By Marshall Weiss, The Dayton Jewish Observer Scott Segalewitz estimates that 80 percent of participants at the Dayton Jewish Committee on Scouting Annual Scout Shabbat aren’t Jewish. And that’s a good thing. One of the main goals of Scout Shabbat — which was held this year on Saturday, Feb.

By Ethel G. Hofman, Special To The Dayton Jewish Observer Think Purim, and what comes to mind? Shalach manot baskets. But with so many folks watching their diets, consider dishes other than the ubiquitous sweet cakes and cookies. I’m planning a selection of cool fruit soups. To deliver, I’ll pour

Ritualizing our values By Candace R. Kwiatek, Special To The Dayton Jewish Observer Jewish Family Identity Forum A mound of pennies, nickels, dimes, and quarters spilled out onto the kitchen table from boxes, pockets, and purses. Every year back as far as I can remember, my family took some time

Look for The Adventures of Bark Mitzvah Boy each month in The Observer and at this site.

By Marshall Weiss, The Dayton Jewish Observer In January, the Jewish Federation announced the recipients of its first Innovation Grants funding cycle, which will provide $26,295 in financial support for six new Jewish community programs to be offered this year. The aim of the grants is to encourage innovative Jewish

By Mark Mietkiewicz, Special To The Dayton Jewish Observer A person is obligated to drink on Purim until one no longer knows the difference between “cursed be Haman” and “blessed be Mordechai (Talmud, Megillah 7b).” “If all drinking does is make you sick or do stupid things, then it goes

With Charlotte Golden On Nov. 6, Air Force Maj. Benjamin S. Robins was promoted to the rank of lieutenant colonel during a ceremony at the Pentagon. Benjamin holds the aeronautical rating of C130J instructor aircraft commander and C-21 evaluator aircraft commander. Having proudly served in Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation

Eileen Beeber, a resident of Friendship Village, and for many years prior to that of Fayette Court, Dayton, passed away on Jan. 15 after battling cancer for almost three years. Born on Nov. 11, 1930 in Asbury Park, N.J. to Yetta and Harry Zahler, Mrs. Beeber moved to Dayton as

Tampa native Cathy Gardner is the Jewish Federation’s new executive vice president By Marshall Weiss, The Dayton Jewish Observer After Cathy Gardner’s initial phone interview with the Jewish Federation of Greater Dayton’s executive search committee, she felt the magic. “And when I came here for my personal three-day interview,” she

The ancient wake-up call comes to the concert hall By Jennie Szink, Special To The Dayton Jewish Observer Composer Meira Warshauer has taken the shofar out of the synagogue and put it in front of an orchestra. Her piece Tekeeyah (A Call) was co-commissioned by the Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra, which