We are brand new members as of September 2016. We were not members anywhere before.  We’ve been in Pittsburgh for 7 years. My father passed 2 and a half years ago in France, where I am from originally, and about a year and half after his passing, I had a lot of questions. Alan and…

It’s nearly impossible for me to pick just one memory from my experience at Beth El.  I went to preschool at Beth El, went through Religious School and had my Bat Mitzvah here, was an active member of Kadima and USY, and now work with our Hebrew school and Kadima.  Looking back, what stands out…

Rabbis Alex and Amy Greenbaum have been our spiritual leaders since Rabbi Alex’s installation in 2002. In anticipation of our Tribute Event honoring the Rabbis’ 15 year anniversary at Beth El, I asked Rabbi Alex and Rabbi Amy to share some of their first impressions from back in 2002. Rabbi Alex: One of my favorite memories…

On April 30th,  Morah Mollie Neuman and I led the Shorashim class and their families in a hands-on educational program about “Mitzvot” or Deeds of loving Kindness. We partnered with the Dream Center of Monroeville whose mission is to directly impact the issues that afflict Pittsburgh communities by reconnecting people to God and a community of…

My first friend at Beth El: The first summer that we joined Beth El, Steve and I came to a new member picnic.  We happened to sit at a table outside with another couple. What are the chances that I sit down and start talking to an actuary?!?!  I am an actuary, and there are…

Mark Blatter:   I grew up Orthodox in Brooklyn, NY, and I put on tefillin regularly until I was in my 20’s. When my father died 15 years ago, I came to morning minyan at Beth El.  And I had to re-learn how to put tefillin on.  I’d forgotten about how to do it even. And…

My cousin Lili, a native of Peru, introduced me to quinoa many years ago (recipe below.)  According to Wikipedia, this ancient grain was domesticated 3,000 to 4,000 years ago.  It has been an important staple in the Andean cultures where the plant is indigenous but until recently it was relatively obscure to the rest of…

This week’s 100 Reasons post features Beth El members Stacey and Jason Cobb: Stacey: I grew up going to Beth El but moved away for college and met Jason. We belonged to a synagogue in Columbus, OH prior to moving back here. Jason: The rabbi I took my conversion classes with went to rabbinical school…

We moved to Mt. Lebanon in 1973, and as soon as we moved in, the very first thing I did was come down the hill to Beth El. Our daughter Faith was 12, and we already had a Bat Mitzvah date.  The first day we came also happened to be Rabbi Steindel’s first day on…

This week’s 100 Reasons blog focuses on Beth El Religious School’s Shorashim class. Below, these 1st and 2nd graders share what they like best about their Beth El community: Becca:  What I like about Religious School is that I have so many good friends. Ari: What I like is cooking and art. Leah: I like…