Metro Briefs January 30
The Sajowitz Endowment Fund of Temple Emanuel of South Hills, Beth El Congregation’s Men’s Club and the Jewish Community Center of Greater Pittsburgh-South Hills will host a scholar-in-residence weekend, Feb. 7 and 8. Temple Emanuel will be marking its 39th Annual Weekend.
Jason von Ehrenkrook is the scholar-in-residence. He is the Perlow lecturer in classical Judaism at the University of Pittsburgh. His teaching focuses primarily on Jewish antiquity, from ancient Israel through Rabbinic Judaism, with a sprinkling of early Christianity thrown into the mix. His doctorate is from the University of Michigan.
On Feb. 7, a Mediterranean Flair Shabbat dairy dinner will be held. The cost of dinner per person is $15 for ages 13 years and older, $10 for 3 to 12 years old and free under 3 years old.
Reservations are required by Feb. 4.
Contact 412-279-7600 or templeemanuel@templeemanuelpgh.org for more information about the schedule and to make reservations.
Sivitz Jewish Hospice, which is a part of the Jewish Association on Aging, is marking its 20th anniversary, and the benchmark date comes as personnel and programming changes are being made:
• Dr. Tamara E. Sacks was appointed medical director of the program last June;
• Dr. Stuart Chetlin was named clinical director;
• Estee Feuer-Gelman was named hospice volunteer coordinator this past September;
• Patricia Riley was appointed to the position of director of professional services in January;
• “No One Dies Alone” is a nationally recognized program that allows trained volunteers to provide support and companionship to patients and families in their last hours of life;
• Reiki Therapy is a Japanese technique used for stress reduction and relaxation that assists in promoting comfort and relief from physical symptoms; and
• Laughter Therapy uses therapeutic laughter to relieve stress of patients and their caregivers while reintroducing moments of joy into difficult times.
Contact Mary Anne Foley, executive director, at 412-422-5700 or mafoley@jaapgh.org or visit jaapgh.org for more information.
Dr. Susan Klugman, medical director for the Program for Jewish Genetic Health at Yeshiva University/Albert Einstein College of Medicine, will speak on the subject, “What’s Jewish About Breast and Ovarian Cancer?” Saturday, Feb. 1, at Beth El Congregation of the South Hills.
Services at Beth El will begin at 9:15 a.m. Klugman’s talk will start around 11 a.m.
Klugman also is taking part in the Mikey Butler Yahrzeit Weekend, but the Beth El program is separate.
Breast cancer affects 1 in 9 women in their lifetime and ovarian cancer affects 1 in 70. Approximately 10 percent of these cancers have a hereditary component, including genes inherited from the father’s side of the family.
Klugman will discuss the mutations in the specific genes, the increased risks for women of Ashkenazi Jewish descent, and how men also are at risk for related cancers.
Beth El Congregation, the Program for Jewish Genetic Health at Yeshiva University and Einstein College, the Pittsburgh Victor Center and the Mikey Butler Foundation are all sponsoring the program.
Rabbi Jonathan Perlman of New Light Congregation will lead a tour of Jewish historic sites in the city, Sunday, March 23, from 12:30 to 5 p.m.
The tour will include visits to the old Concordia Club, Troy Hill Hebrew Cemetery, Kaufmann mansions, Socialist Club of Pittsburgh, old Hebrew Institute, Irene Kaufmann Settlement, Rodef Shalom Congregation, Beth Hamedrash Hagodol-Beth Jacob, Anshei Lubavitch Congregation and the Mount Zion Baptist Church (formerly Congregation Kether Torah).
The cost of the trip is $28 per person. Reservations are due by March 20 and seating is limited.
Call 412-367-7384 for more information.
Jewish Residential Services is highlighting two publications.
The first, developed by the Special Needs Planning Committee of the Jewish Federation, is the Community Directory for Individuals with Special Needs and Disabilities in Pittsburgh’s Jewish Community. It provides accessibility and accommodation information for Jewish facilities and institutions and disability related services provided by local Jewish agencies. The directory is available at over 80 Pittsburgh locations and is hosted online at jewishpittsburghinclusion.org.
The second publication, which provides news and information regarding inclusion, is the Connections Newsletter, a quarterly effort of JRS, Friendship Circle, Jewish Federation, Jewish Family & Children’s Service, Agency for Jewish Learning and the Jewish Community Center. To receive the newsletter, email connectionspittsburgh@gmail.com.
B’nai Emunoh/Chabad, at 4315 Murray Ave., will hold a bake sale called Sweet Treats in February. All items will be pareve.
Orders must be placed by Monday, Feb. 10, and picked up Thursday, Feb. 13. Free delivery is available for orders over $30.
Call 412-521-1477 or email Shaina@BEChabad.org for a list of items and prices and for more information.
Chabad of the South Hills, in Mt. Lebanon, will hold a seniors luncheon Tuesday, Feb. 11, at noon. Batya Rosenblum will present a slide show of highlights from her recent trip to Israel. There is a $5 suggested donation; the building is wheelchair accessible.
Contact Barb at 412-278-2658 or barb@chabadsh.com to make a reservation.
The Pittsburgh Area Jewish Committee’s Christian-Jewish Dialogue will meet on Thursday, Feb. 6, at Congregation Beth Shalom, located at 5915 Beacon St., at noon. The topic will be “Honoring Our Fathers and Mothers.” This month’s presenter is Rabbi Jamie Gibson. The regular monthly conveners are Gibson, Rev. Linda Theophilus and Rabbi Michael Werbow. The program is free to the public. Contact the PAJC office at (412) 605-0816 or pajc@pajc.net for more information.
Pittsburgh Conference of Jewish Women’s Organizations is holding its third annual Games Day Party, hosted by New Light Sisterhood, Monday, Feb. 3, from 12:30 to 4 p.m., at 1700 Beechwood Blvd.
Participants may bring friends and favorite games, though game playing is not mandatory.
Tables and snacks will be provided. There is a $5 charge.
Contact chair of the day Barbara Caplan at 412-521-4332 or Ileen Portnoy at 412-683-7985 to register.
Squirrel Hill Historical Society will hold its next free meeting Tuesday, Feb. 11, at 7:30 p.m. at the Church of the Redeemer, 5700 Forbes Ave.
Bill Swoope Jr., co-founder and co-owner of Coffee Tree Roasters, will speak about the shop’s history and will give a commentary on coffee.
Contact Pat at 412-521-9132, historysqhill@hotmail.com for more information.
Rabbi Danny Schiff will offer a community lecture and discussion on Transformational Waters, which will benefit the building of the new mikvah, on Tuesday, Feb. 4, at 10 a.m., at Congregation Beth Shalom in Squirrel Hill. There is no charge for this program, which is co-sponsored by Beth Shalom and Adat Shalom.
J Street Pittsburgh will examine the issue of Jerusalem as a core issue of Israeli-Palestinian peace Sunday, Feb. 2, at 3:15 p.m. at the Squirrel Hill Library, Room B, at 5801 Forbes Ave.
“Is Peace Possible,” a series of short videos that help to visualize the countours of a final peace agreement, will be shown.
This event will be the first in an interactive series J Street Pittsburgh is offering on the core issues at the heart of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and at the center of efforts to achieve a two-state solution.
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