JAFI’s new mission, August 2010 Jewish Observer At JAFI Assembly, Sharansky lauds Partnership With Israel program   JAFI Chairman Natan Sharansky (R) listens as Israeli President Shimon Peres opens the JAFI Assembly, June 20 in Jerusalem Photos and Story By Marshall Weiss, The Dayton Jewish Observer Faced with the end

Observer takes 1st-place, August 2010 Jewish Observer The cover story from the January 2009 Dayton Jewish Observer At the American Jewish Press Association’s annual conference, held in Scottsdale in June, The Dayton Jewish Observer received the first-place award for excellence in feature writing for newspapers with up to 7,499 circulation.

Religion, August 2010 Jewish Observer By Rabbi Karen Bodney-Halasz, Temple Israel Rabbi Karen Bodney-Halasz One of my greatest joys comes from working with youths (and adults) in our community who have chosen to publicly affirm their commitment to Judaism and performing mitzvot (commandments) through Bar and Bat Mitzvah. So much

Jewish Federation Centennial quiz, July 2010   So you think you know a lot about our Federation? Take this quiz and find out. Answers at bottom.     By Marshall Weiss, The Dayton Jewish Observer 1. The Federation’s original name in 1910 was: a. The Jewish Community Council b. The

Transients, July 2010 Barely remembered today, service delivery for itinerant Jews was a hot topic during the Federation’s first decades By Marshall Weiss, The Dayton Jewish Observer Judaism teaches that all Jews are obligated to give tzedakah, to provide righteous giving to those in need. A Jew is required to

The Federation’s Founder, July 2010 An orphan who became a rabbi, David Lefkowitz worked for the betterment of all Dayton citizens By Marshall Weiss, The Dayton Jewish Observer Rabbi David Lefkowitz had served Dayton’s B’nai Yeshurun Congregation (now Temple Israel) for 10 years when he arranged a meeting to improve

Resettlement after the Shoah, July 2010 For resettlement in Dayton after the Shoah By Samuel Heider   Samuel Heider On Dec. 3, 1949, displaced persons Phyllis and Samuel Heider and their 2 1/2-year-old son arrived in Dayton on the assurances of the Dayton Jewish Community Council, now the Jewish Federation.

Interview with Milton A. Marks, July 2010 Milton A. Marks, the Federation’s oldest living president, looks back on the East End, leadership, and his mentor By Marshall Weiss, The Dayton Jewish Observer   Milton A. Marks When Milton A. Marks was a year old in 1919, his parents moved to

Interview with Dr. Gary Youra, July 2010 An interview with the Jewish Federation’s new president, Dr. Gary Youra By Marshall Weiss, The Dayton Jewish Observer Jewish Federation President Dr. Gary Youra in front of the Federation’s 1910 articles of incorporation Dr. Gary Youra remembers the moment he decided to step

Religion, July 2010 Rabbi Haviva Horvitz By Rabbi Haviva Horvitz, Temple Beth Sholom, Middletown My mission was to write an article for the religion column in the July issue of The Dayton Jewish Observer on any topic of my choosing. It seemed easy enough and I enjoy writing, so this