By Jennie Szink, Special to The Dayton Jewish Observer When Jim Axelrod commutes home to Montclair, N.J. from Manhattan, he studies the looks on people’s faces around him. They don’t reflect relief at the end of the work day or anticipation of seeing their families. Instead, they’re what Axelrod describes

By Rabbi Karen N. Bodney-Halasz, Temple Israel, Special To The Dayton Jewish Observer Parents will do nearly anything to protect their children. To see a child suffer is often more than a mother or father can bear. We wish we could fight our children’s battles for them, especially when they

With Charlotte Golden, The Dayton Jewish Observer Brandeis University has named Andrew Flagel its new senior vice president for students and enrollment, the school’s top admissions and student life position. Andrew, who began work Sept. 1, served as dean of admissions and associate vice president of enrollment development at George

By Mark Mietkiewicz, Special To The Dayton Jewish Observer It’s one of the pivotal moments of the Jewish calendar. Worshippers, many dressed in white, flock to synagogue and wait, often with trepidation, for the cantor to start singing Kol Nidre. But why has a prayer concerned with annulling vows and

In The Mix By Julie Wiener, The New York Jewish Week I’ve been covering Jewish education for almost 15 years and have interviewed countless people telling me about the myriad challenges (not to mention the financial investment required) of maintaining and passing on our illustrious Jewish traditions. For interfaith families

Jewish Family Identity Forum – Children of the Bible series By Candace R. Kwiatek, The Dayton Jewish Observer Spanning an entire lifetime, as described in four of the five books of the Torah, Moses’ memory album captures his awe at the burning bush, his bold approaches to Pharaoh, and his

Jerome (Jerry) Irwin Sherman, age 76, passed away Sept. 12 after courageously battling a brief illness. His family and friends were with him until his last day and his family was by his side when he peacefully passed. Mr. Sherman was the beloved husband of Janet Shilling Sherman; dear father

Jewish Family Identity Forum By Candace R. Kwiatek, The Dayton Jewish Observer Introduction The First Commandment The Second Commandment The Third Commandment The Fourth Commandment The Fifth Commandment The Sixth Commandment The Seventh Commandment The Eighth Commandment The Ninth Commandment The Tenth Commandment Conclusion     Candace R. Kwiatek is

An interview with pianist Menahem Pressler By Marshall Weiss, The Dayton Jewish Observer My first attempt to interview Menahem Pressler was a 9 p.m. call to him at the Adamant Music School in Vermont after his day leading master classes and lessons. “Can you call back in an hour?” the

Jewish Genealogical Society volunteers safeguard family histories for current researchers, future generations By Marshall Weiss, The Dayton Jewish Observer Molly Blumer’s parents always kept up with their family history. “Then I married Jeff and became Jewish and was very interested in what happened to Jeff’s family in the Holocaust,” says