Central Florida's Independent Jewish Voice
Central Florida's Independent Jewish Voice
Sorted by date Results 2201 - 2225 of 4419
(JTA)-Gal Gadot is close to a deal to star in a limited series about Hedy Lamarr, the film actress who also was an inventor. The Israeli star of the 2017 megahit "Wonder Woman" also will executive produce the limited series, reportedly for Showtime, with her husband and producing partner Yaron Varsano, according to Variety. Lamarr, a Jewish native of Austria, was credited with creating a prototype for a frequency-hopping signal during World War II that could help the Allies disrupt... Full story
(JTA)-Despite a career of more than two decades kvetching incessantly about life's absurd little annoyances, comedian and actor Orny Adams insists he's an optimist who's always been an early riser, eager to tackle anything that confronts him. "When I wake up," he says, "I find myself to be a very happy person, excited for the day. I love to forge ahead; I love a challenge." After a perfectly timed pause he adds, "And by 2 p.m., I just want to curl up and get into a fetal position." Adams truly... Full story
TEANECK, N.J. (JTA)-For many Americans, no hamburger is complete without cheese. Whether a slice of no-fuss American or something fancier, the cheese melds the beef patty with the bun into umami-laden perfection. Until now, the cheeseburger was the stuff of daydreams for Jews observing kosher dietary laws that prohibit the mixing of meat and dairy. Sure, there are vegetarian meat substitutes and fake cheeses-made from ingredients such as black beans and brown rice, cashew nuts and soy-but the... Full story
Praise for Israel... I read this recently in a copy of the World Jewish Congress (WJC) digest and pass it along: "Speaking at a meeting organized by the Israel Council on Foreign Relations,which operates under the auspices of the WJC, Bulgarian President RUMEN RADEV noted that the Jewish community of Bulgaria remains an integral part of the country's society. He also stressed that Israel and Bulgaria "now enjoy better relations than ever." The event came at the end of Radev's official visit to... Full story
NEW YORK (JTA)-Cantor Philip Sherman gives me a call after having finished two circumcisions before noon on Tuesday. That's a light day, he explains. On Thursday, he will be performing circumcisions for four baby boys; on Friday, he'll do five. Sherman, 62, is a mohel (in fact he was featured as one of "America's Top Mohels" in a 2014 JTA article) and has performed over 20,000 circumcisions, both for Jewish and non-Jewish families. But in between performing multiple circumcisions a day and... Full story
(The Nosher via JTA)-There's nothing more comforting than a slice of babka and a glass of milk to break a long fast on. In my family, it's pretty much all we eat. But I don't always make babka, and I do always make challah, especially during the High Holidays season. So, for convenience, I started setting aside one portion of my challah dough, rolling it out like babka and filling it with chocolate, creating a babka-challah hybrid. It saves me time, tastes delicious and since my challah dough... Full story
By Josefin Dolsten NEW YORK (JTA)-The National Yiddish Theatre Folksbiene's new production of "Fiddler on the Roof" enacts a familiar story in an unfamiliar language. The actors sing about joy and hardship, and argue about the importance of tradition, in the language their characters would have spoken in the Old Country. But before rehearsals started in June, the majority of them had no experience with the language. Of the 26 cast members, only three spoke Yiddish fluently. Another nine had... Full story
Life goes on... Today, Aug. 3, would have been Irv's and my 58th wedding anniversary. He passed on Aug. 20, 2015, after marking 55 years of marriage, and being blessed with three wonderful sons. When we took our marriage vows back in Brooklyn, N.Y., in 1960, "Till death do us part," we really didn't focus on those words. But, life goes on. Justice finally... I read this in the World Jewish Congress (WJC) digest and pass it along: "World Jewish Congress President Ambassador Ronald S. Lauder... Full story
(Kveller via JTA)—It’s possible you haven’t yet heard about RIE, the hottest new parenting trend, but trust us: You will. RIE is an acronym for Resources for Infant Educarers (and, no, that’s not a typo). It’s a parenting philosophy that has recently gained traction, thanks to endorsements from celebrities such as Tobey Maguire, Jamie Lee Curtis and Hank Azaria. Vanity Fair and the New York Post have featured articles on the method, as if you need further proof that RIE has “arrived,” and a new parenting center that’s focused on the philosop... Full story
This one-pot paprika chicken is a take on my mom's memorable paprika chicken recipe. I have very fond memories of cleaning the whole bird and then rubbing it down with loads of paprika for weeknight dinners. The spice gives a deep rich color and imparts a delicious smoky flavor. This is my updated and modernized variation of mom's simple recipe made into an easy one-pan meal. Oh, and find yourself some Castelvetrano olives-they are buttery with a bit of brine and are so addictive. Tip: If you can't find the specified olives, substitute with... Full story
(The Nosher via JTA)-From bulbous and egg-shaped to small and thin, the eggplant (or if you're British like me, the aubergine) is a staple fruit within Sephardic Jewish cooking. Originating in India or perhaps even China, eggplant seeds are thought to have traveled along the Silk Road into the hands of Jews and Arabs as early as the 18th century. From there, eggplant has been used so often in Jewish cooking that some refer to it as the "Jewish apple." Eggplant is now enjoying a wonderful... Full story
(JTA)-In the quiet opening of "Naharin's Virus," an hour-long dance piece by the famed Israeli choreographer Ohed Naharin, an onstage narrator tells you what the evening won't be about. You the audience will not receive its due. Your curiosity will not be satisfied. You won't agree on the meaning of what you are about to see. OK, fair enough. You don't go to modern dance for the plot, at least not in the conventional sense. You go for the pleasure of seeing bodies in motion, to see how the dance... Full story
CHICAGO (JTA)-This city's kosher restaurant scene has long lagged behind other metropolises like New York and Los Angeles-but changes might be coming. A bold forthcoming restaurant, an authentic taqueria and reports that two established neighborhood eateries are looking to change hands are raising hope for kosher diners who want more options and fresh new flavors. Chef Laura Frankel, who brought fine kosher dining to Chicago when she opened the upscale restaurant Shallots in 1999, is planning to... Full story
On Aug. 12, 1952, 13 Soviet Jews convicted of espionage and treason were executed in Moscow's Lubianika Prison. Their confessions had been extracted by torture. This group, known as "the Martyrs of the Soviet Union," included actor Benjamin Zuskin, poets Itzik Feffer and Peretz Markish, children's author Leib Kweitko, and other leading intellectuals. The story began with the Jewish Anti-Fascist Committee, founded in 1942 to develop ties with American Jewry as part of the Soviet struggle against... Full story
“In Judaism, prophets were considered visionary not because they predicted the future, but because they saw possibilities. Roz has always been someone with the ability to both see possibilities and then take that all-important step and make them happen,” said David Bornstein of his cousin Roz Fuchs, this year’s recipient of the Heritage Human Service Award. From an array of multi-colored glass vases arranged neatly on a bookcase to the artwork on the walls and the simple arrangement of chairs and couches all brought together by a 1920... Full story
On July 20, 1969, American astronaut Neil Armstrong made history by becoming the first person to set foot on the moon. His timeless and famous remark at the time, “That’s one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind,” will go down as one of the most iconic phrases of all time. Yet, when Armstrong visited Israel in 1994 he was brought to a place in the Old City of Jerusalem and asked Meir Ben Dov, his host and noted archeologist, if Jesus himself actually would have walked there. “I told him, ‘Look, Jesus was a Jew,’” recalled Ben-... Full story
(The Nosher via JTA)-Harissa is a spicy, rich-flavored North African chili paste and it is one of my favorite condiments to use in the kitchen. It is traditionally made with roasted red pepper, chiles, garlic, and a mixture of spices, depending on the family and exact origin. You can easily find several varieties in the supermarket (usually in the ethnic foods aisle), but I prefer making my own, in part so I can control the level of spice. A traditional Nicoise salad features baby potatoes,... Full story
The future is here... I am so proud of Israel and all of its fabulous accomplishments. For instance, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev is the epicenter of a talent and technology boom that is transforming the world: The Advanced Technologies Park (ATP) is a public-private partnership with Ben-Gurion University (BGU), the Beer-Sheva municipality and Gav-Yam Negev. Tenants include EMC, Oracle, Deutsche Telekom, Elbit, Jerusalem Venture Partner's Cyberlabs, Hewlett Packard, Allscripts, WeWork, as... Full story
A rare bronze coin dating to the first century and minted during the fourth year of the Great Jewish Revolt against the Romans was recently discovered at the archaeological sifting project at Emek Zurim National Park in Jerusalem. The source of the soil from which the coin was extracted is the City of David National Park in the heart of the Old City. The coin, minted by Jews in the year 69 CE, right before the destruction of the Second Temple a year later, features the words "For the Redemption... Full story
Our favorite hometown magician, Kostya Kimlat, was once again on Penn & Teller’s Fool Us television show on Monday evening, July 16. Did he fool them once again? Kimlat did a card trick that involved catching a selected playing card while the cards are falling down in a cascade that magicians call a “dribble.” He told the Fool Us audience that he has been practicing this trick for 17 years. “It’s the hardest trick I do. And I wanted to do it one time when it mattered most, so that I would never have to do it again,” he said in an email to hi... Full story
(JTA)—“The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel” and Sarah Silverman’s new late-night show earned Emmy nominations on Thursday. “Maisel,” Amazon Studios’ popular series set in a very Jewish 1950s New York neighborhood, was nominated for best comedy series. Rachel Brosnahan, its non-Jewish star, was nominated for best lead actress in a comedy series for her performance as the Jewish housewife-turned-comedian Midge Maisel. Silverman’s “I Love You, America,” in which the Jewish comedian mashes a nontraditional talk show format with videos of her interviewing Am... Full story
"Delaware!" my husband Larry yelled as we drove past a line of parked cars on Galena Street in Frisco, Colorado. "We got Delaware!" In our life, "Getting Delaware" is a big deal. Within the first 10 days of our five-week search for license plates, we had gotten the license plate of the elusive Eastern seaboard state. Could Rhode Island be far behind? Road trip entertainment Today, while heading for their annual family vacation, children sit in the back seats of a SUV watching Toy Story or... Full story
CHICAGO (JTA)—My sister was married on a beautiful summer day many years ago. Those of us in the wedding party took pictures in a garden before the ceremony. As maid of honor, one of my duties was to hold up the train of her dress so it wouldn’t drag through the dirt. But there was a lot of dirt, and the dress was soiled despite my best efforts. She couldn’t see the grime, but her bridesmaids could, so I silently made eyes conveying my distress over the maid-of-honor fail. I can’t keep a secret from my sister. So a minute later, nearly in tear... Full story
NEW YORK (JTA)-For 10 years, Rabbi Dan Ain has tried to take Judaism out of the synagogue. He's convened Friday night prayers in auditoriums with musicians like Matisyahu and Lisa Loeb. He's held Rosh Hashanah services in a bowling alley/concert venue. He scheduled an interview earlier this month at an artisanal coffee shop in Brooklyn and showed up in a T-shirt and backward baseball cap, his long hair spilling out of the sides above his long salt-and-pepper beard. Ain became a rabbi because he... Full story
I've been to this "paradise"... I'm referring to Switzerland, of course. It is truly an inspiring, lovely country. My deceased spouse and I truly enjoyed our visit some years ago and I will never forget it. I recently read this about the Swiss government committing to security of its Jewish community. I pass it along to you: "The Swiss National Council has adopted a motion mandating the government to increase its efforts to protect religious minorities, including the local Jewish community. The... Full story
