By Rabbi Shmuel Klatzkin Chabad of Greater Dayton The year was 1939. Britain was closing the gates of their mandate in the Holy Land to the Jews just as the Nazi regime Britain had placated was about to conquer Eastern Europe and enslave and slaughter its Jews. German Jews had

By Rabbi Tina Sobo, Temple Israel One of my children just received Simon and the Bear: A Hanukkah Tale as their PJ Library book for the month. The tale starts out introducing Simon, a boy who is on his way to immigrate to America, when the boat he is on

By Rabbi Leibel Agar, Beth Jacob Congregation For most of us, Oct. 7 started off like every other Saturday. Even though it was both Shabbat and Shemini Atzeret, my routine did not waiver a single iota. As with every other Shabbat, I got up, dressed, and settled down to play

By Rabbi Haviva Horvitz, Temple Beth Sholom, Middletown Give me a topic and ask me to write an article or teach a course, and I will have no trouble. I enjoy doing the research and will happily share what I have learned and add my own thoughts and opinions. However,

By Rabbi Karen Bodney-Halasz, Temple Israel The Hebrew month of Elul is dedicated to spiritual renewal and preparations for the High Holidays. During this month, as well as in Tishri, we are encouraged to recalibrate our souls, engage thoughtfully in the work of teshuva (returning), and redirect our life choices

An open letter to a bar/bat mitzvah student By Rabbi Cary Kozberg, Temple Sholom, Springfield First of all, mazel tov on your upcoming big day! As you approach becoming a full-fledged member of the Jewish community, we hope that in addition to enjoying the celebration, that you also understand and

By Rabbi Levi Simon Chabad of Greater Dayton On Shavuot, this year on May 25-27, Jews around the world commemorate the monumental event of the Giving of the Torah on Mount Sinai. However, the significance of this event reaches far beyond the past; it is an experience that is relived

By Rabbi Aubrey L. Glazer, Beth Abraham Synagogue “I cry, cry, cry Cry all day I cry all night I cry all day” — Cry all day (Schmilco, 2016) “…crying before compiling a holy book as insights into Torah are rivers & first one has to make rivers of tears”

“Long live Europe, Am Yisrael Chai,” exclaimed European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen as she received an honorary doctorate from Ben-Gurion University last year. Her words were quickly decried on Twitter as imperialistic “racist Nazi slogans.” In 2015, Itamar Ben-Gvir, Israel’s current national security minister, was arrested on the

By Rabbi Nochum Mangel Chabad of Greater Dayton An old Jewish joke describes all Jewish holidays in a few words: “They tried to kill us. They failed. Let’s eat.” Just as our enemies were not the same, the way they tried to kill us was different as well. Our enemies