Last night, the JCC and our local partners, Beth El Congregation, the Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh, Stand with Us, Temple Emanuel and the South Hills Interfaith Movement, brought the band Shufuni to our community for an inspiring night of music and connection. In Hebrew, the word shufuni translates into “look at me,” but there was nothing ego-centric or self-promoting at all about the performance or about any of the musicians whatsoever.

Established through the work of Ohad Peretz a musician born in Sderot, and with the support of the town’s mayor, Alon Davidi, the original idea behind Shufuni, was to promote young artists, musicians and performers through an open stage in a pub-like setting. Often referred to as the “Liverpool of the Israeli music scene,” Sderot is the place of origin for well-known Israeli bands who employ both contemporary Israeli and North African rock influences.

Each with a personal tale of tragedy and/or loss from October 7 when Hamas viciously attacked kibbutzim and communities throughout the Gaza envelope, Shufuni shared their souls and their stories with those in attendance as a means of not only educating but also helping to build the collective resilience of the global Jewish community. Perhaps one of the band members, Mira Azriel, said it best in her interview with WTAE. “We can heal them through music because it’s not us. It’s the music we transfer to the world, and I hope that they feel loved and that we are one nation.” Thank you, Mira, Linor, Daniel and Rotem for inspiring all of us to come together as one Jewish community from across the bridges and through the tunnels to overcome our own challenges and motivating us to do more for others both near and far.

And while we were gathered in the South Hills listening to Shufuni, our Pittsburgh delegation was attending the closing ceremonies of the 2024 JCC Maccabi Games in Detroit. In addition to an abundance of individual and team success for our athletes this year, one particular accomplishment stands out and demonstrates the foundation upon which our community is built. Talia Block, a member of our 14U girls’ soccer team, received the Yellow Ribbon Award in recognition of her extraordinary sportsmanship and selflessness on and off the field. New to the Games in 2024, this award acknowledges those who are not free to celebrate their Jewish peoplehood and love of sports and is dedicated to all of the hostages who remain in Gaza. Congratulations Talia and thank you to JCC Maccabi for ensuring that the Games are elevated to be about more than just the competition and a means of transforming lives through friendship, community service and social and cultural engagement.

As I continue to reflect on last night’s performance and contemplate our WHY for hosting the 2025 JCC Maccabi Games, I draw great pride from knowing that these are just two acts of selflessness from a wealth of loving kindness that our JCC is part of each and every day. Selflessness is a cornerstone of a strong, vibrant and resilient community, whether it happens within the community itself or not. Selflessness helps ensure that the community operates as a cohesive unit, where members support one another, work towards common goals and create an environment where everyone can play an active role in building a stronger and more inclusive future.

Wishing you and your families a Shabbat shalom,

Jason