Central Florida's Independent Jewish Voice
Central Florida's Independent Jewish Voice
Sorted by date Results 1 - 25 of 32
"Rain or shine, the menorah burns bright! Happy Chanukah night number 1!" said Rabbi Mendy Bronstein when the Chanukah menorah was lit at Winter Park's Central Park as rain gently fell throughout the day.... Full story
"What Macaulay was to the history of the English, Marcia Jo Zerivitz is to the history of Florida Jewry. She has salvaged the records of the past and turned the struggles and successes of the dead into a living, breathing narrative," said Stephen J. Whitfield, professor emeritus of American Studies, Brandeis University. The first comprehensive history of the Jews of Florida from colonial times to the present is a sweeping tapestry of voices. Despite not being officially allowed to live in... Full story
The Orlando Economic Partnership has awarded its James B. Greene award, the highest honor bestowed by the Partnership to a local community leader, Harris Rosen, president and COO of Rosen Hotels & Resorts. The award was presented at the Partnership’s recent annual awards dinner held at the Amway Center in downtown Orlando. The James B. Greene Award, first presented in 1990, recognizes an individual whose work has contributed substantially to the economic prosperity of the region. “Harris Ros... Full story
JERUSALEM, Israel—Experts at the Jerusalem Institute for Strategy and Security, an Israeli foreign affairs and defense think tank with close ties to the Israeli security establishment, believe that in 2020 Iran will escalate its enrichment of uranium and intensify brazen IRGC and Qods force operations against Western and Israeli targets. Israel, they say, must be ready to tackle Iran on its own and fight a pre-emptive warfare with Hizballah. On the other hand, Tehran could agree in the latter half of 2020 to talks with the U.S. on the n... Full story
Jewish Academy of Orlando fifth grade students partnered with Muslim peers from Leadership Preparatory School and Christian peers from Geneva School in a day of learning at JAO. The event is the first of the schools' three-part Multi-faith Education Program that has been in place for 17 years. The students meet at each school to learn about each other's cultures and religions. The Multi-Faith Education Program began when its founder, Louise Franklin Sheehy, worked to foster a climate of peace... Full story
On the second Friday of every month, Debbie Meitin races from one Shabbat service at a Jewish Pavilion assisted-living facility to another. On holidays, she comes prepared with extra stories and Judaic holiday items. All day, she diligently leads services and visits seniors as a volunteer for the Jewish Pavilion and then races home to get ready for her own Shabbat dinner and evening services at Temple Israel. Her combination of warmth, Judaic knowledge and a beautiful singing voice make her the... Full story
On Dec. 8, a crowd gathered in a shopping center on Westmonte Drive to celebrate the opening of Chabad of Altamonte Springs' new facility. Rabbi Sholom Dubov, who with his wife Devorah Leah established Chabad of Greater Orlando in 1985, had the honor of attaching the mezuzah to the seventh location in Orlando. Altamonte Springs City Commissioner Jim Turney also attended the festivities. "Over the last three years, hundreds of local Jews have participated in Shabbat dinner, holiday celebrations,... Full story
WASHINGTON (JTA)—If where you spend your money is the clearest sign of your priorities, Congress seems to be saying that it remains invested in Israeli-Palestinian peace and in robustly supporting Israel’s defense systems. The House of Representatives threw its support this week behind a spending package that restores support for what have long been considered key planks upholding an eventual two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The Senate is expected to likewise approve the bills. The $1.3 trillion spending package inc... Full story
(JTA)—A major German industry family will donate tens of millions of dollars to support Holocaust survivors and former forced laborers in the Nazi era. In addition to one-time donations to the Claims Conference and individual laborers, the Reimann family’s JAB firm has created a foundation designed to distribute 25 million euros ($27.8 million) annually to programs teaching about the Holocaust and democratic values. The announcement comes months after the Reimann family, which is worth at least 20 billion euros (about $22.27 billion), said his... Full story
JERUSALEM (JTA)—The Turkish government has allowed Hamas members to use the country as a safe haven from which to plan attacks against Israelis. The Daily Telegraph cited transcripts of Israeli interrogations of suspected Palestinian terrorists in its report Tuesday. Not only do Hamas members have free rein to travel around the territory of the NATO member and ostensible U.S. ally, the British newspaper said, but that they are in regular contact with representatives of the Turkish intelligence community. According to the report, Ankara has a... Full story
(JNS)—The past week clarified a lot of things about the state of the American Jewish community—and its antagonists. The two assailants who walked into the kosher supermarket in Jersey City on Tuesday and opened fire intentionally targeted Jews. The killers belonged to the black supremacist, virulently anti-Semitic “Black Hebrew Israelite” movement that claims its members are the true children of Israel and the Jews are satanic imposters. The shooting in Jersey City marked a predictable escalation of the anti-Semitic attacks being carried... Full story
The horrific attack at the Jewish market near Newark a few weeks ago was intended to be a massacre of Jewish children in a Jewish Day School next door to the kosher market. Because of some courageous police work the actual scene of the carnage was restricted to a kosher market adjacent to the Jewish Day School, saving the lives of dozens of children, but unfortunately resulting in the loss of life of a policeman pursuing the terrorist and two Jews and an Ecuadorian immigrant store worker in the store. Make no mistake about it. This was an act... Full story
WASHINGTON (JTA)—When I was about 19 years old, I took my first trip to Europe. I marveled at its beauty, its culture, its history and its architecture. On this trip and many others that followed, I shed many tears as I visited the numerous synagogues, Jewish museums and areas of historical importance which commemorated the horrors and evil that were perpetrated upon the Jewish people in so many parts of the continent during the Holocaust. That initial trip to Europe and each of my many subsequent trips—first with friends, then my wife, and... Full story
(JNS)—U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo returned fire on Monday to a large group of House Democrats who lambasted him last month for declaring that Israeli settlements in Judea and Samaria are not illegal. In a letter to Michigan Rep. Andy Levin, who led 106 of his colleagues to sign a joint complaint against what they called the “State Department’s unilateral reversal on the status of settlements, without any clear legal justification,” Pompeo picked apart each false claim lobbed by the likes of “Squad” members Reps. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.),... Full story
(JNS)—As America suffers through an impeachment circus, Great Britain on Dec. 13 acted decisively, voting overwhelmingly for Prime Minister Boris Johnson and his Conservative Party. The impeachment proceedings against President Donald Trump had already given him a political boost (recall that Bill Clinton won a second term after an impeachment process), along with the jitters to some Democrats. The lesson of Johnson’s victory, however, “is screaming right in your face,” said Democratic strategist James Carville. Indeed, Democratic preside... Full story
Dear Editor: I encourage everyone to read the article “ Political left fights Trump’s fight against anti-Semitism.” Next I ask you to write a letter to President Donald Trump expressing your great appreciation in his signing an executive order requiring federal agencies dealing with allegations of anti-Semitism on campuses to consider the complaints in light of the “working definition of anti-Semitism... by the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance.” Send the letter to: President Donald Trump 1600 Pennsylvania Ave., NW Washingto... 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
The Story of Chanukah reenactment, as told by Nancy Ludin, CEO of the Jewish Pavilion, was a hit at a breakfast with the Maitland Chamber of Commerce. Ludin's unique storytelling style guided the group through the historic event with laughter and enthusiasm. Chamber members enjoyed the presentation and Nancy answered many questions about the holiday. The Chanukah breakfast was hosted by Jewish Pavilion staff and volunteers. The food is a big part of every holiday tradition because it's made... Full story
(JTA)-The 2019 Golden Globe nominees were announced Monday morning, and the film "Marriage Story," written and directed by Noah Baumbach, leads the pack with several nominations. Here are the other Jews and Jewish productions that were nominated: "Marriage Story" The movie is up for best drama film, and Baumbach also scored a nomination for best screenplay. Jewish co-star Scarlett Johansson is nominated for best actress in a drama (her co-star Adam Driver, who isn't Jewish but often plays... Full story
From 14-month-old Liam Osteen, grandson of Michal Osteen, to the oldest resident Jean Dolan, who claims to be 98-1/2 years old, everyone enjoyed the latkes, music by Walter Goldstein, singing and dancing at the Kinneret Chanukah party. Residents and party volunteers danced the hora winding through the crowd, stopping to dance at the tables and led the groups in song. Three Jewish organizations joined together so seniors could continue to celebrate a Jewish holiday. These included Nancy Ludin,... Full story
Critics have long called out “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel” co-creator Amy Sherman-Palladino for the lack of diversity in her shows about pushy, fast-talking white ladies. This outcry probably motivated Sherman-Palladino to set “Maisel” in the 1950s, when its sheer whiteness could be blamed on historical accuracy. Still, I went into “Maisel” two years ago excited to see a gorgeous, prestige show with a female Jewish lead, even if the casting and reliance on broad Jewish stereotypes were not id... Full story
Through the Jewish Pavilion planning, the kindergartners from The Jewish Academy of Orlando delighted the seniors at Savannah Court singing Chanukah songs. They presented the seniors with handmade cards and plenty of kisses (Hershey's that is). "This is always one of my favorite events," stated Julie Levitt, program director of the Jewish Pavilion, who orchestrated this meeting. "The interaction between these generations is so heart warming. Both the residents and the children get such joy, and... Full story
OH NO! HERE WE GO AGAIN! ... The following is part of a letter sent to Hillel from a parent: "I never thought I would have to write anything like this. When you send your child off to college, you expect to worry about the regular things, like whether he or she will find good friends or succeed in class. You shouldn't have to worry about whether other students might hate Jews. My son is proud of his Judaism, a feeling we worked to instill in him from an early age. He enjoyed his time at Hebrew... Full story
CHICAGO (JTA)-Josh Nelson sat onstage in front of 5,000 people, accompanied by eight other musicians and perched next to a ginormous video screen bearing the words to one of Judaism's central prayers, the Shema. It was the largest Shabbat service in America and the apex of the Reform Jewish movement's biennial conference, which ended here on Sunday morning. The service had a vibe that was half Jewish rock concert, half revival tent. Thousands of worshippers sat in cushioned chairs while... Full story
Stories from the Orlando Senior Help Desk Celeste Thomas was having a wonderful conversation at the Chamber of Commerce breakfast when her phone rang. Her mother's caregiver was going out of town for the holidays and she needed to find a replacement quickly. The caregiver also informed her she would not be continuing this assignment after the first of the year. You could see Thomas's mood change immediately. She had six days to find a holiday replacement and then start looking for a permanent ca... Full story
