Central Florida's Independent Jewish Voice
Central Florida's Independent Jewish Voice
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The oldest and largest Reform congregation in Central Florida, Congregation of Reform Judaism will celebrate “Decades & Diamonds,” its 75th anniversary, on April 5, at 7 p.m. The congregation hasn’t always been known as the Congregation of Reform Judaism, in the fall of 1948, it was named Liberal Jewish Fellowship and was formed and headed by Dr. Clarence and Bobbie Bernstein and Mr. and Mrs. Ed Morse. The Holy Day Services were held in the vestry room at Congregation Ohev Shalom. Rabbi Emeri...
(JNS) — Despite an expected cut of 10 percent to his ministry’s budget, Aliyah and Integration Minister Ofir Sofer remains hopeful about the future of immigration to Israel. “Aliyah is incredibly important to the future of Israel, and overall we have seen a dramatic increase in the number of immigration files opened since the Swords of Iron War began from many countries,” Sofer told JNS. “Aliyah builds the next chapter of our nation’s history, helps define our identity, and improves our national resiliency. We will continue to encourage a...
(JTA) — Voting March 10 in an election that gives American Jews a rare chance to directly shape Israel’s future. The U.S. election for seats in the 39th World Zionist Congress will help determine the balance of power in the legislative authority of a Zionist organization founded by Theodore Herzl 128 years ago. Influence over $5 billion in funding for Jewish causes is at stake, as is authority over quasi-governmental institutions such as the Jewish Agency, which plays a central role in immigration to Israel, and the Jewish National Fund, whi...
Local resident Idit Lotringer is representing IAC Slate #22 in the World Zionist Congress election. "I'm honored to represent IAC #22 in the upcoming World Zionist Congress elections!" Lotringer stated. "This is a once-in-five-years opportunity to shape the future of Israel and our Jewish communities. The time is now, and we're all excited to take action together!" Many people in the Jewish community know the ever-passionate Idit Lotringer. She is a regional manager at the Israeli American...
(JTA) — The World Zionist Congress election, which runs from March 10 to May 4, determines how $5 billion will be spent in Israel — and is seen as a referendum on the future of the country. Jews in the United States can choose among 21 lists of candidates, or slates, each with a specific agenda and profile. There are options by denomination, demographics and outlook on Israel. Here are the slates on the ballot for U.S. voters and what they stand for. Achdut Israel — Founded in response to the Hamas attack of Oct. 7, 2023, Achdut Israel is fo...
For more than 40 years, The Heritage Florida Jewish News has been in a brick building in Fern Park. There are a lot of memories within its walls. Although times changed and people came and went within these walls, so much stayed the same. Now the Heritage staff will have a new home. We are now located at 251 Maitland Ave., Ste. 213, Altamonte Springs, Fl 32701....
The Holocaust Memorial Resource and Education Center of Florida is hosting a workshop on Sunday, March 23, from 10 a.m. - 12 p.m. with Dr. Michael Berenbaum, a leading global voice in countering antisemitism. Register at https://www.hmrec.org/events.../dismantling-hate-part-1. to secure your spot and learn how to confront antisemitism in all its forms while emphasizing the importance of allyship and collective action....
Last night [March 11] House Republicans passed a government funding bill that fails to protect the programs American families depend on and fails to deliver the lower costs they’re counting on. I voted no—and I wanted to tell you why. This bill threatens to cut funding from a whole host of critical government programs—everything from healthcare and nutritional assistance to veterans benefits and disaster relief. It slashes resources from care for veterans exposed to burn pits and other toxic substances, and it risks throwing thousands of senio...
(JNS) — Fifty-eight percent of Israeli Jews believe that civilian towns in Judea and Samaria contribute to the security of the entire country, according to a poll published by the Jewish People Policy Institute on March 11. Asked whether they concurred with the statement, “Jewish communities in Judea and Samaria create deterrence and contribute to the security of all citizens of Israel,” 46 percent responded that they “very much agree,” while 12 percent said they “somewhat” concur. In the past six months, there has been an increase in the perce...
(JNS) — The wave of impending U.S. government layoffs has touched cities, suburbs and rural areas across the country. One demographic, in particular, is bracing for impact: Jewish day schools in and around Washington, D.C. Jewish Insider reported that “local schools, synagogues and social-service agencies are making plans to support laid-off community members and their families,” and wrestling with how fewer students and dues-paying members will upend their bottom lines. “It’s day schools, it’s camps, it’s early childhood, JCC memberships,...
(JNS) — The Israel Defense Forces’ Military Rabbinate distributed almost half a million hamantaschen, or oznei Haman (“Haman’s ears”) cookies, the army said ahead of the holiday of Purim, which starts Thursday night. Approximately 460,000 hamantaschen in the flavors of chocolate, poppy seed and date arrived at army bases across the country, according to the IDF announcement. Vegan and gluten-free options are also provided. Around 5,000 Purim gift baskets were distributed to various units. In keeping with the religious commandment of hearing M...
(JNS) — With the completion of Phase 1 of the ceasefire between Hamas and Israel, and a new Israeli offensive into Gaza becoming more imminent, some Arab states have scrambled to put forward a plan for the “day after” as a counterproposal to the Trump plan of resettling Gazans and bringing a potential American presence to Gaza. Arab countries like Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Qatar advocate for Hamas to disarm but retain some governing role in Gaza going forward. As part of Egypt’s vision, Hamas would surrender its missiles and rockets to Egyptia...
(JNS) — U.S. President Donald Trump is changing the narrative regarding Gaza. His visionary declaration of turning Gaza “into the Riviera of the Middle East” has people reimagining the entire area. Gaza has been a launching pad for terrorism since 1948. The Arabs of Gaza left their homes of their own free will at the direction and encouragement of their leaders who invaded Israel after it was recognized by the United Nations as a state in 1948. The Arab world kept Gaza as a festering sore to keep international pressure on Israel. The Hamas...
(JNS) — The Trump administration seeks to expand the Abraham Accords, first and foremost with Saudi Arabia, however, the current reality on the ground does not encourage such moves in the near future. Saudi Arabia has declared that it will not establish relations with Israel without significant political progress with the Palestinians—an unacceptable demand from Israel’s perspective. While moderate Arab leaders do recognize Hamas as a terrorist organization, they still harshly condemn Israel for its war in Gaza, portraying it as a war crimi...
(JNS) — For years, I’ve heard the complaint that non-Jews don’t stand up against systemic antisemitism. And I agree. But do you know what’s even more confusing? When Jewish organizations actively oppose measures that combat systemic antisemitism. I’m not naive. People are people. Unity is a utopian fantasy. Apparently, so is expecting universal agreement on a basic legal principle: If you violate the terms of your visa, you can be deported. Actions have consequences. Why is it such a complex concept? I dedicate a significant part of my life to...
(JTA) — Our teens have managed to corner the babysitting market at our local synagogue. So when the WhatsApp message first arrived a week and a half ago from one of the other dads, it seemed pretty routine. “Can one of your kids babysit Saturday night? We’re going to see an Oscar nominated documentary that’s only in town for a week.” I’ve known this couple for many years, having interacted with them in both Jewish professional settings and lay leadership roles. I also know them well enough to recognize that neither of them are cinephiles...
(JNS) — When Eliezer Ben-Yehuda, known as the father of modern Hebrew, worked to revive the language as a spoken one, he believed it would be a tool to rapidly foster a sense of unity among olim, Jewish immigrants to the land of Israel. His success at making it accessible for day-to-day use continues to provide a common thread across Israeli society. For many secular Jewish Israelis, speaking Hebrew (“Ivrit”) and serving in the military are some of the most important cultural aspects of their Jewish identities. Unfortunately, few Diasp...
MORNING MINYANS 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 Israel — Sunday, 9 a.m., 407-647-3...
(JNS) — A group of American Christian leaders are publicly reaffirming the Jewish people’s right to the biblical heartland of Israel, ahead of a key U.S. decision on Israeli sovereignty over the territory. The move comes weeks before U.S. President Donald Trump is slated to announce whether or not he supports the Israeli annexation of Judea and Samaria—a goal backed by many evangelicals including some administration officials—amid international plans to rebuild post-war Gaza. The declaration will be made public on Tuesday at the annual National...
(JNS) — A Spanish-language documentary on the Hamas-led terrorist attacks in Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, told through the eyes of Latino immigrants who were targeted in the country’s south that day, premiered in Los Angeles in February. The four-part series, “7/O: Testigos del Terror” (“10/7: Witnesses of Terror”), tells the story of the largest single-day attack on the Jewish people since the Holocaust by focusing on Latin Americans living in kibbutzim and other farming villages on the border with Gaza, the largest immigrant group that came u...
(JNS) — Before discovering the story of Joseph and Rebecca Bau, who married secretly in the Plaszow concentration camp during the Holocaust, Deborah Smerecnik never imagined that she would make a film. “It was the love story that drew me in and the fact that there were so many miracles,” she told JNS. “I’m very much a believer in miracles, and I wanted to tell a redemptive story that encourages people to hold on and persevere.” Smerecnik, who wrote the 2024 film “Bau: Artist at War,” devoted some 15 years to the project, which she admits she...
Osteoporosis is a condition characterized by low bone density, which affects millions of Americans and can lead to fractures with life-altering consequences. Scheduling a DEXA scan is a crucial step in assessing bone density in key areas like the hips and spine. This painless procedure helps in early detection and management of osteoporosis. To combat osteoporosis, two types of exercises are particularly important: muscle-strengthening and weight-bearing activities. Muscle-strengthening exercises include weight lifting, resistance-band...
(JNS) - "When I stood at the Gama junction next to Re'im, the first place whereas Israelis we could see the trucks with the coffins pass, it was very emotional. I understood why they had to come back," Daniel Lifshitz told JNS. The remains of his grandfather Oded Lifshitz were returned to Israel from the Gaza Strip last month as part of a ceasefire agreement with the Hamas terrorist organization. Oded was laid to rest in Kibbutz Nir Oz on Feb. 25. "It would have been like a very strong voice in...
(JTA) — The case of Mahmoud Khalil, the Palestinian protester arrested by ICE officers at Columbia University over the weekend, has divided Jewish groups: Right-wing pro-Israel voices are praising the arrest as a blow to a terrorist sympathizer, while a range of liberal and progressive Jewish groups are slamming it as authoritarian and unconstitutional. On Monday, one more Jewish voice said Khalil should not be deported, at least for the time being: Judge Jesse Furman of the Southern District of New York. Furman, on the bench at a federal d...
