Central Florida's Independent Jewish Voice
Central Florida's Independent Jewish Voice
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DAYTONA BEACH, FL — Since the first Festival in March 2008, which attracted over 10,000 visitors, this biennial event expresses the heart and soul of Jewish Florida. It intertwines the sounds, sights, and spirit of Jewish culture and brings together every facet of the Jewish Community — young and old, singles and families, regardless of their religious and cultural background. The 2026 Jewish Heritage Festival will take place on Sunday, April 12, 2026, at The Casements, 25 Riverside Drive, Ormond Beach, FL from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The entire eve...
(JNS) — U.S. President Donald Trump would have to end military action against Iran by the end of March unless Congress declares war or authorizes the use of force, according to a War Powers Resolution that a group of moderate House Democrats introduced. The resolution set a 30-day period that began on Feb. 28 for Trump to make the case to Congress and the American people to go to war. It would prevent the president from using ground troops without congressional approval, except for intelligence activities and search-and-rescue missions. It w...
(JNS) — Iranian sleeper cells in the United States are a concern that should be taken seriously in the aftermath of U.S. and Israeli strikes that killed Ali Khamenei and other Iranian regime leaders over the weekend, experts told JNS. “They pose a very grave threat,” Michael Rubin, a senior fellow at American Enterprise Institute and director of policy analysis at Middle East Forum, told JNS. “The Iranians are going to strike us where we are least defended.” Past incidents show that sleeper cells exist, including a thwarted 2011 Iranian plot to...
Jewish Pavilion Senior Services will host a free grief support luncheon and reunion, Gathering of Friends, on Monday, April 13, from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at One Senior Place, located at 715 Douglas Avenue in Altamonte Springs. The event is open to former grief support group participants and community members who have experienced the loss of a loved one. The luncheon is designed as a welcoming opportunity for individuals to reconnect, share conversation, and spend time together in a supportive environment. Whether a loss is recent or occurred...
If you’re looking for a home-cooked Passover meal, then join Temple Israel on Thursday, April 2 at 5 p.m. for a meaningful second-night Seder filled with fabulous food and friends. Rabbi Joshua Neely includes all ages in this meaningful and participatory Seder that blends tradition with modern-day relevance. “During the Seder most years, we emphasize breaking away from the cruelty of Egypt. This year, we will emphasize how the Seder brings us together. It is a celebration of unity that connects Jews of all types to one another, and, by ope...
(JNS) — The Israel Defense Forces on Wednesday ordered all civilians in Southern Lebanon to evacuate and move north of the Litani River. “The activities of the Hezbollah terrorist organization are forcing the Israel Defense Forces to act against it with force. The IDF does not intend to harm you,” said Avichay Adraee, head of the Arab Media Branch in the IDF Spokesperson’s Unit, in a notice posted to X. Adraee emphasized that any Lebanese civilians “near Hezbollah members, facilities or combat equipment are putting their lives at risk.” “A...
(JNS) — New Jersey Gov. Mikie Sherrill stated on Wednesday that her administration is working to assist residents stranded in the Middle East amid widespread flight suspensions caused by the escalating conflict involving Iran, Israel and the United States, while criticizing the federal government for leaving families “stranded, frustrated and potentially in danger.” Sherrill said her office has been in contact with New Jersey residents in the region, encouraging them to enroll in the U.S. State Department’s Smart Traveler Enrollment Program...
Washington, D.C. — On March 4, Congressman Fine took to the House Floor to challenge Democrats after another Muslim terrorist killed innocent Americans in Texas over the weekend, as the Department of Homeland Security remains closed. The attack hit close to home. In the aftermath, Congressman Fine was alerted to a comment on his X page by investigative journalist Laura Loomer highlighting a message the Texas terrorist had sent to the congressman just months earlier. This direct communication from a terrorist should serve as a wake-up call to t...
(JNS) — Reza Pahlavi, the exiled son of the last Shah of Iran and a leader of the opposition against the Islamic Republic, on Tuesday called on ethnic minorities to unite against the regime, saying it was nearing collapse. “You are an inseparable part of Iran’s historical and cultural fabric—communities that have always stood as guardians of our territorial integrity and the dignity and honor of our nation,” the exiled crown prince said in a statement addressed to the nation’s minorities. However, “from the very first days of the Islamic Repub...
(JNS) — Israeli President Isaac Herzog on Wednesday called on Jewish communities worldwide to remain “vigilant and cautious” as Israel continues its war with the Iranian regime and its regional terror proxies. “We’re very much aware both of the support and the challenges of the Jewish communities and the Jewish world at large,” Herzog told JNS during a visit to the National Operations Center of Magen David Adom in Ramla. “In these trying times, where there is war here, where we are in the shelters, we know that Iran doesn’t rest only on th...
(JNS) — U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio called Iran’s refusal to discuss its ballistic missile program a “big problem” and an “unsustainable threat” to the American home front ahead of Thursday’s indirect nuclear talks in Geneva, the third round this month between Washington and Tehran. “Iran possesses a very large number of ballistic missiles, particularly short-range ballistic missiles that threaten the United States and our bases in the region and our partners in the region, and all of ou...
(JNS) - In an exclusive interview with JNS CEO and Israel Bureau Chief Alex Traiman on Thursday, Israeli Innovation, Science and Technology Minister Gila Gamliel said expanding cooperation with India-from space and defense technologies to water and agriculture-could propel both nations to new economic heights, as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu hosted Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Jerusalem this week to deepen bilateral ties amid mounting regional tensions with Iran. Alex Traiman:...
(JNS) - The head of Uganda's military said on Thursday that his country is set to unveil a statue of IDF Lt. Col. Yonatan Netanyahu, the older brother of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who was killed in action in Uganda during a counter-terrorism operation that rescued more than 100 hostages almost 50 years ago. "In order to strengthen our close blood relations with Israel, we shall soon unveil a statue to Yoni Netanyahu at the exact spot he was killed at Entebbe Airport," tweeted...
(JNS) — Two qualities of leadership define Benjamin Netanyahu at this pivotal moment. The first is the ability to pursue an objective that appears impossible—relentlessly, patiently, for years—until circumstances align and it can finally be achieved. History remembers Winston Churchill for precisely this: breaking the paralysis of fear before Nazi aggression and dragging a reluctant world toward victory. Netanyahu’s struggle against Iran’s nuclear ambitions belongs to that same category of long, lonely battles. The second quality is the moral...
(JNS) — The Israel Defense Forces on Wednesday ordered all civilians in Southern Lebanon to evacuate and move north of the Litani River. “The activities of the Hezbollah terrorist organization are forcing the Israel Defense Forces to act against it with force. The IDF does not intend to harm you,” said Avichay Adraee, head of the Arab Media Branch in the IDF Spokesperson’s Unit, in a notice posted to X. Adraee emphasized that any Lebanese civilians “near Hezbollah members, facilities or combat equipment are putting their lives at risk.” “A...
Israeli FM urges countries to sever ties with Iranian regime (JNS) — Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar called on countries around the world to cut diplomatic relations with the Iranian regime in a virtual briefing on Tuesday for ambassadors stationed in Israel. “Following the Iranian regime’s attack on all its neighbors and the massacre of its own people—countries around the world must sever their ties with it,” Jerusalem’s top diplomat told 60 envoys who participated in the meeting, according the minister’s office. Sa’ar stressed that the...
(JNS) — A Jewish woman, who taught at the United Nations International School in New York for about 30 years, is suing the school, alleging that it ignored her reports of experiencing Jew-hatred on campus and responded by subjecting her to a retaliatory investigation. Robert Weingrad told JNS that his wife, Nadine Sébag, 65, experienced “severe depression” as a result of what she experienced at the school and that she has been suffering from back and muscle issues as well as digestive problems, increased blood pressure and anxiety. “UNIS...
(JNS) — U.S. President Donald Trump denied claims on Tuesday that Israel forced him into taking preemptive action against Iran. Speaking to reporters in the Oval Office alongside German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, Trump said that he believed that Iran was going to launch a first strike during talks between Tehran and Washington. “We were having negotiations with these lunatics, and it was my opinion that they were going to attack first,” Trump said. “They were going to attack if we didn’t do it. They were going to attack first. I felt strongly...
(JNS) — Shortly after the Hamas-led attacks on Oct. 7, New College of Florida, a public liberal arts school in Sarasota, Fla., began encouraging Jewish students to come seek refuge from antisemitism on other campuses. “Those facing intolerance or physical danger at Harvard should come to New College of Florida, where they can study with free tuition thanks to a newly established scholarship program,” Richard Corcoran, president of New College, wrote in the Wall Street Journal, On Nov. 8, 2023. “They will find that we prize free speech and con...
(JNS) — Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said on Wednesday, “Any leader appointed by the Iranian terror regime to continue the plan for Israel’s destruction, to threaten the U.S. and the free world and the countries of the region, and to oppress the Iranian nation, will be an unequivocal target for elimination.” “It doesn’t matter what his name is or the place where he hides,” Katz added in a post on X. “The Prime Minister and I instructed the IDF to prepare and act using all means to carry out the mission as an integral part of the objecti...
The University of Central Florida’s campus came alive this week as UCF Hillel hosted its 5th annual Israel Block Party — an event that turned Memory Mall into a vibrant celebration of Israeli culture and spirit. More than 700 students gathered for the festivities, marking the largest Block Party to date and the biggest event in UCF Hillel’s history. From sizzling falafel stands to a lively shuk-style marketplace and even a guest appearance by a live camel, the celebration offered students a tas...
The Rosen JCC is proud to announce the appointment of Stacey Weiss as its new Director of Development & Foundation Relations. In this role, Weiss will lead philanthropic strategy and donor engagement efforts in support of the JCC's mission to strengthen community through culture, connection, and shared purpose. Weiss brings more than a decade of experience in fundraising, community engagement, and mission-driven leadership. Known for her relationship-centered approach and strategic mindset, she...
(JNS) - Nine people were killed and over two dozen wounded by an Iranian missile impact in Beit Shemesh on Sunday, according to Israel's Magen David Adom emergency medical service. According to Channel 12 News, a direct hit on a residential building caused the structure to collapse. Israel Police Jerusalem District Cmdr. Avshalom Peled told local media that the casualties were believed to have been inside a shelter when it took a direct hit from a ballistic missile. "We know from past incidents...
(JNS) — Zohran Mamdani, the New York City mayor, met with U.S. President Donald Trump in the Oval Office in November in what he called a “productive” meeting and the president said was a “very productive” conversation. The mayor said he had another “productive” meeting with Trump on Feb. 26. “I had a productive meeting with President Trump this afternoon. I’m looking forward to building more housing in New York City,” he wrote. He shared a photo of himself standing behind a seated Trump in the Oval Office, holding a mock newspaper with the...
(JNS) — The U.S. embassy in Israel on Friday opened consular services for Jewish communities in Judea and Samaria for the first time. The one-day consular pop-up operation took place in Efrat, in the Gush Etzion region of Judea. An additional one is expected to open soon in Beitar Illit, in the Binyamin region of Samaria, according to the Yesha Council, an umbrella organization of Jewish communities in Judea and Samaria. Israel Ganz, head of the Binyamin Regional Council and chairman of the Yesha Council, described the move as “historic jus...
