Central Florida's Independent Jewish Voice
Central Florida's Independent Jewish Voice
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Tu B'Shevat is celebrated annually at senior communities in Orange and Seminole counties. The seniors enjoy participating in the Tu B'Shevat Seder service. Unlike other holidays, few have memories to share regarding this Jewish Earth Day other than the collections they did for Jewish National Fund. For many, their favorite part of the Jewish Pavilion service is reciting the poem "Trees" by Joyce Kilmer. Many elders had to memorize this poem for school and even those who appear to be sleeping...
On Friday night, March 3, members of West Volusia County's Jewish community will gather at Congregation Beth Shalom in an unparalleled display of Jewish revitalization and Jewish unity. Conceived and organized by the National Jewish Outreach Program (NJOP) in 1997, Shabbat Across America/Canada represents a united effort by the entire Jewish community to renew interest in the fourth of the Ten Commandments-observing a weekly day of rest (Shabbat in Hebrew). Congregation Beth Shalom will be one...
On Sunday, Feb. 26, Congregation Ohev Shalom, 613 Concourse Parkway South, Maitland, will honor Amy Geboff, director of Youth and Family Education, for her 21 years of service to the synagogue. The Gala Celebration will begin with a cocktail reception and silent auction at 5 p.m. followed by a dinner and program at 6:30 p.m. A native of Philadelphia, Geboff came to Orlando with her husband, Eric, and their daughters, Sara and twins Alana and Rebecca. Prior to joining Congregation Ohev Shalom,...
(JTA)—At least 11 Jewish community centers across the United States were targeted with bomb threats in the third wave of such mass disruption this month. David Posner, director of strategic performance at JCC Association of North America, whose role involves advising local JCCs on security policies and practices, issued the below statement: “Today, a third wave of bomb threats called in to Jewish community centers has caused 14 centers in 10 states plus one Canadian province, to quickly carry out practiced security protocols to ensure the safet...
(JTA)-The White House statement for International Holocaust Remembrance Day that has generated controversy for omitting Jews reportedly was written by a Jewish aide to President Donald Trump. Boris Epshteyn, a special assistant to the president, crafted the statement, the political news website Politico reported Monday evening, citing an unnamed source "with knowledge of the situation." Epshteyn, a former Republican political strategist, immigrated to the United States from his native Moscow in...
NEW YORK (JTA)—A person calls a Jewish institution, makes a bomb threat and hangs up. The call lasts no more than a minute, the caller’s voice is disguised and the call is made to look as if it came from inside the building. How do you catch the culprit? That’s the question the FBI is facing in investigating the 65 bomb threats that have hit JCCs and Jewish federations in three waves throughout January. The latest string of threats, targeting 17 JCCs across the country, occurred Tuesday. The first waves across the country came on Jan. 9 and 1...
WASHINGTON, DC—U.S Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, chairman of the Subcommittee on the Middle East and North Africa, made the following statement after introducing H.R. 762, the Holocaust Insurance Accountability Act of 2017, alongside Reps. Brad Sherman (D-CA) and John Garamendi (D-CA). Senators Bill Nelson (D-FL) and Marco Rubio (R-FL) introduced a companion bill in the Senate. Statement by Ros-Lehtinen: “Just days ago, on International Holocaust Remembrance Day, the world commemorated the millions of Jews and other innocent victims who were sys...
If you remember the SNL church lady (aka Dana Carvey) saying "Isn't that special?" or how about "Shout, shout, let it all out," "Wake me up before you Go-Go" and "Girls just want to have fun," then you will love the Decades Party: Rockin' the '80s!, hosted by the Jack and Lee Rosen JCC. The dance party begins at 7 p.m. and goes until 11 p.m. on Feb. 18 at the Rosen Event Center at the JCC. This unforgettable event includes heavy hors d'oeuvres, drinks, dancing, giveaways, a silent auction and...
Computers are everywhere, changing every industry on the planet, but fewer than half of all schools teach computer science. Girls and minorities are severely underrepresented in computer science classes, and in the tech industry. Good news is, the Orlando Jewish Day School is on its way to change this. With the Hour of Code, computer science has been on homepages of Google, MSN, Yahoo! and Disney. Over 100 partners have joined together to support this movement. Every Apple Store in the world has hosted an Hour of Code. Former President Obama...
The Hadassah Chapter of Williamsburg will have their monthly meeting on Wednesday, Feb. 22 at 1 p.m., at the Parkview Point Clubhouse in Williamsburg, which is near Sea World. The speaker for the meeting will be Gloria Green, who will discuss Jewish foods and their origins, and she will bring samples. The film “Princess Bride” will be shown at the March 22 meeting, at 1 p.m. in the Parkview Point Clubhouse. All are welcome to attend. For more information, please call Marian Bromberg at 407-354-4622....
The Commons, every third Friday, has an extra special Shabbat lunch. The Jewish Pavilion, the Jewish residents at the Commons as well as the Jewish residents at Windsor Place located directly across the street enjoy Matzo Ball Soup, Chopped Liver, Latkes, Pastrami, Challah bread, Chocolate Covered Macaroons and other treats. At the last Shabbat lunch, the group celebrated Miriam's 99th birthday which was in November. Shown here are Activities Director Xenia (r) and Miriam sitting back and...
It turns out, according to today’s JTA, that the Holocaust Statement was written—all or mostly—by Boris Epshteyn, a strongly identifying American Jew, of Russian Jewish ethnicity, who is in the Trump inner circle and who is a descendant of Holocaust survivors. I shall now place myself in Trump’s place, and I invite you to do so. I am a chief executive, and I want to issue a statement on Cesar Chavez Day, so I ask a trusted advisor who also is Chicano to handle the statement. Or I ask an African American close advisor to draft my Martin Luther...
He came to Canada as a 16-year-old refugee from Somalia. He’s highly regarded across the Canadian political spectrum. He was just appointed as immigration minister in the cabinet of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. Now 40 years old, Ahmed Hussen has a promising career in front of him. And in these polarized, fragmented times, he is exactly the kind of public figure we need when it comes to clarifying the wider debate about immigration and Islamism, human rights and national security. Trudeau, the leader of Canada’s Liberal Party, has often bee...
Someday, perhaps, a team of sociologists and psychologists will examine the curious question of why Jewish ex-State Department officials are obsessed with Israel. Until that day comes, though, the rest of us will be stuck having to listen to those officials’ relentless harassment of Israel and promotion of the Palestinian cause. With the issue of moving the American embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem on the front burner, The New York Times trotted out two former State Department hands, both Jewish, to pour cold water on the embassy r...
WASHINGTON (JTA)—“Five million non-Jews died in the Holocaust.” It’s a statement that shows up regularly in declarations about the Nazi era. It was implied in a Facebook post by the Israel Defense Forces’ spokesperson’s unit last week marking International Holocaust Remembrance Day. And it was asserted in an article shared by the Trump White House in defense of its Holocaust statement the same day omitting references to the 6 million Jewish victims. It is, however, a number without any scholarly basis. Indeed, say those close to the late Na...
(JTA)—The world comes together every Jan. 27 to remember the most devastating tragedy in history: the Shoah. We remember the victims of the Nazi regime. The loved ones lost and the shameful treatment of human life and human dignity. We also make sure to remember our history, as painful as it may be, so we learn from it and never let it repeat itself. Most of all, we remember the bravery of the survivors. Those brave souls who are slipping away from us as they implore the next generation to heed the lessons of this darkest of periods with two s...
Dear Editor: Needless to say, I was quite disturbed by the recent article in the Heritage, “Radical Syrian cleric comes to Central Florida—a wolf in sheep’s clothing?” Disturbed, why was I disturbed? Well, that’s easy to answer. The first thought was why did he even have to write such an article? What was the purpose? Why rile everyone up? Why stir up the pot ? Well, the pot needs to be stirred up in my opinion. This community has their heads in the sand so to speak when it comes to recognizing and accepting the fact that there is a threat to...
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. Temple I...
Angelique, a Family Stabilization Program client, is an ALICE (Asset Limited Income Constricted Employed person). Since losing her job last year, she has been working day labor jobs as a temporary worker. In some ways this has been great, she has been able to spend time with her children and have flexibility in her schedule, on the other hand she still has many bills to pay. The day labor company pays using a local shopping store’s money card system. Her paycheck goes into an account which she draws funds from similar to a bank’s debit car...
It is hoped that the questions below will be helpful to people leading Tu B'Shevat seders, as a way to increase audience participation. Suggested responses are given following the questions. Please send me suggestions for additional questions and for improved answers. 1. What is the origin of Tu B'Shevat? Tu B'Shevat is first mentioned in the Mishneh (Rosh Hashanah 1:1) as a cut-off date for the tithing of fruits for the Temple priests and for the poor. 2. Where is Tu B'Shevat mentioned in the T...
(JTA)-Trees have stories, and Israel's trees have lots of stories. Scattered throughout the country, scores of ancient and historic trees help shed light on fascinating aspects of Israeli history, from the biblical to the modern, that are often overlooked by the average tourist. As we approach Tu B'Shevat-the new year for the trees on the Jewish calendar falls on Feb. 10 this year-now is the perfect time to visit some of these magnificent trees. The five trees below, all easily accessible, are...
I am conflicted... The following comes from Rabbi ALAN LURIE, author of "Five Minutes on Mondays: Finding Unexpected Purpose, Peace and Fulfillment at Work.": "Rabbis hear variations on the following questions: 'How can anyone believe in God after the Holocaust? ' (This is a question I often ask myself.) "How can a supposedly loving God stand back and let such a horrible thing happen? The purpose of creation, then, is to be in a loving relationship with its Creator. In order to have a true...
My feet are absolutely killing me, and it's not from the 10,000 steps I have been walking daily to kick the New Year off on the right foot. The spring in my step has been hampered by the plastic-spiked gel inserts that have been stuffed into my shoes (voluntarily) during a "Virtual Dementia Tour" hosted by Watercrest Senior Living Community. Our tour was designed to enhance empathy and understanding for those who are suffering from memory loss or a dementia-related illness. I literally learned...
Some of my most important lessons in life I learned from Jewish verses about trees. From the following I learned that I should be an environmental activist, working to help preserve the world: In the hour when the Holy one, blessed be He, created the first person, He showed him the trees in the Garden of Eden, and said to him: “See My works, how fine they are; Now all that I have created, I created for your benefit. Think upon this and do not corrupt and destroy My world, For if you destroy it, there is no one to restore it after you. (...
On Tuesday, Jan. 31, the first-grade students blasted off into outer space during their annual Space Program. The fun, fact-filled program encompassed props, live music, a slide show, and a display of student artwork related to the thematic unit. This program was the culmination of their integrated Science unit Sun, Moon and Stars. The multi-faceted curriculum included the creation of vocabulary journals, lunar models, space mobiles, and was enriched by a visit to the Emil Buehler Perpetual...
