Central Florida's Independent Jewish Voice
Central Florida's Independent Jewish Voice
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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 over and over across the building’s top. According to clickorlando, no one below reacted to the sign. But news outlets and politicians across Central Florida and the nation soon began talking out against it. Channel 6 reporter Eric von Ancken was right on top of it. I’m glad to see that our local news is bringing at...
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 two young Israeli wrestlers - in fact, one of them is the youngest wrestler in Israel's history. In the world of wrestling, Hadar Horvitz and Ori Gold are known as the "Better Together" tag team. Horvitz, 23, is from Tel Aviv. Gold, 21, is from Kfar Saba. Both were drawn to wrestling at very early...
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 her children and grandchildren. Since 2003, when her oldest grandchild was born, she has been writing original poems to celebrate each grandchild's birthday from the first to the present. In January 2022, she wrote a poem for her granddaughter, Francesca, to celebrate her 10th birthday. As she always...
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 holiday. “Dreaming of Hanukkah,” by Amy Shoenthal and illustrated by Kate Durkin, tells the story of Chanukah as children count down from 10 to 1 and discover the traditions and customs of the holiday — from Maccabee soldiers to crispy latkes to blessings over the hanukkiah. Amy Shoenthal is a Jewish...
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. Her first column on April 4, 1980, began: "How do you spell kvelling? (quevelling? kuvelling?) Whichever way it's spelled, it most certainly applies to proud parents SHARON and GEORGE BERGER, whose son EMERY, age 12,spelled his way correctly all the way to Seminole County Finals of the National Spe...
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 to retire, his patients were sad to lose him. "There has been an outpouring of emotions from his patients," said his wife, Ody Arias-Zerivitz. "Many patients have sent cards, have come by the office to drop off gifts, fruits, etc. All in show of their appreciation for Dr. Z's dedication and...
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 during the Gators/Bulldogs game last weekend. The message “Kanye was right about the jews [sic]” flashed on the outside of one of the end zones at TIAA Bank Field stadium. The Universities of Florida and Georgia issued a joint statement condemning the hate speech at the stadium as well as in other areas a...
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, "Greener Pastures," and the closing night film, "Persian Lessons," which will be shown at the Orlando Science Center Digital Adventure Theater. Also back is the Mensch Pass (limited quantity) for $118, which includes all six programs and First Priority Seating with doors opening 30 minutes early; the S...
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 families, job coaches, and members of the Jewish community who support RAISE. The growing success of the program was evident as Founder and Director Loren London shared that as the program has expanded, Shalom Orlando hired RAISE Director of Employment & Education Rachel Slavkin, M.Ed., to be the RAISE...
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 community from Orange, Osceola, and Seminole counties, as well as making arrangements for other contiguous counties and out of state burials. Thirteen years later they moved to 640 Lee Road, gaining much needed space. Recently, however, Beth Shalom had to move from this location because it became...
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 a result of the initiative taken by many members of the community to make a difference in the fight against drug abuse. The program I talked about — B’ri’ut (Hebrew for acceptance and wellness), sponsored by the Jewish Federation and backed by several synagogues and agencies — kicked off with a meet...
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. Discussion of the merger began about five years ago with studies of Federations and JCCs that had merged successfully, including Tampa's Federation, which has existed as a Federation/JCC for more than 20 years. Since he was CEO of both agencies, Keith Dvorchik will continue as the CEO of Shalom Orlando....
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 speeches, Rabbi Yanky Majesky noted that David and Harriet are committed to the welfare of Jewish life. Rabbi Sholom Dubov shared about the Cup of Blessing, which was before him on the table with cups of paint. He invited leaders and those who made the school possible to pour paint over the cup – as r...
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 stories of Jews from Arab Lands" published in the Aug. 5 issue of Heritage. He wanted to share about a sculpture on display outdoors at the Sephardi Memorial in Jerusalem that was created by noted Jerusalem sculptor Sam Philipe from a picture of a family literally walking across barren land to...
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 bring. A soft-spoken and unassuming man, his suggestions and guidance helped bring into being the Hebrew Day School (now the Jewish Academy of Orlando), the PJ Library, and the Jewish Federation's Tay-Sachs Disease Screening program, which at the time was the second U.S. community to have a successful...
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, and under the auspices and supervision of, the International Olympic Committee in 1961. Not to be confused with the JCC Maccabi Games, which is the largest organized in-person Jewish teen sports experience in America sponsored by the JCC Association of North America and held every year in the United...
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 Orlando, Kinneret, Central Florida Hillel and Congregation Ohev Shalom. Employees work two days a week and attend weekly Lunch and Learn sessions to develop and improve their employability and social skills, build their confidence, and promote independence in order to be able to apply for jobs in the...
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 Federation New York and the Jewish Federations of North America. Mark Levin, executive vice chairman and CEO of NCSEJ, shared letters from President Zelensky’s office and the mayor of Kiev both of which expressed a need for more weapons and that the political landscape is changing “minute by min...
In the Feb. 4, 2022, issue of Heritage, the upcoming meeting with Anti-Defamation League Southern Division Senior Associate Director Eric Ross was announced. I, as the editor, saw it as an opportunity to bring attention to many changes in the organization and that the community would have this opportunity to ask questions. Unfortunately, my attempt to bring awareness was interpreted by some as causing provocation, which was never my intent. The use of opinion, however, in an informational article was inappropriate and I apologize for it. Becaus...
At an in-person briefing, State Senator Randolph Bracy announced that the Jewish Federation of Greater Orlando will receive $150,000 in state funds to secure a new security system for the campus. The in-person meeting came a week after two groups of neo-Nazis rallied in Orlando. One of the groups, the Goyim Defense League, protested outside the JCC campus about a year ago. This time the group was near the UCF campus and stood on a bridge on I-4. "Those kinds of demonstrations are despicable and...
Kevin and Melitza Lugo have a deep love for Israel. So deep that they put “their money where their heart is” and started Kemel Inc. Equipment Sales & Imports in 2019 to become distributors for Olea Essence From the Sea of Galilee, an Israeli company that makes olive oil products and gourmet products to women’s and men’s skincare products. One of Olea Essence’s best selling products is its olive oils that come in various flavors. All of the products are plant based and 100 percent natural. “We ca...
Back in 2018, public adjuster Francine Fox noticed that during a conversation with one of her clients, Marvin Erickson, was frustrated and upset. A Vietnam veteran with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, Erickson opened up to her that before Christmas, his family had visited and one of his grandkids was sick. Because he has an immunodeficiency disorder, he could have gotten very sick. "I wish there was a way to remind people that I have a compromised immune system." Fox told him she knew of many others wit...
The Jewish Federation of Greater Orlando held meetings Dec. 12 and Dec. 13 (at the Roth Family JCC and Rosen JCC, respectively) to discuss the results of the community study, conducted by the Cohen Center for Modern Jewish Studies at Brandeis University with the assistance of UNH Survey Center. The last study was done in 1993 – 28 years ago, and a lot has changed! There are 51,400 Jewish people (41,700 adults and 9,700 children) living in 25,500 Jewish households in Central Florida. In a...
A Town Square is defined as an open public space found in the heart of a traditional town, used for community gatherings. In its new direction, the Rosen JCC is adopting a form of the town square concept. In many of the recent articles about upcoming events, The Rosen JCC has referred to itself as "Your Town Square." Is this a new marketing tool? Not really, but it is a different way of envisioning the traditional Jewish Community Center. The Southwest Orlando JCC originated back in 1994 as a sa...
The 23rd Central Florida Jewish Film Festival is back to "in person" showings. Keeping tradition, the opening night and final night films will be shown at the Orlando Science Center's Digital Adventure Theatre, 777 E. Princeton St., Orlando. All other showings will be at the Enzian, 1300 S. Orlando Ave., Maitland. Only general admission tickets ($12) and Mensch tickets will be available. Unfortunately, there will not be Series passes this year. To purchase tickets, please visit enzian.org. The...
