Central Florida's Independent Jewish Voice
Central Florida's Independent Jewish Voice
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Forty-nine years after the 1972 massacre of Israeli athletes at the Munich Olympics, Friday's opening ceremony for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics included, for the first time, an official commemoration of those who died in the terror attack. Tributes were paid to those lost during the pandemic and throughout Olympic history. The Israeli delegation that was killed at the Munich Games was specifically mentioned. A moment of silence was offered inside the stadium, alongside a dance performance honoring th...
(ORLANDO, FL) – Investing two years of research and commitment, Laurie Cardoza-Moore, founder and president of Proclaiming Justice to the Nations, is grateful as both Civics and Holocaust Standards submitted by PJTN were approved late last week for adoption and use in Florida classrooms. She noted on the vote, "Our work in preserving America's Judeo-Christian heritage and values in our children's Civics education amid the national push towards Critical Race Theory will benefit the more than 1.8...
This Saturday, July 31, is Rabbi David Kay Day in Maitland, and especially at Congregation Ohev Shalom. The City of Maitland proclaimed Rabbi David Kay Day in honor of Rabbi Kay's 17 years of dedicated service to COS and the greater community. Maitland Mayor John Lowndes read the official proclamation this week at a breakfast held in Rabbi Kay's honor, on Wednesday, July 28. The proclamation will also be read to the congregation on Saturday, July 31, at Rabbi Kay's final Shabbat as Ohev Shalom's...
(JNS) — Ben & Jerry’s announced on Monday that it will end sales of its ice-cream in Judea and Samaria In a statement posted on the company’s website, the ice-cream brand said that it believes “it is inconsistent with our values for Ben & Jerry’s ice-cream to be sold in the Occupied Palestinian Territory,” claiming that “we also hear and recognize the concerns shared with us by our fans and trusted partners.” “We have a longstanding partnership with our licensee, who manufactures Ben & Jerry’s ice-cream in Israel and distributes it in the regio...
(The Algemeiner) - Alan Kornman is a documentarian who records what takes place at anti-Israel rallies in and around the city of Orlando, Florida. He keeps a low profile, and aside from asking a question every once in a while, he doesn't interfere with protesters and gives everyone their space. But that hasn't stopped one rally organizer, Rasha Mubarak, from interfering with Kornman's ability to report on what goes on at the rallies she promotes. In mid-May, she singled Kornman out at an "Open t...
This past year, in bringing gift bags to all Jewish seniors in facilities, occasionally there were a few bags left over. Director Nancy Ludin requested those bags go to Jewish seniors not in these facilities who might like one. One of these seniors was Helene Markovitz. Program Director Cantor Nina Fine would bring a bag to her each holiday, but each time was unable to reach her through the phone intercom system or at her apartment and would just leave the bag with the office or on her door....
According to a survey by the Pew Research Center, only half of American Jews (52 percent) can read Hebrew. To fill this gap in Jewish education, the Rohr Jewish Learning Institute has developed Read it in Hebrew, an innovative Hebrew reading course that is sweeping the Jewish world. Read it in Hebrew combines timeless learning methods with contemporary psychology for a course guaranteed to be effective in only five sessions. Read it in Hebrew was piloted in just five communities in 2016. Since then, it’s been taught at over 600 locations a...
(JNS) — In a video address to the 2021 summit of Christians United for Israel, Israeli Foreign Minister Yair Lapid on Monday expressed his appreciation to the largest pro-Israel organization in the United States for their ongoing support — most recently, during and after the 11-day conflict with Hamas in Gaza in May. While its base is American evangelicals, which are largely politically conservative, CUFI as an organization emphasized that it makes its decisions based on the pro-Israel issues it believes in. While evangelicals fervently sup...
Hebrew University of Jerusalem studies published in a pair of medical journals suggest that already-existing drugs can be repurposed to fight Covid, the Hebrew-language news sites reported Monday. The studies give fresh optimism that a solution to the pandemic will be found despite fears of variants. Rather than create a Covid vaccine from scratch, Professor Shai Arkin of Hebrew University’s Biological Chemistry Department wondered if any existing medications could be reprocessed to fight the virus. After screening 3,000 potential drugs, A...
(JNS) - When Belgian professional road and cyclo-cross racer Wout van Aert took the 21st and final stage of the Tour de France and Slovenian cyclist Tadej Pogačar won the overall 2021 Tour de France on Sunday, there weren't many Israeli riders in sight. Even without Israeli riders winning the race, this year's Tour de France was an unprecedented victory for the Jewish state. The famed race, which each year covers 3,413 kilometers (2,121 miles) over 21 stages in 23 days, featured eight riders...
(JNS) — The Israel Defense Forces shelled targets in Lebanon on Tuesday morning after two rockets were launched from Southern Lebanon at northern Israel on Monday night. Israel’s Iron Dome air-defense system downed one of the rockets, while the second fell in an open area, according to the military. No injuries or damage were reported, and the IDF Home Front Command issued no special guidelines for residents of the north. Israeli Defense Minister Benny Gantz warned on Tuesday that Israel would not tolerate the current Lebanese crisis spi...
By I woke up to the echoes of the Islamic prayers through the Judean mountains that were both beautiful and haunting. Living here among Palestinian Arab Moslems I hear the call to prayer daily, five times a day, but today was different. Today the volume and length of the prayer was considerably louder and longer. The sustained repetition of “Allah Akbar” is audible, perhaps amplified by the mountains, and only competing with an occasional car, or bird. I have no problem with how one approaches God in their respective faith, as long as the...
Lately, the delicious flavors of Ben and Jerry’s ice cream have started to taste very bitter. Could it be the sudden introduction of antisemitic ingredients into the recipe have contaminated a great American product along with the story of a great American company? Prior to being acquired by Unilever, Ltd., a British based international conglomerate in the food industry, in 2001, the company was not only successful, but was socially conscience and active in civil rights and environmental concerns. It certainly was not at its inception destined...
There was a time that negative stereotypes flourished on major networks. “Amos and Andy” was a parody on Black Americans. Their parts were played on radio with white actors putting on exaggerated Black accents. A group of African Americans were portrayed as foolish, stereotypical black people who had trouble like many people but with a nasty racist twist. On radio, Jews were not portrayed with raw racist antisemitism. Maybe it was the preponderance of Jews in high positions in the radio and TV industry. “The Goldbergs,” a staple of daytime...
Unilever, Ltd., is a British multinational consumer goods company. They own over 400 brands. The conglomerate bought Ben & Jerry’s Ice Cream in 2001. Owners Ben Cohen and Jerry Greenfield relinquished managerial control of the company, but maintained autonomy over social issues. When Ben & Jerry’s, the company, said that it is “inconsistent with our values” for their ice cream to be sold in Judea and Samaria, Unilever, the parent company was not — and is not — in agreement. In a press release from Arutz Sheva 7, Avi Zinger, CEO of Ben & Jerry...
(JNS) — The Biden administration is telling Israel that disagreements between them should remain private. Its double standard, like its hypocrisy, is astounding. Washington had no problem, for example, publicly criticizing Israel’s decision to proceed with its effective policy of demolishing the homes of Palestinian-Arab terrorists who murder Jews and Americans. Earlier this month, U.S. State Department spokesman Ned Price said, “We attach a good deal of priority to this, knowing that the home of an entire family shouldn’t be demolis...
(JNS) — It may have been discouraging, but the dismal turnout for a national rally that was supposed to bring Jews together against antisemitism was also an appropriate reminder of the greatest challenge facing them. A week before Tisha B’Av — the annual day of fasting and mourning for the destruction of the First and Second Temples, in addition to other disasters that befell the Jews throughout history — a well-meaning attempt to mobilize and unite the community to confront antisemitism didn’t seem to resonate with most Jews. While lots of e...
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. Congr...
Throughout the coming year, The Heritage will run a half page insertion featuring an organization that has used the Jewish Capital Alliance of Central Florida to attain its chartered goals. Each of these organizations approached JCA, knowing that financial assistance could be immediately available to assist with their particular needs. What you may not know is that most of these organizations found the JCA indirectly, or thru reference, and with little knowledge of the JCA intent and structure....
By Ben Sales (JTA) — Recho Omondi, a fashion podcaster who was accused of antisemitism for comments in a recent interview she conducted with a Jewish writer, has posted a lengthy apology to her listeners. “I owe the Jewish community and anyone else who’s offended by my words an apology,” Omondi said in a six-minute segment uploaded Tuesday morning to her podcast channel, The Cutting Room Floor. “I said some really crass and reductive things about Jewish people, painting them with one big, broad stroke, and it really stereotyped and insulted a l...
(JTA) - Public school unions in the U.S. are increasingly becoming a hotbed of Israel discourse, with the largest teachers' union becoming the latest organized body to deliberate measures that censure Israel and support the Palestinian cause. Members of the National Education Association at the group's annual meeting held over the weekend (with President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden, a longtime educator, in attendance) planned to debate two items on Israel and the Palestinians among the...
More famous Jews... Comic Lenny Bruce once said "To me, if you live in New York City or any other big city, you are Jewish. It doesn't matter, even if you're Catholic, if you live in New York City you're Jewish." (He said that but what did he mean??) Well, here's a Jew who wrote a terrific Christmas song, probably one of the most popular Christmas songs of all time! "Chestnuts roasting on an open fire, Jack Frost nipping at your nose, Yule tide carols being sung by a choir, and folks dressed up...
Sunday night, July 11, the Jewish Pavilion had its first Summer Soiree fundraiser at Dillards department store. The night was full of wonderful conversation, food, and shopping, and a great way to help Pavilion seniors. As everyone slowly gets back to normal, that also means that program directors and volunteers at the Jewish Pavilion are getting back to normal. Along with being able to be back in the buildings visiting the seniors, the fundraisers are back in swing. The Summer Soiree at...
ROCHESTER, N.Y. (JTA) - Rob Nipe and Nora Rubel hadn't anticipated selling out of pastrami on their opening day. But when you have a vegan butcher shop certified kosher and open up just a few blocks from an Orthodox synagogue, perhaps selling out of pastrami is par for the course. Butcher, of course, is a bit of a misnomer: Everything in Grass Fed - from the sliced "bacon" to the "butter chicken" to the "corned beef" - is made with plant-based ingredients and therefore fairly easy to certify as...
