Central Florida's Independent Jewish Voice
Central Florida's Independent Jewish Voice
Sorted by date Results 1 - 25 of 27
"Hine(y) ma tov u'ma-nayim, Shevet ach-im gam ya-chad," reads the first verse of Psalms 133. ""Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!" As American Jews across the country joined together in solidarity to express concern for the three Israeli teens who were kidnapped on June 13, the Jewish Federation of Greater Orlando and the Greater Orlando Board of Rabbis organized a #BringBackOurBoys solidarity vigil for Gilad Shaar, Naftali Frenkel and Eyal Yifrah... Full story
There is a community in Israel that is connected to the Jewish Orlando community through the Jewish Federation of Greater Orlando. It is our sister city Kiryat Motzkin. This beautiful city has been our sister since 2006. It is about 15 miles north of Haifa-a distance much like driving from Altamonte Springs to Sea World. Founded in 1934, its population has grown to 45,000, and was named after Leo Motzkin who was one of the organizers of the First Zionist Congress in 1897. "The story goes that... Full story
After reading on the Internet the article about Dearborn, Michigan, being the first city in the United States to implement Sharia Law, I questioned how this could be possible here, as it is directly against the U.S. Constitution. After a little research, Snopes, “the definitive Internet reference source for urban legends, folklore, myths, rumors, and misinformation” as it defines itself, gave me the answer. Claim: Dearborn, Michigan, has become the first U.S. city to implement Sharia law. Question: Is there any validity to this story? Sno... Full story
Sonya Baumstein is only 29 years old, but in her short life this second-generation Orlandoan-daughter of Darryl and Debbie Baumstein and granddaughter of Jack and Roz Baumstein-has sailed more seas, peddled more pavement, paddle-boarded more straits and rowed more oceans than any other American. And she is not finished yet. Baumstein has an impressive goal: To solo row the North Pacific Ocean from Japan to San Francisco. And not just row for the conquest, but to collect oceanographic data that... Full story
Brooke Deratany Goldfarb knows she can make a difference as a circuit judge in the justice systems of Brevard and Seminole counties. In the world of law, Goldfarb has been around the block. Graduating from Harvard Law School in 1996, the Brevard County native has practiced in multiple areas of law, beginning as an international business, corporate and immigration attorney. Two years later, she facilitated mergers and acquisitions at a national law firm in Washington, D.C. When the economic... Full story
Most programs begin with a dream, a wish, a need. The seeds of RAISE-Recognizing Abilities & Inclusion of Special Employees-were planted when Loren London and her husband provided a membership to the Jewish Community Center for her brother where he faithfully worked out in the gym. She noticed that he really enjoyed being there. The people were so kind and friendly to him. He felt at home. Then London thought, "It's such a shame. I'm having a hard time finding employment for my brother.... Full story
This past weekend, several UCF students discovered swastikas carved into a wall of the off-campus private apartment complex where they reside. While the complex houses UCF students, it is not part of the UCF campus. The story was carried by The Jewish Press, a Brooklyn, N.Y.-based newspaper. And although it is horrifying to see, the incident is being considered by Orlando police as vandalism and not a hate crime at this point because the actions do not appear to be directed at any specific... Full story
It's important to be well-informed about current events-especially events concerning Israel. Since day one of Israel's independence, this little nation that inhabits only one percent of the Middle East has been fighting for its piece of ground and its peace. There are so many American organizations, many called NGOs (nongovernment organizations) that say they are pro-Israel and/or pro-peace. They all say they want peace in the Middle East, but at what cost? And who is footing their bills? These... Full story
There is always a lot happening in Israel, especially in the universities and the medical field—and Israel shares everything they learn with the world. It is part of the Jewish heritage—tikun olam—to repair the world. Recently, Congregation Ohev Shalom, the Jewish Federation of Greater Orlando, the Jewish Community Center, Hillel and the Zionistas hosted a four-hour seminar on the many technological, medical, life-saving developments, and restoration projects happening in Israel. After attending the afternoon of ‘good news,’ each person who was... Full story
The Jewish community's own David Bornstein will read from his newly released books, "The Good Word: A Decade of Jewish Thought and Chutzpah" and "Me and E: A Baseball Odyssey," at Congregation Ohev Shalom on Thursday, April 3 at 7 p.m. Bornstein is a cornerstone name in the Central Florida Jewish community. David grew up in a household and among an extended family of well-known leaders and builders of this community. The Jewish Federation's leadership program is named in honor of his father,... Full story
The American Hebrew Academy recently extended invitations to six Jewish Academy of Orlando eighth-graders for admittance into its Honor Society. Now in its fifth year, the American Hebrew Academy Honor Society is an international honor society that acknowledges exceptional students who have demonstrated excellence in academics, athletics, the arts, leadership and service to their communities. These six academians are Joshua Finkelstein, Jordan Greenberg, Rachael Henig, Sophie Libow, Estrella... Full story
ORLANDO-Flying at zero gravity is usually something reserved for astronauts in training, but Conway resident and UCF junior Samuel Benjamin, along with five other UCF students, will get the chance to do so in June, courtesy of NASA. NASA selected UCF's team to run an experiment aboard a parabolic flight as part of its undergraduate student Instrumentation Program. Since getting the green light late last year, the team has been hard at work turning the project from concept to design to working...
"We are amazing," Eva Schloss said of the Jewish people. "We will be here forever and have to stick together," she proclaimed affirmatively. On Feb. 9, more than 500 people sat spellbound at the Hilton Altamonte Springs as Holocaust survivor Eva Schloss spoke about her childhood in Vienna, Austria, before the war; her life in hiding and in Auschwitz; and her friendship with Anne Frank. The hour-long presentation, hosted by Chabad of Orlando, was held in an interview format conducted by Greg Daws... Full story
A little known service that is offered by Jewish Family Services is the RIDE program. Through its partnership with ITN and Mears, JFS provides free roundtrip transportation for qualified senior citizens or disabled adults who need a ride to and from any medically related appointment. Claudia Tobin, the program coordinator, said it is easy to participate in RIDE—which stands for Reliable Independent Drivers for the Elderly. There are some conditions—clients must be over 65 years of age or disabled and meet a specific income level. Tobin als... Full story
Carlos and Maria and their two children wanted to emigrate to Israel from their home in Argentina, but financially it was an impossible dream. Argentina had suffered financial collapse in 2001, and even though the economy was slowly improving, inflation and anti-Semitism were still on the rise. The family was beginning to lose hope when the Jewish Agency introduced them to representatives of Ezra International. With financial aid, Ezra made it possible for Maria to get to Israel first while her... Full story
If someone were to say "Have you been doin' the 'Hubbly Bubbly'?" Locals near Edgewater and Par would know this is referring to the newest healthy-fast-food shop in the area. Owners Mark and Heather Unger and her father, George Joubran, opened Hubbly Bubbly last September and they have not slowed down since the doors opened. The concept is not new-a falafel shop. But the unique way the food is prepared and served makes it decidedly different-and the constant flow of customers proves it. The... Full story
Matt Loory was working at the First Watch restaurant on Rt. 436 in Altamonte Springs, training to become a manager, when Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts in Orlando, where he graduated with honors in 2012, called him and said that Ringling Bros. had a job opening for a cook, was he interested? Longwood resident Loory was interested. "I grew up seeing Ringling Bros. every year in Orlando with my family and fell in love with the circus." Just 23 years old, his future already looked bright... Full story
Being an ambassador was not part of his career plans, but U.S. Ambassador to Luxembourg Robert Mandell-known to many Central Floridians as Bobby Mandell- loves his job. In a way, one could say that Mandell has reinvented himself, as so many have done in their later years. He grew up in his father's (Lester Mandell) business, starting out as a laborer at Greater Construction Co. and eventually became its CEO. He earned a law degree from the University of Florida, bought his father's Greater... Full story
"A mold breaker, a cause fighter, the underdog supporter, like a true queen of Israel, and a woman who accepts all people"-these are all descriptions from friends of Rita Peisner Bornstein, who died peacefully, surrounded by her loving family and friends, on Nov. 18, 2013. Born April 19, 1925, she was the daughter of Ed and Jenny Peisner, and sister of Marvin, Larry and Fred Peisner. Mrs. Bornstein earned her master's degree in English at the University of Chicago, where she also happened to... Full story
As part of Central Florida's Commemoration of the 75th anniversary of Kristallnacht, Orlando's Adventist University of Health Sciences' presented its University Colloquium series with an inspiring and educational program about two different but related aspects of the Holocaust. The theme was "Moral Courage." The two speakers were Eva Fogelman, PhD, a licensed psychologist and author of the Pulitzer Prize-nominated book "Conscience and Courage: Rescuers of Jews During the Holocaust," who spoke... Full story
The 15th annual Central Florida Jewish Film Festival, co-produced by Enzian and the Roth Jewish Community Center of Greater Orlando as part of the Cultural Festival Circuit and is supported by United Arts of Central Florida, is a cinematic celebration of Jewish life, culture, and history. Using the power of film to inform, educate, and most of all entertain, the festival challenges conventional perspectives on issues facing all of us. This year's festival will feature a newly expanded program... Full story
The Orlando Jewish community can be very proud of one of our own who had a hand in the development of Apple's newest OS X desktop operation system, "Mavericks." Former Longwood resident Emery Berger, an associate professor in the School of Computer Science at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, developed a "Hoard" algorithm, which Apple adopted, that speeds up a computer by reducing memory resources so the computer can "make a decision" faster. In computer talk, an algorithm is a... Full story
A little more than 10 years ago, Aaron Weil had his eye on one of two positions: executive director and CEO of either the Edward and Rose Berman Hillel Jewish University of Pittsburgh or University of Central Florida Hillel. Pittsburgh won out at that time and now Central Florida’s Hillel will glean from his experiences and accomplishments, which are many. Weil is passionate about the future of the Jewish community and sees clearly the role Hillel plays in keeping the young Jewish adults a... Full story
Known as the “Father of the Center” among those who gave birth to the Roth Jewish Community Center, Abe O. Wise, in whose living room the JCC and Hebrew Day School began their formative years, passed away Sept. 26, 2013. He was 90 years old. The opening sentences of the written history of the JCC states: “The Jewish Community Center of Central Florida was born of a dream realized in 1973 through the efforts of Abe Wise and a group of dedicated community leaders.” “Abe used to laugh when I referr... Full story
A room crowded with art aficionados and Holocaust museum supporters gathered around the 25-plus pieces of artwork to look closely at the craftsmanship of 18 local artists who presented their interpretations of Kristallnacht through their art mediums. The exhibit was the opening of “In Remembrance: 75 Years After Kristallnacht,” hosted by the Holocaust Memorial Resource & Education Center of Florida. The opening reception, which included a juried art contest, was a successful event. When pla... Full story
