Central Florida's Independent Jewish Voice
Central Florida's Independent Jewish Voice
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This story originally appeared on Hey Alma. Growing up, Rosh Hashanah was a benign holiday for me. Apples and honey, food and family. That is, until my brother was diagnosed with cancer the summer before my senior year of high school. During the first week back at school that year, I was asked to deliver a d'var Torah on Rosh Hashanah. I wracked my brain trying to remember the heroes and villains of the Rosh Hashanah story, and eventually had to check out a library book to learn more. To my...
This story originally appeared on The Nosher. Honey cake is a hallmark of Rosh Hashanah and the fall Jewish holidays - Ashkenazi honey cake, that is. But did you know there's a Sephardi cake traditionally served for Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur break fast and during Sukkot? Like its Eastern European counterpart, tishpishti symbolizes wishes for a sweet new year and the fullness of life. The cake is also popular for Purim and adapted for Passover. Semolina pastries and puddings have been made for...
(JTA) - The enduring traditions of the High Holiday season take shape across time and place in the latest crop of children's books about Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur and Sukkot. This year's books transport readers back to biblical times; whiz them to the old-world streets of Istanbul; remember the etrog trade in 18th-century New York City; and celebrate harvest festivals from very different culture. All of them beckon families with stories that display the rich diversity in Jewish culture. Here's...
This article originally appeared on Kveller. “Happy Yom Kippur!” my mom shouted on speakerphone to my fiancé and his family. “Thank you,” they said. “Mom, Yom Kippur isn’t really happy,” I explained. We were staying at my future in-laws’ Long Island home, and everyone was exhausted from fasting. Insecure about not being Jewish myself, I longed to prove I was the perfect daughter-in-law-to-be. But I was the odd one out because I’d broken the fast earlier with a Power Bar to stave off a migraine. I’d also asked why the light switches were taped...
This story originally appeared on JTA. “We are immigrating to America.” It was 1989, and my parents had sat my sister and me down in our living room to break the news. In those years of economic and political instability, as well as the ethical injustice of apartheid, many Jewish South Africans had an exit plan. Our time had finally come, and I was devastated. I sobbed big ugly tears. In my mind, I was leaving more than the comfort of my family and friends. I was leaving the only way of life that I understood. South Africans as a group are trad...
In recent times, the rise of cryptocurrency scams has become a concerning trend, with scammers adopting various deceptive tactics to defraud unsuspecting individuals. One prevalent tactic involves impersonating federal agents to convince victims — often seniors — that their bank accounts are compromised. In response to these fictitious claims, some individuals resort to depositing money into cryptocurrency ATMs under the false pretense that it will secure their accounts with governmental protection. Cryptocurrency ATMs have emerged as a favored...
As we enter the High Holiday season, our hearts turn toward community, connection, and care. At Jewish Pavilion Senior Services, our mission is clear: to ensure that Jewish seniors in elder-care facilities know they are cherished, remembered, and an integral part of our Jewish family. We are here to keep the spark of tradition alive, bringing the warmth of our heritage to those who need it most. With the dedication of our incredible volunteers and the passion of our staff, we bring Shabbat...
As we celebrate Rosh Hashanah and welcome the new year, I am filled with a profound sense of reflection and hope. This is a time when we look back on our achievements and challenges, and also forward to new opportunities to make a difference. At the Holocaust Memorial Resource & Education Center of Florida, we are committed to preserving the memory of the past and educating future generations about the lessons of the Holocaust. Our mission is clear: to "Shine a Light" on the importance of...
This story originally appeared on Hey Alma. The High Holiday season is upon us. Teshuvah — a central tenet of these holidays — literally translates to “return,” but what exactly this concept means has been heavily debated by rabbinic scholars for thousands of years. Some say it entails a public act of confession, while others describe it as an internal process of change. For some it’s necessarily interpersonal; for others, introspective. Navigating these competing conceptions can be a daunting task, especially for anxious Jews like us. So we...
To view photos go to Special Issues September 2023 The new year began with an onslaught of antisemitism. First, two antisemitic marches were held here in early September. Fifty-one members from two groups — the Goyim Defense League and the Blood Tribe — marched from Sanlando Park to Cranes Roost in Altamonte Springs. At Disney Springs people from the Order of the Black Sun, the Aryan Freedom Network and 14 First held an antisemitic and anti-LGBTQ+ demonstration. October 2023 The Israeli-American Council, the Jewish National Fund and the Jew...
(JTA) — On the morning of Oct. 7, Rabbi Erez Sherman was preparing for the Yizkor memorial service at his Conservative synagogue, Sinai Temple in Los Angeles. He had written a sermon, somewhat presciently, about memory. It was titled “Hard to Say Goodbye.” Then he received a text message from his predecessor, Rabbi David Wolpe, who was three hours ahead in Boston: “Change your sermon.” News had broken about Hamas’ surprise attack on Israel, and while Sherman said he typically doesn’t use technology on Shabbat and holidays, it became clear that...
Ensuring that your financial affairs are in order is a crucial step towards providing security for your loved ones in the event of your passing. Here are some important tips to consider: 1. Designate Beneficiaries: One of the simplest yet most effective steps you can take is to designate beneficiaries for all your financial accounts including checking, savings, CDs, life insurance, and investments. By doing so, your designated beneficiaries can access these funds with just a death certificate, bypassing the need for a will. Make a handwritten...
(JTA) — The legend of Masada is etched into Jewish lore: For years, the story goes, ancient Jews held out in a desert fortress against their Roman foes. Now, researchers from Tel Aviv University have determined that the first-century siege on Masada in southern Israel lasted just weeks, upending a long-held narrative about Jewish perseverance against steep odds. The main account of the siege comes from the Roman-Jewish historian Flavius Josephus, who described extended anticipation as the Romans prepared to attack, then a drawn-out resistance b...
(JTA) - Lee Yaron was in New York on Oct. 7, doing a fellowship at Columbia University, when news broke of an unimaginable attack on southern Israel by Hamas. Like many Israelis living abroad, she felt helpless and frustrated. Unlike most Israelis, she is a journalist, a longtime contributor to the Israeli daily Haaretz, and she had an outlet for her fear and anger. Within days, she was on a plane to Israel, where she spent the next four months interviewing survivors, first-responders and...
(JTA) - A lot has changed since the last time Michael Solomonov released a cookbook back in 2018. The celebrity chef has opened several new restaurants. He has expanded his empire beyond Philadelphia to New York City. And of course he has watched his native Israel, the flavors of which have defined his career, come under attack. After Solomonov raised money for emergency services in Israel following Hamas' Oct. 7 invasion, pro-Palestinian protesters in Philadelphia took aim at him. They staged...
(JTA) - In 1993 the film critic Shawn Levy was working on a biography of Jerry Lewis when, sitting down with the comedian on his yacht, Levy gingerly asked him about "The Day the Clown Cried." Levy knew the film, Lewis' unreleased Holocaust movie, was likely to be a touchy subject for the legendary funnyman. Even so, the response was apoplectic. "I've never been yelled at like that in my entire life," Levy recalled to the Jewish Telegraphic Agency three decades later. He recited the string of...
(Israel Hayom via JNS) — U.S. tech entrepreneur Jared Isaacman on Sept. 12 became the first civilian to conduct a private spacewalk, venturing outside SpaceX’s Crew Dragon capsule after traveling farther from Earth than any human in more than 50 years. The spacewalk, which began shortly before 7 a.m., marked a significant milestone in private space exploration. Isaacman, the 41-year-old founder and CEO of payment processing company Shift4, emerged from the capsule on a tether, facing the vast expanse of space with Earth gleaming below. “Ba...
(JNS) - Israel won 10 medals, including four gold, at the 2024 Paris Paralympics which concluded on Sunday, in its best showing at the Games in two decades. The competition followed the record-breaking six Olympic medals won by Israeli athletes in Paris this summer. Israel's medal total at the Paralympics topped its performance at the Tokyo Games three years ago, when the delegation brought home nine medals, and marks Israel's best showing since 2004, when it won 13 medals at the Athens...
(JTA) — I grew up in Berlin, escaped terror in Israel and was called ‘disgusting Jew’ in New York. Where can I feel safe? As a high school student in Berlin during Israel’s 2021 war in Gaza, with anti-Israel protests sweeping the city, I made a promise to myself: I would wear my Star of David necklace proudly, never hiding who I am, no matter what. It took three years and a move back to New York City before I had to reconsider that decision. I was returning home from an empowering three days at...
Volunteerism is the engine that makes many of our communities run. Aside from the good that volunteering does for the recipients, the act of service carries benefits for the doer. Studies show that serving others provides mental health benefits, increases happiness and decreases depression and anxiety as well as provides a sense of purpose. Jewish Pavilion Senior Services engages many individuals throughout the Greater Orlando area as volunteers who work with senior residents as service leaders...
Along with school opening and all that is happening in the world, September is a memorable month for Larry and me. Fifty years ago on Sept. 8, 1974, Larry and I got married in Upstate New York. For those who have been reading my column for a while, you may remember many of the stories. We met at a Purim (not "porn" as some people misheard!) party held by the Jewish singles in Albany, New York. It was love at first sight, and we got engaged six months later. Our wedding was held on a relatively h...
Good communication between doctors and patients (and between caregivers and loved ones) is crucial for better health outcomes. It’s a teachable skill that medical students can improve through training. The Accreditation Council on Graduate Medical Education and the American Board of Medical Specialties recognize interpersonal communication as a core competency. Effective communication: • Prevents medical errors • Improves health outcomes • Strengthens patient-provider relationships • Maximizes limited interaction time To ensure respectfu...
Jews today feel threatened with the rise of antisemitism and the increase in violent hate crimes that are happening in America and the world today. Yet we are a peaceful people and for many of us the thought of firing a gun, let alone going to a gun range to train is out of the question. How do we live up to the commitment of “Never Again” if we don’t have the skills to defend ourselves? Decision Tactical solves this problem. I have never seen or have experienced anything as creative, pract...
Not many people know much about Max Yasgur. Perhaps some do. I knew of him only because I was at the beautiful Bethel Woods Center for the Arts on Aug.17, the 55th anniversary of Woodstock. The Center is located on Max's former farm site in Bethel, N.Y. I came to Bethel to dedicate the eighth marker in the Borscht Belt Historical Marker Project system that the Jewish American Society for Historic Preservation was funding. That day, at both sites, the clock was pushed back to when American youth...
(JNS) — At this moment, 109 treasured human beings are being held hostage by Hamas in Gaza. They are Christians, Jews, Muslims, Hindus and Buddhists. They are from 23 different countries. The youngest hostage is a 1-year-old, red-headed baby boy, and the oldest is an 86-year-old mustachioed grandpa. Among the hostages are eight American citizens. One of those Americans is our only son. His name is Hersh. He’s 23 years old, and like Vice President Kamala Harris, Hersh was born in Oakland, California. Hersh is a happy-go-lucky, laid-back, goo...
