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…
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…
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…
October 20, 2021
Americans are fashion conscious. Particularly, they like to buy new clothes. There is even a term, “retail therapy,” that is often associated with purchasing items of clothing to elevate one’s mood. Cheap clothing at mainstream retailers lets people change wardrobes and styles as frequently as their wallets allow. While these habits can help support the…
June 19, 2021
Junk mail. Its very name implies something that we don’t want or need. I know at our house, it tends to make up the majority of the mail we get any given day. What can you do with it all? Some people recycle it, either at home or bring it to the closest Abitibi bin,…
February 12, 2021
Try to imagine a day where you go without using plastic—it’s impossible. From yogurt containers to shampoo bottles to takeout containers, plastic is a part of our daily lives. Just a few years ago, this didn’t bother many people because recycling plastic was easier and more commonplace. South Hills townships used to recycle all plastics…
