Central Florida's Independent Jewish Voice
Central Florida's Independent Jewish Voice
Sorted by date Results 1 - 25 of 21980
On Monday, March 2, President Donald Trump posthumously presented the Congressional Medal of Honor to Pastor Chris Edmonds, Master Sergeant Roddie Edmonds' son. The Medal is the highest honor that the United States can confer. The Medal's Citation reads, "For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty." Pastor Edmonds kindly invited me to join him, his family, and friends for the ceremony. Pastor Edmonds' father had been a Nazi POW during...
DAYTONA BEACH, FL — Since the first Festival in March 2008, which attracted over 10,000 visitors, this biennial event expresses the heart and soul of Jewish Florida. It intertwines the sounds, sights, and spirit of Jewish culture and brings together every facet of the Jewish Community — young and old, singles and families, regardless of their religious and cultural background. The 2026 Jewish Heritage Festival will take place on Sunday, April 12, 2026, at The Casements, 25 Riverside Drive, Ormond Beach, FL from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The entire eve...
(JNS) — U.S. President Donald Trump would have to end military action against Iran by the end of March unless Congress declares war or authorizes the use of force, according to a War Powers Resolution that a group of moderate House Democrats introduced. The resolution set a 30-day period that began on Feb. 28 for Trump to make the case to Congress and the American people to go to war. It would prevent the president from using ground troops without congressional approval, except for intelligence activities and search-and-rescue missions. It w...
(JNS) — Iranian sleeper cells in the United States are a concern that should be taken seriously in the aftermath of U.S. and Israeli strikes that killed Ali Khamenei and other Iranian regime leaders over the weekend, experts told JNS. “They pose a very grave threat,” Michael Rubin, a senior fellow at American Enterprise Institute and director of policy analysis at Middle East Forum, told JNS. “The Iranians are going to strike us where we are least defended.” Past incidents show that sleeper cells exist, including a thwarted 2011 Iranian plot to...
Jewish Pavilion Senior Services will host a free grief support luncheon and reunion, Gathering of Friends, on Monday, April 13, from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at One Senior Place, located at 715 Douglas Avenue in Altamonte Springs. The event is open to former grief support group participants and community members who have experienced the loss of a loved one. The luncheon is designed as a welcoming opportunity for individuals to reconnect, share conversation, and spend time together in a supportive environment. Whether a loss is recent or occurred...
I ran into Whole Foods the other day just to return a couple Amazon packages. One of those quick errands. In and out. Nothing special. But sometimes the smallest moments end up meaning something. The woman working the Amazon return counter looked really stressed. She was doing her job, helping people, scanning packages, but you could feel something heavy on her. Even the customers waiting around could sense it. When it was my turn, she scanned my return and handed me the receipt. Then she looked up at me and asked, almost out of nowhere:...
If you’re looking for a home-cooked Passover meal, then join Temple Israel on Thursday, April 2 at 5 p.m. for a meaningful second-night Seder filled with fabulous food and friends. Rabbi Joshua Neely includes all ages in this meaningful and participatory Seder that blends tradition with modern-day relevance. “During the Seder most years, we emphasize breaking away from the cruelty of Egypt. This year, we will emphasize how the Seder brings us together. It is a celebration of unity that connects Jews of all types to one another, and, by ope...
(JNS) — The Israel Defense Forces on Wednesday ordered all civilians in Southern Lebanon to evacuate and move north of the Litani River. “The activities of the Hezbollah terrorist organization are forcing the Israel Defense Forces to act against it with force. The IDF does not intend to harm you,” said Avichay Adraee, head of the Arab Media Branch in the IDF Spokesperson’s Unit, in a notice posted to X. Adraee emphasized that any Lebanese civilians “near Hezbollah members, facilities or combat equipment are putting their lives at risk.” “A...
(JNS) — New Jersey Gov. Mikie Sherrill stated on Wednesday that her administration is working to assist residents stranded in the Middle East amid widespread flight suspensions caused by the escalating conflict involving Iran, Israel and the United States, while criticizing the federal government for leaving families “stranded, frustrated and potentially in danger.” Sherrill said her office has been in contact with New Jersey residents in the region, encouraging them to enroll in the U.S. State Department’s Smart Traveler Enrollment Program...
Washington, D.C. — On March 4, Congressman Fine took to the House Floor to challenge Democrats after another Muslim terrorist killed innocent Americans in Texas over the weekend, as the Department of Homeland Security remains closed. The attack hit close to home. In the aftermath, Congressman Fine was alerted to a comment on his X page by investigative journalist Laura Loomer highlighting a message the Texas terrorist had sent to the congressman just months earlier. This direct communication from a terrorist should serve as a wake-up call to t...
(JNS) — Reza Pahlavi, the exiled son of the last Shah of Iran and a leader of the opposition against the Islamic Republic, on Tuesday called on ethnic minorities to unite against the regime, saying it was nearing collapse. “You are an inseparable part of Iran’s historical and cultural fabric—communities that have always stood as guardians of our territorial integrity and the dignity and honor of our nation,” the exiled crown prince said in a statement addressed to the nation’s minorities. However, “from the very first days of the Islamic Repub...
(JNS) — Israeli President Isaac Herzog on Wednesday called on Jewish communities worldwide to remain “vigilant and cautious” as Israel continues its war with the Iranian regime and its regional terror proxies. “We’re very much aware both of the support and the challenges of the Jewish communities and the Jewish world at large,” Herzog told JNS during a visit to the National Operations Center of Magen David Adom in Ramla. “In these trying times, where there is war here, where we are in the shelters, we know that Iran doesn’t rest only on th...
(JNS) — Congressional critics of the war with Iran are not in short supply. Their statements and social-media posts read as if they come from the same song sheet. No surprise there. These voices are marching in lockstep on the applicability of the War Powers Act, breaches of “international law” and “illegal regime change.” And there is no question that party politics play a role in all of this. Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.) decried the attack on Iran that occurred during Ramadan, saying, “I am convinced it isn’t what these countries [Iran now and...
Iran’s evil regime has been fomenting terror and instability in the region and far beyond almost since its inception in 1979. Trampling human rights is its bread and butter. The ayatollahs who lead it have harnessed Iran’s resources to destroy Israel and advance a messianic religious vision. That is why dealing it a lethal blow is the right and moral thing to do. In moments like these, the shameful hypocrisy of some leaders of the American and European left is plainly exposed. Instead of joining the fight against evil, they condemn Israel and...
(JNS) — There is a war going on in Israel. Iran is launching barrages of ballistic missiles at targets all over Israel, particularly at night, to keep them exhausted. The country is locked down in a state of siege. No one can leave their homes to do anything that will bring them more than a few minutes away from a shelter. Everyone there, whether they admit it or not, is terrified of the dangers they face. And yet I desperately want to be in Israel now. Here is why. I am a strong advocate for Israel and a huge supporter of the war we are w...
The United States, Israel, and Qatar have now attacked the Islamic Republic of Iran along with several other countries providing defensive coordination. News across the U.S. has been about the success of the military operation, congressional approval or lack thereof, the cost of the war in gross numbers and to Americans individually, and whether this war is justified. As an Iranian-born American who was arrested and sentenced to death by hanging because of my faith in Jesus, let me assure you it is not only justified but necessary. I spent...
(JNS) — There is a great deal of anger swirling around California Gov. Gavin Newsom’s description of Israel “as sort of an apartheid state.” That anger is entirely justified. The smear that Israel has duplicated the cruel Jim Crow-style segregation in the U.S. South that prevailed in South Africa for most of the previous century was originated at the height of the Cold War by the Soviet Union, as an ideological justification for both its alignment with Israel’s Arab enemies and its persecution of its domestic Jewish population. But rather lo...
MORNING MINYANS Chabad of Altamonte Springs — Sunday morning minyan, 8 a.m. Weekday morning minyan 6:30 a.m., 407-720-8111. 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...
MAITLAND, Fla. - The spirit of joy and community filled the air at the Shalom Orlando campus on March 3, as hundreds of Central Florida residents came together to celebrate the Jewish holiday of Purim with a lively circus-themed celebration. The celebration was sponsored by Dr. Bernard, z"l, and Mrs. Samra Gotlib. Families and friends enjoyed an evening filled with colorful entertainment, festive food, and the traditional reading of the Megillah - the biblical story of Queen Esther's bravery...
(JNS) — U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio called Iran’s refusal to discuss its ballistic missile program a “big problem” and an “unsustainable threat” to the American home front ahead of Thursday’s indirect nuclear talks in Geneva, the third round this month between Washington and Tehran. “Iran possesses a very large number of ballistic missiles, particularly short-range ballistic missiles that threaten the United States and our bases in the region and our partners in the region, and all of ou...
Living with heart failure can feel overwhelming, but with the right medical care, lifestyle adjustments, and support, many people are able to manage their symptoms and maintain a good quality of life. The Orlando Senior Help Desk at Jewish Pavilion Senior Services is here to help seniors and their families navigate these challenges. For guidance and community resources, call 407-678-9363. Follow a heart-healthy diet Nutrition plays a critical role in managing heart failure. Without proper dietary habits, symptoms can worsen. Work closely with...
(JNS) - In an exclusive interview with JNS CEO and Israel Bureau Chief Alex Traiman on Thursday, Israeli Innovation, Science and Technology Minister Gila Gamliel said expanding cooperation with India-from space and defense technologies to water and agriculture-could propel both nations to new economic heights, as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu hosted Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Jerusalem this week to deepen bilateral ties amid mounting regional tensions with Iran. Alex Traiman:...
(JNS) - The head of Uganda's military said on Thursday that his country is set to unveil a statue of IDF Lt. Col. Yonatan Netanyahu, the older brother of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who was killed in action in Uganda during a counter-terrorism operation that rescued more than 100 hostages almost 50 years ago. "In order to strengthen our close blood relations with Israel, we shall soon unveil a statue to Yoni Netanyahu at the exact spot he was killed at Entebbe Airport," tweeted...
(JNS) — Two qualities of leadership define Benjamin Netanyahu at this pivotal moment. The first is the ability to pursue an objective that appears impossible—relentlessly, patiently, for years—until circumstances align and it can finally be achieved. History remembers Winston Churchill for precisely this: breaking the paralysis of fear before Nazi aggression and dragging a reluctant world toward victory. Netanyahu’s struggle against Iran’s nuclear ambitions belongs to that same category of long, lonely battles. The second quality is the moral...
