Archived News

December 27, 2022

Governor Ivey hosts Alabama Jewish community for Chanukah lighting

Governor Kay Ivey addresses the crowd at the Dec. 22 ceremony (Photos by Hal Yeager/Governor’s Office) History was made on Dec. 22 as Alabama Governor Kay Ivey hosted the state’s Jewish community for a Chanukah menorah lighting at the Governor’s Mansion in Montgomery. Over 150 […]
December 23, 2022

LimmudFest New Orleans announces first speakers for March

Registration for LimmudFest New Orleans will open on Jan. 15. The weekend festival of Jewish learning, arts, culture and spirituality will be held in New Orleans the weekend of March 17, with over 70 sessions by local, regional and national presenters, with several subject tracks. […]
December 22, 2022

Trip shows HBCU presidents possibilities in Israel connections

Charlotte Morris and Daniel Wims By Richard Friedman and Keila Lawrence Six distinguished presidents of Historically Black Colleges and Universities visited Israel recently, including two from Alabama. It’s not surprising that two of the six were from Alabama since the state has the highest number […]
December 22, 2022

“American Birthright” explores questions of Jewish identity

Why be Jewish? For Israeli-born Becky Tahel, that question about faith and identity came as an evolution from an exploration of why someone Jewish should marry Jewish, after her younger sister and only sibling married a non-Jew. Her search for answers led to “American Birthright,” […]
December 20, 2022

New Orleans Federation honors “public servant” Fielkow on retirement

“We must keep meeting like this,” said Touro Rabbi Katie Bauman, in opening the Jewish Federation of Greater New Orleans’ 2022 annual celebration, a nod to the continuing return to normal after Covid. The Dec. 7 event was to celebrate the tenure of Arnie Fielkow […]
December 18, 2022

Broadening Federation’s Reach: Fielkow reflects on time as CEO

File photo Arnie Fielkow says his retirement as CEO of the Jewish Federation of Greater New Orleans is “bittersweet” as “I have truly grown to love the work I do and the people I am privileged to work with. “At the same time,” he said, […]
December 17, 2022

Baton Rouge, Mobile Jewish Film Festivals in January

The Man in the Basement The Baton Rouge and Mobile Jewish Film Festivals, which will both take place in January, have two films in common this year. “Farewell Mr. Haffman” opens the Mobile festival, Jan. 8 at 2 p.m. at Springhill Avenue Temple, and closes […]
December 6, 2022

Gitenstein: Finding her way from Florala

By Richard Friedman  When you can’t get a book out of your mind, the author has done a great job. Rose Barbara Gitenstein, who grew up as one of about 15 Jews in Florala, a tiny dot on the map along the Alabama side of the Alabama-Florida […]
December 1, 2022

Eight Orthodox schools hold basketball Shabbaton, tournament at Auburn

Coach Bruce Pearl addresses students at Neville Arena at Auburn Students from eight Orthodox high schools from across the country held a Shabbaton and basketball tournament — at Auburn University. The National Council of Synagogue Youth, a division of the Orthodox Union, and Athletes for […]