Central Florida's Independent Jewish Voice
Central Florida's Independent Jewish Voice
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In December 1968 an open house was held to dedicate the new Kinneret Apartments for low-income elderly people. The developing process began in 1960 when the Central Florida Jewish Community Council president, Flossie Gluckman, learned from Ernie Rapp about a program offered by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. A Jewish senior housing council was formed. Abe Wise found two acres of land on Lake Lucerne. The founders likened it to the Sea of Galilee and named the future apartme...
Jonathan Feldstein was one of the first people who reported about the arrival of the five red heifers in Israel just over two weeks ago. His initial Facebook post drew hundreds of comments and was shared over 13,000 times. He also was the first to interview two of the main people behind this, Byron Stinson and Rabbi Chanan Kupietzky, an Evangelical Christian and Orthodox Jewish Rabbi respectively. American Airlines flight 146 touched down at Israel’s Ben Gurion airport on time, arriving from New York’s JFK airport as one of the dozens of fli...
(JNS) — Every year at this time, we assess the events of the previous 12 months and wonder whether things could possibly get worse. Though our lives are as full of blessings as they are of challenges, the answer—when it comes to the state of the world—is generally, “Yes, you bet they can.” This certainly applied to 5782. On the positive side, a year ago, the world was just barely coming out of the worst of the coronavirus pandemic. As we head into 5783, the ongoing obsessions of COVID fear addicts notwithstanding, that sad chapter of history s...
(JNS) - As the ongoing protests in Iran reached their two-week mark on Friday, the death toll has reportedly exceeded 80 people. Iranians have been protesting against the regime since the Sept. 16 killing of Mahsa Amini, 22, who was arrested for "unsuitable attire" by the Islamic Republic's "morality police" and then beaten to death. Iran Human Rights, a Norway-based NGO, tweeted that "at least 83 people including children, are confirmed to have been killed in (the) #IranProtests." On Friday,...
If you find a loved one asking repetitive questions, becoming more confused and forgetful, you may assume they have dementia, but the cause could be hearing loss. Long-term brain function is impacted by hearing loss. In a recent Johns Hopkins study, those who did have hearing loss suffered more substantial cognitive impairment more than three years sooner than others with normal hearing levels. Dr. Frank Lin found that cognitive diminishment was 41 percent greater in the seniors with hearing problems. Dr. Lin explains that the link between...
JFS Orlando’s Family Stabilization Program is a preventative, six-month case management program. It is designed to help individuals and families obtain self-sufficiency by teaching them critical skills and tools to improve financial management, employability, family stability and mental health functioning, as well as maintain or improve housing. Program participants have special access to several services at no cost, including food assistance, financial education workshops, employability s...
The 2nd Annual Good Ghoul Gala is coming to the Rosen JCC on Saturday Oct. 29 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. This event was created by the Miles to Go Charity. This charity helps create custom drawstring bags filled with personal items for the homeless. The bags can include items such as toothbrushes, deodorant, hand sanitizer and clothing items. Proceeds from this event will help support the non-profits Miles to Go and the Rosen JCC This is a fun-filled family Halloween themed event with something for every age group. This is a non-scary gala that is...
(JNS) — The Israeli global crowd-funding venture firm OurCrowd announced this week its launch of a $200 million Global Health Equity Fund. News of the collaboration with the WHO (World Health Organization) Foundation was shared at this year’s Clinton Global Initiative in New York City on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly. The fund will focus on healthcare solutions with a potentially global impact. “COVID-19 was a wake-up call for me as an investor,” said Jon Medved, founder and CEO of OurCrowd. “The pandemic opened my...
(JNS) — The City University of New York has reversed course after it assigned a former employee of a vehemently anti-Israel NGO to investigate allegations of anti-Zionist discrimination. The probe came at the request of Prof. Jeffrey Lax, chair of the business department at CUNY’s Kingsborough Community College in Brooklyn. He alleged pervasive discrimination and harassment against Zionists and Jews on campus, as well as retaliation and a hostile work environment created by Kingsborough President Claudia Schrader. Lax’s complaint came as Kings...
(JTA) — The holiest day of the Jewish calendar couldn’t come at a worse time for Michigan public schools this year. Yom Kippur falls on Oct. 5 — which is also the state’s “student count day,” the one day a year when the number of students who attend school determines how much that district will receive in state funds the following year. By Michigan law, count day is on the first Wednesday of October, and superintendents typically go to great lengths to entice students to attend. Districts have coaxed students to attend on the days using raffles...
(JNS) — The latest exchange in the ongoing battle between Yeshiva University and the YU Pride Alliance, a student LGBTQ club, allowed for at least a temporary ceasefire between the two sides. But the case continues to generate controversy, as the status quo of other recognized groups continuing to operate on the campus, while the gay club still seeks equal treatment, remains. YU stands a good chance of eventually prevailing if, as expected, a decision on the merits of the case is decided by the U.S. Supreme Court at some point. But even if i...
(JNS) — It’s impossible not be astonished and humbled by the bravery of the Iranian people. From bus drivers to university teachers, once again a cross-section of Iranian society has taken to the streets of Tehran and other cities in a fresh round of protests against the brutal Islamist regime that has ruled them since 1979. The immediate trigger for these latest demonstrations was the death in police custody of Mahsa Amini, 22. Amini was arrested in Tehran by the regime’s so-called “Morality Police”—uniformed thugs whose job would correctly be...
(JNS) — “We stand with Israel.” That is the sign in front of my Conservative synagogue and many other synagogues. What could be less controversial? What could be more fundamental to Jewish identity? Alas, at too many synagogues, standing with Israel is too much for some. On Rosh Hashanah, my rabbi felt compelled to defend the sign after a congregant complained. He later admitted to me that he’s not sure such a sign could be put up in the Bay Area where he previously lived. Even worse, the problem is no longer surprising. A year ago, while t...
In May 2019, Governor DeSantis went to Jerusalem to sign a law that makes religion a protected class with respect to discrimination in public education, equating antisemitism with racism. In signing the bill, protecting students from discrimination based on religion at all grade levels, K through college, Governor DeSantis said “…antisemitism has no place in our state and our educational institutions will not tolerate discrimination against the Jewish people. … Florida is the most Israel-friendly state in the country and as long as I’m Governo...
(JNS) — Something disturbing happened in Jerusalem earlier this week, and the story is not yet over. Temple Mount activists Yehuda Glick, a former MK and president of the Shalom Jerusalem Foundation; Tom Nisani, executive director of Beyadenu; and Emanuel Brosh, a board member of Beyadenu, went outside the Eastern Wall of the Old City of Jerusalem on Monday, Sept. 19, to pray and blow the shofar in observance of the month of Elul. The Eastern Wall, near the Golden Gate, is on the eastern side of the Temple Mount. Two Arabs approached them w...
(JNS) — What do you do if Israel’s prime minister makes a speech that includes some statements you don’t like? If you’re the left-wing lobby J Street, you just edit out the parts with which you disagree, thus fooling the public into thinking that the prime minister never said them. That’s what happened with Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid’s speech at the United Nations on Sept. 22. J Street loved his line about “two states for two peoples” and immediately issued a press release “welcoming and commending” Lapid for using those “extremely im...
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...
(JTA) — Doreen Alhadeff was the first American Jew granted Spanish citizenship under Spain’s 2015 law to repatriate Sephardic Jews from around the world. Now she is going to be knighted by Spain’s monarchy for helping others obtain that same citizenship. Alhadeff, a 72-year-old real estate agent from Seattle, will be knighted under the order of Queen Isabella the Catholic next month, the Seattle Times reported Monday. Since earning Spanish citizenship in 2016, Alhadeff has helped guide people around the world, from Greece to Hong Kong, through...
(JTA) - The success of Giorgia Meloni's Brothers of Italy party in Italy's national election last week means the country is poised to have its most right-wing government since World War II, when Italy was Hitler's staunchest ally in Europe. The prospect has unnerved many Italian Jews, even as several of their leaders appear to be taking a wait-and-see approach to Meloni's leadership, refraining from making public statements about the results. "Faced with the prospect of a prime minister that is...
(Israel Hayom via JNS) — It appears that history is about to be made in Italy: Giorgia Meloni, the 45-year-old leader of the national conservative party Fratelli d’Italia (Brothers of Italy), who has pledged to fight mass immigration and Islamization and has been very critical of the European Union, became the country’s first female prime minister. Speaking with Israel Hayom, Meloni lashes out at those who engage in anti-Israel and antisemitic rhetoric, which is now a common feature in left-wing circles. Q: Some members of your party come...
(JTA) - Speaking on the phone from an empty balcony in the Longacre Theater in New York, several hours before a preview performance of his latest play, Tom Stoppard said the show is "one that people like to talk to me about." "Leopoldstadt," which officially hits Broadway on Sunday after an award-winning London debut in 2019, follows multiple generations of a Jewish family in Vienna from the turn of the 20th century through World War II and formation of the state of Israel. Audience members in t...
There are many ways to confront, and move on, from the grief of losing a loved one. As a grateful participant in the grief support program sponsored by the Jewish Pavilion and Vitas Healthcare, here is part of my story. My daughter Sara got married this past July in Manchester, Vermont, to her long-time boyfriend Griffin. She did all the extensive wedding planning, of both the ceremony and reception, on her own. I knew a lot of details about the reception ahead of time, but precious few about...
By Ron Kampeas WASHINGTON (JTA) — Democrats on the U.S. House of Representatives Foreign Affairs Committee voted to name as chairman of its influential Middle East subcommittee Rep. David Cicilline, a Jewish Rhode Islander who is a member of the party’s Progressive Caucus. Cicilline bested Brad Schneider, a moderate Jewish Illinois Democrat, in an 18-6 vote. Cicilline and Schneider are both close to the mainstream pro-Israel community and are both endorsed by the American Israel Public Aff...
(JTA) - "K-pop is over," one Twitter user declared. "We're listening to Orthodox Pop from now on." With those words, the Miami Boys Choir has transformed over the last two weeks from a singing group popular among Jewish insiders to a viral sensation. On TikTok and Twitter, users have shared clips of the group's concerts, overlaid its music with other scenes and inserted themselves into split-screen duets. New fans of MBC, as the group is known for short, have chosen their favorite singers...
Write it out. Apologizing can be a delicate balance of vulnerability, confidence, and self-control. Before you jump into asking for forgiveness, sometimes writing a letter can give you a chance to fully express yourself without pressure. Just don't send your first copy. Give yourself a bit of time to read, re-read, and reflect on if you're taking full responsibility for your actions. You don't have to do it alone. Let us join you on your journey of self-reflection, during the holidays and all...
