Central Florida's Independent Jewish Voice
Central Florida's Independent Jewish Voice
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The Rosen JCC in Dr. Phillips is excited to partner in these two new events for the Orlando community. USA Memory Championship The USA Memory Championship is an annual competition that takes place this year on Saturday, Oct. 23, noon, at the Rosen JCC, as a Town Square offering for the community. Designed to test the limits of the human brain, the USA Memory Championship is an organized competition in which Memory Athletes attempt at memorizing as much information as possible from names and faces, to cards, to random numbers. The Rosen JCC is...
The Jewish Genealogical Society of Greater Orlando is hosting a Zoom meeting on Oct. 26 at 7 p.m. about DNA and the surprises discovered through DNA testing. Put “DNA testing surprises” into your search engine, and you get almost 7 million results. A Pew Research Center survey in 2019 found that about 15 percent of U.S. adults have used a mail-in DNA testing service. Of those, about a quarter said they learned about close relatives they didn’t know they had — in other words, a DNA surprise. This program is about one of those surprises when a do...
Kenneth Hanson, professor and program director of Judaic Studies, was invested into the Tess and Abe Wise Endowed Professorship in Judaic Studies on Thursday, Sept. 30, in a virtual ceremony. The endowed faculty position, which was established thanks to generous gifts from Tess and Abe Wise and their family, recognizes Hanson's accomplishments and will allow him to advance his work and research. Hanson is an expert on the Dead Sea Scrolls and the co-editor of "The Annotated Passover Haggadah"...
Using history, Talmudic sources, Jewish mysticism, and contemporary expert analysis, the course addresses some of the niggling questions we grapple with as individuals and as a community. Why does antisemitism persist? How can we make hate go away? How can we counter Israel-focused antisemitism and prevent our own youth from unwittingly lending their voices to antisemitic agendas? "Many Jews are anxious about rising antisemitism today and worry about how to respond to it," Rabbi Mendy Bronstein...
The tree of life is a symbol of a fresh start on life, positive energy, good health and a bright future. It is a symbol of immortality and a symbol of growth and strength. A tree grows old, yet it bears seeds that contain its very essence and in this way, the tree becomes immortal. In 2019, the leadership of the Jewish Pavilion determined that they would like to add a Tree of Life to the office décor and worked with Joanne Fink of Zenspirations to design the tree. Fink's response was...
With the Delta variant still not allowing so many to join the holiday celebrations, the Majeskys of Chabad North Orlando found an innovative and fun way to bring Sukkot to them. Rabbi Yanky and Chanshy Majesky and their children, rode their "Sukkah on a Bike '' from door to door giving community members the chance to be in a sukkah and to do the mitzvah of Lulav and Esrog. "I was looking out the window and thought I was dreaming," said Jerry B. "There was a sukkah pulling into my driveway." For...
JFS Orlando is currently enrolling new households from Orange County, City of Orlando and Seminole County for its Family Stabilization Program. The Family Stabilization Program is a preventative, six-month case management program. The program is designed for families to obtain self-sufficiency by teaching them critical skills and tools to resolve crises and avoid future hardships while achieving long-term stability. The program’s primary objectives are to improve financial management skills, employability, family stability and mental health fun...
Local resident Sandi Solomon has been painting for many years. She had so many works of art that she displayed them on all the walls of her home. Now she has them on exhibit at JamArt Gallery, located at 304 Live Oaks Blvd., Casselberry. Solomon’s artwork will be on display through the month of October....
The year is 1144 and in England, a Christian boy was found dead in the woods with stab wounds. The Jews were accused of ritually murdering the boy and with this began the long ugly history of the Blood Libel. Though proven false time and time again, this lie reared its ugly head hundreds of times alleging that Jews would reenact the crucifixion every Easter or that they needed Christian blood for their Passover Matzah. Besides the obvious biblical commandment prohibiting murder, and the...
The Rosen JCC has an amazing fall planned. It will be filled with fun and excitement for the whole family. Miles to Go and the Rosen JCC: Your Town Square will be hosting the Good Ghoul Gala. The event will be at the Rosen Event center on Oct. 30th from 11a.m. – 3 p.m. This is a family friend, Halloween-themed day offering something for all ages. Guests can expect a spooky family fashion with surprise celebrity guests, Grammy nominated DJ, photo booth, games, shopping, trick or treating, H...
The Jewish Pavilion seeks to enhance the lives of our elders, of all faiths, in long-term care. They provide festive holiday programs and arrange friendly visits so that our aged know that they are not forgotten by the community. Their Orlando Senior Help Desk is their free resource that offers information and referrals to seniors and their family members 407-678-9363. Like many nonprofits, the Jewish Pavilion depends on its fundraising events for 1/3 of its budget, and some of these events have been cancelled due to the pandemic. You can help...
Dr. David Bortnick will explore the role of Florida’s Jews in the U.S. Civil War at a Zoom program of the St. Augustine Jewish Historical Society to be held, Tuesday, Oct.12, at 2:30 p.m. This event is open to the public, all are welcome, there is no charge and no advance arrangements need be made. Bortnick, who holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Florida State University and holds a doctorate degree in Marriage and Family Living and a second doctorate degree in Clinical Psychology, both from Nova Southeastern University has devot...
Shelley Wilson Lauten will be the interim chief executive officer at the Holocaust Center. Lauten has a long track record of distinguished leadership in our community and is ideally suited for this role at this time. She began this past Monday, Sept. 27. Lauten is a pillar of the Orlando philanthropic and business communities and an innovative thinker and strategist who has played an important role in developing Orlando as the center of business, culture and tourism it has become. Her...
The Rosen JCC is known for its Early Childhood Learning Center but there are always exciting new things happening. This fall the Healthy Kids Running Series is coming to the Rosen JCC. This is a five-week running program for kids 2 years old to 8th grade. It offers age appropriate running events including the 50 & 75 yard dash, the 1/4 mile, the 1/2 mile and 1 mile run. Children compete for points and at the end of the series those with the most points in their respective distances will be awarded trophies. All participants receive a medal on...
The lazy days of summer are over, and Temple Israel is bringing in the fall with both favorite and fresh activities for everyone. "Talking to the Tribe" virtual Q&A with community members on Zoom and "Nosh & Know" meet-ups in person with Rabbi Neely have been popular events that will continue every month or so. For children five and under, Tot Shabbat on the third Saturday of each month includes songs, stories, a Torah parade, blessings, and snacks. All are welcome, but please RSVP to...
On Friday, Sept. 10, students at Jewish Academy of Orlando observed Tashlich. While the younger grades attended a service on campus, grades 3-5 observed Tashlich at Lake Lily. The program, attended by students and their families, included a service with inspirational readings from Jewish sources and concluded with the blowing of the shofar. Afterwards, the students symbolically cast their sins into the water to help usher in new beginnings for the New Year. The student event concluded with a...
Jewish Academy of Orlando (JAO) announces Theresa Evans as executive director. Evans completes the leadership team of Amy Polacek, principal and Emily Watson, director of Jewish Life. As executive director, Theresa will have primary responsibility for the business operations of the school. This will include, financial and operations management, marketing, special events, fundraising and development efforts, and maintaining public and community relations. She will work side-by-side with JAO...
Losing a loved one can be very challenging and during the pandemic it has been even worse. Families are often unable to bury their loved ones or get together with friends and family for Shiva. While Zoom funerals and memorial services are better than nothing, they are not the same as in-person gatherings. While the rules have relaxed a bit lately, no one knows for certain what the new normal will be. The Jewish Pavilion is announcing their upcoming free grief support group, which will be held...
Shana Tova! Join Jewish Family Services of Greater Orlando (JFS Orlando) in celebrating the Jewish New Year by raising hope through tzedakah (charity). During the Hope Challenge, from September 1st through October 6th, $0.50 of each $1 donated to JFS Orlando will be generously matched by The Pearlman Family, with a total match up to $10,000. Your donation could...provide life-changing counseling to a child, help a family find stability, or drive a senior to a vital medical appointment. On...
The following synagogues provided information about their High Holiday services to the Heritage by press time. For information about services at other local synagogues, contact the individual congregations. For tickets or information, contact the individual synagogue. Chabad of Altamonte (Orthodox) Masks will be required at all services. Masks will be removed during Kiddush lunch. RSVPs are required. Rabbi Mendy Bronstein Chabad of Altamonte 195 S Westmonte Drive #1126 Altamonte Springs, Fl 32701 www.jewishaltamonte.com Wed. Sept. 15, Erev Yom...
Southwest Orlando Jewish Congregation has a new student rabbi: Rabbi David Chapman, who will soon be entering his final year at the Jewish Theological Seminary. Rabbi Chapman’s journey to SOJC has a surprising starting point. Before he became a “professional Jew,” as he puts it, he had a successful career in theatre. “I worked as an assistant director on and off Broadway,” says Rabbi Chapman. “My first Broadway show was The Addams Family musical with Nathan Lane and Bebe Neuwirth. One of my favorite projects was producing PEW-ish, a night of...
Jewish Family Services of Greater Orlando (JFS Orlando) and Central Florida Hillel are proud to announce a new partnership to better meet the needs of UCF students. Hillel is the center for Jewish life on the UCF campus, a home away from home for many students who see the community as their extended family. As such, in the last couple of years, Hillel has seen first-hand a significant increase in students seeking mental health counseling. Although students were referred out to the campus counseling center, Hillel saw a need for more...
Jewish Academy of Orlando has extended recess for all grades back to 45 minutes. In addition to extended recess time, lunch for all grades is 30 minutes, and a mid-morning break of 15 minutes is included in the daily schedule. In recent years, many schools have lessened the amount of time that students spend in free play. In fact, experts find that the decrease may be significantly impacting the social and emotional development of our children. Comparatively speaking, recess only became...
The Maitland Public Library was awarded a $900 grant from the Florida Humanities Council in support of a Florida Talks Speaker Series titled Calling Our Culture. This series will bring three high-quality humanities programs to Maitland in September, including Jews of Florida: Centuries of Stories, with a discussion led by Marcia Jo Zerivitz. These programs will explore our state’s rich heritage, promote civic engagement, and bring the latest academic research to our community. Funding for this program was provided by Florida Humanities and s...
The following synagogues provided information about their High Holiday services to the Heritage by press time. For information about services at other local synagogues, contact the individual congregations. For tickets or information, contact the individual synagogue. Chabad of Altamonte (Orthodox) Masks will be required at all services. Masks will be removed during Kid-dush lunch. RSVPs are required. Rabbi Mendy Bronstein Chabad of Altamonte 195 S Westmonte Drive #1126 Altamonte Springs, Fl 32701 www.jewishaltamonte.com Mon. Sept. 6, Erev...
