Central Florida's Independent Jewish Voice
Central Florida's Independent Jewish Voice
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(JNS)-"Happy are those who dwell in Your house."-Psalm 84 It's official. Israel has been named the 13th happiest country in the world. So says the 2019 United Nations World Happiness Report, which ranks no less than 156 countries using such factors as income, social-support networks and life expectancy. Topping the list was Finland, with the United States lagging behind Israel as the 19th happiest, and South Sudan bringing up the rear at No. 156 (arguably, the most miserable). In search of some...
"I have written all my life," said Joni Okun, Maitland resident and author of the historical fiction "To Hold the Throne." I've written several children's books that are currently off the market, but I've considered publishing them." Okun has always had a vivid imagination. "I remember when I was in third-grade I had to do a report on America's western pioneers and I also remember that I was fascinated with the covered wagons. I was enamored, imagining what was it like to live in a covered...
(ISRAEL21c)-Israel-based company Watergen has begun supplying water to a Gazan neighborhood via its water-from-air machine that can generate up to 800 liters per day. Watergen's 780-kilogram GEN-M atmospheric water generator was placed last Wednesday in the Gazan neighborhood of Abasan al-Kabira. It will provide the local municipal building with fresh drinking water. Gaza suffers from a rapidly depleting water supply. Its main source of water is its coastal aquifer, which has been...
To help you find, save, and share your family history, the Jewish Genealogical Society of Greater Orlando is giving you a great opportunity to learn the widely-used Family Tree Maker software. Two longtime genealogists will show you some of FTM’s many useful features that will help you find your ancestry, and do it more effectively and efficiently. JGSGO President Diane Jacobs, Ph.D., and member Dr. Richard Signer will explain and demonstrate the software at the society’s next meeting, Tuesday, March 3. After the presentation, Jacobs and Sig...
The Kobrin Family created the Kobrin Family Scholarship in 1990 to be awarded to a qualified, full-time student of the Jewish faith from Orange, Osceola or Seminole County who will be attending the University of Central Florida. The scholarship is available in the amount of $2,500 per year for a maximum of four (4) years. The student must maintain a 3.1 GPA (based on a 4.0 scale) each year in order to remain qualified for the scholarship. Visit www.JFSorlando.org/kobrin-family-scholarship for the application and complete scholarship...
The Jewish Braille Institute Library provides individuals who are blind, visually impaired, physically handicapped or reading disabled with books, magazines and special publications of Jewish and general interest in audio, large print and Braille formats. The unique services provided by JBI, all of which are free of charge, enable over 35,000 children, adults and seniors from New York to New Zealand to participate fully in the life of their communities. To receive a free large print Haggadah by mail, call 800-999-6476 before March 27, 2020, or...
Many people who wanted to hear Dr. Laurie Cardoza-Moore speak in Maitland but didn’t get to because the event was cancelled, can hear her presentation on Anti-Semitism in America at the Cork & Olive, 1061 S. Sun Drive, Unit 1009, Lake Mary, Marcy 2, at 5 p.m. The event is hosted by Lake Mary Florida Republican. The cost is $25 per person and open to the public. To RSVP: Dr. Robin Siebold, 407-765-9379 Link to the event is: https://www.pjtn.org/lake_mary_florida_republicans_0302?utm_campaign=20200223_fl_events&utm_medium=emai...
Dedication to provide education and resources to seniors, caregivers and families is the mission of The Community Education & Resource Affiliation, Inc. The Jewish Pavilion has been an active member and partner in the Central Florida community. Because of their commitment, the Jewish Pavilion was awarded $1,000 for their dedication to helping seniors in elder care communities. The Jewish Pavilion is honored and thankful for their recognition by a group of professionals that have come together...
(ISRAEL21c)-A device developed in Israel that might significantly ease the treatment of coronavirus victims suffering from pneumonia and also reduce the danger of contagion to health care providers could reach the market in China within the next few months. The CoughSync, which was originally developed at Alyn Hospital, a Jerusalem pediatric and adolescent rehabilitation facility, to help children unable to cough for themselves, is now awaiting approval from the National Medical Products...
NEW YORK (JTA)-New York City is hoping that a new ad campaign will make Jewish New Yorkers feel comfortable despite a recent spate of anti-Semitic attacks. The campaign, launched Wednesday by the city's Commission on Human Rights, consists of four ads each featuring a photograph of a different Jewish New Yorker and a bold proclamation: "Jewish New Yorkers belong here. Anti-Semitism does not." Ads using text only will appear in three Orthodox publications-Hamodia, Jewish Press and Mishpacha Magaz...
(JNS)-Two U.S. Republican House members visited historic and strategic sites in Judea and Samaria days after the creation of a special "deal of the century" committee to begin mapping out Israeli application of sovereignty in the disputed region. Reps. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio), formerly head of the House Freedom Caucus, was joined by Rep. Mike Johnson (R-La.), a member of the Judiciary Committee and head of the Republican Study Committee, and their wives toured Israel this week on a trip organized...
YARDLEY, Pa. (JTA)—Like every American Zionist, I want my vote for president to ensure Israel’s safety and ideals. Deciding how to vote isn’t always easy. Many, including Yossi Klein Halevi, dread the day when American Zionists must choose between Bernie Sanders or Donald Trump. For plenty of American Jews, Sanders represents “a self-hating Jew,” an anti-Zionist, or at best a liberal Zionist who, despite his kibbutz days, never deemed it important to deliver unconditional support for the Israeli government. On the other hand, American Jews ackn...
(JNS)—There’s a new anti-Semitic student group at Harvard, ironically named the Harvard Jewish Coalition for Peace. Their inaugural event last week, titled “The Jewish case for BDS,” taught undergraduate students how to single out and punish Israelis on and off-campus. The group was formed following debates over “humans rights” during Israeli Apartheid Week, an effort to push anti-Semitism on students organized by the Harvard Palestine Solidarity Committee. According to a statement posted on the group’s Facebook page, it believes “combating an...
The next morning, having arrived in Israel the evening before, my son and I began our trip to Jordan. Our route to Aqaba would take us south through downtown Tel Aviv on freeways that made me feel we were in Los Angeles during morning rush hour traffic. We then continued south to pick up Highway 40 that would take us into Beer Sheva where we stopped for lunch. From Beer Sheva we headed east on Highway 25, past Dimona, the site of Israel’s nuclear facility. At the Arava Crossing we turned south onto Highway 90 to Eilat. Highway 90 runs along t...
(JNS)—For three years, the Middle East Forum has been engaged in a campaign to wean Americans and Israelis off the deceptive charms of the “peace process” which has, in fact, produced overwhelmingly malign results. Instead, we argue for an Israeli victory and a commensurate Palestinian defeat. We constantly seek out new ways to bring this argument to the public’s notice, especially in Israel. Although the topic is deadly serious, we’ve had some fun in the process. Israel Victory Project attention-getting tactics have included posters of Hamas...
By Hannah Lebovits CLEVELAND (JTA)—In a recent article, the Jewish Telegraphic Agency’s Ben Sales and Laura E. Adkins expertly synthesize a number of viewpoints on why Orthodox Jews have increasingly found their political home in the Republican Party. Two themes are evident immediately—many Jews believe the party to be more firmly supportive of Israel and to align with their social and religious values. The same day, Adkins and Sales published another piece explaining a recent polling effort to understand the political opinions of Orthodox Jews...
By Pinhas Inbari (JNS)—The Palestinian Authority’s loud and vigorous opposition to U.S. President Donald Trump’s “deal of the century” puts the Palestinians in conflict not only with Israel and the United States, but also with the axis of moderate Sunni Arab states, most notably Egypt, Saudi Arabia and the Gulf. The P.A.’s goal is to foil Trump with a coalition consisting of European allies, the United Nations and countries such as Venezuela, a stronghold for Palestinian policies in South America. The P.A. is pursuing a containment policy, in t...
Dear Editor: I just read the JCRC’s op-ed (Viewpoint, “Concerns raised about Heritage content,” Feb. 21, 2020 issue) and would be interested to learn what the JCRC considers ‘inaccurate, biased, or bigoted language, presented as factual journalism’, and ‘xenophobic material’ carried by the Heritage. Paul Jeser Los Angeles, Calif....
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...
Congregation Sinai, founded in 2003, offers traditional and creative Shabbat services on Friday evenings starting at 7:30 p.m. with an Oneg as well as short Saturday morning services starting at 10 a.m. followed by Torah study. They provide educational programs for children from kindergarten through 8th grade and adults to share Judaism’s rich heritage and contemporary significance, while also sharing Jewish rituals and values from generation to generation. They offer interesting Bible study groups, bar/bat mitzvah study programs with special c...
"I think it's a privilege to work in the Pantry," said Sandy Weiss, who has volunteered with JFS Orlando since 2018, first as a RAISE coach and now as a full-fledged Pearlman Emergency Food Pantry volunteer. "I helped somebody with the RAISE (Recognizing Abilities & Inclusion of Special Employees) program here and I got to know the job description. So it just evolved." Weiss has always had a big heart and a love for helping others. Before moving to Orlando from NYC 48 years ago, Weiss started...
How often do you hear 11-year-old children today state that one of their goals in life is to bring joy to residents of senior living facilities? Well, let me introduce you to Shira Schoenberg, who recently entertained the residents at Allegro in Winter Park with a medley of love songs to help celebrate Valentine's Day and as she has said many times, "bring a smile to everyone's face." Shira is the daughter of Lora and Erik Schoenberg and she has been passionate about the performing arts since...
(JNS)-Israel's Ministry of Tourism and Land Authority recently announced the winners of two tenders for the construction of four new Dead Sea hotels, part of a new complex that will be constructed alongside a shopping center and 430,000-square-foot conference center. Africa Israel, Fattal Hotels, Elad Hotels and Barclays Israel won the tender to build their hotels, amounting to 1,000 rooms, in the new tourism area between Ein Bokek and Hamei Zohar in the southern Dead Sea. In the same area,...
Enough already!... I don't know how much time I have left on this earth... but what about my children and their children and their children? (Upsetting thought!) I read this recently and share it with you: "Anti-Semitic graffiti was found on more than one hundred gravestones in the Jewish cemetery of Westhoffen in eastern France. The case came to light after similar desecration was reported that same day in the nearby commune of Schaffhausen-sur-Zorn. The region of Alsace has suffered from a rec...
When the bar mitzvah announcements of Andrew and Eric Lopez, twin sons of Ed and Linda Lopez of Winter Park, were published in the March 31, 2006, issue of the Heritage, Linda kept the paper with plans to frame the announcements. The newspaper sat on top of her dresser bureau for years, turning yellow with age. Time went on. Their son Andrew attended UCF, majoring in music and education. In January 2014, he attended a Florida Music Education Association development conference in Tampa and met...
