Central Florida's Independent Jewish Voice
Central Florida's Independent Jewish Voice
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Shavuot, the "Feast of Weeks," is celebrated seven weeks after Passover (Pesach). Since the counting of this period (sefirat ha-omer) begins on the second evening of Passover, Shavuot takes place exactly 50 days after the (first) seder. Hence, following the Greek word for "fifty," Shavuot is also referred to sometimes as Pentecost. Although its origins are to be found in an ancient grain harvest festival, Shavuot has long been identified with the giving of the Torah on Mount Sinai. Shavuot in...
A recent Orlando Sentinel guest commentary by Zaina Alsous, a Palestinian-American organizer with the Dream Defenders in Miami and Donna Nevel, a community psychologist and educator and a Jewish social justice activist living in South Florida, pushed an anti-Israel agenda under the guise of criticizing Gov. Ron DeSantis’ decision to hold a Florida Cabinet meeting in Israel. The May 29 opinion piece was titled “DeSantis’ Israel meeting slap in the face to voters.” The Jewish Federation of Greater Orlando quickly responded to the opinion piece....
JERUSALEM (JTA)-The blame game started shortly after midnight Thursday morning. The Knesset's vote to dissolve itself and hold a second national election in five months had hardly been posted on the chyrons of news networks in Israel and around the world when the major players in the drama that is coalition government-forming took to microphones throughout the Knesset. It goes something like this: Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu blamed Yisrael Beiteinu head Avigdor Liberman. Liberman blamed th...
(JTA)-Theresa May, who announced her resignation on Friday as the prime minister of the United Kingdom, will be remembered as one of her country's shortest-serving and least popular leaders. Blamed by supporters of Britain's departure from the European Union for delivering what they consider half measures, she was loathed also by opponents of that plan for her efforts to push it forward. Ultimately, her desperate balancing act came to an end following the umpteenth failure in Parliament of one...
It's too bad there could be only one performance of "Junie B. Jones-The Musical" by Jewish Academy of Orlando students, because they wowed the audience at the Wayne Densch Performing Arts Center. Here are just a few of the scenes from the musical for our enjoyment. Jewish Academy of Orlando serves central Florida students of all faiths from grades kindergarten through fifth. The school delivers a whole-child education fostering academic excellence and character education rooted in Jewish...
Congregation Beth Sholom, Lake County’s oldest synagogue, will celebrate the holiday of Shavuot on Friday, June 14 at 7 p.m. On Shavuot, we celebrate the gift of Torah. The Torah, a history and a guide to our every step through life, was given to the Jewish people at Mount Sinai, more than 3300 years ago. Every year, on the holiday of Shavuot, not only do we renew our acceptance of the gift, we also re-receive the Torah. “What better day than Shavuot, the giving of the Torah, and what better way to celebrate Shavuot, than to dedicate a new Ark...
(JNS)-Professor Melvin L. Oliver, president of Pitzer College in Claremont, Calif., who defied pressure to boycott Israeli academia by vetoing the vote by a Pitzer governance body to suspend the college's study-abroad exchange with University of Haifa, gave the keynote lecture at University of Haifa's 47th annual board of governors meeting on May 28. The two academic institutions have been at the center of a highly publicized Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement debate in recent months....
(JNS)-The International Fellowship of Christians and Jews has mobilized to raise more than 1 million shekels (about $275,000) in emergency assistance for residents of moshav Mevo Modi'im, a small agricultural community west of Jerusalem near the city of Modi'in. The moshav sustained a massive fire on May 23 that destroyed at least 40 out of the community's 50 homes. From that, the Fellowship will be providing up to $5,000 in assistance for each family in Mevo Modi'im. The fire, one of many...
(JNS)-Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis announced on Tuesday a $5.2 million National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) grant to fund a collaboration between researchers at Florida International University and Tel Aviv University to test a novel treatment for child social-anxiety disorder that could open new therapies to help children with this condition. "This trip to Israel headed by Governor Ron DeSantis is key in helping us at FIU create and deepen important partnerships in a number of strategic...
(JTA)—In terms of popularity, Shavuot is the National Hockey League of Jewish holidays. Passover, the High Holidays and Chanukah are the NFL, NBA and Major League Baseball, while Shavuot has a much smaller, albeit intense, following. I don’t know if Shavuot is more popular in Canada. For the sake of the analogy, let’s presume yes. Rabbis and Jewish educators lament that Shavuot isn’t more widely known or celebrated. It is, after all, a festival linked to the giving of the Torah at Mount Sinai, which not only transformed an oppressed band of...
(JTA)—Israel held a national election seven weeks ago. It will hold another one in September. If that sounds weird to you, you’re right: Israel has a famously raucous political system, but it’s never held national elections twice in one year. Until now. Just to be clear, no one really wanted this to happen, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu; his main rival, Benny Gantz; or the president, Reuven Rivlin. Nor do Israeli political journalists, who just finished covering a vicious campaign. So why is it happening? It’s a result of Israel...
(JNS—Israel Hayom)—The fissures are already visible. Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, two important, influential Persian Gulf countries, announced they will attend the U.S.-led economic conference in Bahrain scheduled for June 25-26. The Palestinian Authority and Hamas have already said separately that they will boycott the summit. Egypt and Jordan are still undecided. The rest of the Arab world is licking its wounds. Iran, for its part, is looking on, grinning from ear to ear. Jordan’s King Abdullah was able to weather the Arab...
(JYA)—A few months ago, when two of my kids and I boarded the London Underground, all eyes seemed to rest on us. My son’s small black kippah, which he always wears, seemed to be drawing dozens of staring faces—and also a few glares and frowns. It was an uncomfortable moment. “Maybe you should take off your kippah,” my daughter, 15, whispered to her brother, 17. “No!” he whispered back. “The day I’m afraid to wear my kippah in public is the day I wear it for that reason!” Wearing a kippah is a traditional symbol of piety, signifying that we...
(JNS)—Who could really be surprised by the story that grabbed the attention of the Jewish world this past weekend? When Felix Klein, Germany’s first Commissioner for Jewish Life in Germany and the Fight Against Anti-Semitism (yes, that’s his full title) warned Jews about the danger of wearing a kipah in public, it was hardly a shock that this would be the case in the country responsible for the Holocaust. Yet the alarming frankness of his admission has made it impossible to ignore the truth about the threat to Jews in Europe any longer. Some of...
NEW YORK (JTA)—As in all life matters, when it comes to abortion, Judaism doesn’t speak of rights but of responsibilities and obligations. Seeing things through that lens can be a real eye opener. The concept of “rights” is deeply ingrained in our Western minds. We rarely stop to question it. But the idea, as wonderful as it is and as helpful as it has been to humanity, doesn’t coexist very cozily with a fundamental Jewish truth: Everything benefiting us isn’t due us, but is rather a gift that we are charged to use responsibly in the service...
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...
Temple Israel has brought back their cheesecake bake-off as part of a community-wide Tikkun Leil Shavuot. The night of studying and learning will take place in the Rein Sanctuary on Saturday, June 8, at 9:30 p.m., with cheesecake tasting and judging in the Roth Social Hall. All are welcome, so come join the Orlando community in celebrating Tikkun Leil Shavuot with a night of passionate learning and delicious cheesecake. There will be teachers from all over the Orlando area. Bakers can bake their kosher creations in their own rabbi-approved...
Join Congregation Beth Sholom for a very special Shavuot Shabbat Service, led by Rabbi Karen Allen, on June 14, at 7 p.m. The congregation’s beautiful new Ark will be officially dedicated during the service. Socialize with members and enjoy refreshments at the Oneg Shabbat following the service. The Rabbi’s Torah Roundtable Discussion Group with Rabbi Karen Allen will be held on Thursday, June 20th at 1 p.m. at the Sumter County Service Center and Library Building (with the golden dome) at 7375 Powell Rd. (near Pinellas Plaza and 466A), Wil...
Heritage Florida Jewish News is accepting nominations for the 2019 Heritage Human Service Award, which will be presented at the annual meeting of the Jewish Federation of Greater Orlando on Aug. 18, from 10 a.m. - noon. “For more than 29 years, individuals who have made major, voluntary contributions of their talent, time, energy and effort to the Central Florida community have been honored with the selection and presentation of this award,” said Jeff Gaeser, editor and publisher of the Heritage. Last year’s recipient was Roz Fuchs. Forme...
(JNS)-Geneva-based non-governmental organization United Nations Watch has announced that Sarah Idan, who as Miss Iraq in 2017 faced death threats for posting a photo of herself with Miss Israel, will receive the Swiss organization's Ambassador for Peace Award. In recognition of her courageous and extraordinary actions to promote tolerance, build bridges for peace and spread a message of hope and unity, the prize will be presented to Idan at a Geneva ceremony attended by senior diplomats of the...
Any room that Susie Stone walks into becomes warmer and brighter in an instant! This dedicated volunteer helps regularly at Jewish Pavilion programs at Westchester of Winter Park and Savannah Court of Maitland, and she has been an active Friends of the Jewish Pavilion member for years. The seniors she visits are always glad to see her and look forward to her positive attitude and big smile. — Lisa Levine...
Andrew Burnstine, son of proud mom Karen Burnstine, recently graduated with honors from Florida State University College of Law. He is interviewing with firms here in Orlando where he plans to pursue his career as an attorney. Heritage Florida Jewish News welcomes announcements of graduates in our community. If you have a graduate in your family, and would like to share the good news, send a photograph along with information to news@orlandoheritage.com....
ShuffieldLowman attorney Daniel B. Harris was recently elected as vice-chair of the Central Florida Hillel, Inc., effective July 2019 for a one-year term. Harris has been an active supporter and leader of Central Florida Hillel. He currently serves as a member of the Executive Committee and chairs the Governance, Nominations and Human Resources Committees. In 2001 the Jewish Federation of Greater Orlando established Central Florida Hillel to serve Jewish college students. Central Florida Hillel is the center for Jewish life on campus and the...
LOS ANGELES-RVW Wealth LLC has announced the launch of The Jerusalem PortfolioTM, a new investment vehicle that will empower individuals, foundations and institutions to carve out a portion of their portfolios to reflect their values by owning a stake in Israeli-focused companies. RVW Wealth-which has a multi-decade track record of delivering the highest quality investment management and related services-is channeling its deep passion for supporting Israel into this new venture. "The Jerusalem...
Long, long, long (long) ago, when I was young... Just before World War II (I said it was long, long, long !) and we were poverty stricken and living in the Red Hook Projects of Brooklyn, New York, anti-Semitism was on the rise in the U.S. Because of it, I was beaten up as a toddler. And because of that, I learned a few "Hail Mary's" and "Our Father," and denied being Jewish. I claimed to be Catholic. During the war, my dad got a job in the Brooklyn Navy Yard and we went off Welfare and moved to...
