Central Florida's Independent Jewish Voice
Sorted by date Results 26 - 32 of 32
(JTA)—Jewish converts in America may have a much harder time being accepted in Israel because of a new set of regulations proposed by Israel’s Chief Rabbinate. If adopted, some activists in Israel say, the new guidelines for religious courts could drive a deeper wedge between Israel and Diaspora Jewry. The Chief Rabbinate, which controls Jewish marriage, divorce, conversion and burial in the Jewish state, is largely run by haredi Orthodox leaders. For years it has clashed with rabbis in America, even Orthodox ones, who have more liberal int... Full story
Written by the family Sharon “Sherry” Eisen Wright, 80, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, May 22, 2018, at her residence. Born in Chicago, on May 15, 1937, she was the daughter to proud parents Samuel Eisen and Gertrude (Scher) Eisen. She graduated as an honor student from Nicholas Senn High School (Class of 1954), went to Indiana University, left to start a family in Chicago, and then moved to Ft. Lauderdale in 1972. She was predeceased by her late husband, Sheldon; brother Corky, and sister-in-law Joyce. Survived by three dau... Full story
(JTA)-Two congressional races have been beset in recent days with charges of anti-Semitism, and each case-in California and in Virginia-uncovers challenges for Jews in the Republican and Democratic parties. For Jewish Democrats, it's about Israel and the party's left wing. For Jewish Republicans, it's about extremists. In both cases, Jews in the respective parties are grappling with old problems made sharper by recent developments. Democrats for years have had a left wing that tended to see... Full story
Roseanne sobbed and apologized about racist tweet in unaired interview with Rabbi Shmuley Boteach (JTA)—Roseanne Barr reportedly cried and apologized for her racist tweet in a podcast interview with Rabbi Shmuley Boteach. Barr “was sobbing and very apologetic about the whole thing,” according to the Hollywood Reporter, which cited an unnamed source. Boteach did not air the interview. The call in to the podcast came two days after ABC canceled her show last week over the tweet mocking Valerie Jarrett, a former adviser to President Barack Obama... Full story
NEW YORK (JTA)-Walking into Marvin Goldman's apartment on Manhattan's Upper West Side is like entering a museum dedicated to El Al, Israel's national airline. In one room, shelves and tables display scale models of El Al's earliest aircraft, and its most modern. Elsewhere are flight bags, china, pens, ashtrays, desk flags and other collectibles bearing the El Al logo that Goldman has acquired over the past 40 years. In a large walk-in closet are neatly hung uniforms and caps worn by flight... Full story
(JNS)-Gaza's second-largest terrorist faction, Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ), is leading the current dangerous escalation of the security situation, which may yet escalate further, and which represents the most serious flare-up of violence since the 2014 armed conflict between Israel and Hamas. Col. (ret.) Shay Shaul, former deputy head of the National Security Council of Israel, told JNS that PIJ could be motivated by one of two things. The first is that the terror organization is seeking... Full story
(JTA)-When Aviva Schwartz started praying publicly for Palestinians at her Jewish summer camp, she knew it would be controversial. Schwartz had grown up ensconced in the Conservative movement, had attended three of its Ramah camps and had moved up the ranks as a staff member at Ramah Wisconsin. When Israel's war in Gaza broke out in the summer of 2014, she was the unit head for incoming seventh-graders, a position reserved for staff veterans. She was also a college student who, after a lifetime... Full story