Central Florida's Independent Jewish Voice
Central Florida's Independent Jewish Voice
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(JTA)-Like their constituents, the mainstream representatives of French Jewry are not known for passing up opportunities to express their opinion on subjects of national debate. And Jewish institutions in France, like those in the United States, regularly comment on a host of issues, including divisive ones that lie beyond their immediate purviews. The burkini ban was a notable exception. In May, CRIF, the umbrella group of French Jewish communities, came out in support of police officers who... Full story
NEW YORK (JTA)—When Rosh Hashanah came around last year, Rabbi Aaron Gaber wanted to grapple with an issue roiling the country. So he decided to focus his sermon on racism. But several members of Brothers of Israel, a 120-family Conservative synagogue in suburban Philadelphia, weren’t pleased. “Some of the feedback from some of my congregants has caused us some consternation,” Gaber said. Congregants accused the rabbi of calling them racists, he recalled, “which I didn’t do.” This year, with the presidential election looming just one month afte... Full story
(JNS.org) U.S. Rep. Trent Franks (R-AZ) spoke to an Israeli delegation this week about congressional support of the Jewish communities in Judea and Samaria, Israel National News reported. “I want to say to all the people of Samaria that they are beloved by the American people, and we believe that Judea and Samaria are not the ‘West Bank’ but part of the state of Israel,” Franks told the Samarian Regional Council delegation on Capitol Hill. The council’s chief Yossi Dagan visited Washington, D.C., to meet with more than a dozen Republica... Full story
Start on a family discovery journey with the Jewish Genealogical Society of Greater Orlando (JGSGO) as it continues “My Jewish Roots” a JGSGO Workshop Roadshow. Join JGSGO for all nine remaining free workshops coming to locations throughout the Orlando metro area or participate over the Internet. Each participant’s family discovery journey will include directed hands-on labs that will lead to extending their family tree—adding newly discovered ancestors and living cousins. The second “My Jewish Roots” workshop, “Connect to the Experts and K... Full story
Rabbi Rudolph "Rudy" Adler, a pillar of the Jewish community in Orlando for more than 50 years, passed away Monday morning, Sept. 19. He was 96 years old. He was born in Kassel, Germany, and was a Holocaust survivor. For him, living through the Holocaust strengthened his faith in a ''supreme being... and the need for divine guidance and morality.'' He also believed that education was extremely important to fight against prejudice. ''I still feel that there's a lot of prejudice based on... Full story
The Roth Family Jewish Community Center of Greater Orlando has announced the dates of its 18th Annual Central Florida Jewish Film Festival, held in conjunction with the Enzian Theater—Nov. 12-14. The festival’s committee, chaired by Harriet Weiss and Risa Tetenbaum, have screened over 65 films. The weekend kicks off on Saturday night at the Orlando Science Center, followed by two more days of films on Sunday and Monday at the Enzian. “The past few years have brought in an overwhelming crowd,” said Weiss. “This year’s films promise to be on pa... Full story
The onset of autumn means cooler weather, fall flavors, and Sukkot. Temple Israel will celebrate all three with “Dinner Under the Stars” in their sukkah on Wednesday, Oct. 19 at 6:30 p.m. This event is open to the community and takes place on a religious school day. Temple Israel member Lauren Brown, who will be leading a team of volunteer cooks and servers, said, “Our wonderful kitchen mavens are planning an exciting Sukkot menu of pumpkin soup, apricot chicken, harvest vegetables, and rice pilaf with kid-friendly options.” Some of those k... Full story
Following a fabulous Yiddish Class at Brookdale Island Lake, Emily Newman, program pirector for the Jewish Pavilion, passed out 5777 calendars to the residents and participants. Special thanks to Beth Shalom Memorial Chapel for providing 500 calendars to the Jewish Pavilion. Pictured is Emily Newman handing a calendar to Berny Raff.... Full story
Please join Jewish Pavilion program directors and volunteers for a high holiday service at any of these locations. The services are open to all. If you are looking for an address, please visit The Jewish Pavilioin website, www.jewishpavilion.org and click on facilities. Sept. 30th @ 11:00am at Island Lake Nursing Center Sept. 30th @ 3:00pm at Oakmonte Siena Sept. 30th @ 4:00pm at Atria at Lake Forrest Oct. 2nd @ 12:30pm at Gentry Park Oct.2nd @ 3:00pm at Arbor Cove Oct 3rd @ 12:00 at Brookdale Ocoee Oct 3rd @ 2:30pm at Horizon Bay Lake Orienta... Full story
Jew-baiting these days is a globally competitive field. The Middle East, Latin America and Asia could all put up credible candidates for the title of most notorious Jew-baiter. But if you ask me, it’s in Europe, the continent where modern anti-Semitism crystallized, where you’ll still find the most able and determined baiters. Now, if I had to pick someone from that particular field, I’d have to conclude that it’s a tie for first place. From Hungary: step forward Zsolt Bayer, journalist, fascist apologist, a founder of the ruling Fidesz... Full story
NEWARK, Del. (JTA)—My social media exploded earlier this month with dozens of Facebook notifications, texts and group messages from across the country. JTA had published one of my favorite photos, with our University of Delaware Hillel students dressed in blue and yellow, their hands outstretched to form the Star of David. The photo illustrated an article, an op-ed by Arnold Eisen, the chancellor of The Jewish Theological Seminary, titled “Jewish pride on campus is under siege. Here’s what your kids can do to fight back.” While Chancel... Full story
NEW YORK (JTA)—They’re all true, all those stories you’ve heard. The Jewish student questioned about whether her Judaism and involvement in the Jewish community would disqualify her from serving in student government. The Israel bashers who besieged a movie night put on by a pro-Israel group, forcing Jewish students to escape under police protection. The man from Students for Justice in Palestine who stood up at a rally of campus rape survivors and their allies and used his time at the microphone to attack Israel. And, of course, the swast... Full story
When Salman Rushdie’s The Satanic Verses came out in 1989, Viking Penguin, the British and American publisher of the novel, was subjected to daily Islamist harassment. As Daniel Pipes wrote, the London office resembled “an armed camp,” with police protection, metal detectors and escorts for visitors. In Viking’s New York offices, dogs sniffed packages and the place was designated a “sensitive location.” Many bookshops were attacked and many even refused to sell the book. Viking spent about $3 million on security measures in 1989, the fatal y... Full story
(Kveller via JTA)—Two essential parts of preparing for Rosh Hashanah, our clean slate for the year, is asking forgiveness from anyone we wronged and making a list (mental or written) of the ways we fell short since the last time we heard the shofar. Ideally that hard work of going to friends, family and anyone else deserving of our forgiveness happens in the weeks leading up to Rosh Hashanah. By the time Yom Kippur rolls around 10 days later, we should be ready to confess our mistakes as a community, having already considered our personal p... Full story
Last month, Barbra Streisand announced to great fanfare that if Donald Trump wins the presidential election, she’ll move to Canada or Australia. Threatening to emigrate, usually to Canada, if the Republican candidate wins is a quadrennial threat among liberals—both celebrity and not—who want to express their horror at a Democratic loss in November. But it pains me when the one voicing the threat—whether Streisand, Lena Dunham, or one of my Facebook friends—is an American Jew. Because Jews already have a home ready to welcome them if they no l... Full story
MORNING AND EVENING MINYANS (Call synagogue to confirm time.) 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 Orlando—Monday—Friday, 7:45 a.m.—8:30 a.m. Temple I... Full story
Celebration Jewish Congregation (Reform) Rabbi Dr. Richard M. Cowin with Wendi Harris Cantorial soloists Dr. Norton and Jane Christeson Celebration’s Heritage Hall 951 Spring Park St. Celebration, Fla. 407-566-9792 www.jewishcelebration.org Sun. Oct. 2 Erev Rosh Hashanah, 6:30 p.m. Mon. Oct. 3 Rosh Hashanah Service, 9 a.m. Tues. Oct. 11 Kol Nidre, 6:30 p.m. Wed. Oct. 12 Yom Kippur, 9 a.m.; Yizkor, 11 a.m. Chabad House, Center for Jewish Life (Orthodox) Rabbi Yossi Hecht All services take place at 13030 CR 103 Oxford, Fla. 352-330-4466 w... Full story
The Roth Family JCC is growing and changing In a year of transition and growth, more and more people are realizing that The Roth Family Jewish Community Center is the ideal place for them to live up® to their aspirations. Our J University after school program has its highest enrollment in five years. Camp J also grew for the fourth summer in a row. In addition, our award-winning Richard S. Adler Early Childhood Learning Center graduated FOUR pre-kindergarten classes full of happy, smiling... Full story
Barry N. Brumer, age 68, of Winter Park, passed away at Florida Hospital New Smyrna Beach, on Monday, Sept. 12, 2016. He was born in Brooklyn, New York, on April 30, 1948, to the late Charles N. and Beatrice Goldstein Brumer. Barry served in the U.S. Navy and received his law degree from Rutgers University in New Jersey. He practiced law for over 30 years in Florida. On Oct. 21, 1984, in Ft. Lauderdale, he married the former Jo Ellen Williams, his wife of nearly 32 years, who survives him. They relocated to the Orlando area from DeBary in... Full story
Ilyse M. Kusnetz, PhD, age 50, of Orlando, passed away at her home on Tuesday, Sept. 13, 2016, with her family by her side. A multi-faceted woman, she was born in Baldwin, New York ,on July 13, 1966, to Norman Kusnetz and the late Alberta Zwirn Kusnetz. Ilyse earned her bachelor’s degree from the University of New Mexico and her master’s degree in creative writing from Syracuse University. She went on to receive her doctorate from the University of Edinburgh in feminist and postcolonial British literature. A published poet, she received the... Full story
A family tribute... I am writing this column on 9/11. When the World Trade Center's Twin Towers were hit by terrorists, three of the New York City firemen who died were Jewish. One of them was cousin Alan Feinberg. Alan was Battalion Chief of the 9th Battalion, Engine 54, Ladder 4 NYC. He was 48 years old, the husband of Wendy and the father of then 18-year-old Tara and 15-year-old Michael. Alan was rescuing victims in Tower 1 when it came crashing down. He was a wonderful husband and father... Full story
Hillel Central Florida Last year, when the calendar was switching from 5775 to 5776, we wrote that the times, they are a changin, and if last year was about changing, this year is about changed. More specifically, being changed, as an organization as a community and as the home for Jewish life on campus. Three years ago, we walked into a crisp, state-of-the-art building with the intent of creating a home. Mezuzzot were hung, furniture was purchased, and refrigerators were stocked with food and drinks. Our staff was excited and our students... Full story
Transitioning to an independent, assisted or skilled nursing facility can be challenging for many seniors, as it is never easy to lose a lifetime of independence. However, Jewish seniors face a host of additional challenges. Like their neighbors, they lose their independence, their homes, and access to friends, but they also lose ties to their cultural heritage, their community, and their faith, just when they need them the most. Imagine a lifetime of Jewish living heritage erased in a "home"... Full story
25 was a year of positive change for the Rosen JCC in Southwest Orlando. In our first full year as an independent agency, we experienced tremendous growth in our programs and services, as well as our physical facility. Here are a few of the exciting things that happened at the Rosen JCC this past year: • With the generous support of the Rosen Foundation, we completed the campus' second growth phase: construction of our facility expansion. The expansion included a 500-seat Rosen Event C... Full story
Shalom, Friends, On behalf of the Jewish Federation of Greater Orlando, we express our best wishes to you and your family for a sweet New Year 5777. According to Jewish tradition, Rosh Hashanah is the birthday of the world, where our calendar begins. On this day, we are expected to conceive a plan, engage in a vision of the future and renew our commitment to shaping Jewish life. And as we do on any birthday, we make wishes for the coming year. These are our wishes for the Greater Orlando Jewish... Full story
