Central Florida's Independent Jewish Voice
Central Florida's Independent Jewish Voice
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Jill Goldsmith and her friendly seamstresses made and delivered many bags of facemasks to the Jewish Pavilion to be distributed to seniors in elder-care communities....
With great excitement, The Roth Family JCC CEO, Keith Dvorchik announced that the JCC will begin a step-by-step reopening on Monday, June 1. “We extend a heartfelt thank you to everybody who was able to help support us during the past two months while we were closed,” Dvorchik said in an email to JCC members. Here is the plan: • The Richard S. Adler Early Childhood Learning Center will reopen on Monday, June 1, with smaller class sizes and ratios. If you plan for your child to return on June 1, please read the important information on the E...
Lag B'Omer, a minor Jewish holiday, is traditionally celebrated with major fanfare. Parades, picnics, bonfires, music and displays of Jewish pride mark the occasion that falls 25 days after the end of Pesach, on the 33rd day of the Omer count. It commemorates the miraculous ending of an epidemic that killed 24,000 students of Rabbi Akiva in the second century. It is also the anniversary of the passing of one of Rabbi Akiva's foremost students, Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai, also known as the Rashbi, t...
RAISE, Recognizing Abilities & Inclusion of Special Employees, has some heartwarming and uplifting updates to share, Rachel Slavkin, RAISE director of Employment and Education, told the Heritage. First, RAISE was featured as a Community Champion on WESH Channel 2 news in January. Even though COVID-19 forced the employees to leave their job positions in March, the team is working remotely and continue to teach social skills through weekly Lunch and Learn session held via Zoom. “We are also reconnecting with many of our alumni as we have had a v...
Heritage Florida Jewish News is accepting nominations for the 2020 Heritage Human Service Award, which will be presented at the annual meeting of the Jewish Federation of Greater Orlando in August. “For more than 30 years, individuals who have made major, voluntary contributions of their talent, time, energy and effort to the Central Florida community have been honored with the selection and presentation of this award,” said Jeff Gaeser, editor and publisher of the Heritage. Last year’s recipient was Dick Weiner. Former recipients have inclu...
Due to the new US tax deadline and school closures during COVID-19, the application deadline for the 2020 Kobrin Family Scholarship has been extended to July 15. The scholarship is available to a qualified, full-time student of the Jewish faith from Orange, Osceola or Seminole County who will be attending the University of Central Florida. The scholarship is available in the amount of $2,500 per year for a maximum of four (4) years. The student must maintain a 3.1 GPA (based on a 4.0 scale) each year in order to remain qualified for the...
Experts from the company’s RosenCare healthcare program partnered with a task force and created a comprehensive plan that applies specifically to the Rosen Hotels’ eight Orlando hotels. The COVID-19 Response Plan incorporates all of the successful learnings of RosenCare to elevate the company’s already superior level of hygiene and cleanliness to ensure the safety and wellbeing of its hotel guests and associates. The Rosen task force includes Dr. Ronald Ryan, the 7-year medical director of the Rosen Medical Center, as advisor. Led by Jonat...
Jewish Academy of Orlando (JAO) continues to promote positive education remotely as part of the school's core value of teaching to the whole child. Positive education combines traditional education with positive psychology, which is the scientific study of well-being. There are 24 character strengths which are the backbone of positive psychology, and this year the school these strengths to the students to build a common language of appreciating strengths in themselves and in others. JAO is...
Many graduating seniors will not be able to observe their graduations at graduation ceremonies this year because of the coronavirus. Heritage would like to recognize all high school graduates in the paper. If there is a graduating student in your household, please consider sending Heritage a photo, name of student, high school (or college) attended, and if you’d like, also include their future plans. Information and photos can be emailed to news@orlandoheritage.com. The deadline for submissions is June 3....
Like other nonprofits, the Jewish Pavilion has moved to virtual meetings on Zoom. However, not everything can be discussed in a stilted format. The leadership of the Friends of the Jewish Pavilion met in the parking lot to discuss fundraising plans for 2020-21. Infectious disease specialist Dr. Lee Adler established healthy protocols for "organizing outside." He also served as the photographer for this masked meeting. Pictured are the Friends leadership ladies sitting on their own chairs...
The Jewish Pavilion's main goal is to help our seniors stay connected to their culture. No one wants to be left behind and we have always helped our seniors by going to them. We are approaching almost two months in some facilities where we have not been able to go and visit our seniors. And just like everyone else we have had to adjust, get creative, and find new ways to stay in contact with our seniors. From the beginning we started writing to our seniors and reached out to the community to...
When our community and society were faced with the life-changing challenge of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Jewish Federation of Greater Orlando stepped up to fill the void brought on by the loss of our normal active lives. At the onset of the pandemic, the Federation rose to the occasion to bring the essence of Passover into everyone’s homes and hearts—this included a beautiful virtual Women’s Passover Seder hosted by Cantor Jackie Rawiszer, attended by more than 100 women; and a community virtual Seder for first night of Passover, hosted by Ya...
On May 1st, Yael Diamond of Winter Park received a commission as an officer in the United States Army. Due to social distancing the ceremony took place at the Orlando Veterans Memorial Park online via Zoom conference. Diamond attended the Hebrew Day School (now the Jewish Academy of Orlando), Winter Park High School and on May 2nd graduated from the University of Florida. She earned bachelor's degrees in both International Studies with a Middle East emphasis and Political Science. At UF,...
Heritage Florida Jewish News is accepting nominations for the 2020 Heritage Human Service Award, which will be presented at the annual meeting of the Jewish Federation of Greater Orlando in August. “For more than 30 years, individuals who have made major, voluntary contributions of their talent, time, energy and effort to the Central Florida community have been honored with the selection and presentation of this award,” said Jeff Gaeser, editor and publisher of the Heritage. Last year’s recipient was Dick Weiner. Former recipients have inclu...
Jewish Academy of Orlando teachers are superheroes. During Teacher Appreciation Week, teachers were celebrated with yard signs. Here is a peek of some of JAO's beloved teachers. Jewish Academy of Orlando serves central Florida students of all faiths from transitional kindergarten through fifth grade. The school delivers a whole-child education fostering academic excellence and character education rooted in Jewish values. Jewish Academy of Orlando is accredited by the Florida Council of...
Not even a lockdown could stop the campaign of Lynn Dictor, known by her radio listeners as Moira, a first-time candidate for Seminole County Tax Collector. Dictor, a Democrat, always intended to qualify by petition for her spot on the November 2020 ballot. But shelter-in-place orders prohibited Dictor and her field team from attending any gathering of Seminole County voters to complete the petition drive. Dictor needed 3,037 Seminole County registered voters to sign her ballot petitions by the...
Thanks to the community’s generous contributions, Jewish Family Services of Greater Orlando collected $18,742 and 4,930 lbs. of food in this year’s Restock Challenge. With every $1 and pound of food matched $0.50 by The Weiner Family and The Winter Park Wealth Group, JFS surpassed their $10,000 match goal and therefore raised a grand total of $28,742. Although due to COVID-19 JFS could no longer collect food donations two weeks into the drive, donors “stepped up to the challenge” by giving monetary donations. These donations made a big impact...
Marc Homburger Jacobs, son of Brad Jacobs and Eve Homburger, has just earned the rank of Eagle Scout, completing his Board of Review via video conference. Since Marc's Boy Scout Troop 641 meets at The Roth Family JCC, he knew he wanted to give something back to this agency. Marc's Eagle Scout Project was to beautify and refresh the exterior of The Roth Family JCC pool's outdoor changing area. Keith Dvorchik, JCC CEO, was the Project beneficiary. Marc would like to thank everybody who supported...
The shut down hasn’t slowed The Jewish Federation one bit. Here are a few examples of what is going on in the community: • The Jewish Academy of Orlando’s online school has been outstanding. The curriculum, the teacher interaction, and the special exercise programs throughout the week are providing students with a quality education along with fitness and fun. • The Federation’s RAISE continues to thrive, with employees attending weekly Lunch & Learn social skills and work training classes. The first RAISE Family Reunion was held online, a...
The COVID-19 isn’t slowing down JOIN Orlando’s programming as it is continuing to build its virtual offerings with four new programs to continue your Jewish journey together with them. JOIN Meaningful Moment—On Fridays, enjoy a practical and meaningful insight into a Jewish concept, Weekly Torah Portion, upcoming Jewish Holiday, or important core Jewish Value. The J.MM. will feature one of the JOIN educators or a guest. Weekly SPARK—Thursday nights, 7:30 p.m., Sarah and Shifra will be leading an amazing array of women’s discussions, classes,...
Margie had been wondering if there was a shelter-at-home order in her county. She didn't really use the computer very much, but her daughter had recommended she look at the Orlando Senior Help Desk's website when she was looking for some assistance for her husband who had recently been ill. She remembered how easy it was. She went to www.orlandoseniorhelpdesk.org, and right there on the front of the site was an area saying "COVID-19 Coronavirus" with a big easy button saying "Information." She...
Heritage Florida Jewish News is accepting nominations for the 2020 Heritage Human Service Award, which will be presented at the annual meeting of the Jewish Federation of Greater Orlando in August. “For more than 30 years, individuals who have made major, voluntary contributions of their talent, time, energy and effort to the Central Florida community have been honored with the selection and presentation of this award,” said Jeff Gaeser, editor and publisher of the Heritage. Last year’s recipient was Dick Weiner. Former recipients have inclu...
Heritage Florida Jewish News is accepting nominations for the 2020 Heritage Human Service Award, which will be presented at the annual meeting of the Jewish Federation of Greater Orlando in August. “For more than 30 years, individuals who have made major, voluntary contributions of their talent, time, energy and effort to the Central Florida community have been honored with the selection and presentation of this award,” said Jeff Gaeser, editor and publisher of the Heritage. Last year’s recipient was Dick Weiner. Former recipients have inclu...
“These are interesting times, with things changing on a daily basis and so much more that is unknown than is known,” said Keith Dvorchik, CEO of The Roth Family JCC as he shared some things the JCC is working on. Getting back to work slowly The Roth Family JCC has received Paycheck Protection Program funding and because of this, they can bring back the staff in a “strategic fashion,” according to Dvorchik. On April 27, the ECLC supervisors, JCC department directors and accounting staff remotely went back to work. On Monday, May 4, the majorit...
Jewish Academy of Orlando observed its annual Holocaust remembrance day remotely. Fourth and fifth grade students participated in a morning of music, prayer, and remembrance. Head of School Alan Rusonik said, "It was important to us to deliver a developmentally appropriate program that was meaningful to our students." The morning began with, "Eli, Eli," a song based on the poem written by Holocaust hero, Hannah Senesh. Fourth grade parent, Heidi Zissman stated, "I appreciated that the program...
