JEWISH COMMUNITY BLOG

Dr. Karyn Rayburn speaks to parents and teachers at AJA about "Joyful Rigor." Courtesy: Austin Jewish Academy By Natalie McKee Austin Jewish Academy is pleased to welcome Dr. Karyn Hopper Rayburn as incoming Head of School, beginning in the 2026–2027 academic year....

Rachel Stern in the courtyard at the Dell JCC. Credit: Andrew Holmes Shalom Austin announced on March 12 that Rachel Stern will become its next Chief Executive Officer, beginning July 1, 2026.  Stern has been a senior leader at Shalom Austin since 2018, previously...

The community celebrates Yom HaAtzmaut at the Dell JCC. Credit: Rebecca Golden By Alachua Haskins, Jackie Nirenberg, and Jessica Ochs The Jewish calendar keeps Jewish people connected. They celebrate together, remember together, and show up for each other through...

Asukot group. Credit: Tammy Afriat By Tammy Afriat Since its relaunch in April 2024, I’ve had the privilege of leading and witnessing the rise of a powerful grassroots movement: “Asukot,” a vibrant and growing community of Israeli American women entrepreneurs, making...

Leibel Lazaroff addressing students at UT Chabad. Courtesy: Texas Holocaust, Genocide, and Antisemitism Advisory Commission By Alexander Suster, Campus Outreach Coordinator for the Texas Holocaust, Genocide, and Antisemitism Advisory Commission On April 26, 2026, the...

Carl Stuart and Lindsey Stuart of Stuart Investment Advisors, Shalom Austin Jewish Foundation fundholder and legacy society member Laraine Lasdon, and attorney Dick Brown at the 2025 Professional Advisors Breakfast Seminar. Credit: Andrew Holmes By Amanda Sokolosky...

IAC B'not Mitzvah group. Credit: Ofir Hagay Nevel By Ofir Hagay Nevel Three years ago, the IAC B’not Mitzvah program girls began volunteering at Service Dogs, Inc. The first year, Service Dogs hosted what they lovingly called a “Doggie Spa Day,” bathing and caring for...

Shalom Austin RAISE participants share heartfelt personal accounts about their experience in the program. Credit: Andrew Holmes By Whitney Emmons, M.Ed., CNP On May 20th, Shalom Austin staff and community members gathered to celebrate the first graduating cohort of...

  By Carli Price  History matters — especially in the face of the disinformation and propaganda campaigns that many did not think would see in their lifetimes. Jews are an ancient people from Judea (part of modern-day Israel). Knowing the history, and reflecting...

Jamie Lee Curtis on stage with H. Alan Scott at SXSW 2026. Credit: Wendy Goodman This year at SXSW, The Jewish Outlook editorial team attended various sessions featuring Jewish professionals and creators. Together with some Shalom Austin staff, they “unofficially”...

Author Nir Eyal on stage at SXSW in Austin, Texas in March 2026. Credit: Allison Teegardin By Allison Teegardin  On March 13, author Nir Eyal presented his latest book co-authored with Julie Li, “Beyond Belief: How to Break Limits and Unlock Potential,” to a packed...

L-R: Sophie Buddle, Jared Freid, Adam Pally and Jon Gabrus perform at The Creek and The Cave in downtown Austin for SXSW 2026. Credit: Wendy Goodman By Wendy Goodman Comedians Jon Gabrus and Adam Pally brought their signature energy to SXSW 2026 on March 14 for a live...

Larry David and Jeff Schaffer at Featured Session: “A Waste of Time with Larry David and Jeff Schaffer” during the SXSW Conference & Festivals held at JW Marriott on March 13, 2026 in Austin, Texas. Credit: Mike Jordan  By Allison Teegardin  Time was not wasted on...

Ray Benson performs at Ray Benson’s 75th Birthday Bash on March 17, 2026. Credit: Wendy Goodman By Wendy Goodman Austin bid farewell to an era on March 17 at GSD&M’s backyard, hosting the final iteration of Ray Benson’s legendary unofficial SXSW birthday bash. The...

L-R: Josh Scherer on stage at SXSW 2026 with panelists Tefi Passoa, Elyse Myers, Keith Lee. Credit: Wendy Goodman By Wendy Goodman Chef Josh Scherer brought his hit YouTube series “Last Meals” to SXSW on March 13 for a live taping. Scherer turned a heavy question into...

Jamie Lee Curtis on stage with H. Alan Scott at SXSW 2026. Credit: Wendy Goodman By Wendy Goodman Jamie Lee Curtis brought energy and honesty to her SXSW 2026 session on March 14, “If Not Now, When, if Not Me, Who? Pivoting and Manifesting!” Curtis sat down with H....

Alex proudly embraces his daughter in the hospital, shortly after her birth. Courtesy: Hebrew Free Loan of Austin By Debbie Cohen Late in 2025, Alex became a father. At 36 years old, having moved to Austin from Massachusetts in 2020, Alex welcomed his daughter Hannah...

Jewish Federations of North America Emergency Leadership Fly-In to Washington, D.C. in June 2025. L-R Andy Dooher, Jennifer Failla, Phil Loewy, Nora Lieberman, Emily Bourgeois. Courtesy: Emily Bourgeois By Emily Bourgeois, Shalom Austin Public Affairs Director When...

People gather at Temple Beth Shalom for Mitzvahpalooza. Courtesy: Temple Beth Shalom By Susan Laves Temple Beth Shalom hosted its annual Mitzvahpalooza on Sunday, January 18, 2026, bringing together approximately 150 participants for a morning of hands-on service...

Active attacker response training hosted by Shalom Austin. Credit: Wendy Goodman Over the past two weeks, a series of incidents has left many in our community feeling unsettled. We have witnessed a troubling uptick in antisemitic activity. These include the...

L-R: Lauren Patten, Beth Sher, Kim Schocket, Emmanuel Acho, Amy Antonacci, Jennifer Failla, Mae Levitan at the 2026 Lion Pomegranate event in January 2026. Credit: Andrew Holmes By Madeline Scharff Shalom Austin Women’s Philanthropy kicked off the 2026 Campaign by...

Tu B'shvat Seder at Moishe House Austin. Courtesy: Moishe House Austin Contributed by Mem Global Jewish young adults have a new place to engage in Jewish life and build friendships in Austin with the opening of Moishe House Austin in East Austin. Like other Moishe...

Challah. Courtesy: Jewish National Fund NEW YORK, February 18, 2025— Thousands of individuals across the United States, Canada, Israel, and around the world will unite at private residences, synagogues, and community centers on April 24, 2026, for “Shabbat for...

Rabbi Marc Sack. Courtesy: Texas Holocaust, Genocide, and Antisemitism Advisory Commission (THGAAC) By Scott Kammerman Students from Huston-Tillotson University in Austin will travel to the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington, D.C., this spring...

Rachel Stern. Credit: Andrew Holmes On March 12, Shalom Austin announced the appointment of Rachel Stern as the next CEO. On behalf of the Board of Directors, we are proud to share an exciting announcement! Guided by our tradition of values-driven leadership, we are...

Photo credit: Andrew Holmes By Wendy Goodman     After nearly a decade, Shalom Austin CEO Rabbi Daniel A. Septimus will step down this summer, marking the close of a chapter defined by growth, resilience and deep commitment to the community. He will begin a new role...

ECP children learn and play in a garden. Credit: Juanita Dillard By Christiana Huerta and Risa Ferdman The Zeifman Family Early Childhood Program’s beautiful new Amy & Kirk Rudy ECP Play Area features a range of outdoor activities, including garden beds which have...

By Allison Teegardin  Earlier this year, Shalom Austin Jewish Family Service announced it was doubling its Nurse-Patient Advocate service, a program designed to help guide clients and families through challenging healthcare situations. “For many of our Jewish Family...

Attendees at Z3@Austin in 2025 listen to featured speaker Adela Cojab Moadeb. Credit: Rebecca Golden By Alachua Haskins and Jessica Ochs For the third year in a row, Z3@Austin is bringing the community together for a day of bold ideas, diverse voices, and meaningful...

Participants enjoy the social and health benefits of Zumba at a Mega Zumba event at the Dell JCC. Credit: Andrew Holmes By Erika Cervantez On a vibrant January morning, the Dell JCC hosted its much-anticipated Mega Zumba event, drawing in over 140 participants eager...