Central Florida's Independent Jewish Voice
Central Florida's Independent Jewish Voice
Sorted by date Results 3383 - 3407 of 4518
By Suzanne Pollak ROCKVILLE, Md. (Washington Jewish Week via JTA)—Just because Judaism permits sex only within the confines of marriage doesn’t mean Jewish day schools aren’t teaching how to put a condom on or what sexually transmitted diseases are. While abstinence and Jewish law are taught in Jewish day school classes, so are the reproduction system, menstrual cycles and sexual relationships. At some Jewish high schools, students learn about birth control, homosexuality and date rape. Students at Milken Community Schools in Los Angeles recei... Full story
(Jewish News weekly of Northern California via JTA)-Dr. Sheyna Gifford-a Jewish medical doctor, science journalist, astrophysics researcher and space enthusiast-is preparing to live on Mars. Gifford, 36, will join five other crew members in the NASA-funded Hawaii Space Exploration Analog and Simulation (HI-SEAS) habitat for a simulated space mission to Mars, slated to launch on Friday, Aug. 28. For the next 365 days, she and the others will be isolated inside a geodesic dome that's 36 feet in... Full story
NEW YORK (JTA)—There’s a buzzy new eatery on the corner of Bleecker and MacDougal streets in Manhattan’s Greenwich Village. The restaurant, by CHLOE, is garnering consistently good reviews and attracting slews of young, hip diners. Recently it even hosted the launch of a lingerie-line collaboration between two “it” girls. And, oh yes: by CHLOE is also entirely vegan and kosher. Chef Chloe Coscarelli made her national debut on the first season of Food Network’s “Cupcake Wars” in 2009, winning an episode of the TV competition with her three... Full story
By Curt Schleier (JTA)-Next year in Jerusalem. At least that's Phil Rosenthal's plan. Rosenthal is best known as the creator and behind-the-scenes genius of "Everybody Loves Raymond," the successful sitcom starring (and based on the comedy of) Ray Romano. But now Rosenthal is in front of the camera and the star of a new show: "I'll Have What Phil's Having." It's a six-part, unscripted series on PBS that features him sampling local fare in exotic ports around the globe-including Hong Kong,... Full story
Special thanks to Beth Shalom Memorial Chapel for the calendars they provided to the Jewish community. Seniors in facilities visited by the Jewish Pavilion were thrilled to receive their calendars during High Holiday celebrations. Pictured are volunteer Debbie Meitin (center) with residents enjoying their Rosh Hashanah gift.... Full story
Caregiving for the Jewish elderly is particularly challenging in Central Florida because very few people who work in the industry are familiar with Jewish culture. They have never heard of our holidays or tasted our traditional foods. "When the Activities Directors Association invited the Jewish Pavilion to speak at their monthly meeting on Sept. 8, we were thrilled to oblige," said Nancy Ludin, executive director. Judy Procell, the program director from the Jewish Pavilion who oversees Winter... Full story
During the high holiday season, Susie Stone (top, left) seldom goes a day without blowing the shofar. She makes an effort to play at as many Jewish Pavilion Rosh Hashanah events as possible. Susie drives all over town with her shofar, bringing Jewish tradition to our elders in long-term care. While she makes everyone proud, it is her mother-in-law, Sylvia Stone who enjoys the sounds of the shofar best of all. Throughout the year, Susie and Mark Stone make every effort to bring joy and compassion to seniors in many buildings, but they never... Full story
The high holidays are almost over, and so by my clock time for another sweet challah recipe for the New Year. And one of the easiest ways to make a sweet, crowd-pleasing challah is to add chocolate chips, of course. Chocolate chip challah on its own is delicious and doesn't need much other than a little vanilla and cinnamon. But it's also great when you make double chocolate challah with a chocolate dough or peanut butter and crumb topping. But this High Holiday season I wanted something that wa... Full story
A FAIR United Nations? (We can only hope.)... I read this in the latest World Jewish Congress (WJC) digest. (But I sort of new it already.) I pass it along to you: "Some 1,000 participants from a dozen countries, including Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, The Netherlands and Switzerland, gathered in Geneva on June 29th (before the massive immigrant migration from Syria) to express their support for the State of Israel as the UN Human Rights Council held another debate on... Full story
\The Jewish Pavilion is in the process of providing Rosh Hashanah services to over 50 Senior Nursing Homes/Assisted Living/Rehabilitation Centers/Independent Living in the Central Florida area. These services bring the Jewish New Year's traditions into senior facilities where residents dip apples into honey, eat honey cake and raisin challah-all to celebrate and wish for a Sweet New Year. The sound of the Shofar typically concludes these services, which are open to all faiths. Shown here are Lak... Full story
(JTA)-Danny Strong is probably most recognizable as being "that Jewish guy" on TV-he played eager adman wannabe Danny Siegel on "Mad Men" and the nerdy, perennial victim Jonathan Levinson on "Buffy: The Vampire Slayer." But, among those in the know, Strong may be best known as the "voice of black America," as one showrunner sarcastically quipped. He's the co-creator of the hip-hop-themed TV hit "Empire" and he also wrote the screenplay for Lee Daniels' "The Butler." "Empire" is centered on the... Full story
RHODES, Greece (JTA)-Each summer, tens of thousands of tourists descend on Rhodes, Greece's easternmost island. They are drawn by the sandy beaches, the turquoise waters of the Aegean Sea, the casino resorts and the prospect of exploring the medieval walled old city that was built by Crusader knights. On a clear day, you can see Turkey in the distance. But for a few, it's an annual pilgrimage, a homecoming that commemorates the Jews of this Mediterranean island who lived here for 2,000 years-up... Full story
To appreciate how much Israelis love Elvis Presley, you just have to hear three generations of the Mizrachi family of Rehovot crooning, "Wise men say only fools rush in...but I can't help falling in love with you." The Mizrachis-mom Aliza, sons Asaf and Yehoram, and granddaughter Kahila-had just downed some American-style burgers at the Elvis Inn, a restaurant, convenience store, and gas station that proudly claims to be the only Israeli institution devoted to The King. And they were busy... Full story
ASSADS, Morocco (JTA)-We had to cross the gorge, and the only way was to walk single file on a narrow concrete gutter, maybe a foot wide, that bridged the two cliffs. Below us was a long, perilous drop onto the rocky depths. I was traveling deep into the rural communities of Morocco's Atlas Mountains, and so I'd expected to get a little dusty. But no one readied me for this afternoon trek in the desert sun. I was wearing a button-down shirt, slacks and dress shoes, and I was carrying my iPad,... Full story
The community is invited to attend a Book Launch Party Sunday, Sept. 27 from 2 p.m.-5 p.m. at the Roth JCC in Maitland, to celebrate the publication of three new books by best-selling local author/artist Joanne Fink. Two of the books, Zenspirations® Birds & Butterflies and Expressions of Faith, are part of the popular Zenspirations® Create, Color, Pattern, Play series of adult coloring books, which debuted in 2013. Fink shares, "I've been astonished-and delighted-at the worldwide... Full story
LAKE MARY-Mark (Mordechai) Halawa was born and raised in Kuwait as a Muslim. Although his family was secular he was taught to hate the Jewish "animals and killers." As an adult he traveled to Canada to the University of Western Ontario in Canada. It was there that Halawa discovered his Jewish roots due to a chance encounter with a rabbi. That meeting changed his life forever as it started him on a path of self discovery and learning. Currently, Halawa is studying part time in Jerusalem,... Full story
The Zionistas, at their program about BDS last week, honored Christine DeSouza, news editor of the Heritage, with a certificate and the book, 'Ally,' by Michael Oren, for her support and work for the State of Israel. Shown here is Chris DeSouza flanked by Zionistas founders Diana Scimone, Judith Shujman, Eva London Ritt and Sandi Solomon.... Full story
(JTA)-"Our technology has exceeded our humanity," Albert Einstein allegedly once lamented. But filmmaker Tiffany Shlain-who utilizes an online, collaborative process and distribution method she dubs "cloud filmmaking"-says it's possible that technology, used correctly, can enhance our humanity. As a testament to Shlain's methods, as well as her rise to becoming one of the most influential filmmakers in the American Jewish world, her latest film, "The Making of a Mensch," will be shown in more... Full story
"They're as good as dogs"?... (I don't think so!) I read this in the World Jewish Congress (WJC) digest and found it very (very) interesting. I think you should read it too: "An Israeli company called X-Test is harnessing the keen sense of smell of these furry creatures (would you believe, they are referring to mice?) to sniff out explosives, drugs and foreign substances at border crossings and airports. These specially trained mice will be carried in cages to discreetly smell people and... Full story
HAIFA, Israel—Just weeks before millions of Jews around the world begin fasting for the Yom Kippur holiday, Rambam Health Care Campus’ Director of Geriatrics Tzvi Dwolatzky, M.D. is cautioning Jews around the world to carefully prepare before fasting, warning that without proper preparation, people increase their chances of falling ill as a result of the fast. “There is a marked difference between the intended feeling of being uncomfortable with not eating or drinking for 25 hours and actually becoming ill as a result of not getting enoug... Full story
(JTA)-Pawel Sawicki gets to his desk every morning by 7, but he works no regular office job. Sawicki is an information officer at the Auschwitz-Birkenau State Memorial and Museum, the sprawling complex in southern Poland that encompasses the largest and most notorious Nazi death camp. More than 1.1 million people, mostly Jews, were murdered there. "I look out my window and see barbed wire and barracks," Sawicki told JTA. "It's never just a job. You have to find ways to deal with the emotions."... Full story
WASHINGTON (JTA)-Jesse Agler was pretty talented as a catcher and pitcher in Little League, yet his parents benched him regularly. That's because the Aglers had a no-baseball-on-Shabbat rule, one cloaked in sports royalty. "It was a source of frustration as a kid, but I appreciated later what they tried to do," said Agler, a 33-year-old radio broadcaster for the San Diego Padres who grew up in South Florida. "It goes back to Koufax making the point about that day, that it's not for baseball." Ag... Full story
NEW YORK (JTA)—By the time the fast is over on Yom Kippur, the last thing you want to be doing is patchkeing in the kitchen to prepare lots of food. And as much as I can’t wait to shove a bagel and cream cheese with all the fixins in my face, I also like to enjoy something sweet, something salty and something a little fresh with my traditional post-fast carbs. The rich, sweet coffee cake challah can also be baked ahead of time. And the flavors of the custom dill lemon caper cream cheese will only intensify when you let them sit overnight in... Full story
A date in infamy... Of course I refer to this date, Sept. 11, when our country was attacked and so many Americans died, among them Alan Feinberg, a family member, who was a firefighter with the 59th battalion. Ladder 4. His firehouse was on 48th Street and 8th Avenue, NYC. He was rescuing people from Tower One of the World Trade Center when it collapsed. This column is for and about you, not me... But I want to take this opportunity to thank the many who sent sympathy cards and phoned me to say... Full story
We are very proud that to say that our Jewish elderly are receiving the love and support they deserve. At the Jewish Pavilion, we deliver Jewish tradition and compassion to the doorsteps of seniors in long-term care. In Orlando we do not have a Jewish Home for the Aged. We are an outreach organization that functions like a Jewish community center on wheels bringing the Jewish community to our seniors who are no longer mobile. The Pavilion has 400 volunteers that visit every known Jewish elder... Full story
