Central Florida's Independent Jewish Voice
Central Florida's Independent Jewish Voice
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A permanent donor sign was installed at The Roth Family Jewish Community Center of Greater Orlando on Feb. 28 to acknowledge the 88 donors who contributed to the gym renovation project in memory of community leader Charles Schwartz. Over $133,000 was raised to rename The Roth Family JCC's basketball leagues to the "Charles I. Schwartz Memorial Basketball Leagues" and to create an endowment for future gym renovations and upgrades. Leading the ceremony was (l-r), David Wayne, JCC representative;...
By Alina Dain Sharon JNS.org When navigating to www.bdsguide.com, I'm immediately confronted with a clenched fist on a red banner against a crisp white background, and the matter-of-fact wording that I'm viewing the site in the Safari browser on Mac OS X. As an Apple product, my computer has been provided to me under the direction of CEO Tim Cook, who has met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during a trip to Israel for the inauguration of one of the company's offices in the Jewish...
Tampa Orlando Pinellas Jewish Foundation has been participating as a partner with the Grinspoon Foundation by implementing their Life and Legacy program as a commitment to the Jewish communities to ensure a strong tomorrow in all aspects of Jewish living. At this point, Orlando’s community has 60 signed Letters of Intent with a goal of 90 in the first year. This equates to $1.9MM intended for the Orlando community as after-life gifts. There are 15 teams committed to securing at least 18 Letters of Intent by March 31, the last day of year o...
An overflowing, standing room only crowd at the Holocaust Memorial Resource and Education Center of Florida welcomed Central Florida’s own Mitchell Bloomer and Duke University’s Imam Abdullah Antepli as they co-presented the Feb. 25, forum titled, “Is History Repeating Itself: Jewish and Muslim Immigrant Experiences in America.” The forum treaded near the grounds of the controversial, even as one of the speakers noted, and a significant police security presence was on the premises for the evening. The contentious issue was brought about b...
NIJKERK, Netherlands (JTA)-As a boy, Pieter van Oordt would often accompany his father, Karel, on the elder van Oordt's weekly shopping excursions specifically seeking out products made in Israel. A Christian Zionist businessman in Amersfoort, some 25 miles east of Amsterdam, Karel van Oordt sought to strengthen the Jewish state economically by purchasing its exports to feed his family of eight. But it wasn't easy. "At the greengrocer, my father asked for Jaffa oranges, but they didn't offer tho...
Ra’anana, Israel—Purim is coming and in addition to reading the Book of Esther, dressing in costumes, and eating a sumptuous meal, Purim wouldn’t be Purim without sending greetings, gifts and giving charity to the poor. Leket Israel, the country’s largest food bank and leading food rescue network, offers a great way to fulfil these obligations—by buying Leket greetings cards to send your loved ones—with all proceeds donated to Leket Israel’s Purim campaign: “Funny looking fruit is no laughing matter... it’s nutritious and should be rescued...
(JNS.org)-SodaStream, the Israel-based producer of a popular beverage carbonation machine, was forced to lay off its final 74 Palestinian workers after it had been the target of the international Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement. SodaStream had already relocated from its Judea and Samaria facility against the backdrop of BDS pressure. "Today is their final day working with the company, sadly," SodaStream spokesman Maayan Nave told AFP regarding the Palestinian workers, adding...
Purim festivities abound at the Jewish Pavilion and parties are planned in facilities all over town. Jewish and gentile residents revel in the festivities. A Purim skit, written by Cathy Swerdlow, is performed in more than 30 senior communities. Jewish Pavilion staff, volunteers, and residents take part in the plays and 1200 hamantashen are happily consumed. Savannah Court, Oviedo March 11, 1:30 p.m. Island Lake Center March 11, 11 a.m. Grand Villa March 11, noon Village on the Green March 11,...
The brand new Rosen JCC Event Center will rock Vegas-style on March 20 at 2 p.m. when Chuck LaPaglia takes the stage and sings a sparkling Neil Diamond tribute. South Florida fans have known him for the last 8 years as Neil Zirconia, "the ultimate faux diamond." "My dream has always been to entertain people,'' said LaPaglia, 58, a former stockbroker who enjoys the 1970s music of Elton John, Billy Joel and, of course, Diamond. "I always wanted to sing." Don't call LaPaglia an impersonator,...
Dr. and Mrs. Gilbert and Joyce Walker along with Mr. and Mrs. Robert and Rita Weissmann will be honored by JFS Orlando with the 2016 George Wolly Community Leadership Award at the Spring Brunch on April 3, at Heathrow Country Club. The Walker's have a long legacy with JFS Orlando, as both Gilbert and Joyce served as board members dating back to the inception of the Agency. Gilbert was a pediatrician for over 40 years and served as chief of Pediatrics at Orange Memorial Hospital for two years....
By Ben Cohen JNS.org In his preface to a recent publication from Fathom, a British magazine covering the Middle East, British lawyer and anti-Semitism expert Anthony Julius—always the author of a memorable phrase—denounced “anti-Zionism and its creature, the BDS movement,” as “one of the major political stupidities of our time.” The import of Julius’s comment struck me as I was reflecting on the terrible fate of Ilan Halimi, the young French Jew who 10 years ago was kidnapped for ransom by a largely Muslim gang. Halimi spent nearly a mont...
I support Bernie Sanders, Democratic candidate for United States president 2016, and not because he is a Jew, that is just an added bonus—although Judaism does contribute to my reasoning as to why I support him. I believe that individuals should be strengthened above any sort of governmental machine. Individuals should come first, and everything else should be far behind in importance. Life and health should not be just another variable, rather, it should be the decider. I believe that Judaism generally communicates the same principle, t...
(JTA)—In her victory speech after the Nevada primaries, Democratic hopeful Hillary Clinton said it’s time to invest in marginalized communities by “ensuring that people with disabilities have the same opportunities to work and fully participate in our society.” That may seem like the standard campaign rhetoric of a serious presidential candidate, but what many people don’t realize is that disability rights have rarely been mentioned in national campaigns. Fortunately, Clinton is not alone. Sen. Bernie Sanders, another Democratic candidate...
As president of Knights for Israel, this semester marked the beginning of one of the most difficult periods of my life. I am three months into my new position and it would be fair to say I underestimated how challenging this role would be. As a biotechnology major I realized beforehand how often my studies and this job would interfere with one another. Yet my love for Israel knows not a single bound and I accepted the position anyway. What I could not anticipate were the growing pains I would face. I set high expectations for myself, this organ...
To mark International Holocaust Remembrance Day, which was Jan. 27, and remember another notorious event that would come nearly 50 years after the Holocaust, the Baku International Center for Multiculturalism and Baku Slavic University recently organized a high-level round table event titled “The Holocaust and Khojaly Through the Eyes of Contemporaries.” An event dedicated to the study and remembrance of the Holocaust held in Azerbaijan, a Muslim-majority nation? Azerbaijan is located at the crossroads of many cultures and has played a sem...
Dear Editor: In reference to the Feb. 25 meeting at the Holocaust Center about Jewish and Muslim immigrants, it was interesting to hear the history of Americans’ perceptions of immigrants over the last 100 years as Mitch Bloomer explained it. I have friends on all sides of the specter: Jews, Christians, Muslims, blacks and Mexicans—all of whom have been at one time or another immigrants to this great land. However, I do not believe that Muslim immigrants are on equal ground at this time in history with Jews, blacks and Mexican immigrants. Blo...
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 Isr...
On March 24, the first-grade students participated in their annual Space program. This fun, fact-filled program encompassed props, live music, a slide show, and a display of student artwork related to the thematic unit, and was the culmination of their integrated science unit, "Sun, Moon and Stars." The multi-faceted curriculum included the creation of vocabulary journals, lunar models, space mobiles, and was enriched by a visit to the Seminole State Planetarium. There, students experienced...
Gerald Birman, age 85, of Orlando, passed away on Monday, Feb. 29, 2016, at Hospice of the Comforter, Altamonte Springs. Mr. Birman was born in Buffalo, New York, on May 31, 1930, to the late Meyer and Sarah Massmond Birman. A Staff Sergeant, he retired from the United States Air Force after 21 years of service. Following his retirement, he and his wife, the former Ruth Kohn, to whom he was married for 56 years, relocated to the Orlando area from Denver. Mr. Birman had previously been stationed in Orlando in the 1950s. In addition to his wife,...
Allan Burnstine, son of Jerry and the late Lillian Burnstine, passed away on Feb. 29, 2016, at the age of 69. Allan is survived by his loving wife of 27 years, Karen Burnstine; sons, Benjamin and Andrew Burnstine, of Lake Mary; his daughter, Dana Reynolds; grandsons, Evan and Bowen Reynolds, all of Richmond, Virginia; his sister, Devie Louza; brothers, Norman (Joan) and Robert Burnstine; as well as three nieces and one nephew. Allan was preceded in death by his son, David Burnstine; and his brother, Michael Burnstine. Allan was born and raised...
Anthony Kaskey, 68, of Altamonte Springs, passed away on Tuesday, March 1, 2016, at his residence. A native of Freeport, New York, Mr. Kaskey was born on July 11, 1947, to the late Jerome and Adelaide Shapiro Kaskey. He moved to South Florida with his family and was a graduate of the University of South Florida in Tampa. In 1986, he relocated from Miami to the Orlando area where he was engaged in a successful property management business. Mr. Kaskey is survived by his son, David Kaskey of Sorrento; and his brother, Gary (Cindy) Kaskey of...
The Orlando Chapter of Hadassah recently held the Bunny Rosen Women's Heart Health Fashion Show Luncheon at the Alfond Inn in Winter Park. Once again this annual event proved to be a great success, both as a fundraiser and as an enjoyable afternoon with genial company, excellent food and a beautiful venue. This event contributes charitable funds to promote heart health awareness, training and information to women in the greater Orlando area. The chapter also provides funds for research to...
Many Jewish women face an increased genetic predisposition for certain cancers. On Feb. 25, an appreciative audience gathered to hear medical experts from UF-Health Cancer Center at Orlando Health discuss cancer risks, clarify misconceptions, explain the latest research, and give a primer on various prevention and treatment options. Sponsored by the Jewish Federation of Greater Orlando in partnership with The Roth Family JCC, Jewish Family Services of Greater Orlando and Central Florida Hillel, the panel featured Dr. Rebecca Moroose, director...
At the International Society for the Social Studies (ISSS) conference held at UCF on Feb. 25, Professor Terri Susan Fine led a session on "Teaching the Arab-Israeli Peace Process and Conflict." Conference attendees included university faculty, teacher educators, curriculum specialists, social studies department leaders, undergraduate and graduate students, and K-12 teachers, with representation from countries as diverse as Turkey, Namibia, Barbados and Morocco. Professor Fine's presentation, dev...
Okay, Congress recently did something great... The headline of the current World Jewish Congress (WJC) digest reads like this: "U.S. House of Representatives Unanimously Passes Resolutions on Anti-Semitism and Anti-Israel Incitement." Sounds promising, right? I'll pass it along to you in its entirety: "The first bipartisan resolution directed at condemning anti-Israel and anti-Semitic incitement in the Palestinian Authority was sponsored by Rep. ILEANA ROS-LEHTINEN (R-Fla.), chairwoman of the...
