October 4, 2024 | 2 Tishrei 5785
Candlelighting 6:38 p.m. | Havdalah 7:35 p.m. | Vol. 67, No. 40 | pittsburghjewishchronicle.org
NOTEWORTHY LOCAL Lenda volorei ciendi non re nus A spotlight on teen mental health
Community marking Oct. 7 with gatherings, demonstrations and prayer
$2
Jewish student attacked in Oakland
Lt. Gov. Austin Davis visits The Beacon Et odictiumqui andae amusam Page 3 quistium LOCAL si de net voloritat Page X
Fighting hate LOCAL Ovit, ommodi remos ero
The University of Pittsburgh’s Varsity Walk
Photo by Christopher Lancaster via Creative Commons
By David Rullo | Senior Staff Writer
The Tree of Life's first program LOCAL
Students embrace during an Oct. 9 pro-Israel demonstration at Schenley Plaza.
Photo by Adam Reinherz
Page 4
One year since Oct. 7 Fodictiumqui aut entis andae asimuss
Page X
LOCAL Minto volupta ssimim
Poetry contest winners LOCAL
Page 16
"The Art of Friendship" Lenda nus dolorum re pro mi, cuptati ntibus.
Page X
JCC exhibits work of Kara Snyder and Judy Robinson
Page 22
By Adam Reinherz | Senior Staff Writer
I
nside synagogues and Jewish day schools, on street corners and at campuses, community members will gather, demonstrate and pray to mark one year since Hamas’ heinous attack on Israel. The Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh, along with several local partners, is hosting a communitywide event at 6:30 p.m. on Oct. 7, outside the Jewish Community Center of Greater Pittsburgh in Squirrel Hill. “It’s important that all of us who care about the suffering that took place on Oct. 7, 2023, gather together, as one unified and strong community,” said Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh President and CEO Jeffrey Finkelstein. “We owe it to the lives lost, those taken as hostages and those injured on that day to assemble in person and lean on one another for support and to collectively show the world how much we care.” Registration for the Federation event is required at oct-7-pgh.eventbrite.com. With numerous opportunities for congregants, students and others, event organizers around the city hope to foster thoughtfulness, remembrance and support.
Synagogues
At Congregation Beth Shalom, “We will commemorate the massacre during the Yizkor service on Shemini Atzeret,” Rabbi Seth Adelson said. The choice of commemoration date follows the “actual yahrzeit” of the attack. In 2023, both Shemini Atzeret and Simchat Torah fell on Oct. 7, as the two Jewish holidays are concurrent in Israel. In the Diaspora, they are broken into two days. Regardless of location, the Jewish memorial service of Yizkor is held on Shemini Atzeret. Typically, relatives and loved ones are remembered during Yizkor. At Beth Shalom, Yizkor will include a special El Maleh Rachamim prayer for the victims of Oct. 7. The text will be included in the congregation’s Book of Remembrance and was developed by rabbis from the Shalom Hartman Institute, Adelson said. Although Adelson has yet to finalize his sermon for Shemini Atzeret, he said it will likely reference passages from the book “One Day in October.” Written by Yair Agmon and Oriya Mevorach, the work recounts 40 stories of strength and courage from the events of Oct. 7. Please see October 7, page 10
A
Jewish University of Pittsburgh student was physically assaulted in Oakland by a group of six to eight men shouting antisemitic slurs. The victim was leaving Phat’s Bar near Semple and Ward Streets at approximately 2 a.m. on Sept. 27 when the men noticed he was wearing a Star of David on a chain. The men shouted, “Free Palestine,” “F--- Jews” and other antisemitic remarks before assaulting the student, according to Chabad of Pitt Rabbi Shmuli Rothstein, who spoke to the victim. The attackers fled when confronted by a nearby store owner, Rothstein said. The victim was not seriously injured. The FBI is leading the investigation to determine if the attack constitutes a federal hate crime. The University of Pittsburgh issued a “Hate Crime/Assault” alert on its website and listed a description of three of the assailants. Suspect one is a male aged 20-24, about 6 feet tall and 170 pounds, with a brown complexion, dark hair and a beard. He was wearing a white T-shirt and gold chain. Suspect two is a male aged 20-24 about 5 feet, 8 inches tall and 170 pounds, with a brown complexion, dark hair and a beard. He was wearing an orange shirt. Suspect three is a male aged 20-24, about 6 feet Please see Oakland, page 10 dariaustiugova/Adobe Stock