Dayton
Dayton City Commission’s cease-fire resolution attempts tightrope walk
Unanimously approved wording expresses sympathy, not blame, in Israel-Hamas war. By Marshall Weiss, The Dayton Jewish Observer The Dayton City Commission unanimously passed a resolution Dec. 20 on the “current conflict in the Middle East” that “urgently calls for a cease-fire with the release of all civilians being illegally held
Longtime JWV post commander dies
Steve Markman, commander of Dayton’s Jewish War Veterans Post #587 — who served on and off in that role since 2008 — died Jan. 2. He was 76. Under his leadership, the post volunteered at the Dayton VA Medical Center, participated in naturalization ceremonies to welcome new citizens, coordinated the
Scout Shabbat, Feb. 10
The community is invited to attend the Dayton area’s Scout Shabbat service, 9:30 a.m., Saturday, Feb. 10 at Beth Abraham Synagogue. The service will honor participating Scouts, Scouters, and Scout Alumni. Scouts of all faiths are welcome. Current Scouts and Scouters are asked to register at miamivalleybsa.org/calendar and to wear
Israeli tour guide/educator leads Temple Israel Zoom course
Muki Jankelowitz, Temple Israel’s tour guide on past trips to Israel, will lead a free, three-part Zoom series, Complicated History: Zionism, Antisemitism, and the Middle East, at 4 p.m., Sundays, Feb. 4, 11, and 18. A licensed Israel tour guide, Jankelowitz was born in Johannesburg, South Africa. After he made
Three area congregations in recent swatting wave
Temple Anshe Emeth in Piqua, Temple Beth Or in Washington Township, and Temple Israel in Dayton were among more than 200 Jewish institutions across the United States to receive email bomb threats at the end of December. The three area temples received these “swatting” threats at 8:25 a.m. on Tuesday,
Art of peace
Jewish texts inspire the universal messages in Toronto native’s paintings. By Marshall Weiss, The Dayton Jewish Observer Elyssa Wortzman had just arrived in Dayton in the fall of 2022 when she was invited to join the Women Strong Art Project. “This group of women artists was looking for a Jewish
Light in the darkest of seasons
Local updates connected to the Israel-Hamas war By Marshall Weiss, The Observer Jewish Federation of Greater Dayton Past President Debby Goldenberg described this year’s JCC Chanukah celebration as particularly poignant. Federation staff and layleaders personally invited non-Jews to the program who have expressed their support for the Jewish community since
MLK weekend programs
Temple Israel and Omega Baptist Church will join together for their annual pulpit exchange over MLK weekend. Pastor Joshua Ward will deliver the sermon at Temple Israel’s Shabbat service, 6:30 p.m., Friday, Jan. 12. An Oneg reception will follow the service. Rabbi Karen Bodney-Halasz will deliver the sermon at Omega
Bethel Public Schools investigates high school teacher’s social media posts
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.”
‘We had to be there’
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