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Author name: Riley Crow

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JCC State of Mind: November 21, 2025 – Gesher’s Supportive Employment Initiative

As I was preparing to begin my very first position at the JCC back in 2016, our esteemed former colleague Rachel Marcus ended a tour of the Squirrel Hill facility by bringing me into the Kaufmann Dance Studio, where the Gesher program participants were gathered. She paused, pointed gently toward the room, and said, “Forget

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JCC Staff Spotlight: Tarna Batelman Dominates Her Debut Muay Thai Fight

Last week, Tarna Batelman, a personal trainer at the Jewish Community Center of Greater Pittsburgh, competed in her first-ever Amateur Modified Muay Thai fight and came out victorious with a 1-0 record. Muay Thai, a traditional martial art from Thailand, is similar to kickboxing and allows punches, kicks, knees, elbows, and clinching, but no takedowns.

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JCC State of Mind: October 24, 2025 – 10.27 Healing Partnership

This week’s edition of JCC State of Mind was written by Maggie Feinstein, Director, 10.27 Healing Partnership This week there were over ten events throughout Pittsburgh that invited each of us to learn about one another, share a meal together, or face some difficult questions in order to understand and care for each other better

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JCC State of Mind: October 17, 2025 – Holy Disagreements

This week’s edition of JCC State of Mind was written by Rabbi Hindy Finman, Senior Director of Jewish Life This past year, JCC Association of North America partnered with the Pardes Institute of Jewish Studies to offer JCC staff the opportunity to take Makhloket Matters – an eight-week course on approaching conflict and difficult conversations through a Jewish lens. 

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Whole Health Insights: Metabolism, Our Body’s Symphony- Not some broken machine.

Over the years I’ve heard many people curse their metabolism.  They’re often in search for ways to “fix it” in order to lose or maintain weight.  When we strip away the blame, shame, and wellness industry buzzwords, and instead view metablism through the lens of dynamic systems, homeostasis, and sustainable change, the workings of metabolism

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JCC State of Mind: October 3, 2025 – Yom Kippur 5786

Each year on Yom Kippur, we gather at the JCC as a community to engage in conversations that connect timeless Jewish wisdom to the most pressing issues of our day. This year’s program, From Division to Renewal: A Conversation on Forgiveness and Democracy, invited us to explore how the themes of reflection, forgiveness, and renewal might

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Whole Health Insights: Finding the Gift in Change

Back-to-school season always sneaks up on me. One minute it’s late summer, the next it’s Labor Day.  While I love the start of a new academic year, fall sports, and the change in seasons, it’s still quite the adjustment.  Suddenly, everyone–parents, students, even myself–is scrambling to find a new routine.   Transitions are challenging. But, as

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JCC State of Mind: September 12, 2025 – Thank you, Scott!

This week’s JCC State of Mind is President & CEO, Jason Kunzman’s closing remarks from our 130th Annual Meeting, which took place on September 10, 2025. Our final order of business tonight is to recognize and thank our outgoing Board Chair, Scott Seewald. Scott is, in every sense, a JCC lifer. His connection to this

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JCC State of Mind: September 5, 2025 – Happy Retirement, Al Rose!

The Talmud teaches us that among a parent’s most important responsibilities is to teach their child how to swim. This teaching is not just about water safety; it is about equipping the next generation with the skills they need to navigate life’s currents, to find confidence, and to thrive. For 67 remarkable years, Al Rose

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JCC State of Mind: August 29, 2025 – Last Weeks of Summer

This past week has been filled with energy, intention, and anticipation across our JCC.  On Monday morning, we opened the doors of our Early Childhood Development Center to welcome children and families in both Squirrel Hill and the South Hills for the new school year. The joy, curiosity, and laughter of our youngest learners reminded us once

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JCC State of Mind: August 22, 2025 – ECDC In-Service Experience

One of the great privileges of serving as a member of the JCC’s Leadership Team is the opportunity to learn from every corner of our community. And through it all, I’ve come to believe that everything I need to know to be an effective leader, I’ve learned from our own Early Childhood Development Center. This

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JCC State of Mind: August 15, 2025 – A Summer to Remember

From sunrise songs to evening’s rest, our campers truly lived their best summer yet. Whether at Emma Kaufmann Camp’s wooded shore, J&R Day Camp’s fields of laughter, South Hills Day Camp’s energy and play, or in the bright glow of Performing Arts Camp’s stage lights, each day was filled with joy and discovery. Our Specialty

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JCC State of Mind: August 8, 2025 – The 2025 JCC Maccabi Campus Games – What an incredible experience!

With immense pride and gratitude, we celebrate the incredible accomplishment of hosting the 2025 JCC Maccabi Campus Games here in Pittsburgh. After a 28-year hiatus, this unforgettable experience was made possible through the unwavering passion, commitment and support of our partners, donors, volunteers and the extraordinary JCC staff—each of whom played a vital role in

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JCC State of Mind: August 1, 2025 – Let the Games Begin!

There’s moment in Jewish midrash that I often return to when reflecting on courage and leadership. As our ancestors stood at the edge of the Red Sea, with the Egyptian army closing in behind them, it was not until Nachshon ben Aminadav stepped forward into the water—up to his neck—that the sea began to part. It took

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JCC State of Mind: July 18, 2025 – Camp Kindness Day

This week, we marked National Camp Kindness Day, a special moment during the summer when our day camps pause to intentionally celebrate the Sheva Lenses of B’Tzelem Elokin (dignity and potential) Hit’orerut (gratitude and amazement), and Tikkun Olam (responsibility). At the JCC, kindness is more than just a theme of the day—it’s the foundation of everything we strive for during the

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Holiday Schedule

Labor Day – Monday, Sept. 1: Fitness Centers Open 8 am-2 pm; Family Park Open 11 am-7 pm

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