By Donna Gordon Blankinship, Editor, JTNews In the past 10 years, the greater Seattle Jewish community has grown by 27 percent — twice as fast as the general Seattle population, according to a new survey commissioned by the Jewish Federation of Greater Seattle. The 2000 Greater Seattle Population Survey, conductedContinue Reading

By , Special to JTNews Jewish Family Service offers a wide variety of culturally sensitive workshops and groups designed to strengthen individuals, families and the community through its Jewish Family Life Education program. Jewish Family Life Education consists of three areas: Public Programs and Events, Professional Training and the SpeakersContinue Reading

By , Special to JTNews Congregation Beth Shalom, a Conservative synagogue in Seattle’s Wedgwood neighborhood, invites the community to join them for the dedication of their new aron kodesh (holy ark) on Sunday, Oct. 21, at 1 p.m. Thanks to a donation by the Jewish Federation of Greater Seattle, BethContinue Reading

By , Special to JTNews The Stroum Jewish Community Center (JCC) holds its 44th Annual Meeting at 7 p.m. on Oct. 18 at the Mercer Island Facility (3801 E. Mercer Way, Mercer Island). The JCC will elect its officers and board of directors for fiscal year 2001—2002, and honor outgoingContinue Reading

By , Special to JTNews Fifteen kindergarten students at Seattle Hebrew Academy wanted to help those who had been injured by the terrorists in New York City. Their teachers suggested a Band-Aid drive. The 5-year-olds, working together, created this appeal letter: “Dear Students and Parents of Seattle Hebrew Academy, “PleaseContinue Reading

By Janis Siegel, JTNews Correspondent On the evening of that bleak Tuesday, Sept. 11, nearly 150 Jews gathered at a local synagogue to hear Jerusalem-based freelance writer Judy Lash Balint, a former Seattleite, speak about her new book, Jerusalem Diaries, In Tense Times (Geffen Publishing House, $16.95). Only it wasContinue Reading

By Janis Siegel, JTNews Correspondent At the American Jewish Committee annual meeting on the evening of Sept. 10, the AJC’s expert on anti-Semitism and extremism, in a somewhat synchronistic and unknowingly prophetic way, delivered a keynote address on “Hate and the Internet: Free Speech, Civil Rights and Public Safety.” EvenContinue Reading

By Donna Gordon Blankinship, Editor, JTNews What is the message for the Jewish community after the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11? Reuven Kimelman, keynote speaker at the Jewish Federation’s Major Gifts Dinner on Sept. 24, says one possible answer would be: Good and evil are always intermingled. Jews always searchContinue Reading

By Donna Gordon Blankinship, Editor, JTNews Adam Benjamin Feinstein is one lucky boy. In Jewish tradition, the number 18 is an auspicious number. The Hebrew letters that equal the number 18 translate into the word “chai,” which means life in English. Adam, whose parents’ address includes the number 18 threeContinue Reading

By David Chesanow, JTNews Correspondent The members of Tacoma’s Temple Beth El yet again chose worship over worry by concentrating on Yom Kippur observances despite a vandalism incident and an arson attempt prior to the holiday. The Tacoma News Tribune reported last week that a neighbor of the temple dialedContinue Reading

By , Special to JTNews Seventeen Seattle-area athletes competed admirably, socialized heartily, swam in the ocean safely and represented the Pacific Northwest honorably at the recent JCC Maccabi Games, in Sarasota, Florida. The athletes in the Seattle delegation included basketball team Adam Brazg, Allon Freiman, Jacob Gottlieb, David Kelley, MaxContinue Reading

By Joanna Kadish, other Elie Seidel, a stocky woman in her late 30s with a face that looks like it belongs on a teenager, lifted up her shirt to display a Seahawks T-shirt. She is wearing a Mariners baseball cap. “I love the Seahawks,” she said. “I love the Huskies.Continue Reading

By Jessica Davis , JTNews Correspondent About 150 volunteers met in the auditorium of the Stroum Jewish Community Center on Mercer Island on Sept. 9 to participate in the Young Leadership Division’s Mitzvah Day. Mitzvah Day brings the community together to volunteer for five hours in various places around theContinue Reading

By , Special to JTNews Congregation Beth Shalom, a Conservative synagogue in Seattle’s Wedgwood neighborhood, invites the public to its community Shabbat dinner and new member welcome in the Sukkah on Oct. 5. Kabbalat Shabbat Services begin at 6:30 p.m. The dinner begins at 7:30 p.m. The cost is $10Continue Reading

By , Special to JTNews Seattle community and congregational groups are responding to the current crisis in Israel through an Israel Advocacy Consortium. Last spring the executive directors, chairs and presidents and key volunteers from five organizations met to map out a long-term mission and strategy to accomplish certain goalsContinue Reading

By , Special to JTNews The Jewish Federation of Greater Seattle announced Wednesday night, Sept. 12, that they solidarity rally scheduled for Sunday, Sept. 23, had been postponed. “The Jewish Federation of Greater Seattle and our many partners in our planned rally in solidarity with the people of Israel, recognizeContinue Reading

By Ken Schlegel, Special to JTNews Sunday, Sept. 9, marked the end of one era and the beginning of another for Temple De Hirsch Sinai. Early on that perfect late summer day, about 500 synagogue members said goodbye to our former Eastside synagogue on 124th Ave. N.E. in Bellevue andContinue Reading

By Jessica Davis , JTNews Correspondent From Aug. 31 to Sept. 3, Bumbershoot will transform the Seattle Center into a huge city arts playground while lighting up more than 20 stages with a wide range of musicians and performing artists. Bumbershoot will bring more than 2,500 performing visual and literaryContinue Reading

By Jessica Davis, JTNews Correspondent Inspired by the Sunday-night radio program with ventriloquist Edgar Bergen and his dummy Charlie McCarthy, Jay Hurwitz acquired his first dummy at age 6. “Charlie McCarthy was the Bart Simpson of his day,” said Hurwitz. After lots of begging and pleading to his parents, HurwitzContinue Reading