Central Florida's Independent Jewish Voice
Central Florida's Independent Jewish Voice
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The Orlando Chapter of Hadassah is hosting a Purim luncheon for the March meeting, to be held March 3 at 11:30 a.m. The theme is The Two Faces of Vashti. Jewish educator and life member of Hadassah, Janet Friedman will unmask Esther and Vashti at the luncheon. She is well known for offering engaging classes and programs on a wide variety of topics. Friedman retired from a career in information technology with NASA and also completed 38 years with Disney. Registration is required. General admission is $25, which includes lunch. Please note,...
Learn about the newest technology that decodes history and discover the heritage of those who sailed to the New World as The St. Augustine Jewish Historical Society, in collaboration with Dr. Roger Martinez-Davila, present Dr. Martinez-Davila’s discoveries to the public about St. Augustine’s secret settlers. The title of the program is The Forbidden Voyagers of 1565: Escaping the Inquisition on Wednesday, March 4 at 4 p.m. Dr. Martinex-Davila is a professor of history at the University of Colorado. He is a specialist in the complex social net...
Members of the Central Florida Jewish community will gather later this month to celebrate a milestone 16 years in the making. On Sunday, Feb. 22, Temple Israel of Winter Springs will honor Rabbi Joshua Neely’s “sweet 16” — commemorating his 16 years of service to the congregation and his many contributions across the region. The celebration, set to begin at 5 p.m. in the Roth Social Hall, will feature an evening of food, music, and memories. Guests will enjoy catered appetizers, dinner, and drinks as well as live entertainment, a photo booth, a...
Chabad of North Orlando and Chabad of Downtown are presenting a Purim at the circus party at the Orlando Science Center, 777 E. Princeton St., Orlando, on March 3 at 5:15 p.m. There will be a Megillah with slideshow in the theater, Purim crafts, music, a dinner, and incredible circus show and dancing. There is no cost. Please RSVP by Feb. 25 to JewishNorthOrlando.com/circus...
Workshop Series, Session 1 — On Feb. 22, noon – 1 p.m., The Holocaust Center will host “Democracy ofn the Edge: The Weimar Republic and the Fragility of Freedom.” This series will examine how the Weimar Republic’s struggles revealed the vulnerabilities of democratic systems. The one-hour lecture will explore the political, social and economic pressures that undermined freedom in Germany between the world wars, and the lessons that remain relevant today....
The University Club of Winter Park has on display several paintings by local resident Sandi Solomon. In addition to the enjoyment of painting, which she has been doing for much of her life, Solomon is a former Casselberry City commissioner and was an avid tennis player. Solomon’s artwork will be on display through the end of the month. The University Club is located at 841 N. Park Ave. in Winter Park. Open hours are 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. Because there are several activities going on throughout the day, it is preferred that you call to arrange the...
“Justice, Justice, Shall You Pursue” — Sherri DeWitt, attorney and professor of Law, will introduce the eight current and former Jewish Justices of the U.S. Supreme Court on Feb. 3, 11:30 a.m., at Congregation Ohev Shalom, 613 Concourse Pkwy, in Maitland. She will discuss who they are, what significant legal edcisions they made, and how their tenure impacted American society. DeWitt currently teaches at Barry University School of Law. Both a parent and Bubbe, she enjoys visiting her grandchildren and global travel with her husband. Gener...
Susan Livingstone will be honored at the annual luncheon, named for Bunny Rosen. The catered luncheon will be held Sunday, March 22 at an Altamonte Springs hotel (address will be provided upon registration), 11 a.m. Indicate: Fish, Pasta, or Vegetarian, and any food allergy or restriction, as well as seating preference. Fashions by Emz on 5th, Mt. Dora will be shown at the fashion show. The cost is Early Bird until March 3, $58; after March 3, $65; Children, $25. Registration online ends March 17, 2026. Reserve your place at...
The Holocaust Center is presenting “Stories We Were Never Told,” visualizing the Holocaust in Bulgaria and beyond, from Jan. 22 through July 10, 2026. For many years the story of the Holocaust in Bulgaria was overshadowed and manipulated by political and economic interests. A myth arose: There was no Holocaust in Bulgaria! The story of the Jewish people who lived and survived these times has never been told. Stories We Were Never Told bridges the gap between recorded testimony and the limited visual documentation of Holocaust events, con...
The Holocaust Memorial Resource and Education Center invites the community to join together to mark the anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau. Presented in partnership with The National WWII Museum, this program centers on what Allied liberators encountered when they entered Nazi concentration camps at the end of World War II. The featured guest speaker is Michael S. Bell, PhD., executive director of the Institute for the Study of War and Democracy at The National WWII Museum. The program will explore how soldiers first...
Temple Israel is offering a new, half-day camp running June 1-5 from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. It will be packed with traditional camp activities and hands-on fun for kids entering kindergarten through fifth grade, all through the lens of Judaism and Israeli culture. Groups will be grades K-1, 2-3, and 4-5, with a minimum of six kids per group. If less than six children per age group register, we will contact you to see if you would prefer your child join another age group or retract their registration. Activities include cooking, scavenger hunts, arts &...
Film producer Gloria Z. Greenfield will be present at the screening of “A Collective Descent into Evil” at Congregation Ohev Shalom on Jan. 29. In this film top scholars, analysts and journalists uncover the ideologies and strategies driving the barbaric enemies of Jews and Israel and Western civilization. They clarify what is at stake and what must be done to defeat these evil forces. Greenfield is known for five previous documentary films, “The Case for Israel,” “The Fight of Our Lives: Defeating the ideological War Against the West,” “U...
The morning of Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2026, promises to sparkle with style and purpose as the Jewish Pavilion Senior Services hosts its highly anticipated annual Fashion Show at Dillard's in Altamonte Mall. More than 200 women are expected to gather for this signature fundraiser that blends elegance with compassion, all in support of seniors living in long-term care. This year's event will proudly honor Samantha Taylor, who leads the marketing and publicity efforts for Jewish Pavilion Senior...
Learn of the practical questions asked of rabbis across Jewish history. Chabad’s in the community are offering an in-person, six-week class on Captivating Cases in Rabbinic Responsa. The classes are: Lesson 1 — The People Who Asked the Questions. Explore five stories from Barcelona, 1300; Algiers, 1450; Modena, 1530; Spain, 1450; and Auchwitz, 1944. Lesson 2 — The Quest for Facts. Do sages make assumptions about how reality works or do they investigate the facts? Lesson 3 — How the Torah Stays Relevant. See inside the process that enables...
On Sunday, Feb. 22, Temple Israel will celebrate Rabbi Joshua Neely’s sweet 16! That’s 16 years of service to the congregation and in the Central Florida community. The festivities will begin in the Roth Social Hall at 5 p.m. and include catered appetizers, dinner, and drinks, as well as music, a photo booth, a slideshow of memories, and more surprises. Free babysitting, dinner, and activities will be provided for children 12 and under while adults enjoy the event until 9:30 p.m. Rabbi Neely is Temple Israel’s longest-serving rabbi and among...
It’s Mah jong madness The annual Maj Madness tournament will be held Jan. 25 at the JCC. Check in, breakfast starts at 915 a.m. and play starts at 10 a.m. The cost is $48, members; and $53, nonmembers. For questions, call Dale Perreault, 407-808-9660 or Julie Bain, 407-492-9890. Author Meet & Greet On Thursday, Jan. 29 at 6:30 p.m., Shalom Orlando will host an Author Meet & Greet, introducing Steven Eichenblatt, author of “Pretend They are Dead: A father’s search for the truth,” and J. Joaquin Fraxedas, author of “Child of the Cloud Forest....
Congregation of Ohev Shalom will host a screening of “A Collective Descent into Evil”, sponsored by ZOA Florida., on Jan. 29, at 7 p.m. This film, by Gloria Z. Greenfield, uncovers the ideologies and strategies driving the barbaric enemies of Jews and Israel, as well as Western civilization. After the viewing, there will be a discussion with the writer and director of the film. Ticket prices are $18 and can be purchased at www.zoa.org/events. COS is located at 613 Concourse Pkwy, Maitland. For more information, contact Allison Zur at azu...
Jewish Pavilion Grief Support Group will once again offer a 5-week Griff Support Group beginning Feb. 26 and continuing through March 26, every Thurday, 10:30 a.m. – noon. Led by Vanessa Stein, LCSW, the meetings will be held at Congregation Ohev Shalom, 613 Concourse Pkwy in Maitland. Please RSVP to the Jewish Pavilion at VanessaStein@jewishpavilion.org or call 407-678-9363....
On Sunday, Jan. 25, 2026, Congregation Ohev Shalom will host Boaz Dvir, Israeli author and filmmaker. The event will feature discussion by the author of the book “Saving Israel” and viewing of the film “Interceptor.” The evening includes book signing and a dessert reception, and runs from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Boaz Dvir is an Israeli-American journalist, a documentary filmmaker, an associate professor of journalism at Penn State University, and the founding director of the Holocaust, Genocide and Human Rights Education Initiative. As an award-w...
Come create something beautiful and spend time connecting with friends — old and new! Join Chabad’s Women’s Circle for a special Jewelry Making Night, a relaxed and inspiring evening of friendship, creativity, and meaningful Torah perspective. Hosted by Heather Polonsky, the event will be held Monday, Jan. 12, 7:30 p.m. The cost is $35 per person RSVP: JewishOrlando.com/womensnight....
The Holocaust Center is opening its new permanent exhibit on Jan. 18, 2026, titled Hope & Humanity. Visitors to the Center will explore the stories of those who stood against injustice through acts of courage, dignity and resilience. Also, hear the lived experiences of local Jewish survivors, remembered not as numbers, but as individuals with families, dreams and hopes. The exhibit is free to the public. This is a timed entry event and reservations are required. Go to hmrec.org/tickets to make reservations....
Guest speaker Judy Mann, Hadassah Medical Organization National Chair, will talk about “Healing the World, One Innovation at a Time” at the first Orlando Chapter luncheon of the year on Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2026, 11:30 a.m. Mann will share groundbreaking updates about Hadassah’s medical institutions which have just been recognized in Newsweek’s 2026 list of “World’s Best Specialized and Smart Hospitals.” General admission is $25 and includes lunch. Reserve your place at orlandohadassah.org....
The Temple Israel Sisterhood is putting a creative twist on community giving this winter with its upcoming Puzzle Swap Event, designed to bring neighbors together while supporting a meaningful cause. The Sisterhood is currently collecting gently used puzzles, which can be dropped off at the Temple Israel office, located at 50 S. Moss Road in Winter Springs. The donated puzzles will make their way to the Swap, set for Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. During the event, adults can fill a bag with puzzles for just $5, while children...
On Oct. 7, 2023, families across Israel were shattered in ways no words can fully capture. Parents kissed their children goodbye and never saw them come home. And yet, in the deepest darkness, some have made an impossible choice: not only to survive, but to build. This January, at the 10th National IAC Summit held in Hollywood, Fla., the Jewish community will hear directly from bereaved parents who are transforming their personal loss into a mission for Israel’s future. Speakers will include Rabbi Doron Perez, father of Capt. Daniel Perez z...
There is no reason to sit at home during Chanukah! Celebrations will be held all over town, beginning on Dec. 7 and going through Dec. 21! Here is a list of some of the gatherings: Rosen JCC Celebrate the second annual Community Hanukkah Fest at the Rosen JCC, 11184 S. Apopka Vineland Rd., Orlando, on Sunday, Dec. 7 from 1 p.m. – 4 p.m. The day’s events include latkes, doughnuts, food trucks, arts and crafts, music, a mobile game truck, a rock wall and more. This event is sponsored by The Pargh Foundation, with support from IAC Keshet Isr...
