Central Florida's Independent Jewish Voice
Central Florida's Independent Jewish Voice
Sorted by date Results 1868 - 1892 of 3602
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 2017 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, which will be held Aug. 27. “For more than 27 years, individuals who have made major, voluntary contributions of their talent, t... Full story
Featuring narrative poetry about real people from the Holocaust, author Holly Mandelkern will launch her first book, "Beneath White Stars: Holocaust Profiles in Poetry," at The Holocaust Memorial Resource and Education Center on Sunday, May 21. The program will begin with refreshments starting at 2 p.m. and includes a performance by the Lake Nona High School Chorus, readings, introduction of honorees, and a book signing. Mandelkern is a poet, lecturer, librarian, and educator with a special inte... Full story
Andy Brennan, security director of the Maitland Jewish Community Campus, was among more than 40 security directors from across the nation who convened in early May for a security summit in Washington, D.C. The summit was organized by Secure Community Network (SCN), an affiliate of the Jewish Federations of North America. Much discussion at the summit centered on the rash of bomb threats made against Jewish community centers across the nation, including the Maitland campus, earlier this year.... Full story
"When I was so young, I didn't recognize the significance of Israel's becoming a state." So said one of the mature adults at Village On The Green senior community in Longwood, speaking of her memories of Israel's birth as a nation in 1948. "Getting news, especially from other countries, was very different back then," noted another senior, pointing out that she was barely 20 years old at the time. "I kind of vaguely remember hearing about Israel's new statehood once, but really don't remember... Full story
The students of the Jewish Academy of Orlando took a step back in time as all grades visited the fifth grade Living History Museum. This interactive program is the culminating project of their colonial studies unit. The fifth grade students had the opportunity in March to travel to colonial Williamsburg, Virginia, for three days to see first-hand how the colonists lived. Historical figures who lived there in the 1700s were then chosen and researched. Presentations included period costumes and... Full story
Jewish National Fund will host the annual Tree of Life™ Award Gala at the Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts on Monday, May 15, 2017 to honor Nina and Ron Oppenheim and Katherine Ramsberger with Tree of Life™ Awards for their dedication to the Orlando community and JNF. Guests will be treated to a special performance by Broadway's Linda Eder. The Tree of Life™ Award is a humanitarian award given in recognition of outstanding community involvement, dedication to the cause of Ameri... Full story
On Friday, April 28, the Jewish Academy of Orlando bid farewell to Shari Wladis, principal of the Jewish Academy of Orlando. The entire school community of students, teachers and parents commemorated her 17-year tenure during a Kabbalat Shabbat and reception, which was led by special guest Rabbi David Kay of Congregation Ohev Shalom. Current teachers, as well as past teachers participated. "The event celebrated her achievements and was really touching," said parent Robyn Eichenholz. "I think it... 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 2017 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, which will be held Aug. 27. “For more than 27 years, individuals who have made major, voluntary contributions of their talent, t...
Shavuot is the second of three historical pilgrimage/agricultural festivals mentioned in the Torah. It is also known as Z’man Matan Torateinu—the Time of the Giving of our Torah at Mount Sinai. Therefore, the study of Torah is a cornerstone of celebrating this holiday. It is a tradition to hold study sessions throughout the night, known as Tikkun Leil Shavuot. The Jewish people were all there for the giving of the Torah, so it is appropriate that we here and now come together to celebrate as a community. This year Temple Israel is hosting an... Full story
On Thursday, May 25 at 7 p.m., Pastor Roger Diaz of Fellowship Church in Winter Springs will give a presentation on the goodness he has witnessed in Israel as he takes groups of Christians to interact with Orthodox Jews living in Judea and Samaria. This event, sponsored by the Zionistas, will be held at the Eastmonte Civic Center, 830 Magnolia Drive, Altamonte Springs. Pastor Diaz, ordained as an elder, is a native of the Caribbean Island Trinidad and Tobago. He moved to Central Florida in... Full story
Just like a “Hackathon” where people gather together to work on finding challenge-driven solutions, the Jewish Genealogical Society is sponsoring the first ever Orlando “Roots-athon.” The event is open to anyone who is interested in beginning to search for their Jewish ancestors and living relatives as well as experienced researchers who have hit a “brick-wall.” Experts will be on-hand to provide one-on-one assistance that will lead participants to their next discovery. No lecture, no presentation—just your questions and your discovery. Br... Full story
The ninth in the series of ten monthly JGSGO (Jewish Genealogical Society of Greater Orlando) Workshops was held at The Roth Family JCC on May 2, 2017. The guest speaker was Warren Blatt, managing director of JewishGen.org, a genealogy website that features thousands of databases, research tools, and other resources to help those with Jewish ancestry research and find family members. Blatt spoke on Jewish given names and surnames, their customs, origins, and variations, all important... Full story
The Jewish Pavilion was thrilled to have husband and wife, Joe and Renee, join in, as well as several other Jewish residents and almost 20 students from the Trinity Christian Academy's Jewish history class, for the Passover seder at the Westminster Towers. The group celebrated with the taste's of a seder and ended with some Jewish music and dancing.... Full story
Judy Suberman is shown here (standing) with very lucky seniors residing at Atria Park at Lake Forest. Lucky because they benefit from her friendship, dedication and kindness. Passover customs and the joy associated with Passover were shared among friends this past month. Toni Gittles joined in as a guest to experience the beautiful holiday celebration. Suberman can be found every fourth Friday 4 p.m. leading Shabbat prayers and songs at Atria Park. Prior to Shabbat, Suberman meets the residents... Full story
The residents at The Watercrest of Lake Nona and Jewish Pavilion Program Director Walter Goldstein observed the candle lighting ceremony of Yom HaShoah. Six candles were lit in remembrance of the 6 million killed in the Holocaust. The residents then enjoyed a little something sweet after such sadness.... Full story
After the recession slowed most businesses down considerably, Renee Friedman's team of 14 at FastSigns Orlando Central, under her leadership, hunkered down to make 2016 the company's best year since she bought the retail chain franchise in 2001. "The recession almost shut us down as we lost so many customers in the real estate and construction industries. Year after year sales declined despite all our efforts," she said. "We kept pushing forward and finally, about four years ago, we started to... Full story
As the parsha (portion of the Torah) for the Shabbat of April 28 was about all sorts of skin diseases, Rabbi Arthur Grae of Congregation Ohr Chayim decided instead to talk about the Schlissel (Key) Challah, which is traditionally baked the week after Passover. Its significance is as a 'segula' or propitious sign for a good livelihood (parnassa). There are various ways of making this challah-some make an impression of a key on top of a regular challah, some bake a key inside one, and some, like... Full story
As a response to recent events of anti-Semitism at Lake Brantley High School, a group of Jewish teens who are members of Club L'chaim at Lake Brantley and their teacher, Dan Smith, partnered with Chabad of Altamonte Springs and hosted an evening of awareness and education. Seminole County Public Schools were also a sponsor of this event. They expected 50 people to come, and planned on holding it in the community room at Lake Brantley. Over 750 people joined the event, which had to be moved to... Full story
RAISE, a work and social skills training program for adults with special needs at the Jewish Federation of Greater Orlando, is celebrating its third successful year. Just this month, two of its current participants have moved on to new jobs. And, as always happens with RAISE, more than one person was involved in the process of making this happen. Take Caitlin for example. She spent six-months in RAISE and was recently hired to work at FASTSIGNS Orlando Central by owner Renee Friedman, who saw... Full story
The Jewish Federation of Greater Orlando’s Jerome J. Bornstein Leadership Development Program is accepting applications for the 2017-18 class. The Bornstein program is designed to develop future leaders for the Central Florida Jewish community. Bornstein graduates have gone on to serve on boards and hold top leadership positions in Jewish organizations locally, nationally and internationally. Federation selects 15 or fewer individuals each class year to participate. Much of the Bornstein Program’s success is attributable to the outstanding qua... Full story
It all began in Valdosta, Georgia, in the late 1960s with a pair of his and her golf clubs. Elise and Henry Schilowitz, took up recreational golf as a way to spend time together, while Henry served out his two-year commission as an OB/GYN in the Air Force. Almost 50 years later, the ball is still rolling, as the community-minded couple and Jewish Pavilion volunteers are honored at the Pavilion Golf Society Tournament on Sunday, May 7. The 5th Annual Event will be held at the Rosen Shingle... Full story
One fateful week in June 1967 redrew the map of the Middle East. Fifty years later, Israel continues to face numerous existential threats. Beginning the week of May 7, Chabad rabbis throughout central Florida will offer a new six-session course from the Rohr Jewish Learning Institute called Survival of a Nation: Exploring Israel Through the Lens of the Six-Day War. Commemorating 50 years since the Six-Day War, the course invites participants to experience a captivating account of what was at the... Full story
The Meitin Alliance for Growth And Learning, the collaborative religious school between Temple Israel (Conservative) and Temple Shir Shalom (Reform), will hold its first in a series of open houses for the 2017-18 school year this Sunday, May 7, between 11 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. All families in the Central Florida Jewish community are cordially invited to attend. MAGAL is located on the campus of Temple Israel, 50 S. Moss Road, Winter Springs. Come and meet Rabbi Neely and Cantor Kim, heads of... 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 2017 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, which will be held Aug. 27. “For more than 27 years, individuals who have made major, voluntary contributions of their talent, t... Full story
The Jewish Federation of Greater Orlando is accepting applications for Community Collaborative Grants for summer 2017 and the 2017-18 program year. Federation expects to award a total of $50,000 in this round of grants. The grants are available for programs and services that are collaborative in nature and address an unmet need in the Greater Orlando Jewish community. The Federation debuted its Community Collaborative Grants initiative in 2015, awarding $100,000 to 18 programs and services in 2015-16. The programs that benefited from the Federa... Full story
