When my daughter Simone called and told us that she was planning to return to Milwaukee, my wife and I became ecstatic. Several years earlier, my daughter, eager for a big city experience, moved to Chicago. We worried about her and would drive down to Chicago monthly to visit with her. During her phone […]
Cantor David Barash of Congregation Emanu-El B’ne Jeshurun is a self-described “digital dinosaur.” Yet in the past few months, he’s led the creation of choir videos, learned to use a Bluetooth microphone and speaker during remote services, and thought up innovative ways to create a high-quality listening experience for congregants over Zoom. When Barash […]
Chabad-Lubavitch of Wisconsin has extended its free food program at least through the rest of 2020, after initially indicating it might have to end on Aug. 30, 2020. “In normal times, thank God, there are many organizations in the city that deal with physical well–being,” said Rabbi Mendel Shmotkin, executive vice president for Chabad-Lubavitch of […]
An upcoming exhibit at Jewish Museum Milwaukee includes limited-edition print of posters displayed in an art exhibit preceding President Obama’s first inauguration. That inauguration exhibit, held at a Georgetown gallery in Washington D.C., was called “Manifest Hope: DC.” The images in the exhibit have also been used on posters at protests in France, Turkey, Greece, Israel […]
In the 1800s, much of organized Reform Judaism was founded at the renowned Plum Street Temple in Cincinnati. It’s where Reform movement co-founder Rabbi Isaac Mayer Wise famously made things happen. In the modern era, it’s in this building that a rabbi lays hands on the shoulders of a rabbinical candidate. In this moment, […]
Synagogues to the north, in Wisconsin’s mid-sized cities, are working to provide their congregants with a vibrant Jewish life. There’s no uniform playbook. They’re considering their circumstances, making choices and deciding on solutions. For one synagogue, this can mean selling the synagogue building and renting space from a church. For another, it’s reconsidering affiliation. […]
Julie Schack transitioned from a 25-year career in advertising and marketing to fundraising in the Jewish world—a career she describes as “sales with a soul.” The four-year executive director of Hillel Milwaukee is taking on the position of vice president of fundraising at Milwaukee Jewish Federation, full time by October. She will be responsible […]
Shorewood resident Deb Schermer, who led a local Israeli dance class before the pandemic, is now leading portions of classes for hundreds of people from all over the world. “Someday, when I go to a dance camp and I see one of them in person, then I’ll be like, ‘Hey, I saw you on […]
It happened fast. Wisconsin was largely open, with business humming along during the day on Friday, March 13. Then, late that day, Gov. Tony Evers’ state health department ordered schools closed. Much of the state started shutting down. Things haven’t been quite the same since then. It has been nearly six months since we […]
Dr. Alysandra Lal is chief of surgery at Ascension Columbia St. Mary’s Hospital, Milwaukee.
The Milwaukee Jewish Teen Philanthropy Board is now open to applicants. Applications are due by Sept. 16. You can find the application on the MilwaukeeJewish.org/Teens website. This past year, there were 31 board members representing eight schools and six synagogues from throughout the community, according to Anna Goldstein, outreach and teen philanthropy coordinator for […]
First, the mayor of Glendale wrote on Facebook last month that “Fox Point killed the North Shore Library.” Then, the village of Fox Point issued an Aug. 24 news release in apparent response, stating that Glendale wants to start charging rent to the other communities that share in the library. The dispute could change […]
Rabbi Dena Feingold led the prayer at an interfaith gathering at the steps of the Kenosha Public Library today, as President Trump visited the city in the wake of civil unrest after the shooting of Jacob Blake. About two dozen spiritual leaders and others were present for the interfaith gathering. Feingold is the spiritual leader for […]
RUACH has several recent and upcoming events streaming online, including several connected with composer Jonathan Leshnoff. Visit RuachMilwaukee.org/Composer-Spirituality.
Come September, it looks like at least some schooling and most High Holy Days services will be done virtually while most of us remain at home. That means that we will lose the live, large community interaction that has always been valued by Judaism and school learning. As we make choices between live, online, […]
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