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The Secret to a Sweet Passover: Matzo Brittle

Posted by Roberta Levine on March 20, 2023

I used to joke that I chose our synagogue because I liked the cookbook. There was some truth to that although as far as recipes go, the very best one was not in the book. Every year, some of us volunteered to do a mass bake of Matzo Brittle to sell to members, using a recipe that I believe was handed down from our rabbi's …

“Borcas” — Grandma Cele’s Beet Preserves

Posted by Roberta Levine on March 20, 2023

Another Passover Recipe My husband's Grandma Cele often talked about making her Passover specialties for her sons - carrot candy and something she called "borcas." I did not grow up in a home with Old Country food traditions, so I had no idea what she was talking about. After she'd passed away and I wanted to continue the family tradition, I asked around to find a recipe …

Incorporating Inclusion Across Our Camps and Children, Youth and Family Programs: The Journey Continues

Posted by Rachael Speck, Division Director, Children, Youth & Family and JCC Day Camps on March 16, 2023

The JCC of Greater Pittsburgh has a longstanding tradition of addressing the needs of those with physical and intellectual disabilities. This commitment has been explicitly demonstrated through our Merck Summer Therapeutic Inclusion Program for Children with High Functioning Autism (a partnership with UPMC and J&R Day Camp), the JCC’s Gesher program (formerly known as Teen Center) where individuals with disabilities actively participate in regular JCC …

Healthy and Fit | Tip of the Week

Posted by JCC Pittsburgh on March 15, 2023

Healthy and Fit | Tip of the Week YOGA FOR HEART HEALTH | UPMC Health Beat Exercise that gets your heart rate pumping isn’t the only way to help improve your cardiovascular health. Managing stress also is critical to your overall heart health. Yoga’s clearest benefit to heart health is its ability to relax the body and mind. The practice of yoga also can increase strength, flexibility, …

JCC PGH Leadership Succession 2023

Posted by JCC Pittsburgh on March 10, 2023

The Board of the Jewish Community Center of Greater Pittsburgh is pleased to announce a planned executive leadership succession at the agency, effective September 1, 2023. Longtime JCC and community leader Brian Schreiber will assume a new role at the JCC as Chief External Affairs Officer & Special Advisor to the CEO after serving nearly 25 years as the agency’s President & CEO. The JCC’s Chief Program …

Close up: Anna B. Heldman

Posted by JCC Pittsburgh on March 8, 2023

On this International Women's Day, the JCC of Greater Pittsburgh recognizes Anna B. Heldman, a pioneer in human service and important part of our history. The JCC comes from a rich history as a settlement house that began in the Hill District in 1895. Miss Heldman joined the staff of the Columbian School and Settlement on October 1, 1902. The story of her 38 years of service …

Helping All Children Feel Included at Camp

Posted by Rachael Speck, Division Director JCC Day Camps on March 6, 2023

What is it like to raise a child who has invisible needs (ADHD, Autism, emotional dysregulation, sensory needs etc.)? “Exhausting,” says the parent of 5-year-old Janey, who struggles with emotional regulation. “You yearn for the day when you can only be worried about them meeting normal goals - completing homework, making friends, or completing household chores. These are things we work on, but we also …

Make a Meal of Hamantaschen!

Posted by Roberta Levine on February 28, 2023

Don't get me wrong; we LOVE traditional hamantaschen. Yiddish for "Haman's pockets" and also interpreted in old legend as Haman's three-cornered hat, some of us consider these delectable sweet pastries as a way to get back at Haman, the villain in the Purim story in the Biblical Book of Esther. To commemorate his downfall, we eat his hat! Miriam Szokovski, in an article on unique hamantaschen recipes a couple of …

Creating an Inclusive Camp

Posted by Rachael Speck, Division Director JCC Day Camps on February 17, 2023

Summer camp can be a magical experience – carefree days spent outdoors, swimming, sports, singing, cheering and the list goes on. But for families who have children with hidden disabilities – sensory challenges, ADHD, autism, emotional dysregulation – summer camp can be the best experience or the worst. Leah’s 5-year-old son, Austin, was a camper at J&R Day Camp last summer and will be returning this …

An Evening with Yankees Pitcher Scott Effross

Posted by Annie Schroeder on January 25, 2023

Having a space to openly talk about all things baseball, his Jewish identity, and mental health is a top priority for New York Yankees Pitcher, Scott Effross. Effross and his wife Brittany have chosen Pittsburgh as their home in the off season because they fell in love with its charm after she attended Duquesne University. Being a native of Twinsburg, Ohio, also meant the two would …

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The JCC is open and accessible to everyone, regardless of age, race, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression or special need by welcoming individuals of all backgrounds, embracing their uniqueness and diversity under our communal tent.