Bill Motchan

Central Reform Congregation will host a festive holiday concert on Friday, Sept. 25 to commemorate Erev Sukkot with Nefesh Mountain, the well-known New York-based touring band. The musical celebration will begin in the CRC sukkah and move to the sanctuary. Nefesh Mountain blends Americana, bluegrass, psych-folk, jazz, blues and jam music genres.

“The money we raise might go to represent somebody that lost their farm. We are helping them maintain their kibbutz,” Jewish harmonica player Mickey Raphael, 74, tells JNS.

For more than 50 years, Mickey Raphael has been the harmonica player standing alongside Willie Nelson.

Mickey Raphael has played beside Willie Nelson for 50 years. The Jewish musician sees Farm Aid as Jewish tzedakah in action.

Congregation Agudas Achim in Bexley will begin waiving dues in 2027 for families who enroll their children in Jewish day school.

Previous Previous ‘Putting my community ahead of my party,' says Jewish Dem backing Lawler The GOP congressman “stands with Israel, and he stands up to antisemitism,” Stac… Next Up Next Up London police won't ban Oct. 7 student marchers The Metropolitan Police defended a decision to allow an anti-Israel student marc… Bill Motchan Oct 5, 2026 Posted 1 hr ago at 4: 30 PM Typhoid. Cholera. Yellow fever. Poverty. Life in America was tough in 1801. The health epidemics touched everyone, including Jewish communities. In the early 19th century, benevolent societies emerged to help families in crisis. The Hebrew Orphan Society is the oldest of those organizations, and it is still operating, albeit with a slightly different focus. This year the Charleston, S.C.-based nonprofit commemorates its 225th anniversary of continuous operation. The society was created by 23 members from Congregation Beth Elohim. The current-day membership is 36— double chai . Members reflect a broad range of the Charleston community. Eileen Chepenik, treasurer of the society, has been a member for 18 years. She is also board president of Jewish Family Services. “It has always been a very honorary role, and members are voted in based on a lifetime of service to the Jewish community,” Chepenik told JNS. “We have two pots of money, and annually we give grants to Jewish organizations. There is an application process and a review of what the funds will be used for.” Although the word “orphans” remains in the name, the mission has evolved, according to society president Dennis Feinberg. “Obviously, the needs have changed quite significantly over 225 years,” Feinberg, a retired veterinarian, told JNS. “The original charter was to take care of widows and orphans after the Revolutionary War. Now, funds go to Jewish Family Services, the kosher-food pantry, the Jewish day school, youth organizations, synagogue programs and college scholarships.” A society ledger entry from 1820 shows a payment of $80.50 to Aaron Roberts for tuition and boarding. Adjusted for inflation, that amount in 2026 would be about $2,000. That also happens to be the average amount the Hebrew Orphan Society now allocates for college scholarships. Over two centuries, the organization has continued its mission of financial assistance to families. It also bore witness to the passage of time, said society member Mark Pinofsky. “When you look through the archives, it's absolutely fascinating that history is played through the minutes, like in 1861, when Confederate forces fired on Fort Sumter,” Pinofsky said. “This was the beginning of the Civil War.” In 1800, Charleston had a Jewish population of about 600. They included some of the city's wealthiest residents who had the means to fund a benevolent organization to aid struggling Jewish families. The society purchased a building at 88 Broad St. in Charleston in 1833, which functioned as a meeting space, a Hebrew school, and temporarily, a congregation. The property was sold in 1931 and now houses a fine-dining Italian restaurant. Every year, society members meet to approve allocations, which total about $80,000. Donors continue to add funds, but most of the grants and scholarships are covered by endowments, Feinberg said. “One was created by Edgar Miles, an ophthalmologist from Birmingham, Ala., who went to school at the University of South Carolina,” Feinberg said. “He created the Edgar Miles Fund. We also have the Zipporah M. Solomon Fund and a general fund.” Recent recipients of society funding include Chabad, the Sherman House, an affordable living facility, BBYO, the Addlestone Hebrew Academy and several Charleston congregations. A couple of years ago, Feinberg, who calls himself an “Alabama rabble-rouser,” began questioning his colleagues whether the society's mission was still relevant. “Would our forefathers really want us to be doing the same thing, or can we make more of an impact in another way, particularly since Oct. 7, 2023. We have seen a lot of open antisemitism since then. I convened a retreat where we narrowed our scope, and the majority of our funds will still go towards youth. I feel good for the organization.” Society members supported the idea of forming a strategic plan. With extremely low overhead and operating expenses of nearly zero, they can continue to support Jewish families with an emphasis on youth and education. After all, that directive has worked well for two centuries. “We're supporting the foundations of Jewish life to help perpetuate and grow it into the future,” said Eileen Chepenik. “When you think that 225 years ago, this small group of men got together and made this commitment to ensure Jewish life, and now we're reinvigorating that commitment with more action, more activity and more intentional commitment to make sure that we continue the foundation and strengthen it for the future.” How do you feel about this article? Choose from the options below. (0 Ratings)

As a child, Lori Golding Zontini didn’t always have food on the table. She now works to make sure other families do.

The 33-year-old will be among the competitors vying for the top title at the national Pickleball World Championships beginning in Dallas.

Incoming kindergarten students at Columbus Jewish Day School in New Albany will benefit from a new $1,000 tuition incentive, made possible by a donation from a Columbus family who were

After more than 25 years in Chesterfield, Aish HaTorah of Greater St. Louis is moving to Clayton.