Central Florida's Independent Jewish Voice
Central Florida's Independent Jewish Voice
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WASHINGTON (JTA)-When Benjamin Netanyahu faces the Congress next month, two things are unlikely to come up in his speech: a consideration of diplomatic protocol and an analysis of the efficacy of sanctions. Media attention ahead of the speech has focused on the diplomatic crisis set off by the invitation to the Israeli prime minister from U.S. House of Representatives Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio), who kept President Barack Obama in the dark, and the ensuing political tussle between backers and...
A Masquerade Gala celebration featuring fabulous food, drink, auction items and entertainment on Feb. 28 will begin 7 p.m. at the Congregation of Reform Judaism, 828 Malone Drive, Orlando, Florida. Carol Stein, the evening's featured entertainer, is an acclaimed pianist, vocalist, composer and arranger performing a variety of musical genres, from jazz to classical, or musicals and cabarets to pub songs. Throughout her career, Carol has traveled the globe-from Carnegie Hall in New York, to the...
Eliana Gershon is Temple Israel's new youth director. Raised in Dallas, Texas, she received her Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from the University of Michigan. Her experience in youth programming, both as a staff member and a past participant, is very strong, and she is passionate about her role in building a dynamic youth program at Temple Israel. Gershon was previously a director for Summer in the City where she designed and facilitated murals throughout the city of Detroit, and she was a...
On Sunday, Feb. 22, the Jewish Pavilion will honor two couples who cherish the senior community at their annual gala held at the Lake Mary Westin. "Emily and Marty Glickstein and Susie and Mark Stone have given their hearts to our seniors housed in elder facilities. Their generosity and compassion has benefitted our elders by strengthening their connection to the community. Please join us at our gala, and become part of the Pavilion 'love story,'" said Nancy Ludin, Jewish Pavilion executive dire...
The latest episode in a history of tension between the Obama administration and Israel has escalated to a new level, with U.S. Vice President Joe Biden opting out of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's March 3 speech before a joint session of Congress on the Iranian nuclear issue and radical Islam. Speaker of the House of Representatives John Boehner (R-Ohio) invited Netanyahu to address Congress, and the prime minister accepted. The Obama administration claimed Boehner breached...
He didn't have to be helpful. He didn't know me or anything about me, only that I had an idea for a novel about the last living survivor of the Holocaust, and wanted to speak to him. He was intrigued, so he agreed to sit down with me after his lecture at the University of Western Ontario in London. Make that London, Ontario, a Canadian city of 350,000 people 120 miles west of Toronto. Sir Martin Gilbert, who just passed away at the age of 78, was one of the world's eminent historians and quite...
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Israeli and U.S. dignitaries gathered at the Israeli Embassy on Thursday, Feb. 5, as Bridges for Peace, a Christian outreach of unconditional friendship to Israel and the Jewish community, presented its second ambulance to Heart to Heart and the people of Israel on behalf of Christians across America. On hand for ceremonies were Reuven Azar, Israeli Embassy deputy head of Mission; Rev. Rebecca Brimmer, Bridges for Peace International president and CEO; and Dr. Jim Solberg, Bri...
As a member of Central Florida's Jewish community, it isn't uncommon to have dinner and the theatre scheduled on the calendar for a Saturday night. For most of us, the arts were a regular part of our young lives with a trip to the "Muni Aud" and dessert at Ronnie's Restaurant. Having a community rich in culture is a privilege, but these days it's difficult for arts and cultural organizations to remain open. Ticket sales usually only cover about 30 percent of operating costs. Luckily, there are...
Join the Jewish Genealogical Society of Greater Orlando (JGSGO) on March 3, at the Roth JCC, for a program featuring IAJGS President Marlis Humphrey, who will speak on "What they don't tell you about family history publishing." Researching family history is one big challenge. Determining how to compile and publish treasured collections of genealogy is another significant task. New genealogists need help from experienced genealogists who have "been there, done that" to make their efforts more...
Ariel Ladner is excited and honored to be selected as the first, Our Jewish Orlando intern. Ladner graduated in just three years with a B.S. in sociology from Florida State University and recently moved to Orlando to attend Florida A&M College of Law. She was born in New York and moved to South Florida when she was 12 years old. Ladner looks forward to beginning the next step in her Jewish journey by speaking with individuals and young families to help give them the opportunity to connect and...
Put your green to good use and support JFS Orlando’s Annual Night Golf Tournament on Monday, March 2. The tournament, which benefits JFS Orlando, tees off at 5 p.m. at the Winter Park Country Club located at 761 Old England Avenue in Winter Park. The nighttime golf extravaganza includes nine holes of golf, glow in the dark balls, and awards and prizes. The Annual Night Golf Tournament kicks off in conjunction with JFS Orlando’s second annual Pantry Re-Stock Challenge benefitting the JFS Orlando Pearlman Emergency Pantry. All golfers who bri...
A few months ago I asked William Schabas, the Canadian academic who this week resigned as head of the United Nations Human Rights Council’s probe into last summer’s war in Gaza because of a conflict of interest involving his work for the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), whether I could interview him for a magazine piece I was writing. He replied promptly and courteously, explaining that he couldn’t be interviewed because his commission hadn’t yet appointed a media relations officer. I remember being rather staggered by that admissi...
I once met a woman who was born and raised in Iran and lived under the Shah, and later, under Ayatollah Khomeini. I remember how she spoke passionately, in her broken English, about just how terrible the Shah of Iran actually was. When I asked her about life under the Ayatollah, she replied, “Shah bad, Ayatollah worse, much worse!” Of course, the Iranian leadership has come a long way since their Ayatollah Khomeini days. Unfortunately for the world, most of their progress has been confined to their department of great ambitions. Back in October...
One cannot help but wonder what it is about Obama that (a) makes him seemingly so hostile to Israel, (b) gives him so much trouble identifying killings such as those in the Hyper Cacher market in Paris last month as anti-Semitic and (c) impels him to give history lessons on the Crusades at a multicultural religious gathering as he did at the National Prayer Breakfast in Washington last week? That last item was later referred to by an African-American author in attendance as “verbal rape.” To begin to understand the president’s point of referenc...
As the debate on vaccination heats up again in the U.S., some “anti-vaxxers” are requesting exemptions from vaccinating their children on religious grounds. But what do their faiths, including Judaism, actually say about the issue? The recent outbreak of measles that began in the Disneyland theme park in southern California has led to the infection of more than 100 people who then possibly exposed countless others to the disease around the country. This is not the first such outbreak of a disease thought to have been nearly eradicated in 200...
MINNEAPOLIS (JTA)—Michael Paulson reported in The New York Times on the “Pay What You Want” model that some synagogues are implementing to reduce the financial barrier to membership. Paulson estimated that about 30 synagogues across the United States are trying voluntary dues. These changes, Paulson wrote Monday, have come from “an acknowledgement that many Jewish communal organizations are suffering the effects of growing secularization, declining affection for institutions, a dispersal of Jewish philanthropy and an end to the era in which m...
My early days as a Jewish Federation professional were at a time when our system was evolving away from reliance on messages of combating anti-Semitism and statements of “never again,” to one of strengthening our communities through education and meaningful engagement. Yet reflecting on the turbulent and troubling start to 2015, I cannot help but be struck by the rapid change back in our global agenda. Last year, we were working with the Israeli government in exploring how to strengthen Jewish life and connection globally. Now, we are inc...
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 20 Lig...
The first-grade students at the Jewish Academy of Orlando have been studying about different cultures from around the world. This is part of their social studies curriculum whereby they learn about the food, customs and ceremonies from various people and countries. The students have studied about Mexico, Japan and many other diverse and interesting places. Earlier this month, the students participated in a Japanese Tea Ceremony as part of their unit on Asian culture. The Jewish Academy of...
The Orlando Chapter of Hadassah was founded in 1948 by a group of Jewish women, new to the area, who desired a connection with Israel and the community. According to a long-time member, the meetings were initially held in Temple Israel where the women prepared the lunches for the meetings, wrote scripts as well as raised money for Hadassah. In 1966 the chapter had 450 members and the chapter had come a long way. Today with a membership of over 850, Orlando’s Hadassah’s Chapter is strongly committed to the Hadassah Medical organization with its...
The Orlando Senior Help Desk is a free service provided by the Jewish Pavilion for people of all faiths. The Jewish Pavilion’s Senior Resource specialist has extensive experience in dealing with issues related to older adults and their families and caregivers and is available to answer many questions about elder care. The Orlando Senior Help Desk website also provides an abundance of information regarding issues faced by families in need of help for their loved ones. The sponsors on the website are vetted for their quality of service. Feel f...
Ira H. Helman of Oviedo, passed away on Wednesday, Feb. 11, 2015, at Florida Hospital – Orlando. He was 84 years old. Mr. Helman, a native of New York, was born on July 28, 1930 to the late Jack and Shirley Noah Helman. After earning his Bachelor of Arts degree, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy, serving at the U.S. Naval Hospital in St. Albans, N.Y. Following his discharge from active duty, he returned to school and earned his Juris Doctor degree. In addition to having an active law practice, Mr. Helman was a well-known owner of trotters. His h...
Anita H. Steele of Longwood, passed away on Sunday, Feb. 8, 2015, at Brookdale at Island Lake. She was 92 years old. Mrs. Steele was born on Jan. 15, 1923, in New York City, to the late Samuel and Bertha Cohen Hershkowitz. She relocated to the Orlando area in 1988 from Chicago and was the widow of the late Dr. Arthur Steele who passed away in 1998. Mrs. Steele was a long-standing member of Temple Israel and is survived by her daughters, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. A graveside service was held at CRJ Cemetery with Rabbi Joshua Neely...
Never in the 23 years of Natan Glassman's volunteering at an Israel Defense Forces army base has he seen anything like the outpouring of love and respect garnered by American veteran Brian Mast. "Brian was a celebrity here, and everyone wanted to be with him, from the old ladies who volunteer at the base to the generals," says Glassman. "He's a hero but as we saw, a very humble one." The "hero" Glassman describes is a 34-year-old Christian, a full-time Harvard University student, and a father...
Carly Rayman, daughter of Bonnie and Evan Rayman of Orlando, will be called to the Torah as a b'nai mitzvah together with her brother, Joshua, on Saturday, Feb. 28, 2015, at Southwest Orlando Jewish Congregation in Orlando. Carly is in sixth grade at Lake Highland Preparatory School, where she performs with the Singers Legacy Group. Carly's passion is musical theatre. She has been involved with Theatre South at the JCC since 2009, when she was in first grade. In her first production "Journey to...
