Central Florida's Independent Jewish Voice
Central Florida's Independent Jewish Voice
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(JNS) - Today, the rise of antisemitism is undeniable, but we must be careful not to lose perspective. We are so close to the phenomenon that we risk overlooking a profound transformation that is quietly underway: a large percentage of Jewish people have experienced a rebirth in their connection to Jewish peoplehood. Our confusion is understandable. Comprehending today's geopolitical and cultural landscape is akin to watching a rapidly flickering screen on which the images pass so rapidly that...
(JNS) - Like a modern-day Moses, I led my flock last week through parched terrain that I had never visited before, in search of a piece of land known to me by description only. Granted, this was on a weekend hike with my family, to which we arrived by car with a liter of sunscreen and a stack of beef jerky. Still, there was plenty of Moses-like pioneering spirit on our summertime stay in Nahal Tzalmon, a wadi in the Galilee that leads to the Sea of Galilee. It has a flow in the rainy season, but...
Submitted by Jewish Pavilion Senior Services At Jewish Pavilion Senior Services, we are always looking for meaningful ways to help older adults live healthier, more vibrant lives. Through the Orlando Senior Help Desk, we frequently hear concerns about neuropathy — tingling, numbness, and discomfort in the hands and feet that can affect balance, mobility, and quality of life. While neuropathy has many causes, nutrition can play an important role in managing symptoms and supporting nerve health. One nutrient gaining attention is what some p...
MORNING MINYANS Chabad of Altamonte Springs — Sunday morning minyan, 8 a.m. Weekday morning minyan 6:30 a.m., 407-720-8111. Chabad of South Orlando — Monday - Friday, 8 a.m. and 10 minutes before sunset; Saturday, 9:30 a.m.; Sunday, 8:15 a.m., 407-354-3660. Congregation Ahavas Yisrael — Monday - Friday, 7:30 a.m.; Saturday, 9:30 a.m.; Sunday, 9 a.m., 407-644-2500. Congregation Chabad Lubavitch of Greater Daytona — Monday, 8 a.m.; Thursday, 8 a.m., 904-672-9300. Congregation Ohev Shalom — Sunday, 9 a.m., 407-298-4650. GOBOR Community Minyan at...
(JNS) - When I visited Thailand recently, I couldn't help but notice the abundance of water. The island was lush and green. Palm trees and tropical plants seemed to grow effortlessly, with no visible irrigation systems feeding them. Living in Israel, I have become accustomed to a different landscape. Here, drip irrigation lines snake across parks, shopping centers, train stations and private gardens. This Israeli innovation has helped transform a dry country into a thriving agricultural success...
Part Five of a Six-Part series The 78 percent nobody talks about Here is a mathematical word problem that rarely appears in international discourse but goes to the core of the underlying equation of the problem of the Nakba narrative. "If the British, who controlled Palestine, gave 78 percent of that territory to a new state called Transjordan in 1921, and then the United Nations planned to divide the remaining 22 percent in 1947 between a new Arab state and a Jewish state, on what basis do we a...
Serves 6 During a vacation in Sarasota, I had an incredible meal at Harry's Continental that ended with carrot cake. I couldn't wait to get back to my kitchen to attempt duplicating this delicious gluten free carrot cake. Preheat the oven to 350F. Line a 9" square baking pan with parchment that overlaps the sides of the pan for easy removal. Spray the parchment with cooking spray. 2/3 cup coarsely chopped walnuts (optional) 2 1/2 cups peeled carrots minced, not shredded, (about 3-4 medium...
(JNS) - Cape Verde winger Hélio Varela, who plays for Israeli Premier League club Maccabi Tel Aviv, scored with his first touch after coming off the bench in a 2-2 World Cup group-stage draw against Uruguay in Miami on Sunday evening local time. Varela, 24, found the net in the 61st minute, moments after entering the match, helping Cape Verde secure a point. Born in Portugal, he represents Cape Verde at the international level. Israel's Foreign Ministry and Maccabi Tel Aviv highlighted the...
Summers in the 1950s: no homework, no chores, no rules. Nothing but fun and freedom. Summer vacations longer than they are today. School years were about 170 days back then — shorter than the 180-day minimum mandated now. We didn’t break until the second half of June, but classes didn’t resume until after Labor Day. By then it was feeling more like autumn. We had a full taste of summer. Today’s return to classes (as early as Aug. 10th!) robs youngsters of what would still be a summer...
A new “Talmud of America” invites users to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States by exploring new commentaries on key phrases from the Declaration of Independence. These commentaries and connections to Jewish texts are provided by leading rabbis and educators at the Pardes Institute of Jewish Studies. “There will be no shortage of pomp and circumstance to mark this anniversary—as there should be,” said Rabbi Leon A. Morris, president of Pardes. “We wanted to offer something different. For Jews, text study that...
Three remarkably well-preserved storage jars dating back thousands of years to the Middle Bronze Age have been unearthed near the site traditionally identified with the biblical Tabernacle during this year's archaeological excavations at Ancient Shiloh, in the Binyamin region of Samaria. Researchers are examining whether the vessels were used to store agricultural products, including grapes, wine and olive oil. The announcement by the Mishkan Shiloh Foundation came days before the annual...
(JNS) - "Oct. 7 changed everything for me," said Dr. Adam Berkovits, an emergency room physician from Las Vegas who had not spoken a word of Hebrew for 30 years. "On Oct. 8, I became a 'born-again' Jew. While the attacks in Israel didn't surprise me, the reaction on Oct. 8 by people in the United States marked a turning point for me and for everyone around me." More than 2,500 miles away in Smithtown, N.Y., Dr. Richard Feldstein was equally shaken as he watched the death toll from the Hamas...
This article was submitted by Jewish Pavilion Senior Services There are moments in caregiving that divide life into “before” and “after.” For many families facing Alzheimer’s disease, that moment comes when a loved one looks directly at them and no longer knows who they are. Through the work of Jewish Pavilion Senior Services and the Orlando Senior Help Desk, this experience is one that countless caregivers quietly carry. It brings shock, heartbreak, and a profound sense of loss that can be difficult to explain to anyone who has not lived it....
Summertime and things are starting to boil My fault. After four straight years of angelic perfection, I went off the rails. Maybe it was my evolution towards curmudgeonly irritability. Or could it be that I was inspired by the late country music singer David Alan Coe? Not by his behavior which saw him serve time in reform schools and the Ohio Penitentiary. It was his song "Need a Little Time Off for Bad Behavior." My bad wasn't so bad but bad enough. It was lunchtime at one of our favorite...
My journey to Kraków began long before I boarded a plane in Orlando. From my home in Central Florida, I traveled thousands of miles to Kraków to attend the 2026 Congress of the European Society of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine. On the surface, it was another international medical meeting. In reality, it became something far deeper: a journey through history, memory, friendship, and the enduring bonds that unite people across nations and faiths. As an observant Jewish physician, and as the son and grandson of Polish Jews whose lives w...
Part Four of a Six-Part series A On May 15, as has been done for decades, Palestinian Arabs, their supporters and Israel detractors observed the “Nakba” or the catastrophe of Israel’s birth in 1948. In order to understand the veracity of that narrative and how it’s been conflated in modern dialogue and reporting, it’s important to understand what lies behind that. A Cold War creation The invention of modern Palestinian Arab identity in 1964 did not happen in a vacuum. Nor was it merely the product of the coalescing of an ethnic Arab identity...
The Sami Rohr Prize for Jewish Literature, in association with the National Library of Israel, is pleased to announce that Amir Tibon, author of “The Gates of Gaza: A Story of Betrayal, Survival, and Hope in Israel’s Borderlands” (Little, Brown and Company), is the winner of its 2026 award for nonfiction. The $100,000 prize is awarded annually to an emerging author writing in or translated into English. In “The Gates of Gaza,” Tibon weaves together personal testimony, historical context a...
As America approaches the 250th anniversary of its independence, a familiar claim has resurfaced. In recent months, I have heard a number of television commentators describe the United States as a "Christian nation," as though that settles the matter. A brief look back is in order, beginning with George Washington and a deadly problem. George Washington and the battle against disease Americans often think of George Washington as a military commander on horseback, crossing the Delaware or...
Submitted by Jewish Pavilion Senior Services There is a meaningful shift taking place in how we understand aging. Older adults are not looking to be managed or directed, they are asking to be included. Included in conversations, in celebrations, in decisions, and in the future itself. The most powerful stories about later life are not centered on decline or limitation. They are rooted in belonging, joy, usefulness, and the enduring human desire to feel part of something larger. At the Orlando Senior Help Desk, a core principle is recognizing...
(JNS) - Teperberg Winery has a new target. Ironically, it stems from the winery's success in selling millions of bottles of good, reasonably priced wines in Israeli supermarkets. Today, however, Teperberg is producing finely crafted premium wines that still offer strong value. The target is persuading serious wine drinkers to give them a try. Once they do, the winemakers say, the wines will speak for themselves. "Along with the changing palate of us and our clients, the wines we are making...
I was in a dark place recently. Too much stress, not enough encouragement, and failure to get proper nourishment and sufficient sleep. It took a toll. I had to reach out for inspiration and the actor Bill Murray came to mind. More than one of his films has meant much to me. One of my favorites is the fantasy/romantic comedy “Groundhog Day” in which Phil Connors gets to relive February 2nd over and over. He learns and grows eventually, and develops talents, character, and a loving rel...
Part Three of a Six-Part series A On May 15, as has been done for decades, Palestinian Arabs, their supporters and Israel detractors observed the “Nakba” or the catastrophe of Israel’s birth in 1948. In order to understand the veracity of that narrative and how it’s been conflated in modern dialogue and reporting, it’s important to understand what lies behind that. The Term and Its Meaning The word “Nakba” is Arabic for “catastrophe.” For Palestinians and their supporters who have become conflated with and indistinguishable from Israel detra...
(JNS) - When IDF reservist and father of four Moti Malka returned home to Netanya for a much-needed 24-hour break from reserve duty, his wife had one request: Help their 10-year-old son prepare for an English exam the next day. Realizing the task was daunting, Malka turned to a tool he knew well from his day job developing AI-based solutions for companies. "I said to my son David, 'Let's create a game using AI to prepare for the exam,'" Malka recalled. The result surprised them both. "After two...
Rooted in the Hebrew word "Chaim," meaning "life," the Chaim Society is dedicated to supporting healthcare professionals while fostering connection, compassion, and service both locally and abroad. The Chaim Society continues to grow as a vibrant network connecting Jewish healthcare professionals throughout Central Florida. Founded by Dr. Daniel Layish and Dr. Solomon "Shlomo" Saul in early 2025, the organization has evolved from a simple WhatsApp group into a thriving professional and...
Submitted by the Jewish Pavilion Senior Services A cancer diagnosis can turn life upside down in an instant. One moment, everything feels routine. Next, you’re sitting in a doctor’s office trying to absorb life-changing news and wondering what happens next. For spouses and family members, those first few weeks of caregiving can feel overwhelming — filled with uncertainty, emotion, and more questions than answers. At the Orlando Senior Help Desk, a program of Jewish Pavilion Senior Services, we often hear from caregivers navigating this exact mo...
