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“You Didn’t Build That!” – “We Built That!”

Posted by Rabbi Ron Symons on October 16, 2015

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 countered with the phrase, "We built that!" Not only did the …

Walking Tall

Posted by Rabbi Ron Symons on October 13, 2015

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 courage to do in the high school locker room, on …

J Film Presents ReelAbilities Film Festival

Posted by Todd Smith on October 9, 2015

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 to transform public perceptions of people living with genetic, physical and behavioral differences. The …

Take Action Against Domestic Violence

Posted by Chris Herman on October 7, 2015

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 organizations. This ties directly with the JCC’s tikkun olam (repair the …

A Simchat Torah Message

Posted by Rabbi Ron Symons on October 2, 2015

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 intention. If one of these letters were to be missing, …

Sukkot – Yet Another Holy Day

Posted by Rabbi Ron Symons on September 25, 2015

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 ourselves in a hut (Sukkah) whose roof is liable to blow off …

Meet us at the corner of Darlington and Murray

Posted by Todd Smith on September 24, 2015

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 coupons (we're waiving the processing fee -- a savings of $149!) and …

The End of an Era: Saying Goodbye to Kaufmann’s Department Store

Posted by Brian Schreiber on September 21, 2015

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 into the future. This is a special anniversary for the JCC. …

Community Spotlight: Girls on the Run

Posted by Todd Smith on September 3, 2015

Girls on the Run: Pittsburgh's Coolest Running Group For our first community spotlight post, we want to highlight an awesome fall activity going on at the JCC in the 'Burgh. Have you heard of Girls on the Run? GOTR is a national organization reaching millions of girls between 3rd and 8th grade. There is an affiliate here in Pittsburgh associated with Magee-Women's Hospital. "Our mission is to inspire girls to be …

Sherree Hall’s Silver Anniversary

Posted by Todd Smith on September 2, 2015

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 her tiny office in the Kaufmann gym, where my friends and …

Squirrel Hill

5738 Forbes Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15217
P 412-521-8010

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345 Kane Boulevard
Pittsburgh, PA 15243
P 412-278-1975

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