Heritage Florida Jewish News - Central Florida's Independent Jewish Voice

TEL AVIV (JTA) — On a blistering summer day a few years ago, journalist Joshua Mitnick and his Palestinian translator, Nuha Musleh, were out reporting a story about an East Jerusalem village. The Palestinian residents were protesting the Israeli se...

Steven Farkas, 68, of Orlando, passed away at his residence on Friday, Aug. 20, 2021. Mr. Farkas was born in New York on July 7, 1953, to the late Victor and Raymonde Farkas. He was a psychologist. Mr. Farkas is survived by his son, Jesse, and his... Full story

Belle Sefekar Gladstein, age 93, of Maitland, passed away peacefully at her home on Thursday, Aug. 19, 2021. Mrs. Gladstein, a native of Brooklyn, New York, was born on Dec. 23, 1927, to the late Jack and Jennie Pitilon Sefekar. She was a high... Full story

Submitted by the family Andrea Bette Rubin, age 79, of Delray Beach, Florida, passed away on Aug. 24, 2021, at The Suites at Trustbridge (Care Center in Boca Raton). Andrea, or Randie as she was known by her friends and family, was born in Brooklyn... Full story

James Allen Dawkins, 77, of So. Pasadena, passed away on July 27. He was co-owner of the Jewish Press Group of Tampa Bay, Inc., and publisher of the Jewish Press of Tampa Bay/Pinellas edition and Jewish Press of Tampa Bay/ Tampa edition, which...

Submitted by the family Michael B. Etzkin was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, on Feb. 28, 1947, to Joe and Paula Etzkin and died on Aug. 17, 2021, in Altamonte Springs, Fla., at the age of 74. At the age of 16, Michael and his twin brother Allan, who... Full story

Morris Barocas, 94, of Orlando, passed away on Thursday, July 22, 2021, at his residence. Mr. Barocas was born in New York on May 29, 1927,, to the late Joseph and Rebecca Azar Barocas. After serving two tours in the United States Navy, e and his... Full story

Charles L. Goldberg, 77, of Winter Park, passed away on Tuesday, July 27, 2021, at his home following a brief illness. He was born on Jan. 14, 1944, in Youngstown, Ohio, to the late Samuel and Eleanor Schagrin Goldberg. A retired physical therapist,... Full story

Mr. Alan M. Rakofsky, 81, of Merritt Island died Friday July 30, 2021 at Vitas Hospice following a brief illness. Mr. Rakofsky was born June 17, 1940, in Brooklyn, New York to the late Marvin and Sylvia (Silverman) Rakofsky and moved to the coast in... Full story

Mr. Ernest Schoenfeld, 87, of Merritt Island died Friday, July 30, 2021, at Solaris Healthcare Merritt Island following a brief illness. Mr. Schoenfeld was born Nov. 22, 1933, in Detroit, Michigan, to the late Alex and Molly (Bornstein) Schoenfeld.... Full story

Mr. Robert Sheldon, 74, of Altamonte Springs, passed away on Sunday, July 25, 2021, following a lengthy illness. Mr. Sheldon was born on Oct. 13, 1946, in New York to the late Irving and Nancy Lobel Sheldon. He was a retired educator and relocated... Full story

Miss. Sharon Silkes, 63 of Orlando, died Tuesday, July 27, 2021, at her home following a brief illness. Miss. Silkes was born Oct. 25, 1957 in New York, New York, and moved to the Orlando area in 2005 from New York. She is predeceased by her father,... Full story

Miriam Cohen, 95, of Lake Mary, Fla., passed away July 19, 2021, at the age of 95. She was born Jan. 28, 1926, in New York. She married Albert Cohen, of blessed memory, in December 1948. She is survived by her three children, Gwen Sloan, Cindy... Full story

Harold L. “Hank” Greenberg, MD, passed away peacefully at home in Longwood, Fla., on July 13, 2021. Hank was born on July 16, 1938, in Tampa, Fla., to the late Sam and Rita Stanler Greenberg. He is survived by his loving wife of 28 year, Norma... Full story

Samuel Pottinger Lancaster, Jr., age 74, passed peacefully and surrounded by his family in Lake Mary, Fla., on Tuesday, July 13, 2021. He was born in Sterling, IL, on Aug. 15, 1946. He was the son of Samuel Pottinger Lancaster, Sr. and Margaret... Full story

Helen Lewin passed away on July 6, 2021. She was born in Brooklyn, N.Y., on Jan. 23, 1923, to loving parents Nathan and Annie Blaweiss, the third of four children. She had a happy childhood with a close knit family. On Dec. 6, 1942, she married... Full story

Marvin Siegel, 76 of Orlando, died Sunday, July 11, 2021, at Cornerstone Hospice following a lengthy illness. Mr. Siegel was born on Aug. 13, 1944, in Los Angeles, Calif., to the late Samuel and Rhea (Rosenthal) Siegel, and moved to Orlando in 2004,... Full story

Submitted by the family Ronald Kwasman, DDS, passed away on June 16, 2021. Born in 1932, Ron was the son of Sylvia and Garson Kwasman. Ron was a family dentist in Irondequoit and Rochester, N.Y., for more than 40 years. He remained a proud... Full story