Central Florida's Independent Jewish Voice
Central Florida's Independent Jewish Voice
Sorted by date Results 1 - 25 of 37
Congregation Ohev Shalom graduation took place on May 13. The graduates used their own words to express how they contribute to creating a Kehillah Kedosha, Holy community, as well as sang songs related to the theme.... Full story
"Dear Breina, Welcome to a wonderful world and a warm and loving family - by family I include our wonderful community who truly are family," shared Rabbi Yanky Majesky of Chabad of North Orlando, at the naming ceremony for his newborn daughter, Breina Majesky, at Congregation Ahavas Yisrael on Monday, June 15, 2015. Rabbi Sholom Dubov presided over the extra-special baby naming ceremony and Torah service hosted at his Maitland shul, on behalf of his fourth grandchild, born on June 7 to daughter,... Full story
With just days to go in its 2015 Annual Campaign, the Jewish Federation of Greater Orlando is tantalizingly close to hitting the $1 million mark-a mere $1,965 away-for the first time since 2007. As of June 24, the Annual Campaign has raised $998,035. Federation has seen an uptick in its Annual Campaign gifts for the past few years as the economy has continued to recover. But JFGO Executive Director Olga Yorish says the prospect of reaching $1 million this year has given the organization a huge b... Full story
Reform congregation, Temple Shir Shalom, “the Singing Temple,” has grown into a tight-knit community over 13 years. Like many b’nai mitzvah, they came to a crossroads in 2014 of deciding how they wanted to go forward. The spiritual leader sets the tone—and the tune. Enter Cantor Kim Singer, RJE. As the Bima Committee was putting together a job description for the position at Temple Shir Shalom, they may have had faint hopes to find all of what they wanted and needed in one person. Town hall meetings gathered congregants’ ideas of what trai... Full story
ISRAEL21c-On June 1, more than 1500 Jewish, Christian and Muslim schoolchildren from across Haifa helped set the world record for the largest magic lesson. The students, representing every school in the city, participated in "Haifa Magic for Peace," led by Israeli magician Cagliostro. Beating the previous world record held by Scottish magician Kevin McMahon from 2012, Haifa Magic for Peace was extensively covered in the Israeli media and helped put the sponsoring organization, theBeit HaGefen Je... Full story
Those who tune into "So You Think You Can Dance" got a nice surprise last Monday as Israeli-born Asaf Goren, who calls himself "The Hebrew Breaker," brought down the house with his style of B–boy break dancing that held judges Nigel Lythgoe, Paula Abdul and Jason Derulo riveted to their seats. That is, only till the end of his routine, when they jumped to their feet in applause along with the rest of the audience who gave him a rousing standing ovation. At first, the 23-year-old originally f... Full story
Nominations for upcoming Bornstein class now being accepted Aiming to develop effective, inspired leadership for the Central Florida Jewish Community, the Jewish Federation of Greater Orlando (JFGO) launched the Jerome J. Bornstein Leadership Development Program in 1991. The program provides participants with in-depth programming on Jewish identity, leadership, and Israel. It was named in honor of Jerome "Jerry" Bornstein (Z"L), a renowned civil rights attorney who had served as president of... Full story
Each summer, for three days, Temple Israel, located at 50 S. Moss Road, Winter Springs, offers students of all ages and their families an opportunity to have fun and brush up on their Hebrew. This year they will be conducting an archeological excavation where participants will dig up relics and artifacts from three different civilizations that help to understand their lifestyles and culture. Students will uncover treasures from the Dead Sea sect known as the Essenes, from the Roman civilization during this same time period, and Orlando history... Full story
Placing principles into action is one of the key components of Temple Israel’s Religious School and congregational life. Temple Israel has been involved in a variety of volunteer projects over the years and once again will be helping out at Second Harvest Food Bank on July 15. Second Harvest is a private, nonprofit organization that collects and distributes donated food to more than 550 nonprofit partner agencies in six counties. Temple Israel students, as young as 5 years old, and their siblings and parents will help check for damages on d... Full story
The Zionistas are pleased to present as guest speaker Alan Kornman at the next Zionistas meeting to be held Tuesday, July 7 at 7 p.m. Kornman is the regional coordinator of the United West-Uniting Western Civilization for Freedom and Liberty, and frequent contributor to numerous publications including the Heritage Florida Jewish News. He will talk about his high level visit to Israel during the recent elections where he had the opportunity to visit areas not on the usual tourist agenda and met... Full story
Rabbi Allen will conduct Saturday morning Sabbath services at 10 a.m., June 27, with a special Kiddush luncheon following to celebrate the marriage of Beth Sholom President Linda Bork Kost and John Kost. The synagogue is located at 315 North 13th Street in Leesburg, with the entrance on Center Street.... Full story
With the June 30 deadline for a deal with Iran over its nuclear ambitions looming ominously, the Obama administration is having a hard time persuading a skeptical public that these negotiations are going to tame the Tehran regime. On the two critical issues—preventing Iran from weaponizing its nuclear program and rolling back the expansion of Iranian political and military influence throughout the region—all the evidence suggests that the White House is engaged in what Lt. Gen. Michael Flynn, the former head of the U.S. Defense Int... Full story
My grandfather, Abraham Shiplacoff, was a proud Jew. He was a Socialist labor leader in Brooklyn who led the Ladies Garment Workers’ Union into the American Federation of Labor, believing that Jewish workers should have the same rights and protection as everyone else. He went to Palestine in 1930. He saw that even under the British Mandate, there were Jews dedicated to having their own country. When he came back he wrote me a letter about this, even though I was not yet born. When my dad thought I was old enough to understand, he gave me G... Full story
This is what it boils down to: Either relinquish some of our freedom of speech or offend fanatic Muslims who are willing to kill anyone who does not obey the Islamic faith. I am disgusted with the main street media and politically correct politicians for finding fault mainly with the intended victims, and not drawing more attention to the two blood thirsty Muslims who attempted to murder those they disagreed with. Islamic Imams, without a trial, issue verdicts of death to those whom they feel offended their faith or their prophet Muhammad. Thes... Full story
(Kveller via JTA)-It's the No. 1 trending topic on Twitter and currently burning up other social media as well: Rachel Dolezal, who resigned on Monday as president of the Spokane chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People and who teaches African-American studies at Eastern Washington University, has allegedly been passing herself off as black, despite having been born to two white parents. This story struck a particular nerve with me because my oldest son, a high... Full story
Now it’s almost official, having become the subject of a detailed article in The Economist. Barack Obama has produced a New Middle East, but it ain’t the one he intended. Democracy has not blossomed as called for in his Cairo speech of 2009. The new Egyptian government that the American president cheered and supported, is now in the dust. Its president, Mohamed Morsi, is facing a death sentence, imposed by a court under the newer Egyptian government, and hoping for a reprieve to life in prison. The newer ruler, Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, operates in... Full story
The world-famous Louvre art museum stands accused of discriminating against Israeli students, after being exposed by some clever amateur investigative journalism that echoes a 1940s incident involving the father of Israel’s current prime minister. The episode began last month when Prof. Sefy Hendler, who teaches art history at Tel Aviv University, contacted the Louvre’s reservation department to arrange tours for 12 of his students during their trip to Paris in late June. Hendler proposed three different dates that his students would be ava... 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
LOS ANGELES (JTA)-Conflict between Arabs and Jews in the Middle East now appears a permanent condition, but it didn't have to be that way, according to a one-hour PBS special premiering on June 30. "1913: The Seeds of Conflict" traces the relationship between the two Semitic tribes at a time when the Ottoman Empire ruled over what was later designated as Palestine, and then, Israel. The film starts out in 1913, one year before the start of World War I, which led to the defeat of Turkey as an... Full story
Jennie Berg, age 101 ½, of Casselberry, passed away on Saturday, June 13, 2015, at Hospice of the Comforter in Altamonte Springs. Mrs. Berg was born in Detroit, Michigan, on Nov. 14, 1913, one of four daughters, to the late Isaac and Rachel Siegal Ross. She was a high school graduate and was able to attend two years of college before having to leave and help her family during the Depression. She was married to her late husband, Morris Berg, for 60 years when he passed away in 1995. Jennie and Morris were dedicated to their five children,... Full story
William L. “Bill” Salkin, age 59, passed away on Thursday, June 11, 2015, at Derham House Hospice in Cambridge, Mass. Mr. Salkin was born in Bridgeport, Conn., on Oct. 25, 1955, to the late Sidney and Florence Rapoport Salkin. He moved to Orlando from Connecticut with his family in 1957, attending local area schools and graduating from Edgewater High. He later relocated to the Boston area. Mr. Salkin was responsible for creating the organization and utilization method of crash carts used in hospitals and worked for many years at Brigham and... Full story
The "Seeking Kin" column aims to help reunite long-lost relatives and friends. (JTA)-In the mid-1990s, Zvia Mordechai was newly divorced with two sons when Marlene Alvez, then in her early 20s, entered her life. Alvez was a recent immigrant from Buenos Aires, Argentina, who worked with Mordechai at the Niv School for the Deaf in Beersheba, Israel. Despite a disparity in their ages, the two bonded on the job and became friends. Mordechai helped Alvez find an apartment, took her shopping for... Full story
Tuesday mornings have become a busy place for Kinneret residents. In addition to the usual activities going on, now residents can enjoy the new, Delaney Café-a breakfast and lunch event held in the Jessie Render Social Hall and organized by the Kinneret Tenants Association. What started in May as an opportunity for residents to meet and enjoy a cup of coffee has evolved into a breakfast and lunch destination for Kinneret residents. "We recognized that our residents were interested in getting tog... Full story
They have our back? Jolly good!... I read this in this month's World Jewish Congress (WJC) Digest. I found it very interesting... hopefully true... and I pass it along to you: The WJC praised British Prime Minister, DAVID CAMERON, for proposing an additional $4.4 million a year to better protect Jewish institutions in the United Kingdom (UK) against potential terrorist attacks. This is in addition to $10.3 million provided in the budget to fund guards for all Jewish private schools and... Full story
This is Marilyn Levine and her daughter, Lisa Levin. Marilyn moved to Oakmonte Village in Lake Mary within the past year from South Florida to be near her two daughters who both live in the Orlando area. Marilyn is thrilled to be within 20 minutes of each daughter and their families. She has made many new friends at Oakmonte Village and is very happy with her decision to relocate. The Jewish Pavilion is dedicated to helping new residents like Marilyn feel at home wherever they reside. Following... Full story
