Gun violence in America: Scandal!

By Rob Eshman
Published on May 22, 2013

Two years after his mother was shot and killed, Dallas Sonnier received a phone call from the police: His father had just been shot and killed.

Beren loses quadruple overtime thriller

Published on March 1, 2013

Beren Academy, which made international headlines last year with its battle to avoid a forfeit in the Texas state boys' basketball tournament over a Sabbath scheduling conflict, lost a quadruple overtime game in the state semifinals.

CUFI role in Hagel opposition shows conservatives’ resolve to stop confirmation

Published on January 29, 2013

Chuck Hagel has made strides in his bid to secure Senate confirmation as defense secretary, winning the endorsement of leading Jewish Democratic senators and meeting with the leaders of major American Jewish groups.

Texas Jewish man sues for discrimination

Published on May 23, 2012

A Jewish man in Texas is suing his former employer over discrimination claims.

Following basketball controversy, press is on Texas school group to be more inclusive

Published on April 3, 2012

Comments by the head of a Texas school association at the center of a controversy over Sabbath accommodations is fueling a drive by its members to be more open to the needs of Jewish and Muslim schools.

TAPPS head: Beren Academy should never have been accepted to association

Published on April 2, 2012

The Beren Academy Orthodox Jewish day school should never have been accepted to the Texas Association of Private and Parochial Schools, the association's director told a Texas newspaper.

Thousands turn out for kosher chili contest in Dallas

Published on March 20, 2012

Temple Shalom won the first turkey chili competition at the Kosher Chili Cook-Off in Dallas.

Orthodox school falls short in Texas tournament

Published on March 5, 2012

The Robert M. Beren Academy of Houston lost, 46-42, to Abilene Christian in the 2A private and parochial boys basketball state championship game.

Texas league backs down, agrees to pre-Shabbat basketball start time

Published on March 1, 2012

A Texas athletic league has reversed course and will reschedule tournament games that will enable a Jewish day school, the Robert M. Beren Academy of Houston, to compete.

Orthodox ballers sue Texas school school district

Published on March 1, 2012

The captain of an Orthodox high schol basketball team has sued a Texas public school district over the refusal to accomodate a request to reschedule tournament games that conflict with the Jewish sabbath.

Jewish school is denied request to change basketball tourney time

Published on February 27, 2012

An Orthodox high school in Texas was rejected in its request to have the state basketball semifinals rescheduled to avoid a conflict with the Jewish Sabbath.

Texas lawmaker apologizes for anti-Semitic slur

Published on November 7, 2011

A Texas state representative apologized after using the slur "Jew them down" during a public hearing.

Quit Christian prayer rally, religious leaders urge Texas governor

Published on August 4, 2011

Sixteen rabbis are among the more than 50 Houston religious leaders who signed a letter asking Texas Gov. Rick Perry to reconsider participating in a Christian prayer rally.

Texas governor signs mezuzah law

Published on June 21, 2011

Texas Gov. Rick Perry has signed a law that would require homeowner associations to permit religious displays on residents' doors, including mezuzot. Perry signed the bill at the end of the Texas legislative session on June 17; it reportedly had been unclear whether he would sign the new law.

RJC expresses concern about Paul candidacy

Published on May 13, 2011

The Republican Jewish Coalition expressed its concern about reports that Rep. Ron Paul (R-Texas) is planning a third bid for the GOP presidential nomination. "As Americans who are committed to a strong and vigorous foreign policy, we are deeply concerned about the prospective presidential campaign of Congressman Ron Paul," said a statement Thursday from RJC director Matt Brooks. "While Rep. Paul plans to run as a Republican, his views and past record place him far outside of the Republican mainstream."

Giving a boost to Jewish life in the South

Published on April 21, 2011

As Allie Goldman’s plane was making its descent on the blazing 97-degree Midland/Odessa airport in west Texas, the landscape dotted with oil dykes looked foreign to the Dallas native even though it was the same state.

Holocaust archives volunteer arrested for document theft

Published on January 13, 2011

A volunteer at a private Holocaust archives in Texas was arrested for stealing documents and selling them online. Mansal Denton, 20, was a volunteer for a year-and-a-half at the Mazal Holocaust Library in San Antonio of the largest privately held Holocaust archives in the world, the Houston Chronicle reported. Retired Mexico City businessman Harry Mazal, 73, owns the archives. He reportedly spent $1 million collecting the documents.

Straus, re-elected as Texas speaker, rips attacks on faith

Published on January 11, 2011

Joe Straus, overwhelmingly reelected speaker of the Texas House of Representatives, strongly repudiated attacks on his Jewish faith. "Attacks on people's religious beliefs have no place in this House," Straus, a Republican, said Tuesday after winning the vote 132-15, according to reports filed via Twitter by KPRC, a Houston NBC affiliate. The KPRC reporter, Mary Benton, said Straus was given a standing ovation.

References to pork, Jesus lead to retrial

Published on January 11, 2011

References to the trial of Jesus and a pork comment made by a defense lawyer for Cisco Systems during a federal trial have led a judge to grant a new trial. Jurors in Marshall, Texas, last May awarded Commil USA more than $3.7 million in patent infringement damages, though the company asked for $57 million. Commil charged in a motion for a new trial that the remarks and illusions to the trial of Jesus Christ prejudiced the jury in the case, The American Lawyer reported. Judge Charles Everingham IV, who presided over the original trial, on Dec. 29 granted the motion for a new trial.

Brouhaha in Texas House a Jewish test case for Tea Party

Published on December 21, 2010

In Texas, the Tea Party passed its first Jewish test even before its legislators had been sworn in.

Texas two-step: Pre-med student becomes NFL squad’s first Jewish cheerleader

Published on August 12, 2010

It’s a safe bet to assume that there are more Jewish doctors than NFL cheerleaders.

Texas governor meets Jewish leaders

Published on May 4, 2010

Orthodox Jewish community leaders in Texas met with senior state officials including Gov. Rick Perry, who expressed support for a school voucher program.

Talk like a pirate—talk like a Jew?

By The Web Guy
Published on September 18, 2008

From klezmer to country—linking the soundtracks

Published on July 1, 2008

What are the inks between Europe's obsession with things Jewish and the Wild West?

Many of Texas’ FLDS teen girls pregnant, mothers

By Brad A. Greenberg
Published on April 28, 2008

A Different Brand of Texas Governor

By Robert David Jaffee
Published on November 10, 2005

The Kinkster is nothing if not irreverent. But this Texas cowboy, who has morphed from recording artist to postmodern mystery writer, may have redefined chutzpah with his current campaign to become governor of Texas.

Texas Quartet Bucks Tradition

By Naomi Pfefferman
Published on August 14, 2003

"I love shattering musical stereotypes," Galeet Dardashti said. Her energetic quartet, Divahn, plays Sephardi and Mizrahi music with an American twist.

A Night of Texan Jewish Humor

By Naomi Pfefferman
Published on June 10, 1999

There is something inherently funny about growing up Jewish in Texas, says comic Allan Murray. Maybe it was all the well-meaning people who wished him a "Happy Chaka Kahn" at Chanukah.