Central Florida's Independent Jewish Voice
Central Florida's Independent Jewish Voice
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(ISRAEL21c)-Take a journey through the last 70 years to discover how Israel has become one of the most creative and innovative countries in the world. Israel was founded on May 14, 1948. In the Hebrew calendar, it was 5 Iyar, 5708 (which is on April 20 this year). • Israel is founded a few hours before the British Mandate is due to expire. Eleven minutes later, the United States becomes the first country to recognize the Jewish state when it grants Israel de facto recognition. On May 15, E... Full story
Each year the Holocaust Center sponsors a student creative arts contest that's open to all students (public, private, and home schools) in Central Florida. All students who enter the contest receive a certificate and prizes are awarded to winning entries. The Holocaust Center's theme for the 2018 Yom HaShoah Creative Arts Contest, Remembering the Holocaust, provides students an opportunity to explore various themes from the Holocaust through artistic representation.... Full story
(JNS)—South Carolina became the first state to pass legislation to protect students from anti-Semitic acts. The State Senate overwhelmingly approved the legislation, H3643, in a 37-4 vote on Thursday as part of a larger spending package. The bill passed the State House of Representatives in March in a 116-2 vote. South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster has expressed support for the bill and is expected to sign it into law. “Anti-Semitism, and the forces that have led to its resurgence, are not representative of the values of South Carolina,” said... Full story
It is that time of year once again when Heritage Florida Jewish News is putting out feelers for one outstanding person in the Jewish community who has given his or her time or talent or monetary gifts to better the Orlando Jewish community. Nominations for the 2018 Heritage Human Service Award are now being accepted and the award will be presented at the annual meeting of the Jewish Federation of Greater Orlando in August. “For more than 28 years, individuals who have made major, voluntary contributions of their talent, time, energy and e... Full story
Kindergarten through second-grade students in the Meitin Alliance for Growth and Learning (MAGAL), Temple Israel and Temple Shir Shalom's collaborative religious school, participated in their first annual Mitzvah Day on Sunday, April 8. Toddlers, preschoolers, and parents attending the Bagels & Blocks "me and my grown-up" session also took part in the day after learning about mitzvot, sharing snacks, singing songs, reading a story, and playing games. All participants created colorful, handmade... Full story
In early winter 2017, Sheri Morton, a thirty-year resident of Osceola County and a political activist, was very concerned about the upswing in anti-Semitic incidents that were occurring throughout Florida and the nation. "I was scared," said Sheri, who is Jewish, "and so were many of my friends." Morton's fears were supported by statistics. According to the Anti-Defamation League's report, anti-Semitic incidents in the United States had surged more than one-third in 2016 and jumped 86 percent... Full story
There's the old joke about the Jewish atheist who refused to send his son to a Jewish school but wanting a private school education for his child, he sent him to Trinity School, despite its denominational roots, it was a great school and completely secular. After a month, the boy came home and said casually, "By the way, Dad, I learned what Trinity means! It means 'The Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost.'" The father could barely control his anger. He grabbed his son by the shoulders and said,... Full story
Leon Uris (Embassy of Israel in Washington via JNS)-JNS is proud to partner with the Embassy of Israel in Washington, D.C., to celebrate 70 of the greatest American contributors to the U.S.-Israel relationship in the 70 days leading up to the State of Israel's 70th anniversary. An American author of historical fiction, Leon Uris was known for his commitment to historical accuracy and extensive research. The people of Israel can be especially grateful that this literary giant brought the early... Full story
A trove of rare bronze coins, the last remnants of a four-year Jewish revolt against the Roman Empire, has been discovered in a cave near the Temple Mount in Jerusalem. During the digs at the Ophel excavation site, led by Hebrew University archaeologist Eilat Mazar, dozens of coins as well as broken pottery vessels, jars and cooking pots were found dating back to the Great Revolt period (66-70 CE). It is believed that these 1.5cm bronze coins were left behind by residents of Jerusalem who hid in... Full story
(JNS)-The recent missile strike on a military airbase deep in the central Syrian desert looks like the latest installment in a long-standing Israeli campaign to police its red lines against highly dangerous developments to its north. Usually, such strikes are driven by incoming intelligence of threatening activity underway in Syria-activity that breaches Jerusalem's ban on Iran from constructing military bases in Syria, from setting up weapons factories there and from using Syria as a transit zo... Full story
JERUSALEM (JTA)—The latest alleged chemical attack on a town in Syria by government forces shows that the international organizations established after the Holocaust to prevent genocides have failed, a Yad Vashem official said. Avner Shalev, chairman of the Holocaust memorial and museum in Jerusalem, also condemned the indifference of the world community to such “crimes against humanity.” “In light of the horrific images emanating from Syria over recent days of the mass killings of civilians, including children, in the chemical attack, it woul... Full story
(JNS)—There is a tragic account of the last moments of Grigori Zinoviev, the veteran Russian Bolshevik leader of Jewish descent who was executed by Stalin in 1936. According to the historian Donald Rayfield, on the journey from his prison cell to the execution cellar, the broken Zinoviev “clung to the boots of his guards and was taken down by stretcher.” “This scene,” Rayfield continues in his book on Stalin’s crimes, “was re-enacted several times at supper at Stalin’s dacha, the bodyguard Karl Pauker playing the part of Zinoviev—begging for St... Full story
(JNS)—Radical Jewish students at Harvard University are planning to hold a late “Liberation Seder” to “protest the continuing occupation by Israel.” On Thursday, April 5, six days after all other Jews around the world held their Passover seders, the Progressive Jewish Alliance held its event to protest “our community’s support for the occupation” and to ask “Are you for endless occupation, or for freedom and dignity for all?” I have a question for these students: Have you ever taken a course in the history of modern Israel? Either the answer is... Full story
Despite the incredible contributions the Jewish people have made to civilization throughout history, envy and irrational hatred continue to plague them. It is one of the ironies of history that we have never had the luxury to not be concerned with our security, even in the lands in which we are relatively safe, and in which we enjoy full citizenship. We are living in a very complex time of political polarization and intersection of issues in which we try to support groups who have faced discrimination and injustice, but who in turn spurn their... Full story
I should have read “Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglasss, an American Slave” before I turned 50, in high school or college, as it is as vivid a portrait of American slavery, the almost immutable triumph of greed over conscience, and the dehumanization of both slave and master as one could ever read. I wonder about human nature, or make it my nature—how much of my comfort would I give up for conscience? A question as old as Noah, the ambiguous “a good man for his age.” Is the real insight that the triumph of conscience is the rarity, t... Full story
(JNS)—After eight years of dealing with an American president who considered establishing more “daylight” between the United States and Israel, the last 15 months has been a whole lot easier for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Unlike his predecessor, U.S. President Donald Trump doesn’t think it’s his duty to disregard the verdict of Israeli democracy and “save Israel from itself,” or to tilt the diplomatic playing field in the direction of the Palestinians in the vain hope that they will make peace. Trump’s instinctual con... Full story
(JNS)—Being a Jew on left has become more and more difficult, and the apparent mainstream acceptance of Louis Farrakhan’s anti-Semitic lies, rooted in hate, rightfully enraged our community. But as I learned by joining the Zioness Movement—a national group for progressive Zionists—the antidote to being dehumanized is that we must show our humanity. I have been bitter and angry, hell-bent on attacking anti-Semites and anti-Zionists. I was stuck in a shtetl mentality of helplessness and desperation with the feeling that the walls have been cl... 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. Temple I... Full story
Spence-Chapin is currently seeking a loving family for baby Emma. Emma is an adorable, two-month-old baby girl with light brown hair and blue eyes who was recently diagnosed with Down syndrome. Emma’s parents are looking for a loving, Jewish home. At birth, Emma weighed six pounds, eleven ounces. She has no reported medical complications and was in the well-baby nursery after birth. Since then, Emma has been eating, sleeping and gaining weight consistently. She recently had her first smiles! If you think you could be an adoptive family for Emma... Full story
(JNS)-While it is well known that Birthright trips provide American participants with a transformative, often life-changing experience, it is perhaps less known that the young Israelis who accompany the participants on the trip often have similarly transformative experiences. Young Israelis Ayelet,* a 23-year-old computer scientist, and Racheli, a 22-year-old speech therapist, accompanied a Mayanot Birthright trip from March 12-19 with the goal of traveling the country with contemporaries eager... Full story
(JTA)-Israel attacked Syria, just like it (reportedly) has countless times before. The difference now is that Russia is angry about the strike-and showing it. Russia has called out Israel publicly, condemned the attack and summoned the Israeli ambassador to "discuss developments." The alleged strike, which the Israeli government has not acknowledged, came soon after a Syrian chemical weapons attack on civilians. But the two attacks might not be connected. Here's a quick rundown of why Israel is... Full story
Stephen Hertz, who managed the Tel Aviv Lightning in the Israel Baseball League after playing for the Houston Colt .45s and coaching nearly three decades at Miami-Dade Community College, is one of 644 retirees who do not receive Major League Baseball pensions because of a change in the vesting requirements that occurred over the 1980 Memorial Day Weekend. The union was offered the opportunity to give its members the following deal: one game day of service credit to buy into the league’s umbrella health insurance plan, and 43 game days of servic... Full story
Jonathan David Eichenholz, son of Robyn Eichenholz and Jason Eichenholz of Winter Park, will be called to the Torah as a bar mitzvah on Sunday, April 22, 2018 at Congregation Beth Am in Longwood. Jonathan attends Quest Kids Academy. His hobbies and interests include music, Pinterest, Google Maps, theme parks, and car rides. He is a food connoisseur and a huge fan of cooking videos. Sharing in the family's simcha will be Jonathan's sister Ella; grandparents Dan and Susan Bachrach, Harold and... Full story
A reflective thought... What ever happened to "Give us your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breath free"? (Just saying.) I received a letter... The letter I received was sent from DAVID HARRIS, CEO of the American Jewish Committee (AJC). I pass it along to you in part: "The Jewish stories handed down through our three-thousand-year-old tradition recount instances of persecution and hatred, but also examples of resilience and survival. Now, let me ask you to consider a current s... Full story
NEW YORK—The Blue Card, the only organization in the United States with the sole mission of providing ongoing support for medical care, rent subsidies, food and other basic needs to indigent Holocaust survivors, is urging that at the same time we remember the atrocities of the past, we act to secure the future well-being of Holocaust survivors. April 11-12 marked Holocaust Remembrance Day or Yom HaShoah, a memorial of the six million Jewish people who died during World War II. The time to “never forget” has never been more vital. The Anti-Defam... Full story
