Central Florida's Independent Jewish Voice
Central Florida's Independent Jewish Voice
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Joni Okun's debut audiobook, "To Hold the Throne: A Novel of the Last Maccabee Princess and King Herod the Great" won the gold medal in the E-Lit Awards 2020 religious fiction category. E-Lit is an eBook awards program that honors the best e-books published each year in the North American market. Okun's book will be featured in www.IndependentPublisher.com and highlighted prominently in E-Lit's monthly newsletter, which goes out to more than 20,000 subscribers worldwide, many of whom are...
During the COVID-19 pandemic, families across Greater Orlando are in need of hope now more than ever. Hope that can only be found through relief services like JFS Orlando’s Pearlman Emergency Food Pantry. Over the past few months, the Pantry has helped double the usual number of hungry households it serves a day. This year, for the safety of clients and staff, JFS cannot host its usual holiday food drive. Instead, they are hosting their first-ever, virtual High Holiday Hope Drive. Supporting all of the essential “hope-giving” programs at JFS t...
Teachers from Orlando Torah Academy are taking part in an elite training program to better address the social and emotional needs of their students whose academic year will start off differently due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Hidden Sparks, a nonprofit dedicated to training teachers and providing them with the tools to support struggling students in mainstream Jewish day schools, is conducting the training, which focuses on Social Emotional Learning, and is helping teachers establish classrooms routines which could be easily transitioned online...
A unique opportunity is coming to Jewish high school students in Orlando this fall: The chance to earn two private college credits while exploring the tenets of Judaism. The course is being offered by CTeen U, a collaboration of Yeshiva University and CTeen International. Yeshiva University is the world’s premier Jewish institution for higher education. It is home to a network of undergraduate and graduate programs. The undergraduate programs offer a unique dual curriculum comprising Jewish studies and liberal arts, sciences, and business c...
There are two upcoming programs that the Federation is providing as New Year’s Gifts to the community, made possible by our generous sponsors. On Monday night Sept. 14, along with 24 other Federations around the country there will be a special Rosh Hashanah cooking class with Chef Michael Solomonov. Following that, on Wednesday afternoon on Sept. 16, JFGO will present an exciting program with the Jewish Federations of North America highlighted by the cast of the hit TV show Schitt’s Creek....
The Jewish Pavilion seeks to enhance the lives of our elders, of all faiths, in long term care. They provide festive holiday programs and arrange friendly visits so that our aged know that they are not forgotten by the community. Their Orlando Senior Help Desk is their free resource that offers information and referrals to seniors and their family members 407-678-9363. Like many nonprofits, the Jewish Pavilion depends on its fundraising events for one third of its budget, and these events have b...
No one wants to be forgotten. At the Jewish Pavilion our mission is "Enriching the lives of residents in elder-care facilities" and our purpose is "To see smiles on the faces of seniors!" This is the core of what we hold near and dear to our hearts. All of this though would not be possible without our volunteers who make sure that we excel in our mission and purpose. Dolores Indek is one of our many volunteers who make it possible to achieve. Indek and her family moved to central Florida when...
Jewish Academy of Orlando welcomed many new "BEEs" this school year. Here are a few photos before the start of school. Jewish Academy of Orlando serves central Florida students of all faiths from kindergarten through fifth grade. The school delivers a whole-child education fostering academic excellence and character education rooted in Jewish values. Jewish Academy of Orlando is accredited by the Florida Council of Independent Schools. To learn more about Jewish Academy of Orlando, please...
It was the most unusual Jewish Federation annual meeting, and not just because Heritage publisher Jeff Gaeser did not have to wear a coat and tie to present the Human Service Award to Hank Katzen. Held virtually through Zoom, Gaeser read his speech from his kitchen and Hank and his wife, Marcie, accepted it from Israel - not really. Katzen had a virtual background of the Western Wall. He and Marcie must have been time traveling as well, because a few times each momentarily disappeared and then...
As the pandemic continues, the phone is ringing off the hook at the Orlando Senior Help Desk at the Jewish Pavilion. Seniors are in need of low–rent housing, assisted living, home care, emergency assistance, Medicaid, Medicare and much more. Jewish callers often look for local senior communities with substantial Jewish populations. Pictured is Penny Goldstein D'Agostino answering calls....
Kudos to Amy from Texas and hundreds of other wonderful people across the nation who have sent cards to the Jewish Pavilion for our elders in long-term care. Isolation and loneliness often define the daily lives of many seniors who are no longer able to visit with their family members and their friends at the Jewish Pavilion. The cards, gift bags and phone calls mean the world to them....
Jewish Academy of Orlando's students loved heading back to school with their friends. Here are a few peeks from the first day of school....
The leadership of Congregation Ohev Shalom is pleased to announce the hiring of Jayme Epstein as youth director. Epstein grew up between Westchester, New York, and Dallas, Texas, and has been in Orlando for eight years. She graduated from Texas Tech University with Bachelors of Business Administration in Marketing and Accounting. A little over three years ago, Epstein made the switch from Marketing to Jewish youth work. She spent the last three years working as the regional director for BBYO...
The Jewish Pavilion would like to welcome Watercrest Senior Living Group in Winter Park as one of its newest sponsors. The Jewish Pavilion volunteers look forward to celebrating Shabbats, holidays and many other events with the residents once again when all can safely visit. Until then, Jewish Pavilion's senior residents, such as Bernice "Bunny," are enjoying the Shabbat bags that were delivered to them. - Julie Levitt, program director...
Join Congregation Ohev Shalom Sisterhood as COS member Rachel Scheinberg, president of Matooki - Making Tomorrow Kinder, leads The Museum of Happiness - Virtual Edition at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 27, 2020. Our current world is witnessing increased levels of depression, anxiety, and preventable disease. Despite the many ways of increased connectedness, we're also witnessing unprecedented levels of loneliness. The Museum of Happiness experience offers a fun hour to explore ways we can access...
Jewish Academy of Orlando began the 2020-2021 school year on Monday, Aug. 17, after adding additional precautions to ensure a safe start. Some students began attending in-person with precautions in place while others participated in remote learning. The school will provide a blended learning model, utilizing both synchronous instruction (lessons that will be delivered simultaneously in the classroom and available for remote learning) and asynchronous instruction (recorded lessons that can viewed at a time of your choosing). “We are thrilled t...
Join Avi Melamed, one of Israel's most respected intelligence analysts in Middle East affairs, for the third and final installment in his lecture series hosted by Temple Israel's Adult Education Committee on Sunday, Aug. 30 at 10 a.m. This virtual presentation, titled "Israel as an Obstacle in Turkey's Quest to Revive the Ottoman Empire," is free and open to the community. The program will discuss President Erdogan's aspirations to restore the glory days of the Turkish Ottoman Empire and to rule...
Kudos to Michelle Bilsky, Jewish Pavilion volunteer extraordinaire. Bilsky has been able to continue to provide monthly Shabbat lunches at Lutheran Towers, even during the pandemic, because she works in Human Relations at Lutheran Towers. Her residents are so thrilled to participate in this monthly activity, especially since all other activities have been cancelled. While all of the residents look forward to the Shabbat meal and service, Bilsky feels that resident Jenny enjoys it the most....
Longwood resident Patricia R. Sigman is a Democratic candidate on the primary ballot for state Senate, District 9. There is one opponent running against her for the seat and she is hopeful voters will turn out for the Aug. 18 primary elections to get her name on the ballot for the elections on Nov. 3. Sigman is a long-standing member of this community. She and her husband, Phil, have been affiliated with Temple Israel and also Congregation of Reform Judaism. "Seminole County is our home and our...
Abby Sanchez, member of the Seminole County School Board, represents District 3 in Central Florida. First elected in 2016, Sanchez's current term ends in 2020. She is running for re-election in the primary election on Aug. 18, 2020; the general election is on Nov. 3 (check your local polling place for early voting). Growing up in South Florida, Sanchez, earned the nickname "Dear Abby" for her compassion, desire to listen, and problem-solving propensities. The moniker lives on four decades...
Not only are Brooke and Olivia Chepenik bright and beautiful, but they are artistic and philanthropic as well. The sisters decided that they wanted to help seniors in long-term care during the Covid epidemic and let them know they are still cared for. The family connected with the Jewish Pavilion and over 100 candy jars have been delivered to our elders in two senior communities. Each jar has a beautiful cover and is painted with “JP” (Jewish Pavilion) and a heart. Their grandmother, Claire Che...
In the era of COVID-19, we are facing many challenges. As we make all our events virtual, wear facemasks wherever we go, and back up a few more steps in the checkout line, it's clear that we're living in a changed world that isn't changing back anytime soon. This September's Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur celebrations will no doubt be different as well. With restrictions on crowd sizes and other tightened safety rules, it is likely that many people will choose to celebrate and observe these...
"Today is the day: The moment I (and many of you) have been waiting for! I begin my journey as the cantor of CRJ," posted newly hired Cantor Bryce Megdal in celebration of her first day on the job at Orlando's Congregation of Reform Judaism. While the cantor's interview process took place on video from her home in the Los Angeles area due to the ongoing corona virus pandemic, the Tucson native noted that she felt "right at home" with committee members and Rabbi Steven Engel leading the virtual...
Very few things can be scarier than having to appear in a courtroom. One concern in many people's minds is which judge will be trying their case. With almost 150 endorsements from lawyers, rest assured that those who stand before Judge Alan Apte of the Ninth Circuit Courts of Orange and Osceola counties will have a fair hearing. In fact, no one walks out of his courtroom confused. He makes sure that the litigants and lawyers understand everything that happens. In a calm, straightforward and...
Approximately five years ago, Danielle McKinstry graduated The University of Connecticut and landed her first job at Central Florida Hillel as engagement associate. During the ensuing five years, McKinstry received nearly annual promotions until her most recent one last year when she became Hillel's assistant director. As AD, McKinstry led an unprecedented period of growth in the numbers of Jewish students being active in Jewish life on our campuses here in Orlando. Moreover, her work as a...
