JEWISH COMMUNITY BLOG

Emily Shrode attends the Jewish Federations of North America General Assembly. Courtesy: Emily Shrode Jewish Federations of North America runs a special fellowship to support the emerging voices and future leaders of Jewish life in North America called Jewish...

Science & Business at the Bar. Courtesy: Community Engagement Manager-IAC Austin. Courtesy: Ofir Hagay Nevel By Ofir Hagay Nevel  In today’s fast-paced world, where technology, business, and science intersect, fostering real connections and exchanging...

Courtney Jones reads a PJ Library book. Courtesy: Courtney Jones By Allison Teegardin  In 2008, Shalom Austin launched the PJ Library program locally for young Jewish readers. PJ Library has been celebrated by the 4,585 Austin families with children from birth through...

2024 HFLA Board of Directors. Courtesy: Debbie Cohen By Debbie Cohen  On November 13, 2024, Hebrew Free Loan of Austin (HFLA) marked a significant milestone: its "B’nai Mitzvah Anniversary," a celebration marking 13 years of transforming lives through interest-free...

Janani Sivakumar. Credit: Sivakumar Kalyanasundaram By Allison Teegardin  In August 2023, University of Texas Austin student Janani Sivakumar enrolled in a Jewish Studies internship course which combines a weekly classroom lecture with 10 weekly hours in an internship...

Texas A&M Hillel students enjoy a warm cup of coffee at Starbucks on the Quad. Courtesy: Risa Bierman.  Hillel at Texas A&M Kicks Off  Spring Semester with a Bang    The spring semester at Texas A&M Hillel is off to a snowy start. Following a successful...

Community Menorah Lighting at the Hays County Historic Courthouse in the center of San Marcos. Courtesy: Rabbi Ari Weingarten  By Allison Teegardin  In 2016, The Rohr Chabad of San Marcos opened its doors with a goal of serving the Texas Hill Country Jewish...

Speaking on the panel following the film screening of Rosenwald, from L-R:  Bullock Museum Curator James McReynolds; President of Hopewell Community Club & Hopewell Rosenwald School Community, Elroy Williams; Hopewell Rosenwald School Community Development...

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...

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...

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: 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...