Central Florida's Independent Jewish Voice
Central Florida's Independent Jewish Voice
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(JNS) — An evacuee from Israel’s north was wounded over the weekend when a porcupine violently attacked him over the weekend on the grounds of the hotel where he was staying. Shalom Yonassi, a 50-year-old resident of Kiryat Shmona who has been evacuated to the Herbert Samuel Bayit Bagalil Hotel Spa in Hatzor HaGlilit due to the Hezbollah threat, was rushed to Safed’s Ziv Medical Center, where surgeons removed 40 spines from his legs and feet. “We are staying at a hotel in the middle of the Bir...
(Israel Hayom via JNS) - The release of the trailer for Disney's live-action remake of "Snow White" has sparked an antisemitic campaign on social media against Israeli actress Gal Gadot. Pro-Palestinian users have criticized Gadot's casting as the Evil Queen and called for a boycott of the film, citing her Israeli background and military service. This past weekend, Disney unveiled the first trailer for its new adaptation of "Snow White" at the D23 fan convention in Anaheim, California. The...
(JNS) - Israel's Yes Studios is collaborating with Fox Entertainment Studios on the first scripted drama series about the Oct. 7 attacks as the anniversary of the Hamas-led massacre approaches, entertainment industry online news site Deadline reported on Tuesday. Yes and Fox are co-producing "One Day in October," a four-part Hebrew-language anthology series telling the personal stories that emerged from the events of the day. That title is for international release, while the Hebrew title is...
More than 3 million older adults are treated in emergency departments for nonfatal fall injuries each year. Fall prevention refers to the strategies and measures geared towards reducing the number of accidental falls suffered by older individuals. Falls can lead to severe injuries such as fractures and head traumas, and unfortunately, they are the leading cause of accidental death among the elderly population. Thus, it’s essential to implement strategies for prevention. The role of physical therapy Physical therapy plays a crucial role in p...
(JTA) — As nearly 30 million viewers tuned in for the waterborne opening ceremony at this summer’s Paris Olympics, it’s safe to bet that most were not thinking of Adolf Hitler. Malcolm Gladwell isn’t most people. Gladwell, the author, journalist and podcaster, explores the 1936 Berlin Olympics on the latest season of his podcast series “Revisionist History.” Gladwell and co-host Ben Naddaff-Hafrey examine the complex cast of characters and political developments that led to Nazi Germany hos...
(JTA) - As the resident film impresario at Manhattan's JCC, Isaac Zablocki specializes in screening movies that challenge, provoke and enlighten audiences. When he first heard of the Israeli feature "Legend of Destruction," before it had even hit theaters in 2021, he knew he needed to screen it. While many of the films Zablocki screens revolve around current events - including a steady diet of offerings on Israel's myriad challenges - "Legend" was different: It retold one of the most well-worn...
(JNS) - Mary Ellen Richichi, a non-Jewish middle-school teacher in the Florida public school system, grew up immersed in Holocaust education. Her father, who served in the U.S. military during the Cold War, was always watching History Channel documentaries about World War II. "I'll never forget, I was probably about 7 or 8, and he said to me, 'Holocaust and World War II is one of the events you need to know and never forget,'" Richichi told JNS. Her father passed what she called his extensive...
O mermaid bold, long may you hold the wreath you've won by swimming, And spoil for gents their arguments Regarding Votes for Wimmen! - "To a Lady Swimmer," William F. Kirk 1914. I love to swim. So, it is no surprise that I spent much of the first week of the 2024 Paris Olympics watching the swim competition. I cheered on Team USA as they won 25 medals in the 39 events in the Paris La Défense Arena. As I yelled "Go! Go! Go!" at the screen during the 1500 freestyle, Katie Ledecky's last race, my...
(JTA) - One of the most intriguing storylines for Jewish fans at the 2024 Paris Olympics has been the resurgence of Jewish excellence in fencing. Of the 20 fencers on the U.S. team, six are Jewish or come from Jewish families, and three have won medals. The success of gold medalists Jackie Dubrovich and Maia Weintraub and bronze winner Nick Itkin brings to mind a trio of Jewish fencers who medaled at the same Olympics nearly a century ago - at the so-called "Nazi Olympics." Ilona...
(New York Jewish Week) - Some of the most iconic American folk singers of the 1960s and '70s were Jewish: Bob Dylan, Paul Simon, "Mama Cass" Elliot. But what if there had been an entire Jewish family of folk royalty, whose descendants became stars of their own respective eras? In her debut novel "The Singer Sisters," which was published on Tuesday, writer and native New Yorker Sarah Seltzer dreams up this fantasy and fills it with rock music history, family drama and lots of Yiddishkeit. Singer...
(JTA) - TEL AVIV - As she read the news about a looming attack from Iran and its proxies, Adi Tamir faced a series of dilemmas: Should she go ahead with her weekend vacation on the banks of the Jordan River? Living in a town near Israel's northern coastline - well within reach of Hezbollah's rockets - should she leave her house at all? She settled on a compromise: She wouldn't go on the vacation to Israel's border with Jordan - but she also wouldn't remain hunkered down at home. "I'm not going...
"Raise your hand if you are a Zionist. This is your chance to get out!" These now infamous words shouted on a packed New York Subway car on Oct. 10, 2024, sent chills down the spines of Jews across America. Anti-Israel protests have wracked cities and college campuses and violence against Jews has increased dramatically all over the United States. Headlines like, "FBI Director Warns Antisemitism in US Reaching Historic Level." "A New Wave of Antisemitism threatens to Rock an Already Unstable...
Sandy Cawthern, born in Worcester, Massachusetts, discovered her connection to Judaism at a young age. "I was 9 when Israel was created as a Jewish state for the Jewish people, and we danced the Hora in the playground at my elementary school to celebrate," she recalls. Despite being shy, Sandy found herself drawn to the warmth and community of the Jewish faith. "I find people sitting by themselves and ask to sit with them and ask questions. I love listening to their stories. I find them fascinat...
(JTA) - TV's most Jewish comedy has one more chance to grab some statues on its way out the door. The 12th and final season of "Curb Your Enthusiasm," Larry David's long-running HBO sitcom, was nominated for four Emmy awards Wednesday, including best comedy and best actor for David. Since premiering in 2000 the show has received a total of 55 Emmy nominations, but only two competitive wins (for directing and editing). David finally wrapped "Curb" in April with an appearance from his buddy Jerry...
Decluttering a living space can be a daunting task, but with the right approach, it can also be liberating. Here are some practical tips to help you declutter efficiently, along with insights into how organizations like Jewish Pavilion Senior Services and the Orlando Senior Help Desk offer support to elders and their families through this process. 1. Categorize and Conquer: Begin by sorting items in the room into categories such as trash, books, papers, and miscellaneous items. This helps...
Dr. Daniel Layish shouldn't be with us today. He only exists because of the remarkable foresight, bravery (and perhaps luck) which led to the exodus of his paternal grandparents from Slovakia in December 1939 to pre-state Israel. Layish is the ZOA Florida Board liaison for Orlando. "With everything that has happened in Israel and on our college campuses, the ZOA's mission is more important today than ever. We are proud of Israel and will not waver in our commitment to her." Aaron and Hedwig Flei...
There are veterans like an Australian gold medalist canoe paddler and Israel's powerhouse judo team. There are newcomers, like the youngest American female wrestler ever and Israel's soccer team. And there are athletes competing in events from fencing to beach volleyball to racewalking to air pistol shooting. The 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris are around the corner, running from July 26 through Aug. 11, and dozens of Jewish athletes will be among the estimated 10,500 competitors representing roug...
For people living with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias, the world around them significantly impacts how they engage, react, and enjoy life. Caregivers often seek supportive tips and tricks for behavior management, but did you know you can modify and even prevent behaviors associated with dementia by using color? Many studies have been conducted on light as well as color with varying results. However, most experts agree that the use of colors, especially for someone living with dementia, can help in improving their quality of life. R...
(JTA) - STOCKBRIDGE, Massachusetts - There's a delightful "what if" moment at the start of "What, Me Worry? The Art and Humor of MAD Magazine," a new exhibit at the Norman Rockwell Museum. In 1964, MAD commissioned Rockwell himself to paint a portrait of Alfred E. Neuman, the humor magazine's gap-toothed mascot, as he might have looked in real life. Correspondence featured in the exhibit suggests that Rockwell - grand master of gentle, folksy, even cornball Americana - was close to signing on...
(JTA) - When I think of my friend and spiritual advisor Andy Sacks, I think of the words of the late civil rights icon, Rep. John Lewis, who urged his followers to "get into good trouble." As the longtime director of the Rabbinical Assembly in Israel, Rabbi Sacks headed the Conservative movement's Bureau for Religious Affairs. In more than 28 years in that role he fought tirelessly for the right of non-Orthodox rabbis and congregations in Israel to operate on a level playing field with Israel's...
Independence Day is a time when people of all ages come together to celebrate the freedom and liberty that their country provides. While the focus of this celebration is often on the younger generation, it is important to recognize and honor the contributions of senior citizens who have played a significant role in building and shaping our nation. Senior citizens have lived through decades of change, witnessing the progress and challenges that have shaped our society. They have experienced firsthand the struggles and victories that have led to...
Sibling dynamics further complicate the caregiving journey. While parents hope for unity among siblings in providing care, disparities often arise due to various factors such as distance, lifestyle choices, or historical family dynamics. Recognizing these differences and maintaining open communication are pivotal. It’s essential to acknowledge the significance of caregiving collectively and strive to prevent disputes from eroding familial bonds. For siblings unable to contribute physically, offering support in alternative ways, such as m...
(JTA) - On the eve of World War II, the Higher Institute for Jewish Studies in Berlin embodied an avant-garde era for the study of modern Judaism and philosophy, hosting students from the leading thinker Leo Baeck to Czech Jewish writer Franz Kafka to the first woman rabbi, Regina Jonas. It was also home to one of the world's largest and most important Jewish libraries - about 60,000 books of theology, history and literature that reflected the diversity of German-Jewish society before the...
(JTA) Houston mourns a ‘PR Fairy’ killed in a fall Susan Farb Morris was spending Father’s Day weekend in Galveston, Texas with her husband, children and grandchildren when the balcony of the vacation home on which she was standing collapsed. She died of her injuries on June 14, at 68. Her death shocked her hometown Houston community where, as the founder and president of Susan Farb Morris Public Relations, she was known as “The PR Fairy.” In addition to arts and corporate clients, Morris wo...
(JNS) - American-Jewish actor Michael Rapaport said on Monday that the Oct. 7 Hamas massacre, and the wave of antisemitism that it triggered across the United States, were deeply personal for him and enhanced his connection with Judaism. Rapaport spoke to JNS on the sidelines of the annual Pulse of Israel conference in Jerusalem, where he received the "Leadership of Zion Award" from the hands of CEO and founder Avi Abelow. The comedian has emerged as a leading voice for Israel in Hollywood, at a...
