Thursday, October 16 2025

A New Name, Mission and Strategic Plan Announced at Annual Meeting

Jewish Home of Cincinnati has rebranded as the Foundation for Cincinnati Jewish Seniors (FCJS) with a renewed mission to enhance the lives of Jewish seniors. During its annual meeting, it celebrated significant grant contributions and introduced new board members. The organization emphasizes measurable outcomes, community impact, and continuity in its renewed strategic approach.

The Wings of Hope

CINCINNATI — October 5th was a perfect Sunday morning in Cincinnati. The air was crisp, sunlight filtered through the trees, and three police cars stood outside the Mayerson JCC as people filed in, IDs in hand. Outside, a giant Israeli flag caught the wind. There was no ambiguity about where this building stood. The scene

Miami U Increases Kosher Dining Options for Jewish Students

OXFORD, Ohio — Campuses talk a lot about inclusion. Most of it happens in memos. Real inclusion showed up in Oxford this fall as a kosher bagel kiosk offering fresh bagels and salads students can buy with their dining swipes. Students were quick to try it. “I have used the new bagel kiosk, and it’s

The Secret to Journaling: Just Start

The weight of words can be heavy, as we all know. But when you’re moving into your new apartment, struggling to carry a cardboard box filled to the brim with dozens of page-filled journals, the saying takes on somewhat of a literal quality. Though my journals did not make the moving process easier, they certainly

An apple and honey in front of a brick wall. Photo by Stella Fried

A High Holidays Text Study

By Stella Fried There are many things I love about Judaism and being Jewish, and chief among them is that learning and asking questions is heavily emphasized. I have always loved learning, especially outside of a traditional classroom. I enjoy a small group setting where I get to ask all the questions I want, and

Sweetness on Hamilton Road

By Anna Selman LEBANON, OH — Plenty of families head to orchards this time of year for Instagram-ready apple picking, but this was different. I wasn’t there for a photo op. I was meeting the kindergarteners from Chai Tots—a Jewish Montessori in Mason, Ohio. They come each year ahead of Rosh HaShanah to pick apples,

A League That Feels Like Home

By Anna Selman By early September, the JCC fast‑pitch softball season had settled into its easy rhythm—the kind of Sunday mornings at Triple Creek Park that felt like a breath of fresh air in a noisy world. Two diamonds going at once. Outfielders shading their eyes. Kids hanging off the fence hollering for Dad. Dugout

A Very Jewish Friendship

By Eliana Garfunkel I often think about how intense my Judaism has been throughout my life, whether it be a reflection of my dedication, or more realistically, a reassurance of my Jewish identity. In either case, even as a pre-schooler, Judaism has never been on the backburner. It was around christmastime, and our small class

Outline of a young girl holding a spear against a white background. The outline is filled with a nature scene, with trees and a river. Swimming in the river is a bright red dragon.

“Anya and the Dragon” by Sofiya Pasternack 

By Stella Fried As an avid reader, I often define how good a book is based on how much I read in one sitting, and how long it took me to notice how much time had passed. That’s how I know “Anya and the Dragon” is a good book. I sat down on the couch

“Two Tribes” by Emily Bowen Cohen 

written by Stella Fried I came across “Two Tribes” quite by accident. I was straightening up the shelves in the children’s graphic novel section when I noticed a book with a girl wearing a Star of David necklace and a Muscogee beaded necklace on the cover. I was immediately intrigued. Jewish and Native American is