By Mark Mietkiewicz, Special To The Dayton Jewish Observer On Shemini Atzeret, Jews around the world recited the beautiful Tefillat Geshem, the Prayer for Rain: “…for blessing and not for curse. For life and not for death. For plenty and not for scarcity (http://bit.ly/isrwat1).” But scarce it is. Israel’s perennial

  Hillel Academy of Greater Dayton’s kindergarten students have partnered with Hava Nigila Gan school in Israel. To kick-off this twinning project of Partnership2Gether, Hillel students sent notes and pictures to the students in Israel. To see the Hillel Academy Dayton video, click here. Hava Nigila Early Education Coordinator Efrat

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

With Charlotte Jacobson Mazel tov! Beth Abraham Synagogue has announced the recipients of its third Women of Valor Awards, for their commitment and dedication to the Jewish community and the greater Miami Valley. This year’s honorees are Judy Abromowitz, Linda Blum, Debby Goldenberg, Joan Knoll, Karen Levin, Ruth Meadow, and

The Jewish Internet By Mark Mietkiewicz To Butter a bagel You need to finagle/Just to inveigle The slithering spread/To the edge of the bread (http://bit.ly/bagels01). That’s Alma Denny waxing poetic about the food that has conquered bakeries, supermarkets and wastelines everywhere. More than just a piece of dough that’s boiled

Lorna M. Eichorn, age 63, died Nov. 17. She is survived by her brother, Al (Nancy) Eichorn and her sister, Sally (John) Reinicke. She is also survived by many nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, Albert and Dorothy Eichorn. A lifetime Dayton resident,

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

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. Warshaw, executive director of Tucson’s Jewish History Museum, Mayor Strauss would never have dressed as shown in the photo above. “He was a

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