Central Florida's Independent Jewish Voice
Central Florida's Independent Jewish Voice
Sorted by date Results 1542 - 1566 of 1920
Democratic and Republican lawmakers are vowing to challenge a limit on U.S. defense aid for Israel that President Barack Obama included in the recently signed Memorandum of Understanding between the two nations. The agreement—reached in September—guarantees Israel $38 billion in aid over 10 years, but it also states that if Congress increases the aid, Israel is obliged to return the extra funds. U.S. Reps. Paul Gosar (R-Texas), Randy Weber (R-Ariz.), and Eliot Engel (D-N.Y.) said Tuesday at Agudath Israel of America’s annual legislative lunch... Full story
WASHINGTON (JTA)-Add sweeping school reforms-and with them, funding for private schools that Orthodox groups embrace and secular Jewish groups fear-to the campaign promises that Donald Trump plans to fulfill. Last week, just before Thanksgiving, the president-elect named Betsy DeVos, a billionaire education reform activist and champion of charter schools and public funding for private schooling, as his education secretary. As leader of the American Federation for Children, a group that promotes... Full story
(JTA)-The upset victory by Donald Trump in the 2016 elections stunned a Jewish activist and leadership class that is at times as divided as the electorate at large. JTA asked some of those leaders to describe their concerns and expectations in a series of brief essays, "Worst fears, best hopes." Nancy Kaufman CEO, National Council of Jewish Women As progressive Jewish women, our hope is that as President-elect Donald Trump realizes the gravity of his new role in the U.S. and the world, he will... Full story
How many exceptional young Jewish students do you know? Probably quite a few! Here is your chance to acknowledge the outstanding efforts and character of the amazing young people in your life. The American Hebrew Academy Honor Society is now accepting applications for 2017. This is a prestigious organization that recognizes exceptional Jewish eighth and ninth graders from around the world who have demonstrated excellence in academics, leadership, community service, and character. Students accepted to the Honor Society will receive press... Full story
WASHINGTON (JTA)-The most shocking thing about talk of Keith Ellison's Israel record as he rises within the Democratic Party is how few think it's shocking. Rep. Ellison, D-Minn., is a leading contender for the chairmanship of the Democratic National Committee, despite a record of tough criticism of Israel that pro-Israel insiders say would easily have disqualified him a decade ago. That he is being seriously considered now-and with the backing of the party's foremost pro-Israel stalwart,... Full story
The ISRAEL21c Digital Ambassadors is a program for English-speaking, vibrant college, graduate and post-college students, aged 18-25, from North America, who wish to learn about the intricacies and strategies of social media while “doing something for Israel.” The activities are apolitical and require about 2-3 hours per week. Members of the ISRAEL21c Digital Ambassadors program receive a small monthly stipend and lots of learning during the internship. Work is done on the member’s own computer or device, and within their own schedule. For m... Full story
NEW YORK (JTA)—Thirty years ago, it would have been safe to say the American Jewish community agreed on the need to fight for Israel and against anti-Semitism. It may still be true that most American Jews support those causes. But now, apparently, some people aren’t so sure what either of those things mean. One Jew’s support of Israel is another’s attack on the Jewish state. And as we’ve seen this week, one Jew’s condemnation of an alleged promoter of anti-Semitism is another’s smear on a purported defender of the Jews. Nowhere did this emer... Full story
(JTA)—President-elect Donald Trump has a complicated history with Jews. On the one hand, his daughter Ivanka converted to Orthodox Judaism before marrying Jared Kushner, and he’s spoken fondly about having Jewish grandchildren. On the other, some of Trump’s supporters identify with anti-Semitic elements of the alt-right movement. On Sunday, Trump appointed Stephen Bannon—the former chairman of Breitbart News, a conservative news site—as his chief strategist in a move that sparked swift criticism from the Anti-Defamation League. Still, Tr... Full story
WASHINGTON (JTA)—Criminal penalties for boycotting Israel would be extended to companies complying with the BDS movement, including the boycott of West Bank settlements, under a bipartisan bill introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives. Reps. Pete Roskam, R-Ill., and Juan Vargas, D-Calif., introduced the bill Monday. The measure is a companion to one introduced in the Senate in September by Sens. Rob Portman, R-Ohio, and Ben Cardin, D-Md., called the “Protecting Israel Against Discrimination Act.” The House bill amends language in bills... Full story
President-elect Donald Trump assisted the Israeli government to establish infrastructure for new communities for Israelis being evacuated from the settlements in the Sinai in the1980s and from Gaza in 2005, Yedioth Ahronoth has learned. Sinai was evacuated as part of a peace agreement between Israel and Egypt which Gush Katif in Gaza was done so at the behest of former Prime Minister Ariel Sharon in a unilateral withdrawal. According to various estimations, Trump’s financial donations amounted to millions of shekels. The high costs of evacuatin... Full story
(JTA)—The upset victory by Donald Trump in the 2016 elections stunned a Jewish activist and leadership class that is at times as divided as the electorate at large. JTA asked some of those leaders to describe their concerns and expectations in a series of brief essays titled “Worst fears, best hopes.” David Bernstein President/CEO, Jewish Council for Public Affairs Our fears are that some of the troubling views Donald Trump stated in the campaign are not just rhetoric but a blueprint for running the country. Our fears are that the new presi... Full story
(JTA)-For years, whenever Jews and Muslims engaged in dialogue and activism, it usually concerned one issue: the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. With Donald Trump's ascent to the presidency, that appears to be changing. Regardless of what's happening across the ocean, Jews and Muslims in the United States are joining together to fight for shared domestic concerns. "It is a perhaps growing recognition that [the Israeli-Palestinian conflict] cannot define how American Jews and American Muslims... Full story
WASHINGTON (JTA)—Enforce the Iran deal. Violate the Iran deal. Leave it to Congress. Do nothing. President-elect Donald Trump has an array of options before him when he assumes the presidency on Jan. 21, according to supporters and opponents of the deal. Reached last year between Iran and six major powers led by the United States, the agreement rolled back Iran’s nuclear program in exchange for sanctions relief. The open question—as are so many questions about Trump’s intentions—is what does the next leader of the free world want to do? His p... Full story
WASHINGTON (JTA)-Offer an open hand or a closed fist-or maybe both. Name names. Don't name names, hint. Quietly adjust wording. Welcome to the second week of the World of Trump, Jewish organizational edition. Week 1 was fraught enough, with Jewish statements marking Donald Trump's surprise election ranging from the confrontational to "it's a new day" accommodation. Then President-elect Trump named Stephen Bannon as his chief strategist. The appointment of Bannon, formerly the CEO of Breitbart, t... Full story
WASHINGTON (JTA)-Donald Trump will be the next U.S. president, having swept to victory in at least 29 states with 288 electoral votes and jolted a Jewish community made increasingly anxious as his rough-edged nativist rhetoric emboldened the far right and amplified a strain of anti-Semitic invective not heard in decades. Trump called on all Americans to "heal the wounds of our nation" and "come together as one united people" in his victory speech shortly before 3 a.m. Wednesday at the New York... Full story
WASHINGTON (JTA)-The top official of the Republican Jewish Coalition said the Anti-Defamation League had potentially compromised itself with its criticism of President-elect Donald Trump's words and actions during the campaign. The attack by the RJC on the venerated Jewish civil rights group-and an implied warning of more to come-signaled fraught times ahead for the more liberal precincts of the American Jewish community as they seek to establish ties with the nascent Trump administration.... Full story
WASHINGTON-Although it will be some time before President-elect Donald Trump names the members of his cabinet, the four individuals most often mentioned as contenders for the administration's top foreign policy post all have strong pro-Israel records. Trump himself once floated the name of John Bolton for secretary of state. Asked on the "Hugh Hewitt Show" radio program in August whom he might consider for the position, Trump replied that Bolton "is a good man" and that he was "seriously... Full story
Election night brought mixed results for Jewish politicians vying for seats in Congress. In the House of Representatives, the Jewish delegation saw its best results, increasing representation from 19 to 22 seats, including the election of a rare Jewish Republican. But in the Senate, some Jewish contenders fared poorly, with defeats in two major seats that could have helped shift the balance of power from Republican to Democrat in the upper chamber. In the House of Representatives, several... Full story
The following statement was released by Rabbis Marvin Hier and Abraham Cooper, Dean and Founder and Associate Dean of the Simon Wiesenthal Center on the election of Donald Trump “The Simon Wiesenthal Center, a leading Jewish human rights NGO joins with all other Americans in congratulating Donald Trump on his election to be the next President of the United States. We are buoyed by Donald Trump’s unambiguous commitment to a strong and safe democratic Israel and his recognition of Jerusalem as its eternal and undivided capital. We look for... Full story
Following the election of Mr. Donald Trump and Governor Mike Pence to the Presidency and Vice Presidency of the United States, Rabbi David Zwiebel, Agudath Israel’s executive vice president, issued the following statement of congratulations: Agudath Israel of America congratulates Mr. Trump and Governor Pence on their historic victory in yesterday’s election. We offer them our most sincere wishes and heartfelt prayers for success. We have always enjoyed close working relationships with the White House, irrespective of which political party hap... Full story
“As a supporter of Secretary Clinton, I feel its important to state its our duty as Jews & Americans to pray for President-Elect Trump and his success-may he merit divine inspiration & bring together our nation. Elections are sacred & the moment its over we are united under the leadership of the President- elect.” Ezra Friedlander CEO, The Friedlander Group... Full story
The Blue Card, a national nonprofit organization dedicated to aiding Holocaust survivors in the United States, is hoping to spread awareness of the many living survivors who are still in need of help. As the anniversary of Kristallnacht, “The Night of Broken Glass,” came on November 9 to 10, it should be noted that of the approximately 100,000 Holocaust survivors living in the United States today, around one-third live at or below the poverty line. It is estimated that 61 percent of the Holocaust survivors living at the poverty line live on... Full story
JERUSALEM (JTA)—Donald Trump’s campaign debuted a video at a Republican event in Jerusalem linking the “honor and respect” for Jewish values the candidate says he learns from his family to his support for Israel. The one-minute video aired Wednesday (Oct. 26) night at a Republicans Overseas Israel event on the rooftop of the Harp of David restaurant overlooking the Western Wall and Temple Mount in the Old City. “For me, respect and reverence for Judaism is personal. My daughter Ivanka and my son-in-law Jared are raising their children... Full story
By Sean Savage JNS.org With only a few weeks remaining before the presidential election, and the start of early voting in most states, Jewish voters may still be weighing their decisions. Over the last year, Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton and Republican nominee Donald Trump have actively courted the Jewish and pro-Israel vote, especially as they seek to firm up support in key battleground states such as Florida, Ohio and Pennsylvania—all home to large Jewish communities. How each candidate would support and strengthen the special U... Full story
(JTA)-Hillary Clinton has been reticent about making Iran a major issue throughout the campaign: It's a hard straddle for her between her skepticism of the nuclear deal reached last year and honoring the legacy of President Barack Obama. (Her running mate, Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., was a prominent backer of the deal, and in a rare tonal differentiation from Clinton, has emphasized the deal as a win.) Yet she was the first to mention Iran in the final debate on the University of Nevada, Las Vegas... Full story
