Central Florida's Independent Jewish Voice
Central Florida's Independent Jewish Voice
Sorted by date Results 1 - 11 of 11
(JTA) - Madeline Millman was just 17 when she took center stage at the Adams Theatre in downtown Newark, New Jersey, stepping into the same spotlight where the Andrews Sisters, Duke Ellington, Ella Fitzgerald and many of her other heroes had performed for sold-out houses. "I closed my eyes, focused in, and said to myself, '5,000 people or one person, it doesn't matter - I'm singing,'" she recalled. "And I felt really good about it." And why not? Madeline had skipped school with friends to take...
(JTA)-Like any self-respecting author, Ann D. Koffsky checks her Amazon rankings on a regular basis. "A little bit ridiculously," she acknowledged. Yet when she noticed the rating for her most recent book had dropped to one-star overnight, it wasn't so funny-especially once she started reading the user reviews. "This book is filled with lies," claimed one. "Very upsetting," said another. "Utter propaganda..." began the next. Soon the "review war," as Koffsky called it, spilled over onto her... Full story
KANSAS CITY (JTA)-Bronx-born, Queens-bred attorney Victor Bergman has lived in the Kansas City area for more than four decades-and in all that time, he hadn't found a true New York-style bagel. "Boiled first, glossy crust, soft interior-I really missed it a lot," he said. But here, in a suburban strip mall that shares its parking lot with a Walmart, Bergman's 40 years in the desert may be over: "They've done it," he said, awaiting a fresh-baked dozen. "These are the bagels I grew up with."... Full story
(JTA)—Sure, winter might seem like the ideal time of year for curling up with a good book—but summer is when you might actually have time to read. So before these warm months all too swiftly fade to fall, here are some Jewish-themed titles, from a wide range of genres, to fill your beach bag (or tablet) for the season. A bonus: These works, from an international smattering of authors, are equally enjoyable while riding in an overcrowded bus on your way to work. “Al Franken, Giant of the Senate” (Twelve Books) by Al Franken Franken may be best... Full story
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (JTA)-At 6-foot-6 and 340 pounds, veteran NFL offensive lineman Geoff Schwartz isn't just a force of nature, but a product of good ol' Jewish nurture. "My size comes from a childhood that included an excess of matzo ball soup, latkes, and tons of white rice," the 30-year-old jokes. "But of course my brother's similar physique suggests that genetics had plenty to do with it." That would be his (only relatively) little brother, Mitch, 27, the Kansas City Chiefs' newest starting... Full story
(JTA)—Summer’s here, and whether from the heat or the humidity or the harrowing election cycle, we bet you could use an escape. So take our advice: Whether you’re lucky enough to be lazing on a beach or packed in like a pickled herring on a subway car, take some time to retreat into a good, Jewishy book. Here are seven fresh reads on the lighter side—because it’s too hot out there to get too heavy. “A Book About Love” (Simon and Schuster) By Jonah Lehrer OK, you will probably hate this book—which is totally why you’ll have so much fun reading... Full story
TULSA, Okla. (JTA)-Walk into Congregation B'nai Emunah on any Tuesday afternoon and you'll barely get through the massive, light-filled foyer before it hits you: an aromatic wave of warm oatmeal and raisins, or perhaps a sweet surge of rich, melting chocolate chips. What you're smelling isn't catered food for a bar mitzvah bash. Rather it's one of the most highly regarded bakeries in the region, which is also an innovative social justice project that might just be a model for civic-minded... Full story
(JTA)-You know Lily. You do. She's that chipper, slyly witty girl who works at the AT&T store-not a real one, but the one you see in those ubiquitous TV ads. What you may not know is that the actress who plays her, Milana Vayntrub, is a nice Jewish girl. She's a former Soviet refusenik who, between acting gigs, stand-up spots and the comedy webisodes she writes and produces, is trying to change the world. Can't Do Nothing is a new social-media-driven movement to raise awareness and funds to ease... Full story
LINDSBORG, Kan. (JTA)-Thousands of birds strutted around like rambunctious kids at recess-six varieties of turkey and nearly 40 breeds of chicken, duck and geese. As soon as a stranger stepped into their dominion, a dozen of the largest toms surrounded the visitor. "They're just making sure you're not here to take over the flock," fourth-generation farmer Frank Reese Jr. explained. Out on the open Kansas prairie, about 80 miles north of Wichita, Reese's Good Shepherd Poultry Ranch has become an... Full story
LEAWOOD, Kan. (JTA)—Mendel Segal wears two particular titles that each reflect a devotion to tradition, imply an unending pursuit of precision and command immediate respect. One is rabbi. The other is pitmaster. The 33-year-old Orthodox rabbi (and follower of the late Lubavitcher rebbe) is readying to oversee the fourth annual Kansas City Kosher BBQ Festival on Sunday, an event that is expected to attract as many as 4,000 attendees. Segal—known as “RaBBi-Q” to his fans and fellow competitors on the circuit—is a kosher barbecue champion... Full story
(JTA)-Jeff Lieberman was en route to a South Carolina screening of his first feature, "Re-emerging: The Jews of Nigeria," when he realized how close he'd be to the tiny Blue Ridge Mountain town of Tryon, North Carolina. The New York-based filmmaker couldn't pass up a side trip to the birthplace of Eunice Kathleen Waymon-better known to the masses as Nina Simone. "I'd been a fan of hers since I was in high school, but always felt like I didn't quite understand her," said Lieberman, whose first... Full story
