Central Florida's Independent Jewish Voice
Central Florida's Independent Jewish Voice
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Thousands of people walked from the Auschwitz to Birkenau in Poland on Thursday, April 16, as part of the annual March of the Living on Holocaust Remembrance Day. Each year, marchers commemorate more than a million people-the vast majority of them Jewish men, women, and children-who were murdered in the death camp. This year, the program included some 10,000 students and adults, Jews and non-Jews, from more than 40 countries. "On this march we insist that never again shall we be silent when...
On Tuesday , May 5, The Orlando Chapter of Hadassah will host author Zieva Konvisser, PhD. She will review her book "Living Beyond Terrorism." Konvisser's diverse career has evolved from pharmaceutical chemist to automotive executive to earning a post-"retirement" PhD in human development. As a Fellow of the Institute for Social Innovation at Fielding Graduate University and an adjunct assistant professor of criminal justice at Wayne State University, her research focuses on the human impact of...
WASHINGTON (JTA)-Jewish leaders expected President Barack Obama to sell them hard on the Iran nuclear deal. Instead, participants in two White House meetings on Monday said he offered a softer pitch on how deeply he cares for Israel and the Jewish people. "He tried to explain he understands Jewish trauma, history, the Jewish feeling of being alone in a bad neighborhood," said a participant in the first meeting, which was attended by 15 top officials from Jewish organizations. Another described...
JFS Orlando’s Executive Director Eric Geboff has announced that JFS Orlando has been awarded a $20,000 grant from the William J. and Dorothy K. O’Neill Foundation. “We are very thankful for the support of the William J. and Dorothy K. O’Neill Foundation,” said Geboff. “This grant helps JFS Orlando continue to make a difference in the lives of Central Floridians in need.” The grant supports JFS Orlando’s Family Stabilization Program (FSP)—a preventative, six-month case management program designed to help families obtain self-sufficiency by teach...
(JNS.org) Former U.S. senator, secretary of state, and first lady Hillary Clinton on Sunday announced that she will run for president in 2016. She lost to President Barack Obama in the 2008 Democratic presidential primary. The National Jewish Democratic Council (NJDC) welcomed Clinton's candidacy, saying in a statement that she "not only has been a true and valuable friend to Israel over her long and illustrious career, but also has consistently defended the most vulnerable among us." "She...
(JNS.org) U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) told donors that he is joining the field of Republican candidates running in the 2016 presidential election, The Associated Press reported Monday. Sens. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and Rand Paul (R-Ky.) had previously announced their campaigns. Reacting to the recently reached framework nuclear agreement with Iran, Rubio said in a statement that he fears the preliminary deal "will have devastating consequences for nuclear non-proliferation, the security of our all...
WASHINGTON—In furtherance of the strategic “Drive to Excellence” plan, Hillel International today announced the addition of Matthew E. Berger as senior adviser for strategic communications. He assumed his post on April 20. Berger joins Hillel International with more than 15 years of experience in communications as a journalist and private consultant. “Matthew combines strong communications skills with a deep dedication to Jewish values. His commitment to our foundational principles and skill in working with specialized audiences is the precise...
Beginning this May, the Rohr Jewish Learning Institute (JLI) will present Judaism Decoded: The Origins and Evolution of Jewish Tradition, a new six-week spring course which will uncover the unique formula that has sustained Jewish tradition for millennia. “Just as science follows the scientific method, Judaism has its own system to ensure authenticity remains intact,” explains Rabbi Zalman Abraham of JLI’s New York headquarters. “We wanted to shed light on the mystery that surrounds biblical interpretations. This really is an eye-opening course...
JFS Orlando Executive Director Eric Geboff is pleased to announce that Daniel Fisher has joined the JFS Orlando family as a licensed mental health counselor. Fisher attended the University of Florida's Counselor Education Master's Program where he received his education specialist degree in addition to his Master's in Education in mental health counseling. He specializes in depression, anxiety, addictions, career counseling, college transitions and anger management. Growing up, Fisher and his fa...
Join the Jewish Genealogical Society of Greater Orlando (JGSGO) on Sunday, May 3, 2 p.m., for a walk-through tour of the Orange County Library System’s new genealogy library, located at 1821 East Silver Star Road, Ocoee, FL 34761. This is one block east of Clarke Road and Silver Star Road, about 1 mile north of the West Oaks Mall. The OCLS moved its genealogy library from the downtown Orlando library to the West Oaks branch in Ocoee. After much work by the library staff, the facility opened in February. This move may make the drive to the l...
The Meitin Religious School at Temple Israel is holding an Open House for all children entering kindergarten, first and second grade in the fall on Sunday, April 26 from 11:30 a.m. -12:30 p.m. The Meitin School is blessed with outstanding teachers and class configurations that enable children of various grades to learn together at their own pace. At the present time, Sharon Pinhas teaches grades K-2 each Sunday from 9 a.m.-12:30 p.m. The structure of the class lets the kids explore, study, sing, create and experience being Jewish...
As expected, the Obama administration is having a hard time selling the American public on the feeble understanding—it’s not a “deal,” since nothing was signed—that was recently reached with Iran over its nuclear program. Let’s start with President Barack Obama himself. Interviewed by Thomas Friedman of the New York Times after the understanding was announced, Obama was confident and buoyant, declaring that there was no formula “more effective than the diplomatic initiative and framework that we put forward” when it comes to preventing Tehr...
The two countries I know best are both immersed in political frenzy. In the United States it is the onset of the 2016 presidential campaign. In Israel it is sorting out the goodies and the claimants after last month’s election. Both are marked by hyperbolic claims and promises, which are not likely to produce more than tiny increments of what affects the future of each place. The American presidential race may end up as a competition between two dynasties, with Jeb Bush against Hillary Clinton. So much for claims of being the most openly d...
I found out something a few weeks ago that I should have known for decades. When the Roman Legions left Israel, having slaughtered thousands and sent thousands more out into what would become known as the Diaspora; they left behind dozens of Jewish villages that continued to survive. These enclaves of biblical era Jewish life, continued to exist and do until this day. So, first of all, it should put to rest the idea that Jews in any way are newcomers and interlopers on that land. We never left. Israel today is a heterogeneous mix of Orthodox,...
Leave it to New York Times columnist Thomas Friedman to shill shamelessly for President Barack Obama. In a lengthy interview about the Iran nuclear framework, the ever-sycophantic Friedman gives us new insight into the banality of mediocrity—Obama’s as statesman and his as journalist. Seldom before have we seen such a coupling try to spin diplomatic surrender into victory. Unchallenged, the voluble Obama reveals his personal hurt about being labeled anti-Israel by segments of the American Jewish community. Once again, Obama reminds Friedman’s v...
NEW YORK (JTA)—The evening before we visited Auschwitz, over pizza with a group of young people in Oswiecim, the town on whose outskirts lies that infamous symbol, one of my students approached me with tears in her eyes. Tears are hardly uncommon to visitors of sites of mass death. But for this student—a participant in a weeklong trip to Auschwitz undertaken as part of a course on Holocaust history and literature that I teach at Baruch College in New York City—the trip marked her first time on a plane, her first time in a foreign count...
Hillary Clinton is hoping for a “new tone” in the U.S.-Israel relationship, one Jewish leader recently claimed. But in the meantime, Israel is stuck dealing with the deadly consequences of her policies as secretary of state. Russia this week announced its intention to provide Iran with the S-300 advanced missile system. Russian president Vladimir Putin reportedly justified his action on the grounds that the missile system is for defensive purposes. In this case, however, “defensive” means that it could be used to “defend” Iran’s nuclear weapo...
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...
Albert Leonard Rosen of Rancho Mirage, Calif., passed away on Friday, March 13, 2015, of natural causes at Eisenhower Medical Center in Rancho Mirage. He was 91 years old. Two of his sons, Jim Rosen and Rob Rosen, live in Orlando. Al Rosen, as he was known to baseball fans, was born on Feb. 29, 1924-a "leap year" baby-to Louis and Rose Levin Rosen in Spartanburg, S.C. When he was 18 months old, his mother and grandmother moved the family to Miami. He attended Riverside Elementary School, Ada...
In late March it was announced that the Jewish Pavilion was one of nine winning organizations chosen to have its logo placed on the LYNX public service bus. On Wednesday, April 15, staff and supporters of the Pavilion attended an unveiling of the bus just outside Amway Center, alongside representatives of the other winning nonprofits. Organizations that support the arts, at-risk youth, seniors and mental illness were among the non-profit agencies featured on the LYNX 2015-16 Public Service Bus....
David Edward Coultoff, son of Daniel and Caryn Coultoff of Heathrow, Fla., will be called to the Torah as a bar mitzvah on Saturday, May 2, 2015 at Congregation Ohev Shalom in Maitland. David is in the seventh grade at Markham Middle School where he is in the gifted program, and plays clarinet in the Concert Band and the Jazz Band. He also plays piano and enjoys playing basketball and tennis. His hobbies include fishing, drawing and spending time with friends. He enjoys his summers at Camp...
Aubrey Leah Stern, daughter of Ronald and Nancy Stern of Longwood, will be called to the Torah as a bat mitzvah on Saturday, May 2, 2015, at Temple Israel in Winter Springs. Aubrey is in the seventh grade at Rock Lake Middle School. Her hobbies and interests include skateboarding; art, particularly painting; dog training; animal rescue; raising and breeding leopard geckos; and volunteering at a local pet store. She is also a member of Temple Israel Kadima. Sharing in the family's simcha will be...
Ashley Leah Weinstein, daughter of Suzanne and Eric Weinstein of Apopka, will be called to the Torah as a bat mitzvah on Saturday, May 2, 2015 at Congregation Beth Am in Longwood. Ashley is in the seventh grade at Teague Middle School, where she is in the gifted program and recently inducted into the National Junior Honor Society. She is Red Cross Babysitting and CPR certified. Ashley plays the piano, trumpet, and enjoys spending her summers with friends and family. She also spent the last six...
"Depressed" isn't a strong enough word... With the increase in anti-Semitism in Europe and yes, even here in the United States, I am feeling extremely down and frankly scared. I keep remembering the words of Holocaust survivor ROMAN KENT at the recent Auschwitz tribute. He said "We do not want our past to be our children's future." Even if my time on earth isn't much longer, what about my children and their children and their children's children? I repeat, "depressed isn't a strong enough...
JERUSALEM (JTA)—In the wake of the drowning death of hundreds of migrants from Libya trying to reach Italy, an Israeli government minister justified his country’s building of a fence to keep out migrants. Transportation Minister Yisrael Katz in a post Monday on his Facebook page, called the deaths a “tragedy that shocks all humanity,” then added, “Look how right was the government’s policy to build a fence on the border with Gaza that blocks the way of migrant workers from Africa from entering Israel.” Israel in 2012 built a fence on its...
