Every Jewish child knows that all of his questions, no matter how big or small, are met with the same answer by his parents: “Just ask the rabbi.” In the spirit of this playful openness, the library wants you to join us for an informal talk with a real mensch of a man, Rabbi Charles Diamond!

What makes something kosher? Why are there so many Jewish doctors?

What the heck did Laverne and Shirley mean by “Schlemiel! Schlimazel?”

How does your hair stay so curly? Why is my husband such a klutz?

How do Jews celebrate Christmas? Do you really like eating matzoh?

He’ll answer all of your questions –and more!-- while we nosh on a bagel lunch fit for any hungry Hebrew.

You’ll have a goy old time!

Bio: Rabbi Chuck Diamond was ordained by the Jewish Theological Seminary of America in 1985. In 1991, Rabbi Diamond returned to his hometown of Pittsburgh where he became Assistant Rabbi of Education and Youth at Congregation Beth Shalom in Squirrel Hill. In 2005, Rabbi Chuck and a loyal group of followers founded Congregation Or L’Simcha. With two hundred families and having outgrown their modest, Or L’Simcha moved into the Tree of Life Synagogue.

Rabbi Chuck has also spent parts of the past 38 summers working at Camp Ramah in Canada. His passion and his abilities at working with children and people of all ages continues to guide his rabbinate.