Local

Governor: Cuts Are Necessary

State budget woes have agencies crunching numbers

By:

When Jay Spector, president and CEO of JEVS Human Services, recently looked over yet another round of proposed state budget cuts, one particular item caught his eye -- and his angst. As part of an effort to shore up a $3.2 billion budget gap and end an impasse with the Republican-controlled State Senate, Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell proposed a 4.2...

Local

Ball Player Attributes His Life Course to the Skills God Gave Him

By:

Bryan Schwartzman

On most days, Tamir Goodman -- once dubbed the "Jewish Jordan"-- was spending six hours or so on the outdoor courts with the campers, pushing them to their limits in drills and intense scrimmages. But there were no rebounds or layups on July 9, the 17th of Tammuz, which is the traditional fast day that marks the three-week mourning period...

Local

Archbishop Takes Time Out for a One-on-One

By:

Aaron Passman, Staff Writer

Cardinal Justin Rigali, archbishop of Philadelphia, paid a rare public visit to the city's Jewish community last week to discuss Pope Benedict XVI's recent trip to Israel, as well as the state of Jewish-Catholic relations in Philadelphia. Rigali, who's held the post since 2003, avoided mention of some of the more controversial topics roiling Jewish-Catholic relations in recent months, such...

Local

National Museum's Seeking Public Input

By:

Aaron Passman, Staff Writer

The National Museum of American Jewish History is doing something rare in the world of museum studies: It's seeking public input on a major exhibition. When the museum opens at its new location on the city's Independence Mall, slated for November 2010, a core piece of its permanent exhibition will be the "Only in America Gallery/Hall of Fame," recognizing the...

Local

In a Period of Flux, Shul Decides It Needs Change

By:

Bryan Schwartzman

At 26,800 square feet, the building that houses Suburban Jewish Community Center-B'nai Aaron in Havertown is plenty big. Too big, in fact. With rising gas prices and a membership base that has shrunk considerably, it's simply too pricey to maintain, say synagogue leaders. Now, the congregation that's situated in Delaware County -- not far from the Montgomery County line --...