Central Florida's Independent Jewish Voice
Central Florida's Independent Jewish Voice
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The primary aim of a chronic pain treatment program is to alleviate pain, enhancing the quality of life rather than completely eradicating the pain. It’s important to understand that chronic pain cannot be cured with medications like opioids. Opioids can be addictive and may increase your nervous system’s sensitivity to pain, reducing pain sensation while increasing pain sensitivity. Pain management specialists recommend a comprehensive approach to manage chronic pain effectively: • Consult a Sleep Specialist: Quality sleep is crucial for m...
(JNS) — Cpt. Eden Nimri, 22, was a champion swimmer who could have represented Israel at the Olympics. On Oct. 7, 2023, she was murdered at Nahal Oz base as she fiercely defended her soldiers, still in her pajamas, as her weapon ran out of ammunition. Eden’s mother, Sharon, has honored her by participating in a poignant art exhibition in the city of Modi’in in central Israel. Nine bereaved mothers from across the country took part in the exhibition, which focuses on the tragic events of Oct....
(JNS) — Madison Stock of Woodbury, N.Y., is officially the 10,000th participant in the Birthright Israel volunteer program. The 22-year-old recently completed working on agricultural projects in Moshav Gamzu, Moshav Zeitan, Moshav Beit Yitzchak, Moshav Gan Haim and Hinanit as part of the subsidized Post-October 7 Volunteer Program. She is still in Israel and has decided to extend her visit. Stock participated in the 10-day Birthright Israel trip last summer, fell in love with the country, and decided to return as a volunteer. In the United S...
Menachim Begin 1977-1983 A Holocaust survivor, and a religiously educated Jew, Menachim Begin’s Revisionist approach to Zionism reflected two primary beliefs. First, Judaism had only survived the millennia by embracing its historical teachings. Second, the historical State of Israel included the entirety of Trans-Jordan, modern Palestine, Judea and Samaria, and Gaza. As such, Begin viewed Ben Gurion’s acquiescence to a Partition of the land as both “illegal” and “unjust,” in betrayal of Jewish history, and the product of a European socialist ...
(JNS) - The laws about the red heifer are among the most enigmatic of any of the biblical commandments. Even a king as notably wise as Solomon, as admitted in Ecclesiastes, could not fully comprehend their logic. Partly, this is due to the rarity of their presence in our midst; indeed, only nine heifers have ever been sacrificed from the time of Moses until the destruction of the Second Temple in 70 C.E. In both Judaism and Christianity, the appearance of viable red heifer candidates heralds...
You may be tired of eating matzah for Passover, but there are lots of dishes that you can use up all that leftover matzah. Any recipe that uses bread crumbs is a good candidate. Here are some ways to use the matzah: • Add 1/4-1/2 cup ground matzah to your hamburger or meatloaf mix. • Make a streusel crumble topping for baked goods, banana bread, fruit crumbles, muffin toppings or over ice cream. In a small bowl Process 1 matzah to tiny crumbs. Mix with 3 T. brown sugar and 3 T. granulated sugar. Add 1 tsp. ground cinnamon. If desired, add 1/4...
(JTA) - TEL AVIV - As an American immigrant to Israel, Lital Friedman knows a thing or two about pancakes - including that Israel's crepe-style versions don't often stack up favorably against the fluffy style popular in the United States. But she didn't make the trip from Jerusalem to the American-style pancake pop-up in Tel Aviv's Sarona Market for culinary reasons. She came because Keith Siegel's Pancake House honors the former hostage long known for his Shabbat-morning tradition of making...
My grandmother, Ida, was a consistent nurturer and protector in my life. Since my parents did not yet have their own place when I was born, her home was my first. And because my mother had surgery and a lengthy hospital stay after my birth, Grandmom started off as my primary caregiver. Family stories have it that Grandmom placed a colorful ribbon in my baby carriage and stroller to ward off evil spirits. And whenever anyone remarked “what a beautiful child” or “look at those dimples!” she wou...
Given that one in five Americans will develop skin cancer by age 70, it’s crucial to understand the basics of skin cancer so you can monitor your own skin for changes. Let’s review the essentials of four types of skin cancer: melanoma, squamous cell carcinoma, basal cell carcinoma, and Merkel cell carcinoma. The positive news is that early detection and treatment by a dermatologist can often eradicate skin cancer with minimal scarring. In essence, skin cancer occurs when cells in the epidermis, the outer skin layer, grow uncontrollably due to...
This is the conclusion of Simonds' journal of the Orlando delegation of the JLI-Land and Spirit trip to Israel. Day 5 (Friday, March 21) City of David – A walking tour of the area that was the palace for King David, and then the Administration for King Solomon when he built the Temple. Amazing history that included a tour of the tunnel that was used to draw water from the river whenever the city was under siege. In fact, it was through this tunnel that David was able to capture Jerusalem. The s...
This beautiful time of year is the heart of spring in Israel. Once Purim ends, people fall into a cleaning frenzy. In my yishuv, Susya, you can read the daily messages of people giving away "chometz" starting the day after Purim: "Giving away breadcrumbs, pasta, and cornflakes ... will throw out on Friday. It is sitting in our entranceway," people write. Sometimes a photo is posted with the words "giving away" in Hebrew. And then there are the sales - locally made olive oil in five-kilo...
In parts II, III and IV, four prime ministers — David Ben Gurion, Yitzak Rabin, Menachem Begin and Ariel Sharon — will be discussed. David Ben Gurion 1948-54; 1955-63 Israel’s first prime minister, David Ben Gurion, was faced with the decision: Accepting a Jewish State on a portion of historical Palestine, relinquishing the balance to the Palestinian Arabs; or losing U.S. support for the UN’s declaration for creation of the new Jewish State. In lieu of that declaration, the UN would probably have established a Trusteeship over the entire...
(JTA) - George Orwell disliked peace propaganda as much as he disliked war propaganda. Like war propaganda, he wrote, peace propaganda "concentrates on putting forward a 'case,' obscuring the opponent's point of view and avoiding awkward questions." I spent an Orwellian few days watching new documentaries about Oct. 7 and its aftermath, specifically on how the Hamas attacks in Israel and the fallout from Israel's war in Gaza played out in the United States. "October 8," a film about how American...
(JNS) — A Hebrew manuscript, which experts have dated to the eighth century making it the earliest known such object, is on view in New York City after being the centerpiece of an exhibition in Washington, D.C., at the Museum of the Bible. The Afghan Liturgical Quire, which is part of the Washington museum’s collection but which has uncertainty in its provenance history, is part of the show Sacred Words: Revealing the Earliest Hebrew Book, which opened on March 19 at the Jewish Theological Sem...
(JTA) - The Passover Haggadah is one of the few sacred Jewish texts that has a long history of including illustrations, and among the most remarkable are detailed images of rabbit hunts that often appear in the opening pages, even before the text of the Seder really begins. The images, which are varied in style and can be found in editions dating back to medieval and early modern Germany, often present hunters and dogs chasing rabbits, the latter of which are generally depicted escaping over a f...
This year, as we prepare for Passover, my thoughts are not only on the upcoming holiday but also the memories of a very special Passover 47 years ago. At this time in 1978, Larry and I were anxiously awaiting the birth of our first child. My mother and my older sister had delivered their babies early and easily, and I was expecting the same experience for me. It didn't turn out that way. After I had gone through several hours of unproductive labor, our baby was delivered on his due date,...
From the formulation of contemporary Zionism, the concept of the “Two-State solution” has been a cornerstone obligation. From both legal and historical perspectives, that obligation has not changed. However, today’s realities beg the question: Does Israel’s survivability and longevity depend on implementation of the Two-State Solution? And, if so, how can a parallel Palestinian Arab state be formulated? With the goal of providing an historical perspective and assessment, Heritage will present a 6-part exposition on this timely, but controv...
Ingredients 2 large egg whites, room temperature 1/2 cup sugar 3/4 tsp. cream of tarter 1/2 tsp. salt 1 cup semisweet Passover chocolate chips, melted and slightly cooled 3/4 cup chopped pecans (optional) 1/2 tsp. vanilla bean paste for Passover 1/2 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips (optional) If chips contain milk, the recipe is dairy. Heat the oven to 325 F. In a medium-size oil-free bowl, place two egg whites. Mix in sugar and allow mixture to sit for 1/2 hour at room temperature. The whites...
Rabbi Majesky noted this mission was the largest group to go to Israel this year and the Orlando delegation was the largest within the Jewish Learning Institute – Land and Spirit group. This was my third consecutive trip to Israel with JLI's Land and Spirit. Two years ago, the trip was focused on the land. Last year, the focus was on the people. This year, the focus was on unity with our people and with our land. Am Yisrael Chai! Day 1 (Monday, March 17): Caesarea – Built by King Herod in 22...
Traveling when you’re caring for someone in a wheelchair requires planning ahead. Here are some tips to make traveling with someone in a wheelchair just a bit easier. Hotel Tips When booking a hotel, ask if they have accessible rooms available. This may require booking over the phone, because sometimes you can’t select a disabled room online. Confirm with the hotel that their accessible room has the features you need. Road Trip Tips If you’re driving very far, rest stops are inevitable. Not all of them are handicap accessible, so preplan your...
(JNS) — Gal Gadot joined luminaries like William Shatner, Jodie Foster and even Godzilla when she was honored with a star on the iconic Hollywood Walk of Fame — a first for an Israeli actress. The mood at the tented, star-studded ceremony, held on Hollywood Boulevard outside of the El Capitan Theatre, was celebratory, and Hollywood icons heaped praise on her. Vin Diesel, who co-starred with Gadot in several “Fast & Furious” franchise films, spoke during the ceremony of her “strength and empathy.” “I just love her so much,” the action star sai...
As Central Florida’s senior population grows, the Jewish Pavilion Senior Services and Orlando Senior Help Desk have become vital pillars of support for both seniors and their families. Rooted in Jewish values of compassion, respect, and community, these organizations offer critical resources that promote dignity, connection, and care for aging individuals. A legacy of compassionate care For over 25 years, the Jewish Pavilion has been dedicated to serving seniors throughout Greater Orlando. It p...
(JNS) - On Oct. 7, 2023, the world witnessed what Hamas terrorists are capable of, as armed Gazans gleefully bragged about their ability to torture, murder, mutilate, burn alive, rape and kidnap unarmed civilian children, women and men. And the world saw the unthinkable murderous scenes and reacted. And the reaction was wicked. On Oct. 8, 2023, the truth began to come out loud and clear. The central truth was that anti-Jewish, anti-Israel, global antisemitism was lying so close to the surface,...
This is the story of two Polish Holocaust survivors from Poland, united by despicable tragedy and strengthened by the love for the children they raised. Yakov "Jacob" Kazimierek, was born in Mlawa, Poland on Dec. 10, 1926, one of the seven children of Abraham and Hannah (Granaska) Kazimierek. The family farmed and raised cattle, which they milked or slaughtered. After Germany's invasion of Poland in 1939 thousands of the country's Jews were subjected to the Nazis' persecution, terror, and...
Heritage introduces a new columnist, Steven Cardonick. We hope you will enjoy his twice-a-month column. Steven Cardonick is a veteran lounge singer, impressionist, and stand-up comedian. He took his love of singing and passion for Jewish identity to a storefront Fort Lauderdale synagogue where he was welcomed as a cantor. Then came an invitation to study for the rabbinate and ordination in 2002. His writing experience naturally includes that of his stage shows but also regular columns for...
