By Rabbi Nochum Mangel, Chabad of Greater Dayton The Torah teaches that at the beginning of Passover, the Israelites should harvest an Omer (a certain amount) of the newly ripened barley and bring it as an offering of thanksgiving to the Temple in Jerusalem. Following that, they were to count

With Charlotte Golden, The Dayton Jewish Observer Brent Gutmann has been named the new rabbi of Beth Sholom Progressive Jewish Congregation of Auckland, New Zealand. Brent will be ordained as a rabbi on June 8 at Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion in Cincinnati. Brent and his wife, Jill, and

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

Less overt controversy, more complex undercurrents By Dr. David Novick The 13,000 pro-Israel activists who attended the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) Policy Conference in Washington, D.C. March 3-5 heard harmonious speeches at plenary sessions from Vice President Joe Biden, Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and others. But in

The Jewish Internet By Mark Mietkiewicz, Special To The Dayton Jewish Observer Israel is turning 65 and with Yom Ha’atzmaut around the corner, it’s the perfect time to celebrate with some made-in-Israel apps that share the best the country has to offer. Here’s a selection, most of which you can

Hyman J. “Mitzi” Carne age 93 of Dayton, passed away Feb. 24 at Hospice of Dayton. Mr. Carne was a graduate of Stivers High School, Class of 1937 and Sinclair College’s (Dayton YMCA College) first graduating class held at the YMCA. In 1941 he joined the U.S. Army. He was

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

Purim is behind us. Passover lies ahead. And between them are several Shabboses, twice as many kiddushes and who knows how many other opportunities to raise a glass and say l’chayim. And to seriously overdo things. In reality, abuse doesn’t need an excuse. And the problem doesn’t stop at alcohol.

How the Great Dayton Flood shifted the course of Jewish life here By Marshall Weiss, The Dayton Jewish Observer For nearly three days, the Israel family huddled on the roof and in the attic of their home, 241 Sycamore St. in Dayton. Trapped above the waters March 23-25 during the

By Rabbi Shmuel Klatzkin, Chabad of Greater Dayton Millennia ago, the Sages gave Passover the name of Zeman Cheiruteinu, The Time of Our Freedom. The name is apt; we are celebrating our redemption from Egyptian servitude and our launching off into the wilderness, beyond the sway of any constraining human