Central Florida's Independent Jewish Voice
Central Florida's Independent Jewish Voice
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Jewish Academy of Orlando announced it will be honoring the Bierman and Moreno families at this year's annual gala, titled "Jeans, Jewels, and Jazz" on Saturday, Nov. 1 at the Hilton Orlando/Altamonte Springs, starting at 7:30 p.m. "We take great pleasure in honoring the Bierman and Moreno families," said Alan Rusonik, Head of School. "The Biermans are one of the founding families. They, along, with the Morenos have supported our school for over 36 years." Not only have they supported the... Full story
When Harriett Lake arrives at an event, everyone in the room knows. In her fashionista style, she is (Hello) Dolly Levi, Cher, Lady Gaga and Elton John all rolled into one. From the top of her hat-covered head to the tips of her designer shoe-clad toes, she is always impeccably dressed "to a (second) t"-like her name. In fact, the only thing that tops her fashionable wardrobe is her extremely generous spirit. Both she and her late husband, Hy, have given financially to many Jewish... Full story
Jewish National Fund (JNF) will honor Tess Wise, founder of the Holocaust Memorial Resource and Education Center (HMREC) of Central Florida, with the Guardian of Israel Award at its annual Tree of Life™ Award Dinner at the Rosen Plaza Hotel on Tuesday, Nov. 18 Wise founded HMREC in 1980 and has worked for more than 17 years in a volunteer position as executive director of the Center. She was born in Poland and escaped from a concentration camp in 1943 at the age of 17. She and nine surviving rel... Full story
In honor of the 50th anniversary of the signing of the Civil Rights Act, a number of local organizations are presenting special programming on the history of desegregation in the United States. Ranging from art exhibits to documentary films to musical performances, this anniversary has given Central Florida some unique opportunities to participate in discussions about discrimination. One of the highlights of this educational effort is a special performance of “The Best of Enemies,” a drama based on the real-life experiences of a KKK member and... Full story
JERUSALEM (JTA)-Ralph Goldman, who as a young man helped shepherd the State of Israel into existence and later devoted his professional life to bringing humanitarian relief to Jews across the globe, has died at 100. Goldman, who worked with the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee since 1968-he served twice as its chief executive and still held the title of honorary executive vice president-died Tuesday in Jerusalem, where he had lived for decades. Active in arming and populating... Full story
(JTA)-Most Jews have never heard of, let alone ever met, Ralph I. Goldman. But for countless numbers of us throughout the world, Ralph-a former chief executive of the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee (JDC)- played a role in our freedom, our positive Jewish identity, our dedication to the neediest among us. He was also instrumental in the State of Israel's birth, its growth and success, its cultural and educational institutions, and its strong social fabric. Indeed, he was one of the... Full story
In conjunction with the JCRC's Grits and Bagels Brunch, over the next few weeks, The Heritage is running a series of articles about local Jewish community members who made an impact on the Civil Rights movement. This is the first in the series. While many civic leaders select an organization or a cause to champion, Jerome J. Bornstein (Jerry to his friends) selected many. Known in the Jewish community as a visionary-president of both the Jewish Community Council and Jewish Federation of Greater... Full story
The Jewish Academy of Orlando is opening its award-winning day school for an open house featuring family science night. On Tuesday, Oct. 28 at 6:30 p.m., the Jewish Academy of Orlando will host current and prospective families. The event is designed for families with children ages 5-13 years old. Free babysitting will be available for families with younger children. Families can meet and mingle with the school's distinguished staff and explore the kindergarten through eighth-grade curriculum, in... Full story
The Kinneret Council on Aging will proudly pay tribute to eight individuals over the age of 80 who have made significant contributions to the Jewish and Central Florida community on Sunday, March 1, 2015. “The 8 over 80 event really resonates with our mission of the Kinneret Council on Aging and the inspiring stories we hear about seniors who contribute to our community through leadership, activism, altruism and philanthropy”, said Neal Blaher, president of the board for the Kinneret Council on Aging. “This year we are honoring those who have... Full story
For several decades now, Israel’s enemies have actively and willfully defamed the Jewish state by comparing its actions to the atrocities committed by the worst villains in recent history. We all know about the ludicrous and insulting parallel drawn between Israel and the former apartheid regime in South Africa. It was precisely that parallel that underpinned the notorious U.N. General Assembly resolution of 1975, which has since been rescinded, equating Zionism with racism. And we know, too, of the obscene comparison between Israel and Nazi G... Full story
Relax? Impossible. Too much is threatening. Daesh, whatever that is, is chopping heads and managing to evade the U.S. air campaign (along with a few other participants providing 10 percent of the airstrikes), and imposing its draconian Islam across much of Syria and Iraq. Hamas says that it intends to do throughout Palestine what Daesh is doing in Syria and Iraq. More modest Palestinians are demanding international recognition for something that would shrink and threaten Israel. Sweden’s prime minister and the British Parliament are talking abo... Full story
WASHINGTON (JTA)—Once again the love affair between the Jewish people and higher education is back in full bloom. The start of a new school year, and the Jewish New Year, marked the beginning of robust programming for Jewish college students across the globe. As students dig into their studies, the events in Israel and Gaza this past summer are a hot topic on many campuses. In response, Hillel International, the largest Jewish student organization in the world— its growing network now serves some 550 campuses in North and South America, Eur... Full story
As Yom Kippur sermons go, Martin Indyk’s was a doozy. Speaking at the Adas Israel synagogue in Washington, D.C. on the holiest day of the Jewish year, the former U.S. envoy to the Israeli-Palestinian negotiations accused Israel of showing “total disrespect” for the Obama administration. Indyk said many things in his Yom Kippur address with which one might take issue, but one analogy in particular stands out as especially disturbing. He said that he “discovered” in the most recent round of failed negotiations “that we would crack the whip, b... Full story
WASHINGTON (JTA)— Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas is talking tough. And Israel and the United States don’t seem to mind too much—or else think their best option at this point is to grin and bear it. Abbas used his Sept. 26 speech to the United Nations General Assembly to accuse Israel of racism and genocide. He and his aides again are raising the possibility of seeking U.N. action to sanction Israel. They appear ready to bypass negotiations with Israel in favor of seeking an international declaration of a Palestinian state... Full story
Dear Editor: My grandfather, from Poland, escaped the Nazis and made it onto a boat when he was 13. He arrived in New York City and was looked after by survivors of the Nazis Holocaust and others who denied Jewish people the right of prayer and their religion. He became the president of the First Benevolent Komorower (Association/Organization) in New York. Louis, my grandfather, worked for a clothing manufacturer in New York. For the summer, he built two ‘Bungalow Colonies’ in the Catskills, NY. He also had the first hotel in the Catskills wit... Full story
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, OCTOBER 17 Light Shabba... Full story
Author Brad Herzog will be speaking about his most recent book, "My Mantelpiece: A Memoir of Survival and Social Justice" on Sunday, Nov. 2, at 1 p.m. at the JCC auditorium. This program is brought to the community by the Jewish Community Relations Council of the Jewish Federation of Greater Orlando. "My Mantelpiece" is a memoir co-authored by Brad Herzog and Carolyn Goodman, a civil rights activist and the mother of Andrew Goodman, who along with James Chaney and Michael Schwermer, traveled to... Full story
People all around the country each have their own unique memory of how they felt when thousands of people lost their lives in the acts of terrorism conducted on Sept. 11, 2001. A select few, however, have a strong personal connection with this day because they knew someone who was involved in the tragedy. "My dad was in the tower that day, and I remember it very clearly," said Jared Koreff, a PhD student at the University of Central Florida. "I was in eighth grade, and just the fear of sitting... Full story
My Grandma Gloria was my everything. She was one for the storybooks, conceptualized from a fairytale. She was the salt of this earth and the light in the sky. I firmly believe if angels do exist, she for sure was placed on this earth to be mine. For she always told me that I was hers. From this day forward, a big part of me will be forever missing. But the parts of me that remain are all made of pieces carefully hand-crafted by her. From my earliest memories, she smothered me with love. As I... Full story
My visit to the White House... I know. I know. This is old news already but, as I've said many times before, I am writing my column far in advance... so the White House intruder story only happened within the last few days of this writing. Back to my White House experience: My spouse and I visited "the people's house" (as it is called) in Washington D.C., recently. There were four levels of security on the lawn alone, before ever getting close. By the time we finally got inside, we thought that... Full story
Thirteen teens were selected to be a part of Orlando's J-Serve Teen Task Force 2014-2015. The Teen Task Force is a unique leadership opportunity for Jewish teens in grades eight through 12 to plan the community's annual J-Serve day of teen community service. These teens have a desire to plan and lead their peers through community service, representing all local Jewish youth groups. The team members are: Hannah Fenster (senior at Lake Brantley High School), Jonah Goldberg (junior at Lake Mary... Full story
The Sisterhood of Congregation Ohev Shalom is now accepting applications for vendors and businesses that would like to participate in its second annual holiday boutique slated for Sunday, Nov. 16, from noon to 5 p.m. at the synagogue, 613 Concourse Parkway South in Maitland. The cost is $100 for an 8-foot table or space with your own table. Additional table and/or space is $50. To date, COS Sisterhood has accepted applications from Creations by Jan; Beads, Inc.; Siegel’s on Park Avenue; Mary-Miller-Weiner jewelry and wall plaques; Gay H... Full story
The Jewish Federation of Greater Orlando’s RAISE program (Recognizing Abilities and Inclusion of Special Employees) has been so successful with its first group of employees, that one local business recently hired a RAISE employee, leaving a position open. Positions do not open often and may be filled quickly. RAISE is taking applications. Anyone who is interested may apply online at http://orlandojewishfed.org/inclusion-for-adults-with-special-needs or contact 407.645.5933 ext 236.... Full story
Step into the world of close-up magic this October at the Orlando Magic Mansion. Held from Oct. 27-30, the Orlando Magic Mansion takes place in the majestic, Victorian-inspired manor at The Courtyard at Lake Lucerne, and features mind-boggling illusions and elegant sleight of hand. The performers are the magicians of the Orlando Magic NBA team, See Magic Live, which is owned and operated by master magician Kostya Kimlat, a graduate of the Hebrew Day School of Central Florida (now the Jewish... Full story
By Cnaan Liphshiz THE HAGUE (JTA)-For the tour guides that lead visitors through the Van Ostade Housing Project, Fabrice Schomberg's sukkah is one of the few signs of the neighborhood's Jewish roots. Built in the 19th century for impoverished Jews, the enclave today is surrounded by the largely Muslim neighborhood of Schilderswijk, an area that the Dutch media have taken to calling the "Sharia Triangle," referring to Islamic religious law. Fewer than 10 Jewish residents remain and, aside from Schomberg's sukkah, there are virtually no markers... Full story
