Heritage Florida Jewish News - Central Florida's Independent Jewish Voice

Last April, a mezzuzah on a door was destroyed and swastikas were discovered carved into the walls of an off-campus apartment complex where UCF students were living. On Nov. 15, anti-Semitic stickers were found on a newsstand by Tower Four on...

JNS.org—Ezra Schwartz, an 18-year-old American yeshiva student from Massachusetts, was among the three people killed in a Palestinian terror attack in Gush Etzion on Thursday, Nov. 19. Schwartz was riding in a van with five of his friends from...

The Orlando Chapter of Hadassah presents its annual Chanukah celebration on Tuesday, Dec. 1, at 11:30 a.m. at Congregation Ohev Shalom. The festivities feature the musical talents of “The Piano Lady” Carol Stein and Cantor Jackie Rawiszer, who wi...

The Rosen JCC, located at 11184 S. Apopka-Vineland Road, will resonate with Cracks! and Bams! at its inaugural Mah Jongg Tournament on Sunday, Dec. 13. It will feature a traditional format Mah Jongg tournament with four rounds of play, prizes, and a...

One of the most memorable scenes in the 2010 film “Four Lions,” a dark British comedy about a group of the most incompetent jihadis imaginable, takes place as the aspiring martyrs climb into a van for the long nighttime drive down to London,...

Clearly in 2015, in Israel, there has been a noticeable increase in violent attacks on civilians by Muslims. In Israel, almost every day, there are reports of attempts to murder Israelis. On Oct. 3 two Israeli men were stabbed, in Jerusalem, and kil...

In 1948 I was in high school. Okay, now you have a pretty good idea of how long I’ve been around. Point is—I was in a high school of 1500 kids, of whom about 12 were Jews. When the State of Israel declared its independence, let’s just say there...

“This is an act of war,” French President François Hollande proclaimed after convening his security cabinet on Saturday. Hollande said the Islamic State terror group was responsible for Friday night’s appalling series of terrorist attacks, in...

(JTA)—The international outrage over the barbaric terrorist attacks in Paris is absolutely on target. But the absence of an outcry over the weeks of attacks against Jews in Israel—stabbings, shootings and car rammings are among the most common...

Dear Editor: My name is Rachel Huss, and I grew up in a Jewish community. Having gone to a Jewish school and having been surrounded by Jews my entire life, I never experienced any form of anti-Semitism firsthand. My name is Tamara Zishuk and I grew...

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...

Rabbi Karen Allen of Congregation Beth Sholom in Leesburg will lead a Shabbat service on Saturday morning, Nov.28 at 7 p.m. A light Kiddush will follow the service. The synagogue is located at 315 N. 13th Street in Leesburg, with the entrance on...

Barbara H. Elkes, PhD, age 64, passed away at her residence in Lake Mary on Saturday, Nov. 14, 2015. Born in Lakewood, New Jersey, on May 9, 1951, she was the daughter of the late Edward and Elona Friedman Halpren. Barbara graduated from Lakewood...

Anne Gobey, age 100 1/2, passed away on Nov. 16, 2015, at Vitas Hospice in Maitland. Born May 11, 1915, in New York City, Anne married David Shouel and had two children. After David’s sudden death at age 47, Anne moved to West Palm Beach, Fla.,...

Hadassah of Williamsburg is having a general membership meeting on Wednesday, Dec. 16 at 1 p.m. at Parkview Pointe Clubhouse, 5650 Parkview Pointe Drive, Orlando. The children of the Orlando Torah Academy will entertain with a delightful Chanukah...