My jaw dropped when I looked at the food column in the New York Times last Sunday. One of my favorite food writers, Mark Bittman, chose to make his farewell column, entitled “Slice of Heaven,” about Bread and Salt Bakery in Bloomfield. Not Queens. Bloomfield, Pittsburgh. I’m not going to lie; I was confused. First, […]
Pittsburgh Pizza — Who Knew? Read More »
My Hat of Choice: Brooklyn Dodgers My Dad, Jerry, still thinks that the Dodgers play in Brooklyn! He won’t give up on that reality even though he and I, along with my son Micah, have actually been to a Dodgers game in Los Angeles. It is my Dad’s honor that I wear a Brooklyn Dodgers
The Dodgers are Still in Brooklyn Read More »
As I was reviewing the curriculum for our Girls on the Run team, I realized that we are now more than halfway through the program. We have such an amazing group of third to fifth grade girls from five different schools, and with so many different personalities. It got me thinking about the vision of
Girls Just Want to…Run! Read More »
What if they are writing my eulogy today? Not to be morbid, but it is time for me to start thinking about what they might say at my funeral. Trust me, I have many years left, (God willing), but it is still time to think. I got to thinking about this when I stood in
What will they say when? Read More »
Last week I saw a tweet that the Carnegie Museums are celebrating their 120th year anniversary: I made a new dinosaur friend @CarnegieMNH #CarnegieClash https://t.co/kTLPMIECek — Sally Wiggin (@SWigginWTAE) October 19, 2015 How cool is it that both the Carnegie Museums and the JCC share the same birthday! To celebrate this historic anniversary, the Carnegie Museum of Art,
Carnegie Museums Turn 120 Read More »
When is Enough Enough? I had a moment this summer. I went to one of my favorite big box stores to buy some screws for a project. The middle-aged salesman helped me politely and then asked what type of drill I had. I told him that I have a regular drill. He clarified for me
If I Still Shout Today… Read More »
As the seasons change from summer to fall, a similar transformation is taking place in the JCC Palm Court, where the walls of the American Jewish Museum have turned fluorescent and neon. After almost two years of preparation, the American Jewish Museum is opening a special exhibit this week — Jane Haskell: Drawing In Light.
Jane Haskell Exhibit Brings Special Glow to the JCC Read More »
Who Started Your Journey? The political theater of the 2016 election has made me nostalgic for an earlier time: the 2012 election. You might remember that President Obama made the comment in Roanoke, VA, “You didn’t build that.” He intended to point out that every generation builds on the successes of previous generations. The Republicans
“You Didn’t Build That!” – “We Built That!” Read More »
We all know people, we might have even done it ourselves…. There are times in our lives when we stand tall, above all the rest, because we know that we must. Maybe it was easier to do way back when on the playground, “That’s not fair!” we might have yelled. It took a little more
Next week begins a week-long festival in Pittsburgh “Celebrating the Lives, Stories and Artistic Expressions of people with Disabilities.” 80% film, 20% photography, the festival runs Thursday to Thursday, starting on October 22. Two amazing photography projects will be on display: Change How You See, See How You Change Rick Guidotti’s non-profit organization, Positive Exposure, utilizes photography
J Film Presents ReelAbilities Film Festival Read More »
In observance of Domestic Violence Awareness Month, the JCC has partnered with Southwest PA Says No More and their new partnership with Verizon to support the HopeLine Program, which collects no-longer-used wireless phones, batteries, chargers and accessories in any condition, from any service provider, and turns them into support for domestic violence awareness and prevention
Take Action Against Domestic Violence Read More »
As we prepare to celebrate Simchat Torah (the annual ending and beginning of the Torah reading cycle in synagogue), I want to let you know that there are 304,805 letters in every Torah Scroll. Each and every one of them is a handcrafted work of art written by a scribe with special quill, ink and
A Simchat Torah Message Read More »
Just when we thought we made it through the Holy Days, here comes another one: Sukkot. I find it ironic and insightful that Jewish Wisdom gives us the impression that with the end of Yom Kippur we are secure, well written in the Book of Life. Yet, just a mere 5 days later, we place
Sukkot – Yet Another Holy Day Read More »
We’ll see you at the next Squirrel Hill Night Market We are really excited about being a part of the second Squirrel Hill Night Market, this Saturday, September 26, from 6-10 pm. Stop by the JCC table in the First Niagara parking area on Darlington, just off Murray Avenue, for Night Market Membership Special Offer
Meet us at the corner of Darlington and Murray Read More »
For those of you who know me well, I am a lover of history (though I often quote American Jewish theologian, Mordecai Kaplan who stated that the “the past has a vote, not a veto.”) What that means to me is that we need to acknowledge, respect and draw from our history as we move
The End of an Era: Saying Goodbye to Kaufmann’s Department Store Read More »
This year marks the Silver Anniversary (25 years) that Sherree Hall has been part of the Jewish Community Center of Greater Pittsburgh. At the Annual Meeting September 9, we will recognize her continuing impact here at the JCC. Sherri began working at the JCC about the same time I started attending as a kid. I remember
Sherree Hall's Silver Anniversary Read More »
As our finger tips scroll through the rest of the summer weeks listed on our phones, we are preparing to enter the season of books. Our students are anticipating the end of summer reading assignments – so many pages divided by so many days… ‘I can do this… tomorrow’. Our business leaders are preparing to
Entering the Season of Books Read More »
Destination Awesome: Squirrel Hill Night Market Where will you be Saturday night? We’re heading around the corner from the JCC for a new community event: The Squirrel Hill Night Market. Located on Murray Avenue, between Forbes and Bartlett Streets, the first Squirrel Hill Night Market will be Saturday, August 29, from 6-10 pm. The Squirrel
Squirrel Hill Night Market is Big Hit! 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.