Central Florida's Independent Jewish Voice
Central Florida's Independent Jewish Voice
Sorted by date Results 3277 - 3301 of 3568
The Jewish Federation of Greater Orlando has an exciting new initiative in the works. In March 2014, RAISE (Recognizing Abilities and Inclusion of Special Employees) will be rolled out to the community. RAISE is a JFGO program that will offer a part-time paid work experience to adults with special needs. JFGO will work with local Jewish organizations to place special needs adults in job roles. By providing a part-time work experience, RAISE will offer each adult with special needs that...
The Jewish Community Center of Greater Orlando has announced that the honoree for its annual J Ball event will be community philanthropist Bruce Gould. Gould will be recognized for his philanthropic accomplishments and his ongoing engagement in helping to make a difference locally and abroad -particularly in Orlando, New York and Israel. This year's J Ball will be held on Saturday, March 8, 2014 at the Rosen Plaza Hotel in Orlando. This event will be uniquely special as it commemorates the...
Plans are well underway for The Kinneret Council on Aging's (KCOA) fourth annual 8 over 80 Honorary Dinner that will be held on Sunday, Feb. 23, 2014. The event recognizes individuals over the age of 80 who continue to contribute to the Jewish community through their volunteer and philanthropy efforts. This year's honorees are a dedicated and dynamic group of individuals. Nominated by Madeline Wolly, Ruth Goldhar is still a vibrant active 90-year-old woman. She moved to Central Florida in 1956...
On Nov. 25, the UCF Knights For Israel invited Sgt. Benjamin Anthony (IDF Reserves) of the Our Soldiers Speak organization, to speak on the state of Israel from a combat soldiers perspective. Anthony spoke to a standing-room-only crowd of more than 125 people, receiving three standing ovations. In the course of his lecture, Anthony humbly transformed himself from a battle-tested, heavy-machine gunner into a statesman. He prefaced his presentation by expressing to the audience he does not view...
A central tenet of Zionism is that Jews share a common heritage and destiny. Nevertheless, the reality of Jewish society in the state of Israel is marked by four prominent social and geo-cultural divisions: Orthodox observant vs. secular, veteran settlers vs. new immigrants, the haves vs. the have-nots and geo-cultural origin (European vs. Middle Eastern or Oriental). The last dimension has often been the source of ethnic humor—gefilte fish vs. shish kebab, but is in fact, a serious ”kulturkampf” over the image of the country. Left wing criti...
Jewish Pavilion volunteer, Penny D'Agostino, has been leading a choir for seniors at Horizon Bay for more than two years. Singing releases endorphins into your system and makes you feel energized and uplifted. People who sing are healthier than people who don't. Singing gives the lungs a workout, it tones abdominal, intercostal muscles and the diaphragm, and also stimulates circulation. Singing makes us breathe more deeply than many forms of strenuous exercise, so we take in more oxygen,...
For those who are beginning to make plans for a special occasion, such as a bar/bat mitzvah or a wedding in the near future, Congregation Ohev Shalom will host EVENTful Moments, a one-stop showcase for the Orlando community featuring Central Florida's top caterers, DJs, florists, photographers and videographers, invitation specialists, and event planners, all under one roof. The event will be held on Sunday, Jan. 12, from 2-5 p.m. in Congregation Ohev Shalom's ballroom and will include food...
For the first time the University of Central Florida Judaic Studies Program will offer a course on the history, culture and folklore of the Sephardim. The course will be taught by Dr. Norman Berdichevsky, the author of "Spanish Vignettes" who lived seven years in Spain and is also the author of the forthcoming book "The Past, Present and Future of the Hebrew Language" (McFarland, February 2014). The course may be audited without charge for seniors (60 and over) who are Florida residents. The classes begin on Jan.7 and will be held on Tuesdays...
The Roth Jewish Community Center of Greater Orlando is calling on business professionals and executives to attend a professional networking luncheon, dubbed J-Lunch, on Tuesday, Dec. 10, from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. at its Maitland location. “The event will feature technology-based solutions to supercharge your business,” said Jackie Ravinoff, who is coordinating the event. The event will feature three panelists, Hillary Bressler, founder and CEO of .Com Marketing, Joel Goldstein, best-selling author “A Professional’s Guide to Social Media,” and Bree...
Congregation Beth Sholom invites the public to its Shabbat service at 7 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 13. Rabbi Karen Allen and the congregation will welcome the members who have joined the congregation over the past year. Coffee and cake will be served following the service. The synagogue is located at 315 North 13th Street in Leesburg, with the entrance on Center Street. For more information see our website at BethSholomFlorida.org or call 352-326-3692....
The Holocaust Center in Maitland has announced that the honoree for its 2014 Dinner of Tribute will be Harris Rosen, president and COO of Rosen Hotels & Resorts. Rosen, whose name is most often associated with his world-class resorts, hotels and restaurants, is being honored for his history of philanthropy in Central Florida and beyond. The Holocaust Center Executive Director Pam Kancher said that honoring Rosen was a "natural fit" for the Center and its work. In particular, his approach to...
Jewish Pavilion volunteers Faye Novick and Toby Vandemark live by the creed,"It is better to give than to receive." Novick and Vandemark have volunteered with the Jewish Pavilion, a charitable organization that serves seniors in long-term care with companionship and holiday programming, in many capacities. Both women serve on the Pavilion's Friends and Executive boards, and were integral to the success of the Pavilion's "Walk in the Park," and will be honored as volunteers of the year at the J P...
"A mold breaker, a cause fighter, the underdog supporter, like a true queen of Israel, and a woman who accepts all people"-these are all descriptions from friends of Rita Peisner Bornstein, who died peacefully, surrounded by her loving family and friends, on Nov. 18, 2013. Born April 19, 1925, she was the daughter of Ed and Jenny Peisner, and sister of Marvin, Larry and Fred Peisner. Mrs. Bornstein earned her master's degree in English at the University of Chicago, where she also happened to...
TAVARES—Cornerstone Hospice and Palliative Care has joined more than 60 hospices nationwide in becoming accredited with the National Institute For Jewish Hospice (NIJH). The accreditation links Cornerstone Hospice with NIJH which provides staff training, insights on treating Jewish patients who are terminally ill, and access to resources and education about Jewish custom and practice that may arise while caring for a hospice patient who is Jewish. The accreditation was earned after Cornerstone’s spiritual manager, Rich Behers, attended the NIJ...
ORLANDO—Jewish Family Services Orlando, a Winter Park based non-profit human service agency that provides social programs to those in need from all faiths, raised more than $156,000 during its 12th annual Evening of Valor, which also marked the organization’s 35th anniversary. One hundred-seventy guests attended the event themed “A past to cherish and a future to fulfill.” Evening of Valor is JFS’ main fundraiser and this year recognized past agency presidents, former George Wolly Community Leadership Award recipients and Spring Fiesta ho...
After giving a presentation at Rollins College, Yitzchak Perelman asked for a meeting with Hillel students. Shown here is Rollins Hillel Student President Dean Taitz shaking hands with Mr. Perelman....
Our Jewish Orlando's Shalom Families hosted their first event on Thursday, Nov. 14th in Baldwin Park. With the help of their parents, children made Chanukah-themed maracas and sang along with music teacher Melissa Kohn. The morning ended with the youngest participants under the parachute. A very special December event is already in the works. Just a few days later, OJO gathered at TAPS in Winter Park on Nov. 19th for their monthly Torah on Tap event. This month's guest was a high-ranking...
In early November, John Halligan, a speaker against bullying, returned to the Central Florida area to inform teens about bullying and teen depression. A former IBM engineer, Halligan lobbied for laws to be passed in Vermont to improve how schools address bullying and suicide prevention after the death of his son, Ryan, as a result of bullying and depression. Sharing Ryan's story, he has given speeches at schools in other states, as well as interviews on PBS Frontline, Oprah and other televised...
Members of the Jewish Pavilion are invited to attend "JP Connections: Honoring our Volunteers," a luncheon for volunteers and women who support the nonprofit, on Thursday, Dec. 5, at 11 a.m. at the Hilton Orlando/Altamonte Springs. Participants will enjoy a gourmet meal, a Chico's Fashion Show and a mini-holiday bazaar. Vendors will be selling jewelry, purses, scarves, Judaica and other gifts for the holidays. Participants who purchase raffle tickets will have the opportunity to win gifts from...
The Kinneret Council on Aging has announced the honorees for their 2014 “8 over 80” event to be held on Sunday, Feb. 23, 2014. “We were thrilled with the support we have had from the community and were truly inspired by the number of outstanding individuals over the age of 80, who continue to contribute to our community,” said Faye Novick, 8 over 80 chairwoman. The honorees for the 2014 event are: Barbara Weinreich, Robert Petree, Bill Kahn, Don Kaplan, Helen Tishman, Rose Savage, Ruth Goldhar, and Gordon Kotzin. “It is truly a privilege...
Join Rabbi Karen Allen on Friday, Nov. 22, at Congregation Beth Sholom for the Rabbi’s Torah Roundtable, a lively discussion of contemporary issues in the context of Jewish tradition. The program will begin at 4 p.m. with conversation and light refreshments. This informal and interactive forum is a unique opportunity to talk with the rabbi and explore together the meaning of the Torah portion that will be read during Shabbat service on the following morning. On Saturday, Nov. 23. at 10 a.m., Rabbi Allen will lead Shabbat morning service. A K...
On Dec. 9, all eighth- to 12-grade Jewish teens and their parents in the Orlando area are invited to come hear Angela King, a former racist skinhead and now founder of Life after Hate, at the Jewish Academy of Orlando at 7 p.m. as part of the Beit Hamidrash program. As a teen in South Florida, King became confused about the conflicting messages she was receiving about race, sexuality and religion. Ultimately, she felt embraced by a group of racist skinheads, and became deeply involved with them. After spending a decade of her life with the...
Chanukah on the park has become the Chanukah tradition for the entire Orlando community. This year, Chabad will be hosting “Chanukah on the Park” with the Grand Menorah Lighting on Saturday night, Nov. 30, at 7 p.m. The Menorah lighting will celebrate the fourth night of Chanukah and will be followed by “Maos Tzur” and other Chanukah favorites including the Chassidic dancers. The feature presentation will be entertainer Dr. Laz, described as the Rockin, Rappin, Reggae, Rabbi. “The Jewish rock concert is one of a kind,” said Ed Leibowitz,...
The Roth Jewish Community Center of Greater Orlando, in cooperation with 6th-degree Black Belt Sei Shihan Gil Alstein and his Seido Karate Organization, will host its annual Karate Tournament on Sunday, Dec. 8 at 1:30 p.m. The tournament will be held in the Roth JCC’s Ginsburg Family Gymnasium, featuring boys and girls, ages four and up, from the JCC and other local karate establishments. A portion of the proceeds from this year’s event will benefit the fight against Breast Cancer. “This is a great opportunity for children to showcase their...
These will be the sounds you'll be hearing at the Roth Jewish Community Center of Greater Orlando's 10th annual "Maj Madness" mah jongg tournament to be held Sunday, Dec. 8. The festivities will begin at 9:15 a.m. with registration and coffee, and games will begin at 10 a.m. The tournament format will include four rounds following the National Mah Jongg League Official Rules of Play. Open to people of all playing levels, Maj Madness is $35 per person ($25 for JCC members) and includes lunch,...
