July 14, 2014

Israeli basketball star Casspi traded to New Orleans

Small forward Omri Casspi, who signed a two-year contract with the Houston Rockets last summer, is heading across Interstate 10 to New Orleans, where he will fill a need in that position. In a move that was confirmed last night, he was traded to the […]
July 11, 2014

Reflections of a Birminghamian living in Israel

By Shaina ShealySpecial to Southern Jewish Life On Sunday, July 6, four days after the bodies of Eyal, Gilad and Naftali were found outside of Jerusalem, I attended my first course of the summer semester at Hebrew University, where I’m completing a Masters Degree in […]
July 11, 2014

Reflections of an immigrant to Israel from New Orleans

By Katie Connell Special to Southern Jewish Life Editor’s note: Katie Connell made aliyah from New Orleans one year ago and settled in Beer Sheva in the Negev. She currently lives in an absorption center for new immigrants. This originally appeared in the weekly e-news […]
July 9, 2014

Florida rabbi finds owners of 7 tefillin sets discovered at Scottsboro’s Unclaimed Baggage

Two sets of tefillin the Pilichowskis found at Unclaimed Baggage in Scottsboro, Ala. (Photo courtesy Rabbi Uri Pilichowski) When Rabbi Uri Pilichowski and family stopped in Scottsboro at the Unclaimed Baggage Center on July 2, it was just another interesting place to see on their […]
July 3, 2014

Attempts to reconcile: Southern Presbyterian churches reach out to Jewish community following divestment vote

The vote by the Presbyterian Church (USA) to divest itself from holdings in companies they say profit from Israel’s administration of the territories has caused a great deal of concern in the Jewish community — and among the rank and file of PCUSA. The 310-303 […]
July 2, 2014

Southern communities join in mourning the three murdered Israeli teens

Israeli flag at half staff outside the Jewish Community Center in Austin. With the discovery of the bodies of three missing Israeli teens, planned vigils have turned into memorial services. The Israeli Consulate in Atlanta stated “we are heartbroken to report the senseless killings of […]
June 30, 2014

Statement from Birmingham Jewish Federation

STATEMENT FROM THE BIRMINGHAM JEWISH FEDERATION It is with profound grief and great sadness that we mourn the murders of the three young Israelis  Naftali Fraenkel, 16, Gilad Shaar, 16, and Eyal Yifrah, 19, who were kidnapped on Thursday, June 12. Since their abduction, our Birmingham […]
June 30, 2014

Statement from New Orleans Jewish Federation

A message from Jewish Federation of Greater New Orleans Executive Director, Michael Weil The Jewish Federation of Greater New Orleans was devastated to learn that the bodies of the three missing Israeli teenagers—Naphtali Fraenkel 16, Gilad Shaar, 16 and Eyal Yifrach, 19—were  found today in […]
June 29, 2014

Celebrating Shabbat and Independence Day

With Independence Day falling on Friday, some congregations are changing their Shabbat evening service plans. Birmingham’s Temple Emanu-El will hold a later than usual service — at 7 p.m. It will be followed by a dinner with hamburgers and hot dogs. Dinner reservations are required […]