Week of February 14, 2025
Week of February 14, 2025
Thai hostages reunite with families in Israel By JNS Staff (JNS) — Five Thai nationals recently freed from Hamas captivity in Gaza were reunited with their families on Tuesday at Shamir Medical Center in Be’er Ya’akov, Israel. Relatives of four of the former captives traveled from Thailand to meet their loved ones and will accompany them home. Their visit was coordinated by Israel’s Foreign Ministry, the National Insurance Institute, the Prime Minister’s Office, the Israel Defense Forces and the Thai Embassy. The freed...
(JNS)- The way Dani Dayan figures it, many people will walk along 67th Street in Manhattan, between Second and Third Avenues, and notice the new sign for "Yad Vashem Way" and have no idea what the first two words mean. "Some of them, not all of them, but some of them will Google 'Yad Vashem' and learn about the Shoah," Dayan, chairman of Yad Vashem, the World Holocaust Remembrance Center in Jerusalem, told JNS at the street naming on Thursday. "Yad Vashem is the vehicle, not the purpose," he...
(JNS) — U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Monday described Hamas as an “evil” and “monstrous” organization that must be wiped out. During an interview on conservative talk radio channel SiriusXM Patriot, the top American diplomat condemned the terrorist group for its treatment of hostages. “This is an evil organization. Hamas is evil. It’s pure evil. These are monsters. These are savages. That’s a group that needs to be eradicated,” he said. He warned that its continued dominance in Gaza would prevent regional stability...
(JNS) — It will take at least a decade to rebuild Gaza, Mike Waltz, the U.S. national security adviser, told reporters on Feb. 4, per the White House pool report. Asked about U.S. President Donald Trump’s call for Jordan and Egypt to accept Palestinian to “clean out” Gaza—a move that both countries have rejected—Waltz told reporters that “President Trump is looking at this from a humanitarian standpoint.” “You have these people that are sitting with literally thousands of unexploded ordinance and piles of rubble,” he said....
(JNS) - "We didn't know which Ofer we would get back," Eyal Kalderon, the cousin of ex-Hamas hostage Ofer Kalderon, told JNS on Monday. "The Ofer that we know is the happy, playful Ofer who jokes a lot and puts a smile on everyone's face the second he enters a room. We didn't know if we'd get that Ofer back," he said. Yarden Bibas, Kalderon and Keith Siegel were freed on Feb. 1 after 484 days in Hamas captivity in the Gaza Strip. Bibas and Kalderon were handed over to the Red Cross in Khan...
(JNS) — “I refuse to think about the Palestinian terrorist prisoner release,” said O. as she lifted weights at the Karnei Shomron gym. “It’s more stress than I can handle. I don’t carry a gun, my husband does. But I refuse to let these terrorists change my routine in any way. They don’t get to win!” While it was business as usual for O., other area residents are more concerned. Some are even distraught. According to the Israeli Justice Ministry, Jerusalem will release 1,904 Palestinian terrorists in the first stage of the...
(Israel Hayom via JNS) - Negotiations on the second phase of the Gaza ceasefire agreement and of hostage deal began in Washington with a meeting between Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and President Donald Trump's Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff. As stipulated in the initial agreement, talks on the second phase were set to begin on the 16th day of the deal and it now appears that this is about far more than just another stage in a temporary agreement. Israel seems to be on the path...
(JNS) — Below is the full text of the statement delivered by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu alongside U.S. President Donald Trump at the White House on Feb. 4, 2025: Thank you, Mr. President. I’m honored that you invited me to be the first foreign leader to visit the White House in your second term. This is a testament to your friendship and support for the Jewish state and the Jewish people. I’ve said this before and I’ll say it again: You are the greatest friend Israel has ever had in the White House. That’s why the...
(JNS) - Idit Ohel, mother of Hamas hostage Alon Ohel, 24, gave an emotional interview to Israel's Channel 12 News on Sunday after learning details of her son's captivity, including that he is practically starved and in chains. The family recently discovered the state of Alon's captivity at the hands of Hamas from hostages released on Feb. 8. Eli Sharabi, 52, and Or Levy, 34 were held with him. Their medical condition was described as "poor" by Israeli doctors. Ohad Ben Ami, 56, was also...
(JNS) — Karoline Leavitt, the White House press secretary, stated several times during the press briefing on Wednesday that U.S. President Donald Trump has not committed to deploying American soldiers to Gaza. Trump announced on Feb. 6 that the United States would “take over,” “own” and “be responsible for” the reconstruction of Gaza. During the explosive press conference alongside Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Trump said that the United States would redevelop Gaza’s waterfront as “the riviera of the Middle...
(JTA) — Reactions from partisan American Jewish groups to President Donald Trump’s proposals for Gaza — that “all” Palestinians leave and the United States “take over” the territory — began flowing in just as soon as their leaders picked their jaws up off the floor on Tuesday night. The proposals — the latter of which was reportedly secret to even many in the Trump administration before the president aired it at a White House press conference with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu — elicited sharp revulsion from...
(JNS) — Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said on Thursday that he had instructed the Israel Defense Forces to prepare a plan to facilitate the voluntary departure of Palestinians from the Gaza Strip. The statement comes in the wake of U.S. President Donald Trump’s proposal this week that Gaza’s population be relocated to Egypt, Jordan and additional countries. “The plan will include exit options at land crossings as well as special arrangements for exit by sea and air,” said Katz. “I welcome U.S. President Donald Trump’s...
(Israel Hayom via JNS) — American students volunteering in Israel launched an initiative to show appreciation to wives of IDF reservists serving in Gaza and Lebanon. The project is a collaboration between the IS-Resilient organization and the OU-JLIC (Jewish Learning Initiative on Campus) student association. The volunteers, mostly university students, visited the homes of soldiers from reserve units stationed on the Gaza and Lebanon fronts. With the wives managing their households alone, the students provided them with much-needed support...
(JNS) — U.S. Mideast envoy Steve Witkoff backed U.S. President Donald Trump’s proposal to relocate Palestinians from Gaza, arguing that a better life is not necessarily tied to a given piece of land. In an interview with Fox News, Witkoff emphasized that peace means improving financial conditions and opportunities. “Peace in the region means a better life for the Palestinians. A better life is not necessarily tied to the physical space that you are in today,” he said. “A better life is about better opportunity, better financial...
(JTA) - JERUSALEM - In the haredi Orthodox Jerusalem neighborhood of Geula, a newly renamed pizzeria advertised a special just for Monday: Customers who bought two slices would get a free order of fries. The timing wasn't random. The shop's new name is Pizza Trump, and the special was pegged to the inauguration of its namesake, who returned to the U.S. presidency on the day the deal was offered. The restaurant's slogan: "Make pizza great again." Did the shtick bring in more customers? "Maybe,"...
On the morning of Feb. 6, the Jewish Chamber of Commerce hosted a free breakfast at One Senior Place. The event, led by Board President Harrison Shames, who also serves as the executive director of the Jewish National Fund, celebrated the holiday of Tu B'Shevat, a time for reflection on nature and growth. Guests were treated to a delicious breakfast prepared by Chris Shepherd, manager of One Senior Place. The spread included fresh fruit, bagels with cream cheese, muffins, and yogurt. A special...
(JNS) — About 65 percent of the structures in the Gaza Strip were destroyed during the year-long Israel-Hamas war, littering the enclave with hundreds of millions of tons of scattered debris, Hebrew media reported on Tuesday. Experts estimate reconstruction would take at least 10 years and cost tens if not hundreds of billions of dollars, according to Israel’s Channel 12 News. The outlet commissioned Adi Ben-Nun, a Geographic Information System specialist and technical manager of the GIS center at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem, to...
(JNS) — Several American Jewish groups congratulated U.S. President Donald Trump and Vice President J.D. Vance on his inauguration on Monday and stated that they look forward to working with him on a variety of issues, including fighting Jew-hatred. B’nai B’rith International cited collaborating on “combating antisemitism, safeguarding Jewish communities, ensuring Israel’s security, strengthening the vital U.S.-Israel alliance and other key policy priorities.” The American Jewish Committee mentioned working together “to...
IDF unveils portable Torah scrolls for field conditions (JNS) - Israel's Military Rabbinate this week unveiled a portable Holy Ark containing a Torah scroll that army rabbis designed to be worn like a backpack and which 0can be converted into a small podium, or bimah, for reading scripture. The rabbinate developed the gadget for use in field and combat conditions in connection with the outbreak of war on Oct. 7, 2023, the news site Srugim reported on Sunday. "When it comes to transporting a...
Raise Your Glass 2025 will take place on Sunday, April 6 from 5 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. at Mercedes-Benz of Orlando located at 810 N. Orlando Ave., Maitland. This annually occurring event raises money in a unique way to help fight all those touched by cancer. Jason Mendelsohn said he was thrilled that Advent Health is once again their presenting sponsor. “Their cancer care is saving lives and truly impacting families,” Mendelsohn said. Purchase tickets and place names on the Mercedes-Benz car wrap to honor those touched by any type of cancer...
At the recent Jewish Chamber Breakfast on Feb. 6, a brief news clip was shown highlighting the opportunities available to Jewish business owners, including newly available minority grants. The news clip explained that the U.S. Department of Commerce has now officially recognized Jewish-owned businesses as minority business enterprises. This designation will enable Jewish entrepreneurs access to federal programs, contracts, loans and grants that previously were not available to them. In the past, Jewish businesses were not eligible for...
(JNS) — Over the past month, Israel Security Agency (Shin Bet) agents, working alongside the Israel Defense Forces, have thwarted 90 major terrorist attacks, including 75 in Samaria, as security sources warn that Iran is fueling violence in Judea and Samaria. A security official identified Tehran as a central force escalating tensions by supplying weapons and financial aid to terrorist networks, significantly increasing the security threat, Channel 12 News reported on Wednesday. The IDF and Shin Bet have expanded “Operation Iron Wall,...
Sunday, Feb. 16 — Film Screening of “Sophie Scholl: The Final Days,” 2 p.m. at the Winter Park Library, 1052 West Morse Blvd. The film is a dramatization of the last six days of Sophie Scholl, one of the most famous members of the German WWII anti-Nazi resistance movement, The White Rose. RSVP at hmrec.org. Thursday, Feb. 20 — Orlando Shakes! presents “Cabaret” at 6:30 p.m. The performance is an exclusive fundraising performance benefiting the Holocaust Memorial Resource & Education Center of Florida. Tickets include a pre-show...
Shalom Orlando received a grant for $17,400 at the Orange County ACT Awards. Shalom Orlando was one of five new recipients this year. The money will be used for cultural arts programming in the upcoming year. Shown here are (l-r) Ashley Samuels, Jason Venning, Rachel Greenspan, Samantha Taylor, and Stan...
Five women, Debby Gendzier, Laurie Shader Smith, Danielle Krise, Michele Fischer and Aliza Nabatian, will be honored at Shalom Orlando’s Choices 2025. This year, Barbara Weinreich will be presented with a special Lifetime of Service Award in recognized of her extraordinary contributions and unwavering dedication to the Jewish community. The annual event will be held at Congregation Ohev Shalom, beginning at 5:30 p.m. with cocktails and hors d’oeuvres, followed by dinner, catered by Crafted Gourmet, and the program at 7 p.m. Register by...
(JTA) — A performer unfurled a banner showing the Sudanese and Palestinian flags and the words “Sudan” and “Gaza” during Kendrick Lamar’s halftime show at Super Bowl LIX in New Orleans on Sunday. The performer, who was not immediately identified, was detained on the field and will be barred from all NFL stadiums for the rest of his life, the NFL said in a statement. The football organization and Roc Nation, which produced the halftime show, said the flag had not been part of any plan or rehearsal. “The individual hid the item on...
(JNS) — Big if true, as they say. “The Trump administration is considering three potential areas for the absorption of refugee Gazans after President Donald Trump announced that the U.S. plans to take over the Gaza Strip and relocate those currently there to rebuild the area, N12 reported on Wednesday. “According to the report, the areas being considered are Morocco, Puntland, and Somaliland. “The report noted that what these three countries share in common is a strong need for U.S. support, as Somaliland and Puntland seek...
In the past days, I have received a flurry of inquiries asking my thoughts regarding President Trump’s recent statements on Gaza, Israel, and Iran, each asking for my insight: friends, donors to Genesis 123, and journalists. So, what do I think of Trump’s statements and actions on the Middle East? My thoughts reflect that of many Israelis, ranging the gamut from foolish, dangerous, and impossible, to brilliant, bold, and about time. In the Middle East, nuance is like salt, needed to make most things taste a little better. Another...
(JNS) — On Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas and other jihadist organizations (what I refer to as “Hamas-plus”) initiated a war against Israel. Shortly thereafter, Israel declared that its military would promptly retrieve the hostages and eradicate those responsible. These goals were not achievable because the actions of Hamas and others were based on a belief system that only the followers of their radical branch of the Muslim religion are entitled to live on this planet. Recent polls indicate that 60 percent of the citizens of Gaza support...
(JNS) — In late February 1945, among the first reports on the horrors of Auschwitz was one by a Polish officer, Lt. Wacław Lipiński, who wrote in the Polpress Bulletin, “Those who have survived don’t look like human beings, they are mere shadows.” Decades later, those words find a chilling echo in the images of three Israeli hostages — Eli Sharabi, Ohad Ben Ami and Or Levy — freed on Feb. 8 from Hamas captivity. Emaciated, pale and visibly broken, they emerged as specters of their former selves as they were forced onto a stage...
(JNS) — I have a confession. I know—I’m not Catholic, and you’re not priests, but I’ll share it with you anyway. Each year, when we come to last week’s Torah reading of Beshalach, I am guilty of passing judgment on the people of Moses’s generation. And over the years, many congregants have asked me the same question. They were eyewitnesses to the greatest biblical miracles of all time. They saw the 10 plagues strike Egypt and completely spare the Israelites. They experienced the Exodus from Egypt, a superpower where not a single...
(JNS) — Say what you will about former President Joe Biden’s policies, but he was the most knowledgeable U.S. president on the Middle East. Donald Trump, on the other hand, may be among the least informed. Ironically, he is now proposing the one move Biden should have made after the Hamas terrorist attacks in southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023—relocating Gaza’s civilians to Egypt and Jordan—that could have saved thousands of Palestinian lives and averted the humanitarian issues. The problem? Trump’s plan is too late, and if...
(JTA) - The actor who played Rabbi Noah Roklov on Netflix's hit interfaith romcom "Nobody Wants This" has taken home the Critics Choice Award for best actor in a comedy series. Adam Brody, who himself is Jewish, won the prize at an awards ceremony in Santa Monica, California, on Friday. The prize was presented by Rachel Brosnahan, who is best known for playing the Jewish lead in "The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel." In his acceptance speech, Brody nodded at the show's premise while addressing costar...
In the United States, there are approximately 1,500 ombudsmen working in long-term care facilities, supported by a network of nearly 3,500 volunteers. This network is part of a federal program established in the 1970s to advocate for older adults and individuals with disabilities who reside in nursing homes, assisted living communities, and other residential care settings. Ombudsmen serve as resident advocates, ensuring that the rights of residents are protected and that they receive quality care. Their work is vital in maintaining high...
Jewish National Fund's Women For Israel recently sponsored an event featuring a presentation about the "Special In Uniform" program on Feb. 6 at the Vue at Lake Lily in Maitland. Founded in 2014, Special In Uniform is an Israeli Defense Force program that incorporates young adults with special needs to work in the Israeli military. In Israel, citizens are required to join the Israeli military. Similar to attending a university before starting adult life in other countries, serving in the...
Betty Watzman Monroe, age 100, of Winter Park, passed away on Feb. 7, 2025, at her home at the Mayflower. The daughter of Joseph and Sarah Denmark, she was born on Nov. 23, 1924, in Pittsburgh, Pa., and grew up in Steubenville, Ohio, where she met and married Milton Watzman in 1946. Betty and Milt moved to Orlando, after a brief stay in Pensacola, Fla., in 1959, and together opened and managed Kara-Lyn, a women's and children's clothing store, with multiple locations throughout the Orlando...
Submitted by the family Joan (Grant) Belice Rosenman, 91, passed away Feb. 3, 2025. She was born on April 28, 1933, in New York City. She was raised by her mother, Gertrude (Hirsch) Weisenfeld, and her stepfather, Jacob, in Queens, N.Y. Joan earned her RN at the Jewish Hospital of Brooklyn in 1954. She felt a calling for the elderly and worked in geriatrics for the majority of her career. Joan fell in love with and married Michael Belice in 1958. They were married for 42 years until Mike passed...
MORNING MINYANS Chabad of South Orlando — Monday - Friday, 8 a.m. and 10 minutes before sunset; Saturday, 9:30 a.m.; Sunday, 8:15 a.m., 407-354-3660. Congregation Ahavas Yisrael — Monday - Friday, 7:30 a.m.; Saturday, 9:30 a.m.; Sunday, 9 a.m., 407-644-2500. Congregation Chabad Lubavitch of Greater Daytona — Monday, 8 a.m.; Thursday, 8 a.m., 904-672-9300. Congregation Ohev Shalom — Sunday, 9 a.m., 407-298-4650. GOBOR Community Minyan at Jewish Academy of Orlando — Monday – Friday, 7:45 a.m. – 8:30 a.m. Temple Israel — Sunday,...
