February 11, 2015

Friendship Circle up and running in Birmingham

On Feb. 22, thousands of runners will take to the streets of Birmingham for the Mercedes Marathon. Among them will be a few dozen members of Team Friendship, including Rabbi Yossi “The Runnin’ Rabbi” Friedman from Chabad of Alabama. Team Friendship is participating as a […]
February 6, 2015

Mazel tov? Many Ala. rabbis, congregations welcome same-sex ceremonies

Timing? The Atlanta-based Southern Jewish Resource Network for Gender and Sexual Diversity had planned its first Birmingham event for Feb. 23 before the court ruling came out. Details below. With Alabama poised to have same-sex marriages recognized, Rabbi Jonathan Miller said “it is nice to […]
February 2, 2015

Mobile goes “Above and Beyond” for first Reita Franco Memorial film

When the organizers of the Mobile Jewish Film Festival decided to have Nancy Spielberg’s documentary, “Above and Beyond: The Birth of the Israeli Air Force” as the first Reita Franco Memorial Film, they had no idea just how fitting that choice would be. Reita Franco, […]
January 29, 2015

“Enchantress” a trip through the world of Jewish magic, tour concluding in NOLA

For Maggie Anton, writing “Rav Hisda’s Daughter” and “Enchantress” was an unexpected magical experience, and she will finish her current book tour in a city known for magic, New Orleans. The author of the successful Rashi’s Daughters trilogy, Anton set out to explore Talmudic times […]
January 23, 2015

Ungar named new director of NOLA Jewish Family Service

Roselle Ungar has been hired as the new executive director of Jewish Family Service of Greater New Orleans, starting her new position on Jan. 28. A New Orleans native, Ungar was approved at a board vote on Jan. 21. She had been serving as president […]
January 13, 2015

“Peace panel” at UAB features activist who attended Tehran anti-U.S. conspiracy conference

Medea Benjamin being interviewed on Iranian television last fall (courtesy ADL) A Jan. 13 panel at the University of Alabama at Birmingham billed as two Nobel Peace Prize nominees discussing approaches to peace may not be what it seems. The Birmingham Interfaith Human Rights Committee, […]
January 7, 2015

Some area congregations having King Weekend events

Anshe Sfard at the 2014 Martin Luther King Day Parade in New Orleans Anshe Sfard in New Orleans is doing a weekend of programming in observance of Martin Luther King Day. The weekend will start with Shabbat services on Jan. 16 at 6:30 p.m., followed […]
January 2, 2015

January is Jewish Film Festival time in the South

The Jewish communities of Mobile, Jackson and Baton Rouge are hosting Jewish film festivals this month, with a wide range of films and guest speakers. In Mobile and Baton Rouge, the festivals also hold student screenings of Holocaust-themed films for school groups. The Mobile festival […]
December 29, 2014

“Our Mockingbird,” “Shell Shocked” to air on PBS World

Our Mockingbird Two films with regional ties will air on the PBS documentary series “America Reframed” on the PBS World channel. The series airs on Tuesdays at 7 p.m. Journalist Natasha Del Toro hosts the series, which presents 60 to 90 minute independent films and […]