Central Florida's Independent Jewish Voice
Central Florida's Independent Jewish Voice
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On Sunday, May 1, volunteers came together to serve the greater Orlando community and to perform tikun olam, "repair of the world." Mitzvah Day, a first-time, large-scale, community-wide event was coordinated by The Roth Family Jewish Community Center of Greater Orlando and engaged hundreds of volunteers in a variety of projects at agencies throughout the city. There were projects for four different age demographics: families with young children, college students, young adults and middle/high... Full story
At the Oviedo High School senior awards ceremony on May 5, Sam Goldstein, 17, was recognized as valedictorian with a 4.76 GPA, and was also named Outstanding Senior Student of the Year and received the Science Senior Award. Goldstein also was the winner of a Lundy award as "Most Likely to Cure Cancer." Goldstein, son of David and Simone Goldstein of Oviedo, was nominated by OHS for the Lombardi Scholarship for the University of Florida, and was one of 22 finalists in the State of Florida for... Full story
JFS Orlando recently received a $40,000 grant through the Orlando Sentinel Family Fund, a McCormick Foundation Fund. The grant will support the organization's Family Stabilization Program. The Family Stabilization Program strives to improve a family's overall stability and self-sufficiency through financial education workshops, employability workshops, mental health counseling, individual financial counseling and providing case management to help improve their educational or employment status.... Full story
Israel Independence Day was celebrated with an outpouring of fun and gaiety by many members of the community at the Roth Family JCC on Thursday, May 12. Attendees enjoyed hearing Israeli pop singer Noa Carmel and the community choir perform; noshing kosher food provided by many vendors; joining in Israeli dances, led by the JCC's Israeli dance group; swimming at the pool and children having fun doing activities specifically for them.... Full story
Grace means beauty or charm of form, movement, expression; a sense of what is right and proper, decency; thoughtfulness toward others; and it is the perfect description of Grace Nelson, wife of U.S. Senator Bill Nelson. Recently, The ACCoRD Project invited her to speak at an afternoon tea hosted by Burt and Barbara Chasnov. "Thank you, for heaven's sake, for what you are trying to do," Nelson said to the ACCoRD members, who hope to bring Americans back to civility, respect and dignity. Truly a S... Full story
In May 1994 the Florida legislature passed a statute requiring all schools to provide specific Holocaust education to their students. The statute states that it should be taught "in a manner that leads to an investigation of human behavior, an understanding of the ramifications of prejudice, racism, and stereotyping, and an examination of what it means to be a responsible and respectful person, for the purposes of encouraging tolerance of diversity in a pluralistic society and for nurturing and... Full story
The Holocaust Center's series, I Remember: Eyewitnesses to the Holocaust, will continue on Sunday, May 22 at 2 p.m. The event will feature survivor Harry Lowenstein speaking at the Center in Maitland. Lowenstein was born in Fuerstnau, Germany, in 1931, the younger of two children. At age 9, Harry, along with 20 family members, went to live in the Riga ghetto, where they were crowded into a two-room apartment. A year and a half later, he was taken to the concentration camp of Riga-Kaiser Walt.... Full story
On June 5th, Temple Israel, located at 50 S. Moss Road in Winter Springs, will host a Super Smash Bros. Tournament for Wii u & GameCube. This event seeks to unite the community through an exciting all day event. The tournament will run from 11a.m. to 9 p.m. Entry fee is only $6, with pizza and other refreshments being served. This event will be run by Nathan Kluger, who has run five tournaments in the past, with this tournament being the largest one yet at over 60 entrants. The event is sponsored by Royal Empire Gaming. There will be a raffle... Full story
The Rohr Jewish Learning Institute is offering a new course, beginning this month at three Chabad locations. The upcoming JLI course is titled Strength and Struggle: Lessons in Character from the Stories of Our Prophets? “It’s not (just) a course about David, Ruth, Saul, and Elijah,” said Rabbi Yosef Konikov, “this course is about you!” “It’s about how to enrich your life, how to become the person you’ve always wanted to be, and how to overcome—and even grow from—life’s challenges,” he said. What makes this course different from all othe... Full story
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... Full story
Magician Illene Miller is again visiting senior facilities and the VA, bringing smiles and laughs with her jokes and magic tricks. Recently she performed at Brookdale - Dr. Phillips at the request of the Jewish Pavilion. Shown here is Maybelene lighting up a 100-year-old resident. To volunteer your talents for seniors through the Jewish Pavilion, call 407-678-9363 or go to www.jewishpavilion.org.... Full story
JFS Orlando is in need of volunteers for the following: Centerpieces for tzedakah Events Food Drives Handyman services Holiday meal delivery JFS Orlando Historical Project Office projects Pearlman Emergency Food Pantry Reception The R.I.D.E. Program If you would like to give some of your time to help in any of these areas, please contact Amanda Benedit, development coordinator, at 407-644-7593, ext. 227. Perhaps you’d like to do something, but free time is limited. JFS Orlando is always in need of specific items to better serve the c... Full story
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.... Full story
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.... Full story
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... Full story
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... Full story
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... Full story
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... Full story
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... Full story
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... Full story
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... Full story
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... Full story
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... Full story
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... Full story
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... Full story
