Metro Briefs, January 17

Congregation Beth Shalom will presents a lecture titled, “Genes, Jews, and Breast Cancer: What Every Jewish Woman (and Man) Should Know, Tuesday, on Feb. 5, 2013, 7:30 p.m., at the synagogue. The presentation, which is free to the public, will be followed by a question-answer session.
One in 50 Ashkenazi Jews carries a mutation in their DNA that may lead to increased risk of breast, ovarian, and perhaps other cancers. Why this occurs, how it can be detected and what can be done if the gene mutation is present will be discussed during the presentation.
It is the first in a three-part series titled, “The Beth Shalom Health Initative,” which is presented by Beth Shalom with support from the Jewish Healthcare Foundation and the UPMC Cancer Center.
The presenters include:
• Adam Brufsky, professor of medicine, co-director of the Comprehensive Breast Cancer Program of Magee-Women’s Hospital of UPMC and associate director of the University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute
• Rachel C. Jankowitz, assistant professor of medicine, medical director of the Magee-Womens Hospital of UPMC High Risk Breast Cancer Program
• Darcy Thull, certified genetic counselor, UPMC Cancer Genetics Program
Patricia Gordon, nurse practitioner, Women’s Cancer Center/ High Risk Breast Cancer Program.
Contact Beth Shalom at 412-421-2288, ext. 320 or communications@
bethshalompgh.org for more
information.

The Jewish Community Center of Greater Pittsburgh invites athletes from age 8 to 80 to compete at the Indoor Triathlon Sunday, Jan. 20, at the JCC, 5738 Forbes Ave., Squirrel Hill. The event is sponsored by the Western Pennsylvania Jewish Sports Hall of Fame.
Registration begins at 11:30 a.m. and the event starts at noon. The award ceremony and reception will follow from 2:30 to 3 p.m.
Parent-child teams are encouraged to participate in every event.
Contact Laurie Wood, fitness
director, 412-521-8011, ext. 260 or lwood@jccpgh.org for more information and to register.

The Jewish Women’s Center of Pittsburgh will hold its annual
Tu B’Shevat Seder Sunday, Jan. 27, at 6 p.m. at the Labor Zionist Center, 6328 Forbes Ave. in Squirrel Hill.
Rooted in Kabbalistic tradition, the JWC seder focuses on women, celebrating their lives, both present and in the Biblical past. The seder will include four cups of wine or grape juice representing the four seasons, various fruits and nuts and a chocolate fountain.
There is no charge; guests are asked to bring a bottle of wine or grape juice.
Email debbey_altman_diamant@hotmail.com by Jan. 22 for reservations.

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“Brothers,” an Israelli film directed by Igaal Niddam, an Israeli Jew originally from Morrocco and a film and television director in Switzerland, is the second film in this year’s Rodef Shalom Sisterhood’s movie night series.
Produced in 2008 and winner of more than 15 awards from film festivals around the world, “Brothers” is the story of two estranged brothers. One is a distinguished Torah scholar and doctor of law and philosophy living in the United States and the other is a secular Israeli living on a kibbutz in southern Israel. A conflict arises when the American brother comes to Jerusalem to defend the rights of Torah students over the opposing religious and political principles that stress Israeli society and threaten the future of the Jewish state today.
In Hebrew with English subtitles, the film is free and open to the community. Light refreshments will follow the film.
Call 412-621-6566 for more
information.

The Zionist Organization of America Pittsburgh District is accepting scholarship applications to assist student participation on educational trips to Israel.
Applications will be accepted through Feb. 28. This year two scholarships are available and made possible through the generosity of the family of the late Natalie and Ivan Novick, Drs. Esther and Bernard Klionsky, Marla and Dr. Harold Scheinman, Patricia and Abraham Anouchi and the late Thelma
Esman.
The $1,500 scholarship is available to students who will be entering their junior or senior year of high school in the fall.
The Anouchi Research Scholarship of $750 is available to full-time college students who have completed at least one year, and graduate students. Research proposals for the Anouchi scholarship will be reviewed and the awardee will be required to complete a paper on their topic.
All applicants must be participating in an approved program. Priority may be given to those who have never visited Israel or have not received a ZOA scholarship in the past.
Contact ZOA Executive Director Stuart Pavilack at 412-665-4630 or pittsburgh@zoa.org for more information.
The Community Relations Council will hold an Israel elections viewing party, Tuesday, Jan. 22, from 5 to 8 p.m. at the Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh, 234 McKee Place, in Oakland. CRC staff and volunteers will be monitoring the Israel elections live from the Federation’s conference rooms. Refreshments will be served as election returns come in, and experts will offer analysis of the results and their implications for Israel and the Pittsburgh’s Jewish community.
Contact Gregg Roman, Community Relations Council director, at 412-992-5234 or groman@jfedpgh.org for more information.

The Jewish Community Center of Greater Pittsburgh invites everybody to Every Body Day Sunday, Jan. 27, from from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the JCC, 5738 Forbes Ave., Squirrel Hill.
The day is open to the community and will offer free classes, giveaways and special offers for membership, fitness and JCC camps.
Those who join the JCC on Every Body Day will get a $75 JCC gift card; members who refer a friend to join that day receive a $75 JCC gift card.
Visit JCCPGH.org or call 412-521-8010 for more information.

The Jewish Community Center of Greater Pittsburgh will hold its first session of the Potluck Theater Workshop Tuesday, Jan. 22, from 1 to 2:30 p.m. in room 202 at the JCC, located at 5738 Forbes Ave., Squirrel Hill.
The Potluck Theater Workshop is a storytelling workshop for adults of all ages, and will be led by dance-theater artist Beth Corning, in collaboration with the American Jewish Museum and AgeWell Pittsburgh’s Independent Adult Services Department.
Participants will explore ways to make their personal stories universal through theatrical and movement exercises. No background in theater or dance is necessary.
Corning, former executive/artistic director of the Dance Alloy Theater, has dedicated the past 30 years to creating provocative and accessible dance-theater works. In June, as part of her current award-winning series, The Glue Factory Project, Corning will premiere “What Remains” at The New Hazlett Theater.
Remaining workshops will be held Tuesdays from 1 to 2:30 p.m. Feb. 26, March 19, April 23 and May 28. There is no fee and the workshops are open to the community.
Class size is limited. Register with Sybil Lieberman at 412-521-8011, ext. 135 or slieberman@jccpgh.org or Melissa Hiller at 412-521-8011, ext. 105 or mhiller@jccpgh.org.