The Friendship Circle of Pittsburgh was established in 2006 with the intention of creating a more inclusive community. Our programs engage youth and adults with diverse abilities in a full range of social activities; we aim to enrich the lives of all participants through mutually advantageous interactions, creating lasting friendships that strengthen both the Jewish and greater communities.
The Friendship Circle is a community-based program that brings together people of diverse abilities and interests. At Friendship Circle, we believe all people have the same needs. These needs include friendship, fun, opportunities to grow, the ability to contribute and to belong. Friendship Circle of Pittsburgh is devoted to addressing those needs in an accessible environment that provides any necessary supports to bring out the best in all of us.
You may very well hear laughter from the game room. You may smell what is cooking in the kitchen as friends are prepping for a café night, Shabbat dinner, or a celebration. It is likely that you will see people expressing themselves in different ways while engaged in a full range of fun activities. You will feel a sense of community from people enjoying themselves as they work together to make Friendship Circle Pittsburgh a vibrant place where everyone can be themselves and find friendship, respect and fun.
April 18, 2025
A WEEKLY TORAH THOUGHT BY RABBI MORDY Tonight begins the last days of Passover. These are days that commemorate the splitting of the Sea of Reeds (being approximately a week after the Jewish people were freed) as well as celebrate — strangely, in anticipation of—the future Redemption. Much is discussed about what “the Redemption” means and people tend to have… Read More
April 17, 2025
JOY Program Passover 2025 On Tuesday, April 8 the Friendship Circle partnered with the Branch and Merakey for an in-person gathering focused on Passover. The goal of JOY Programming is to bring together adult members of the community to celebrate Jewish holidays together. During this program, residents of Merakey learned about the meaning of Passover from Rabbi Mordy and enjoyed… Read More
April 11, 2025
A WEEKLY TORAH THOUGHT BY RABBI MORDY While we technically start the holiday of Passover tomorrow night, this Shabbos, known as “Shabbat Hagadol,” the Great Shabbos, leads us right into the holiday. Because it’s a busy day, I’ll try to be as brief as possible. Passover celebrates the Jewish people’s liberation from Egypt. The Hebrew word from Egypt is “Mitzrayim,” which,… Read More