Central Florida's Independent Jewish Voice
Central Florida's Independent Jewish Voice
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(JNS) - Queen Elizabeth II concluded her 70-year reign on Thursday with her passing at the age of 96. The longest ruling monarch in British history's death comes after years of deteriorating health. She was surrounded by the royal family, including her children at Balmoral Castle in Scotland. "The Queen died peacefully at Balmoral this afternoon. The King and the Queen Consort will remain at Balmoral this evening and will return to London tomorrow," said Buckingham Palace in a statement. The Que...
(JNS) — Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid took to Twitter to express condolences upon the death of Queen Elizabeth II, calling her “an extraordinary figure, a unique leader who symbolized devotion and love for her homeland.” “On behalf of the Government of Israel and the citizens of Israel, I send my condolences to the Royal Family and the citizens of the United Kingdom on the passing of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II,” he wrote. Israel’s President Isaac Herzog called the Queen’s death “the end of an era.” “On behalf of the people of Israel, I...
(JNS) - Liz Truss won the vote on Monday to become the leader of Britain's Conservative Party, a contest that also decided who will replace Boris Johnson as prime minister. Truss, who served in Johnson's Cabinet as foreign secretary, was the odds-on favorite. She received 57.4 percent of the vote among party members, while her opponent, former chancellor of the exchequer Rishi Sunak, garnered 42.6 percent. In a brief acceptance speech, Truss said that she would cut taxes, tackle the energy...
(JTA) – The Anti-Defamation League says it will “launch a thorough review” of its educational content to address materials “misaligned with” the organization’s values after Fox News published a story accusing the anti-hate group of including “concepts from critical race theory” and “far-left ideas.” The ADL’s statement, released in response to a Fox News story published Wednesday afternoon, did not specify which of its freely available education materials were cause for review; nor did an additional ADL statement provided to the Jewish Telegra...
(JTA) — An Israeli soldier very likely fired the gunshot that killed Palestinian-American journalist Shireen Abu Akleh in May, an analysis released by the Israel Defense Forces Monday concluded. But no one present during the killing, including the soldier considered likely to have fired the fatal shot, will be punished, military officials said, and the army released a statement saying it was still possible that Abu Akleh had been killed by Palestinian gunfire. The official conclusion marked a shift from the Israeli government’s previous pos...
(JNS) — For four months, no one could explain the Biden administration’s seeming obsession with forcing Israel to accept responsibility for the death of Al Jazeera reporter Shireen Abu Akleh on May 11. Abu Akleh was killed in Jenin during a gun battle between Palestinian Islamic Jihad terrorists, with whom she was embedded, and IDF forces. The battle occurred in the aftermath of a spate of murderous terror attacks in Israeli cities that took the lives of 17 Israelis. The U.S. demand that Israel accept the blame for Abu Akleh’s death was stran...
This article won second-place in the American Jewish Press Association’s annual Simon Rockower Award program. Rosh Hashanah is the time of year when we as individuals find ourselves at the center of the universe in direct communication with God. For a brief moment the present stops, the past does not recede and the future refuses to beckon us. The High Holy Days are rest stops on our journey through life; a brief respite to catch our breaths, to check our baggage and to recharge our human energy. To understand where we have been, where we are,...
(JTA) — The death 0f Queen Elizabeth II after 70 years on the throne is a devastating loss for Britain, the Commonwealth and the free world. It is hard to overstate the sense of grief that will be felt at her passing, including from within the Anglo-Jewish community. I was brought up in a typical liberal Jewish family that showed a healthy respect for the queen, and the royal family more widely. I recall marching down the Mall in London for the 60th anniversary of VE Day and catching a sight of our monarch on the steps of Buckingham Palace. Lik...
News this week in Israel included the death of two Arab journalists, in different locations, under different circumstances, and unrelated. But the circumstances, accusations, and double standards are glaring and need to be discussed. This week, months after Palestinian Arab-American Al Jazeera journalist Shireen Abu-Akleh was killed in Jenin, following a lengthy investigation, Israel has affirmed that she was likely killed by an Israeli bullet. Other than her unfortunate death, the problem with this is that before the blood had dried, before...
(JTA) — “Hey Allies: Please don’t schedule meetings or events on the Jewish holidays!” So says a meme that has circulated widely before about the dates for Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, Sukkot and Simchat Torah. Seems like a pretty harmless and potentially helpful message to post on social media in the run-up to the High Holidays, right? I’m not so sure. I, too, have often had to seek special consideration from employers and colleagues for my religious observance. Indeed, being able to live my life by the rhythms of the Hebrew calendar without hav...
Dear Editor: President Biden’s speech on Thursday evening did more to separate our divided nation than anything he did prior. If pitting Americans against each other is a tactic to unite us than he has failed miserably, once again added to his long list of failures, and the nation sees the true Biden, teleprompter and his strings. It’s hard to recall all his missteps from his first day in office and all the grief and misery he has brought to our country from 13 dead service people, to losing Afghanistan, the weapons lost, the jobs lost, the...
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...
As we approach Rosh Hashanah and the Jewish High Holy Days, the staff and board members at the Holocaust Memorial Resource & Education Center of Florida wish you and your family a healthy 5783. We also want to extend our deep thanks for the warm welcome this community has shown to our new CEO Talli Dippold. Dippold, who recently relocated from Charlotte, North Carolina, is the granddaughter of Holocaust survivors and is dedicated to keeping alive the legacy of survivors by telling their...
The month leading up to Rosh Hashanah is the month of Elul. In Hebrew, the letters that spell Elul are Alef, Lamed, Vav and Lamed. Those same letters are the first letters of the binding of a couple on their wedding day. Ani Ledodi V'dodi Li – I am my beloved's and my beloved is mine. This mystical reading is more than a mere coincidence as it also sums up the relationship that Jews around the world will be reviewing as we enter the High Holidays. As the "Jewish New Year," Rosh Hashanah is a t...
As we enter this special time of reflection and renewal, we at Jewish Family Services of Greater Orlando would like to thank all who have supported us this past year as we continue to grow in our commitment to our community. JFS Orlando delivers hope to our community through our FAMILY of services, not just during the holidays but EVERY day. One in seven people, among them one in five children, in Central Florida cannot afford basic food staples. To keep up with the increasing demand for food...
With Rosh Hashanah approaching, the Rosen JCC is excited to update the community on what we believe will be a very busy year ahead. The Hebrew word "shanah" means "year," but is also the root for the Hebrew word for "change." As we look internally to what changes are we willing to consider in our words and actions, the Rosen JCC is excited to launch a new initiative to change the perspective of Jewish families not yet connected to the community. Called "Makom" (Hebrew for "home"), we want the...
The Israeli American Council of Central Florida wishes you happy Jewish New Year, Shana Tova Umetuka! May the year 5783 bring joy, light, health, love, and growth to our community. May we continue to be united and love one another endlessly. Idit Lotringer IAC of Central Florida...
Kudos to the Jewish Pavilion management team - our board, staff, sponsors, supporters and volunteers. The Jewish Pavilion has been a pillar in the community for over 20 years, and we intend to remain an anchor for years to come. We are fiscally strong and secure, thanks to community-wide support. Despite the ongoing pandemic, the Jewish Pavilion was able to carry out most of its Shabbat and holiday festivities for our beloved seniors. All of our fundraising and friend-raising efforts were...
Jewish Academy of Orlando welcomed 34 new students into the 2022-2023 school year. Our motto this year is "Every Child Counts," and we have prepared a rich curriculum in both Hebrew/Judaic and Secular education that will help each child succeed in their own way. We will also be rolling out our Mini Mensch program that will help preschoolers transition into our kindergarten classes and JAO Connections which will help previous students of JAO connect with each other, be a welcoming face at their...
Why didn’t the United States do more to help Europe’s Jews during the Holocaust? This question haunts the history of the United States and the Holocaust, and lurks behind practically every storyline in the new film on the subject from Ken Burns, Lynn Novick and Sarah Botstein, to be aired for three consecutive nights on PBS beginning Sept. 18. The question, of course, isn’t just about the Holocaust, but about the years before the war, when the Nazi vise tightened around the Jews of Germany and more than half of them sought to obtain visas...
When visiting a doctor or hospital bring along a notebook or tablet and take notes. It is important to ask question of your healthcare provider about the benefits and side effects of medications or procedures. I suggest that you, or a loved one, research the same information on line so that you feel well informed. There are times when a second opinion should be sought, especially preceding a surgery. I recommend you bring along an advocate. Sometimes, it is hard to process so much new information. When a family member or friend comes to an...
(JNS) — A team of researchers at Tel Aviv University has proven that antibodies isolated from the immune systems of recovered COVID-19 patients are effective in neutralizing known strains of the virus, including the Delta and the Omicron variants. Researchers have declared this a scientific breakthrough. The discovery could remove the need for frequent booster immunizations. Dr. Natalia Freund, along with doctoral students Michael Mor and Ruofan Lee from the Department of Clinical Microbiology and Immunology at the Sackler Faculty of M...
(JTA) - At a ceremony held on the air base where 11 Israeli athletes and coaches were murdered during the 1972 Munich Olympics, German officials apologized for the "lack of protection" that led to the tragedy and agreed to establish a joint research commission to look more deeply into the events surrounding the terror attack. "We cannot make amends for what has happened," said German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier on Monday. "I ask you, as the head of state of this country and on behalf of th...
(JTA) - Move over, tashlich: Twitter is the new place to atone, thanks to a bot programmed by Jewish coders who want users to apologize better. While the tradition of symbolically throwing bread, representing sins, into a body of water may be a more familiar High Holiday custom, a new Twitter bot aims to address "fauxpologies" on social media. "Repentance Bot" allows users to tag the account when they see an apology that they believe falls short. The bot then replies to the apology with...
