Community News

Keneseth Israel Welcomes Iraqi Family through Refugee Resettlement Project

By Elsbeth Haymon
Congregation Keneseth Israel

Since June 7 when they arrived from a refugee camp in Turkey, the Battah family, originally from Iraq, has seen lots of change and progress. Sabeeha and her five boys arrived at Lehigh Valley International Airport to a group of over 40 very exc…

Harlan Cohen Advises, Entertains at Federation Main Event

People, places and patience: those are the three things one needs, Harlan Cohen says, when transitioning to a new situation or stage of life.

Cohen, the New York Times bestselling author of “The Naked Roommate” and one of the few male syndicated advice columnists, brought his TEDx talk …

Teams to Compete to Make the Best Latke

Five teams will face off in front of a sold-out crowd on Dec. 14 to see whose latke reigns supreme. 

The teams will also make their own vodka cocktails and will present their offerings to three judges and 100 audience taste-testers. Their creations will be judged on taste, presentation, or…

Local Couple Explains Complex Situation for Jews in Venezuela

By Stephanie Smartschan
JFLV Director of Marketing

Israel and Valeska Zighelboim grew up in a thriving Jewish community in Caracas, Venezuela. They spent their days at the Hebraica community center, with its full suite of amenities. They attended Jewish day school, with close to 2,000 stude…

Lehigh Valley Women’s Group ‘Falls’ Into Action

By Beth Kushnick and Chelsea Karp
Special to HAKOL

Eighteen Jewish moms visited Israel in July 2017 for a 10-day trip with the Jewish Women’s Renaissance Project. The trip was made possible by generous donations from Lehigh Valley community members and the Jewish Federation of the Lehigh…