Central Florida's Independent Jewish Voice
Central Florida's Independent Jewish Voice
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Jerry Lee Cohen passed away in his sleep on Sept. 1, 2025. He was 83 years old. Jerry and his wife, Amira, were an integral part of the Orlando Jewish Community for over 30 years, but it was Jerry’s compassion and genuineness that truly made him special. His love of family over everything else, even his own wellbeing, was one of his greatest attributes. Jerry loved classic films and westerns. He was a huge sports fan rooting on his beloved Bengals and Reds all of his life. A veteran of the United States Navy he was a patriot who knew he was liv...
With deep sorrow we announce the death of David S. Greenberg, beloved husband of Yudit Kornberg Greenberg, father of Rafi Greenberg and Elie Greenberg, and grandfather of Zeana and Lila Greenberg. David passed away on July 31, 2025, at his home in Winter Park. He was born on Feb. 20, 1953, in Seattle, Washington to Jacob and Zindell Greenberg. David attended the University of Washington where he graduated with a degree in Electrical Engineering. In 1977 he married the love of his life, Yudit...
Sydele (Hausman) Homel, 92, passed away on Saturday, Aug. 23, 2025, in her St. Augustine home. Sydele was born on Jan. 2, 1933, to the late Louis and Evelyn (Saltpeter) Hausman in Brooklyn, New York. She attended Abraham Lincoln High School in Brooklyn, graduating class of 1950. Sydele moved to Orlando in 1969 with her beloved husband, the late Paul Homel. Together they owned and operated Brian's Restaurant for 45 years. More than just an owner, Sydele was the heart behind the restaurant -...
Written by the family With hearts full of love and deep gratitude, we remember and celebrate the life of Leslie Rosenfield Johnston. Born on July 23, 1951, she was a devoted wife, mother, teacher, and friend, who passed away Aug. 26, 2025, surrounded by the love she gave so freely throughout her life. Leslie was the truest example of a selfless and fiercely protective mother -always putting her daughter first, always ready with comfort, guidance and unconditional love. Her family was her greates...
Peggy Dara Robbins Janousky of Oviedo, passed away on Wednesday, Aug. 13, 2025, at her residence. She was 63 years old. Peggy was born in Brooklyn, New York, on May 1, 1962, to the late Dr. Albert and Shirley Robbins. She earned her master’s degree in education from Hofstra University. Peggy was a teacher and children’s author, with two published picture books: “Move It, Miss Macintosh” and “Invader from Mars: The Truth About Babies.” She was also published in three of the anthologies of her men...
Submitted by the family Howard Pinsky, 82, of Orlando, passed away peacefully on Aug. 17, 2025. Born in Chicago on July 27, 1943, Howard was a man who could never resist a puzzle — whether it was a stubborn gadget, a block of wood waiting to be shaped, or the mysteries of the universe itself. A true “jack of all trades,” Howard lived by the Boy Scout motto of always prepared. His natural curiosity fueled a lifetime of learning and tinkering. He found joy in robotics, electronics, woodt...
Submitted by the family Paul David Friedman passed peacefully the morning of July 29, 2025, one week shy of his 75th birthday. Born Aug. 6, 1950, in Dayton, Ohio to Joe and Clara Friedman (née Toothman), Paul grew up surrounded by a large family, his older sister Sue and many beloved aunts, uncles, and cousins. As a young man, Paul joined the family photography business in Dayton before getting married, moving to Pompano Beach, Fla., and having his first son. The family of three soon relocated to the Tampa area and added three more sons, who...
Submitted by the family Arlene Jacobson Tetenbaum passed away peacefully at her home in Eagle’s Trace Senior Living, Houston, Texas, shortly after celebrating her 92nd birthday, surrounded by family. Born in Sanford, Florida, Arlene was the cherished daughter of Manuel and Hannah Jacobson and the beloved sister of Sherwood Jacobson. She was married to CharlesTetenbaum, with whom she shared great love and commitment, from the age of 22 until his passing in 2020. They would have celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary this year. Arlene is s...
(JTA) - Oscar-winning lyricist Alan Bergman, who with his wife Marilyn wrote the words for some of Barbra Streisand's best-known hits as well as her 1983 film "Yentl," died Thursday at his home in Los Angeles. He was 99. The Bergmans were already an established lyrics-writing team when, in 1962, they met Streisand after a performance at the Bon Soir nightclub in Manhattan. It wasn't until 1969, however, that she recorded one of their songs, "Ask Yourself Why," for her "What About Today?" album....
Roslyn (Roz) Weber Halpern, 82, of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, passed away peacefully on July 7, 2025, at Elizabeth Residence Bayside. Born on Oct. 8, 1942, she was raised in Philadelphia, Pa., and graduated from Temple University with a degree in education. After graduation, she was married to Rabbi Larry J. Halpern, with whom she had two children, Susan and Ari. They moved to Orlando, Florida in 1970 where Roz was an active member of the community starting the JCC’s summer camp program, serving as chair of the Jewish Federation of Greater O...
Tom Lehrer never identified closely with his ancestral Judaism. But the famed satirist and mathematician, who died Saturday, July 26, at 97, wrote one of the first popular songs about a Jewish holiday. "(I'm Spending) Hanukkah in Santa Monica" debuted in 1990, well after Lehrer's peak as a performer, on a come-from-retirement performance on Garrison Keillor's radio show. Keillor commissioned the new song from Lehrer because, he observed, Jews had written many popular Christmas songs but none for...
Rabbi Neil Danzig, a longtime professor of rabbinics at the Jewish Theological Seminary in New York and an authority on the post-Talmudic Babylonian scholars known as the Geonim, died July 4. He was 74. A longtime resident of Teaneck, New Jersey, he was buried in Israel. As a scholar of medieval rabbinic literature, Danzig explored the halachic, or Jewish legal, writings of the Geonim, the Jewish leaders and scholars during the late sixth to mid-11th centuries in what is now Iraq. The Geonim secured the Babylonian Talmud as the central canonica...
Submitted by the family Master Chief Francis "Frank" Carroll United States Navy, retired, age 83, born on June 1, 1942, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, sadly left our lives the morning of July 3, 2025. Frank was the beloved husband of Shirley (Blumenthal) Carroll for over 48 years. Master Chief Francis Carroll proudly and honorably served with the United States Navy for 23 years. He sailed on eight ships as a boilerman technician and was a Naval Instructor during his military career. He often...
Julian Ralph Meitin, a devoted husband, father, brother, Zaide, and friend, passed away on July 2, 2025, at the age of 83. Julian lived a life rooted in purpose and service to others. Born in Albany, New York, on March 1, 1942, and a lifelong resident of Orlando, Florida, Julian loved golf, cheering on the Florida Gators, traveling with his wife Sheryl, playing poker, and large family gatherings. He was a committed leader in the Orlando Jewish community, serving multiple terms as president of th...
Mr. Michael Elliot Axman, 75, of Long Island NY and Dominican Republic has passed away peacefully at Advent Health Kissimmee, Florida after a short illness. Michael was born on March 18, 1950, in Brooklyn, New York to the late Martin and Natalie (Paley) Axman of blessed memory. Michael was a graduate of Levittown Memorial High School and resided in Garden City, New York where he started his business Empire Medical Fitting. He retired four years ago and moved to the Dominican Republic with his loving wife, Adalgisa Carrasco, and his two dogs,...
Mrs. Marilyn Barbara Barr, 92, of Winter Park passed away peacefully Wednesday, June 4, 2025, with her children by her side at AdventHealth Winter Park following a brief illness. Mrs. Barr was born April 15, 1933, in Bronx, New York to the late Nathan and Minnie Rosenthal of blessed memory. She and her husband, Murray Barr, of blessed memory, moved to the Winter Park area in 1967 from Long Island, New York. She will be remembered for her beautiful smile, caring nature and her love of music and dogs. Mrs. Barr is survived by her loving...
Zena Genkins Schiff, a remarkable woman who lived to be 97, peacefully passed away on Wednesday, June 5, 2025, in Winter Park. Born in Brooklyn, New York, on Aug. 10, 1927, to Sidney and Dorothy Genkins, she married Morton “Mickey” Schiff for an incredible 52 years until his passing in 2000. In 1957, they moved to Orlando with four young children, settling into a house that Zena cherished until her final days. On moving to Orlando, they joined Congregation of Reform Judaism where she has been an active member for 67 years — the longest livin...
Murray J Brooks, 92, passed away peacefully on Sunday May 25, 2025 at his home, after an extended illness. He was born Jan. 24, 1933, and raised in Savannah, Georgia. He graduated from Benedictine Military Academy and attended The University of Georgia, where he was a proud member of Tau Epsilon Phi Fraternity. He then served with honor in The United States Army. In the early 1960’s Murray re-located to Winter Park Florida where he launched his life’s work of what became Brooks Beauty of Orlando. His integrity, humor, style, and business dec...
Mrs. Amira H. Cohen, age 80, passed away peacefully surround by her family Saturday, May 24, 2025, at her Mount Dora, Florida home following a brief illness. Mrs. Cohen was born Aug. 18, 1944, in Baghdad, Iraq to the late Ibrahim & Lily (Sawdaie) Hindawi of blessed memory. She and her husband moved to the Orlando area in 1967 from Lakewood, New Jersey and she is the former owner of Amira’s Kosher Deli. Mrs. Cohen is survived by her loving husband of 60 years, Jerry Cohen of Mount Dora, Florida; her devoted sons, Albert Cohen of Mount Dora, F...
Mrs. Scheva Riva Yacker De Fraifeld, 90, Lake Mary, Florida passed away peacefully Wednesday, April 30, 2025, at Grand Living Park at Lake Mary following a brief illness. Mrs. De Fraifeld was born Jan. 10, 1935, in Lima, Peru to the late Slioma & Ita (Grobman) Yaker of blessed memory. She was a retired pharmacist and moved to the Lake Mary area in 2020 from Lima, Peru. Mrs. De Fraifeld is survived by her loving son, Dr. Moises (Sharon) Fraifeld of Lake Mary, Florida and her devoted grandchildren — Abraham (Megan) Fraifeld, Yair Fraifeld and J...
Lt. Peter David Greenberg was born on April 24, 1942, in Brooklyn, New York to Lena and Abraham Greenberg. He died on May 13, 2025, in the home of his loving son, Josh and daughter-in-law Christie Greenberg. He married his beloved wife, Leta, on Dec. 26, 1966, after the two met on a blind date. A man of the sea, Grandpa Pete, as his five grandsons called him, was a proud graduate of the United States Naval Academy, class of 1964. A Naval officer, he served his country as a Lieutenant on a destroyer during the Vietnam conflict before embarking...
Rose Lefkowitz Savage passed away May 14, 2025, in Winter Park. A native of Winston-Salem, N.C., she was born May 24, 1921, to the late Abe and Mollie Lefkowitz and was married to Dr. Alvin H. Savage for 68 years until his passing in 2010. Rose was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister, and friend. The embodiment of her name, she saw the world through rose-colored glasses, finding joy and happiness in everything. She was active in Temple Israel, serving as Sisterhood president, as well as the local Dental Auxiliary,...
(JTA) - David Horowitz, a former '60s radical turned right-wing firebrand who decried what he called the "the efforts of the radical left and its Islamist allies to destroy American values," died Tuesday after a lengthy battle with cancer. He was 86. His death was announced by the David Horowitz Freedom Center, the think tank he founded with Peter Collier in 1988. A self-described agnostic Jew who wrote in 2016 that he had never been to Israel, he nonetheless became one of the fiercest critics o...
Helene Judith “Judy” Alson (née Tessler), age 76, passed away peacefully on April 21, 2025, in Lake Mary, Florida, from complications due to Alzheimer’s disease. Her passing marks the end of a long goodbye that spanned seven years, during which her family cherished many meaningful moments together. Born on Nov. 7, 1948, in Patterson, New Jersey, Judy grew up with a love for creativity and communication that would shape both her personal and professional life. She pursued her passion for fashion...
Miss Wendy Sharon Elkes, 53, passed away peacefully April 15, 2025, at her Maitland, Florida home following a brief illness. Miss Elkes was born June 12, 1971, in Lakewood, New Jersey with her family moving to the Orlando area in 1973. Miss Elkes is predeceased by her mother Barbara (Halpren) Elkes of blessed memory. Miss Elkes has been a teacher in the Seminole County School’s for more than 25 years. She was a member of Congregation Ohev Shalom. Miss Elkes is survived by her loving father, Edwin Elkes of Lake Mary, Florida; her devoted s...
