Metro Briefs November 25
Families of the Community Day School Class of 2017 invite the community for Israel Alive! Bid, schmooze and sip wine on Thursday, Dec. 1 from 7 to 10 p.m. at 6424 Forward Ave. All funds raised during the event and auction will benefit the spring eighth-grade Israel trip.
The school will also honor Tzippy Mazer for 40 years of educational leadership, and alumni will speak about their past Israel experiences. Light refreshments and wine will be served, and auction items will include theater and sports tickets, jewelry, lunch dates with City Councilman Corey O’Connor and attorney Edgar Snyder, gift cards, vacation homes and more.
Tickets are $18 and can be purchased in advance at comday.org/israelalive.
Contact Jenny Jones at jjones@comday.org or 412-521-1100, ext. 3207 for more information.
Rabbi Lawrence Hoffman will be a scholar in residence from Friday to Sunday, Dec. 2 to 4 at Temple Sinai. Hoffman was ordained in 1969, received his doctorate in 1973 and has taught since then at the Hebrew Union College, Jewish Institute of Religion in New York. For almost 40 years he has combined research, teaching and a passion for the spiritual renewal of North American Judaism.
Hoffman has written or edited more than 40 books, including “My People’s Prayerbook” (Jewish Lights Publishing), a National Jewish Book Award winner for 2007. His “Rethinking Synagogues: A New Vocabulary for Congregational Life” and “Art of Public Prayer” are used by synagogues as guides to organizational visioning and liturgical renewal.
In 1994, he cofounded Synagogue 2000, a trans-denominational project to envision the ideal synagogue “as moral and spiritual center” for the 21st century. As Synagogue 3000, it has launched Next Door, a national initiative to engage the next generation through a relational approach featuring strong communities with transformed synagogues at the center.
Most of the events are free and open to the public, including a congregational dinner on Friday, Dec. 2, followed by Shabbat service and further discussion on issues Jews face today. There are events on Saturday and Sunday, with time to interact and engage with Rabbi Hoffman as well as hear him speak on thought provoking topics.
Visit templesinaipgh.org/scholar-residence to see the entire weekend schedule.
The 11th annual Vodka Latke Party with a Purpose will be held on Saturday, Dec. 3 from 8 p.m. to 12 a.m. at The Waterfront, in the former Abercrombie and Fitch Store, 149 W. Bridge St. in Homestead, hosted by Shalom Pittsburgh for Jewish young adults, ages 22-45.
Prepurchased tickets are $30 with open bar and $10 for the designated driver rate (alcoholic drinks not available for purchase). Walk-in tickets are $50 with open bar and $30 for the designated driver. Dietary laws will be observed.
There will be a collection for birthday party supplies to donate to Beverly’s Birthdays Party in a Bag (beverlysbirthdays.org). Cheer bag donation items include cake mix, frosting, candles, tablecloths, paper plates, forks, cups, napkins, and extra cheer items including banners, balloons, noisemakers, party hats, gifts and decorations.
Accommodations are available to include differing abilities; email ahertzman@jfedpgh.org or call 412-992-5225 with needs.
Visit shalompittsburgh.org for more information and to register.
Children in kindergarten through grade six are invited to join Community Day School and PJ Our Way on Sunday, Dec. 4 from 2 to 3:30 p.m. at 6424 Forward Ave. for The Stem of Spinning. In this STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) challenge, children will create dreidels from recycled materials. This free event is open to the community.
RSVP at comday.org/spin or contact Sarah DeWitt at sdewitt@comday.org or 412-521-1100, ext. 3206.
The Squirrel Hill Historical Society will hold its next free meeting on Tuesday, Dec. 13 at 7:30 p.m. at Church of the Redeemer, 5700 Forbes Ave. The guest speaker will be Lauren Bairnsfather, director of the Holocaust Center of Pittsburgh.
Contact historysqhill@hotmail.com or 412-417-3707 or visit squirrelhillhistory.org for more information.
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