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,
The Prevalence of Coffee House Culture
By Delaney Church Coffeehouses have been around for centuries, acting as social, commercial and intellectual hubs that have become a popular part of our culture and society. The first official coffeehouse was established in Boston in the seventeenth century, and quickly became a desirable location for a variety of activities and exchanges. Ideas were circulated,
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
Salvador Litvak on “Guns & Moses”
By Anna Selman When I scheduled an interview with Salvador Litvak, director of the new film Guns & Moses, I realized this was probably the biggest interview I’d ever landed: a filmmaker with a cult Passover comedy under his belt, a million followers online and Christopher Lloyd in his new cast. For someone like him,
Keep It Critical, Keep It Classy
By Delaney Church The intimidating novel splayed across my lap stared up at me, waiting for me to open it. What was so intimidating about it? It was a standard novel in every aspect. It wasn’t any heftier than a regular novel, nor did it have sharp teeth and an angry sneer. It had a
“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