Celebrating 1 Year of MJB
May 8, 2020
By Jill Komm

It is hard to believe that this week marks one year since we officially launched My Jewish Buffalo.  This interactive weekly email communication came from the community’s desire to have a central place of all things Jewish Buffalo.  What has evolved is a unique weekly publication featuring guest writers and highlighting the incredible people that make up our community.  We throw in a recipe or article about interesting food, because what is a Jewish publication without some nosh?  And with the help of the entire community, we’re able to provide a calendar of events for the upcoming week that includes something for everyone.

In honor of our 1st birthday, we’re taking a look back at some of the great posts we’ve had over the last year:

In June, Iris Danziger MD wrote an inspiring piece on what it takes to be a good leader called Supernatural Leadership.

In July, we celebrated David Rosenhoch’s 15th Bar Mitzvah Anniversary by publishing his original speech.  Check out Flash Back Friday.

In August, we introduced two new ways to experience our Jewish Thought of the week.  First, former CJEL staff Nicole Bard provided a video of her famous Paper Towel D’var with Love is in the Air, and Rus Devorah Wallen gave our first audio clip with T for 2.  We also celebrated Jeremy Pratt’s first official book release party!

In October, Rob Goldberg wrote about his experience observing one of the holiest days of the year in Israel’s most secular city with A Tel Avivian Yom Kippur.  We also applauded Jessica Mabie for being recognized as one of the 2019 Buffalo Business First 40 Under 40 Honorees.

In December, we welcomed the Swerdlin Family to Buffalo and said Lehitraot to our amazing group of Buffalo Moms who traveled to Israel with Momentum.

The February, Mike Steklof celebrated Inclusion and the promise to help make Jewish Buffalo a welcoming community for all in Let’s Help All Feel Welcome.  We also featured Kristie Henry, Brocha Leah Greenberg, Janet Gunner & Sharla Bleichfeld, and Izzy Star who are helping us explore the idea that “no one is more welcome here than you”.

And finally, in March, at the beginning of the pandemic, Dr. Pinny Young wrote a beautiful piece about his daughter’s backyard wedding in Back to the Shtetl.

This past year has given me wonderful insight to the many unique people, places and events that make up our community.  I hope you have been able to experience some joy each week too! 

Happy Birthday My Jewish Buffalo.

Jill Komm is the Director of Social Media and Communications at Buffalo Jewish Federation