Central Florida's Independent Jewish Voice
Central Florida's Independent Jewish Voice
Sorted by date Results 2326 - 2350 of 4386
A meaningful letter... LAWRENCE GROSSMAN, American Jewish Committee's director of publications, wrote this letter a few months ago. I found it very powerful and so I pass it on to you in part: "What happened at the 'Unite the Right' rally on Aug. 12 last year in Charlottesville, Virginia, was both a battle in the longstanding war over Confederate memorials and, more broadly, the latest episode in the blood-soaked, centuries-old history of racism in America. But for baby-boomer Jews like me, the... Full story
NEW YORK (JTA)-She was young, Jewish and the founder of a nonprofit organization that aids deprived children in Southeast Asia. He was a potential funder more than twice her age, promising donations and introductions to influential people. "He dangled a lot of carrots," she said in retrospect. But the fundraiser, who spoke on condition she not be named for fear of jeopardizing future professional prospects, received no donations from the man who promised so much. Instead he stroked her thigh, pr... Full story
NEW YORK (JTA)-Six-time NBA All-Star Amar'e Stoudemire has launched a line of kosher-for-Passover Israeli wines. The 6-foot-10 former player, who returned earlier this month from a trip to the Jewish state, spoke glowingly about the wines and his connection to Israel at a news conference here Tuesday. "It's a blessing for me and my family to be able to produce such great wines from a land like the land of Israel, so we're constantly counting our blessings for that," Stoudemire told reporters at... Full story
(The Nosher via JTA)-There is no substitute for eating a dish in its place of origin, preferably made in a home kitchen by hands that hold the muscle memory of thousands of meals. For me, a close second is stumbling across a recipe, trying it out, and feeling transported to a new place by its flavors. The vastness of the Jewish Diaspora has gifted us with a wealth of interesting types of culinary mergers, and I particularly love exploring the Jewish food of India, where Jewish communities date... Full story
Although "The Moldau" (Czech Vltava), is immediately recognized by most lovers of classical music as the work of composer Bedrich Smetana evoking the flow of the Vltava River from the forests of Bohemia through the Czech countryside to the city of Prague, it holds out a special appeal for many Jews and especially Israelis who hear in its opening bars a melody quite similar to the Israeli national anthem and Zionist hymn "HaTikvah" (The Hope). This seems to symbolize the long tradition of... Full story
Jewish National Fund is celebrating Women’s Month in March and highlighting the remarkable women who have taken on leadership roles within the organization. JNF Women’s Month coincides with National Women’s History Month, as well as International Women’s Day, which has been observed since the early 1900s. Throughout the month of March, JNF is hosting over 30 events across the country to bring women together to share their personal stories and highlight the important work that Jewish National Fund accomplishes through the women who give their ti... Full story
Our people have been there... I read this in a letter from the American Jewish World Service: As this column is read, "we have just celebrated Purim, a celebratory holiday filled full of treats and costumes. Purim has deep lessons to teach us about fighting intolerance and acting on our shared values to pursue justice. Just as Queen Esther courageously stood up to the evil Haman and saved the Jewish community of ancient Persia, we too can stand up for those who face persecution today. In Burma... Full story
Harold Forman, age 67, of Longwood, passed away on Monday, Feb. 19, 2018, at his residence. Harold was born in Brooklyn, New York, on Feb. 24, 1950, one of three children born to the late George and Sylvia Shapiro Forman. Harold received his bachelor’s degree in pharmacy from the Brooklyn College of Pharmacy and his master’s degree from St John’s University. On Aug. 6, 1977, in Tarrytown, New York, he married the former Melanie Blair, his wife of nearly 41 years who survives him. The family relocated to the Orlando area from New York in 1996... Full story
Father Desbois is on a mission to expose the Holocaust’s hidden crimes. Father Partick Desbois, a French priest, might be one of the greatest detectives of all time. In nearly a decade of work, he has uncovered the murder of 1.5 million Jews in Eastern Europe during World War II. His most recent book, “In Broad Daylight,” maps out the mass killings of Jews in Eastern Europe in exhaustive detail. While the mass execution of Jews in Poland, France and Germany in Nazi concentration camps and death camps is well documented, in the eastern count... Full story
(JNS)-Canadian sports executive, lawyer and author of the new book "Alley-Oop to Aliyah: African American Hoopsters in the Holy Land," David A. Goldstein is often asked why he decided to write about hasbara, or positive propaganda used to convince others to support Israel. But according to Goldstein, when he started on the book 11 years ago, he discovered an unknown, upbeat phenomenon. "I didn't set out to create that positive feeling about Israel. That feeling is created by this country-how... Full story
One of the nicest things about our community in Florida is our diversity. Often, while I am working out in my exercise class or enjoying a concert or eating in our small bistro, I am struck by the number of people from all cultures, ethnicities, and countries that live here. An example of our melting pot was seen in the Shapiro's Who-Made-the-Hamantashen tale. In May 2016, my husband, Larry, and I purchased tickets for a Flores de Mayo celebration that was being sponsored by our community's... Full story
Calling any Jewish teen interested in developing a deeper understanding of Jewish politics, economy, and philosophy to attend the Tikvah Institute's Maimonides Scholar program. This summer, from June 24 through July 8 at Yale University, Rabbi Mark Gottlieb is introducing a new cultural and historical enrichment program for Jewish teens to encourage people to come and ask the "big questions" about fundamental Jewish texts and values. The Tikvah Institute for High School Scholars has announced a... Full story
"The phrase L'Dor L'Dor-from Generation to Generation-encapsulates the essence of good Jewish parenting," said Nancy Ludin, executive director of the Jewish Pavilion. Shown here (top photo) are the children in the Mishpacha Sheli class from Ohev Shalom who brought a bit of sunshine and flowers to residents of Savannah Court in Maitland. Shown in the photo to the right is Alison Klein, daughter of Jessica and Matt Klein of Orlando, making smiling faces with a resident. (The Klein's other... Full story
The NRA spends millions... (I'm just saying.) This is a recent statement from the American Federation of Teachers: (AFT) President RANDI WEINGARTEN on the Florida school shooting; "This is the 18th school shooting this year. At least 17 people were killed today. May their memories be a blessing, but when is enough enough? "We are devastated and horrified by yet another school shooting in our nation. The trauma and tragedy inflicted on the children, educators and parents of the Stoneman Douglas... Full story
NEW YORK—The World Values Network is honored to announce that Stuart and Robbi Force along with their daughter Kristen, will receive an award at The Sixth Annual Champions of Jewish Values International Awards Gala, which will be held on March 8, in memory of their late son, Taylor, who was tragically killed in Tel Aviv two years ago at the hands of Palestinian terrorists. Force was a West Point graduate and an Army captain who served tours in Iraq and Afghanistan. Force was on tour in Israel at the time as a private citizen with a group of g... Full story
NEW YORK (JTA)-When Meredith Jacobs was taught the Purim story as a little girl in the 1970s and '80s, Esther was made out to be its heroine, while Queen Vashti was its "evil queen." According to the Book of Esther, Vashti was banished by her husband, the Persian King Ahasuerus, for refusing his order to display herself wearing her crown in front of his male guests. A body of traditional commentary depicts Vashti as disobedient and a fraud. As an adult, Jacobs started to reject that... Full story
(JTA)—Aly Raisman, the Olympic gold medalist gymnast, told a BBYO conference she drew strength from her Jewish upbringing. Raisman, addressing the pluralistic youth movement’s annual conference in Orlando, Florida on Friday, said she wanted to “talk about how proud I am to be a Jewish athlete,” which drew cheers. “Being Jewish is all about family and I think being Jewish is all about being a good person,” she said. “I have so many amazing memories of being with family during the Jewish holidays.” Raisman, 23, advised her audience to see... Full story
ARLINGTON, Va. (JTA)-Jews don't serve in the military. Jews shouldn't serve in the military. Forget about being Jewish-the mission comes first. Like a lot of other Jewish dilemmas, what's old for Jews who serve in the US military is new again, and the organization established in 1896 to dismantle myths and anxieties about Jews in uniform is still confronting them. Jewish War Veterans, a group that advocates for Jews in the military and for the military in the Jewish community, set aside a... Full story
(The Nosher via JTA)-Guava, or guayaba in Spanish, is native to tropical areas such as Mexico, Central America, South America and the Caribbean. Because of its proximity and availability, the fruit is a part of many Latino cuisines. Guavas have a strong tropical fragrance and floral taste notes similar to papaya and grape. They can be prepared a variety of ways (think smoothies, cocktails, glazed over grilled meats, and even fish), but is especially wonderful mixed with cheese, such as queso... Full story
LOS ANGELES (JTA)-With the Academy Awards on the horizon, there is no shortage of high-quality films to see in theaters and on the small screen. Getting a jump on the festivities, here are five of the best Jewish-themed ones to watch this awards season, from Oscar contenders to short gems. "Foxtrot" Directed by Samuel Maoz and starring Lior Ashkenazi and Sarah Adler, "Foxtrot" is a wrenching film about an array of dark topics: parental grief after the death of a soldier son, the joys and... Full story
Wow! Go figure... I recently watched the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games in South Korea. I've seen many Olympic ceremonies in my long life, but this one was by far, the best! It was perfect in every way and I was especially thrilled to see team USA and, of course, team Korea, made up of both North and South Koreans marching into the stadium together and learning that they will be competing as one. I must mention that a weird thing happened as I was watching... one of my deceased husband's... Full story
By Gabe Friedman (JTA)-If one thing jumps out about the nominations for the 90th annual Academy Awards, it's the lack of big Jewish headlines to be plucked from them. "The Shape of Water," Guillermo del Toro's latest fantasy-tinted film, about an amphibian creature housed in a government laboratory, led the pack with 13 nominations. Nevertheless, here are the Jewish nominations and storylines from another year of great cinema: "Call Me By Your Name" gets four nominations. "Call Me By Your Name"... Full story
(The Nosher via JTA)-Upside down cakes are one of my favorite types of cakes to make, mostly because they are an easy way to impress. In an upside down cake, the fruit is layered on the bottom of the pan along with sugar, and a simple, fluffy cake batter is poured on top. Once it's baked, the cake is inverted, and what was once the bottom of the cake becomes a gorgeously syrupy, fruity top. What could be simpler? American upside down cakes are traditionally made with pineapple and cherries, but... Full story
NEW YORK—It’s a bitterly cold winter morning in Brooklyn, but Brenda, a 101-year-old woman in a Jewish hospice facility suffering from severe short-term memory loss, has a special group of visitors show up in her warm room. Joelle Missry, a creative arts therapy intern, arrives with her guitar slung over her back and with her licensed music therapy supervisor by her side. She sits beside Brenda’s bed. For the next 20 minutes, Missry holds Brenda’s hand and sings a combination of old Yiddish songs with help from her team and Brenda’s home heal... Full story
(ISRAEL21c)-Could one drug effectively treat incurable inflammatory diseases such as Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, rheumatoid arthritis and multiple sclerosis as well as neurodegenerative maladies such as Alzheimer's disease? Yes, says Prof. David Naor, speaking with ISRAEL21c at the Lautenberg Center for General and Tumor Immunology in Hebrew University-Hadassah Medical School, Jerusalem. All these diseases, he explains, are associated with pathological amyloid proteins that could be... Full story
