Central Florida's Independent Jewish Voice
Central Florida's Independent Jewish Voice
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(JNS) - As the 2026 school year ends and summer vacation begins, Israel's high school students are completing an educational journey that has been anything but ordinary. After beginning their teenage years during the COVID-19 pandemic and finishing them against the backdrop of war, bereavement and national upheaval, 11th- and 12th-grade students in the Ohr Torah Stone Ann Belsky Moranis Arts Program are using art to make sense of a world that often feels chaotic. The exhibition, titled...
It has been said that hearing is the last sense to fade when we are dying. Our brains reportedly can process auditory information hours after other bodily systems have shut down. All of this was shared by a hospice nurse who — of all people — blurted out an outrageous comment in front of a dying patient. My mother, days before her passing, whispered to me that she wanted some spaghetti and meatballs. I relayed the request to the hospice nurse, who replied, “No, her organs are failing!” What an...
(JNS) - As World War I neared its end, Indian cavalrymen surged up the slopes of Mount Carmel and carved their place in history. Charging Ottoman and German positions with lances lowered and horses at full gallop, they liberated Haifa in a single afternoon. It was one of the last great cavalry charges ever fought and one of the most successful. Where armored cars and British units had failed, Indian horsemen succeeded with speed, audacity and courage. Their victory was so decisive that it...
For thousands of years, the Jewish people have been known by a remarkable title: “The People of the Book.” It is an extraordinary designation. Not because Jews simply possess books, but because our identity has always been intertwined with learning. Long before literacy became commonplace, Jewish children were taught to read. Long before universities existed, our batei midrash were filled with spirited debate, thoughtful questions, and a relentless pursuit of wisdom. Education has never mer...
Submitted by the Jewish Pavilion Senior Services For many older adults, giving up driving can feel like a loss of independence. Fortunately, throughout Central Florida, there are transportation services designed specifically to help seniors remain active, connected, and able to access important appointments, shopping, and social activities. The Orlando Senior Help Desk, a program of Jewish Pavilion Senior Services, often assists families searching for reliable transportation resources for older adults in Orange, Seminole, and Brevard counties....
(JNS) - KRAKOW, POLAND-Thousands of people converged on the historic Jewish quarter of the southern Polish city of Krakow last week to attend the annual Krakow Jewish Festival, in the largest such event on the continent. The festival, which was initially launched three-and-a-half decades ago for a non-Jewish audience in a country where Jews were decimated during the Holocaust, was held amid a wave of global antisemitism across the globe, spurred by the Oct. 7, 2023 Hamas attack on southern Israe...
Russian Kebab hamburgers (Uzbek Shashlik) 1/2 lb. ground beef 1/2 lb. ground lamb or turkey 1 T. olive oil 1 medium onion finely chopped 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley 1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro 1/4 cup chopped fresh mint 2 tsp. smoked paprika 1 tsp. ground cumin 1 tsp. cinnamon 1/ 2 tea salt 1/16 tsp.cayenne pepper 1 large egg In a large fry pan, mix spices and sauté in 1 T. olive oil with onions. Put onion/spice mixture in a medium bowl and add meats breaking up the pieces and mix...
I did a "telehealth visit" last month as a follow-up to routine blood tests. My doctor said all the numbers looked great and I should live to 100. Then he added, "don't lose any more weight." I shared that information with my wife who then mentioned it to her mah jong partners. In reply, they invoked the words of beloved original columnist of Scene around, Gloria Yousha - "oh, shut up!" With that humorous encouragement and support, I set out on a special mission: revisit Philadelphia and regain...
(JNS) — When AFEKA Racing lines up on the starting grid in Belgium this September, the team’s solar-powered car will carry more than batteries and photovoltaic panels. A Magen David will be emblazoned on the vehicle, alongside the racing number 18, symbolizing chai (“life”). For the engineering students behind the project, the markings are a deliberate statement that they are proud to compete openly as Israelis. “We see ourselves as an Israeli team representing Israel,” Dan Herman, head of Tel...
Across cultures and religions, the doorway is more than wood, hinges, and locks. It marks the boundary between the outside world and the values carried within. That is exactly where the Torah places one of Judaism's most familiar commandments. The Hebrew word mezuzah means "doorpost," referring to the actual frame of the entryway, not to the decorative case. The words inside the mezuzah come from two passages in Deuteronomy: 6:4–9 and 11:13–21. The first begins with the Shema, the central dec...
The men and women who come to my clinic arrive carrying a particular species of fear, and rightly so. A diagnosis of oropharyngeal cancer, a malignancy of the tonsils and the base of the tongue, threatens the very region that renders us most human. It is here that we form words, taste, swallow, and smile. When a patient learns that a tumor has taken root in this small and sacred territory, the questions beneath their questions are rarely statistical, but these: Will I still sound like myself? Will I share a meal with my children? Will I recite...
(JNS) — At first glance, “Unconditional” looks like another international crime thriller. By the end of the second episode, it’s clear the series is aiming for something much more ambitious. The new Israeli drama, now streaming on Apple TV, follows Orna Levi, an ordinary Israeli mother whose vacation with her 23-year-old daughter, Gali, turns into every parent’s nightmare when Gali is arrested in Moscow on drug-smuggling charges. As Orna struggles to prove her daughter’s innocence, she discove...
Dear Readers, maybe you could offer some advice for my cousin. She wants to move down from New Jersey. This is your chance to share your wisdom or to vent about your own experiences. I’ve paraphrased and combined her last six emails. Please write to me and I’ll share your ideas. Thank you in advance. Dear Rebbele, don’t get me wrong. I truly appreciate all the suggestions you have given me but I’m more upset and confused now. I still don’t know for sure whether to move to South Florida,...
KRAKOW, Poland—The minibus carrying a group of ultra-Orthodox Jewish men from New York pulled up to the site of the demolished Jewish cemetery turned Nazi labor and concentration camp in the southern Polish city of Krakow in June, seeking out a blonde Polish tour guide. Janina Naskalska-Babok, 42, who was dressed for summer and had not expected such a religious group, quickly put on a jacket from her bag out of respect. “In other circumstances, we would likely have never spoken to each other,” Naskalska-Babok told JNS, noting the unusual encou...
(JNS) - Since 2006, U.S. presidents have issued proclamations in recognition of the contributions Jewish people have made to the growth and success of the United States. Jewish American Heritage Month, celebrated in May, was again acknowledged this year. In his May 4 proclamation, U.S. President Donald Trump included the following tribute: On July 4, which will mark 250 years since the signing of the Declaration of Independence, we will pay homage to the brave actions taken by 56 delegates who...
I recently watched Ancient Skies, a PBS documentary about ancient Babylonia, and wondered: where did this ancient world of sky-watching, calculation, and record-keeping intersect with the story of the Jews exiled from Jerusalem to Babylonia? More than 2,600 years ago, Babylonia was one of the great centers of astronomy, mathematics, record-keeping, and administration in the ancient world. Its achievements are especially striking because they came before telescopes, clocks, calculators, computers, or printed books. Babylonian scholars watched...
Submitted by the Jewish Pavilion Senior Services At Jewish Pavilion Senior Services, we are seeing something remarkable: older adults, especially those in their 80s, are redefining what it means to age. This stage of life is no longer about slowing down or settling. It is about living with intention, clarity, and a strong sense of what truly matters. Today’s seniors are no longer apologizing for their preferences. They are embracing them. A comfortable chair isn’t a luxury; it’s essential. Time with meaningful friends is prioritized over packe...
No Churn Ice Cream for a Fun Summer Project Cooking with your kids, even if they make messes, helps them to feel the satisfaction of creating something and feel success. The ingredients are simple and the process is easy. 2 cups cold heavy cream (It is best to not to buy ultra pasteurized cream.) 14 oz. can sweetened condensed milk (not evaporated milk) 1/4 tsp. salt 1 tsp. vanilla Pour cream into a blender or bowl. Add salt and vanilla. Beat or use blender to whip cream to stiff peaks, about...
By Mindy Frishman, BS, M3 Florida State University College of Medicine Chaim Society member and Dr. Solomon Saul, DO, Family Medicine co-founder, The Chaim Society, Orlando Heart disease remains the leading cause of death in the United States. Yet one of the most effective tools we have to prevent heart attacks is often misunderstood: Statins. Many people believe statins simply lower cholesterol numbers. While that is true, modern research has taught us that their greatest benefit may be something even more important—stabilizing dangerous p...
Part Six of a Six-Part series On May 15, as has been done for decades, Palestinian Arabs, their supporters and Israel detractors observed the “Nakba” or the catastrophe of Israel’s birth in 1948. In order to understand the veracity of that narrative and how it’s been conflated in modern dialogue and reporting, it’s important to understand what lies behind that. The Nakba Today Every year on May 15, “Palestinians,” their supporters, and Israel detractors commemorate what they call the Nakba, the catastrophe of Israel’s existence. In t...
(JNS) - Today, the rise of antisemitism is undeniable, but we must be careful not to lose perspective. We are so close to the phenomenon that we risk overlooking a profound transformation that is quietly underway: a large percentage of Jewish people have experienced a rebirth in their connection to Jewish peoplehood. Our confusion is understandable. Comprehending today's geopolitical and cultural landscape is akin to watching a rapidly flickering screen on which the images pass so rapidly that...
(JNS) - Like a modern-day Moses, I led my flock last week through parched terrain that I had never visited before, in search of a piece of land known to me by description only. Granted, this was on a weekend hike with my family, to which we arrived by car with a liter of sunscreen and a stack of beef jerky. Still, there was plenty of Moses-like pioneering spirit on our summertime stay in Nahal Tzalmon, a wadi in the Galilee that leads to the Sea of Galilee. It has a flow in the rainy season, but...
Submitted by Jewish Pavilion Senior Services At Jewish Pavilion Senior Services, we are always looking for meaningful ways to help older adults live healthier, more vibrant lives. Through the Orlando Senior Help Desk, we frequently hear concerns about neuropathy — tingling, numbness, and discomfort in the hands and feet that can affect balance, mobility, and quality of life. While neuropathy has many causes, nutrition can play an important role in managing symptoms and supporting nerve health. One nutrient gaining attention is what some p...
MORNING MINYANS Chabad of Altamonte Springs — Sunday morning minyan, 8 a.m. Weekday morning minyan 6:30 a.m., 407-720-8111. 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...
(JNS) - When I visited Thailand recently, I couldn't help but notice the abundance of water. The island was lush and green. Palm trees and tropical plants seemed to grow effortlessly, with no visible irrigation systems feeding them. Living in Israel, I have become accustomed to a different landscape. Here, drip irrigation lines snake across parks, shopping centers, train stations and private gardens. This Israeli innovation has helped transform a dry country into a thriving agricultural success...
