Central Florida's Independent Jewish Voice
Central Florida's Independent Jewish Voice
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(JNS)-Israeli researchers said they are days away from finishing production of the active component of a coronavirus vaccine that could be tested on humans starting June 1. "We are in the final stages and within a few days we will hold the proteins-the active component of the vaccine," Dr. Chen Katz, group leader of the biotechnology group at the MIGAL Galilee Research Institute, told The Jerusalem Post on Tuesday. The human trials will be conducted on "young, healthy individuals" and will then... Full story
When VITAS® Healthcare Chaplain Nicolle Grasse met Adele Laznowski Zaveduk in early January in the home she shared with her husband, the 82-year-old woman was visibly weak from a long fight against advanced heart failure. Zaveduk had been receiving care from VITAS for only a few days. Her doctors expected she had only a few weeks to live. Yet her eyes shone brightly as she thumbed through a box brimming with envelopes, each bearing her name and address scrawled by a child's hand. For 25... Full story
(JTA)—On a typical day, the art center at Kohelet Yeshiva High School in suburban Philadelphia is filled with students working on a range of projects—from making ceramic bowls on the pottery wheels to creating wooden sculptures. They use the 3-D printer and laser cutter to build parts for the robotics team. But since the school went virtual more than two weeks ago, the 1,300-square-foot center has been used to make an entirely different project: face shields for medical professionals treating coronavirus patients. Since starting production las... Full story
As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to evolve and impact our country and our world, Kinneret Apartments and the Kinneret Council on Aging continue to intensely focus on preventing the spread of the virus within its 280 apartment independent living community. Collectively, they released the following statement regarding the heightened infection prevention protocols: "We are all aware of the extraordinary impact that the coronavirus is having on our communities, country and world. Today, we assure... Full story
Special thanks to Nancy Layish for starting the Cookies for Comfort Caravan for the Jewish Pavilion. Layish and others are home-baking cookies for healthcare workers who devote their lives to seniors in elder-care communities. The first delivery took place on April 6.The cookies were delivered along with cards and letters given to the Jewish Pavilion to distribute to seniors at Brookdale Altamonte Springs. The staff expressed their sincere appreciation for the gift.... Full story
Even though the volunteers can't visit with our elderly, the Jewish Pavilion made sure that seniors living in area assisted-living facilities had Passover goodies for the Passover week. Here are two senior residents of Savannah Court and Cove in Maitland showing their gifts.... Full story
(JNS)-In ordinary times, Israel Aerospace Industries Systems Missiles Space group churns out advanced missiles, including interceptors used by the Arrow 2 and Arrow 3 defense systems. During these extraordinary times, the group has added a new production line-one that produces hospital ventilators. As Israel, like many countries, grapples with a shortage of ventilators in the face of a potential tidal wave of vulnerable coronavirus patients, IAI teamed up with Ra'anana-based Inovytec, which... Full story
(JTA)—A British lawmaker who has said that he supports Zionism will replace Jeremy Corbyn as the head of Britain’s Labour Party. Keir Starmer, who managed the party’s Brexit approach under Corbyn, won 52 percent of the vote in the Labour leadership election, whose results were announced Saturday. His share of the votes was almost double that of the runner-up, Rebecca Long-Bailey, a close ally of Corbyn. In his victory speech Saturday, Starmer apologized for how the party has handled anti-Semitism within its ranks and committed to making chang... Full story
(JNS)—A 4.3-magnitude earthquake hit Israel’s south on Sunday morning, according to the Geophysical Institute of Israel. According to the institute, the earthquake epicenter was around 62 miles south of Eilat in an area known as the Great Rift Valley—the edge of a tectonic plate in Israel that runs parallel to the Jordan River. Various residents of Eilat, as quoted by Ynet, were shaken awake by the tremblor, which hit just after 5 a.m. “Storms, coronavirus and now earthquake, what else? The 10 plagues? God save us,” said Eilat resident... Full story
(JNS)-The four men acquitted in the 2002 kidnapping and murder of Wall Street Journal reporter Daniel Pearl in Pakistan have been rearrested and will remain in custody pending prosecutors appealing the ruling in the country's Supreme Court, announced Pakistan's interior ministry on Friday. Three were handed life sentences, and a fourth, Ahmed Omar Saeed Sheikh, was awaiting execution. The Karachi court last week reduced Sheikh's sentence to seven years for kidnapping following the hearing of an... Full story
By Manfred Gerstenfeld (JNS)—The coronavirus pandemic has led to huge societal problems all over the world. In such an unprecedented reality, it is important for governments to start planning as soon as possible for the period immediately after the worst danger to public health has passed. Such an agenda should be constructed ahead of time, even if it is full of holes. New plans can be added as developments arise. Among the multitude of issues governments will face post-coronavirus, the hit to national economies will have to take priority. Lock... Full story
There are quite a few things I’ve been seeing all over my social media feeds ever since the spread of COVID-19 forced everyone to social distance. There are the jokes about no longer wearing a bra, comments about being confused over what day it is and comparisons to Anne Frank hiding in an attic. One of these things is not like the other. The U.S. government recommending individuals to practice social distancing in order to prevent the spread of a deadly virus is not at all similar to being forced into hiding to avoid the impending threat of a... Full story
(JNS)—The whole world is changing—but not for J Street, which, virus or no virus, is still devoting itself to persuading members of U.S. Congress to embrace the Palestinian cause. Over the past several weeks, J Street was mobilizing its supporters around the country to urge them to “demand the administration release vital assistance to help the Palestinians combat the coronavirus pandemic.” Think about that. In the midst of an epidemic that has left U.S. hospitals desperately short of emergency equipment and has resulted in millions of America... Full story
In the midst of the global coronavirus pandemic, as we all pray and guard our behaviors in order to ensure the health and safety of ourselves and of our neighbors to prevent its spreading, noted anti-Semitic “Christian pastor” and “broadcaster” Rick Wiles has proven that while there will be a cure for coronavirus, there is no cure for the older and no less deadly virus of Jew-hatred. Most recently, Wiles said that the coronavirus is spreading via synagogues and is a punishment from God. “Stay out of those things, there’s a plague in them. Go... Full story
(JNS)—A frightening coincidence is upon us. As we are about to recite the plagues that preceded our ancestors’ freedom from Egyptian slavery, we endure the terrible plague that now enslaves us in anxiety and fear, tragically claiming tens of thousands of lives and decimating communities worldwide. It has imposed solitude even upon the most gregarious among us, forcing us to substitute electronic satisfaction for hugs and handshakes.To be sure, the Internet provides ample opportunities for connection, as I have learned from family members and... Full story
(JNS)—I don’t sleep much. I never have; a good five hours was all I ever needed to feel refreshed and go about my day. But in the past eight years, that’s dwindled down to about three hours a night (it did correlate with the birth of my fourth child and the fact that I moved from newspaper print to online journalism). I know that’s hard to believe, but it’s true: I have the email, social-media posts and computer time logs to show for it. Not that it’s something to brag about. Quite the contrary! It’s just that I can get so much done, and I d... Full story
Jewish Academy of Orlando continues to make improvements on remote learning based on parent survey results. The school began remote learning only a day after schools across the state nation were closed for weeks or more. The administration conducted a parent survey to determine areas of success and improvement toward its remote learning offering. Alan Rusonik, head of school stated, "We are grateful to all of our families for their participation in our remote learning survey. We had a... Full story
(JTA)—Forget about “The Chanukah Song.” Actor Adam Sandler’s latest earworm is a tribute to doctors and nurses and an exhortation for people to stay home to stop the spread of the coronavirus. Sandler debuted “Quarantine Song” from his home during a guest appearance Thursday on “The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon.” Fallon was broadcasting from his home as well. Sandler pulled a hoodie over his baseball cap and put on sunglasses (so viewers would not see him reading the lyrics, he said) before he began strumming on his guitar. “Doctors and nurse... Full story
(JTA)-Fresh off his Super Bowl win in February, Kansas City Chiefs lineman Mitchell Schwartz took a vacation with his wife, Brooke, to St. Lucia. Little did they know that when they returned, they would be spending the next few months holed up at home because of the coronavirus pandemic. So Schwartz, 30, has turned to what he loves maybe more than football: cooking. Posting to his 79,000 Instagram followers using the hashtag #ChefSchwartz, the Jewish athlete has shared photos of many of his... Full story
Social distancing and staying inside is hard. Thankfully, accessing good things to watch during this time is not. This is the second installation of a weekly column on Jewish movies and TV shows that you should stream in quarantine. "Blazing Saddles" Streams on: Hulu Available to rent on: Amazon, YouTube, iTunes and more. Family friendly? No-only for mature audiences due to language and adult material (JTA)-Confined by the coronavirus plague over the Passover holiday, what better way to satisfy... Full story
This is a common question. Although I don’t believe God did this. The world is a beautiful, wonderful place. Things like this have happened throughout all of mankind. You can believe that perhaps this is in God’s plan. But God gave us each other to love and cherish, and perhaps it’s a reminder to Treasure your life more. To realize that we’re not in the driver’s seat. We recognize how frail we really are. So, let’s lean on each other and let’s give our worries over to God. This is an excerpt from the article written by Ed Borowsky, “Me... Full story
A word about Passover... Our shared Jewish heritage and traditions bind our global family together, especially during difficult times. And with Passover just ended, we recognize that this year's commemorations were unlike any in recent memory as we found ourselves unable to gather with loved ones, friends and neighbors. 75 Years After A Nightmare... Of course I refer to Auschwitz, which was liberated 75 years ago. I read this in the World Jewish Congress digest and pass it along to you:... Full story
(JNS)-The worldwide pandemic COVID-19 is wreaking havoc in its relentless sweep across the planet, not only in terms of health needs and care, but in economic terms as well. It has quashed the booming stock market and decimated unemployment lows, with such turmoil expected to continue for the next few weeks and maybe months. While the long-term impact of the coronavirus is yet to come, Jewish communal organizations are already hearing from small business, individuals and groups that have... Full story
As we tread carefully through the fourth month of the corona virus pandemic, the emotional and physical devastation this plague has caused is felt acutely by so many. As our days of sheltering at home continue, it has become much more real, much more personal, much more frightening. My husband Larry and I are feeling the impact, as I suspect many of you are. Our community already has had two confirmed deaths from the virus. A friend from my writing group, who had been sick with bronchitis, posted the following message on a Monday on her... Full story
(JNS)-It wasn't so long ago when life was so over-the-top busy that you longed for some quiet unstructured time with your children. The coronavirus pandemic has granted that wish. And then some. With no end in sight of QT (Quality Time), many schools have come to a parent's rescue with online classes through a range of technologies many of us had never heard of two weeks ago. Ironically, those screens that were once the bane of a parent's existence-the computers, lap tops, cell phones and... Full story
