By Rabbi Joshua Ginsberg, Beth Abraham Synagogue A Chasidic legend tells us that the great Rabbi Baal Shem Tov, Master of the Good Name, also known as the Besht, undertook an urgent and perilous mission: to hasten the coming of the Messiah. The Jewish people, all humanity were suffering too much,

With Rachel Haug Gilbert, The Dayton Jewish Observer Suzanne and George Vlahos participated in the 2016 Pan-Mass Challenge bike-a-thon through 46 towns across Massachusetts to support the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. Suzanne, a non-smoker, was diagnosed with Stage 1 lung cancer almost six years ago. After surgery and chemo in 2010,

Back to Basics series, Jewish Family Education with Candace R. Kwiatek, The Dayton Jewish Observer Did you ever notice that Judaism promotes an attitude of gratitude? In the Torah, God announces that Creation is good, and commands a blessing of thanks after eating. Shabbat, the festivals, and most of the

Look for The Adventure of Bark Mitzvah Boy each month in The Dayton Jewish Observer and at this site.     To read the complete September 2016 Dayton Jewish Observer, click here.

Sidney M. Alter, age 90 of Kettering, passed away July 27 at his residence. Mr. Alter retired as the owner of his jewelry store and was a member of Beth Abraham Synagogue. He is survived by his loving wife of 65 years, Betty; daughter, Jill Schaeffer (Tom LaVilla) of Cincinnati;

Chabad of Greater Dayton and Jewish Family Services are partnering on a six-week community-wide food collection campaign for the Artemis Center, which will culminate with a women’s challah baking event in mid-September. Beginning Aug. 1, food collection bins will be on site at Beth Abraham Synagogue, Beth Jacob Congregation, Chabad,

By Marshall Weiss, The Dayton Jewish Observer Adam Baumgarten was 15 years old when he met Steve Bernstein for the first time. “I was interviewing to be a dishwasher at the Uptown Deli,” he recalled. “Sitting there with him, a Merit Menthol Ultralight 100 in his giant hand, he looked at

By Marc Katz, Special To The Dayton Jewish Observer Daniel, our soft-spoken, 31-year-old guide, told us the story of a previous tour. A man in his 80s, recalled that when he was 15, he had peddled his bicycle to a soccer field to watch a game. At that young age,

By Rabbi Haviva Horvitz Temple Beth Sholom Middletown What is a Bar or Bat Mitzvah? There are many who would answer that question claiming that it is a big birthday party given to a child entering his or her teenage years. Others might suggest that it is a religious ceremony

Nate Ebner of the New England Patriots has qualified for the U.S. Olympic men’s rugby sevens team competing in August at the Rio Olympics, becoming the only NFL player to make a U.S. Olympic team. Ebner, 27, who is Jewish, was included on the 12-man roster released July 18 by