JEWISH COMMUNITY BLOG

By Rabbi Amy B. Cohen Shalom Austin Jewish Family Service is thrilled to be opening their central office later this summer on the Dell Jewish Community Campus. The beautiful new building will house over fifteen staff members including counselors, case managers, the...

Team Upili from left to right: Peter Simiyu, Carla Birnberg and Mariam Ndegwa at Joytown Special School in Thika, Kenya. Credit: Carla Birnberg  For the past four years, Chief Storyteller for the Next Step Foundation, based in Austin and Nairobi, Carla Birnberg's...

As I write this column, the school year is ending, and preparations are underway for the summer season and camp. I am also preparing for a long-anticipated sabbatical, my first as I begin my 18th year in the rabbinate, that will begin in mid-June and conclude toward...

Cover Photo: From left to right: Rabbis & Rebbetzins Levi Levertov, Menucha Levertov, Nechomele Levertov, Shmuly Levertov, Rochel Levertov, Yosef Levertov, Mendy Levertov, Mussy Levertov, Rikki Hertz, Mendel Hertz, Mendel Marasow, Mussi Marasow. Not pictured are...

From left to right: Marty Davis, Robin Davis, Lainie Polland, Jonathan Polland.  Credit: Lindsay Thorne Photography  By Margaret Praderas  On Sunday, April 7, 2024, more than 1,000 community members gathered for an evening of celebration and commemoration at Shalom...

From left to right: Community gather in the Epstein Family Community Hall for Shalom Austin's 2024 Annual Meeting on May 21, 2024. Credit: Andrew Holmes By Wendy Goodman  Shalom Austin held their 2024 annual meeting on May 21 with more than 100 community members in...

Shalom Austin’s Impact Grants Categories for 2024 By Amanda Sokolosky    In a record-setting cycle, Shalom Austin recently distributed $269,000 in grants to twenty-one local nonprofit organizations whose missions and objectives align with six key focus areas...

Community members dance and enjoy musical performance by the Dayan Family at Yom HaAtzmaut celebration at the Dell JCC on May 19, 2024. Credit: Rebecca Golden By Alachua Haskins  The Jewish people are held by their calendar. They celebrate together, mourn together,...

(Left) Shalom Austin's Senior Israel Educator Michal Ilai. Credit: Andrew Holmes (Right) Shalom Austin's Public Affairs Director Emily Bourgeois. Credit: Andrew Holmes By Rachel Stern   Recently, Shalom Austin’s Bernard & Audre Rapoport Center for Jewish Culture...

The Zumba Papis at The Dell JCC. Credit: Jolie Estes By Mark Pattis  Los Papis, also known as the Zumba Papis, have brought new energy and boundless smiles to the group exercise program at the Dell JCC. “Sergio and Andrew bring a dynamic to our staff and to our...

B'not Mitzvah challah baking with Nathalie Miller. Credit: Ofir Hagay Nevel By Devora Fuchs  The Israeli American Council Austin’s (IAC) B'not Mitzvah program has become a cherished part of the local Jewish community over the past three years, marking a milestone in...

By Kari Loya  Last spring, Austin Jewish Academy (AJA) hosted two parent education events on important topics related to developing social and emotional intelligence in children.   Just before the Pesach holiday, Shayna Feldman Barksdale, LCSW-S, presented at a lunch...

From left to right: Katie Dochen, Patti Sokol, Lynne Stein, Stephanie Saur. Credit: Jolie Estes By Shana Creeger  Shalom Austin’s Women’s Philanthropy held a Lion of Judah and Pomegranate Society Campaign Kickoff on February 26. The evening brought together 100...

Community members and leaders at the JAMen Forum Season 7 event in May 2024 with JAMen guest speaker Rodney Terry, Texas Longhorns Men’s Basketball Coach, University of Texas at Austin (center). Credit: Andrew Holmes By Jay Rubin    The Shalom Austin Jewish...

Members enjoy a Mega Zumba event to celebrate the Dell JCC's one-year anniversary on April 26, 2024. Credit: Dalia Galpern    By Thy Hooks and Wendy Goodman    The Dell JCC celebrated the first anniversary of its new building opening on April 26, 2024. To mark the...

From left to right: Gregg Philipson holding bugle; Alana Pompa and Bob Kaplan beginning to hoist the flag. Credit: Steve Krant By Steve Krant, U.S. Air Force (Retired)  In a time-honored tradition, Austin’s Post 757, Jewish War Veterans of the USA (JWV) performed a...

By Jennifer Kohn Koppel  The long list of official commemorative months is filled with curious tributes: National Bread Baking Month, National Smile Month, National Novel Month, but National Make-A-Will Month in August is one that everyone should stop and think...

Kristin Fine has gone full circle from borrower to donor with Hebrew Free Loan of Austin. Courtesy: Hebrew Free Loan of Austin By Hannah Lapin Life often presents unforeseen challenges, putting one’s resilience to the test. For Kristin Fine, a resident of Austin, her...

In 2021, the Office of the U.S. Surgeon General declared youth mental health to be a public health crisis and national emergency. The surgeon general’s advisory report added to a growing number of calls for attention to and action around adolescent mental health....

Israel Bonds Houston Representative Steve Landis standing proudly in front of an Israel Bonds banner. Courtesy: Israel Bonds After 18 years of dedicated service, Israel Bonds Houston Registered Sales Representative Steve Landis is set to retire. Reflecting on his...

Installation of officers in the 1990's. From left to right: Sookie Weinberger Seriff, Linda Cox, Janis Daemmrich, Eileen Ladd, Bettie Forman, Georgia Levin, Sue Goldstein, Karen Siegel, Tobi Sokolow, Beth Sher, Karen Naseck, Lisa Gerhardt. Courtesy: Karen Siegel By...

Chef Joshua Weissman’s potato salad pictured in the cookbook “Texture Over Taste.” Courtesy: Joshua Weissman By Allison Teegardin  In March, cookbook author and chef Joshua Weissman and CEO of Sommersa, Giacomo Zacchia discussed the future of food media on a SXSW...

Israeli Scouts Counselors. Courtesy: Gili Meidan By Devorah Fuchs The Israeli Scouts (Tzofim) in Austin are wrapping up a remarkable first year. They've not only established a strong presence but also fostered a vital sense of community and unity. Starting with a few...

Rabbi Will Hall, who began serving Temple Beth Shalom as assistant rabbi on July 1, 2023, was officially installed in that role on Friday, April 19, 2024, during Erev Shabbat services at the temple. A celebratory oneg followed services. In honor of his installation,...

Back Row left to right: Cheryl Hersh, Arielle Levy Marschark, Alison Goldstein Lebovitz, Mae Levitan, Melanie Susswein, Patti Sokol, Arlene Maze, Marsha Fein. Front Row L-R: Cheryl Fulton, Robyn Sperling, Julie Waltzer, Carli Price, Chayla Furlong, Kim Schocket, Ellen...

Community members attend JGallery opening reception for Imagine Art exhibit at the Dell JCC on June 2, 2024. Credit: Rebecca Golden By Barb Waisman This summer, the Toby Shor JGallery co-hosts the delightful and inspiring exhibition entitled “Imagine Art: where every...

Current and past presidents of TJHS met for Shabbat dinner and services at Congregation Beth Torah in Richardson at the start of the TJHS 45th Annual Gathering. Courtesy: Sheldon Lippman By Sheldon Lippman The Texas Jewish Historical Society (TJHS) held its 45th...

From left to right:  Jake Cohen, Joan Nathan, Aliza Kline and Julie Rice. Credit: Robbie Nero OneTable, a North American non-profit that empowers people to envision new rituals and build community through Shabbat dinner, co-hosted a Shabbat dinner on Friday, April 12,...