Central Florida's Independent Jewish Voice
Central Florida's Independent Jewish Voice
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By the light of many candles and with the sound of prayer, Chabad at UCF celebrated the 10th annual Mega Shabbat in the Pegasus Ballroom early last month. An amplified spin on a Shabbat dinner, about 500 people gathered together to eat traditional Jewish food and attend a candle-lighting ceremony as Shabbat began at sundown on Friday, said Rivkie Lipskier, program director of Chabad at UCF. "I think it really makes students feel so proud," Lipskier said. "They walk into their campus, and...
(JNS) - For the first time since the signing of the Abraham Accords, an Israeli research book has been published in Abu Dhabi, announced Tel Aviv University. The UAE's largest public research institute, the Emirates Center for Strategic Studies and Research, published "Zionism in Arab Discourse" by Professor Uriya Shavit, head of the Religious Studies Program and the Kantor Center for the Study of Contemporary European Jewry, both at Tel Aviv University. The book is co-authored by Ofir Winter,...
Rabbi Steven Engel of Congregration of Reform Judaism joined a group of Reform Rabbis to explore how they could help the situation in Ukraine. They contacted the JCC Director in Krakow Poland, Jonathan Ornstein, and asked what the needs are and what could be done. He shared with the CRJ congregation via email the plans of this trip. Rabbi Engle stated, "without hesitation, [Ornstein] said "as Rabbis you need to come to Poland to counsel and comfort refugees, to let Ukranian Jews know that...
(JNS) — Israel will host a landmark summit on Sunday night and Monday that will include the top diplomats from the United States, United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Morocco. Israeli Foreign Minister Yair Lapid will host the conference, the foreign ministry said on Friday. It will be attended by U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Emirati Foreign Minister Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Bahraini Foreign Minister Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani and Moroccan Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita. The foreign ministers will arrive beginning at the I...
Hadassah Orlando presents the annual Bunny Rosen Women's Heart Health Lunch and Fashion Show on Sunday, April 10, at 11:30 a.m. at the Alfond Inn, 300 East New England Avenue, Winter Park. The gala event features clothing and accessories by Em'Z on Fifth, Mt. Dora, Florida. Menu selection is grouper or mushroom pasta. Tickets are $54 and a variety of sponsorship packages are available from $118 - $500. RSVP reservations required by April 1. For more information, call Hadassah Orlando at...
How do you snack? It’s easy to grab one of those pre-packaged, salty or sugary treats when you’re in a hurry during the work week. Try prepping your snacks (or even meals) on the weekends or at least the night before. Make your own “go-packs” with raw almonds, fresh fruit, or chopped veggies for easy and healthy snacking! From snacking well to living well, JFS Orlando has a family of services available with your wellness in mind. Learn more at JFSorlando.org or call 407-644-7593....
Renowned artist Mordechai Rosenstein will be at the Roth Family JCC April 3 through April 5 where he will be in the lobby creating a painting for the JCC's collection. Visitors to the center can see him at work and add their own brush stroke to the piece. He can be seen painting Sunday, April 3 from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Monday, April 4 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; and Tuesday, April 5 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. On Saturday, April 9, Rosenstein will be at the Rosen JCC for a night of...
On Friday, March 4, The Roth Family JCC held a Generation to Generation Shabbat. Attending the event were grandmothers with their grandchild. Shown here with their grandchildren are (l-r) Rhonda Forest, unidentified grandmother, Es Cohen, Marci Gaeser, Kate Landis, and Carol Feurerman....
(JNS) - Madeleine Albright, the first woman to hold the position of U.S. secretary of state, has died of cancer at the age of 84. A statement posted on Twitter said that Albright was "surrounded by family and friends" and that she was "a loving mother, grandmother, sister and friend," as well as a "tireless champion of democracy and human rights." Born Marie Jana Korbelova in Prague-then Czechoslovakia in 1937-she came to the United States as a refugee in 1948. She eventually rose to the...
(New York, NY) — The American Jewish Congress profoundly mourns the passing of former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright. The secretary was not only a patriot and public servant in their most accurate forms, but was also a staunch advocate for peace and a lifelong ally of the Jewish Community. From her earliest days in the U.S., Secretary Albright exhibited a remarkable capacity for knowledge and quickly grew into a leading voice on many issues. During her time as U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, Secretary Albright fought to keep f...
WASHINGTON (JTA) — Security officials are reporting a spate of bomb threats targeting Jewish institutions in a number of states. The threats came into Jewish community centers around the country in recent weeks, most recently in Pennsylvania and Missouri, according to Michael Masters, who directs the Secure Community Network, a consultancy that works with national Jewish groups. Other JCCs targeted have been in Oklahoma, Arizona and New Jersey. The threats come through online contact forms and have similar language. The two most recent t...
(JTA) — Israel is the ninth happiest country in the world, according to the World Happiness Report, a project of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Solutions Network. Israel has moved slowly up the rankings in recent years, going from No. 14 in 2020 to No. 11 in 2021. The report, which is celebrating its 10th anniversary, says it factors a country’s GDP, social support, life expectancy, “freedom to make life choices,” citizen generosity and perceptions of corruption into its ranking. The U.N. is known as a harsh critic of Israel, s...
For us old-timers, it is beginning to feel like the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis all over again, in terms of worries about a nuclear conflagration. Vladimir Putin is waving around his tactical nuclear weapons, i.e., low yield nuclear bombs that would have a devastating impact on a battlefield, but limit the damage to a specific area. Few would suggest based on what we have seen from him since the start of the Russian invasion of Ukraine that his moral scruples would prevent him from employing them should his armies face a humiliating defeat or...
(JNS) — The United Nations has a long history of inventing or redefining terminology to single out, demonize and delegitimize the Jewish state. Over the years, for example, the U.N. has invented a separate meaning for the term “refugee” when it comes to Palestinians, and declared that “Zionism” actually meant “racism.” More recently, some U.N. officials have attempted to redefine the Jewish right to self-determination as “apartheid.” In the coming days, the U.N. is set to continue the trend at the Human Rights Council by declaring that Israel’s...
(JNS) — Biden’s ambassador to Israel recently told participants in a pro-BDS group’s webinar that the real problem with the Palestinian Authority funding terrorism is that “it gives the ‘haters’ an excuse not to support the P.A. based on the argument that it is ‘paying for people who killed Jews.’” He also told the anti-Israel group, whose CEO has described Israel as an “oppressive regime” and which cheered the Ben & Jerry’s boycott, that “your agenda is where my heart is.” At this rate, Thomas Nides will be hugging and kissing Hamas leaders b...
Perhaps it’s a coincidence that I just finished reading Richard Heideman’s new book, “The Bloody Price of Freedom” last week, the same week in which U.S. Ambassador Thomas Nides said that he was “infuriated” by settlement growth. Ambassador Nides would do well to read the book too. I’ll lend him my copy. “I’m a bit of a nag on this, including the idea of settlement growth, which infuriates me when they do things that just infuriate the situation in east Jerusalem and the West Bank.” Nides was clearly playing to his audience, and likel...
Dear Editor: I read Daniel Greenfield’s article on ADL leaders Greenblatt and Eileen Hershenov (Feb. 18, 2022, “Meet the Obama mentor and Soros lawyer heading up the ADL’s civil rights”). ADL is part of the problem because the white supremacists believe the Jews are progressives, socialist, or communist. ADL fits the perception on all three because of where they get their money. Greed is their middle name. I started to write to them because I think I have a good idea on how to stem antisemitism. But I need help because I do not know anyone...
MORNING MINYANS (Please note, because of the coronavirus, some minyans have been canceled or held virtually.) Chabad of North Orlando and Chabad of Altamonte Springs are holding in-person 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. Congregatio...
(JTA) — In 2016, Colorado’s state pension fund passed a law pledging economic loyalty to Israel. That law is now being invoked as the state becomes the seventh to punish ice-cream company Ben & Jerry’s over the company’s 2021 pledge to stop selling ice cream in “occupied Palestinian territories.” The board of Colorado’s Public Employees’ Retirement Association voted unanimously Friday to begin a procedure to divest its holdings from Unilever, Ben & Jerry’s parent company, the Denver Post reported. The association drew upon the 2016 law, sig...
(Israel21C via JNS) - Almost a decade ago, a group of women from the Arab Jerusalem neighborhood of Isawiya looked for a program where they could study Hebrew. They didn't find anything appropriate, and ended up inviting two students from the nearby Hebrew University to teach them. They enjoyed their studies so much that a year later they sought to bring aboard all their female friends, relatives and neighbors. That's how the "Women Speaking Hebrew" program began. Fast forward a few years, and...
(JTA) - Late last year, months before a Russian missile landed near the Babyn Yar memorial outside of Kyiv, Ukraine, the site's foundation announced plans for a new museum to honor the 33,771 Jews slaughtered there by the Nazis in September 1941. Natan Sharansky, chair of the memorial's supervisory board, described Babyn Yar as a "symbol of attempts to destroy the memory of the Holocaust," and that the new institution would be called the Museum of the History of Oblivion. "The History of...
Kelly — Congregation Ohev Shalom and The Roth Family JCC Fitness Center Kelly has been an appreciated and valuable employee of both Congregation Ohev Shalom and The Roth Family JCC Fitness Center since October 2021. At Ohev, Kelly has the important responsibilities of preparing the snack for over 120 students each Sunday. After snack time, she helps to clean up and put the snack supplies away, wipe the tables, and do any office work asked of her. Also at Ohev, Kelly has learned the importance of...
Three cheers to the cast of the Purim play at Cascade Heights in Longwood, Florida. The Jewish Pavilion loves having seniors participate fully in every activity, and their role in the Purim cantata was very special. Participants acted out their parts fully with costumes and lots of drama. Special thanks to Jewish Pavilion volunteers Debbie Meitin and her husband, Larry Gutter, for a beautiful Shabbat service followed by the Purim extravaganza. Cathy Swerdlow wrote this play more than a dozen...
Jewish Super Talents ... William Edward Crystal was born on March 14, 1948. Of course you know him simply has BILLY CRYSTAL! Billy is an actor, comedian, director, producer and writer. (He is also one of my favorite favorites!) It seems every movie he appears in has been a hit! He is also a Broadway star! Like me, Billy is a native New Yorker. He was born in a Manhattan hospital and raised in the Bronx. (I'm a Brooklynite.) As a toddler, he moved with his family to Long Beach, Long Island. He ha...
(ISRAEL21c) - On Tuesday, Israel began accepting patients at its humanitarian field hospital in western Ukraine, where it will treat people affected by the war raging in the country. Situated in the western Ukrainian city of Mostyska and called "Shining Star," the 66-bed hospital is set to be open 24/7 and staffed by more than 60 personnel. It will be able to service 150 patients at a time and includes a triage area, an ER ward, men's, women's and children's wards, labor and delivery...
