19 Years…and That’s a Wrap!
AJFF Director David Finkel with a group from the film "Majesty and Tenderness": SAMFA Collection Manager Laura Romer Huckaby, filmmaker Vanessa Reiser, producer Ben Livingston, and son of the film’s subject, Josh Schmidt. Mr. and Mrs. Maurice Schmidt (the film's...
Jewish War Veterans Host Flag Raising Ceremony for Veterans Day
Post 757 of the Jewish War Veterans host flag raising ceremony for Veterans Day Nov. 11 on the Dell jewish Community Campus. Credit: Steve Krant. By Charlie Rosenblum Post 757 of the Jewish War Veterans remains an active part of Austin and Shalom Austin despite...
Spotlight on National Young Leadership Cabinet
Ben Kogut. Photo courtesy of Ben Kogut. Jewel Sud. Photo courtesy of Jewel Sud By Alachua Nazarenko National Young Leadership Cabinet is Jewish Federation of North America’s (JFNA) premier young leadership development program that educates and connects the next...
Austin Powers-Catch Up with Texas’s First Catchball Team and Champions
The Austin Powers Team. Photo courtesy of Karen Cohen. By Karen Cohen Diving catches, powerful slams, and coordinated teamwork, all helped the Austin Powers elevate above the competition to capture Austin’s first ever catchball tournament victory. Catchball is a new...
Amanda Gorman Kicks Off ADL’s No Place for Hate® Back-to-School Event
Students Watching Amanda Gorman. Photo courtesy of ADL. By Mike Ogulnick On Wednesday, October 6, ADL welcomed the school year with its No Place for Hate® Back-to-School Kickoff event. Inaugural Poet and author, Amanda Gorman, headlined the virtual event. She engaged...
Chabad at UT Starts Off Year with a Bang
Students gather together, excited for Shabbat at Chabad. Photo courtesy of Chabad at UT. By Chana Filler Josh wasn’t sad about being far away from home for the holidays this year, he was actually excited. But that’s not how he had felt last year as a freshman. “It’s...
Generations Progress Update: Hanukkah Lights the Way to Aquatics and Tennis Opening
The brand new Lisa and Sandy Gottesman Pool, part of the Rochelle & Stanley Ferdman Family Aquatic Center, is designed for lap swimmers, campers, lessons, and a variety of other programs. Credit: Dave Hawks. The Generations project to expand and renovate the...
Think Jewish: Act Local. Rubinett Foundation Honors Matriarch’s Final Wish for Giving Legacy
HFLA Board Member Diana Resnik presents Gordon Rubinett with Certificate of Appreciation in honor of his family foundation's generosity to the organization. Credit: Wendy R. Corn. By Wendy Corn Hebrew Free Loan Austin (HFLA) is a partner of Shalom Austin. Jewish...
Unique South Austin Sukkah Created with Locally Harvested Bamboo
The South Austin Sukkah, open for all. Credit: Chabad of South Austin. The seven-day festival of Sukkot recently passed. It is celebrated by the Jewish community and is considered a “Thanksgiving” for the harvest. Jewish people around the world build a sukkah, which...
Award-Winning Author and Journalist, Matti Friedman to Headline Austin Breakfast for Israel
Matti Friedman. Photo Courtesy of JNF-USA By Jennifer Milton Jewish National Fund-USA (JNF-USA) recently announced its 10th annual Breakfast for Israel in Austin is returning on Friday, February 4, 2022, at 8:00 a.m. CT and will feature keynote speaker, Matti Friedman...
Hanukkah: Finding Light in the Darkness
Hanukkah is a time for celebrating miracles – the miracle of survival; the miracle of light in the darkness; the miracle of restoration and refreshment; the miracle of second chances. But Hanukkah comes at a time that yes, can be joyous, but also can seem stressful,...
Fighting Hate in Our Communities – No Hate in the Lone Star State
On Monday, Nov. 1, Interfaith Action Central Texas (iACT) and hundreds of local government and Jewish community leaders to publicly released a statement of unity against anti-Semitism and in support of the Austin Jewish community. Along with the statement, the iACT,...
NMJHS and TJHS Plan “West of Hester Street” Webinar for October
The New Mexico Jewish Historical Society and Texas Jewish Historical Society announce the webinar, “West of Hester Street and the Galveston Movement: Jewish Immigration in the Southwest,” scheduled for Saturday afternoon and Sunday morning, October 30-31, 2021....
A Sukkot Reflection: The Fragility of Our Lives
As I write this, our Jewish community is celebrating Sukkot. We spend the holiday in a sukkah, a structure that symbolizes the protection and shelter G-d provided as we passed through the Sinai desert. Of course, the sukkah is a temporary structure with only a partial...
Shalom Austin Jewish Family Service Highlights National Recovery Month
Join Shalom Austin Jewish Family Service (JFS) in celebrating National Recovery Month in September. In the time of COVID-19, the word “recovery” can be tied to many images and feelings. Alongside recovery from the virus, the pandemic has demonstrated our collective...
BBYO is Shaping Our Future Jewish Leaders
As many of us prepare for the new school season starting, I wanted to share an update about the wonderful things happening with the four BBYO Austin chapters - Capital AZA #2548, Ra’naan BBG #2534, Litzor BBG #433, and Tiboor Rubin AZA #875. Shalom Austin is proud to...
Community High Holy Days Services and Resources
Shalom Austin JCC Early Childhood Program prepares to celebrate and observe the High Holy Days this year, which begin at sundown on Monday, September 6 with Rosh Hashanah. Photo credit: Wendy Goodman High Holy Day listings are subject to change. Please check websites...
Afterschool Care Shifts to Meet New Needs During COVID: Shalom Austin JCC Reintroduces Afterschool Program
By Wendy Goodman The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted adults and children alike in unprecedented ways. Parents of young children have had to swiftly and continually adjust their daily schedules to keep their families safe and their children engaged. For the past year...
Local Fundraising Makes Transformative Impact on Pancreatic Cancer: Saad Family Raises Funds Toward Breakthrough Treatment
Dr. Talia Golan (left) and Lily Saad (right) share a mission to bring more awareness to and support for pancreatic cancer. Photo courtesy of Lily Saad. By Wendy Goodman In February 2015, The Jewish Outlook published a feature story on the critical fundraising efforts...
A Look Inside the FBI: Shalom Austin COO Attends FBI Citizens Academy
Shalom Austin Chief Operating Officer Janet S. Elam participates in the FBI Citizens Academy. Photo credit: Dave Hawks. There is a saying that is common in FBI circles that “the better we know our communities, the better we can protect them.” To that end, the...
Creating a Lasting Impact at the Shalom Austin Jewish Foundation
Marilyn Saikin Stahl creates a lasting legacy with Marilyn Saikin Stahl Sigma Delta Tau Leadership Endowment Fund at the Shalom Austin Jewish Foundation. Two forces of nature and leadership in the Austin Jewish community will ensure a lasting legacy of inspiration and...
Kim’s Gym Welcomes New Owner
By Wendy Goodman Jess Reger becomes new owner of Kim's Gym. Photo courtesy of Jess Reger. Nearly 20 years ago, Jewish community member and former gymnast Kim Lindauer started Kim’s Gym, an exemplary children’s gymnastics program exclusively held at the Shalom Austin...
Construction on New JCC Facilities Remains Steady
The new family-friendly activity pool with spray features, dumping buckets, water tables, and slides has been installed. Photo credit: Dave Hawks Since the historic groundbreaking event on October 25, 2020, construction has continued to progress on the Generations...
Shalom Austin Women’s Philanthropy Offers Social and Educational Programming to Engage Women Throughout the Year
By Arielle Levy Inspired and guided by the traditions of tzedakah (righteousness/charity) and tikkun olam (repairing the world), Shalom Austin Women’s Philanthropy (WP) is a group that engages, empowers, and educates women of all generations to strengthen and serve...
JFS and Lifeworks: A New Partnership Strengthening Community
Volunteers safely gather in neighborhood groups to create care packages for homeless neighbors. Photos credit: Jennifer Lazarus. This past year, Shalom Austin Jewish Family Service launched a new partnership with Lifeworks Austin. Lifeworks is an Austin-based...
Congregation Agudas Achim Celebrates Beloved Chef John Sutton
John Sutton. Courtesy of Congregation Agudas Achim. For almost 40 years, Congregation Agudas Achim (CAA) has experienced many changes - several rabbis, two synagogue buildings, numerous synagogue presidents and leadership teams, and even a new siddur. In fact, if a...
Two Community Assistance Programs, HFLA and The Change Reaction, Connect to Help Austin Residents Achieve Financial Stability
Heidi and Robbie Kandalis received support through Hebrew Free Loan of Austin to keep their business afloat. Photo courtesy of Heidi Kandalis. Last Fall, the HFLA inbox received a fortuitous message. An administrator from the Change Reaction, a Los Angeles based...
Cantor Abby Gostein Brings a Lifetime of Jewish Music Making to Her New Ordained Role
Cantor Abby Gostein. Photo courtesy of Temple Beth Shalom. Temple Beth Shalom celebrates, along with the Greater Austin Jewish community, the ordination of Cantor Abby Gostein in May 2021 from the Academy of Jewish Religion, California. Serving Temple Beth Shalom...
ADL to Honor Laura and Morris Gottesman with Torch of Liberty Award
Morris and Laura Gottesman. Photo credit: Kerry Lorhmer. ADL Austin is honoring Laura and Morris Gottesman with the Torch of Liberty Award November 17th at the 2021 ADL Golden Door Awards Dinner. The Torch of Liberty Award is given annually to members of the Austin...
HEALTH & WELLNESS
Fitness
Swimming
Tennis & Pickleball
Sports
EDUCATION
Jewish Culture & Education
Early Childhood Program Preschool
After School & Childcare
Camps
ARTS & CULTURE
Literary Arts
Visual Arts
Theatre & Film
Dance
COUNSELING & SUPPORT
Jewish Family Service
Counseling & Groups
Case Management
References & Resources
Disability & Inclusion
Copyright Shalom Austin 2025. Privacy Policy.


























