Central Florida's Independent Jewish Voice
Central Florida's Independent Jewish Voice
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Last Thursday evening approximately 600 Jews and Christians stood together to show their support for Israel at the Standing With Israel event held at the Orlando Sheraton North in Maitland. Sponsored by Steve Strang, CEO of Christian publishing company Charisma Media, and promoted by Michal Osteen of the Jewish community, the evening opened with prayer by Rabbi Geoffrey Spector of Congregation Ohev Shalom, followed by the singing of Hatikva and the National Anthem. Paul Wilbur, a well-known...
(JNS) - A world-first event took place at Rabin Medical Center's Beilinson Hospital in Petach Tikvah, where a woman suffering from severe intestinal inflammation caused by Crohn's disease underwent a life saving, minimally invasive robotic bowel resection in her 32nd week of pregnancy. The complex surgery, which lasted several hours and involved dozens of medical staff, was completed successfully, allowing her to carry the pregnancy to term and give birth to a healthy baby girl. Tzofiya...
New York Rep. Elise Stefanik announced a run for governor Friday, as the Republican seeks to leverage her elevated profile as a vocal supporter of the Jewish community to a role in higher office. She aims to challenge the Democratic incumbent Kathy Hochul, who angered many Jews in New York with her endorsement of New York City's mayor-elect, Zohran Mamdani, despite his track record of Israel criticism. In an announcement video for Stefanik's gubernatorial run, a narrator notes that she "fought...
(JNS) - Israeli actress Gal Gadot, best known for portraying Wonder Woman, was named on Tuesday as the winner of the 2026 Genesis Prize, often called the "Jewish Nobel." "I am a proud Jew and a proud Israeli. I love my country and dedicate this award to the organizations who will help Israel heal and to those incredible people who serve on the front lines of compassion," Gadot said. "Israel has endured unimaginable pain. Now we must begin to heal-to rebuild hearts, families and communities." The...
(Altamonte Springs, Florida) Jewish Pavilion Senior Services will be hosting its Annual JP Connections event on Thursday, Dec. 4, in the ballroom at the Hilton Orlando/Altamonte Springs at 11a.m. This is a one-of-a-kind gourmet luncheon event and holiday shopping bazaar with an array of vendors and raffle prizes. All proceeds raised through ticket sales, raffle entries, and sponsorships benefit Jewish Pavilion Senior Services and its mission to bring joy and Jewish culture to residents of local...
Orlando Ballet performance On Nov. 23, at 2 p.m., the Orlando Ballet and Arts at the J present Orlando Ballet School at the Pargh Event Center. Attendees will experience the artistry, energy, and technical brilliance of these rising talents in a 60-minute performance featuring beloved works such as Carnival of the Animals, Paquita Pas de Trois, Flower Festival in Genzano, Don Quixote Pas de Deux, Gaîté Parisienne, and more. Following the performance, guests are invited to stay for an exclusive “talkback” session with the dancers—an opportu...
In an email from Rabbi Mendy Bronstein of Chabad of Altamonte Springs, he informed Heritage that their synagogue is not listed among the services times on page 6. We apologize for this oversight. "Join us every Friday evening for a warm, traditional, and joyous Kabbalat Shabbat!" Bronstein said. Services begin at 6 p.m. during the winter and 7 p.m. during the summer (5:30 p.m. during November–December). Services every Shabbat begin at 9:30 a.m. "A spirited and easy-to-follow Davening in a w...
A coalition of progressive Jewish organizations is condemning the Anti-Defamation League for what it calls “Islamophobic and racist” attacks on New York City mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani. In a statement released Tuesday, the groups criticized the ADL’s creation of a “Mamdani Monitor” to track policies and personnel appointments that the ADL views as threatening Jewish security. The signatories — including New York Jewish Agenda, Bend the Arc: Jewish Action, IfNotNow, J Street NYC, Jews for Racial & Economic Justice and T’ruah: The Rabbinic Call...
(JNS) — Israel’s flagship carrier, El Al, posted another record quarterly profit on Tuesday, continuing to benefit from strong demand and raking in historic returns as major foreign airlines resumed flights to Israel amid a lull in the war against Hamas in Gaza. The airline, which operated almost continuously throughout the war, reported earnings of $203 million between July and September—an 8 percent increase from $187 million during the same period a year earlier. Revenue rose more than 7 percent to $1.07 billion, up from $1 billion in the c...
(JNS) — One of the anti-Israel founders of the ice cream company Ben & Jerry’s is striking out on his own over a politically charged frozen treat. Ben Cohen announced on Tuesday that he is making a watermelon-flavored sorbet with a theme of “peace in Palestine.” He said that parent company Unilever and its ice cream spinoff, Magnum, “stopped Ben & Jerry’s from creating a flavor for Palestine.” “I’m doing what they couldn’t,” Cohen said, sharing a video of himself crushing watermelons into juice. “I’m making a watermelon-flavored ice c...
(JNS) — A 5.1-magnitude earthquake centered in Cyprus’s Paphos region was felt in northern Israel on Wednesday, the Geological Survey of Israel reported. Israelis in Haifa, Tiberias, Nazareth and other northern towns reported feeling the tremor, but no injuries or damage were reported, Ynet reported. In September 2023, following a tremor that killed more than 2,000 people in Morocco, Israeli State Comptroller Matanyahu Englman said the country had failed to prepare for a major earthquake. Englman’s warning came after a report found that 93 pe...
(JNS) — The Israel Defense Forces confirmed to JNS on Wednesday that it is building a barrier at the Israel-Lebanon border and that the security wall is entirely on the Israel side, countering Arab media reports that the work is being carried out beyond the Blue Line. “Contrary to Lebanese reports, the barrier in question is located within Israeli territory and does not cross into Lebanese territory,” the IDF said. The Hezbollah-affiliated Al Manar network had earlier reported that the IDF was building a new fence opposite the village of Yarou...
(JNS) — “Start spreading the news. I’m leaving today . . .” Oh, sorry for the lyrical misdirection, but this version of the Frank Sinatra standard has the crooner fleeing New York! Hold onto those “vagabond shoes,” after all. Don’t jettison those “little-town blues,” just yet. New York might become the “city that doesn’t sleep” for more redoubtable reasons. A day may come when we might actually not “wake up” at all! Not a valentine, but a requiem for what was once the world’s cosmopolitan wonderland. After this past week’s mayoral election...
(JNS) — For decades, the Heritage Foundation championed honest, intelligent, pro-Israel conservatism. The Zionist Organization of America proudly participated in Heritage’s Project Esther to combat antisemitism. But things at Heritage have changed. In a recent, disgraceful video statement, Heritage Foundation president Kevin Roberts defended, whitewashed and allied with Jew-hating, Israel-basher Tucker Carlson after he said Christian Zionists are “heretics” infected with a “brain virus” and spouted other shocking antisemitic libels, while fawni...
(JNS)— The Council on American-Islamic Relations presents itself as a benign civil-rights organization; however, behind this friendly facade lurks an extremist core. From its inception, CAIR has harbored alarming ties to jihadist groups like Hamas and the Muslim Brotherhood—connections that reveal it as a wolf in sheep’s clothing and a threat to the American way of life. While CAIR denies supporting terrorism and touts its advocacy for Muslim Americans, evidence from courtrooms, investigations and even its own leaders’ words tells a darker...
(JNS) — The post-World War II halcyon days for the American Jewish community in the United States have ended. New York City, which has more Jews within its population than any place on earth outside of Israel, elected its first jihadist mayor. This has nothing whatsoever to do with the fact that Zohran Mamdani is a Muslim. It has everything to do with the very words that have come out of his mouth. Two years ago, Mamdani said, “We have to make clear that when the boot of the NYPD is on your neck, it has been laced by the IDF,” a refer...
As I went on my nightly dog walk with a neighbor couple, the wife who is a dedicated fifth-grade teacher mentioned a troubling new problem at her school. She said the principal had told her of a new trend he was seeing — boys were being reported for threatening another with “I’ll shoot you,” not in play but with a tone that chilled her. It wasn’t roughhousing anymore, she said — it was an echo from somewhere darker. Her husband introduced a term I’d never heard before: stochastic terrorism. He said it described the way inflammatory words from p...
(JNS) — U.S. President Donald Trump has sent a letter to Israeli President Isaac Herzog requesting a full pardon for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in his corruption trial, Herzog’s office said on Wednesday. The letter reads in part, “As the Great State of Israel and the amazing Jewish People move past the terribly difficult times of the last three years, I hereby call on you to fully pardon Benjamin Netanyahu, who has been a formidable and decisive War Time Prime Minister and is now leading Israel into a time of peace, which includes my co...
Thanksgiving has always been our favorite holiday. When we lived in Clifton Park, we celebrated for many years by running the Troy Turkey Trot in the morning and then joining the family for dinner at Larry's cousins' home in Argyle, New York. Our most memorable Thanksgiving was also our saddest. In 1974, two and a half months after we married, Larry's beloved grandmother passed away. Bubbe Rose was the matriarch of Larry's family. Her tiny stature - she was under five feet and weighed less than...
(JNS) - Voice actor Eli Schiff, 42, and his wife, cartoonist Chari Pere, 40, have spent years building their creative careers. Their latest project has turned their family into castmates. The couple and their children-Jakey, 13; Bailey, 10; and Serina, 6-have voice roles in the animated feature "David" from Angel studies, lending their voices to the biblical story of King David. "It was fun," Pere told JNS. "It definitely helped us build some amazing memories." Schiff's connection to the film...
Navigating the complex world of veterans’ benefits can be overwhelming for seniors and their families. At Jewish Pavilion Senior Services and the Orlando Senior Help Desk, we understand the unique challenges veterans face as they age, and we are here to connect them with trusted resources that offer free, certified support in filing claims and accessing the benefits they have earned. In Brevard County, the Veterans Services Offices provide no-cost assistance for veterans and their eligible surviving family members. These offices are staffed w...
These make an attractive side dish. 1 lb. carrots peeled and cut into sticks or left whole if small 2 T. olive oil 2 T. honey 1 T. Dijon mustard 1 tsp. fresh lemon juice 1 tsp. garlic powder Salt and pepper 1 tsp. Fresh thyme and parsley chopped for garnish Heat oven to 425 F. Line a baking sheet with parchment. Toss carrots with olive oil, honey, Dijon, salt and pepper and coat carrots. Roast carrots in one layer for 20-25 minutes flipping them halfway through. They should be tender and...
ROSWELL, New Mexico - If it weren't for an Ashkenazi Jew named Stanton T. Friedman, the world might have long ago forgotten what's come to be known simply as the "Roswell incident." Instead, countless books, documentaries and made-for-TV dramas have explored the 1947 discovery of mysterious materials found on a New Mexico ranch that Friedman argued were the relics of extraterrestrials. A wave of successors, including a prominent Israeli-American physicist, continue to press the case for alien...
The ethnic cleansing mob outside Villa Park football stadium, Birmingham It was never about Israeli football fans. It was always about Muslim Jew-hatred. And last night in Birmingham, we saw that in Britain it’s Islam that now controls the streets. A Muslim mob presenting a serious threat of violence and disorder was allowed to stage a thuggish display of hatred of Jews, incitement against them and intimidation. The mob swarmed the area around the Villa Park stadium where Aston Villa was playing Maccabi Tel Aviv. The Maccabi away-fans had b...
