Finish Strong: A Father’s Code and a Son’s Path By Nate Ebner and Paul Daugherty • Penguin Press • 266 pages • $27 Story by Marc Katz, Special To The Dayton Jewish Observer Tucked in a 266-page book about the loving relationship he had with his father — and his

By Marc Katz, Special To The Observer Hawked as a sports story featuring the mid-20th century heights and depths of success and scandal, New York Times bestselling author Matthew Goodman’s new book, the City Game (only part of the title), relies as much on a civilian-life narrative of the mid-1950s

By Marc Katz, Special To The Dayton Jewish Observer Norris Cole broke into a wide smile. “Yalla Maccabi!” he said with gusto. “Yalla Maccabi! That’s the number-one chant they use. Yalla Maccabi!” Approximating “let’s go,” Cole repeats the Hebrew chant with pride as he flashes the championship ring he won

By Marc Katz, Special To The Dayton Jewish Observer Since Lipman Pike was the first known professional Jewish baseball player, and he began his career in 1871, he’s certainly a good place to begin a discussion of baseball cards featuring Jewish players. This is the opening pitch for The Jewish

By Marc Katz, Special To The Observer If your legs go wobbly every time you see a historic baseball exhibit — and you’re especially interested if the exhibit is about Jewish players — the Skirball Museum at Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion in Cincinnati should be on your list

By Marc Katz and Marshall Weiss, The Dayton Jewish Observer Felix Garfunkel was lucky. He lived. The Holocaust survivor found his life’s love in Erika, had three children, became a doctor and has lived since 1958 in the United States, mostly in the Dayton area, where he is now retired.

By Marc Katz, Special To The Dayton Jewish Observer Greg Rosenbaum grew up in a Conservative synagogue in Toledo, graduated from Harvard undergrad and law school, became a merchant banker, and eventually purchased and ran then- distressed Empire Kosher Poultry, which he reestablished as the leader in its field. During his

By Marc Katz, Special To The Dayton Jewish Observer At first, when Nate Miller’s agent suggested he sign to play with a basketball team in Israel, Miller — a Springfield South High School and Bowling Green University graduate — wasn’t sure he wanted to go. “My wife and I were

By Marc Katz, Special To The Dayton Jewish Observer Two college theatre productions dealing with Holocaust themes come to area stages this month, plumbing coincidental learning experiences for both performers and audiences. In addition to training theatre students and entertaining audiences, these productions — Wright State’s The Magic Fire by

  By Marc Katz, Special To The Dayton Jewish Observer Waitress Amy Kindred waits for them inside the Legacy Pancake House on Keowee Street, asking an early visitor if he wants something to drink before he sits down at a long row of two-top tables, a booth lining one side,