By Marshall Weiss, The Dayton Jewish Observer Yellow Springs resident Ellis Jacobs says he became aware of the plight of Springfield’s Haitians the same way as people across the United States. “Trump and Vance decided to demonize them and scapegoat them in a shocking, appalling, and all-too-familiar way. And you

A student at Centerville’s Watts Middle School deliberately drew a swastika on his arm in front of two Jewish students on the playground at recess Sept. 2. “Right when I was made aware, I pulled that kid from class, and (the student) did not go back to class until I

Elaine Arnovitz sat for an interview with The Observer on Feb. 17, three days before she was to retire. The evening prior to her final day — after 14 years as Beth Abraham’s business director — a fire suppression system valve broke, flooding the second and first floors of the

Stand-up comedian, former Israel Defense Forces “lone soldier,” and National Jewish Book Award-winning author Joel Chasnoff will present a benefit performance for Hillel Academy Jewish day school at 6:30 p.m., Sunday, Oct. 18. A native of Evanston, Ill. who now lives in Ra’anana, Israel, Chasnoff is the author of The

Hadassah National President Carol Ann Schwartz, who lives in Cincinnati, will deliver the keynote address for Hadassah Dayton’s 100th Birthday Grand Centennial Celebration Party, 2 p.m., Sunday, Oct. 11. “The event will be a tribute to past and current Dayton Hadassah members and it is open to the community,” said

Dayton’s Jewish Family Services will offer the community a grief and loss support group on Thursdays from 3:30 to 5 p.m., beginning Sept. 24. JFS Mental Health Clinician Bonnie Parish will facilitate the group, which she describes as a “caring, confidential, and supportive environment where individuals experiencing the loss of

Dr. Felix Garfunkel, who survived the Soviet and Nazi invasions of Czernowitz, Romania, ghettos, concentration camps, and a death march, died this morning. He was 95. Garfunkel received his medical training in Ecuador, one of the few nations to accept displaced Jews during and after World War II. He established

By Marshall Weiss, The Dayton Jewish Observer Could it be bashert (intended) that Beth Abraham Synagogue returns to its building at the time when Jews begin the process of teshuva leading up to the High Holidays? Teshuva is the Hebrew word for repentance. Literally, it means return, to return to

Under the name of Chai Life Services, Dayton’s Jewish Family Services will begin offering help with chores in September to anyone who lives in Montgomery County and parts of nearby Greene County. “In speaking with members of our community, JFS saw a need to help people in areas that have

By Marshall Weiss, The Dayton Jewish Observer Marni Flagel, who founded County Corp and served as its president for 25 years, was installed as the Jewish Federation of Greater Dayton’s president at its annual meeting Aug. 16. Described by the Dayton Business Journal as a “local economic development pioneer,” Flagel