By Marshall Weiss, The Dayton Jewish Observer Bethel Local Schools Superintendent Matthew W. Chrispin informed families with children in the school district via a Dec. 4 letter that the district is “actively investigating the details” of “controversial posts shared by one of our employees on their personal social media platform.”

Miami Valley Jews reflect on record-breaking pro-Israel march Nov. 14 in Washington By Marshall Weiss, The Dayton Jewish Observer Actor Tovah Feldshuh opened the Nov. 14 March for Israel in Washington, D.C. with an impression of Israeli Prime Minister Golda Meir, whom she has famously portrayed on stage. Feldshuh told

By Marshall Weiss, The Dayton Jewish Observer When Rabbi Nissen Mangel was 10 years old, he made it out of Auschwitz alive. He made it past the “Angel of Death,” Dr. Josef Mengele. He survived the brutal death march in January 1945 just before liberation. None of his other relatives

By Marshall Weiss, The Dayton Jewish Observer Area law enforcement keeps watchful eye on potential threats Members of the Jewish community received a briefing about the current threat landscape, actions to protect the Jewish community, what the Jewish community can do to help the FBI and local law enforcement, and

‘For me, it’s very real and very personal.’ By Marshall Weiss, The Dayton Jewish Observer Martin Fletcher says he’s been to Gaza at least 50-60 times and to the West Bank a hundred times or more as a journalist. He was NBC’s Israel correspondent for 26 years until his retirement

By Rabbi Tina Sobo, Temple Israel One of my children just received Simon and the Bear: A Hanukkah Tale as their PJ Library book for the month. The tale starts out introducing Simon, a boy who is on his way to immigrate to America, when the boat he is on

Judaism’s Worldview Series Jewish Family Education with Candace R. Kwiatek, The Dayton Jewish Observer In Lionel Shriver’s fascinating novel Should We Stay or Should We Go, Kay and Cyril relive the last decades of their lives together in a dozen distinct but parallel universes, each based on varying life circumstances

The Columbus Jewish News reported that in October, Jeff and Meagan Buren collected and transported more than 2,200 pounds of non-military items for adult children of Columbus families who serve or have been called up to serve in the Israel Defense Forces for the Israel-Hamas war. The Burens also coordinated

Look for Bark Mitzvah Boy each month in The Dayton Jewish Observer and at this site!     To read the complete December 2023 Dayton Jewish Observer, click here.

David Lawrence Char, age 59, of Dayton, died Nov. 12. He was preceded in death by parents, Helaine and Anthony Char; mother-in-law, Joan Chesler; and guide dog Hershey. He leaves behind to mourn, his loving wife of 23 years, Deb; and guide dog, Claudette; son Jonathan Simmons (Ashley); and grandchildren