Central Florida's Independent Jewish Voice
Central Florida's Independent Jewish Voice
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Perhaps one day, Winter Park High School long snapper Evan Dvorchik's name will be listed with wide receiver Julian Edelman of the Patriots or quarterback Jay Fiedler or offensive tackle/guard Kyle Kosier-all three of whom are on the list of 10 greatest Jewish football players according to the American Jewish Historical Society. Dvorchik was named one of the top performers at the Rubio Long Snapping Camp in Kennesaw, Georgia, on Sunday, Dec. 18. If his name sounds familiar it is because he is the son of Keith and Alison Dvorchick of Winter... Full story
Love cats? Then the Orlando Cat Café is the place to visit and possibly adopt a cat (or just play with them). It is the first of its kind to open in Florida, and owner Sandra Cagan is thrilled with its success. Since opening last September, more than 4,000 guests have visited the café and there have been 38 adoptions as of the end of the year. "If you are not familiar with the Cat Café concept, it is something that started in Japan where it remains very popular," Cagan explained. "Since houses and apartments are very small in Japan, Cat Ca... Full story
Wednesday morning, Jan. 4, the Jewish Academy of Orlando received a phone call stating that there was a bomb in the building. The specific message from a distorted voice said "There is a bomb in the Jewish Academy." This kind of threat is taken very seriously. The Maitland police were called and they acted quickly to contact the FBI and other local law agencies. According to the campus's emergency response procedures, the entire campus, including The Roth Family JCC and Holocaust Memorial Resource and Education Center were immediately... Full story
The Jewish Pavilion will honor two exemplary volunteers, Geanne Share and Ruth Darvin, at its Gems and Jeans Gala-an evening of gourmet dining, live music, silent auction and inspiring motivational speaker Bethanne Weiss-on Sunday, Jan. 8, at 5 p.m. at Sheraton Orlando North in Maitland. Of course, the proceeds from this fun evening benefit the seniors served in more than 70 assisted-living and skilled-nursing facilities throughout Central Florida. "I feel very honored, very excited," said Ruth Darvin after hearing she was selected to be honore... Full story
JFS Orlando, also known as the George Wolly Center, has had some major renovations, thanks to the generous grants the agency has received over the past several months, and E2 Homes, the general contractor for the renovation project. The look is fresh, open and inviting for everyone who comes to the facility, beginning with the ADA-compliant handicap ramp that leads from the parking lot to the easily accessed Pearlman Pantry. Visitors now enter the reception room through a new automatic sliding door, which was installed several feet to the left... Full story
The first person cast for the Orlando premiere of "Out of the Apple Orchard"-which opens Dec. 19 at the Orlando Repertory Theatre-was Jeremy Kleckner in the lead role of Adam Bieman, the 12-year-old boy who is hungry and steals apples from an orchard. To author Yvonne David, who was inspired by Charles Dickens' "A Christmas Carol" when she wrote the book, and through various happenings along the book's journey to becoming a play, it seems the ghosts of Christmas' past have continually popped up. "Imagine my surprise when I was reading Jeremy... Full story
First it was a book, written by local award-winning author Yvonne David in 2005. It won an honorable mention in the Independent Publisher Book Awards a year after publication, and was then adapted for the stage in the form of a concert reading by award-winning playwright Ellen W. Kaplan and performed in New York City at the Mesaper Theatre. Last March, David brought her concert reading to Orlando, and now David has reached her goal of producing “Out of the Apple Orchard” as a play. “While the commendable Director Kerry Giese and Assis... Full story
The Jewish Pavilion exists because of its vast amount of volunteers. For this reason, every year the Pavilion recognizes all its volunteers and honors two specifically at the annual JP Connections. This year Jane Edelstein and Lois Silverberg are the honorees. Talk about jumping in with both feet-Jane Edelstein wears two hats at the Jewish Pavilion. Three years ago, when she first got involved as a volunteer with the Jewish Pavilion's Friends Board, she became the chairwoman of the fall Sunday in the Park festival and the Taste in the Park... Full story
Bereishit - Genesis 12:1-3-And the Lord said to Abram, "Go forth from your land and from your birthplace and from your father's house, to the land that I will show you. And I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you, and I will aggrandize your name, and [you shall] be a blessing. And I will bless those who bless you, and the one who curses you I will curse, and all the families of the earth shall be blessed in you." This was the inspiration for the Bless Israel Summit held at the Rosen Plaza last Sunday evening to show support... Full story
As I pulled into Myrtle Rutberg's driveway at the house she has lived in for 30-some years, her son, Gerald, greeted me at my car. "My mother likes visitors to come in through the front door," he said as he led me to the front porch. Myrtle's dear friend Karnine greeted me at the door. Karnine stays with Myrtle and their relationship is like a mother and daughter. Myrtle was standing on her back patio, gazing out into her backyard. She wore a royal blue dress. Her straight white hair was combed in a fashionable side sweep. She is very petite,... Full story
With the recent passage by the United Nations Education, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) of the controversial resolutions that deny Jewish and Christian ties to the Temple Mount, and the city of Jerusalem (calling it a Muslim city), it is extremely important that Central Floridian Jews and Christians show their unity for Israel. Pastors Blake and Beverly Lorenz of Encounter Global Church, with several other organizations, have organized The Bless Israel Summit for this purpose. "The Bless Israel Summit is a call to honor Israel... Full story
The Roth Family JCC's annual Jewish Film Festival, presented in partnership with the Enzian Theater, is showing five films and one short Nov. 12 through Nov. 14. The first film, "Fanny's Journey," will be shown at the Orlando Science Center, 777 E. Princeton St., on Saturday evening at 7:30 p.m. The rest of the films will be shown at the Enzian, located at 1300 S. Orlando Ave., Maitland. This year, The Roth Family JCC is offering "Saturday Night Out" at a discounted price for parents who will be attending the film festival opening. Children... Full story
Recently, Israeli lawmaker Merav Ben-Ami disclosed that she is pregnant. Although this is not unusual news, Ben-Ami, a Knesset member for the centrist Kulanu party, is 40, single, and having a baby via in vitro fertiliation (IVF). Ben-Ami is only one of 5 million women who have gone the IVF birth route since Louise Brown gave birth to the first IVF baby in 1978. One would think conceiving a child is the easiest, most natural thing to happen to a woman, however, according to the Centers for Disease Control, 12 percent of women between the ages... Full story
Now in its third year, many people might still think of RAISE (Recognizing Abilities & Inclusion of Special Employees) as a Jewish Federation of Greater Orlando program to train individuals with special needs to be able to hold a job. Though it does help employee participants acquire skills for the work place, RAISE is much more than that. Participants also learn social skills through RAISE's community program partner Social Bridges at weekly Lunch & Learn sessions that all employees participate in. The employee's family liaison also attends... Full story
If you have ever watched any of the television shows on the Food Network-shows like "Chopped," or "Cutthroat Kitchen"-you have a glimmer of an idea as to what JFS Orlando's Pantry to Plate Chef's Challenge is all about (except no one is "chopped" and it isn't cutthroat). Three area chefs from well-known restaurants each select food from the Pearlman Pantry and prepared an outstanding dish for three judges and all the guests (about 160 of them) to decide which dish was the best based on creativity, taste and presentation. Held at the Winter... Full story
Theater at the J is presenting the rock-and-roll hit musical "Bye, Bye Birdie" on Thursday Sept. 29. As a lead up to the opening, producing director Kerry Giese wanted to do something different-and gutsy-to promote the play. He is going to show the movie version of "Bye, Bye Birdie" for free on Saturday, Sept. 17, complete with popcorn and soft drinks, in The Roth Family JCC's Harriett & Hymen Lake Auditorium. "This doesn't mean don't come see the play!" Giese quickly added. In fact, the play is very different from the movie, and that is... Full story
Recently someone asked me “What ever happened to that group that advocated cooperation and civility?” That group is the ACCoRD Project (Advocate for Civility, Cooperation, Respect & Dignity). I told her that I was attending a meeting that very evening (Thursday, Sept. 1) and I would let her know what the group is up to now. What began last January as a small group of women who wanted to make a difference in the way people conduct themselves in the political, journalistic and general public arenas, has grown to 70 members (and growing), wit... Full story
Most people know Lou Pearlman as the creator of the best-selling boy band of all time, Backstreet Boys, and *NSYNC, whose recordings sold over 55 million records globally. They also know him as the perpetrator of one of the biggest Ponzi schemes that defrauded investors out of more than $300 million. For this, Pearlman was serving a 25-year sentence at the Federal Correctional Institution in Miami. His sentence was cut short when he died Aug. 19, 2016, from an infection following surgery to get a heart valve replaced, according to the... Full story
It started with a bar mitzvah. A Temple Shir Shalom (TSS) family using Temple Israel's facilities for their son's bar mitzvah commented to fellow members of their congregation how spacious the synagogue was, according the Josh Greenberg, co-president of TSS. The comment was tucked away to be recalled later. The congregation had its beginnings meeting in houses 14 years ago, Greenberg said. Over the years, the synagogue has migrated from place to place. The last abode was The EpiCenter at University Carillon United Methodist Church in Oviedo.... Full story
Dr. Moshe Pelli, whose name is almost synonymous with the Interdisciplinary Judaic Studies Program at the University of Central Florida, has stepped down as director of the program. However, he is quick to state that he is not retiring. That is one word never to be in his vocabulary-in English or Hebrew. He will remain the Tess and Abe Wise Endowed Professor of Judaic Studies. After taking some time off to study and do research for a book he was finishing this past spring, he returns this fall to the Judaic Studies Program to teach II Semester... Full story
Altamonte Springs resident Barbra Resnick accomplished something she always wanted to do: Be a contestant on the TV game show Jeopardy! Not only was she on the show-she became a two-time champion, with earnings that totaled $20,000. Resnick, with her husband, Steve Arthurs; mom, Phyllis Resnick; and brother, Matt, flew to California to be on the show almost a year after she first tried out for the game show (Dad, Curt, stayed home). One does not just apply to be a contestant on Jeopardy! It's a multi-step process, Resnick told The Heritage. Fir... Full story
"With her ever-present beaming smile and cheerful enthusiasm, Susan Bierman has been a pivotal force in the dynamic growth of Orlando's Jewish community," wrote Bierman's nominator for the Heritage Human Service Award. That opening sentence in the nomination entry said it all. Bierman is packaged dynamite in a tiny frame. As Mark Cooper, Federation president from 1984-1986, said, "It was incredible to see someone so small in stature be so enormous in achievements!" Her "can do" attitude, mixed with a brighten-anyone's-day laugh, got a lot of... Full story
"There comes a time when you have to make a decision, either to walk away and hope things fix themselves or take an active role in trying to make a positive difference." This is Abby Sanchez' belief and the reason why she is running for a position on the Seminole County School Board District 3-she wants to make a positive difference. Sanchez, who grew up in a Jewish household in Davie, Fla., has been on the "frontline" of the public school system as an elementary school teacher for 26 years. She knows what goes on behind the scenes. And she... Full story
Anyone who runs for a county judge position isn't doing it for the money, especially if they are successful as attorneys. This is certainly the case for Eric Dubois, who is an attorney running for Orange County judge. Dubois is a 2015 and 2016 Super Lawyer and holds an AV Preeminent Rating, the highest with Martindale-Hubbell Peer Review Ratings, which reflects his respect among his peers and the over 200 endorsements from fellow attorneys and community organizations. In addition to practicing law in Orlando since 2004, he has been an adjunct... Full story
Speaking with passion and commitment, nationally known speaker/media expert Laurie Cardoza-Moore, founder and president of Proclaiming Justice To the Nations (PJTN), once again encouraged her audience in Altamonte Springs to take a stand against the BDS movement. The event was hosted by the Greater Orlando Citizen Action Network. "My message... is if you stand by and you do nothing in your lifetime when you see what is happening to Israel and you see the rise of anti-Semitism, will you share the same fate as the Edomites?" Cardoza-Moore said,... Full story
