Federation: Gur ‘retired’ from AJL
Tsipy Gur, the former director of advanced education at the Agency for Jewish Learning, has “retired” from that position, the Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh announced.
In an emailed statement dated Nov. 4, the Federation also announced that a celebration is being planned to honor Gur’s three-plus decades as a Jewish educator in Pittsburgh.
Gur “recently retired from AJL following six years of service,” the Federation statement read.
Both announcements come three months after AJL Executive Director Ed Frim announced Gur’s departure in an Aug. 6 email to community leaders. At the time, he wrote that Gur was no longer with the agency, and made no mention of retirement.
Neither Frim nor Gur commented on the departure at the time. And this week, for the most part, they still didn’t.
“Her date of departure was Aug. 6,” Frim said. “She retired from the agency; it was her decision to do so, and there will be a celebration. We wish Tsipy well, and I’m glad we can honor her contributions and achievements.”
Gur did not return calls from The Chronicle, but Federation President Jeffrey Finkelstein said she saw the release about her retirement before it went out.
Previously, Gur served for 26 years in the Community Services Division at the Jewish Education Institute, as well as in Community Day School, with the School for Advanced Jewish Studies and at the Hebrew Institute.
She developed and backed programs training and supporting educators in Pittsburgh’s Jewish schools, creating enduring connections between students and Israel. She was also a proponent of Holocaust education.
Specific plans for the celebration will be announced once they are finalized.
“Everyone associated with Jewish education in our community has cherished the role that Tsipy has played for more than a generation,” Federation Chair Bill Rudolph said in a prepared statement. “She is recognized nationally for her incredibly creative and innovative work, along with her tremendous commitment and energy.”
Added AJL President Charles Saul, also in a prepared statement: “The Agency for Jewish Learning has launched a strategic planning process to create a road map for our organization well into the future. As we restructure to address financial challenges and new priorities, we are indebted to Tsipy for her immeasurable contributions, which have enriched our community.”
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