Central Florida's Independent Jewish Voice
Central Florida's Independent Jewish Voice
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As I sat down to write this opinion, I realized that there are four things really bugging me. Number one. I have not read one single article that puts the blame on Hamas for the inhumane conditions in Gaza — food and water shortages, destroyed homes with refugees everywhere, etc. Hamas was elected by the people in Gaza to be their governing body. All the money sent to Gaza since 2007 has not been used to build a prosperous area that, I’m told, could have been like Dubai or Singapore. Hamas used the money to build tunnels and stockpile wea...
The Jewish Heritage Festival, taking place April 7, is a phenomena in itself. Who knew it would be so successful from the get-go? What began in 2007 as a suggestion by 80-year-old Murray Steinberg to the Temple Presidents' Council for Volusia and Flagler counties that Volusia County should have a Jewish festival similar to the ones he went to in Richmond, Va., became the largest Jewish heritage and cultural event in the state. The ball to research this project was handed to Jeff Bigman, who...
We don't get to choose when or where we are born. And it isn't until we are much older that we can begin to make our own life choices. In fact, most of our childhoods are spent doing what we are told, trusting those who care for us. Such was Orange City resident Katherine MK Mitchell's life. She was born in Budapest during World War II, and named Katalin Landstein, Kati for short. She was raised along with her brother, Laci, by her mother and grandmother. Her father died in a labor camp and her...
The attitude about antisemitic groups in Central Florida used to be “if you ignore them, they will go away.” Not anymore. Now people hold to “if you see something, say something.” On Saturday, Feb. 17, a group of neo-Nazi demonstrators stood on the corner of Lee Road and Orlando Avenue waving a Nazi flag and a Confederate Flag, while holding signs that read “Jews love genocide,” “The ADL protects pedophiles” and “We must secure the existence of our people and a future for white children.” The protesters drew the attention of Sen. Rick Scott,...
Last month, Natalie Sopinsky, spokesperson for Hatzalah Y'osh, Rescuers Without Borders, spoke at The Roth Family JCC as well as at Fellowship Church in Winter Springs. It was clear to all that she really didn't want to be away from Israel. This attitude seems to be that of most Israelis. When there is danger brewing, Israelis run to the source of the danger while so many others run away from it. Sopinsky came on the insistence of the Hatzalah director who said she needed to tell Americans what...
There is a petition circulating, initiated by Defenders of Free Speech, to stand with Dr. Darren Klugman, who is a doctor and professor at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. On Oct. 7, Dr. Klugman spoke out about the atrocities committed by Hamas that day. As a result of speaking out on social media, he has been suspended by Hopkins with possible termination, and the American Board of Pediatrics has begun the process of revoking his board certifications. His family has received death threats, requiring round-the-clock security. Why...
Portions of this article are very graphic. I was talking with my daughter on the phone Friday evening. “What did you do this week?” she asked. I mentioned that I attended a private briefing and screening by the Consulate General of Israel in Miami to see the raw footage of what happened in Israel on Oct. 7. “What are you talking about?” she asked. She hadn’t heard of the Oct. 7 attack. As I started explaining, she asked, “Who is Hamas? Where was this?” Now my daughter is a smart, mature person, but she chooses not to watch any news. “It’s t...
Last Thursday, Dec. 7, Dr. Daniel Layish and Keith Dvorchik hosted a meeting with a group from CityServe Israel. The discussion was about how the Christian and Jewish communities can help the moshavs and kibbutzim in the southern Negev region that was attacked by Hamas. A spokesman from Moshav Ein Habesor, Dr. Yftach Gepner, who has lived in Orlando and now lives in Ein Habesor, shared his experience on Oct. 7. Ein Habesor is about 4 miles east of Gaza. On that fateful Simchat Torah, he woke to...
Rabbi Isaac Barzak passed away on Nov. 26, 2023. He was 84. According to the city of Ormond Beach and the Ormond Beach Police Department, the altercation that occurred at the gate of the Tymber Creek community where Rabbi Barzak lived, was not motivated by hate or bias. Jarleene Almenas, the managing editor of The Ormond Beach Observer newspaper, sent Heritage the police report which stated that the incident occurred due to a malfunction at the community gate on Nov. 15. The Homeowners’ Association member who is responsible for managing the g...
Rabbi Israel Barzak, a mohel who performed britot for many families in Central Florida, died on Nov. 26, 2023, from injuries sustained after an assault in Ormond Beach. He was 84. According to a family friend, Rabbi Barzak was hit by someone at his gated community’s entrance as he was picking up delivered groceries. He was taken to the hospital where he died. Heritage contacted the Ormond Beach Police Department and learned there is an ongoing investigation into the assault and at this time they cannot release information. Rabbi Barzak’s wif...
By Remember Haman? The book of Esther tells the story of this horrible man in the king’s court who planned to kill all the Jews in the Persian/Medes kingdom — a kingdom that stretched from India to Ethiopia. Haman gave 10,000 talents of silver to the king and asked to be able to destroy all the Jews in the land. The king took the money and then gave it for the use of the genocide of the Jews. Of course, we know the rest of the story, Esther called for a fast and then went to the king and revealed Haman’s plan. Haman was hung and the Jewis...
Known to many as "Jerusalem Jones," "Sherlock," or "Hercule," as well as many other characters, Professor Kenneth Hanson, who teaches Judaic Studies at UCF, believes that students don't retain enough by simply reading or hearing lectures. For this reason, he has worn many faces to make history more interesting and appealing to his audiences. In fact, he still uses these characters and others to teach Jewish history to various groups. Most recently he "performed" a history teaching on the Dead Se...
In 2019, local resident Bob Herpe published his first suspense novel, "Gravnick." It is a story of the intertwining of two families - one Jewish, one Mafioso. Now, three years later, as promised, Herpe has completed the sequel, "The Other Side of Crisis." Herpe is a late comer to writing novels. He wrote "Gravnick" in his late 80s and is now in his 90s - and he is not slowing down. He already has the opening for his third book. "The Other Side of Crisis" picks up where "Gravnick" left off in...
The Shalom Orlando Board stated that Keith Dvorchik is “no longer with the organization,” effective immediately. Craig Polejes, Shalom Orlando Board of Director’s chairman, did not give any information as to the reason for this action. “We are deeply committed to the Central Florida Jewish community and its mission to serve our community,” said Polejes. “This change in leadership is an opportunity to embrace new possibilities and fresh perspectives while upholding the traditions and values that...
The Israeli-American Council, the Jewish National Fund and the Jewish Community Center of Greater Orlando quickly pulled together a rally on Sunday, Oct. 8, to show their support for Israel and where many call "home." T-shirts stating "I Stand With Israel" were available in the foyer of the JCC as approximately 350 people gathered to stand in solidarity. Intermingled with the crowd were Representative Anna Eskamani, Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings and Val Demings, as well as Congressman...
Two Neo-Nazi groups marched in Altamonte Springs and outside the entrance to Disney Springs shopping center on Saturday, Sept. 2. Dressed in red shirts, black pants and black masks, 51 members of the Goyim Defense League and the Blood Tribe, who called the antisemitic demonstration "March of the Redshirts," walked from Sanlando Park to Cranes Roost Park, about a mile and a half away chanting "White power," "Jews will not replace us," and "We are everywhere." Blood Tribe, founded by former U.S....
Family histories are a precious legacy of who you are and from where you came. Unfortunately, as time goes on, these stories can get lost over time. Dr. Lane Jay Mercer heard his family stories all his life. He shared them like bedtime stories with his four children. His son suggested he write the family history down so that future generations could enjoy their heritage. And that's what he did - "An American Jewish Family Saga" follows five generations of his family's journey from Spain during...
Talking with author Ed Borowsky is pure enjoyment. He shares stories from his life that are funny, whimsical, sad, and always with a ring of truth to mull over. His writing style is the same way. He expertly weaves his life experiences into his fictional characters and the situations they find themselves in to the point that reality and fiction become one. "It's a Good Day to Liquidate" is his first fiction novel and it will be released June 29. It's not his first published work - that goes to...
RAISE, a work and social skills training program for adults with disabilities, is excited to announce its recent partnership with the Rosen Hotels & Resorts and Joann Fabrics. Now, with more partnering locations, RAISE is looking to expand its enrollment capacity this fall. Currently, there are 12 RAISE employees and since each employee has two job coaches, there are 24 active volunteer job coaches this year. RAISE hopes to be able to accept up to 20 new employees in the fall cohort. To do so...
In the spring of 1959, Lawrence Golub and Roy Ans graduated from high school in Valley Stream on Long Island, N.Y., and chose colleges to attend. Golub and Ans had known each other from grade school. While Golub went to the University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill, Ans chose to attend Washington College - a very small college with only 500 students, and less than two percent were Jewish. The college, referred to as the "hidden gem on the Eastern Shore," was nestled in a very small town called...
Following up on his promise made to Rabbi Konikov of Chabad of South Orlando and the entire Central Florida Jewish community, Rep. Darren Soto reached out to the United States Attorney General Merrick B. Garland to seek an investigation into the antisemitic actions committed by the Goyim Defense League a couple weeks ago in southwest Orlando, the Lake Nona area and Volusia County. “I write to express my concern with incidents perpetrated against the Jewish community in Central Florida by the ‘Goyim Defense League.’ I respectfully request your...
On Feb. 17, a man dressed in a gawdy yellow and blue floral outfit with a lei around his neck, along with many others from his group walked up and down Sand Lake Road in front of Chabad of South Orlando for three and a half hours shouting through a megaphone to people who were arriving for Shabbat at the shul. "Sir, do you think you should be put in an oven?" he yelled, laughing and relishing the hate he was spewing. Intermingled with cursing, he and a few others continued the hate talk, address...
The University of Central Florida has been relatively antisemitism-free for many years. Under the leadership of Aaron Weil, Central Florida Hillel had kept any antisemitic groups from making much of a roar on campus. Under the current leadership at Hillel, much is the same – even when on Monday, Feb. 6, members of the #YeIsRight movement set up a table on Memory Mall as part of an antsemitic provocation tour. This group, which mouths the hate talk of Kanye West, has made several previous stops at other Florida universities, including Florida S...
People often complain that they have no voice in government legislation, thinking erroneously that they are just “one person whose voice doesn’t matter.” But this isn’t true. There is a grassroots political action group in the area that works with locally elected congressional representatives who support pro-Israeli legislation. Called the Central Florida Pro Israel Friends Political Action Group, it’s been in operation for more than nine years quietly meeting with local represent...
Orlando lost another builder of the Jewish community. Described over the years by many friends as compassionate; serious; deeply devoted to the community, Congregation Ohev Shalom, Israel and the world, Burt Chasnov, 75, passed away on Sunday, Jan. 15, 2023. Burton R. Chasnov was born on Aug. 14, 1947 in Brooklyn, N.Y. and attended Brooklyn College where he was a member of Tau Epsilon Phi Fraternity. He received his bachelor's degree and became a Certified Public Accountant. He started his...
