Central Florida's Independent Jewish Voice
Central Florida's Independent Jewish Voice
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When Sarah Levitin first visited her now-husband’s Catholic family for Christmas, she was not expecting to see a menorah in their home. It was 2016, and the first night of Chanukah fell on Christmas Eve. Levitin, who grew up attending Jewish day school and traveled to Israel on a Birthright trip, had not planned to light Chanukah candles when she joined her boyfriend’s Sicilian and Polish family for Christmas. But because his family made an effort to include her traditions, she did. “I was s...
Instaglatt, a new kosher meat and poultry company, officially launched in Central Florida on December 18 and is now taking orders for delivery to the greater Orlando area. The company is the brainchild of founder William Branca, who explains his motivation on the website, instaglatt.com: "InstaGlatt was born out of a personal journey and a recognized need in the Orlando Jewish community." Branca shares that he returned to his Jewish roots in 2024 and became more observant. During this time, he r...
(JNS) - Using his "one of a kind" personal menorah, which is made from "shrapnel of rockets that were shot down by the IDF and then smelted together by an Israeli artisan" reminds House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) of the "true meaning of Chanukah." "In the face of darkness, light bursts forth. In the presence of fear, miracles emerge," Johnson said during the second annual Capitol Menorah Lighting Ceremony on Tuesday. "And in moments of despair, hope springs eternal." Johnson's menorah, which R...
A beautiful example of unity and collaboration brought the Southwest Jewish community together, showcasing its spirit of support for one another at the Rosen JCC Community Chanukah Fest. This celebration was the result of a successful collaboration among numerous Jewish nonprofits, offering unique activities for both children and adults. The event drew several hundred participants, creating a memorable community gathering. Highlights of the activities and their hosts included Chanukah Silly Putty and Instant Snow by Rosen JCC, Candle Making by...
Full or part-time Disney employees can log their volunteer hours and Disney will make a financial contribution to the Jack and Lee Rosen Jewish Community Center, no matter where you volunteered your time. Disney rewards all volunteerism by turning company-sponsored and personal volunteer hours into charitable donations. Cast members can convert their time into a grant for an eligible charity of their choice, and can do so throughout the calendar year, up to a total of $2,000 per employee. Hours may be logged up to Jan. 15 of the following year...
Chabad of South Orlando will host the annual Grand Car Menorah Parade on Sunday, Dec. 29 at 6 p.m. The parade will start at the Chabad Center of Jewish Life, 7347 W. Sand Lake Rd. with a police escort and finish at the Menorah lighting celebration, 5135 International Drive. To participate in the parade, arrive at the Chabad Center by 5:30 p.m....
(JNS) — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reached out to and delivered a message of hope to the Iranian people. “People of Iran: As we see history unfold before our very eyes, I can only imagine what you’re feeling right now. Your oppressors spent over 30 billion dollars supporting Assad in Syria. Today, after only 11 days of fighting, his regime collapsed into dust. Your oppressors spent billions supporting Hamas in Gaza. Today their regime lies in ruins. Your oppressors spent over 20 billion dollars supporting Hezbollah in Leban...
(JNS) — Conservative commentator Tucker Carlson, formerly of Fox News, provides the “leading platform” for Jew-hatred, according to Amichai Chikli, the Israeli diaspora affairs minister. “Congratulations to Tucker Carlson for becoming the leading platform for fringe Holocaust deniers, conspiracy theorists and blood libel enthusiasts who oppose the State of Israel,” Chikli wrote on Tuesday. Carlson, with whom Fox News “agreed to part ways” on April 24, 2023, hosts an eponymous show on social media, where he has 15 million followers. Chikli’s cri...
(JNS) — Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz warned on Tuesday that any entity threatening Israel’s security would face dire consequences. Speaking at a naval base in Haifa, Katz revealed that Israeli forces had destroyed Syria’s navy, as part of a broader campaign to neutralize strategic threats that could later pose a danger to Israel. “The IDF has acted in recent days to attack and destroy strategic capabilities that threaten the State of Israel,” Katz stated, cautioning rebels that “whoever follows [ousted president Bashar] al-Assad’s...
(JNS) — U.S. President Joe Biden on Dec. 16 reiterated his commitment to bring the remaining 100 hostages being held by Hamas in Gaza home, as he enters the final month of his presidency. “I will not stop until I get every single one of them out,” said Biden at his final White House Chanukah party. The remarks come amid reports of an imminent deal with Hamas for the release of hostages before President-elect Donald J. Trump takes office on Jan. 20. President Biden added that he was inspired by the power of the Jewish people’s hope and optimis...
(JNS) — Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel’s longest-serving prime minister, finds himself at the center of a prosecution that borders on absurdity. Amid a war for more than a year now that has placed Israel under fire from multiple fronts, he is being targeted for alleged corruption involving champagne and cigars. The very notion of prosecuting Israel’s most formidable and successful wartime leader over such trivial matters not only undermines his leadership but also raises serious questions about the priorities of the Israeli legal and polit...
(JNS) — Following revolutions, we Americans have a touching inclination to ask: “Are the new leaders like us? Are they moderates who believe in tolerance and peaceful coexistence?” Generally, the answer is no. Take the revolution that just occurred in Syria. It was led by Ahmed al-Sharaa, better known by his nom de guerre, Abu Mohammad al-Julani. He runs Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, a rebel group with roots in both Al Qaeda and Islamic State. He and HTS have been officially designated as terrorists by the U.S. government. Al-Julani is no moder...
(JNS) — I am writing these lines from the United States, where I am nearing the end of my latest speaking tour. I’ve been to New York, Toronto, Detroit, Philadelphia, and now Miami. Coming from South Africa, where we suffer one of the highest murder rates in the world—more than 70 people per day are killed throughout the country—I was nevertheless shocked by the most recent school shooting here in the “land of the free and the home of the brave.” In what is stated by CNN to be “the 83rd school shooting in the USA this year,” 15-year-old Nat...
(JNS) — In the past year, we have witnessed Hezbollah become obliterated, Hamas destroyed and the Assad regime in Syria collapse. Even Iran has become significantly weakened. These entities have been exposed as the paper tigers that they are. Their economies are propped up, their people are oppressed, and there is no freedom. What makes them paper tigers is that their societies are built on lies. Similarly, the forces in the West that protest, riot and attack in support of Hamas and Hezbollah will be exposed as the paper tiger that they are. T...
(JNS) — Obituaries for journalist Lance Morrow, who passed on Nov. 29 at the age of 85, heaped praise on his “elegance” and “beautifully constructed” essays. They neglected to mention the antisemitic essay he once wrote—and the award it received from a prominent liberal Jewish organization. Morrow was part of the wave of American journalists and columnists in the 1980s who specialized in accusing Israel of having lost its soul and betrayed its moral obligations. From his longtime, self-righteous perch at TIME magazine, he frequently...
(JNS) — The gunman who shot two Christian kindergarteners in Oroville, Calif., earlier this month wrote a note stating that his actions were in response to America’s perceived role in the conflict in the Gaza Strip. This is a stark reminder of how unchecked hatred can spread and mutate, striking innocent victims across religious lines. This tragedy, coupled with the tragic shooting this week at a Christian school in Madison, Wis., demands our immediate attention and action. When left unchecked, hatred becomes a contagion that knows no boundarie...
MORNING MINYANS 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 Israel — Sunday, 9 a.m., 407-647-3...
Remarkably, in a city in East Africa that is home to two million people, as of 2018 there were no streetlights. In 2019, we installed solar-powered streetlights at the city's 'bus station'-a name that doesn't quite fit, as it was essentially a dirt field in the center of town. When I visited after the lights were installed, the impact was immediately visible. Nearby stores stayed open later, crime in the area decreased, and, most unexpectedly, young children gathered under the lights to do...
in Munich, and in that city, he said, "this tragedy is still very present." One through-line in the film is that the Olympics, the first to take place in Germany since the Games Hitler hosted in 1936, were meant to "welcome to the world to a new Germany," in the words of a German official, at a time when World War II and the Holocaust were still in living memory for most people. Mark Spitz, a Jewish American swimmer, won seven gold medals, and the producers are depicted discussing whether to...
On Sunday, Dec. 15, Temple Israel Sisterhood sponsored a Chanukah Market. The event, which featured a variety of local vendors, had something for everyone to enjoy. Among the most popular offerings were delicious treats from Sage Catering which served up fresh sandwiches and donuts. The market was a haven for those looking for unique, handmade items. Local artisans showcased a variety of crafts including pottery and Judaica jewelry. Other tables included fair-trade chocolate, dog-related items,...
Chanukah Star Cookies, Hamantaschen base This recipe makes 15 5-inch large stars, 25 3-inch small stars or about 20 Hamantaschen. Ingredients 1 cup butter (2 sticks), room temperature 1/2 cup granulated sugar 1/2 cup confectioners' sugar 1 egg 2 3/4 scant cups flour 1 1/2 tsp. vanilla 1/2 tsp. baking powder 1/2 tsp. cream of tartar Beat until consistency for spreading, adding 1/4 tsp. milk as needed. Divide frosting in half. To one half, mix in 1-2 drops blue food coloring. Have a few small...
(JNS) - Former hostage Judith Raanan met with President-elect Donald Trump in Florida on Monday at his golf course in West Palm Beach. She was the first female hostage to be released from Hamas in the Gaza Strip after being kidnapped from Kibbutz Nahel Oz in the Hamas-led terrorist attacks in southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023. Raanan, a dual U.S.-Israeli citizen based in the Chicago area, gave Trump a drawing she had made and described the trauma of her captivity. She expressed her trust in the...
(JNS) — The Biden administration has privately asked Israel to approve an urgent request for U.S. military aid to Palestinian Authority forces, Palestinian, American and Israeli officials told Axios. The request comes after the P.A. launched a rare counter-terror raid in Jenin, where Ramallah for years refused to act against Iranian-backed terrorist groups, in violation of its commitments under the Oslo Accords. Ramallah launched its operation, dubbed “Defense of the Homeland,” following the Dec. 5 seizure by Hamas and Islamic Jihad of a P.A....
(JNS)- For years, Manischewitz has sold potato latke mixes, whether vegetable, low-salt or gluten-free. This year, the 136-year-old company joins other kosher purveyors, like Golden, in offering the product. The company's new frozen latkes will make Jewish cuisine more accessible to everyday consumers, Shani Seidman, chief marketing officer of Kayco, Manischewitz's parent company, told JNS. "When you think about Manischewitz over the past 130 years, it has always been associated with the...
