Central Florida's Independent Jewish Voice
Central Florida's Independent Jewish Voice
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There are veterans like an Australian gold medalist canoe paddler and Israel's powerhouse judo team. There are newcomers, like the youngest American female wrestler ever and Israel's soccer team. And there are athletes competing in events from fencing to beach volleyball to racewalking to air pistol shooting. The 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris are around the corner, running from July 26 through Aug. 11, and dozens of Jewish athletes will be among the estimated 10,500 competitors representing roug...
For people living with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias, the world around them significantly impacts how they engage, react, and enjoy life. Caregivers often seek supportive tips and tricks for behavior management, but did you know you can modify and even prevent behaviors associated with dementia by using color? Many studies have been conducted on light as well as color with varying results. However, most experts agree that the use of colors, especially for someone living with dementia, can help in improving their quality of life. R...
(JTA) - STOCKBRIDGE, Massachusetts - There's a delightful "what if" moment at the start of "What, Me Worry? The Art and Humor of MAD Magazine," a new exhibit at the Norman Rockwell Museum. In 1964, MAD commissioned Rockwell himself to paint a portrait of Alfred E. Neuman, the humor magazine's gap-toothed mascot, as he might have looked in real life. Correspondence featured in the exhibit suggests that Rockwell - grand master of gentle, folksy, even cornball Americana - was close to signing on...
(JTA) - When I think of my friend and spiritual advisor Andy Sacks, I think of the words of the late civil rights icon, Rep. John Lewis, who urged his followers to "get into good trouble." As the longtime director of the Rabbinical Assembly in Israel, Rabbi Sacks headed the Conservative movement's Bureau for Religious Affairs. In more than 28 years in that role he fought tirelessly for the right of non-Orthodox rabbis and congregations in Israel to operate on a level playing field with Israel's...
Independence Day is a time when people of all ages come together to celebrate the freedom and liberty that their country provides. While the focus of this celebration is often on the younger generation, it is important to recognize and honor the contributions of senior citizens who have played a significant role in building and shaping our nation. Senior citizens have lived through decades of change, witnessing the progress and challenges that have shaped our society. They have experienced firsthand the struggles and victories that have led to...
Sibling dynamics further complicate the caregiving journey. While parents hope for unity among siblings in providing care, disparities often arise due to various factors such as distance, lifestyle choices, or historical family dynamics. Recognizing these differences and maintaining open communication are pivotal. It’s essential to acknowledge the significance of caregiving collectively and strive to prevent disputes from eroding familial bonds. For siblings unable to contribute physically, offering support in alternative ways, such as m...
(JTA) - On the eve of World War II, the Higher Institute for Jewish Studies in Berlin embodied an avant-garde era for the study of modern Judaism and philosophy, hosting students from the leading thinker Leo Baeck to Czech Jewish writer Franz Kafka to the first woman rabbi, Regina Jonas. It was also home to one of the world's largest and most important Jewish libraries - about 60,000 books of theology, history and literature that reflected the diversity of German-Jewish society before the...
(JTA) Houston mourns a ‘PR Fairy’ killed in a fall Susan Farb Morris was spending Father’s Day weekend in Galveston, Texas with her husband, children and grandchildren when the balcony of the vacation home on which she was standing collapsed. She died of her injuries on June 14, at 68. Her death shocked her hometown Houston community where, as the founder and president of Susan Farb Morris Public Relations, she was known as “The PR Fairy.” In addition to arts and corporate clients, Morris wo...
(JNS) - American-Jewish actor Michael Rapaport said on Monday that the Oct. 7 Hamas massacre, and the wave of antisemitism that it triggered across the United States, were deeply personal for him and enhanced his connection with Judaism. Rapaport spoke to JNS on the sidelines of the annual Pulse of Israel conference in Jerusalem, where he received the "Leadership of Zion Award" from the hands of CEO and founder Avi Abelow. The comedian has emerged as a leading voice for Israel in Hollywood, at a...
Boynton Beach, Florida retiree, Jerry Klinger, has dedicated his life to preserving the often-overlooked contributions of Jewish individuals and communities. After a successful career in finance, he founded the Jewish American Society for Historic Preservation, which has completed over 200 historical projects across 43 states and eight countries, highlighting Jewish heritage and history. Klinger's journey into historical preservation began with an unexpected discovery while searching for the...
All my life, I was afraid to go to Israel. The stories of terrorism were scary to me. Although many of my family and friends visited Israel, I never understood the attraction to Israel. I did not grow up in a religious family. My son Sam moved to Israel in March 2023, when he was 24 years old. He made Aliyah in the Nefesh B'Nefesh program for young professionals. Sam started in the Ulpan program in Ra'anana to learn Hebrew. Mostly with Russian and Ukrainian refugees, he was one of only two...
(JTA) - For its latest cover model, Vogue Germany selected a celebrity who regularly hobnobs with visiting dignitaries and walks the red carpet at film premieres: Margot Friedländer, 102, one of the oldest and most prominent Holocaust survivors in the world. In addition to documenting Friedländer impeccable attire and indefatigable spirit, the Vogue article includes her public condemnation of the rise of the political far right in Germany. About the rise of the far-right Alternative for G...
You might think that the Jewish Pavilion Senior Services maintains its focus only on the elder residents in the Orlando area. This is far from the fact. The seniors who we are engaged with continually interact with elementary age youngsters, high schoolers and those attending local universities. Let me introduce you to two young ladies who decided to dedicate their B’not Mitzvah project to the seniors at Oakmonte Village Lake Mary. Chloe and Layla were searching for a project to fulfill their ...
(Ocala, FL) — Herut North America announces Herut Central Florida’s first event. The Jewish Community event will be held on Sunday, June 30, from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. at Clermont’s Waterfront Park at 330 3rd Street in Clermont, Florida. The event will include a kosher cooking demonstration, Hebrew lessons, rabbinical discussions, and Krav Maga sessions for all ages. Several local vendors will attend to support Israel and the Jewish people. “I am very excited to be putting on this first event for Herut here in Clermont,” stated Martin Beck, the...
You may have seen her. You may have sat in synagogue while she was the cantor during a shabbat service in one of the many Jewish institutions in the Orlando area. She is the extremely versatile, tremendously talented Cantor Nina Fine. Currently, she works as a freelance cantor and educator and has led services and/or taught at six synagogues in the Orlando area, including High Holiday Cantor for the past seven years at Temple Beth El in Ormond Beach. Or perhaps you saw her on stage at Carnegie...
Chai Lifeline is a remarkable organization that provides crisis support and care for terminally ill children and those with severe long-term disabilities. Every summer, they host Camp Simcha, a two-week retreat where college students volunteer to take care of very sick children, providing 24/7 care, including tasks like changing feeding tubes. The goal is to give these children the time of their lives, filled with joy and happiness. The camp is actual multiple camps, in New Jersey, California,...
Diabetic kidney disease is a condition in which kidney function declines in individuals with diabetes resulting in the inefficient removal of waste and excess fluids from the body. This can lead to a buildup of toxins and damage to other organs. Certain factors increase the likelihood of developing diabetic kidney disease including high blood pressure, poor glucose control, genetic predisposition, and diet. Early stages of the disease may not show symptoms, but as kidney function worsens, patients may experience nausea, vomiting, loss of...
(JNS) - Joe Berlinger says he was troubled when he read reports of a 2018 study from the Conference on Jewish Material Claims Against Germany, which showed one in 10 millennial Americans thought that Jews were responsible for the Holocaust, and half could not name a single concentration camp. So Berlinger, a two-time Emmy Award winner and Oscar-nominated film director who has covered serial killers like Ted Bundy, Jeffrey Dahmer and John Wayne Gacy, in addition to world events such as the...
By Michael Segal (JNS) — The core anti-Israel claim on campuses is that the Jews are not indigenous in the Land of Israel. Jews are labeled as “settler-colonialists” and based on this, the Jewish state is declared illegitimate and worth dismantling. The Jewish community needs to do more to educate students to counter such false claims. Specifically, it needs to drop its reluctance to marshal the science to make the case for Israel. There is, of course, abundant historical, archaeological and linguistic evidence for the continuity of Jews over...
By Hal Simonds On March 31 Chabad of North Orlando' s Rabbi Yanki Majesky led a local contingent to Israel for one week to take part in JLI's Solidarity Trip to show love and support to the Israeli people. As stated, the trip was to show support to the Israeli people; so that perhaps they could draw strength to help them carry on through the horror of a heinous attack and the ongoing war against evil. It turns out the people of Israel provided us with strength. At each stop, with every speaker,...
(JTA) - Taylor Swift's detachment from contentious global conflicts is a hallmark of her superstardom. For some fans in Israel, it's also a selling point. Michal Paz-Klapp, the Young Adult editor at Israel's prominent Modan Publishing House, snatched the opportunity to publish a Hebrew-language edition of "Who Is Taylor Swift?," by Kirsten Anderson. The U.S. children's book came out in April as part of Penguin Workshop's bestselling "Who Was?" and "Who Is?" series, a range of illustrated...
Dementia profoundly impacts daily life for both individuals and their loved ones. Recognizing this, it’s crucial to comprehend its effects and take steps to create a supportive living environment. This guide aims to empower caregivers and individuals by transforming living spaces into safe and comfortable havens for those dealing with dementia. Challenges of dementia at home Living with dementia presents unique challenges within the home environment. Simple adjustments like decluttering and ensuring clear pathways can enhance safety and r...
(JTA) - They wanted to capture a growing Jewish generational divide over Israel. The Jewish makers of "Israelism" accomplished that - and then some. Over the last seven months, the documentary critiquing the American Jewish relationship to Israel has become something closer to a foundational text for the campus pro-Palestinian movement. It's been screened at more than 100 colleges, including several encampments. It has toured overseas and won support from an array of Jewish groups on the left,...
(JTA) — An exhibit about Jews in Hollywood that launched at the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures in Los Angeles following an outcry from Jewish critics is now getting a revision — following another outcry from Jewish critics. The museum opened its first-ever permanent exhibit, a deep-dive on the Jewish pioneers that laid the groundwork for Hollywood, on May 19. “Hollywoodland: Jewish Founders and the Making of a Movie Capital” launched two and a half years after the museum opened without the history of the industry’s Jewish beginnings. Designe...
(JTA) — Diane von Furstenberg’s design business was stagnating in the 1980s when she got a call that her mother had had a nervous breakdown in Europe. The breakdown, her mother’s companion said, may have been triggered by hearing German men speaking loudly. Her mother was cowering under a hotel concierge’s desk. Von Furstenberg, newly divorced and worrying about the future of her dress label, immediately headed to Europe with her children. She knew that her mother had survived the Holocaust, but...
