Central Florida's Independent Jewish Voice
Central Florida's Independent Jewish Voice
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By Christine DeSouza The film "Matchmaking" opens this year's Jewish Film Festival, and what a wonderful way to begin the series with Israel's biggest box office hit of the year! In this tale, love is blind - almost literally. The age-old matchmaking tradition in the ultra-Orthodox community now at least allows the future bride and groom to have some say in the arrangement. There are still rules to follow and staying in one's "class" (Ashkenazi, Sephardic, rich, middle class, physical imperfections ...) is very important. Every parent wants the...
(JTA) - When Rome lit up a landmark this week in blue and white following Hamas' deadly invasion of Israel, it joined many other cities and countries across the globe that have bathed their most prominent buildings in the colors of the Israeli flag, including the White House, the Eiffel Tower and the Sydney Opera House. The landmark Rome chose, however, isn't its most iconic building, nor its biggest. But it does hold a special resonance for Jews. The Arch of Titus, in the city's historic center, was built nearly 2,000 years ago to celebrate...
Most people pay into Medicare through their payroll for their employment years, thinking that once they turn 65, the coverage will be free. Medicare has several expenses. High-income earners pay more in terms of copays, deductibles, and premiums. Eye Examination and Optician-Original Medicare covers ophthalmologic costs like cataract surgery, but doesn’t cover contact lenses and glasses or routine eye checkups. Some people may opt to purchase a vision insurance policy, which costs several hundred dollars annually. Hearing Aids-Medicare covers a...
(JTA) - On a night when Dean Kremer became the first Israeli-American to start an MLB playoff game - while his parents' country was at war, no less - fellow Jewish player Alex Bregman drew a Star of David on his Houston Astros hat for his own Tuesday night playoff game. Kremer, who holds dual citizenship, did not fare so well in his historic start: the 27-year-old surrendered six earned runs in just 1.2 innings, and his Baltimore Orioles lost 7-1 to the Texas Rangers in a game that ended their once-promising season. Bregman, who has expressed...
These cookies can be made ahead. This recipe makes 24 cookies and these are perfect for dunking! Line an 8x4 bread loaf pan with plastic wrap, allowing it to overlap the sides for easy removal. Ingredients: 1 1/2 tsp. ground cardamon 1/2 tsp. baking soda 2 cups flour or 1 1/2 cups gluten free flour 1/2 tsp. salt 8 T. butter, cut in tiny pieces 1/3 cup water 1 T. fresh orange zest 1 1/2 cups turbino sugar or part turbino (large crystals) and part brown sugar 1 tsp. almond extract 1 cup sliced blanched almonds 1/2 cup chopped pecans Directions:...
(JTA) - I first met Alice Shalvi, the mother of religious feminism in Israel, in the mid-1990s during a meeting of ICAR, the International Coalition of Agunah Rights, a coalition that she founded to advocate for women denied a religious divorce by their husbands. She was in her early 70s at the time and had been fighting for agunah rights for 20 years. I was in my mid-20s, and new to the cause. I was there as co-chair of Mavoi Satum, which a group of us founded in 1995. This coalition was meant to be advancing systemic solutions to this awful...
More than 48 million Americans are caregivers. There are 50 federal actions to help those caring for older adults, including expanded home-base care for veterans and a pilot program offering help for caregivers dealing with loved ones who have dementia. The Florida State Office is fighting for legislation and policy changes on issues such as paid leave and tax credits for caregiving work. AARP helps families find local resources and tools through state caregivers resource guides which note state programs, government agencies, and tools that ass...
I have been sick for days. The criminal Islamist Iranian regime continues to threaten the world and brutalize its own people. It must be stopped. Sadly, too many Americans don't know, don't care, or are suffering delusions that the regime can be negotiated with. It cannot. America needs leaders who will not appease and enable the Iranian regime, but who will confront it, and bring it to its long overdue end. I have been sick since watching the recent Republican presidential debate. It pains me that Iran was not mentioned, neither as a matter...
The Holocaust Memorial Resource and Education Center of Florida condemns the vicious and indiscriminate attacks carried out by Hamas in Israel. These attacks have resulted in the murder of hundreds of people, countless injuries, and the ruthless taking of hostages. We meet these actions with unequivocal condemnation. While we recognize the complexities of this region’s history, there is no justification for this brutal surprise attack, which undermines stability and peace everywhere. As a museum dedicated to teaching the history of the H...
(JNS) - A unique inscription written in Koine Greek, the language of the New Testament, was unearthed by Hebrew University archaeologists during excavations at the Hyrcania Fortress, about three miles west of Qumran in the Judean Desert. Paraphrasing Psalm 86, the inscription reads, "Jesus Christ, guard me, for I am poor and needy. Guard my life, for I am faithful to you." The first section of the original psalm reads "Lord" instead of "Jesus Christ." It was found on the side of a large building stone painted in red under a cross, most likely...
As we gracefully age, it becomes even more important to prioritize our health and well-being. One of the most effective ways to do this is by eating a colorful diet of plant foods. Whether you’re a health-conscious senior or a caregiver seeking optimal nutrition for your loved ones, incorporating a variety of fruits, vegetables, nuts, and whole grains can have a major impact on vitality and strength. The Power of Plant Foods Plant foods have a myriad of nutrients that are essential for our bodies to thrive. By consuming a rainbow of colors f...
Every year since 2015, my husband, Larry, and I have spent six weeks in Frisco, Colorado, a beautiful mountain town nestled in the Rockies. Our rented condo is a two-minute walk to my daughter, Julie, and her family. We breathe in the fresh mountain air and savor the beauty that surrounds us. We hike on miles of trail that take us under shimmering aspens, by flowing streams, and onto the shores of blue mountain lakes that reflected the snow-topped mountains. Frisco has always been a place of peace and renewal, but this summer I carried with me...
(JTA) - The film and TV world recently lost two Jewish actors who were not household names but were acclaimed for a pair of signature villainous roles. Last month, Mark Margolis passed away following a career on stage and screen that spanned over 60 years. He studied with and was later the personal assistant of renowned acting teacher Stella Adler before appearing in "Scarface," HBO's "Oz" and multiple films by the acclaimed Jewish director Darren Aronofsky. But he was most remembered for his Emmy-nominated performance as Hector Salamanca, the...
For many years, Mae lived at the Heritage (now called Vitality) on route 46 in Sanford and her only child, Toni Gitles, dutifully cared for her. The Jewish Pavilion staff and volunteers came weekly for visits, Shabbat services and mahjong games. She was truly adored by the Pavilion and by the staff at the Heritage. Meanwhile, her daughter was overwhelmed with the tasks of caregiving was they increased exponentially over time. When Mae passed away, Toni became an an expert on Caregiving, a consultant, author and professional speaker. “21 M...
This story originally appeared on Kveller. I know, I know. The shofar has finally stopped ringing in your ears, you’ve managed to get the honey out of the couch cushions and you are fully re-hydrated after Yom Kippur’s fast. You want to rest. I get it; I do, too. But hear me out. You may have thought we all peaked at some point during the third minute of “tekiyah gadolaaaaaaah,” but we most certainly have not. Welcome to my absolute favorite Jewish holiday: Sukkot. If you haven’t marked the holiday before, allow me to share some backgroun...
This story was originally published on The Nosher. Stuffed cabbage rolls are a traditional Simchat Torah food because two of the little rolls side by side look like a Torah scroll. Even if your cabbage rolls come out in various sizes, you can place a big roll next to a small roll, and together they'll look just like a Torah at the end of the year, scrolled all the way to the end of Deuteronomy. Like soup, stuffed cabbage rolls taste just as good (if not better) the next day. So this recipe can be made before Shemini Atzeret begins, and it will...
(JNS) — Arab antisemitism is not a response to the creation of Israel, it is the driving force behind the Arab-Israeli conflict. Too many people reverse cause and effect. They blame the antisemitism suffered by world Jewry on the existence of Israel. This is the central thesis in Matthias Küntzel’s book “Nazis, Islamic Antisemitism and the Middle East,” newly published in an English translation. Küntzel, a German political scientist and historian, holds that the 1948 Arab-Israeli war was an aftershock of World War II and a direct result of...
(JTA) — If one were to imagine what the prophet Jonah saw on his way down into the gullet of the whale, it might be something like this: He slides feet first into its mouth on two inches of warm slime, the effluvia of a thousand squids past. Tooth sockets above him now, rancid black pits. Teeth passing on either side, yellowed cones, one missing, one fractured, one putrid with rot…The quaking cave of the mouth…His bare foot plants into a cold mash. The scene, however, is actually a passage from one of the year’s buzziest novels: “Whalef...
Overweight in Beverly Hills? That's a misdemeanor. Overweight in show business? Ahh, that's practically a felony. That's the thesis of the hilarious fiction story "Once Upon a Time in Beverly Hills," written by first-time author Elaine Franklin. It is a blend of escapism and realism featuring two Jewish characters in a fun romp through the glamour and pitfalls of society and show biz. It is a "fine fairytale of three good friends and some magic," said one reviewer. The story centers around Joanna Leighton, a semi-famous and fat interior designe...
(JNS) — A 1953 “coup put an end to the best hope for democratic secular politics in Iran during the 20th century,” stated Nader Hashemi during a recent Alternative Radio podcast titled “Iran: The Struggle for Democracy.” Hashemi, an American of Iranian ancestry, is the newly-installed director of Georgetown University’s Saudi-established Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal Center for Muslim-Christian Understanding. Hashemi was appointed to this position after his anti-Israel conspiracy mongering made his presence on the faculty of the University...
(JTA) — Fat Choy was a critic’s pick for its flavorful, inventive vegan Chinese menu when it opened in Manhattan’s East Village in 2021. But pandemic and inflation pressures forced its closure the following year, and its chef, Justin Lee, considered exiting the kitchen to become a teacher. Now, Fat Choy has reopened in suburban New Jersey, with a Jewish partner and kosher certification. And this week, the restaurant landed on the New York Times’ 2023 Restaurant List — the 50 restaurants across the United States that the newspaper’s dining crit...
This story originally appeared in Hey Alma. I get a lot of odd looks when I tell people that my favorite day of the Jewish year is Yom Kippur. As Jewish holy days go, Yom Kippur exists at the complicated intersection of community observance, intense liturgy and heavy-hitting ritual expectations that can be - and for many people, is - a perfect storm of anxiety, pressure and guilt. From the traditional fast to the powerful language of the readings, Yom Kippur can bring up complicated feelings and unpleasant associations. There's a reason that...
As you get older, a health care provider may recommend vaccinations, also known as shots or immunizations, to help prevent or curtail certain illnesses. Talk with a doctor or pharmacist about which of the following vaccines you need. Flu - Flu is short for influenza. It is a virus that can cause fever, chills, sore throat, stuffy nose, headache, and muscle aches. Flu is very serious when it gets in your lungs. Older adults are at a higher risk for developing serious complications from the flu, such as pneumonia. Flu is very contagious....
(JTA) — When Ryan Lavarnway joined Team Israel for the World Baseball Classic in 2017, the journeyman catcher chose jersey no. 36 not because of the number stitched onto the back, but because the shirt fit him best. But in the years since that tournament, any time Lavarnway has represented Israel, he’s stuck with 36, which holds meaning as a multiple of 18, a number that signifies life in Jewish tradition. That choice is emblematic of Lavarnway’s experience with Team Israel, one that he says has changed his life. It’s also the inspira...
(JTA) - Those who are Jewish or Phish fans - or both - have likely noticed at one point: Jews really seem to love Phish. There are many possible reasons for this, starting with the fact that the genre-bending jam band has many ardent fans of all stripes, having sold millions of albums and played to enormous festival crowds for decades. Two of the band members - bassist Mike Gordon and drummer Jon Fishman - are also Jewish, and the group has been known to play Jewish songs such as "Yerushalayim Shel Zahav" and "Avinu Malkeinu" live. But there's...
