July 25, 2025 | 29 Tammuz 5785
Candlelighting 8:23 p.m. | Havdalah 9:27 p.m. | Vol. 68, No. 30 | pittsburghjewishchronicle.org
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JCC Maccabi Campus Games Rabbi’s unique interim role at readies for tip-off Rodef Shalom helps pave way for merger
NOTEWORTHY LOCAL Remembering a visionary
By David Rullo | Senior Staff Writer
R the San Francisco Giants. Additionally, given that the Games are tailored to high school students who may be contemplating post-secondary study, events for parents — organized in partnership with Pittsburgh’s Hillel Jewish University Center and Hillel International — will occur throughout the week, including a panel discussion about Jewish life on campus, a reception at Hillel JUC and a happy hour at Bakery Square. Introducing guests to the possibilities of Pittsburgh means delivering information and goodies, Speck continued. Thanks to a partnership with Visit Pittsburgh, individuals staying in “Visit Pittsburgh-partnered hotels in Oakland” will receive welcome bags with recommendations of what to see, do and eat while here. Aiding organizers are nearly 700 volunteers. Assembled by Speck and her colleagues during the past year, the volunteers have already tackled myriad tasks, but the Games are seeking additional assistance. “We still need volunteers,” Speck said before noting that interested parties should register online at maccabipittsburgh.org. Lending a hand is one way to get involved. Attending the Games is another. Games co-Chair Linda Simon encouraged Pittsburghers to register online and attend the Opening Ceremonies on Aug. 4 at the Petersen Events Center. Along with a parade of athletes, the festival will be emceed by Josh Getzoff, a play-by-play broadcaster for the Pittsburgh Penguins, and
abbi David Young is aware of the unique position he’s in. “No one has ever experienced what I’m doing,” he said. Young began serving as the interim rabbi at Rodef Shalom Congregation on July 1. That's a role meant to help a congregation through a transition — typically it’s the year between the departure of a long-serving rabbi and arrival of a new spiritual leader. Rodef Shalom and Young, though, are treading unexplored territory. The Reform congregation’s Rabbi Sharyn Henry recently retired but there’s no mystery or suspense about who will replace her in a year’s time. Rodef Shalom is unifying with Temple Sinai and its rabbi, Daniel Fellman, will assume the leadership of the new, as yet unnamed congregation. “The mantra among my interim colleagues is, ‘We’re hired by the congregation, but our client is the incoming rabbi,’” Young said. “What makes my role different is that my client is a known factor. My client is Rabbi Fellman.” Under normal circumstances, Young said, he would be a catalyst for change at the congregation he’s serving as interim rabbi, while allowing its members to get used to someone new in the role. Instead, Young said, over the next year he’ll help Fellman prepare to shepherd a larger congregation, and will work with the leadership of both congregations as they continue through the unification process. “If one team is more casual and fly by the seat of their pants, and another team is more regimented and stricter, it becomes difficult to try and figure out how we do things as a unit,” he noted. Working with Fellman, Young said, provides some stability an interim rabbi might not typically have — especially since the two have known each other for more than two decades. “When he was in rabbinical school, he worked with my sister and knew my father, so this is a long-term relationship,” Young said.
Please see Maccabi, page 17
Please see Rabbi, page 17
Architect Arthur Lubetz dies at 85
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HISTORY
Small cemeteries with big stories
Organizers show their colors at a Maccabi kickoff event.
Photo courtesy of Jewish Community Center of Greater Pittsburgh
By Adam Reinherz | Senior Staff Writer
Jewish migration in western PA
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LOCAL Prisoner rights
The free exercise of religion
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FOOD A light summer supper
Roasted pepper and goat cheese sandwich
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thletes aren’t the only ones rushing toward the finish line. With just weeks remaining until the start of the JCC Maccabi Campus Games, organizers are eagerly completing the final touches on what will be this year’s largest in-person Jewish youth sporting event worldwide. Rachael Speck, chief program and innovation officer and games supervisor at the Jewish Community Center of Greater Pittsburgh, said that after more than 12 months of preparation, athletes, coaches, parents and community members can expect a transformative experience. “This is going to be a global, mega event,” she said. More than 50 delegations, hailing from North America, the United Kingdom and Israel, are expected to participate in the Aug. 3-8 event. Held in Oakland in partnership with the University of Pittsburgh, the Games are slated to welcome nearly 2,000 athletes. Historically, each athlete brings along 2.6 guests, Speck said. “With that obviously comes an opportunity to showcase what an amazing Jewish community Pittsburgh is — what an amazing city Pittsburgh is.” While the Games will enable participants to enjoy Pitt’s world-class venues, several events will tout the region’s robust Jewish offerings. In addition to a community service activity, athletes will attend Jewish Heritage Night at PNC Park on Aug. 5 as the Pirates take on
Senior Living
Special section begins on page 8
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