February 17, 2023 | 26 Shevat 5783
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Candlelighting 5:40 p.m. | Havdalah 6:40 p.m. | Vol. 66, No. 7 | pittsburghjewishchronicle.org
Local communities react to hate-filled billboards — and one response is muted
Miriam Anzovin comes to town Et odictiumqui andae amusam Page 2 quistium si de net voloritat LOCAL Page X
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The Branch celebrates Jewish Disability Awareness and Black History Month with Asha Chai-Chang
Rethinking haftarah for the LOCAL 21st century Ovit, ommodi remos ero
p Armstrong County Democratic Committee’s billboard
Photo courtesy of Armstong County Democratic Committee
By David Rullo | Staff Writer
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Locally-filmed “Medical Divorce” Lenda nus dolorum re pro mi, cuptati premieres ntibus.
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antor Michele Gray-Schaffer was heartened to see the community response to an offensive billboard in Butler owned by John Placek, a Worthington businessman. The billboard message, which Placek has since removed, featured a swastika with the words “FBI CORRUPT & DANGEROUS THE GESTAPO.” “From our end, there has been a lovely outpouring of support for us and we feel the love, we feel the support,” said Gray-Schaffer, the spiritual leader of Butler’s Congregation B’nai Abraham. Placek’s billboard is only two or three miles from the synagogue. He owns additional billboards in neighboring Armstrong County that also have displayed controversial messages. In January, he told the Chronicle, “I’m not antiJewish, but I was trying to make a statement.” Gray-Schaffer said that when news of Placek’s Butler billboard broke, the Butler Clergy Network decided to have various Christian congregations visit B’nai Abraham on several Shabbats as a gesture of support. “It’s a sign of solidarity,” Gray-Schaffer said. Pastor Leigh Benish of Hill United Presbyterian Church was the first to visit B’nai Abraham a few weeks ago with a dozen of her congregants. Benish moved to Butler from Central Texas
two weeks before the massacre at the Tree of Life building. One of her first pastoral undertakings, she said, was to offer support to the Jewish community after the attack. The pastor said that while she was aware that hate existed in Butler, she was surprised to see antisemitism manifested so openly on the billboard. “The Jewish community in Butler is so small, and not prominent,” she said. “It amazes me, the hatred that people have.” Placek has also targeted the LGBTQ community on his billboards. Benish said she was less surprised to see other marginalized groups targeted. “Our mission statement says that all are welcome and that means to the refugees, and especially the LGBTQ community in town,” she said. “I’ve heard stories of what others have experienced, so to see hate emblazoned on a billboard and to see so much support behind it is not surprising.” The Shabbat visits to B’nai Abraham continue on Friday, Feb. 17, when Pastor Joel Benson brings 40 members of Trinity Lutheran Church to the synagogue. Even before the offensive billboards came to Butler, Gray-Schaffer worked to galvanize the community in response to a recent rise in antisemitism throughout the region. Please see Billboards, page 11
Event Planning
p Asha Chai-Chang Photo courtesy of The Branch By David Rullo | Staff Writer
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n recognition of Jewish Disability, Awareness, Acceptance and Inclusion Month, and coinciding with the start of Black History Month, The Branch welcomed Asha Chai-Chang on Feb. 2 for a webinar titled “The Intersection of Race, Disability and Religion: A First-Person Experience.” An award-winning and Oscar-qualified director and writer, as well as an Emmynominated producer and RespectAbility Entertainment Lab alum and certified speaker, Chai-Chang is a disability advocate and accessibility coordinator with non-visible disabilities. She is the Jamaican/Cuban/Chinese/Jewish daughter of immigrant parents. Chai-Chang said she embraced her Jewish heritage when she met others of a similar religious background while a student at Yale University. “That helped me a lot with realizing, ‘OK, Please see Branch, page 11 JodiJacobson / iStock / Getty Images Plus
Coming Feb. 24th