Central Florida's Independent Jewish Voice
Central Florida's Independent Jewish Voice
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Running now through Feb. 9 at the Orlando Shakespeare Theater is the one-woman play "Becoming Dr. Ruth" by Mark St. Germain. Catch it if you can because many performances are already sold out. Everyone knows Dr. Ruth Westheimer from her career as a pioneering radio and television sex therapist. Few, however, know the incredible journey that preceded it. From fleeing the Nazis in the Kindertransport and joining the Haganah in Jerusalem as a scout and sniper, to her struggles to succeed as a... Full story
In partnership with the Pardes Institute of Judaic Studies, Temple Israel is offering a five-week course open to the entire community and led by Rabbi Joshua Neely called “Mahloket Matters: How to Disagree Constructively—The Beit Midrash Way.” The first of the hour-long weekly session starts on Thursday, Feb. 6 and runs from 7 to 8 p.m. in the Temple Israel Library at 50 S. Moss Road in Winter Springs. The final session is Thursday, March 5. No matter their political beliefs, most people agree... Full story
The Playwright's Round Table Launch 2020 will feature "Rosa & Leo" as one of eight original, Ten-Minute plays from emerging playwrights at the Orlando Shakespeare Theatre in Loch Haven Park, Jan. 17-19 and Jan. 24-26. Directed by Kate Thomas-Denson, "Rosa & Leo" is about a couple who secretly fell in love in a Nazi concentration camp and rediscover each other on opposite sides of the world five decades later. Mark Davids and Cindy Karr play the title characters. "Rosa & Leo" was written by Adam... Full story
JCC Maccabi Games informational meeting Learn about the JCC Maccabi Games that will take place Aug. 2-7 at an informational meeting for teens and their parents on Wednesday, Jan. 22 from 7 p.m-9 p.m. in the Roth Family JCC Youth Meeting Room. The JCC Maccabi Games is the largest sports competition for Jewish teens in the world. Team Central Florida has a rich tradition at the Games. And it isn't all sports! There is a Star Reporter track for teens who are interested in social media/journalism.... Full story
Boots on the Ground Theater is presenting “Aliyah” at its charity gala on Jan. 25, 7 p.m., at KDS One Studios, 3601 Vineland Road, Suite 10, Orlando. “Aliyah” is a short experimental documentary that tells the story of a Holocaust survivor whose daughter is now a refugee displaced by the conflict in the Ukraine. The film combines original choreography, newly composed music, and hundreds of hours of on-the-ground interviews, all to answer the question, why are Jewish people leaving Ukraine? Jewish history in Ukraine is marked with persecu... Full story
The St. Johns County Commission will proclaim January 2020 as “St. Johns County Jewish History Month” at its regularly scheduled meeting, 9 a.m. Jan. 21, in the County Commission Chambers, 500 San Sebastian View, St. Augustine 32084. The Proclamation is being made at the request of the St. Augustine Jewish Historical Society. The proclamation presentation is open to the public at no charge, all are welcome, no advance arrangements need be made. Florida Jewish History Month has been observed since 2003, when Governor Jeb Bush signed a bill dec... Full story
The Jewish Academy of Orlando has extended recess for all grades to 45 minutes. In addition to extended recess time, lunch for all grades is 30 minutes, and a mid-morning break of 15 minutes is included in the daily schedule. In recent years, many schools have lessened the amount of time that students spend in free play. In fact, experts find that the decrease may be significantly impacting the social and emotional development of our children. Comparatively speaking, recess only became mandatory in Orange County in December 2016, according to... Full story
The definition of volunteer work refers to activities performed willingly and without pay to produce goods or provide services for others outside the volunteer’s household or family. However, when we witness the interactions of the volunteers that work with the Jewish Pavilion, this general definition falls short. Our volunteers go beyond merely visiting our senior residents, they bring their hearts, smiles, caring words and humor. The volunteers are the backbone of our organization and many o... Full story
The audience can feel Susan Bernstein's passion as she starts her presentation. She is there to share the knowledge she has gained throughout her life. A lifelong educator, Bernstein loves to tell stories. She continues the tradition of the early Jews sharing history in both the written word and the voices of all that came before her. Bernstein is the lesson she teaches, as she lives her life by the examples she shares. Besides a strong Judaic background, Bernstein also has a strong musical... Full story
Sunday, Jan. 19: Annual congregational meeting at 10 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 25: Service at 10 a.m. led by Rabbi Karen Allen. The Service will be followed by a Kiddush, allowing attendees to mingle with both old and new friends. This will be a celebration of Sidney Cullen’s Bat Mitzvah. Sunday, Jan. 26: Congregation Beth Sholom Men’s Club will meet at 10 a.m. at the synagogue. Congregation Beth Sholom is located at 315 North 13th St. in Leesburg. All members are invited and experience the friendly environment of Congregation Betah Sholom. More inf... Full story
Nonviolence in action in the Palestinian territories: An Evening with Ali Abu Awwad On Tuesday, Jan, 14, 2020, The Roth Family JCC will host Ali Abu Awwad from 7:30 p.m. – 9 p.m. In 2016, Ali Abu Awwad and Taghyeer Movement co-founders gathered more than 3000 Palestinians in Jericho to share a dream and a vision. "Together, we can build a grassroots movement through nonviolence in action to better Palestinian lives and forge a path to freedom." Since then, village by village, embattled c... Full story
Temple Israel is proud to host Queens College Hillel's a capella group Tizmoret on Tuesday, Jan. 14 from 7 to 8 p.m. The concert will take place in the Roth Social Hall, followed by a dessert reception, where attendees can also meet the performers. Tizmoret draws singers from colleges throughout the New York City area. The professional group performs classic Jewish melodies, American pop music, and contemporary Israeli tunes, which can be heard on their eight CDs and two EPs. Tizmoret has... Full story
Sixty people gathered on a Wednesday afternoon in December expecting to hear the Chanukah story. Much to everyone’s surprise, Susan Bernstein began speaking about the art of writing the Torah. As the residents of Oakmonte Village in Lake Mary feasted on their bagels, lox and latkes, Bernstein, a program director for the Jewish Pavilion, began to speak. She described the process from the requirements to become a Sofer, the preparation of the parchment, the special ink, the writing and assembly process and the final Torah. She also spoke about t... Full story
Rabbi Yosef Mendelevich was born in the small Baltic state of Latvia, which was under Soviet occupation, after World War II. Mendelevich received a Soviet education, far removed from his Jewish faith and culture. His father, Moshe, was arrested by the Soviets when Mendelevich was 10 years old. His mother, Chaya Yenta, died soon afterwards. Despite his harsh childhood experiences, Mendelevich found his way to truth and faith and became one of the outstanding leaders of the Jewish revival in the U... Full story
The Kinneret Council on Aging, a nonprofit agency that provides ongoing programs and services to residents of Kinneret Apartments, has rescued a holiday meal program that was formerly run by Jewish Family Services. Approximately, 83 percent of the recipients of this program live in Kinneret Apartments. The holiday meal program was instituted to provide a hot, delicious kosher meal for Jewish residents during three of the Jewish holidays throughout the year including Rosh Hashanah, Chanukah and Passover. “JFS’s decision to sunset the pro... Full story
ATLANTA—Hillel International, the largest Jewish campus organization in the world, presented awards this week to recognize campus Hillels that are creating innovative experiences and meaningful connections to help students develop stronger ties to their Jewish identities. Central Florida Hillel was one of only five Hillel’s in North America to be recognized for its achievement in being among the TOP 5 with the “Greatest Growth in Depth.” This category measures the amount of times that Jewish students on campus are connecting to Jewish life on... Full story
Israeli-Palestinian Peace Prospects: A View from the Palestinian street On Thursday, Jan. 9, 2020, from 6:30 p.m.-7:30 p.m., Keith Dvorchik, executive director of the Jewish Federation of Greater Orlando and CEO of The Roth Family JCC, and Central Florida Hillel CEO Aaron Weil will discuss their recent meetings in the West Bank with senior Palestinian leaders and residents of the West Bank. Hear about the challenges, frustrations and hope that they experienced and the varying Palestinian narratives they encountered. A Q&A session will follow.... Full story
Open to the entire community, this year's Jewish Pavilion Fashion Show takes place on Wednesday, Feb. 26, 11 a.m., at Dillard's Department Store in the Altamonte Mall. "Dillard's Department store is delighted to host the Jewish Pavilion's annual fashion show," said Nancy Nguyen, store manager. The store has gone all out and arranged for a backdrop and stage and hired a DJ for this special event that will honor Penny Goldstein for her years of service to the Jewish community. Models will be... Full story
"Rain or shine, the menorah burns bright! Happy Chanukah night number 1!" said Rabbi Mendy Bronstein when the Chanukah menorah was lit at Winter Park's Central Park as rain gently fell throughout the day.... Full story
The Orlando Economic Partnership has awarded its James B. Greene award, the highest honor bestowed by the Partnership to a local community leader, Harris Rosen, president and COO of Rosen Hotels & Resorts. The award was presented at the Partnership’s recent annual awards dinner held at the Amway Center in downtown Orlando. The James B. Greene Award, first presented in 1990, recognizes an individual whose work has contributed substantially to the economic prosperity of the region. “Harris Ros... Full story
Jewish Academy of Orlando fifth grade students partnered with Muslim peers from Leadership Preparatory School and Christian peers from Geneva School in a day of learning at JAO. The event is the first of the schools' three-part Multi-faith Education Program that has been in place for 17 years. The students meet at each school to learn about each other's cultures and religions. The Multi-Faith Education Program began when its founder, Louise Franklin Sheehy, worked to foster a climate of peace... Full story
On the second Friday of every month, Debbie Meitin races from one Shabbat service at a Jewish Pavilion assisted-living facility to another. On holidays, she comes prepared with extra stories and Judaic holiday items. All day, she diligently leads services and visits seniors as a volunteer for the Jewish Pavilion and then races home to get ready for her own Shabbat dinner and evening services at Temple Israel. Her combination of warmth, Judaic knowledge and a beautiful singing voice make her the... Full story
On Dec. 8, a crowd gathered in a shopping center on Westmonte Drive to celebrate the opening of Chabad of Altamonte Springs' new facility. Rabbi Sholom Dubov, who with his wife Devorah Leah established Chabad of Greater Orlando in 1985, had the honor of attaching the mezuzah to the seventh location in Orlando. Altamonte Springs City Commissioner Jim Turney also attended the festivities. "Over the last three years, hundreds of local Jews have participated in Shabbat dinner, holiday celebrations,... Full story
The Story of Chanukah reenactment, as told by Nancy Ludin, CEO of the Jewish Pavilion, was a hit at a breakfast with the Maitland Chamber of Commerce. Ludin's unique storytelling style guided the group through the historic event with laughter and enthusiasm. Chamber members enjoyed the presentation and Nancy answered many questions about the holiday. The Chanukah breakfast was hosted by Jewish Pavilion staff and volunteers. The food is a big part of every holiday tradition because it's made... Full story
From 14-month-old Liam Osteen, grandson of Michal Osteen, to the oldest resident Jean Dolan, who claims to be 98-1/2 years old, everyone enjoyed the latkes, music by Walter Goldstein, singing and dancing at the Kinneret Chanukah party. Residents and party volunteers danced the hora winding through the crowd, stopping to dance at the tables and led the groups in song. Three Jewish organizations joined together so seniors could continue to celebrate a Jewish holiday. These included Nancy Ludin,... Full story
