By Rabbi Shmuel Klatzkin, Chabad of Greater Dayton Chaim had an identity crisis. He lived in a shtetl in Russia. No one had indoor plumbing. One Friday afternoon, getting ready to go to the village bathhouse, Chaim was struck by a worry — everybody looks pretty much the same without

In the news — a series Jewish Family Education with Candace R. Kwiatek, The Dayton Jewish Observer 2018: The CRISPR Bombshell was the headline of a New Scientist article, followed by the lede, “He Jiankui shocked the world last week when he announced the birth of two gene-edited girls.” To

Temple Beth Or will culminate the yearlong celebration of its 40th anniversary and Rabbi Judy Chessin’s tenure with The Ruby Ball, 6 p.m., Saturday, Jan. 31 at Moraine Country Club, 4075 Southern Blvd., Kettering. Reservations are available at templebethor.com. Tickets start at $75 per person. To read the complete January

Look for Bark Mitzvah Boy each month in The Dayton Jewish Observer and at this site!     To read the complete January 2026 Dayton Jewish Observer, click here.

Synagogue consultant Bob Leventhal, who had served as director of leadership with the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism and led the team that created USCJ’s Sulam Leadership Curriculum, died Dec. 6 at the Medical University of South Carolina from injuries he sustained when he was struck by a vehicle the

The Jewish Federation of Greater Dayton has hired Brian Kerstine of Liberty Township as the executive director of Jewish Family Services. Brian most recently served as director of business development and as a career coach with JVS Career Services in Cincinnati. He previously owned Gymboree Play & Music of Cincinnati

Marla Sue Timmins Harlan (June 12, 1951-Nov. 25, 2025) was born to Arthur and Fran Timmins in Dayton. She graduated from Meadowdale High School in 1969 and continued to Northwestern University and received a degree in communications. After graduation, she worked in public radio (WETV) and for Southern Bell in

By Marshall Weiss, The Dayton Jewish Observer From the moment in August when Jewish Community Relations Council Director Jeff Blumer got the Jewish Federation’s go-ahead to raise funds for the Holon-based family of Bar Kuperstein, Jeff hoped he might present the check to Bar himself. Bar, 22, was then thought

‘Zionism is anti-American’ By Marshall Weiss, The Dayton Jewish Observer Sammy Caruso began his speech leading the chant, “Free Palestine.” He concluded with another chant, directed at the U.S. government: “Not another nickel, not another dime. No more money for Israel’s crimes.” In between, the Oakwood resident and Miami University

Gursha is both a memoir and recipe collection from the proprietor of Tsion Cafe. By Rachel Ringler, New York Jewish Week Chef Beejhy Barhany, the proprietor of Tsion Cafe, a kosher and vegan Israeli Ethiopian restaurant in Harlem, was born in Ethiopia. As a child, she spent three years in