Heritage Florida Jewish News - Central Florida's Independent Jewish Voice

Here is more proof ...

Proof that Jewish people were fabulous composer/lyricists and many of their songs live on ... no matter what the subject! (It never ceases to amaze me.)

For instance, "Chestnuts roasting on an open fire, Jack Frost nippin' at your nose ..." The Christmas Song. It was written by Mel Tormé, a singer, also known as "The Velvet Fog."

Melvin Howard Tormé was the son of Jewish/polish immigrants.

I had the pleasure of meeting him once. And I also had the pleasure of meeting former New York Mayor Ed Koch, also Jewish, when he came to Orlando for a visit way back when.

(Wonder if he wrote any songs?) And if you think that's all ... wait for it ... Felix Mendelssohn, the famous composer of classical music was the grandson of well-known German/Jewish philosopher Moses Mendelssohn and was born into a prominent Jewish family where he was raised as a Jew before converting! He is responsible for, among many other well-known classics, "Hark The Herald Angel Sings."

Problems and Progress ...

I read this in the World Jewish Congress bulletin and pass it along in part to you:

"As a featured speaker at the recent Jerusalem Post Annual Conference, WJC President Ambassador RONALD S. LAUDER addressed the potential for peace brought about by Israel's normalized relations with the United Arab Emirates and the Kingdom of Bahrain. He also outlined several worrisome trends affecting world Jewry, namely, the growing anti-Semitism across the world, the divisions between Jews of different religious streams, Jews of the Diaspora and those living in Israel, and the lack of Jewish education compounded by a high rate of intermarriage that is leading many young people to leave Judaism.

While many believed that anti-Semitism had disappeared following World War II, it never really went away, he noted, adding that it had returned "with a vengeance" from both the far left and extreme right.

The WJC President also addressed the growing division between Jews around the world and asked rhetorically "if our enemies don't care if a Jew wears a kippah or never even puts one on, why should we care? We should see ourselves as one people always ... We are one people, and the safety and security of any Jew anywhere effects us all."

Ambassador Lauder announced that he has launched a campaign to save Jewish schools across the United States, Europe, Latin America, and the rest of the Jewish Diaspora. "Education is the most important point for the future of our people. Too many young Jews are leaving their faith and tradition. They don't know what it means to be Jewish," he said. "I've told you some of the problems that we face. But if we face them together, as one people, we can solve them. I want all of us to do this together. Liberal Jews and Conservative Jews. Religious Jews and secular Jews. Diaspora Jews and Israeli Jews."

(YES !!)

Some enlightening news ...

As coronavirus rages on throughout the world, Magen David Adom is working hard to contain its spread in Israel by identifying those who have the disease and preventing them from infecting others.

(I'm sure we're doing that in the U.S. as well. I know my son is, for sure. He is checking on me and keeping me distant from everyone constantly! OY VAY!)

The Roth Family JCC ...

The pool is reopened. Here are the pool rules:

You must wear your face mask at all time unless you are in the pool.

The pool deck is set up for social distancing, and lifeguards will monitor and enforce social distancing as appropriate.

Advance registration is not required, but there is a maximum of 1 swimmer per lane and no more than 35 people in the pool at any time.

What you need to know before coming to work out ...

In compliance with an Orange County ordinance now in effect, you must wear a face mask from the moment you exit your vehicle.

You must wear your mask while working out in the Fitness Center or using the gymnasium. Members must register in advance at orlandojcc.org/workout. Only 10 people at a time can be in the Fitness Center. This includes one staff member who will oversee the facility's cleanliness and answer any questions that you might have. Members will sign up for 60-minute sessions (effective Aug. 1). The facility will close for 30 minutes after each session for cleaning, and then another 60-minute session for 10 people will begin.

To use the gym, members must register in advance at orlandojcc.org/workout. Only 8 members at a time can be in the gym. Members will sign up for 1-hour  sessions.

Your temperature will be taken when you enter the JCC with an instant-read touch-less thermometer. Entrance will be refused to anyone with a fever of 100 F or higher. You must be fever-free for 72 hours before you can return. 

Towels are required for admission to the Fitness Center, and you must bring your own. We will not furnish workout towels at this time.

If you use a mat for your workout, you must bring your own.

Genie Milgrom

Gym users must bring their own basketball. 

Chabad of Greater Orlando...

On Wednesday, December 23rd, at 7:30 pm, the Zoom Lecture Series "Physically Apart-Emotionally Together" continues with GENIE MILGROM. The topic will be "Converso Jews and the Inquisition."

Born to a Catholic family of Spanish ancestry, Genie was able to fully document her unbroken maternal Jewish lineage for 22 generations and her family's history as Conversos.

One for the road ...

"Listen to me, Mr. Levy," the doctor said, "If you ever expect to cure your insomnia, you have to stop taking your troubles to bed with you."

"I know, but I can't," the patient replied. "My wife refuses to sleep alone."