Central Florida's Independent Jewish Voice
Central Florida's Independent Jewish Voice
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(JTA)-At Passover each year we are reminded that even though the original story is generations old, we are supposed to engage with the narrative as if we were slaves in Egypt. Unfortunately, most Haggadahs are about as engaging as a Maxwell House percolator. This year, however, two Jewish artists have created a vibrant addition to the alternative Haggadah canon: a graphic novel version of the Passover story that also takes readers through the seder. It's the creation of Jordan B. "Gorf"... Full story
(Kveller via JTA)—So I’m just going to come right out and say it: We don’t keep kosher for Passover. I feel a bit like a party-pooping high school senior who chooses not to go to the prom revealing that. After all, we moved to Israel to bring our kids up Jewish and live close to our Israeli family. But we are secular Jews and the simple truth is that we pick and choose how we observe in line with our beliefs about what’s important for us and what’s not. I’ve read on Kveller about how Mayim Bialik makes her Passover meaningful, how Amanda Bradle... Full story
The Zionist Organization of America condemned New York University today for deciding to confer a President’s Service Award on NYU’s Students for Justice in Palestine chapter, a group with a horrific record of harassing and intimidating Jewish and pro-Israel students. After SJP announced on Facebook that it had been selected to receive a presidential service award, the ZOA repeatedly reached out to NYU officials to confirm the truth of SJP’s announcement. Officials have not responded. The President’s Service Award recognizes student groups... Full story
(JTA)-After the smoke clears from this contentious Israeli election, which amounted to a referendum on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's tenure, it appears that Netanyahu will again be asked by Israeli President Rivlin to form the next government. How did he win again? As Israel's former U.S. Ambassador Michael Oren said, "Our economy is excellent, our foreign relations were never better, and we're secure... we know him, the world knows him-even our enemies know him." Unlike American voters,... Full story
LAS VEGAS (JTA)—President Donald Trump questioned traditional Jewish support for Democrats in a stem-winding speech to Jewish Republicans. “How did you support President Obama, how did you support the Democrats?” Trump said Saturday addressing the annual Republican Jewish Coalition conference in Las Vegas. “We didn’t,” the crowd replied, twice. “You guys didn’t, probably you guys in this room didn’t,” he said. Jewish voters have for decades favored Democrats in elections, usually by substantial majorities of about 70 percent. Trump received a h... Full story
Israel approves thousands of new West Bank housing units By Marcy Oster JERUSALEM (JTA)—A Defense Ministry committee approved plans for the construction of at least 3,659 new housing units in the West Bank. It is the largest group of West Bank housing units advanced since President Donald Trump took office in January 2017. The Trump administration is expected to roll out an Israel-Palestinian peace plan after the Israeli elections. Some 73 percent of the units, or 2,656, are in settlements that Israel likely will have to evacuate under a perman... Full story
Suzi Weiss-Fischmann, 62, used to aggressively bite her nails. It was a chronic, nervous tick, and it had to stop. After all, she was the co-founder and creative director of a global nail polish company, and chewed-up cuticles wasn't a good look for the woman shaping the beauty industry. This is just one fascinating tidbit from "I'm Not Really a Waitress," Weiss-Fischmann's new book about how she went from a childhood in communist Hungary-where she secretly studied Hebrew with a rabbi-to... Full story
(New York Jewish Week via JTA) — Signaling a red line on how far Modern Orthodoxy is prepared to bend to adjust to societal changes, a liberal New York City seminary will not ordain an openly gay student who is engaged to be married and completing his fourth year of rabbinical studies this spring, The Jewish Week has learned. In a statement to The Jewish Week, Yeshivat Chovevei Torah student Daniel Atwood, 27, wrote: “Four years ago I came out as gay during my first year at Yeshivat Chovevei Torah Rabbinical School, and it was decided that I w... Full story
In an unprecedented event, hundreds from San Antonio's Jewish community, joined by Jewish leaders from throughout the U.S. and Israel, celebrated and expressed appreciation the past four decades of the ardent Israel support of Pastor John and Diana Hagee. Arguably, this is the first time any Jewish community came together to express true respect and appreciation for a Christian leader. This was not just a once-in-a-generation event, it's the first in any generation. The event was historic for... Full story
