Central Florida's Independent Jewish Voice
Central Florida's Independent Jewish Voice
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(JTA) - As the most exciting time in college basketball begins, Jewish coaches are in the spotlight. For much of the season, four coaches - Auburn's Bruce Pearl, Duke's Jon Scheyer, Florida's Todd Golden and USC's Lindsay Gottlieb - have been at or near the top of the game. And on Sunday, all of them were rewarded with No. 1 seeds in the NCAA Division I men's and women's college basketball tournaments. Each tournament has four regions, with sixteen teams each. And in this year's men's...
(New York Jewish Week) - Opening a kosher restaurant in New York City wasn't always in the cards for Raif Rashed, a Druze from the village of Usfiya in northern Israel. But as Rashed, the owner of Taboonia - a new Druze restaurant in the Garment District that's currently seeking kosher certification - will be the first to tell you, sometimes life can take an unexpected turn, especially after a tragedy. An engineer by trade, Rashed, 40, moved to Hackensack, New Jersey, in 2019 to take a job at...
How can I manage medications from multiple doctors? Managing medications from various healthcare providers can be challenging, especially for seniors who often visit multiple physicians and specialists. This situation, known as polypharmacy, involves the use of multiple medications simultaneously and can lead to potential issues such as unnecessary medications or harmful drug interactions. Here are some strategies to help you manage your medications effectively and ensure your doctors are well-informed. Maintain a Comprehensive Medication...
March 18th was a warm summer-like day in the Southern Hevron Hills. When Pastor Roger Diaz of Fellowship Church in Winter Springs, Fla., called me telling me the group had just left Kiryat Arba, I got myself into gear and packed up my water and gun. My son drove me to the Ancient City of Susya, which is a mere five-minute drive from modern Susya, my home. I arrived just in time. The bus was beginning to unload passengers and I recognized Roger Diaz and a few other congregants, too. For the past...
(JNS) — There have been many powerful films about the Holocaust, so if one opts to create a new one, one must “bring something new to the conversation,” according to the Israeli-American director Lior Geller. Geller told JNS that the new film “The World Will Tremble,” which he wrote and directed, “is a story that wasn’t told before, and I think it’s important to make it as accurate as possible.” The film centers on Michael Podchlebnik and Solomon Weiner, who fled the Nazi death camp Chelmno in German-occupied western Poland on Jan. 19, 1942....
(JNS) — The Islamification of the West began long ago with Arab and Islamic attacks against infidels, especially the Jews. By the beginning of this century, anti-Zionism characterized the new antisemitism. Israel became the scapegoat of the world for the crimes of their persecutors. In the last quarter-century, Israel and the Jews have faced large armies, as well as well-funded and relentless propaganda. It has simultaneously been defamed and sanctioned in every language; anti-Israel resolutions and reports have been issued by student b...
(JNS) — Despite an expected cut of 10 percent to his ministry’s budget, Aliyah and Integration Minister Ofir Sofer remains hopeful about the future of immigration to Israel. “Aliyah is incredibly important to the future of Israel, and overall we have seen a dramatic increase in the number of immigration files opened since the Swords of Iron War began from many countries,” Sofer told JNS. “Aliyah builds the next chapter of our nation’s history, helps define our identity, and improves our national resiliency. We will continue to encourage a...
(JNS) — Before discovering the story of Joseph and Rebecca Bau, who married secretly in the Plaszow concentration camp during the Holocaust, Deborah Smerecnik never imagined that she would make a film. “It was the love story that drew me in and the fact that there were so many miracles,” she told JNS. “I’m very much a believer in miracles, and I wanted to tell a redemptive story that encourages people to hold on and persevere.” Smerecnik, who wrote the 2024 film “Bau: Artist at War,” devoted some 15 years to the project, which she admits she...
Osteoporosis is a condition characterized by low bone density, which affects millions of Americans and can lead to fractures with life-altering consequences. Scheduling a DEXA scan is a crucial step in assessing bone density in key areas like the hips and spine. This painless procedure helps in early detection and management of osteoporosis. To combat osteoporosis, two types of exercises are particularly important: muscle-strengthening and weight-bearing activities. Muscle-strengthening exercises include weight lifting, resistance-band...
(JNS) — Two Israeli pizzerias made the Top 50 Pizza list in the Asia-Pacific region for 2025, the influential guide recently revealed. The pizza industry guide, which divides its rankings into several categories, such as Europe, America and Asia, held an awards ceremony at the Istituto Italiano di Cultura in Tokyo on Monday. The “New Entry of the Year 2025—Solania Award” went to NeoPolitan in Haifa, ranked at 25th place. Piedra from Jerusalem made the 37th place in the Asia-Pacific list and was awarded the best kosher pizza in the world....
(JTA) - "No Other Land," which chronicles Israel's demolitions in Judea of Masafer Yatta, won the Academy Award for best documentary feature. Taking the stage at the Oscars on Sunday night, two of the film's four co-directors - an Israeli and a Palestinian - used their acceptance speeches to call for Palestinian rights and a negotiated solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. "About two months ago I became a father, and my hope to my daughter: that she will not have to live the same life I...
(JTA) - Adrien Brody nabbed an Academy Award Sunday for his portrayal of an architect in "The Brutalist," marking the second Oscar for the Jewish actor. Mikey Madison, who is Jewish, also won best actress for her role in "Anora," which won best picture. Both of Brody's best actor wins came for portrayals of Holocaust survivors. In 2003, he received the best actor for his performance in "The Pianist," in which he played Władysław Szpilman, who was among a handful of Jews to survive the Warsaw g...
Named after the villain, Haman, of the Purim story about Queen Esther saving the Persian Jews from extermination, the pastry now comes in many forms. Originally, it was named from the medieval poppy-filled pastry "mohntaschen," in German, poppy is "mohn" and "tash" is pocket. The name for German Jews became "hamantaschen," close to Haman's name. The triangles were supposed to represent Haman's hat, or some people say his ears, but Tirso De Molina's play, "El Sombrero de Tres Picos," talks about...
(JNS) - This year, as we have done for decades, my husband and I will celebrate Purim with a sumptuous meal and copious amounts of good drink. It'll be nothing compared to the 180-day banquet that Queen Esther is said to have hosted after the Jews of Persia were saved from Haman's evil plans, but it will be festive. And keeping with today's exhaustive list of medical advisories about food, it will probably be heart-healthy. Purim isn't exactly the time when we look forward to reshaping our diet...
Purim is a time for spiels, hopefully funny productions that recount the tale of the disobedient Vashti, the wise Mordecai, the nefarious Haman, the beautiful Esther, and the misogynistic Ahasuerus. As always, it will have a happy ending with the villain (BOO!) getting his due and the heroine saving the Jews as well as her marriage (Yay!) I've had the privilege of being in several spiels over the years, but the most life-changing occurred on March 18, 1973. A group of girlfriends and I attended...
(JNS) — The Oscar-nominated documentary “No Other Land” portrays the Israeli-Palestinian conflict through the microcosm of a collection of Palestinian Arab settlements called Masafer Yatta. In that cluster of makeshift villages, the film gives the impression that impoverished Palestinians confront the oppression of Israeli military demolition crews in an existential struggle to prevent the destruction of Palestinian homes, the displacement of their people and the theft of their land. But ultimately, we are told, the righteous Palestinian resis...
The book “The Balancing Act of Stress Management” by Valerie Chestnut defines stress as a situation or change that causes physical, emotional, or psychological strain. Stress triggers your body’s automatic reaction, similar to a reflex, and manifests in various symptoms. These symptoms are often magnified in seniors, and proper stress management requires additional diligence as we or our loved ones age. Stress can be caused by: Work-related issues, Financial struggles, Parenting challenges, Relationship troubles, Health concerns, Careg...
(JNS) — Shaya Feiner may not communicate with words, but his face tells a story. His mother, Aviva, has learned to recognize the joy in his expressions—the pride that lights up his face when she tells others that “Shaya was born in Jerusalem.” The 17-year-old’s story began in Israel, where he was born healthy. But complications quickly arose, leaving him with a severe neurological condition and complex medical needs that have shaped his daily life ever since. All this time, Aviva and her husband, Rabbi Eytan Feiner, have devoted themselves to m...
People with Alzheimer’s disease can be especially vulnerable during disasters such as severe weather, fires, floods, earthquakes, and other emergency situations. It is important for caregivers to have a disaster plan that includes the special needs of people with Alzheimer’s or other forms or dementia, whose impairments in memory and reasoning severely limit their ability to act appropriately in crises. In general, you should prepare to meet the needs of your family for 3 to 7 days, including having supplies and backup options if you lose bas...
By Alan Zeitlin (JNS) - The Oscars ceremony at the annual Academy Awards in Hollywood has offered some drama of its own these past few years. There was Will Smith, who slapped the show's host, fellow actor and comedian Chris Rock, on stage. There was last year's British director Jonathan Glazer, who in his speech in accepting the Oscar for Best International Feature Film for "The Zone of Interest" proclaimed a "refute" of his Jewishness, citing the "Israeli invasion of the Gaza Strip" as his...
Have you ever walked into a room with a specific task in mind, only to freeze and wonder, “Why did I come in here?” If this sounds familiar, you’re not alone. This phenomenon is called the doorway effect, and it’s something many people experience, especially as we get older. What is the doorway effect? The doorway effect occurs when you enter a new space, like walking into a different room, and suddenly forget what you were doing or why you went there in the first place. It can happen when you leave a store, board a plane, or even just walk fr...
(JTA) - This story contains spoilers for "Apple Cider Vinegar." Early in the new Netflix miniseries "Apple Cider Vinegar," the central character of Millie Blake is diagnosed with a rare cancer and told she must amputate her arm. Desperate for another solution, Millie seizes on an "alternative" treatment: at a center called the Hirsch Institute, in Mexico. The center is run by the daughter of a German Jewish refugee from the Nazis. Decades after her father's death, she tells her patients that...
Jewish National Fund's Women For Israel recently sponsored an event featuring a presentation about the "Special In Uniform" program on Feb. 6 at the Vue at Lake Lily in Maitland. Founded in 2014, Special In Uniform is an Israeli Defense Force program that incorporates young adults with special needs to work in the Israeli military. In Israel, citizens are required to join the Israeli military. Similar to attending a university before starting adult life in other countries, serving in the...
(JTA) - The actor who played Rabbi Noah Roklov on Netflix's hit interfaith romcom "Nobody Wants This" has taken home the Critics Choice Award for best actor in a comedy series. Adam Brody, who himself is Jewish, won the prize at an awards ceremony in Santa Monica, California, on Friday. The prize was presented by Rachel Brosnahan, who is best known for playing the Jewish lead in "The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel." In his acceptance speech, Brody nodded at the show's premise while addressing costar...
