We are better than vengeance, better than a death penalty system skewed to racial injustice

By Terry Fear
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Thirteen minutes is the amount of time it takes me to drive to Starbucks. For Orlando Hall, sitting on death row, 13 minutes sealed his execution.

Had those 13 minutes passed and the clock struck midnight, Orlando Hall’s stay of execution would have extended for 90 days. But a last-minute Supreme Court decision (6-3) vacated the stay.

At 11:47 p.m. EST Thursday, Nov. 19, Orlando Hall was pronounced dead at the U.S. Federal Penitentiary in Terre Haute. His official cause of death was “legal homicide”. He was 49 years old.

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Women of Reform Judaism Central District awards Deborah Honor to Wilma Turetzky

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Women of Reform Judaism Central District recognized UHC Sisterhood member Wilma Turetzky with a Deborah Honor during its Nov. 6-8 Virtual Gathering.

In all, WRJCD named 18 women from 17 congregations in Indiana, Michigan, Ohio and Kentucky, based on nominations by their local Sisterhood organizations.

“The Deborah Honor gives each Sisterhood in Central District the opportunity to recognize a woman who exemplifies many of the qualities of our prophet and judge Deborah, such as solving problems, strategizing with military precision and providing wise counsel,” wrote Awards Committee Chair Lisa Kalson and Vice President Marketing/Communications Pamela Feldman-Hill.

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Caitlin Brazner brings impressive resume to student rabbi post at UHC

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As a fourth-year rabbinical and education student at Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion in Cincinnati, Ohio, Caitlin Brazner arrives for her student rabbi assignment at UHC with a strong resume.

Caitlin officiated her first virtual Shabbat service as UHC student rabbi on Nov. 6, following previous posts at Temple B’nai Israel in Kokomo, Indiana; Temple Israel in Paducah, Ky.; and Temple B’nai Israel in Parkersburg, W. Va.

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Sisterhood maintains in Covid cocoon, assists religious school with VCSC Backpack Fund

By Patty Lewis
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We’ve been through an election and the holidays are approaching but with COVID still around, I’m sure everybody understands that our lives have changed and things won’t be getting back to normal just quite yet.

Thanksgiving dinner may experience some adjustments as we alter routines to protect our families. Hanukkah is coming in December and it, too, won’t be the same. Sisterhood will not operate its traditional Hanukkah gift shop this year.

Religious school remains involved in the community and has taken on the Vigo County School Corporation Backpack Program as its latest project.

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