Central Florida's Independent Jewish Voice
Central Florida's Independent Jewish Voice
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Twenty-seven families from Congregation Ohev Shalom enjoyed celebrating Shabbat together March 27 and 28 at the Family Shabbaton. The Shabbaton was held at Camp Warren Willis in Leesburg with the theme of "The Gift of Shabbat." Families with toddlers to couples without their children enjoyed praying, playing, learning, eating, and schmoozing in the true spirit of Shabbat. The Family Shabbaton was underwritten by a generous grant from the Hornik Family Foundation....
On Sunday, May 3, the Pavilion Golf Society (PGS) will host its third annual tournament honoring Jewish Pavilion founders and golf aficionados, Sheryl and Julian Meitin, at Alaqua Country Club in Longwood. The longtime Temple Israel members co-founded the Jewish Pavilion in 2004, and the outreach program for Jewish residents in elder homes has enriched the lives of thousands of seniors ever since. "Sheryl and Julian Meitin have been the 'ace in the hole' for the Jewish Pavilion, not to mention...
(JNS.org)-Iran and the P5+1 (U.S., U.K., France, Russia, China and Germany) world powers have announced that a framework deal on Iran's nuclear program has been reached after marathon talks in Switzerland that blew past the March 31 deadline, setting the stage for a final comprehensive agreement to be reached by June 30. On Twitter, Secretary of State John Kerry described the conclusion of the recent round of talks as a "big day", saying that the European Union, P5+1 and Iran "now have...
Heritage Florida Jewish News is accepting nominations for the 2015 Heritage Human Service Award, which will be presented at the annual meeting of the Jewish Federation of Greater Orlando. “For more than 25 years, individuals who have made major, voluntary contributions of their talent, time, energy and effort to the Central Florida community have been honored with the selection and presentation of this award,” said Jeff Gaeser, editor and publisher of the Heritage. Last year’s recipient was Loren London. Former recipients have included Wolf...
By Christine DeSouza "My people perish for lack of knowledge," said Laurie Cardoza-Moore quoting Hosea 4:6 at the beginning of an ACT! For America meeting on March 26. Cardoza-Moore, founder of the nonprofit organization Proclaiming Justice to the Nations, travels the world educating Christians about their biblical responsibility to stand with and for the people of Israel. With a background in broadcasting and film, Cardoza-Moore believes Christians cannot be silent in the face of terrorism, as...
(JTA)—For President Obama, the framework agreement reached last Thursday with Iran is a “historic understanding” that does more to roll back Tehran’s nuclear program than any possible alternative and avoids the risk of a destructive war in the Middle East. But to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, it’s the complete opposite: a pact that “threatens the survival of Israel” and would “increase the risks of nuclear proliferation in the region and the risks of a horrific war.” With many of the deal’s details yet to be worked out before t...
There is a new synagogue on the block, although it isn’t really a new one. Perhaps the term should be “changed” synagogue. Congregation Shomer Ysrael, located at 5382 Hoffner Ave., Orlando, was for several years a Messianic congregation with about 200 members. It is now, and has been for about two years, a very committed Jewish congregation with about 30 members. In fact, they celebrated their first Rosh Hashanah as Jews in September 2013, and for the congregation it was truly a new beginning. Congregation Shomer Ysrael became the first Hispa...
Faye Novick and Hali Poteshman are having a ball as this year's Choices co-chairwomen. Why is that? Because they're shaking things up with a witty, comedic guest speaker (renowned author Jennifer Weiner), a lively Kentucky Derby-style cocktail hour, entertainment by Two Left Feet, and a convenient central location (Congregation Ohev Shalom). "Wear a hat and be goofy," said Novick. "We are having Southern-style hors d'oeuvres and adding a little spice to a regular cocktail party. And it will...
The Roth Family JCC in Maitland will celebrate Israel's 67th birthday and #OneJewishOrlando on the JCC campus on Thursday, April 23 from 5:30 p.m. – 9 p.m. There will be Kosher food for purchase, items to shop for, live entertainment, Israeli dancing, photo opportunities, free children's activities, and open swim time. Along with all these festivities will be a community choir performance and a concert by Israeli singer Yaniv Shushan. Yom HaZikaron/Israel Memorial Day Two days before the c...
The Holocaust Center invites individuals and families from throughout the community to join in commemorating Yom HaShoah on Sunday, April 19, at 4 p.m. at the Jewish Community Center Gymnasium (next door to the Holocaust Center), 851 N Maitland Avenue, Maitland. The Center hosts the observance each year to remember the lives of the six million Jews who died during the Holocaust, and to honor the survivors, liberators and rescuers who keep those memories alive. This year's speaker will be Yael...
On Sunday, April 12, from 9:30 a.m. until noon in the Roth Social Hall there will be bagels, beverages, newspapers, WiFi and, of course, schmoozing at 50 S. Moss Road in Winter Springs. Temple Israel brought back those delicious bagels just in time for this after-Passover event, which is open to the entire community. Following on the heels of the after-Passover Sunday Schmooze will be the next monthly Simcha Shabbat service at Temple Israel on Friday, April 17, beginning at 7:30 p,m. in the Rein Sanctuary followed by Israeli dancing in the...
Twenty-five years ago I was walking with a friend on the lower west side of Manhattan, nearly in the shadows of the World Trade Center towers. He was about my age and, as you figured out by my choice of pronouns, a guy. A male friend—one of my best friends, in fact. As we walked something suddenly clanked against the curb beside us. It was a half-full beer can, and a car full of youngish punks from New Jersey (their car had Jersey plates), yelled out, “Go home, faggots!” We were taken aback in so many ways. Not only were we not gay, we were...
By Ben Cohen JNS.org Back in 2010, I interviewed Gerard Araud, who is now the French ambassador in Washington, DC, while he was still serving as France’s envoy to the United Nations in New York. We talked at length about Iran, and this was the first thing he told me: “The Iranian nuclear program has no civilian explanation whatsoever. You don’t start a civilian nuclear program by enriching uranium. It’s like if you buy the gas before the car.” As I watched the Iran nuclear negotiations in the Swiss city of Lausanne slide past an agreed de...
Barack Obama had some nasty comments about Netanyahu’s election day call that Arabs were going to the polls “in droves,” which the President saw as Bibi’s eroding the meaning of democracy. In a post-election meeting with Arabs, Netanyahu said “I know that the things I said a few days ago hurt some citizens in Israel, the Arab Israeli citizens. This was not my intention and I am sorry,” What Netanyahu actually said on election day, and what Likud sent to Israelis in text messages, were comments about Arabs going to the polls in great numbe...
American Jewish leaders who supported the Oslo Accords or have criticized Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu are now strongly challenging the Obama administration’s policy toward Israel. It’s the latest sign of a growing consensus in the Jewish community that the president’s vindictive approach toward Israel is unfair and overreaching. Rabbi Haskel Lookstein, head of the Kehilath Jeshurun synagogue and the Ramaz Day School in Manhattan, was an early supporter of the left-leaning Israeli party Meimad, and its American equivalent, Shvil Hazah...
Given all the frothing by hawkish U.S. Senators about Iran’s possible development of nuclear weapons, one might think that Iran was violating the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT). But it’s not. The NPT, signed by 190 nations and in effect since 1970, is a treaty in which the non-nuclear nations agreed to forgo developing nuclear weapons and the nuclear nations agreed to divest themselves of their nuclear weapons. It also granted nations the right to develop peaceful nuclear power. The current negotiations in which Iran is engaged wit...
President Barack Obama’s chief of staff, Denis McDonough, used his appearance at the recent J Street conference to take a carefully aimed jab at Israel’s prime minister. McDonough was irked that prior to the recent Israeli election, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that in view of radical Islam’s global rise, he did not expect a Palestinian state could safely be created in his lifetime. Then, in a post-election interview, the prime minister clarified that while he was pointing to the hazards of such a state, he had not withdrawn the p...
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...
On Feb. 18, Sally Salamy (in blue top), celebrated her 103rd birthday with her husband, Maurice, (who turned 92 on April 4 and is standing to the right of Sally) and many younger friends shown here (l-r) Gayle and Steven Stein, Karen Bogart and Viviane Flax. Sally and Maurice also celebrated their 67th wedding anniversary on April 1. The couple joined Congregation Ohev Shalom in 1963 and in 2012, they renewed their vows at the synagogue, when Sally was a mere 100. Up until six months ago, Sally...
Elizabeth Mack, age 79, of Orlando, passed away on Thursday, March 26, 2015, at her residence. She was born on June, 26, 1935, in St. Louis, Missouri, to the late Louis and Bessie Brickman Weintrop. A homemaker, she married William Mack, who survives her, in St. Louis, on Jan. 22, 1960. They relocated to the Orlando area in 1983 and have been long-time members of Southwest Orlando Jewish Congregation. For 20 years, Mrs. Mack was a regular on the security staff at the Orange County Convention Center. In addition to her husband, she is survived...
Betty Diana Stein, age 89, of Orlando, passed away on April 1, 2015, at Florida Hospital—Celebration Health. Mrs. Stein was born in Boston, Mass., on July 18, 1925, to the late Harry Finberg and Dora Feinberg Finberg. She was one of five siblings—all creative musicians and artists. She was a musician and studied trumpet at the New England Conservatory of Music in Boston, and was a talented artist who could draw, paint, sew, needle point and sculpt. On March 1, 2015, Betty Stein was honored to be one of the “8 Over 80” individuals Kinneret Counc...
Eugene L. Stolper, age 69, of Kissimmee, passed away on Friday, March 27, 2015, at Health Central in Ocoee. Mr. Stolper was born in Queens, New York, on May 27, 1945, to the late Bernard and Ruth Armel Stolper. He was a real estate sales agent for many years, splitting his time between Florida and New Jersey. He is survived by his son, Michael (Melissa) of New York; and daughter, Sherry (Shy) Rotem of New Jersey; and six grandchildren. He is also survived by his brother, Alan (Joyce) of Scottsdale, Ariz. Services were held at Cedar Park...
Jewish National Fund's Women for Israel (WFI) hosted a Wines of Israel Tasting on Tuesday, March 24 at a private home in Longwood. Over 35 women enjoyed an evening that featured wines from vineyards in the Negev desert, Galilee, and the Golan Heights. Along with the wine tasting, guests also learned about the regions the vineyards are located in as well as JNF's work in those areas including the booming city of Be'er Sheva and JNF's Go North initiative, which aims to attract new residents to...
On the evening of Wednesday, April 15—the 27th of Nisan—candles will be lit around the world to honor the memory of the millions of Jews who perished during the Holocaust. On Yom HaShoah, we also remember the courage and defiance Jews showed during the war. That defiance could have taken the form of physical confrontation but often it was seen as psychological resistance—such as the use of humor against their Nazi oppressors. Today, how Jews used humor during the Shoah. Does this topic unsettle you? John Morreall is not surprised if it does....
"I wanted to do something different this Spring Break," said Daniela Weisz, a 20-year-old UCF junior and marketing major. And that is exactly what she and eight other students did: They traded in lazy days on sandy beaches for volunteer work in the mountains of Clayton, Ga. The Alternative Break Program, coordinated by Volunteer UCF, provides students with various opportunities to help others and impact communities, both locally and internationally. One of the 13 trips offered this Spring Break...
