After swastika incident, USF students awed by Holocaust survivor, 94
When Holocaust survivor Helga Melmed told her story to hundreds of University of South Florida students on the Tampa campus, they sat spellbound until she was finished, then erupted into a loud standing ovation. Between that tangible reaction and comments from a number of students attending, it was clear the...
Jewish Fertility Foundation opens Tampa branch
For Cara Chernoff of Tampa, every step of her “fertility journey” was fraught with either physical or emotional pain, and sometimes both. But eventually she and husband Jeff had a son, Joshua, in 2019 – and he is the joy of their lives. For Elana Frank of Atlanta, her journey...
Mark Wright: Mission to aid Ukrainians in his own words
After watching what was going on in Ukraine, Tampa attorney Mark Wright felt he had to do more and joined a Jewish Federation of North America mission to Poland to aid Ukrainian refugees. The mission was for three days, but he arrived a few days early and stayed a few...
Annual President’s Dinner: Oren, Wilf and a ‘chai’ celebration
Between 500 and 600 people are expected at the 18th annual President’s Dinner, set for Sunday, May 1 after a two-year hiatus due to the pandemic. The “chai” anniversary celebration will be held at the Hilton Downtown Tampa, 211 N. Tampa St. The keynote speaker is former Ambassador Michael Oren....
Local young woman will fulfill dream by taking Straz Center stage in Broadway tour
Ariel Reich grew up in the Tampa Bay Jewish community and the performing arts scene, and she is coming back to perform at the Straz Center in the Broadway on Tour production of the Tony Award winning musical, “The Bands Visit.” Currently, Reich is performing the role of Anna, and...
This singing trio wants to make Yiddish sexy again
Like many great ideas, “The Mamales,” a Yiddish singing group, began on a summer night at a bar on the Lower East Side. The women...
Reform movement to end Cincinnati rabbinical program
(JTA) – Hebrew Union College will officially stop ordaining rabbis in Cincinnati, the Ohio city where the Reform seminary was founded in 1875. The seminary’s...
Birthright founder returning looted antiquities to Israel
Eight of the looted artifacts that billionaire philanthropist Michael Steinhardt must return to Israel as part of a deal with prosecutors in New York are...
Passover treats
Bubbes shared their Passover memories with the children of Club J and had fun making (and sampling) traditional Passover dishes that they served up at...
Yom HaShoah ceremonies planned throughout Bay area
Observances of Yom HaShoah – Holocaust Remembrance Day – will take place throughout the Tampa Bay area when the local Jewish community joins others around...
Plenty to do for Israel’s Memorial and Independence days
The back-to-back observances of Israel’s Memorial Day, Yom Hazikaron, and Israel Independence Day, Yom Ha’Atzmaut, in the Tampa Bay Jewish community will include two comedians,...
Counting down and counting up
I spent the summer of 2005 in Philadelphia with two of my best friends from college. I had sung at their wedding a few years...
Whitney Brooke Fries
Whitney Brooke Fries, daughter of Marcy and Bill Fries of Tampa, will be called to the Torah as a Bat Mitzvah on Saturday, April 9...
Shaylin Dale Berger
Shaylin Dale Berger, daughter of Craig and Melissa Berger of Tampa, was called to the Torah as a Bat Mitzvah on Saturday, Feb. 5 at...
Rhen Chaite Linsky
Rhen Chaite Linsky, daughter of Frankie and Ron Linsky of Tampa, will be called to the Torah as a Bat Mitzvah on Saturday, Feb. 26...
Marley Jean Kittredge
Marley Jean Kittredge, daughter of Julie and Mike Kittredge of Tampa, will be called to the Torah as a Bat Mitzvah on Saturday, Feb. 12...
Just a nosh…
Postal Service honors Jewish poet Shel Silverstein with ‘The Giving Tree’ stamps The U.S. Postal Service has released a new series of Forever stamps in...
