Two opportunities to unite in support of Israel this weekend
Community Havdalah ceremony Nov. 4; 'Bring Them Home' event Nov. 5.
Two community gatherings this weekend will give Jewish Pittsburghers an opportunity to join together in support of Israel and to pray for the safe return of the estimated 240 hostages captured by Hamas on Oct. 7.
Community Havdalah ceremony
Chabad of Greenfield and StandWithUs will host a community musical Havdalah ceremony at the new parklet in the Summerset at Frick neighborhood on Sat. Nov. 4, beginning at 7:30 p.m.
Summerset residents were targeted with antisemitic and other hateful graffiti on Tuesday. The graffiti has been removed and police are investigating.
David Knoll, a Democratic write-in candidate for Allegheny County Council at-large, will address the community following the ceremony.
Knoll is mounting a write-in campaign to challenge Bethany Hallam in the County Council at-large race in response to her social media posts seeming to celebrate the Hamas attack on Israel.
Security will be on site.
Bring Them Home
On Sunday, Nov. 5, StandWithUs will join an international project of Koolulam, bringing community members together to sing prayers on behalf of the hostages. The event will be held at Rodef Shalom Congregation, 4905 Fifth Ave. Doors open at 4:30 p.m. and the program begins at 5 p.m.
Koolulam “is a social musical initiative aimed at empowering communities and strengthening the fabric of society,” according to its website.
Sunday’s project will happen in more than 100 locations around the world and include several of the hostages’ families.
The event is free and open to the community, but registration is required by Sunday, noon. Children and adults alike are encouraged to attend, and security will be on site. Click here to register. PJC
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