Central Florida's Independent Jewish Voice
Central Florida's Independent Jewish Voice
Sorted by date Results 3001 - 3025 of 4376
By Hillel Kuttler The "Seeking Kin" column aims to help reunite long-lost relatives and friends. (JTA)-"If only," it's the most common regret expressed by "Seeking Kin" interviewees, and by genealogists generally. David Harel has dug into his family's history impressively, but second-guesses himself for never asking his late father, Yaakov Halberstadt, key questions before Halberstadt died at 96 in 2010, or for not pressing to address other mysteries. Harel, 74, who lives on Kibbutz Yavne, near... Full story
(Kveller via JTA)—Every year it happens in just about the same way: I pledge to stick to it. I create reminders and support systems. I beg my husband to join me in the daily routine. And then at some point, I fail. No, I’m not talking about a fad diet; I’m talking about the ancient Jewish ritual of counting the omer. Every night, starting from the second night of Passover (at the seder), Jews count an “omer”—a measurement of grain that was brought to the ancient Temple in Jerusalem as an offering. Of course, now the counting is only symbolic: W... Full story
From mystery to mystery, We are the Phoenix Firebird Garuda Bennu Choi. They tried to destroy us, Shot Beheaded Crucified, and Threw us in ovens. From the alter of ashes We arose Stronger Smarter More powerful. Don’t they know? Our destruction is—Impossible. From mystery to mystery, We are Jews.... Full story
I know what's wrong... I was recently visited by my dear cousin Ben, a retired psychologist. One of my sons is also a psychologist. His wife is a psychologist. My machatunim (her mom) is a retired psychologist... THEY NOW CONFIRM THAT I AM NUTS! (But I kind of knew that already.) Not a surprise... With all the anti-Semitism in the world these days, this report I recently received from the World Jewish Congress (WJC) under the heading "Immigration to Israel Highest Since 2003," doesn't surprise... Full story
ISRAEL21c-Shafrir Levi's baby boy loves to slurp spoonsful of bananas, pears and apples mashed with pure sesame-seed paste, known as tahina in Israel and tahini most other places. The baby's affinity for ground sesame seeds is understandable, and not just because tahini is a staple of the Israeli diet (the word tahina comes from the Hebrew verb "to grind"). His ancestor in Morocco was a master of making the tahini-based treat called halva, and opened the Halva Kingdom in Jerusalem in 1947.... Full story
SAN RAFAEL, Calif. (JTA)-"Why can't we eat veggie burritos tonight? Will I be miracled? Will they play 'The Wheel?' Will Phil sing?" These four additional questions were asked at a Passover seder this week that's quickly becoming a new Bay Area tradition. Fans of the legendary psychedelic band the Grateful Dead celebrated Passover for the third year in a row Wednesday night at Terrapin Crossroads, the Marin County club owned by the band's bassist, Phil Lesh. This was the first year that seders... Full story
ISRAEL21c-Two guys walk into a New York City bar in 2003 and meet a couple of Brazilian women. "What do you miss most from home?" the men ask. "Agua de coco," the women answer. Coconut water. In 2004, the two men found Vita Coco, which takes off like wildfire as consumers everywhere seek alternatives to sugary soft drinks. Today, Vita Coco is the global market leader in coconut water, the clear nutritious liquid inside young green coconuts. The company has 10 manufacturing facilities in eight... Full story
"Protecting Paige," by Deby Eisenberg Retracing events from the 1915 Eastland disaster on the Chicago River to the Holocaust and beyond, "Protecting Paige" is a multi-layered historical novel driven by twists, turns, and revelations. Deby Eisenberg, a local Chicago author, presents a riveting story revolving around Paige, a girl orphaned by a random act of gang violence, her two unlikely saviors, and her discovery of secret tragedies and startling truths at the core of her identity. Opening in C... Full story
When Alex Kahn, son of Valerie and Dr. Bernard (Bernie) Kahn of Maitland, joined Startup Institute Chicago's web development course in fall 2014, he'd already been a technologist at heart and was ready to take this passion to the main stage. With a degree in economics and prior experience in market research, growth-strategy, and IT for his dad's dental practice, Kahn came to Chicago ready to immerse himself in both tech skills and the tech community. A quick study, it wasn't long after... Full story
What a "turn around"... I read this recently in the World Jewish Congress (WJC) digest under the heading "British Chief Rabbi Calls for Islam to Be Taught in Jewish Schools." It surprised me and I feel you should know about it too: "Britain's Chief Rabbi EPHRAIM MIRVIS has recommended that children be taught about Islam as part of government proposed changes to the curriculum for religious studies. Beginning in September, British schools will be required to teach two faiths as part of their... Full story
(The Nosher via JTA)-Beans are a staple food on many Cuban dinner tables: They are inexpensive, can feed an army and are easily adaptable to whatever you find in your fridge and pantry. There's something about a pot of beans, simmering low and slow on the stove all day, allowing all of the flavors and aromas to release, that screams home-cooked comfort. Plus, nothing sticks to your ribs on a cold day better than a good bean soup or stew. To be fair, I'd eat this even on a warm day. In fact, I... Full story
A few years ago, my friend J. Zel Lurie, a Delray Beach resident and founding editor of Hadassah magazine, decided he wanted to do something special to mark his 100th birthday. He decided to publish the illuminated pages of an ancient manuscript he had photographed in 1978 in Cairo at the synagogue of a Jewish sect known as the Karaites. The manuscript was the legendary Cairo Codex, originally known as the Codex of the Prophets, which had been in possession of the Karaites-a group that rebelled... Full story
Last summer, RAISE program coordinator Loren London received a phone call from Heidi Solomon director of Jewish Family Services Association of Cleveland's Horvitz YouthAbility. "Can our group perform for RAISE or another venue when we come to Orlando next year?" asked Solomon. London explained to Solomon that RAISE is a work program for people with special needs, but she would look into finding a place for YouthAbility to perform. After seeing a video online of YouthAbility's performance, two... Full story
(JTA)-Afikomen hunts, a rambunctious pup and the catchy classic "Dayenu." All are featured in a half-dozen new Passover books for children that will inform and entertain even the littlest kid-or a whole herd of 'em. The eight-day holiday kicks off this year on the evening of April 22. Why not pick up a new tome for the tyke in your life? Prices are about two zuzim and up. Passover is Coming Tracy Newman, illustrated by Viviana Garofoli Kar-Ben; ages 1-4; $5.99 This colorful board book is the... Full story
(The Nosher via JTA)-With Passover comes lots of cleaning, matzah eating, and potato peeling. I know, I know-potatoes get a bad rap during Passover because they're one of the seemingly few things we can eat (and therefore are made very frequently during these eight days). But I say don't fight the potatoes. Embrace them! They're cheap, they're easy, everybody likes them and they really are delicious. This Potato and Carrot Gratin recipe is the perfect side dish for your Passover seder. It's got... Full story
Tim and Courtney and their two children, Talan, 6, and Zach, 2, were vacationing at the beach in Volusia County from Calgary, Alberta, Canada. They called the Jerry Doliner Food Bank there and asked what was needed. Gloria Max, executive director of Jewish Federation of Volusia & Flagler counties, said they told her they wanted to teach their children that if they take them on a one-week vacation, they have to learn to give back to the community they are visiting. "It was so refreshing to see... Full story
A fabulous talent... When I read this in the World Jewish Congress (WJC) digest it gave me tremendous pleasure so I decided to pass it along to you: "Itzhak Perlman, the 70-year old Israeli born violin virtuoso, is the third winner of the annual Genesis Prize, joining past recipients former New York City Mayor MICHAEL BLOOMBERG and actor-director MICHAEL DOUGLAS. Established in 2012 by a consortium of Russian Jewish philanthropists, the prize is presented annually to individuals who have achieve... Full story
Jay Feinberg of Olney, Maryland. invented a unique pen-shaped cleaning tool that helps clean the house for Passover as well as safely removes candle wax drips left by Shabbat and Hanukkah candles. The new product called the Scrigit Scraper was inspired by his mom's sturdy long fingernails and can remove small amounts of unwanted substances, such as dried food, adhesive labels and buildups of chamitz in corners, edges and grooves, without damaging household surfaces. The old saying goes,... Full story
LOS ANGELES (JTA)-Can the essence of Passover fit into a box? Fans of Manischewitz and Streit's will undoubtedly answer, "Yes, in a matzah box." But a successful Kickstarter campaign called Hello Mazel aims to reinvent that box, promising a package filled with Passover-related "Jewish awesomeness" that will be delivered to your door (or someone else's). The project was a smash on Kickstarter, to the tune of more than $152,021 with 1,395 backers. Investors who pledged a minimum of $45 will... Full story
(Kveller via JTA)—So I’m just going to come right out and say it: We don’t keep kosher for Passover. I feel a bit like a party-pooping high school senior who chooses not to go to the prom revealing that. After all, we moved to Israel to bring our kids up Jewish and live close to our Israeli family. But we are secular Jews and the simple truth is that we pick and choose how we observe in line with our beliefs about what’s important for us and what’s not. I’ve read on Kveller about how Mayim Bialik makes her Passover meaningful, how Amanda Bradle... Full story
(JTA)-You know Lily. You do. She's that chipper, slyly witty girl who works at the AT&T store-not a real one, but the one you see in those ubiquitous TV ads. What you may not know is that the actress who plays her, Milana Vayntrub, is a nice Jewish girl. She's a former Soviet refusenik who, between acting gigs, stand-up spots and the comedy webisodes she writes and produces, is trying to change the world. Can't Do Nothing is a new social-media-driven movement to raise awareness and funds to ease... Full story
This past March, a group of 100 Jewish National Fund (JNF) donors, including Central Floridians Bruce Gould and Jim and Jill Riola, experienced something unique as they all traveled to Israel with JNF's $1 Billion Dollar Roadmap Mission for one unbelievable week to engage in the many projects JNF has developed to grow the country's northern and southern regions. What made this trip even more special was that each participant is a member of one of JNF's specialized task forces and committees.... Full story
"Is it time for the Jews to leave Europe?"... I received this letter from the World Jewish Congress recently and pass it along to you in part: "They called us 'dirty Jews' and said 'You don't need your jewelry anymore. You've been wearing it for too long. Now it's ours,' said Diana after she and her husband, both Holocaust survivors, were viciously beaten by two thugs in Amsterdam. As a result of the attack, her husband lost his sight and both are confined to wheelchairs. Now Diana has fresh... Full story
The Jewish Pavilion program directors often go over and beyond the "call of duty" in the course of any given day. Take Gloria Green, who is the program director for assisted living facilities in Southwest Orlando. In addition to organizing and coordinating Purim festivities and now Passover seders for a dozen or so elder communities, she really gets to know "her" Jewish residents. For example, Phillip Schwartz is the only Jewish resident at Arbor Cove, but that's of no matter to Green, she... Full story
By Pamela Ruben Ruth Darvin is a woman of firsts. In the 1960s the Philadelphia native was an early female systems engineer with IBM and then Westinghouse at a time when she recounts "one computer filled an entire room." After relocating to Florida with her late husband, Herb Darvin, she became one of the first volunteers with the Jewish Pavilion in the Oviedo-Winter Springs area. More than a decade later, Darvin serves as vice president of the Jewish Pavilion Executive Board as well the... Full story
