Central Florida's Independent Jewish Voice
Central Florida's Independent Jewish Voice
Sorted by date Results 1806 - 1830 of 3575
(JTA)-Large parts of Florida are suffering from severe drought, and hurricane season threatens to make things worse. Enter Water-Gen, an Israeli company whose technology captures humidity to extract drinking water from the air. On Monday, the South Florida city of Miami Gardens announced it was launching a pilot program with the company to address its water problems-the first U.S. city to do so. "As representatives responsible for the quality of life and safety of our communities, preparedness a... Full story
What do Henry Louis Gates, Jr., Alexander Hamilton and Aida have to do with discovering your ancestors? To find out, join other genalogists at the 37th IAJGS International Conference on Jewish Genealogy from July 23–28 at the Disney World Swan Resort in Orlando, Florida. Henry Louis Gates Jr., host of the PBS hit series "Finding Your Roots," will be the featured speaker on "Genetics and Genealogy in America" on Thursday evening at the conference. Some of the many celebrities that Gates has s... Full story
There will be a demonstration for the International Day of al-Quds at Lake Eola Park this evening from 6 p.m.-8 p.m., sponsored by the Muslim Congress (muslimcongress.org). The flier for the International Day of al-Quds says "Let's stand united with all humans of conscience-be they Jews, Christians, or Muslims-for the sake of haqq (truth) and to show support for the innocent civilian victims of global Zionism, false flag operations, imperialism, occupation, neocolonialism, racism, Islamophobia,... Full story
Cocktails. Crowds. And a worthy cause! The Citrus Club Young Executive Board and the Citrus Club of Orlando brought all three together on Tuesday, June 6, hosting its monthly "United for a Purpose" event, benefitting The Jewish Pavilion. Jewish Pavilion Marketing Director Pam Ruben commented, "We are grateful to The Citrus Club for putting on a 'happy hour with a heart,' and were thrilled to be the chosen charity of the month by its Young Executive Board. Special kudos to Carina Gerscovich, as... Full story
While it’s summer vacation at school, Congregation Beth Am is not taking the season off as it hosts Shabbat in the Round and special themed shabbatos services to which the entire community is invited. The CBA sanctuary will be arranged in “the round” with the bima moved to the center of the sanctuary. The Torah will be read from the middle of the congregation where everyone can see the text. The Shaliach Tzibor will conduct services from the midst of the congregation, facing the Ark, where all congregants will face each other with the lay l... Full story
The Jewish Federation of Greater Orlando’s RAISE program offers paid employment opportunities and social skills training to young adults with special needs. Online application for a limited number of fall positions opens on June 26, 2017. RAISE participants work for 6-12 months at five partnering agencies and alongside Vocational Rehabilitation in their community job search process. RAISE builds self-esteem, fosters independence, educates and inspires participants and their families to set new goals, supports and encourages social growth, a... Full story
JFS Orlando is currently recruiting volunteers to assist clients in its computer lab. The computer lab will be offering volunteer shifts Tuesdays, 4 p.m.-7 p.m.; Wednesdays, 2 p.m.-5 p.m.; and Thursdays, 9 a.m.-12 p.m. If you have any interest in volunteering in the computer lab, in any capacity, you will be required to attend an orientation session and complete two online tutorials so that you will be able to properly instruct clients who are applying for government benefits and writing resumes. Additionally, JFS Orlando’s partners at C... Full story
This week, Jewish Academy of Orlando announced its new program: "Harriett's Art and Performance Program for Youth" (also know as our "HAPPY" program). The program is being funded through a very generous grant from the Harriett Lake Family Trust. Mrs. Lake has been a long-time supporter of the Jewish Academy of Orlando, and, of course, performance arts programs throughout the city. This grant fuses two of her passions: performing arts and Jewish education. The Jewish Academy of Orlando has had a... Full story
At the end of May 2017, the Congregation of Reform Judaism hosted their first-ever Arts Festival Week that included an art gallery, a variety of free arts workshops, and multiple performances. Each featured the talents of local painters, sculptors, photographers, craftspeople, singers, both classical and modern musicians, creative writers, and even a couple homegrown comedians. Yet, if you had asked anyone at the temple if that kind of response would be possible just one year earlier, the reply... Full story
Ari Azbel, the son of Russian Jewish immigrants, is a senior at Lake Highland Preparatory and a former student of the Jewish Academy of Orlando. He is also the founder of Orlando Math Circle (www.orlandomathcircle.org), a 501(c)3 organization founded in the tradition of Eastern European math circles to provide opportunities to local students to do novel and enriching mathematics, as well as to provide teaching and leadership opportunities for high school, college, and graduate students. “Our mission is to create a diverse and inclusive communit... Full story
Students of Yiddish received their graduation certificate for completing Yiddish 101 at the final class taught by Joan Pohl at Brookdale Island Lake. Participants have been attending class each month for personal stories, reminiscing, Yiddish vocabulary, singing, dancing and laughter galore. Special thanks to Joan Pohl who is shown here with Ben Rosenbaum (wearing the silly glasses). Pohl taught Yiddish at Brookdale Island Lake as a Jewish Pavilion volunteer for the past five years. Classes are... Full story
It was the summer before ninth grade and I was invited to a BBG and AZA membership party at the home of the Behr family. The home was filled with other kids new to B’nai Brith, as well as members that we met and learned from about the opportunity to be part of this organization and its legacy. In the year that followed, I attended many meetings and learned everything I could about BBG (B’nai Brith Girls) and the boys group AZA. I also attended a couple of conventions in North Florida Council. These conventions confirmed that I had made the rig... Full story
Fifty years after the original "Summer of Love" ushered in a counterculture revolution in America, the Jewish Federation of Greater Orlando is launching its own Summer of Love, though with a very different goal. Marking the final weeks of Federation's 2017 Annual Campaign, the Summer of Love launch on June 19 will kick off a full season of special programs and events for members of the Greater Orlando Jewish community. The kickoff week will be a busy one as Federation staff and volunteers show... Full story
Florida Governor Rick Scott, joined by Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer and State Representative Randy Fine, visited Orlando Torah Academy on Tuesday to highlight his new bill providing security funding for Jewish schools throughout Florida. For the first time ever, the State of Florida, led by Governor Scott, will be providing $654,000 in funding for the security needs of Jewish schools throughout Florida. The money will be used to install security cameras, bulletproof glass, alarm systems and to... Full story
JFS Orlando, the Winter Park-based nonprofit, human service agency, has collected over 7,500 pounds of food and over $18,000 in cash donations during its annual Pantry Restock Challenge. The Challenge ran for one month and the goal was to restock the Pearlman Emergency Food Pantry, which provides emergency food assistance to Central Florida families in need. The Weiner Family and Winter Park Wealth Group once again provided a generous $5,000 matching gift while the Fern Park Winn-Dixie and Personal Mini Storage donated collection bags and... Full story
The Jewish Federation of Greater Orlando is pleased to announce the fourth year of the Jewish Teen Education grant program and is now accepting grant requests for 2017-18 academic year. Federation’s JTEN (Jewish Teen Education Network) offers grants to synagogues and community agencies that provide Jewish educational opportunities for teenagers in Central Florida. JTEN also sponsors community-wide Teen Education Days and provides resources and networking opportunities for Jewish educators. The third year of JTEN grants yielded five s... 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 2017 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, which will be held Aug. 27. “For more than 27 years, individuals who have made major, voluntary contributions of their talent, t... Full story
Celebrate Shabbat with the synagogue that feels like family. Congregation Beth Sholom’s Shabbat evening service led by Rabbi Karen Allen is this evening, June 9th at 7 p.m. An Oneg Shabbat will follow the service. The Rabbi’s Torah Roundtable Discussion Group with Rabbi Karen Allen will be held on Thursday, June 15th 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 explores the current Torah Portion and and how it... Full story
Kehillah, which is Hebrew for community, tells the vibrant story of the Jewish community’s past and present in the Orlando area. On Monday, June 26 from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. at The Roth Family JCC, there will be a special showing of “All About the Kehillah Exhibit: Celebrating a Century of Jewish Life in Orlando,” a 60-minute behind-the-scenes look at the Kehillah exhibit, which opens on Nov. 12 at the Orange County Regional History Center in Downtown Orlando. Hear from Kehillah leadership and find out what it took to tell such an important story... Full story
The staff at The Commons holds a Shabbat lunch each month for its Jewish residents, as well as for the Jewish residents from nearby Windsor Place. Jewish Pavilion Program Director Walter Goldstein joins in to say the blessings over the candles, Challah and "wine," discuss the current holidays, traditions, culture as everyone enjoys one another's company.... Full story
On Thursday, May 25, 15 phenomenal students graduated from the 5th grade at the Jewish Academy of Orlando. The ceremony was held in the school's chapel. The program began with the students leading the Shacharit (morning) service and each of the students also read from the Torah. Learning the Torah cantillation (or trope) was part of their 5th-grade Judaic Studies curriculum. The students also reflected back on an amazing year, where they truly excelled in the studies as they prepare for middle s... Full story
Congregation Ohev Shalom member Sophie Schaked, 11, competed this past summer with girls from around the country for the title of USA Ambassador National Preteen, which she won. The newly crowned USA Ambassador Preteen then was inspired to create and host the Show Your Sparkle Pageant at the Orlando Union Rescue Mission after seeing how some of the girls at the Orlando Union Rescue Mission admired her crown and sash when she came to volunteer. It was then she decided she wanted to give the... Full story
MAITLAND-This summer, The Holocaust Memorial Resource and Education Center extends its conversation about human rights and social justice to a more local focus: the Civil Rights Movement. In a series of workshops running from June 13-16 and presented in collaboration with University of Central Florida's Office of Diversity and Inclusion (ODI), "The Rise and Fall of Jim Crow" will discuss how these laws originated and how they were challenged by Civil Rights activists. "Before you can understand... Full story
Read any good books lately? Each summer for the past four years, Congregation Ohev Shalom has sponsored "People of the Book: One Book, One Community, One Summer," a chance to read and discuss a book of significant Jewish content. "People of the Book" returns for its fifth cycle on June 10, featuring best-selling author Maggie Anton's "Rav Hisda's Daughter-Book I: Apprentice." Rav Hisda is considered one of the greatest minds among the Sages of the Talmud. He lived in the late 3rd and early 4th... 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 2017 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, which will be held Aug. 27. “For more than 27 years, individuals who have made major, voluntary contributions of their talent, t... Full story
