Central Florida's Independent Jewish Voice
Central Florida's Independent Jewish Voice
Sorted by date Results 201 - 225 of 508
(JTA) - Barbara Walters, the iconic newswoman and celebrity interviewer who made history for women and Jewish anchors on mainstream American news television, died at 93 on Friday, Dec. 30. ABC News, where Walters regularly appeared on shows such as "20/20" and "The View," shared the news without giving a cause of death. Before becoming one of the most enduring and talked about news hosts in the world from the 1970s through the 2000s, Walters was raised by parents descended from Jewish immigrants...
(JTA) - Jewish groups are among those marking the death of Benedict XVI, the Catholic pontiff who died Saturday at 95, a decade after shocking the world by becoming the first pope since the Middle Ages to resign. "It is with great sadness that I learned today that Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI has passed away," Ronald Lauder, president of the World Jewish Congress, said in a statement issued Saturday. "He was a towering figure of the Roman Catholic Church, both as pope and before that as the cardin...
Natalie Ann Abramson, age 88, of Longwood, Florida passed away at her home in Village on the Green on Friday, Dec. 16, 2022. A native of New York, Natalie was born in the Bronx on July 1, 1934, to Abe and Lillian (Litschitz) Solomon. Natalie graduated from high school and was employed as a bookkeeper. On Jan. 25, 1958, she married Eli Abramson, her husband of nearly 65 years. After they retired to Delray Beach, Florida, she and Eli spent many hours volunteering, including working in the local JCC thrift shop. Natalie loved knitting and spent...
Miss Rheda Epstein, 77, of Sanford, Florida died Saturday, Dec. 3, 2022, following a brief illness. Miss Epstein was born May 26, 1945 to the late Dr. Edwin & Sara (Snyder) Epstein. Miss Epstein was a retired librarian and she moved to Sanford in 1950. Miss Epstein is survived by her loving sister Adrienne Brothers and several nieces and nephews. Graveside service for Miss. Epstein were held at Congregation of Judaism Cemetery (9200 Morton Jones Road) with Cantor Kim Singer of Temple Shir Shalom of Oviedo officiating. Services entrusted to...
Ms. Sylvia First, 97 of Maitland, Florida died Wednesday, December 21, 2022 at Savannah Court of Maitland following a brief illness. Ms. First was born May 22, 1925 in Bronx, New York to the late Samuel & Rebecca (Bloom) Benson and moved to the Orlando area in 1966 from Bayside, New York. She is predeceased by her husband of 56 years Douglas First and also her grandson Abe First. Ms. First is survived by her loving children, son; Victor (Diane) First of Winter Springs, Florida, daughters; Valerie First of Winter Springs, Florida and Sherry...
(JNS) — Freddie Roman, a Jewish comedian known for his impeccable timing and his performances at Borscht Belt hotels, died on Saturday in Boynton, Florida at 85. He was the creator of the “Catskills on Broadway” musical and one of the show’s four performers. “I had the pleasure to perform with Freddie Roman many times, including with Sid Caesar, Pat Cooper and Dick Capri,” Jewish comedian Modi Rosenfeld, who performs under the moniker Modi, told JNS. “No matter who you were, he made everybody feel special and he was always encouraging.” Comedia...
Marc Katzen, 82, of Winter Park, passed away on Sunday, Dec. 4, 2022. He was born Feb. 11, 1940, in Sykesville, Pennsylvania, to Margaret Gordon Katzen and Harry Katzen and was the middle of five children. Marc's mother took care of the children and his father was a businessman. Marc and all four of his siblings attended college, graduate school and professional programs. His sisters went to Jewish camps in the summer; one of them attended with Henrietta Harris and "fixed them up." Their first...
Mrs. Agnes Rosalie Friedman, 95, of Lake Mary died Sunday, Dec. 4, 2022, at AdventHealth Altamonte following a brief illness. Mrs. Friedman was born Feb. 22, 1927, in Detroit, Michigan, to the late Max and Esther (Melnick) Don and moved to the Lake Mary area in 2016 from Delray Beach, Florida. Mrs. Friedman is predeceased by her loving husband of 71 years Saul Friedman. Mrs. Friedman is survived by her loving sons, Dr. Michael (Roz) Friedman of Longwood, Florida, and Dr. Steven (Lori) Friedman of Merrick, New York; her grandchildren — D...
Gloria Newberger, mother of Nancy Ludin and Craig Newberger, passed away on December 11, 2022. Gloria was born on May 27, 1928. She was a beloved community member and very active in many charities. Her favorite organization was the Jewish Pavilion. In 2003, Gloria moved to Orlando and became an active member of the Friends of the Jewish Pavilion board. She also volunteered and visited a woman who had been involved in her congregation and sang in her synagogue choir but had never been visited by...
Elliott Jordan Layish, Hebrew name Chaim Moishe Dov Ben Daniel Tzvi, age 22, died in Lake Mary, Fla., on Nov. 26, 2022 - 10 years to the day of his bar mitzvah, according to the Hebrew calendar. Born in Orlando on Nov. 29, 1999, Elliott's mother is Nancy Boime Layish and his father and step-mother are Dr. Daniel and Staci Layish. Elliott graduated Cum Laude from Center Academy in May 2018 and was a member of Jewish Boy Scout Troop 641. He attended Valencia College and was employed in the food...
Born on Aug. 30, 1930, Martin M. Prague (Marty) died on Friday, Nov. 11, 2022. Martin was born in Bronx , NY. He graduated cum laude from CCNY (City College of New York), now known as The Baruch School of Business. Martin received his C.P.A. certificate in 1954. He worked in small, medium and national CPA firms in New York City before moving to Orlando in 1972 to manage the Laventhol & Horwath offices in Orlando, Tamps and Jacksonville, simultaneously. In 1978 Laventhol & Horwath closed their...
Stanley J. Becker, 96, died Monday, Oct. 24, 2022, at his Lake Mary home following a brief illness. Becker was born March 28, 1926, in Jacksonville, Florida, and he was a life long resident of the Orlando area. He was a World War II Army veteran and is predeceased by his wife, Judith S. Becker. Becker was the owner and operator of The Show Box; president of Cincinnati Shoe Corporation; Group vice-president of United States Shoe Corporation; CEO of Bari Shoe Corporation; COO of Keystone Investments and Independent Business Consultant. Becker is...
Elaine Disler, 87, died Wednesday, Oct.19, 2022, at her Sanford home following a brief illness. Disler was born April 16, 1935, in Boston, Massachusetts, to the late Max and Evelyn (Sandler) Palman and moved to the Orlando area in 2006. She is predeceased by her husband, Herman Disler. Disler is survived her loving sons: Michael (Dorothy) of Lake Mary, Florida, Richard of Ipswich, Massachusetts, David (Robin) of Richmond, Virginia, Gregory (Carolyn) of Kennett Square, Pennsylvania and Mark of...
David Shif, 84, Bradenton, Florida died Friday, Oct. 21, 2022, at Hunters Creek Nursing and Rehab Center following a brief illness. Shif was born Aug. 20, 1939, in Belarus to the late Shmuel and Rachel (Rodinski) Shif and moved to Florida in 1978 from Israel. Shif is survived by his loving children: sons, Gary Shif of Bradenton, Florida, Nitzan Shif of North Remington Beach, Florida; daughter, Ofira Bondorasky of Ocoee. Funeral Services for Mr. Shif were held at Gan Yavne Cemetery in Gan Yavne, Israel. Services entrusted to Beth Shalom...
Tess Wise, 99, died Sunday, Oct. 23, 2022 at her Orlando home following a brief illness. Wise was born June 6, 1923, in Szydtowiec, Poland, and moved to the Orlando area in 1946 from Chattanooga, Tennessee. She is predeceased by her husband, Abe O. Wise. Wise is survived by her loving children: daughter, Ellan (Mark) Lang of Orlando, Florida; son, Steven (Leora) Wise of Jerusalem; 6 grandchildren and 9 great-grandchildren. Funeral Services for Wise were held Wednesday, Oct. 26, 2022, at the...
Holocaust Center founder Tess Wise, who as a teen escaped from a Nazi labor camp and who dedicated her life to fighting antisemitism and the ultimate consequences of hate, passed at the age of 99 on Sunday, Oct. 23, 2022. Wise and her late husband Abe were partners in philanthropy, innovating and supporting numerous charities and institutions throughout Central Florida. But it was her dedication to using personal and world history to ensure the Holocaust was not forgotten and to create a more...
Mr. Boris Offir, 59, of Orlando, died Monday, Oct. 10, 2022, at Orlando Health following a brief illness. Mr. Offir was born Oct. 31, 1962, in Petach Tikva, Israel to the late Yosef and Tanya (Doitch) Offir and moved to Orlando in 2019 from Israel. Mr. Offir is survived by his loving wife of nine years, Esther Sternberg of Orlando, Florida; son, Tomer Offir; daughter, Ella Offir; father, Ze’ev Offir; sister, Galit Gabai; brother, Doron Offir all of Israel. In keeping with Mr. Offir’s wis...
Ms. Lora Leiser Wolf, 96, of Lake Mary, Florida, died Wednesday, Oct. 5, 2022, at Advent Health Altamonte following a brief illness. Ms. Wolf was born Sept. 27, 1926, in Witten, Germany, to the late Samuel and Betty (Marx) Leiser and moved to the Lake Mary area in 2012 from Baltimore, Maryland. Ms. Wolf is survived by her loving son, Jonathan (Nancy) Wolf of Heathrow, Florida; grandchildren - Sara (Jared Blitz) Wolf, Harrison (Rebeka Spencer) Wolf, Rachael (Arnie) Fridhandler, Ethan (Jodi)...
Ms. Rachel Wolf, 98, of Oviedo, died Friday, Sept. 30, 2022, at Life Care Center of Altamonte Springs following a brief illness. Ms. Wolf was born May 26, 1924, in Tehran, Iran to the late Baruch abd Shoshanah Karbasi. Ms. Wolf is predeceased by her husband, Siegbert Wolf. Ms. Wolf is survived by her loving sons; Ari (Lisa) Wolf and Barry Wolf; grandchildren, Eli Wolf, Andrew Wolf, Lauren Wolf. Graveside Services for Ms. Wolf were held at Ohev Shalom Cemetery with Cantor Jeffrey Weber officiating. Services entrusted to Beth Shalom Memorial...
Ms. Barbara Joan Wolpe, 76, of Altamonte Springs, Florida, died Tuesday Oct. 4, 2022, at Orlando Health following a brief illness. Ms. Wolpe was born Sept. 22, 1946, in Brooklyn, New York to the late Paul and Carol (Jacobs) Wolpe. Ms. Wolpe was a retired teacher. Ms. Wolpe is survived by her loving son, Paul (Jessica) Wolf of New York, New York. Graveside Services for Ms. Wolpe were held at Ohev Shalom Cemetery with Rabbi Arnold Siegel officiating. Services entrusted to Beth Shalom Memorial Chapel, 933 Lee Road, Suite 101, Orlando, Florida...
Mr. Don Kirschenblatt, 76, Poinciana, Florida, died Sunday, Sept. 18, 2022, at his home following a brief illness. Mr. Kirschenblatt was born Feb. 19, 1946, in Bronx, New York, to the late Abraham and Martha (Rosen) Kirschenblatt and moved to the Central Florida area in 2020 from Boynton Beach, Florida. Mr. Kirschenblatt is survived by his loving wife of 53 years, Sue (Bergman) Kirschenblatt of Poinciana, Florida; daughter, April (Joe) Nogas of Maitland, Florida; son, Chad (Amy) Kirschenblatt; grandchildren, Adam, Cole, Jordyn. The family...
Ms. Teri Travitsky, 74, of Altamonte Springs, died Monday, Sept. 19, 2022, at Advent Health Orlando following a brief illness. Ms. Travitsky was born Dec. 2, 1947 in Bronx, New York, to the late Leo and Jean (Mash) Brenner and moved to the Orlando area in 1979 from New York. Ms. Travitsky is survived by her loving children; Nicole Travitsky of Altamonte Springs, Florida, and Keith (Flory) Travitsky of Fort Lauderdale, Florida.; grandchildren, Aaron Travitsky of Altamonte Springs, Florida, and...
(JTA) - Mikhail Gorbachev, the Soviet leader whose reforms, including allowing massive numbers of Jews to emigrate to Israel, changed his country and the world, died at 91. Russian media said Gorbachev died Tuesday in a Moscow hospital. "Michail Gorbachev has died," Rabbi Pinchas Goldschmidt, Moscow's chief rabbi from 1993 until this year, said Tuesday on Twitter. "3 million Soviet Jews owe him their freedom." It was clear when Gorbachev rose to power in 1985 that he would be different from his...
On Sept. 16, 1945, Joseph Irwin Goldstein was born to Ralph and Ida (Greenberg) Goldstein in Charleston, South Carolina. A few years later the family, along with his sister, Marlene, moved to the College Park area of Orlando. Joe attended Edgewater High School and graduated in 1963. He went on to attend the University of Florida, Stetson Law School, and Rollins College. Joe was vice president and general counsel for Darden Restaurants and later, Signature Flight Support. He was a Board member...
Mrs. Sharon Ruth Ganz-Shafir, 71, of Hackettstown, New Jersey, formerly of Windermere, died Sunday Aug. 7, 2022, following a brief illness. Sharon was born Aug. 12, 1950, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to Milton and Irene (Belman) Lamin and she was a retired realtor. She is predeceased by her son, Scott Ganz Mrs. Ganz-Shafir is survived by her husband of 25 years, Semion Shafir of Hackettstown, New Jersey; daughters; Elvira (Larry) Rosenthal of Newton, New Jersey, Klara (Morgan) Sussman of Randolph, New Jersey, Elyse (Joe) Giuffre of Rockaway,...
