Central Florida's Independent Jewish Voice
Central Florida's Independent Jewish Voice
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Jewish Pavilion Program Director Gloria Green saw a need among the residents of assisted living facilities she visits regularly. “I have an Independent Living facility on South OBT with four Jewish residents who ache for anything Jewish,” she told the Heritage. After “wracking her brain” about a program for them, she came up with the idea of a Koffee and Kibbitz session. The kibbitzing would be over articles in the most recent Heritage issue. The first session is set up for Friday, May 20, at Plantation Oaks, 9309 South Orange Blossom Trail....
The Rosen JCC and Southwest Orlando Jewish Congregation are joining together to celebrate Israel's 68th birthday on Sunday, May 15 from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. This exciting event will feature camel rides, a Shuk (open market), Israeli food from Zayde's Kosher Kitchen, and activities including a bounce house, rock wall, face painting, make-your-own hummus, and a bungee jump. Entertainment will be provided by Noa Carmel, an Israeli singer based in Orlando who has performed concerts all over the world....
Any fan of the Great American Songbook could hum a few bars of "Over the Rainbow," "Get Happy," "Stormy Weather," "It's Only a Paper Moon," "I've Got the World on a String," or "That Old Black Magic" without having to think too hard. And yet, the composer of those songs and many more remains known to very few. Harold Arlen wrote over 400 songs, had many major hits, won an Oscar, and was called "the most original of all of us" by none other than George Gershwin, but he never became a household na...
If you've always wanted to volunteer, but haven't been able to find the time, ask Carol Feuerman of Longwood how she does it. The active grandmother and mother of five adult children holds two jobs, and serves on three nonprofit boards, including the Jewish Pavilion, an organization she has devoted herself to since 2003. On May 15 the Pavilion is honoring Feuerman, past president of both its Executive and Friends Boards, at its fourth annual Pavilion Golf Society (PGS) at Longwood's Alaqua Count...
Using only the human voice as their instrument, the Maccabeats brought their eclectic array of vocal arrangements to Orlando on the afternoon of Sunday, April 10. Their sold-out performance at the Dr. Phillips High School Performing Arts Center marked the Jewish a cappella group's first appearance in Central Florida. The 650-seat auditorium was packed with members from synagogues as near as Congregation Ohev Shalom in Maitland and as far away as Temple Beth Sholom in Sarasota. The Southwest...
On Sunday, May 15, Murray Toborowsky will give a lecture on Abraham Lincoln and the Jews. Toborowsky is an experienced history teacher whose passion is researching and teaching on the impact of Jews on American history. He has taught a four-part course on the subject at Temple Israel, CRJ and at his home synagogue in Louisville, Kentucky, and has recently lectured on “Jews in American History” at Rollins College. This will be Toborowsky’s first lecture in his new series. He will discuss Abraham Lincoln and his Jewish friends and acquaintances a...
Passover can be a sad time for senior citizens in facilities where Jewish residents are in the minority and holidays such as Passover are not "on the schedule." Renee and Joe Aaronson at Westminster Towers Independent Living in Downtown Orlando were again planning their own private seder, but after a friend in the Towers asked them what Passover was all about, they went to Activities Director Sue Ambrosini for help. Ambrosini, in turn, called The Jewish Pavilion, and in short order had an abbrev...
While many Jews were shopping, cleaning, preparing a guest list and shopping list, several senior living communities in town were doing just the same for their Jewish community. Early in April, Jewish Pavilion volunteer Cathy Swerdlow led a Lunch 'n Learn at Oakmonte Village discussing the history of Pesach and its true meaning. Residents adore Swerdlow for her passion for Judaism and warm kindness. Bagels and Lox were served at this bi-monthly luncheon co-sponsored by Jewish Pavilion and...
By Caleb R. Newton The University of Central Florida (UCF) community has been hit a few times recently with anti-Semitic or otherwise racist incidents. The incidents include anti-Semitic vandalism at the end of last year, and, according to police, personal attacks on African-American students. In this light, the Anti-Defamation League, working in concert with the UCF Office of Diversity and Inclusion, hosted on Monday, April 18, a forum called "The Power of Symbols: When Hate Visits Our...
The Holocaust Center in Maitland will host the traveling exhibit "Who Am I? Young Minds Forced to Choose." The exhibit chronicles the life of young Jehovah's Witnesses who faced Nazi terror but who refused to give in to it. Created by the Arnold-Liebster Foundation, the exhibit will be presented from June through August in conjunction with the exhibit "Jehovah's Witnesses: Faith Under Fire." One of the co-creators of the exhibit, Simone Arnold Liebster, whose story of wartime resistance is...
Orlando Hadassah is delighted to pair with Mary Kay Cosmetics to present a “New You.” The Orlando Chapter of Hadassah invites all women to join us for a day of beauty and a buffet lunch on Tuesday, May 3 at 11:30 a.m. at Ohev Shalom. Yvonne Williams, a representative of Mary Kay Cosmetics will present a program, featuring product information for the mature woman, a makeover for a lucky audience member and a goody bag for all attendees. Because skin changes many times as we mature, it is important to know each one’s skin type. Williams will...
The Jewish Genealogical Society of Greater Orlando presents, “How to Create an Informational and Entertaining Family Video Biography” on Tuesday, May 3, at 7 p.m. at The Roth Family JCC in Maitland. Video and documentary producer Walter Schlomann will explain how to produce family video biographies and relate the excitement and satisfaction that come from documenting one’s family history in this way. Mr. Schlomann will share insights on recording family history and stories, covering topics such as research and preparation, conducting the inter...
Heritage Florida Jewish News is accepting nominations for the 2016 Heritage Human Service Award, which will be presented at the annual meeting of the Jewish Federation of Greater Orlando on Aug. 17. “For almost 30 years, individuals who have made major, voluntary contributions of their talent, time, energy and effort to the Central Florida community have been honored with the selection and presentation of this award,” said Jeff Gaeser, editor and publisher of the Heritage. Last year’s recipient was Berny Raff. Former recipients have inclu...
Through the generous grants and donations from its many supporters, Jewish Family Services Orlando has recently expanded its Counseling, Growth and Development Program and is building on its foundation of licensed professional counselors. The team of five therapists, overseen by JFS Orlando's Clinical Therapist Supervisor Teresa Brown, MSW, LCSW, provide couples, family, children/teen and group mental health counseling. JFS Orlando also has increased the number of insurance panels it can...
Shabbat 1000! Uniting Jewish students! The Pegasus Ballroom was transformed into an elegant, intimate place where hundreds of students, faculty and staff members came together to celebrate Shabbat 1000 on Friday, April 1. For its fourth consecutive year, the traditional Shabbat dinner, hosted by Chabad at UCF, expected to reach hundreds, where Jewish traditions were celebrated with, Shabbat dinner, singing and traditional customs. The evening is true display of Jewish unity with all Jewish...
Over a hundred Jewish Academy of Orlando students and their families celebrated storytelling, reading, and writing at Family Read Aloud Night. The lively event featured literacy themed festivities throughout the entire campus. Teachers and staff set up classrooms with various a hands-on activities, including poetry, digital storytelling, crafts, and games. The Seminole County Library System, Maitland Public Library, and Winter Park Public library all hosted storytelling sessions for students...
Sometimes, all a person needs is a hand to grab onto to pull herself up to level ground. One very successful program at JFS Orlando, with a 78 percent success rate since it started 14 years ago, is the Family Stabilization Program (FSP). It is a preventative, six-month case-management program (with follow ups at one year and 18 months) designed for families to obtain self-sufficiency by teaching them critical skills and tools to resolve crises and avoid future hardships while achieving long-term stability. The program’s primary objectives a...
While many were busy on April 17 doing last-minute tax preparation, staff and volunteers at the Jewish Federation of Greater Orlando were crunching their own numbers for Federation's annual Super Sunday phone-a-thon on the Maitland Jewish Community Campus. Federation volunteers made calls from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. to solicit gifts to Federation's Do Good Annual Campaign. When the final pledge was tallied, Federation had more than tripled the amount raised during last year's Super Sunday. Super...
Nearly 50 men from the Greater Orlando Jewish community packed the house at Corona Cigar Co. in downtown Orlando on April 14 for Man Cave 2016. The men's night out was organized by the Jewish Federation of Greater Orlando in support of Federation's Do Good Annual Campaign, with event sponsorship by BankUnited and Halo Building Services. Man Cave featured an open bar, drawings for raffle prizes, and a whisky tasting led by Joshua Hatton (shown in photo), president and co-founder of the Jewish...
By Julie Levitt "I want to thank G-D for allowing us to celebrate Passover together," said a teary-eyed Life Care resident, who rarely speaks. That statement alone justifies the importance of the Jewish Pavilion. To witness hands on, the joy that we bring to the Jewish seniors makes all our hard work, worth it. I had such pleasure organizing nine Pesach seders at nursing homes and assisted living facilities throughout Altamonte Springs, Maitland, and Apopka. Knowing that there are many Jewish...
Students for Justice in Palestine held its first die-in protest at the University of Central Florida on Wednesday, April 6. Shortly after noon, UCF students bearing handmade signs laid on a grassy area outside the John T. Washington Center. They remained motionless to demonstrate how Israel's alleged occupation of the West Bank affects Palestinians. Freshman Noa Tann, 19, held a cardboard sign that read, "Proud Israeli for Justice! In Palestine." Tann said her heritage makes it imperative for...
The entire Orlando community is invited to participate in Mitzvah Day on Sunday, May 1. In past years, The Roth Family Jewish Community Center of Greater Orlando has hosted J-Serve, an International Day of Jewish Youth Service, for Jewish teens in sixth through 12th grades. This year, the service projects have expanded to incorporate different age groups other than teenagers, including young adults, families with young children, and college students. "Mitzvah Day was created to start to bring...
Heritage Florida Jewish News is accepting nominations for the 2016 Heritage Human Service Award, which will be presented at the annual meeting of the Jewish Federation of Greater Orlando. “For almost 30 years, individuals who have made major, voluntary contributions of their talent, time, energy and effort to the Central Florida community have been honored with the selection and presentation of this award,” said Jeff Gaeser, editor and publisher of the Heritage. Last year’s recipient was Berny Raff. Former recipients have included Wolf Kahn...
Menemsha Films launched the U.S. theatrical release of the feel-good comedy "Dough," in South Florida Feb. 12. Now in its 10th week, the film continues to play to sold out crowds and Menemsha Films is rolling out "Dough" to markets nationwide on April 29 including Orlando, Tampa and Gainesville. Jonathan Pryce ("Pirates of the Caribbean," "Game of Thrones") stars as curmudgeonly widower, Nat Dayan, who obstinately clings to his way of life and his livelihood as a Kosher bakery shop owner in...
Marthe Cohn was a 20-year-old French Jewish girl when the Nazis invaded France in 1940. Her life then took a turn so extraordinary that it could have been pulled straight from a Hollywood movie script. While the rest of her family fled south Marthe decided to fight back. After graduating from nursing school she joined the French resistance and, because of her perfect German accent and Aryan appearance, was recruited to be a spy. Carrying forged identification papers, she infiltrated German...
