Articles written by Christine Desouza
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RAISE is expanding and needs more volunteer job coaches
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 partn...
A 'hidden gem on the Eastern Shore' revealed
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....
Rep. Soto requests investigation of GDL
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...
Rep. Soto supports Chabad members
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 Orlan...
Support for Jewish students in face of hate group
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...
Successful Pro Israel Friends Group is looking for new members
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...
Orlando loses passionate leader
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...
FROM THE EDITOR'S DESK: Each one of us can sling a stone at antisemitism
In the midst of all the New Year’s reveling in the streets of Orlando, high above on an office building on Orange Avenue and Washington Street antisemitic messages “Vax the Jews,” “Honk if you hate Jews,” “Hitler was right” streamed ove...
'Better Together' ready to rumble
Any fan of wrestling knows how engaging wrestling can be as they are drawn into the drama of wrestling teams pummeling their opponents. Such is the sport of wrestling, and Central Florida is home to...
Local author brings poetry reading back in style
Local author Lenore Richman Roland has just finished writing a book of poems for children, titled "Under Granna's Poetry Tree, Birthday Poems for her Grands." Her inspiration for this book has been he...
Counting down to the Festival of Lights
For children, the days leading up to Chanukah are always filled with anticipation. Here is a small children’s bedtime book that teaches little ones about Chanukah during the 10 days before the...
Scene Around
This Scene Around is dedicated to "Yours Truly" Gloria Yousha, who passed away Nov. 18, 2022. Gloria Yousha started working at the Heritage in April 1980. That was 15 years before I became her editor....
Retiring dentist honored by patients and vice mayor of Deltona
Michael Zerivitz, DDS, better known to all his patients as Dr. Z, practiced dentistry at 916 Deltona Blvd. in Deltona for 42 years - caring for up to three generations in one family. When he decided...
Standing up to Jewish hatred
A lot of people, including Jaguars’ owner Shad Kahn, New England Patriots’ owner Robert Kraft, Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry, the University of Florida and the University of Georgia spoke out clearly against the antisemitic message posted...
This year's Jewish Film Festival lineup
Coming Nov. 12 – 15 is the 24th annual Central Florida Jewish Film Festival. This year's shows are back to the normal in-person viewings at the Enzian Theatre, except the opening night film,...
RAISE director joins Shalom Orlando
The Roth Family JCC auditorium was filled to capacity at the annual RAISE (Recognizing Abilities and Inclusion of Special Employees) Meet & Greet in September with nine new employees and their...
Beth Shalom Memorial Chapel has a new location
Thirty-eight years ago, Beth Shalom Memorial Chapel, the only Jewish funeral home in Central Florida, opened its doors at 115 W. Gore Street in Orlando to serve the funeral needs of the Jewish...
FROM THE EDITOR'S DESK: Defend our children against drugs!
Recently the Florida Press Association held its annual newspaper contest, and I was pleased to learn that I won second place in the Serious Column category. The article, titled “Substance use disorder is a community problem,” (June 4, 2021), was...
Federation + JCC = Shalom Orlando
During the 2022 annual meetings of The Roth Family JCC and the Jewish Federation of Greater Orlando it was unanimously approved to merge the two agencies into one entity called Shalom Orlando....
The Moldau Hebrew School dedication
On the occasion of David Moldau's 80th birthday, Sunday, Aug. 21, Chabad of North Orlando dedicated its new Hebrew school, naming it the Moldau Hebrew School, after David and Harriet Moldau. During sp...
Sculpture captures the passion of the Jewish Nakba
Jerry Klinger, president and founder of the Jewish American Society for Historic Preservation, contacted the Heritage after reading the article "Podcast series 'The Forgotten Exodus' tells overlooked...
Spotlight on the man behind the scenes - Dr. Edward Zissman, Human Service Award winner
When Dr. Edward Zissman came to Orlando in 1972 to serve for two years as chief of pediatrics at the Naval Hospital, the Orlando Jewish community had no idea of what an impact his arrival would...
Going for gold at Maccabiah Games
The World Maccabiah Games, first held in 1932, are an international Jewish and Israeli multi-sport event now held every four years in Israel. The Games were declared a "Regional Sports Event" by...
The impact of RAISE on the community
Coming out from the covid cocoon, eight RAISE employees have been working since October 2021 at partnering agencies - Jewish Federation of Greater Orlando, The Roth Family JCC, Jewish Academy of Orlan...
A call to action for Ukraine
A special briefing on the situation in Ukraine was held on Tuesday featuring experts from Joint Distribution Committee, Jewish Agency for Israel and National Coalition Supporting Eurasion Jewry. The webinar was presented by United Jewish Appeal...
