Central Florida's Independent Jewish Voice
Central Florida's Independent Jewish Voice
Sorted by date Results 1492 - 1516 of 3602
Celebrate Shabbat with the Synagogue that feels like family. Congregation Beth Sholom’s Shabbat evening service will be led by Rabbi Karen Allen on Friday, June 8 at 7p.m. There will be an Oneg Shabbat following the service. The Rabbi’s Torah Roundtable Discussion Group with Rabbi Karen Allen of Congregation Beth Sholom will be held on Thursday, June 14 at 1p.m. at the Sumter County Administration and Library Building (with the golden dome) at 7375 Powell Rd. (near Pinellas Plaza and 466A), Wildwood. The Rabbi’s Roundtable series explo... Full story
As about 40 Jewish residents of Oakmonte Village's independent living building sat expectantly on a recent Friday evening, Jewish Pavilion volunteer Susan Bernstein strapped a thin, boxy "travel guitar" around her neck. Since she was filling in for their regular twice-monthly Shabbat service leader, Cathy Swerdlow, Bernstein first introduced herself to her "congregation," mentioning her Long Island, NY, origins and bantering easily with the residents as some called out where they're from. She... Full story
It is that time of year once again when Heritage Florida Jewish News is putting out feelers for one outstanding person in the Jewish community who has given his or her time or talent or monetary gifts to better the Orlando Jewish community. Nominations for the 2018 Heritage Human Service Award are now being accepted and the award will be presented at the annual meeting of the Jewish Federation of Greater Orlando on Aug. 7. “For more than 28 years, individuals who have made major, voluntary contributions of their talent, time, energy and e... Full story
Members of Congregation Ohev Shalom resoundingly approved the Board of Trustees' recommendation to make Rabbi David Kay their religious leader, in a vote at the COS annual meeting. Rabbi Kay, who came to COS as assistant rabbi in 2004, had been serving as interim rabbi since Rabbi Aaron D. Rubinger decided last fall to semi-retire as Rabbi Emeritus. The April vote confirmed the congregation's support for Rabbi Kay's continuing as rabbi of COS. Rabbi Kay began his rabbinical training when he was... Full story
Evan Dvorchik, son of Keith and Alison Dvorchik, has committed to the University of Central Florida's Knights football team as a long snapper center. In January 2017, Heritage ran an article about Dvorchik being named a top performer at the Rubio Long Snapping Camp in Georgia. Dvorchik was a junior in high school. His trainer, Chris Rubio, stated at that time that Evan was "snapping with a ton of confidence as his ball hits under .77 consistently." A long snapper is not a large alligator. The te... Full story
Oh, what a night! Jewish Academy of Orlando's Spring Family Learning Night focused on Art Education, and families from its community joined us for a myriad of activities. The event started with a pizza picnic on the playground, where everyone made new friends. Then, it was off to learn why art is such an important part of learning-- it teaches motor skills, builds confidence, fosters creativity, teaches perseverance, and so much more! Whether it was creating clay bugs to identify the sections... Full story
The New York-based Touro College and University System is pleased to announce a yearlong lecture series it is bringing to Orlando in partnership with The Roth Family JCC of Greater Orlando. The inaugural lecture, "Hope in the Midst of Despair," will be delivered on Thursday, May 24, by Rabbi Alan G. Ciner, vice president of Community Engagement at TCUS. It will be held at The Roth Family JCC, located at 851 N. Maitland Ave. in Maitland, Fla., starting at 7 p.m. "This lecture series and other... Full story
Leonard Stein of the University of Toronto's Centre for Comparative Literature and president of the Society for Crypto-Judaic Studies has announced the awarding of a 2018 "Mini-Conference" to the St. Augustine (FL) Jewish Historical Society. The one day Conference, to be held on Sunday, Dec. 9, at the World Golf Village Renaissance St. Augustine Resort will focus on "Telling the Story of Crypto-Jews in the Southeast US." Scholars from many disciplines are expected to share in their research to... Full story
Judy and Robert "Bob" Rosenblum, former residents of Latham, New York, celebrated their 60th anniversary by renewing their vows at Congregation Shalom Aleichem, Kissimmee, Florida, on Friday, April 20. Rabbi Karen Allen conducted the service. Betty and Steve Schoenberg served as witnesses. The Rosenblum were married on April 12, 1958, at Temple Beth El in Troy, New York. They later joined Berith Sholom, where Bob served on the board, including time as president, and Judy taught Sunday school.... Full story
Jewish Pavilion strives to match volunteers with elderly individuals residing in senior living communities. Why offer such a service when people live amongst others with daily activities and community dining, you ask? Without individual attention and meaningful stimulation that social interaction and friendship provide, an isolated elder can experience poor health, a lack of strength and energy, depression, and other physical, emotional, and mental health problems. Visits from the Jewish Pavilio... Full story
More than 100 players hit the greens at Rosen Shingle Creek Golf Club on Sunday, May 6, for the Pavilion Golf Society's annual golf tournament. The event raised more than $18,000 to benefit the Orlando Senior Help Desk, a service of The Jewish Pavilion that offers free advice on services and living options for seniors. The morning began with a light breakfast, after which golfers took to their carts and positioned themselves for the shotgun start. A luncheon and live auction followed the... Full story
JFS Orlando's 40th Anniversary Gala was held on Sunday April 29th at Rosen Plaza. Guests enjoyed a harpist during the cocktail reception and a Frank Sinatra impersonator during dinner as part of the evening's program. The George Wolly Community Leadership Award was presented posthumously to Barry Goodman and was accepted by Craig Pearlman. Pictured here are (l-r) Madeline Wolly, Esther Vassar, Marty Sherman, Marian Sherman, JFS Orlando Executive Director Eric Geboff, and Betty Ann... Full story
Compared to the week-long Festivals of Sukkot and Passover, and the grandeur or Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, Shavu’ot can easily get overlooked. But, not only is it one of the Three Pilgrimage Festivals set down in the Torah (although with Sukkot and Passover), Jewish tradition understands it to be the anniversary of matan Torah, the giving of the gift of the Torah at Mount Sinai. With those impressive credentials, Shavu’ot is the ideal time for Jews to gather as a community, just as the Israelites did at Mount Sinai. In addition to cel... Full story
Congregation Ohev Shalom has installed its new officers and Board of Trustees for the 2018–2019 fiscal year. Steven Hornik will serve a 2-year term as president; he is a professor at University of Central Florida College of Business. Rachel Gebaide will serve as executive vice president; she is an attorney at Lowdes Drosdick Doster Kantor and Reed. Other officers are Nancy Reichel, development VP; Nina Oppenheim, membership VP; Macy Kast, youth, family and education VP; Debby Gendzier, o... Full story
Instrumental in the formation of the Zionist Organization of America local chapter are (from l-r), David Meltzer, Dr. Daniel Layish, Executive Director of the ZOA Florida Chapter Sharona Whisler, and Joe Davis. Davis and Whisler are holding a limited commemorative stamp issued by the State of Israel in honor of ZOA's 120th anniversary in 2017. ZOA gifted the stamp to Layish. Plans are in the works for a showing of the film "The Fight of Our Lives-Defeating the Ideological War Against the West,"... Full story
It is that time of year once again when Heritage Florida Jewish News is putting out feelers for one outstanding person in the Jewish community who has given his or her time or talent or monetary gifts to better the Orlando Jewish community. Nominations for the 2018 Heritage Human Service Award are now being accepted and the award will be presented at the annual meeting of the Jewish Federation of Greater Orlando on Aug. 7. “For more than 28 years, individuals who have made major, voluntary contributions of their talent, time, energy and e... Full story
Lisa Levine has joined the Jewish Pavilion as publicity director. A longtime writer who has served as editor of Seminole Magazine and managing editor of Orlando Magazine, Levine looks forward to spotlighting the Jewish Pavilion's important work in the community as well as the caring people and sponsors who contribute to its mission and the many people it serves. Levine has been an active member of Orlando's Jewish community since arriving more than 20 years ago, including as a volunteer for... Full story
The Jewish Pavilion in partnership with Jewish Family Services and VITAS Healthcare will offer year-round grief support. The Jewish Pavilion's next sessions will be on Wednesdays May 9 -June 13 at 10:30 a.m. until noon at Brookdale Island Lake, 160 Islander Court. Subsequent grief support groups will be sponsored by JFS Orlando in the fall and spring; and sponsored by Jewish Pavilion in the winter. While the groups differ, all are six weeks and explore grief through a "Jewish Lens." To sign up... Full story
(JTA)-The father of Meadow Pollack, one of the 17 students and teachers killed in the shooting at a Parkland, Florida, high school in February, has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the gunman as well as those it alleges failed to stop him, including a deputy who stayed outside the building. Andrew Pollack filed the lawsuit Monday in Broward County Circuit Court. He told the Sun-Sentinel newspaper that he was not interested in any monetary reward he would get from the lawsuit. "I just want... Full story
Nearly eight years ago, four women met and discussed what they could do to support Israel and how they could encourage others, whether Jewish or Christian, to join them. Thus, the organization "Zionistas" was born. The founders-Sandi Solomon, Eva Ritt, Judy Shujman, and Diana Scimone-had the foresight and dedication to grow the organization to over 250 people. Recently the Zionistas board reached out to the Zionist Organization of America, one of the oldest pro-Israel organizations in the... Full story
The American Israel Public Affairs Committee is hosting "Israel at 70," featuring Yossi Klein Halevi on Tuesday, May 15. The event will be held at The Roth Family JCC, 851 N. Maitland Ave. in Maitland. At 5:45 p.m. there will be a Club member pre-reception and book signing. The program will begin at 7 p.m. This event is open to the community. There will be dessert and coffee. Yossi Klein Halevi is a senior fellow at the Shalom Hartman Institute in Jerusalem. Together with Imam Abdullah Antepli... Full story
When golfers hit the greens on Sunday, May 6, for the sixth annual Pavilion Golf Society Tournament, not only will they be raising funds for the Orlando Senior Help Desk, they will be giving a Tiger Woods celebratory fist pump to this year's tournament honoree Keith Levitt. Levitt's involvement in the community is well-known throughout Orange County. Born in Queens, NY, and raised in Maitland by parents Ken and Jackie, Levitt has been a member of The Roth Family JCC since its beginning. For... Full story
The 45th annual JCC meeting will be held Tuesday, May 22, from 6:15–8 p.m. in The Roth Family JCC auditorium. Join in the fun as the community looks back over the year and see what’s to come in the next year. During the meeting there will be the presentation of awards, including the J’s Leadership, Volunteer of the Year, and Amy Schwartz Kimlat Innovation and Creativity Award. On the business side, there will be the installation and discharge of Board of Directors and amending of By-Laws. A complimentary dinner will be provided as well as co... Full story
The Holocaust Center is pleased to announce the appointment of its 2018 Executive Committee, and it’s newest board members. This year’s board was installed at the Center’s annual meeting in January. Ellen Wise Lang is now serving as the Center’s board president. Lang has been involved with the Center since 1990 and has been an active board member since 1994. Lang is also the daughter of the Center’s founder, Tess Wise. When asked why she feels it’s important to sustain the Holocaust Center’s work Lang replied, “For two reasons: there were good... Full story
Monday, April 23, was Israel Jeopardy at the Jewish Pavilion's Inter-Generational meeting at Village On The Green with the residents and students of Congregation Ohev Shalom led by Amy Setleis Geboff. The game began with the residents telling the students what they remember from 1947/48 when Israel gained Independence. There was then some competition between the two split teams. At the end of the night there were handshakes and hugs all around. The program was sponsored in part by Jewish... Full story
