Central Florida's Independent Jewish Voice
Central Florida's Independent Jewish Voice
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Heritage Florida Jewish News has had a second change of ownership in its 48-year history. Laura Ossin purchased the paper on Nov. 30, 2024, from its publisher, Jeff Gaeser. Ossin grew up in the Dr. Phillips area. After graduating from Florida State University with a degree in communications and public relations she moved to Winter Park for work. She later met her husband, Lee Ossin, and moved to Maitland where they now reside. If the name Ossin sounds familiar to some that's because Lee is the s...
Staff Sergeant Yona Betzalel Brief, 23, died on Nov. 26, 2024, as a result of wounds he sustained on Oct. 7, 2023, near the Gaza border. Brief was the nephew of Lake Mary residents Dr. Bruce and Debra Hoffen and cousin of Sara and Frances Hoffen. Brief was 23 and the youngest son (of six children) of Hazel and David Brief, who have lived in Modi'in, Israel for 30 years. David is the brother of Debra Hoffen. Yona, a combat medic in the elite Duvdevan unit, died at Sheba Hospital in Tel Hashomer w...
Most comfortable in jeans and a polo shirt in his younger years and casual slacks and button-down shirts later in life, Harris Rosen's appearance might not have been the image of a wealthy hotelier and philanthropist, but it did reflect the soft-spoken and unassuming man he was. The Central Florida community lost this "hotel titan" on Monday, Nov. 25, 2024, when he passed away surrounded by his family and friends. Frank Santos, Rosen Hotels and Resorts vice president, released the following...
The 26th annual Central Florida Jewish Film Festival will delight the senses and stir much thought. Running from Saturday night, Nov. 2 through Monday evening, Nov. 4, six very different films will bring laughter, tears and contemplation. An overriding theme of all six films seems to be choices made and relationships broken or kept. Here is the lineup: Saturday, Nov. 2, 7:45 p.m. at the Orlando Science Center Digital Adventure Center The Performance Laced with beautiful 1930's music, songs, and...
Nancy Meisenberg is on a mission – to get the word out about how to help Israel in its recovery from the ongoing war. With many ways to help, how can anyone know what organization to trust, what to do, how to donate? There are also so many needs in Israel - the moshavs that border Gaza are still in disarray, their fields need tending; trauma centers are full to capacity with soldiers and civilians dealing with their emotions and PTSD; the basic needs of the IDF; this list goes on. Meisenberg dec...
Fellowship Church recently hosted the spokeswoman for Rescuers Without Borders in Israel, Natalie Sopinsky, who gave an "on-the-ground and very personal" perspective of the Gaza and Hezbollah conflicts. "On my speaking tour, I get the same questions over and over," Sopinsky said. "One of them is: What do you see happening ... will there be peace?" Eleven months and counting as of Sept. 24, and now Hezbollah has launched all out attacks on northern Israel. The red dots on this map represent the m...
Chabad of Greater Orlando caught on fire on Sunday, Sept. 22. The fire started around 11 a.m., less than a half hour after Shachrit davening had ended. No one was injured. A security guard noticed smoke coming from the roof and called the Fire department. It took 60 firefighters and seven firetrucks over an hour to get the fire fully under control, according to Rabbi Dovid Dubov. More than 50 percent of the building was destroyed. "Gaping holes burned through the roof and the ceiling collapsed,...
Chabad of Greater Orlando caught on fire on Sunday, Sept. 22. The fire started around 11 a.m., less than a half hour after Shachrit davening had ended. No one was injured. A security guard noticed smoke coming from the roof and called the Fire department. It took 60 firefighters and seven firetrucks over an hour to get the fire fully under control, according to Rabbi Dovid Dubov. More than 50 percent of the building was destroyed. “Gaping holes burned through the roof and the ceiling c...
A landmark diner since 1967, Kappy's is closing on Saturday, Sept. 14, at 4 p.m. "or until they run out of food," said Executive Chef Adam Milsom. Located at the intersection of Sybelia Ave. and 17/92 in Maitland, this small drive-up deli has been serving Philly cheese steaks, burgers, N.Y. hot dogs, subs and the best root beer floats in town for 57 years. Kappy's also was recognized in "Kehillah: A History of Jewish Life in Greater Orlando," under the Growth: Hospitality section, where it fit...
This article was previously published in the Dec. 22, 2023, issue. It garnered the Sally Latham Memorial Award for Serious Column in the FPA Weekly Newspaper Contest. (Portions of this article are very graphic.) I was talking with my daughter on the phone Friday evening. “What did you do this week?” she asked. I mentioned that I attended a private briefing and screening by the Consulate General of Israel in Miami to see the raw footage of what happened in Israel on Oct. 7. “What are you talking about?” she asked. She hadn’t heard of the Oct....
As I sat down to write this opinion, I realized that there are four things really bugging me. Number one. I have not read one single article that puts the blame on Hamas for the inhumane conditions in Gaza — food and water shortages, destroyed homes with refugees everywhere, etc. Hamas was elected by the people in Gaza to be their governing body. All the money sent to Gaza since 2007 has not been used to build a prosperous area that, I’m told, could have been like Dubai or Singapore. Hamas used the money to build tunnels and stockpile wea...
The Jewish Heritage Festival, taking place April 7, is a phenomena in itself. Who knew it would be so successful from the get-go? What began in 2007 as a suggestion by 80-year-old Murray Steinberg to the Temple Presidents' Council for Volusia and Flagler counties that Volusia County should have a Jewish festival similar to the ones he went to in Richmond, Va., became the largest Jewish heritage and cultural event in the state. The ball to research this project was handed to Jeff Bigman, who...
We don't get to choose when or where we are born. And it isn't until we are much older that we can begin to make our own life choices. In fact, most of our childhoods are spent doing what we are told, trusting those who care for us. Such was Orange City resident Katherine MK Mitchell's life. She was born in Budapest during World War II, and named Katalin Landstein, Kati for short. She was raised along with her brother, Laci, by her mother and grandmother. Her father died in a labor camp and her...
The attitude about antisemitic groups in Central Florida used to be “if you ignore them, they will go away.” Not anymore. Now people hold to “if you see something, say something.” On Saturday, Feb. 17, a group of neo-Nazi demonstrators stood on the corner of Lee Road and Orlando Avenue waving a Nazi flag and a Confederate Flag, while holding signs that read “Jews love genocide,” “The ADL protects pedophiles” and “We must secure the existence of our people and a future for white children.” The protesters drew the attention of Sen. Rick Scott,...
Last month, Natalie Sopinsky, spokesperson for Hatzalah Y'osh, Rescuers Without Borders, spoke at The Roth Family JCC as well as at Fellowship Church in Winter Springs. It was clear to all that she really didn't want to be away from Israel. This attitude seems to be that of most Israelis. When there is danger brewing, Israelis run to the source of the danger while so many others run away from it. Sopinsky came on the insistence of the Hatzalah director who said she needed to tell Americans what...
There is a petition circulating, initiated by Defenders of Free Speech, to stand with Dr. Darren Klugman, who is a doctor and professor at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. On Oct. 7, Dr. Klugman spoke out about the atrocities committed by Hamas that day. As a result of speaking out on social media, he has been suspended by Hopkins with possible termination, and the American Board of Pediatrics has begun the process of revoking his board certifications. His family has received death threats, requiring round-the-clock security. Why...
Portions of this article are very graphic. I was talking with my daughter on the phone Friday evening. “What did you do this week?” she asked. I mentioned that I attended a private briefing and screening by the Consulate General of Israel in Miami to see the raw footage of what happened in Israel on Oct. 7. “What are you talking about?” she asked. She hadn’t heard of the Oct. 7 attack. As I started explaining, she asked, “Who is Hamas? Where was this?” Now my daughter is a smart, mature person, but she chooses not to watch any news. “It’s t...
Last Thursday, Dec. 7, Dr. Daniel Layish and Keith Dvorchik hosted a meeting with a group from CityServe Israel. The discussion was about how the Christian and Jewish communities can help the moshavs and kibbutzim in the southern Negev region that was attacked by Hamas. A spokesman from Moshav Ein Habesor, Dr. Yftach Gepner, who has lived in Orlando and now lives in Ein Habesor, shared his experience on Oct. 7. Ein Habesor is about 4 miles east of Gaza. On that fateful Simchat Torah, he woke to...
Rabbi Isaac Barzak passed away on Nov. 26, 2023. He was 84. According to the city of Ormond Beach and the Ormond Beach Police Department, the altercation that occurred at the gate of the Tymber Creek community where Rabbi Barzak lived, was not motivated by hate or bias. Jarleene Almenas, the managing editor of The Ormond Beach Observer newspaper, sent Heritage the police report which stated that the incident occurred due to a malfunction at the community gate on Nov. 15. The Homeowners’ Association member who is responsible for managing the g...
Rabbi Israel Barzak, a mohel who performed britot for many families in Central Florida, died on Nov. 26, 2023, from injuries sustained after an assault in Ormond Beach. He was 84. According to a family friend, Rabbi Barzak was hit by someone at his gated community’s entrance as he was picking up delivered groceries. He was taken to the hospital where he died. Heritage contacted the Ormond Beach Police Department and learned there is an ongoing investigation into the assault and at this time they cannot release information. Rabbi Barzak’s wif...
By Remember Haman? The book of Esther tells the story of this horrible man in the king’s court who planned to kill all the Jews in the Persian/Medes kingdom — a kingdom that stretched from India to Ethiopia. Haman gave 10,000 talents of silver to the king and asked to be able to destroy all the Jews in the land. The king took the money and then gave it for the use of the genocide of the Jews. Of course, we know the rest of the story, Esther called for a fast and then went to the king and revealed Haman’s plan. Haman was hung and the Jewis...
Known to many as "Jerusalem Jones," "Sherlock," or "Hercule," as well as many other characters, Professor Kenneth Hanson, who teaches Judaic Studies at UCF, believes that students don't retain enough by simply reading or hearing lectures. For this reason, he has worn many faces to make history more interesting and appealing to his audiences. In fact, he still uses these characters and others to teach Jewish history to various groups. Most recently he "performed" a history teaching on the Dead Se...
In 2019, local resident Bob Herpe published his first suspense novel, "Gravnick." It is a story of the intertwining of two families - one Jewish, one Mafioso. Now, three years later, as promised, Herpe has completed the sequel, "The Other Side of Crisis." Herpe is a late comer to writing novels. He wrote "Gravnick" in his late 80s and is now in his 90s - and he is not slowing down. He already has the opening for his third book. "The Other Side of Crisis" picks up where "Gravnick" left off in...
The Shalom Orlando Board stated that Keith Dvorchik is “no longer with the organization,” effective immediately. Craig Polejes, Shalom Orlando Board of Director’s chairman, did not give any information as to the reason for this action. “We are deeply committed to the Central Florida Jewish community and its mission to serve our community,” said Polejes. “This change in leadership is an opportunity to embrace new possibilities and fresh perspectives while upholding the traditions and values that...
The Israeli-American Council, the Jewish National Fund and the Jewish Community Center of Greater Orlando quickly pulled together a rally on Sunday, Oct. 8, to show their support for Israel and where many call "home." T-shirts stating "I Stand With Israel" were available in the foyer of the JCC as approximately 350 people gathered to stand in solidarity. Intermingled with the crowd were Representative Anna Eskamani, Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings and Val Demings, as well as Congressman...
