Central Florida's Independent Jewish Voice
Central Florida's Independent Jewish Voice
Sorted by date Results 3535 - 3559 of 3604
Congregation Beth Sholom invites the public to join them as Rabbi Allen leads a special Shavuot Shabbat service at 10 a.m. on Saturday, May 11. A Yizkor Memorial service will conclude the holiday morning observance. Shavuot celebrates the giving of the Ten Commandments and the Torah to the Jewish people. It is customary to stay up studying scripture on the night before Shavuot, as spiritual preparation to receive the Torah personally. On Shavuot, the Book of Ruth is read, both because of its depiction of the grain harvest and because Ruth... Full story
On June 18, 1964, 16 rabbis were arrested in St. Augustine, the largest mass arrest of rabbis in the United States, On June 18, 2013, an African-American student of one of those rabbis will join his voice to the voices of those 16, as the St. Augustine Jewish Historical Society marks the 49th anniversary of the work of those rabbis who were here to be stand with the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. in his efforts to drive the Ku Klux Klan out of America’s oldest city. The St. Augustine Jewish H... Full story
Rain didn’t stop the Roth Jewish Community Center of Greater Orlando’s Israel Independence Day Family Festival from bringing an Israeli spirit to Central Florida on April 21. The festival, celebrating Israeli’s 65th anniversary, was held at Cranes Roost Park in Altamonte Springs, and was co-chaired by volunteers Rita Isaak, Ashley Lanxner and Samantha Taylor.... Full story
Supporters of the Jewish Pavilion proved to be more than “fair-weather friends” on Sunday, April 21, at the Marriott in Lake Mary when more than 250 attendees braved record downpours to attend their annual gala, honoring dedicated volunteers, Debbie Meitin and Cathy Swerdlow. It was an evening marked by moving speeches, combined with a sprinkling of tears, as Meitin, Swerdlow and a host of volunteers shared their heartwarming experiences of bringing companionship and Jewish connections to senior... Full story
Few people expect to uncover tales of Jewish magic and sorcery while searching for female names common to third-century Babylonia. Then again, even fewer people expect a chemist to become a critically acclaimed author of Jewish historical fiction. Maggie Anton, author of the “Rashi’s Daughters” trilogy, has experienced both situations. She will speak about her writing process and her new book, “Rav Hisda’s Daughter, Book I: Apprentice: A Novel of Love, the Talmud, and Sorcery,” at 7 p.m. Thursd... Full story
By Claudia Green Jewish Pavilion volunteer A group of guys from Congregation Ohev Shalom Men’s Club have taken it upon themselves to organize a fun golf tournament with proceeds going to the Jewish Pavilion. The newly formed ‘Pavilion Golf Society’ committee, co-chaired by Ken Davis and Lloyd Green, said they are working extremely hard to ensure that the tournament is a huge success. As the Jewish Pavilion has an ongoing need for funding, it is envisioned that this will become an annual event on the calendar. The inaugural golf tourn... Full story
OCALA—Chabad-Lubavitch Jewish Center of Marion County and The Villages is hosting a communitywide celebration, featuring a barbecue, music, magic show, pony rides and petting zoo from 1 p.m.-3:30 p.m. on Sunday, April 28 at the Chabad Jewish Center, 3500 SW 34th Ave. The event, open to the public, will mark the observance of the Jewish holiday of Lag B’Omer, which is traditionally commemorated by large outdoor celebrations and bonfires, which harbor spiritual significance. Chabad-Lubavitch, the largest Jewish outreach organization in the wor... Full story
The Roth Jewish Community Center of Greater Orlando will honor community leaders Robin and Rich Lerner at this year’s annual golf tournament. This year’s event will be held Sunday, May 5 at the Shingle Creek Golf Club. You may know Rich Lerner for his work as an essayist and reporter for the Golf Channel. What you may not know is that he and his family have a lifelong connection to the J. He met his wife, Robin in preschool at the J in their hometown of Allentown, Pa. His Russian Jewish imm... Full story
Jewish National Fund’s Women for Israel in Orlando will host a Wine and Trivia Night at a private home in Orlando at 7 p.m. April 30. JNF believes in the power of women’s giving. With two major donor societies—Sapphire Society and Chai Society—and the Women’s Alliance, JNF has a giving level to suit every woman. JNF’s Women’s Campaign for Israel brings together strong, like-minded women who connect to JNF and the land and people of Israel on many levels—professional, emotional and ideological. Through the Women’s Alliance, JNF gives donors of a... Full story
The Roth Jewish Community Center of Greater Orlando’s 39ers seniors group looks forward to announcing their new slate of officers for the coming 2013-2014 year at a celebratory installation party on May 20. The installation party will feature Carol Stein, The Piano Lady. Carol is well known in the community for her superb musicality and generous nature, and especially at the JCC, where she has performed many times says an event planner. Carol has offered to perform for the group to show her a... Full story
The medical and legal professional societies of the Jewish Federation of Greater Orlando are getting together for a kosher and Israeli wine tasting event at Tim’s Wine Market on Orange Avenue on April 25 at 6:15 p.m. The event is to celebrate Israel’s 65th Independence. In addition to the unique selection of wines, the event will feature jazz music and delectable hors d’oeuvres. The event is open to everyone in the community. The Maimonides Medical Society is an affinity group for Jewish physi... Full story
Heritage Florida Jewish News is accepting nominations for the 2013 Heritage Human Service Award, which will be presented in August at the annual meeting of the Jewish Federation of Greater Orlando. “For more than 25 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,” says Jeff Gaeser, editor and publisher of the Heritage. Last year’s recipient was Dr. Zena Sulkes. The Heritage is accep... Full story
TAMPA—Get advice on negotiating the Jewish holidays off at your first job. Learn tips about how to live inexpensively in Israel for a year. Get insights into how to share living space with someone who keeps kosher when you aren’t. You can do all of this and more on Better Than Bubbe (www.betterthanbubbe.com). The website is part of a global outreach and engagement initiative made possible by the Schoenbaum Family Foundation, and the Tampa Orlando Pinellas Jewish Federation Alliance. Better Than Bubbe expands beyond the solid, old-fashioned adv... Full story
Scholars to St. Augustine Jewish Historical Society: The British have burned the documents you seek. In 1586, again in 1668 and yet again in 1702, British raids on St. Augustine led to the burning of records of births, marriages and deaths in the oldest city’s archives. A group of scholars recently gathered at Flagler College to report to a public forum arranged by the St. Augustine Jewish Historical Society (SAJHS) indicated that these records would certainly be critical in identifying early M... Full story
The Israel Independence Day Family Festival, presented by the Roth Jewish Community Center of Greater Orlando, will be from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, April 21 at Cranes Roost Park in Altamonte Springs. The event will feature food, activities, shopping, and performances, such as the one pictured here featuring Isabel Libow and Tuval Basher of the Jewish Academy of Orlando. For more information, visit www.orlandojcc.org.... Full story
Congregation Beth Israel of Ocala will sponsor a Shabbaton the weekend of May 10-11. The event will be a Reconstructionist approach to Judaism and the various ways of experiencing Judaism as seen though the Reconstructionist lens. Rabbinical intern, Hannah Spiro, a student at the Reconstructionist Rabbinical College, will lead the program. Her specialty is incorporating music with Jewish liturgy through the medium of alternative folk rock. She has composed many award-winning songs and combines... Full story
Among the adult enrichment classes offered at the Roth Jewish Community Center of Greater Orlando is watercolor painting for beginners. For six weeks, adults of all ages have met each Thursday morning for instruction and social time. This was the second time the course was offered by Marilyn Schwartz of Maitland. Schwartz comes with years of experience as a painter of various mediums. She is a member of the Roth JCC and enjoys sharing her knowledge and love for painting with other members and... Full story
On Tuesday, April 9 the city of Winter Park and the Multifaith Education Project got together for the 10th annual Trees for Peace Interfaith Tree Planting Project at Martin Luther King, Jr. Park. Mayor Kenneth Bradley began the ceremony at 11:30 a.m. and the program was led by Louise Franklin Sheehy, director of the Multifaith Education Project. More than 100 Christian, Jewish and Muslim students and faculty, representing The Geneva Christian School, The Jewish Academy and The Leaders... Full story
Rabbi Steven Engel of Congregation of Reform Judaism was presented an honorary Doctor of Divinity Degree from Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion at the Cincinnati campus this past March. CRJ will be hosting a celebration Shabbat dinner and service in honor of Engel on Friday, April 19. Engel was one of only eight alumni who received the honorary degree, which is presented to alumni who have taught the faith, culture and ethics of Reform Judaism for 25 years. He earned his Master... Full story
The Jewish Federation of Greater Orlando announces that Olga Yorish has joined the organization to be its executive director. Yorish has more than 20 years of experience within the Jewish Federation system. “Our search for an extraordinary leader to direct JFGO has been thorough and extensive,” says Michael Soll, co-chairman of the board of directors. “The search committee has worked extensively to ensure the chosen candidate will lead Jewish Federation of Greater Orlando in its renewed visio... Full story
Cantor Jacki Rawiszer, cantor of Congregation of Reform Judaism in Orlando, has been elected secretary of the American Conference of Cantors for a three-year term beginning July 2013. “Cantor Rawiszer brings her current experience as an active and current board member, having chaired and championed an important initiative for cantors to raise funds toward scholarships for our congregational youth to attend the Union for Reform Judaism’s summer camps,” said Cantor Susan Caro, president of the A... Full story
The Sunday Connection at Congregation Beth Am presents “Laughter in the Wings—Great Jewish Celebrities,” starring Arnold N. Bremen, an author, retired impresario and arts administrator. Bremen will be speaking at 9:30 a.m. Sunday, May 5 at the synagogue in Longwood. After nearly half a century directing four major American Performing Arts Centers, including Ruth Eckerd Hall in Clearwater and The Kravis Center in West Palm Beach, and presenting more than 2,000 artists and attractions, Brema... Full story
The Jewish Genealogical Society of Greater Orlando (JGSGO) is presenting a roundtable discussion featuring genealogy brick-wall problems and solutions. Many genealogists encounter one or more brick walls when researching their family history. The paper trail seems to vanish. Their ancestors may have changed their names. All sources seem to have been exhausted. The trail has run dry. They may have run out of ideas on where to look next. Bring your brick-wall genealogy problem to the JGSGO’s mavens. In advance of the April 30 meeting, submit a r... Full story
“What an adorable baby.” “Kinehora!” “So I hear you got the promotion.” “Kinehora!” “Did the doctor say your blood pressure was OK?” “Kinehora!” There was a time not too long ago when making any positive statement in a room full of Jews elicited a chorus of voices saying, “Kinehora!”—a Yiddishized contraction of a phrase meaning “no evil eye.” The belief that focusing on the positive invites misfortune is understandable, given the history of the Jews. But does Judaism really believe in the evil... Full story
The Central Florida community is invited to participate in the program, Aging and the Loss of Independence: Adult Children and Their Aging Parents to be held at 10:30 a.m. Sunday, April 14 at Congregation Ohev Shalom, 613 Concourse Parkway S., Maitland. The program is co-sponsored by Congregation Ohev Shalom Men’s Club, Jewish Family Services of Greater Orlando and Kinneret Council on Aging. More than ever before, baby boomers are confronted with the care of their aging parents. The purpose of the program is to help adult children of aging p... Full story
