Central Florida's Independent Jewish Voice
Central Florida's Independent Jewish Voice
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(JNS) - Former hostage Emily Damari took to Instagram for the first time since being taken captive by Hamas terrorists on Oct. 7, 2023, thanking her family, friends and God for her release on Sunday. "I'm loving, loving, loving. Thanks be to God. Thanks to my family, to Oreli, to the best friends I have in this world. I have returned to life, my loved ones," she wrote on Monday, according to a screenshot shared in local media. "I have only managed to see just a tiny bit of everything, and you...
Their names, faces and stories have resonated around the world, on posters and in prayers, since they were taken hostage on Oct. 7, 2023. Now, some of the 98 remaining hostages abducted that day, when Hamas invaded southern Israel, could soon be free. Under the terms of a ceasefire deal, 33 of the hostages would be released over six weeks, starting with three on the deal's first day: Emily Damari: The only British citizen to remain in Gaza, Damari, 28, was shot on Oct. 7; Romi Gonen: Taken...
(Israel Hayom via JNS) — As Donald Trump reclaimed the White House, an extensive portfolio of international and domestic challenges awaits—with Israel’s security concerns commanding significant attention. Unlike his first term, Trump enters office on Jan. 20 following methodical preparation and with a clear grasp of both priorities and implementation strategies. The Iranian nuclear threat stands as the foremost security concern. Having withdrawn from the nuclear agreement in 2018 during his previous term, Trump demonstrates acute aware...
(JNS) — FireDome, a startup founded in Israel in 2024, is developing an AI-driven defense system to combat wildfires such as those currently ravaging the Los Angeles area. The system is inspired by Israel’s Iron Dome missile defense technology. The system utilizes eco-friendly fire retardants and AI technology to form protective barriers and extinguish spot fires caused by wind-blown embers. Initially designed to protect 100-acre areas, FireDome aims to expand its coverage to larger regions. Testing is set to begin in Israel in 2025, with U.S...
Identifying the signs of stress is crucial for maintaining well-being, especially as seniors age. Listen to your body’s cues, whether it’s tension headaches, muscle tightness, or a constant feeling of unease. Taking proactive steps to counter these effects is key. Try deep breathing exercises, take a leisurely walk, or simply carve out a moment to focus on relaxation techniques. Prioritize your time for self-care Carving out time for yourself is not selfish, it’s necessary for maintaining balance and vitality. Incorporate daily routines that...
Manischewitz®, the iconic kosher brand with over 130 years of culinary excellence, announces the launch of Manischewitz New York Style All-Beef Hot Dogs. These premium hot dogs will be available in the refrigerated sections of supermarkets and specialty stores, offered in both regular and low-fat options at an SRP of $9 for the 10.3 oz package of six hot dogs. Additionally, a Kosher for Passover version will also be available. The Manischewitz Kosher Hot Dogs are “Where Flavor Meets Tradition!” Consumers can now enjoy the exceptional tast...
The International Holocaust Remembrance Day will be observed on Jan. 26, from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m., at The Roth Family JCC. The event is held yearly in remembrance of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau on Jan. 27, 1945, and to commemorate those who lived through or were murdered during the Holocaust. State House Representative Anna Eskamani will speak at the event, as well as Irving Locker, a D-Day veteran and Jewish-American liberator. The event is free and open to the public. Register at www.holocaustedu.org....
(JNS) — At a confirmation hearing, Florida Sen. Marco Rubio said that as state secretary he’d belong to “perhaps the most pro-Israel administration in American history,” pushing Israeli-Saudi normalization and lifting sanctions from Jews in Judea and Samaria, among other actions. The emerging ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas, Rubio said, was “a foundation to build upon” in working toward peace between Israel and Palestinians and normalization of Israeli-Saudi ties as an extension of the Abraham Accords. “We’re still going to have so...
By JNS Staff (JNS) — A group of conservative Jewish and Christian leaders has launched a public petition urging The Jerusalem Post to stop using the term West Bank in reporting on Israel’s biblical heartland and to call it by its historic name of Judea and Samaria. “As Israel’s oldest English newspaper when it was called ‘The Palestine Post,’ The Jerusalem Post holds significant influence in shaping public opinion, influencing policies and defining global narratives,” the petition addressed to Eli Azur, the media outlet’s owner, and Zvik...
In a disturbing revelation, Israeli media reported that Hamas forced three recently released hostages faroma Gaza — Emily Damari, Romi Gonen, and Doron Steinbrecher—to participate in a staged propaganda ceremony before their release. The hostages were handed “gift bags” by their captors, an act that highlights the psychological manipulation employed by the terror group. The gift bags, reportedly handed to the hostages just before they were transferred to the Red Cross, included unsettling items: a photo of Gaza, photographs of the hostage...
(Israel Hayom via JNS) — Following security warnings about escalation in Judea and Samaria due to the release of hundreds of terrorists into the area, the Security Cabinet is expected to approve on Friday a comprehensive decision to address this front. This is one of the demands that Finance Minister and Religious Zionism Party chairman Bezalel Smotrich presented in his discussions with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, prompted by numerous warnings about increased terrorist attacks in Judea and Samaria following the ceasefire deal with H...
(Israel Hayom via JNS) — The deal to bring the hostages home from Gaza carries an immense, largely unspoken price — one that has received far too little attention, if any at all. While some may support it and others oppose it, there exists a third path: acknowledging that this is a poor deal, albeit perhaps unavoidable, while simultaneously shattering the walls of media silence surrounding its dire consequences. These walls bear an unsettling resemblance to the conspiracy of silence that prevailed before the 2011 Gilad Shalit deal (in whi...
As International Holocaust Remembrance Day approaches on Jan. 27, marking 80 years since the liberation of Auschwitz and the beginning of the end of the Holocaust and WWII, there are stories of inspiration that call to us to be remembered, beyond the horrible facts that most know: six million Jews murdered in the event that defined the word genocide. At Auschwitz alone, 1.1 million people were killed, including 1 million Jews. Throughout Nazi occupied Europe, entire Jewish communities were simply erased. Where there were survivors, like in the...
(JNS) — Over the course of this past year, university campuses across the country were fraught with turmoil for Jewish students, and those who have a stake in supporting Jewish life on campus are asking themselves important questions. With the start of Chanukah, donors and philanthropists are tasked with where they should make their year-end contributions. Most choose organizations based on several factors, including a personal connection to the organization, alignment of values with its mission or even geographic proximity. However, after t...
By Aaron Weil Several friends from around the world have been reaching out about how we in Israel are experiencing the freedom of the hostages alongside the releasing of terrorists, (dozens and dozens of whom will be convicted murderers) back into the land? People ask, “How can your nation handle releasing 2,000 terrorists in order to repatriate 33 hostages of whom perhaps a third may already be dead?!?!” The answer... “We can’t! No one can.” The horrors, the ongoing unending pain that we all know when our thoughts turn to those still suf...
(JNS) —I am an optimistic guy, or at least I am in the public sphere. I definitely have my moments, but I try not to bring others down with me. Usually, I snap out of it quickly. It is 5:38 a.m. as I write these words after I was woken up by the pit in my stomach. I can’t shake the feeling. Now, I know I’ve shared multiple posts expressing the nuance in this deal and specifically the joy we will all feel seeing live hostages hug their loved ones again. Usually, with most events, that positive thought will outweigh the negative. This time is di...
(JNS) — The New York Times Dec. 26 article, “Israel Loosened Its Rules to Bomb Hamas Fighters, Killing Many More Civilians,” which claimed Israel loosened its rules to kill Hamas fighters, resulting in the loss of many civilian lives, is disturbing precisely because of the assumption of objectivity, reliability and accuracy in its reporting. Yet, it is fair to question if this reputation is deserved, especially by those of us who closely follow developments in the Middle East and who know the Times has misreported when it comes to Israe...
MORNING MINYANS 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 Minyan at Jewish Academy of Orlando — Monday – Friday, 7:45 a.m. – 8:30 a.m. Temple Israel — Sunday, 9 a.m., 407-647-3...
(JTA) — Hosting “Saturday Night Live” in its final broadcast before the inauguration of Donald Trump, comedian Dave Chappelle concluded with advice for the new president. “Do not forget your humanity,” Chappelle said. “And please, have empathy for displaced people, whether they’re in the Palisades or Palestine.” The line represented Chappelle’s signature mix of humor and serious sermonizing and came after a nearly 15-minute monologue that acknowledged his own controversies as a comedian and included an extended anecdote about President Jimmy Ca...
(Israel Hayom via JNS) - Israel's Health Ministry has formulated a comprehensive protocol for treating hostages, due soon to be released from Hamas captivity in Gaza, based on lessons learned from the 2023 exchange of Israeli hostages for Palestinian terrorists. The protocol includes detailed guidelines for medical examinations, mental health care, privacy protection and long-term support for returnees and their families, emphasizing personalized care and respect for dignity. Key guidelines... Full story
By (JNS) — The Jewish population of Judea, Samaria and the Jordan Valley grew by 12,297 in 2024, according to a report published over the weekend by the Yesha Council umbrella group of Jewish communities. As of Jan. 1, 2025, 529,704 Israelis live in the territory, amounting to approximately 5.28 percent of the total population of the Jewish state. That figure does not include the some 350,000 Jews living in the eastern part of Jerusalem, which the Palestinians claim despite it being part of the Jewish state’s capital. The Yesha Council not...
(JTA) — After the hostages return to Israel, peace takes hold in the Middle East. Army recruitment offices are shuttered; Israelis shelve the second passports that let them live abroad; and trains run uninterrupted from Egypt to Syria. Soon, Israeli and Iranian judokas embrace, and Israel advances in the World Cup. Ultimately, Taylor Swift takes the stage in Tel Aviv. The sequence of events exceeds even the wildest ambitions of most Israelis, who know from experience that peace, when it c...
(JNS) — Senior Hamas official Khalil al-Hayya repeated the terrorist organization’s commitment to the destruction of Israel in his first public remarks since green-lighting the truce deal with the Jewish state on Wednesday night, Jan. 15. According to al-Hayya, the terrorist group during negotiations succeeded in thwarting Israel’s “declared and hidden goals.” “Today, we prove that the occupation will never defeat our people and their resistance,” he said in a televised address from Doha which ran for some 18 minutes. Jerusalem “only secured...
(JTA) — Last year, as I stood in the ruins of the Nevele Hotel, memories flooded back despite the devastation around me. Every surface is covered in graffiti, roofs have caved in throughout the property, and not a single piece of carpet or wood paneling remains — all stripped away by years of looting. The grand ballroom where my grandmother once insisted on the best table in the house is now a dangerous shell. The room where my extended family held our seder is exposed to the elements, eve...
