Central Florida's Independent Jewish Voice
Central Florida's Independent Jewish Voice
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Shown here (l-r): Shiri Shisgal, Yahli Shisgal, Noa Elliott and Ori Shisgal know how to have fun at the Roth JCC's Israel Independence Day celebration on April 23. There was a good turn out of people who enjoyed entertainment by Israeli singer Yaniv Shushan, the Jewish Academy of Orlando chorus and the JCC's Richard S. Adler Early Childhood Learning Center's Gan Rishonim class. There was also Israeli folk dancing, Kosher food and lots of stuff to buy. For more photos see page... Full story
It was April 23, Marcy Rosenbaum's birthday, and the day Heritage was interviewing her about the 31 years she has worked at the JCC Preschool, as it was called when she first started working there part time back in 1984. Streamers were hanging from Rosenbaum's office ceiling, and just as the interview began, about a dozen three-year-old smiling cherubs squeezed themselves into her small office to wish her happy birthday. The first ones in the door carried a poster with the children's signatures... Full story
The community is invited to join Temple Shir Shalom of Oviedo to say thank you to cantorial leader Beth Schafer for the years of service, guidance, music and friendship that she has brought to this community for the past 20 years. A luncheon, to be catered by Dexters, will be held at the Jewish Academy of Orlando, at 851 N. Maitland Ave., Maitland, on Sunday, May 31, 2015, from 11:30 a.m. until 2:30 p.m. The cost for the luncheon is $25 per adult, $18 per child ages 12 and under. Seating is... Full story
Central Florida's local magician, Kostya Kimlat, www.kostyakimlat.com, recently filmed in Las Vegas for Penn & Teller's "Fool Us" television program. The season starts airing July 6 on the CW network. "Fool Us" is a magic competition in which magicians perform tricks in front of American magician-comedian duo Penn & Teller. If Penn & Teller cannot explain how a trick was done, the magician or magicians who performed it win a five-star trip to Las Vegas to perform as the opening act in Penn &... Full story
For just more than a month now, the Virginia State Bar (VSB)-which, it should be noted, is a state body working with the legal profession in Virginia-has been embroiled in a nasty political row over its apparent boycott of Israel. I say "apparent" because this hasn't been the kind of run-of-the-mill boycott row one encounters on college campuses. Leading officials of the VSB are insisting that they are not boycotting Israel and that, moreover, they were not even aware of the Boycott, Divestment... Full story
LOHHEIDE, Germany-In a keynote address at the 70th anniversary ceremony for the liberation of Bergen-Belsen, World Jewish Congress (WJC) President Ronald S. Lauder condemned world silence during the Holocaust and warned that history appears to be repeating itself. "Seventy years ago, the world was silent and now we are standing on one of the largest Jewish cemeteries in the world," said Lauder. "We appear to be descending into the same hell today. Anti-Semitism is rising in Europe, neo-Nazi... Full story
Many years ago, Gene Starn, former publisher, now editor emeritus of the Heritage Florida Jewish News, and Joe Wittenstein started gathering information for the beginnings of a book about the Jewish history of Orlando. Personal circumstances prevented either of them from going further than the idea, notes, sources and resources. While going through his files and getting rid of “tons of junk,” Starn came across these notes. He doesn’t want to dispose of any of these notes and resources without knowing if any of it would still be useful to someo... Full story
The Zionistas invite the community to attend a presentation titled "Survival and Promise" by Pastor Blake Lorenz. The presentation will be held at Encounter Global Outreach, 62 S. Orange Ave., Suite 108, Orlando, on Sunday, May 17 at 2 p.m. The event is free. A strong supporter of Israel, Pastor Lorenz coordinated a rally at Rollins College in support for Israel during Operation protective Edge last summer. Lorenz, a former professional baseball player, has been based in Orlando since 1984.... Full story
It's so nice to have live performances at the JCC again. Theater at the J has brought a talented cast together to bring its audiences a familiar rendition of "Fiddler on the Roof" and it was a pleasurable experience (not to mention the very comfortable seats). Tom Limbacher captured Tevye's optimistic spirit and his blues eyes reflected surprise, fear, happiness and sadness as he struggled with letting go of long-held traditions to see his daughters' happy in unarranged marriages. Corina... Full story
Mary Lee Walker has been hired as JFS’ development director. Walker brings her years of fundraising experience to the JFS team and is a certified fund raising executive. She is active in the Association of Fundraising Professionals, Central Florida Chapter, and has prior fundraising experience with several other local nonprofits, including Junior Achievement of Central Florida, Christian Service Center of Central Florida, Lighthouse Central Florida, and Heart of Florida United Way. “Mary Lee is a great asset to the JFS Orlando family,” said... Full story
Hadassah of Williamsburg is having a general membership meeting on Wednesday, May 13, at 1 p.m. at Parkview Pointe Village Clubhouse, in Williamsburg. This is the last meeting of this season and will be the installation of officers for the coming year. Susan Livingstone will be the installing officer. Members associates and guests are cordially invited to attend this installation to welcome the new officers. Refreshments will be served. For further information please call Eleanore at 407-351-9189 or Sylvia at 407-370-4812.... Full story
Back in Roman times, Yemen went by the name “Arabia Felix”—Latin for “Happy Arabia.” It’s hard to think of a greater misnomer for this Arab state on the southern tip of the Persian Gulf, a few miles across the water from the Horn of Africa. The Romans actually had a pretty miserable time there. Aelius Gallus, who was the Prefect of Egypt in 26 BCE, tried to conquer the territory and was roundly defeated. Through the ages, Yemen maintained its warlike image, with its various tribes doing battle with the Ottoman Turks and the British Empire. The... Full story
WHOA! This really got my attention. The recent article in the United Synagogue’s Spring issue of “CJ-Voices of Conservative/Masorti Judaism” on page 9, titled “Resource for Jewish-Muslim Engagement.” From the headline, this seemed like it had possibilities. However, this was quickly squashed when I learned the three participants in this endeavor would be the Hartford Seminary, the Islamic Society of North America (ISNA) and the Jewish Theological Seminary (JTS)! I do have reservations about the validity of such a partnership. I am certainly... Full story
A number of individuals from my hometown of Fall River have traveled to Ponta Delgada in the Azores to commemorate the refurbishing of a synagogue that they had financed. They also met with the one Jew still living in the islands. Jews had once been a major element in Portugal, but no more. They also were a major element in Fall River, but no more. Jewish history in Portugal resembled Jewish history in Spain. A sizable population developed in the early Middle Ages, by some reports a larger percentage of the total population than in Spain. In bo... Full story
A combined JCC and Federation? It isn’t a new idea. Tampa’s Jewish Community Center and Federation merged 20 years ago. It’s also happened in Austin, Texas and up in Connecticutt and in more than 25 other communities across the United States. Now it is a topic that is being tossed around in the Orlando Jewish community. Nothing is concrete, it is only talk at this time. But with the changing economy and similar mission statements, it makes a lot of sense. Wondering how the merge between Tampa’s JCC and Federation has worked, I spoke with Emilie... Full story
It pains me that I can’t pray there. But it’s not an Arab woman who is preventing me. So the Arab women, calling themselves the army of Muhammad, stand guard at the Temple Mount/Haram al Sharif, Noble Sanctuary, whatever you call it, depending on what tribe you’re from. In between noshing and knitting and drinking tea, they seek out Jews, the visibly religious kind who ascend the Temple Mount, to stop them from praying there. They chase them down, surround them, terrify them, some calling them pigs and apes. “Everyone must protect Al Aksa so... Full story
On April 15, 1945, the British Second Army entered Bergen-Belsen. One week later, prisoners in the concentration camp beat Rachel Genuth (my mother) until she lost consciousness. The 15-year-old had managed throughout the war to evade punishment at the hand of a Nazi officer or kapo. Now, after the liberation, while blows fell on her, she thought, “We who survived will never be human again.” In the winter and spring of 1945, Bergen-Belsen, in northwest Germany, had morphed into the largest repository for inmates shunted from the east, away fro... 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
Heritage Florida Jewish News is accepting nominations for the 2015 Heritage Human Service Award, which will be presented at the annual meeting of the Jewish Federation of Greater Orlando. “For more than 25 years, individuals who have made major, voluntary contributions of their talent, time, energy and effort to the Central Florida community have been honored with the selection and presentation of this award,” said Jeff Gaeser, editor and publisher of the Heritage. Last year’s recipient was Loren London. Former recipients have included Wolf... Full story
Larry Oskin announces the launch of Art Beautique as a new virtual art gallery and a professional fine art photography service. For years, home and business owners have been challenged with how to creatively decorate their spaces to create a unique environment. Art Beautique can customized fine art photography created expressly for individualized artwork. With seven very diverse Art Beautique Collections, Oskin celebrates Judaica & Religion, Flowers & Nature, Cityscapes & Seascapes, Animals,... Full story
Anne Lyla Botwinik, daughter of Steven and Nikki Botwinik of Orlando, will be called to the Torah as a bat mitzvah on Saturday, May 16, 2015, at Congregation Beth Am in Longwood. Anne has been homeschooled since the first grade, and is either in seventh, eighth or ninth grade, depending on the subject. She loves to perform with Magic Curtain Productions' Junior Troupe, a theater competition troupe that has performed at Disney and in statewide competitions. She is an accomplished crafter, having... Full story
Mother's Day is coming... So I will refrain from the stories of anti-Semitism for awhile and write about upbeat things. For one, though a little early, my spouse presented me with my favorite parfum and a beautiful Mother's Day card. (And I'm not even his mother!) And I presented myself with a great gift as well... viewing a movie on television that salutes Metro Goldwyn Mayer's musicals, this one titled "That's Entertainment." (I understand it is the first of three films saluting the MGM... Full story
The University of Florida chapter of Zeta Beta Tau fraternity was closed last Tuesday, April 28, after a misconduct investigation by the university was started in light of reports that ZBT members attending a spring formal yelled at, spat on, and hurled beer bottles at a group of military veterans who were also staying at the same Panama City Beach resort. The veterans were attending the Warrior Beach Retreat at the Laketown Wharf to relax and heal. After receiving the information of the fraternity members’ behavior, the university charged t... Full story
TEL AVIV (JTA)-When the ground began to shake, Inbar Irron was among a dozen Israelis in Nepal who ran outside the building where they had been sitting-and straight into a cloud of dust. When their vision cleared, they saw a devastating scene: Much of the village of Manegau, where they had come to volunteer for four months, had crumbled to the ground. Miraculously, none of the villagers was hurt. But many of their homes had been reduced to rubble. Irron's group-sent by the Israeli NGO Tevel... Full story
