Central Florida's Independent Jewish Voice
Central Florida's Independent Jewish Voice
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You never get a second chance to make a first impression. As far as I know that’s not a Jewish adage, but is one that’s accurate and which the publisher of “The Jewish Book of Knowledge” learned and understood well. When I opened the book, my first thought was “stunning.” Everything about it screams high quality from the paper, the pictures, the charts, the cover, and even the binding. Yes, I checked. But before cracking the book itself, first I had to get to it. It comes as a beautiful p...
(JNS) — My name is Tamar Shlezinger. I have a Ph.D. in social work and am a volunteer with United Hatzalah of Israel. Currently, I am taking part in the organization’s delegation to Puerto Rico to offer psychological and medical aid in the wake of Hurricane Fiona. I landed in San Juan, Puerto Rico last Friday morning with my five partners, all United Hatzalah volunteers with a background in psychological treatment and emergency medical aid. After members of the local Jewish community warmly welcomed us at the Chabad house, we started try...
(JTA) - After a long career pause brought on by an assault-induced depression and injuries, actor Brendan Fraser is back in headlines, earning early Oscar buzz for his performance in the upcoming movie "The Whale." What some of even his most ardent fans might not realize is that one of Fraser's earliest roles - alongside Matt Damon in what was his first major onscreen role - came in one the few mainstream Hollywood films to focus on antisemitism at non-Jewish schools. In "School Ties," which...
(JNS) - Listening to Deni Avdija answer questions at Washington Wizards Media Day last week provided a reminder of just how much the likable 21-year-old Israeli forward has accomplished-and endured-in his two seasons in the NBA. And he has a lot to look forward to. The only Israeli in the NBA is about to kick off season 3 with the Wizards, but first he has to get through a tough four-day training camp, fly to Japan for two preseason games against the Golden State Warriors, overcome a groin...
When Jewish summer camps unexpectedly had to cancel their summer programs two years ago after the COVID-19 pandemic hit and before vaccines became available, they faced sudden financial ruin. Jewish camps are widely recognized as uniquely effective tools for cultivating Jewish identity and leadership, and the prospect of dozens of them across the continent permanently shutting down was seen as a problem not just for camps and their campers, but disastrous for the American Jewish community....
(JNS) - My name is Ramzi Batesh and I live in the Jerusalem neighborhood of Beit Safafa. I work at the dispatch center of United Hatzalah and as one of the organization's volunteer EMTs and ambucycle drivers. This past Friday, I saved three people who were suffering medical emergencies. This isn't necessarily unusual, but there was something unique about it because of who I treated and where. The day began with morning prayers. Then I received and responded to a medical emergency involving a Jew...
A number of people call the Orlando Senior Help Desk at the Jewish Pavilion and ask me whether Medicare will cover their independent, assisted or killed, living and the answer is “no.” They are shocked and often angry. Most people pay into Medicare through their payroll for all their employment years, thinking that once they turn 65, the coverage will be free. In reality, Medicare has several expenses. High-income earners pay more in terms of copays, deductibles, and premiums, and expect no out-of-pocket maximum. Original Medicare covers oph...
As the High Holidays approach, so does the time of self-betterment, healing, and repentance. When asking for forgiveness, take time to reflect on what you are specifically sorry for. Remember that you are responsible for your own words or behaviors. Clearly identify what you are sorry for in your apology, without blaming the other person or using "but you" statements. After apologizing, acknowledge the next steps you might need to take to not make the same mistake next time. Change what you can...
(JTA) - In 1944, Faye Schulman, a young Jewish partisan, emerged from the forest into her hometown of Lenin, Poland, on a mission to burn houses the Nazis were using as their wartime offices. One of those houses, she soon discovered, was her own. As she wandered through her childhood home, she spied an old potato peeler still on the floor. Schulman thought of the rest of her family - already murdered by the Nazis by that point - and realized, even if she survived the war herself, that she would...
LOS ANGELES (JTA) - JJ Harel, newly 14 years old and standing at 6-foot-2, expects to face some tough competition when the Olympics return to Los Angeles in 2028 and the starting pistol for the track and field events sounds off. But his first decision will be whether to march into the Olympic stadium under the American, Australian or Israeli flag. In any other family, such musings would be taken as the fantasies of an over-stimulated adolescent mind. However, to skeptics JJ need only unveil the...
When people deny themselves food for an extended period of time they're usually ravenously hungry and find themselves thinking about consuming huge amounts of food. But it's not a good idea to pack it in too quickly. It's too hard on your digestive system. So when Yom Kippur comes to a close, I make it easier for my family and friends and follow the ages-old wisdom of transitioning from the fast to the main meal by offering my guests a light nibble as they come into my home after synagogue. I...
Fasting on Yom Kippur is not easy, nor is it for everyone - some people cannot fast because they are pregnant, breastfeeding or have a medical condition. Some simply do not function well while abstaining from water and food for a 25-hour period. But for those who do choose to fast as a meaningful way to engage in Yom Kippur, there are actually foods to eat beforehand that can set you up for a more successful, less onerous fast. Most people stick to a menu that is classic and delicious but not to...
(JTA) - In a move that is already thrilling some Jewish audiences and stirring controversy among other international fans and activists, Marvel Studios announced that an Israeli comic book hero will appear in the next installment of its Captain America movie franchise. "Captain America: New World Order," which is set for release in 2024, will feature Israeli actress Shira Haas as Sabra, a hero who debuted with a cameo in a 1980 "Incredible Hulk" comic and appeared as a full character the...
If there’s one word that is closely connected with the High Holiday season, it’s teshuvah, repentance. It’s a part of the vocabulary taught to even young religious school children: looking at one’s behavior and then taking steps to make better decisions and live a life free of transgressions against God and our fellow humans. There’s one iconic prayer, recited on each of the days of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, that expresses in a clear and dramatic way our need to perform teshuvah. The text of Unetaneh Tokef lays it all out for us and utili...
(JTA) — Shonna Levin is an Orthodox Jew, but she didn’t spend last Yom Kippur in a synagogue. The Brooklyn activist had planned to set up camp in Prospect Park, where she was going to host an all-day gathering for Jews with eating disorders for whom the holiday centered around fasting can be especially difficult. Levin, who herself has struggled with disordered eating in the past, was forced to cancel, however, due to an injury. Her event was to follow rules typical of recovery-focused spaces: no weight, calories or numbers talk. She also int...
(JTA) - Frank Saraceno has worked for ESPN since 1994 and has produced hour-long documentaries on some of the biggest stars in sports for the cable channel's Emmy Award-winning "E:60" series. But he thinks working on the episode airing Tuesday night might have been the most powerful experience with the show he has had since its inception in 2007. "I don't think I've ever been more gratified in terms of the story that I pitched coming to fruition than I am with Shaul Ladany," Saraceno told the Jewish Telegraphic Agency. "And it's because of him....
As we approach Rosh Hashanah and the Jewish High Holy Days, the staff and board members at the Holocaust Memorial Resource & Education Center of Florida wish you and your family a healthy 5783. We also want to extend our deep thanks for the warm welcome this community has shown to our new CEO Talli Dippold. Dippold, who recently relocated from Charlotte, North Carolina, is the granddaughter of Holocaust survivors and is dedicated to keeping alive the legacy of survivors by telling their...
The month leading up to Rosh Hashanah is the month of Elul. In Hebrew, the letters that spell Elul are Alef, Lamed, Vav and Lamed. Those same letters are the first letters of the binding of a couple on their wedding day. Ani Ledodi V'dodi Li – I am my beloved's and my beloved is mine. This mystical reading is more than a mere coincidence as it also sums up the relationship that Jews around the world will be reviewing as we enter the High Holidays. As the "Jewish New Year," Rosh Hashanah is a t...
As we enter this special time of reflection and renewal, we at Jewish Family Services of Greater Orlando would like to thank all who have supported us this past year as we continue to grow in our commitment to our community. JFS Orlando delivers hope to our community through our FAMILY of services, not just during the holidays but EVERY day. One in seven people, among them one in five children, in Central Florida cannot afford basic food staples. To keep up with the increasing demand for food...
With Rosh Hashanah approaching, the Rosen JCC is excited to update the community on what we believe will be a very busy year ahead. The Hebrew word "shanah" means "year," but is also the root for the Hebrew word for "change." As we look internally to what changes are we willing to consider in our words and actions, the Rosen JCC is excited to launch a new initiative to change the perspective of Jewish families not yet connected to the community. Called "Makom" (Hebrew for "home"), we want the...
The Israeli American Council of Central Florida wishes you happy Jewish New Year, Shana Tova Umetuka! May the year 5783 bring joy, light, health, love, and growth to our community. May we continue to be united and love one another endlessly. Idit Lotringer IAC of Central Florida...
Kudos to the Jewish Pavilion management team - our board, staff, sponsors, supporters and volunteers. The Jewish Pavilion has been a pillar in the community for over 20 years, and we intend to remain an anchor for years to come. We are fiscally strong and secure, thanks to community-wide support. Despite the ongoing pandemic, the Jewish Pavilion was able to carry out most of its Shabbat and holiday festivities for our beloved seniors. All of our fundraising and friend-raising efforts were...
Jewish Academy of Orlando welcomed 34 new students into the 2022-2023 school year. Our motto this year is "Every Child Counts," and we have prepared a rich curriculum in both Hebrew/Judaic and Secular education that will help each child succeed in their own way. We will also be rolling out our Mini Mensch program that will help preschoolers transition into our kindergarten classes and JAO Connections which will help previous students of JAO connect with each other, be a welcoming face at their...
Why didn’t the United States do more to help Europe’s Jews during the Holocaust? This question haunts the history of the United States and the Holocaust, and lurks behind practically every storyline in the new film on the subject from Ken Burns, Lynn Novick and Sarah Botstein, to be aired for three consecutive nights on PBS beginning Sept. 18. The question, of course, isn’t just about the Holocaust, but about the years before the war, when the Nazi vise tightened around the Jews of Germany and more than half of them sought to obtain visas...
When visiting a doctor or hospital bring along a notebook or tablet and take notes. It is important to ask question of your healthcare provider about the benefits and side effects of medications or procedures. I suggest that you, or a loved one, research the same information on line so that you feel well informed. There are times when a second opinion should be sought, especially preceding a surgery. I recommend you bring along an advocate. Sometimes, it is hard to process so much new information. When a family member or friend comes to an...
