Central Florida's Independent Jewish Voice
Central Florida's Independent Jewish Voice
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Purim, or the Feast of Lots, is a joyous holiday that recounts the saving of the Jews from a threatened massacre during the Persian period (539-330 BCE). The story of Purim is recounted in the Book of Esther, whose eponymous heroine plays the leading role in saving her people. The holiday is traditionally celebrated with wild abandon and with the giving of gifts to friends and the poor. Purim History While the origins of Purim appear clear from the Book of Esther, historians have looked in vain...
(JTA) — A “National Day of Hate” against Jews planned by white supremacists that triggered sweeping warnings from law enforcement and Jewish security officials came and went without significant incident on Saturday. Synagogues and Jewish institutions across the United States had spent the preceding days shoring up their security procedures, reassuring their congregants and requesting extra patrols from local police. Reports from synagogues suggested that the pews were crowded on Shabbat with Jews who said they would not be deterred by hate. In...
On Feb. 17, a man dressed in a gawdy yellow and blue floral outfit with a lei around his neck, along with many others from his group walked up and down Sand Lake Road in front of Chabad of South Orlando for three and a half hours shouting through a megaphone to people who were arriving for Shabbat at the shul. "Sir, do you think you should be put in an oven?" he yelled, laughing and relishing the hate he was spewing. Intermingled with cursing, he and a few others continued the hate talk, address...
I am reaching out to let you know that we are aware of the recent activity of antisemitic groups operating in and around the Orlando area. We are in contact with law enforcement and our local, state and federal legislators. White supremacy and all acts of hate have no place in our community, and it is simply unacceptable. We are encouraged that people from all walks of life across this great city of Orlando and the United States of America are speaking up and fighting hate, standing up to promote tolerance, peace, and inclusion across our...
Join Shalom Orlando in celebrating Jewish Disability Awareness, Acceptance and Inclusion Month. We recognize JDAAIM because we know that nearly 20 percent of our population live with a disability. To put that in perspective: • 52 million adults in the United States live with a disability • 10,000 Jews in Central Florida live with a disability • 55 children in the Richard S. Adler Early Childhood Center live with a disability, which is almost three per classroom. In short, everyone knows someo...
Jason Mendelsohn is hosting an event titled Raise Your Glass, a whiskey and wine awareness and fundraising event that will be held April 23, at Mercedes-Benz of Orlando, 810 N. Orlando Ave., Maitland, during Head & Neck Cancer Awareness month. Prior to the event, there will be a Mercedes-Benz wrapping with the names of cancer survivors, patients and caregivers of all cancers — not just head and neck cancer — on March 15. Those who wish to have a loved one’s name included in the wrap must submit the name or names no later than March 15 via this...
"Only Bethanne Weiss can chair a fashion show, be the honoree and model: all at the same time," said Nancy Ludin, CEO of The Jewish Pavilion. The organization was thrilled to honor Weiss at their 2023 fashion show at Dillard's Altamonte Mall on Feb. 16. More than 200 women participated in the festivities. A delicious breakfast was provided by Jewish Pavilion sponsors. All of the models are integrally involved with the charity. Proceeds benefitted seniors in elder-care communities. No one wants...
(JNS) — Accusations of Islamophobia came almost immediately after the U.S. House of Representatives voted earlier this month to remove Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.) from its Foreign Affairs Committee. The vote followed repeated promises from House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) to remove the congresswoman due to her history of antisemitic and anti-Israel remarks. Omar took to CNN’s State of the Union show, saying “it is politically motivated, and in some cases, motivated by the fact that many of these members don’t believe a Muslim refugee...
(JNS) — Three draft laws related to the government’s judicial reform program passed their first reading in the Knesset plenum on Wednesday. The first, coined “Deri Law 2.0,” passed by a vote of 62-53. It would prevent the Supreme Court from interfering in ministerial appointments. Its purpose is to allow Aryeh Deri, chairman of the Shas Party, to return to the government as a cabinet member after the Supreme Court said on Jan. 18 that he could not serve as a minister, as his appointment was “unreasonable in the extreme.” The court cited Deri...
(Washington, D.C.) — The Israeli-American Coalition for Action, the legislative and policymaking sister organization of the Israeli-American Council, today applauded the Supreme Court’s refusal to hear a challenge to an Arkansas law against boycotting Israel. The high court declined to hear a challenge by the Arkansas Times weekly newspaper and the ACLU, based on the newspaper’s refusal to comply with a state university advertising contract because it required a pledge not to join the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement against Israel. A...
(JNS) — As Southeast Florida’s Jewish population continues to grow, El Al Airlines announced that it will increase flights to and from the region, including new operations at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport in Broward County, the state’s second-largest county after Miami-Dade. The move comes less than a year after the Israeli company relocated its headquarters from New York to the Sunshine State. More than 100,000 people flew El Al’s Miami to Tel Aviv route in 2022, which highlighted a need for more flights in Florida, stated...
(JNS) — There are many issues worth having an argument over; then again, some are better left alone. For example, a debate about whether or not the actress who is hired to play Golda Meir in a movie is Jewish is not worth a moment of anyone’s time. By contrast, the discussion about whether the current nearly unlimited powers of Israel’s Supreme Court should be checked and balanced by giving more power to the Knesset elected by the country’s voters is of utmost import. As it so happens, the British actress Helen Mirren is the focus of an unim...
(JTA) — Ever hear Bob Dylan’s “Like a Rolling Stone” sung in Yiddish dialect? It used to be a regular bit performed by comedian and actor Richard Belzer, who died last week at 78. He also used to do a routine about Bob Dylan’s bar mitzvah in which he recited a Hebrew prayer in the singer’s distinctive tone. A similar Elvis bar mitzvah bit was also part of his routine. Surprisingly, Belzer performed these niche routines in numerous comedy venues and even on the nationally televised “The Late Show with David Letterman.” In addition to a v...
(JNS) — One of the mysteries of the war against Israel is the extent to which a monstrously twisted narrative about Israel and the Palestinian Arabs — casting the former as evil and the latter as sanctified victims — has been absorbed by so many people. Still stranger, this narrative seems to be the driver of progressive politics. It’s not just that “intersectionality” demonizes the Jews, but that it is driven by an obsession with Palestinianism. As Corinne Blacker wrote in Tablet, “In queer and women’s studies programs, the topic of Palest...
(JNS) — For all intents and purposes, the Iranian nuclear deal, or Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, is dead. In December, Iranian officials said they had doubled their capacity to enrich uranium. International Atomic Energy Agency monitoring cameras were shut down by the regime last May, and IAEA inspectors have been banned from checking on the program. IAEA officials say Iran has enriched 154 pounds of uranium to 60% purity. According to the head of the IAEA, Rafael Grossi, that is enough to produce several weapons. Iran can now enrich i...
Dear Editor: “JCRC’s thoughts on antisemitism” reminds me of a sixth-grade paper I would be required to write in Delaney Park Elementary School sixth grade English class. Having lived in the Greater Orlando area for over 80 years, I have seen the pendulum swing in both directions. Having been on the receiving end of blatant antisemitism throughout my school days, I can tell you today’s antisemitism is child’s play. “Jesus loves me yes I know for the Bible tells me so”… “Hey Jew Boy, did you eat your pork sandwich at lunch today?” and so fo...
MORNING MINYANS Chabad of North Orlando and Chabad of Altamonte Springs are holding in-person minyans. 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...
(JTA) - When a film about a group of Israeli youths who visit former concentration camps in Poland premiered on Sunday at the Berlin Film Festival, its Israeli producer took the microphone after the screening to decry the state of his nation. "The new far-right government that is in power is pushing fascist and racist laws," said Yoav Roeh, a producer of "Ha'Mishlahat" ("Delegation") on stage after the film's premiere. He was referring to lawmakers in Israel's government who have long histories...
(JNS) - On Jan. 26, the historic five-day joint Israeli-American military exercise called "Juniper Oak" came to an end. The exercise saw unprecedented levels of cooperation between the U.S. military's Central Command, which is responsible for the Middle East, and the Israel Defense Forces. "Juniper Oak" tested Israeli-American readiness and boosted the operational connection between the two militaries to enable them to deal with "regional threats," according to the IDF Spokesperson's Unit, but...
If you answer yes to any of the following questions, you should be concerned about your loved one’s driving skills. It might be time to ask whether it’s time they retire the keys. 1. Has a friend or family member expressed concern about your loved one’s driving? 2. Has the doctor advised limiting driving for health reasons? 3. Has your loved one been pulled over by a police officer and warned about poor driving behavior? 4. Has your loved one been stopped by the police or had near misses or accidents in the last 3 years? 5. Does your loved...
From The Giving Table by Naomi Ross Do Ahead: Dough can be prepared up to three days in advance. The filling can be made up to a week in advance. Dough 3/4 cup oil 1 cup sugar 3 eggs 1/4 cup milk or soy/oat milk 1 1/2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract 3 1/2 cups flour, plus more for flouring 2/3 cup Dutch-process cocoa 4 teaspoons baking powder 1/4 teaspoon salt Drunken Cherry Filling 1 (12-ounce) bag frozen dark pitted cherries, thawed 1/3 cup dry red wine 1/4 cup sugar 1 Tablespoon cornstarch...
Many Jewish people have been getting ready for Purim - the Jewish holiday that begins on Monday night - by baking hamantaschen cookies, triangular treats made of dough with poppy seeds or fruit jam in the middle. Asked what the dessert signifies, many celebrants would quickly answer that they're in the shape of the triangular hat supposedly worn by Haman, the villain of the Purim story in the Book of Esther. But there's more history than that to the cookie - and clues can be found in its name....
(JNS) - A 4.4 magnitude earthquake centered off the coast of Lebanon in the Eastern Mediterranean was felt in Israel early Wednesday morning. There were no reports of injuries or damages in the Jewish state. The quake struck 73 kilometers northwest of Sidon, Lebanon at a depth of 10.0 kilometers, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. On Monday, several people were killed and more than 200 injured in Turkey by a 6.4-magnitude earthquake centered in the country's Hatay province that was also...
Desperate to find a restroom after a nearly nine-hour flight from Johannesburg, South African university student Klaas Mokgomole grabbed his carry-on and hurried off the plane. Urgently searching out a gate agent at Tel Aviv's Ben Gurion International Airport and praying that the man understood English, Mokgomole asked, sincerely, "Can you please show me to the blacks-only restroom?" Mokgomole - then a South African university student and outspoken youth leader of the anti-Israel, Boycott,...
TEL AVIV (JTA) — “Everyone who answers, ‘Thank God’ when asked, ‘How are you,’ raise your hand,” Brit Yakobi asked the crowd of 700 people gathered in an Orthodox synagogue in Jerusalem. The overwhelming majority of hands shot up. “Everyone who is mortified with our current government, raise your hand,” continued Yakobi, the director of religious freedom and gender at Shatil, an Israeli social justice organization founded by the New Israel Fund. Once again, almost every hand went up. The display took place at a Jan. 25 conference billing itself...
