Central Florida's Independent Jewish Voice
Central Florida's Independent Jewish Voice
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Jewish Academy of Orlando marked the mid-way point of the academic year with strong academics, whole-child enrichment, teacher development, community partnerships, arts and new equipment in its exciting Innovation Lab. For the fourth year in a row, JAO students, on average, performed at least two grade levels ahead of their peers nationwide. The school uses the Iowa Test each spring to compare students' scores to national norms in Reading, Language Arts, Mathematics, Social Studies and Science....
The Jewish Pavilion's annual Pearls of the Pavilion Luncheon, on Feb. 22, will be a gracious affair, with a catered gourmet meal accompanied by a private performance by Orlando Ballet II dancers. The Pearls luncheon is a very special social event held each year in appreciation for Pavilion Annual Membership Appeal donors of at least $500. Pledges for the 2019 appeal are still being accepted and can be paid throughout the year, so everyone still has an opportunity to attend this enjoyable and...
The Jewish Federation of Brevard is hosting a Comedy Night at the Space Coast Convention Center on Saturday, Feb. 16 at 7 p.m. The event features stand-up comedian Keith Barany, who presents comedy that's "real, without being vulgar or 'cringey,'" said the New York Post. Barany co-wrote Gary Shandling's monologue for the 2004 Emmy Awards, was a contributing writer for "Seinfeld" and "Jimmy Kimmel Live." He has appeared with Bob Hope, Jerry Seinfeld, Joan Rivers, Ray Romano, Jon Stewart and many...
The Congregation Sinai Sisterhood recently hosted their 10th annual fashion show and luncheon at Gabby's Banquet & Events in Clermont, Florida. More than 230 women from Orlando and Central Florida attended this annual fundraiser event. The "Magic Of Music" fashion show was presented by Accessories & More. Dozens of fashionable new women's clothing, jewelry and accessory options were modeled on the runway with commentary by Janet Carr, Karen Mandel and Karen Miller. A seemingly endless array of...
On the coldest morning of the year, Jan. 21, Jewish Academy of Orlando students, teachers, staff and parents braved the weather to attend the groundbreaking ceremony for the Gan Shel Chesed, the Kindness Garden. The fifth grade class—under the guidance of their teacher, Emily Watson, and art teacher Penny Goldstein—chose to do this project as their legacy to the school. In the center of the garden, the fifth graders planted an olive tree—the tree of peace. The other grades also planted trees...
By Christine DeSouza Many people in the Central Florida Jewish community know Idit Lotringer very well. She is the type of person who is liked immediately because of her energy, openness, friendliness and kindness. She is also a real go-getter and is the Orlando regional manager of the Israeli American Council, which opened a chapter here last August. "There are 20 offices in the United States and we are the 18th office to open!" Lotringer proclaimed with a big smile. She wasn't always involved...
Jewish National Fund will host the annual Tree of Life™ Award Gala at Congregation Ohev Shalom on Tuesday, Feb. 19, to honor Roz Fuchs and Thad Seymour, Jr. with Tree of Life™ Awards for their dedication to the Orlando community, JNF, and Israel. The annual gala, will begin at 6 p.m. and feature heavy hors d'oeuvres, cocktails, and dessert. "Both Roz and Thad are incredible individuals and have done so much for the Orlando community," said JNF Orlando Board Co-President Ed Milgrim. "We are pro...
On Sunday Feb. 10, in a community-wide celebration, Orlando Torah Academy will be welcoming a brand new Sefer Torah/Torah Scroll. This monumental project began almost a year ago and was undertaken by Dean Rabbi Avraham Wachsman to honor and perpetuate the memory of his father who passed away last February. “My father dedicated his life to teaching Torah and the beauty of a life of Torah. Writing a new Torah in his memory is a fitting tribute to his memory and a perpetuation of his legacy,” said Rabbi Wachsman. The day will be full of fes...
It is well known, that the hardest demographic to involve in Jewish life are teens. After bar/bat mitzvah many feel they have completed their Jewish education, not to mention the many after school programs and extra curricular activities making it increasingly difficult for high school students to join for classes and Jewish social events. With this in mind, Chabad and CTeen of North Orlando are bringing local teens a new innovation free of charge, called JText. Here's how it works: Every Monday...
Chabad of North Orlando is launching a new initiative with the Aleph Institute, a Tikun Olam focused organization that works in the critical field of criminal justice and advocates for those incarcerated. “We are initiating a program where volunteers can visit inmates one and one in the visiting room,” said Rabbi Yanky Majesky. “There are many Jewish inmates incarcerated in Coleman that have very few if any visitors. These Jewish men and women are looking to connect with someone to receive moral support, encouragement and spiritual guida...
Recently, Orlando Torah Academy was deluged with amateur scientists. A large number of the students spent the last few weeks designing and carrying out science experiments. Students did preliminary research regarding their science concept, followed by performing the experiment. Then, they reported the experience with poster board displays. The OTA science fair included hypotheses involving animal behavior, the chemistry of fruit preservation, and electrical voltages. The science fair was not...
The Jewish Pavilion, in association with Join Orlando were pleased to present Libby (l) and Joan (r) at Brookdale Dr. Phillips with Shabbat Boxes to celebrate the Sabbath. With help from her mother, Aileen Mand Schaked, Sophie (center), Miss Florida Jr. High School and volunteer for the Pavilion, had a wonderful time visiting the community and looks forward to her next visit....
On a brisk early January morning, Randi Cunningham entered the graciously appointed lobby of Oakmonte Village's Cordova building and greeted the desk attendant with a wave and a smile. As a volunteer for the Jewish Pavilion, making visits to the rooms of Jewish residents a few times a month for the past few years, Cunningham is a familiar sight at this Lake Mary assisted living facility. Consulting her list of current Jewish residents, Cunningham planned a route for making her visits. The first...
Are the Jews in Israel white European colonialists? Are Israel’s settlements in the West Bank illegal? Isn’t a Jewish state, by definition, racist and undemocratic? These are just a few of the questions StandWithUs addresses to educate middle and high school students about Israel in an effort to dash all the mistruths about Israel and perhaps tear down some walls of anti-Israel sentiment. Tuesday evening, Jan. 22, Dr. Daniel and Staci Layish opened their home to introduce the community to StandWithUs, an international, nonprofit Israel edu...
The Jewish Federation Jewish Community Relations Council members were among more than 100 people who participated in a march through downtown Orlando that culminated with an interfaith ceremony at the United Methodist Church of Orlando on Sunday, Jan. 13. The ceremony, themed "Discord into Symphony," brought together faith leaders of all kinds. Mayor Buddy Dyer welcomed all who participated. The program continued with the audience listening to recordings of some of Martin Luther King Jr.'s most...
Dr. Reuben L. Romirowsky, an accomplished executive with three decades of leadership roles at Jewish community organizations in New York and New Jersey, has been named chief executive officer of The Jack and Lee Rosen Jewish Community Center. Previously, Joel Berger was the executive director and Eric Lightman was the assistant director. Both are no longer at the Rosen JCC and no reason was given for them leaving. Dr. Romirowsky joins the Rosen JCC from New York's Metropolitan Council on Jewish...
The Roth Family Jewish Community Center of Greater Orlando and Writer's Block Bookstore of Winter Park present the Central Florida Jewish Book Festival on Feb. 10 and 12. These events are part of a national network of programming sponsored by the Jewish Book Council. This highly popular community-wide event brings together prominent and emerging Jewish writers and non-Jewish writers with Jewish interest subject matter in literature, the arts, philosophy, theology, history and current events to...
Workers busy with new road construction in Beit Shemesh, Israel, have uncovered remains of a city from the time of the first Temple. The Sister City program of Cocoa, Florida and Beit Shemesh invites the community to learn more about these exciting new finds at its annual membership gala, on Monday, Jan. 28 from 5:30-8 p.m. at the Central Life Church (behind Temple Beth Sholom), 5995 N. Wickham Road. After a light supper of Israeli food and live Israeli music, guest speaker Meir Malka from Beit...
The Jewish Genealogical Society of Greater Orlando presents, “Everything You Wanted to Know About Family Tree Maker, But Were Afraid to Ask: A Discussion with Mark Olsen.” Olsen is Family Tree Maker’s representative, and he will speak to the JGSGO and answer questions about the software, and demonstrate how it helps you save and share your family history. The meeting is Wednesday, Jan. 30, at 7 p.m., at the Roth Jewish Community Center, 851 North Maitland Ave., in Maitland. The meeting is free to JGSGO members. There is a $5 fee for nonme...
The Jack and Lee Rosen JCC is hosting a Decades "I love the '90s" Party on Feb. 2 from 7:30 p.m.- 11 p.m. There will be live music by Anti-Idol, a silent auction, food and drinks and free babysitting. There will even be a '90s costume contest. What did we wear that was outlandish during that decade? The '60s had the hip-hugger bell-bottom pants, Sonny and Cher, and hippies; the '70s had flower-power, mini and maxi skirts; the '80s had large hairdos, disco and shoulder pads, but what is...
(JTA)-A Jewish judge in Miami was named to the Florida Supreme Court at the Jewish day school where he attended kindergarten, finishing the ceremony by reciting a Jewish prayer. The appointment of Robert Luck, 39, was announced Monday at the Scheck Hillel Community School in North Miami Beach. Luck's children attend the school. Florida's new governor, Ron DeSantis, was on hand for the announcement, which featured a large Israeli flag displayed behind the lectern, The Associated Press reported....
For its 25th installment, Choices, the Jewish Federation of Greater Orlando's signature women's philanthropy event, returned to the simple elegance that marked its beginning, with a festive cocktail hour followed by a seated dinner at Congregation Ohev Shalom in Maitland. The 250 women and men in attendance were welcomed to Choices 2019 by Loren London, the woman who brought Choices to Orlando 25 years ago. London is also the first Harriet Ginsburg Woman of Choice Award winner. London, the...
In an effort to reduce student and teacher absences, Jewish Academy of Orlando completed installation of the Violet Defense patented germ-killing technology. The UV-operated products are designed to prevent the spread of illness-causing germs. The technology is designed to help combat up to 99.9 percent of bacteria and viruses, including E. Coli, Salmonella, Norovirus, and superbugs like MRSA. The technology will help protect the students, staff, and faculty of JAO from these illness-causing...
Temple Israel recently signed a 9.5-year contract extension with Rabbi Joshua Neely. This is the synagogue's third contract with Rabbi Neely, who has been the spiritual leader of this progressive Conservative congregation since 2010. Temple Israel President Adrian Share explained "the length of the contract is the strongest testament to our commitment to each other and the long-term stability this provides to our congregation and prospective members." Congregants enjoy engaging with Rabbi Neely,...
The New York-based Touro College and University System is pleased to announce winter and spring lectures it is bringing to Orlando in partnership with The Roth Family JCC of Greater Orlando. The Winter Lecture, "Our Precious Legacy: Have We Given It Over to Our Children As It Was Given To Us?" will be delivered by Rabbi Alan G. Ciner, vice president of Community Engagement at TCUS, on Wednesday, Jan. 24, at The Roth Family JCC of Greater Orlando, located at 851 N. Maitland Ave. in Maitland,...
