May 27, 2023

Cohens and McNealy model PEACE for Birmingham

David and Lois Cohen, and Barry McNealy (BCRI photo) By Richard Friedman and Kiara Dunlap  An unlikely friendship between an older Jewish couple and a younger Black leader has sparked change in their communities — and transformed their lives. And if you know these three […]
May 24, 2023

Explaining the Ukraine situation through the power of poetry

By Richard Friedman It was an evening of poetry, purpose, passion and pain — and the unremitting power of a single voice. Most of all, it brought those there into a deeper understanding of the brutal tragedy that has befallen the people of Ukraine. Declaring […]
May 17, 2023

“Queer Eye” didn’t understand Nola icon Dan Stein’s Jewishness

Jonathan Van Ness does Dan Stein’s hair, including a beard shave and a uh, knee scrub. Courtesy of Netflix By Mira Fox (The Forward) — Dan Stein is a beloved figure in New Orleans. The NOLA subreddit is full of people not only drooling over […]
May 11, 2023

New AHEC museum uses local survivor stories to teach about the Holocaust

Because 6 million is a difficult number to conceptualize, the new Alabama Holocaust Education Center headquarters in Birmingham is focusing on a much smaller group. While teaching about the overall horrors of the Holocaust, the new center and museum highlights the stories of Holocaust survivors […]
May 9, 2023

Peaks and Valleys: Luria reflects on time in Congress, looks to future

Rep. Elaine Luria (D-Va.) speaks on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives on the conflict between Israelis and Palestinians, May 13, 2021. Source: Screenshot/C-SPAN. By Keila Lawrence A daughter. A wife. A mother. A proud Jewish woman. An American Maritime Hero. A two-term […]
May 8, 2023

“On Your Feet!” story personal for Jewish actress from Argentina

Photo: DJ Corey By Lee J. Green The Broadway in Birmingham musical “On Your Feet! The Story of Emilio and Gloria Estefan” is close to the heart for actress Cami Taleisnik, who grew up in Argentina’s Jewish community. The show opens May 9 and runs […]
May 7, 2023

Roskin takes cantorial position in Charlotte

Cantor Jessica Roskin will be the interim cantor at Temple Beth El in Charlotte, N.C., this coming year. The 850-family congregation made the announcement on May 5 in an email from President Alan Kronovet, Rabbi Asher Knight and COO Jonathan Friedman. They said Roskin “will […]
May 5, 2023

Mixed results at GiveNOLA Day, Federation places third again

For the second year in a row, GiveNOLA Day on May 2 was down slightly from the previous year, with some Jewish institutions seeing increases and some seeing decreases. Overall, the 24-hour online fundraiser coordinated by the Greater New Orleans Foundation raised $7.779 million through […]
May 5, 2023

JCRC, ADL respond to antisemitic flyers in Bywater

A statement was issued by the Jewish Community Relations Council of the Jewish Federation of Greater New Orleans, and the Anti-Defamation League, following the recent proliferation of antisemitic flyers in the Bywater area of New Orleans, from the Goyim Defense League. Dear Jewish Community Members, […]