Central Florida's Independent Jewish Voice
Central Florida's Independent Jewish Voice
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(JNS) — Three leading Jewish organizations — AISH, CoronaCrush and Partners in Torah — will join forces on Aug. 12 with more than 30 Jewish partners across the globe to host what is expected to be the largest virtual Jewish speed dating event yet seen. Timed just after Tu B’Av, the Jewish holiday of love (marked this year from sunset on Aug. 8 until nightfall on Aug. 9), the event is slated to bring together more than 6,500 Jewish singles from around the world for one night of guided connection, with two time zone options—Israel and U.S. East...
(JNS) — Tu B’Av, the Jewish Day of Love, is celebrated on the 15th day of Av, which this year starts after sundown on Aug. 8 and lasts through the evening of Aug. 9. Shrouded in mystery, this romantic holiday, which is primarily celebrated in Israel, has roots that go back to the time of the Second Temple in Jerusalem. Young women dressed in white used to dance in vineyards to signal the beginning of grape harvest season, and single men looking to find prospective wives would join them. Aleeza Ben Shalom, an Israel-based dating coach and sta...
By JNS Staff (JNS) — A rare First Temple-era seal impression (bulla) bearing a Hebrew inscription was unearthed two weeks ago by the Temple Mount Sifting Project, Hebrew media reported on Wednesday. A bulla is an inscribed clay, soft metal, or wax token used in commercial and legal documentation. Based on the shape of the letters, the bulla is dated from the second half of the 7th century BCE to the beginning of the 6th century BCE. The fully preserved clay seal was found by archeologist Mordech...
(JNS) - When I was younger, I often struggled with understanding the purpose of the Jewish holiday of Tisha B'Av. Why, thousands of years later, do we still fast and mourn the destruction of Judaism's two temples? Why do we continue to commemorate a way of life so remarkably different from the Judaism we practice today? It wasn't that I couldn't appreciate the profound loss and anguish that the Israelites experienced when they were exiled from their lands in 70 C.E. But since then, we had...
By In 1965, I stood with a tour group at the Wailing Wall — then part of East Jerusalem and under Jordanian control. That control began under Article VIII of the 1949 Armistice Agreement, where Jordan explicitly guaranteed Israeli Jews free access to the Wailing Wall, along with other religious sites. Historian Martin Gilbert has noted that promise was never honored: “During the 19 years of Jordanian rule in East Jerusalem, no Israelis were allowed to visit this site which was most holy to the...
Kinneret Living, Orlando, FL — At 92, Ethel (Ester) Goodmark still radiates warmth, wit, and wisdom from her apartment at Kinneret, where she’s lived for the past five years. Raised in Jacksonville, Florida, Ethel’s life has been deeply shaped by her Jewish upbringing, a 70-year marriage, a fulfilling career, and a devotion to family. “I was raised conservative,” Ethel recalled, “because my mother came from an Orthodox family and my father from a Reform one. Middle of the road was the best pl...
Long before stand-up went mainstream, the backroads of the Catskills echoed with the rhythms of Jewish laughter. The Borscht Belt wasn't just a vacation spot - it was a refuge, a proving ground for comedy legends, and a cultural sanctuary for families turned away elsewhere. Today, thanks to the vision and dedication of Marisa Scheinbeld and her associates, that legacy is being brought back to life. Scheinbeld's Borscht Belt Historical Markers Project is transforming forgotten resort towns into...
Round foods are eaten around this holiday when one is not fasting. Lentil soup is one of these foods. Lentil soup is easy to make and keeps in the refrigerator 3-5 days. It also freezes well. 2 tsp. olive oil 1 onion, chopped in small pieces 2 garlic cloves, minced (An easy way to remove skins is rub cloves back and forth in a rubber bottle opener.) 1 large carrot chopped (1 1/4 cups chopped) 2 celery stalks, chopped (1 1/4 cups) 2 cups dried lentils, any color except black French lentils 6 cups vegetable or chicken soup 1/2 tsp. cumin 1/2...
In the 80s there was a hit song by Sheila E., that went: She wants to lead the glamorous life She don’t need a man’s touch She wants to lead the glamorous life But without love, it ain’t much The song describes the lady wearing a mink fur coat and driving a Mercedes Benz car. It is about materialism. Materialism = glamour. That is what the message was in 1980s America. That was society’s message. The movies, the music, the television shows, that is what we saw and that was our aim, our goal. I had no idea what a sham it was. None of us did. He...
I’m reading a new novel by an Israeli author that has nothing to do with the war in Gaza, or any current crisis for that matter. I can’t tell if I feel relieved or guilty. With a world in turmoil, how much permission can I give myself to tune out — if tuning out is even possible? Iddo Gefen’s “Mrs. Lilienblum’s Cloud Factory” is set in a village on the lip of a crater deep in the Negev Desert — far from the bright lights of Tel Aviv and even Beersheba. When the family matriarch invents a machi...
(JTA) — An amateur film critic named Evan gave the new “Superman” movie five out of five stars. Writing on the Letterboxd platform, they praised the film’s “unique visual identity” and called director and screenwriter James Gunn “the best comic director.” And they added, “Very anti-Israel which is awesome to see from a major studio blockbuster.” When Evan’s capsule review was shared by at least one user on X, it garnered more than 11 million views and 36,000 likes. Evan isn’t the only one to...
October 2024 The opening concert is set for late November. The days have turned into weeks, weeks into months. A year has passed since the October war started. Should we go? Is it necessary to leave the house at night? The Home Front Command is clear: “If driving on the street when the siren is heard, leave the car, lie in the street next to it. Wait 10 minutes for falling debris to clear.” When you’re well into your 80s, lying in the street next to your car is not an option. On a good day, I may be able to lie down. Getting up is anoth...
A uniquely American Passover tradition could become a thing of the past, after President Donald Trump announced that he had successfully pressed Coca-Cola to change the formulation of its signature drink in the United States. “I have been speaking to Coca-Cola about using REAL Cane Sugar in Coke in the United States, and they have agreed to do so,” Trump wrote on Truth Social, his social media platform, on Wednesday. “I’d like to thank all of those in authority at Coca-Cola. This will be a very good move by them — You’ll see. It’s just b...
JERUSALEM - When the Tel Aviv light rail opened in the summer of 2023, it shaved travel time from the city's southern neighborhoods to the haredi Orthodox city of Bnei Brak to just 20 minutes. For some, the new route increased access to a burgeoning Thursday-night tradition: sitting down for steaming bowls of cholent, the slow-cooked Ashkenazi Shabbat stew. "For me, having a bowl of cholent on Thursday night adds a little bit of Shabbat's holiness into the end of the week, and deepens my...
After his beloved and extremely Jewish sitcom "Curb Your Enthusiasm" ended after 12 seasons last year, many fans undoubtedly had the same thought: Would this be the last of Larry David on TV? The notorious curmudgeon's answer: Absolutely not. On Thursday, David announced that he will be partnering with Barack and Michelle Obama's production company to create a six-episode sketch comedy series about American history. The 78-year-old David will star in, co-write and executive produce the new...
(JNS) — Four rare, 1,900-year-old rare bronze discs decorated with lion heads that were uncovered in southern Israel in the last decade offer evidence of Roman-period burial culture and belief in the afterlife, the Israel Antiquities Authority announced on Thursday. The ornate discs, which were found in a grave during a 2018 excavation at Khirbat Ibreika in the Sharon region, were probably intended to be used to help carry a coffin, the state-run archaeological body said. “Tracing the lion as...
Vehicles are being attacked and not just Teslas. The culprits have damaged cars and trucks of all makes and models. Residents are unsettled by the honking and the shrieking. If they manage to get a night’s sleep their day starts off badly when they are faced with the need to make repairs to their homes. Damages are in the hundreds and even thousands of dollars! The perpetrators tear screen enclosures, wreck gardens, and defecate on the sidewalk. They freely march down the middle of the street a...
(JTA) - When David Corenswet was announced as the next DC Comics Superman, Jewish movie and comic fans rejoiced: He is the first Jewish actor to portray the hero in a blockbuster. But one Jewish community in New Orleans has been particularly excited. "The Corenswet family is well known and loved" in New Orleans, said Daniel Sherman, rabbi of the city's historic Temple Sinai synagogue. "I have also heard a few groups talking about having some screening events to support David and are thrilled...
When a loved one passes away, those left behind often face a whirlwind of emotions and tasks. As friends, we naturally want to help, but all too often, we find ourselves saying, “Let me know how I can help.” While well-intentioned, this phrase places the burden on the grieving individual to identify and ask for assistance, which can be overwhelming during such a difficult time. Instead, consider making a specific offer. Rather than asking, suggest something tangible: “Can I pick up your son from soccer practice today?” or “Would it help if I...
On Aug. 18, 1790, President George Washington wrote to the Hebrew Congregation in Newport, Rhode Island. He assured them: “Everyone shall sit in safety under his own vine and fig tree, and there shall be none to make him afraid.” He continued with words that the Jewish people, among many others, have carried close to heart for over two centuries: “The Government of the United States... gives to bigotry no sanction, to persecution no assistance.” It was a promise. It took time for it to become...
Jerusalem, Israel — A unique friendship and partnership between an Iranian and an Israeli has given birth to one of the most remarkable hands-on tourist experiences in Israel, drawing interest and participants from all over the world at a time when tourism in Israel is down, but when the importance of solidarity with Israel has never been more important. Root & Branch is a unique partnership between Marziyeh Amirizadeh and her nonprofit, NewPersia.org, and Jonathan Feldstein and the Genesis 123...
Most people think of Cuba as a land of cigars, salsa, sun-soaked beaches and antique cars. But to me, it symbolizes perseverance and the roots of a resilient Jewish community that contributed to the state of Israel. For many years now, Cubans have made aliyah to Israel to look for a better life, including my parents. As Nazi Germany destroyed Europe, a few nations offered refuge to Jewish people, while others, like the United States and Canada, enforced strict immigration laws. Cuba, with its...
Makes 4 burgers. 1/ 4 cup diced yellow onion 2 T. avocado oil or neutral oil, plus 2 T. for frying. 1/2 cup chopped spinach leaves 1 minced garlic cloves 1 lb. kosher ground chicken chicken 1/2 -1 T. fresh basil or 1/2 tsp. dried basil 1/8 tsp. dried mint (optional) 1/2 tsp. thyme 1/2 tsp. dried oregano 1/2 tsp. salt 1/4 tsp. pepper 1/4 cup bread crumbs 1 egg Bread wraps, pitas or buns to serve burgers. Garnish each burger with a lettuce leaf and a tomato slice. In a large saucepan, heat 2 T....
(JNS) - According to Steve Rubin, director of Tourism in the Jerusalem Development Authority, Jerusalem is the capital and most populous city in Israel as well as being holy to Judaism, Christianity and Islam. As the current war passed the 21-month mark, Jerusalem is also starting to bounce back as "a world leader in tourism and most certainly as the epicenter of culture in Israel," he said. In an interview in the JNS Studio in Jerusalem on July 7, Rubin said, "Since Oct. 7 [2023], Jerusalem...
(JNS) - Former Hamas hostage Eli Sharabi's memoir about his experiences in captivity in Gaza is scheduled for release in the United States on Oct. 7, 2025 - the second anniversary of the Hamas-led attack on the Jewish state, the Associated Press reported on Tuesday. The book, titled "Hostage," the first published memoir of a freed Hamas captive, has become a best seller in Hebrew. The English edition will be published by Harper Influence, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers. "It was...
