We’re celebrating April Fool’s Day early this year. We hope this got a rise out of you. It is true: The Final Four falls on the same night as Big Night. If you have a case of FOMO, it will be Hoops Heaven in our Final Four Lounge. We will be serving beers from Penn Brewery and there’s talk about Manischewitz Vodka […]
Men Boycott Big Night Because of Final Four Read More »
Community Spotlight: Classic Lines Bookstore The book “The 613” immediately caught my eye as I perused the shelves at Classic Lines, the cozy bookstore located on Forbes Avenue, adjacent to Commonplace Coffee. Wondering whether there was a connection with the 613 Jewish Commandments, I asked the proprietor Dan Iddings if in fact there was one. That is
An Illustrative List of the 613 Commandments. Read More »
PJ Library, a program of the Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh in partnership with the JCC, is expanding! A new program, PJ Our Way, will provide books to children ages 9-11 who live in the Pittsburgh community, bringing Jewish books into older children’s lives as effectively as PJ Library has done with younger children over
PJ Library Launches New Program: PJ our Way Read More »
Imagine 390 Jewish teens coming together from around the world, to perform original, and classic, Jewish choral arrangements – from V’hi Sheamda, to Hallelujah, to Tfilah L’Tzahal – to a full house at Carnegie Music Hall, which had sold out months in advance. What a moving vision that would be! Fortunately, this vision becomes a
Pittsburgh and Israeli Teens Connecting Through Jewish Music Read More »
Purim is the Jewish equivalent of Halloween–in Spring We dress up in costumes, have our faces painted and eat homemade hamantashens. Still deciding on a costume? Take this quiz, find out which Purim Character you are and pick your costume accordingly. Then come join us–we have planned quite the extravaganza. The JCC will host Peace * Love * Purim at the
Which Purim Character are you ? Read More »
Community Spotlight: Sherree Goldstein, Community Champion It’s often said that it takes a village to raise a child. It’s no stretch to say that it takes a Sherree Goldstein to raise a community. “In 2003 I had the vision to bring fresh seasonal and local food to Regent Square,” Goldstein writes on the restaurant’s website.
Square Cafe–With Love Read More »
Two years ago, Arthur Pitt, my Harry B Davis Coach growing up, sparked the greatest JCC Basketball (Facebook) debate ever. 681 comments by former players, coaches and kids who grew up at the JCC. Who is the best basketball player ever from the Squirrel Hill neighborhood in Pittsburgh. Dan Florian Jimmy Wedner Josh Marks Jordan A. Marks
Who is The Greatest JCC Basketball Player Ever? Read More »
Artist Marcel Walker illustrates Superheroes of the Holocaust I recently visited the studio of artist Marcel Walker, one of the illustrators behind Chutz-Pow: Superheroes of the Holocaust. Chutz-Pow is a graphic novel series developed by the Holocaust Center that focuses on civilians during the Holocaust who resisted Nazi ideology and risked their safety by coming
Creating Chutz-Pow Read More »
Community and Philanthropy Key to The Wilson Group’s Success The Wilson Group LLC functions as much more than a vendor of workflow solutions. With a commitment to Western Pennsylvania as a locally owned and operated company, its Golden Rule to treat customers the way we would want to be treated, and a record of giving back,
Community Spotlight: The Wilson Group Read More »
Unblurred: First Fridays on Penn is a monthly event sponsored by the Penn Avenue Arts Initiative. It is a chance for folks to come check out amazing art and meet the artists and the gallery owners. For last week’s Unblurred, the JCC’s American Jewish Museum partnered with artist Lori Hepner to create a series of interactive workshops that will evolve
AJM shines light at First Fridays on Penn Read More »
Landau Eugene Murphy Jr. has invoked Frank Sinatra more than once to sing his way through adversity. As a West Virginia boy transplanted to the violent streets of Detroit, where, he says, “you could lose your life in a fight on a basketball court,” he’d calm down his buddies by singing Fly Me to the
Landau Eugene Murphy Jr. Will Knock Our Socks Off at Big Night Read More »
Chinese New Year celebrations began Monday and for the next couple weeks — it’s a 15-day celebration — a multitude of events celebrating Asian culture and diversity will take place around Squirrel Hill. This is the Year of the Monkey, which is the 9th animal in the 12 animal cycle. People born in the Year of the Monkey include
Squirrel Hill Celebrates the Chinese New Year Read More »
Even as we dig our way out of our first (and hopefully last) major snow storm of the winter, I am thinking about SPRING. After all, Tu biShvat begins on Sunday, January 24 at sundown. If you have cabin fever and want to bring spring into your world, might I suggest three things: Plant a
I'm Thinking of Spring Read More »
Tikkun Olam or to “Repair the World” is a continuing theme through different movements in Judaism. In all of these, a common thread has to do with the universal value of taking responsibility for the welfare of others. Like the Dao of eastern philosophy states, “Love the world as yourself; then you can care for all things.” And
Repair the World: Living the Value of Tikkun Olam Read More »
At J Line, we often recognize a reflection of our own lives, and most pressing questions, in the stories we encounter – in the text, in film, in humor, and even in Hebrew. (And we even enjoy ourselves while doing so!) Under the guidance of Ronit Pasternak, our Hebrew students learn Hebrew as a modern
What Have We Been Up To On the J Line? Read More »
Turns out that 90 year-old artist Nathan Hilu, based in New York’s Lower East Side, has Pittsburgh roots. No Hilus remain in the area, however, so the name is unlikely to have a ring of familiarity. Hilu, the subject of American Jewish Museum’s upcoming March exhibition, is an enigmatic character who draws ferociously with any
May I tell you of PFC Nathan Hilu? Read More »
One of my best birthdays was a party I had at the JCC. I spent that day with my friends swimming, playing basketball and deck hockey. After three hours of non-stop activity, we congregated in Room 301 to eat kosher pizza (remember Yacov’s?) and cake. Of course, presents! I still remember it like it was yesterday. When I first heard about Beverly’s Birthdays
Beverly's Birthdays Spreads Cheer Across Pittsburgh Read More »
You and I have heard it described as ‘our generation’s immaculate reception‘. What happened on Saturday night in Cincinnati electrified Pittsburgh. I saw the game slipping away from the Steelers throughout the 4th quarter to only be surprised with the victory. Victory wasn’t the only thing slipping away. Morality slipped away too. Marc Hardin described
Are there any mentschen on the grid-iron? Read More »
The South Hills Pool will be closed Monday, August 17 through Saturday, August 29 for annual maintenance and improvements.
We anticipate reopening on Sunday, August 30.