YINZ/YIDZ

As reported in this week's Chronicle, Jewish residents of the former B'nai Brith-sponsored Covenant at South Hills are generally pleased with new owner Concordia Lutheran Ministries. By all accounts, Concordia has made great efforts to accomodate the special needs of the Jewish residents.

Concordia has tweaked its menus so that there are always options to "forbidden foods," such as pork or shellfish, on the menu, although the facility no longer has a kosher kitchen. It has continued its regular Jewish programming. And it has provided transportation for residents to Temple Emanuel of the South Hills when requested.

But there is still the issue of the cross.

Within days after finalizing its purchase of the facility, Concordia erected a new sign near the entrance to the continuing care retirement community on Bower Hill Road, adjacent to Temple Emanuel. The sign displays the logo of Concordia Lutheran Ministries: a large cross intersecting a heart.

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A group of residents of the Covenant at the South Hills filed a class action suit last week against B'nai B'rith International and B'nai B'rith Housing, Inc., as well as its officers and directors. They're looking to get back millions of dollars in entrance fee deposits lost as a result of the Covenant's recent bankruptcy.

The complaint alleges that B'nai B'rith set up the Covenant at South Hills, Inc. only as a "shell corporation" to act as its agent, and therefore the B'nai B'rith entities should refund the entrance fees to the residents. The complaint also charges that B'nai B'rith stood to make a more than $1 million in exchange for lending its name to the marketing of the facility.

The 13 counts in the complaint include breach of contract, breach of fiduciary duty and fraud. The complaint can be read in its entirety here. (Warning: It's a big file.)

So far, 28 resident units have joined the suit, but more are expected.

Check the paper this week for a complete story about the suit.

UPDATE: Statement from B'nai B'rith:

“B’nai B’rith Housing, Inc. deeply regrets the impact that the Covenant at South Hills, Inc. bankruptcy has had upon the residents of that community. When we formed the Covenant of South Hills, Inc. the intent was to provide a superior living experience consistent with B’nai B’rith Housing’s long record of service to seniors. B’nai B’rith Housing, Inc. has not had an opportunity to review the complaint, and so therefore has no further comment on it at this time.”

Concordia Lutheran Ministries closed on its acquisition of Covenant at South Hills last Monday. By Wednesday, it had its new signage in place on Bower Hill Road, at the entrance to the driveway leading to the facility.

"Covenant at South Hills, a B'nai B'rith Senior Living Community," was replaced with "Concordia at the South Hills," along with the logo of the Lutheran Ministries: a heart, a dove and a large cross.

Concordia has every right to use its logo on its sign. But there is a definite sadness in the South Hills over what we have lost — a Jewish continuing care community for our seniors. And the new sign, prominently displayed adjacent to Temple Emanuel, is now a constant reminder to all who pass, and to the residents who had banked on a covenant.