Central Florida's Independent Jewish Voice
Central Florida's Independent Jewish Voice
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Jewish Federation of Greater Orlando President Rhonda Forest (from left), board member Lawrence Haber and Executive Director Olga Yorish meet July 5 in Budapest with Taly Shaul, director of Hungary's Joint Distribution Committee, to learn about the Jewish community in Budapest and the work JDC is doing there in partnership with the Jewish Federations of North America. Forest, Haber and Yorish were en route to the Ukraine, then Israel, as part of JFNA's 2017 Leadership Mission. The mission... Full story
An upcoming vote by the United Nations cultural body UNESCO on whether to declare Hebron's Cave of the Patriarchs as an endangered Palestinian heritage site is the latest example of "narrative warfare" against Israel and Jews, legal experts say. As part of an ongoing Palestinian-engineered diplomatic campaign, an "emergency resolution" UNESCO presented to its World Heritage Committee claims Israel is causing "irreversible negative effect on the integrity, authenticity and/or the distinctive... Full story
The Jewish Federation of Greater Orlando has hired Ben Friedman as its new director of Community Relations and Leadership Development. He replaces Marli Porth, who has moved out of state with her family. In his new role, Friedman coordinates the Federation's Jewish Community Relations Council and the Jerome J. Bornstein Leadership Development Program, among other duties. He brings legal experience and passion for advocacy to JFGO, having worked most recently as an associate at The Raben Group,... Full story
Eric Geboff, executive director of JFS Orlando, announced today that Rosie Miller has joined the Winter Park-based nonprofit, human service agency as development director. Miller brings a rich and impressive resume of local and national nonprofit experience that spans over 15 years to JFS Orlando. She will spearhead the development and marketing efforts for the agency and have oversight of donor development, stewardship and cultivation. Prior to joining JFS Orlando, Miller served as the director... Full story
These were my immediate thoughts when-just like each of you-I tried to absorb the shock. Each of you has Lois memories-these are some of mine. Losing Lois. On my 42nd birthday in 1981, Lois and Sheryl Meitin gave me a book, titled "Friendship." In it, Ralph Waldo Emerson said, "I awoke this morning with devout thanksgiving for my friends. Shall I not call God who daily showeth himself to me in his gifts? My friends have come to me unsought. They were given to me. The laws of friendship are... Full story
Lois Tannenbaum, beloved wife, sister, aunt, mother, grandmother, and friend, passed away on July 4, 2017. Born in the Bronx, New York on June 17, 1939, to Edith and Jake Infeld, Lois’s early years were filled with loving friends and family, both of which remained a focus of her life. After moving to Florida in 1966 with her husband, Jerry, and two children, Lois became an active member in Orlando’s then-quiet Jewish community. She thrived in leadership roles in a wide variety of interest groups and careers, but Lois was always proudest of the... Full story
The Holocaust Memorial Resource & Education Center of Florida is thrilled to welcome Winter Park native and Tuskegee airman, Chief Master Sergeant Richard R. Hall, Jr., to the Center on Sunday, July 23, at 2 p.m. for a screening of the film "Red Tails." The program will also include a post-film talkback with Sgt. Hall. This is part of the Holocaust Center's summer series, which encourages visitors to engage in conversations about the history and future of the Civil Rights Movement in the United... Full story
On America's Independence Day, let's not forget another important anniversary-On July 4th, 1976, Operation Entebbe, a hostage-rescue mission, was carried out by commandos of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) at Entebbe Airport in Uganda. This is a different story of independence and freedom for Jews and Israelis throughout the world. Operation Entebbe a hostage-rescue mission, was carried out by commandos of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) at Entebbe Airport in Uganda. The operation, which took a... Full story
JERUSALEM (JTA)-An internal Palestinian dispute has left Gaza's nearly 2 million Palestinian residents dangerously vulnerable to a heat wave, but Israel could get burned, too. The West Bank Palestinian Authority has recently spearheaded a sharp reduction of electricity to the coastal enclave with Israel's cooperation, resulting in the exacerbation of Gaza's already dire humanitarian crisis and hints of new alliances that could lead to new military conflict with Israel. The electricity cuts are... Full story
(JTA)—North Carolina lawmakers passed a bill that would bar the state from doing business with companies that boycott Israel. Both houses of the General Assembly passed the bill last week. Gov. Roy Cooper must sign the measure before it becomes law. It passed the state House of Representatives by a vote of 96-19 and the state Senate by a vote of 45-3. Under the legislation, state institutions must stop contracts with companies that boycott companies or products made in Israel. The bill also prohibits future work with such companies. North C... Full story
If you haven’t encountered the term “Shi’a corridor” yet, chances are that you will in the coming weeks, particularly if the ongoing confrontation between the U.S. and Iran in Syria intensifies. What was initially a sideshow to the main battle against Islamic State in Syria is fast becoming the main focus of attention. In recent weeks, the U.S. has shot down at least two Iranian armed drones over Syria. A Syrian regime bomber jet supposedly attacking Islamic State positions near Raqqa was also downed, after it ventured too close to positions he... Full story
Before we were disturbed by a dust-up among Jews about the Western Wall and conversion, we were befuddled by another delegation of ranking Americans prodding Israelis and Palestinians to sit around a table and make peace. What these worthies do not grasp is that there already is peace. It ain’t perfect, but it’s close to the best that’s possible. Alongside the well-known constraints in both Palestinian and Israeli politics in the way of agreement on all the issues that would allow a celebration of formal peace, there are ample signs that both... Full story
Well, I’ll admit I was wrong. It happens. In the body of an article of mine about four months ago, I asserted that if Israel allowed the creation of any type of ‘West Bank Palestinian State’ where Israel did not have the absolute right to restrict Palestinian immigration and entry “the Palestinian Arabs could invite anyone they want into their state, including thousands of Hezbollah and tens of thousands of Iranian volunteers for Palestine.” Hezbollah Leader Hassan Nasrallah just stated that in a war with Israel, “hundreds of thousands of fight... Full story
The newly released details about a recent terrorist attack in Jerusalem show how easily Palestinian terrorists can enter Israel—thus contradicting the phony claims that Palestinians’ movements are severely restricted by Israel. The attack in question took place June 16. Three Palestinian terrorists killed a teenage Israeli policewoman named Hadas Malka, in Jerusalem. They also stabbed and shot several other Israelis, before they were killed. The BBC rubbed salt in the victims’ wounds by headlining its reports of the attack: “Three Palesti... Full story
While the anti-Semites continue to spin their wheels trying to convince college student governments to adopt meaningless divestment resolutions and persuade rock stars to boycott Israel, the prime ministers of Israel and India are having a lovefest and the world’s most populous democracy is signing contracts with Israel worth billions of dollars. What must be particularly galling to the BDS advocates is that India was once a vigorous adherent to the Arab League boycott. The change in India’s posture toward Israel did not happen overnight. Ind... Full story
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 Israe... Full story
Celebrate Shabbat with the Synagogue that feels like family. Our Shabbat evening service led by Rabbi Karen Allen is on Friday, July 14 at 7 p.m. An Oneg Shabbat will follow the service. The synagogue is located at 315 North 13th St. in Leesburg, with the entrance on Center Street. More information is available on the synagogue website: http://bethsholomflorida.org/ or by calling the synagogue at 352-326-3692. The Rabbi’s Torah Roundtable Discussion Group with Rabbi Karen Allen will be held on Thursday, July 27 at 3 p.m. at the Sumter County A... Full story
Former Collegiate Water Polo Association (CWPA) student-athletes Adam Greenberg (University of Illinois, 2010), Zev Halikman (Florida Atlantic University, 2017), David Melnick (Northwestern University, 2011) and Ory Tasman(Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 2016/University of Central Florida women's collegiate club coach) comprise nearly a quarter of the total roster that the United States will send to compete in Open Men's Water Polo competition at the 20th World Maccabiah Games on July... Full story
On Monday morning, June 12, I entered the Holocaust Memorial Resource and Education Center of Florida in Maitland looking forward to spending five busy days writing middle school civics lessons focusing on the Holocaust with Mitchell Bloomer, the Holocaust Center's resource teacher; Jennifer Adkison, a high school U.S. government and economics teacher at East River High School; and Stephen Poynor, a high school Holocaust Studies and sociology teacher at West Orange High School. My work as... Full story
Building off the last few years of rumors and reports regarding clandestine relations between Israel and Saudi Arabia, mainly motivated by their shared concerns over Iran's nuclear program and destabilizing regional activities, two recent developments highlight a potential route for Israel to firm up support within the Arab world. Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi ratified a treaty to hand over two strategic islands in the Red Sea to Saudi Arabia. Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia's King Salman... Full story
Program Director Walter Goldstein of The Jewish Pavilion would like to recognize George at Kinneret Apartments, who, after 90 years, is still helping people. He served in the military in WWII; he will get up to volunteer for a play; he is active in the 39ers Club at the JCC; and he helps those where he lives when they are not feeling well. George has strong feeling toward how to help his country and will even call the Orlando Senior Help Desk to help a friend when it is beyond his abilities to... Full story
Good for Amazon!... I received this information in the current World Jewish Congress (WJC) digest and pass it along to you: World Jewish Congress CEO ROBERT SINGER thanked Amazon CEO JEFF BEZOS for removing several Holocaust denial books flagged by WJC on multiple occasions since 2013 as being in violation of Amazon's guidelines prohibiting the sale of material that 'promote or glorify hatred.' In a letter to Bezos, Singer offered the WJC's assistance in helping to identify and flag other... Full story
(The Nosher via JTA)-Tabbouleh is a classic Middle Eastern salad made with bulgur, tomatoes and a high ratio of chopped fresh herbs. It's easy to make, fresh, delicious and healthy, making it a much-beloved side dish around the world. Instead of classic bulgur, we wanted to try a version made with quinoa, which is high in fiber and protein. This is the perfect vegetarian dish to serve for summer cookouts, Friday night dinner, easy take-along lunch and even Passover. And it's so easy to make.... Full story
(JTA)-The Great Jewish Revolt of 2017. The Bar Kotel Rebellion. The Diaspora Strikes Back. Whatever you call it, last week's clash between American Jewish leaders and the Netanyahu government felt louder, angrier and more significant than previous clashes over pluralism in Israel. That may be because it wasn't only about pluralism. That's not to say that pluralism isn't important in its own right. The non-Orthodox Jewish groups who fought hard for a space and a say at the Western Wall-only to se... Full story
(JTA)-What do you think of when you think of Italy? Maybe you picture beautiful works of art set against rolling Tuscan hills. Maybe a steaming plate of spaghetti topped with marinara sauce served with a deep red wine. Now what do you think of when you think of Israel? If you're like most Americans, you picture walls of concrete enclosing an austere and strict country. The men wear black hats, the women long skirts. Everyone looks pretty serious. That's what Brand Israel Group, a group of... Full story
