Weekly Roundup: January 26, 2024

Categories: Friendship Circle, Newsletter

Training Tracks: Teens Weigh In Jason Smierciak of Self-Advocacy Voices, University of Pittsburgh Visiting Lecturer Alonna Carter-Donaldson, and FOTT member Brandon Carter joined a group of FC teens on Monday for a discussion about disability history and advocacy. Members of FC’s Teen Leadership Board wrote questions beforehand and participants broke out into small groups to help facilitate the conversation. Jason… Read More

Weekly Roundup: January 5, 2023

Categories: Friendship Circle, Newsletter

Sports League On Wednesday, members had a great time learning the rules of basketball at the JCC. After our tutorial, we played a half-court basketball tournament and Ekow showed us some great defensive skills! Thanks to all our participants for making basketball a great time for everyone! South Hills Bowling Club We celebrated our final South Hills Bowling Club session… Read More

Lessons from Slavery

Categories: Friendship Circle, Newsletter, Parsha, Shemot

A WEEKLY TORAH THOUGHT FROM RABBI MORDY This week’s Parsha begins the difficulties of the Jewish People. Until now, they were not yet a nation and more of a tribe; their difficulties were not so much an oppression but challenges that had to be overcome. Yet here we are. And as difficult as the slavery was in Egypt, there was… Read More

Weekly Roundup: December 29, 2023

Categories: Friendship Circle, Newsletter

Winter Camp Winter Camp was a “Cosmic Quest for Friendship” this year! On Wednesday, we soared to new heights at Urban Air Adventure Park, where members enjoyed a zip line, ropes course, bumper cars, and trampoline. We also played some Winter Bingo and “Pass the Parcel” where members got to know each other better! On Thursday, we skated across the… Read More

Friendship Circle Tribute Book

Look through our 2022 and 2023  Friendship Circle memories and see what we have been up to!

Tribute Book 2023

Friendship Circle Tribute Book 2023

Recent blog posts

I’ve Got Nothing

A WEEKLY TORAH THOUGHT FROM RABBI MORDY So, this week I’m in a bit of a conundrum. There is lots going on from a Jewish perspective (we conclude the Book of Exodus, we are almost exactly between Purim and Pesach) but the Parsha – Pekudei – is pretty repetitious. Moses is commanded by G-d to build the Tabernacle a few… Read More

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Weekly Roundup: March 28, 2025

Teen Shabbat Dinner Teen Friendship Shabbat was a huge success! This month, we took a trip to the Tuscan countryside—right from our Shabbat table. Friends gathered to enjoy a delicious Italian-inspired meal, great conversation, and a warm, welcoming atmosphere. It was the perfect way to end the week, surrounded by friendship, laughter, and incredible food. We can’t wait for the… Read More

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How it Started Vs. How it’s Going

A WEEKLY TORAH THOUGHT FROM RABBI MORDY This week’s Parsha (Vayakhel) tells of the artisans, the expert craftsmen who produced the Mishkan, the Tabernacle where the Jewish people served G-d in the desert. What is most interesting to note is how little this differs from the previous portions where G-d commands it to Moses and Moses conveys to the Jewish… Read More

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