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We are still dreaming. Let’s ensure every person is counted

Posted by Rabbi Ron Symons on January 17, 2020

"I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.” As we celebrate the life and legacy of Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., his dream that every person be judged for their character and not the color of their skin …

31 Days to Unbreakable Resolutions

Posted by Patti Sciulli on January 2, 2020

Behavior experts say that it takes about 1 month to form new habits, and many people try to create (or break) habits at the start of each year. With the right attitude and focus, you can stick to your New Year’s resolutions and achieve long-term success. Here are just a few tips to help you do exactly that. Are your goals specific and positive? Rather …

Reflecting on World Kindness Day and Planning for February’s Random Acts of Kindness Day

Posted by Kelsey Davis on January 2, 2020

Although I have only been in Pittsburgh for two years, I have come to identify with and take pride in being a Pittsburgher. When I first arrived in Pittsburgh, I was overwhelmed by the sense of community and openness as a new resident and college student. I am a Master’s in Social Work student at the University of Pittsburgh, specializing in Community Organizing and Social Action …

A Chanukah Greeting: “Be the Shamash”

Posted by Liza Baron on December 23, 2019

As we celebrate the 8 nights of Chanukah, also known as the Festival of Lights, we usually like to consider the meaning of this holiday. There are a lot of different Chanukah stories out there, and many interpretations of why we celebrate for eight days. One thing we believe is that Chanukah commemorates the rededication of the Temple in Jerusalem after the Syrian Greeks were …

Young children and the stresses of the long winter ahead

Posted by Liza Baron on November 15, 2019

With colder weather upon us and shorter periods of light outside, I’ve found myself thinking about the long winter ahead and what kinds of things I’ll do with my kids in the evening and during the weekends. That line of thinking often gets me lost in the Bermuda triangle of internet surfing and so I’m sharing a few articles that feel relevant. The topics are …

Disney – The Happiest Place on Earth!

Posted by Chris Herman, Director, Jewish Teen Engagement on November 13, 2019

Last week, not only was I able to escape the cold of Pittsburgh, but I also had the opportunity to conclude my 18-month Generation Now Fellowship with a full-day Disney Institute Leadership Excellence workshop in sunny Orlando, FL. An immersive, world-class experience designed for ambitious professionals who are interested in changing the landscape of Jewish teen education and engagement, the Generation Now Fellowship seeks to …

Shining Light on that “They Lived”

Posted by Geraldine Massey on November 12, 2019

I Lived, We Live: What Did We Miss? was an exhibit about the community of Hazelwood organized by Hazelwood residents and presented last winter here at the JCC's American Jewish Museum. While the origins of our relationship stem from loss and trauma, our two communities have forged bonds, shared experiences and built meaningful friendships. Center of Life’s Geraldine Massey shares her story about losing her …

An Unprecedented Year

Posted by Brian Schreiber on November 1, 2019

I distinctly remember two phone calls my wife and I received shortly before 10 a.m. that day. “Are you in shul? The street is blocked by police cars,” the congregant inquired. We replied that we were out of town and not at synagogue. A minute later the phone rang again. It was Sam Schachner, president of Tree of Life, who informed us of an active …

JCC Staff Reflection in Commemoration of October 27, 2018 – One Year Later

Posted by JCC Pittsburgh on October 28, 2019

At 5:30 am this morning, we reopened our doors with renewed commitment to live up to our mission -- for you, for our neighbors and for our community. From last October 27 until this October 27, we strived to live up to our mission: We nurtured people with hugs and kisses and hugs and hugs and hugs… with puppy love and handshakes and listening ears and …

Basketball at the JCC: A Unique Approach to Changing the World for the Better

Posted by Jesse Goleman on October 25, 2019

Pay it forward: An expression for when the recipient of an act of kindness does something kind for someone else rather than simply accepting or repaying the original good deed (https://www.dictionary.com/e/pop-culture/pay-it-forward/). So what do the JCC’s youth basketball program and Catherine Ryan Hyde’s 1999 novel, Pay it Forward, have in common? Simply put, the JCC intentionally engages former basketball players as active participants in changing the …

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