Central Florida's Independent Jewish Voice
Central Florida's Independent Jewish Voice
Sorted by date Results 1 - 25 of 37
TEL AVIV (JTA)-Get used to conflict. That's the message Israeli officials and security experts are relaying as the Israel Defense Forces conducts its third operation in six years against Hamas in the Gaza Strip. Israel's missile defense capabilities have grown significantly since previous rounds of fighting in Gaza-Operation Cast Lead in 2008-09 and Operation Pillar of Defense in 2012-while Hamas has expanded its capability to strike deep at population centers in the Israeli heartland. But... Full story
(JTA)-On the morning of June 30, the children began arriving at Camp Solomon Schechter in Olympia, Wash., ready for a fun-filled summer. But shortly before the first little feet descended the bus steps, the sleepaway camp's Israeli counselors learned from back home about the discovery of the bodies of three teens kidnapped in the Judea-Samaria 18 days earlier. The news about the teens' fate challenged administrators at Jewish camps like the Conservative movement-affiliated Schechter to deal... Full story
As Israel is entering the second week of constant barrage by rockets and missiles, the emotional and physical toll on the Israelis, especially the children and the elderly, is rising. Approximately 37,000 children live within 25 miles of Gaza. Today, many more thousands of children are impacted as other areas of the country have come under attack. With only 15 seconds to get to safety, families must keep close to their bomb shelters. Three hundred children suffering from severe PTSD syndrome have already been identified as victims of terror.... Full story
Orlando Shakespeare Theater in Partnership with UCF announces a collaboration with the Holocaust Memorial Resource & Education Center of Florida. Coinciding with the 50th anniversary of the passage and signing of the Civil Rights Act, the two organizations will partner to present “The Best of Enemies” from Oct. 15—Nov. 16, 2014 on the Goldman Theater stage. The powerful new play, based on a true story by Mark St. Germain, exposes the poison of prejudice and the beauty of friendship. Single tickets to the play are available now by calling (407)... Full story
WASHINGTON (JTA)-For many Israelis, eyes are turning south watching yet another conflict unfold with Hamas. Yet thoughts are also turned inward, contemplating the sense of national solidarity occasioned by the abduction and murder of three teenagers and then shattered by the murder of a fourth. The Israeli media-the social and conventional varieties-have exploded in recent days with recrimination and self-recrimination over the brutal murder of Muhammad Abu Khdeir, the Palestinian teenager from... Full story
WASHINGTON (JTA)-The Obama administration's anti-Semitism monitor has added an issue to his office's portfolio: defending circumcision in Europe. Circumcision has become a top focus for Ira Forman, the State Department's special envoy to monitor and combat anti-Semitism. He has been using the pulpit his office provides to warn European governments that moves to ban ritual circumcision could lead to the demise of their countries' Jewish communities. "Because circumcision is essentially universal... Full story
NEW YORK—Magen David Adom (MDA), Israel’s national emergency medical response organization, has issued a list of emergency needs Americans can sponsor as it continues saving lives amid increasing rocket attacks from Gaza. MDA, which does not receive Israeli government funding for its operations, has activated its entire 13,000 volunteer corps and manned all of its 1,000 ambulances in response to sustained rocket fire from Gaza. The latest operations have strained MDA’s resources, which also must be dedicated to standard, day-to-day emergencies... Full story
Jewish moms, dads and their youngsters gathered at the end of June for the Shalom Families summer kickoff. Kids were able to beat the heat at Downey Park's Splash Pad. Fifteen families came out to enjoy the event. Shalom Families provides opportunities for young families to gather for fun and friendship.... Full story
The Jewish Federation of Greater Orlando announces the establishment of Jewish Teen Education Network (JTEN), an innovative response to the changing needs of today’s teens. JFGO hopes this initiative will act as a clearing house for all Jewish teen education in Central Florida. For more than two decades, Jewish teens have come together to engage in Jewish learning through Beit Hamidrash (the Community Hebrew High School). During this time, more than one thousand teens have come through its doors. As times change and the expectations of teenager... Full story
On Monday June 23, 2014, an Israel Scouts Summer Friendship Caravan came to Orlando as guests of the Boy Scout Troupe 6 at Camp Ithiel. The visit was organized by Scoutmaster Brian Collins, who was first introduced to Israel Scouts (Tzofim) when his son did a bar mitzvah volunteer project. Since that time, Collins has worked on bringing the Tzofim to Orlando and this year his dream became a reality. The Summer Caravan had been traversing Florida last month, visiting summer camps and community... Full story
If you want the measure of how American policy has clumsily tailed the shifting system of alliances in the Middle East, look no further than the op-ed titled “Iraq Must Not Come Apart,” published in the New York Times by Leslie Gelb of the Council on Foreign Relations. Once an advocate of a federal Iraq, Gelb has now changed his mind. Nothing wrong with that, except that in doing so, Gelb, one of the most influential foreign policy thinkers in America today, has arrived at a most troubling position. America’s priority, Gelb says, is to defea... Full story
There are far more questions than answers. There may be a new country being formed. It won’t be a welcome addition, as judged by the various governments sending units of their armed forces to attempt an abortion. Those associated with the movement, variously called the Islamic State of Iraq and Greater Syria (ISIS) or more simply the Islamic State (IS), are talking about a caliphate that will begin with large parts of Iraq and Syria, and eventually control the world. So far the record of the new regime is barbaric, proud of shooting p... Full story
On Monday night I clicked over from a nail-biting, extra-innings Mets game to CNN’s coverage of the crisis in Israel. In short: Mets win, Israel loses. While SNY.tv kept showing a did-he, didn’t-he replay of a disputed play at second, CNN looped a video of the beating of an Arab-American teen by two Israeli police. It’s awful to watch: The boy is being held down by one helmeted cop, his hands apparently cuffed behind his back, while another aims swift kicks at his torso and head. It’s painful to admit that this wasn’t even the worst blow to I... Full story
Readers might recall that the Jewishly owned New York clothing chain Syms (which once merged with Filene’s Basement but ultimately folded in 2011) had a clever marketing campaign for “the educated consumer.” In Sy Syms’ famous radio and television ads, his salesmen were really “educators” who taught the public about quality, fabric, and price. What the Central Florida public really needs to be educated about, however, is how Israel is framed in the media. Readers of the Heritage need to be better versed in journalistic uses and abuses. Bec... Full story
Washington Jewish Week “Hard Choices,” the title of a recently released foreign policy memoir by former U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, comes across as surprisingly ironic. While dedicating a chapter of her 656-page autobiography to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and peace negotiations, Clinton, even in her own words, appears to be a passenger in peace efforts rather than a driver of them. As with most U.S. politicians aspiring to high office, Clinton is diplomatic on the subject that for more than a half a century has bee... Full story
Among the many heartbreaking images associated with the kidnap-murder of three Israeli teenagers was a televised interview on June 29 with the mother of one of the Hamas terrorists named as a prime suspect in the killings. “If they [the Israelis] accuse him of this [the kidnapping], and if it is a true accusation, I will be proud of him until Judgment Day,” she declared. “If the accusation that he did it is true... My boys are all righteous, pious and pure. The goal of my children is the triumph of Islam.” Not that she is the first Middle... Full story
Dear Editor: July 28, 2014 marks the 100-year anniversary of the official start of WWI. A local newspaper reader asked me to write about WWI and the impact on the Middle East. The problem in doing this is complying with the typical 200-word limit of many newspapers, but I decided to do it anyway since I owed it to my wife’s father, Alton Jones and her uncle William Howard Jones, both WWI Marines who fought in France and Belgium in Maj. Gen. Lejeune’s Second Marine Division. They fought in many WWI battles, including Belleau Wood, the Ver... Full story
MORNING AND EVENING MINYANS (Call synagogue to confirm time.) Chabad of South Orlando—Monday and Thursday, 8 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., 407-647-3055. FRIDAY, JULY 18 Light Shabbat c... Full story
NEW YORK—Responding to a proposal made by the Religious Zionists of America, leading members of Congress have introduced a bipartisan bill requiring the U.S. government to offer a $5-million reward for information leading to the capture of the Palestinian terrorists who kidnapped and murdered a 16 year-old American citizen, and two other teenagers, in Israel last month. U.S. Senator Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and U.S. Representatives Brad Sherman (D-California) and Doug Lamborn (R-Colorado) introduced the Naftali Fraenkel Reward Bill on July 9, f... Full story
Music teacher: The Steinmetz Family School of Chai at Congregation of Reform Judaism, Orlando is seeking a music specialist for the 2014-15 school year. The hours are Sundays from 9:15 a.m. -12:45 p.m. Candidates should have a minimum of a basic familiarity with Jewish songs and prayers. The music specialist will teach grades Pre-kindergarten through sixth grade. Enthusiasm and ruach is a must! Ability to sing and play an instrument such as guitar or piano required. Sixth-grade teacher: The Steinmetz Family School of Chai at Congregation of... Full story
Victor Hochman MD, age 74, of Sanford, passed away at his residence on Monday, July 7, 2014. He was 74 years old. Dr. Hochman was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, on Oct. 12, 1939, to the late Manuel and Maria Ferztemburg Hochman. Dr. Hochman had a long and distinguished career as a pediatrician who treated his patients without thought of payment or any compensation. When an earthquake occurred in South America, he packed his bags and went to do whatever needed to be done for the children. In 1969, he relocated his family to New York and... Full story
Harold Karp of Winter Springs, passed away on Monday, June 23, 2014 at Florida Hospital—Orlando. He was 90 years old. One of four sons, he was born in Brooklyn on Aug. 14, 1923, to the late Arthur and Rebecca Cohen Karp. Following high school he attended New York University for a year, leaving to enlist in the U.S. Army following the Pearl Harbor attack. He was sent to Europe, landing in France the day following D-Day. He participated in the Battle of the Bulge where he was wounded, receiving a Purple Heart. He returned to the U.S. in 1946 a... Full story
Matthew A. Kusiak of Jamestown N.C., passed away in Orlando on June 29, 2014. He was 23 years old. Mr. Kusiak was born on April 1, 1991, to Phil and Jeanne Friedman Kusiak and was a student at the time of his death. Funeral services and interment were held at Greensboro Hebrew Cemetery in Greensboro, NC. Arrangements entrusted to Beth Shalom Memorial Chapel, 640 Lee Road, Orlando 32810.... Full story
Marilyn H. Oppenheim, age 85, of Winter Park, passed away on Friday, June 27, 2014, at Manor Care Nursing and Rehab Center in Winter Park. She was 85 years old. Mrs. Oppenheim was born in Brooklyn, New York, on May 1, 1929, to the late Samuel and Bertha Gold Hershkowitz. She was an educator and taught in the New York Public Schools. In 1986, she relocated to the Orlando area from Long Island. Mrs. Oppenheim was a nationally recognized craftsperson who created porcelain dipped flowers and miniature dollhouses among other items. She is survived... Full story
Joshua Lawrence Peisner of Casselberry, passed away at Florida Hospital—Altamonte on Wednesday, July 9, 2014. He was 21 years old. Born in Ocala on April 7, 1993, he was the son of Joel Peisner and Pamela Reidy Peisner. An avid camper, he was an Eagle Scout and a graduate of Winter Springs High School. In addition to his parents, Josh is survived by his grandmother, Evelyn Peisner; his grandmother and step-grandfather Jean and Brad Nagel; and his grandfather and step-grandmother Martin and Bonnie Reidy. He is also survived by numerous aunts, u... Full story
