April 24, 2026 | 7 Iyar 5786
Candlelighting 7:51 p.m. | Havdalah 8:53 p.m. | Vol. 69, No. 17 | pittsburghjewishchronicle.org
J Street’s Ben-Ami on Israel Newly unified policy, political endorsements Beit Kulanu names Rabbi and a ‘mutual’ split with Erika PurdySummer Lee Patrick as assistant rabbi
NOTEWORTHY LOCAL Advice for parenting teens
Rabbi Akiva Sutofsky’s new book
By David Rullo | Senior Staff Writer
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LOCAL
The specific thing I said on the genocide issue is that I’m not going to argue against people who say it is. And you know, J Street as an organization doesn’t unendorse people for calling it a genocide — a lot of folks have at this point. You know, that is
abbi Erika Purdy-Patrick may be new to the rabbinate, but she isn’t new to working with the Jewish community. “Before rabbinical school, I was already a Jewish professional,” she said. “I worked at IKAR and the Jewish Emergent Network from 2016 to 2018, and then I worked at Temple Emanu-El in Dallas as a program director.” She had rabbinic internships with congregations in California, Illinois and Mississippi, which provided the opportunity to lead Shabbat and holiday services, provide pastoral counseling, teach young and adult learners, and engage with interfaith families. Purdy-Patrick will be ordained by the Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion in Los Angeles on May 17, and then she will be making a cross-country trip to become the assistant rabbi at the new Beit Kulanu congregation. The soon-to-be rabbi said she’s excited about working at the new congregation, formed when Rodef Shalom Congregation and Temple Sinai unified this year. “I’ve seen people unifying in other parts of the country where it’s out of fear,” she said. “That’s not what’s happening here. I feel there’s a lot of joy and excitement, and really a lot of care. People are deeply invested in this process and are making it a really special place for everyone from both legacy institutions.” A seventh-generation Texan, Purdy-Patrick said her family goes back to the 1700s in America and the 1800s in the Lone Star State. She and her husband, Mason Patrick, live in Los Angeles with their dog Quinn, while she finishes school. Studying to be a rabbi has meant that she’s lived in several locales. She spent the first year
Please see Ben-Ami, page 11
Please see Purdy-Patrick, page 11
JFilm rolls again
p J Street President Jeremy Ben-Ami at J Street’s 2022 national conference in Washington, D.C. Photo courtesy of J Street
Festival begins this month
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HISTORY Kosher food and kindness
A look back in time
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LOCAL The comedy of Zach Margolin
Internet sensation comes to City Winery Page 16
By David Rullo | Senior Staff Writer
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Street founder and President Jeremy Ben-Ami was in Pittsburgh last month participating in the Jewish Community Center of Greater Pittsburgh’s inaugural “Come Curious. Leave Wiser” series. He appeared alongside New York Times opinion columnist Bret Stephens. While the JCC event was not open to the press, Ben-Ami recently spoke with the Chronicle about some of the topics raised during his conversation with Stephens, as well as other issues relevant to Pittsburgh’s Jewish community. This interview was edited for length and clarity.
Rep. Summer Lee recently appeared with Hasan Piker at a campaign event in Michigan for Senate hopeful Abdul el Sayed. I’m wondering what your thoughts were about the event.
Well, I’ll just say that in the Senate race in Michigan, J Street is publicly endorsing Mallory McMorrow. We’re happy to make that clear. We are very excited by her candidacy, and think she really represents J Street’s values. So that’s who we’re supporting in that particular race. And you know, I think I’ve also said publicly … that it is so unhelpful
to have these polarizing media figures like Piker who are not helping our politics and not helping our country in coming together. The way in which he operates is not helpful. I don’t think that candidates need to avoid going on his show, but I do question when they appear on the campaign trail publicly with him. I think those are two different things.
J Street has endorsed Summer Lee in the past. That is not the case now. Why?
Well, it’s mutual. It’s our whole endorsement process. Every cycle is mutual. And you know this was a mutual parting of the ways, because we’re not as aligned as we might have thought.
Where is the line? Lee has said Israel is committing genocide, but so has McMorrow. I think you came out and said you believe that, as well. So, can you clarify?
Legal Affairs Special section begins on page 9
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