Central Florida's Independent Jewish Voice
Central Florida's Independent Jewish Voice
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The Jewish Federation of Greater Orlando has hired Ben Friedman as its new director of Community Relations and Leadership Development. He replaces Marli Porth, who has moved out of state with her family. In his new role, Friedman coordinates the Federation's Jewish Community Relations Council and the Jerome J. Bornstein Leadership Development Program, among other duties. He brings legal experience and passion for advocacy to JFGO, having worked most recently as an associate at The Raben Group,... Full story
Eric Geboff, executive director of JFS Orlando, announced today that Rosie Miller has joined the Winter Park-based nonprofit, human service agency as development director. Miller brings a rich and impressive resume of local and national nonprofit experience that spans over 15 years to JFS Orlando. She will spearhead the development and marketing efforts for the agency and have oversight of donor development, stewardship and cultivation. Prior to joining JFS Orlando, Miller served as the director... Full story
These were my immediate thoughts when-just like each of you-I tried to absorb the shock. Each of you has Lois memories-these are some of mine. Losing Lois. On my 42nd birthday in 1981, Lois and Sheryl Meitin gave me a book, titled "Friendship." In it, Ralph Waldo Emerson said, "I awoke this morning with devout thanksgiving for my friends. Shall I not call God who daily showeth himself to me in his gifts? My friends have come to me unsought. They were given to me. The laws of friendship are... Full story
The Holocaust Memorial Resource & Education Center of Florida is thrilled to welcome Winter Park native and Tuskegee airman, Chief Master Sergeant Richard R. Hall, Jr., to the Center on Sunday, July 23, at 2 p.m. for a screening of the film "Red Tails." The program will also include a post-film talkback with Sgt. Hall. This is part of the Holocaust Center's summer series, which encourages visitors to engage in conversations about the history and future of the Civil Rights Movement in the United... Full story
Celebrate Shabbat with the Synagogue that feels like family. Our Shabbat evening service led by Rabbi Karen Allen is on Friday, July 14 at 7 p.m. An Oneg Shabbat will follow the service. The synagogue is located at 315 North 13th St. in Leesburg, with the entrance on Center Street. More information is available on the synagogue website: http://bethsholomflorida.org/ or by calling the synagogue at 352-326-3692. The Rabbi’s Torah Roundtable Discussion Group with Rabbi Karen Allen will be held on Thursday, July 27 at 3 p.m. at the Sumter County A... Full story
On Monday morning, June 12, I entered the Holocaust Memorial Resource and Education Center of Florida in Maitland looking forward to spending five busy days writing middle school civics lessons focusing on the Holocaust with Mitchell Bloomer, the Holocaust Center's resource teacher; Jennifer Adkison, a high school U.S. government and economics teacher at East River High School; and Stephen Poynor, a high school Holocaust Studies and sociology teacher at West Orange High School. My work as... Full story
Program Director Walter Goldstein of The Jewish Pavilion would like to recognize George at Kinneret Apartments, who, after 90 years, is still helping people. He served in the military in WWII; he will get up to volunteer for a play; he is active in the 39ers Club at the JCC; and he helps those where he lives when they are not feeling well. George has strong feeling toward how to help his country and will even call the Orlando Senior Help Desk to help a friend when it is beyond his abilities to... Full story
This summer, the Holocaust Memorial Resource and Education Center of Florida is inviting visitors to join them in a conversation about the local, national, and international struggle for civil rights in the United States. This is a unique opportunity for visitors to learn about this history while inspiring them to take action in their own communities. Terrance Hunter, the program coordinator for the Holocaust Center, sees these exhibits as a unique opportunity to reflect on this history. "The wo... Full story
JERUSALEM (JTA)-Israeli politicians rushed to condemn their government's decision Sunday to freeze a plan promoting pluralistic prayer at the Western Wall. Voices from across the political spectrum, including members of the governing coalition, criticized the vote by the Cabinet as a reckless affront to American Jewry. They warned it could weaken the community's support for Israel. "Canceling the deal constitutes a severe blow to the unity of the Jewish people and communities as well as the... Full story
The Jewish Federation of Greater Orlando's "Summer of Love" has arrived. The season of saying "thank you" to the local Jewish community kicked off June 19, ushering in a full week of activities involving Federation staff, volunteers and friends. Early that Monday morning, Federation staff members delivered fresh doughnuts to the offices of Orlando's local Jewish agencies-The Jewish Pavilion, Central Florida Hillel, the Kinneret Council on Aging, Jewish Family Services of Orlando, The Roth... Full story
As the school year comes to an end, Central Florida students who depend on free and reduced lunches will no longer have access to proper and nutritious food. To help with this situation, JFS Orlando kicked off its Summer Food Drive, which began July 1 and continues through July 31. During the summer months, JFS Orlando provides roughly 40 percent more families with food from the Pearlman Emergency Food Pantry. Help JFS keep the pantry stocked and consider donating non-perishable food items to help feed those in need. JFS Orlando is also... Full story
The Jewish Federation of Greater Orlando’s RAISE program offers paid employment opportunities and social skills training to young adults with special needs. Online application for a limited number of fall positions opened on June 26, 2017. RAISE participants work for 6-12 months at five partnering agencies and alongside Vocational Rehabilitation in their community job search process. RAISE builds self-esteem, fosters independence, educates and inspires participants and their families to set new goals, supports and encourages social growth, a... Full story
On Monday, June 19, the JCC 39ers hosted an educational class titled "Medicare 101" given by Bracha Leibowitz. The 39ers are a daytime group for seniors who get together weekly at The Roth Family JCC for diverse programming. "With all of the changes going on in health care it is very important that seniors stay informed and Bracha gave a great class that was very informative," said 39ers member Shirley Zawatsky. "Planning for retirement can be a very complex and confusing process but I do my... Full story
Sharon F. Weil has been hired as the new director of Programming and Development at the Kinneret Council on Aging. She follows Leslie Collin who led Kinneret for 10 years from 2007 to 2017. Weil will be responsible for creating in-house events and developing community outreach programs as well as Kinneret's yearly Health Expo and 8 over 80 fundraising event. In addition, she will be responsible for overseeing the onsite food pantry and daily continental breakfasts. "I am really excited to be wor... Full story
From June 4-9th, educators from around the state gathered at the Holocaust Memorial Resource and Education Center in Maitland for their annual Teacher's Institute on Holocaust education. The Center was thrilled to see so many teachers dedicated to expanding their knowledge for themselves and for their students. Bailey Clark, the Center's Education Coordinator, said, "This year's focus was on the Nazi Party's rise to power, so teachers discussed parallels between events in Germany in the 1920s... Full story
A popular Jewish children's book program is helping to preserve the richness and vibrancy of Jewish culture, one book at a time. PJ Library, the flagship program of the Harold Grinspoon Foundation, delivers more than 170,000 free Jewish children's books and music CDs throughout the United States and Canada each month. That subscriber base includes 540 families in Central Florida, where PJ Library is administered by the Jewish Federation of Greater Orlando. Books are sent to children ages 6... Full story
(JTA)-Large parts of Florida are suffering from severe drought, and hurricane season threatens to make things worse. Enter Water-Gen, an Israeli company whose technology captures humidity to extract drinking water from the air. On Monday, the South Florida city of Miami Gardens announced it was launching a pilot program with the company to address its water problems-the first U.S. city to do so. "As representatives responsible for the quality of life and safety of our communities, preparedness a... Full story
What do Henry Louis Gates, Jr., Alexander Hamilton and Aida have to do with discovering your ancestors? To find out, join other genalogists at the 37th IAJGS International Conference on Jewish Genealogy from July 23–28 at the Disney World Swan Resort in Orlando, Florida. Henry Louis Gates Jr., host of the PBS hit series "Finding Your Roots," will be the featured speaker on "Genetics and Genealogy in America" on Thursday evening at the conference. Some of the many celebrities that Gates has s... Full story
There will be a demonstration for the International Day of al-Quds at Lake Eola Park this evening from 6 p.m.-8 p.m., sponsored by the Muslim Congress (muslimcongress.org). The flier for the International Day of al-Quds says "Let's stand united with all humans of conscience-be they Jews, Christians, or Muslims-for the sake of haqq (truth) and to show support for the innocent civilian victims of global Zionism, false flag operations, imperialism, occupation, neocolonialism, racism, Islamophobia,... Full story
Cocktails. Crowds. And a worthy cause! The Citrus Club Young Executive Board and the Citrus Club of Orlando brought all three together on Tuesday, June 6, hosting its monthly "United for a Purpose" event, benefitting The Jewish Pavilion. Jewish Pavilion Marketing Director Pam Ruben commented, "We are grateful to The Citrus Club for putting on a 'happy hour with a heart,' and were thrilled to be the chosen charity of the month by its Young Executive Board. Special kudos to Carina Gerscovich, as... Full story
While it’s summer vacation at school, Congregation Beth Am is not taking the season off as it hosts Shabbat in the Round and special themed shabbatos services to which the entire community is invited. The CBA sanctuary will be arranged in “the round” with the bima moved to the center of the sanctuary. The Torah will be read from the middle of the congregation where everyone can see the text. The Shaliach Tzibor will conduct services from the midst of the congregation, facing the Ark, where all congregants will face each other with the lay l... Full story
The Jewish Federation of Greater Orlando’s RAISE program offers paid employment opportunities and social skills training to young adults with special needs. Online application for a limited number of fall positions opens on June 26, 2017. RAISE participants work for 6-12 months at five partnering agencies and alongside Vocational Rehabilitation in their community job search process. RAISE builds self-esteem, fosters independence, educates and inspires participants and their families to set new goals, supports and encourages social growth, a... Full story
JFS Orlando is currently recruiting volunteers to assist clients in its computer lab. The computer lab will be offering volunteer shifts Tuesdays, 4 p.m.-7 p.m.; Wednesdays, 2 p.m.-5 p.m.; and Thursdays, 9 a.m.-12 p.m. If you have any interest in volunteering in the computer lab, in any capacity, you will be required to attend an orientation session and complete two online tutorials so that you will be able to properly instruct clients who are applying for government benefits and writing resumes. Additionally, JFS Orlando’s partners at C... Full story
This week, Jewish Academy of Orlando announced its new program: "Harriett's Art and Performance Program for Youth" (also know as our "HAPPY" program). The program is being funded through a very generous grant from the Harriett Lake Family Trust. Mrs. Lake has been a long-time supporter of the Jewish Academy of Orlando, and, of course, performance arts programs throughout the city. This grant fuses two of her passions: performing arts and Jewish education. The Jewish Academy of Orlando has had a... Full story
At the end of May 2017, the Congregation of Reform Judaism hosted their first-ever Arts Festival Week that included an art gallery, a variety of free arts workshops, and multiple performances. Each featured the talents of local painters, sculptors, photographers, craftspeople, singers, both classical and modern musicians, creative writers, and even a couple homegrown comedians. Yet, if you had asked anyone at the temple if that kind of response would be possible just one year earlier, the reply... Full story
