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The Jewish Federation of Greater Dayton and its Jewish Community Relations Council will present two programs and a fundraiser to mark two years since the Oct. 7 Hamas massacre.
Register with JCRC Director Jeff Blumer at jblumer@jfgd.net or at westerngalilee.org. il/calendar-of-events.
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On Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas terrorists from Gaza infiltrated Israel, brutally murdered more than 1,200 people there, and took 251 hostages.
JTA reports there are now 48 remaining hostages held in Gaza; 20 are presumed to be alive.
Last year, Israel's government selected the 24th of the Jewish month of Tishri, which coincided with Oct. 7, 2023, as the national remembrance day on which to mark the Hamas massacre each year. This year, 24 Tishri falls on Oct. 16.
The Jewish Agency's Partnership2Gether program — which connects Dayton and 16 other Jewish communities across the central United States with Budapest, Hungary and Israel's Western Galilee region — will host a live one-hour Zoom memorial program at 10:30 a.m., Sunday, Sept. 28.
The JCRC will screen the final documentary in its threepart Israel in Focus series, Torn: The Israel-Palestine Poster War on New York City Streets, at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 16 at the Boonshoft Center for Jewish Culture and Education.
The JCRC will screen the documentary Torn on Oct. 16 as part of its Oct. 7 commemorations.
Produced and directed by Nim Shapira, Torn captures the emotional fallout of the Kidnapped poster campaign and the fierce confrontations between pro-Israel and proPalestinian New Yorkers.
The screening and discussion are free, with a grant from the Esther and DeNeal Feldman Jewish Experience Fund of the Dayton Jewish Foundation. The Boonshoft CJCE is located at 525 Versailles Dr., Centerville.
Register at jewishdayton.org/ events.
Fundraiser for Holonbased family of hostage Through Oct. 12, the Jewish Federation is also accepting donations to aid the family of Bar Kupershtein, a 22-year-old medic and security guard who was taken hostage from the Nova music festival Oct. 7, 2023 while he was helping wounded victims. He is believed to still be alive in Gaza.
Kupershtein's family lives in Holon, Israel, a Dayton Sister City. Since he was 17, He was the main provider for his mother and four younger siblings; his father was in a severe car accident four years ago and suffered multiple surgeries and a stroke, leaving him disabled and unable to walk or speak.
To donate to the Kupershtein family, go to jewishdayton.org/ agencies/jewish-federation/westand-with-israel.
Dayton Hadassah presents OSU Hillel's a cappella group, the MeshugaNotes, 2 p.m., Sunday, Oct. 5. Founded in 1999, the "Shugs" sing OSU spirit songs, oldies, current radio music, and classic and contemporary Hebrew songs, all arranged by current or past members.
2305 Far Hills Avenue, Suite 206 | Oakwood, OH | 45419
The venue will be provided upon registration, which is required. The cost is $20. Register by Sept. 29 to events.hadassah. org/DaytonNotes or send a check, payable to Hadassah (indicate MeshugaNotes in the memo line), to Dayton Hadassah, c/o Hadassah Midwest, 900 Skokie Blvd., Suite 295, Northbrook, IL 60062.
By Marshall Weiss
The Observer
"On Oct. 7 and 8, 2023, there was a uniform feeling in our Jewish community of outrage and compassion, caring and concern for the people of Israel and the State of Israel," says Jewish Federation of Greater Dayton CEO Cathy Gardner.
What started to emerge in the Jewish community on Oct. 9 was what Gardner calls "micro opinions" on questions of: Why did this happen? How could it have happened? Why at this magnitude? What about what's happening with the Palestinians?
"As a Jewish Federation, we stand with Israel, with the right for Israel to exist and to defend itself, and that is full stop," Gardner says.
"Beyond that, it's not black and white when it comes to Israel. There are so many opinions on this continuum. We hear so many comments in relation to our Israel programs and activities along that continuum, including from those who only see Israel in absolute terms."
would keep Hamas leadership in place for now) and bring the remaining hostages home, or to fully destroy Hamas — if that's possible — even at the cost of the hostages.
Along with Israelis, Jews in America are at odds over the justifiability of the cost in lives and suffering to the people of Gaza — human shields for Hamas terrorists.
"These are very strong emotions about what's happening, and they're deep, deep emotions," Gardner says.
"And the continuum of micro opinions goes from A to double Z. That's how many spots there are on the continuum."
'These are very strong emotions about what's happening'
Some in the Dayton area's Jewish community are not immune to making their opinions known stridently on social media, lobbing personal attacks on those who disagree with them.
But the rabbis The Observer spoke with said the wrenching divisions among American Jews related to the Israel-Hamas war have not spilled over into their worship services, classes, and programs.
Agar of Beth Jacob Congregation says of his congregants.
"For the years that I've been here, something I've noticed about the community is we are united. It's not separate enclaves or pockets. We have a united front when it comes to major issues. There will always be people who say you can do more or you're doing too much. Regardless of our personal politics, we can put it a little bit aside and say this is something we can all stand behind."
Chabad of Greater Dayton's Rabbi Nochum Mangel says he doesn't see contention at Chabad over the Israel-Hamas war either.
"That doesn't mean there isn't discussion, and it doesn't mean there's no questions," he adds. "But there's definitely extreme support for our brothers and sisters living in the land of Israel."
there are two sides to an issue, two different opinions, that has to be discussed as well."
The serious questions regarding Israel, Mangel says, include choosing one life over another, and shortterm versus long-term objectives.
"Instead of animosity —where people are
Continued on Page Four
Israelis and their government are at odds over which priority outweighs the other: to broker a deal with Hamas (which
"I'm sure there are people that are more pro-Israel and less pro-Israel, but I haven't heard anything directly," Rabbi Leibel
What did the lulav say to the etrog? Nothing. It just waved.
A rabbi's function, Mangel says, is to answer questions from a Torah perspective. "We have a 3,500-year history that sadly, we've had to deal with many of these issues, and they were addressed. We all have our own personal feelings. We all see things and interpret things in different ways. But as Jews, the ultimate arbitrator is the Torah and is God. And then, what does Torah say about these issues? And when
Sometimes I have a theme in mind for an edition of The Observer. Sometimes a theme finds its way to us. The one that found us for this edition is the value of not shutting down debate. It's a knee-jerk reaction to champion free speech for ideas one supports but to consider ideas one does not support as beyond the boundaries of reasonable discourse. Ideas we support may appear to us as morally correct and those we don't support as morally repugnant. Ideas we support, we call social justice. Ideas we don't, we call "getting political." Ideas beyond the boundaries of reasonable discourse and that are morally repugnant do exist on the extreme edges, which I believe bend together like the ends of a horseshoe. We see that, for example, with antisemitism. But how do we determine when an idea goes beyond the pale? A first step to think and analyze critically: Consider what others think, but don't let others do the thinking for you.
Your gift will be matcheddollar for dollar.
• anks to a generous anonymous donor, your gi — or additional gi — to Jewish Cemeteries of Greater Dayton will be matched, dollar for dollar.
• It’s a double mitzvah: the cemeteries of Beth Abraham Synagogue, Beth Jacob Congregation, and Temple Israel will combine into a single nonpro t. is ensures their sanctity in perpetuity, and strengthens each congregation’s nancial security.
• Contact Kate Elder at kelder@jfgd.net now for details and to make your pledge.
The time to preserve our hometown Jewish cemeteries is now.
Continued from Page Three
absolutely sure that they know the answer and demonize the other side — we hope to create an environment where there can be a healthy discussion and learning from the text or from history. Hopefully, that can give us some insights or some clarity, or at least concern or prayer, for those who have to make the decisions and those who have to implement them."
In one of Chabad's Jewish Leadership Institute classes, Mangel says, the Jewish value of redemption of captives became a point of discussion based on an article Temple Beth Or's Rabbi Judy Chessin wrote on the topic for The Observer (February 2025).
"We have people on every side of the equation, and I think people tend to group themselves in their own opinion groups anyway, kind of naturally," Chessin says of her congregants. "I don't see any big divisions or, 'I'll never go back there' kinds of feelings.
"Social media and the mood of the time — which really develops divisiveness and almost celebrates it and creates it — makes it look terrible. But I think one of the things Judaism does really well is it allows for debate, and strong and verbal debate, as long as it's done in a healthy way that doesn't cause violence."
What Rabbi Karen Bodney-Halasz says she experiences at Temple Israel has less to do with divisiveness and more to do with big feelings.
"I think the divisions have already been there that have been articulated," she says. "People have very, very strong concerns about Israel and how it impacts them, how it impacts the Jewish community, how it impacts our relationship to other people, and whether or not we should be using our voices externally or internally."
Of the Jewish community as a whole, she saw and heard a lot of arguments and disagreements at the beginning of the Israel-Hamas war and as it progressed.
"But at this point, people know where other people stand, and have decided they want to just avoid the topic. I don't know that it will be the case next month."
Federation CEO Cathy Gardner says that along with traditional support for the people of Israel, she has a responsibility to provide safe spaces for healthy conversations and learning among people in the Jewish community, and among Jews and people from other communities.
'People need to see that we care for each other, even if we're at opposite ends.'
Chessin says it's best for congregations to provide spaces for people to air their differences.
The safest conversation to have, she says, is "not who's right or wrong, but what are your feelings about this situation? Because you can't argue with feelings."
Editor and Publisher Marshall Weiss mweiss@jfgd.net 937-610-1555
Contributors
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"We've always been a quarrelsome group," she says of the Jewish people, "and I think that's healthy and good for dialogue, so I'm not particularly distressed or feel that this division is stronger than other things we've had debates about."
She says the High Holidays let congregants grapple with issues further.
"I've always tried to give sermons that are based on the Jewish values behind the different sides of arguments and let people make their own decisions," Chessin says. "There are really good, grounded Jewish arguments on all sides of almost every issue. Putting those out there and allowing people to think about it that way is what my job is.
"I have personal opinions, but they don't care what I think. What they care about is what Judaism thinks and says and teaches. So that has been my approach for 40 years. I've had people say to me, 'Oh, I know you believe on the left,' 'I know you believe on the right.' To me, that's a sign of success."
She cites the Federation's Upstander Project, facilitated by Jewish Community Relations Council Chair Bonnie Beaman Rice and JCRC Director Jeff Blumer, as where much of these conversations take place.
Dozens of people beyond the Jewish community participate in the Upstander Project.
"It's people from any community that has experienced being an 'other,'" Gardner says. "The purpose is to see each other as human beings and to create those relationships. We need each other today, and we need each other down the road. People need to see that we care for each other, even if we're at opposite ends."
After the Hamas massacre, the Upstanders met and talked in pairs about how they were feeling.
Since Oct. 7, 2023, Gardner adds, the Federation has rolled out and continues to offer learning opportunities about Israel and its war with Hamas.
"I've heard from people in the Jewish community that they don't
The Dayton Jewish Observer Mission Statement To support, strengthen and champion the Dayton Jewish community by providing a forum and resource for Jewish community interests.
Goals
• To encourage affiliation, involvement and communication.
• To provide announcements, news, opinions and analysis of local, national and international activities and issues affecting Jews and the Jewish community.
• To build community across institutional, organizational and denominational lines.
• To advance causes important to the strength of our Jewish community including support of Federation agencies, its annual campaign, synagogue affiliation, Jewish education and participation in Jewish and general community affairs.
• To provide an historic record of Dayton Jewish life.
know the history of the founding of the state of Israel," she says. "People have come to me and say they don't understand. We've tapped into our national Federation system."
Another safe space for diverse viewpoints, she says, is JCRC's Israel in Focus film series, screenings and discussions of documentaries about Oct. 7.
good. But I also think when they ask for it, what they really mean is that they want a place to express their conflicted feelings."
'The sages of the Talmud don't shut down debate.'
"Federation has done a great job of having programs making people aware of what's going on," Beth Jacob's Rabbi Leibel Agar says. He's had congregants volunteer with the IDF through SarEl. "They came back and shared what it was like over there and how they're still in contact with the friends they made from all over the world."
Temple Israel's Rabbi Karen Bodney-Halasz says her congregants have asked for more information about the IsraelHamas war.
"They're willing to learn more at this point, which is
That's why Temple Israel Rabbi Emeritus David Sofian, who lives much of the year in Modi'in, Israel, will offer a fourweek course this fall on rabbinic and biblical perspectives of the war in Gaza and war in general while he's in Dayton for the High Holidays. He'll also lead a discussion about happenings in Israel — It's Been Some Year, and I Don't
Mean That in a Good Way — in October as part of Temple Israel's Brotherhood Ryterband Lecture Series.
"We'll likely have people from all different perspectives joining that conversation," Bodney-Halasz says.
It's a tribute to the strength of Jewish lore, Temple Beth Or's Rabbi Judy Chessin says, to give two opinions.
"You know, the Talmud gives one opinion and the other, and allows people to make their own choices," she says.
"I think that's part of the resilience of Judaism. The sages of the Talmud don't shut down debate. They don't shut down one side or the other."
For four decades, Rabbi Judy Chessin has been the heart and soul of Temple Beth Or. As our founding and Dayton’s longestserving rabbi since 1985, she has guided our congregation with wisdom, warmth, and unwavering dedication.
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A child's dress, one of more than 500 artifacts to be on display at Cincinnati Union Terminal as part of the exhibition Auschwitz. Not long ago. Not far away.
An interview with Wolf Holocaust & Humanity Center CEO Jackie Congedo
By Marshall Weiss, The Observer
With more than 500 original artifacts from the Auschwitz-Birkenau State Museum in Poland and 20 institutions around the world, the exhibition Auschwitz. Not long ago. Not far away. makes a Midwest stop at Cincinnati Union Terminal, Oct. 18 through April 12, 2026. It's presented by Cincinnati Museum Center and the Nancy & David Wolf Holocaust & Humanity Center (HHC) — both housed at Union Terminal.
Here, HHC CEO Jackie Congedo shares what visitors can expect amid artifacts from the Nazis' complex of death camps in Poland at which they exterminated 1.1 million people, nearly 1 million of whom were Jews. This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
How did the exhibition come about?
My colleague Elizabeth Pierce, who runs the Cincinnati Museum Center, is closely connected with other similar civic museums. And when this was at Kansas City, Mo. Union Station (in 2021), her colleague there talked about how meaningful this massive exhibition was for the entire community and how it really united the community around a shared sense of civic responsibility. It's only been in a handful of cities in North America. It's the largest collection of artifacts outside Auschwitz.
Elizabeth, as she heard about this, immediately said it has to be in Cincinnati. We have this incredible connection to Union Terminal. HHC is located in a building where survivors took their first steps at rebuilding their lives. We have this deeply meaningful, authentic space. I understand they were considering Chicago as well. And once the traveling exhibition team, the curatorial team, the production team saw the
terminal and our museum, they realized yes, this is where it should go. Relatively few venues can host something of this magnitude.
It was in Boston and it's coming here from Toronto. We are the last planned stop in North America. Then it returns to Europe.
How will you augment the exhibition with local connections, resources, people?
We've been able to add certain elements that bring forward local stories.
The first words people will hear are of Werner Coppel, who was a survivor of Auschwitz. He rebuilt his life in Cincinnati. And it will be his words talking about how he arrived in this building with a wife, a suitcase, and a baby, and that ended the first part of his life.
We have local survivor testimony, local survivors of Auschwitz throughout. There's a room towards the end of the exhibition that's fully dedicated to the survivors of Auschwitz, almost exclusively local. We have artifacts from local survivors' stories and lives.
Visitors will look at the scope and scale of this enormous atrocity and the level of deliberate intentionality and planning that went into mass murder. You cannot leave the exhibition with-
Auschwitz. Not long ago. Not far away. will be on exhibition at Cincinnati Union Terminal under the auspices of Cincinnati Museum Center and the Nancy & David Wolf Holocaust & Humanity Center, Oct. 18-April 12, 2026, 1301 Western Ave., Cincinnati. Information about individual tickets is available at cincymuseum.org/Auschwitz. For group sales, call 513-287-7021 or email groupvisits@cincymuseum.org.
out feeling totally sober and in awe of the level of deliberate, efficient, meticulous planning and documentation done to execute this genocide. That's important for people to reckon with and to wrestle with.
We want people to come through and feel the weight of this in a way that is challenging for them and productive and motivating.
We're trying to encourage people to make this one part of a two-part visit to Union Terminal, either on the day they come to see the exhibition or, if you buy a ticket to the Auschwitz exhibition, you get a discounted ticket to HHC and you can use that for six months.
And the way HHC does that is to partner with the VIA Institute on Character's tools that show people how to pursue the best of humanity. What does it look like and how do we rise to that in ourselves and in our
communities?
How can we rise as upstanders today?
We've designed a student experience (the exhibit is appropriate for grades seven to 12) that includes an hour in the Auschwitz exhibition and an hour at the Holocaust and Humanity Center. There will be a lot of opportunities for self-exploration.
Wolf Holocaust & Humanity Center CEO Jackie Congedo
shares that this is the kind of thing a Jewish boy on his bar mitzvah would receive. It would be with him through all these meaningful ceremonial ritual events throughout his life.
We were really deliberate in the contextual resources that we built and are sharing with teachers to make sure that this history falls within the broader arc of the Jewish story, including, what is Jewish identity, what is antisemitism. These two things are not exclusively co-located with the Holocaust. Jewish identity, Jewish history predates the Holocaust. And antisemitism unfortunately persists. We've also been working with folks who are giants in the space of Holocaust education — in Dayton, Renate Frydman and others — to help us think about how we can lift up, spotlight those stories.
What are some artifacts that speak to you personally in this exhibition?
Each piece is intentionally chosen to add a different dimension to how we understand the history.
One of the first is a prayer shawl. The audio tour
And it says, this isn't something we should be able to see, because this human being was denied a basic right to a burial, a proper burial. His life was stolen from him. This artifact should be with him. But instead, we have it because of the way this atrocity unfolded.
And the questions that we have to ask ourselves today are, what choices are we making that outline whether we will lead into the dark or into the light? All of these pieces in different ways help to bring that story to light.
We're expecting big crowds, so you want to get your tickets as much as you can in advance.
There will be a robust slate of public programs that accompany this exhibition over the next six months, including guest lectures.
And we'll have a weekly debrief session on the weekends during high-volume times, called Circles of Humanity, where we'll have our team there to facilitate some debrief for people and start to guide them towards the question about what's our role to play today and how can we channel our character, strengths, be the best of humanity in our time.
Sunday, October 19 at 2PM
In partnership with the University of Dayton Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists, Department of Music, Alumni Chair in the Humanities, and Jewish Federation’s Women’s Philanthropy
Featuring performances by student ensembles and faculty of the University of Dayton Department of Music, including Bella Voce, directed by Professor Paula Powell.
University of Dayton - Roger Glass Center for the Arts
(29 Creative Way, Dayton 45479), Free parking nearby in Lot S-1
Cost: $10 (No cost to full-time students with valid student ID)
Includes dessert reception
Eisner, Carole King: She Made the Earth Move
As part of Yale University’s Jewish Lives series, renowned journalist Jane Eisner has written a biography of the iconic singer and songwriter. Carole King: She Made the Earth Move delves into Carole King’s origins in a working-class section of Brooklyn and her marriage to husband and collaborator Gerry Go n. Together they wrote for artists such as the Shirelles, Aretha Franklin, The Animals, The Monkees and many others. King’s solo career produced a body of work that is stunning. Her groundbreaking album Tapestry held the record for longest charting album by a female soloist for over 40 years and earned four Grammy awards. Drawing on numerous interviews as well as historic and contemporary sources, this book brings to life King’s professional accomplishments, her personal challenges, and her lasting contributions to the Great American Songbook.
Sunday, November 9 at 2PM
In Partnership with Washington-Centerville Public Library, Hadassah, and JCC Book Club Woodbourne Library (6060 Far Hills Avenue, Centerville, 45459) No Cost, preregistration required to ensure adequate seating.
Barbara Josselsohn, The Forgotten Italian Restaurant: A breathtaking and absolutely gripping World War Two historical romance
The Forgotten Italian Restaurant is the third and concluding book in author and teacher Barbara Josselsohn’s series, Sisters of War. The story alternates between World War II and the present day. When her sister died, Callie went back to her family home in Connecticut where she found an old, faded menu that sheds light on her grandmother’s secret life in Caccipulia, Italy. This intergenerational story ties Callie to her grandmother and sheds light on the reason her grandmother left Italy. When Callie arrives in the village of Caccipulia with the faded menu she found in Connecticut, she meets a café owner who helps expose the secret that will change everything. The novel explores themes of family, identity, forgiveness, and the courage to heal while vividly depicting Italian wartime life and later day village life.
Thursday, November 20 at 6:30PM
In partnership with Jewish Federation’s Men’s Philanthropy
The Boonshoft Center for Jewish Culture & Education (525 Versailles Drive, Centerville, 45459)
Cost: $10
Includes tailgate party supper with hot dogs, chips, dessert, pop and beer – vegetarian option available
Bill Rabinowitz, Buckeye Brotherhood: How Ohio State Navigated A New World To Win A National Championship with foreword by Urban Meyer
Bill Rabinowitz was the Columbus Dispatch’s longtime Ohio State beat writer, covering the Buckeyes since 2011. He is also the author of Buckeye Rebirth, written about the team’s 2012 undefeated season and The Chase. In his current work, Buckeye Brotherhood, Bill takes readers inside the Ohio State Buckeye’s run to their first national championship in a decade. Much had changed in the ten years since the last championship. OSU was able to place losses to Michigan and Oregon behind them and build their own brand of football. In doing so, they brought glory back to OSU.
Dayton-area rabbi and mom says children at her congregation have heard antisemitic comments from classmates returning from LifeWise.
By Megan Henry, Ohio Capital Journal
LifeWise Academy, a Hilliard-based religious instruction program, will be in almost half of Ohio’s public school districts this school year.
The academy will now be in 613 Ohio schools in 303 school districts for the 2025-26 school year, said Christine Czernejewski, a spokesperson for LifeWise.
In January, LifeWise was in about 160 Ohio school districts — a nearly 90% increase since the start of the calendar year.
The academy’s new count comes after a new law took effect in April that requires Ohio school districts to have a religious-release time policy. The previous law merely permitted a policy.
'The curriculum teaches that because my kids are Jewish and don't believe in Jesus, we're going to hell.'
“While the recent clarification in Ohio law has helped reinforce districts’
ability to offer release-time religious instruction, the growth is primarily driven by increased demand from families across the state,” Czernejewski said. “Communities have been proactively bringing LifeWise to their local schools because they understand the positive impact of Bible education during school hours.”
LifeWise operates in 34 states and plans to enroll nearly 100,000 students this year, according to its website.
“Demand for LifeWise is surging, and we couldn’t be more excited to see families taking advantage of our programming, from urban areas to remote towns,” said CEO Joel Penton.
The nondenominational Christian program teaches the Bible to public school students over the school day,
The Miriam Rosenthal Foundation for the arts is Dayton’s only community Foundation that funds our
celebrate our 60 th
and started in Ohio in 2019. The courses usually take place during lunch or elective courses.
But LifeWise has its critics.
Parents have said their children have been ostracized and bullied for not taking part in LifeWise.
“These kids are affected when they don’t go,” said Zachary Parrish, a parent who had LifeWise file a lawsuit against him for copyright infringement. “They feel left out. They don’t understand why their parents aren’t letting them go.”
Parrish now lives in Fort Wayne, Ind., but his daughter was a second-grader in Defiance City Schools in 2021 and he isn't surprised Ohio has seen such an uptick in districts offering the religious classes.
“They’ve been in Ohio the longest,” he said. “They’ve got the most connections in Ohio. It’s where the organization is from. It’s where all the leadership is from.”
The United States Supreme Court upheld release time laws in the 1952 Zorach v. Clauson case, which allowed a school district to have students leave school for part of the day to receive religious instruction.
Religious release time instruction must meet three criteria: the courses must take place off school property, be privately funded, and students must have parental permission.
Tina Sobo, a rabbi at Temple Israel in Dayton and mom of two students in Miamisburg Schools, said students in her congregation have heard antisemitic comments from their classmates when Continued on Page 27
The Levys brought their dogs to Beth Abraham Synagogue for its Maaseh religious school's Blessing of the Animals event. Students learned about the Jewish value of tza'ar baalei chayim, not distressing or causing suffering to animals. They also came up with and awarded prizes for the dogs, such as Most Likely to Sport a Kipah Well, Showing the Most Chesed (lovingkindness), and Most Likely to Have Shpilkes (nervous energy) During Services. The children also collected dog and cat food for the Humane Society's Golden Ears Program, which ensures that those who receive Senior Resource Connection's Meals on Wheels also have food for their pets.
was catered by
PJ Library, through the Jewish Federation of Greater Dayton, sends free Jewish children’s books each month to local families with Jewish connections, and regularly presents Jewish-themed family events. It aims to strengthen families’ connections to Jewish values, traditions, celebrations, and each other.
By Grace Gilson, JTA
Two 17th-century paintings were pulled from auction after a Holocaust art restitution organization determined they had been looted from a German Jew’s collection in France during World War II.
The paintings, believed to be by Dutch artist Ambrosius Bosschaert, were to be sold at an auction house in Newark, Ohio in September until a tip submitted to the Monuments Men and Women Foundation prompted the group to intervene.
The foundation, dedicated to recovering European artworks stolen during World War II and named for the Allied military group, researched and discovered the pieces originally belonged to the family of Adolphe Schloss, a German Jew whose 333-work collection was seized and divided by the Nazis during World War II.
The discovery comes weeks after Argentine police recovered a painting that the Nazis looted from a Dutch Jewish art dealer during the Holocaust.
The paintings in the auction in Ohio underscore how many looted works have yet to be recovered and the range of circumstances in which they are being found.
The Schloss collection, including the two paintings discovered in Ohio, was stored at Hitler’s headquarters in
Munich before being stolen in the final days of the war as Allied forces entered the city.
Schloss’ children survived (he had died in 2010) but were reunited with only some of their art.
Paintings believed to be by Ambrosius Bosschaert recovered by Monuments Men & Women Found.
After receiving the tip about the art sale in Ohio, Robert Edsel, founder and chair of the Monuments Men and Women Foundation, flew to Newark to meet with the owners of the Apple Tree Auction Center and explain the painting’s history.
“Within 48 hours of receiv-
ing this lead, the foundation documented the provenance of the works that supports the Schloss ownership, inspected the two paintings in person, attained the cooperation of the auction house to remove the pictures from their sale, and reached out to the attorney for the Schloss heirs,” Edsel said in a statement.
If you have wanted to learn Hebrew but never had the opportunity...the time is now!
The Board of Beth Jacob Congregation is pleased to announce that Beth Jacob will host the National Jewish Outreach Program’s “HEBREW READING CRASH COURSE”
The course will be taught in eight sessions and will be held Tuesday mornings from 10:30—11:30 AM. Class will run October 21 — December 9.
There is no charge, but pre-registration is required so that materials will be ready.
Call the office at 937-274-2149 to register.
Bring a friend...we’re going to have fun…we’ll learn to read the most beautiful language in the world!!!
Instructor: Chaya Vidal
Beth
7020 N. Main Street
Dayton OH 45415
937-274-2149
By Yossi Klein Halevi , Times of Israel
In the Jewish season of self-reckoning, many of us struggle to make moral sense of this new era that began on Oct. 7. To be an ambivalent Jew today is not to be uncertain so much as torn between conflicting certainties.
We know Israel’s war against Iran and its proxies is unavoidable. We know any nation in our place would have reacted to Hamas’ mass atrocities as we did. We know we face an enemy willing to commit any crime and that the IDF is fighting under conditions that would test the moral limits of any army.
We know the young Israelis who have fought for months, many for nearly two years, are among the most heroic and self-sacrificing this country has produced. We know Israel is subject to a relentless campaign of lies, half-truths, distortions, and convenient omissions. We know the outrageous accusation of genocide against Israel only diverts the world’s focus from radical Islamism, the truly genocidal side in this conflict.
But we also know that something has gone very wrong in Gaza. That two years of fighting the most brutal war in Israel’s history has inevitably affected the standards and behavior of parts of the IDF (though we don’t yet know to what extent). That the Netanyahu government, a coalition of the fanatical and the corrupt, is disgracing the Jewish state. That, if implemented, Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich’s chilling description of the goals of this next phase of the war — total destruction and mass emigration of Palestinians — will implicate us in a war crime.
That once-marginal fanatics among the settler community are protected by government patrons as they burn, injure, and occasionally kill. That even as Jews around the world face a familiar hatred hiding behind a new name, we are no longer innocent.
At the heart of this war lies a tension between two moral imperatives. First is to protect innocent lives on the most complicated battlefield the IDF, or perhaps any army, has fought. Second is to deny terrorism the ability to hide behind innocents and thereby achieve immunity.
Even when fighting an existential war against enemies without moral restraint, there are limits to what is morally permitted to the Jewish state. And given the nature of our enemy and the threats against us, there are limits to the selfrecrimination Jews should assume.
The Israeli public has avoided a moral conversation about the war for understandable reasons. Though two years have passed since the Hamas massacre, we grieve, enraged and afraid.
Polls show that many Israelis are no longer certain about the country’s longterm prospects. Hardly the emotional state conducive to moral self-inquiry.
The wounds of Oct. 7 have been pried open by a global lynch mob. Every red line has been crossed — from hunting Israelis on the streets of Amsterdam to burning to death an elderly Jew in Boulder, Co. protesting for the hostages.
Why, outsiders wonder, have Israelis been so desensitized to Palestinian suffering? Perhaps, in part, because Palestinian suffering has been weaponized — not only against the legitimacy of the war but of the Jewish state. For no other country is the right to exist dependent on its moral conduct.
The lies and wild exaggerations — the baseless warnings of imminent mass starvation in Gaza that began immediately after Oct. 7, the attempt to downgrade or ignore the number of Hamas combatants among Gaza’s casualties — accumulate with such rapidity that scarcely have we begun to address one distortion when another is upon us.
Perhaps the most daunting obstacle to a moral self-examination among Israelis is that in this war, morality itself has been weaponized in the service of terrorism. Hamas’ greatest asset is the outraged conscience.
How then, do we subject ourselves to moral self-critique? How dare we risk inadvertently reinforcing the campaign of hatred and lies?
Because we have no choice. Preserving our moral credibility is essential for our strength. We cannot let the haters determine the inner life of the Jewish people. Engaging in moral introspection reminds us that Zionism has won and that, even though we are vulnerable, we are no longer victims. We owe an accounting of our actions to our friends who have stood with us.
Most of all, Judaism demands it. This season of self-reckoning is intended not only for individual Jews but also — in fact primarily — for the Jewish collective. Undergoing this process as a people doesn’t weaken us. It provides spiritual protection.
Just as we need a language to defend ourselves against the lies and distortions, we need a parallel language in which we struggle with the moral dilemmas raised by this war. Those of us who love Israel must not forfeit the moral conversation to Jews who have despaired of Israel or who openly side with our enemies.
Simultaneously defending and critiquing ourselves requires two different tones. In confronting the anti-Zionist mob, we must respond with outrage
Continued on Page 26
So, what do you think?
By Jonathan S. Tobin, JNS
In certain sectors of Jewish life, the act of distancing oneself from the actions of an Israel forced to defend itself against not just critics but terrorists, like those of Hamas, which led the Palestinian Arab attacks on southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, has become an all-toocommon expression of virtue-signaling for many on the Jewish left.
These “as a Jew” detractors are legion in the current environment in which some in the Jewish world seek to remain in sync with their erstwhile allies, who have abandoned any vestige of support for Jewish rights or empathy for Israel’s dilemmas since Oct. 7. While they are easy to dismiss, those who approach this idea of a cheshbon hanefesh (soul searching) for Israel from a position of Israeli patriotism and belief in Zionism should not be dismissed out of hand.
One such person is Yossi Klein Halevi, the author of some interesting books about Israel, and looked to by many as a voice of Jewish conscience. Halevi has earned the right to be taken seriously even by those who disagree with him. But his latest column in the Times of Israel nevertheless deserves a response, precisely because he is seeking to engage in a discussion about the current situation without necessarily accepting the premise of Israel’s unfair detractors.
Indeed, Halevi goes a long way toward debunking the entire premise of High Holiday critiques of Israel by knocking down as patently false many of the assumptions that its foes have accepted about its behavior.
But he then goes on to argue that the war being fought against Hamas is a failure. He backs this up with a partisan polemic about the government of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu being “a coalition of the fanatical and the corrupt, (that) is disgracing the Jewish state.”
That resembles his musings from the months before Oct. 7, when he was among those disingenuously arguing that Netanyahu’s government was a threat to democracy because it attempted to reform and rein in an outof-control, all-powerful judiciary. It was Halevi’s side in that dispute that was seeking to enshrine an undemocratic rule of elites as part of a culture war of liberal secularists against Mizrahi, religious and nationalist Israeli voters, in which Halevi was an unlikely recruit for the former.
The wrongheaded nature of this jeremiad is not so much a matter of the awfulness of the current coalition or worries about the conduct of the war, important though those topics may be.
It is Halevi’s advocacy for what he calls “ambivalence” about the conflict, as he decries those who either think Israel can do no wrong or no right, that needs to be addressed.
Both extremes are foolish, though the latter is not so much mistaken as it is culpable for the way it is consciously aiding Hamas’ goal of destroying the Jewish state and achieving the genocide of its population.
Moderation in all things is a good general principle to adopt in most circumstances. But not always.
Moderation was key to one of the genuine insights Halevi has offered his readers in the past, when he pointed out more than a decade ago that the old leftright divide in Israel was outdated. He was right to say that in the aftermath of the collapse of the Oslo peace process in 2000 and the evacuation of Gaza in 2005, which resulted in a Hamas terrorist state, the old arguments no longer made sense. The Israeli left had been wrong to believe that the Palestinians desired peace, and the Israeli right was wrong to think that it could ignore the reality of a hostile population that neither wanted a two-state solution nor could be absorbed into the Jewish one.
Unfortunately, he or anyone else has yet to come up with a way to solve that problem without endangering Israel. Still, he put aside that moderation when the Israeli right won a clear majority in the Knesset elections of November 2022. Oct. 7 brought a reminder that the hopes of peaceful coexistence with a people whose national identity is inextricably linked to a permanent war against the Jews must be indefinitely postponed until sometime in a theoretical and far-off future when they are ready to change. Moreover, the willingness of so much of the international community and political left to join forces with Islamists meant that the sort of principled and righteous moderation that Halevi advocates for is simply an insufficient response to the current crisis.
Even worse, he argues that the “invasion of Gaza City, many of us fear, will be a strategic and moral disaster” because it will not achieve any military goal and will further tarnish Israel’s good name by an immoral amount of Palestinian suffering. He thinks that requires Jews to join in a moral outcry to stop the government.
Yet that assertion falls flat. That’s not because the war has been conducted without mistakes, or that it is a certainty that Netanyahu’s plans are foolproof, or even because bad things will happen to those Palestinians who have been put in
Continued on Page 26
A Three-Part Documentary Series concludes.
This powerful series features film screenings and discussions exploring the events of 10/7 — a day that forever altered the course of Israeli history and impacted the lives of Jews around the world.
Made possible by a grant from the Esther and DeNeal Feldman Jewish Experience Fund
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 5, 5:30 - 7:30PM PJ Library Down on the Farm
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 16, 6:30 - 9PM
Israel in Focus: A Three-Part Documentary Series
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 19, 2 - 4PM
CABS Opening Event – Jane Eisner, Carole King: She Made the Earth Move
MONDAY, OCTOBER 20, 1 - 3PM
Jewish Dayton at the Foodbank
Connect with us! Check out our events. For more information, check out our calendar at jewishdayton.org
Thursday, October 16, 6:30PM
Boonshoft Center for Jewish Culture & Education
525 Versailles Drive, Centerville, 45459
Torn (2025)
A thought-provoking look at how NYC streets became a battleground over “KIDNAPPED” posters — exploring identity, empathy, and freedom of expression post-10/7.
No charge. RSVP online at jewishdayton.org/events.
Questions? Contact Je Blumer at jblumer@jfgd.net.
• Programming schedule subject to change. Follow us on Instagram and check you email for the up to date details.
• This calendar does not include chapter programming. Check with your chapter for local event schedule.
Kentucky Indiana Ohio Region
Email: kio@bbyo.org Instagram: @kiobbyo
BBYO creates lifelong friendships, with a 101-year history of providing fun and meaningful experiences to Jewish teens in grades 8-12. When your teen joins this amazing organization, they’ll have an opportunity to be a part of a tight-knit group of local friends and a community of teens from across the globe.
If you are interested in joining BBYO, please visit BBYO.org/join
Saturday, November 8, 6:30 – 8:30PM at Scene 75 • 6196 Poe Avenue, Dayton, 45414
Get ready for an epic night at Scene75! Your ticket scores you 2 hours of unlimited attractions and a $10 game card to spend on your favorite games. The fun starts at 6:30PM – so don’t forget to eat dinner first because you’ll want all your energy for laser tag battles, racing go-karts, and hanging out with awesome new friends!
The Junior Youth Group is open to all Jewish youth in 5th through 7th grade. Chaperones will be on hand to ensure your youth are safe and supported.
Tickets are $30 per person. Contact Jennifer Holman at jholman@jfgd.net to RSVP.
BBYO is looking for advisors 21 years or older.
If you are interested in becoming an advisor, please contact Jennifer Holman at jholman@jfgd.net or 937-401-1550.
At Camp Shalom, we warmly nurture the qualities that create lasting friendships: kindness, empathy, bravery, trust, and communication. Winter Camp Shalom is packed with adventures, from exciting field trips that include swimming pools, museums, and entertainment centers. Every day brings something new: cooking projects, arts and crafts, STEM explorations, and fun indoor sports.
Winter Camp Schedule
December 22-26
December 29 - January 2, 2026
Closed December 25 and January 1
Hours:
Camp day 9AM - 4PM
Rise & Shine 8 - 9AM
Stay & Play 4 - 5:30PM
Cost: $200 per 4-day week or $75 a day
Rise & Shine $5 per day
Stay & Play $7 per day
For more information, please contact Jennifer Holman at jholman@jfgd.net or 937-401-1550.
Sunday, November 16, 3:30 – 7PM
Frank Lloyd Wright’s Westcott House
85 South Greenmount Ave, Springfield, 45505
Docent-led tour from 3:30 – 5:00PM and then dinner at Casa Centro Modern Mexican (14 E. Main St, Springfield, 45502 ~ cost on your own).
The Westcott House is a Frank Lloyd Wright-designed Prairie style house in Springfield. The house was built in 1908 for Burton J. Westcott, his wife Orpha, and their family. The Westcott property is the only Prairie style house designed by Wright in the state of Ohio.
$18/person. RSVP by November 7, 2025.
Register online at jewishdayton/events or contact Stacy Emo at semo @jfgd.net or 937-610-5513.
Sunday, November 16, 9:15AM – 12:15PM Temple Israel • 130 Riverside Drive, Dayton, 45405
Join our community for a morning of Jewish education for children in preschool through eighth grade as we explore Israeli culture. Students will choose sessions that explore a variety of personal connections to the land and people of Israel. A kosher snack will be provided.
Program of PJ Library and PJ Our Way, in partnership with Beth Abraham Synagogue, Hillel Academy, Temple Beth Or, and Temple Israel.
RSVP through your synagogue religious school or by email to Kate Elder at kelder@jfgd.net for families not currently enrolled in religious school.
The Jewish Community Center Preschool may be the place for you.
Our school provides:
• An eclectic curriculum that meets and exceeds The Ohio Learning and Developmental Standards.
• A warm and nurturing environment with low student/teacher ratios.
• Trained teachers that surpass required OCCRRA training hours.
• We are part of the SHEVA Learning Community, which is based on the Reggio Emilia Philosophy.
• Specialty instruction including movement, music, and art.
• Transportation to and from PVS & PVN for kindergarteners.
JCC Preschool enrollment is now open.
Please reach out to our director, Katie Lagasse, with questions or to schedule a tour at klagasse@jfgd.net or 937-610-1794.
Limited spaces are available in various classrooms.
DAYTON JEWISH CHORALE FUND
In honor of Cantor Andrea Raizen’s special birthday
Judy and Alan Chesen
Carol Kozak Ward and Seth Ward
Barbara Raizen
Elaine McDonald
Linda and Allan Katz
JOE BETTMAN MEMORIAL TZADIK AWARD
In honor of Burt and Alice Saidel receiving the Joe and Elaine Bettman Tzadik Award
Jean and Todd Bettman
JANE HOCHSTEIN JCC PROGRAMMING FUND
In recognition of Felix Garfunkel, Helen Markman, and Judy Chesen for their upstanding service to our Jewish community
Paula Gessiness and Jay Holland
JEWISH FAMILY SERVICES
In honor of Debbie Mattis’ special birthday
In honor of Irvin Moscowitz’s special birthday
Je Kantor
In honor of Alice and Burt Saidel receiving the Joe and Elaine Bettman Tzadik Award
In honor of the special birthdays of Alice Saidel, Carol Gra , Felix Garfunkel, Larry Glicker, and Marcia Cox
Susan and Joe Gruenberg
In appreciation of Tara Feiner’s many years of dedicated service
Eva Clair and Ira Segalewitz
Did you know you can honor a friend or family member through a Legacy, Tribute or Memorial?
A donation to one of the Jewish Foundation's many endowment funds benefits our Jewish community while honoring a loved one. For more information, please contact Janese R. Sweeny, Esq. CFRE, at 937-401-1542.
Calling all our crafty community members…Let’s do a KNITZVAH!
Monday, November 3 to Wednesday, November 26, JFS will welcome your hand-knitted, crocheted, or sewn donations of hats, scarves, lap blankets, socks, or gloves to help make our Chanukah outreach extra special (and fuzzy).
For questions or to schedule a drop-o , please contact Jacquelyn Archie, JFS administrative assistant, at jarchie@jfgd.net or 937-610-1555.
October 15 -
December 7
Learn ways to: Stay Informed. Stay Healthy. Save Money. Find out how the October 15 - December 7 Medicare Annual Coordinated Election Period can work for you. Get tips on how to enroll for 2026 coverage in a Medicare prescription drug plan (Part D) and/or a Medicare Advantage Plan.
Medicare and OSHIIP, the Ohio Senior Health Insurance Information Program, are o ering three free Medicare Check Up days in Montgomery County to help with plan review and selection. Medicare counselors from the Ohio Department of Insurance will be on hand to sit down with you individually. By appointment only. Please call the desired location to schedule your appointment.
Please bring your medication list, Medicare card, and current plan information to your appointment. OSHIIP Medicare Counselor and JFS volunteer Connie Blum will also be counseling and helping with 2026 plan selection; she can be reached at 937-503-1979
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 21
9 AM - 2 PM at Huber Heights Senior Center 7301 Shull Road, 45424
For an appointment, call 937-233-9999.
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 7
9AM - 2PM
at Earl Heck Community Center 201 N. Main St., Englewood, 45322
For an appointment, call 937-836-5929
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 14
9AM - 1PM at The Boonshoft Center for Jewish Culture and Education 525 Versailles Dr., Centerville, 45459
For an appointment, call 937-610-1555.
Classes
Beth Jacob Classes: w. Rabbi Agar on Zoom. Call to register for classes, 937-274-2149. Tuesdays, 7 p.m.: Torah Tuesdays. Thursdays, 7 p.m.: Thursdays of Thought. Tuesdays, Oct. 21-Dec. 9, 10:30 a.m.: Hebrew Reading Crash Course w. Chaya Vidal in person. 7020 N. Main St., Harrison Twp.
Chabad Classes: Wednesdays, 7:30 p.m.: Talmud Class in person & Zoom. Call for Zoom link & location. Fridays, 9:30 a.m.: Women’s Class. Call for location. Mondays, Oct. 27-Dec. 1, 7 p.m.: JLI-The Kabbalah of Meaning, in person & Zoom. $72. Register at chabaddayton. com/calendar. 2001 Far Hills Ave, Oakwood. 937-643-0770.
Temple Beth Or Classes: Sat., Oct. 11, 25, 10 a.m.: Apocryphal Study in person & Zoom. 5275 Marshall Rd., Wash. Twp. 937435-3400.
Temple Israel Classes: Saturdays, 9:15 a.m.: Virtual Torah Study on Zoom. For Torah Study Zoom info. email Fran Rickenbach, franwr@gmail.com. Wed., Oct. 8, 15, 22, 29, 10 a.m.: Weekly Torah Commentary w. Rabbi Bodney-Halasz in person & Zoom. For Zoom info. email info@tidayton.org. Fri., Oct. 10, 11 a.m.: Living w. Loss. Thurs., Oct. 16, 3:30 p.m.: Living w. Ambiguous Loss. Tues., Oct. 21, 28, noon: Talmud Study in person & Zoom. Tues., Oct. 21, 28, Nov. 4, 18, 3 p.m.: Rabbi
Sun., Oct. 5, 5:30 p.m. Free. For info., contact Kate Elder, kelder@jfgd.net. RSVP by Oct. 3 at jewishdayton.org/events. Candlebrook Farms, 3269 Ferry Rd., Bellbrook.
Beth Abraham Rhythm ‘N’ Ruach: Fri., Oct. 10, 5:30-6:15 p.m. 305 Sugar Camp Cir., Oakwood. 937-293-9520.
Temple Israel’s Universe to You: Kids Planetarium Adventure: Sun., Oct. 19, 4 p.m. Free. RSVP to 937-496-0050. tidayton. org/calendar. 130 Riverside Dr., Dayton.
Chabad Young Professionals
Shabbat Dinner in the Sukkah: Fri., Oct. 10, 6:30 p.m. $18. RSVP at chabaddayton.com/ calendar. 2001 Far Hills Ave., Oakwood. 937-643-0770.
Temple Israel’s Ryterband Lecture Series: Sundays, 9:45 a.m. $7. Oct. 12: Rabbi Emeritus David Sofian, Antisemitism & the Gaza War. Oct. 26: Jason Kalman, One Book at a Time: Building the Hebrew Union College Library. 130 Riverside Dr., Dayton. 937-496-0050.
Israel in Focus Documentary Series: Thurs., Oct 16, 6:30 p.m. Free. Presented by JCRC. Viewing Torn. RSVP by Oct. 10 at jewishdayton.org/events. For info., contact Jeff Blumer, jblumer@jfgd.net. Boonshoft CJCE, 525 Versailles Dr., Centerville.
Way, Dayton.
Temple Israel Sacred Stitching: Tues., Oct. 28, 11 a.m. Make items for donation w. JCRC’s Upstander initiative. For info., email Alexandria King, garyuzzking@hotmail.com. 130 Riverside Dr., Dayton. 937-4960050.
Women
Chabad Ladies Night in the Sukkah: Thurs., Oct. 9, 6 p.m. $36. RSVP at chabaddayton. com/calendar. Call for location, 937-643-0770.
Chabad Women’s Shabbat Dinner: Fri., Oct. 31, 6 p.m. $36. RSVP at chabaddayton. com/calendar. 2001 Far Hills Ave., Oakwood. 937-643-0770.
Men
Chabad Men’s Night in the Sukkah: Thurs., Oct. 9, 6:15 p.m. $64. RSVP at chabaddayton.com/calendar. 2001 Far Hills Ave, Oakwood. 937-643-0770.
Sukkot/Simchat
Torah
Beth Abraham Sukkah Decorating & Pizza in the Hut: Sun., Oct. 5, 11:30 a.m. Free. 305 Sugar Camp Cir., Oakwood. 937-293-9520.
Temple Israel Pizza in the Hut: Mon., Oct. 6, 5:45 p.m $8 adults, $5 kids 4-12. Register at tidayton.org/calendar. 130 Riverside Dr., Dayton. 937-496-0050. Temple Anshe Emeth Sukkot:
breakfast. Cards for IDF soldiers. RSVP by Oct. 9. For info., call Tammy Evans, 937-274-2149. 7020 N. Main St., Harrison Twp.
Chabad Community Sukkot Dinner & Party: Sun., Oct. 12, 5 p.m. Adults $20, kids 5-12 $7.50. RSVP at chabaddayton. com/calendar. 2001 Far Hills Ave, Oakwood. 937-643-0770, ext. 3.
Temple Israel Simchat Torah: Mon., Oct. 13, 6 p.m Followed by 7 p.m. dinner. 130 Riverside Dr., Dayton. Register for dinner at tidayton.org/calendar.
Beth Abraham Simchat Torah: Tues., Oct. 14. 5:30 p.m.: Pasta dinner & ice cream sundaes. 6:15 p.m.: Dancing & singing w. Torahs. Free. 305 Sugar Camp Cir., Oakwood. RSVP for dinner to 937-293-9520.
Beth Jacob Shemini Atzeret & Simchat Torah BBQ: Tues., Oct. 14, 6 p.m. Free. RSVP by Oct. 9, 937-274-2149. 7020 N. Main St., Harrison Twp.
Chabad Simchat Torah Celebration: Tues., Oct. 14, 7 p.m. Free. 2001 Far Hills Ave, Oakwood. chabaddayton.com/ calendar. 937-643-0770.
Community
Hadassah Presents the MeshugaNotes: Sun., Oct. 5, 2 p.m. $20. Register by Sept. 20 at events.hadassah.org/ DaytonNotes. Venue provided upon registration.
Jewish Dayton Volunteers at Dayton Foodbank: Mon., Oct. 20, 1-3 p.m. Ages 16 & up. Register by Oct. 16 w. Jeff Blumer, jblumer@jfgd.net. 56 Armor Pl., Dayton.
“Two leaders, three opinions” humorously recalls the Jewish saying, “Two Jews, three opinions.”
And there are certainly Jewish leaders in the news these days who represent strikingly different opinions.
On campus, Zionist, Jewish Voice for Peace, and anti-Zionist Jewish students endorse radically different visions of Zionism.
Author and journalist Peter Beinart and Rabbi David Wolpe similarly hold opposing views on Zionism and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Jewish leaders across the religious and cultural spectrum offer very different ideas about balancing communal continuity with inclusion and diversity. Proponents, skeptics, and traditionalist leaders are in current debate about the role of AI in halachic (Jewish legal)
decision-making.
In the Jewish worldview, diverse viewpoints and robust debate in religious and cultural life are to be encouraged, even celebrated.
Considered the cornerstone of intellectual life, they introduce different perspectives which challenge and clarify one’s own views, all in the pursuit of truth.
Disagreement, challenge, and argument among leaders is plentiful in the Bible and even more evident in the Talmud, and it continues throughout Jewish history.
In the time of the Roman siege of Jerusalem, Rabbi Ben Zakkai debated with the Zealots over the best approach: surrender versus militancy, a debate that continues even today among world Jewry.
Rabbi Barry Schwartz describes a 19th-century debate among rabbis Zacharias Frankel, Abraham Geiger, and Samson Raphael Hirsch over evolution in religion, echoed in the current debate on the place of Israel in American Judaism.
Since making meaningful decisions or taking a strong
stance on an issue will almost inevitably provoke opposition or disagreement, most great leaders generate controversy.
From King David to the Baal Shem Tov and Milton Friedman, from Queen Salome Alexandra of Judea to Golda Meir and Ayn Rand, not one promoted ideas that were universally accepted.
But the same is true in our individual lives as well. Judaism’s tradition of wisdom offers the same guidance to leaders and ordinary individuals alike: Looking for a “win” is considered rebellion, but when spirited engagement involves participants who truly listen and are open to others’ ideas and even to being wrong, argument is “for the sake of heaven.”
Handling controversy well, however, isn’t the only defining feature of a great leader.
Unsurprisingly, there is significant agreement among books and articles, blog posts, AI search summaries, and Jewish commentaries about other defining qualities of great leaders such as integrity, empathy, and courage.
leaders serve the people and God, not themselves.
The two styles couldn’t be more different, one represented by the pyramid, the other by the biblical menorah — essentially an inverted pyramid.
In Judaism, “(t)he greatest leader is therefore the most humble,” Sacks points out, noting that “C.S. Lewis rightly defined humility not as thinking less of yourself but as thinking of yourself less.”
Ancient Israel’s leaders who chose authoritarian control over servant leadership inevitably caused chaos, as in the story of King Rehoboam.
gets done.
Great leadership calls for vision-driven action. Joseph’s vision for saving Egypt from famine. Jethro’s vision on how to create a better legal system. Esther’s vision of a way to save her people. Moses’ burning bush-inspired vision of the road, both physical and spiritual, from Egypt to the Promised Land.
Such vision is apparent in the tireless efforts of Theodor Herzl to secure a liberal, secular Jewish state, a homeland for the Jews plagued by antisemitism throughout the many lands in which the Jews were scattered.
In the Jewish view, everyone — of any age on any day — can be a leader and improve the world.
The highest form of leadership is teaching. In Ethics of the Fathers, one finds the phrase lilmod u’lelamed, to learn and to teach, which Rabbi Ishmael suggests is a call to “learn in order to teach.”
At the same time Judaism offers three unique, biblically inspired perspectives on leadership, highlighted by Rabbi Jonathan Sacks in his book Lessons in Leadership, that have the potential to improve leaders’ skills and outcomes and to offer another way of evaluating leadership candidates.
After succeeding his father Solomon, Rehoboam ruled like a tyrant, causing the 10 northern tribes to rebel and form their own kingdom under King Jeroboam, splitting King David’s United Monarchy in two and ultimately leading to the exile of the Jewish people.
A relevant study by psychiatrist William Glasser reveals that while people learn only 10% of what they read and 50% of what they see and hear, they learn 95% of what they teach to others.
The obligation to teach compels a leader to be constantly learning, exploring, evaluating, adapting, and envisioning, giving direction and depth to one’s leadership.
a.m-10 pm
Leadership is service, not authority. Instead of adopting the top-down leadership style of the hierarchical ancient world, Sacks explains, Judaism introduced a model where its
Leadership is owning the responsibility to act. Judaism is a call to leadership every day, to take responsibility for seeing what needs fixing — within oneself, the home, or the community — and making sure it
One in Six Million by Amy Fish. In 1942, an 8-month-old baby was discovered in a ditch near Krosno, Poland. The Polish couple that rescued her knew only her name and birthdate, Maria, November 1941, from the note pinned to her blanket. The couple took her home and raised her, but Maria always wondered about her Jewish identity. Then she came to the attention of the late genealogist Stanley Diamond. Although it reads like a masterfully-plotted detective novel, One in Six Million is a true story about an identity lost — and eventually found.
Perfect Match: The Story of Althea Gibson and Angela Buxton by Lori Dubbin. Althea Gibson and Angela Buxton just wanted to play tennis. But in the 1950s, Althea couldn’t join the American tennis leagues because she was Black. Angela had a similar experience in the United Kingdom, unable to join the best tennis clubs because she was Jewish. And they were both shunned by other players. But prejudice and discrimination didn't stop them. Written for elementary ages, this biography is an inspirational tale about handling negativity and setbacks while pursuing one’s dreams.
Meanwhile, the leader’s “audience members,” empowered by what they’ve learned, are inspired to act, and these original learners in turn become leaders and teachers in their own right. Teaching is the highest form of leadership because it empowers and inspires others.
At many points in our lives, each of us will be called upon to be a leader, or a leadership opportunity will fall into our lap.
Will you reply, “Oh, I’m not leadership material”? How much more broken would our world be if Rabbi Akiva, Henrietta Szold, Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson, Albert Einstein, or the midwives Shifra and Puah in the Book of Exodus had responded in like manner?
“The story of humanity has been, for the most part, a flight from responsibility,” Sacks concludes. “To be human is to seek to escape from responsibility. That is what makes Judaism different...For Judaism is God’s call to human responsibility.”
The Ohio Department of Aging inducted retired social worker and current Dayton Jewish Family Services volunteer Connie Blum into the Ohio Senior Citizens Hall of Fame in Columbus, Sept. 10 for her decades of service in the region. Blum is among 10 older Ohioans inducted to the Hall of Fame this year for lifelong contributions to their communities, professions, and vocations. They join more than 500 who have been inducted to the Hall of Fame since 1977.
Connie retired about 30 years ago from her career as a social worker with the JCC and JFS and became a volunteer Certified Medicare Counselor through the Ohio Senior Health Insurance Information Program (OSHIIP). She's been volunteering in this capacity for 28 years, helping more than 100 Medicare beneficiaries a year navigate the challenges of understanding Medicare. In 1978, Blum established a daily lunch
program for older adults, as well as numerous social, educational, and recreational activities in her position of director of programs and services for seniors at the Dayton JCC. Last year, Connie was honored by the National Senior Health Insurance Information Program at the U.S. Administration for Community Living Office of Healthcare Information and Counseling national conference. In 2024, she was also named Outstanding SHIP Volunteer. "Whether it’s short phone calls or investing hours over weeks to assist others, Connie’s support during her work with the Ohio OSHIIP knows no bounds," ODA's announcement of Connie's honor noted. And Connie continues on: During Medicare's annual open enrollment period, Oct. 5 through Dec. 7, she'll give talks and presentations on Medicare updates to a variety of retiree groups while also counseling numerous individuals.
Peter Benkendorf, founder of The Collaboratory, says the Miami Valley Medical Debt Relief Campaign is at nearly 85% of its $125,250 goal. A project of The Collaboratory, its aim is to eliminate more than $22.75 million in medical debt facing more than 13,000 people in the Miami Valley who earn less than four times the federal poverty level or whose debt is more than 5% of their income. "For every $100 given, we can retire $17,000 in medical debt," he says. Dayton's Jewish Family Services is a collaborator on the campaign. " We have separated the counties to encourage even more localized support to go along with our overall sevencounty effort," Peter says of the campaign's strategy.
"The biggest support has come from Greene County, where a campaign led by the Greene County Democratic Party exceeded its goal by slightly more than $3,000, and Clark County. Their debt of $62,000 accounted for almost 50% of the total goal, as community leaders, foundations, and some very generous individual philanthropists stepped up big-time."
Through Nov. 2, works from the 2025 Max May and Lydia May Memorial Holocaust Art and Writing Contest are on view at The Dayton Art Institute. Named in memory of the grandparent of Renate Frydman, director of the Dayton Holocaust Resource Center, the annual competition invites students in grades five through 12 across the Miami Valley to reflect on the history and lessons of the Holocaust through art and writing. This year's theme was Eighty years after the Holocaust, the Second Generation shares the history of their families. Never Again, Never Forget.
Antioch College in Yellow Springs will dedicate an Ohio Historical Marker on campus Oct. 2 in honor of Class of 1950 alumnus Rod Serling, who created and hosted televisions' The Twilight Zone. The date marks the premiere of the iconic anthology series in
1959. That evening, the Yellow Springs Film Festival will present a tribute to Serling at its opening ceremony. Guests will include Serling's daughter, Anne Serling. The program will include a live performance of one of Serling's radio plays, and a screening and discussion of a classic Twilight Zone episode.
After his army service in World War II, Serling, who hailed from upstate New York, attended Antioch College. There, he met his wife, Carol Kramer, and became involved with the campus radio station.
As part of Antioch's workstudy program, he worked at WNYC radio station in New York. His writing career began in 1950 as a continuity writer for WLW radio in Cincinnati; Serling then made the jump to television, writing for Cincinnati's WKRC-TV. He died in 1975.
Send your Mazel Tov announcements to mweiss@jfgd.net.
KOL NIDRE
Wednesday, October 1
8:00 p.m. Congregational Services
YOM KIPPUR
Thursday, October 2
9:00 a.m. Family Services
10:30 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. Congregational Services
1:30 p.m. Yom Kippur Educational Session with Jennifer Holman
6:15 p.m. Gerald A. Greene Memorial Break-the-Fast
SUKKOT
Monday, October 6
5:45 p.m. Pizza in the Hut
6:30 p.m. Congregational Services
SIMCHAT TORAH
Monday, October 13
6:00 p.m. Services and Consecration
7:00 p.m. Potluck Dinner
Erev Yom Kippur, Oct. 1: 7:01 p.m.
Shabbat, Oct. 3: 6:57 p.m.
Erev Sukkot, Oct. 6: 6:53 p.m.
First Eve Sukkot, Oct. 7: 7:49 p.m.
Shabbat, Oct. 10: 6:46 p.m.
Erev Shemini Atzeret, Oct. 13 6:42 p.m.
Erev Simchat Torah, Oct. 14 7:38 p.m.
Shabbat, Oct. 17: 6:36 p.m.
Shabbat, Oct. 24: 6:26 p.m.
Shabbat, Oct. 31: 6:17 p.m.
Oct. 4: Haazinu (Deut. 32:1-52)
Oct. 18: Bereshit (Gen. 1:1-6:8)
Oct. 25: Noach (Gen. 6:9-11:32)
Yom Kippur
Day of Atonement
Oct. 2/10 Tishri
The holiest day on the Jewish calendar, marking the end of the Days of Awe, spent fasting and in prayer. The sounding of the shofar, the ram’s horn, signals the end of the holiday.
Sukkot
Festival of Booths
Oct. 7-13/15-21 Tishri
Named after the huts the Israelites lived in while wandering in the desert after the Exodus from Egypt. Marked by building sukkot to eat meals in during the festival, and in the synagogue by processions with the lulav (palm branches with myrtle and willow) and etrog (citron fruit).
Shemini Atzeret
Eighth Day of Assembly
Oct. 14/22 Tishri
Historically, it allowed an extra day in Jerusalem for Jewish pilgrims on their journey to the Temple. Tefillat Geshem (the prayer for rain), Hallel (Psalms of thanksgiving and joy), and Yizkor (memorial prayers) are recited.
Simchat Torah
Rejoicing of the Torah
Oct. 15/23 Tishri
Annual cycle of reading the Torah is concluded and a new cycle begun. Celebrated in the synagogue with singing, dancing, and Torah processionals.
By Rabbi Tina Sobo
Temple
Israel
I used to watch in awe as some crafters stitched away while seamlessly participating in conversations, classes, or other gatherings.
Even as a self-proclaimed multitasker, somehow those seemed incompatible with the amount of cognitive effort needed for each individually.
And yet, I regularly wear a particular kipah handmade in our first year at Hebrew Union College by a now wellacclaimed curriculum writer (shout out to Rae Antonoff). She crocheted the intricate design during the very classes needed to write her fabulous curricula. That kipah is proof it can be done.
Beth Abraham Synagogue Conservative Rabbi Aubrey L. Glazer Fridays, 5 p.m. Saturdays, 9:30 a.m.
305 Sugar Camp Circle, Oakwood. 937-293-9520. bethabrahamdayton.org
Beth Boruk Temple Reform
2810 Southeast Pkwy., Richmond, Ind. bethboruk@yahoo.com. Friday night Shabbat service monthly, September through May. For schedule, go to bethboruktemple.com.
Beth Jacob Congregation Modern Orthodox Rabbi Leibel Agar Saturdays, 9:30 a.m. Evening minyans upon request. 7020 N. Main St., Dayton. 937-274-2149. bethjacobcong.org
As I learned more about neurodiversity and cognitive profiles, I came to understand
that for some, the easiest way to focus is to have a distraction.
Neuropsychology has taught that for some brains, attention will almost inevitably be divided between the task at hand and something else.
For these brains, instead of fighting the impulse of distractions, channeling that excess brain energy into something — a fidget, or in this case, a crochet project — allows the main part of your focus to stay attuned to the “real” task at hand more than attempting to keep from fidgeting.
Far from a sign of disrespect or inattention, such crafting endeavors allow a subset of folks to pay better attention while putting that extra, often anxious energy to a productive result instead of endlessly (and annoyingly) clicking or deconstructing their pens.
The mission was simple: Stitching (crochet, knit, or otherwise) helps some participate more deeply in communal spaces and we could turn that need into a mitzvah.
The group has made winter gear for those facing housing insecurity, little hats for newborns and NICU patients, and in October, we are adding, for slightly more intermediate crafters, Knitted Knockers.
with donuts!
I anticipated that it would help reframe the negative stereotypes of being neurodivergent with an ability to fulfill a mitzvah in the course of day-to-day activities, embracing the need to multitask instead of trying to suppress it.
Yes, it is what it sounds like. Knitted (or crocheted) Knockers are breast prosthetics, primarily for those facing breast cancer, but also used by transgender individuals for chest feminization.
They address many issues like the cost, comfort, and durability of traditional breast prostheses.
Teens were confident and proud showing me their work and sharing their ideas of what to make next.
If you are interested in the patterns or have donations of completed projects for any of these, any in our community are welcome to participate and/or drop off completed donations when the office is open. Just give us a call.
About a year ago, led by Alexandria King, Sacred Stitching was born at Temple Israel.
I anticipated that our biweekly gatherings would be a compelling excuse for participants to do something they love, in good company, and
I anticipated that it would bring folks together and build new connections as we shared tips, tricks, materials, patterns, and positivity.
But I’m not writing this to pat myself on the back, because one of the best outcomes is one that I didn’t expect or plan on.
Multiple teens reached out to me. With high school, they can’t come to our biweekly gatherings, but asked if they could get some yarn to work on a project on their own, or share the patterns, or show them a new technique, or just to show off what they were working on.
When considering the rabbinate, never did I consider that I’d be helping teens learn a “grandma hobby” in the halls between religious school classes and giving free access to a large tote of available yarns and supplies.
Far from being embarrassed by a first attempt at a project, teens were confident and proud showing me their work and sharing their ideas of what to make next.
Chabad of Greater Dayton Rabbi Nochum Mangel Associate Rabbi Shmuel Klatzkin Youth & Prog. Dir. Rabbi Levi Simon. Beginner educational service Saturdays, 9:30 a.m. 2001 Far Hills Ave. 937-643-0770. chabaddayton.com
Temple Anshe Emeth Reform
Worship led by Jese Shell 320 Caldwell St., Piqua. Contact Steve Shuchat, 937-7262116, ansheemeth@gmail.com. ansheemeth.org
Temple Beth Or Reform
Rabbi Judy Chessin Fridays, 6:15 p.m. 5275 Marshall Rd., Wash. Twp. 937-435-3400. templebethor.com
Temple Beth Sholom Reform
Rabbi Haviva Horvitz 610 Gladys Dr., Middletown. 513-422-8313. templebethsholom.net
Temple Israel Reform
Senior Rabbi Karen BodneyHalasz Rabbi/Educator Tina Sobo Fri., Oct. 3, 6 p.m. Fridays, Oct. 10, 17, 24, 31, 6:30 p.m. 130 Riverside Dr., Dayton. 937-496-0050. tidayton.org
Temple Sholom Reform
Rabbi Cary Kozberg Fridays, 6 p.m. 2424 N. Limestone St., Springfield. 937-399-1231. templesholomoh.com
Yellow Springs Havurah Independent Antioch College Rockford Chapel. 1st & 3rd Saturday each month. Contact Len Kramer, 937-5724840 or len2654@gmail.com.
Continued from Page 20
Sacred Stitching helped foster an environment for that to happen, and has perhaps been one of the best outcomes of this endeavor possible.
Teens who enjoy digging through a bin of yarn for what feels or looks nice might not seem like a big deal, but it is.
These creative leisure activities, including things like scrapbooking, baking, book clubs, gardening — far from “cool” when I was in high school — come with significant benefits to overall wellbeing for teens, especially in areas of mental wellness.
This impact has been documented recently in research psychology.
As I see more high schools and organizations that serve teens and young adults offer physical space and support for such creative outlets, and popular influencers promoting their own hobbies, I hope the trend of the younger generation feeling empowered to create for the sake of creation continues.
And I hope that we all can learn a bit from our teens about being open to trying new things, knowing they won’t be perfect the first time, finding new hobbies or activities, and with them, build stronger connections to one another — and maybe even being able to give a little back to those in need in the process.
The Synagogue Forum of Greater Dayton presents its 14-session Introduction to Judaism course on Tuesdays from 7 to 8:30 p.m. beginning Nov. 4 and running through Feb. 24.
The annual class is open to anyone interested in Jewish learning, dialogue, and exploration. Some sessions are held at local synagogues and temples, some via Zoom; all sessions are available online. It offers an in-depth look at Judaism from Conservative, Orthodox, and Reform perspectives.
Instructors are Beth Abraham Synagogue's Rabbi Aubrey Glazer, Beth Jacob Congregation's Rabbi Leibel Agar, Temple Beth Or's Rabbi Judy Chessin, and Temple Israel's Rabbi Karen Bodney-Halasz.
Topics include God and theology, theodicy (the problem of evil in the world), sacred texts, peoplehood, Zionism, Jewish history, personal observance, life cycles, Shabbat, community, holidays, prayer and liturgy, antisemitism, and the Holocaust.
Registration is $36 for an individual or couple. For more information or to enroll, email Chessin at rabbichessin@ templebethor.com.
wright.edu/explore
Saturday, October 18, 2025
9 a.m.—1 p.m.
Explore Wright State Day is a chance to experience Wright State YOUR way. See for yourself why it's a great time to be a Raider!
• Tour campus
• Meet students
• Explore housing
Tuesday, October 7 Wednesday, October 8
Morning Prayer Children’s Program 9:30am 10:30am
Enjoy a full dinner featuring a variety of soups and salads in the Sukkah! Special CKids children’s program 9:30am 10:30am 9:30am
Morning Prayer Yizkor Dinner & Hakafot
Prayer
• Talk to financial aid
• Meet faculty
• Ask questions
Register today!
Enjoy an evening of Steak, Cigars and Scotch & Bourbon Steak dinner with all the trimmings, selection of fine cigars, lechayims from a selection of top-shelf spirits, all in the Sukkah.
Sunday, October 12 | 5:00pm Tuesday, October 14 Wednesday, October 15 Tuesday night, October 14 7:15pm
Dance with the Torah, say Lechayim and enjoy a full buffet dinner (including kid friendly menu) Sing and dance the night away in celebration of the Torah. Outdoor dancing on Far Hills Avenue Funky Flags - Holy Torahs - Rockin’ Hakafot 7:15pm
Sunday,
Tues., Oct. 14
5:30
6:15 p.m.
By Vered Guttman, The Nosher Tunisian,
Libyan and Algerian Jews break the Yom Kippur fast with bollo (or bolo or boulou, depending on their origin). This lightly sweetened small roll or cookie is dotted with raisins, fennel seed, sesame seeds, and sometimes nuts and nigella seeds.
Bollo means bun in Spanish and Ladino, and indeed Sephardi communities around the world have dishes similar to this version from North Africa.
I highly recommend using Saf Instant Yeast; it’s available online and can keep for months in the freezer. When using instant yeast, you should skip the process of proofing the yeast; if you’re using active dry yeast, start the recipe by proofing the yeast and continue as usual.
The rolls will keep at room temperature in a cloth or paper bag for up to three days. They can be frozen, thawed at room temperature and eaten once thawed or covered with aluminum foil and reheated in a 325-degree oven for 10 minutes.
You can swap out the nuts and dried fruit according to your taste.
For the rolls
1 lb. all-purpose flour
4 tsp. yeast (see note)
⅔ cup sugar
2 eggs, at room temperature
¾ cup warm water
¼ cup corn, avocado or mild olive oil
1 tsp. vanilla extract
½ tsp. salt
½ cup golden raisins, soaked in warm water and strained
½ cup chopped walnuts
¼ cup chopped or sliced almonds
1 Tbsp. sesame seeds
1 ½ tsp. fennel seeds
zest of one orange
For the topping
1 egg yolk
1 Tbsp. water
2 Tbsp. sesame seeds
1 Tbsp. sanding sugar or regular sugar
If you’re using instant yeast, make the dough using a stand mixer with the dough hook. Put flour and yeast in the mixer’s bowl and mix with a fork. Add sugar, then turn mixer on medium-low speed and mix for one minute. Add eggs and water and continue to mix for
about two minutes, until well incorporated. Stop the mixer as needed to scrape the flour from the sides using a spatula and continue to mix. With mixer on medium-low, add oil, then the rest of the ingredients (including raisins, nuts, and spices). Knead for eight minutes, stopping the mixer to scrape the sides as needed. The dough will be very soft, but don’t be tempted to add more flour.
If you’re using active dry yeast, you need to proof it first: Put ¼-cup water, yeast, and one teaspoon sugar in a glass and stir briefly. Let the mixture sit for five to 10 minutes until it visibly foams. Put flour in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the dough hook. Make a well in the center and add yeast mixture, ½-cup water, the rest of the sugar and eggs to the well. Mix for about three minutes on medium-low speed, until well incorporated. Stop the mixer as needed to scrape the flour from the sides using a spatula and continue to mix. Add oil, then the rest of the ingredients (including raisins, nuts, and spices). Turn speed to medium-low and mix for eight minutes, stopping the mixer to scrape the sides as needed. The dough will be very soft, but don’t be tempted to add more flour.
Remove bowl from stand mixer. Using a spatula, transfer dough into a lightly greased large bowl. Cover with plastic wrap, and let stand at room temperature, preferably in a warm space (near the oven, for example), until dough doubles its volume, about 60-90 minutes.
Deflate the dough, cover with plastic wrap and let it rise again for an hour, until it doubles in volume.
Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper.
Transfer dough onto a lightly floured work surface and roll into a thick log. Use a dough cutter to cut into 12 equal pieces. Roll each piece into a roll, then shape into an oval and put on the baking sheet. Keep 2 inches of space between each roll, as they rise in the oven. Cover the baking sheet with plastic wrap and let rolls rise for another 30 minutes. Meanwhile, preheat oven to 350.
Mix egg yolk and water and gently brush rolls. Sprinkle with sesame seeds and sugar. Bake for 20-24 minutes, or until rolls are baked through and golden. Transfer to a cooling rack. Serve warm or at room temperature.
By Leah Koenig, The Nosher
Long before pomegranates became known as a healthy superfood — linked to everything from improving cardiovascular health and reducing cholesterol to preventing cancer — they were a mainstay of Jewish cuisine.
Named in Deut. 8:8 as one of the seven agricultural species cultivated in ancient Israel (with wheat, barley, grapes, figs, olives, and dates) and mythologized to contain 613 seeds in every fruit (to correspond with the number of mitzvot/ commandments given to the Israelites by God), pomegranates are one of Jewish tradition’s most well-known, celebrated foods.
Pomegranates’ peak season falls somewhere in the autumn around the High Holidays, which makes them the perfect accompaniment for the harvest holiday of Sukkot.
Some families hang the red orbs in their sukkahs as decoration. Others incorporate their juicy red seeds into both sweet and savory dishes — everything from pomegranate-glazed chicken to salads speckled with lush, bright red seeds.
In that spirit, this mandelbrot recipe drizzles the traditional Ashkenazi almond cookies (the name translates from Yiddish to almond bread) with a bright pink pomegranate glaze.
The sweet-tart glaze adds color and personality to the light and crispy mandelbrot and helps an otherwise humble cookie stand out on the dessert table.
A generous pour of sweet, golden honey folded into the batter also adds to these cookies’ appeal, and makes them a lovely plus-one to any spread in the Sukkah.
Note: Store cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to three days, or in the fridge or freezer for longer.
Total Time: 1 hour 15 minutes
Yield: Makes about 2 dozen cookies
For the cookies
1½ cups all-purpose flour, plus more for shaping
½ tsp. baking powder
½ tsp. baking soda
¼ tsp. kosher salt
½ cup unsalted butter or vegan butter, softened
¼ cup + 2 Tbsp. granulated sugar, divided ¼ cup mild honey
2 large eggs
¾ tsp. vanilla extract
¾ cup roasted, unsalted almonds, chopped
For the glaze
¾ cup confectioner’s sugar, plus more if needed
1½ Tbsp. pomegranate juice, plus more if needed
Make the cookies: Preheat the oven to 350 and line a large, rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper. Sift together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a medium bowl; set aside.
In a stand mixer or using a handheld electric mixer and a large bowl, beat the butter and ¼ cup of the sugar together on medium speed, scraping down the bowl as necessary, until pale and creamy, two to three minutes.
Add the honey, eggs, and vanilla and beat to combine. The mixture might look curdled at this point, but will smooth out when you add the flour.
Add the flour mixture to the butter mixture in two stages, beating on low until just combined and a soft dough forms. Fold in the almonds with a spatula.
Divide the batter into two equal mounds on the baking sheet, leaving at least 2 inches of space in between the
mounds. Using lightly floured hands, pat and press the batter into long, flat rectangles (about 9×4 inches and ½-inch thick).
Bake until puffed and deep golden brown, about 20 minutes, then remove from the oven and let cool for about one minute.
Slice both of the rectangles vertically down their middles. Then, slice them horizontally into 1 inch-wide pieces. Turn the pieces on their sides and sprinkle evenly with one tablespoon of the remaining sugar. Bake for 10 more minutes, then remove the baking sheet again. Flip the pieces to the other side and sprinkle with the remaining one tablespoon sugar. Bake until the cookies are firm, five to 10 minutes more. (Be careful not to overbake them. They continue to crisp up as they cool.)
Remove from the oven and set the baking sheet on a wire rack to cool for five minutes, then transfer the cookies to the racks to cool completely. Make the glaze: Sift the confectioner’s sugar into a medium bowl. Add the pomegranate juice and stir to form a thick but pourable glaze. If the glaze is too thick to drizzle, stir in a little more pomegranate juice. (Likewise if it is too runny, stir in a little more sifted confectioner’s sugar.)
Generously drizzle the tops of the cooled cookies with glaze and set cookies back on the racks to allow the glaze to set.
Want to receive your own copy of The Dayton Jewish Observer each month by mail?
Email us at jewishobserver@jfgd.net
Sunday, December 7th: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
By Marshall Weiss, The Observer
He holds the Guinness World Record for the most selected cards found from a shuffled deck in one minute — 21. He fooled Penn and Teller on their magic competition television series, Penn & Teller: Fool Us. He's been named Magician of the Year by the Society of American Magicians.
And he's a nice Jewish boy who was raised in Canton and graduated OSU with a senior thesis that became his first book, The Amazing Book of Cards
Magician Joshua Jay will perform two benefits for Hillel Academy Jewish day school, Nov. 2.
"It's a big part of what I do," he says. "I love helping worthy causes achieve their goals."
On the road 300 days a year, Jay responded to The Observer's interview questions via email between shows.
What can people expect from your performances in Dayton?
Well, everything I perform I create, and often my favorite part of the process is the months and years it takes to develop original magic pieces. So everything I perform onstage you can only see me do. It's a mix of magic and mentalism and close-up sleight of hand.
What's the youngest age for kids who will appreciate your show?
I work entirely clean, but it is an adult show. I'd say 12 and above is ideal.
How did you break into professional magic? What was your family's reaction when you became a professional magician?
My father was a dentist, but he loved magic and used it to show patients between procedures. So we did it together for many years. He and my mom have always been so supportive and encouraging. My mom now travels all over the world to watch me perform shows in far-off places.
Did you have mentors?
I grew up in Canton, where there really were no master magicians to teach me. This meant I had to create my own stuff — terrible stuff at first — but I look back fondly on how isolated I was, and how I created magic out of necessity. That was a fun and useful skill to develop early.
Who are your favorite magicians, the ones who inspire you the most?
The person who is widely accepted as the greatest living magician is totally unknown to most of the public in the United States. He's from Spain and his
Magician Joshua Jay will present two performances as benefits for Hillel Academy, 2 and 7 p.m., Sunday, Nov. 2 at the University of Dayton Roger Glass Center for the Arts, 29 Creative Way, Dayton. Tickets are $33-$78 and are available at daytonhillel.org/events.
name is Juan Tamariz. He'll be studied for hundreds of years for his contributions to magic and even magic philosophy.
And our craft is small enough that I get the incredible opportunity to go to Spain every summer, to stay at his summer villa, and study with him. We swap tricks and I get advice on whatever I'm working on. It's tremendous.
I'm aware that you give talks on 'Tragic Magic' (tricks that have been fatal to magicians, assistants, or spectators). Have you done illusions that have put you in physical or emotional danger?
Years ago I did a rendition of the Bullet Catch. And I do a needle-swallowing in the same way that Houdini did it years ago. But having done the research on dangerous magic, I can tell you that I have no desire to do that kind of thing when I can avoid it.
Have you ever done any talks or presentations on Jews and magic?
Many! It's an area of study I'm fascinated by for this simple reason: Why is it that Jewish people make up .2% of the world population, yet in our field I would estimate, conservatively, that 30% of noteworthy magicians in history are Jewish? There's an almost "magical" impulse in our field among Jewish people. It's incredible.
The most famous magician in history? Houdini (Jewish). The most famous magicians right now? Copperfield and David Blaine (both Jewish). The most accomplished mentalist? Max Maven (Jewish). The best coin magician to ever live? David Roth (Jewish). The best magician at the turn of the 20th century? Max Malini (Jewish). The most revered sleight-of-hand magician of my era? Ricky Jay (Jewish).
The list goes on and on and on. I have done many talks exploring why this might be. And I find the topic endlessly fascinating.
Anything else we should know about you and your magic?
I hope everyone can stay after. I love meeting folks after my shows and thanking them for coming!
'Why is it that Jewish people make up .2% of the world population, yet in our field I would estimate, conservatively, that 30% of noteworthy magicians in history are Jewish?'
Reviewed by Bernie Bellan Jewish Post & News (Winnipeg)
With over 75 million record albums sold and 118 songs that she either wrote or cowrote, Carole King’s prolific, fabulously successful career has been the subject of several books and numerous articles, including her own memoir, published in 2012.
Now, in the just-released Carole King: She Made the Earth Move (Yale University Press), journalist Jane Eisner takes a fresh look at King’s life, including her two most recent marriages to men who were abusive, physically and emotionally.
talent was on clear display from a very early age. Her mother, Eugenia (née Cammer) discovered that young Carol (who added an “e” to her name at 17) was gifted musically by age 3. Eugenia taught Carol piano.
Eisner worked at the Philadelphia Inquirer for 25 years including as a reporter, editor, and executive. Later, she spent 10 years as editor of The Forward. The book is the latest in the Yale University Press Jewish Lives series. Eisner opens Dayton's JCC Cultural Arts & Book Series, Oct. 19.
King has given very few interviews over the years, and Eisner was not able to speak to her directly.
"I’ve taken on the challenge to write an interpretive biography of a musical icon who is brilliant, accomplished, and complicated," Eisner writes of her approach to her book. "Though I’ve admired her music since Tapestry was released, I wanted to understand it from the inside out. To do that, I studied piano for two years, which enabled me to dissect her musicality and describe what musicians call the ‘Carole King chord.’"
I didn't realize Eisner had no background in music until I finished her biography. A great many parts of the book dissect the songwriting experience in detail. Eisner aims to explain the genius behind King’s best works, and how incredibly varied her style was.
As Eisner explains, King’s musical
Jane Eisner, author of Carole King: She Made the Earth Move, opens the JCC Cultural Arts & Book Series, 2 p.m., Sunday, Oct. 19 at University of Dayton's Roger Glass Center for the Arts, 29 Creative Way, Dayton. In partnership with UD's Society of Professional Journalists chapter, Department of Music, Alumni Chair in the Humanities, and Jewish Federation's Women's Philanthropy. With performances by UD Department of Music student ensembles and faculty. $10, free with valid student ID. Register at jewishdayton.org/events.
In Eisner’s account of King’s childhood, her early years come across as very happy. Her father, Sidney Klein, was a firefighter in Brooklyn, where the family lived. Along with several other Jewish firefighters, Sidney purchased land at Waubeeka Lake in Connecticut. Young Carol loved her summers there, and Eisner suggests that was a factor when, after having achieved fabulous success in her 30s, King threw it all away and went to live in the Idaho wilderness — with two husbands in succession.
King has remained largely silent about what led her to make such a
major shift in her life — the move away from Los Angeles' music scene to virtually cut herself (and three of her four children) off from the world. Eisner uses her reportorial skills to pore through previous accounts of King’s life (including her own memoir), along with firsthand interviews with people who played key roles in her life.
Eisner also refers to King’s younger brother, Richard, who was intellectually disabled and shunted off to live in an institution when he was only 3. Since King rarely referred to him, Eisner speculates she was somewhat traumatized by that. She also examines how much being Jewish meant to King.
Carole King: She Made the Earth Move is not meant to be an exposé of any sort. Eisner’s years of newspaper experience shine through as she tells a compelling story of genius punctuated by frequent heartbreak.
Continued on from Page 12
and contempt, but our internal conversation requires humility. After two years of war, we need to ask ourselves hard questions.
On Gaza’s hunger crisis: The Israeli government didn’t set out to deliberately starve Gaza but to deny Hamas access to the U.N.’s food distribution system. That was a legitimate goal. But when it became clear our counter-system was disastrously inadequate, and that warnings of approaching starvation might this time be true, why didn’t the government change course? Why did it require a world outcry and American pressure to prevent a catastrophe that would have haunted us for years to come? And why were we, the Israeli public, largely silent?
On civilian casualties: The IDF doesn’t deliberately kill civilians. This war, with its hundreds of kilometers of tunnels and thousands of boobytrapped apartments and total entwinement of civilian and terror infrastructures, has inevitably produced terrible civilian suffering. Still: Has the IDF done everything it could to protect civilians? Has it tolerated a recklessness that would've been unacceptable in the past?
On war crimes: Every war produces deviants. But has this war produced more instances of war crimes than our previous conflicts? And is the army properly investigating?
On Gaza’s ruins: If Gaza resembles Berlin 1945, that is, in part, a consequence of fighting an enemy that wears no uniform and operates from hospitals and schools. Still:
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How much of the devastation has been a gratuitous act of vengeance? It is true, as Israelis often note, that the Allies weren’t squeamish in their war against evil? But the Allies had a plan to rehabilitate Germany. What is this government’s plan for Gaza?
On the continued legitimacy of a just war: The IDF has repeatedly made clear that its goals are saving the hostages, defeating Hamas, and ensuring a new post-war government for Gaza. Those are noble goals. Yet the government refuses to rule out the far-right vision of a Gaza free of Palestinians. Can this war still be justified if the government doesn’t present a post-war political and economic blueprint for Gaza that's not based on de facto expulsion and permanent Israeli occupation?
On Israeli society: Enraged at the starvation and torture of our hostages, haunted by the scenes of mass celebration in Gaza on Oct. 7, we have allowed our moral discourse to become coarsened. Politicians and commentators repeat the terrible words, “There are no innocents in Gaza.” There are consequences to that kind of rhetoric. How far has this attitude penetrated the army and affected the conduct of some commanders in the field?
There are those among us on the right and left who have no questions. One camp insists on our total innocence. Another uncritically adopts the libels of our enemies.
I fear those Jews without ambivalence who, no matter how wrenching the dilemma, always offer a simple narrative that resolves our inner
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conflicts. Especially now, as we face some of the most morally complicated dilemmas in our history, those one-dimensional voices must not be allowed to determine Jewish discourse.
Continued on from Page 12
harm’s way by Hamas’ decision to launch a war and then hide behind civilians.
We need to raise our questions now, because the war is taking its most fateful turn. The invasion of Gaza City, many of us fear, will be a strategic and moral disaster.
IDF Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir, backed by heads of other security branches, has warned the government against going to this next phase of the war. Seizing Gaza City, he said, will risk the lives of the hostages, confirm Israel as a pariah state, and result in the long-term Israeli occupation of Gaza. And two more consequences he didn’t mention: It will likely result in the worst humanitarian crisis of the war. And risking the lives of the hostages will tear apart Israeli society and likely the army, too.
Even if we win against Hamas, we lose.
Israel’s war with Iran and its terror proxies is among the most justified in our history. It is a test case for whether terrorism can be effectively fought in the 21st century. Whether the West realizes it or not, the outcome is crucial for it, too.
But the Gaza phase of the Israeli-Iranian war has reached the limits of its strategic effectiveness and, in the absence of a morally credible post-war plan, its justification. The war that began Oct. 7 is far from over, but its outcome will be determined in Tehran, not Gaza City.
Yossi Klein Halevi is a senior fellow at the Shalom Hartman Institute.
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It’s because if we should have learned anything about the conflict from Oct. 7 — and the way it mobilized antisemites around the world — it is that compromise with Hamas and a Palestinian people that supports its war simply isn’t possible.
Our Western sensibilities and desire to settle all conflicts on a reasonable basis cry out in favor of some sort of compromise with the Palestinians. But there is no compromise with those who are committed to the deaths of Israelis and Jews — not to achieve a limited political goal, but as a religious and national obligation.
Holding back from doing the necessary and awful job of eliminating the last Hamas strongholds won’t improve Israel’s image abroad or save its collective soul.
It will only ensure that the conflict will continue on an even more horrible basis sometime in the near future, guaranteeing more death and destruction for Jews and Arabs alike.
Of course, as is the case with every nation in history that ever fought a war, it’s correct to say that this government is flawed and that the army has made mistakes.
But Halevi argues that because Netanyahu has not stated in advance what Israel will do once the war is over, that essentially means the remnants of Hamas still holding out in the tunnels underneath
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Gaza City should be left in place. That is neither a reasonable nor a moral argument. His claim that under the current circumstances, “even if we win against Hamas, we lose,” may sound wise, but it is sophistry masquerading as morality.
No one should blindly trust Netanyahu — or the generals or politicians who disagree with him. But in a war in which the other side is prepared to sacrifice all of their own people in an effort to further Israel’s destruction, there is no substitute for complete victory over such amoral monsters.
It was, after all, sensible moderation that led Netanyahu and virtually all of his political opponents to support leaving Hamas in place, bribing them with payments and Palestinian work permits to maintain a ceasefire. And it might have worked if the Palestinians were equally interested in sensible moderation or coexistence. But they weren’t, and they aren’t. And that leaves Netanyahu — or anyone else who would be placed in his position — with the obligation to safeguard Israel’s future by eliminating Hamas and its rule.
To put Israel on trial now, with much of the world wrongly embracing blood libels against Israel and normalizing antisemitism, and with the war’s outcome still hanging in the balance, isn’t the laudable process Halevi thinks it is. You don’t have to sympathize with the prime minister or to support some of his coalition partners to believe that Halevi is mistaken.
Rather, his call for an outcry against Israel’s democratically
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elected government at this time is a weaponization of Jewish tradition to create a political cudgel against Netanyahu to force him to end the conflict on terms that will ensure its repetition.
That will satisfy those who are so embittered by the prime minister that they view certain failure in Gaza as preferable to his continued stay in office.
But the calculus by which they have arrived at that preferred outcome should not be mistaken for the sort of accounting of our souls demanded by Judaism.
In a war he admits the Israel Defense Forces is striving to fight morally, to declare it guilty of wrongdoing when that gives aid and comfort to antisemitic mobs and Hamas, is not wisdom. And it’s not ethical.
The moral imperative facing Jews this year should require them to join in solidarity with Israel’s efforts to extinguish Hamas, rather than virtue-signal their ambivalence about a war against a truly evil opponent.
And not because they think Israel can do no wrong, but because they have come to the correct conclusion about a zero-sum conflict in which any outcome other than Hamas’ destruction is an unparalleled moral disaster.
They should put aside partisan differences — both in Israel and in the United States — to support efforts to achieve a result to end this war on terms that will make it impossible for the Palestinians to continue it, regardless of their sense of grievance about Israel’s continued existence.
Anything else is a betrayal of our obligation to support those fighting for the life of the Jewish state, rather than to gratuitously appoint ourselves as their judges.
Jonathan S. Tobin
is editor-in-chief of JNS.
Continued from Page Nine
they return from LifeWise.
“The curriculum teaches that because my kids are Jewish and don’t believe in Jesus, we’re going to hell...And touching on just some of the low-level antisemitism, just really more ignorant type comments,” she said. “It’s a very specific version of Christianity that, I think, goes against, in my opinion, goals of creating an inclusive, positive religious environment in America.”
LifeWise, which started in Miamisburg in January, “unequivocally condemns antisemitism or any form of harassment or discrimination,” Czernejewski said.
“Our mission is to provide Bible-based character education,” she said. “If any student were to make inappropriate or hurtful remarks toward their peers, whether inside or outside of school, that behavior would be inconsistent with what LifeWise teaches.”
Rachel Evans, the mother of a student in Centerville City Schools, won't send her son to LifeWise. Her family is Jewish. LifeWise launches in Centerville in September.
“You have these kids who are taught that they need to save people because they’re taught that hell is just the worst place you could go,” she said. “And they’re really trying to help their friends, but that can be really damaging to a kid.”
Hearing LifeWise is in almost half of Ohio’s school districts makes Evans scared for her son’s future. “I have had past experiences where I was proselytized to at a very young age and it’s not a good feeling,” she said. “The whole point of it is to disrupt the school day...There are so many other times when this would be appropriate, and I think during the school day is not it.”
Judith Kay Perlman passed away peacefully after her long journey with dementia, on Sept. 6. She was known for her love of Judaism, music, and family. She was a beloved sister, aunt, and cousin to her family and many friends. Judith was born Feb. 15, 1948 in Kansas City, Mo. and attended Southwest High School where she found her musical love of the clarinet. She carried this talent through for 35 years with the Kansas City American Legion Band, playing and traveling with them throughout the United States and foreign countries as well. Judy worked as an administrative assistant and music therapist. Judith’s spiritual home was at Temple Bnai Jehudah, where she was one of the “front row ladies” for many years. She was proud to be a b’nai mitzvah, and especially to blow the shofar at several High Holiday services. Judith loved her family and spent time and vacations traveling to Denver, California, and Dayton to be with those not in Kansas City. She is survived by her sister, Marcia Cox of Dayton; her brother, Robert (Wolf) Perlman of Salida, Co.; nephews Dan Cox and Eric Reda of Chicago, Joseph, Jennie, and Jacob Cox of Baltimore; cousins Jon and Alan Rothstein, Ron Davis, and Diane Ravis. Judith was cared for in her final years by the very caring staff of Village Shalom Memory Care and by Monarch Hospice. The family requests donations be made to Temple B’nai Jehudah, Village Shalom Memory Care, Temple Israel in Dayton, or the Jewish Federation of Greater Dayton. Interment was at Rose Hill Cemetery, Kansas City, Mo.
Linda L. Shapiro, 81 of Clayton, passed away on Sept. 3. She was the daughter of Paul and Meta Boral of Miami. She is survived by her husband, Joel Shapiro, her mate of 60 years; her daughters, Erika Spencer, of Ellicott City, Md. and Marcie Shapiro of San Diego; and grandchildren Caleb Spencer and Hailey Spencer. Contributions may be made to Aullwood Audubon of Dayton, Temple Israel, and Beth Abraham Synagogue.
Born in Cincinnati in 1931, Sandra Berman Zipperstein was the youngest child of Abe and Martha Berman. She was predeceased by her parents, brothers (Bertram and Lawrence), and husband (Irvin). After graduating from Walnut Hills High School, she enrolled at the University of Cincinnati. However, her time there was interrupted when she married Irv in 1950. Shortly thereafter, they moved to Dayton to start a family, where she raised three children (Debi, Jon, and Margie). Sandy was active in the Jewish community, holding numerous leadership roles, including president of the sisterhood at Beth Abraham Synagogue and president of Hillel Academy Jewish day school. A lifelong member of Hadassah and passionate supporter of Israel, she visited the country many times over many decades to visit her daughter, grandchildren, and other extended family members. In her early 50s, Sandy returned
to school, earning a Bachelor of Science in Education in 1984 and a Master of Science in Education in 1986, both from the University of Dayton. She then spent several decades working with the geriatric community, leading exercise programs and extracurricular activities for senior citizens at the Shiloh House in Dayton. Growing up, Sandy had a large extended family with many strong role models, but none influenced her more than her mother, an excellent cook who created a warm household that Sandy sought to emulate. Sandy is survived by her three children: Debi (Shmuel) Lahav, Jon (Ellen) Zipperstein, and Margie (Bob) Stayton, nine grandchildren, 12 great-grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews. Sandy will be remembered for her vibrant personality, her gift for making every meal simultaneously delicious and meaningful, and her deep connection to music. Her sunny disposition was infectious from the time she was young until her last days. The best way to honor and remember Sandy is by singing along to one of her favorite tunes: Hello, Dolly from the musical, Hold Tight, Hold Tight by The Andrew Sisters, Come Fly With Me by Frank Sinatra, The Hut Sut Song by Sammy Kaye, Go Down, Moses by Nat King Cole. Sandy loved her family and was deeply loved by them. She will be missed dearly. Interment was at Adath Israel Cemetery, Cincinnati. Memorial contributions to Hadassah would be greatly appreciated.
Larry S. Glickler, Director
Larry S. Glickler, Director
Larry S. Glickler, Director
Dayton’s ONLY Jewish Funeral Director
Dayton’s ONLY Jewish Funeral Director
Dayton’s ONLY Jewish Funeral Director
1849 Salem Avenue, Dayton, Ohio 45406-4927 (937) 278-4287 lgfuneralhome@gmail.com
1849 Salem Avenue, Dayton, Ohio 45406-4927 (937) 278-4287 lgfuneralhome@gmail.com
1849 Salem Avenue, Dayton, Ohio 45406-4927 (937) 278-4287 lgfuneralhome@gmail.com
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