Central Florida's Independent Jewish Voice
Central Florida's Independent Jewish Voice
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In the United States, there are approximately 1,500 ombudsmen working in long-term care facilities, supported by a network of nearly 3,500 volunteers. This network is part of a federal program established in the 1970s to advocate for older adults and individuals with disabilities who reside in nursing homes, assisted living communities, and other residential care settings. Ombudsmen serve as resident advocates, ensuring that the rights of residents are protected and that they receive quality care. Their work is vital in maintaining high...
In the Jewish calendar, Tu B'Shvat is the 15th day of the month Shevat. It begins on the evening of Feb. 12. As this minor holiday acknowledges trees and the fruits of the tree, typically fruits like raisins, figs, grapes, pomegranates, dates, oranges, and olives are eaten. There are many ways to celebrate the holiday with your children and grandchildren: Myrna Ossin suggests arranging a platter of tree fruits in the shape of a tree; embed pieces of cooked broccoli like tree leaves on top of a...
(Israel Hayom via JNS) - Fresh testimony emerged on Friday about IDF soldier Agam Berger's 482-day ordeal in Hamas captivity. Yaffa Deri, wife of Shas Party Chairman Aryeh Deri, and their daughter Margalit Peretz, visited the released IDF observers at the hospital, revealing intimate details of Agam's spiritual resilience. "Agam found a siddur [Jewish prayer book] in Gaza and maintained her religious observance, including fasting on Tisha B'Av," Deri said. Berger, 20, released during the Hamas-I...
Caregiving is a demanding role, often requiring juggling multiple responsibilities including ensuring that loved ones are transported to critical medical appointments or social engagements. For caregivers of seniors, transportation can become a significant challenge, particularly when the person they care for is unable to drive. Fortunately, ride-hailing services like Uber and Lyft have stepped in to make this task easier, offering solutions designed to alleviate some of the stresses caregivers face. These services now allow caregivers to...
Video Calling Apps Video calling has become a staple for staying connected, especially during events like the COVID-19 pandemic when in-person visits were limited. Apps like Zoom, FaceTime, and Skype are easy to use and allow seniors to see their loved ones in real-time, fostering a sense of closeness. For example, a study published by the National Institutes of Health highlighted how video communication tools significantly reduce feelings of loneliness among older adults. Seniors who regularly use these apps report better emotional well-being...
(JNS) - As a lifelong Angeleno, I've experienced a decent share of earthquakes, wildfires, El Niño weather events, Santa Ana winds, droughts and extreme heat, but nothing has compared to the enormity and painful reckoning of the current wildfires and wind events displacing Los Angeles residents and destroying homes, communities and even synagogues. While this situation has been incredibly stressful, my training with Community Security Service has provided me with critical tools to remain calm,...
(JNS) - After 298 Jewish men and women had sat down, randomly paired together in a speed dating event in Crown Heights, in Brooklyn, N.Y., the dating coach Manya Lazaroff called out a question for them to discuss in their two minutes before being reassigned to another date. "How much money does someone need to be financially stable?" Lazaroff, co-director of the Rohr Chabad Jewish Center at Texas A&M University in College Station, asked the couples in the ballroom of the school Oholei Torah....
These are parve chewy cookies with a licorice flavor. 2 large eggs 1/4 tsp. salt 2 1/4 cups flour 1 1/2 cups brown sugar, packed 1/2 tsp. baking soda 1 1/4 tsp. ground anise powder (You can grind star anise to make a powder.) 1/3 cup granulated sugar for rolling cookies Preset oven to 375 F. Prepare a baking sheet with parchment. In a large bowl, beat the eggs by hand, until the whites disappear. Add brown sugar with eggs, anise, and salt and beat until smooth. Add flour and mix into a dough. Th...
(JTA) - A postwar epic about a Holocaust survivor, a contemporary comedy about Holocaust tourism and a biopic of a Jewish musical legend helped lend a formidable Jewish presence to Thursday's Oscar nominations. Meanwhile, nominations for a documentary about Judea and Samaria and a docudrama about the 1972 Munich Olympics massacre of Israeli athletes also kept Israel in the conversation. The nominations announcement, delayed multiple times by historically destructive Los Angeles wildfires,...
Identifying the signs of stress is crucial for maintaining well-being, especially as seniors age. Listen to your body’s cues, whether it’s tension headaches, muscle tightness, or a constant feeling of unease. Taking proactive steps to counter these effects is key. Try deep breathing exercises, take a leisurely walk, or simply carve out a moment to focus on relaxation techniques. Prioritize your time for self-care Carving out time for yourself is not selfish, it’s necessary for maintaining balance and vitality. Incorporate daily routines that...
Manischewitz®, the iconic kosher brand with over 130 years of culinary excellence, announces the launch of Manischewitz New York Style All-Beef Hot Dogs. These premium hot dogs will be available in the refrigerated sections of supermarkets and specialty stores, offered in both regular and low-fat options at an SRP of $9 for the 10.3 oz package of six hot dogs. Additionally, a Kosher for Passover version will also be available. The Manischewitz Kosher Hot Dogs are “Where Flavor Meets Tradition!” Consumers can now enjoy the exceptional tast...
(JTA) — Hosting “Saturday Night Live” in its final broadcast before the inauguration of Donald Trump, comedian Dave Chappelle concluded with advice for the new president. “Do not forget your humanity,” Chappelle said. “And please, have empathy for displaced people, whether they’re in the Palisades or Palestine.” The line represented Chappelle’s signature mix of humor and serious sermonizing and came after a nearly 15-minute monologue that acknowledged his own controversies as a comedian and included an extended anecdote about President Jimmy Ca...
(JTA) — After the hostages return to Israel, peace takes hold in the Middle East. Army recruitment offices are shuttered; Israelis shelve the second passports that let them live abroad; and trains run uninterrupted from Egypt to Syria. Soon, Israeli and Iranian judokas embrace, and Israel advances in the World Cup. Ultimately, Taylor Swift takes the stage in Tel Aviv. The sequence of events exceeds even the wildest ambitions of most Israelis, who know from experience that peace, when it c...
(JTA) — Last year, as I stood in the ruins of the Nevele Hotel, memories flooded back despite the devastation around me. Every surface is covered in graffiti, roofs have caved in throughout the property, and not a single piece of carpet or wood paneling remains — all stripped away by years of looting. The grand ballroom where my grandmother once insisted on the best table in the house is now a dangerous shell. The room where my extended family held our seder is exposed to the elements, eve...
(JNS) — A unique structure unearthed in Jerusalem’s ancient City of David was used for ritual practices during the time of the First Temple, according to a report published Tuesday. The site was uncovered 15 years ago on the eastern slopes of the City of David compound, just outside the walled Old City of Jerusalem. It includes eight rock-hewn rooms containing an altar, a standing stone, an oil press and a winepress, according to the Israel Antiquities Authority. Excavation director Eli Shukron wrote in an article published in the sci...
(JNS) - The idea that the Jews are the "Chosen People" is not particularly fashionable, even among many Jews. It's viewed as sectarian, supremacist and even racist. Here are four ways that all of us, Jews and non-Jews, can embrace the idea. The Jews are chosen to choose life Near the end of the Torah in the 19th chapter of the book of Deuteronomy, Moses, in his final address, told us that we need to make a choice. Forty years beforehand, he led us out of slavery in Egypt, and we became a free...
(JNS) — NFL legends Nick Lowery and Tony Richardson touched down in Israel last week on a solidarity visit. Their itinerary included visits to the Nova Festival memorial, kibbutzim affected by the Hamas massacre on Oct. 7, 2023, and the Druze village of Majdal Shams, where 12 children lost their lives on a soccer pitch to Hezbollah attacks. Lowery, who played 18 seasons with the Kansas City Chiefs and New York Jets, and Richardson, who played 17 seasons for the Dallas Cowboys, Kansas City Chiefs, Minnesota Vikings, and New York Jets, are b...
(JTA) - Before Nov. 16, Sam Salz had never played a snap of organized football. The 5-foot-6, 160-pound wide receiver grew up attending an Orthodox day school in Philadelphia that didn't have a football team. But last Saturday night, Salz took the field for the first time with the Texas A&M Aggies, the No. 15-ranked team in Division I and a decorated program that plays in the elite Southeastern Conference. Salz walked me through his first taste of football, and what it meant to hear his name...
(JTA) —The antique silver menorah. The shabbos candlesticks. The tiny tefillin set. The last remnants from Europe that my grandparents, all Holocaust survivors, managed to shlep to America. And I need to get them out of my house. Right now. I had this thought during a moment, last week, when the Palisades Fire raced unchecked in all directions, including south toward my Santa Monica home. I threw a few documents, clothes and photo albums in a pile on the living room floor, and on top of those I...
Managing diabetes can feel overwhelming, but there are ways to cope with the stress and take control. Here are 10 tips to help: 1. Acknowledge your feelings. If you’re feeling overwhelmed, it’s important to seek help. 2. Talk to your healthcare providers about your emotions. They can offer support and guidance. 3. Address concerns about others’ reactions to your diabetes with your healthcare provider. 4. Explore assistance programs for the costs of medicines and supplies. 5. Open up to family and friends about your struggles with diabe...
(JNS) - Meet some of the women at the Jack Satter House in Revere, Mass. They are bold, they are real, they are honest and, as part of a campaign for their Tenants Association, they are not fully clothed. This is why: Throughout the year, the Tenants Association provides in-house programs and outings, some of which require bus transportation to venues. For an annual fee of $15, residents have the option to be a member. But like everything these days, prices are up, and the association, as it oft...
(JTA) - "A Complete Unknown," the new Bob Dylan biopic set in the early 1960s, ends years before the singer's controversial "gospel" period. Starting with 1979's "Slow Train Coming," Dylan recorded three albums exploring his apparent embrace of Christianity. For his 1980 tour, he played gospel music exclusively. It was a confusing time for Dylan's Jewish fans. As the movie suggests only obliquely, the guitar-carrying hitchhiker who tried to pass himself off as a former carnival barker was...
The St. Augustine Jewish Historical Society will screen the award-winning documentary film "Xueta Island" at the St. Augustine Waterworks, 184 San Marco Ave, St. Augustine, FL 32084 on Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025, at 4 p.m. The documentary is about the crypto-Jews among the Balearic Islands. Evidence is strong that crypto-Jews came to St. Augustine from New Smyrna Beach along with many other Menorcans in 1777. Descendants of those crypto-Jewish Menorcans live in St. Augustine to this very day. The...
My day starts at the crack of dawn. I hear the rooster across the street at 5 a.m. My alarm goes off after I open my eyes. I push “snooze” until 5:05. Then again until 5:10. At 5:15 I swing my legs over the side of the bed and drag myself up. Bathroom, teeth, get dressed, lace up walking shoes. At 5:25 I walk downstairs. The dogs have galloped into the “stairs room” and are waiting for me on the other side of the gate. We have two gates, to keep them downstairs. They’ve jumped over them a few times, but generally they stay put. They follow me...
THC, the psychoactive component of cannabis, has gained attention for its potential in pain management, particularly in the form of THC-infused gummies. These gummies offer a convenient and discreet way to consume THC, potentially reducing pain without the harmful effects associated with smoking. However, it’s crucial to approach edibles with caution, starting with a low dose and gradually increasing to avoid adverse effects. Unlike smoking, which delivers almost instantaneous effects, edibles can take one to two hours to kick in. This d...
