Central Florida's Independent Jewish Voice
Central Florida's Independent Jewish Voice
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For three years the Holocaust Memorial Resource and Education Center Board of Directors had been looking for a building that could house the ever-growing museum. Built in 1986, the museum was expanded to twice its size in 1994. Now, with the many programs and exhibits held at the Center, it is bursting at the seams. Anyone who has ever gone to one of HMREC's programs knows how quickly the museum's auditorium/exhibit room fills to capacity. Plus, the area schools that bring up to 150 students to...
The Kinneret Council on Aging, a nonprofit agency that provides ongoing programs and services to residents of Kinneret Apartments, has announced the honorees for their 2018, 8 over 80 Gala to be held on Sunday, Feb. 25th, 2018. "We are once again thrilled with the support we have had from the community and were truly inspired by the number of outstanding individuals over the age of 80, who continue to contribute to our community and promote the Jewish tradition of Tikkun Olam," said Lynn...
"The function of education is to teach one to think intensively and to think critically. Intelligence plus character-that is the goal of true education."-Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. It is with Dr. King's words in mind that Jewish Academy of Orlando attended school on Monday, Jan. 15th for a day-long celebration of Dr. King's life. The students began their day with Minyan service focusing on the Torah principle of Kevod HaBriyot (treating people with dignity and respect). Throughout the day,...
Judea and Samaria is home to more than 430,000 citizens of Israel. They are the vanguard of Israel's security and sovereignty as a Jewish State. Yet this significant area of Israel receives little support from many organizations in the United States because this is considered "disputed territories." However, there is an organization, the One Israel Fund, that is dedicated to supporting the welfare and safety of those who live in Judea, Samaria, the Jordan Valley and the reemerging communities...
The Holocaust Memorial Resource and Education Center commemorated the International Holocaust Remembrance Day with the first part of a two-part series on Jan. 21 with a discussion of "Defiance" by Nechama Tec, which centers on the experience of the Bielski partisan group and their leader, Tuvia Bielski. The film of the same name was viewed prior to the book discussion, which was led by Dr. Susan A. Bach whose father, Joe Abrams (Josef Abramowicz) and mother, Esther Greenberg (Grinberg) Abrams,...
Celebrate Shabbat with the Synagogue that feels like family. Shabbat evening service led by Rabbi Karen Allen is on Friday, Feb. 9th at 7 p.m. An Oneg Shabbat will follow the service. The synagogue is located at 315 North 13th St. in Leesburg, with the entrance on Center Street. The Rabbi’s Torah Roundtable Discussion Group with Rabbi Karen Allen of Congregation Beth Sholom, will be held on Thursday, Feb. 15th at 11 a.m. in the conference room inside the library at the Sumter County Administration and Library Building (with the golden dome) a...
Back by popular demand, the Congregation Ohev Shalom Sisterhood invites the community to "Learn and Create for a Cure" on Monday, Jan. 29, at 7 p.m. at the synagogue. The cost is $5 for nonmembers of the Sisterhood. Learn about Sharsheret, the only national organization supporting Jewish women and families facing breast and ovarian cancer, and its partnership with Women's League. Attendees can also be artistic as they create their own works from artist Gary Rosenthal's Glass Ribbon Project...
Life happens; but success at life is a product of a dream, a strategy, core values, and hard work. What are the tools and values teens will need not only to get them through life, but to thrive and succeed beyond their wildest imaginations? Living Your Dream explores the concept of success, challenging teens to dream big, to push the boundaries of what they think is possible, and to create a plan to transform that dream into a reality. Throughout Living Your Dream, teens will examine the key areas in which success is necessary, including:...
Leaders of several major American Jewish organizations have told JNS that they are supporting the Israeli government's decision to prevent the entry of foreign citizens who promote boycotts of Israel. Israel's Ministry of Strategic Affairs on Jan. 7 released a preliminary list of 20 foreign organizations whose "central figures" will not be permitted to enter Israel because they have undertaken "significant, ongoing and consistent harm to Israel through advocating boycotts." There are six...
The Palestinians have announced an escalation of their diplomatic actions against Israel through the annulment of the Oslo peace accords and withdrawal of their recognition of Israel. The Palestinian Central Council on Monday declared that the transitional period stipulated in the peace agreements signed in 1993 in Oslo, Cairo and Washington, and its obligations "no longer stand." The PCC held a two-day conference this week to discuss the ramifications of the US recognition of Jerusalem as...
In a letter, the State Department notified the U.N. Relief and Works Agency that the U.S. is withholding $65 million of a planned $125 million funding installment to the body. The letter also makes clear that additional U.S. donations will be contingent on major changes by UNRWA, which has been heavily criticized by Israel. “We would like to see some reforms be made,” said State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert, adding that changes are needed both to the way the agency operates and is funded. “This is not aimed at punishing anyon...
Nothing makes Palestinian-supporting BDS boycotters squeal louder than when they themselves become victims of their own tactics. Israel Strategic Affairs Ministry will deny entry for BDS activists if they fall into one of these four categories: • Individuals with senior positions or significant roles in a BDS promoting organization, such as senior staff, board chairman, or board members. • Key activists who take a consistent and continuous role to promote BDS. • Institutional officials, such as mayors, who promote BDS in an active and ongoi...
The term “blacklist” is one that brings up memories of McCarthysim to most Americans. But those on a new Israeli “blacklist” who are to be blocked from entry to that country for promoting boycotts are undeserving of any sympathy. The 20 listed groups—singled out for their support of the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement—are a collection of vile hatemongers working not merely to cripple Israel’s economy, but to isolate it and to treat its people as pariahs who deserve to be attacked by terrorists. So it’s reasonable that...
My dad was not a big believer in religion. I found some of the reason when I studied the life of my grandfather, Abraham Shiplacoff. Abe was a devout Socialist of the “Old School.” And, while he believed passionately in his Judaism—he was skeptical of all rabbis and any others in positions of power. His early years in what are now Ukraine and a stern father helped fashion his distaste for the status quo. So, my dad grew up with little regard for the religious structure of Judaism. As I reached the age of 12, the subject of Bar Mitzvah came...
See the article on page 16A “Pulled Pork Kugel and other transgressive traditions from the ultimate treif banquest.” BOSTON (JTA)—In an article written for J: The Jewish News of Northern California and republished by JTA, David A.M. Wilensky describes with gusto the supposedly mouthwatering delicacies, including Peanut Butter Pie with Bacon and Pulled Pork Potato Kugel, consumed this month by “rabbis and foodies” at the Trefa Banquet 2.0 in San Francisco—complete with a communal blessing and a historical lecture justifying these juicy trans...
WASHINGTON (JTA)—The Oslo Accords? “Killed,” the Palestinian Authority president says, blaming Israel. The Israeli prime minister says the Palestinians are now “unmasked”—but naturally he blames the Palestinians. Notably, the United States is silent. The P.A. president, Mahmoud Abbas, delivered a rambling address of more than two hours this weekend to the Palestine Liberation Organization’s Central Council. “Today is the day that the Oslo Accords end,” he said. “Israel killed them.” Abbas blamed the restrictions under which his Palestinian...
(JTA)—#MeToo. #GamAni. The stories are numerous and painful. They span decades and reach every corner of the Jewish community. Enough is enough. The time is now for us to finally and fully address sexual harassment in Jewish institutional life. When it comes to sexual harassment, Jewish teachings are unequivocal: We are obligated to put an end to the behavior for the sake of the victim, the perpetrator and the community as a whole. Despite our moral code, however, sexual misconduct in the Jewish community too often goes unaddressed. As H...
MORNING AND EVENING MINYANS (Call synagogue to confirm time.) 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 I...
WASHINGTON (JTA)—President Donald Trump denied a claim by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that the U.S. Embassy would move to Jerusalem within a year. “By the end of the year?” Trump said Wednesday in an interview with Reuters after being told of Netanyahu’s claim. “We’re talking about different scenarios—I mean obviously that would be on a temporary basis. We’re not really looking at that. That’s no.” Trump’s reference to moving the embassy on a “temporary basis” and then saying “we’re not really looking at that” suggested th...
On Jan. 31, Jews will celebrate Tu B'Shevat, the day in which it is believed "trees come of age." For those of us who live in Central Florida, there is no more fitting a place to honor the Jewish "Earth Day" than at Bok Tower Gardens. The 60-acre sanctuary in nearby Lake Wales was the gift of Edward Bok. This son of impoverished Dutch immigrants became a highly successful publisher, a Pulitzer Prize-winning author, a respected humanitarian and an advocate of world peace and the environment....
(JTA)-When Maxim Shrayer traveled to Moscow for a five-day visit at the end of October 2016, his itinerary included a trip to the Jewish Museum and Tolerance Center. Shrayer, who emigrated from Russia to the U.S. with his refusenik activist parents 30 years ago, is an acclaimed scholar of Jewish-Russian literature and culture as well as an award-winning writer on the Jewish-Russian emigre experience. He took a cab to the museum, where he delivered a literary paper at the Moscow International...
Lou Aaron Tauber, son of Michelle and Chris Tauber of Longwood, will be called to the Torah as a bar mitzvah on Saturday, Feb. 3, 2018, at Congregation Ohev Shalom in Maitland. Lou is in the seventh grade at Rock Lake Middle School, where he is a member of the band. His hobbies and interests also include playing tuba and basketball, and volunteering at Village on the Green. Sharing in the family's simcha will be Lou's brothers, Frank and Vic; sister, Tillie; grandparents Wendy and Martin Derrow...
JERUSALEM (JTA)-Sherman the overweight hedgehog, who was put on a diet at a zoo in Israel, has lost about one-tenth of his body weight. Sherman weighed 3.5 pounds, double the average weight of a normal hedgehog, when he was taken in by the Ramat Gan Safari outside of Tel Aviv in November. The Safari announced Wednesday that Sherman has lost 0.33 pounds. Sherman is one of 10 hedgehogs that were found waddling through the streets in Israel. They had eaten so much, mostly cat food left on the...
Three cheers... I read this recently in the World Jewish Congress (WJC) digest and pass it along to you: "World Jewish Congress President Ambassador RONALD S. LAUDER welcomed the European Court of Justice's decision to uphold the European Union's (EU) listing of Hamas as a terrorist organization, and called on the EU to do everything in its power to prevent European entities from engaging in business or showing any other form of support with it. In upholding the decision to keep Hamas on the...
(The Nosher via JTA)-I was first introduced to Turkish coffee in Israel. Prepared in the traditional copper cezve, it was served piping hot and in beautiful, delicate cups. I quickly became enamored of its strong flavor and clean, robust taste unmarred by sugar. In addition to the pure taste of coffee, there was another flavor I couldn't quite place. When I asked the brewer what it was, he told me it was cardamom. It seemed a strange combination at first, but as I kept drinking I found it was...
