Central Florida's Independent Jewish Voice
Central Florida's Independent Jewish Voice
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(JNS) — Nobody was entirely sure the ceremony would take place. Organizers had quietly filmed a full dress rehearsal days earlier in case renewed fighting with Iran made a live public event impossible. A fragile ceasefire with Iran and Lebanon was holding—barely. Last year’s ceremony was canceled due to wildfires in the Jerusalem hills. This year, thousands arrived from across the country, determined not to miss the event. What followed was one of the most emotionally charged Independence Day ceremonies in recent memory—a sweeping, two-hou...
(JNS) — Israel’s population has reached 10.244 million as the country marks its 78th Independence Day, according to data released on Sunday by the Central Bureau of Statistics. Of the total population, 7.97 million are Jews and others (76 percent), 2.15 million are Arabs (21 percent) and 296,000 are foreign residents (2.9 percent), according to the figures. Israel’s population has grown by 146,000 since its last Independence Day, registering an increase of 1.4 percent, the Bureau noted. Durin...
Winter Park, FL - Jewish Family Services of Greater Orlando has received a substantial in-kind donation 21 pallets of bottled water totaling more than 43,000 pounds from a generous local company, bolstering critical resources for Central Florida families as hurricane season approaches. The donation will directly support the Pearlman Food Pantry, one of Orlando's most vital community resources for individuals and families facing food insecurity. Water is consistently one of the pantry's most...
Seniors at the Mayflower Senior Community in Winter Park gathered for a warm and meaningful Shabbat service led by Lori Slutsky. The Passover-themed Shabbat created a spirit of reflection and connection, with residents actively engaging in prayers, songs, and traditions. Participants shared personal stories and memories, enjoying schmurah matzah and wine together, which added to the sense of community and celebration....
The Jewish National Fund-USA invites women to “Your Voice in Israel,” an inspiring evening demonstrating the lasting impact of JNF-USA’s work on May 12, at 6:45 p.m. in Maitland. (The address will be provided prior to the event) The guest speaker will be Adela Cojab, lawyer and Civil Rights activist and a recent Miss Israel USA. As a legal fellow at the National Jewish Advocacy Center, Cojab is widely recognized for fighting antisemitism. She will talk about how she uses her work to uplif...
The Orlando Chapter of Hadassah will hold its May luncheon on Tuesday, May 5, 11:30 a.m. at Congregation Ohev Shalom, 613 Concourse Parkway, Maitland. Barbara Chasnov, local chapter member and Hadassah Keeper of the Gate, will present her 21st visit to Israel through storytelling, videos and slides. Through her discussion, members will experience the profound impact of Hadassah’s work. Registration required. General admission is $25, which includes lunch. Entry is limited to guests who have pre-registered. Reserve your place at o...
(JNS) — Gaza’s human development has been set back 77 years, with recovery and reconstruction needs totaling $71.4 billion over the next decade, according to an assessment released this week by the European Union, the United Nations and World Bank. The final report, the Gaza Rapid Damage and Needs Assessment, notes an “unprecedented loss of life and a catastrophic humanitarian crisis” brought on by the terrorist attacks in southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, carried out by unnamed “militant groups,” leading to the Israel-Hamas war. The report...
(JNS) — An official, 64-page California state “official voter information guide” for the June 2 primary election includes a statement from a candidate for governor that accused Israel of “countless war crimes,” including being responsible for the September 11 attacks. Don Grundmann, who did not submit a photograph of himself and who has no preference for a “qualified” party, claims in the guide that Charlie Kirk, the conservative activist, was “murdered by shaped-charge bomb Israel used” and that the government—it wasn’t clear which he meant...
(JNS) — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu revealed on Friday that he underwent treatment for a very early-stage malignant tumor in his prostate and has fully recovered. “Today, my annual medical report was published,” Netanyahu wrote on X. “I requested to delay its publication by two months so that it would not be released at the height of the war, in order not to allow the Iranian terror regime to spread even more false propaganda against Israel. “I ask to share with you three things,” he continued. “1. Thank God, I am healthy. 2. I...
(JNS) — On Oct. 11, 2023, five days after the Hamas-led attacks in southern Israel, Itay Sagi and his unit in the Israeli military went into Gaza to retrieve bodies of Israelis whom the terror organization killed. The unit was ambushed, three soldiers were killed and Sagi was gravely hurt. “My body and my soul were wounded,” Sagi told about 900 people, who filled the Moorish revival sanctuary at Park East Synagogue, an Orthodox congregation in Manhattan, on Monday for a commemoration of Yom Hazikaron, Israel’s Memorial Day. “The images ar...
(JNS) — The 500 people who gathered on Monday for a Yom Hazikaron, Israeli Memorial Day ceremony in Los Angeles show the “deep connection between the Diaspora and the State of Israel,” Israel Bachar, Israeli consul general to the Pacific Southwest, told JNS on Monday. “I do not believe that you can separate the two. I think we’re interdependent on each other,” the Israeli envoy said. “Israel cannot survive without the Diaspora’s support, and the Diaspora needs Israel for its identity and a safe haven in a time of need.” The consulate hosted...
When most people think of Israel, agriculture is not the first thing that comes to mind. Israel is small, much of it is arid, and water has always been scarce. The land in Israel has been farmed for thousands of years. What statehood changed was the scale, the conditions including rapid population growth and limited water, and the methods required to make agriculture work. That meant finding alternatives, moving water across the country, using it more efficiently, and eventually creating new sources through desalination. Out of those...
Iran says it executed a man accused of spying for Israel By JNS Staff (JNS) — Iran has executed a man convicted of spying for Israel and transmitting sensitive information, the Islamic Republic’s judiciary news outlet Mizan reported on Wednesday, according to Reuters. The Iranian outlet identified the man as Mehdi Farid, saying he held a position in a civil defense unit within what it described as a sensitive organization and used his access to gather intelligence for Israel’s Mossad. According to the report, Iran’s Supreme Court upheld...
(JNS) - "Operation Roaring Lion" against Iranian nuclear sites fulfilled the Jewish state's promise to prevent a second Holocaust, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Monday night. Had the Israeli and U.S. militaries failed to act, "the names Natanz, Fordow, Isfahan and Parchin might have been remembered eternally in infamy, just like Auschwitz, Treblinka, Majdanek and Sobibor," the prime minister said in Hebrew remarks aired during the state ceremony for Holocaust Martyrs' and...
(JNS) — Members of the Jewish community in New York City gathered on Sunday for an unveiling event of a bench in Central Park commemorating the hostages kidnapped into Gaza during the Oct. 7, 2023, attacks on Israel’s south. The bench, named “Hostages Bench,” is also dedicated to those who fought to release the hostages, to those who lost their lives during the Hamas-led invasion into Israel and in the war that ensued since then, to the families of the hostages, and to those who survived captivity, the Hostages and Missing Families Forum’s...
Mark Wednesday, June 10, on your calendars for an evening of elegance, connection, and community impact at the Jewish Pavilion Senior Services Cocktail Party, hosted by Heritage Jewish News. Join friends and supporters of the Jewish Pavilion for a festive gathering in the beautiful, resort-style setting at Grand Living Park at Lake Mary. Guests will enjoy an open bar, gourmet heavy hors d'oeuvres, and a delicious selection of desserts while mingling with donors, supporters, and community...
Jewish Pavilion Senior Services recently welcomed community members to its Gathering of Friends Grief Support Luncheon, held on April 13 at One Senior Place in Altamonte Springs. The meaningful afternoon brought together former grief support group participants and others who have experienced the loss of a loved one for a time of connection, reflection, and community. The luncheon provided a warm and supportive environment where attendees could reconnect with familiar faces and meet others who...
(JNS) — The U.S. military has fully implemented a blockade of Iranian ports, halting maritime trade in and out of the country within 36 hours, the commander of U.S. Central Command said on Wednesday. Adm. Brad Cooper said U.S. forces “maintain maritime superiority in the Middle East” as part of the operation, which he said has stopped economic trade by sea that fuels about 90% of Iran’s economy. The Wall Street Journal reported on Wednesday that U.S. naval forces have intercepted eight oil tankers entering or leaving Iranian ports since t...
(JNS) — Israel and Lebanon agreed to a 10-day ceasefire on Thursday following calls between U.S. president Donald Trump and the leaders of each country. After Trump announced the truce on social media, the State Department released a statement with details of the agreement between the two sides. “Israel and Lebanon will implement a cessation of hostilities” that will start at 5 p.m. Eastern on April 16 for “an initial period of 10 days, as a gesture of goodwill by the government of Israel, intended to enable good-faith negotiations toward...
(JNS) — The House of Representatives narrowly defeated a measure to invoke the War Powers Resolution to end the conflict with Iran on Thursday in a mostly party-line vote. Rep. Jared Golden (D-Maine) was the lone Democrat to oppose the resolution, siding with Republicans to defeat the effort to withdraw U.S. forces from hostilities by 213 to 214. Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.), a libertarian who frequently opposes foreign policy measures, was the only Republican to vote in favor of the motion. Rep. Warren Davidson (R-Ohio), who previously joined M...
(JNS) — A bipartisan group of 41 U.S. senators urged the Senate Appropriations Committee to allocate $750 million to the Nonprofit Security Grant Program for the 2027 fiscal year. “The threat of violence is unfortunately increasing at places of worship across our country at alarming rates,” wrote Sens. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), James Lankford (R-Okla.), Gary Peters (D-Mich.) and Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.) in a letter to leaders of the committee on April 16. “Nonprofit organizations that are at risk of terrorist attacks, particularly houses...
(JNS) — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke on Monday with Haifa Mayor Yona Yahav, conveying his “deep sorrow over the tragic loss of four lives” in an Iranian missile attack that targeted the city the previous night. “The most important point that came up again in our conversation is one simple principle, an iron rule: Anyone who follows the guidelines of the [Israel Defense Forces] Home Front Command and stays in a protected space has almost no chance of being harmed,” Netanyahu said in a video statement following the call. “I ask...
The Orlando Chapter of Hadassah will hold its May luncheon on Tuesday, May 5, 11:30 a.m. at Congregation Ohev Shalom, 613 Concourse Parkway, Maitland. Barbara Chasnov, local chapter member and Hadassah Keeper of the Gate, will present her 21st visit to Israel through storytelling, videos and slides. Through her discussion, members will experience the profound impact of Hadassah’s work. Registration required. General admission is $25, which includes lunch. Entry is limited to guests who have pre-registered. Reserve your place at o...
(JNS) — Against the twin backdrops of Israel at war and rising Jew-hatred around the world, some 7,000 people from around the world marked Yom Hashoah, Holocaust Remembrance Day, by marching the two miles between the Auschwitz and Birkenau concentration camps in Poland. Known as the International March of the Living, the annual event is designed to create a new generation of witnesses to the murder of 6 million Jews at the hands of the Nazis. The task is taking greater importance as the n...
(JNS) - More than 50,000 participants registered for the 15th International Jerusalem "Winner" Marathon, held Friday under the theme "Am Yisrael Runs," in an event marked by a more subdued atmosphere than usual amid the ongoing war. The event took place as a 10-day ceasefire between Lebanon and Israel brokered by the United States began. The 26.2-mile race was canceled, while other runs were moved to earlier in the morning, due to an expected heatwave and dusty conditions. Alame Haimro, 36,...
