Optimism in the face of anxiety
As the secular new year begins, we see many reasons for hope.
Our community endured another turbulent year. While Israel continued to battle Hamas in an effort to end its reign of terror and retrieve the hostages remaining in Gaza, the Jewish state also was attacked by Hezbollah, the Houthis in Yemen, terrorists in the West Bank and missiles fired directly from Iran. Meanwhile, antisemitism surged across the United States, including in Pittsburgh.
It was a year filled with anxiety.
But it was also one of hope.
First, the anxiety:
Throughout 2024, the Chronicle covered anti-Israeli and antisemitic incidents at Carnegie Mellon University, University of Pittsburgh and Point Park University. Those included illegal anti-Israel encampments, calls to boycott the Jewish state, anti-Israel rioters blocking the entrance to Hillel-Jewish University Center and a campaign to shut down Hillel. Two Jewish students were physically assaulted by a man wearing a keffiyeh, and another Jewish student was attacked by several men yelling slurs about Jews and Israel.
In March, Pittsburgh’s anti-Israel contingent put forth a motion at Allegheny County Council calling for a cease-fire in Gaza, laying blame for the war on the Jewish state. After more than five hours of public comment, the council rejected the motion. If passed, the resolution would have had no impact on politics in the Middle East, but it could have contributed to a climate of rising antisemitism in Allegheny County. While those who spoke in favor of the motion outnumbered those opposed by about 2 to 1, our Jewish community members who defended Israel were eloquent and passionate. We are convinced their presence at the meeting made a difference and helped persuade the council to do the right thing.
In July, Chabad of Squirrel Hill’s building and a Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh sign were defaced with antisemitic graffiti, including an inverted red triangle, a symbol used by Hamas to mark its targets. Two suspects were indicted and await trial. One refers to himself as a Hamas operative.
In August, our community helped defeat a referendum sponsored by the Pittsburgh Democratic Socialists of America that would have required Pittsburgh to cease doing business with any organization or individual that does business with or in Israel. PDSA withdrew the referendum after it was challenged by the Federation and City Controller Rachael Heisler, based on the invalidity of thousands of signatures gathered to put the referendum on the ballot. More than 100 community volunteers examined over 15,000 signatures to check their validity. The PDSA plans to resurrect its BDS referendum this spring.
The Chronicle provided in-depth coverage of the contentious Democratic primary for District 12’s congressional seat. Bhavini Patel, a pro-Israel progressive candidate, challenged incumbent Summer Lee, who has repeatedly voted and spoken against Israel and other Jewish interests. She called for a cease-fire shortly after Hamas’ Oct. 7 invasion of Israel. Lee was one of only a few Congress members to oppose a resolution condemning Hamas after its deadly attack on Israeli civilians and has called for an arms embargo against the Jewish state as it fights its war on terror. Lee won the primary and held her seat in the general election, beating Republican James Hayes.
The Chronicle also covered our community’s opinions regarding the race between longtime Sen. Bob Casey Jr. and challenger Dave McCormick, two pro-Israel candidates, with McCormick winning the seat.
And, of course, there was the presidential election. Our readers submitted more opinion pieces and letters to the editor than we could run, many urging voters to cast their ballots based on Jewish values and love for Israel.
One could say it was a stressful year.
But here’s why we are optimistic.
Our community remains strong and resilient. We came together to defeat both the proposed cease-fire resolution presented to Allegheny County and PDSA’s proposed BDS referendum. Scores of us continue to gather regularly on the corner of Murray Avenue and Darlington Road to remember the hostages and gain inspiration from each other. Hundreds came together at the Jewish Community Center of Greater Pittsburgh in September after six hostages were murdered in Gaza. And on Oct. 7, 2024, more than 1,500 of us gathered outside the JCC, standing in solidarity with Israel and remembering the victims of Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023, attack.
While antisemitism continues to surge on our campuses, the University of Pittsburgh took the positive step of forming a working group to confront the problem — despite some delays and pushback coming from members of the university’s Equity, Inclusion and Anti-Discrimination Advocacy Committee. We are hopeful that the new working group can bring security and relief to the school’s Jewish students and staff.
The Eradicate Hate Global Summit held its fourth annual conference in October at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center downtown. Created in response to the Pittsburgh synagogue shooting, the summit continues to be a means to galvanize worldwide action against hate.
And while progress is slow, Tree of Life broke ground on its new edifice in June, and once completed, it aims to be a place to teach and share lessons against antisemitism and other forms of bigotry.
We don’t expect the ringing in of 2025 to magically bring enlightenment to those who would harm us. But as the secular new year begins, we see many reasons for hope.
In the words of Martin Luther King Jr., “You don’t have to see the whole staircase, just take the first step.” PJC
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