Look for The Adventures of Bark Mitzvah Boy each month in The Dayton Jewish Observer and at this website.   To view the print version of the November Observer, click here.

Jewish Family Identity Forum A look at the Holy Book series By Candace R. Kwiatek, The Dayton Jewish Observer One of the most basic skills of perception is the ability to differentiate an object or shape from its background, described as positive and negative space or figure-ground. You are likely

At the 25th Anniversary Gala for Homefull on Sept. 19, 12-year-old Max Mader shared his personal experiences about Homefull and his program, Storytime With Max. Homefull works to end homelessness by providing housing, services, advocacy and education. During Storytime With Max, he brings in snacks and reads children’s books from

The Jewish Internet with Mark Mietkiewicz Special To The Dayton Jewish Observer If the Great Jewish Novel is lurking inside you but can’t get out (or get published), there are people who want to help. With Jewish Book Month upon us, now is the time to end the procrastination and

  Recipes for Thanksgivukkah By Helen Nash, JTA The phenomenon this year of Chanukah and Thanksgiving coinciding could mean even larger family gatherings than usual. So here are some tips: Plan the menus well ahead of the special celebration, and pick recipes that are easy to follow and make them well

By Renate Frydman, Special To The Dayton Jewish Observer Having brought so much solace and comfort to so many, Roslyn S. Klein slipped quietly away on Oct. 9 at Hospice of Dayton, leaving a huge gap in the hearts of those she had befriended and helped throughout her life. There are

Geri Burke, age 81 of Miamisburg, passed away Oct. 4. She is survived by her daughter, Debbie Nahum-Parenti; son David Burke and wife Kathy of New Mexico and Texas; four grandchildren, Joseph Nahum, Zachary Johnson, Rachel Burke and Jessica Burke; two great-grandchildren, Jaylen and Kira; one sister, Linda Sable. She

By Jennie Szink, Special To The Dayton Jewish Observer Ethan Bortnick is making a name for himself as a child pianist, but nine years ago his story could have read differently. At age 3, Ethan begged his parents for piano lessons but they were reluctant to give in to the

By Masada Siegel, Special To The Dayton Jewish Observer Little did journalist Lisa Barr know that covering an event in the early 1990s would change her own life story. One of her assignments took her to the Art Institute of Chicago. At the time, Barr was entrenched in creating a

By Jennie Szink, Special To The Observer All parents ask themselves if they’re doing their job right, but not all have had to examine their parenting skills under the white light of a hospital room. That’s where John Schwartz and his wife, Jeanne Mixon, found themselves when they rushed to