Central Florida's Independent Jewish Voice
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During the 2022 annual meetings of The Roth Family JCC and the Jewish Federation of Greater Orlando it was unanimously approved to merge the two agencies into one entity called Shalom Orlando. Discussion of the merger began about five years ago with studies of Federations and JCCs that had merged successfully, including Tampa's Federation, which has existed as a Federation/JCC for more than 20 years. Since he was CEO of both agencies, Keith Dvorchik will continue as the CEO of Shalom Orlando....
(JTA) — Hundreds of Jews from around the world have traveled to Basel, Switzerland, to mark the 125th anniversary of a historic gathering of Zionists there. The event was organized by the World Zionist Organization, a group inaugurated during the First Zionist Congress that Theodor Herzl, considered the father of modern Zionism, convened in Basel in 1897. At the 1897 congress, 200 participants from 17 countries voted to adopt as an explicit goal the creation of “a publicly and legally assured home in Palestine” for Jews. “At Basel, I founded...
(JNS) — It’s been a scorcher of a summer, so when a friend suggested a trip to the Berkshire Mountains, this Northeasterner was ready for some cooler weather. Not quite a “staycation” (it was about a five-hour drive during less trafficked hours), it was far less expensive than flying right now. The Berkshires in Western Massachusetts is rustic and rural, offering the feeling of really getting away from it all. Little towns and villages are nestled in the mountains, a skier’s attraction come wintertime. In July, verdant greenery and clean air—co...
The Governor's Faith and Community Based Initiative recently recognized Temple Israel for their work in serving vulnerable populations in the community. Created by Governor DeSantis in 2019, the goals of the initiative are to thank faith and community organizations for the work they are doing, to open communication between organizations and the state government, and to identify resources for collaboration in serving Florida's vulnerable populations together. As part of the recognition, Temple...
Hadassah Orlando's September Meeting will feature Cathy Swerdlow and Pat Southward from The League of Women Voters, announced Hadassah Orlando President Susan Livingstone. The meeting takes place on Tuesday, Sept. 6, at 11:30 a.m. at Congregation Ohev Shalom, 613 Concourse Parkway South, Maitland, FL 32751. Speakers will address "News - Separating Fact from Fiction" and "Amendments on the Upcoming Ballot." Lunch is $18. R.S.V.P to Nancy Greenfield 407-415-6892 or nancyg357@yahoo.com. League of...
Are you struggling with "just getting over it"? Whether you were the person who experienced an event or the one who responded to it, the after effect of any traumatic experience can leave you feeling helpless or anxious. It might be trauma. Telltale signs of trauma can be subtle emotional responses or life-threatening, and include flashbacks, avoiding reminders of the event, and anxiety or changes in mood. Although healing from trauma is a gradual process that doesn't happen overnight, you can...
Fantastic items including hotel stays, fitness packages sports memorabilia, wine baskets, event tickets, restaurant gift cards home-made meals, self-pampering, wine tastings, luxury hotels, one of a kind items, and much more will be featured in the Jewish Pavilion’s 3rd annual online charity auction Oct. 23-28. Participating is a wonderful way to treat yourself while helping a wonderful charity. It is also a fabulous place to purchase gifts. Easy online registration https://jewishpavilion.org/online-auction No credit card required, just your na...
Have fun… Meet New People… Enjoy old friends. The Jewish Pavilion is excited to partner with Watercrest Senior Living on Thursday, Oct. 20, for a Harvest and Sukkot networking festival. Attendees will enjoy a wonderful happy hour with a live jazz band. This event will be similar to the cocktail a party at Land Rover held in June where 150 people enjoyed music, delicious food and drinks and socializing in a large, safe space. Register at https://jpav.ticketspice.com/harvest-festival-2022 A $20 donation is appreciated. For more information cal...
(JTA) — Pro-Israel PACs reported millions of dollars in donations in August, including from billionaire donors with long track records of giving to Israel-related causes. Kraft Group LLC, the company owned by New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft, gave $1 million to the United Democracy Project, the new super PAC affiliated with AIPAC, the powerhouse Israel lobby. George Soros’ Democracy PAC donated the same amount to the J Street Action Fund, the PAC affiliated with the liberal pro-Israel lobby. Kraft, a prolific donor to Jewish causes who...
(JNS) — On the sixth-month anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the Jewish Federations of North America provided an updated summary of how its $73.5 million emergency campaign has helped with relief efforts. Funding has gone towards emergency operational costs, temporary housing and transportation, security, humanitarian support and trauma relief; and in Israel, aliyah and absorption. The relief aid has been directed to some 50 nongovernmental organizations providing humanitarian aid and relief to Ukrainian refugees in Ukraine and nei...
(JTA) — The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill’s student newspaper pulled a column that criticizes students who travel to Israel after its author says he and his mother have received threats in response to the article. The column, titled “When studying abroad becomes a political statement,” was published on Wednesday and pulled on Sunday. “To disagree with the outcome of an individual’s work is one thing,” wrote Guillermo Molero, editor-in-chief of the Daily Tar Heel, in a statement explaining the retraction. “But to harass people p...
(JNS) — The Biden administration has responded to Iran’s latest offer to re-enter the 2015 nuclear deal, State Department spokesman Ned Price confirmed on Wednesday. “As you know, we received Iran’s comments on the E.U.’s proposed final text through the E.U. Our review of those comments has now concluded, and we have responded to the E.U. today,” Price said at a State Department press conference. “This negotiation at times has languished for months upon months on account of Iran,” added Price while refusing to give details about the U.S....
(JNS) — Can a documentary on a low-rated network broadcast at a time when few were watching make much of a difference? Maybe not. That’s especially true when you consider that the program aired directly opposite one of the most ballyhooed shows of the year—the premiere of the new “Game of Thrones” prequel “House of the Dragon”—on an evening of the week when all cable-news programs get terrible ratings. CNN correspondent Dana Bash deserves credit for pushing her network to allow her to do an edition of its “Special Report” series “Rising Hate...
(Palestinian Media Watch via JNS) — Every year the United States gives the Palestinian Authority tens of millions of dollars to support its security forces. This aid is not affected by any of the provisions of U.S. law that limit such aid, either as a result of the P.A.’s terror-rewarding “pay-for-slay” policy or its promotion of an investigation against Israel at the International Criminal Court. The E.U. not only supports the P.A. security forces but has also plowed tens of millions of euros into the P.A. court system. But do the U.S. and the...
(JNS) — The Biden administration is claiming that Israel has not provided evidence that the seven NGOs whose offices it closed down last week were tied to a terror group. Yet there is a mountain of publicly-available evidence proving the existence of such ties—and some of it comes from the U.S. government itself. The administration was clear in its support of the NGOs. U.S. State Department Spokesman Ned Price said the administration “voiced our concern” about Israel’s actions. Disputing Israel’s assertion that the groups were connected t...
(JNS) — Some people are surprised that the terror regime in Iran has been more conciliatory of late in the negotiations to return to the 2015 nuclear deal. Because the process has taken so long, they assumed that the mullahs were serious, rather than bluffing, with their prolonged intransigence. It’s only when the West recently held their ground that the mullahs softened their demands and made a deal closer at hand. Why? Because the mullahs need the moolah. The nuclear deal, formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, pro...
(Israel Hayom via JNS) — The international community under the leadership of the U.S. appears to be closing in on signing a new nuclear deal with Iran. On both sides of the negotiating table, there are those who are taking care to create a thick smokescreen to “confuse the enemy.” Sadly, the enemy, in their eyes, isn’t Tehran, but those who oppose a deal with it—primarily Israel. But the fog of battle eventually clears. Over the past few days, it’s become clear that, despite reports that both sides of the talks were digging in their heels to th...
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...
Prime Minister Yair Lapid’s attempts to hold a telephone conversation with President Joe Biden ahead of an emerging nuclear deal with Iran have been rebuffed, with the excuse that the American president is on vacation, Israeli media reported on Wednesday. The National Security Council has been scrambling in recent days to arrange a call between the two leaders as part of Israel’s last ditch effort to stop the Iran deal from being signed, Israel’s Channel 13 News reported. U.S. officials, however, denied the request, telling Lapid that Biden...
(JTA) – CNN's Dana Bash has what she calls "a very, very Jewish response" to the question of why she's hosting a special for her network on antisemitism in America. "The bad news is there is antisemitism in America," Bash told the Jewish Telegraphic Agency. "The good news is I work in a place that wants to shine a spotlight on it, and allow for an investigation into what is happening, why it's happening and what are the solutions." Bash, a member of Temple Micah in Washington, D.C., is the g...
(Israel Hayom via JNS) — On the evening of the third day of “Operation Breaking Dawn,” an extensive Israeli counterterrorism campaign against the Palestinian Islamic Jihad terrorist group in the Gaza Strip, reports of a fatal attack in the Jabalya refugee camp began to appear on Palestinian social media. The reports were soon followed by gruesome pictures of the incident, including of the bodies of five children allegedly killed in the blast. “We immediately understood that there was an emergency here that could potentially become a public dipl...
Summer weather can pose special health risks to older adults and people with chronic medical conditions. It is critically important that adults particularly susceptible to hyperthermia and other heat-related illnesses know how to safeguard against problems. Hyperthermia is caused by a failure of the heat-regulating mechanisms of the body. Heat fatigue, heat syncope (sudden dizziness after prolonged exposure to the heat), heat cramps, heat exhaustion and heat stroke are forms of hyperthermia. Older adults are at risk for these conditions, and th...
(New York, N.Y., JNS Wire) - In an effort to expose and combat antisemitism in higher education across the United States, watchdog group StopAntisemitism.org will release a report in September on the rise of Jew-hatred at colleges and universities across the United States - grading 25 different schools on their commitment and efforts to preventing and responding to antisemitic incidents and behaviors on their respective campuses. "StopAntisemitism is authoring this report in response to the rise...
(JTA) - Jesse Eisenberg's newest film directing project follows two estranged cousins who travel to Poland and learn about their grandmother's Holocaust story. "A Real Pain," which will star Eisenberg and Kieran Culkin, will begin shooting in Warsaw in March, Screen reported on Wednesday. After their grandmother dies, according to a description in Screen, Eisenberg and Culkin's characters try to learn about her past, and their journey - which involves joining a Holocaust-themed tour - brings up...
Recently Rabbi Mendy Bronstein of Chabad of Altamonte Springs, Rabbi Sholom Dubov of Chabad of Greater Orlando, Rabbi Konikov and Rabbi Zibell of Chabad of South Orlando, and Rabbi Lipskier of Chabad at UCF traveled to Almaty, Kazakhstan to attend the annual Rabbinic Convention along with other Florida Chabad rabbis. The following is what Rabbi Dovid Vigler of Chabad of Palm Beach Gardens experienced while there. Rabbi Bronstein shared this with his congregation and with the Heritage. I...