JEWISH COMMUNITY BLOG

As I write this column, I am currently at The General Assembly of Jewish Federations of North America with fifteen other volunteer and professional leaders of our community.  It is at conferences such as The General Assembly where I always walk away feeling...

Krasoff Jewish Family Service Building Ribbon Cutting ceremony. Front to back, left to right: Molly Krasoff, Steve Krasoff, Amanda Krasoff, Rabbi Amy B. Cohen, Janet S. Elam, Heather Krol, Ari Franklin, Rabbi Daniel A. Septimus, Steve McDaniel, Nancy Shapiro, Beth...

Rabbinic panel discussion allows guests to hear how local congregational rabbis have responded to the October 7 atrocities. L to R: Rabbi Daniel A. Septimus, Rabbi Eleanor B. Steinman, Rabbi Daniel Millner, Rabbi Neil Blumofe, Rabbi Rebecca Reice, Rabbi Kelly Levy....

Mayim Bialik. Courtesy: Mayim Bialik By Allison Teegardin  On March 27, 2025, Shalom Austin’s Women’s Philanthropy will once again host the largest gathering of Jewish women in Central Texas at the Mosaic Luncheon. Representing the remarkable power of women and their...

The ShinShinim at the Jewish Agency for Israel ShinShinim Conference earlier in November. Courtesy: Michal Ilai  It may seem as if the Austin ShinShinim (young emissaries) arrived from Israel recently, but Ariella Goldstein and Eyal Butbul see themselves as part of...

By Dr. Alyssa Gilden and Jessica Ochs    Shalom Austin’s Jewish Family Service (JFS) and Youth & Teen Department continue to expand their partnership to provide crucial support to the community’s youth through its Resiliency Roundtable work. This collaboration...

Participants enjoy Dad’s Night Out. Credit: Rabbi Dan Ain  Participants enjoy a Play and Paint Event. Credit: Allison Granet   By Allison Granet and Rabbi Dan Ain  In the last several months, young family engagement has grown rapidly, and Shalom Austin is delighted to...

Madatzim Leader paints a camper's face as part of the teen-led program. Credit: A. D. Schmidt  By Caroline Mellow     This summer, JCamps debuted a brand-new teen camp program, Madatzim Leaders. This is a leadership-focused camp program for campers entering seventh...

JCamps counselors work as coaches with Rising Stars participants at the Dell JCC. Courtesy: Tommy Romano  A walk through the Dell JCC on a Sunday afternoon is filled with the squeak of tennis shoes, the distinct sound of basketballs dribbling, and the scoreboard...

Rabbi Swedroe reads from the newly dedicated Sefer Torah on February 11, 2018. Also pictured from L-R are David Goldblatt, Jennifer Rubin, Fai Lee Steinberg, and Diane Radin. Credit: Ken Nordhauser  By Jennifer Rubin  Rabbi Gail Swedroe will be honored with a...

In early November, Austin Jewish Academy hosted a parent education event facilitated by Hagit Segal, co-owner of Mistake & Friends, to help parents foster positive child development.  Segal shared valuable insights on cultivating a growth mindset, emphasizing the...

Dr. Jonathan D. Sarna. Courtesy: Dr. Jonathan D. Sarna  Dr. Jonathan Sarna, professor and director at the Schusterman Center for Israel Studies at Brandeis University, will speak on “The Scourge and the Surge: Post – October 7 American Jewry in Historical Perspective”...

Shalom Austin professionals and Austin Jewish community leaders attend the General Assembly Nov. 10-12, 2024. Top row L to R: Levi Fox, Marcia Silverberg, Emily Shrode, Rabbi Daniel A. Septimus, Jennifer Failla, Joshua Hoffman, Lauren Halpern; Bottom row L to R: Wendy...

Val Newberg, Karen Kogut. Credit: Andrew Holmes  By Shana Creeger   At the Fall Lion of Judah Appreciation Luncheon, Karen Kogut was celebrated for receiving the 2025 Kipnis-Wilson/Friedland award for Austin. The Kipnis award recognizes female leaders who embody the...

L to R: Tami Thakrar, Karene Segal, Lindsey Yasha, Shira Goldberg, Ashley Moshirnia, Jessica Epstein. Credit: Margaret Praderas  By Margaret Praderas   Shalom Austin Women’s Philanthropy hosted another fantastic Wine Down with more than 150 women in attendance at the...

L to R: Corrie MacLaggan, Lisa Barr, Dana Shapiro Spaeth. Credit: Andrew Holmes  By Dana Shapiro Spaeth    At a new earlier time, Book Lovers Breakfast event was well attended at 170 attendees.   Lisa Barr, author of “The Goddess of Warsaw,” brought her sweet...

Rabbi Ellie Steinman and Marcia Silverberg enjoy the schmooze. Credit: Andrew Holmes  By Jennifer Kohn Koppel  Shalom Austin Jewish Foundation continued its year-long celebration of a milestone decade of generosity and impact with the annual Fundholder Appreciation...

L to R: Rachel Belkin, Lenny Krasnow, Lynn Krasnow, and Michael Krasnow. Courtesy: Lenny Krasnow    Lynn and Lenny Krasnow never thought of themselves as philanthropists. “Our families were always givers – but mostly of time and in caring for others,” they said. ...

Members of the Austin Descendants of Holocaust Survivors group visit the Holocaust Memorial Museum of San Antonio. Courtesy: Iris Bartov   By Leslie Davis Met, Director, Holocaust Memorial Museum of San Antonio    The descendants of Holocaust survivors — often...

  AJFF Closing Night panel for the film "Colleyville".  L to R: AJFF Director David Finkel, Colleyville Police Chief Michael Miller, film director Dani Menkin, Colleyville survivor Jeffrey Cohen. Credit: Joe Steinberg   By David Finkel  The 22nd Austin Jewish...

Austin Delegation at Jewish National Fund-USA’s 2024 Global Conference for Israel in Dallas Credit: Jim Woods Photography  Sixty-five Austinites were among the 2,500 proud Zionists who attended Jewish National Fund-USA’s Global Conference for Israel in Dallas, fueling...

 Campers from Israel enjoying summer camp at Camp Young Judaea. Courtesy: Frank Silberlicht  By Allison Teegardin    In the summer of 2024, Camp Young Judaea Texas embarked on an initiative that would positively change many lives forever. With the idea of offering...

  In July 2023, the Texas Jewish Historical Society (TJHS) established the Rabbi Jimmy Kessler Educational Outreach Fund to honor the late Rabbi Jimmy Kessler of Galveston and to further his commitment to promoting and preserving the history of Jewish experiences...

Vinnie Hogan, Shalom Austin transportation specialist gives a ride to those in need. Credit: Rebecca Golden  In the vibrant city of Austin, Shalom Austin Jewish Family Service Transportation Specialist Vinnie Hogan begins each day with a deep sense of purpose. As dawn...

L to R front row: Ilanit Agranatti, Noam Weiss, Rachel Smet, Eva Lemeshev, Amber Traub, Dylan Frank, Neil Lazarus, Eli York. L to R back row: Dylan Mandel, Michal Epstein, Sarah Rozen, Lauryn Adams,Emily Davis, Riley O'Banion. Courtesy: Risa Bierman   By Risa...

 In early November, Austin Jewish Academy hosted a parent education event facilitated by Hagit Segal, co-owner of Mistake & Friends, to help parents foster positive child development.  Segal shared valuable insights on cultivating a growth mindset, emphasizing the...

  Past Presidents in attendance at the NCJW Double Chai Celebration: Seated L to R: Bettie Forman, Eileen Ladd, Karen Siegel, Melanie Cox and Barbara Laudenheimer. Standing L to R: Merle Dover, Ann Kocher, Joan Brook, Ellen Sable, Nanci Kahn, Amy Webberman,...

Since I will be on sabbatical, I am writing this column in June shortly before my leave begins. Summer camp is well underway at Shalom Austin and both of our Texas overnight camps, Camp Young Judaea Texas and URJ Greene Family Camp, began their first session only a...

Austin's ShinShinim Eyal Yehonatan Butbul and Ariella Goldstein. Courtesy: Michal Ilali As a part of Shalom Austin’s Israel initiative, a Zeff family grant and generous local donors, for the second year in a row, two ShinShinim are coming to Austin. ShinShinim are...