Central Florida's Independent Jewish Voice
Central Florida's Independent Jewish Voice
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Several community members from Orlando and Central Florida united with 2,500 proud Zionists at Jewish National Fund-USA's Global Conference for Israel in Dallas, fueling torches of light that continue to shine brightly even in these darkest of times. The delegation included philanthropists, pro-Israel community members of all faiths and from 10 different countries, long-time Jewish National Fund-USA partners (donors), rabbis, clergy, and cantors who attended the conference's Rabbinical Summit,...
(JNS) - The earliest known Chinese inscription in Israel from about 500 years ago has been uncovered in Jerusalem, the Israel Antiquities Authority announced on Tuesday. (Spoiler alert: It didn't say "Made in China.") The rare 16th century CE Chinese inscription, unearthed in a dig on Mount Zion and discovered on a porcelain bowl fragment, reads: "Forever we will guard the eternal spring," the state-archaeological body said. Ancient Chinese porcelain vessels were previously found in Israel, but...
Last night in Alei Zahav, a large community in the Shomron, we met with a large group of medics from the region, to distribute equipment. Specifically, medic bags. These were newly trained medics, who went through their three-month training period, which we require after they complete the six-month, 200+ hour course. In the three-month training period, they get supervised real-life experience in the field. We don’t throw anyone into the field fresh and new. Among the attendees at the g...
The ballroom at Hilton Orlando/Altamonte Springs was abuzz with excitement as 100 guests gathered on Monday, Dec. 2, for Jewish Pavilion Senior Services' Annual JP Connections Hanukah Luncheon. The event delivered on its promise of gourmet cuisine, festive holiday shopping, and a heartfelt celebration of volunteerism. The highlight of the luncheon was the recognition of Joan Walker as Volunteer of the Year. Walker delivered an inspiring speech that resonated deeply with the audience, sharing...
In the hustle and bustle of the holiday season, it’s easy to get caught up in the frenzy of shopping and festivities. Yet, amidst the chaos, there lies a simple yet profound opportunity to bring warmth and joy to the lives of seniors in our communities. A gesture as small as gifting a cozy blanket or an engaging large-print book can illuminate the holiday season for a senior, wherever they may reside. Imagine the smile that spreads across a senior’s face as they unwrap your thoughtful gift, accompanied by a heartfelt, handwritten note exp...
For newlyweds Erwin and Selma Diwald, getting out of Austria wasn't a choice. It was a necessity. Their daughter, Frances "Francie" Mendelsohn, shared their fascinating story. Despite the undertones of antisemitism and the looming threats coming from Hitler's rise in Germany, the two young Jews had lived comfortable, family- centered lives in the beautiful city of Vienna prior to their meeting at a cousin's wedding in 1936. Bettina and Sigmund Diwald had welcomed their first child, Erwin, in 190...
Part II (JTA) - In 79 CE, Mount Vesuvius erupted in southern Italy, burying the nearby Roman city of Pompeii in scalding stone and ash. The catastrophe famously entombed, and preserved, the city's villas, workshops, and a gladiator barracks known as the Caserma dei Gladiatori. Excavators first unearthed the barracks in the late 1700s. Among the ruins they found a bronze helmet, with a circular brim, a griffin rising from its crest, and on its forehead, a palm tree - then a symbol tied to Jews...
(JNS) — It is a world-class understatement to say that these are challenging times for the Jewish people, particularly for Jewish youth. Hundreds of thousands of young and not-so-young people in Israel have had to take up arms for more than a year against murderous enemies. Their American counterparts, particularly those on university campuses, while not having to tote weapons, are, in their way, also fighting a war against another implacable foe. “Blind Spot,” a newly released independently produced film, focuses on the virulence of the antis...
(JNS) - A survivor of the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas-led onslaught on Israel delivered powerful testimony about her 54 days in captivity as she faced off with a student protest leader at a campus debate at the University of California, Los Angeles. The confrontation, captured in a video segment from earlier this year that was released on Monday by The Gr8 Debate and filmed by Trusted Confidential Coverage, brought together former hostage Moran Stella Yanai, UCLA encampment leader Aidan Doyle and Mosab...
(New York Jewish Week) - In the new comic book, "We Are Brooklyn: Stories of Hope," Francil Tejada shares her story about the Dominican Republic, where she was born, and the death of her grandmother, which inspired her to change how she connects with people and shows love. It's a personal story, a Brooklyn story and an American story - one of six being told through an anti-hate project initiated by the Jewish Community Relations Council of New York. Others tell stories about an imam's trip to Au...
*A glimpse of Jewish Italy Thanks to a wonderful tour director, a great itinerary, and perfect weather, our recent trip to Italy was all that we had hoped for and more. We stayed in medieval buildings that had been converted to hotels, drove the stunning Amalfi coast, made our way through the Coliseum, tread over the ancient streets in Pompeii, enjoyed wine tasting in Umbria and Tuscany, climbed numerous stairs to churches and bell towers, and rode on a gondola in Venice. We enjoyed fabulous...
Part I (JTA) - In 79 CE, Mount Vesuvius erupted in southern Italy, burying the nearby Roman city of Pompeii in scalding stone and ash. The catastrophe famously entombed, and preserved, the city's villas, workshops, and a gladiator barracks known as the Caserma dei Gladiatori. Excavators first unearthed the barracks in the late 1700s. Among the ruins they found a bronze helmet, with a circular brim, a griffin rising from its crest, and on its forehead, a palm tree - then a symbol tied to Jews in...
(JNS) - Thrown into a tank after being riddled with seven bullets in Gaza, the 23-year-old Israeli soldier kept his hand on his mortally wounded Dutch Shepherd through the entire ride to the hospital, even as he drifted into unconsciousness. "I kept hoping that he was OK even as I felt my organs were popping out of my body," Ben Ladany told JNS in an interview in Herzliya on Wednesday of his beloved IDF counter-terrorism dog, Jack. For the next two months, Ladany lay in an induced comatose at...
(JNS) - On several recent flights in the United States, I was rather surprised, and somewhat bemused, to see full-page ads in the airline magazines for a matchmaking service. In fact, there was more than one such service being advertised. Who would believe that in the sophisticated 21st-century, old Yente-the matchmaker from "Fiddler on the Roof"-is being resurrected? "Matchmaker, matchmaker, make me a match, find me a find, catch me a catch." Oh, the ad was very slick and professional, but...
(JNS) - Phil McGraw, better known as Dr. Phil, isn't Jewish. But the trained clinical psychologist and host of the popular eponymous talk show told JNS exclusively that his staunch support of Israel is "really not anything other than just duty to me." "Everybody should be doing what I'm doing," he said. Dr. Phil has denounced Jew-hatred on his show, in interviews and in filmed segments. He told JNS that he was "appalled at the silence from so many people," including colleagues and fellow...
The Maccabee Bar Association of Florida is hosting a virtual event open and free to nonmembers featuring Ken Feinberg, author of “What is Life Worth?” Known for his transformative work on the high-profile 9/11 compensation cases, he will discuss insights on valuing personal injuries and lives. It will be held on Thursday, Nov. 21, at noon on zoom. Ken Feinberg is a man with a deep sense of equity, and fairness, based on a value system learned in his Jewish household. He has an endless supply of wisdom to share and is not afraid to address any...
(JNS) - RISHON LEZION, Israel - When the young American social media consultant volunteering in Israel saw a handsome IDF soldier recuperating in the hospital rehabilitation ward, she offered him a Fruit Roll-Up. Miami-born Danielle Yablonka, 23, was tired of standing and listening to the older women on her solidarity mission talking, and, eyeing a soldier sitting nearby, was sure he would welcome the snack. "Israelis are supposed to like everything American," she told JNS. But Daniel Kopylov,...
(Israel Hayom via JNS) - "Sitting there in a Gaza tunnel, captured on camera, pleading to return home"- with these words, Agam Goldstein-Almog, a survivor of Hamas captivity, opened her poignant post shared on Sunday, nearly a year after her release. Goldstein-Almog, abducted at age 17 by invading Hamas terrorists from her home in Kibbutz Kfar Aza on Oct. 7, 2023, has revealed for the first time her emotional response to seeing the photograph taken by her captors during her 51-day ordeal, while...
A senior’s age, incontinence becomes an all-too-common (but all-too-often ignored) issue. The first step toward dealing with incontinence is understanding exactly what is causing it, and it’s not as straightforward as you might imagine. Incontinence comes in various forms: 1. Stress Incontinence: Urine loss occurs during activities like lifting heavy objects, laughing, coughing, or exercising. 2. Overflow Incontinence: The bladder doesn’t empty completely, leading to frequent urination or continuous leakage. 3. Urge Incontinence: Diffi...
(JNS) - The mother of Yotam Haim-who was mistakenly killed by Israel Defense Forces soldiers from the 828th "Bislach" Brigade while he, Alon Shamriz and Samer Fouad Talalka were in the process of escaping from Hamas captivity-has again exhibited the kind of spiritual superiority to which the rest of us rarely aspire, let alone achieve. On Thursday, Iris Haim posted a voice message in the brigade's WhatsApp group to express her gratitude for their elimination of the architect of the Oct. 7, 2023...
Whether you’re a family caregiver or a professional, owning a wheelchair-accessible van can greatly improve mobility for those you care for. Here are some tips to help you find the right van at the right price: 1. Assess tour needs: Consider whether rear- or side-entry access would work best for your situation. Rear entry is ideal for larger wheelchairs, while side entry offers versatility in seating arrangements. 2. Shop smart: Look for wheelchair van dealerships online and nearby to find options within your budget. Explore mobility c...
(JNS) — A replica of the Ark of the Covenant, painstakingly constructed, its creators say, to the Torah specifications of the sacred vessel that was the First Temple’s central fixture, was displayed in Jerusalem on Sunday evening, during the intermediate days of the Sukkot holiday. The ark described in the Torah, which housed the Ten Commandments tablets among other holy objects, was hidden after the destruction of the First Temple, per rabbinic tradition. At Jerusalem’s King David Hotel, the r...
(JNS) - Although American actor Christopher Reeve sustained a life-altering injury that left him paralyzed below the neck, the actor maintained his positive morale and unselfishness, according to Dr. Steven Kirshblum, who is featured in the new documentary film "Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story," out in theaters nationwide. Initially after a fall from his horse at an equestrian competition in Virginia on May 27, 1995, Reeve asked his wife, Dana, if they should let him go. But she told him...
(JNS) — Amid the ongoing wars against Hamas and Hezbollah, countless artifacts from the Second Temple era, the Late Roman period, and more were uncovered across Israel in 2024. “Despite the difficult year we experienced due to the war, the Israel Antiquities Authority continued to carry out rescue excavations throughout the country,” said the body’s director-general, Eli Escusido. “Over the past year, approximately 120 sites were excavated (compared to the usual average of 250-300 in a regular...
Dr. John Jenkins, a neurosurgeon at Orlando Neurosurgery in Orlando, is devoted to the people and state of Israel and has made a monetary pledge to help those who are suffering on the moshavs in southern Israel. Because of the impact on him of the Oct. 7, 2023, massacres, Dr. Jenkins has pledged a $50,000 matching grant for donations to moshav Ein Habesor in southern Israel, near the Gaza border. Through a Christian charity called City Serve, Israel, his donation is earmarked to help ease the...
