Central Florida's Independent Jewish Voice
Central Florida's Independent Jewish Voice
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A new teaching and religious organization was recently incorporated in DeLand, Fla. The nonprofit is called The Center for Jewish Discovery of Central Florida, and was developed by Rabbi Michael Asher, who was ordained in June 2025 by the Jewish Spiritual Leadership Institute. A kickoff Shabbat dinner was held in early September with nearly 30 people attending. "We offer meaningful classes, open conversation, and spiritual exploration for Jews of all backgrounds," Asher told Heritage. "Through...
(JNS) — U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee and former U.S. ambassador to Israel David Friedman took to the stage on Saturday in Jerusalem to perform a rendition of Lynyrd Skynyrd’s hit rock song, “Sweet Home Alabama.” American comedian and actor Elon Gold led the ensemble, singing “Sweet Home Yerushalayim” (“Jerusalem” in Hebrew) over the catchy chorus. Huckabee expertly pulled off the song’s funky bass line on electric bass, with Friedman accompanying the group on electric guitar. The performance was shared on X by Eli Beer, president a...
(JNS) — Hamas terrorists must give up their weapons, or “all hell breaks loose,” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in an interview with CBS on Tuesday. Netanyahu spoke in response to a question on whether Israel’s two-year war against Hamas in Gaza was over. He replied that Israel was giving a chance to the ceasefire agreement forged by U.S. President Donald Trump, which includes “both demilitarization and disarmament,” which are “not the same thing,” the prime minister said. “Well, we agreed to give peace a chance,” Netanyah...
“If we have to, we’ll disarm [Hamas],” U.S. President Donald Trump told Fox News’ correspondent Maria Bartimoro in an interview aired on Sunday night, in light of the terrorist group’s recent claims that it has not committed to disarmament. Trump said that during negotiations for the Gaza ceasefire that went into effect on Oct. 10, Hamas promised it would disarm but added that “these are very violent people; this is a very violent part of the world.” When asked who would disarm Hamas, Trump replied, “Whether it’s me, the U.S., or a proxy,...
(JNS) — Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) and Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.) are urging the Trump administration to investigate the Council on American-Islamic Relations for possible links to Hamas and other terrorist groups. The Congress members wrote to Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, asking him to look into whether CAIR, a decades-old organization that says it advocates for Muslim civil rights, is providing material support for terrorism, based on its history and its conduct following Hamas’s Oct. 7, 2023, massacre in southern Israel. The Tre...
President Donald Trump appeared to threaten violence against Hamas in Gaza on Thursday as he responded to reports that Hamas was executing Gazans following the ceasefire with Israel that Trump brokered last week. “If Hamas continues to kill people in Gaza, which was not the Deal, we will have no choice but to go in and kill them,” Trump wrote on Truth Social on Thursday, concluding with a trademark flourish: “Thank you for your attention to this matter!” Soon after, he clarified that he did not mean the United States would enter Gaza. “Somebo...
Hours after freeing 20 living hostages to a jubilant Israel, Hamas released the remains of four deceased hostages — far fewer than the 28 it is holding and obligated under the terms of the ceasefire to release. The group had already indicated that it was not prepared to release all of the deceased hostages’ remains immediately, following two years of war in Gaza, and Israel and negotiators had accepted that it could take some time. Still, the small number of bodies released on Monday represented a disappointment for many who had hoped that Mon...
(JNS) — One was held in a Gaza tunnel, deep underground, shackled in darkness for nearly two years. Another was kept in total isolation, enduring a process of deliberate starvation at the hands of his captors, losing nearly 40 percent of his body weight. They were tortured and tormented and in constant peril. These were some of the gruesome stories emerging from the 20 living Israeli hostages released two years after Gazan terrorists seized them during the Hezbollah-led invasion of the northwestern Negev. Elkana Bohbot, 36, one of the o...
(JNS) - "My life, my life," cried out Einav Zangauker, embracing her son, Matan, for the first time in one of many emotional moments, as the 20 living hostages embraced their joyful families upon their return to Israel after 738 days in Hamas captivity. Hamas kidnapped Matan and his girlfriend Ilana Gritzewsky from their home in Kibbutz Nir Oz on Oct. 7, 2023. On Dec. 7, 2024, Hamas published a letter that it said was from Matan. "We are still alive. We want to return safely before we go...
(JNS) - The Blue Sky Warden aircraft, the result of a collaboration between Israel Aerospace Industries and the U.S. company L3Harris Technologies, embodies an innovative concept in light strike and reconnaissance aircraft. It is an enhanced iteration of the Air Tractor aircraft, which is originally a farming workhorse and an aerial firefighter, and also serves in Israel in the Elad Squadron, the aerial firefighting squadron. The new version of the aircraft will be adapted in Israel for...
(JNS) — The Trump administration is pushing ahead with the second phase of its Gaza peace plan, aiming to rebuild the southern city of Rafah, Israeli media reported on Thursday, citing senior U.S. officials. According to Israeli journalist Barak Ravid, the aim is to create a “day-after” model for life in the Gaza Strip. Despite incomplete progress in returning Israeli hostages—only nine of the 28 bodies held by Hamas have been recovered—advisers to U.S. President Donald Trump reportedly said that the United States plans to begin reconstruction...
(JNS) — If you hadn’t known anything about the huge crowd that gathered in Tel Aviv’s Hostages Square two days before the actual return of the rest of the living hostages, you’d have thought you stumbled into a rally of the Israeli chapter of MAGA. The banners celebrated U.S. President Donald Trump as the godfather of the hostage deal, and Trump’s personal representatives—Steve Witkoff, Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner—were warmly welcomed. The atmosphere was festive, even ecstatic. These have been two long years, during which massively lon...
(Israel Hayom via JNS) — Last Sunday, Secretary of State for Education Bridget Phillipson said in an interview with Sky News that Britain played a “key role behind the scenes” in shaping the Gaza ceasefire agreement, and Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s presence in Sharm el-Sheikh would be evidence of this “central role.” U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee shared the video and wrote, “I assure you, she’s delusional.” The less-than-diplomatic statement subsequently led to a post by U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff. “I want to recognize Britai...
Washington, D.C. — Today, the Louis D. Brandeis Center for Human Rights Under Law distributed a letter to major U.S. film industry organizations caution-ing that the recent “Film Workers Pledge to End Complicity” (aka “The Holly-wood Blacklist”) violates federal and state civil rights laws and marginalizes Jewish and Israeli voices in entertainment. In a clear display of illegal anti-Semitic discrimination, the pledge, circulated by Film Workers for Palestine, commits signatories not to screen, appear at, or work with Israeli film institu-tions...
Palestinian committee picked for Gaza reconstruction By JNS Staff (JNS) — A 15-member Palestinian committee has been chosen to oversee the rebuilding and administration of Gaza after the war, the Associated Press on Tuesday cited Egypt’s foreign minister as saying. “We need to deploy them to take care of the daily life of the people in Gaza, and the Board of Peace should support and supervise the flow of finance and money, which will come for the reconstruction of Gaza,” Badr Abdelatty told the news agency ahead of Monday’s regional summit he...
(JNS) - The Israel Defense Forces released a never-before-seen picture on Thursday showing the slain body of Yahya Sinwar, marking one year since IDF soldiers killed the Hamas terrorist mastermind in the Gaza Strip. The photo shows former IDF Southern Command chief Maj. Gen. Yaron Finkelman, former Operations Directorate chief Maj. Gen. Oded Basiuk and Gaza Division chief Brig. Gen. Barak Hiram standing near Sinwar's body on Oct. 17, 2024, a day after he had been killed in southern Gaza. The...
(JNS) — A senior Trump administration adviser told reporters on Wednesday that efforts are underway to demilitarize Gaza. “We’re defining a path that makes everyone feel safe,” the adviser, who declined to be named, told reporters. “It’s not realistic to expect people to just drop arms.” “The dynamic is complex, but the sentiment from Arab mediators and from Hamas is to keep working together toward a solution,” the adviser said. The adviser and another senior U.S. adviser, who also spoke to reporters anonymously, told reporters that ph...
(JTA) - Scenes of joyful reunions played out in public and private. All 20 of the Israeli hostages still alive two years after being taken hostage by Hamas have returned to Israel, following an emotional morning that commanded the attention of Jews around the world who had lobbied for their release. Unlike in past hostage releases, Hamas did not stage release "ceremonies," a condition of the deal the group in charge of Gaza made in striking a U.S.-brokered ceasefire deal last week. But in...
(JNS) — Eli Sharabi, a former Israeli hostage held by Hamas in Gaza, is being featured on the cover of TIME magazine that hits newsstands on Oct. 27. An excerpt of his memoir, documenting his survival of 491 days of captivity in the Strip, was published online on Oct. 1. “As they dragged me out, I called out to my girls, “I’ll be back.” I had to believe that. But that was the last time I ever saw them. I didn’t know I should have said goodbye, forever,” said the 53-year-old Be’eri reside...
The Rosen JCC welcomes Erin Nolan as the Rosen JCC's new Senior Director of Marketing and Communications, where she will oversee our new Arts at the Jprogram at Pargh Event Center. Originally from Wisconsin, Nolan studied at Carthage College in Kenosha before building a career as a graphic designer with more than 20 years of experience. Her style blends minimalist aesthetics with bold, non-traditional influences, showcased in work ranging from corporate branding and print to logo design....
After a successful launch two years ago, Temple Israel's Annual Book Fair and Corned Beef Sandwich Day returns on Sunday, Oct. 26 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the Roth Social Hall at 50 S. Moss Road in Winter Springs. There are thousands of donated books to choose from, organized by fiction, nonfiction, and childrens, as well as miscellaneous media such as games, puzzles, CDs, and other make-an-offer items. Hardcover books are priced at two dollars while paperbacks cost one dollar each. This year...
Where has the time gone? The organizing committee is actively planning the Ninth annual Men’s Night Out, to be held at Congregation Ohev Shalom on Thursday, Nov. 7, 2025, starting at 5:30 pm. Organized and presented by Congregation Ohev Shalom, Temple Israel, Congregation of Reform Judaism, Southwest Orlando Jewish Congregation, in conjunction with Shalom Orlando, Men’s Night Out is a collaborative outreach program and a “community driven” gathering designed to bring all affiliated and unaffiliated Jewish men in the Orlando community togethe...
The much-anticipated Annual Online Auction to support our local senior community is almost here! Taking place Oct. 19–24, this exciting event raises critical funds for programs that provide connection, care, and dignity to seniors in need — and this year, the Jewish Pavilion Senior Services needs your help to make it the most successful auction yet. Register, Donate, and Win! Auction participation is simple — and potentially rewarding. Register today https://jewishpavilion.org/2025-online-auction/ Your engagement goes a long way in boost...
On Oct. 19, from noon to 1 p.m., the Holocaust Center will host the Junior Reading Club. The book to be discussed is “The Patchwork Torah” by Allison Ofanasky. This event is free and open to families. It is designed for children in grades K-6 and includes discussion followed by hands-on arts and crafts. On Sunday, Oct. 26, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., Dismantling Hate Workshop, Part 4: Historical Remembrance and Memorialization will be held. This is the final session of this 4-part series, led by Dr. Adrian Mitter. The workshop Uses the Hol...
(JNS) — The FBI is cutting ties with the Anti-Defamation League and Southern Poverty Law Center, Kash Patel, director of the federal U.S. law enforcement agency, stated in a pair of social media posts last week. Patel blamed the ADL partnership on his predecessor, James Comey, who the U.S. Justice Department indicted last month for allegedly making false statements and obstruction of justice. Those allegations relate to Senate testimony he gave about the 2016 investigation into potential links between the Trump presidential campaign and Russia....
