Central Florida's Independent Jewish Voice
Central Florida's Independent Jewish Voice
Sorted by date Results 3758 - 3782 of 4518
NEW YORK (JTA)-As the last generation of Holocaust survivors ages and dies, efforts to capture their final, untold stories have abounded. But in her new book "Paper Love: Searching for the Girl My Grandfather Left Behind," Sarah Wildman has turned instead to the future, asking what it means bear witness in a world without Holocaust survivors. "Paper Love" chronicles the author's long and labyrinthine search for the fate of the woman whose black-and-white photos she finds amid her late... Full story
Of all places, Germany?... With the remembrance of the Holocaust, the thought of anti-Semitism is never far from my thoughts. I know about its revival in many parts of Europe... but in Germany? I read this in the latest edition of the World Jewry Digest (WJC). I know the thought of anti-Semitism is upsetting but its better to know and be aware. Read on: "WJC President Ambassador RONALD S. LAUDER was joined by German Chancellor ANGELA MERKEL, President JOACHIM GAUCK and other German leaders at a... Full story
For Emily Kessler, a Holocaust survivor, the prospect of performing at Lincoln Center's Avery Fisher Hall is less worrying than figuring out what to wear for the occasion. "I came to the conclusion," she said, in an interview at her apartment on Manhattan's Upper West Side, "that what is the difference between playing in front of three people instead of 300?" At 97, Kessler is short and slightly hunched. Along with old photographs and birthday cards, prescription pill bottles are scattered... Full story
Filled with expressive, hand-lettered sentiments and charming original illustrations, "When You Lose Someone You Love" features excerpts of observations and feelings originally contained in Longwood artist/author Joanne Fink's personal grief journals. Started as a way of dealing with her own deep loss when she lost her husband of 29 years, Andy Trattner, unexpectedly in 2011, the book offers the gift of comfort to those grieving without sugar-coating the challenges of losing a loved one. "At... Full story
By Julie Wiener NEW YORK (JTA)-When your mother is the world's most famous advice columnist, you wouldn't think you'd have to learn any lesson the hard way. But Margo Howard-daughter of the late Ann Landers and the niece of Landers' twin sister Dear Abby (nee Esther and Pauline Friedman)-had to marry four times before she finally felt she'd gotten it right. In her new book, "Eat, Drink and Remarry: Confessions of a Serial Wife," the 74-year-old Howard, a Jewish former journalist and Slate's form... Full story
An unexpected meeting... I recently spoke and performed at a JCC 39er's meeting in Maitland with my talented accompanists, bassist, MOE LOWE and pianist, MICHAEL KRAMER. (I've had the pleasure of performing cabaret with Michael and his equally talented son, bassist, BEN KRAMER, in New York City a while back). After the presentation, a gentleman approached me with a bit of information about a book he had just written. His name is ABRAHAM GOLD, and he is a Holocaust survivor. (Right away I was... Full story
PRAGUE (JTA) - A 105-year-old man known as the "British Oskar Schindler" - having saved hundreds of Jewish children from the Nazis - received the Czech Republic's highest honor on Oct. 28. Sir Nicholas Winton was flown on a Czech military plane to Prague, where Czech President Miloš Zeman awarded him the Order of the White Lion. Seven of the 669 children he rescued were present at Tuesday's ceremony, which coincided with the Czechoslovak Independence Day. "I want to thank you all for this tremen... Full story
Given that half of the 6 million Jews who died in the Holocaust came from Poland, many descendants of Polish Jews may be surprised to learn about the current hospitable environment for the Jewish population of their ancestors' country. Poland experiences far less anti-Semitism than the typical European country and is home to a burgeoning-albeit relatively small-Jewish community (estimates suggest 10,000-20,000, but no definitive figures are available). At the same time, young non-Jewish Poles ar... Full story
Last August, the Heritage reported about the sixth surviving member of the Monuments, Fine Arts and Archives program, better known as the Monuments Men, Rouben Sami, who lives in Winter Park. The same day the article ran in the paper, Aug. 15, Sami turned 93. His family hoped he would live to see the day when his name would be officially added to the list of recipients of the Congressional Gold Medal-Congress' highest civilian honor in recognition of distinguished achievements and... Full story
LOS ANGELES (JTA)-With a borscht-curdling geshrei, Halloween this year falls on Shabbat. On a Friday night, trick-or-treaters, even Jewish ones, will be knocking. Should we open the door? Or should we be spooked about joining the celebration? After reading that on Oct. 31, Urban Adama, a Jewish-oriented educational farm and community center in Berkeley, Calif., would be holding a "Challahween Kabbalat Shabbat"-chanting and meditation plus a potluck dinner and Halloween dessert candy bar-I... Full story
In conjunction with the JCRC's Grits and Bagels Brunch, over the next few weeks, The Heritage is running a series of articles about local Jewish community members who made an impact on the Civil Rights movement. This is the third in the series. Local developer and philanthropist Hy Lake may have been the first real estate developer to sell a home to an African-American family back in the 1970s, "At that time, it was an unthinkable and actually, impossible thing to do, said Harriett, as she told... Full story
The 16th annual Central Florida Jewish Film Festival is a cinematic celebration of Jewish life, culture, and history. Six films will be shown during the weekend of Nov. 15-17. All will be shown at the Enzian, 1300 South Orlando Ave., Maitland, with the exception of the first film, "Kidon," which will be shown at the Orlando Science Center, 777 E Princeton St, Orlando. This program is part of Enzian's cultural festival circuit and is co-presented with the Jewish Community Center of Greater Orland... Full story
This is indeed a small world... The following is a poem titled “I’m Free.” The author is unknown to us: “Don’t grieve for me, for now I’m free, I’m following the path God laid for me, I took his hand when I heard his call, I turned my back and left it all, I could not stay another day, to laugh, to love, to work or play, Tasks left undone must stay that way, I found the peace I sought today, If my parting has left a void, then fill it with remembered joys, A friendship shared, a laugh, a kiss, Oh yes, these things I too will miss, Be not burden... Full story
"Each year, the Jewish Pavilion's A Walk in the Park, reminds us of the promise each generation has made to honor, respect and look out for our senior community," said Norma Ball, event co-chair. On Sunday, Oct. 26, hundreds of participants of all ages, ranging from babies to bubbies, made good on this promise by taking part in the Pavilion's annual A Walk in the Park, benefitting seniors in long-term care facilities in Greater Orlando. At just 10 weeks old, Jack Broffman was the event's... Full story
While the Pavilion has been breaking bread with seniors in long-term care since 1998, there is much more to the organization beyond the challah. Executive Director Nancy Ludin noted, "Lunch and Learn serves as a great example of how the Pavilion enhances the lives of seniors all year round, and not just during the holidays. Program Director Cathy Swerdlow, an experienced instructor in both Judaica and history, leads a bi-monthly discussion at Oakmonte Village in Lake Mary that promotes healthy... Full story
The Orlando Chapter of Hadassah presents A Book and Author, featuring author Stuart Omans on Tuesday, Nov. 4, at 11:30 a.m. at Congregation Ohev Shalom. Omans will captivate and delight attendees with tales from his recently published book "Ol' Man on a Mountain." A buffet lunch will be served. Omans is professor emeritus and former chairman of English at The University of Central Florida. He is the founding artistic director of the nationally acclaimed Orlando Shakespeare Theater, created in pa... Full story
LAKE MARY—When Israeli-born psychologist Tal Ben-Shahar began teaching a class called Positive Psychology at Harvard in 2006, a record 855 undergraduate students signed up for his class. Droves of students at the academically intense university came to learn, as the course description puts it, about “psychological aspects of a fulfilling and flourishing life.” Speaking to the Harvard crimson, Prof. Ben-Shahar attributed the class’ high numbers to one simple factor: “…People want to be happy. Whether it is at Harvard or any other place, people w... Full story
In conjunction with the JCRC's Bagels and Grits Brunch, over the next few weeks, The Heritage is running a series of articles about local Jewish community members who made an impact on the Civil Rights movement. This is the second in the series. The magnanimous, community-minded Wolf Kahn did not wait until the Civil Rights movement started to take a stand for African-Americans. According to his son, Robert, while serving in World War ll Wolf noticed the black soldiers were treated like... Full story
(JTA)-Most Jews have never heard of, let alone ever met, Ralph I. Goldman. But for countless numbers of us throughout the world, Ralph-a former chief executive of the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee (JDC)- played a role in our freedom, our positive Jewish identity, our dedication to the neediest among us. He was also instrumental in the State of Israel's birth, its growth and success, its cultural and educational institutions, and its strong social fabric. Indeed, he was one of the... Full story
In conjunction with the JCRC's Grits and Bagels Brunch, over the next few weeks, The Heritage is running a series of articles about local Jewish community members who made an impact on the Civil Rights movement. This is the first in the series. While many civic leaders select an organization or a cause to champion, Jerome J. Bornstein (Jerry to his friends) selected many. Known in the Jewish community as a visionary-president of both the Jewish Community Council and Jewish Federation of Greater... Full story
My Grandma Gloria was my everything. She was one for the storybooks, conceptualized from a fairytale. She was the salt of this earth and the light in the sky. I firmly believe if angels do exist, she for sure was placed on this earth to be mine. For she always told me that I was hers. From this day forward, a big part of me will be forever missing. But the parts of me that remain are all made of pieces carefully hand-crafted by her. From my earliest memories, she smothered me with love. As I grew older, she taught me patience. She taught me to... Full story
My visit to the White House... I know. I know. This is old news already but, as I've said many times before, I am writing my column far in advance... so the White House intruder story only happened within the last few days of this writing. Back to my White House experience: My spouse and I visited "the people's house" (as it is called) in Washington D.C., recently. There were four levels of security on the lawn alone, before ever getting close. By the time we finally got inside, we thought that... Full story
Oy... here I go, down again!... I fall very often these days... not that I'm elderly, mind you (shut up!) but sometimes a little unsteady on my feet. Like the other day, I fell face forward when I tripped over a tree trunk at the dog park. (I didn't get hurt though. I fell directly on my breasts which cushioned the fall and kept me from getting any broken bones.) And on this very subject, I recently read in a copy of a World Jewish Congress (WJC) digest, the following article under the heading,... Full story
As Simchat Torah approaches, Genesis begins anew, “Retelling Genesis,” the new book by Barry Louis Polisar, gives a timely fresh perspective on 13 stories in the Torah’s first book. Each story gives a voice to many secondary characters whose perspectives are overlooked in the original Bible stories. Polisar offers the thoughts and feelings of many female characters: Eve, Noah’s wife, Lot’s daughters, Hagar, Zilpah and Bilhah (Jacob’s handmaidens), and Dinah. He also explores what the silent Isaac thought about his near-sacrifice, what Cain t... Full story
LOS ANGELES (JTA)—As we ushered in Sukkot, was there a blood moon rising? John Hagee, the San Antonio pastor who wrote the book “Four Blood Moons: Something is About to Change,” would have us believe so. Hagee predicts that because of a cycle of four lunar eclipses called a tetrad—two this year and next on Passover and Sukkot—that something big is about to happen, like the Rapture. The eclipse was seen throughout much of the world on Oct. 7 and 8—the latter the eve of Sukkot. It was visible throughout much of the United States on Oct. 8, but on... Full story
