Articles from the September 13, 2013 edition
Sorted by date Results 1 - 25 of 31
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From Russia with love-a gift for the world?
Like the biblical Jacob, U.S. President Barack Obama sees a ladder in his dreams. But instead of God at the top, the American president sees his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin. The Russian preside... Full story
New York community devastated by Hurricane Sandy still rebuilding
NEW YORK (JTA)—Nine months ago, Natalia Demidova crouched on the second floor of her Staten Island home and watched her neighbor’s SUV race a 10-foot wave down the street. The wave crashed thr... Full story
In honor of those who walked before us
The Jewish Pavilion’s annual “Walk in the Park” will be co-sponsored this year by philanthropists Harvey Kobrin and Chuck Steinmetz, in honor of their wives, Nancye Kobrin and Lynn Steinmetz. This... Full story
Beth Am plans week of Sukkot events
With Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur in our rearview mirror, Congregation Beth Am in Longwood sets out an ambitious schedule of events to celebrate the week-long festival of Sukkot. The holiday, which... Full story
U.S. government doesn't enforce law protecting Jewish students
With the start of a new school year, there’s reason to be concerned: Anti-Semitism is a serious problem on some college campuses, causing Jewish students to feel threatened and even fear for their safety. Yet the U.S. government is not enforcing t... Full story
Jewish groups back Obama on Syria, but downplay Israel angle
WASHINGTON (JTA)—Jewish groups backing President Obama’s call to strike Syria militarily are citing moral outrage and U.S. national security as primary considerations, but concern for Israel—however muted—also looms large in their thinking. A lingeri... Full story
Study finds American Jews among most generous to both secular and Jewish causes
The first comprehensive nationwide study of Jewish and religious giving, “Connected to Give,” finds that social engagement with Jewish community is a key predictor of giving to all causes, not just Jewish ones Jumpstart released Connected to Giv... Full story
As the new year begins, JAO answers to 'Where are you?'
As the Jewish Academy of Orlando staff gathered early in the morning before Meet & Greet, Rabbi Sharon Barr Skolnik, the new Hebrew/Judaic curriculum coordinator, offered a prayer to begin the year.... Full story
Candor and kishkes from Conservative rabbis
Prior to the S’lichot services this year, which fell on a rainy Saturday on the last night of August, five distinguished Central Florida Conservative rabbis met at Congregation Ohev Shalom in Maitland for a panel discussion open to the public. The r... Full story
S'lichot of memories with Beth Am and SOJC
Few sounds are more mystical and breathtaking than the sound of the shofar heard daily during the month of Elul. And no shofar blast was perhaps more awe-inspiring than the blast heard at the... Full story
The girlfriend's dilemma: A family fable to start the new year
The girlfriend had been living with her boyfriend for nearly seven years. They lived a good life. He owned a successful business he’d built up himself. She worked at a highly respected i... Full story
Where do we stand?
By Ira Sharkansky The people of Israel continue to live in a condition that is marked on the one side by the theme of the national anthem, Hope, and on the other by the national slogan, oy gevalt. Once again, this New Year has its reasons for... Full story
Hearing us where we are
If our prayers are heartfelt, they will resonate on high, and be answered favorably. One of the loveliest aspects of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur is the concept of forgiveness, the notion that if we are sincere in our commitment to make atonement... Full story
Syria debate shows our moral decline
“Terraced thousands died, shaking scythes at cannon/The hillside blushed, soaked in our broken wave/They buried us without shroud or coffin/And in August the barley grew up out of our grave.” These lines are from the poem “Requiem for the Cropp... Full story
I am buying homeless signs for Sukkot this year
LOS ANGELES—I started building my sukkah in December. To those of you who are sukkah DIYers, you know how ridiculous this sounds. A sukkah is the ritual hut that Jews build each year on the holiday of Sukkot, which begins this year on the evening o... Full story
High Holidays liturgy sends message of women's empowerment
NEW YORK (JTA)—Each year when I sit in synagogue during Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, I’m struck by the complex stories we read about biblical women and by the wisdom these stories offer about ensuring the dignity of women and girls today. The pas... Full story
Congregation Beth Israel of Ocala
Effective Sept. 27 Congregation Beth Israel of Ocala is moving its meeting place from the Collins Center to its new home at the First Congregational Church, United Church of Christ, 7171 Highway 200 in Ocala. Services will be held in the main... Full story
What's Happening - Friday, September 13 - Friday, September 20
MORNING AND EVENING MINYANS (Call synagogue to confirm time.) Chabad of South Orlando—Monday and Thursday, 8 a.m. 407-354-3660. Congregation Ahavas Yisrael—Monday - Friday, 7 a.m.; Sunday, 8 a.m., 407-644-2500. Congregation Chabad Lubavitch of Greate... Full story
Historical Society theories receive academic stamp of approval
“That’s a bunch of baloney” was the expected response to the theories proposed by the St. Augustine Jewish Historical Society when they were published in Journal of Spanish, Portuguese and Italian Crypto Jews. “Instead, we received accolades from ac...
Repurposing your lulav and etrog
Another High Holidays season is upon us, which means Sukkot is right around the corner. In no time you’ll be ordering your annual bouquet of palm fronds, citrons, myrtle, and willows—the famous Fou... Full story
Israel seminar beneficial to Orlando Jewish community
The Jewish Federation of Greater Orlando hosted an Israel seminar presented by Chaim Shacham, consulate general of Israel to Florida and Puerto Rico. On Tuesday, Aug. 27, leaders of local Jewish... Full story
Sukkot and squash make for a lovely pre-Thanksgiving meal
Sukkot is the early Thanksgiving, that perfect season when we might still have access to late tomatoes and zucchini, but the winter squash is coming in as well, heralding the impending chillier... Full story
Scene Around
Can you imagine?... Just picture this: Instead of the gassing of innocent Syrian people including children, Congress (especially members of the House of Representatives) had to vote on whether or not... Full story
Did Sukkot help shape Thanksgiving?
According to one of the foremost experts on American Judaism, Dr. Jonathan Sarna, the biblical holiday did not exactly guide the Puritans’ thinking during colonial times, but they were generally i... Full story
Obituary - LOUISE WAGMAN BLAU
Louise Wagman Blau of Altamonte Springs, passed away in the early morning hours of Sept. 9, 2013. She was 75 years old. Mrs. Blau passed away suddenly from complications following a heart attack while being visited and comforted by family at Florida... Full story
