In the late 1950s, the Y Weekly created a teen column.
The Jewish youth clubs of the 1920s, 1930s, and 1940s never had such a column. They communicated with their members through private newsletters and communicated with others through short reports in the Jewish Criterion.
The Y Weekly teen column gave local Jewish teens an opportunity to speak in depth, with their own voices, to other Jewish teens in their community.
[IMAGE: An advertisement in the October 24, 1958 issue of the Y Weekly, calling for submissions for a new column "dedicated to you, the teenagers of the Y."]
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The column was a fixture of the Y Weekly for more than a decade. The authors changed each year, and the column name changed regularly, too. The Y Weekly also created new columns over the years. "The Eastern Beat" covered events in the East End. Several "tween" columns appealed to younger readers.
Depending on the writer, the teen column could be goofy, aimless, serious, silly, annoyed, honest, or insightful. But it always presented an honest glimpse into the concerns and interests of the local Jewish teen population.
With changes to the club structure in the early 1970s, the column faded. But even now, it remains one of the best sources of information about the clubs.
All this year, the Rauh Jewish Archives is highlighting stories of Jewish club life in Western Pennsylvania. If you would like to donate records of a local Jewish club, or just chat about clubs, contact the archive or call 412-454-6406.
[IMAGE: A selection of column titles from the Y Weekly throughout the 1960s, including "Teen Talk," "Teen Scene," "Just 'Tween Us," "Tween Thing" and "Teen-Tween Periscope."]
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May 30: JGS Pittsburgh Presents: Jarrett Ross |
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Genetic genealogy has become a major component of genealogical research, confirming hundreds of years of documentation and breaking down brick walls.
Yet confirming new family and expanding one’s tree using Jewish Genetic Genealogy is a difficult task filled with many pitfalls. Many aren’t even sure where to begin when they first look at their DNA matches, but success is still possible. In "The ABCs of DNA," Jarrett Ross will explore multiple case studies discovered as he researched his own family history using genetic genealogy.
Using different types of DNA tests and multiple techniques to identify significant DNA matches, Ross expanded multiple branches of his tree and found lost cousins, for both his Ashkenazi and Sephardi ancestry. Come learn all the techniques used as Jarrett breaks down the process of each case study and what methods found success in his research.
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Jarrett Ross began researching his own family history in 2009 while finishing his undergraduate degree at the University of Pittsburgh. Since then, he has built his own personal tree with more than 7,000 people, successfully connected with thousands of relatives all over the world, and has helped build hundreds of trees for people of varying ancestral backgrounds.
Jarrett has multiple specialties including Genetic Genealogy, Sephardic Jewish research with an emphasis on the Portuguese Jewish Community of Amsterdam, the Jewish Agricultural Societies of Southern New Jersey, Ashkenazi Jewish ancestry in Ukraine, and American Jewish history. He writes a blog called “Sephardic Genealogy” and has a vlog called “GeneaVlogger” where he talks about his research, gives genealogy tips, interviews other genealogists, and shows different aspects of working in genealogy.
Jarrett is the lead forensic genealogist at DNA Labs International, where he helps solve cold cases. He also volunteers as a Search Angel, where he helps people find their biological family, and he volunteers as a curator on Geni.com, home of the World Family Tree. Jarrett currently serves as the vice president of the Triangle JGS in North Carolina and as an IAJGS Board Member.
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May 30: A Special Gift: The Act of Valor Award (Rescheduled) |
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We invite you to join the Rauh Jewish Archives for a virtual ceremony on Sunday, May 30 at 3 p.m. as we graciously accept the donation of a special object: the Act of Valor Award given to Officer Tim Matson for his bravery in the line of duty during the synagogue attack on October 27, 2018.
That morning, hundreds of law enforcement officers rushed to the synagogue in Squirrel Hill to protect members of the three congregations—Dor Hadash, New Light, and Tree of Life*Or L’Simcha—that were worshipping in the building at the time and the broader public. Officer Tim Matson was among the initial responding city police officers at the scene, and he was wounded alongside his fellow city officers Michael Smidga, Daniel Mead, and Anthony Burke.
One of the congregants who survived the attack was Dan Leger. Leger is a longtime nurse and hospital chaplain, and he had been preparing for services with Congregation Dor Hadash at the time of the attack. He was taken for treatment to the same local hospital where Matson was being treated. Upon learning that one of the officers who had saved his life was in a room nearby, Leger set himself a physical therapy goal: to gather enough strength to visit Officer Matson. The fortitude, courage, and friendship of these two men was a rare moment of hope during those dark weeks following the attack.
In November 2019, Matson and his fellow officers were each given the Act of Valor Award for their bravery that day. In a spirit of friendship and mutual gratitude, Matson gave his award to Leger. In turn, Leger is donating the award to the Archives, to publicly commemorate the bravery of the officers.
This virtual ceremony will include brief remarks, the donation of the Act of Valor Award, and reflections of the meaning of historic artifacts. You can use the link below to view the ceremony on our website on Sunday, May 30.
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If you like this newsletter, why not forward it to a friend? We want to share the story of Western Pennsylvania Jewish history with as many people as possible.
If you've received this newsletter from a friend or neighbor, and you want to read more, just click on the link below to start receiving future editions.
[IMAGE: Marian Schreiber and employees at the Schreiber Trucking Company, c.1943—Schreiber Family Papers and Photographs, MSS 846.]
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The Rauh Jewish History Program & Archives was founded on November 1, 1988 to collect, preserve, and make accessible the documentary history of Jews and Jewish communities of Western Pennsylvania. You can help the RJHPA continue its work by making a donation that will directly support the work being done in Western Pa. |
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Plan a Visit
Senator John Heinz History Center
1212 Smallman Street
Pittsburgh, Pa. 15222
412-454-6000
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A proud affiliate of the Smithsonian Institution, the Senator John Heinz History Center is the largest history museum in Pennsylvania and presents American history with a Western Pennsylvania connection.
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