With Bark Mitzvah Boy, The Dayton Jewish Observer Martin Gottlieb’s new book, Lincoln’s Northern Nemesis: The War Opposition and Exile of Ohio’s Clement Vallandigham, has just been published by McFarland & Co. It’s the story of Dayton’s representative to the U.S. Congress when the Civil War broke out. A retired

By Alan Zeitlin, JTA As NFL beat writers go, Jori Epstein is likely among the more unique: Start with being a woman, she doesn’t work on Shabbat, and she has penned a Holocaust survivor’s biography. The Dallas resident, who attended Jewish day schools and camps, is only 26, too. Epstein

Look for The Adventures of Bark Mitzvah Boy each month in The Dayton Jewish Observer and at this site.     To read the complete October 2021 Dayton Jewish Observer, click here.

Martin Howard Beerman, age 68, was a much-beloved husband, father, son, brother, friend, and physician caring for many patients over his long career exclusively in the greater Sandusky area. His life was tragically cut short on Aug. 20 while flying his plane, which he loved to do. Dr. Beerman was

Ohio Society of Professional Journalists Awards has announced that Dayton Jewish Observer Editor and Publisher Marshall Weiss has received the 2021 first-place award for Best Feature Reporting in its small newspaper category (circulation below 60,000). The awards are presented by the Cleveland, Cincinnati, and Columbus SPJ chapters. Judges’ comments wrote

By Marshall Weiss, The Dayton Jewish Observer In her book, Dare To Speak: Defending Free Speech For All, Suzanne Nossel calls out intentional and unintentional actions that erode free speech in the United States wherever she sees it. She cites liberal politicians who have “wrongheadedly” endorsed bans and punishments “for

Finish Strong: A Father’s Code and a Son’s Path By Nate Ebner and Paul Daugherty • Penguin Press • 266 pages • $27 Story by Marc Katz, Special To The Dayton Jewish Observer Tucked in a 266-page book about the loving relationship he had with his father — and his

By Rabbi Nochum Mangel, Chabad of Greater Dayton Not so long ago or so far away, a community council decided to redesign its town center. It wanted to create a plaza where people could congregate, socialize, relax, and enjoy the beauty of their neighborhood and nature. The architect came up

Considering Creation Series Jewish Family Education with Candace R. Kwiatek, The Dayton Jewish Observer Each year, many Jews practice the custom of tashlich, a symbolic “casting away” of sins by tossing bread crumbs, cracked corn, or birdseed into the flowing water of streams or lakes. This tradition finds echoes in

With Bark Mitzvah Boy, The Dayton Jewish Observer Scott Halasz has been promoted to managing editor of the Xenia Daily Gazette, Fairborn Daily Herald, and Beavercreek News-Current. Scott has been with the Greene County News Group since February 2014, covering local government, schools, courts, sports, and breaking news, and in