By Helen Zegerman Schwimmer, Special To The Dayton Jewish Observer Lilly Friedman doesn’t remember the last name of the woman who designed and sewed the wedding gown she wore when she walked down the aisle more than 60 years ago. But the grandmother of seven does recall that when she

The first Jewish mayor of Tucson, Ariz., Charles Strauss, and Charles Jr. photographed by Camillus S. Fly, 1884. Courtesy Jewish History Museum, Tucson Charles Strauss, the first Jewish mayor of Tucson, Arizona Territory, and his son, Charles Jr., were gun enthusiasts of a different sort. According to Dr. Eileen R.

By Rabbi David Burstein, Temple Beth Or, Washington Township, Ohio Special To The Dayton Jewish Observer Philosopher Edmund Burke is believed to have said, “The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.” As the weeks pass, the sordid tale of accused child

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

By Masada Siegel, Special To The Dayton Jewish Observer American Jews and Guns: An ambivalent relationship At a Shabbat dinner a few weeks back, someone asked me about my new friend, Josh. I wickedly responded, “Oh we have been together for eight years.” Josh, whom I had only met for

By Rabbi Jon-Jay Tilsen, Special To The Dayton Jewish Observer American Jews and Guns: An ambivalent relationship In Western civilization, hunting is seen as a noble and manly pursuit. In Greek and Nordic mythology hunters are heroes; in popular culture hunting is the epitome of manliness. Twelve and a half

American Jews and Guns: An ambivalent relationship Two U.S. Supreme Court rulings in recent years show the organized Jewish community’s widespread support for strict gun control laws. A 5-4 decision in 2008 struck down the District of Columbia’s ban on owning handguns for self-defense, the strictest gun-control law in the

By Masada Siegel, Special To The Dayton Jewish Observer American Jews and Guns: An ambivalent relationship Dayton gun enthusiast Ryan Levin believes every responsible Jewish adult should know how to use weapons for self-protection and self-preservation. “We say ‘never again’ and think of the Holocaust as ancient history, but it

First in a series on rituals in Jewish life The Jewish Family Identity Forum By Candace R. Kwiatek, The Dayton Jewish Observer When I visit my father’s house, I have oatmeal for breakfast, just as he has done for years. On vacation in Florida, the first thing my husband and