Central Florida's Independent Jewish Voice
Central Florida's Independent Jewish Voice
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A new 14,000-square-foot Jewish Student Center is set to open Sunday, Sept. 3rd at the University of Central Florida. The Chabad Center’s grand opening will culminate a two-year building project. “This is one of the most exciting charity projects that we have been involved in and that has given the most joy to our family. It is very rewarding and very easy to support a project when you are partnering with one of the most loving, caring, dedicated, able and committed persons in the world, Rab...
Perhaps you've heard the news. Fires torching hundreds of properties. Entire households burned to the ground. Every personal belonging lost. Thousands of lives destroyed. The devastation has been unprecedented, and it will take years to rebuild that which can be rebuilt. But the personal tragedies and lives lost may never heal. If you're in the West, you may have heard about the tremendous loss in Maui, Hawaii. Wildfires have left a trail of death and destruction. As horrible as that is, that's...
Four years after assuming the duties of CEO of the Rosen JCC, Dr. Reuben L. Romirowsky made the decision to retire. Hailing from the northeast, he wanted to return to his home where he could be with his wife and close to his children and grandchildren. A search was made for a new CEO and the Jack and Lee Rosen Jewish Community Center search committee recently announced that Ofira Bondorowsky, an accomplished leader and philanthropic visionary, has been named as the new chief executive officer...
(JNS) — As of Aug. 17, the Jewish Federations of North America has allocated $249,000 that it raised from 120 Jewish communities nationwide as part of its emergency Hawaii Wildfire Fund. The funds will go to Maui Kosher Farm, Jewish Congregation of Maui, Maui Jewish Ohana, Chabad of Maui and Jewish Community Services of Hawaii, JFNA stated in a release. “The devastation in Maui is immeasurable, but we continue to be inspired by our partners on the ground that have responded with so much care, compassion and professionalism to the needs of the...
The recent Jewish Chamber networking event saw an impressive turnout, with around 30 passionate individuals gathering to connect, collaborate, and foster relationships within the community. The event, held in a warm and inviting atmosphere, provided a platform for like-minded professionals to exchange ideas and insights. Attendees represented a diverse range of industries, from finance and technology to arts and healthcare, reflecting the richness of expertise within the Jewish community....
Francine Fox, founder of Think of Me Please® wanted to express her gratitude to Dr. Layish for his dedication and contributions to the organization. She hosted a surprise luncheon for him at his practice in Altamonte Springs and presented him a plaque proclaiming Aug. 17, 2023 "Dr. Dan Layish Day." His wife, Staci, the staff, doctors and some of the Think of Me Please board members participated in the surprise luncheon, which was catered by Chef Alex Jones (www.chefalexjones.com). Founded in...
In a dynamic blend of business and tradition, the Jewish Chamber of Commerce is set to host a unique networking event on Sept. 7, 8:30 a.m., at TooJay’s on Colonial. With a vibrant Rosh Hashanah theme, this breakfast event promises not only professional connections but also a celebration of culture and community. As summer fades into fall, the Jewish Chamber of Commerce invites entrepreneurs, professionals, and business enthusiasts to come together for an evening of camaraderie and growth. The event, set against the backdrop of the upcoming R...
The Hadassah Orlando Chapter will host Maitland police officer Daniel Holland who will speak about how to stay safe when an active shooter threatens. The event will be held at Congregation Ohev Shalom, 613 Concourse Parkway South, Maitland, on Sept. 5 from 11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. The admission is $20 and includes lunch. The deadline for registration is Friday, Sept. 1. Register at https:/events.hadassah.org/orlandoaslunch For more information contact Marj Smith at msesquemt@aol.com....
TEL AVIV (JTA) — The sounds of protest echoed and the ticket scanner malfunctioned as Israel’s transportation minister, Miri Regev, led a dry run for journalists of Tel Aviv’s long-awaited light rail on Aug. 16. The landmark project, which cost nearly $5 billion, promises to reshape the experience of commuting to Tel Aviv, or moving within it, for countless Israelis. The Red Line, whose route runs through Bat Yam, south of Tel Aviv, through Tel Aviv to Petah Tikva, will officially open to the public on Aug. 18 — eight years after constru...
(JNS) — In the event of a constitutional crisis, the Israel Police will be on the side of “law and justice,” Police Commissioner Yaakov Shabtai said on Wednesday. Speaking during an induction ceremony for the new Lod police chief, Shabtai said, “I would like to make it clear in a way that is not ambiguous—the police have only one compass and that is the law and justice; as long as I am in command of it the law will decide and we will act only according to it.” Israel’s National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir, who spoke immediately a...
(JNS) — After disclosure reports came to light revealing that Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.) traveled to the World Cup for four days on Qatar’s dime, the progressive congresswoman, who frequently criticizes the influence of the Israel lobby in U.S. politics, is being accused of “selective outrage.” “We see a huge amount of Qatari influence in the halls of Congress on a regular basis,” Jonathan Schanzer, senior vice president for research at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, told Matthew Kassel, of Jewish Insider. “I don’t think that Ilha...
My heart sunk when I read of an impending deal to pay the evil Islamist Iranian regime several billion dollars (or more) in ransom to free Americans held hostage in Iran. Taking American and other hostages is not new for the Islamist regime. They keep doing it because it works. It’s profitable. And the West caves into their demands. This has to stop. As an Iranian-born American citizen, I can raise my voice without consequence. I especially admire the brave Iranians who are raising their voices publicly against this deal which millions of Irani...
The City of Warsaw was ravaged in WWII by the Nazis, who destroyed close to 95 percent of all its buildings including museums, historical landmarks, churches, and of course synagogues. The Warsaw Ghetto in which the Jews courageously fought the Nazis was reduced to rubble. Once liberated from Soviet domination, having prospered economically from European Union membership and increased national security under the umbrella of NATO, Poland undertook a major rebuilding of its war-torn country. As our tour bus entered the city at dusk we were met...
(JNS) — “Where there is unity, there is always victory,” the famed Latin writer Publilius Syrus wrote. In much of the world, this statement would likely to be used by politicians or others to rally people around a certain ideology or policy. In Israel, however, unity is a matter of life or death: Safety or destruction, victory or defeat. Jewish sovereignty in its ancestral and indigenous homeland was reestablished in 1948 only because Jews—and some non-Jews—stood side-by-side to overcome unimaginable odds and defeat their enemies. There are num...
(JNS) — Michigan State Sen. Sylvia Santana has publicly apologized to her state’s Arab community for the “sin” of visiting Israel earlier this month. Her only intention, she pleaded, was “to improve my understanding of matters related to Michigan.” Well, if Santana is genuinely interested in Arab-Israeli developments that are “related to Michigan,” then she didn’t have to travel 6,000 miles. All she had to do was look in her own backyard—at least four Michiganders have been murdered by Palestinian Arab terrorists. I’m sure the victims’ fam...
(JNS) — In a hyper-partisan, highly polarized red vs blue America, the politics of Israel and the Middle East in general have always been complicated. Rather than breaking down neatly along party lines, there are profound divisions within both Republican and Democratic ranks on issues relating to the U.S. role in the Middle East. We’ll discuss the intramural GOP fight at another time, but it’s beginning to look like the early action in next year’s election cycle will be in Democratic House primaries. The great majority of Democrats in Congres...
MORNING MINYANS 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. Congregation Ohev Shalom — Sunday, 9 a.m., 407-298-4650. GOBOR Community Minyan at Jewish Academy of Orla...
(JNS) — Palestinian terrorists fired on the Shahak Industrial Park in northern Samaria on Thursday, the Israel Defense Forces said. The IDF reported no casualties but said that the attack had caused material damage. The vehicle used in the attack was located in Palestinian Authority territory and contained ammunition and spent cartridges. Israeli forces were searching the area for the suspected shooters. “The shooting joins the dozens of shooting incidents over the past year which occurred in the bloc of settlements in northern Samaria, and the...
NARSAQ, Greenland (JTA) - This picturesque village on the southwestern coast of Greenland where famed Viking Erik the Red first arrived more than 1,000 years ago is about as off-the-beaten-path as one can get. Sheep outnumber the town's population 20-1 and the only way to reach an airport is via helicopter or ship. Yet for Paul Cohen, an American Jew who has lived here with his wife Monika for 22 years, Narsaq's remoteness is more than offset by its stunning landscapes, clean air and laidback...
(JNS) - Rabbi Mendel Kaplan still remembers the day in 2016 after morning prayers when congregants were talking about a woman, whose video of herself laughing while wearing a Chewbacca mask had gone viral on YouTube. Kaplan, 52, the religious leader of the 25-year-old Chabad Flamingo in Thornhill, a suburban district in southern Ontario, Canada, figured that it was ridiculous for a clip of someone wearing a "Star Wars" accessory to garner so much attention. "If people can watch narishkeit like...
Caring for an individual with memory problems can be difficult and stressful. What is mild cognitive impairment? Usually this signifies change in cognition (memory and the ability to understand one’s world), essentially the way a person thinks. Cognition includes memory and the ability to understand one’s world. Symptoms of MCI: • Depression • Difficulty forming short-term memories • Difficulty communicating complete thoughts • Easily distracted • Forgetfulness • Inability to concentrate • Mental fog, confusion Diagnosing MCI Most people see a...
(JNS) — Monday’s murderous terrorist attack on Route 60 in Hebron, in which an Israeli woman was shot dead and a man seriously injured, is just the latest indication of the sad fact that Israel is in the middle of a prolonged security escalation in Judea and Samaria — with no end in sight. The incident comes two days after an Israeli father and son were shot dead in Huwara, an attack that may have helped “inspire” Monday’s shooting. So far in 2023, 34 people (33 Israelis and an Italian tourist) were killed in Palestinian terrorism, and almost...
(JNS) - Monday's murderous terrorist attack on Route 60 in Hebron, in which an Israeli woman was shot dead and a man seriously injured, is just the latest indication of the sad fact that Israel is in the middle of a prolonged security escalation in Judea and Samaria - with no end in sight. The incident comes two days after an Israeli father and son were shot dead in Huwara, an attack that may have helped "inspire" Monday's shooting. So far in 2023, 34 people (33 Israelis and an Italian tourist)...
(JTA) — A vacant West Hartford, Connecticut, synagogue building, shuttered in 2018, could soon turn into 49 apartments — including affordable housing, a local newspaper has reported. Agudas Achim, an Orthodox congregation established in 1887 that primarily served Romanian immigrants, moved to its third permanent location in the building in 1969. Five years ago, it merged with another congregation, United Synagogues, and the building went up for sale the following year. Now the property, which the city appraised at about $2.5 million, is und...
(JNS) - Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and National Missions Minister Orit Strock are spearheading a 670 million shekel ($180 million) initiative with the stated goal of strengthening "civilian resilience" in Jewish communities across Judea and Samaria, local media reported on Wednesday. The "unprecedented" addition to the 2023-2024 budget, parts of which were already agreed upon in the coalition agreement with Smotrich's the Religious Zionism Party, will be formally discussed at the...
