Central Florida's Independent Jewish Voice
Central Florida's Independent Jewish Voice
Sorted by date Results 1 - 25 of 36
Jewish Academy of Orlando will hold its annual book fair, Monday, Oct. 29-Nov. 2. This year's theme is Enchanted Forest. The fair's signature event, Family Night, will be held Oct. 28, at 6.30 p.m. The event will feature four children's authors including: Christina Farley, author of "The Princess and the Page"; J.J. Howard, author of "Pugs and Kisses"; Peter Raymundo, author of "Third Grade Mermaid" and "The Narwhal"; and Margaret Mincks, "Payback on Poplar Lane." "Once again, we are delighted... Full story
WASHINGTON (JTA)-There are 15 Jewish Republican candidates running in U.S. House of Representatives races this fall. Two are incumbents and 13 are challengers. JTA is breaking down the races, assessing where the candidates stand on the political spectrum, noting their Jewish involvement and reporting what the forecasters say. Last week we covered the five Jewish Senate nominees, all Democrats. You can find a breakdown of the Jewish Democratic House candidates here. These are all of the Republica... Full story
(JNS)-A medium-range grad rocket fired by terrorists in the Gaza Strip destroyed a home in Beersheva, Israel's third-largest city, deep inside Israeli territory. The Red Alert warning system was activated at 3:39 a.m. in Beersheva and the surrounding Negev communities, with residents throughout the area scrambling for shelter. A 39-year-old mother and her three children-ages 9, 10 and 12-were treated for shock after the rocket scored a direct hit on their family home. After hearing the warning... Full story
(Israel21c)-Humanitarian organization IsraAID is sending volunteers to northwest Florida; teams already helping in North Carolina, Philippines and Indonesia. Israeli humanitarian NGO IsraAID is preparing to deploy an emergency response team to northwest Florida, which has suffered brutal devastation from Hurricane Michael since it made landfall on Wednesday. Several people have been killed and thousands evacuated from their homes as the category-four hurricane damaged and destroyed houses,... Full story
The Jewish Pavilion and Vitas Hospice is offering a free, six-week Grief Support group for people who have lost loved ones (spouses, children, parents, etc.). The first session is on Monday, Nov.12 from 10:30 a.m. until noon at Oakmonte Village (Valencia Building) in Lake Mary. Rabbi Maurice Kaprow from VITAS Innovative Hospice will lead the discussion. Judaism provides a beautiful, structured approach to mourning that involves three stages. When followed carefully, these stages guide mourners through the tragic loss and pain and gradually... Full story
The Staff of The Jewish Pavilion and other local facilities honor and acknowledge the Seniors who live in long-term care and nursing homes. In 1987, the Federal government passed, “The Nursing Home Reform Law.” This was to establish “Residents’ Rights” for quality care. Some of these rights include: To make independent choices; To participate in one’s own health care; To be fully informed; and Privacy and Confidentiality. The law also requires facilities to promote and protect the rights of residents. Residents’ Rights Month, is an opportunit... Full story
Stetson University Hillel students were invited to meet and dine with the university board of trustees. During dinner they were given an intimate understanding of the role of the board of the university, and had the opportunity to speak one-on-one with board members about their passion for Stetson and their professional advice. Reed Barkowitz, a freshman student from Orlando (sixth from left), was invited to give the opening blessing. The students are shown here with Stetson University... Full story
(JNS)-Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced on Tuesday that he would consider moving the country's embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, which would mark a major shift in policy in support of the Jewish state by a world power following the U.S. decision to recognize Jerusalem as its capital by the Trump administration in December. The Australian leader also announced that his country will vote against recognizing the Palestinian Authority as the chair of the G77 bloc in the... Full story
The Palestinians and several Muslim countries expressed indignation after Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced he was considering recognizing Jerusalem as Israel’s capital and moving the country’s embassy to the city. Morrison revealed the possibility in a telephone conversation with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday. “I’m very thankful to him for this. We will continue to strengthen ties between Israel and Australia,” Netanyahu tweeted that day. Morrison, Australia’s new prime minister, said on Tuesday he was “open... Full story
WASHINGTON (JTA)—Sen. Ted Cruz called J Street, the liberal Jewish Middle East policy group, “rabidly anti-Israel” in the Texas Republican’s debate with his Democratic opponent, U.S. Rep. Beto O’Rourke. “Congressman O’Rourke is fond of saying he doesn’t take PAC money, but the truth is different,” Cruz said Tuesday after O’Rourke accused the incumbent of accepting big money from political action committees. “For example, the J Street PAC, which is a rabidly anti-Israel PAC, has raised over $160,000 for Congressman O’Rourke because of h... Full story
JERUSALEM (JTA)—Israel Post and the U.S. Postal Service have issued a joint stamp for Chanukah. The stamp also is meant to celebrate 70 years since the establishment of diplomatic relations between Israel and the United States, Israel Post said in a statement. The new stamp design was launched simultaneously in the Touro Synagogue in Newport, Rhode Island, the oldest synagogue in the United States, and at the American Center in Jerusalem. “Today’s joint stamp issue is a symbol of the shared values and the cultural affinity between the Unite... Full story
(JNS)—The confirmation of Brett Kavanaugh as the newest associate justice of the U.S. Supreme Court was greeted by the organized Jewish world in the same manner as his nomination by U.S. President Donald Trump. While some organizations stayed silent, liberal-leaning Jewish groups generally deplored his ascension to the high court. The far smaller number of conservative-leaning groups that label themselves as Jewish cheered him. But the willingness of so many of the institutions that are tasked with representing Jewish interests to seek to drag... Full story
(Camera on Campus via JNS)—As the U.S. Air Force C-17 left Afghan airspace, I allowed myself to relax for a brief moment. My year-long tour in Kabul, Afghanistan, was over. Returning home, I thought of those fellow soldiers, including my command sergeant major, who had not been so fortunate. In their service to the United States, they had been killed by the Taliban. In remembering them, I thought of the oath that we had all taken: to “support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic.” Now,... Full story
Earlier this month my wife and I flew to Iceland to chase and hopefully observe the Aurora Borealis, the Northern Lights, a spectacular colorful light show appearing in the night sky above the arctic circle, and in some instances even at lower latitudes. This heavenly event is caused when intense solar activity increases the solar wind and spews out highly charged particles strong enough to break out of the sun’s gravitational pull, which then travel to the outer limits of the solar system. As this solar wind passes through Earth’s magnetic fie... Full story
Rabbinic debate has a long history in Judaism. In that spirit, I am responding respectfully to Rabbi Sanford’s Olshansky’s article in the Heritage accusing Mayor Andrew Gillum of being anti-Israel and Chris King of being anti-Semitic. Both charges are extremely serious and should not be made without full investigation, knowing all of the facts, and speaking to those who personally know them. Truth is a basic value in Judaism and we are not permitted to accuse someone of something that is not true in order to create fear of that person. How oft... Full story
(Israel Hayom via JNS)—Israeli Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman announced on Saturday that he was stopping the newly resumed supply of fuel and gas to the Gaza Strip, and added: “As long as the violence on the Gaza border does not come to a complete halt, including sending burning balloons over the fence and setting tires on fire near Israeli communities located near Gaza, Israel will not be resupplying the Gaza Strip with fuel or gas.” On the other hand, Hamas leaders claim daily that the “marches of return on the border will end only wh... Full story
(JNS)—Given the rising tensions on the Israel-Gaza border, it is time we ask Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman: How many times can you threaten Hamas? How many times can you say “Somebody stop me” before your credibility, as well as the military’s ability to effectively generate deterrence, will be completely eroded? The Palestinians have marked significant propaganda achievements over the past seven months. Islamic Jihad has declared that its operatives will not allow any normalcy for the border-... 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
U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Nikki Haley talked about some of the behind-the-scenes dealings with her boss, President Donald Trump, as well as foreign envoys in a closed-door meeting of the politically conservative Council for National Policy, Harper’s Magazine reported. The diplomat revealed details about confrontations she had with some of America’s most notorious adversaries, including North Korea. To pass sanctions in the U.N. Security Council against that Communist state, Haley resorted to the “madman theory,” a political theory from th... Full story
By Marilyn Shapiro Simchas and celebrations are wonderful, but New Orleans celebrates every day of the year. A city brimming with restaurants, clubs, and street musicians, it was clear to see why The Big Easy is listed consistently in the top five party cities in the United States. First and foremost, it is a city for foodies. The minute my husband, Larry, and I got into the shuttle taking us and our four friends to our bed and breakfast, our driver, Ryan, started listing all the restaurants we... Full story
By Josefin Dolsten NEW YORK (JTA)-Dogs and their owners are a common sight in Central Park on the weekend, but there was something different about the group gathered on the grass on a recent Sunday morning. The approximately 20 people could be seen and heard pointing at the ground while yelling "zits" and "shtai" and urging their dogs to "shpring" over hurdles. A group of befuddled visitors from Canada who stopped by to ask what was going on seemed even more confused when they learned the answer... Full story
When Mae Weisman was in a skilled-nursing facility, recuperating from a recent illness, it was only natural for her to miss doing the things she enjoys. One of the things she most looked forward to upon returning home to Brookdale Island Lake is the weekly Shabbat service led by Jewish Pavilion volunteers. Although the Jewish Pavilion had occasional programs and friendly visits at the nursing facility, Weisman missed having the weekly Shabbat program to look forward to. "This is the most... Full story
Not a surprise to me... In my opinion, some of the smartest brains on earth belong to Israelis, especially when it comes to medicine and science. For instance, they are so advanced in the cures for some of our major diseases and conditions and, when it comes to science... well, read this next article: "As announced by SpaceIL and reported in the Jerusalem Post newspaper, an Israeli spacecraft will launch in December with a goal of landing on the moon next February. Founded in 2011, SpaceIL is... Full story
(BBC Watch via JNS)-The Israel Security Agency's report on terror attacks (Hebrew) during September 2018 shows that throughout the month a total of 204 incidents took place: 70 in Judea and Samaria, 10 in Jerusalem and 124 in the Gaza Strip. In Judea and Samaria, and in Jerusalem, the agency recorded 61 attacks with petrol bombs, eight attacks using improvised explosive devices (IEDs), seven arson attacks, one shooting attack and three stabbings. Incidents recorded in Gaza included 66 attacks... Full story
LOS ANGELES (JTA)-In 1993, filmmaker Ariel Vromen was part of an Israeli air force rescue unit sent in to Lebanon to evacuate both Jewish and Arab soldiers wounded during a battle. During the fighting, two of Vromen's closest friends died in front of his eyes. For several months afterward, he suffered debilitating post-traumatic stress disorder. But Vromen, now 45, took solace knowing that he and his fellow troops were "under a certain oath to take care of soldiers from Lebanon or Syria as much... Full story
