By Masada Siegel, Special To The Dayton Jewish Observer American Jews and Guns: An ambivalent relationship At a Shabbat dinner a few weeks back, someone asked me about my new friend, Josh. I wickedly responded, “Oh we have been together for eight years.” Josh, whom I had only met for

By Rabbi Jon-Jay Tilsen, Special To The Dayton Jewish Observer American Jews and Guns: An ambivalent relationship In Western civilization, hunting is seen as a noble and manly pursuit. In Greek and Nordic mythology hunters are heroes; in popular culture hunting is the epitome of manliness. Twelve and a half

American Jews and Guns: An ambivalent relationship Two U.S. Supreme Court rulings in recent years show the organized Jewish community’s widespread support for strict gun control laws. A 5-4 decision in 2008 struck down the District of Columbia’s ban on owning handguns for self-defense, the strictest gun-control law in the

By Masada Siegel, Special To The Dayton Jewish Observer American Jews and Guns: An ambivalent relationship Dayton gun enthusiast Ryan Levin believes every responsible Jewish adult should know how to use weapons for self-protection and self-preservation. “We say ‘never again’ and think of the Holocaust as ancient history, but it

First in a series on rituals in Jewish life The Jewish Family Identity Forum By Candace R. Kwiatek, The Dayton Jewish Observer When I visit my father’s house, I have oatmeal for breakfast, just as he has done for years. On vacation in Florida, the first thing my husband and

With Charlotte Jacobson Mazel tov! Beth Abraham Synagogue has announced the recipients of its third Women of Valor Awards, for their commitment and dedication to the Jewish community and the greater Miami Valley. This year’s honorees are Judy Abromowitz, Linda Blum, Debby Goldenberg, Joan Knoll, Karen Levin, Ruth Meadow, and

In The Mix By Julie Wiener So, as you no doubt have already heard, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, in response to complaints from major American Jewish groups, has pulled the controversial “Come Home Quick, Before You Assimilate Into Nothingness” commercials which are apparently, according to a representative from Israel’s

The Jewish Internet By Mark Mietkiewicz To Butter a bagel You need to finagle/Just to inveigle The slithering spread/To the edge of the bread (http://bit.ly/bagels01). That’s Alma Denny waxing poetic about the food that has conquered bakeries, supermarkets and wastelines everywhere. More than just a piece of dough that’s boiled

Lorna M. Eichorn, age 63, died Nov. 17. She is survived by her brother, Al (Nancy) Eichorn and her sister, Sally (John) Reinicke. She is also survived by many nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, Albert and Dorothy Eichorn. A lifetime Dayton resident,

By Marshall Weiss, The Observer “Hashem makes everything we see and so we pray to Him, Hashem makes our hearts sing, And so we’ll dance and sing for Him.” Hillel Academy Jewish day school’s six kindergartners sang out these words, part of a song they wrote called Caterpillars, Birds &