Central Florida's Independent Jewish Voice
Central Florida's Independent Jewish Voice
Sorted by date Results 2637 - 2661 of 3602
As members of Congress review and debate the recent agreement governing Iran's nuclear development, the Jewish Federation of Greater Orlando (JFGO) is at the forefront locally, providing community members with a vast array of resources about the issue via the Federation's special web page, jfgo.org/iran. Launched two days after the agreement was announced, JFGO's web page has grown substantially, with several hours of video, statements from Jewish groups across the nation, and links to in-depth... Full story
The joy of the Sabbath will be celebrated on Friday evening, Aug.14, at 7 p.m. at Congregation Beth Sholom in Leesburg with a much-anticipated Kabbalat Shabbat service. Rabbi Karen Allan will lead the service. When Zoiry Zinger, former violin soloist in the Russian Symphony Orchestra, joins Rabbi/Cantor Karen Allen with her keyboard, the Sabbath will be welcomed with a musical celebration of the Jewish spirit. The program will include a new musical presentation, composed by Rabbi Allen for Zinger, as well as new and traditional melodies for... Full story
On Friday evening, Aug. 21, Temple Israel will be holding its Second Annual ShaBBQ from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. This year, in addition to the delicious menu of hot dogs, hamburgers, beans, chips, ice tea, dessert and more, the adult membership will be pitted against the children in a game of kickball on TI's spacious grounds. As always, there also will be arts and crafts for younger members to take advantage of. This dinner and activities will be followed by Kabbalat Shabbat and MaAriv services at... Full story
Temple Israel of Winter Springs co-hosted one of the "Summer Sundays" held at the Jewish Community Center in Maitland on July 12. It was a pool party with lunch, fun and sun!... Full story
"Our first event was Rosh Hashanah services at the Courtyard Marriott in Lake Mary and we did not have a Minyan," remembered Rabbi Yanky Majesky of Chabad North Orlando. "We moved to town and did not know a soul." Now five years later, Chabad in Lake Mary has several hundred members who attend the High Holiday services at the Westin Lake Mary. A lot has changed in the last few years. "The growth has been beyond our wildest dreams," added the rabbi. "We have seen the hand of Hashem every step of... Full story
Participating in services at the Southwest Orlando Jewish Congregation (SOJC) is an opportunity for congregants to issue their praise and appreciation to HaShem (G-D). Under the leadership of Rabbi Hillel Skolnik and Cantor Doug Ramsay the services are warm, heart-felt and sincere. However, at SOJC there is always room for new ideas, innovation and improvement. Their latest innovation stems from the configuration of services in biblical times when the Children of Israel filled their prayers... Full story
Each summer, for three days, Temple Israel, located at 50 S. Moss Road, Winter Springs, offers students of all ages and their families an opportunity to have fun and brush up on their Hebrew. This year they will be conducting an archeological excavation where participants will dig up relics and artifacts from three different civilizations that help the children to understand their lifestyles and culture. Participants will uncover treasures from the Dead Sea sect known as the Essenes, from the... Full story
Jewish history of central and north Florida is the topic of an Aug. 2 seminar at 3 p.m. at Congregation Beth Sholom, 315 North 13th Street (entrance on Center Street), in Leesburg. The public is invited to join the congregation for the presentation and for refreshments following. Presenters Dr. Rebecca Jefferson, curator of the Price Library of Judaica, and Dr. Jim Cusick, curator of the P.K. Yonge Library of Florida History will speak on Jewish history of central and north Florida. In introducing the collections featured at the two museums,... Full story
What could be better than celebrating Shabbat morning with fellow Jews in Florida? How about celebrating Shabbat under the gorgeous Florida sun, with music and the sound of the surf accompanying your prayers? On Aug.1, Temple Shir Shalom of Oviedo will celebrate its annual Shabbat on the Beach in New Smyrna Beach. Everyone is welcome for the free program beginning at 10 a.m. Meet up is on the beach off the Flagler North entrance. For more information, visit www.templeshirshalom.org or call 407-366-3556.... Full story
Gloria Max, executive director of the Jewish Federation of Volusia & Flagler Counties in Ormond Beach, sent this notice: In light of the Iran nuclear proposal, Israel definitely needs our prayers and continued support. Everyone is invited for this special free gathering. This will be held at the Global Prayer Center, 701 Bill France Boulevard, Daytona Beach, Fl. 32114 on Sunday, Aug. 2, at 6 p.m. Songs of Praise and Worship will be given by rabbis, ministers and a special dance team. Please make every effort to attend....
We are instructed to rest and enjoy the day of Shabbat. Festive meals are prepared, while families have the opportunity to relax and spend time with each other both within their private homes and with the larger congregational community. On Friday evenings, after services, it is traditional to have an Oneg Shabbat, literally enjoyment of Shabbat. Temple Israel adheres to this tradition and occasionally offers a special way to enhance its Shabbat joy by having Israeli dancing. On Aug. 7 at... Full story
Temple Israel, along with several other groups from the Orlando area, spent two hours on July 15 bagging potatoes for the Second Harvest Food Bank, a private, nonprofit organization that collects and distributes donated food to more than 550 nonprofit partner agencies in six Central Florida counties. The evening was open to families with children as young as 5 years old, which gave the Hebrew School students and their older siblings an opportunity to participate in this worthy work. Adults and... Full story
Temple Israel, in partnership with the Jewish Community Center of Greater Orlando, co-sponsored a day of fun, food and swimming on July 12th. Members and prospective members of Temple Israel, along with JCC members, enjoyed a fantastic hot dog lunch and water activities including a waterslide. Temple Israel members are proud to support the efforts of this community, bringing Jewish families together throughout the year.... Full story
During the summer months, when schools are closed and free or reduced lunches aren't available to students, JFS Orlando provides about 40 percent more families with food from the Pearlman Emergency Food Pantry. The State Attorney's Office helped with the food drive by each floor taking on the challenge to gather as many non-perishable food items as possible in a one-week period. The court employees donated more than 400 items to the pantry and were happy to participate in such a worthy cause... Full story
Hidur Mitzvah is a term used to express the desire to enhance the beauty and thus the appreciation of Jewish religious objects. On June 30, 25 members and friends of Temple Israel gathered at All Fired Up in Winter Park to create their own Judaic pottery piece while enjoying wine and snacks and friendly company. This event was sponsored by the Temple Israel Membership committee.... Full story
According to a recent survey by Hillel International, Jewish college students from around the country, and around Florida in particular, are increasingly choosing UCF over any other university. With a conservatively estimated 6,000 Jewish students on campus, UCF has the second largest Jewish student population of any public University outside of the State of Israel. With such a robust and dynamic Jewish student population, the leadership of Central Florida Hillel changed their model to best serv... Full story
The Kinneret Council on Aging's monthly program "Coffee and Conversation" featured guest speaker Mitch Bloomer, of the Holocaust Center, on Wednesday, July 15. The topic presented was "Rejected Art: Stolen Art. Why did the Nazis steal so much art that they didn't like anyway?" Over 25 residents attended the program that featured a slide presentation and discussion of the stolen art. "Coffee and Conversation" is a monthly program provided by the Kinneret Council on Aging to bring organizations... Full story
Casselberry's reform Congregation Bet Chaim (CBC), the first in Seminole County to build its own facility, has forged a one-of-a kind relationship with the Longwood (now Casselberry) Spanish Seventh Day Adventist Church, with a sale/lease arrangement that will fortify the temple's longevity and growth. The congregation, which celebrates its 24th anniversary this week, sold the approximately 3,000 square foot building and two acre lakefront lot that they have occupied since 2005 to the Adventist... Full story
The Roth Family Jewish Community Center of Greater Orlando announces that it will be renaming its array of basketball leagues as the Charles I. Schwartz Memorial JCC Basketball League and completing a renovation to its basketball gym in memory of Charles Schwartz. Schwartz, a longtime supporter of the JCC and Jewish community, passed away in September 2014. In the months since Schwartz's passing, JCC leaders reflected on a number of ways in which to honor his memory. The most impactful... Full story
On behalf of the Jewish Federation of Greater Orlando, we denounce the divisive comments made last week by Israeli Minister of Religious Services David Azoulay. We are deeply offended by his hateful words and we applaud Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for his swift repudiation of these remarks. At the time when Israel and the Jewish people are facing existential threats from Iran and ISIS, we need to bring the Jewish people together rather than driving wedges among Jews of different denominations and between American Jews and the people of... Full story
The Jewish Federation of Greater Orlando (JFGO) is celebrating its most successful fundraising campaign in years, closing out the 2015 Annual Campaign with a final tally of more than $1,003,500 in gifts and sponsorships. It’s a milestone that JFGO has been tirelessly pursuing for years. When the U.S. economy entered a freefall in late 2008, the ripple effects were felt at nonprofits across the nation, and JFGO was no exception. But as the economy slowly climbed back, so did charitable giving. JFGO has seen a slow but steady uptick in donations... Full story
Demystify the ancient Indian practice and separate out myths from facts about yoga. On Sunday, Aug. 2, from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. JFS Orlando, together with Sharsheret, will present Healing with Yoga. This class will cover the basic history and practice of yoga, as well as introduce Ayurvedic medicine, meditation, and chanting. Rebekah will also explain the differences between common yoga classes offered at gyms and studios and answer any questions. No mats or props are required for participation. The class will be held at the JFS Orlando office,... Full story
On Monday, July 20, UCF’s Intelligence Community Center for Academic Excellence and Global Perspectives presents a Speaker Series event, “Perspectives on Terrorism from the Academy and the Field.” There, a panel of experts from academia and the government will discuss terrorism, counterterrorism and whether current efforts are working. Panelists include Dr. Sebastian Gorka, the Major General Matthew C. Horner Distinguished Chair of Military Theory at the Marine Corps University, and Adrianne George, the National Counterterrorism Cente... Full story
Rabbi Karen Allen of Congregation Beth Sholom in Leesburg will lead a Torah roundtable on Thursday, July 23 at 11 a.m. at the Sumter County Administration Building (with the golden dome) at 7375 Powell Road (near Pinellas Plaza and 466A), Wildwood. Inquire in the Library for the room number. The roundtable provides a unique opportunity to talk with the rabbi as she leads an informal and interactive discussion focusing on topics of contemporary Jewish interest suggested by the Torah portion of the week. Rabbi Allen will conduct Saturday morning... Full story
More than 100 members of the local Jewish community gathered at The Roth Family JCC in Maitland on Sunday, June 28, for a pool party co-sponsored by The Jewish Federation of Greater Orlando's Shalom Families and The Roth Family JCC. The party featured an "Israeli Travel" theme and included a kosher lunch, family crafts and music. Much of the programming was inspired by the PJ Library book "Dinosaur Goes to Israel." PJ Library is a national program that mails free Jewish children's literature... Full story
