Central Florida's Independent Jewish Voice
Central Florida's Independent Jewish Voice
Sorted by date Results 3204 - 3228 of 3579
Irving Roth, a Holocaust survivor, writer and internationally-known educator, will share his personal stories of the Nazi death camps at UCF on Thursday, Feb. 20, in the Student Union-Garden Key, Room 221, from 7 p.m. – 9 p.m. The event is sponsored by Christians United for Israel, with the support of Central Florida Hillel. There will be a meet and greet and refreshments immediately following the lecture.... Full story
JFGO's Maimonides Society hosted a special event with Dr. Rick Hodes as guest speaker on Feb. 2. Dr. Hodes is an American doctor who has lived and worked in Ethiopia for more than 20 years. He is the medical director in Ethiopia for the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee (JDC), supported by the Jewish Federation of Greater Orlando. The JDC is the world's leading non-sectarian humanitarian organization, impacting millions of lives in more than 70 countries today. Supported by a... Full story
More than 300 people filled the Temple Beth-El for the 31st annual communitywide Sabbath service. Most of the other synagogues were closed and the congregants all came together to pray as one. Gloria Max, executive director of the Jewish Federation of Volusia and Flagler counties, said being able to mingle with other members is important due to the small size of the Jewish community. There was a proclamation read from Volusia County and Ormond Beach making Friday, Jan. 31 a special day.... Full story
On Jan. 26, the 5th Annual Winter Festival at the Jewish Community Center's Jack and Lee Rosen campus featured a snow park, sledding, rides, inflatables, games, character experiences, interactive booths-including Games 2 U Video Truck and Forever Expressions-food and much, more. This year's Winter Festival also featured J IDOL, a singing competition for ages 5 to adults. The pool of more than 60 contestants was whittled down to the top 10. After great performances, sometimes in the rain, the... Full story
The Jewish Pavilion Pearl donors are generous with their time and resources. On Jan. 23, Lynn Minkow hosted the Pearls event and organized a fashion presentation. Close to 50 women enjoyed a gourmet lunch and beautiful clothes from the exclusive Etcetera Collection in an exquisite lakefront home. The Jewish Pavilion's sole mission is to enhance the lives of our elders. In 54 secular, skilled-nursing, assisted-living and independent-living facilities in greater Orlando, 350 Jewish residents and... Full story
The first Sharsheret event of the year, Jewish Family Services Orlando is sponsoring a workshop with Kathleen R. Morgan, MSN, FNP, NP-C, who will share the skills of mindful eating and how eating certain foods may help reduce the risk of cancer. The program is a continuation of JFS’s health and wellness cancer prevention series, and will take place Wednesday, Feb. 19 at the George Wolly Center, 2100 Lee Road, Winter Park, at 6:30 p.m. The event is free and open to the public. Light bites and refreshments will be served. For more information, c... Full story
Sponsored by the Jewish Pavilion, residents of the Kinneret apartments are enjoying a new Jewish topics class and discussion monthly that are delving into many diverse subjects—from Jewish theological thoughts on reincarnation to what are the roots of anti-Semitism to how does intermarriage change family. The class is an interactive way to learn and is open to the public at large, with refreshments provided by the Kinneret management. For more information or details of upcoming classes please contact the speaker/facilitator Davida Barr at d... Full story
For years, leaders of the Jewish community have wrestled with ways to find new sources of revenue and reduce debt on the Maitland campus but no one came up with a plan to do it. Until now. Local businessman Charles Schwartz, strong supporter of Jewish causes here and abroad, has put in play a bold multi-pronged plan that tackles long-stewing financial issues. Schwartz is proposing that Jewish Federation of Greater Orlando sell its share of the Rosen JCC in South Orlando to the Rosen Foundation... Full story
TAMPA-Five years ago Tampa's Jewish community faced financial challenges similar to Orlando's-bogged down with debt. Among other things, Tampa solved its problems by selling assets and using the proceeds to reduce campus debt-similar to a plan currently being proposed by leaders of Orlando Jewish community. Tampa had a $4 million mortgage; Orlando, a $5.8 million mortgage. "Like Orlando, the money Tampa was spending to service debt was robbing the community of its potential to fund programs and... Full story
ORLANDO- University of Central Florida President John Hitt issued a statement today opposing the boycott of Israeli academic institutions, which has been promoted by some higher-education professional groups. Hitt joined university and college presidents from across the United States, as well as the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities (APLU), in opposing an Israeli boycott. "An academic boycott of Israel is an anathema to the very principle universities hold most precious-the free... Full story
The Jewish Pavilion Gala this year will be a festive Purim party on Sunday, March 9 at 5 p.m. at the Westin, Lake Mary. The $100 couvert includes wine, hors d'oeuvres, a gourmet dinner, live music and dancing and a silent and live auction. Costumes are optional. Honorees are Valerie Chestunt from VITAS Innovative Hospice and Eve Homburger. The Jewish Pavilion staff has planned 50 Purim parties in senior facilities across town. The gala is an extension of their mission to bring Jewish culture,... Full story
After a five-year hiatus, the Israeli dance group at the Roth JCC is reviving its annual dance workshop with Israeli dance instructor Dany Benshalom on Saturday evening, March 29 and Sunday, March 30. Dany Benshalom, workshop master teacher, is widely known and respected among the dance community in Israel and the Western hemisphere. He has taught Israeli folk-dance for dance teachers at the Wingate Institute’s Zinnman College for P.E since 1988. Together with his wife Nogah, he runs one of Israel’s most popular dance programs in Kibbutz Giv... Full story
A unique opportunity is available to our community to attend an afternoon of learning about the great advances that Israel brings to the world. This event will be held Sunday, March 23 from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. and is co-sponsored by the Jewish Federation of Greater Orlando, the Jewish Community Center of Greater Orlando, Congregation Ohev Shalom, Hillel of the University of Central Florida and Zionistas. This program will take place at Congregation Ohev Shalom, 613 Concourse Parkway South, Maitland. Everyone is welcome; there is no admission... Full story
The Social Justice subcommittee of the JCRC has designated this year's focus to the growing issue of hunger, especially here in Central Florida. The first project of the year was a Jewish Response to Hunger at Second Harvest Food Bank on Jan. 15. Volunteers learned all about Second Harvest, and had the opportunity to work in the warehouse, opening boxes of donated items, cleaning them, checking expiration dates and sorting them for shelving. There will be another Second Harvest volunteer night... Full story
The Boy Scouts of America Central Florida Council and National Eagle Scout Association Committee chose Eagle Scout Max Waldor's Eagle Scout service project, Holocaust Memorial at Southwest Orlando, as the winner of this year's Grove Adams Award. This award recognizes one Eagle Scout for his service project. Waldor's project will compete first in the Southeast Region and then if chosen, in the National competition. The Council evaluates each Eagle service project for the award on planning,... Full story
Eric Lightman jokes that he had been living in Boston for the past year and knew it was going to start snowing any day. So he, along with his wife, Margo, packed up and moved to Orlando in December. But it wasn't just the sun and warm weather that lured them down to Florida- Lightman has been appointed program director of the Jewish Community Center's Jack & Lee Rosen Southwest Orlando Campus. In this capacity, Lightman will be overseeing all of the location's youth and sports programming,... Full story
The Holocaust Memorial Resource and Education Center in Maitland will host its 27th annual Dinner of Tribute on at 5:30 p.m., Wednesday, April 30, at the Rosen Plaza Hotel. This year's honoree, Harris Rosen, president and COO of Rosen Hotels and Resorts, is well-known not only as a successful businessman but also as a highly-regarded philanthropist. His activities-ranging from support for the Tangelo Park neighborhood in Orlando, to planning an innovative housing project in Haiti, to his... Full story
The Jewish Pavilion welcomes gerontologist Davida Barr as the new director of Community Outreach, as well as new to Orlando. Living most of her life in Israel, Barr was a successful community organizer who helped create many new programs and facilities for vulnerable populations, including a children's library, a women's health and wellness center, and a school that provided ultra Orthodox girls with an opportunity to study secular studies. Her specialty was work with the elderly, and was a... Full story
This past month, Congregation Ohev Shalom’s Senior Rabbi Aaron Rubinger began his “Sichot” series that is a series of informal conversations between a rabbi and fellow congregants. The series is held on Thursday evenings at 7 p.m. Recently, Rabbi David Kay began his adult yeshiva class titled “Kabbalah for Real: Introduction to Sefer Yetzirah” on Wednesday evenings at 7 p.m. Along with its adult education classes in the coming months, COS looks forward to providing more interactive family programs, numerous social activities, and meaningfu... Full story
Congregation Beth Sholom invites the public to its Shabbat service at 7 p.m. on Friday, Feb.14. Rabbi Karen Allen will lead the service. Coffee and cake will be served following. The synagogue is located at 315 North 13th Street in Leesburg, with the entrance on Center Street. For more information, visit its website at BethSholomFlorida.org or call 352-326-3692.... Full story
The Jewish Community Center is pleased to announce this year's honoree for their annual fundraiser, The J Ball, is Bruce Gould. Gould will be honored on March 8 at the Rosen Plaza Hotel for his various community actions and philanthropic efforts accomplished in Orlando, New York and Israel. Gould's philanthropic desire to help the community started way back in high school and college when he was a member of Key Club and Circle K. According to Gould, "I always had a love for the JCC and it was a... Full story
Can a Palestinian from the Gaza Strip and a Jewish American from New York find a common bond through music? Temple Shir Shalom of Oviedo invites the community to participate in a special Friday Night Shabbat service on March 7. Spiritual Leader Beth Schafer, who recently produced the celebration of Women of Reform Judaism’s Centennial Anniversary at the URJ’s Biennial Convention, (featured in URJ Top Ten Moments for 2013), has organized another evening of meaningful music and spiritual exploration with visiting artists Michael Ochs and Ala... Full story
On Jan. 21, the previous co-chairwomen of Choices gathered for a luncheon. The ladies enjoyed reminiscing about the past and hearing details of this year's event. Shown here are back row, (l-r) Monique Eyal, Rene Brent, JoAnne Kane, Rene Roberts, Rhonda Forest; front row, (l-r) Shari Klafter, Marcie Greenberg, Susan Bierman, Ellen Snyder, Rita Isaak, Barbara Chasnov, Loren London, and Devorah-Leah Dubov.... Full story
"The walls are closing in on me", said one elderly woman. "I got tired of eating alone... I was still driving but less and less often, my friends had all moved away or into assisted living and I had lost my Mah Jongg game." These are valid reasons for making a life changing decision to move at the age of 88. While one person enjoys the privacy and familiarity of her own small condominium another person feels isolated and lonely, even frightened to be alone in case of an emergency. Fortunately fo... Full story
The students and teachers at the Steinmetz Family School of Chai at Congregation of Reform Judaism recently celebrated the Jewish birthday of the trees Tu B'Shevat with an art expo and seder. As a mid-year culmination of the lessons taught by art specialist Judith Lazev, the expo highlighted the works of the students based on this year's school theme "Tree of Life." From the likes of such artists as Kandinsky and Klimt to the truffala trees from the Dr. Seuss story "The Lorax" and the apple... Full story
