Week of March 13, 2026
Week of March 13, 2026
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....
(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...
(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...
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...
(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...
(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...
(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...
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...
(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...
(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...
(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...
(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...
(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...
(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...
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...
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...
(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) — 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...
(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...
(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....
(JNS) — Congressional critics of the war with Iran are not in short supply. Their statements and social-media posts read as if they come from the same song sheet. No surprise there. These voices are marching in lockstep on the applicability of the War Powers Act, breaches of “international law” and “illegal regime change.” And there is no question that party politics play a role in all of this. Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.) decried the attack on Iran that occurred during Ramadan, saying, “I am convinced it isn’t what these countries...
The United States, Israel, and Qatar have now attacked the Islamic Republic of Iran along with several other countries providing defensive coordination. News across the U.S. has been about the success of the military operation, congressional approval or lack thereof, the cost of the war in gross numbers and to Americans individually, and whether this war is justified. As an Iranian-born American who was arrested and sentenced to death by hanging because of my faith in Jesus, let me assure you it is not only justified but necessary. I spent...
(JNS) — There is a great deal of anger swirling around California Gov. Gavin Newsom’s description of Israel “as sort of an apartheid state.” That anger is entirely justified. The smear that Israel has duplicated the cruel Jim Crow-style segregation in the U.S. South that prevailed in South Africa for most of the previous century was originated at the height of the Cold War by the Soviet Union, as an ideological justification for both its alignment with Israel’s Arab enemies and its persecution of its domestic Jewish population. But...
Iran’s evil regime has been fomenting terror and instability in the region and far beyond almost since its inception in 1979. Trampling human rights is its bread and butter. The ayatollahs who lead it have harnessed Iran’s resources to destroy Israel and advance a messianic religious vision. That is why dealing it a lethal blow is the right and moral thing to do. In moments like these, the shameful hypocrisy of some leaders of the American and European left is plainly exposed. Instead of joining the fight against evil, they condemn Israel...
(JNS) — There is a war going on in Israel. Iran is launching barrages of ballistic missiles at targets all over Israel, particularly at night, to keep them exhausted. The country is locked down in a state of siege. No one can leave their homes to do anything that will bring them more than a few minutes away from a shelter. Everyone there, whether they admit it or not, is terrified of the dangers they face. And yet I desperately want to be in Israel now. Here is why. I am a strong advocate for Israel and a huge supporter of the war we are...
On Monday, March 2, President Donald Trump posthumously presented the Congressional Medal of Honor to Pastor Chris Edmonds, Master Sergeant Roddie Edmonds' son. The Medal is the highest honor that the United States can confer. The Medal's Citation reads, "For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty." Pastor Edmonds kindly invited me to join him, his family, and friends for the ceremony. Pastor Edmonds' father had been a Nazi POW during...
For a people noted for their contributions to humor and comedy, “Wit Happens: Global Jewish Humor” (edited by Jennifer Caplan, Jarrod Tanny and Avinoam Patt; Wayne State University Press), is a serious look at a funny subject. The editors — and contributors, each, of an essay in the book — examine how various strains, and mediums, of Jewish humor have developed in various venues. The essays are based on academic papers delivered during a conference, “No Respect: Jewish Humor Around the World,” at the University of North Carolina...
I ran into Whole Foods the other day just to return a couple Amazon packages. One of those quick errands. In and out. Nothing special. But sometimes the smallest moments end up meaning something. The woman working the Amazon return counter looked really stressed. She was doing her job, helping people, scanning packages, but you could feel something heavy on her. Even the customers waiting around could sense it. When it was my turn, she scanned my return and handed me the receipt. Then she looked up at me and asked, almost out of nowhere:...
MAITLAND, Fla. - The spirit of joy and community filled the air at the Shalom Orlando campus on March 3, as hundreds of Central Florida residents came together to celebrate the Jewish holiday of Purim with a lively circus-themed celebration. The celebration was sponsored by Dr. Bernard, z"l, and Mrs. Samra Gotlib. Families and friends enjoyed an evening filled with colorful entertainment, festive food, and the traditional reading of the Megillah - the biblical story of Queen Esther's bravery...
A few years ago, while walking my dog at night, I tripped over the raised edge of a sidewalk and fell hard — my cellphone landing about six feet away in the grass. Before I had time to gather my senses Siri, speaking through my Apple Watch, asked me a question: “Did you fall?” “Yes.” “Are you hurt?” “Yes.” “Would you like me to call for help?” “Yes.” Within seconds an emergency dispatcher was speaking to me through my watch. “Where are you?” the dispatcher asked. While my location had already been transmitted,...
I’m stumped! Everybody on my Philadelphia row house street seemed to know Yenem. I don’t know what house he lived in, but he surely did live on our block. Or was it on the next street? People went to see him for everything they needed. When I was a little boy, the next-door neighbor knocked on my screen door and said he needed to use our lawnmower. I didn’t have the key to our garage and no one else was home. Later on, I told my mother. She said that Mr. Silverman probably borrowed Mr....
Living with heart failure can feel overwhelming, but with the right medical care, lifestyle adjustments, and support, many people are able to manage their symptoms and maintain a good quality of life. The Orlando Senior Help Desk at Jewish Pavilion Senior Services is here to help seniors and their families navigate these challenges. For guidance and community resources, call 407-678-9363. Follow a heart-healthy diet Nutrition plays a critical role in managing heart failure. Without proper dietary habits, symptoms can worsen. Work closely with...
Barbara August Braff, 95, former long-time resident, business, and civic leader in Greenfield, MA, a resident of Lake Mary, FL since 2024, passed peacefully on Thursday, Feb. 26, 2026, at Orlando Regional Medical Center following a period of declining health. Barbara was born on May 12, 1930 in Beverly, MA, to Jack and Eva (Feinstein) August. She moved with her family in 1930, to Northampton, MA, where her father held a progression of jobs including working on a cattle farm, as a butcher, a... Full story
Dr. Eytan Pollak, an amazing husband, father, and brother, died on March 7, 2026. Eytan was born in Haifa, Israel on July 10, 1949. His mother, Martha, was a Holocaust survivor, and his father, Joseph, was a tour guide. They raised him alongside his twin sisters, Ronit and Yael. He served three years in the IDF. Soon after, he met his wife, Ruthi. After they met, they got married on Oct. 14, 1974. In 1976, Eytan and Ruthi moved to the United States so that Eytan could pursue his doctorate... Full story
Sandra Cohen (née Albert), lovingly known as Sandy, passed away peacefully on Feb. 21, 2026, in Lake Mary, Florida, at the age of 87. Born on July 11, 1938, in New York City to Lou and Ruth (Friedman) Albert, Sandy lived a life marked by resilience, humor, and an unwavering devotion to her family and faith. Sandy faced life’s challenges with remarkable strength and determination. After the sudden passing of her beloved husband, Sol, when she was just 41 years old, Sandy embarked on a new... Full story
Jody Bergman, 71, beloved mother, grandmother, and friend, passed away peacefully on March 6, 2026. She was born on May 8, 1954, to Jack and Muriel (Jaffrey) Bergman. Jody was known for her kindness, generosity, and the care she showed to everyone around her. She had a deep love for animals, especially dogs, and over the years shared her home and heart with many beloved companions including Yahma, Remy, Dakoda, Keisha, Sequoia, and Savannah. She had a natural gift for connecting with people and... Full story
Dr. Mark Stuart Vangrov, 77, of Maitland, Florida passed away on Feb. 21, 2026, after a valiant fight against serious illness most of his life. He is survived by his son, Dave, and brothers, Dr. Jan Vangrov and Jim Vangrov. Mark was preceded in death by his son, Jeffrey, and the love of his life, Debra Vangrov. A storybook romance, the two were engaged the week they met and spent the rest of their lives devoted to each other and their family. Mark was born to Dr. Stanley and Zelda (Frankle)... Full story
MORNING MINYANS Chabad of Altamonte Springs — Sunday morning minyan, 8 a.m. Weekday morning minyan 6:30 a.m., 407-720-8111. 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...
