Central Florida's Independent Jewish Voice
Central Florida's Independent Jewish Voice
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On Sunday, Sept. 7, Tayarim Connect kicked off the year with a pool party at the Roth Jewish Community Center of Greater Orlando. Tayarim Connect is a program hosted by the Roth JCC for middle school students. This program, which is overseen by Abby Paulson, Youth and Camp director, brings together children in middle school from around the community for social, Judaic and community service programs. Over 20 middle schoolers attended the pool party, which started off with ice breakers led by...
It was bashert – meant to be – that fateful day when Lori and Moshe Erlich happened upon Rabbi Michael Boyden and his wife as they were taking a walk in their hometown, Hod Hasharon, Israel. Earlier that day, Lori read an article about a synagogue in Raanana the rabbi had raised money to build in memory of his son only to have it snatched from his grasp at the last moment. At that time, Lori promised him if they reached their dream of having a permanent home for a Reform/Conservative con...
This summer, the Jewish community rallied to support Israel in an extraordinary fundraising campaign. The Jewish Federation of Greater Orlando in collaboration with community agencies and synagogues held three events fostering unity and support for Israel. In addition, the Federation launched an Israel Emergency Fund to raise much needed cash for relief efforts. To date the Federation’s Israel Emergency Fund has raised $65,000. At the beginning of this summer’s conflict, the Jewish Federations of North America sprung into action to assist the...
"Bunny Rosen was an irreplaceable friend of the Jewish Pavilion, and it is our honor to walk in her name at the Pavilion's 4th Annual " A Walk in the Park," taking place on Sunday, Oct. 26 at Crane's Roost Park," stated Executive Director Nancy Ludin. "We are grateful to Bunny's family, Melissa and Sandy Masin, for co-sponsoring the event in her memory." Although she has been gone for more than a year, Rosen's legacy lives on throughout Jewish Orlando. The 84-year-old dynamo of volunteerism,...
TORONTO (JTA)-On the fourth floor of the new Canadian Museum for Human Rights, visitors will find a gallery called "Examining the Holocaust," which is devoted entirely to the story and lessons of the Shoah. On the same floor, in a smaller, adjacent space, a gallery called "Breaking the Silence" examines a cluster of five genocides officially recognized by the Canadian government: the Srebrenica massacre in Bosnia; the Armenian and Rwandan genocides; the Holodomor, or the starvation of millions...
NEW YORK (JTA)-The circus is coming to town. No, there won't be marching elephants, lion tamers or motorcycles jumping through rings of fire. But there may be wolves in sheep's clothing, tightrope walking and motorcades blocking traffic. We're talking, of course, about the United Nations General Assembly, held every September at U.N. headquarters in midtown Manhattan. It's an opportunity for presidents and prime ministers to fly into the Big Apple, get their 15 minutes in front of a global...
Just five years ago, if a mom at the Jewish Community Center in South Orlando wanted to visit the office of Early Childhood Director Brenda Sher, she faced the prospect of getting drenched in the rain before she arrived on foot at Sher’s portable. That was then, and this is now. Five years ago, in fall 2009, the JCC opened its new state-of-the-art facility at the Jack & Lee Rosen Southwest Orlando Campus, and the rainy walks parents had made to-and-from portable classrooms since 1994 became forgotten to beautiful, modern, light-filled c...
Jonathan Matusitz, Ph.D associate professor at UCF's Nicholson School of Communication has a new book out titled "Symbolism in Terrorism." On Friday, Oct. 3, 6:30 p.m., he will deliver a presentation on that topic in the Health & Public Affairs 1 building (HPA 1), room 112, located at 12805 Pegasus Drive (close to Parking Lot D). There will be a book signing at the end of the lecture. Books will be available for purchase at a reduced price at the book signing. "Symbolism in Terrorism" defines...
The first-grade students at the Jewish Academy of Orlando are learning about the human body. They are learning about the bones, muscles, heart, lungs, and brain. The students traced and cut out their bodies, which are on display on the bulletin boards outside of the classrooms. As they learn about each part, they cut it out and glue it on their bodies. They will also have guest speakers soon to talk to about their bodies and how to keep them strong and healthy. For more information or to arrange a visit to the school, please contact Alan...
Not all the religious fanatics are Muslims. One can think of candidates under the umbrella of Christianity, but here our concern is Jews. Two cases recently in the headlines provoke shame or something else, depending on one’s sense of responsibility or cynicism. One is a bearded, well-coiffured man whose trial on sexual exploitation and slavery ended after four years of delays. There were guilty verdicts for rape and other varieties of sexual exploitation involving several wives and lots of children, but the court could not find sufficient e...
It cannot be denied or ignored any longer. Islamic terrorists such as ISIS, Boka Harram, Hamas, etc., have declared war on all infidels (non-Muslims) worldwide. I pray that every American man, woman and child finally accept the fact that there are millions of Muslims dedicated to eliminating freedom and taking over the world in the name of Allah. This article presents the preaching of Islamic leaders and actions of their fanatic followers. They make their fanatic obsession very clear. One world. One religion, ruled by Islamic law. My question...
There was a time when Jewish humor ruled. Sometimes it might have been “racy” but never obscene. The great Jewish comics did not have to resort to profanity or description of body parts to get laughs. They told truths about themselves and their people. And it was mostly their people who laughed. The audience was usually live. Television was young and inexperienced. Yes, there was Ed Sullivan and he booked the big names like Myron Cohen and Buddy Hackett. But mostly? It was the Catskill Mountains and hotels like Grossingers, the Concord, Kut...
On the eve of 5775, more than 50 Jewish thought leaders and communal activists from around the country gathered at a retreat near Baltimore last week for 48 hours to talk about whatever was on their mind. Not surprisingly, their frank discussions covered a wide range of themes and interests. But bottom-line, the common thread was a deep concern about Jewish unity—more precisely, the lack of it—over the policies of the State of Israel, and the denominational divides that underscore the dearth of religious and communal leadership at home. As one...
WASHINGTON (JTA) – It was the first Persian Gulf state to establish ties with Israel, the first to welcome Israeli students and the only one to allow direct dialing to Israel. Israeli athletes shine on its courts. Now Qatar is on the outs with Israel because of its embrace of another regional pariah: Hamas. Calls are circulating in the U.S. Congress to isolate Qatar— a state that has polished its pro-Western image in recent years, welcoming in foreign universities, backing the global news channel Al Jazeera and prepping to host the 2022 Wor...
NEW YORK (JTA)—President Obama did not mention Israel or the Palestinians during his address to the nation. But his pledge to lead a U.S.-coordinated effort to destroy ISIS could end up doing more to get Israeli-Palestinian negotiations back on track than anything Secretary of State Kerry and his team managed to produce with their shuttle diplomacy. Reaching a final deal is hard enough when the region is calm. But it becomes significantly more difficult, if not impossible, when Islamic extremism is on the march and U.S. influence is in r...
MORNING AND EVENING MINYANS (Call synagogue to confirm time.) Chabad of South Orlando—Monday and Thursday, 8 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 Israel—Sunday, 9 a.m., 407-647-3055. FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 26 Li...
Sarah Esses of Kissimmee, passed away on Sept. 15, 2014, at Good Samaritan Nursing Center in Kissimmee. She was 93 years old. A native of Aleppo, Syria, she was born on June 15, 1921, to the late Abraham and Becky Kishk and immigrated to the United States with her family at six months of age. In 2004, she relocated to the Orlando area from Miami. Mrs. Esses is survived by her daughter, Bobby Morano of Kissimmee; her granddaughter, Kori Peretz of Davie; and two great-grandchildren. She is also survived by a brother, Morris Kishk of New York. A...
Israel is at war on two fronts. There is the physical battleground of death and destruction that has caused the loss of life and suffering, plus dramatic financial and economic setbacks. Fortunately, however, for the moment there is a cease fire but this may only be temporary. There is a second war that continues to rage that is equally as severe as the physical battles Israel has fought—the psychological public relations war. “How can the true picture of Jews and Israel be shown to the world? How can we make our own people, much less the world...
Five-year old Emma Jacobson handed out percussion instruments and sang with the audience as her grandmother, Gloria Green, played Broadway classics on the piano. Emma is shown here with Judith at Ivy Court, a Brookdale senior care facility. Green is a program director for The Jewish Pavilion. To volunteer for The Jewish Pavilion, call 407-678-9363....
My old fears resurface... I've written about my experiences with anti-Semitism as a young child in Brooklyn, New York, a few times in this column. I would hope that subject is over and done with... but, apparently not... at least not in Europe. According to the American Jewish Congress (AJC): "At a time when 'Death to the Jews' chants can be heard at public gatherings in European capitals, allegedly in protests against Israel, the bold, timely and unambiguous words of the three foreign...
Jewish National Fund’s Women for Israel Society hosted a breakfast at The Alfond Inn in Winter Park on Tuesday, Sept. 9 with guest speaker Noa Gefen of the Society for the Preservation of Israel Historical Sites (SPIHS). Gefen discussed some of the different sites in which JNF is also a partner including Atlit Detention Camp, Ayalon Institute and Ammunition Hill. She also shared with the WFI supporters SPIHS’s vision for over 150 sites they are working to preserve and restore. Shown here are (l-r), Brenda Faiber, Dr. Robin Katzman, Noa Gef...
On Sept. 12-14, over 60 Orlando teens attended BBYO's All-Florida Convention in Palm Beach Gardens. Themed "Leave Your Mark," the convention brought together nearly 300 teens plus advisors, staff, guest educators and alumni for a historic weekend of local Jewish teen engagement. "I couldn't have imagined a more amazing experience, learning from some of the community's most influential leaders and change agents. Now, back in Orlando, I am more inspired than ever to lead my chapter and give back...
The following synagogues provided information about their High Holiday services to the Heritage by press time. For information about services at other local synagogues, contact the individual congregations. Most synagogues require tickets for admission, and their cost varies from congregation to congregation. Some may open one or more of ther holiday services to the community. For tickets or information, contact the individual synagogue. Celebration Jewish Congregation (Reform) Rabbi Dr. Richard M. Cowin Cantorial soloists Dr. Norton and Jane...
Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, and the days in between them mark the season of "teshuva"-which in Hebrew literally means "to return," but in the context of the High Holidays refers to repentance. A unique case of those seeking to return and repent, or "do teshuva," are Jews who become less observant but later decide to return to their roots. Last year's much-debated Pew Research Center survey of U.S. Jews found that 52 percent of Jews raised Orthodox no longer consider themselves to be so. That...
Posters telling women where to walk removed from haredi London neighborhood (JTA)—Posters in English and Yiddish telling women which side of the road they can walk on were removed from a haredi Orthodox neighborhood in London. “Women should please walk along this side of the road only,” read the signs posted in the Stamford Hill area of north London, the Jewish Chronicle reported. The Hackney Council, the local government body, ordered the signs taken down following complaints from residents. They reportedly were removed last Friday. The Shomr...
