Latest news with #TempleBethEl
Washington Post
25-06-2025
- Washington Post
Dynamite outside a synagogue: civil rights stories imperiled by federal cuts
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — He came to historic Temple Beth-El to tell his story, which is also the congregation's story: How, during the early turbulence of the Civil Rights era, he helped to foil what would have been a devastating attack on their synagogue. Back in 1958, James Pruitt was an 18-year-old working as a janitor. He'd graduated from a segregated high school that soon would become the scene of marches and protests, in a city already nicknamed 'Bombingham' because of white supremacist attacks.
CBS News
30-05-2025
- General
- CBS News
Dearborn man accused of threatening kids, parents at Bloomfield Hills synagogue pleads guilty to gun crime
A Dearborn man who reportedly made antisemitic threats outside of an Oakland County synagogue has pleaded guilty to illegally possessing firearms, federal officials said. Hassan Chokr, 37, pleaded guilty Wednesday to being a felon in possession of a firearm after possessing multiple firearms inside a gun store. Chokr is accused of making racist and antisemitic threats to parents, children and security personnel at a parking lot at Temple Beth El in Bloomfield Hills on the morning of Dec. 2, 2022. After being asked to leave the synagogue's property, officials say Chokr went to a gun store in Dearborn and attempted to purchase three firearms. While at the store, U.S. attorneys say Chokr held all three guns and "at times pointed it and pulled the trigger." Chokr, who is a convicted felon, is accused of lying about his eligibility to possess firearms. While waiting for the results of his background check, officials claim Chokr said he would "even the score" and use the guns for "God's wrath." The store denied Chokr's firearms purchase after the background check. Chokr was charged by Oakland County prosecutors with two counts of ethnic intimidation. "Chokr's attempt to purchase several deadly firearms in an apparent attempt to follow through on his menacing threats against parents and preschoolers as they walked into a place of worship represents every American's worst nightmare. And we will not allow anyone to terrorize our Jewish neighbors. We are committed to protecting every American and their right to live and worship free of fear," said U.S. Attorney Jerome F. Gorgon Jr. in a statement. Chokr will be sentenced on Sept. 24. He faces up to 15 years in prison.
Yahoo
20-03-2025
- General
- Yahoo
‘Share your stories with me': Meet Jessica Tzikas, the new Jewish Journal editor
Hello readers, I am honored to introduce myself as the new editor of the Jewish Journal at the South Florida Sun Sentinel. As a lifelong member of the South Florida Jewish community, the Jewish Journal has been a staple in my household since before I could even read the pages. I was born and raised in Boca Raton, had my Bat Mitzvah at Temple Beth El, and now immerse my own young children in local Jewish life. Growing up in Boca Raton meant that Judaism always surrounded me — whether through the friends I sat next to in class or the extracurriculars I attended after school. Still, I experienced my own share of antisemitism, like when a classmate drew a swastika in my fifth-grade yearbook. But it wasn't until I left the safety of my hometown that I realized just how rare, and special, being Jewish really is. I received my bachelor's degree in editing, writing, and media from Florida State University and quickly moved to Philadelphia after graduation to pursue a master's in publishing from Drexel University. There, I worked as an editor for Philadelphia-based magazines — but while I loved the city, I always felt a strong urge to be home. After five years away, and with a desire to start a family, I moved back to South Florida, knowing it was the best place to raise my children. Since then, I have written for a variety of local publications, covering restaurants, events, and the people who make our area so notable and diverse. When Oct. 7, 2023, happened, an uneasiness washed over me and my career trajectory took a turn. After my daughter's Chabad preschool received a bomb threat, I knew I needed to do more for our community. Raising awareness and continuing to be openly proud to be Jewish didn't feel like enough. I began to focus my writing on Jewish publications, hoping I could help bring a sense of familiarity and belonging to fellow Jews my age. And yet, I still felt I could be doing more. So when the Jewish Journal posted the job for a new editor, I felt it was, as my grandmother always said, 'bashert.' The Jewish Journal has always been a publication that helps local Jews feel connected. As your new editor, I hope to maintain that connection, continuing its legacy of strong storytelling and community building. We are living in a time of uncertainty, especially when it comes to the Jewish lens, and I hope to inspire conversations on both sides of the coin and to address the issues we face as Jews living in a post-Oct. 7 world. But more than that, I hope to bring more awareness to our amazing community, to shine a light on all the meaning we bring to South Florida, and to give you, the reader, a platform to share your stories, both big and small. The landscape of our local community is constantly changing. I had the pleasure of interviewing the new CEO and president of the Jewish Federation of South Palm Beach County, Igor Alterman, for my inaugural article in the Jewish Journal. We both expressed our shared goal of ushering in a new generation of South Florida Jews and creating a space for the ever-growing numbers of young families and young professionals moving into and growing up in our community. I aim to stay true to the generations who have come before and who laid the foundation for this publication, but to also grow alongside the younger generations and evolve the Jewish Journal into something we can all be proud of. I believe that its success lies within all of you, whether you are a lifelong reader or newly joining us. And I hope that together, we can continue to inspire others and write the narratives that deserve to be told. My inbox is always open — please feel free to reach out with your story, your ideas, or to simply say hello. We should never feel uneasy about telling our Jewish stories. I hope to make the Jewish Journal a space where we can tell them with confidence. Thank you for trusting me as your editor. I look forward to what's next. Jewish Journal editor Jessica Tzikas can be reached at jtzikas@
