Former Shir Chadash executive director Bruce Yaillen is laid to rest in Pittsburgh

BRUCE P. YAILLEN, the former executive director of Shir Chadash Conservative Congregation, died on Sunday, January 12, 2025 and was laid to rest in Pittsburgh.

BRUCE P. YAILLEN

Yaillen attended Taylor Allderdice, a school in the notably Jewish neighborhood of Squirrel Hill in Pittsburgh, where he grew up before transferring to Highland Park High School. After graduation, he attended the University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign, where he matriculated in 1978 with a bachelor of science degree in Accountancy. He worked as an assistant controller for the Alter Group before joining Chizuk Amuno Congregation in Pikesville, MD. in 1989, where he worked as an Information Systems Manager for both the synagogue and, later, their Krieger Schecter Day School until 2014.

Yaillen accepted his position at the Metairie Conservative synagogue in December of 2014 and was a quiet figure at Shir Chadash, operating with grace and an efficient manner while working there under the rabbinic leadership of Rabbis Ethan Linden and Deborah Silver. He and his wife, Judy Light Yaillen, made a remarkable Jewish power couple for a portion of the last decade in New Orleans. She served as the Jewish Family Life director at the New Orleans Jewish Community Center for several years until her husband’s health began to decline. Bruce Yaillen retired from Shir Chadash in 2018, but remained in the New Orleans area for several additional years.

Yaillen is survived by his wife; his children Noam Yaillen and Goldi (Joseph) Sibony; his brothers Alan (Laurie Dien) Yaillen and Barry (John Fisher) Yaillen; and two grandchildren.

A graveside service was held at Beth Shalom Cemetery in Pittsburgh at 12 noon CST on Monday, January 13 and was livestreamed.

Memorial contributions in Bruce Yaillen’s honor may be made to The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research, Grand Central Station, P.O. Box 4777, New York, NY 10163-4777 or Congregation Beth Shalom, 5915 Beacon Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15217.

Arrangements were by the Ralph Schugar Chapel, Inc., 5509 Centre Avenue in Shadyside, PA.