A Sacred Partnership: Adath Israel Formally Installs Rabbi Scott Shafrin
The sanctuary at Adath Israel was filled with a palpable sense of renewal on Shabbat, April 18, as the congregation gathered for the formal installation of Rabbi Scott Shafrin as its next Senior Rabbi. Succeeding Rabbi Moshe Smolkin, Rabbi Shafrin’s installation was more than a formal transition of power; it was described by congregants as a “lifecycle moment,” marking a new chapter of growth and communal connection.
At Z3 Cincinnati, Young Jews Aren’t Walking Away—They’re Asking Hard Questions
One of the hallmarks of Jewish culture is open communication. Furthermore, it is asking hard questions and being willing to hear the answer, even if you don’t agree. This ability to ask, listen, argue, and eventually agree to disagree was on full display at the inaugural Z3 Cincinnati Conference. In Keynote speaker Zack Bodner’s presentation,
Mimouna: One More Night
The moment Passover ends, something different happens in parts of the Jewish world. Homes open up, people start coming and going, and the night turns into something that feels like an extension of the holiday rather than the end of it.
Mimouna is a Moroccan Jewish tradition that takes place right after Passover. Friends, family, and neighbors stop by throughout the evening. There’s no real formality to it. You show up, you’re welcomed in, you eat, you talk, you stay as long as you want. The kitchen is active again after a full week of restrictions, and we make mufletta, a quick, easy, slightly oily flatbread, hot off the pan and gone just as fast. Tables are filled with sweets, nuts, pastries, and anything that brings a sense of abundance back into the home.
Yom HaShoah Commemoration Calls Community to Remember—and to Speak
In a city where history is not merely preserved but actively told, the Yom HaShoah Community Commemoration on Sunday, April 12, at the Nancy & David Wolf Holocaust & Humanity Center offered a solemn and necessary charge: remembrance must be honest enough to include not only the crimes of perpetrators, but the silence of those who stood by.
Nazi Caricatures Are Returning to Ohio
On Tuesday, a sticker of a hook-nosed caricature, a relic of Der Stürmer, pointing at the rising price of unleaded at an Ohio gas station. Underneath, in dripping red letters, is a blunt, ancient accusation: “THE JEWS DID THIS!” This is not Nazi Germany. It is Ohio in 2026.
CAIR Leader’s Graphic ‘Skin Bank’ Rant Rocks Ohio Senate During Antisemitism Hearing
ebruary 18th saw the continuation of the second legislative attempt to codify the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) definition of antisemitism into state law. The hearing for Senate Bill 87 drew a wave of dissent, consisting of 67 testimonies from a broad coalition including the ACLU of Ohio, Council for American Islamic Relations (CAIR) Ohio, Jewish Voice for Peace (JVP), and the Ohio Poor People’s Campaign.
The dissenters opposed the formal codification of the IHRA definition, which is currently in practice via Executive Order 2022-06D, issued by Governor Mike DeWine. While DeWine’s order required state agencies and public universities to adopt the definition following a surge of antisemitic incidents, the order is set to expire at the conclusion of his term. Proponents of SB 87 argue that without codification, the protection of Jewish Ohioans remains at the mercy of future governors’ discretion. If enacted, Ohio would join at least 37 other states that have already codified the definition.
Cincinnati Punches Above Its Weight on SB 87
Most legislative hearings are exactly what you’d expect. Lawmakers move through agendas, staffers shuffle papers, and bills advance with little drama. The Ohio Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on Senate Bill 87, delayed by a winter storm and held on February 11th, followed that familiar script. In just over thirty minutes, legislators addressed measures involving catalytic converters, firearms reporting requirements, and probate estate fees. SB 87 came last.
A Case For Leaving the House
I’ll admit it — it’s cold. It’s the kind of cold that makes you feel like staying in is the sensible choice. The kind where you sit on your couch with your blanket, your tea, and those pajamas that were never meant to be seen by anyone you respect.
And listen, that’s fine for a day or two. But if you’re waiting for a Level 3 to justify leaving the house — that’s a red flag. What you really need, every once in a while, is a night to be iconic.
CCFI Kicks Off the Year With Policy, Advocacy, and Israel Update
The Cincinnati Coalition for Israel (CCFI) held its first meeting of the year on Monday, January 12, at the Orange Spot Bistro, convening supporters for a lunchtime briefing focused on recent developments surrounding the Abraham Accords and Israel’s current security situation.
Lotsa Latkes
As we all know, latkes are one of the most important aspects of Hanukkah. We’ve all eaten these delicious potato pancakes and argued about whether applesauce or sour cream is the superior topping (it’s obviously applesauce). But what about other flavors of latkes?