March 21, 2025 | 21 Adar 5785
Candlelighting 7:16 p.m. | Havdalah 8:15 p.m. | Vol. 68, No. 12 | pittsburghjewishchronicle.org
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Pitt earns a ‘D’ on ADL’s Campus Turtle Creek Antisemitism Report Card Mayor Adam Forgie declares primary challenge to Summer Lee
NOTEWORTHY LOCAL Braddock memories
An uncertain future for a beloved synagogue
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LOCAL Enriching diplomatic relations
The Cathedral of Learning at the University of Pittsburgh
Photo by Crazypaco at English Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
By David Rullo | Senior Staff Writer
Israel's deputy consul general visits Pittsburgh
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LOCAL “From Illness to Exodus”
A physician's prescription for Passover
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STREAMING How realistic is "The Pitt"?
Local ER doctors weigh in
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T
he University of Pittsburgh might want to hide the Anti-Defamation League’s Campus Antisemitism Report Card from its parents. For the first time, the university was included in the ADL’s report providing information about the state of antisemitism on campus and how universities and colleges are responding. Pitt received an overall grade of D, the same as Columbia University, which has become a national symbol for antisemitic activity on college campuses. By contrast, Carnegie Mellon University, the only other Pittsburgh-area university graded in the report, received a B. Pitt, the ADL said, performed below expectations in five categories: having an official position against BDS; having a Jewish alumni group; the level of severe antisemitic and anti-Zionist incidents; the level of other antisemitic and anti-Zionist incidents; and the level of hostile anti-Zionist student groups. The school met expectations in six categories: antisemitism included in code of conduct and policies; advisory council to address antisemitism; mandatory antisemitism education for students and staff; clear time, place and manner policies; participated in program to address antisemitism; and interfaith initiatives on campus. The university performed above expectations in 18 categories including: having a clear process to report antisemitic incidents;
publicly condemning antisemitism; partnering with Israeli institutions; having an active Hillel and Chabad; having an active pro-Israel group; and the level of hostile anti-Zionist staff and faculty activity. Kelly Fishman, regional director of ADL Cleveland, which serves western Pennsylvania, said the report card is a tool for understanding what’s happening on campus. “For schools like Pitt, this is the first year they’re on the report card so, right now, it’s about getting a baseline of where things are,” she said. The university participated in the report by filling out a survey and attending webinars hosted by the ADL. The grade, Fishman said, will give Pitt an opportunity to work with the ADL and alter some of the things bringing down its score. “For instance, antisemitism is included in the code of conduct. We want to see a firmer definition and really see that continue to be enforced and to have them build their advisory council to address antisemitism.” One thing that negatively affected the university’s score, Fishman said, is its lack of a position against BDS. A challenge Pitt faces, Fishman noted, similar to other campuses in major cities but not those in smaller cities, is the existence of outside actors who have access to the university and its students. Three Pitt students were physically assaulted Please see Pitt, page 10
Home Improvementissue
Coming in the March 28 Andy Dean / Adobe Stock
Adam Forgie is hoping to defeat Summer Lee in Pennsylvania’s 12th District Democratic primary in 2026. Photo courtesy of Adam Forgie By David Rullo | Senior Staff Writer
C
ongressional hopeful Adam Forgie credits a 2016 Classrooms Without Borders tip to Poland as “changing everything.” “We toured Treblinka and Auschwitz. It changed my life,” he said. “It changed my viewpoint, everything. This can never happen again.” Forgie is the mayor of Turtle Creek, Pennsylvania — an eastern suburb bordering Monroeville, East Pittsburgh, Forest Hills, Churchill and Wilmerding — and a teacher in the Woodland Hills School District. He recently announced his candidacy to challenge incumbent 12th District Rep. Summer Lee in 2026. “She has taken the party so far to the left that it doesn’t represent what it is to be a true Democrat,” Forgie said. “Socialist — she’s come out and said that publicly. That’s not the viewpoint of the majority of Democrats.” Forgie, who calls himself a “traditional blue-collar Democrat,” said he is a moderate who makes decisions issue by issue. Lee, he said, isn’t simply out of step with the Please see Forgie, page 10