Metro Briefs December 18

Chabad of Fox Chapel will hold the 10th annual “Night of Fun for the Whole Family” Jewish Fest event on Wednesday, Dec. 24 from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. at Funfest Entertainment Center at 2525 Freeport Road in Harmarville. Jewish Fest boasts a wide assortment of activities, including unlimited bowling, laser tag, arcade games, a kosher dinner and snack bar, billiards and more.

For more information and to registration page can be found at jewishcenter.net.

The New Light Men’s Club/Sisterhood December movie night will be Saturday, Dec. 27 at 7 p.m. “The Jazz Singer,” starring Neil Diamond, Laurence Olivier and Lucie Arnaz, will be shown at New Light, 1700 Beechwood Blvd. The charge is $5 per person and includes light refreshments. Contact the Steins at 412-521-5231 to make reservations.

Kollel Jewish Learning Center is offering a new free series for men and women. “Diversity and Adversity Amongst Torah Jews: A Historical Perspective of Choices in Hashkafah,” will be with Rabbi Shimon Silver, spiritual leader of Young Israel of Pittsburgh.

The series will be held on Sundays, Dec. 28, Jan. 11, Jan. 25 and Feb. 8 at 9:30 a.m. at 5808 Beacon St. Coffee and refreshments will be served. The topic for Dec. 28 is “Galus of the Land of Israel: A controversy since Bavel.”

Call the Kollel office at 412-420-0220 or visit kollelpgh.org for more information.

Chabad of the South Hills will hold Torah and Tea to discover and discuss insights into the meaning of prayers on the first three Wednesday evenings in January, beginning Jan. 7, at 7:30 p.m. There is an $18 suggested donation for the course. Contact Batya at 412-344-2424 or batya@chabadsh.com for more information and to register.

The next POW! women’s volunteer opportunity will be Monday, Jan. 12 from 10:30 a.m. to noon at the Jewish Association on Aging, 200 JHF Drive in Squirrel Hill. Celebrate Kibud Z’Keinim, the Jewish value of honoring and cherishing the elderly, with a karaoke session, arts and crafts and more with the residents of the JAA. Make new friends while belting out classic tunes and creating artwork. This event is open to all women; reservations are recommended as space is limited. Contact Stacy Skiavo at 412-992-5223 or sskiavo@jfedpgh.org for more information and reservations.

The Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh has announced staff changes.

>> After almost 15 years of service to the Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh, Ellen Roteman, director of marketing, retired on Nov. 28. Roteman rose through the Federation’s marketing department to become its director in 2011. Her tenure as director was marked by an expansion in online and social  media outreach.

“Ellen devoted her career of more than 30 years to the Jewish people,” said Brian Eglash, Federation senior vice president and chief development officer. “She distinguished herself through hard work, passion for our community and incredible creativity.”

Prior to working at the Federation, Roteman held positions in Philadelphia at the Jewish Community Center and The Jewish Exponent. She also worked at the JCC in Pittsburgh as well as The Jewish Chronicle.

>> Adam J. Hertzman has joined the Federation as the new director of marketing, replacing Ellen Roteman. Hertzman’s expertise is strategic analysis and market research, skills he developed in corporate positions and consultancy. He comes to the Federation from the Vocollect division of Honeywell, a provider of voice technology, where he served as pricing manager and market analyst. Hertzman has held volunteer positions in Pittsburgh’s Jewish community since 2005, when he joined the Shalom Pittsburgh board. In 2009, he joined the board of Jewish Residential Services, a position he held until October 2014, when he accepted the Federation position.

Hertzman graduated from Harvard College and holds a master’s of business administration from the UCLA Anderson School of Management.

>> Ilene Rinn was promoted to senior manager of planning and allocations in August. Rinn joined the Federation in September 2013 as planning manager for human services. She was instrumental in the publication of the first community directory for individuals with special needs and disabilities and has worked closely with AgeWell Pittsburgh. Her new responsibilities within the planning group include overseeing the campaign allocation process; she will retain her human services portfolio.

>> Dina Shvetsov joined the Federation as the new planning manager of Jewish education and continuity. In addition, she will be a member of the Jewish Community Foundation Grant Making Committee. Shvetsov brings experience she developed in Moscow as an analyst at the Institute for Regional Politics and as a planner for Nestle Corporation.

(Press releases can be emailed in Word format to newsdesk@thejewishchronicle.net.)