Central Florida's Independent Jewish Voice
Central Florida's Independent Jewish Voice
Sorted by date Results 2831 - 2855 of 3584
The students of the Jewish Academy of Orlando, Leaders Preparatory School (Muslim) and the Geneva School (Christian) came together on Jan.13 for the first of three multi-faith programs this year. In the first program, held at the Jewish Academy, the students learned about the upcoming Jewish holiday of Tu B'Shevat, the Jewish New Year for the Trees. This session was led by Rabbi David Kay of Congregation Ohev Shalom. The students also participated in an art project focusing on the Garden of... Full story
Blue Star camps owner/director, Seth Herschthal, will be in Orlando tomorrow, Jan. 24,to talk about 68-year-old Blue Star camps, a Jewish summer camp for boys and girls, located in Hendersonville, N.C. Keith and Julie Levitt will host the meeting in their home, 4146 Anissa Ave., Orlando, on Saturday, Jan. 24, from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. The Levitts are long-time supporters of Blue Star camps. Keith was a Blue Star camper many years ago, their son went there for six years, and this summer will be... Full story
The Jewish National Fund’s Women for Israel will host a free Tu B’shevat seder at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 3, at the Roth JCC. The seder is a great way to appreciate Israel’s bounty and includes sampling foods from each of the seven species: wheat, barley, grapes, figs, pomegranates, olives and dates. The evening will also include Israeli music and dancing. Members of the event committee are Dr. Susan Drukman, Brenda Faiber, Terri Fine, Fabienne Kaplan, Dr. Robin Katzman, Debbid Meitin, Charlotte Schwartz and Pam Skipper. RSVP is reque... Full story
On Monday, Jan. 26, from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., mention JFS Orlando when purchasing a meal at Italio and 50 percent of the proceeds will benefit JFS. Not only will Italio customers enjoy a good meal, they will be making a donation to help people in need. JFS Orlando provides vital, high-quality and innovative services to people in need so they can overcome challenges and lead fuller, more meaningful lives. Italio is located at 276 S. Orlando Ave., Winter Park, Fla....
This January, Temple Shir Shalom of Oviedo celebrates a special b’nai mitvah: its own. January marks its 13th birthday, and they are excited to celebrate that special milestone with their congregants and the entire Jewish community. In 2001, six area families had a vision to build a congregation where everyone felt part of a larger family. TSS is a Reform, family-oriented congregation. Its membership is built from people with varied backgrounds—from a traditional Jewish experience with knowledge of Hebrew and ritual to interfaith marriage partn... Full story
On Jan. 18, middle school students (6th-8th graders) from across the community are invited to attend a dance at the Roth Jewish Community Center of Greater Orlando's Harriett Lake Auditorium. The dance, which will be held from 7 p.m. to 9:30 p.m., will feature a photo station, Junction 88 Productions DJ, emcee, games and snacks. The cost is $10 per person. Dress attire is encouraged. Six local Jewish organizations worked together to promote this event: BBYO Connect, Congregation Beth Am,... Full story
LONGWOOD-Danny Siegel, poet, author and "Mitzvah Maven," will be the Scholar-in-Residence at Congregation Beth Am of Longwood for Shabbat Bo, Jan. 23-25, 2015. Siegel, probably the key Jewish leader associated with popularizing ideas like hands-on personalized tzedakah, recognizing "Mitzvah Heroes," promoting microphilanthropy (doing great good with small amounts of money) and tikkun olam, will share his ideas and inspire young and old. Siegel has authored 29 books on the topics of mitzvah and... Full story
Temple Torat Emet, formerly Temple Torah of West Boynton Beach, announced that it will provide Central Florida Hillel with the gift of a Torah as a “permanent loan.” The Torah will be officially moving to the new home for CFH at Northview early this year. The gift marks the first time in known history that Jewish students in Central Florida will have their own Torah. “Due to the recent growth of Central Florida Hillel since opening its new building last year, there has been a dramatic increase in interest among students for access to a Torah... Full story
These will be the sounds being heard at the Roth Family Jewish Community Center of Greater Orlando's 11th Annual "Maj Madness" Mah Jongg Tournament to be held Sunday, Jan.25, 2015. The festivities will begin at 9:15 a.m. with registration and coffee, and the 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... Full story
Parenting is quite possibly the most difficult job in the world, yet it’s one for which most receive little or no preparation. Children do not come with instruction manuals, and the awesome responsibility of raising them to be well-adjusted, moral and productive members of society falls squarely on their parents’ shoulders. In order to help parents navigate the stormy waters of child-rearing, beginning Jan. 18, 2015 the Rohr Jewish Learning Institute will present The Art of Parenting, a new six-week winter course which explores parenting pri...
Beginning Sunday, Jan. 25, 2015, Congregation of Reform Judaism invites all Jewish ninth through12th graders to participate in a 10-week course titled Facing History & Ourselves: Holocaust and Human Behavior. Taught by director of Education, Sheryl Sacharoff, Ed. D, and Justin Sacharoff, and using resources from the internationally recognized organization Facing History and Ourselves, the class will explore how history is shaped by hatred, indifference, and denial, as well as by caring, compassion, and responsibility. The course will cover the... Full story
The Tri County Chapter of Hadassah (Lake, Marion and Sumter) was founded in 2010 by past-President Sheila Shayne with about 25-30 members, most if not all from The Villages, Florida. Today under the leadership of Sandee Bearison, the Tri County Chapter has grown to 286 members and has a vibrant and enthusiastic group of women. New members are joining continually and the chapter had its election of office bearers for 2015 at the Dec. 18 meeting at Providence Independence of Wildwood. Regional... Full story
Congregation Sinai, Minneola, Fla., will present a free educational seminar titled Celebration of Life - Planning your Legacy on Sunday Feb. 8, 2015 from 2- 4:30 p.m. The entire community is invited to attend. This seminar’s goal is to help people make their final/legacy plans by providing information about options. Pre-need sales of memorial plaques at a reduced price, will also be available, good until Mar. 8, 2015. Anyone buying a memorial plaque will ensure that they or a loved one will be remembered with memorial services said for the n... Full story
Rabbi Joshua Neely of Temple Israel will continue his series, "Conversations with the Rabbi," on Sunday, Jan. 25, 4 p.m., at Brown's New York Deli in Maitland. This month's topic is Jewish Criminals-Shame, Ignore or Defend? "Conversations" is a monthly program that gives community members a chance to meet and talk with Rabbi Neely in an intimate group setting. The uniqueness of this program is that it is always held outside of the synagogue, usually at a restaurant or bookstore (this month at... Full story
Rabbi Karen Allen of Congregation Beth Sholom in Leesburg will lead a Torah Roundtable on Jan. 22 at 1 p.m. at the Sumter County Administration Building (with the golden dome) at 7375 Powell Rd. (near Pinellas Plaza and 466A), Wildwood. The roundtable provides a unique opportunity to talk with the rabbi as she leads an informal and interactive discussion focusing on topics of contemporary Jewish interest suggested by the Torah portion that will be read at the Saturday morning service that week. The public is also invited to join the... Full story
Whenever a helper is needed at Shabbat services, Mary Carter Eick (standing), of Griswold Home Heath, is there, ready and available. Eick became involved with the Jewish Pavilion a year ago when she became a sponsor. Since that time she has celebrated many holidays on the Jewish calendar. While she enjoys them all, Eick especially enjoys celebrating Shabbat with her dear friend and Jewish Pavilion volunteer, Helen Tishman (seated). The Jewish Pavilion is grateful to the Griswold Home Health... Full story
Temple L'Chayim, a Reform/Conservative congregation, conducting traditional services in Clermont, Florida, since it was first organized in early 2014, announces the grand opening of their new location within the Clermont City Center as of January 2015. Led by Cantor Isaac Kriger and Rabbi Howard Schwartz, Temple L'Chayim is the only Jewish synagogue with both a rabbi and a cantor in Lake County, Florida. The two clergy provide a very special blend for the spirituality and musical enhancement of... Full story
On Dec. 25, 2014, members of Temple Israel gathered for their second annual mitzvah day. In-house projects were started and finished as well as community projects, and it all ended with dinner prepared by congregant Julia Fineberg. The youth lounge was moved and refurbished. Children made blankets for Project Linus, letters were written to both U.S. soldiers and those serving in the IDF, the children baked brownies and cookies for first responders, and clothes/toiletries were collected for... Full story
On Tuesday evening, Dec. 16, Jewish families from Congregation Sinai and Summit Greens lit candles to celebrate the first night of Chanukah. On hand were Lynn and Joe Goldovitz, spiritual leaders, and the children of the Congregation Sinai Religious School and their families. Also attending were about 150 people from Congregation Sinai and Summit Greens. Music was played, songs were sung, Chanuah gelt was passed out to all the children courtesy of the Shalom Club. The dessert table abounded... Full story
The Jewish Pavilion will host the Pearls of the Pavilion Luncheon at the home of board member Elaine Gamson on Thursday, Jan. 15, 2015 at 11 a.m. for members who have made a $500 minimum donation to the Jewish Pavilion Membership Appeal (can be paid throughout the year; membership year is September-August). At this luncheon, the Pearls of the Pavilion (POP) will learn about the eye-popping art-work of multi-media conceptual pop artist Stephen Gamson, who will discuss pieces from his new series... Full story
Jewish Pavilion volunteer Kimberly Newton brought three of her children to visit Philip in an assisted living home in the Orlando area. With no family in this country, having Caleb, Lillie, and Zachariah visit was a gift in itself for Philip. They became instant family as they presented him with Chanukah gifts, including a menorah that could safely be "lit" over the course of the holiday. The Jewish Pavilion is very appreciative of the support and funds received from the Hornik Family... Full story
Most recently, I had the privilege of celebrating a Pavilion Chanukah party with the seniors at the Mayflower Retirement Home in Winter Park, where a cadre of volunteers helped Program Director Judy Procell add warmth to the first night's festivities. Sponsors Sally Kopke, Nancy Bland, and the Gaeser family gifted the residents' plates of latkes along with a dose of Chanukah cheer. Volunteers Ellen Hrabovsky and Lisa Rizgony along with her grandchildren visited with the seniors. Volunteer,... Full story
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, March 1, 2015. The 8 over 80 event recognizes individuals over the age of 80 who continue to contribute to our community through their volunteer and philanthropy efforts. Avie Abramowitz, 81, moved here from Baltimore, Maryland, in 1951 with his family. His father bought orange groves. After a year at Rollins College, Abramowitz returned to Maryland to get a... Full story
Back for it's fifth season, the 92Y Live series promises to be bigger and better than ever with the added partnership of Congregation of Reform Judaism. CRJ approached the Roth JCC and Congregation Ohev Shalom about participating as a partner in their collaborative programming, and both were happy to welcome CRJ. "We feel so good about our collaboration with our neighbor, the Roth JCC, and welcome our new partner CRJ. Together we are truly making this a community program," stated Lisa Schwartz,... Full story
The Jewish Studies Program at the University of Central Florida will offer 10 courses in the upcoming spring semester, which begins Jan. 12, 2015. The courses to be offered are: Elementary Modern Hebrew I & II, Conversational Israeli Hebrew, American Jewish History, Classic Texts of Judaism, The Book of Job, Wanderings: The Jewish People in Dispersion, Modern Jewish Experience, Literature of the Holocaust, and our newest addition to the Judaic Studies curriculum: Building A Nation-The Challenges to and Accomplishments Of The State of Israel.... Full story
