Week of April 25, 2025
Week of April 25, 2025
(JNS) - Pope Francis, the first Latin American leader of the Roman Catholic Church, died on Monday morning at the Vatican at the age of 88. He passed away at 7:35 a.m. local time, according to the Vatican. Born Jorge Mario Bergoglio in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Francis became the first Jesuit pope and the first from the Americas when elected in 2013. His papacy was marked by reform efforts, calls for social justice and outreach to marginalized communities. He also faced mounting criticism over...
(JTA) — As Donald Trump took office in January, many who have kept a close eye on Israel’s efforts to blunt Iran’s nuclear ambitions believed the timing was ripe for a decisive strike. Iran had been deeply weakened by Israel’s direct attacks and wars with its proxies, and Trump was seen as open to being convinced to provide the crucial U.S. support that would be needed to pull off an attack on Iran’s fortified nuclear sites. But ultimately Trump batted away a specific Israeli plan for a strike in May, the New York Times reported on...
(JNS) - Some 100 people, ranging in age from about 8 to 102, huddled for warmth as they braved 40-degree temperatures on a damp day at Arlington National Cemetery on Monday to watch, as speaker after speaker put it, Pfc. Adolph Hanf and Pvt. David Moser "come home." Neither of the Jewish soldiers, who served in World War I and who have been dead for more than 100 years, underwent a geographic relocation. But with the help of Operation Benjamin, a donor-supported nonprofit, Moser (1898-1919) and...
(JNS)- U.S. President Donald Trump named an Orthodox Jewish judge, whose official bio notes his penchant for studying the Talmud, chief judge of the U.S. Court of Federal Claims. Per his official biography, Matthew H. Solomson, of Silver Spring, Md., "enjoys studying Talmud, playing tennis and spending time at the beach with his family." "It's notable that Judge Solomson is the first Orthodox Jew to be appointed as chief judge of the federal court he is serving on," Nathan Diament, executive...
(JTA) — At a time of heightened antisemitism and anti-Israel sentiment, American Jews have been voting in record numbers in an election that will help determine how billions of dollars in Israel-related funding will be spent. The election for the World Zionist Congress, held every five years, provides the only democratic mechanism that gives Diaspora Jews a voice in determining the leadership and priorities of four main Zionist entities: the World Zionist Organization, the Jewish National Fund-Keren Kayemet åLeIsrael, The Jewish Agency for...
Temple Israel is offering a brand-new, half-day camp running June 9-13 from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. It will be packed with traditional camp activities and hands-on fun all through the lens of Judaism and Israeli culture. The camp is for kids entering kindergarten through fifth grade. Groups will be grades K-1, 2-3, and 4-5, with a minimum of six kids per group. If less than six children per age group register, Temple Israel staff will contact you to see if you would prefer your child join another age...
Formerly known as the J Ball, Shalom Orlando invites the community to a J Soiree, themed “Through the Looking Glass.” This grand event takes place May 8 from 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the Great Southern Box Company, 2105 N. Orange Blossom Trail, Orlando. This year, the Legacy of Leadership honoree is Dick Appelbaum and Judith Arieli will be the recipient of the Harriet Weiss JCC Legacy Award. Visit ShalomOrlando.org/gala to...
(JTA) — A Jewish family was killed Saturday when their private plane crashed en route to upstate New York to celebrate Passover. Among those lost in Sunday’s crash were siblings Karenna Groff, 25, and Jared Groff, 26, and their parents, surgeons Michael Groff and Joy Saini. Karenna’s boyfriend James Santoro and Jared’s girlfriend Alexia Couyutas Duarte, 24, were also on board. Both couples planned to get engaged in the coming months, according to the Associated Press. Michael Groff piloted the twin-engine plane which crashed in...
The Rosen JCC is hosting a celebration of Israeli culture for the whole family on May 4 from 3:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. at their campus. In celebration of Israel’s Independence Day, enjoy Israeli food tastings, donkey rides in the Negev, a petting zoo in the Kibbutz, a wine tasting in the Galilee, art in Tzfat, dancing in Tel Aviv, Shopping in the Shuk, western wall experience in Jerusale, rock climbing in Mitzpe Ramon, kite flying Eilat and Israeli bingo. Entry is free. Please RSVP at www....
Enjoy a live music performance and inspirational talk by Israeli musician and public speaker Tal Ramon. Thursday, May 1, from 7 p.m. to 8:45 p.m. in the Shalom Orlando Auditorium. Admission is free, though an $18 donation at the door is greatly appreciated. Registration is required, operations.daxko.com. Celebrate Yom Ha’Atzmaut — Israel’s Independence Day — at the Dr. Bernard and Samra Gotlib Yom Ha’Atzmaut festival on May 4. The event will be held at the Roth Family JCC outside Pavilion from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. There will be games,...
On May 13, 7 p.m. The Congregation of Reform Judaism, in partnership with Congregation Ohev Shalom, Shalom Oralndo, the Israeli American Council and the Jewish National Fund, will present the Tel Aviv String Trio & Special guests. The concert will be held at CRJ, 928 Malone Dr., Orlando. Tickets are available at https://...
As an Iranian-born Christian who survived the brutality of Iran’s Evin Prison because of my faith, I’ve witnessed and suffered the Islamic regime’s cruelty firsthand: their lies, their oppression, their unrelenting hatred for, and repression of any freedom. When I hear about the United States negotiating with Iran’s Islamic leaders, my heart aches for both my homeland and my adopted country, America. Negotiation with this regime is not just futile — it’s dangerous. Those who champion an “America First” approach, yet shy away...
(JNS) — It’s official. Former J Street press secretary Amy Spitalnick, who runs the Jewish Council for Public Affairs, and has turned it into an anti-Israel pressure group, boasted of bringing together the Union for Reform Judaism (and other Reform groups) and the Rabbinical Assembly of Conservative Judaism along with Reconstructionist groups to stand up for campus Hamas supporters. The letter claims that Jewish safety is tied “to the safety of others,” in this case the safety of those calling for the murder of Jews on college...
(JNS) — It’s official. Former J Street press secretary Amy Spitalnick, who runs the Jewish Council for Public Affairs, and has turned it into an anti-Israel pressure group, boasted of bringing together the Union for Reform Judaism (and other Reform groups) and the Rabbinical Assembly of Conservative Judaism along with Reconstructionist groups to stand up for campus Hamas supporters. The letter claims that Jewish safety is tied “to the safety of others,” in this case the safety of those calling for the murder of Jews on college...
(JNS) — Free speech is a right enshrined in the fabric of our country. Just as we must be vigilant in protecting it, we must also be clear-eyed about what it is and what it is not. Where speech is motivated by hate or is intended to support or encourage fear or violence or terrorism, the right of free speech is not absolute. Free-speech protections have never extended to terrorist activity. Pro-Hamas documents found recently on college campuses and the Internet told people to: “Build your cell”; “Pick your target”; “ … remember...
(JNS) — How important is tradition in Judaism? Obviously, the answer is that it is very important. I mean, they even dedicated a major song by that title in “Fiddler on the Roof.” How strong is the need for tradition in the spiritual consciousness of Jews today? Despite the effects of secularism, I’d venture to suggest that there is still a need inside us to feel connected to our roots, our heritage and our sense of belonging to the Jewish people. Perhaps more than any time of the year, Passover is the season when millions of Jews...
By Mitchell Bard (JNS) — Nicholas Kristof, a longtime member of The New York Times stable of inveterate Israel-bashers, has taken a new angle in his ongoing campaign: using the plight of Palestinian Christians to turn American Christians against the Jewish state. In a recent piece, the columnist paints a picture of Israeli oppression in Bethlehem while ignoring relevant context that doesn’t fit his narrative. Kristof’s op-ed appeared as a new Pew survey shows that 72 percent of evangelicals view Israel favorably. Evangelicals are...
(JNS) - The laws about the red heifer are among the most enigmatic of any of the biblical commandments. Even a king as notably wise as Solomon, as admitted in Ecclesiastes, could not fully comprehend their logic. Partly, this is due to the rarity of their presence in our midst; indeed, only nine heifers have ever been sacrificed from the time of Moses until the destruction of the Second Temple in 70 C.E. In both Judaism and Christianity, the appearance of viable red heifer candidates heralds...
You may be tired of eating matzah for Passover, but there are lots of dishes that you can use up all that leftover matzah. Any recipe that uses bread crumbs is a good candidate. Here are some ways to use the matzah: • Add 1/4-1/2 cup ground matzah to your hamburger or meatloaf mix. • Make a streusel crumble topping for baked goods, banana bread, fruit crumbles, muffin toppings or over ice cream. In a small bowl Process 1 matzah to tiny crumbs. Mix with 3 T. brown sugar and 3 T. granulated sugar. Add 1 tsp. ground cinnamon. If desired, add...
