Week of June 13, 2025
Week of June 13, 2025
The White House was informed of Israel’s strikes against the Iranian regime ahead of time but was not involved militarily, U.S. President Donald Trump told Fox News‘ Bret Baier on Friday. Washington still hopes that Tehran will clinch a nuclear agreement with the United States, Trump told Baier. “Iran cannot have a nuclear bomb and we are hoping to get back to the negotiating table. We will see,” Fox News cited the commander-in-chief as saying. “There are several people in leadership that will not be coming back,” he added. U.S....
(JNS) Following a directive from Israel’s political echelon, the Israel Defense Forces launched what it described as a preemptive, precise and combined offensive codenamed “Operation Rising Lion” in the early hours of Friday, targeting Iran’s nuclear program and other military targets across the Islamic Republic, as well as, reportedly, senior Iranian military and Islamic Republican Guards Corps commanders. The decision was, according to a defense official, signed off on by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense...
(JNS) - In response to Sunday's antisemitic attack in Boulder, Colo., Kristi Noem, the U.S. homeland security secretary, announced that she directed U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Immigration and Customs Enforcement and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services to "ramp up" crackdowns on those who overstay their visas. The Trump administration stated that the "urgent crackdown" comes after a 45-year-old Egyptian, "who had overstayed his visa in the United States and remained in the country...
(JNS) - Arnold and Frimet Roth, parents of Malka Chana Roth, a 15-year-old American citizen killed in the Sbarro pizzeria bombing in Jerusalem on Aug. 9, 2001, presented a petition bearing some 30,000 signatures to U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee during a private meeting at the U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem on May 13. The petition urges the United States to pressure the Kingdom of Jordan to extradite Ahlam Tamimi, 44, a Hamas terrorist who helped plan and engineer the bombing, which killed...
(JNS) - The nearly 100-year-old Boulder County Historic Courthouse, adjacent to the site of June 1's antisemitic attack in Boulder, Colo., was lit up with bluish-purple lights from 6 to 9 p.m. on June 4 in solidarity with the victims and to call attention to Jew-hatred. "With support from the City of Boulder and the Boulder community at large, we know as a Jewish community that there are those who will stand up and walk beside us," stated Dafna Michaelson Jenet, a Tel Aviv-born Colorado state...
(JNS) — Israel has rescued or returned 199 hostages held by Palestinian terrorist organizations in Gaza since the Oct. 7, 2023, cross-border attacks in the country’s south, the Prime Minister’s Office said on Thursday. One hundred forty-eight captives returned alive, while Jerusalem retrieved the bodies of 51 slain hostages, according to the official data. Hamas and other Palestinian terrorist groups abducted 251 Israelis and foreign nationals during the Oct. 7 massacre. The figure released by the Prime Minister’s Office on Thursday...
(JNS) - "The body remembers captivity pressure. It has physical and mental costs," Professor Noa Eliakim-Raz, the head of the Returning Hostages Department at Beilinson Hospital (Rabin Medical Center) in Petah Tikva, told JNS recently. Eliakim-Raz explained that years after captivity, former hostages are more likely to develop conditions such as diabetes, heart diseases, respiratory issues, dental problems, premature aging and chronic pain. "It's not only about what we see when they come back....
This summer, a new memorial will rise in the Golan Heights - a mountainous region in Northern Israel known for its breathtaking views and strategic importance. Here, where rolling green hills meet the border with Syria, a quiet place of remembrance is taking shape beside a soccer field in the Druze town of Ein Qiniyye. The memorial will honor 12 children from the four neighboring Druze towns who were killed on July 27, 2024, when a Hezbollah missile struck a soccer field in Majdal Shams. The...
(JNS) — U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee issued a scathing rebuke of several major American news outlets on Monday, accusing them of spreading false, Hamas-sourced narratives. In a statement from the U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem, Huckabee directly blamed “reckless and irresponsible reporting” by the New York Times, CNN and the Associated Press for fueling antisemitic violence in the United States — specifically referencing last month’s deadly shooting of two Israelis in Washington, D.C., and Sunday’s firebombing of a...
(JNS) — Israel’s Foreign Ministry denounced United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres on Monday over his X post calling Israel’s current aid distribution model in Gaza “unacceptable” while failing to mention the Hamas terrorist group. On Sunday, the Israel Defense Forces rejected accusations that its troops had fired at civilians in Khan Yunis, and released drone footage showing masked gunmen firing at civilians in Khan Yunis during what the military said was the time of the incident. In his June 2 post, Guterres said he...
(JNS) — The Islamic Republic will reject any nuclear agreement that aims to curb its “peaceful activities,” Iran’s foreign minister said on Monday, referring to its uranium enrichment efforts, while demanding assurances from the United States that sanctions will be lifted. “Iran has a peaceful nuclear programme. … we are prepared to provide this assurance to any party or entity,” AFP quoted Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi as saying. Uranium enrichment remains a major issue in negotiations with the United States that have...
On Shavuot, Jews who ascended the Temple Mount brought with them the “Two Loaves” sacrifice. The activists, who are priests, donned priestly garments and rushed to the presumed location of the altar, where they offered the two loaves, until they were stopped by the police and Waqf officials. This is the first time a sacrifice has been offered at the Temple site since its destruction, according to sources from the Temple Mount movement. “The priest sanctified his hands and feet in the courtyard area using a ritual vessel, and then...
(JNS) — Federal agents, who executed a search warrant in Lacey, Wash., found 35 guns, including an MG42 machine gun and short barrel rifles, grenade launchers, explosives, body armor and ballistic helmets “surrounded by Nazi paraphernalia,” Derek Sanders, the sheriff of Thurston County, Wash., stated on Tuesday. Sanders wrote that the U.S. Army’s criminal investigation division contacted the sheriff’s office for help executing the warrant, which he stated was “a result of a violent robbery and theft of military weaponry-armor...
The Israeli army has recovered the bodies of two more hostages from Gaza, a married couple with U.S. citizenship who were slain on Oct. 7, 2023. Gadi Haggai and Judith Weinstein Haggai were on their regular morning walk on their kibbutz, Nir Oz, when terrorists attacked on Oct. 7. More than a quarter of their community of 400 was slain or taken as hostages to Gaza. Weinstein Haggai made an emergency call after the couple was ambushed but no one was able to reach them. Their children saw footage of their father’s body being dragged into...
Judea and Samaria need people who are willing to take emotional and physical ownership of the area and say, “We get to be here.” Jews often say, “We have to take care of Eretz Yisrael.” It sounds noble to some…it might even sound responsible. But to me, “have to” sounds like the teenager who “has to” clean their room or take out the trash. It’s a duty. A chore. And for many Jews today, especially in the diaspora, that’s exactly what supporting Israel has become: a burden. Contrast that with what I’ve heard from many...
(JNS) — Israeli President Isaac Herzog met on Tuesday with Omer Wenkert, a freed hostage who was released in February after being held by Hamas in Gaza for over a year. Wenkert was abducted during the massacre on Oct. 7, 2023, from a bomb shelter in Kibbutz Re’im, where he had sought refuge after escaping the attack on the Nova music festival. During the meeting, the president spoke with Wenkert and his parents, Niva and Shai, about his experience in captivity, the challenges of rehabilitation, and the urgent need to bring home the...
On the evening of June 4, Grand Living welcomed over 125 guests for an unforgettable "Grand Happy Hour" - a celebration of community, connection, and generosity. The event offered a vibrant mix of fabulous food, delightful entertainment, and meaningful moments that brought people of all ages together. Whether mingling over savory bites or indulging in something sweet, attendees found plenty to savor. The event also featured live music that set a joyful tone throughout the evening. Laughter,...
(JNS) — Starting just after midnight on June 9, citizens of 12 countries are to be barred from entering the United States, and those of seven others are partly blocked, per a presidential proclamation on June 4. “This approach was designed to encourage cooperation with the subject countries in recognition of each country’s unique circumstances,” U.S. President Donald Trump said. “The restrictions and limitations imposed by this proclamation are, in my judgment, necessary to prevent the entry or admission of foreign nationals about...
The RAISE program for adults with special needs is now accepting online applications for RAISE employees as well as opportunities to volunteer as a job coach. RAISE is a 6- to 12-month work and social skills training program for adults with special needs offered through the Jewish Federation of Greater Orlando. RAISE provides paid employment at our partnering agencies. If you know of someone who may benefit from RAISE or are interested in being a job coach, please apply online at ShalomOrlando.org/raise or call 407-621-4033 for more...
(JNS) — A federal judge in Boulder, Colo., blocked the deportation of the family of the suspect involved in Sunday’s attack on pro-Israel demonstrators. Mohamed Sabry Soliman was arrested for allegedly firebombing protesters who were marching peacefully in Boulder in support of the hostages in Gaza. The defendant shouted “Free Palestine” while attacking Jewish pedestrians with what the FBI described as a “makeshift flamethrower” and an incendiary device. In custody, he told authorities that he wanted to kill all Zionists,...
No uranium enrichment under any Iran deal By JNS Staff (JNS) — U.S. President Donald Trump stated unequivocally that the nuclear deal currently being discussed with Iran will not allow any uranium enrichment, contradicting earlier media reports. The statement came shortly after Israeli news outlet Walla, citing two sources familiar with the deal, reported on Monday that Washington was open to permitting Iran limited, low-level uranium enrichment for an unspecified duration. That report conflicted with earlier reassurances from senior...
(JNS) — U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) called for tougher immigration and border enforcement on Wednesday in response to the firebombing attack in Boulder, Colo. on Sunday. Johnson noted that the alleged perpetrator, Mohamed Soliman, 45, had been in the country illegally since his visa expired in 2023. “We need to go find the other Solimans and get them out of America,” Johnson told reporters at the weekly House Republican leadership press conference. According to prosecutors, Soliman shouted “free Palestine” as he threw...
This month the Holocaust Center is hosting several programs: The latest exhibition, “Margret Rey & the Making of Curious George,” is running from June 5 through Aug. 22. The exhibit uncovers the story of Margret Rey, a Jewish woman who, with her husband, escaped Nazi-occupied France on handmade bikes, carrying the manuscript for what would become Curious George. Courageous Conversations: Transforming Extremism through Dialogue — Two events: June 17, 2 – 6 p.m. will be a Youth Workshop and Dinner, held at UCF/Valencia Downtown Campus,...
Preorder or purchase and pick up challah, freshly baked by adults with disabilities, on Fridays from 6 a.m. – 5 p.m. in the lobby of the Roth Family JCC or at the front desk. You can also call the front desk (407-621-4036) and speak to Robin Merkel to reserve a challah to pick up on Thursdays from 4 – 10 p.m. or Fridays from 6 a.m. – 5 p.m. You may also preorder specialty challah (chocolate chip, cranberry, chocolate chip/cranberry, raisin and challah rolls) by calling Robin Merkel – same phone number and same times as mentioned...
(JNS) — Another week, another country recognizing a Palestinian state. In the past 12 months alone, Norway, Ireland, Spain, Slovenia, Armenia and Mexico have joined more than 140 others already recognizing Palestine. France may be next, as it plans with Saudi Arabia to cohost a United Nations summit on the topic of Palestinian statehood. But symbolic nods of recognition don’t help anyone. Is there any agreement on what the country of Palestine looks like? Who governs it? Where are its borders? And does it matter whether Israel is on board...
(JNS) — Whatever happened to “Never Again?” Since the Holocaust, Jews have clung to this phrase as a talisman and a pledge. But “Never Again” has become “Not Again.” The Jewish community watches as violent extremists wage a war against our people, our culture and our homeland. Jewish bodies are littering our nation as pundits dither and pontificate away over definitions of terrorism and, ignoring the blood on the ground. It’s time to operationalize the phrase “Never Again.” Just days ago, at least eight Jewish victims lay...
(JNS) — Tikkun Olam, the Jewish call to “repair the world,” has long inspired Jews to champion justice, defend the vulnerable and fight oppression. For much of the 20th century, that ethos naturally aligned with the Democratic Party, widely seen as the defender of civil rights and social progress. Jewish activists stood at the forefront of labor movements, civil-rights marches and anti-apartheid campaigns, believing that liberalism and Jewish values were one and the same. But the political landscape has changed—and dangerously so. The...
In keeping with Jewish tradition that makes no differentiation between those who are born Jews and those who become them, I rarely talk about being a convert. But in light of the antisemitic attacks in America over the last two weeks, and as we celebrated Shavuot, a holiday honoring a convert, I wanted to break that silence. My beit din — the rabbinic court that signed off on my conversion — was exactly 16 years minus a month ago. I completed my conversion after four years of study — because I’m nothing if not both thoughtful and...
(JNS) — A Rubicon has been crossed. As so often has happened to the Jewish people throughout history, the hateful words that have been delivered in academia, on the media and in town halls by certain politicians have resulted in violent atrocities on Jews in Washington, D.C., and in Boulder, Colo. Somehow, the words “From the river to the sea, Palestine should be free” have become an acceptable part of the American lexicon. Does anyone even stop to understand the meaning of those words? “Free” of whom? Of Jews? Of the entire State...
GAINESVILLE, Fla. — After spending 583 days as a hostage in Gaza, Edan Alexander, a 21-year-old American-Israeli citizen, was released. A moment of relief rippled through Gainesville, where some Jewish students say the moment brought a sense of healing and hope. Alexander’s release was part of an agreement organized by the U.S. and international leaders. At the University of Florida, home to one of the largest Jewish student populations in the country, students say the conflict between Israel and Hamas feels personal. “I waited so long...
(JNS) — It has been nearly a week since two unarmed, innocent Israel supporters were gunned down in Washington, D.C., without cause or provocation. I have been waiting in the intervening days for some sign of remorse or regret from the pro-Palestinian camp here in America. Not simply the compulsory condemnation of unprovoked violence (though that itself may not be a given in these confounding times), but a full-throated reappraisal and disavowal of a movement that has proven itself to be very different from what it claimed to be. From the...
(JNS) — The lower house of France’s Parliament on Monday voted to posthumously promote Alfred Dreyfus, amid a surge in antisemitic incidents in the country in the wake of Hamas’s Oct. 7, 2023, massacre. All 197 lawmakers present at the National Assembly supported the legislation, which was introduced by former prime minister Gabriel Attal of President Emmanuel Macron’s Renaissance Party, AFP reported. The Senate still needs to pass the bill to promote the Jewish army captain, whose wrongful conviction for treason in 1894 was widely...
The annual North American Jewish Choral Festival brings hundreds of singers together to share their love of Jewish choral music and feel a sense of pride and belonging. The 2025 event will be held from July 20-24 in Stamford, Connecticut. Participants will enjoy five days of a life-changing musical experience with a harmonious choral community. "The Festival is for anyone who wants to celebrate the joy of Jewish music," says Maestro Matthew Lazar, Festival Founder and Director. "The attendees...
The inevitability of life’s final chapter often brings reflection and introspection, particularly when it comes to relationships with family. For many, the regret of estranged relationships can weigh heavily, especially as time runs out. Jewish Pavilion Senior Services addresses this poignant issue by encouraging seniors and their families to reopen lines of communication and heal wounds before it is too late. In the hustle and bustle of daily life, family relationships can sometimes fracture and break down. Misunderstandings,...
Mrs. Marilyn Barbara Barr, 92, of Winter Park passed away peacefully Wednesday, June 4, 2025, with her children by her side at AdventHealth Winter Park following a brief illness. Mrs. Barr was born April 15, 1933, in Bronx, New York to the late Nathan and Minnie Rosenthal of blessed memory. She and her husband, Murray Barr, of blessed memory, moved to the Winter Park area in 1967 from Long Island, New York. She will be remembered for her beautiful smile, caring nature and her love of music and dogs. Mrs. Barr is survived by her loving... Full story
Mr. Michael Elliot Axman, 75, of Long Island NY and Dominican Republic has passed away peacefully at Advent Health Kissimmee, Florida after a short illness. Michael was born on March 18, 1950, in Brooklyn, New York to the late Martin and Natalie (Paley) Axman of blessed memory. Michael was a graduate of Levittown Memorial High School and resided in Garden City, New York where he started his business Empire Medical Fitting. He retired four years ago and moved to the Dominican Republic with his loving wife, Adalgisa Carrasco, and his two dogs,... Full story
Zena Genkins Schiff, a remarkable woman who lived to be 97, peacefully passed away on Wednesday, June 5, 2025, in Winter Park. Born in Brooklyn, New York, on Aug. 10, 1927, to Sidney and Dorothy Genkins, she married Morton “Mickey” Schiff for an incredible 52 years until his passing in 2000. In 1957, they moved to Orlando with four young children, settling into a house that Zena cherished until her final days. On moving to Orlando, they joined Congregation of Reform Judaism where she has been an active member for 67 years — the longest... Full story
MORNING MINYANS Chabad of South Orlando — Monday - Friday, 8 a.m. and 10 minutes before sunset; Saturday, 9:30 a.m.; Sunday, 8:15 a.m., 407-354-3660. Congregation Ahavas Yisrael — Monday - Friday, 7:30 a.m.; Saturday, 9:30 a.m.; Sunday, 9 a.m., 407-644-2500. Congregation Chabad Lubavitch of Greater Daytona — Monday, 8 a.m.; Thursday, 8 a.m., 904-672-9300. Congregation Ohev Shalom — Sunday, 9 a.m., 407-298-4650. GOBOR Community Minyan at Jewish Academy of Orlando — Monday – Friday, 7:45 a.m. – 8:30 a.m. Temple Israel — Sunday,...
