Central Florida's Independent Jewish Voice
Central Florida's Independent Jewish Voice
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Central Florida Hillel students posed with Mosab Hassan Yousef (fifth from left), author of 'Son of Hamas' and a former Shin Bet informant, at AIPAC's annual Orlando event, attended by 300 Jews and Christians. Shown here are UCF students (l-r), Adam Ifargan, Tamara Zishuk, Desia Bacon, Jessica Garmizo, (Yousef), Nichole Kostiuk, Rebekah Schachner, Talia Mor and Ben Suster.... Full story
When parents of students in grades K-5 gathered for Orlando Jewish Day School's annual spelling event on Tuesday, they were both amused and surprised to find that it was more of a high-tech school spelling performance. A large welcoming screen greeted the audience, with student names projected in various colors onto a large, white wall. Soft music played in the background, as the participants were introduced to the rules of the bee. "We think of this more as a spelling celebration," said Dini Dr... Full story
The Holocaust Memorial Resource and Education Center of Florida has announced that they will be honoring Valeria and Jim Shapiro at their annual Dinner of Tribute on April 7. According to the Center's Executive Director Pam Kancher, they were chosen for their long history of building bridges among local organization. "Jim and Valeria thrive on bringing people and organizations together," Kancher said. "They understand that encouraging people and groups to work together strengthens all of us. It... Full story
TEL AVIV (JTA)—Israel’s government approved a compromise to expand the non-Orthodox Jewish prayer section of the Western Wall, putting to rest the decades-long fight between Women of the Wall and Israel’s haredi Orthodox religious establishment. The deal achieves what had been an elusive goal: an interdenominational consensus on Judaism’s holiest site with official recognition. The non-Orthodox prayer section at the wall will become much larger and more accessible. But haredi control of the Orthodox section will also be solidified, though... Full story
MANCHESTER, N.H. (JTA)-Michael Harris probably isn't your typical New Hampshire Republican. A 71-year-old from Hollis and president of his synagogue in nearby Nashua, Harris isn't sure who he would support if the general election came down to the two iconoclasts on either side, Donald Trump and Sen. Bernie Sanders. While the brash real estate mogul running as a Republican and the independent lawmaker from Vermont seeking the Democratic nomination might seem like polar opposites, there are a... Full story
(Israel Hayom/Exclusive to JNS.org)-The Israeli Foreign Ministry slammed CBS News on Wednesday over its report on a terrorist attack near Damascus Gate in Jerusalem, which carried a headline reading, "3 Palestinians killed as daily violence grinds on." The Palestinians identified in the headline were actually the terrorists who carried out the attack, which killed 19-year-old Israeli Border Police officer Hadar Cohen. Foreign Ministry spokesman Emmanuel Nahshon blasted the media outlet's "gall"... Full story
The Indiana House of Representatives passed new legislation that targets businesses or other entities engaging in the anti-Israel Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement, marking the latest victory in the fight against BDS on the U.S. state level. House Bill 1378, which was introduced by Indiana House Speaker Brian Bosma and passed unanimously by the legislature on Jan. 25, requires “the public retirement system to divest from businesses that engage in action or inaction to boycott, divest from, or sanction Israel.” The bill’s next... Full story
The annual conference of Chabad representatives ended Monday with a resounding affirmation of the preeminent place of the woman in Jewish life and community. Some 3,000 women from 87 countries attended the International Conference of Shluchos (female emissaries) at Chabad-Lubavitch Headquarters in Brooklyn. Among the thousands of women, five Orlando women participated in the five-day conference; Devorah Leah Dubov, co-director of Chabad of Greater Orlando; Chani Konikov, co-director of Chabad... Full story
The Central Florida Jewish Community was honored to welcome elite Israel Defense Forces (IDF) soldier and Jewish National Fund (JNF)/ Halutza Liaison Yedidya Harush to a Feb. 2 evening event in Winter Park, hosted by the Central Florida division of the JNF Young Professionals Group, JNFuture. Harush was, in the midst of his career in the IDF, involved in the 2014 operation to find the terrorists responsible for the kidnapping of the three boys immediately prior to Operation Protective Edge, known to some as the Summer 2014 Gaza war. Harush had... Full story
Orlando Hadassah is preparing for the Bunny Rosen Women’s Heart Health Luncheon and Fashion Show on Sunday, Feb. 28 at 11:30 a.m. at The Alfond Inn in Winter Park. Having experienced the perfect combination of great food, great service and a great venue last year, Orlando Hadassah will again hold its annual charitable event at The Alfond Inn whose profits go to the scholarship fund of Rollins College. The fashion show will feature clothing and accessories by Chico’s Winter Park. This year’s theme is “Masquerade,” therefore the names of the mo... Full story
The Jewish Federation of Greater Orlando is hosting a Community Education Event on “Combating the Delegitimization of Israel” on Wednesday, Feb. 17, from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at the Roth JCC Auditorium, 851 North Maitland Avenue in Maitland. The Federation is pleased to welcome Avi Weinryb, assistant director of Community Strategy and Communications at the Jewish Federations of North America (JFNA)’s Israel Action Network, who will lead the event. Attendees will learn how to engage in effective Israel advocacy in the face of campaigns such as Boyco... Full story
With the public announcement that David Wayne, executive director of the Jewish Community Center, is moving on to a new phase in his life, and the JCC is conducting a nationwide search for a new director, questions inevitably arise regarding the change. While I am not privy to the inner workings of the agency, or any behind-the-scenes reasons for his departure, a few points can easily be made. First, there are no questions or doubts about the integrity or decency of Mr. Wayne. He has always... Full story
“When in Rome, do as the Iranians do.” That was the core message emerging from Iranian President Hassan Rouhani’s visit to Europe this week, in a bid to boost trade relations now that the sanctions related to Tehran’s nuclear program have been lifted. Arriving at Rome’s venerable Capitoline Museum for a meeting with his Italian counterpart, Mateo Renzi, Rouhani was swiftly escorted past the museum’s priceless collection of Roman statues, including many nudes that had been covered up—yes, really—to avoid offending the sensibilities o... Full story
We’ve had another round of clamoring about who is responsible for the failure of Israelis and Palestinians to reach an agreement ending their disputes. There are two fronts in the recent verbiage. One consists of accusations by Mahmoud Abbas and Benyamin Netanyahu about one another’s willingness to meet. Another concerns the prospect that a former commander of the IDF, Gabi Ashkenazi, will enter politics as a moderate, and lead one or another party to make peace with the Palestinians. Both fronts are convoluted by other considerations, and we... Full story
Last week Jews worldwide were treated to two stabbings, one murdering a Jewish mother of six bereaved children. The consequence of the second is the imminence of more to come. The immediate threat is to Jews, but there are many reasons why everyone should care. In Israel, Dafna Meir, a Jewish mother of six, was stabbed to death fighting off an Arab terrorist who broke into her home. Her children were home as she struggled with the terrorist to protect them. Her actions were selfless and heroic, and her death equally sad and grotesque. Israelis... Full story
Followers of Islam face a growing threat of becoming a pariah community in the United States, as a consequence of now frequent acts of mass-murder committed by co-religionists here and abroad. Horrified by the war in Syria, violence in Africa, and in about 50 areas around the world, where Muslims interface with non-Muslims, and Muslims of different sects, disgust and fright at the rise of the Islamic State, cause otherwise tolerant Americans to set aside natural instincts for acceptance of others and their religion. Widespread violence in the... Full story
(JTA)—The relationship between Israel and American Jews is a complicated mix of good news and bad news, and this week’s government compromise on the Western Wall, or Kotel, is a case in point: It’s a step forward in providing access for non-Orthodox Jews, but may also reinforce the reality that the main plaza doesn’t welcome Reform or Conservative Jews, who comprise the majority of affiliated American Jews. The main Kotel plaza may never accommodate non-Orthodox prayer, but a new poll by the Ruderman Family Foundation provides some hope an... 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
Congregation Ohev Shalom will present Cantor Jack Mendelson at their annual Gala event on Feb. 21, 2016. Cantor Mendelson is a noted cantor, entertainer and humorist. Originally from Brooklyn, he followed in the footsteps of the great Cantors of past years while also training the newest generation of Cantors at The Jewish Theological Seminary as well as Hebrew Union College, his own alma mater. His performances encompass not only traditional tunes, but draw humorously on his experience of... Full story
Students engage in hands-on STEM activities as part of a community Science Night at the Orlando Jewish Day School in collaboration with the Science Center... Full story
Lee J. Lehner, age 75, of Apopka, passed away on Sunday, Jan. 31, 2016, at South Seminole Hospital in Longwood. Mr. Lehner was born in Kingston, New York, on April 4, 1940, to the late Henry and Rita Kinberg Lehner. He was an executive in retail sales and management, including vice president of Jefferson-Wards Department stores. When he left the world of retailing in the early 1980s, Mr. Lehner began a new career as a travel consultant, opening a Travel Agents International office in Altamonte Springs. He remained in that business until... Full story
Joseph Zollman, a former editor-in-chief of the Minkus Stamp Catalogs and a Life Member of the American Philatelic Society, died Jan. 28, 2016 in Altamonte Springs. He was 93. Zollman started his philatelic career at the United Nations Postal Administration shortly after its launch, and often noted that his daughter Yvonne was born during his tenure at the UNPA. With its terrific health insurance coverage, his “co-pay” for the medical bills for her birth was 25 cents. For many years, Zollman wrote the “Stamping Grounds” column about stamps,... Full story
The Jewish Pavilion is going to the dogs- and the residents they serve in long-term care couldn't be happier. On Jan. 26 the Jewish Pavilion launched its new Licks and Hugs Program at Oakmonte Village in Lake Mary under the guidance of Pavilion Program Director Emily Newman, with help from Sanford's Pet Rescue by Judy. On a chilly Tuesday morning, rescue dogs Molly, Frasier, and Cookie brought the warm fuzzies to dozens of assisted living and memory care residents as part of the visiting pet... Full story
With the average volunteer model aged 40 years plus, the Jewish Pavilion's "Spring into Fashion" held at Bloomingdales' in Orlando on Feb. 5 showcased beauty and fashions for all ages. More than 100 women gathered at the eighth annual Jewish Pavilion Fashion Show for a morning of friendship, food, fashion and fun. A handful of Pavilion volunteers, ranging from college students to retirees, graciously served as runway models as event commentator, Rachel Jensen, shared the latest seasonal fashion... Full story
Oy vay, here we go again?... I am really getting concerned about the rise of anti-Semitism. It is upsetting to say the least, but not talking about it, keeping quiet about it, is definitely the WRONG thing to do. So I am passing on to you the following article in part from the World Jewish Congress (WJC) Digest: "The Foreign Affairs Committee of the U.S. House of Representatives has passed a unanimous resolution regarding 'the safety and security of Jewish communities in Europe.' This follows... Full story
