Last week I mentioned a program taking place next week.  The inaugural Robinson International Short Film Competition will be held on Tuesday, May 1st at 7:30 pm.  Please click here for more information and for tickets.  I have read the descriptions of the short films being shown and am excited for this new event.  If you've loved JFILM over the years, this gives you one more chance to enjoy films with Jewish themes.  Check out the fabulous article about the competition in today’s Post Gazette by clicking here.
 
Next weekend, the Federation is helping to sponsor a program involving eight of our community's congregations which will bring Rabbi Ethan Tucker and Dena Weiss from Machon Hadar, an educational institution that seeks to empower a generation of Jews to create and sustain vibrant, practicing, egalitarian communities of Torah, learning, prayer and service.  While major Jewish study will take place over the weekend with renowned educators , the collaboration of these synagogues along with other institutions is reason enough to participate.  For more information click here to see the brochure on the Agency for Jewish Learning’s Website.
 
Returning to yesterday’s JFEST, I want to share one of the nicest comments I heard from one of the Federation's volunteers.  She said that she was not only impressed with each of our staff's professionalism, but of how they worked as a team to pull off this enormous undertaking.  I want to give a very special thank you to my colleagues for all they do on behalf of our community.  I work with the most amazing team and am constantly thankful and impressed by their devotion and commitment. 

Shabbat Shalom.

Jeff Finkelstein
President and CEO