As 5784 draws to a close and we welcome 5785, the American Israelite would like to showcase the top stories that ran in the newspaper this last year. This is the Year in Review.
September 14, 2023 — HOFFHEIMER, Minette G., age 96, passed away on September 7, 2023, beloved wife of the late Arthur Hoffheimer Jr., devoted mother of Craig (Debra) Hoffheimer, Roger Hoffheimer (Steve Mei), James (Karen) Hoffheimer and Mark Hoffheimer, loving grandmother of Dr. Marcia Hoffheimer, Terri and Seth Campbell, Rebecca (Adam) Boots, Arthur Philip (Melissa) Hoffheimer, Kathleen Hoffheimer and Meagan (Michael) Whitcomb, also survived by ten great grandchildren, companion of the late Ted Schwartz.
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On Sunday, September 10, the parking lot of the Mayerson JCC was transformed into an outdoor market for their 2023 Fall Market. More than 50 vendors set up booths offering everything from fresh produce to kosher baked goods to handcrafted goods by local artisans. If shoppers were hungry or thirsty, there was a variety of options to slate their hunger or quench their thirst, from Little Trolley Donuts to Billie Gold Bubble Tea to Marx Bagels.
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On Sunday, September 10, at Loveland Cemetery, Jewish Cemeteries of Greater Cincinnati and the Cincinnati Judaica Fund dedicated a new installation of rescued historical plaques that represent hundreds of years of Cincinnati Jewish History. The installation, a permanent, outdoor exhibit, is the first of its kind and was dedicated as part of the finale to JCGC’s Capital Campaign.
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September 21, 2023 — Henry Perry Mentle died on September 3, 2023 in Boca Raton, Florida. Henry was born in 1949 to Edith and Philip Mentle and grew up in Bronx, NY. He was a die-hard Yankees fan and grew up near Yankee Stadium. Henry studied Aerospace Engineering at Polytechnic University in New York City. He earned additional master’s degrees in industrial engineering and business administration and worked his entire career for Procter and Gamble.
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K.K. Bene Israel/Rockdale Temple will begin its Bicentennial year on Saturday, September 30 at Tikkun Farm. The opening event will include tours of the farm, the opportunity to decorate and dedicate a pergola donated by the congregation to Tikkun Farm to become a sukkah, and a celebration of the Festival of Sukkot in the new sukkah, led by Rabbis Meredith Kahan and Erin Binder.
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Another day at the Mayerson JCC is coming to a close. Parents pick up their children from After Crew after an exciting afternoon of swimming, playing games, and creating artistic masterpieces. Others are wrapping up their personal training sessions in the gym or making their final remarks in a discussion group before heading home for dinner.
While the day is winding down for members of the J, the JCC Annual Meeting is just beginning. The annual event highlights what is happening inside these walls and throughout the community every day: connections forming within the community through sports, senior programming, our Early Childhood School, and so much more.
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September 28, 2023 — On Thursday, September 7, the JCRC of Cincinnati hosted Amy Spitalnick, the Jewish Council for Public Affair’s (JCPA) new CEO, as their first scholar-in-residence for the Leaders in Light Institute. Spitalnick first rose to prominence as Director of Integrity First for America (IFA), the organization that brought the lawsuit against the white supremacists and neo-Nazis responsible for the violence in Charlottesville, Virginia in 2017. In her new role as CEO, Spitalnick will continue the legacy she began fighting extremism in all its forms.
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Jewish teens from all over the world entered the FLA Live Arena in Fort Lauderdale in August. Colorful lights flashed around them, loud music hyped up the entire arena, and teens cheered from all corners — probably the loudest for their own cities, but for all the others, too. The athletes gathered for the 2023 Maccabi Games opening ceremonies and were eagerly anticipating their events in the coming days and realizing the significance of the experience.
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Yeshivas Lubavitch Cincinnati, under the leadership of Rabbi Gershon Avtzon, has begun their 18th year of stellar chinuch (education). To celebrate this special occasion, the Yeshiva arranged — through a vaad of alumni — a grand Hakhel Dinner for all of its alumni at the JCM (Jewish Children’s Museum).
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October 5, 2023 — September 18, the 22nd of Elul, marked the yahrzeit of Mr. Gene I. Mesh of blessed memory. Born in 1931 to Charles and Lillian Mesh, Gene grew up in Hamilton, Ohio. After the sudden passing of his father in 1933, Gene lived with his mother and her two brothers, Phillip and Maurice Fogel. Phillip was a father figure for Gene.
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As summer winds down, Friday Night Shabbat is just gearing up. With record attendance at the last two dinners, more families are gathering to celebrate shabbat together as a community.
The Mayerson Jewish Community Center hosted Friday Night Shabbat dinner on August 18, with over 200 parents and children filling their Amberley room.
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The Cincinnati Skirball Museum is gearing up to astound art enthusiasts and culture seekers on the evening of October 19th, 2023 beginning at 5:30 p.m. in Mayerson Hall on the campus of Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion. This much-anticipated event is poised to be an enthralling celebration of Jewish history, contemporary creativity, and the power of women.
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October 12, 2023 — The Jewish Federation of Cincinnati stands in solidarity with the people of Israel during these harrowing times. We are deeply grieved and profoundly concerned by the ongoing crisis that has engulfed our extended family in Israel.
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AJC Cincinnati looks forward to proudly presenting John Stein with its 2023 Community Service Award during a reception on Wednesday, November 29, 5:30 p.m., at the Mayerson JCC.
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In commemoration of Israel’s 75th anniversary, ish has opened its doors to two Israeli artists-in- residence, hailing from Netanya, Israel, to further the organization’s mission of crafting intentional spaces for connection and acceptance through art. This artistic residency culminates in a remarkable exhibition titled “Motherhood Essence and the Feminine Divine,” a profound exploration of femininity’s essence and the sacred art of motherhood.
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October 19, 2023 — Ann Louise Moss was born in Bridgeport, Connecticut, in 1931, the first-born daughter of Harold Krieger Moss and Norma Bluestein Moss. The Moss family was from Bridgeport and Milford, Connecticut. The Bluestein family was from Bethel, Ohio, where Norma’s father, (Ann’s Grandfather) Simon (Si) Bluestein was the first Jewish President of the Bethel Bank. Eventually the family moved to Cincinnati.
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Irene Isaac Block of Cincinnati passed away at the age of 100 on October 10, 2023. The native Cincinnati centenarian was energized by the love for her family and she believed her long life and good health were a result of her sense of humor, healthy eating, and commitment to her daily vitamins. Wanting to leave the world better than she found it, she realized life was all about how you played the cards you were dealt and was committed to doing so honestly and elegantly.
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The community of Cincinnati came together last Tuesday, October 10, at Adath Israel Synagogue in Amberely to show their unwavering support for Israel. Around 1500 individuals attended the gathering, which was organized by the Jewish Federation of Cincinnati. The event featured speeches by members of the Jewish community as well as local officials, and included many prayers and moments of reflection.
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October 26, 2023 — As the Jewish community here continues to grapple with the terrorist invasion of Israel and the brutal murder of over 1400 Israelis, many are turning to actions that they can do to help make a difference. Starting November 1st, over two dozen Jewish organizations in Cincinnati will join together for a month-long “Clean Speech” Challenge to honor the lives lost and help heal through community unity. The initiative, led by Rabbi Seth Cook, head of the Jewish Experience Cincinnati, encourages mindful speech as a way to help make a difference and “strengthen solidarity.”
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Before she began writing for young people, Kolesar taught environmental education to children, worked for a US Senator on Capitol Hill, and practiced law in Manhattan. After she had three children of her own, she transitioned to a new realm of work as a children’s author. She has written for both children and middle grade readers, but, until “Dream by Dream,” had focused on fiction writing. Her book on Rabbi Wise is the first time she’s worked with non-fiction material for young readers, and it came with its own set of challenges and delights. I was lucky enough to be able to chat with Kolesar and discuss the genesis of her book and her process for writing it.
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After a lengthy closure caused by supply chain issues during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Skirball Museum galleries devoted to Torah, Life Cycle, and Holidays and Festivals are once again open with new cases, new signage, and ritual objects that have never been on view before. On Thursday, November 9 from 12 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. curatorial consultant Abby Schwartz and preparator and collections manager Sheri Besso will offer a behind-the scenes look at the reinstallation of these galleries. A light lunch will be served.
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November 2, 2023 — “The people made this trip. Israel was amazing, but to be surrounded by a bunch of Jewish tennis players — a bunch of versions of me! — it was so amazing,” said Elle Frischer. “I’ve kept in contact with them since the day we left, and I don’t plan on ever stopping.”
Elle represented Cincinnati on the US Girls 18 tennis team during the 21st Maccabiah Games in Israel. “It was a lot of fun, and we played the best Jewish competition from across the world,” Elle said.
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Naomi Ackerman, an Israeli actress who was commissioned by the Israeli Ministry of Welfare to write a play about domestic violence, is coming to Cincinnati from November 10–12. The pandemic exacerbated the existing crisis of domestic violence. The JWI’s (Jewish Women International) report, “Domestic Violence in the Jewish Community,” stated, “The pandemic has created heightened risks for women and families as stay-at-home orders, unemployment, financial hardship, and trauma correlate with an increase of gender-based violence.” According to Women Helping Women, one in three women and one in four men have been victims of some form of physical violence by an intimate partner in their lifetime.
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Cincinnati-area families raising Jewish children will now have more opportunities to participate in Jewish life, thanks to a grant recently awarded by PJ Library®, the flagship program of the Harold Grinspoon Foundation, which provides free books to families raising Jewish children all over the world.
The Mayerson JCC received $15,000 to launch PJ Parent Connectors, a new program to find and engage Jewish families, especially those new to the area or PJ Library, in smaller, socially-based settings.
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November 9, 2023 — For over a year, The American Israelite has featured a children’s page showcasing the art of Chari Pere, a New Jersey based artist. Each week, Pere shares with our readers her interpretation of the weekly parsha. She often draws out details that might be missed in the text, or accents the message in a story that gives us a new way to think about the material. She helps translate complex stories into visual art that is accessible to all ages.
Pere will be a featured panelist at the upcoming Jewish Comics Experience, hosted in NYC November 11-12 by the Center for Jewish History.
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One Wednesday evening a month, laughter and chatter pours out of the Mayerson JCC board rooms as young Pokémon fans gather to play, battle, and make new friends.
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(JTA) — When Reform Judaism’s leading educational institution adopted a controversial plan last year to discontinue rabbinical seminary studies at its flagship Cincinnati campus, leaders were insistent that other graduate programs would still be on offer there.
That no longer appears to be the case, as Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion’s president has announced that the school will shutter all of the full-time degree programs based in Cincinnati.
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November 16, 2023 — The Jewish Foundation of Cincinnati convened the leadership of its grantee organizations, as well as members of the community, for a moderated discussion about the Foundation’s investments in Cincinnati, and how changes in the Foundation’s governance will impact its grantmaking work going forward.
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Meet Juli Goodman, the new Executive Director of Hillel at Ohio University (OU) in Athens, and a brand-new Bobcat fan who sports her spirit wear with Ohio Bobcats spelled out in Hebrew.
“I am so excited to be in Athens working with our wonderful students and community,” said Goodman, who joined the OU Hillel in July. “I can’t wait for more. I love Athens. It’s a wonderful town with really kind people who support our Hillel. Go Bobcats!”
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“I never knew the extent or scale of the Maccabiah Games until I got there, and all the athletes started arriving,” said Jonathan Levy. “It was a lot of Jewish athletes coming together from all around the world for this event. When I was at the opening ceremonies, that’s when it began to feel real and surreal at the same time. It was like being at the Olympics; that’s the only way to describe it.”
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November 23, 2023 — Last week, something truly incredible happened. Approximately 2% of the world’s Jewish community gathered in Washington, D.C., to support Israel, rally for freeing the hostages taken on October 7, and decry the radical increase in antisemitism. I was there — in fact, I’m writing this while sitting on the plane home — and I want to share three reflections on this unique experience before any of it slips from memory.
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“I was really excited about the idea of being able to play squash in another country, to meet other Jewish squash players,” recalled Nora Brant. “I was really intrigued to be a part of such a big event — there were more than 10,000 athletes, more than a thousand Americans. I wanted to be part of that.”
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November 30, 2023 — Jewish Family Service of Cincinnati (JFS) has opened JFS Adult Day Services in Blue Ash, Ohio. The facility is co-located inside the JFS Headquarters. It is a safe, clean, comfortable environment where skilled staff can help older adults — with moderate or developing cognitive issues — engage in activities designed to enhance their quality of life. Since every client is unique, the staff is careful to respect and respond to individual needs. Research shows that when older adults are treated with dignity and compassion, it can improve their physical, social, emotional, intellectual, or spiritual wellbeing. Similar improvements can result when people connect with nature, which will be an additional focus of the center. Support for this program was provided by Jewish Home of Cincinnati.
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“The Cincinnati community is incredibly generous. The Jewish community here, I don’t think there’s an equal, really, across the country,” said Eric Jacobson.
Eric’s son, Yuval, participated in the 21st Maccabiah Games in Israel, and the family took advantage of a Cincy Journeys Israel travel grant to make that possible.
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The Jewish Discovery Center delivered 240 Shabbat kits as part of their “Host for a Hostage” campaign during Shabbat, Friday November 17. The event was spearheaded by Goldy Kalmanson, the center’s Program Director. Participants received a beautiful bag including Challah, grape juice, Shabbat candles, a “How to Shabbat” booklet, a blessings magnet, and a picture with the name of a hostage in captivity in Gaza to adopt.
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December 7, 2023 — It is with a heavy heart that we share the passing of Michael Glassman, a man whose pride was measured by the legacy of love that surrounded him. Seventy-one years young, Michael lived a life richly filled with family that were friends, friends who were family, and a tapestry of loved ones from all corners of the world that created a circle of life that he lived to the fullest each and every day.
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GERALD ALAN “JERRY” WALLACE, Gedalia ben Moshe, of Pomona, NY, formerly of Brook- lyn, NY, age 79, was attended in his passing by his son, Brian (Judy) Wallace, and his grand- sons Ilan, Efraim, Shimon, and Yosef, in Cincinnati, OH on Sun- day, December 3, 2023. Also survived by his granddaughters Rose and Elle. Jerry was pre- ceded in death in 2020 by his wife, Linda Jean, and by another grandson, Moshe, in 2002. He has a profoundly developmentally delayed son, Daniel, age 39, who is living in a charitable care home which Jerry and Linda helped create together with other parents for the benefit of their ID/DD children.
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Barbara Wolf Altman was born in 1933 in Cincinnati. She studied dance from a young age and taught all types of dance and exercise throughout her life. She married Dr. Sidney Altman and had 41 years of a wonderful marriage. Barbara was a devoted mother to her four children. She loved hiking, camping, canoeing and skating with the family.
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December 14, 2023 — Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion (HUC-JIR) shares with great sorrow the sudden passing of Rabbi David Ellenson, Ph.D., renowned educator, scholar, leader, and friend. The Chancellor Emeritus of HUC- JIR, Rabbi Ellenson served distinguished terms both as President (2001–2013) and as Interim President (2018–2019), returning to guide the institution following the tragic death of Rabbi Aaron Panken, Ph.D., z”l.
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Darhla Miles was born in Whitesburg, Kentucky. Her family did not go to church, nor did they emphasize religion. Her father would introduce himself as a Christian, but largely her parents simply emphasized “being a good person.” Darhla felt that she was always “looking for some religion that fit my ideas.” She claims “Christianity was close,” but she never connected to “the emphasis on Jesus.”
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December 21, 2023 — A cohort of young adults from Cincinnati is heading to Israel December 25 – January 7 as part of the Birthright Israel Onward Volunteer in Israel program. The Cincinnati program, which is funded by the Jewish Foundation of Cincinnati, is coordinated locally by JVS Careers, UC Hillel, Miami Hillel, and Jewish Federation of Cincinnati. Jewish students at those schools and anyone who is a Cincinnati resident (or has a Cincinnati parent who is a resident) qualified for the mission.
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In recent years, Ohio has seen lots of governmental encouragement for parents to provide the best quality education for their children. One initiative that passed legislation is the scholarship donation credit, whereby one can get a tax credit by donating to a scholarship granting organization (SGO), which enables families who can’t afford the full burden of private school education to receive previously unavailable tuition assistance.
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The U.S. Department of Education is launching an investigation into the University of Cincinnati, among others, amid heightened campus tension due to the ongoing Israel-Hamas war. The investigations have been opened under Title VI, which prohibits discrimination at institutions which received federal funding.
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December 28, 2023 — The American Israelite is proud to announce their 2023 People of the Year! These individuals have led by example, and we are happy to acknowledge their contributions to the Jewish community and the community at large.
The recipients are: Dianne Dunkelman, David Gershuny, Larry Neuman, and Melanie Zadikoff.
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Mayerson JCC members Katie and Sam May were planning to start their family when they spotted a sign in the lobby for J Baby. They weren’t necessarily looking for a prenatal group, but as fate would have it, J Baby was exactly what they needed.
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The American Israelite is pleased to announce its new book reviewer. Sherry Brynes will begin reviewing books for the paper starting in January of 2024.
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January 4, 2024 — K.K. Bene Israel/Rockdale Temple will commemorate its 200th anniversary at its Bicentennial Weekend, January 26 – 28, 2024. The weekend celebration begins on Friday evening, January 26 at 8:00 p.m. with a Legacy Shabbat Service in Rockdale’s Messer Chapel, featuring music through the ages. Rabbi Rick Jacobs, President of the Union for Reform Judaism, of which Kehal Kodesh Bene Israel is a founding member, will be a special guest. Former rabbis, past presidents, and their families will be honored during the service. An elegant oneg will follow. The community is warmly welcomed to celebrate this special Shabbat.
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On Sunday, January 7th, Adath Israel’s Jarson Education Center will open its new sensory rooms for public viewing. “It feels like the picture that I’ve had in my head for the last year is finally a tangible thing that others can see,” said Rachel Brown, Director of Education and Family Programming.
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January 11, 2024 — On Thursday, January 25, David Myer, Distinguished Professor of History and holder of the Sady and Ludwig Kahn Chair in Jewish History at UCLA, will present “American Shtetl: My Path in Studying Kiryas Joel, a Hasidic Municipality in Suburban New York” as part of the University of Cincinnati’s Jennie L. and Jacob Lichter Series. Organized by the Department of Judaic Studies, the community is invited to attend this 3-part series made possible by the Jacob and Jennie L. Lichter Fund of the Jewish Federation of Cincinnati.
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Calling all current and past Scouts to demonstrate your commitment to the Scout Law and join us to celebrate Scout Shabbat on Friday, February 2, 2024!
Our local Jewish Committee on Scouting (JCOS), part of the Boy Scouts of America’s Dan Beard Council, and Northern Hills Synagogue are sponsoring a Scout Shabbat on Friday, February 2, 2024.
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The Wexner Foundation, in partnership with the Jim Joseph Foundation, welcomes Class 8 of the Wexner Field Fellowship. Utilizing the diverse, cohort-based learning that is the hallmark of Foundation leadership initiatives, Field Fellows learn from experienced faculty and develop tools to enhance their leadership while addressing the pressing issues in the Jewish community.
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January 18, 2024 — Leah Levine, nee Friedman, age 97, passed away on January 4, 2024, beloved wife of the late Herman Levine, devoted mother of Nancy (Tom) Horwitz, Jeffrey Marmer (Peggeth Loeb), Amy Marmer (John Ataman), Randy (Tsuneko) Marmer, dear sister of Jacque (Madeline) Friedman, lov- ing grandmother of Joshua Hor- witz, Katherine Horwitz Martinez, Max Marmer, Zoe Marmer, Aaron Ataman, Claire Ataman, Emily Marmer and great-grandmother of Shoshanna Ataman.
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On November 26, 2023, an article on the Hebrew business newssite theMarker dot com ran with the headline “the academic world is against us.” It confirmed what many of us had already been hearing from Israeli colleagues and friends. Although the formal push from BDS had not yet taken root, an informal de facto boycott of the Israeli academy was quickly taking hold in the month following the inhumane attack by Hamas on October 7 and Israel’s military response to it.
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SOUP’S ON! The Brotherhood of Isaac M. Wise Temple is thrilled to announce the return of the Chicken Soup Cook-off, a hugely popular, community-wide gathering held annually for 16 years through 2020. While the pandemic forced a three-year pause to the event, the Brotherhood is excited to bring the tradition back to our community on February 4, 2024.
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January 25, 2024 — STEINER, Ellen Marcia, née Kuby, age 74, passed away on January 15th 2024, beloved wife of Corky Steiner, cherished mother of Meredith (Eric) Burns, Ricky Steiner, Joseph “Joey” (Jessica) Steiner, loving sister of Mimi Lerner and Mark (Pam) Kuby, caring sister in law of the late Jerry Lerner and Rick Steiner, adored grandmother of Graham, Bailey and Evelina Burns, and Lily Steiner, devoted aunt of Ace Steiner and the late Duke Steiner.
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On a Saturday night in the dead of winter, crowds of moviegoers venture out in the cold air, the wind biting. It is a much-needed break in the bleakness of the year’s early months. Once inside, they feel the warmth of community, and they’re invigorated by the night’s feature: Opening Night of the Jewish & Israeli Film Festival. Hugs and laughter fill the space — friends greeting one another as the lights dim and the film rolls.
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The Skirball Museum and ish partnered to present an intergenerational art experience for the Cincinnati community Sunday, January 21st. Particpciants gathered together in Mayerson Hall at the Skirball Museum to create art inspired by the symbolism and design of Iranian-Persian rug patterns. Sharareh Khosravan, an Iranian artist and one of the creators featured in the current exhibit “Motherhood Essence and the Feminine Divine: Cincinnati and Israeli Artists Interpret The Female Experience” at the Skirball led the experience.
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February 1, 2024 — Carol Ann Schwartz of Cincinnati, OH, was installed yesterday as the 28th national president of Hadassah, The Women’s Zionist Organization of America, the largest Jewish women’s organization in the country, with nearly 300,000 members and supporters representing every congressional district. The installation took place at Hadassah’s midwinter meetings in West Palm Beach, FL. Schwartz, who was elected at Hadassah’s annual business meeting in July, succeeds Rhoda Smolow of Great Neck, NY.
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This past weekend, the congregation of K.K. Bene Israel Rockdale Temple celebrated their 200th anniversary with a Bicentennial Shabbat Service Friday, January 26, followed by a Gala event Saturday the 27. The Legacy Shabbat service, held in the Messer chapel, commemorated two centuries of Jewish communal life with worship and song.
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The Friday Night Shabbat initiative has quickly become a wonderful way for families in the Cincinnati Jewish community to wind down after a busy week, as evidenced by another big turnout on Friday, January 12th. One hundred plus people packed the Jewish Discovery Center for a fun and engaging evening that included everything from matzah ball soup to a magic show.
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February 8, 2024 — Stanley Aronoff was born in North Avondale on June 8, 1932. He graduated in 1950 from Walnut Hills High School, where he is recognized in the school’s hall of fame for distinguished alumni. Shortly after earning both Bachelor’s and law degrees from Harvard University, he returned to Cincinnati to practice law.
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In response to the war in Gaza, the Skirball has placed on view a work by artist Marlene Siff, who created Peace/War in the context of the Arab Israeli peace process of the 1990s, the assassination of Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin in 1995, and the string of terrorist attacks that followed. Superimposed over a map of Israel are a multitude of circular forms, at the approximate locations of major population centers. A profusion of lightly written names — victims of terrorist bombings since the peace process began — slide down both sides of the work. Siff dedicated this piece “in memory of innocent victims whose lives were extinguished by senseless acts of violence.”
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The Mayerson JCC Jewish & Israeli Film Festival is offering a diverse, inspiring lineup of award-winning films and engaging, educational programming that connects to Jewish and Israeli stories. The 2024 festival has a hybrid lineup with each film offered either in-person only or virtual only to allow for viewing in the community or from the comfort of your own home.
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February 15, 2024 — On the morning of February 7, 2024, the banquet hall of the Mayerson JCC was packed with roughly 280 attendees for the Jewish Federation of Cincinnati’s second annual Impact Breakfast. The aroma of fresh coffee and bagels filled the room as citywide supporters situated themselves to hear testimony from Ana Sazonov, a Ukrainian-born Jew who has experienced the impact of two wars — the Ukrainian and Israeli wars — over the last two years.
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Sam Frohman, son of Bob Frohman and Christine Luzar, is engaged to marry Kiley Maxwell, daughter of Karen and Terry Maxwell, all from the Cincinnati area.
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February 22, 2024 — Last month, JNF hosted a community “Seeds of Unity” event as part of the USA Women for Israel Tu’Bishvat Celebration. One of the speakers at the evening’s event was Rachel Stern, Director of Operations/Outreach at Tazpit Press Service (TPS), Israel’s independent news agency. I was fortunate to sit down over coffee with Rachel to learn more about her work and her reason for visiting the States, as well as gain a better understanding of TPS’s mission, especially in the wake of October 7.
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February 29, 2024 — Northern Hills Synagogue’s up-coming Ahavat Israel (Love of Israel) benefit to raise funds for the Jewish Federation of Cincinnati’s Israel Emergency Fund will take place on Sunday, March 10 at 3:00 pm. “We developed this event as a way for people to come together, celebrate all that is great about Israel and to raise more funds for the emergency campaign,” stated Event Chair Matt Lee, Northern Hills Vice-President.
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Ohio University Hillel celebrat- ed a slam-dunk Havdalah this month by merging the spiritual end of Shabbat with the spirit of Bobcats basketball.
At Hoops and Havdalah, held the first Saturday in February, Jewish students enjoyed compli- mentary tickets to the OU Men’s basketball game against the Miami University RedHawks during Sibs Weekend and then participated in a post-game Havdalah ceremony with Head Basketball Coach Jeff Boals.
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March 7, 2024 — Jacobs, Linda nee Lofstrom, age 92, originally of Pittsburgh, PA, peacefully passed away on March 3rd, 2024. She was the loving wife of the late Jerold E. Jacobs, beloved mother of Molly (Les) Polasky of Cincinnati, OH, John (Maria) Jacobs of Delaware, dear sister of the late Karin Broadhead, loving grandmother of Jerold C. Jacobs, Joseph Polasky, Daniel Polasky and Lilly Jacobs, and adoring “Mimi” to many.
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Max Seibert (b. March 6, 1948) passed away on Thursday, February 29th, 2024, of heart failure. Eldest son of the late Israel and Florence Seibert, Max is survived by his sister, Mary Seibert, and brother, Jeff Seibert. He leaves behind nephews, Ryan and David Josefovsky, Daniel Seibert and niece Hannah Seibert.
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Introducing Samantha Wolkoff, the new co-host of The American Israelite’s “Let There Be Light” podcast! Born in Cleveland and raised in Cincinnati, Samantha’s journey has been marked by academic achievements, athletics, and a career that started in the Consumer Packaging Goods (CPG) industry.
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March 14, 2024 — (Kerman – Hildegard) Hildegard Hallo Kerman, of Cincinnati Ohio, died on December 14, 2023 at Judson Park in Cleveland, Ohio at age 95. Born to Anne and Carl Gotthelft, November 2, 1928 in Kassel, Germany. Hildy and her mother immigrated to the United States in 1937. Hildy graduated from Walnut Hills High School ’45 and the University of Cincinnati ’49. Hildy and David M. Kerman married June 17, 1950.
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For the past 170 years, The American Israelite has been Jewish Cincinnati’s source for news about the local community and important happenings across the US and around the world. While the paper is still printed and delivered to mailboxes every week, as times have changed, new avenues for keeping readers up to date, such as a website, an online archive, a digital version of the paper, email blasts, and even a podcast, have been added to the Israelite’s brand.
And now, the paper is branching out in yet another new direction by supporting the Chai Minded Meetup Club, a grassroots initiative started by a group of Jewish retirees in their effort to offer monthly social programming that is independent of a congregation or organization.
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It’s 7 p.m. on a Thursday night and the gym at the Mayerson JCC gears up for another fun night of Adapted Basketball, a class that is part of the inclusion programming at the J. A bus pulls into the J with visitors from Catholic Residential Services (CRS) while others arrive with family members or caretakers.
One of the usuals, Ira Bluestein, arrives with his caretaker, Dave. Ira sports a red shirt to ensure he will always be on the red team, and he doesn’t have to worry about wearing the practice pennies that are issued at the game.
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March 21, 2024 — WERTHAISER, Larry, age 77, passed away March 14, 2024, son of the late Harry and Sala Werthaiser, beloved husband of Iris Werthaiser, loving father of Melissa (Stefan) Hunter and Joshua (Ashley) Werthaiser, caring grandfather of Alexis and Rebecca Hunter, and Shane, Ari and Eli Werthaiser, dear brother of Marvin (Mindy) Werthaiser, brother-in-law of Faith (Spencer) Dolin, uncle of Hailey (Brian) Parnes, Michael (Jess) Dolin, and Daniel (Sara Finlay) Dolin, close friend of Bob and Cathy Altbaier.
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Jean Kolstein Lieberman was born on December 19th, 1929 in Cincinnati, daughter of Harry and Reva Kolstein. She died on March 14, 2024, surrounded by family in the days prior to her death.
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Two antisemitic banners were flown publicly in Cincinnati this weekend. One of the banners was flown over Columbia Parkway. The banners appeared on March 16, the day the city was set to celebrate Saint Patrick’s Day. One banner read “Save Ireland from the Jews,” and replaced the letter “e” in “Jews” with a star of David. It was hung from a pedestrian bridge over The Parkway. Ari Jun, Director of the Jewish Community Relations Council in Cincinnati, said there was no indication at present as to who was responsible for the banners. “Often, with incidents like this, we won’t learn of who is responsible unless someone begins to claim responsibility or it leaks out.”
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March 28, 2024 — Cincinnati audiences will experience one of the most profound stories of the 20th century when performances of “The Chosen,” based on Chaim Potok’s New York Times bestselling novel, begins previews April 13. Presented by Linda and Gary Greenburg and Andrea and Dr. Edward Herzig, the hopeful story is a coming-of- age tale about two Jewish boys growing up in 1940s Brooklyn. Opening night is April 18 and performances run through May 12 at Moe and Jack’s Place — The Rouse Theatre.
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The Skirball Museum on the historic Cincinnati campus of Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion is pleased to present The Guiding Hand: The Barr Foundation Collection of Torah Pointers. The exhibition opens on Thursday, April 11 at 5:30 p.m. in Mayerson Hall with a reception and illustrated lecture by collector Clay H. Barr. The lecture will be offered live and via Livestream.
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On Wednesday, March 20, the Jewish Community Relations Council (JCRC) hosted its 85th Annual Meeting at the Mayerson Jewish Community Center in Cincinnati, Ohio. Opening remarks were made by JCRC Director, Rabbi Ari Jun, during which he compared life for the Jewish people before and after the Holocaust to Israel’s existence before and after October 7, 2023. In both cases, there was a defining, pivotal turning point where everything changed. And in the wake of October 7, there has been a rise in antisemitism and renewed anxiety for the Jewish people
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April 4, 2024 — On April 9, join Hirsch Wise, grandson and third generation member of the Wise family, to learn about Hershel Manischewitz and his relationship with A. B. Wise. Hear how their bonding led to the future establishment of A.B. Wise & Sons, Inc. and, over time, four generations of the Wise family managing the business and carrying on the Manischewitz legacy.
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Jewish Education for Every Person (JEEP), in partnership with Jewish Home of Cincinnati, is hosting seders on Monday, April 22 and Tuesday, April 23 for Passover this year. “Every Jewish person who wants to celebrate Passover is welcome,” Executive Director Rabbi Yaakov Karp said. “No one is left out.”
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April 11, 2024 — Gloria Adler Forman of Boynton Beach, Florida passed away peacefully on April 5th, 2024.
Born to Phil and Ann Adler on October 2nd, 1938 in Queens, New York, she attended Forest Hills High School and received a bachelors degree from Boston University in 1959. She began her career in teaching. She married the late Arnold Forman in August of 1960.
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Jane Cahn Magnus of Mason, Ohio, passed away on April 1, 2024, at the age of 95. She was a beloved wife and cherished mother and grandmother. She leaves behind her two sons, Roger and Stephen, Roger’s family including his wife Ariella and children Noah and Sophie, and numerous nieces, nephews, and other family members. Jane was married to the late Joseph Alexander Magnus for 50 years until his passing in 2006. Her brother, Charles Maurice Cahn, Jr., of Baltimore, predeceased Jane in 2014.
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The community is invited to the next Rockdale Temple Bicentennial year program, “The Art and Artifacts of K.K. Bene Israel Rockdale Temple” on Sunday, April 14 at 10:00 a.m. at Rockdale Temple. Abby Schwartz, curatorial consultant of the Skirball Museum and Rockdale Temple board member, will give a tour of the congregation’s art and artifacts, both inside the building and on the grounds.
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April 18, 2024 — For most people, an ongoing war is a reason to stay away. Yet, for 20 American teens, they realized that they had to stand up and make a difference for the land and people of Israel. The students traveled 6,000 miles to Israel to participate in Jewish National Fund-USA’s Teen Volunteer Mission, where they trekked across the country to make a tangible difference in the lives of Israelis affected by the October 7 terrorist attacks.
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In the heart of Cincinnati, at the Bell Event Centre, Hearing Speech + Deaf Center (HSDC) will hold its annual HSDC Service Award Gala on May 16. This year’s gala is a milestone for HSDC, as it begins the run-up to its centennial in April 2025. The enduring nonprofit champions healthcare access for individuals with limited financial resources and few healthcare options.
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The Skirball Museum of Cincinnati opened “The Guiding Hand,” a collection of Torah pointers on loan from the Barr Foundation Judaicia, on Thursday, April 11. In her remarks, Clay H. Barr, President of the Barr Foundation, took attendees through her collection of antique and contemporary Torah pointers, discussing the processes by which they were acquired or produced. The exhibit features over 100 Torah pointers, also known as yads.
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April 25, 2024 — A local group is working to honor those who escaped the horrors of the Holocaust and found their final resting place in a Cincinnati Jewish cemetery.
Jewish Cemeteries of Greater Cincinnati recently designed and created a marker to be placed by the graveside of any survivor who was a victim of Nazi persecution between 1933 and 1945.
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Damp weather did nothing to darken spirts of attendees inside the Mayerson JCC’s Amberley Room, as they smiled and mingled prior to Jewish Family Service of Cincinnati’s (JFS) Annual Meeting on April 4. The atmosphere was one of celebration, and the room was full as the community convened to learn of agency accomplishments and challenges, honor individual achievements, accomplish board business, and tout JFS’s theme for the upcoming year: Bridging Barriers. Building Connections.
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In conjunction with its current exhibition, “The Guiding Hand: The Barr Foundation Collection of Torah Pointers,” the Skirball Museum is offering a workshop on Sunday, May 5, from 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. for adults and young people 14 and older. The Make Your Own Yad workshop will be conducted by Cincinnati artist Judith Serling-Sturm. A Torah pointer is often called a yad, the Hebrew word for hand, because a pointing finger was characteristically a prominent feature of early examples.
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May 2, 2024 — Alon Leichman, the subject of today’s interview, likely needs no introduction. Just to be safe, Alon is an Israeli-born pitching coach for the Cincinnati Reds. His parents made Aliyah to Israel in the 1970s. There they lived on Kibbutz Gezer, and Alon fondly recalls the tight-knit community he experienced as a child.
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Several hundred community members will unite in solidarity with the people of Israel on Thursday, May 16, 2024, at 8:30 am, for Jewish National Fund-USA’s annual Breakfast for Israel in Cincinnati
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Last week, Isaac M. Wise Temple released the second of their two-part YouTube series Rabbi to Rabbi: A conversation between Rabbi Kamrass and Rabbi Hirsch. In the second half of their discussion, Rabbis Kamrass and Hirsch discussed the role of the synagogue in the context of today’s challenging climate, and viewers heard what Rabbi Hirsch hopes to learn from congregants as he begins his tenure in July.
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May 9, 2024 — Beth Israel Synagogue proudly celebrated Yom HaTorah in May. The student body explored the Torah portions each week through reading, discussions, coloring, and playing — sharing their insights and viewpoints. The preschool class used the American Israelite’s Kids Page to guide age-appropriate conversations and engagement. With the help of their teachers, Ziva Binik-Thomas and Jael Hall, the students Benny, Joy, and Rory each assembled their scrolls.
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On Thursday, May 9 at 7:30 p.m., Adath Israel will host “Where Harry Met Sally: The Delectable History of the Jewish Deli,” featuring author and food historian, Ted Merwin. For much of the 20th century, the corner Jewish deli was an iconic institution in both Jewish and American life — “a kind of homeland for the soul, with pickles on the side.”
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Rabbi Julie Schwartz of Cincinnati, Ohio, was featured on PBS’s series “After Action.” The series, as described on the PBS website, “seeks to demystify the military experience, provide a platform for dialogue among family members and preserve military stories.” Schwartz spoke of her experience as the first woman rabbi to become a chaplain in the U.S. military. Her appointment to the position came just fourteen years after Rabbi Sally Priesand, the first U.S. woman rabbi, was ordained in Cincinnati in 1972.
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May 16, 2024 — The Jewish Home of Cincinnati will host its annual meeting Thursday, May 16 at Rockdale Temple Social Hall from 6:00 – 7:30 p.m. At the meeting, JHC’s grant programs and activities will be discussed. Attendees will also bid farewell to current Board Chair Jan Frankel. Alan Eichner, the new Board Chair, will also be installed at the meeting. Eichner is currently the chair-elect and runs Eichner Investment Planning, LLC in Cincinnati.
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The Skirball Museum will host a lunch and learn opportunity for its most recent exhibit “The Guiding Hand: The Barr Foundation Collection of Torah Pointers” on Thursday, June 6 from 12:00 – 2:00 p.m. Attendees will join curatorial consultant Abby Schwartz and collections manager and preparator Sheri Besso for a light lunch and conversation about the exhibition, including the challenges that arose when installing it at the museum.
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May 23, 2024 — The now vacant lot where the old Temple Sholom building once stood now has a new purpose. Numerous signs and banners that read “Bring Them Home” are now posted there to bring community awareness to the hostages that still remain in captivity under Hamas.
Rabbi Abie Ingber and Kim Sla- ton, CPCC, CPRW, JVS’s Careers Managing Director, are responsible for putting up the signs, located across the street from the Mayerson JCC on Ridge Road.
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In conjunction with its current exhibition, The Guiding Hand: The Barr Foundation Collection of Torah Pointers, the Skirball Museum is offering a Lunch and Learn on Thursday, June 6 from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m. with curatorial consultant Abby Schwartz and preparator and collections manager Sheri Besso. Pre-registration is required.
Join Schwartz and Besso for an informal light lunch and conversation about the challenges of mounting this exhibition and the craftsmanship of these objects of material culture that are at once tools of devotion and exquisite works of art. The program includes a visit to the exhibition.
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Sharon Marla Wurster (née Slavney), age 65, of Clearwater, Florida passed away on May 8, 2024 at Morton Plant Hospital following an extended illness. On March 18, 1959 Sharon was born in Cincinnati, Ohio to Betty Slavney and the late Martin Slavney. In July 1992, Sharon married the late Michael Wurster and together they shared 16 years of marriage.
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May 30, 2024 — The Jewish Federation of Cincinnati hosted its 128th annual meeting last Wednesday, May 22, at the Mayerson JCC Amberley Room.
Board chair Josh Blatt opened the meeting with a moment of si- lence for the many lives lost on October 7 and in the conflict that has followed. “We meet tonight in a much different world than we were in just 365 days ago,” said Blatt. Not only has the war in Israel raged on, but antisemitic acts here in the United States have skyrocketed over 300% since October 7. Blatt stressed in this time of uncertainty and fear for Jews around the world, the Federation has been showing unity in crisis.
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The second night of Passover was anything but traditional at Ohio University Hillel this year.
While the first night was replete with Haggadahs, matzoh ball soup, and charoset, the second night (Tuesday, April 23) was a Passover-themed scavenger hunt for the afikomen through downtown Athens, Ohio.
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B’nai B’rith of Greater Cincinnati held a memorial service at the Robert S. Kraft memorial garden at Covedale Cemetery on Sunday, May 26 at 10:30 a.m.
The memorial service honors Jewish service members from the greater Cincinnati area who gave their lives for their country while serving in the United States armed forces. Family members of those honored as well as former service members participated in the program.
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June 6, 2024 — Lillian B. Becker (nee Bluestein), age 97, passed away peacefully on May 30, 2024, beloved wife of the late Sheal L. Becker, devoted mother of the late Dr. Michael E. (Leigh) Becker, Patti (Raymond) Schneider, and John (Loni) Becker, loving grandmother of Ari (Elana) Wistrom, Elana (Christopher) Wistrom, Ben (Betsy) Becker, Rachel Becker, Justin (Joanna) Schneider, Danielle (Steven) Senzer, Eric (Perri) Schneider, Emily Becker, Jared Becker, Anna (Ben) Yaniv, dear great-grandmother of Adam, Ella, and Galia Schneider, Shaya and Piper Senzer, Madison, Dylan, and Cory Schneider, Sophie, Josie and Talia Wistrom, Davis, Sadie, Miriam, and Max Becker.
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“We exist to fight hate and advocate for issues that matter to the Jewish people” noted outgoing AJC Cincinnati President Carolyn Gilbert at the 80th annual meeting of American Jewish Committee’s Cincinnati Regional Office.
The passing of the gavel from Gilbert to her successor, Jan Armstrong Cobb, was held May 8 at Isaac M. Wise Temple.
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On Thursday, May 30, the Mayerson JCC hosted its largest fundraising event, the J Classic. This annual event brought together 400 people for a full day of activities that included the Adams Classic Golf Tournament, tennis, pickleball, cansasta, and mahjongg. The golf tournament, a staple of the J Classic, has been taking place for 29 years. With pickleball’s rise in popularity in recent years, the day also featured a pickleball tournament. Food was served throughout the day as well, culminating in the Course of Caterers Dinner, a dinner-by-the-bite affair provided by many local restaurants.
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June 13, 2024 — The potential sale of rare books and manuscripts that comprise Hebrew Union College’s (HUC-JIR) historic Klau Library has stirred significant controversy, culminating in a lawsuit that has brought the transaction to a standstill. On Tuesday, June 4, Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost filed a complaint in the Court of Common Pleas of Hamilton County, asking a Hamilton County judge for a temporary restraining order to prevent any potential sale of the historical and culturally significant manuscripts and rare books.
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Jonty Blackman, a tour guide who specializes in virtual tours of the land of Israel, will visit Adath Israel on Sunday, June 30th. From 3:00 – 5:00 p.m., attendees can virtually experience top-tier restau- rants in Israel, including conver- sations with the proprietors and explorations of their most famous dishes. The tour will feature both northern and southern Israel.
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“It’s a restart,” Jewish community member Abby Schwartz said when talking about the new Mayerson JCC program, J Prime. “Now that we’ve reached another stage in life, we are finding new ways to get involved and meet new people again like we did when we first arrived 46 years ago.”
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June 20, 2024 — On Sunday, June 30, Jewish Family Service of Cincinnati is hosting Family Movie Day featuring “Inside Out 2,” the highly anticipated sequel to “Inside Out.” The original film premiered in 2015, and is described as “a comedy-adventure set inside the mind of an 11-year old girl. (It) is the kind of classic that lingers in the mind after you’ve seen it, sparking personal associations” (RogerEbert.com).
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On July 2, join the AJC and Jewish Cincinnati congregations for an evening of meaningful conversation with Dr. Saba Soomekh, and learn how to counter anti-Israel bias by leveraging diverse Jewish historical narratives. Dr. Soomekh is a first-generation Iranian Jew whose family is part of the Forgotten Exodus.
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FC Cincinnati is excited to host Jewish Community Night in partnership with The Mayerson Jewish Community Center and the Jewish Federation of Cincinnati at TQL Stadium on Wednesday, July 17, at 7:30 PM. Be sure to come out and root for FC Cincinnati as they take on Chicago Fire.
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June 27, 2024 — Northern Hills Synagogue will celebrate the promotion of Rabbi Samantha Schapera to the position of Associate Rabbi on Sunday, July 14, 2024. The ceremony and gala will take place at the synagogue and begin at 7:00 p.m. The entire community is invited to attend.
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Barry Edward Lefton, age 83, passed away June 20, 2024, beloved husband of 63 years to Lois Berkowitz Lefton, devoted father of David (Karen) Lefton, Rick (Betsy) Lefton, Jimmy (Laurie) Lefton & Ben Lefton (Jaime Willis), dear brother of Mendy (Nancy) Lefton, loving grandfather of Nicole (Jay) Short, Carly, Lev, Claire, Abby, Nathan, Grace, Alex, Danielle, Mallory, Eliana, Brian and Aiden Lefton. He will be greatly missed by his family, many beloved cousins, nephews, nieces, and friends.
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From the moment Jewish Family Service of Cincinnati (JFS) opened Adult Day Services in November 2023, Manager Becky Borello knew that she could inspire the program’s participants — all of whom face cognitive challenges — through the creative process of making art. “From the beginning, it has been our intention to have an art exhibition,” Borello said.
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July 4, 2024 — On Monday morning, July 1, 176 gravestones were discovered vandalized in two sections of the Covedale Cemetery on the West Side of town. Headstones in the Tifereth Israel Cemetery (once owned by the North Avondale Synagogue, which closed in 1997) and Beth Hamedrash Hagadol Cemetery (Golf Manor), some dating as far back as the late 1800s, were tipped over and lying face down. A number of them were cracked in half.
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Over 700 people attended the Mayerson JCC’s three productions of Disney’s “Moana Jr.” on June 2nd and 3rd earlier this summer. The play was the most recent in theatre successes put on by the Theatre at the J program, run by Eliana Rantz. “It was a packed house,” Rantz said of the opening production on June 2nd.
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Carol Ann Schwartz, National President of Hadassah and local Cincinnati resident, recently submitted testimony to Jay Edwards, chairman of the Ohio House Finance Committee, asking for support of House Bill 606.
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July 11, 2024 — It is with deep sorrow that we announce the passing of Susan Dailey (née Rosenblum) who left us July 2, 2024 after a lengthy illness. Susan’s resilience and strength throughout her battle were a testament to her enduring spirit and the love she held for her family and friends.
Susan was the beloved wife of Christopher Dailey Jr., and together they built a life filled with love and cherished memories.
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The investigation into the vandalism that left 176 gravestones defaced and overturned at two Cincinnati Jewish cemeteries is currently ongoing. The FBI has offered a reward of $10,000 for any information that leads to the arrest of those responsible for the immense damages at the Beth Hamedrash Hagadol and Tifereth Israel cemeteries in the Covedale Cemetery complex.
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Dr. Irvin H. Goodman passed away on June 28, 2024, surrounded by family, at his home in Montgomery. He is survived by his beloved wife Beatrice (née Shenker), children, and grandchildren. He was the devoted father of Edward (Julie) Goodman, Lynn (Dr. Benjamin) Kaseff, James (Dr. Joanne) Goodman, and Debrasusan (Kevin) Rohrbaugh, and the loving grandfather of Michael Maslov, Jonathan Kaseff, and Elizabeth Goodman.
Irvin was the only child of the late David and Jennie Goodman (née Present). He was born in Cincinnati on December 2, 1937.
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July 18, 2024 — There are at least three subjects that stir an appreciable passion in Leah and Gary Smith. The first is mental health. The second is giving back to the community. And the third is Jewish Family Service of Cincinnati (JFS). So it was only fitting when the Smiths chose to make a significant donation to JFS — providing them with naming rights for the agency’s counseling center waiting room. This waiting room serves a full spectrum of JFS’s mental health clients, from youth and teens to older adults. The gift was a first-of-its-kind “Building a Living Legacy” donation — a new opportunity for benefactors to give back during their lifetime so they can observe and appreciate the fruits of their labor.
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The Skirball Museum on the HUC Cincinnati campus will remain open despite the departure of its two remaining staff last month. Sheri Besso, collections manager and preparator for the Skirball, departed the museum on June 7th for the Nancy and Da- vid Wolf Holocaust and Humanity Center. Besso had been at HUC since 2015. Abby Schwartz, Curatorial Consultant, left on June 27th, after starting in 2013.
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Jewish Family Service of Cincinnati (JFS) has announced it will be hosting a virtual, interactive talk that will be led by respected author and clinical psychologist, Dr. Mark McConville. On July 25, beginning at 6:30 p.m., Dr. McConville will present “How to Adult Like a Boss: Empowering Gen-Z toThrive in Transitions,” a dynamic discussion (and Q&A session) focusing on empowering young adults as they embark upon their journey into adulthood.
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July 25, 2024 — “Lisa is so warm, plus she brings a wealth of experience. She is a great addition.” That’s how Danielle V. Minson, CEO of the Jewish Federation of Cincinnati, summarizes the April hire of Lisa Hacker as the Jewish Federation’s new Director of Philanthropic Planning, following Debra Steinbuch’s retirement.
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On July 18, 2024, the State of Ohio and Hebrew Union College (HUC) entered into an agreed order for a period of approximately six months. This comes after Attorney General Dave Yost filed a complaint against HUC’s Klau library resulting in a restraining order preventing the library from deaccession or selling off its collection. HUC has denied the allegations contained in the complaint. Both parties have agreed to resolve certain issues to “avoid the costs, burdens, and risks of a preliminary injunction hearing.” During the six month period, HUC will not “sell, transfer, remove from Ohio, or dispose of” items in its Klau Library, including the items that were inventoried by Sharon Liberman Mintz, Shaul Seidler-Feller, or Sotheby’s.
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For the past week, Rabbi Chaim Dalfin, who was recently named a Marcus Center fellow to the American Jewish Archives (AJA), visited Cincinnati, Ohio. The Marcus Center administers fifteen endowed fellowships, all funded by generous friends and supporters of the American Jewish Archives.
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August 1, 2024 — The doors of the Mayerson JCC opened sixteen years ago on the corner of Ronald Reagan and Ridge Avenue. In that time, the J has worked daily to keep this community asset looking its best. From paint touch ups to tile repairs and everything in between, the staff and management have taken pride in maintaining this 140,000 square foot building as if it were their home.
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Bookbinder, Keith J., age 70, passed away July 29, 2024, beloved husband of Maria S. Mason, devoted father of Lisa (Rick) Younger, Andrew Bookbinder and Jonathan Mason, dear brother of Jason (Rhonda) Bookbinder and Dana (Andrea) Bookbinder, loving grandfather of Rebecca Disney, Cole, Melody, and Rowan Younger.
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Rockdale Temple Baby Boomers group will take a walking tour of the Licking Riverside neighborhood in Covington on Sunday, August 11, at 3:15 p.m. Kirsten Dilger, public historian and local history programmer for Kenton County Public Library, will take participants through the historic neighborhood. Dilger received her BA in history from Ohio University and her Master’s degree in Public History from Wright State University.
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August 8, 2024 — Cincinnatians interested in exploring the world-famous American Jewish Archives and the Klau Library on the historic HUC Cincinnati campus are invited to attend a behind-the-scenes tour on Tuesday, September 10 from 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
HUC Cincinnati is the oldest existing Jewish seminary in the United States.
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JVS Careers is offering a series of webinars to help Cincinnatians who are in search of employment. On Monday, August 19, those interested can attend the Professional Portfolios webinar from 1:00 – 2:00 p.m. Registration information can be found on the JVS Careers website. This seminar will cover how to start a professional portfolio that can aid you in your job interviewing process.
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August 15, 2024 — Team Ohio recently competed in the 2024 JCC Maccabi Games in Detroit, July 28 – August 2. The group consisted of 22 athletes from Columbus, Cincinnati, Dayton, Toledo, and Youngstown.
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Since last September, Mattis and Neele have been volunteering with Jewish Family Service of Cincinnati (JFS) as representatives from the Action Reconciliation Service for Peace (ARSP). Following World War II, a slow reckoning began in Germany to address the unhealable wounds of Nazism — not only for the victims of the regime’s atrocities but for the German people themselves.
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NEEMAN, Renate Luca, age 98, passed away August 8, 2024, beloved wife of the late Moshe Neeman, loving mother of Jenifer (Edward) Sawicki, Alisa Neeman, Henry (Rebecca) Neeman, and the late Edward Neeman, caring grandmother of Sai (Sarah) Sawicki, Rachel Amberg, Elizabeth, Samantha, David, Claire, and Alex Neeman, half-sister of the late Marlisa Koopman.
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August 22, 2024 — JFS has invited Dr. Ned Hallowell to share his insight on life with ADHD. Dr. Hallowell is a board certified child and adult psychiatrist and the founder of The Hallowell ADHD Centers. He graduated from Harvard College and Tulane Medical School and has spent four decades helping those with ADHD live productive lives. Not only is Dr. Hallowell a leading authority on ADHD, he himself has it, as well as dyslexia.
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The Mayerson JCC 60 & Better Center will host the second annual Care Provider Forum on Wednesday, September 11, from 6:00 – 7:30 p.m. Discussions at the forum will focus on Medicare. Attendees can learn about choosing the plan that is right for them, prescription drug coverage, long term care, supplemental insurance, power of attorney, living wills and other related topics.
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Harvey Joseph Skurow, age 83, born June 4, 1941, passed away after a long illness on June 9, 2024 in Camarillo, CA. Harvey was the son of Ben and Belle Skurow (obm) of Cincinnati, Ohio. He is survived by his sister Barbara (Stanley obm) Weiss of Milwaukee, WI and brother Mo’o Kanaio, formerly Stanley Skurow) of Maui, HI.
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August 29, 2024 — Diane Sue Feibel (née Klieger), beloved daughter of Dr. Israel Stanley and Edith Weisman Klieger, beloved and devoted mother of Hillary, Shana, and Andy, grandmother of Lila, and wife of John Feibel, died unexpectedly on August 5. She was born in New York City on January 31, 1944 and at an early age began dance, training especially ballet, which became a life-long passion.
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On Sunday, September 29 the Mayerson JCC will be hosting its annual fall market. The event runs from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. and will feature local produce, food trucks, and handcrafted art.
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On Wednesday, August 14th, 2024, Pro Seniors celebrated Louise Roselle, J.D., as a 2024 “Senior Who Rocks” at their 10th annual event to challenge ageism. Louise and her fellow honorees revealed that we have much to contribute at every age. Pro Seniors honored Seniors Who Rock: Dot Christenson, former executive director of the Better Housing League; Louise Roselle, seasoned corporate attorney and volunteer helpline attorney for Pro Seniors; and, with nearly 40 years of service to CET and the Action Auction committee, retired teacher and community volunteer Linda Tache.
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September 5, 2024 — On August 18th, the newly constituted Cincinnati Coalition for Israel had their first public event at the Kinneret Grill. The turnout was standing room only. The mis-sion of the CCI, to advocate for the security and safety of Israel and address antisemitism and anti-zionism in Southwestern Ohio, was reviewed. As a group of Jews and Gentiles sharing a common love for Israel, CCI will seek to increase local awareness of Israel as a free and democratic state in the Middle East and to inform the public about the positive cultural and economic impact Israel has had in the Middle East and the world in general.
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Beth Israel Congregation in Hamilton Ohio is excited to welcome Rabbi Daniel Vaisrub as the next rabbi of the Jewish community. Though Daniel came to the rabbinate later in life, obtaining private ordination from both prominent Ashkenazi and Sephardic rabbis, he has already left his mark on the Jewish community through teaching in Chicago, and nationally by Zoom, as well as at Camp Ramah in the Rockies.
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Just in time to gear up for Spooky Season, the Klau Library at HUC Cincinnati will be hosting a lecture on imaginary creatures in medieval and early modern books.
On September 19, from 12:30 – 1:30 p.m., the Klau Library on the HUC campus invites the community to a lecture on the forms and functions of fantastic beings depicted in literature.
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September 12, 2024 — It has been two months since Rabbi Neil P.G. Hirsch assumed his role as Senior Rabbi Successor at Isaac M. Wise Temple, and already he feels a strong connection to the synagogue and city.
Growing up in Houston, Texas, Rabbi Hirsch attended Congregation Beth Israel, a synagogue not dissimilar to Wise. “It’s the oldest synagogue in Texas,” Hirsch explained, and like Wise, “it has that blend of historical import in the Jewish community alongside (a) vibrant Jewish life today.”
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The season of motherhood brings many changes to a new parent’s life. The Mayerson JCC and Cincy Postpartum are looking to provide mothers and their newborn babies with a community in parenthood. The J is inviting both new and experienced moms with infants up to 16 weeks to foster a community and connect with each other.
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“There are big differences be- tween Jews in Israel and Jews in Cincinnati, but we’re all one big family in my eyes — the Jewish people.” Yarden Neeman, the Jewish Federation of Cincinnati’s outgoing Senior Israeli Emissary, said these words when he first arrived from Israel with his family August of 2021. Now, at the end of his three-year term in Cincinnati, he finds the idea of one big Jewish family still rings true.
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September 19, 2024 — Rockwern Academy, Cincinnati’s Jewish community day school, has begun its school year with a growing student body returning to a renovated campus.
The school started with 256 students, the highest enrollment in over 12 years. Rockwern has grown by more than 100 students in the last decade. Sarah Shmoel, Rockwern’s Director of Admissions & Outreach, shared, “We are so happy to have welcomed 52 new students this year and to have retained over 86% of our students from the previous school year. This is a testament to the strength of our school and how much our families appreciate Rockwern.”
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The Jewish Business Network Cincinnati (JBN Cincinnati) held its highly anticipated launch event on September 5th at the Kenwood Country Club, marking a significant step in fostering a vibrant community for Jewish business leaders in the region. With over 100 attendees, the event was a resounding success, drawing professionals from across the city to connect, learn, and grow together.
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September 26, 2024 — Kohn, Barry Allan, age 74, passed away on September 21, 2024. Barry was the son of the late Lester and Marian (Grossman) Kohn, the beloved husband of Patsy (Boymel) Kohn, the lov ing father of Chase Kohn (Aida), Jonathan Kohn (Debra Kissen), and Lauryn Schuman (Paul); and the proud Papa of Gabriel, Ari, Jordyn, Jakob, and Morgan Kohn; and Sydney and Max Schuman. Brother of Marilyn Barnett. He will be missed by his family and his wide circle of friends.
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On Tuesday, September 17, The Jewish National Fund-USA hosted a Women for Israel Open House and Trivia Night. The event featured special guest speaker Ofri Reiner, a Nova Music Festival Survivor, who shared her story of survival and resilience.
Reiner, 22, grew up in Israel and served as a combat soldier and a commander in Search and Rescue after graduation. “I was a normal girl who loved theater in high school,” she explained. “I was dismissed from the army less than a year ago.”
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PJ Library and the Mayerson JCC are hosting a Rosh Hashanah celebration at Blue Ash Nature Park on Tuesday, October 1. The event is so popular that it has sold out. Attendees will be making apple nachos and Rosh Hashanah cards to mail to family and friends to celebrate a sweet new year. Those who have registered for the event will also take part in a tashlich ceremony. Tashlich, which translates to “casting off” is a ceremony wherein participants toss bread crumbs into flowing water to symbolize casting off the sins of the previous year. PJ Library and Mayerson JCC put on a robust schedule of events throughout the year. The events are very popular in the community, as indicated by the Rosh Hashanah event’s sold out status.
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