Central Florida's Independent Jewish Voice
Central Florida's Independent Jewish Voice
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As the 40th anniversary of Jewish Family Services approaches, a special ribbon-cutting ceremony was held last Thursday officially opening the newest wing of the facility. In 2016, Orange County Community Development Block Grant awarded JFS Orlando with a $75,804 grant to transform one hallway of the building into a mental health counseling center; create an ADA-compliant handicap ramp at the rear of the building (that faces Lee Road) for a new counseling center entrance, which will give clients... Full story
The Jewish National Fund will host the annual Tree of Life™ Award Gala at Congregation Ohev Shalom on Tuesday, March 20, to honor Deborah Dorsky Meitin, Marc Reicher, James Riola, and Rabbi Aaron Rubinger with Tree of Life™ Awards for their dedication to the Orlando community, JNF, and Israel. The Tree of Life™ Award is a humanitarian award given in recognition of outstanding community involvement, dedication to the cause of American-Israeli friendship, and devotion to the peace and secur... Full story
What's a nice Irish-Catholic girl doing in a Jewish preschool? Making it the best Jewish preschool in Central Florida, that's what! Carol McNally, director of the Richard S. Adler Early Childhood Learning Center, has been at the preschool for 29 years, and she is retiring on May 31. But before she leaves, The Roth Family JCC will be honoring her with the Harriet Weiss JCC Legacy Award at the annual JBall on March 14. "Carol has inspired countless children as the director of our Richard S. Adler... Full story
RAISE (Recognizing Abilities & Inclusion of Special Employees), the Jewish Federation of Greater Orlando’s work and social skills training program for adults with special needs, has a new job creation division called RAISE Awareness to Hire. “RAISE Awareness to Hire works with local businesses to provide a simple and seamless transition for adults with disabilities from the nurturing environment of RAISE into the more competitive marketplace,” said Loren London, RAISE founder and director. Rachel Slavkin, RAISE director of Employment and Educa... Full story
(JNS)-Mike Signer, who served as the mayor of Charlottesville, Va., during the rally and protests last August that brought white supremacists to the forefront of international attention, recalled that he was about 8 or 9 when he heard his first anti-Semitic slur. "Growing up in Northern Virginia, the last thing I wanted to be was different, so I assimilated," he told more than 3,000 Jewish teens attending the annual BBYO International Convention held last week in Orlando, Fla. It wasn't until... Full story
The Jewish Community Relations Council of the Jewish Federation of Greater Orlando expresses its deepest sympathies to the survivors, victims and families impacted by the tragic shooting in Parkland, Florida, and all those affected by senseless murder that plagues our nation. The importance of action, rather than words, is a central lesson of Judaism. In particular, the Torah expressly commands, “Do not stand idly by the blood of your fellow” and compels us to take whatever action we can to save, protect, and defend human life (“piku’ach nefesh... Full story
Celebrate Shabbat with the synagogue that feels like family. Congregation Beth Sholom’s Shabbat evening service led by Rabbi Karen Allen is on Friday, March 9 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, March 15 at 1 p.m. at the Sumter County Administration and Library Building (with the golden dome) at 7375 Powell Rd.... Full story
The public is invited to a presentation of “Beneath White Stars: Holocaust Profiles in Poetry” at the American Association of University Women’s (Orlando/Winter Park branch) annual Spring Literary Luncheon on March 17. The served luncheon begins at 11:30 a.m. at the Interlachen Country Club, 2245 Interlachen Court,Winter Park. Author Holly Mandelkern will discuss her narrative poetry of stories about real people from the Holocaust. Tickets are $ 45, and can be purchased by contacting Gazianomyra@yahoo.com or (321-363-1105.) Proceeds from the A... Full story
(JNS)-US Reps. Scott Tipton (R-Colo.) and David B. McKinley (R-W.Va.) no doubt anticipated an eye-opening experience when they visited the Temple Mount on Thursday as part of their current trip to Israel. So imagine their surprise when they were detained by Israel police after an Islamic Waqf official, which administers the Temple Mount, lodged a complaint against them. It appears that they violated some unknown rule when Tipton bent down to pick up a broken olive branch off the ground. His... Full story
WASHINGTON (JTA)-Billy Graham, the giant of American evangelism who was exalted by Jews for his championing of Israel at its hour of need and then condemned when a nasty anti-Semitic streak was revealed, has died. Graham, 99, died at his home in Montreat, North Carolina, media reported. He was a counselor to Democratic and Republican presidents and, with his massive arena appearances, was a precursor of the Protestant televangelism that helped reshape the American religious and political... Full story
WASHINGTON (JTA)—President Donald Trump spoke of the anguish of a Jewish family in commemorating last week’s school shooting in Florida. “I had them in the Oval Office, incredible people,” Trump said Friday at CPAC, an influential annual conference for conservatives, describing his meeting with the family of Meadow Pollack. “She had a beautiful, beautiful smile, a beautiful life.” Meadow Pollack was 18 and a senior at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, where an expelled classmate opened fire last week, killing 17 people. Her father, And... Full story
(JNS)—The United States will move its embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem on May 14, in time for Israel’s 70th anniversary, according to a State Department official. Steven Goldstein, undersecretary of State for public diplomacy, said on Friday that US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson had approved a security plan for a “facility” in Jerusalem, the Associated Press reported. “We’re looking at that as a possible date, but safety of the Marines and other people who visit and work there is primary,” said Goldstein. According to the preliminary p... Full story
(JNS)—Perhaps the saddest thing about the death of the Rev. Billy Graham on Feb. 21, at the age of 99, was the fact that virtually every obituary gave prominent mention to what was arguably his worst moment. Graham was a giant of American evangelism, whose worldwide fame as a preacher eclipsed that of any American religious figure of the 20th century. But it was impossible to do an assessment of a life full of achievements without also talking about the fact that he was caught on tape expressing anti-Semitic sentiments while speaking with f... Full story
(JNS)—Stop the presses! A vulgar American Jewish comedian has praised a Palestinian teenage girl who assaulted an Israeli soldier. Put it on the front page! The comedian, Sarah Silverman, recently sent out a tweet demanding that Israel release Ahed Tamimi, the Palestinian teenager who staged a video in which she repeatedly slapped a soldier in the Israel Defense Forces. Tamimi tried, but failed, to provoke the soldier to respond in a way that would make useful propaganda. “Jews have to stand up even when—especially when—the wrongdoing is by J... Full story
(JNS)—I interviewed Mateusz Morawiecki, the prime minister of Poland, during his September visit to New York. The public-relations maven who arranged the meeting pitched Morawiecki—then still deputy prime minister—as a rising star anxious to allay concerns in the Jewish community about controversial legislation (which was signed into law on Feb. 6) regarding terminology and the Holocaust. Indeed, when we sat down for our conversation, Morawiecki advanced the case that Jews and Poles have a common interest in commemorating the brutalities of th... Full story
Not long ago, I authored a column for The Boston Herald warning of yet another Middle East humanitarian crisis in the making. Sadly, that prediction appears well on its way to becoming reality. Lebanon was once one of the most progressive and liberal countries in the Middle East. Beirut was a center of culture and finance and often referred to as the “Paris of the Middle East.” Years of sectarian warfare and conflict resulted in weak, unstable governments that were held together by a delicate power-sharing arrangement among the various religiou... Full story
(JNS)—Day in and day out, two men—two crucial world leaders—remain under a constant barrage of verbal attacks. They are subjected to an obsessional, unhinged and unprecedented stream of abuse, distortion, character assassination and malicious fantasies. If you haven’t guessed, they are Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and US President Donald J Trump. The campaign against them signifies a cultural disorder in the West that borders on the pathological. Netanyahu certainly has his faults. One might list arrogance, moral cowardice and his... Full story
Dear Editor: After so many mass shootings in America, including our schools, why is there not action being taken in the area of gun control? The evidence shows that a reduction in guns reduces violence and gun deaths, not only in states with increased gun control, but also in other countries. When it comes to protecting our Constitution, we should know that the laws of our land require judges to balance our rights. Just as our first amendment rights are not unlimited, the second amendment right is not unlimited. What is so sacred about... Full story
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. Tem... Full story
Hail, Hail, the gangs all here, celebrating Purim with hands in the air! The Jewish Pavilion Program Director Walter Goldstein had the residents at Kinneret, celebrating the holiday with a Purim play, festive music and hamentashen, with the help of Laurie Goodheim-Levine and Julie Capps. Special thanks to VITAS for supplying the colorful paper good.... Full story
One of the nicest things about our community in Florida is our diversity. Often, while I am working out in my exercise class or enjoying a concert or eating in our small bistro, I am struck by the number of people from all cultures, ethnicities, and countries that live here. An example of our melting pot was seen in the Shapiro's Who-Made-the-Hamantashen tale. In May 2016, my husband, Larry, and I purchased tickets for a Flores de Mayo celebration that was being sponsored by our community's... Full story
On Jan. 20, the Jewish Pavilion held its annual Pearls of the Pavilion luncheon to honor those who go above and beyond to support the Jewish Pavilion. During her opening remarks, Miriam Josephs, event co-chair, shared the true definition of a pearl with attendees. "One that is very choice or precious," said Josephs. And for the Jewish Pavilion, supporters invited to the event truly are precious, as the group's generous annual contribution is an important component of funding that allows the... Full story
Lily Paige Rebar, daughter of Daron and Tracy Rebar of Orlando, will be called to the Torah as a bat mitzvah on Saturday, March 10, 2018, at Congregation Ohev Shalom in Maitland, Fla. Lily is in the seventh grade at Lake Highland Prep where she is a member of the dance team. Her hobbies and interests include dance, being with friends, going to the beach, big hair bows and spending time with family. Sharing in the family's simcha will be Lily's brother, Marshall; grandparents, Carol and Gene... Full story
Calling any Jewish teen interested in developing a deeper understanding of Jewish politics, economy, and philosophy to attend the Tikvah Institute's Maimonides Scholar program. This summer, from June 24 through July 8 at Yale University, Rabbi Mark Gottlieb is introducing a new cultural and historical enrichment program for Jewish teens to encourage people to come and ask the "big questions" about fundamental Jewish texts and values. The Tikvah Institute for High School Scholars has announced a... Full story
"The phrase L'Dor L'Dor-from Generation to Generation-encapsulates the essence of good Jewish parenting," said Nancy Ludin, executive director of the Jewish Pavilion. Shown here (top photo) are the children in the Mishpacha Sheli class from Ohev Shalom who brought a bit of sunshine and flowers to residents of Savannah Court in Maitland. Shown in the photo to the right is Alison Klein, daughter of Jessica and Matt Klein of Orlando, making smiling faces with a resident. (The Klein's other... Full story
