By Rabbi Karen Bodney-Halasz, Temple Israel As we move through the High Holy Days, we approach Yom Kippur with a sense of dread. We anticipate feelings of guilt and regret, in addition to hunger, because we know the time is upon us to look critically at ourselves. The task is

By Rabbi Haviva Horvitz, Temple Beth Sholom, Middletown Although it may be hard to believe, September is right in front of us! Do you know what that means? That means that the football season has just begun, and the baseball season is coming to an end soon. It also means

By Rabbi Levi Simon, Chabad of Greater Dayton The story is told about an important member of the Jewish community who passed away. His children received two envelopes, one to be opened upon his death and the other a week later. They opened the first envelope and read their father’s

By Rabbi Nochum Mangel Chabad of Greater Dayton In 2000, Friends of Chabad Lubavitch in Washington, D.C. organized an event called Celebration 50, commemorating 50 years of the Rebbe’s leadership. At one of the sessions, 50 Chabad rabbis representing the 50 states signed a citation of gratitude to present to

By Rabbi Cary Kozberg, Temple Sholom, Springfield I admit it. Since I first saw it as a kid, I have been a devotee of the 1956 film The Ten Commandments. Even as I came to realize the extreme liberties it takes with the biblical account (inaccuracies), what continues to recommend

By Rabbi Tina Sobo, Temple Israel How do we approach seemingly mythical, magical, or otherwise logically implausible creatures referenced in the Bible and rabbinic literature (Midrash, Mishnah, Talmud)? Using Natan Slifkin’s book, Sacred Monsters as a primary source, I explored this question in a recent lecture. One congregant asked why

By Rabbi Judy Chessin, Temple Beth Or, Washington Township, Ohio Special To The Dayton Jewish Observer Who doesn’t fondly recall those kiddie costume pageants and carnivals in celebration of the festival of Purim? Growing up, my religious school classmates and I relished dressing up as Queen Esther or King Ahashverus,

By Rabbi David Burstein, Temple Beth Or, Washington Township, Ohio Special To The Dayton Jewish Observer Philosopher Edmund Burke is believed to have said, “The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.” As the weeks pass, the sordid tale of accused child

Opponents say In Shifra’s Arms misleads clients, doesn’t provide enough information on choices By Debra Rubin, Special To The Dayton Jewish Observer SILVER SPRING, Md. — Erica Pelman believes there is plenty of support for Jewish women who find themselves unexpectedly pregnant and choose to abort. It’s typically the young

By Rabbi David M. Sofian, Temple Israel, Dayton, Ohio Special To The Dayton Jewish Observer First of all, let me wish everyone — one last time — a happy and healthy new year. With the completion of Simchat Torah we find our weekly Torah readings bringing us back to the