series kicks off Jan. 20 with author Sarah Blake

By David Rullo

Holocaust
Pittsburgh’s Holocaust Torahs encompass rich history

By Justin Vellucci
Food nostalgia
What happened to the Webster Hall Coffee Cake?

By Eric Lidji
Food
Pear and pomegranate salad for Tu B’Shevat

By Jessica Grann
Television
Mrs. Maisel’s marvelous accessories come from Pittsburgh

By Hilary Daninhirsch
Food
Solomonov brings Israel home with web Series

By Jesse Bernstein
Films
Paradise Eluded in ‘Some Kind of Heaven’

By Sophie Panzer
COVID-19
JFCS donation fulfills wishes for those devastated by COVID-19

By Adam Reinherz
Television
Trouble in mind: ‘Shtisel,” Season 3

By David Holzel
COVID-19
New rabbi assumes first pulpit in the midst of COVID-19

By Adam Reinherz
Film review
‘Wonder Woman 1984’ soars, then stumbles

By Sophie Panzer
Chanukah
Calabrian Chanukah celebration saved by Italian priest

By Adam Reinherz
Music
Chronicle’s New Year’s Eve playlist

By Adam Reinherz
History
Searching for facts and truth in historic fiction

By Eric Lidji
Astronomy
‘Great Conjunction’ offers unique perspective

By Adam Reinherz
COVID-19
Pittsburgh couple makes aliyah — during COVID-19

By Kayla Steinberg
Chanukah
Judah Cowen’s candied beef bacon donut a hit for Chanukah

By Adam Reinherz
Chanukah
Annual Chanukah bash with Brothers Lazaroff goes virtual

By Ellen Futterman
Art
Pittsburgher gets crafty with personalized Judaica

By Kayla Steinberg
COVID-19
In a field hard hit by the pandemic, these Pittsburgh artists still keeping busy

By Adam Reinherz
Chanukah
OMG, Daveed Diggs released a Chanukah song

By Emily Burack

Torah
Joseph’s unveiling

By Rabbi Barbara AB Symons
Opinion
An 80-year search for ‘the student K,’ murderer of Jewish babies

By Dr. Efraim Zuroff
Opinion
I found myself in a hot tub full of neo-Nazis Shortly after I began converting

By Caleb A. Guedes-Reed
Opinion
Anti-Semitic slogan seen close to home
Opinion
The cry to vote

By Adira Rosen
Opinion
A Biden appointee who carries the Jewish story itself

By Mark Hetfield
Opinion
Can America inoculate against the dire threat of ‘us vs. them’?

By Kenneth S. Stern
Opinion
We must do more to protect our essential workers

By Dorit Sasson
Letters
Honey works better than vinegar
Torah
God’s hand can be seen within the miracles of nature

By Rabbi Yisroel Rosenfeld
Opinion
It’s a straight line

By Rabbi Mark Asher Goodman
Torah
The burden seems unbearable

By Rabbi Ron Symons
Opinion
Letters to the Editor
Opinion
On solidarity: Winners of the Chronicle’s first poetry contest
Opinion
I survived the Capitol attack. Now there’s work to be done.

By U.S. Rep. Susan Wild
Opinion
PA Republicans vs. the will of the voters: We all lose.

By State Rep. Dan Frankel
Opinion
If we don’t learn from the past, we are doomed to repeat it

By Howard Rieger
Opinion
All of us must join together to counter extremism

By Harry Hochheiser
Michael L. Leibowitz
Opinion
Crematoriums and gas chambers in Poland were run by German Nazis

Fighting Anti-Semitism
A major American Jewish coalition has adopted IHRA definition of anti-Semitism

By Ben Sales
News obituary
Larry King, legendary Jewish TV interviewer, dies at 87

By Ron Kampeas
Television
Mayim Bialik to guest host ‘Jeopardy!’

By Curt Schleier
Inauguration Day
All the ways Biden and Harris are making Jewish history on Inauguration Day

By Uriel Heilman
Government
Biden nominates Dr. Rachel Levine to be deputy health secretary

By Ron Kampeas
Social media
Experts talk about implications of social media crackdown

By Toby Tabachnick
Anti-Semitism
Hackers shut down Atlanta synagogue website

By Ron Kampeas
Social Media
Jewish civil rights group protests Twitter CEO over not banning Holocaust denial

By JNS
Jewish Media crisis
New York Jewish Week acquired by 70 Faces Media
Politics
Michigan Rep. Elissa Slotkin joins call to impeach Trump

By Ron Kampeas
Mayhem
DC-area Jewish community reacts to Capitol violence

By Eric Schucht and David Holzel
Politics
3 Jewish Democrats are leading the House impeachment charge. 1 is not on board.

By Ron Kampeas
Politics
Anti-Defamation League calls for Trump’s removal from the presidency

By Ron Kampeas
Mayhem
Neo-Nazis, QAnon and Camp Auschwitz symbols on display at Capitol riots

By Laura E. Adkins and Emily Burack
Mayhem
DC rabbis seek to calm congregants on edge after mob chaos at the Capitol

By Gabe Friedman and Shira Feder
Mayhem
Jewish groups react to riots in DC with ‘outrage,’ ‘disgust,’ criticism of Trump

By Ron Kampeas
Mayhem
‘I don’t recognize our country today’: Members under siege in Congress

By Ron Kampeas
Politics
Jon Ossoff: What you need to know about the (likely-to-be) newest Jewish senator

By Philissa Cramer
Crime and redemption
Trump pardons Jared Kushner’s father

By Ron Kampeas
West Virginia
For the few Jews in West Virginia, the pandemic has offered silver linings

By Larry Luxner

Teens
New initiative fosters connections between local teens and Israeli peers

By Dionna Dash
News obituary
Sheldon Adelson, megadonor to Israel and Republicans, is dead at 87

By JTA Staff
Aliyah
US immigration to Israel holds up in 2020 despite pandemic

By Larry Luxner
The year that was
Those we lost in 2020: Remembering the rabbis, pioneers and innovators

By Gabe Friedman
COVID-19
Israel has vaccinated over 10 times more of its population than the US

By Gabe Friedman
Fighting Anti-Semitism
University of London refunds tuition to Jewish student because of anti-Semitism

By Cnaan Liphshiz
A 'dream realized'
Jonathan Pollard arrives in Israel, 35 years after his arrest for spying

By TOI Staff
News obituary
Rabbi Yehuda Herzl Henkin, pioneer of women’s leadership in Orthodoxy, dies

By Shira Hanau
Year in review
10 heartwarming Jewish stories from 2020, a year to otherwise forget

By Gabe Friedman
Israel
Israel calls 4th election in 2 years as Netanyahu-Gantz coalition collapses

By By Raoul Wootliff
Diplomacy
Palestinians urge Biden and Israel to return to the negotiating table

By Gabe Friedman
Inclusion
Israeli and UAE disabilities professionals share goal of expanding inclusion

By Howard Blas
Holocaust
Holocaust victims and heirs seek restitution for stolen property in US courts

By Adam Reinherz
Diplomacy
Israel inks deal establishing diplomatic relations with Bhutan

By TOI Staff
Diplomacy
Israel and Morocco to establish diplomatic ties

By Ben Sales
Holocaust
6 prominent Holocaust survivors have died in Europe over the past month

By Cnaan Liphshiz
Opinion
Effi Eitam appointment would negate Yad Vashem’s core message

By Yossi Klein Halevi and Efraim Zuroff
Israel
Israel looks headed for election as Gantz backs bill to dissolve parliament
Iran deal
Biden plans to reenter Iran deal without new conditions, then negotiate
Chabad
Their annual gathering impossible, Chabad rabbis convene on Zoom for days

By Shira Hanau