June 20, 2025 | 24 Sivan 5785
Candlelighting 8:36 p.m. | Havdalah 9:44 p.m. | Vol. 68, No. 25 | pittsburghjewishchronicle.org
NOTEWORTHY LOCAL Bridging divides through dialogue
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Politicians, Jewish leaders JCBA’s youth respond to Operation Rising Lion engagement brings new life to sacred spaces By Adam Reinherz | Senior Staff Writer
Local teen joins Seeds of Peace LOCAL
T weaponry—to fully back Israel in striking Iran.” In April Fetterman, a staunch supporter of Israel, told the Washington Free Beacon that he didn’t think negotiations with Iran would work, saying that the Islamic Republic “has been destabilizing the region for decades.” “We have an incredible window, I believe, to do that, to strike and destroy Iran’s nuclear facilities,” he said. After the launch of Operation Rising Lion, Fetterman told Jewish Insider that he was shocked by the response of some of his Democratic colleagues. “It was just astonishing to see colleagues criticizing these things. It’s like, do you think you can negotiate with that regime? Do you think you want to run that scenario and allow them to acquire 1,000 pounds of weapons grade uranium? I can’t understand, I can’t even begin to understand that,” he told JI. In the same interview, Fetterman pointed to Iran’s support of terrorist organizations Hamas, Hezbollah and Houthis. Fetterman told JI that Israel’s ability to target specific people was “remarkable.” “It’s like Beepers 2.0,” he said, referencing an Israeli operation that sold Hezbollah beepers containing explosives, which were detonated in Syria and Lebanon on Sept. 17 and 18.
he first visit to a cemetery shouldn’t be to bury Bubbie. At least that’s how Kelly Schwimer sees it. Since taking the helm of the Jewish Cemetery and Burial Association 18 months ago, Schwimer has helped strengthen the organization’s operations, raised thousands of dollars in grants and donations, and worked to increase its profile, especially among the young. The latter, she said, reflects a deliberate effort to not only bolster JCBA and demystify death but ensure a promising future for the region. Most children — let alone most people — don’t envision career paths involving cemetery work; still, keeping these places cared for with “dignity for perpetuity, means the work must start now, and we need to get our Jewish youth to understand their role,” she said. During the past year, Schwimer and other stakeholders have focused on improving internal systems while developing age appropriate ways to boost interest in burial work. Haliel Selig, regional director of Keystone Mountain Region BBYO, brought several teens to a cemetery months ago where JCBA staffers had orchestrated a meaningful cleanup activity. “I was really blown away by what Kelly and her staff were doing,” Selig said. Volunteers, ranging in age from teens to college-aged students, learned about the space, “shoveled gravel, just got their hands dirty, and with no complaints, all smiles,” Selig said. “It was so inspiring to me to see our next generation care about the previous generations.” Creating reverence and connectedness is the heart of JCBA’s efforts, Schwimer explained. “These cemeteries are enriched with history — family history, city history, people’s history — that remains unknown to most,” she said. “If we start by promoting the history in a cemetery, the traditions and rituals will follow.”
Please see Iran, page 11
Please see Cemetery, page 11
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Jewish joy in the South Hills
An Israeli F-16 prepares to take off to carry out strikes in Iran in this picture released for publication on June 16, 2025. Photo courtesy of Israel Defense Forces By David Rullo | Senior Staff Writer
Food, fun and festivities
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LOCAL Praying with their feet
Dor Hadash cyclists' cross-country trek
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LOCAL Floral treasures on display
New exhibit at Rodef Shalom
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E
lected representatives and local leaders were quick to react to Israel’s preemptive strike against Iran’s nuclear facilities, ballistic missile bases, military commanders and nuclear scientists. With the launch of Operation Rising Lion on June 13, three of Iran’s top figures were killed —Major General Hossein Salami, Islamic Revolutionary Guard Core Commander; nuclear physicist and university head Mohammad Mehdi; and Fereydoon Abbasi, former nuclear program chief. The operation included dozens of locations across Iran, inflicting severe damage to key nuclear sites and military installations. Iran responded with missile and drone attacks targeting Tel Aviv, Jerusalem and Haifa, among other locations across Israel. As of press time, Iran had launched some 350 ballistic missiles, the vast majority of which were intercepted, according to IDF statistics released Monday. In all, 24 Israelis had been killed in Iran’s ballistic missile attacks as of press time. Shortly after Operation Rising Lion began, Pennsylvania’s Sen. John Fetterman wrote on X: “Our commitment to Israel must be absolute and I fully support this attack. Keep wiping out Iranian leadership and the nuclear personnel. We must provide whatever is necessary—military, intelligence,
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