What I love about the seder is that the ritual that began the night before we left Egypt has been transformed thousands of times over throughout the generations. In fact, the Passover haggadah is said to be the most published Jewish book in history with editions that meet the needs of assorted Jews throughout history. […]
Seder supplements to make your Passover relevant this year Read More »
Year after year, brisket after brisket, matzah after matzah… this line is the highlight of my Passover experience. There is something that touches me deep down inside when we lift up that memory-laden-matzah and declare: Ha Lachma Anya This is the bread of affliction, the poor bread, which our ancestors ate in the land of
“Let All Who Are Hungry Come and Eat!” Read More »
Last June, four collaborating agencies – BBYO, Repair the World, the Volunteer Center of the Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh and the JCC – came together to begin planning the largest Jewish teen service event of the year. Calendars were managed, Steering Committee applications were drafted, and each organization’s role was clearly determined and defined. Several
J-Serve Pittsburgh: Teamwork in Action Read More »
Ahhh…March Madness…the time of year where die-hard fans, casual fans and just about everyone in-between focuses their attention on basketball and their NCAA Tournament brackets! Here at the JCC, we are no different – whether it’s Sherree Hall running her annual poll for the staff or the typical conversations between members about their brackets or
March Madness: We Feel It Year-Round at the JCC Read More »
This Sunday, for the 12th consecutive year in Pittsburgh, more than 300 Jewish teens in 6th-12th grade will join together at the JCC for a day of community service, learning and fun, as part of J-Serve: International Day of Youth Service. Over six powerful hours, these inspiring teens will engage in Jewish values of tikkun
J-Serve: A Day of Community Service for Teens Read More »
OK, it’s National Nutrition Month, so let’s talk about food. Quick: what does a healthy diet look like? If you are like a lot of people, your answer might include a list of Nos. No sugar. No white foods. No salt. No dairy. No junk food. No processed foods. Veggies are good, but no carrots!
National Nutrition Month: Let's Talk About Food! Read More »
Did you know that heart disease is the number one killer of women AND men? It causes 1 in 3 deaths for woman and 1 in 4 deaths for men per year. That’s a huge number of people!1,2 It’s national Heart Health Month. What can you do to help combat heart disease? Add exercise to
Heart Healthy Eating Read More »
Children have an innate affinity to being in nature, to sensory play, to experiential learning that we see every day in the summers at J&R Day Camp. The Torah teaches us a lot about the importance of nature. From the start, the book of Bereshit details God’s creations of heaven and earth. Each time God
A Lesson from the J&R Day Camp Garden Read More »
Dancing Queens and limousines – prom night is a magical milestone! We can’t wait for you to make some new memories and have the night of your life at #BigNightBigProm. Enjoy this fun infographic for some surprising facts and history of these big nights! #JCCBigNight2017 Inspired? Join us at this fabulous event. For tickets, click
About Big Night: The Prom Read More »
With the week of February 5th being Children’s Authors and Illustrators Week, what better opportunity than to highlight a few of my favorite PJ Library books! As the director of PJ Library in Pittsburgh, I get the privilege of receiving nine wonderful, high quality Jewish children’s books every month – one for each age group
PJ Library Celebrates Authors & Illustrators Week Read More »
February 3, 2017 At this time of challenging and often contentious public discourse, we proudly wear ‘COMMUNITY’ as our middle name. From our founding at the turn of the 20th century, we helped thousands of immigrants and refugees become an integral part of the American dream. As the work that we began in 1895 continues
Community is our Middle Name Read More »
“For I, the Lord, love justice.” -Isaiah 61:8 “You shall love the stranger, for you were strangers.” -Deuteronomy 10:19 At J Line, we are proud to connect Jewish values to the pursuit of peace and justice in the world around us. Last Sunday, during Breakfast B’yachad (“together”), in light of Friday’s ban on immigration from
J Line – Teens and Jewish Values at Work Read More »
I would love to read the President’s mail. But of course, that would be illegal without his permission. We do get glimpses of the content of letters sent to Presidents of the past when they have shared stories of citizens as a way of illustrating American values. They are American values expressed through the voices
100 Letters – 100 Days Read More »
One of the most unique things about PT @ the JCC powered by the JAA is our dynamic location. Just steps away from a state-of the-art fitness and aquatic center, we at PT @ the JCC are able to utilize these wonderful facilities to help any physical therapy patient meet his or her goals. Perhaps more
The Wellness Continuum at the JCC Read More »
January is National Hobby Month but we keep it going all summer long at James & Rachel Levinson Day Camp, where we cultivate children’s interests every day. Hobbies are good for us. Besides improving creativity and generating good moods, hobbies enhance the ability to focus and concentrate, training our brains to retain an interest and sparking enthusiasm. J&R
Explore your hobbies at J&R Day Camp Read More »
As our country celebrates the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., I hope that you see it as a call to action based on long-standing Jewish values. Join me for a brief video-blog with music, quotes and intention.
Let Us Turn Our Thoughts to Martin Luther King Read More »
Among the many important events in the new year, January is National Slow Cooking Month. The ubiquitous slow cooker – the small appliance that makes it all happen – should not be taken for granted. How wonderful is it to be able to throw a bunch of ingredients into a Crock Pot just before leaving for
Celebrate the Slow Cooker Read More »
On January 29, we will mark the 18th “birthday” of the JCC in the South Hills. This milestone is traditionally referred to as a “chai” or life event, because the Hebrew letters that spell chai correspond to the number 18. It’s been a great 18 years of preschool, summer camps, fitness, recreation, swimming and most important,
It's a Chai Birthday Year at the South Hills JCC Read More »
Labor Day – Monday, Sept. 1: Fitness Centers Open 8 am-2 pm; Family Park Open 11 am-7 pm