February 3, 2023 | 12 Shevat 5783
NOTEWORTHY LOCAL A life of historical signifi Lenda volorei ciendi noncance re nus
Candlelighting 5:23 p.m. | Havdalah 6:24 p.m. | Vol. 66, No. 5 | pittsburghjewishchronicle.org
Federation presents annual security ‘State of the Union’ in anticipation of Pittsburgh synagogue shooter trial
$1.50
Pittsburgharea Chabads establish lending libraries By David Rullo | Staff Writer
Dr. E. Joseph Charny diesamusam at 95 Et odictiumqui andae Page 2 quistium si de net voloritat LOCAL Page X A new book looks at Judaism’s role LOCAL in the post-modern age Ovit, ommodi remos ero
The Chabad Jewish Center of Monroeville is busy filling shelves for its new lending library.
Photo courtesy of Rabbi Mendy Schapiro
The Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh recently unveiled a new QR Code to report suspicious incidents. Photo courtesy of the Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh
Rabbi Danny Schiff on “Judaism in a Digital Age” aut entis andae asimuss Fodictiumqui
Page X 3 Page
CULTURE LOCAL Meet Adam W. McKinney Minto volupta ssimim
The new Jewish artistic director of Pittsburgh Lenda nus dolorum re pro mi, cuptati Ballet Theatre ntibus.
Page 4 Page X
By David Rullo | Staff Writer
S
hawn Brokos, director of community security for the Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh, met on Jan. 26 with leaders from various Jewish institutions to discuss Pittsburgh’s Jewish security landscape. The meeting, which Brokos hosts annually, took on added significance as the community prepares for the trial of the man accused of killing 11 Jews at the Tree of Life building, scheduled to begin on April 24. Each year, Brokos said, she holds “a meeting with our agency heads to talk about what we saw the previous year in terms of security — the enhancements we’ve made, where we are and where we need to be.” While the meeting itself wasn’t unusual, Brokos said the accelerated timeline for security needs — typically the briefing looks a year out for security requirements, but is now focused on April 24 — is unique. “I’m not trying to create panic,” Brokos said. “We’re not in crisis mode but want all of our organizations to be as prepared
as possible. We have the resources. The organizations are not on their own.” The looming start of the trial wasn’t the only issue addressed by Brokos in what could be described as her security “State of the Union” address. A bevy of facts and figures were presented to those in attendance, including how many people were trained, how much security grant money was received and other details. Despite there being no direct or indirect threats related to the trial, the region is in an increased “threat tempo,” as Brokos has pointed out in previous conversations with the Chronicle. Over the last year, there were several local antisemitic incidents, including attacks in Squirrel Hill and Greenfield, as well as hate messages on social media sites and area billboards. Brokos said there were 122 local incidents last year, up from 82 in 2021 and only 44 in 2020. While that rise might seem alarming, she was quick to note that the incidents come with a few caveats. In 2020, for instance, most people were in their homes
T
hree local Chabad centers endeavor to prove that Jews truly are the people of the book. Chabad of Carnegie Mellon University, Chabad of Greenfield and Chabad Jewish Center of Monroeville all have received grants to create local lending libraries. The grants were awarded through worldwide raffles as part of an initiative in honor of the 120th birthday of the late Lubavitcher Rebbe Rabbi Menachem Schneerson, and included funds for 80,100 books, the establishment of 360 Chabad community libraries, Torahs to communities without one and other initiatives. Chabad of Greenfield Rabbi Yitzchak Goldwasser said that the library he is creating will be for people of all ages. The idea, he explained, is to reach as many Jews in as many ways possible. While for some communities that is accomplished through a Shabbat dinner or Pesach seder, the Greenfield community could benefit most from a lending library, he said. “Library books for a child or adult that can be taken and read in someone’s own time and
Please see Security, page 11
Please see Libraries, page 11
Coming Feb. 10
Senior Living
vorDa/E+/Getty Images