Central Florida's Independent Jewish Voice
Central Florida's Independent Jewish Voice
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Simchat Torah is one of the most joyous days in the Jewish year. On this day, synagogues and Jewish communities throughout the world study the closing words of Deuteronomy and immediately recite the opening words of Genesis. Acknowledging that the study of Torah is endless the last aliya with its theme of the death of Moses is followed immediately by the first aliya with its theme of creation. The highest congregational honor one can receive is to be called to the Torah for the “last” aliya or...
Are teens prepared to make choices that will shape their future? For example, is it okay to lie to protect someone you love? Do parents have a right to read their children’s text messages?; is there anything wrong with being a bystander to bullying? Jewish Learning Institute Teens (JLI Teens) new course, ‘Is it Legit? Steering your Way through Everyday Ethical Dilemmas’ offers teens the tools to make decisions, develop strong ethical opinions, and to empower their inner voice to stand up for what they believe in. The course encourages teens...
On Oct. 27, The Jewish Pavilion, an Orlando-area organization dedicated to supporting the elderly, will be holding its 4th annual Fall Festival to raise awareness and funds to support the elderly in our community. The event which will be held at Crane’s Roost Park in Altamonte Springs from 9:30 a.m. until noon. The Jewish Pavilion Fall Festival and Walk includes a free bagel breakfast, live entertainment, a health fair, activities for children, and dozens of vendors. Additional sponsors are s...
To make it convenient for holiday shoppers, Joanne Berman with Sterling Silver 4u will be selling gorgeous Judaic jewelry and Chanukah gifts Oct. 23-25 in the lobby of the Rosen Jewish Community Center, located at 11184 S. Apopka-Vineland Road, Orlando. The boutique will be open from 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Those in the Maitland area can shop her novel Judaic jewelry and gifts at the Roth Jewish Community Center in Maitland, 851 N. Maitland Ave., Nov. 4-8, from 8:30 a.m.- 6 p.m., and Friday from 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m....
A little more than 10 years ago, Aaron Weil had his eye on one of two positions: executive director and CEO of either the Edward and Rose Berman Hillel Jewish University of Pittsburgh or University of Central Florida Hillel. Pittsburgh won out at that time and now Central Florida’s Hillel will glean from his experiences and accomplishments, which are many. Weil is passionate about the future of the Jewish community and sees clearly the role Hillel plays in keeping the young Jewish adults a...
WINTER PARK—The financial challenges facing higher education institutions throughout the country are being addressed in a new and innovative way by one liberal arts college. Rollins College in Winter Park, Fla., recently opened The Alfond Inn with net operating income designated for a permanently endowed scholarship fund. What’s unique about it is that all the net proceeds help fund full-ride student scholarships at Rollins. It was built by a lead gift of $12.5 million from the Harold Alf...
The Holocaust Center in Maitland has announced a partnership with the Global Peace Film Festival, Rizwan Zaman on behalf of the Holocaust Center, The Islamic Society of Central Florida and the Enzian Theater to present a special screening of the documentary “BESA: The Promise” on Sunday, Nov. 3, at 12 p.m. It is a part of Central Florida’s Commemoration of the 75th Anniversary of Kristallnacht—the beginning of Hitler’s Final Solution. A remarkable group of arts and cultural organizations are hosting a series of events to promote respect a...
Temple Israel Sisterhood will be going on its third shopping trip to the Festival Flea Market in Pompano Beach, Fla., on Sunday, Nov. 3. The group will travel south on an air-conditioned bus from the Jewish Academy of Orlando’s parking lot at 8 a.m. and return around 8 p.m. Bagels, snacks and water will be available and a comedy video movie will be shown during the ride. During the return trip the bus will stop at Glick’s Kosher Market in Delray Beach. They have a variety of kosher foods for...
Every Friday afternoon Jewish Pavilion volunteers lead Shabbat services followed by a bit of discussion, refreshments and kibbitzing. Shown here is volunteer and lay leader Steve Newman shmoozing with ‘the ladies’ Vera Skall and Julie Rudnick after the service at Chambrel. New friendships are formed and stories are shared among all who attend. To become involved by volunteering, call the office to find out more information 407-678-9363....
“Whenever I speak with Sy, he is always quick to remind me ‘Don’t forget, I was arrested before you were!’” explained Ambassador Andrew Young in remembering his friend and colleague, Rabbi Israel Dresner. Rabbi Dresner was one of 16 rabbis arrested in St. Augustine on the afternoon of June 18, 1964 while supporting the work of Reverend Martin Luther King, Jr. It was the largest mass arrest of Jewish clergy in the United States. The former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations was speaking...
Anyone can be a “path setter” on Sunday, Oct. 27, at the Jewish Pavilion’s Fall Festival and walk at Cranes Roost in Altamonte Springs. For a donation of $50 to the Jewish Pavilion, donors can have a sign with a Footprint along the walking path with the name of a loved one. For $100 donors can get a deal and have three Footprints along the path. Larger donors can purchase larger signage in the form of a high-heeled sneaker for $180. “This is a great way to pay tribute to walk sponsors Harvey...
Congregation Ohev Shalom Held it’s Kitah Alef/first grade Consecration in conjunction with Erev Simchat Torah on Thursday, September 26. The students sang two songs, received their own Torah and were blessed under a Chuppah that the families made together. The first graders carried their Torah followed by their parents carrying the real Torah for the first of the seven Hakafot around the synagogue. Mazel Tov to the Kitah Alef families and their teachers Judy Shujman and Vicky Countess and M...
Nine teens were selected this month to be a part of Orlando’s J-Serve Teen Task Force. The Teen Task Force is a unique leadership opportunity for Jewish teens in grades eight through 12 to plan the community’s annual J-Serve day of teen community service. Teens on the Task Force are selected because they have a desire to plan and lead their peers through community service, representing all local Jewish youth groups. The team is comprised of: Jonah Goldberg (sophomore, Lake Mary Prep), Matthew Gottfried (eighth grader, Sanford Middle), Tay...
After months of planning, Lake Mary is finally on the map of premier Jewish learning. Beginning this fall, the Rohr Jewish Learning Institute (JLI) opens a new branch in Lake Mary, which brings the total number of JLI locations to over 600 worldwide. JLI is the first international educational institution to present traditional Judaism in a professional, innovative, academically challenging-yet-accessible format. JLI was created to address the need of Jewish adults for in-depth Jewish knowledge. Authorities on each subject have organized the...
Zionistas will present “Hatred Directed Against Israel and the United States” on Tuesday, Oct. 15, from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the Woman’s Club of Casselberry, 251 Overbrook Drive, Casselberry, Fla. The event is open to the public and is free. The guest speaker will be Dr. Jonathan Matusitz, associate professor in the Nicholson School of Communication at the University of Central Florida. Matusitz has contributed to more than 95 academic publications and has given more than 100 conference prese...
We’ve all been there: on our way to a time-sensitive appointment (and probably running a little late) when all of sudden traffic on the highway comes to a screeching halt. As you crawl forward inch by inch, the first thing that comes to mind is definitely not “What does Judaism have to say about this?” “It’s natural to equate religious practice with religious institutions,” observes Rabbi David Kay of Congregation Ohev Shalom in Maitland. “That’s especially true for Jews, where the synagogue is the focal point of the community.” But...
“My father is living alone and he needs supervision 24 hours a day but we do not want him to move.” “I need to move out of my family’s home but I am not sure I can afford alternative living arrangements.” “I would like to move into assisted living but I have to take my dog with me.” “I had to move to Orlando for my daughter’s health issues and my mother needs to transfer to a local nursing home connected to a Jewish community.” “My husband has dementia and I need time to run errands without him.” “My mother has declined in independent l...
Kinneret residents were treated to a Sukkot celebration on Wednesday, Sept. 25, in the Jessie Render Social Hall led by Rabbi Dubov of the Chabad Jewish Center and his sons. Rabbi Dubov shared the story of Sukkot and led the residents in a thoughtful dialogue before everyone got to shake the luluv and esrog and enjoy some pastries. Kinneret board members Mollie Savage and Lauren Sharfstein, along with her daughter Maia, joined in the festivities. “Our board is committed to providing Jewish h...
Congregation Beth Sholom invites the public to its Shabbat service, led by Rabbi Karen Allen, on Friday, Oct. 11, at 7 p.m. The synagogue is located at 315 North 13th St., Leesburg, with the entrance on Center Street. Refreshments will be served following the service. For more information, call 352-326-3692, or visit their website at www.bethsholomflorida.org....
The Jewish Federation of Greater Orlando held the Hy Lake Pacesetters Dinner in support of the Shaping the Future: 2014 Annual Campaign at the home of Mardi and Ron Shader. Pacesetters is the major donor division of the Federation. The evening featured special guest speaker Alison Lebovitz, who currently serves as co-chair of the National Young Leadership Cabinet for the Jewish Federations of North America. Lebovitz, who is also an author, television host, and nonprofit executive. lives in...
Tayarim Connect brought together 20 middle-school students for SukkahFest at the Roth Jewish Community Center of Greater Orlando. Sixth- through eighth-grade students from all over the community built edible sukkot out of candy, played kickball and icebreaker games, and created a YouTube video. The short YouTube video is titled the “Lulav Shake” (modeled after the Harlem Shake) and was filmed in the sukkah behind the Roth JCC. The video can be viewed on the Roth JCC’s Facebook page (www....
While this may look like an ordinary sukkah, it is an extraordinary one. Due to their ongoing partnership with the Jewish Pavilion, the folks at Atria at Lake Forest wanted to provide their residents with all the traditions of their faith. For Rosh Hashanah they provided a lovely holiday meal where a volunteer from the Jewish Pavilion led a beautiful service. When Activities Director Donna Hilliker talked to Pavilion leadership about Sukkot, she decided to arrange for a sukkah to be erected....
The Roth Jewish Community Center of Greater Orlando’s after-school program, J University, is offering a new sibling discount at its Maitland location. Families with multiple children in the after-school program receive 50 percent off the second child’s tuition, 75 percent off the third child’s, and any additional children’s tuition is free. Additionally, all children new to the program receive their first month for free. Program organizers introduced the new discount as a way to increas...
Camp Barney Medintz, summer resident camp of the Marcus Jewish Community Center of Atlanta, will present their annual new musical slide production in Orlando on Wednesday, Nov. 20, at the Jewish Community Center of Greater Orlando, beginning at 7p.m. Jim Mittenthal, camp director, will meet with new and returning families, answer questions pertaining to the 2014 summer camp season, and provide applications for registration. Camp Barney Medintz is located in the North Georgia Blue Ridge mountains on more than 500 wooded acres surrounding two...
It is Temple Israel’s tradition to award the honors of Hatan Torah and Kallat Bereishit to congregants who have provided outstanding service in the areas of ritual, educational and/or spiritual life of the congregation. This year’s honorees, who were selected by the entire synagogue membership under the auspices of the ritual committee, are Steve Berg and Mollie Savage. These honorees were announced by President Arlene van de Rijn during the Yom Kippur services. They were recognized during the S...
