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A Page of Talmud, Every Day

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A few minutes after sunrise on a recent Thursday, Barry Gesserman arrived at Congregation Beth Hamedrosh, an Orthodox shul in Wynnewood, and took his seat in a long, narrow room as light began filtering in through the floor-to-ceiling windows. Nearly every day for the past 15 years, save for an emergency or a trip out of town, Gesserman has gotten...

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Philadelphia Legend Joe Smukler Dies

Before he died, when he knew his end was drawing near, Joseph Smukler told his rabbi that he wanted lots of people to attend his funeral. He got that wish. The cavernous Main Line sanctuary at Har Zion Temple was filled to capacity as hundreds poured out on a hot summer Sunday to mourn and honor a longtime pillar of...

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Political Fireworks at Local Synagogue

By:

Bryan Schwartzman

For U.S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, the head of the Democratic National Committee, the toughest question of the evening came at the end: Why had President Barack Obama urged Israel to retreat to its pre-1967 borders? Speaking to the roughly 1,200 people who had gathered Monday night at Reform Congregation Keneseth Israel in Elkins Park, the Florida congresswoman said she...

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Devoted to Day Camp

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Deborah Hirsch

When Willow Grove Day Camp opened in 1955, founder Howie Zeitz estimated that practically every camper was Jewish. Even today, Zeitz estimates that up to 90 percent of the children who spend the summer boating, swimming and playing on their grounds are members of the tribe. Directors at several other secular day camps around the area also report overwhelmingly Jewish...

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Frisbee for Peace

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Phyllis Rubin, Jewish Exponent Feature

In 2010, when Hannah Henkin was in 10th grade, she was invited to join Israel's under-20 Youth Ultimate (Frisbee) team to compete in the international world championship tournament being held in Germany. She had founded the girls' ultimate team at Radnor High School the year before and loved the sport. But to play for Israel, Henkin was required to demonstrate...