Central Florida's Independent Jewish Voice
Central Florida's Independent Jewish Voice
Sorted by date Results 1 - 25 of 36
Driving into a small gated community in Casselberry, scenes of lit-up snowmen, reindeers, Santas, and Christmas creches adorn many front yards-typical scenery for this time of year. Then, suddenly, what's this? In front of one house is a display of Chanukah décor alight in blues and whites! The lighted yard is the inspiration of Mary Siegel, wife of Rabbi Arnold Siegel and mother of Elisheva Siegel. She came up with the idea when the family lived in Bartlett, Tennessee, more than 20 years ago... Full story
Renowned mentalist and magician Alan Chamo, AKA “The Mind Hacker,” will headline a benefit event for Friends of the Israel Defense Forces on Sunday, Dec. 15, at the Roth Family Jewish Community Center in Maitland. The event will salute the men and women of the Israel Defense Forces and highlight FIDF’s well-being and educational programs. FIDF supporters Barbara and Burt Chasnov of Orlando will co-chair this special event, which begins at 4 p.m. All funds raised will go toward the FIDF IMPACT! program, which provides four-year scholarships to I... Full story
Best wishes to you from all of us at JFS Orlando during these eight days of joy and peace. May the Chanukah lights remind you to always increase in matters of goodness, to never be afraid to stand up for what’s right, and that a little light goes a long way! We hope each lit candle casts a warmth and a glow over your home and heart this season. And may your household feel the blessings of God this Chanukah. Chanukah Sameach! To learn more about JFS Orlando, visit www.JFSorlando.org or follow us @JFSorlando.... Full story
PHILADELPHIA—Millions of students nationwide check their free speech rights at the door when they arrive on campus, according to a new report from the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education. Spotlight on Speech Codes 2020: The State of Free Speech on Our Nation’s Campuses analyzes the written policies at 471 of America’s top colleges and universities for their protection of free speech. The report finds that 89 percent of American colleges maintain policies that restrict—or could too easily be applied to restrict—student expressio... Full story
WASHINGTON (JTA)—Democrats in Congress passed a resolution on Friday saying that only a two-state outcome would bring peace to Israelis and Palestinians. The nonbinding resolution approved largely on party lines has been subject to considerable behind-the-scenes drama since its introduction in the spring by Rep. Alan Lowenthal, D-Calif. The only Democrats who voted against were the Squad, the grouping of four freshman congresswomen who to varying degrees have been critical of Israeli government policies. Lowenthal cast the resolution as a m... Full story
By David Lazarus MONTREAL (JTA)—A Jewish student leader at McGill University in Montreal was fighting efforts to oust her from the student union for accepting a trip to Israel and the Palestinian Authority. Jordyn Wright, a member of the Student Society of McGill University’s legislative council and board of directors, said she is “outraged and disgusted” by the student society’s call on Thursday for her to resign for agreeing to the trip sponsored by Hillel. She is refusing to resign or quit the trip, despite the threat of impeachme... Full story
(JTA)—The United Nations General Assembly passed five resolutions against Israel, but for the first time, 13 countries switched their positions and voted against a pro-Palestine measure. The five resolutions passed Tuesday are among 20 against Israel that the international body will vote on during the 74th session of the General Assembly. By contrast, it will consider resolutions about six other countries—one each on Iran, Syria, North Korea, Crimea, Myanmar and the United States (for its embargo on Cuba), the nongovernmental organization UN Wa... Full story
(JNS)—Despite the intense focus on Israel’s ongoing political stalemate, the Israeli media has found plenty of room in recent days to run lengthy features on food, music, sports, shopping and gossip. Stories have included the victories of Tottenham, Manchester and Liverpool in the British Premier League, another visit to Israel by Quentin Tarantino and the pregnant Daniela Pick, a comedy show in Tel Aviv by Louis CK, Sacha Baron Cohen’s attack on Facebook, oodles of advice about where and whether to buy cellphones on Black Friday, instr... Full story
The annual intersection of Chanukah and Christmas is once again approaching and with it the combined joy of the season. The close proximity of the two holidays this time of the year becomes complicated because of the different meaning and commemorations of what each holiday represents and how each should be observed and celebrated. Each year the Jewish community faces this annual dilemma of how to keep from getting caught up in the holiday season while at the same time respecting our Christian friends in their celebration of Christmas. How do... Full story
(JNS)—The news out of Iran should shock the conscience of the world. As The New York Times reported in a front-page article published on Monday, when Iranians tried to protest their government’s arbitrary decision to drastically raise gasoline prices, the regime responded with unprecedented force. Throughout the country, security forces, including units of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, have opened fire on unarmed citizens. According to the Times, in the first two weeks of the protests, anywhere from 180 to 450 persons have been kil... Full story
What is the essential philosophical difference between the Greeks and the Jews? Over two thousand years ago a battle ensued between the Jewish nation and the Greek empire that culminated in the retaking and dedication of the Temple and the continuation of its service. Chanukah is from the Hebrew word for “dedication” denoting this historical victory. The clash was not as simple as good guys versus bad, for in addition to the fight with the Greeks there was an internal conflict within the Jewish people as well. It was the first time in history t... Full story
(JTA)—A Facebook friend is looking for nominations for the Great Chanukah Song. I’m not impressed by the candidates. The classics—“Maoz Tzur (Rock of Ages),” “Oh Hanukkah Oh Hanukkah,” “Sevivon” and “I Have a Little Dreidel” -- have a nostalgic appeal, and I couldn’t imagine this minor holiday without them. But no one one would call any of them a great song. Newer suggestions range from “Tom Lehrer’s “(I’m Spending) Hanukkah in Santa Monica” to Adam Sandler’s frequently revised “Hanukkah Song.” The former is really a riff on multiple Jew... Full story
NEW YORK (JTA)—Here we go again: Just this week, two more cases of the abuse of Holocaust imagery have surfaced and created an international stir. In November, Russian figure skater Anton Shulepov wore an Auschwitz-themed costume during his free skating performance at the Grand Prix of Figure Skating event. To compound the offense, the International Skating Union listed it on Sunday as a contender in the best costume category, which is open to voting from the public. After protests, the skating union quickly removed the Shulepov costume from i... 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
The Jewish Pavilion will be hosting Chanukah parties at various assisted living facilities throughout the holiday. For more information, please call 407-678-9363. Here is the schedule. Friday Dec. 13 noon Grand Villa 2 p.m. Strive Sunday Dec. 15 1:15 p.m. Brookdale Lake Orienta Monday Dec. 16 10:15 a.m. Savannah Court 11 a.m. Merrill Gardens at Champions Gate 2 p.m. Windsor at Celebration Tuesday Dec. 17 2:30 p.m. Life Care Thursday Dec. 19 2 p.m. Palmetto Landing Friday Dec. 20 1:30 p.m. Wayman Place noon Orlando Lutheran Tower 3 p.m. Siena Mo... Full story
This is Part I of the men's trip to Israel, sponsored by Momentum and JOIN Orlando. Rick Geller and Jason Toll went to Poland ahead of the group and met up with them all in Israel. Poland is on the way to Israel, my traveling companion, Jason Toll, and I realized. Invited to join 180 men on a "Dad's tour of Israel," we created our own, adult version of "March of the Living"- a pilgrimage to deepen our understanding of Jewish history's darkest age, and to give us an opportunity to honor three... Full story
According to Adobe Analytics, Cyber Monday 2018 generated over $7.9 billion in sales, with one of the top sellers spent on smart phones. I will be one of those in the market. My iPhone 7, approaching its third year, is losing battery power. And, to be honest, the newer version offers a great camera. But when does my cell phone cross the line from being a toy, a luxury, a “nice-to-have-one-but-I-don’t need it” to my constant companion? I didn’t feel that way about my first flip phone. In 1999, I talked my husband Larry into purchasing a Nokia 32... Full story
(JNS)—Right on schedule, by Chanukah, natural gas from Israel’s Leviathan offshore field will begin to flow to shore. The turn-around in Israel’s energy situation over the past two decades is simply stunning. Just 15 years ago, Israel met 100 percent of its energy needs with imported oil and coal. Today, the vast majority of Israel’s electricity is produced from its own natural-gas fields. With the Leviathan reserves coming online, projections are that within a few years, 85 percent of Israel’s electricity will be supplied from its own gas fiel... Full story
On a recent visit to Allegro Senior Living in Winter Park, Susan Bernstein, program director at the Jewish Pavilion, had an opportunity to sit down with Allegro's executive director, Debbie Michelet. Michelet grew up in Winter Park and attended Valencia College and UCF. She considers herself lucky to have found this position and the opportunity to use her skills working with a senior community. She expressed satisfaction in finding the right fit for her professional life at Allegro and creates... Full story
First Coast’s Josh Fisher, a citizen under Spain’s new Law of Return for decendents of Jews exiled in 1492, will speak at the St. Augustine Jewish Historical Society’s Dec. 18 meeting. Fisher—who obtained Spanish citizenship through his Sephardic ancestry, demonstrating that his family was exiled in 1492—is one of the more than 140 Sephardic Jews that have had the opportunity to become Spanish citizens through Spain’s Miami Consulate in the last few years. Fisher will explain the process and some of the background of Spain’s Law of Return. Th... Full story
The 16th annual Roth Family JCC Maj Madness Tournament will be held Sunday, Jan. 26, 2020. Registration has just opened. Participants who are able are encouraged to bring a Mahjong set and/or table cover. Register in person at the Registrar’s desk or online at orlandojcc.org/calendar/the-16th-annual-maj-madness The cost is $36 per person or $30 for JCC members. There will be a light breakfast and lunch included in the entry fee. Registration deadline is Jan. 20 at noon. All registrations received after this date will be placed on a waiting l... Full story
A quote from Primo Levi, a survivor of Auschwitz... "It happened, therefore it can happen again: this is the core of what we have to say. It can happen, and it can happen everywhere." (Sends chills up my spine but I know anti-Semitism still exists. I have first-hand knowledge as a victim.) And I recently read this in a World Jewish Congress letter. "Our efforts have taken on new urgency and we cannot rest until the age-old scourge of anti-Semitism has been defeated once and for all and the Jewis... Full story
Chanukah is one of the most widely celebrated Jewish holidays in the United States. But that doesn't mean there is nothing new to learn about this eight-day festival. From the mysterious origins of gelt to an Apocryphal beheading to Marilyn Monroe, we've compiled an item for each candle (don't forget theshammash!) on the Chanukah menorah. 1. Gelt as we know it is a relatively new tradition - and no one knows who invented it. While coins-"gelt" is Yiddish for coins, or money – have been part o... Full story
The dreidel or sevivon is perhaps the most famous custom associated with Hanukkah . Indeed, various rabbis have tried to find an integral connection between the dreidel and the Chanukah story; the standard explanation is that the letters nun, gimmel, hey, shin, which appear on the dreidel in the Diaspora, stand for nes gadol haya sham–"a great miracle happened there,"while in Israel the dreidel says nun, gimmel, hey, pey, which means "a great miracle happened here." One 19th-century rabbi m... Full story
(JTA)—The undergraduate student government of Arizona State University passed a resolution in support of the Tempe school’s Jewish students. The resolution, which passed Tuesday by acclimation, comes amid public discussion among campus student organizations about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and in the wake of fliers bearing swastikas and Stars of David circulated on campus, The State Press student newspaper reported. Last month, four pieces of legislation were submitted to the Undergraduate Student Government Tempe on the topic of the con... Full story
