Righteous Among the Neighbors is a project of the Holocaust Center of Pittsburgh that honors non-Jewish Pittsburghers who support the Jewish community and take action to uproot antisemitism. In partnership with the LIGHT Education Initiative and Mt. Lebanon High School, student journalists interview honorees and write profiles about their efforts.
Article by Addie Young
On a chilly October evening, just days after the Oct. 7 attacks in Israel, Bhavini Patel stood among hundreds of mourners gathered at a Pittsburgh vigil. Candles flickered, prayers were whispered and grief hung heavy in the air. Patel wasn’t there for a photo or a headline. She was there to listen, to grieve and to remind her Jewish neighbors that they were not alone.
At a time when antisemitism continues to rise across the country, leaders who choose to speak out play a crucial role in building understanding and hope. In Pittsburgh, Bhavini Patel has become one of those voices. Her consistent efforts to confront hate and strengthen connections among communities earned her a nomination as Righteous Among the Neighbors.
Patel launched her campaign as a 12th district congressional candidate on Oct. 2, 2023. Just five days later, on Oct. 7, terrorist attacks struck Israel, leading to the worst loss of Jewish life in a single day since the Holocaust.
What followed was a period of intense grief and uncertainty for Jewish communities. Patel understood the need for visible solidarity, not just words. She attended vigils alongside local residents, rabbis and students, showing empathy and a genuine commitment to standing with her neighbors during a moment of deep heartbreak.
As Patel continued her campaign, her support for the Jewish community in the 12th district and across the city of Pittsburgh never wavered. She spoke openly against antisemitism, even when doing so drew criticism from opponents. For her, allyship was never a political strategy. It was a moral responsibility.
While Patel is no longer a candidate, her steady, visible solidarity has made her a key bridge-builder in Pittsburgh’s Jewish and Hindu communities.
Together with community leaders from StandWithUS, the Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh and the JCC, she helped launch interfaith, cross-community initiatives that bring Hindu and Jewish residents closer together and strengthen bonds. From shared meals to cultural conversations, Patel has focused on creating spaces where communities can come together to learn about one another, grieve together and celebrate together.
Patel described the work of building bridges between communities as “sacred work” rooted in kindness, courage and truth.
“Radical kindness is a method of responding to hate and extremism,” she said. “Reclaiming the power of kindness is incredibly simple, but it takes a tremendous amount of work.”
One of the earliest efforts was a community gathering at the Hindu Jain Temple in Monroeville. More than 200 Hindu and Jewish residents shared music, stories and a vegetarian meal.
The warmth in the room, Patel said, signaled that this was only the beginning.
“Sitting together, eating together, mourning together, dreaming together, figuring out what a world of peace could look like. That is how we move forward,” she said.
Those early events inspired a more structured initiative. Patel helped organize a five session Hindu Jewish cohort of 22 community members who met to explore culture, identity and faith. Participants built relationships that continue today, demonstrating that interfaith understanding is possible when people commit to showing up for each other.
Patel immersed herself in the work of understanding the challenges Jewish residents were facing. She participated in programs at the JCC and engaged with the Community Relations Council, gaining a deeper awareness of the rising concerns about antisemitism in Pittsburgh neighborhoods. Those conversations, community members say, made her advocacy more informed and impactful.
Her leadership caught the attention of community members across the city, including The Tree of Life Synagogue CEO, Carole Zawatsky, who nominated Patel for the award. Zawatsky first learned of Patel shortly after moving to Pittsburgh and was struck by her sincerity and courage.
“I knew right from the start that she believed in a strong Jewish community, and that she was passionate about supporting the Jews of Pittsburgh and Squirrel Hill,” Zawatsky said. “She is a wonderful ally, not only against antisemitism, but against all forms of identity-based hate.”
Zawatsky said Patel’s approach to partnership has strengthened both communities in meaningful ways.
“It is beautiful and powerful, and it has made us stronger allies,” she said. What moves her most is Patel’s humility. “She never makes it about her. It is always about what she is doing for the community and for others.”
Patel’s unwavering support has not always come easily. Speaking against antisemitism has made her a target for online harassment and criticism. Still, she chooses to remain a visible ally.
“Being a good neighbor and good friend should not be controversial,” Patel said. “It should be who we are.”
“If I could define what motivates me each day, it is setting an example for the next generation to lead with courage,” Patel said. “The only way we can do that is by showing them what it looks like, even when it is challenging.”
Zawatsky hopes Patel’s recognition will encourage others to follow her lead.
“To stand up for what you believe in and to always act from your heart, is what true leadership looks like,” she said. “She is a beautiful role model for all leaders.”