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Carin M. Smilk

Carin M. Smilk

Carin M. Smilk is managing editor of the U.S. bureau at JNS, with extensive experience in writing, content editing, copy editing and newsroom management. She has worked in newspaper and communications offices in New York, Boston, Philadelphia and Baltimore; freelanced for more than 25 years; and contributed to magazines and books. She has won more than three dozen individual and team journalism awards on the U.S. state and national levels.

At the 2025 Tribute Brunch sponsored by the Philadelphia and Delaware chapters of Americans for Ben-Gurion University (A4BGU), the theme was decidedly on revving up that engine.
“It’s so beautiful that neighbors in our community we never knew are here. Everyone is caring and looking out for one another,” in the wake of Hurricane Melissa, Rabbi Yaakov Raskin told JNS.
“We’re losing our teens when they are deciding who they are, where they belong and what they believe,” Russell Robinson, CEO of Jewish National Fund-USA said. “We must do more.”
“It’s important to laugh,” Doug Seserman, outgoing CEO of A4BGU, said as he formally welcomed attendees, six days after the release of the 20 living Israeli hostages from Gaza.
A 90-minute chat—a last interview of sorts—with the 87-year-old creator of “Dry Bones.”
“We feel very relieved that the village has reconsidered their denial and chosen to be inclusive in allowing our community to have our service in Leonard Park,” Rabbi Arik Wolf told JNS.
The Rosh Hashanah ceremony has taken place in nearby Mount Kisco, N.Y., for the past five years.
“I’ve been looking forward to this moment most of my life,” said Philadelphia-area native Ilan Gordon, 22, as he leaves as part of the annual Nefesh B’Nefesh group flight to Israel.