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…

I grew up in Squirrel Hill, and my attitude was “How can I go over a bridge and through a tunnel to get to the South Hills?” Jan and I met when we were working at camp in Monroeville, and when it was time to drive her home she directed me on how to get…

On March 6th, this squad of lovely sixth graders baked Kichel (recipe below) and enjoyed a tea party! This popular Jewish and Israeli sweet cracker or cookie is made with egg and sugar rolled out flat and cut into rectangles then twisted into a bow tie shape. Kichel (plural kichlach) is a Yiddish word meaning…

My richest Beth El memories are of attending Friday night services, at 8:30 pm, after dinner at home, in the 1970’s. That is when most congregants attended Shabbat services at that time. I can see and hear the choir, led by Al Freed, and can still hear Jeanne Rascoe and Muriel Duel’s voices during certain…