Central Florida's Independent Jewish Voice
Central Florida's Independent Jewish Voice
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The University of Central Florida's Shlichut Institute members participated in Israel's entry in this year's Eurovision Song Contest accessible to the deaf and hearing-impaired population by producing a music video for singer Kobi Marimi's "Home" in American Sign Language. In the weeks leading up to Eurovision, which took place from May 14-18 in Tel Aviv, The Jewish Agency's Shlichim (emissaries) from around the world embarked on the "See the Sounds" initiative in order to help people with... Full story
Last July, then-governor Rick Scott declared a state of emergency in seven South Florida counties because of the algae bloom all across Florida's west coast. The pea-green, thick film covering the freshwater lakes, salt-water canals and waterways not only looked bad, but smelled awful. "It is like moldy bread," said one Lake Okeechobee resident. Not only did it look and smell bad, it could be toxic if consumed, and fatal for dogs that swim in or drink the scum, according to Richard P. Stumpf, an... Full story
Those who are planning to go to Israel this year, consider scheduling flights between July 2 and Aug. 27. This is when EL AL will have once-a-week flights out of Orlando International Airport. This is a trial run to see if there is enough interest in the Orlando community to generate more flights out of OIA in the future. "It's a great beginning!" said Vicki Jaramillo, senior director, marketing & air service development at OIA. Jaramillo, who is based in Orlando, has over 25 years experience... Full story
CLEVELAND (Cleveland Jewish News via JTA)-Eric Fingerhut is leaving his position as president and CEO of Hillel International to take the same posts at the Jewish Federations of North America. Fingerhut, who served one term in the U.S. House of Representatives representing Ohio in 1993 and 1994, will succeed Jerry Silverman. The Times of Israel reported in April 2018 that Silverman, who assumed the JFNA leadership in 2009, planned to step down at the end of his contract this September. Jared... Full story
Orlando Torah Academy was founded in 2010 to bring the light of Torah to the thousands of Jews living in Central Florida. In less than 10 years, under the leadership of Rabbis Yehuda Schepansky (dean), Avraham Wachsman (dean), Michoel Rennert (executive director), Gavriel Wittlin (assistant principal), Shari Wladis (general studies director) and Rena Wittlin (program director), OTA has grown to almost 100 students. The effect on the children, their families and on the city of Orlando is truly... Full story
Jewish Academy of Orlando director of academics, Nikki Buyna, was recently accepted to Harvard Graduate School of Education’s summer program titled “Improving Schools: The Art of Leadership.” In addition, she received a full school scholarship from The AVI CHAI Foundation to attend the program. “I applied to the Harvard Graduate School of Education’s Art of Leadership Program because I wanted the opportunity to share a room with a group of the best school leaders in the world, to have an opport... Full story
Heritage Florida Jewish News is accepting nominations for the 2019 Heritage Human Service Award, which will be presented at the annual meeting of the Jewish Federation of Greater Orlando on Aug. 18, from 10 a.m. - noon. “For more than 29 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 Roz Fuchs. Forme... Full story
While school may be recessed for the summer, it's not the time to stop your genealogy work. In fact, summer travel and the break from school can be very productive for family history researchers. On June 4, The Jewish Genealogical Society of Greater Orlando features a presentation by JGSGO secretary Tom Hirsch, titled "Your Summer Genealogy Homework," to help new and veteran genealogists learn new skills, use DNA tests and computer technology, and other tools to find and share their family... Full story
BOSTON (JTA)—Herman Wouk, the Orthodox Jewish author whose literary career spanned nearly seven decades and who helped usher Judaism into the American mainstream, died Friday at the age of 103. His agent confirmed the news to The Associated Press. Wouk was the author of two dozen novels and works of nonfiction, including the Pulitzer Prize-winning “The Caine Mutiny” from 1951, which was a fixture on best-seller lists for two years, and the best-selling “Marjorie Morningstar” from 1955. Both books were later adapted for the screen. His novel... Full story
JERUSALEM (JTA)-NASA released a photo of what it says is the crash site of Israel's Beresheet lunar lander. The image taken some 56 miles from the surface of the moon by NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter on April 22, 11 days after the crash, shows a dark smudge that indicates the point of impact. A light halo around the smudge could have formed from gas associated with the impact or from fine soil particles blown outward during Beresheet's descent, which smoothed out the soil around the... Full story
(JNS)—Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.) is standing by comments she made recently that include saying that Palestinians enabled a “safe haven” for Jews after the Holocaust, thereby reiterating her support for a one-state solution. “There’s always kind of a calming feeling I tell folks when I think of the Holocaust, and the tragedy of the Holocaust, and the fact that it was my ancestors—Palestinians—who lost their land and some lost their lives, their livelihood, their human dignity, their existence in many ways, have been wiped out, and some peop... Full story
(JNS)—New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker seems to think that America has been supporting the creation of a Palestinian state pretty much since time immemorial. He’s badly in need of a history lesson. Booker made his latest comments in an interview with David Axelrod on his podcast, “The Axe Files.” Axelrod was former President Barack Obama’s chief campaign strategist, and Palestinian statehood was a central plank in Obama’s ideology. So it’s no surprise that Axelrod would ask Booker a question slanted in favor of that goal. But Booker is well-educa... Full story
“A Near Death Experience.” Ever had one? There actually is such a thing. Been there—done that. Well, I did—and it ain’t a picnic. About two months ago I developed a cough that would not go away. We complacently kept the same primary medical practice after our Doc retired. The “new” doctor hired by the practice almost killed me—seriously. I complained during a routine visit of a constant cough. He told me to go to the drug store and get some cough medicine. Didn’t help. Cough persisted. Got so bad I could not sleep. Two of our children were her... Full story
Lately, I have been awestruck, not by the increasing number of anti-Semitic incidences, acts, statements and publications spewing forth from supposedly educated and responsible people in government, academia, the arts, and other respected organizations, but by the ever increasing number of public apologies for the use of anti-Semitic tropes and other hate speech directed toward Jews and Israel. I am equally astounded by the completely incomprehensible attitude of some Jews and Jewish organizations who rush to accept, forgive and in some cases... Full story
JERUSALEM (JTA)—Recent assertions made by Rep. Rashida Tlaib regarding the Holocaust and the establishment of the State of Israel have no foundation in the historical record. In this imagined version of history, after the Holocaust, the Jews were awarded a consolation prize—the establishment of Israel—at the expense of those already living there. Asserting that Israel’s creation was a direct response to the Holocaust overlooks the ancient and ceaseless connection of the Jewish people to Israel, as well as the modern Zionist enterprise that re... Full story
(JNS)—As Israelis took refuge in bomb shelters (again), and Palestinians celebrated in the streets as Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad rockets flew overhead, one of the oldest synagogues in Washington, D.C.—the Sixth & I Historic Synagogue—spread the calumny that Israeli victims and Palestinian aggressors are one and the same. On the evening of May 7, when Jews around the world commemorated Yom Hazikaron (Israel’s Memorial Day), which honors the memory of the thousands of heroes who have died defending the Jewish state, Sixth & I—a “no... Full story
Dear Editor: I just read Christine DeSouza’s article in the Heritage Jewish News regarding anti-Semitic material being taught in the Orange County Public School System (“Orange County School Board made aware of anti-Semitic curriculum, May 10, 2019). Laurie Cardoza-Moore, president, Proclaiming Justice To The Nations, spearheaded a group of concerned citizens in bringing this anti-Semitic material to the attention of the Orange County School Board. Now we must all follow up with the School Board chair, Theresa Jacobs, and let her know the commu... Full story
Join other Orlando professionals after work on Monday, June 3, at the Citrus Club downtown for Central Florida Connects, a relaxed networking and social event in an opulent setting. Enjoy heavy hors d'oeuvres and a drink in a fun and friendly atmosphere for a $15 donation, with all proceeds benefitting the Jewish Pavilion. Guests can also participate in a whiskey tasting and a raffle with high-appeal prizes such as Orlando City tickets, concert tickets, hotel stays and great wines. The event is... Full story
I'll bet you didn't know... Well, some of us elders did! Major movie star, Gregory Peck, (who died in 2003 at the age of 87) once came to Congregation Ohev Shalom when it was in downtown Orlando. I had the pleasure of meeting with him and his then wife, and so did our own SONJA MARCHESANO, and others. (I forgot why he was there, but I will never forget the meeting!) Oops. A slip of the tongue... MSNBC reporter ANDREA MITCHELL apologized for referring in her broadcast of the Warsaw Ghetto... Full story
Penny Goldstein D'Agostino, a professional trained singer and cantorial soloist, will share her gift of music at a concert at Congregation Shalom Aleichem, 3501 Oak Pointe Boulevard, on Friday, May 31, at 8 p.m. The event is free of charge and open to the public. Refreshments will be served following D'Agostino's performance. D'Agostino, a Long Island and South Florida native, came from a musical family. She, her father Mel and her brother Walt, have performed professionally as well as... Full story
Gloria Faith Fischer, 88, of Orlando, Florida, passed away on May 15, 2019. She was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on May 18, 1930. Gloria was married to the late Bernard Fischer on Nov. 19, 1950. She had a career in bookkeeping for her own business in Delaware and the law firm of Arnold, Matheny and Eagan in Orlando, Florida. She had a passion for reading and crossword puzzles. She is survived by her sons: Alan of Wilmington, Delaware; and Gary of Orlando, Florida. She is also survived by her grandchildren: Andrew Fischer, Rebecca... Full story
