Metro Briefs August 20

Metro Briefs August 20

Love & Knaidels, Kosher Cooking for a Cause, a project of Chabad of Pittsburgh, will hold its kick-off event, Sweet Beginnings, on Tuesday, Sept. 8 at 7 p.m. in the Beth Shalom Ballroom at 5915 Beacon St.

Participants will bake two apple desserts, keeping one and sharing one. The evening will include a buffet of Rosh Hashanah salads and desserts. There is an $18 charge.

Reservations, which are required by Sept. 6, can be made at loveandknaidels.com/kickoff or by calling 412-421-3561.

Circus of the Kids is set to return to the Jewish Community Center of Greater Pittsburgh in Squirrel Hill. This year, its third at the JCC, 70 children and teens are participating.

Participants will be flying on the trapeze, flipping off a trampoline, spinning on roller skates and balancing on rolling globes. The students will perform “under the big top” in a public show.

The one-week residency program at the JCC from Aug. 17 to Aug. 21 is designed to promote teamwork, esteem building, endurance, self-discipline, perseverance and courage as well as respect for others.

The show, open to the community, will be held in the JCC Robinson Building, 5738 Darlington Road, Squirrel Hill on Thursday, Aug. 20, 7 p.m.; and on Friday, Aug. 21, 10:30 a.m. and 2 p.m.

Tickets can be purchased online at Circusofthekids.com/tickets.php or at the door.

Visit circusofthekids.com or call 1-866-CIRCUS-5 for more information about the circus. Contact Meredith Brown at 412-697-3520 or mbrown@jccpgh.org for more information about the camp and program at the JCC.

The Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh invites the community to participate in Shalom Pittsburgh’s 5th Annual Apples and Honey Fall Festival on Sunday, Aug. 30 from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. at the Anderson Playground in Schenley Park.

The free family fun day will include apple sack races, apple tasting with experts from Giant Eagle, beeswax candle making, snacks, crafts and more.

Contact Meryl Franzos at 412-992-5204 or mfranzos@jfedpgh.org for reservations and more information.

South Hills Jewish Pittsburgh, the Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh’s South Hills Community Engagement Initiative, is now providing grant funding for projects that reflect its vision of a vibrant, interconnected, inspired and engaged South Hills Jewish community. During the next year, its 20-member Community Council will award a minimum of $55,000 in grant funds to applicants, which include institutions, organizations and individuals.

Larger grants, typically in the range of $2,000 to $5,000, will be awarded primarily to institutions and organizations. Individuals are encouraged to apply for a micro grant (up to $500) for programs or events such as community Shabbat dinners, book clubs, holiday celebrations and speakers.

A significant portion of the overall grant pool is committed to support existing Jewish institutions, including all five congregations and the South Hills Jewish Community Center. Another grant pool is designated for institutions and agencies outside of the South Hills to encourage increased programming, activities and services in the South Hills community. 

To apply for a grant, visit southhillsjewishpittsburgh.org/about-us/grant-information. Contact Rob Goodman, director of South Hills Jewish Pittsburgh at 412-697-6646 or rgoodman@jfedpgh.org for more information.

The Lawrence and Rebecca Stern Family Foundation and JGenesPittsburgh are pleased to announce the award of $10,000 to a coalition of South Hills organizations for the development and implementation of a sustainable Jewish genetic carrier program.

In response to a Request for Proposal, members of Beth El Congregation, Chabad of the South Hills, the Jewish Community Center of Greater Pittsburgh-South Hills, South Hills Jewish Pittsburgh and Temple Emanuel of the South Hills joined together to develop, embed and sustain education and screening of an important program to assure healthy babies.

Screening for 38 Jewish genetic recessive diseases gives people the knowledge of their status as a carrier of a gene mutation found more frequently in the Jewish population. People will only know if they are carriers if they are screened or parent a baby with one of these diseases. Carriers do not have the disease, but two parent carriers have a 25 percent chance of having an affected baby. The recommendation is to not take the chance and get educated and screened.

This collaboration is a cohesive response to improving the strength and health of its Jewish community. As the successes or outcomes of this broad community approach unfold, further Request for Proposals will be issued to include other community organizations.

Contact Dodie Roskies at droskies@JGenespgh.org or 412-916-3989 for more information.

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