Central Florida's Independent Jewish Voice
Central Florida's Independent Jewish Voice
Sorted by date Results 2364 - 2388 of 3602
A concert that began just as an idea almost a year ago is finally becoming a reality. On Sunday afternoon, April 10 at 4 p.m., the Southwest Orlando Jewish Congregation (SOJC) will bring to Central Florida the world famous "Maccabeats Premier A Cappella" group. "The success of this concert is a direct result of the hard work that our volunteers do every day supporting our synagogue," said Rabbi Hillel Skolnik of SOJC. "And as Jewish a cappella goes," he continued, "the Maccabeats are the best!"... Full story
With parental support, Jewish Academy of Orlando announced March 18 that they are suspending enrollment for middle school and will focus on kindergarten through fifth grade. Board President Jordan Steinberg stated, “We had to make some tough decisions, based upon enrollment numbers, financial considerations, and community responsibility. We owe it to our families to provide the high quality product they have grown accustomed to.” Although there were some families interested in enrollment, Jewish Academy has to stay true to its mission and the... Full story
When a barbershop quartet loses their lead singer to a heart-stopping high "B-Flat" and they are expected to perform at the National Barbershop Convention and annual meeting of the SPEBSQSA (Society for the Preservation and Encouragement of Barber Shop Quartet Singing in America, Inc.). What do they do? As they desperately search for a new tenor, the parochial mid-westerners defy convention to welcome Bob as the unlikely replacement. Featuring favorite upbeat tunes, this new play is an... Full story
On April 3, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Riverside Drive in Ormond Beach will be all in a flurry for the fifth biennial Jewish Heritage Festival. This family-friendly event is free and open to the public. There will be nationally acclaimed entertainment, kosher and kosher-style food vendors, Israeli and Judaica artists and vendors, activities and inflatables for children, camel rides, a petting zoo, matzoh making and more. Throughout the day, there will also be scheduled speakers who will discuss a variety of topics from Holocaust survivors and... Full story
The Jewish Genealogical Society of Greater Orlando will present local Holocaust author and educator Holly Mandelkern at the Jewish Community Center of Greater Orlando, 851 N. Maitland Ave., Maitland, on Tuesday, April 5, from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Mandelkern, who is also a poet, will talk about researching lives of individuals for her upcoming book, “Beneath White Stars: Holocaust Profiles in Poetry.” She conducted similar research for “A Portrait in Poetry: Writing From the Testimony of Roman Kent,” which will appear in the spring 2016 issue o... Full story
Zionistas invite the community to a unique opportunity to be informed on the latest behind-the-scene news from Israel. Alan Kornman, contributing editor for Family Security Matters and the regional coordinator of The United West-Uniting Western Civilization for Freedom and Liberty, will brief the attendees about his March 2016 Israel trip. The program will take place on Tuesday, April 5 at 7 p.m. at the Eastmonte Civic Center, 830 Magnolia Drive, Altamonte Springs. Kornman, who is a frequent contributor to numerous publications including... Full story
In cooperation with Hospice of the Comforter, JFS Orlando will offer a grief support group for anyone interested on the following Tuesdays: April 5, 12, 19, 26, May 3 and 10. The six sessions, led by JFS Orlando therapist Stacey Greenberg, LCSW, and Hospice of the Comforter’s bereavement manager, Flavia Cipollaro, LMHC, will cover a wide array of topics, including bereavement, loss and Jewish coping skills. The meetings will take place at Congregation Ohev Shalom from 10:30 a.m.-11:45 a.m. COS is located at 613 Concourse Parkway, Maitland. T... Full story
On March 30, Dr. Yudit Greenberg, Cornell endowed professor of religion and director of the Jewish Studies Program at Rollins College, is pleased to invite the community to a stimulating evening of dialogue with a presentation by Dr. Nathan Katz, distinguished professor emeritus, founder-director of the Program in the Study of Spirituality, and director of Jewish Studies/academic director of the Jewish Museum of Florida-FIU at Florida International University (FIU) in Miami. The event will take place in the Galloway Room at 6 p.m. Dr. Katz is... Full story
On Sunday, March 13, honorees and guests of The Jewish Pavilion Gala demonstrated the impact that just one person can make on an entire community. Friends Board President Faye Novick delivered opening remarks and warmly welcomed the more than 200 guests who had gathered at the Orlando Hilton North in Maitland to celebrate the event honorees, and to make a difference in the lives of residents of senior living communities served by the Pavilion. Novick commended the evening's honorees, Sammy... Full story
On Sunday, March 27, from 10 a.m. to noon, Chai Preschool's expansive grassy hills will be home to an array of farm animals, horses, and ponies, as the center hosts its annual Family Fun Day and Open House for preschoolers. Joining the festivities will be Mr. Richard in Concert, along with a host of activities geared specifically for those 5 and under at 7347 W Sand Lake Road. Parents will have the opportunity to tour Chai Preschool's modern, spacious classrooms and to meet the highly qualified... Full story
The Holocaust Memorial Resource and Education Center of Florida recently received $10,000 from Walt Disney World Resort through Disney Grants. The Holocaust Center will use the funding to support its education programming, particularly the UpStanders bullying-prevention initiative. "We are thrilled with Disney's ongoing support, and honored to be chosen for this grant award," said the Center's Executive Director Pam Kancher. "Their dedication to our community is important to all of us, and we... Full story
If and when you turn 100 years old don't you want the Jewish Pavilion staff and volunteers there to give you a Mazel Tov? Hazel was delighted to share her 100th birthday celebration with her dear and loving family, neighbors at Atria Park and of course her friends with Jewish Pavilion. Judy Suberman and Emily Newman have been visiting and sharing Jewish holidays with Hazel for the past 10 years during her stay at Atria. Hazel has participated in dozens of Shabbatot, Passover Sederim and... Full story
The Jewish Academy kindergarten students proved to be successful entrepreneurs last Friday as they ran the kindergarten "Awesome Snack Store." The store was a culminating activity to two units: nutrition and money. The children were store employees, offering delicious snacks to the entire student body. The students not only sold the healthy foods, they learned to market the store by creating a commercial for the WJAO news and designing posters. In addition, they prepared items for the store and... Full story
Chabad of North Orlando has come a long way in the past five years, thanks to the dedication of Co-Directors Chanshy and Rabbi Yanky Majesky and members of their burgeoning community. Rabbi Majesky reflects back upon the shul's earliest days in 2011, when a handful of congregants met monthly in a local hotel, and only on Friday nights. For the last four years the growing synagogue was given space at an office park in Lake Mary known as The Chamu Jewish Center, thanks to congregants Dawn and... Full story
The Jewish Academy of Orlando is launching a special fundraising opportunity to strengthen its school and mission of providing the community with a program of academic excellence while at the same time instilling a sense of Jewish pride in its students. During the Harriett Lake/Weiner Family 2016 Matching Gift Challenge, which will be taking place between February 19 and April 15, all gifts to the Jewish Academy of Orlando's annual campaign will be matched on a 1:2 basis up to $50,000! A huge... Full story
Each year the Holocaust Center provides a community program for Yom HaShoah, the Holocaust Day of Remembrance. This year's commemoration, scheduled for May 1 at 4 p.m., will be held in the gymnasium at The Roth Family Jewish Community Center. There is no charge to attend, and reservations are not required. In addition to traditional music and local survivors lightning candles in remembrance of Hitler's victims, the program will feature a conversation with Peter Homburger, a survivor who now... Full story
OCALA—‘Purim in the Jungle’ will be the theme for Chabad of Ocala & The Villages annual Purim-around-the world celebration happens on Thursday, March 24 at the Chabad Jewish Center, 3509 SW 34th Ave. Circle. The festivities will begin with a Megillah reading at 5:30 p.m., and continue with a Purim Feast for adults and children at 6 p.m. The whole community, regardless of age, affiliation or background is invited to join in the fun. The family Megillah reading will be accompanied by a visual presentation geared for children. Everyone is encourag... Full story
By Christine DeSouza Anyone who has ever listened to an audio book understands what a concert reading is, although a concert reading isn't like a parent reading to a child. It is sort of a play and sort of not. The readers dress in character, read their parts in character and occasionally actually act out scenes. But for the most part, the readers are sitting and reading their parts. The Orlando community hasn't had too many concert readings that I am aware of, and have we been missing it!... Full story
The opening comment on the ACCoRD Project’s Facebook page (www.facebook.com/theaccordproject) asks the following questions for thought: “What has happened to disagreeing with each other in a civil manner? When has name calling become a standard response to something we do not like to hear? Discussion and disagreement are part of our democracy, however name calling and personal attacks are not. Just turn on the news and, on a daily basis, one can witness the lack of cooperation, respect and personal dignity in our current political env... Full story
A permanent donor sign was installed at The Roth Family Jewish Community Center of Greater Orlando on Feb. 28 to acknowledge the 88 donors who contributed to the gym renovation project in memory of community leader Charles Schwartz. Over $133,000 was raised to rename The Roth Family JCC's basketball leagues to the "Charles I. Schwartz Memorial Basketball Leagues" and to create an endowment for future gym renovations and upgrades. Leading the ceremony was (l-r), David Wayne, JCC representative;... Full story
Tampa Orlando Pinellas Jewish Foundation has been participating as a partner with the Grinspoon Foundation by implementing their Life and Legacy program as a commitment to the Jewish communities to ensure a strong tomorrow in all aspects of Jewish living. At this point, Orlando’s community has 60 signed Letters of Intent with a goal of 90 in the first year. This equates to $1.9MM intended for the Orlando community as after-life gifts. There are 15 teams committed to securing at least 18 Letters of Intent by March 31, the last day of year o... Full story
Purim festivities abound at the Jewish Pavilion and parties are planned in facilities all over town. Jewish and gentile residents revel in the festivities. A Purim skit, written by Cathy Swerdlow, is performed in more than 30 senior communities. Jewish Pavilion staff, volunteers, and residents take part in the plays and 1200 hamantashen are happily consumed. Savannah Court, Oviedo March 11, 1:30 p.m. Island Lake Center March 11, 11 a.m. Grand Villa March 11, noon Village on the Green March 11,... Full story
The brand new Rosen JCC Event Center will rock Vegas-style on March 20 at 2 p.m. when Chuck LaPaglia takes the stage and sings a sparkling Neil Diamond tribute. South Florida fans have known him for the last 8 years as Neil Zirconia, "the ultimate faux diamond." "My dream has always been to entertain people,'' said LaPaglia, 58, a former stockbroker who enjoys the 1970s music of Elton John, Billy Joel and, of course, Diamond. "I always wanted to sing." Don't call LaPaglia an impersonator,... Full story
Dr. and Mrs. Gilbert and Joyce Walker along with Mr. and Mrs. Robert and Rita Weissmann will be honored by JFS Orlando with the 2016 George Wolly Community Leadership Award at the Spring Brunch on April 3, at Heathrow Country Club. The Walker's have a long legacy with JFS Orlando, as both Gilbert and Joyce served as board members dating back to the inception of the Agency. Gilbert was a pediatrician for over 40 years and served as chief of Pediatrics at Orange Memorial Hospital for two years.... Full story
On March 24, the first-grade students participated in their annual Space program. This fun, fact-filled program encompassed props, live music, a slide show, and a display of student artwork related to the thematic unit, and was the culmination of their integrated science unit, "Sun, Moon and Stars." The multi-faceted curriculum included the creation of vocabulary journals, lunar models, space mobiles, and was enriched by a visit to the Seminole State Planetarium. There, students experienced... Full story
