Central Florida's Independent Jewish Voice
Central Florida's Independent Jewish Voice
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Can a children's book about the Jewish High Holidays help advance world peace? A new edition of an award-winning children's book author thinks so-and National Geographic agrees. "Celebrate Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur"-first published in 2007 and reissued this year with a new cover-is one of the volumes included in National Geographic's series, "Holidays Around the World," which introduces children to the ways in which religious and cultural holidays are celebrated in various countries. Other ho... Full story
Gene Starn was the founder of the Heritage and also of the Jewish Genealogical Society of Greater Orlando. He wrote this article in 2005. I am about to have zenith moment! Many of us who are tracing our family history often hit a brickwall. When we have a breakthrough we can experience such elation—it’s a feeling so unique, so satisfying, so completely engulfing that it stirs the senses beyond belief. It came about when I had a phone call two weeks ago from Paris, France. I could barely understand the woman, who spoke with a very heavy acc... Full story
France's Jewish community... I read this in the World Jewish Congress Digest (WJC), and pass it along to you: "France's Jewish community, the largest in Europe, has elected a Sephardic Jew as its new leader for the first time in half a century. Algerian-born FRANCIS KALIFAT was unanimously elected as the new president of the Jewish umbrella organization CRIF (Council Representative Jewish Institutions of France). He said his priority was to fight against anti-Semitism in all it's forms." The 63... Full story
LOS ANGELES (JTA)-For Rosh Hashanah, many of us eat an apple dipped in honey as an auspicious sign for a sweet new year. The symbolism is clear, and the ritual as easy to pull off as squeezing a bear-shaped plastic bottle of honey. But what kind of a year could you expect from eating leeks, spinach and a fish head? A year of being a contestant on "Chopped"? Many Sephardic Jews practice a custom at Rosh Hashanah dinner called "yehi ratzones"-"may it be God's will"-which calls for a kind of... Full story
(JTA)-Fall is here, and with it comes cooler weather, earlier sunsets and an end to whatever magical spell or temporary insanity that possessed us to spend our free time outdoors rather than in front of our screens. But now it's time to bring out those snuggies, brew those hot beverages and binge watch some quality TV. Luckily, this season has some very exciting, very Jewish shows. From Woody Allen's TV premiere to Sarah Jessica Parker's long-awaited return to HBO, here are eight shows you need... Full story
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (JTA)-At 6-foot-6 and 340 pounds, veteran NFL offensive lineman Geoff Schwartz isn't just a force of nature, but a product of good ol' Jewish nurture. "My size comes from a childhood that included an excess of matzo ball soup, latkes, and tons of white rice," the 30-year-old jokes. "But of course my brother's similar physique suggests that genetics had plenty to do with it." That would be his (only relatively) little brother, Mitch, 27, the Kansas City Chiefs' newest starting... Full story
At the inaugural Service Matters: A Summit on Jewish Service last week, more than 200 people joined together committed to elevate the place of volunteer service in American Jewish life. The Summit was hosted by Repair the World with more than 35 partners from across the fields of Jewish service, social justice, leadership development, and communal engagement. Together, participants uncovered existing breakthroughs and generated new ideas to create meaningful Jewish service experiences that address inequalities and injustices in society.... Full story
The Roth Family JCC is growing and changing In a year of transition and growth, more and more people are realizing that The Roth Family Jewish Community Center is the ideal place for them to live up® to their aspirations. Our J University after school program has its highest enrollment in five years. Camp J also grew for the fourth summer in a row. In addition, our award-winning Richard S. Adler Early Childhood Learning Center graduated FOUR pre-kindergarten classes full of happy, smiling... Full story
A family tribute... I am writing this column on 9/11. When the World Trade Center's Twin Towers were hit by terrorists, three of the New York City firemen who died were Jewish. One of them was cousin Alan Feinberg. Alan was Battalion Chief of the 9th Battalion, Engine 54, Ladder 4 NYC. He was 48 years old, the husband of Wendy and the father of then 18-year-old Tara and 15-year-old Michael. Alan was rescuing victims in Tower 1 when it came crashing down. He was a wonderful husband and father... Full story
Hillel Central Florida Last year, when the calendar was switching from 5775 to 5776, we wrote that the times, they are a changin, and if last year was about changing, this year is about changed. More specifically, being changed, as an organization as a community and as the home for Jewish life on campus. Three years ago, we walked into a crisp, state-of-the-art building with the intent of creating a home. Mezuzzot were hung, furniture was purchased, and refrigerators were stocked with food and drinks. Our staff was excited and our students... Full story
Transitioning to an independent, assisted or skilled nursing facility can be challenging for many seniors, as it is never easy to lose a lifetime of independence. However, Jewish seniors face a host of additional challenges. Like their neighbors, they lose their independence, their homes, and access to friends, but they also lose ties to their cultural heritage, their community, and their faith, just when they need them the most. Imagine a lifetime of Jewish living heritage erased in a "home"... Full story
25 was a year of positive change for the Rosen JCC in Southwest Orlando. In our first full year as an independent agency, we experienced tremendous growth in our programs and services, as well as our physical facility. Here are a few of the exciting things that happened at the Rosen JCC this past year: • With the generous support of the Rosen Foundation, we completed the campus' second growth phase: construction of our facility expansion. The expansion included a 500-seat Rosen Event C... Full story
Shalom, Friends, On behalf of the Jewish Federation of Greater Orlando, we express our best wishes to you and your family for a sweet New Year 5777. According to Jewish tradition, Rosh Hashanah is the birthday of the world, where our calendar begins. On this day, we are expected to conceive a plan, engage in a vision of the future and renew our commitment to shaping Jewish life. And as we do on any birthday, we make wishes for the coming year. These are our wishes for the Greater Orlando Jewish... Full story
This is the phrase my mother often used when talking about the Holocaust. I wish I could tell her that I finally truly understand what she meant and how she felt. This past July, the Holocaust Center sponsored its first Jewish Heritage Tour to Poland and Prague. Thirty people joined me on an emotional 10-day journey of reflection and remembrance. At our recent reunion we each shared a memory that stood out from all the rest. By far the most meaningful experience I had was visiting the Treblinka... Full story
In a few days, Jews around the world will celebrate Rosh HaShanah the Jewish New Year. While it is not a celebration comparable to the January 1 New Year, Rosh HaShanah is a time when we review our deeds from the past year with the hope of improving ourselves in the year to come. It serves as an annual reminder that we must constantly work at becoming better people not just at this time, but throughout the year. The traditional greeting—L’shana Tova Tikatevu—May You Be Inscribed in the Book of Life for a Good Year—speaks to our profound desire... Full story
Upon eating an apple dipped in honey on Rosh Hashanah, the following prayer is recited: "May it be Your will, Adonai our G-d, and G-d of our ancestors, to renew for us a good and sweet new year." Merriam-Webster's Dictionary defines the word renew as (1) to make (something) new, fresh, or strong again; (2) to make (a promise, vow, etc.) again; (3) to begin (something) again especially with more force or enthusiasm. Renewal. This is exactly what has taken place at the Jewish Academy of Orlando... Full story
September The Jewish Federation of Greater Orlando announced $50,000 in collaborative community grants to 11 Central Florida programs and services. An additional $10,000 in grants was awarded to Federation’s JTEN. Robert Petree, deeply committed to Israel and the Jewish community, died. He was 82. October After serving as Boy Scout Troop 6’s chaplain for seven years, Brian Collins of the Dr. Phillips community was presented the Shofar Award at the Court of Honor. Friends of the Israel Defense Forces hosted a performance by IDF soldiers hel... Full story
(JTA)-A stabbing and car-ramming epidemic in Israel that some called a third intifada was among the most dominant Jewish stories of the past year. But 5776 was also notable for the release of spy Jonathan Pollard after 30 years in prison, the communal fallout from the Iran nuclear deal, a historic (and unfinished) agreement on egalitarian worship at the Western Wall and continuing clashes between pro-Israel students and the BDS movement on college campuses. Below is a timeline of the Jewish... Full story
There is a lot of beauty to the traditional synagogue experience. However, a traditional High Holidays service just does not speak to some-especially many young adults. "Buying seats for the High Holidays is super expensive," says Rachel Moses, a marketer for a Jewish non-profit from Mt. Washington, Md. "It also just doesn't feel like it's my place." If you think like Moses-considering skipping the tickets, and celebrating Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur outside the traditional four walls of your f... Full story
(JTA)-Some people take great pride and pleasure in planning their Rosh Hashanah menus for weeks or months in advance, chugging away at kugels and cakes and soup to put in the freezer. I know my grandmother and Aunt Ruth both did their High Holidays cooking all summer so they would be "ready." But not everyone cooks for 20 people or enjoys the toil and preparation of holiday cooking for weeks on end. And for those people, this simple menu is for you. Traditional Jewish New Year flavors of apple a... Full story
NEW YORK (JTA)—I just bought Rosh Hashanah tickets for the first time ever. The last time I attended services for the High Holidays was on my parents’ dime. That was back before the World Wide Web, when Ross Perot heard a giant sucking sound and the voice of a generation was named Sir Mix-a-Lot. My reasons for fleeing synagogue services are in many ways typical among so-called unaffiliated Jews, including the interminable length and inaccessible liturgy of the ceremonies. Some of my reasons for return are also similar to others, such as bec... Full story
RICHARDSON, Texas (JTA)—Urbandictionary.com is an open-source site where the average citizen contributes definitions to new and old words and slang. As the High Holidays approach, I’ve been contemplating the phrase “epic fail.” According to one entry on Urbandictionary.com, epic fail means “complete and total failure when success should have been reasonably easy to attain.” Epic fail defines most of the sins I contemplate during the High Holidays. I should have been able to succeed, but I didn’t because I’m human and I have weaknesses. I s... Full story
By Penny Schwartz (JTA)-Get ready: 5777 is arriving soon. And a new Jewish year means a fresh crop of top-notch Jewish books for kids. This year, not one but two new Rosh Hashanah books are penned by Eric A. Kimmel, the master storyteller whose popular award-winning children's classics include "Hershel and the Hanukkah Goblins" and "Simon and the Bear." His latest entries, "Little Red Rosie" and "Gabriel's Horn," are among the new crop of lively and engaging Jewish children's books for the High... Full story
Ina Porth, who has a rich 38-year history of commitment to the Greater Orlando Jewish community, is one of the recipients of the 2016 Kipnis-Wilson/Friedland Award from the Jewish Federations of North America (JFNA). The award was presented during the International Lion of Judah Conference, held Sept. 11-13 in Washington, D.C. The distinction, named for Lion of Judah founders Norma Kipnis-Wilson and Toby Friedland z"l of the Miami Jewish Federation, honors the most inspiring women in Jewish... Full story
Risa and Gil Dombrosky of Fern Park have a very talented artist in their family. Daughter-in-law, Crystal-who is married to their son, Adam-has been a professional artist for over 20 years. Originally from New York, she attended Fiorello LaGuardia High School for the Performing Arts. She entered her first art show at the age of 18 and received honorable mention. Since then, she has done commissioned pieces, such as murals, sculptures, landscapes and portraits for corporate executives, local... Full story
