Central Florida's Independent Jewish Voice
Central Florida's Independent Jewish Voice
Sorted by date Results 301 - 325 of 357
It has happened again-anti-Semitic vandalism in Central Florida. The first occurrence was in Oviedo where an Israeli flag displayed in the front yard was desecrated with red paint. This time someone spray painted a swastika and the word "Surprise" on the garage door and driveway of the home of David and Debra House in the Autumn Glen subdivision in the Winter Park/Tuscawilla area. The House family, who are members of Temple Shir Shalom (as is the Oviedo resident), first noticed the vandalism as they left for work Tuesday morning, Nov. 10. They... Full story
Right in the heart of the quiet little city of Altamonte Springs, four women (ages ranging from 87 to 95)—Lee Delnick, Bernice Diamond, Helen Greenspan and Zelda King—were enjoying their weekly game of mahjong in the Escondido Condominium clubhouse when they were interrupted by Altamonte Springs police who came to shut them down. Apparently word got out that they were gambling and one person (whom King said is considered a “troublemaker and lives in Building 11”) called the police, citing some Altamonte Springs ordinance that said it is agai... Full story
Five films will be shown during the Jewish Film Festival this year, co-sponsored by the Roth Family JCC of Greater Orlando and the Enzian Theater. This is the 17th year for this event that features Jewish and Israeli themes. Each film promises to make viewers laugh, cry and contemplate life situations. First up is "Dough," showing Saturday, Nov. 14, 7:30 p.m. at the Orlando Science Center, 777 E. Princeton St. Directed by John Goldschmidt, "Dough" is a many-tiered film with spatterings of Muslim/Jewish prejudices, big box store vs.... Full story
"We have just smoked and cooked the last 40 lbs. of our amazing pastrami and corned beef... made fresh soups and salads, and received our last delivery of fresh breads this morning. Opening at 11 a.m. and staying open until we sell out," said the email sent out on Oct. 16 to all of Brown's Deli's regular patrons. The subject line said: Brown's Deli is closing. Sadly, that was the last day for the only kosher restaurant in the Maitland/Altamonte Springs/Casselberry/Winter Park area. The little kosher deli that sat on the corner of 17/92 and Lake... Full story
Thursday, Oct. 22, was for many Facebook enthusiasts a day to show support for Israel by displaying an Israeli flag somewhere-in their yard, on their house, in their business, even on their clothing-then take a photo of it and post it on Facebook, stating "Wherever I Stand, I Stand with Israel." One Oviedo resident was excited to show her support for Israel and hung an Israeli flag in her front yard on Wednesday, Oct. 21. However, on Thursday morning, she discovered the flag had been desecrated-sprayed with red paint. A friend, Dana Kaplan of... Full story
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) passed a resolution last Wednesday, Oct. 21, listing Ma’arat HaMachpelah, the Cave of the Patriarchs in Hebron—the world’s most ancient Jewish site and the second holiest place for the Jewish people and Kever Rachel, Rachel’s Tomb in Bethlehem—Judaism’s third holiest site—as Muslim sites. These sites are part and parcel of the Jewish tradition and history and present a direct connection between the Jewish People and their ancient homeland. Buried in the Cave of the P... Full story
When Michael Oren was 15 years old, he shook the hand of Yitzhak Rabin, who at the time was the Israeli ambassador to the United States. Oren vowed in that moment this was what he would be. Fast forward 40 years later, and Oren fulfilled his goal to become the Israeli ambassador to the U.S. Of course he didn't just wish it into being. He worked hard aiming at his goal. In his recently published book, "Ally: My Journey Across the American-Israeli Divide," Oren shares in this partly autobiographical-"Never before have I written in the first... Full story
What was all the hoopla about the Iran nuclear deal? All the time spent discussing the deal and debating the deal among Americans across the country seems now to have been wasted time (By the way, Americans were against this deal four to one according to a compilation of polls by The Israel Project). All the agony of decision making and wrestling of consciences among Congress as to how to vote on this deal—called the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA)—and now, according to the Middle East Media Research Institute (MEMRI), the Islamic Re... Full story
Colonel Chezie Sagiv spoke softly to the intimate group of people who had gathered to hear what life is like in Israel for a distinguished IDF Air Force officer, pilot and senior Air Force instructor who also is a high level educator and high school principal. He happened to be in Orlando for only two days to visit with his friend, Judy Shujman. "He took amazing care of my two children in Israel this summer and has known my brother, David, for over 20 years when he attended the Air Command and Staff College at Maxwell AFB in Montgomery, Ala.,"... Full story
“Silence is consent,” said Alan Kornman as he addressed about 50 people at a recent Zionistas-sponsored lecture held at Oakmonte Village in Lake Mary. Kornman, who is the regional coordinator of the United West—Uniting Western Civilization for Freedom and Liberty, enlightened the group about the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement. “BDS is ‘Jew hatred’ in a different package,” Kornman told the attentive audience. A resolution to condemn BDS and the increasing incidents of anti-Semitism has been initiated and passed in five state... Full story
It all started with a little bump on his neck. Now Jason Mendelsohn is on a mission to conquer cancer and spread the word about human papilloma virus (HPV) related cancer. In April 2014, Mendelsohn was diagnosed with squamous cell carcinoma, which turned out to be stage four HPV-related tonsil cancer, which had spread to two lymph nodes in his neck. He had a radical tonsillectomy and neck dissection in which 42 lymph nodes were removed in his neck, followed by seven weeks of chemo, radiation and had a feeding tube into his stomach. By Aug. 11,... Full story
Before this review could be written, news about The Pantry Café at Northview had already traveled to New York. The prestigious Jewish newspaper, The Forward, ran a short blurb by contributing writer Michael Kaminer in its Weekly Dish column, titled "A Muslim, a Jew and a Vegan walk into a restaurant..." which is the perfect introduction to this very new (it opened only a month ago) and very avante garde restaurant located in Northview, UCF's off-campus apartment building, located at 3925 Lockwood Boulevard, Oviedo. Food is a great... Full story
Laurie Cardoza-Moore, president of the Christian Zionist NPO Proclaiming Justice to the Nations (PJTN), is a force to be reckoned with. She is straight-forward and stands upon biblical principles to bring about change in her own state of Tennessee and the rest of the United States. Her latest endeavor has been campaigning to defend the Jewish state from the scourge of BDS that pushes to boycott and economically attack Israel. Last Wednesday evening, Cardoza-Moore was invited by the Zionistas to addressed a group of about 80 people in Altamonte... Full story
He isn't a professional entertainment agent or a motivational speaker; and he isn't an activities director or fundraiser, but he is very good at all these jobs. He is Berny Raff, and he is this year's recipient of the Heritage Human Service Award because all these "jobs" aren't really jobs to him, they are what he does, and has always done to better this community. Berny was nominated by Susan Sparrow, Jewish Pavilion office manager. She has known Berny for 10 years and wishes she could clone a younger version of him. "I have never met a more... Full story
Each year approximately 60,000 people in the U.S. are diagnosed with Parkinson's disease. This degenerative brain disorder is second only to Alzheimer's in prevalence. The actor Michael J. Fox brought national attention to this chronic disease in 1998 after being diagnosed with it in 1991. He has since become an advocate for research toward finding a cure and created the Michael J. Fox Foundation in 2010. There is no cure yet for Parkinson's and it is not know how people contract it, however there are several studies underway that examine the... Full story
For the past three years Rabbi Noach Majesky, brother of Rabbi Yanky Majesky, has been the cantor at Chabad of North Orlando during the High Holidays. This year and for many years hereafter, Rabbi Noach will lead the High Holiday as well as all the services in Accra, Ghana. He and his wife, Alti and three children will be moving this summer from Crown Heights, N.Y., to establish a new Chabad Center to serve the needs of the local Jewish community and tourists. The establishment of Chabad in Ghana is the direct result of 23 years of work Rabbi... Full story
Sonya Baumstein's three-years-in-the-making goal to row across the Pacific Ocean, began and ended within one week. She arrived in Choshi, Japan, in April, her boat arrived in May, and she had been waiting for the weather conditions to be optimal. On Sunday, June 7, Baumstein made sure her supplies were intact, called her parents, Darrel and Debbie Baumstein of Orlando, and rowed out of the Choshi marina in glassy smooth waters. She hoped to arrive in San Francisco by September. She made it into the Kuroshio current, which was part of her... Full story
It was one year ago in April that RAISE (Recognizing Abilities and Inclusion of Special Employees) was launched with five employees who worked part-time, two days a week for three hours at The Roth Family JCC and JFS Orlando. A third day was spent participating in a group social skills class called "Lunch and Learn," that included the employees (and once a month their families as well). Under the umbrella of the Jewish Federation of Greater Orlando, this program has truly been a group endeavor with the involvement of professionals, volunteer jo... Full story
Why is a Jewish newspaper running an article about a horse winning a race? Because this winning 3-year-old bay colt's owner, Ahmed Zayat, is an Orthodox Jew who studied at and graduated from Yeshiva University. After graduation, Zayat worked for the haredi Orthodox real estate developer Zev Wolfson. His Hebrew name is Ephraim. He and his family live in the Orthodox neighborhood of West Englewood in Teaneck, N.J., attend Congregation Bnai Yeshurun. And give generously to several Jewish causes. Zayat, who was born in Cairo, Egypt, publicly... Full story
A presentation by Pastor Blake Lorenz about “Survival and Promise,” sponsored by the Zionistas on Sunday, May 17, became an informal group discussion about the “Unthinkable.” After introductions were made and Lorenz spoke briefly that the “Unthinkable” is here now, he opened discussion about what can we do to stop it? Before we can stop it, what is the unthinkable? Jew hatred, the open proclamation to destroy Israel, the killing of anyone who does not believe a certain type of Islam. Is the unthinkable the Muslim people? No. It is the movemen... Full story
It's been one year, almost to the day, since the Heritage interviewed Sonya Baumstein, the young adventurer (she is now 30) set to be the first woman to row solo across the Pacific Ocean from Japan to San Francisco. She originally planned to take on this challenge earlier in the year, but she had several set backs. She posted an apology to her supporters and investors on her blog about two months ago, "I want to start with an apology to all of those who have some investment in me, the project, the ocean and/or the life cycle of expeditions.... Full story
There will not be an eighth-grade class next year at the Jewish Academy of Orlando. However, it is not a permanent situation, and the eighth-grade class will be back the following year. What happened to cause the school to make this decision? According to Alan Rusonik, head of school, there were four students enrolled for eighth grade for the coming year. “While disappointing, we have in the past had grades with just four students and we have navigated through successfully,” he stated. Through no fault of the school, they learned that two of... Full story
It was April 23, Marcy Rosenbaum's birthday, and the day Heritage was interviewing her about the 31 years she has worked at the JCC Preschool, as it was called when she first started working there part time back in 1984. Streamers were hanging from Rosenbaum's office ceiling, and just as the interview began, about a dozen three-year-old smiling cherubs squeezed themselves into her small office to wish her happy birthday. The first ones in the door carried a poster with the children's signatures printed around a large red heart pasted in the mid... Full story
It's so nice to have live performances at the JCC again. Theater at the J has brought a talented cast together to bring its audiences a familiar rendition of "Fiddler on the Roof" and it was a pleasurable experience (not to mention the very comfortable seats). Tom Limbacher captured Tevye's optimistic spirit and his blues eyes reflected surprise, fear, happiness and sadness as he struggled with letting go of long-held traditions to see his daughters' happy in unarranged marriages. Corina Witkowski's (Hodel) voice was breathtakingly beautiful... Full story
A combined JCC and Federation? It isn’t a new idea. Tampa’s Jewish Community Center and Federation merged 20 years ago. It’s also happened in Austin, Texas and up in Connecticutt and in more than 25 other communities across the United States. Now it is a topic that is being tossed around in the Orlando Jewish community. Nothing is concrete, it is only talk at this time. But with the changing economy and similar mission statements, it makes a lot of sense. Wondering how the merge between Tampa’s JCC and Federation has worked, I spoke with Emilie... Full story
