Central Florida's Independent Jewish Voice
Central Florida's Independent Jewish Voice
Sorted by date Results 1476 - 1500 of 3568
(JTA)-The father of Meadow Pollack, one of the 17 students and teachers killed in the shooting at a Parkland, Florida, high school in February, has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the gunman as well as those it alleges failed to stop him, including a deputy who stayed outside the building. Andrew Pollack filed the lawsuit Monday in Broward County Circuit Court. He told the Sun-Sentinel newspaper that he was not interested in any monetary reward he would get from the lawsuit. "I just want... Full story
Nearly eight years ago, four women met and discussed what they could do to support Israel and how they could encourage others, whether Jewish or Christian, to join them. Thus, the organization "Zionistas" was born. The founders-Sandi Solomon, Eva Ritt, Judy Shujman, and Diana Scimone-had the foresight and dedication to grow the organization to over 250 people. Recently the Zionistas board reached out to the Zionist Organization of America, one of the oldest pro-Israel organizations in the... Full story
The American Israel Public Affairs Committee is hosting "Israel at 70," featuring Yossi Klein Halevi on Tuesday, May 15. The event will be held at The Roth Family JCC, 851 N. Maitland Ave. in Maitland. At 5:45 p.m. there will be a Club member pre-reception and book signing. The program will begin at 7 p.m. This event is open to the community. There will be dessert and coffee. Yossi Klein Halevi is a senior fellow at the Shalom Hartman Institute in Jerusalem. Together with Imam Abdullah Antepli... Full story
When golfers hit the greens on Sunday, May 6, for the sixth annual Pavilion Golf Society Tournament, not only will they be raising funds for the Orlando Senior Help Desk, they will be giving a Tiger Woods celebratory fist pump to this year's tournament honoree Keith Levitt. Levitt's involvement in the community is well-known throughout Orange County. Born in Queens, NY, and raised in Maitland by parents Ken and Jackie, Levitt has been a member of The Roth Family JCC since its beginning. For... Full story
The 45th annual JCC meeting will be held Tuesday, May 22, from 6:15–8 p.m. in The Roth Family JCC auditorium. Join in the fun as the community looks back over the year and see what’s to come in the next year. During the meeting there will be the presentation of awards, including the J’s Leadership, Volunteer of the Year, and Amy Schwartz Kimlat Innovation and Creativity Award. On the business side, there will be the installation and discharge of Board of Directors and amending of By-Laws. A complimentary dinner will be provided as well as co... Full story
The Holocaust Center is pleased to announce the appointment of its 2018 Executive Committee, and it’s newest board members. This year’s board was installed at the Center’s annual meeting in January. Ellen Wise Lang is now serving as the Center’s board president. Lang has been involved with the Center since 1990 and has been an active board member since 1994. Lang is also the daughter of the Center’s founder, Tess Wise. When asked why she feels it’s important to sustain the Holocaust Center’s work Lang replied, “For two reasons: there were good... Full story
Monday, April 23, was Israel Jeopardy at the Jewish Pavilion's Inter-Generational meeting at Village On The Green with the residents and students of Congregation Ohev Shalom led by Amy Setleis Geboff. The game began with the residents telling the students what they remember from 1947/48 when Israel gained Independence. There was then some competition between the two split teams. At the end of the night there were handshakes and hugs all around. The program was sponsored in part by Jewish... Full story
Maya Brenner, a fourth-grade student at the Jewish Academy of Orlando, was one of 50 winners in the 2018 Worldwide Jewish International Heritage Competition. The competition, called "My Family Story," is now in its 23rd year and is sponsored by Beit Hatfutsot, the Museum of the Jewish People in Tel Aviv, Israel. The competition has students competing from 160 institutions, representing 28 countries worldwide. Participating countries include: Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belarus, Canada,... Full story
Meet Loretta Miller. She is a Constitutional Republican running for Florida US Representative, District 15. "We need a strong representative who is not in the large corporation's pockets," she stated in a straight-forward manner. "The people of Florida are sick and tired of our representatives voting for what big corporations want." What will she fight for? Straight and to the point she states: "We need jobs. We cannot rely on the tourist industry. We need to produce, manufacture, improve... Full story
The Jewish Community Relations Council and Temple Israel are joining forces to welcome Fuente Latina at a special Shabbat and presentation. The event, which is open to the public, will be at Temple Israel on Saturday, May 5. After a dual-language Shabbat service, Gloria Garcés, Fuente Latina's Media Outreach director based in Miami, will lead the program about Fuente Latina's work connecting informed and unbiased speakers with Spanish-language news programs. "The work Fuente does is invaluable... Full story
The Jewish National Fund's Women for Israel is hosting "A vision for Israel's future through the preservation of its past" program, featuring Noa Geffen. The event will be held 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, May 16, at the Star Tower Building Rooftop, 260 S. Osceola Ave., Orlando. As the executive vice-chairwoman of the Society for Preservation of Israel Heritage Sites, a JNF partner, Gefen plays an instrumental role in restoring, preserving and maintaining important historical and heritage sites... Full story
On Sunday, May 6, at 10 a.m. the COS Sisterhood will hold its end-of-year brunch featuring mentalist Mark Stone. Stone is one of the nation’s most sought after entertainers. He acquired an interest in ESP and began developing his skills early in his senior year at the University of Maryland. By year’s end, Stone had put together a short show and he performed if for the members of his college dormitory. A natural comedian, he added comedy to his routine, and he was called to appear on the Dick Cavett show. He has also performed on the Joh... Full story
The League of Women Voters Orange County will present its first League Showcase/Orientation Session of 2018 at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, May 15, at the Winter Park Community Center, 721 W. New England Ave., Winter Park (free and plentiful parking). Open to men and women, young and old, the non-partisan LWV has been doing due diligence during this year’s Florida Legislature session, keeping legislators’ feet to the fire on the gun safety issue as well as such other watchdog issues as affordable housing, the environment, immigration and education. Hea... Full story
It is that time of year once again when Heritage Florida Jewish News is putting out feelers for one outstanding person in the Jewish community who has given his or her time or talent or monetary gifts to better the Orlando Jewish community. Nominations for the 2018 Heritage Human Service Award are now being accepted and the award will be presented at the annual meeting of the Jewish Federation of Greater Orlando in August. “For more than 28 years, individuals who have made major, voluntary contributions of their talent, time, energy and e... Full story
More than 200 supporters of The Jewish Pavilion and members of the Citrus Club gathered together April 16 for an elegant evening downtown filled with networking and philanthropy. Attendees to the night's "United For a Purpose" event enjoyed beautiful sunset views along with delicious drinks and apps, all while shining a spotlight on the important community contribution of The Jewish Pavilion. Carina Gerscovich, a board member of The Jewish Pavilion, helped coordinate the night and presented a... Full story
Over 100 fashionable ladies gathered at Bloomingdale's on April 12 to view the latest in spring fashion while raising funds to support the Jewish Pavilion. Among the attendees at the 2018 Elyane Burke Wershil Memorial Fashion Show were volunteers and board members, program participants, and even representatives from the facilities who benefit from Jewish Pavilion-provided programming. It truly was a day of fellowship and fun that allowed supporters of The Jewish Pavilion a chance to shop with a... Full story
Celebrate Shabbat with the Synagogue that feels like family. Shabbat evening service will be led by Rabbi Karen Allen on Friday, May 11 at 7 p.m. Socialize with members and enjoy refreshments at the Oneg Shabbat following the service. The Rabbi’s Torah Roundtable Discussion Group with Rabbi Karen Allen of Congregation Beth Sholom will be held on Thursday, May 17 at 1 p.m. at the Sumter County Administration and Library Building (with the golden dome) at 7375 Powell Rd. (near Pinellas Plaza and 466A), Wildwood. The Rabbi’s Roundtable series exp... Full story
The third annual Rosen JCC Golf Tournament is coming up on Monday, May 14. It will be held at Rosen Shingle Creek Golf Club with shotgun start at 8 a.m. Registration starts at 7 a.m. with a light breakfast. At 1 p.m. there will be a luncheon and awards program with raffle. Event competitions include Longest drive; closest to the pin; and long drive opportunity. The cost is $100 per individual golfers; $400 for foursomes. Register at http://www.rosenjcc.org/special-events/golf.... Full story
Each year the Holocaust Center sponsors a student creative arts contest that's open to all students (public, private, and home schools) in Central Florida. All students who enter the contest receive a certificate and prizes are awarded to winning entries. The Holocaust Center's theme for the 2018 Yom HaShoah Creative Arts Contest, Remembering the Holocaust, provides students an opportunity to explore various themes from the Holocaust through artistic representation.... Full story
It is that time of year once again when Heritage Florida Jewish News is putting out feelers for one outstanding person in the Jewish community who has given his or her time or talent or monetary gifts to better the Orlando Jewish community. Nominations for the 2018 Heritage Human Service Award are now being accepted and the award will be presented at the annual meeting of the Jewish Federation of Greater Orlando in August. “For more than 28 years, individuals who have made major, voluntary contributions of their talent, time, energy and e... Full story
Kindergarten through second-grade students in the Meitin Alliance for Growth and Learning (MAGAL), Temple Israel and Temple Shir Shalom's collaborative religious school, participated in their first annual Mitzvah Day on Sunday, April 8. Toddlers, preschoolers, and parents attending the Bagels & Blocks "me and my grown-up" session also took part in the day after learning about mitzvot, sharing snacks, singing songs, reading a story, and playing games. All participants created colorful, handmade... Full story
In early winter 2017, Sheri Morton, a thirty-year resident of Osceola County and a political activist, was very concerned about the upswing in anti-Semitic incidents that were occurring throughout Florida and the nation. "I was scared," said Sheri, who is Jewish, "and so were many of my friends." Morton's fears were supported by statistics. According to the Anti-Defamation League's report, anti-Semitic incidents in the United States had surged more than one-third in 2016 and jumped 86 percent... Full story
There's the old joke about the Jewish atheist who refused to send his son to a Jewish school but wanting a private school education for his child, he sent him to Trinity School, despite its denominational roots, it was a great school and completely secular. After a month, the boy came home and said casually, "By the way, Dad, I learned what Trinity means! It means 'The Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost.'" The father could barely control his anger. He grabbed his son by the shoulders and said,... Full story
Dori Gerber will join Michelle Zaltsberg as co-chair of the Jewish Community Relations Council, the Jewish Federation of Greater Orlando has announced. The JCRC, a funded committee of the Federation, advocates on behalf of the Jewish community through government, education, media, and interfaith engagement. "Dori is a human ray of sunshine," said Zaltsberg, who is in her second year as JCRC co-chair and first year as the JCRC representative on the Federation's board of directors. "More... Full story
Many in the American Jewish community are aware of two outstanding examples of individual courage, daring and initiative demonstrated by gentiles in the Holocaust. They are the German industrialist Oskar Schindler and the Swedish consul in Hungary, Raoul Wallenberg. Both have been the subject of films, memorial commemorations, and have had their likenesses portrayed on postage stamps, statues, and the honor of being celebrated at the Yad Vashem Institute in Israel. There are other individuals... Full story
