Central Florida's Independent Jewish Voice
Central Florida's Independent Jewish Voice
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Kindergarteners through third graders of Congregation Ohev Shalom have a blast celebrating Tu B’Shevat dipping fruit into chocolate at Machaneh Ohev Lite on Feb. 1....
Temple L'Chayim will be hosting a special Purim Concert and Party featuring a melody of festive songs and traditional Jewish music. This event will be open to everyone. It will be held at the Clermont Arts and Recreation Center on Saturday, March 7, starting at 7 p.m., and located at 3700 South Highway 27, Clermont, FL 34711. Treasures Of Jewish Music is a unique and memorable concert representing a chronicle of Jewish music from the 14th century up through the present day, encompassing the...
The Jewish Academy of Orlando is pleased to announce that its principal, Shari Wladis, has been elected to the Florida Kindergarten Council (FKC) Board of Directors. Wladis has worked at Jewish Academy since 2004 and has served as a teacher, director of curriculum, interim head of school and now principal. Under her guidance and direction, the academic program at the Jewish Academy has strengthened and grown. The FKC was established in 1968 and is comprised of independent schools dedicated to...
In this shemitah year, when the land in Israel is to lie fallow (no planting, watering, harvesting), Shaare Zedek Medical Center in Israel came up with a creative idea for planting trees, which is the tradition for Tu B'Shevat. The hospital is decorated with balloon trees....
"Usually after the first event, it's like a firestorm," said Pastor Scott Thomas, the Florida state director for Christians United for Israel (CUFI). "The excitement hits, the understanding settles in." That, in short, illustrates the process through which CUFI has become America's largest pro-Israel organization in less than a decade of existence. In January, CUFI announced that its membership surpassed the 2-million mark. (The organization defines members as email-list subscribers whose...
Brandeis University President Frederick Lawrence, the leader of a Jewish-sponsored institution that has been at the center of several recent controversies, sent an email on Friday afternoon that announced he would be stepping down at the end of the current school year. "After careful consideration, and in close consultation with the Board of Trustees, I have decided to step down as president at the end of this, my fifth academic year," Lawrence wrote. "For the time being, I am looking forward...
Over the Jan. 30-Feb. 1 weekend, 40 Orlando BBYO members attended a weekend retreat in Lake Placid, Fla., with other teens from throughout the state of Florida. The convention featured a learning track for all new members, partnered with an advanced leadership track for teens that held chapter board positions. The new member track, or "MIT/AIT," was filled with inspiration and education, as teen leaders taught their peers the history, definitions, songs and cheers, as well as the traditions of w...
On Jan. 28, J.O.IN. Orlando launched its Young Jewish Professional Network with a Brews and Jews event held at The Citrus Club in Downtown Orlando. The event was attended by over 55 Jewish professionals, and consisted of Kosher food and a unique Kosher scotch and beer tasting presented by Vines Wines. Everyone who attended had an amazing time meeting new people, hanging out with old friends and adding to the collective network for a stronger Jewish Orlando. J.O.IN. Orlando, a non-congregational...
Congregation Beth Israel of Ocala and Temple B’nai Darom present pianist Dr. Gary Helfin, known as “The Rockin’ Doc,” in concert on Sunday, March 15, at 3 p.m. at Temple B’nai Darom, 49 Banyan Course, Ocala. The concert will feature selections from Jewish composers that may include Billy Joel, Carly Simon, Josh Groban, Irving Berlin and many others. Tickets are $10 and are available from Sonia by calling 352.307-3662. Carpools will be arranged. Please inquire for these when making reservations. Refreshments will be available. Proceeds...
I was walking out of Publix the other day, my arms full of groceries, my head tilted down as I looked at the pavement, deep in thought, when I heard someone call my name. “Mr. Bornstein,” a woman said. “Can you stop and talk?” I recognized her immediately, a member of my congregation and one of my mother’s peers. She spoke with the vestiges of a long-ago foreign accent, with all the seriousness and focus of someone intent on making an important point. “Mr. Bornstein,” she began. “I was just t...
By Ira Sharkansky We can’t avoid it. There are a billion or so Muslims, and the rest of us are more or less dependent on what they do. Oil and gas is one dependence, which we should not minimize despite the current dip in price. Physical presence is another dependence, even in places where non-Muslims are large majorities and control government. Israel’s 20 percent Muslim population, with Muslim dominant countries all around is one setting with a disproportionate influence on world politics. European percentages between 5 and 10, higher in maj...
Did you know that the United States Senate has been underwriting a series of events publicly glorifying a Palestinian terrorist who murdered an American citizen—in fact, a senator’s niece? Well, it is, and this outrage must come to an end. The terrorist’s name is Dalal Mughrabi. On March 9, 1978, she headed a squad of 13 Palestinian terrorists who set out from Lebanon towards Israel, in several small boats. They were members of Fatah, the largest faction of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO). At the time, Yasser Arafat was chair...
Amid the numerous studies and analyses regarding Jewish American life, a simple fact remains: part-time Jewish education is the most popular vehicle for Jewish education in North America. Whenever and wherever parents choose Jewish education for their children, we have a communal responsibility to devote the necessary time and resources to deliver dynamic, effective learning experiences. The only way we can do this is by creating space for conversations and knowledge-sharing around innovative new education models. That also means making the...
The supposedly unprecedented step taken by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in his plan to speak directly before Congress about the Iranian nuclear threat on March 3, rather than working exclusively with the White House on the issue, actually has an interesting precedent—established in 1975 by none other than Yitzhak Rabin and America’s Democratic Party. That spring, Secretary of State Henry A. Kissinger undertook a round of shuttle diplomacy aimed at reaching a peace agreement between Israel and Egypt. The negotiations quickly ran...
(Kveller via JTA) Since the news of the recent Disneyland measles outbreak and the subsequent chatter on Facebook began, I discovered I have at least four Facebook friends (and likely a few more) with healthy, non-immunocompromised, vaccine-aged children who have decided, for non-medical reasons, to not vaccinate. For some of these friends and acquaintances, the news was not surprising considering their views on other issues. With one friend in particular, though, it felt like a betrayal, one that I just can’t get past. Here this person wa...
MORNING AND EVENING MINYANS (Call synagogue to confirm time.) Chabad of South Orlando—Monday and Thursday, 8 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., 407-647-3055. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 13 Light Shabba...
On Friday, Jan. 31 a Tu B'Shevat seder sprung up at Brookdale Island Lake in Longwood with the help of the Jewish Pavilion. Longtime volunteer and president of the Jewish National Fund Board, Debbie Meitin, led the 30-minute service and celebration. Meitin noted that Tu B'Shevat is the New Year for trees, and coincides with springtime in the land of Israel. Emily Newman, Jewish Pavilion senior specialist and program director, pointed out that a Tu B'Shevat seder is somewhat similar to a...
Hannah F. Herman passed away on Sunday, Feb. 1, 2015, at MaryAnn Morse Nursing Home in Natick, Mass. She was 91 years old. Mrs. Herman was a native of Cleveland, Ohio, and was born on Jan. 30, 1924, to the late Louis and Minnie Uberstein Henkin. She was a high school graduate. Mrs. Herman moved to California where she met and married her late husband, Nathan Herman, to whom she was married for 59 years when he passed away in 2007. Following their marriage they moved to Connecticut where they raised their family and operated a family grocery...
Michael Anthony Kaplan, born Sept. 28, 1941, in New York City, passed away on Tuesday, Jan. 27, 2015, in his Winter Springs, Florida, home. He was 73 years old. Michael was an army veteran, a brilliant entrepreneur and the most loving son, brother, uncle, father, grandfather, and husband imaginable. A die hard Yankees fan and all around sports history expert; Michael was funny, his antics were timeless, and he was fiercely loyal. He ended every conversation with members of his family by saying, “I love you sweetheart,” and those words will for...
Gayla W. Rhodes of Orlando, passed away at her home on Monday, Feb. 2, 2015. She was 61 years old. Ms. Rhodes was born in Hayti, Missouri, to Lillian J. Tackett and the late Wayne Rhodes, and grew up in California and Kansas. She was an electrical engineer graduating from the University of Central Florida with a bachelor’s degree and worked with her husband, Richard Trock, in their business Trock Media Solutions. She moved to the Orlando area from Palm Beach Gardens in 2001, marrying Rick in 2005. The family are members of the Congregation o...
COSUSY held its annual Shabbaton at Camp Ithiel in Gotha, Florida, Jan. 30-Feb. 1. The teens celebrated Shabbat together through prayer, discussion, fun and food. USY is the teen youth group of United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism for 9th-12th grade. COSUSY is the USY group of Congregation Ohev Shalom and open to all Jewish teens regardless of COS membership....
The fifth-grade students of Congregation Ohev Shalom put aside their Super Bowl Sunday excitement long enough to share their enthusiasm and excitement with the residents of Springhills of Lake Mary. The students mingled with a large group of residents and family before they presented a delightful and informative skit about Tu B' Shevat. "I thought the students did a great job with the Tu B'Shevat skit especially the singing," recalled 91-year-old resident Dennis. The weather was perfect for...
Jacob Barkan, son of Joshua and Gina Barkan, was called to the Torah as bar mitzvah on Jan. 31, 2015, at Congregation Sinai, Minneola, Florida. Jacob is in the seventh grade at South Lake Middle School where he plays basketball. His interests include shooting, video games and playing outside with his friends. Jacob is very interested in diamond and watch appraisal, and would like to study gemology. Sharing in the family's simcha were Jacob's older brother Corey, from Israel, and his younger...
Ella Rachel Colley, daughter of Robyn and Kevin Colley of Longwood, will be called to the Torah as a bat mitzvah on Saturday, Feb. 21, 2015 at Congregation Beth Am in Longwood. Ella is in the seventh grade at Rock Lake Middle School where she is a member of the yearbook staff, plays in the Advanced Band, and was recently inducted into the National Beta Club. Ella's hobby and interest is baking. When she was 10 years old, she started "Life is Sweet Cupcakes by Ella." She also taught a cupcake...
Kudos to Switzerland... I recently read an article in the World Jewish Congress Digest that, frankly, made me happy. My spouse and I visited Switzerland a few years ago. We loved the people, the scenery, the food, etc., but that's not what I refer to as making me happy... although I loved the trip. Rather, I'm referring to this article about a Swiss Museum's refusal to accept art that was looted by Nazis. I pass it on to you: "Calling art stolen from Jewish collectors or taken from German state...
