Centerville’s special prom, July 2010   Centerville High School student Sam Rubens dances with Centerville High School Special Ed. Aide Sue Kelzer at the special prom Vicki Bernie By Vicki Bernie, The Dayton Jewish ObserverOn May 21, the Centerville High School gym was transformed into “Paradise Island.” Amid flowers, vines,

The Ten Commandments: A series Jewish Family Identity Forum By Candace R. Kwiatek, The Dayton Jewish Observer, July 2010 From the very first word, the Fifth Commandment — “Honor your father and your mother, in order that your days may be prolonged on the soil that the Lord your God

          Barely remembered today, service delivery for itinerant Jews was a hot topic during the Federation’s first decades By Marshall Weiss, The Dayton Jewish Observer Judaism teaches that all Jews are obligated to give tzedakah, to provide righteous giving to those in need. A Jew is

Milton A. Marks, the Federation’s oldest living president, looks back on the East End, leadership, and his mentor By Marshall Weiss, The Dayton Jewish Observer When Milton A. Marks was a year old in 1919, his parents moved to Dayton’s East End from Kentucky; the Dayton National Bank had recruited

An orphan who became a rabbi, David Lefkowitz worked for the betterment of all Dayton citizens By Marshall Weiss, The Dayton Jewish Observer Rabbi David Lefkowitz had served Dayton’s B’nai Jeshurun Congregation (now Temple Israel) for 10 years when he arranged a meeting to improve the quality of life for

Victory Day 2010 Dayton’s Jews from the former Soviet Union recall the Nazi surrender – 65 years later. Photos and Story by Marshall Weiss, The Dayton Jewish Observer, June 2010 Each May 9, there are fewer guests. But those who are able come to the activities room of Covenant Manor

Beth Jacob Parking Lot Extravaganza 2010 It’s all in the eye of the beholder…some of the treasures that Helene Gordon and Helen Halcomb and volunteers have rescued for the Beth Jacob Parking Lot Extravaganza In the fall, the board of Beth Jacob Congregation was looking at a list of potential

Religion, June 2010 By Rabbi Samuel Fox, Rabbi Emeritus, Beth Jacob Congregation Our rabbis teach us that when one intends to do a mitzvah, a commandment or good deed, he should do it without delay.  They have a beautiful saying that makes this point, “Mitzvah haba liyadcha al tachmitsena.” A

Orville’s Aviators   Arthur L. Welsh on a Wright Model B, 1911 By Marshall Weiss, The Dayton Jewish Observer, June 2010 Through sheer persistence, Arthur L. Welsh persuaded the Wright brothers to give him a job with the exhibition division of the Wright Company in 1910. Born in Kiev in

The Ten Commandments: A series Jewish Family Identity Forum By Candace R. Kwiatek, The Dayton Jewish Observer, June 2010 It has been a season of simchas. Among our extended family and friends have been numerous weddings and graduations, two birthdays, a military commission ceremony, a Bat Mitzvah, a brit, and