Central Florida's Independent Jewish Voice
Central Florida's Independent Jewish Voice
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The Kinneret Council on Aging, a non-profit agency that provides ongoing programs and services to residents of Kinneret Apartments, has announced the honorees for their 2019, 8 over 80 Gala to be held on Sunday, March 3. "This is our community's premiere event honoring older adults and we are truly inspired by the number of outstanding individuals, who continue to contribute to our community and promote the Jewish tradition of Tikkun Olam," said Lynn Fenster, 8 over 80 chairwoman. "This event... Full story
JERUSALEM (JTA)-A team of scientists at a biotech company in Israel claimed that they will have a cure for cancer-all cancer-within a year. Sadly, their claims were shot down by fellow scientists. In recent articles in Israel and the United States, Accelerated Evolution Biotechnologies Ltd., or AEBi, which was founded in 2000 from the ITEK Weizmann technology incubator, announced that a new treatment being developed by the company would offer a complete cure for cancer with "no or minimal... Full story
By Paul Lefton In order to better serve the Central Florida Jewish community, The Jewish Federation of Greater Orlando and The Roth Family Jewish Community Center have formed the JFed Alliance, the result of their two-year search for avenues of meaningful collaboration between the organizations. Starting Feb. 1, the organizations began joint operations in key business areas under the executive leadership of Keith Dvorchik, CEO of The Roth Family JCC, who will serve concurrently as JFGO's... Full story
(JTA)-Wide receiver Julian Edelman was named Most Valuable Player as the New England Patriots beat the Los Angeles Rams in Super Bowl LIII in Atlanta. The Patriots' Jewish owner, Robert Kraft, also earned a kiss on the lips from quarterback Tom Brady as their team celebrated its 13-3 victory-New England's sixth Super Bowl triumph. After the game, an interviewer asked Edelman how he felt about earning the MVP award. "It sounds crazy, it sounds crazy. 2018. L'Chaim!" he said. Edelman provided... Full story
Jewish Academy of Orlando marked the mid-way point of the academic year with strong academics, whole-child enrichment, teacher development, community partnerships, arts and new equipment in its exciting Innovation Lab. For the fourth year in a row, JAO students, on average, performed at least two grade levels ahead of their peers nationwide. The school uses the Iowa Test each spring to compare students' scores to national norms in Reading, Language Arts, Mathematics, Social Studies and Science.... Full story
The Jewish Pavilion's annual Pearls of the Pavilion Luncheon, on Feb. 22, will be a gracious affair, with a catered gourmet meal accompanied by a private performance by Orlando Ballet II dancers. The Pearls luncheon is a very special social event held each year in appreciation for Pavilion Annual Membership Appeal donors of at least $500. Pledges for the 2019 appeal are still being accepted and can be paid throughout the year, so everyone still has an opportunity to attend this enjoyable and... Full story
The Jewish Federation of Brevard is hosting a Comedy Night at the Space Coast Convention Center on Saturday, Feb. 16 at 7 p.m. The event features stand-up comedian Keith Barany, who presents comedy that's "real, without being vulgar or 'cringey,'" said the New York Post. Barany co-wrote Gary Shandling's monologue for the 2004 Emmy Awards, was a contributing writer for "Seinfeld" and "Jimmy Kimmel Live." He has appeared with Bob Hope, Jerry Seinfeld, Joan Rivers, Ray Romano, Jon Stewart and many... Full story
The Center for Israel Education and Emory's Institute for the Study of Modern Israel will hold the 18th annual CIE/ISMI Educator Enrichment Workshop on Modern Israel from June 23 to 27 in Atlanta. The highly acclaimed workshop, underwritten by the AVI CHAI Foundation, will bring together dozens of educators to deepen their understanding of Israel's history, politics, economy and culture and enhance their classroom skills. Special emphasis will be placed on sharing best practices for engaging... Full story
(ISRAEL21c)-Ten years ago, Dr. Michael Har-Noy, founder and CEO of a Jerusalem-based startup developing an immunotherapy treatment that could potentially cure cancer, lamented that the fight against the dreaded disease "is a battle we are losing." Today, Har-Noy's company is getting closer to turning the tide. In the past decade, Immunovative Therapies has conducted dozens of clinical trials, opened branches in California, Arizona and Thailand, and raised $35 million. But the biggest boost came... Full story
By Yori Yalon (Israel Hayom via JNS)—Birthright Israel reached a new milestone in 2018, with a record 48,000 participants from around abroad and 8,300 Israelis. Birthright Israel, also known as Taglit in Hebrew, brings Jewish youths from around the world to Israel on a 10-day tour free of charge. The tour is aimed at fostering a bond with the Jewish state and increasing awareness of Jewish identity. A number of Israeli students and soldiers usually join each group for a portion of the tour. Since the launch of the initiative in 1999, some 6... Full story
(JNS)—Organized disruptors, both students and non-students, who shut down a pro-Israel gathering at University of California Los Angeles last May might not be prosecuted, according to information from LA City Attorney Mike Feuer’s office. Instead, they will be called to a confidential but mandatory proceeding called a “City Attorney Hearing,” an alternative to prosecution that can be described as a “warning” not to repeat the conduct. One legal expert compared it as a “deferred prosecution,” but stressed a full trial could still result. V... Full story
On July 19, 2018, the Knesset, Israel’s parliament passed what is known as a basic law, declaring that the State of Israel is the Nation State of the Jewish people. Why did a majority of the 120 members of the Knesset feel it necessary to memorialize in legislation that which was already declared more than 70 years earlier, when on May 14, 1948, David Ben Gurion proclaimed the establishment of the State of Israel as the sovereign nation of the Jewish people in their historic homeland? The answer lies in the fact that of all the nations in t... Full story
(JNS)—If there’s one concept in Western progressive circles that is deemed essential for a decent society, it’s “social inclusion.” The promotion of diversity is assumed to be morally unchallengeable. That’s also the prevalent attitude among Jews in both America and Britain. Many if not most support liberal immigration policies and equate anti-Semitism with “Islamophobia.” The belief is that those who are against immigration and diversity will be against the Jews too. In fact, the opposite is the case. The default narrative on the left is ven... Full story
(JNS)—The Palestinian Authority last week removed a photo from the website of one of its ministries because it showed a meeting of P.A. officials in which bottles of a popular Israeli juice were visible on the table. For friends of Israel, it was another in a long series of mildly amusing incidents in which P.A. officials have gone to absurd lengths to slight the Jewish state. It was all the more entertaining because it exposed the blatant hypocrisy of P.A. officials who call for boycotts of Israeli products while they are enjoying Israeli p... Full story
MORNING AND EVENING MINYANS (Call synagogue to confirm time.) Chabad of South Orlando—Monday - Friday, 8 a.m. and 10 minutes before sunset; Saturday, 9:30 a.m.; Sunday, 8:15 a.m., 407-354-3660. Congregation Ahavas Yisrael—Monday - Friday, 7:30 a.m.; Saturday, 9:30 a.m.; Sunday, 9 a.m., 407-644-2500. Congregation Chabad Lubavitch of Greater Daytona—Monday, 8 a.m.; Thursday, 8 a.m., 904-672-9300. Congregation Ohev Shalom—Sunday, 9 a.m., 407-298-4650. GOBOR Community Minyan at Jewish Academy of Orlando—Monday – Friday, 7:45 a.m. – 8:30 a.m. Tem... Full story
By Marcus M. Gilban RIO DE JANEIRO (JTA)-Less than one month after Benjamin Netanyahu gained pop star status across Brazil for blending in with the locals during the very first visit of a sitting Israeli prime minister, Israel is making headlines in the land of samba once again. A 130-strong Israeli military and search-and-rescue team landed here on Sunday and has been working against the clock to find survivors of a dam collapse last Friday around a mining operation in a rural area of the Minas... Full story
JERUSALEM (JTA)-There's a new political power in team in Israel, and it hopes to defeat longtime Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in upcoming elections. Benny Gantz, a former head of the Israeli army, announced Tuesday that he will combine his new political party, Israel Resilience, with one led by fellow former Israel Defense Forces chief of staff Moshe Yaalon. This is a significant partnership: Since its formation last month, and before he issued any kind of political platform, Gantz's party... Full story
The Congregation Sinai Sisterhood recently hosted their 10th annual fashion show and luncheon at Gabby's Banquet & Events in Clermont, Florida. More than 230 women from Orlando and Central Florida attended this annual fundraiser event. The "Magic Of Music" fashion show was presented by Accessories & More. Dozens of fashionable new women's clothing, jewelry and accessory options were modeled on the runway with commentary by Janet Carr, Karen Mandel and Karen Miller. A seemingly endless array of... Full story
Anti-Semitism in sports... I read this in the current issue of the World Jewish Congress digest and pass it along: "The WJC and Chelsea Football Club recently held the final competitions of a global campaign to combat widespread racism, anti-Semitism and xenophobia in sports. The Pitch for Hope competition called on young people ages 18-30 in the United States, the United Kingdom and Israel to propose creative ideas for an initiative to harness the spirit of comradery in sports and build... Full story
Jewish National Fund is once again calling attention to people with special needs and disabilities during Jewish Disabilities Awareness, Acceptance, & Inclusion Month. As part of its focus on improving quality of life for all in Israel, JNF-USA is dedicated to ensuring that no member of Israeli society is left behind. Observed each February, JDAAIM was founded in 2009 by the Jewish Special Education International Consortium to raise awareness and encourage inclusion for people with disabilities and special needs. People with disabilities make... Full story
(JTA)-For most of her adult life, Rachel Riley was only vaguely aware of her Jewish ancestry. A moderately famous daytime game show television host, Riley, 33, is one of countless unaffiliated Jews in the United Kingdom-a country with 250,000 Jewish citizens and where synagogue attendance is at a historic low. "When I was a kid my mum would give us pepperoni pizza," she told The Times of London in an interview published Saturday, pointing out that she didn't keep kosher. On Chanukah, she added,... Full story
By Yisrael Medad (JNS)—A new lawsuit has been filed against Airbnb, this time in San Francisco. It alleges that the company, in its decision to delist accommodations owned by Jews in the geographical area of Judea and Samaria, is engaging in an “anti-Jewish Discriminatory Policy enacted by Airbnb [that] was adopted with the incitement and encouragement of Human Rights Watch and other organizations associated with the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions Movement.” This suit was filed on behalf of Efrat residents of Eve Harow and her husband, Earl;... Full story
Ruth “Cookie” Klein, age 88, of Altamonte Springs, passed away on Monday, Jan. 28, 2019, at Horizon Bay Lake Orienta in Altamonte Springs. Ruth was born on Dec. 16, 1930, in Baltimore, Maryland to the late Morris and Sarah Reiner Himelfarb. A homemaker, she married Marvin S. Klein, her husband of 68 years, who survives her, in Baltimore on Jan. 7, 1951. They relocated to the Orlando area in 1990. In addition to her husband, Ruth is survived by her daughter, Anita Klein of New Hampshire and her grandchildren Bryce Klein (Augusta Wood) and Ann... Full story
Rouben Sami, age 97, of Winter Park, passed away on Thursday, Jan. 24, 2019, at Westminster Towers – Winter Park. A New York City native, he was born on Aug. 15, 1921, to the late Samuel and Regina Bivas Sami. He was a college graduate and worked as a civil engineer prior to being inducted into the U.S. Army at Camp Huckstep in Egypt. During his military career, partially due to his fluency in a number of languages, he became one of the famous Monument Men who repatriated hundreds of pieces of artwork and books stolen by the Nazis. He was t... Full story
This is part 2 of a four-part series. There have been investigations of Prime Minister Netanyahu on possible legal charges relating to four different cases going on for years. The attorney general has not yet indicated which, if any, of the charges he might end up indicting the Prime Minister for. If indicted before the election, depending on what the charges are, there could be increased calls for his stepping down immediately, and stepping down as the Likud party’s candidate to be Prime Minister. It’s possible that recommendations for an ind... Full story
