Metro Briefs January 20
National Council of Jewish Women, Pittsburgh Section friends and supporters will join the Pittsburgh Sister March on Saturday, Jan. 21 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., starting at the City-County Building on Grant Street. The march will join with the Women’s March on Washington, to send a message that women’s rights are human rights.
There are Sister Marches being held in 50 states and 27 countries.
Visit womensmarchpittsburgh.com for more information.
Beth El Congregation of the South Hills will hold the first of six evenings of its annual Winter Speaker Series presented by the adult education committee on Monday, Jan. 23 at 7 p.m. The series runs through March 6. Each evening is free and open to the public and starts with a complimentary wine and cheese reception.
The first speaker, Josh Sayles, director of Community Relations Council of the Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh, will discuss Israel, current events and the boycott, divestment and sanctions movement (BDS). Speakers in the series will also include Cynthia Persinger, associate professor of art history, California University of Pennsylvania; Rabbi Alex Greenbaum of Beth El Congregation; Rabbi Mark Mahler of Temple Emanuel; and Rabbi Danny Schiff, Jewish Community Foundation Scholar, Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh.
Visit bethelcong.org for more information and to RSVP in advance or call 412-561-1168. Beth El is located on 1900 Cochran Road.
This year’s Lunar New Year celebration to welcome the Year of the Fire Rooster begins on Saturday, Jan. 28 from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. with an afternoon of live performances, martial arts demonstrations, dance, drummers and other music, acrobatic lion dancers and more at the Jewish Community Center of Greater Pittsburgh. WQED’s Michael Bartley will serve as emcee.
Lunar New Year festivities conclude on Sunday, Feb. 12, beginning at 11 a.m., with a parade up Murray Avenue featuring costumes, music, marching bands and traditional Chinese and Thai dragons. Grace and Mike Chen, owner of four local Asian restaurants and founder of the Pittsburgh Chinese Restaurant Association, will be this year’s parade grand marshals.
Organizers and partners of the celebration include Uncover Squirrel Hill; Squirrel Hill Urban Coalition; Jewish Family & Children’s Service; Jewish Community Center; Pittsburgh Chinese Cultural Center; OCA advocates for Asian Pacific Americans, Pittsburgh Chapter; Carnegie Public Library; and the Confucius Institute at the University of Pittsburgh.
Attendance at both events is free and open to the public. Over the two weeks, participating Asian restaurants in Squirrel Hill plan to offer special Lunar New Year dishes and deals.
The Hillelujah Acapella Choir of Hillel Jewish University Center will be performing at Temple David on Sunday, Jan. 29 at 10:30 a.m. on at 4415 Northern Pike, Monroeville. Brunch begins at 9:30 a.m. with the concert to follow.
Donations will be greatly appreciated and benefit the Hillel JUC.
The program is open to the community.
New Light Men’s Club invites the community for a guided visit to the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington, D.C., on June 4. The $70 per person fee includes bus transportation, museum admission and a city tour. Meals are not included; the bus will stop for breakfast and dinner. Departure from New Light will be at 6 a.m. and return approximately 11 p.m. to midnight.
Contact Dan Stein at 412-521-5231 no later than January 31 to sign up.
Chabad of the South Hills will hold Torah & Tea on the “Power of Growth: Tu B’Shevat Lessons in Life Learned From a Tree” on Wednesday, Feb. 1 at 7:30 p.m. Enjoy French pastries along with pastry baking tips by Beryl Fellous. There is no charge. RSVP to batya@chabadsh.com.
“Lessons in Life Learned From a Tree” will also be held at a pre Tu B’Shevat luncheon for seniors on Wednesday, Feb. 8 at noon. Refreshments will include dried fruits. The suggested donation is $5; the building is wheelchair accessible. Call 412-278-2658 for more information.
The Jewish Learning Institute will begin a new six-week course on “The Dilemma: Modern Conundrums. Talmudic Debates. Your Solutions” beginning Wednesday Feb. 1 at 1:15 p.m. downtown or 7:30 p.m. in Squirrel Hill.
For more information and to register visit myJLI.com.
AgeWell at the Jewish Community Center-South Hills is offering Caregivers Aging Mastery to participants age 55 and older, who will learn the art of staying healthy and happy on their caregiving journey in this 12-week course.
Caregivers are those who help a relative, friend or neighbor with household chores, errands, personal care, transportation or finances.
The Aging Mastery Program was developed by the National Council on Aging and has been successful at helping older adults build their own playbook for aging well. AgeWell at the JCC has received senior center accreditation through the National Council on Aging/National Institute of Senior Centers.
The program will be held on Sundays, from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m., Feb. 5 to May 7, at the JCC-South Hills, 345 Kane Blvd., Scott Township.
The program is open to the community; there is no charge. To register, contact Marsha Mullen at 412-339-5415 or email mmullen@jccpgh.org.
Cantor Rena Shapiro is putting together the Jewish choir, South Hills Shalom Singers. Shapiro, musical director of the new choir, will lead an introductory sing-a-long and brief information session about the choir on Monday, Feb. 20 at 7 p.m. at the Jewish Community Center South Hills. There is no need to audition — only a love of music and the ability to carry a tune are required.
Contact Shapiro at cantor.rena@gmail.com or call the South Hills Jewish Pittsburgh office at 412-697-6647 for more information or to RSVP.
The Allegheny County Department of Human Services announced a new partnership with the National Council of Jewish Women, Pittsburgh Section to operate Project Prom out of NCJW’s Thriftique resale shop at 125 51st St. in Lawrenceville. Project Prom accepts new and gently worn formal attire, year-round, for those who otherwise would have to miss out on the prom and other high school formal and semiformal functions because of the cost.
Through Thriftique, NCJW already partners with other community organizations to provide free work-appropriate attire to low income women reentering the workforce and free clothing, furniture and household items to individuals and families in crisis.
Any young person who receives services from DHS or qualifies for a free or reduced lunch is eligible for Project Prom. The DHS Office of Community Relations will continue to spearhead Project Prom for Gentlemen, which offers etiquette tips to young men attending the prom.
Formal gowns, tuxedos and accessories can be dropped off seven days a week. Visit ncjw.org store hours and more information about drop-off and pick-up.
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