Central Florida's Independent Jewish Voice
Central Florida's Independent Jewish Voice
Sorted by date Results 3207 - 3231 of 3615
The Jewish Pavilion threw its largest Purim party to date on Sunday, March 9, at the Westin in Lake Mary where more than 250 supporters attended their annual gala honoring dedicated sponsors and volunteers Valerie Chestnut and Eve Homburger. "Our Purim celebrations are a favorite at our elder facilities, bringing some sparkle to a darker time of year. The costumes, hamentaschen, and playfulness uplift our seniors, while bringing back memories of past celebrations. Our annual gala and Purim... Full story
The topic of anti-terror activities is particularly of interest to the Tampa Orlando Pinellas Jewish Foundation (TOP), as it launched a unique anti-terror investment policy in close concert with the State of Florida and the work of United Against Nuclear Iran (UANI) in 2012. Wednesday, March 6, the TOP cosponsored an event with the Jewish Community Relations Council. The evening's speaker was David Ibsen of UANI. A not-for-profit, non-partisan, advocacy group that seeks to prevent Iran from fulf... Full story
Jewish Family Services is continuing its Pantry Restock Challenge through April 30 and now offers a virtual food drive. This approach allows companies and organizations the ability to set up a food drive via the Internet. It’s easy to join individually or as a group. Instead of bringing bags in to the office, or lugging items to JFS, simply go online at www.jfsorlando.org and click on virtual food drive. Customers are then directed to “go shopping” where they can click on the food they want to donate and checkout when they have reached the d... Full story
By When recruiting new volunteers to touch the lives of seniors in our community, reaching out to the synagogues is one avenue I pursue, more specifically the youth. Each program director attempts to contact different synagogues in an effort to reach a wide variety of people who hold different gifts to share with the Jewish elderly. The teens and students of Congregation Ohev Shalom have been involved for years at various senior living communities all over town. Most recently, the USY teens... Full story
Everyone grieves in their own way. Members of the Jewish community have the opportunity to explore bereavement and healing through a Jewish lens thanks to a partnership between The Jewish Pavilion, VITAS Innovative Hospice and Chambrel at Island Lake, an independent and assisted living community in Longwood. All adults are bound to experience the loss of friends and family. A grief support group can lessen the pain. There will be a series of six free workshops with refreshments. The first one... Full story
For the past three weeks my partner Alan Finfer and I have been attending excellently presented, informational classes hosted by the Jewish Federation’s Community Relations Committee. Barbara Weinreich, as a representative of the Federation, introduced the presenter, Dr. Terri Susan Fine, who teaches in the political science department at UCF. The classes were open to the public, informal and often interactive. The three topics were: Class I: Jewish Women in American State Politics. Dr. Fine discussed a project funded by Brandeis University w... Full story
The American Hebrew Academy recently extended invitations to six Jewish Academy of Orlando eighth-graders for admittance into its Honor Society. Now in its fifth year, the American Hebrew Academy Honor Society is an international honor society that acknowledges exceptional students who have demonstrated excellence in academics, athletics, the arts, leadership and service to their communities. These six academians are Joshua Finkelstein, Jordan Greenberg, Rachael Henig, Sophie Libow, Estrella... Full story
What would happen if more than 600 Jewish college students came together for an enormous gathering? On Feb. 21, Chabad at the University of Central Florida reached this accomplishment when their premier event, "Shabbat 613," took place in the Pegasus Grand Ballroom of the Student Union. Just a year after completing a similar annual affair, "Shabbat 500," Chabad at UCF's Rabbi Chaim Lipskier and his wife, Rivkie Lipskier, wanted to increase their goal of attendees to 613. In this case, each... Full story
"You Are Israel" will welcome the Central Florida community to an afternoon of learning the latest there is to know about Israel today. The event, which will take place on Sunday, March 23, from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. at Congregation Ohev Shalom, 613 Concourse Parkway South, Maitland, is co-sponsored by the Jewish Federation of Greater Orlando, the Jewish Community Center, Hillel, Congregation Ohev Shalom and Zionistas. There is no admission charge. The program includes an address by Consul General... Full story
Weekly ice cream socials are the highlight of the week for residents at Savannah Court In Maitland. They adore the camaraderie provided by Jewish Pavilion staff and volunteers. When Mimi Shader comes and plays the piano, the sing-along is enhanced ten-fold. After filling themselves with rootbeer floats and hamantashen home-made by Susan Livingstone, it is doubtful that anyone eats their dinner.... Full story
Under the leadership of event co-chairs Rhonda Forest and Faye Novick, 35 incredible Super Sunday volunteers gathered at the Maitland campus on Sunday, March 2, and made hundreds of calls to members of the community. The phone-a-thon raised more than $58,000 for the Jewish Federation of Greater Orlando's Annual Campaign. This year's event raised about $15,000 more than last year. Visitors who came to the Maitland campus on Sunday also enjoyed an agency fair planned by Barbara Abramson to... Full story
Hadassah of Williamsburg is having a general membership meeting on Wednesday, March 26, at 1 p.m. at Montpelier Clubhouse 10500 Mormon Drive in Williamsburg. Sheldon Brook, a popular member of the community, will present a most interesting and enjoyable film, titled “The Jewish Legacy on Broadway.” Refreshments will be served. Members, associates and guests are cordially invited to attend. For more information, please contact Sylvia at 407-370-4812 or Helene at 407-352-0535.... Full story
Jewish Family Services Orlando, the Winter Park-based non-profit, human service agency, will begin accepting food and cash donations for its inaugural Pantry Restock Challenge. The Challenge runs from March 1 - April 30 and is aimed at restocking the Pearlman Food Pantry. The Weiner Winter Park Wealth Group, a longtime JFS Orlando supporter will match 25 cents for every dollar donated, or pound of food donated, up to $5,000. During its first year, JFS Orlando seeks to raise $20,000 or 30,000 meals. “In previous years, JFS Orlando p... Full story
Camp J will celebrate its fifth anniversary on the Jewish Community Center's Jack & Lee Rosen Southwest Orlando Campus this summer, and preparations are already underway to make it the biggest and best summer yet. The camp's new director, Eric Lightman, has been working since he arrived to grow the camp program. "We're building on a strong foundation from previous summers," says Lightman, "but we also need to keep up with the latest trends in camping." For this summer, the JCC is building its... Full story
Jenna Gould is in the seventh grade at Markham Woods Middle School and preparing for her upcoming bat mitzvah at Congregation Reform Judaism in late April 2014. Jenna contacted the Jewish Pavilion wanting to offer her compassion for seniors as her bat mitzvah project. She found her niche at Oakmonte Village in Lake Mary by helping to lead the Shabbat service along with Cathy Swerdlow. Jenna has also shared her time on Sundays by calling Bingo and more recently helping a resident use her... Full story
Congregation Beth Israel of Ocala will celebrate Purim on Sunday March 16, at 4:30 p.m. at the Arbor Conference Center (rooms E,F, and G) at On Top of the World. There will be a retelling of the story of Esther in English followed by a potluck supper. In keeping with the frivolous nature of the holiday, a special Purim spiel, titled “Take a giant step,” will be performed. The original skit based on the story of David and Goliath was written by Judi Siegal and features members of the congregation. Those who wish to attend are asked to bring a d... Full story
The Jewish War Veterans of Volusia and Flagler counties will host their next regular meeting at 10 a.m., Sunday, Mar. 9, in the Aberdeen Club House, 55 Allwood Drive, Ormond Beach. Volusia County activist Shannon McLeish will speak about the negative impact on property values caused by the high number of vacant and abandoned properties in Volusia Beach. A New York style breakfast consisting of bagels, nova lox, various cream cheeses, orange juice, herring, sweets, coffee and tea will be served at 9:30 a.m. There is no cost for guests. Jewish... Full story
VITAS Innovative Hospice Care® of Central Florida needs volunteers in your area who can befriend terminally ill patients, provide relief for weary caregivers, accompany their pet on Paw Pals© visits, visit with veterans, provide art and music therapy, make bereavement calls, sew Memory Bears or garment bags, knit/crochet afghans, make crafts, help repair medical equipment, or help with administrative work. Call 407-691-4541 or e-mail central.floridavolunteers@vitas.com if you would like to find out more information.... Full story
Join the Central Florida community to celebrate Israel with "You Are Israel" on March 23, from 1 to 5 p.m. at Congregation Ohev Shalom, 613 Concourse Parkway South, Maitland. Co-sponsoring the event are The Jewish Federation of Greater Orlando, Jewish Community Center of Greater Orlando, Congregation Ohev Shalom, Hillel of UCF and Zionistas. On the evening prior, March 22 at 8:30, the Federation will screen the Israeli film "A Bottle in the Gaza Sea" at the Orlando Science Center, 777 E.... Full story
Anne Frank’s stepsister, Eva Schloss, is a Holocaust survivor bringing her message of peace to Orlando. This will be her final appearance in Florida and it will be held at the Rosen Plaza Hotel, 9700 International Drive in Orlando, at 7:30 p.m. on Monday, March 10. A question-and-answer session follows her one-hour talk. Schloss plans to share her story about her relationship with Anne Frank, the loss of her father and brother in Auschwitz, and the struggle to make a new life after the war. This message is meant for everyone, not just those o... Full story
ORLANDO-Flying at zero gravity is usually something reserved for astronauts in training, but Conway resident and UCF junior Samuel Benjamin, along with five other UCF students, will get the chance to do so in June, courtesy of NASA. NASA selected UCF's team to run an experiment aboard a parabolic flight as part of its undergraduate student Instrumentation Program. Since getting the green light late last year, the team has been hard at work turning the project from concept to design to working...
Approximately 300 people are registered for the Jewish Community Center of Greater Orlando's J Ball celebration on Saturday, March 8. The event is the JCC's largest fundraiser of the year, benefiting the organization's programs, services and Marvin Friedman Scholarship Fund. This year, the Vegas-themed night will also feature the 10th Annual Bruce Gould Poker Invitational, in celebration of the honoree for the evening, Bruce Gould. In addition to the poker tournament, the evening will consist... Full story
Congregation Ohev Shalom’s United Synagogue Youth chapter is hosting a huge community sale on Sunday, March 9, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Bagels also will be sold so customers can nosh and shop. Proceeds will go toward USY’s social action and tikkun olam—“repairing the world” activities, which this year is for several children’s causes. COSUSY welcomes the entire community to come get some great deals on gently used and new toys, clothes, books and household items while helping those in need in our community. The sale will be held at Congregatio... Full story
On Feb. 7, after a long day of work, 13 members of the Bornstein Leadership program gathered at the Hilton Altamonte for Shabbat filled with learning and new friendships. Rabbi David Gutterman of Philadelphia was the scholar in residence for the overnight retreat. The evening began with candle lighting, followed by a session where everyone shared their Hebrew name, and its origin. A lovely Shabbat dinner with some singing and blessings got the group into the Shabbat spirit. Then everyone... Full story
The Tampa Orlando Pinellas Jewish Foundation, together with the Jewish Community Relations Council, announces an event open to the entire community titled, "Isolating Iran: The fight to disable and disarm the nuclear threat" on Wednesday, March 5 at the Roth JCC. The evening will feature David Ibsen, executive director of United Against a Nuclear Iran, who will offer guests a behind-the-scenes look at the domestic and international efforts underway to prevent a nuclear-enabled Iran. The topic... Full story
