Our Dual Heritage Series Jewish Family Education with Candace R. Kwiatek, The Dayton Jewish Observer “This country is a blessed nation. (Its people) are special. The world knows it. In our innermost thoughts, we know it. This is the greatest nation on earth.” What first came to mind upon reading

By Rabbi Ari Ballaban Temple Beth Or In the realm of halacha (Jewish law) and morality, there are those who compare the act of accepting refugees to the mitzvah of redeeming captives — pidyon sh’vuyim. In contrast to the aphorism that “one shouldn’t negotiate with kidnappers,” halacha actually requires (in

By Rabbi Shmuel Klatzkin Dr. Masha Kisel wrote with personal authenticity on the immensely complex topic of abortion (Robbing mothers of their personhood, religious freedom, July Observer). I trust that words written from such a deep place will have their positive effect, in particular, in evoking a deeper and better

As part of its yearlong 125th birthday celebrations, Beth Abraham Synagogue will present Kaleidoscope of Us! From Babies To Bubbies: Celebrating, Sharing, Reflecting, Noshing, from 1 to 4 p.m., Sunday, Aug. 25. The afternoon of art, food, and entertainment will feature a performance of Jewish music by The Robyn Helzner

A Huber Heights man was sentenced July 9 to 30 months in prison for a 2017 hate crime: attacking a man he thought was Jewish. Izmir Koch, 34, was found guilty in December by a judge for his part in the assault of a man smoking a cigarette outside the

Jerome B. Kopmar, cantor emeritus of Beth Abraham Synagogue, will present a recital to commemorate his 50 years in Dayton, at 7 p.m., Sunday, Aug. 18 at Beth Abraham Synagogue. Kopmar founded and led the Beth Abraham Youth Chorale from 1971 to 1983. Under his baton, the ensemble garnered a

Look for The Adventures of Bark Mitzvah Boy each month in The Dayton Jewish Observer and at this site.     To read the complete August 2019 Dayton Jewish Observer, click here.

By Marshall Weiss, The Dayton Jewish Observer When the Sinai Scholars program established a Judaic studies track at The Miami Valley School in 2009, a goal of its founders was to prepare Jewish high school students to defend Judaism and Israel against negative attacks when they would go to college.

By Jackie Congedo and David Bernstein The resurgence of antisemitism on both sides of the ideological spectrum, exhibited in novel and sometimes deadly ways, demands that Jewish communities reevaluate priorities and create new strategies to combat it. In the latter part of the 20th century, American Jews enjoyed a welcome

New surveys shed light on overlooked segments. By Shira Hanau New York Jewish Week They are coming of age with Parkland and Pittsburgh and the hyper-polarized politics of Washington. And whether you call them the iGeneration or Gen Z, today’s teens and young adults — feeling at once vulnerable and