Central Florida's Independent Jewish Voice
Central Florida's Independent Jewish Voice
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On Aug. 4, Sen. Bill Nelson (Dem., Fla.) announced his decision on the Iranian nuclear agreement. The following are excerpt from his speech. "Unless there is an unexpected change in conditions and facts before the vote is called in September, I will support the nuclear agreement between Iran and the P5+1 (U.S., France, U.K., Russia, China, Germany) because I am convinced it will stop Iran from developing a nuclear weapon for at least the next 10 to 15 years. No other available alternative... Full story
WASHINGTON (JTA)-Three top Jewish Democrats in the U.S. House of Representatives came out in opposition to the Iran nuclear deal. Reps. Nita Lowey and Steve Israel, both of New York, and Ted Deutch of Florida announced their opposition on Tuesday afternoon. Lowey is the senior Democrat on the House Appropriations Committee; Deutch is the top Democrat on the House Middle East subcommittee; and Israel until last year led the House Democratic reelection effort. They are the first leading Democrats... Full story
WASHINGTON (JTA)-Congress has until mid- to late September to consider whether to reject the nuclear restrictions for the sanctions rollback deal reached by Iran and six major powers on July 14. Some of the debate is over the meaning of certain provisions in the accord. Here's a breakdown of differences in how the sides interpret parts of the deal. The 24 days All sides agree that the deal has a rigorous inspections regime for Iran's known sites: "24/7" scrutiny, as President Barack Obama has... Full story
Jewish Agency pulling out of Israel-world Jewry initiative (JTA)—The Jewish Agency for Israel will pull out of a large-scale initiative launched two years ago to connect Diaspora Jewry with Israel. In a letter Aug. 6 to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu obtained by JTA, Natan Sharansky and Charles Ratner—the chairman and board chairman, respectively, of the Jewish Agency—wrote that their organization would stop cooperating in the project known as the Joint Initiative of the Government of Israel and World Jewry. The initiative’s goal wa... Full story
CAIRO (JTA)-It's been a particularly challenging summer for Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El Sisi. Within one week in late June and early July, his attorney general was assassinated in the upscale Cairo suburb of Heliopolis and an Islamic State affiliate launched a two-day siege in the North Sinai town of Sheikh Zuweid. But just days after the bloody Sinai battle, Sisi put aside two hours to meet with a delegation from the American Jewish Committee, the global Jewish advocacy group, and then... Full story
By Uriel Heilman NEW YORK (JTA)-There have been three major polls of American Jews since the announcement of the nuclear deal between world powers and Iran-by the L.A. Jewish Journal, The Israel Project and J Street-all with significantly different results. Two show U.S. Jewish support for the Iran nuclear deal outpacing opposition to the deal by 20 percentage points: 48-28 according to the Jewish Journal, and 60-40 according to J Street. The Israel Project survey showed slightly more... Full story
WASHINGTON (JTA)-President Barack Obama will not alter the terms of Jonathan Pollard's parole once he is released, a signal that Israel's struggle to bring him to the country whose citizenship he has assumed will outlast his November release date. "Mr. Pollard will serve his sentence as mandated by statute for the very serious crimes he committed," Alistair Baskey, a National Security Council spokesman, said in a statement emailed to JTA. "The president has no intention of altering the terms of... Full story
TEL AVIV (JTA)-Few communities were as battered during last summer's conflict between Israel and Hamas as Nahal Oz, a kibbutz of some 350 people located just a mile from the Gaza border. At one point in the fighting, 40 missiles landed on the community in a single day. Hamas militants attempting to infiltrate the kibbutz through a tunnel killed five Israeli soldiers. For much of the war, families with young children were evacuated to other communities far from the fighting. And just four days... Full story
TEL AVIV (JTA)—The murder of a 16-year old girl at Jerusalem’s gay pride parade has sparked calls for LGBT-rights legislation—as well as pushback from those who oppose it. Shira Banki died Sunday after being stabbed while marching in the parade on Thursday night. Five others were wounded in the stabbing. “It never crossed our mind that Shira would be murdered as a symbol,” her parents said in a eulogy Monday, according to a copy of the text on the Israeli news site Ynet. “An unnecessary death of a young girl, innocent and full of good intent...
Key Democrat Adam Schiff, ex-Rep. Barney Frank back Iran nuclear deal WASHINGTON (JTA)—Rep. Adam Schiff, a key Democrat in the political battle over the Iran nuclear deal, is backing the agreement, as is a former senior Jewish lawmaker, Rep. Barney Frank. In a statement Monday, Schiff, of California, outlined what he saw as the pluses of the sanctions relief for nuclear restrictions deal, including intrusive inspections and the ability to reimpose sanctions should Iran violate the deal, and its drawbacks, including limited access to military s... Full story
By Deborah Fineblum Schabb JNS.org What weighs 400 pounds, is necessary for the establishment of the Third Temple, hasn't been seen in 2,000 years, and is completely red? If you guessed "para aduma," or the red heifer, give yourself a hand. And keep your eyes on Israel's Negev desert. That's because by this time next year, if a team of rabbis, activists, and a dairy farmer have their way, you may find there a candidate-or even more than one-qualified to perform a key function in the greatly... Full story
Jewish women representing and supporting the pluralistic prayer group Women of the Wall gathered at the Kotel on Rosh Chodesh Friday morning, July 17. However, cries of disapproval from the religious community overpowered their service. "We want to abolish the discriminatory regulations that are preventing women from praying freely at the Western Wall," said Shira Pruce, director of public relations for the group. "That means allowing women access to Sefer Torah that will sit here," she added,... Full story
TEL AVIV (JTA)—When the United States frees convicted spy Jonathan Pollard in November, many in Israel will celebrate the moment for which they have fought and hoped. What Pollard’s release won’t do, officials and analysts say, is make most Israelis feel any better about the nuclear deal with Iran. Pollard, who was convicted in 1985 of sending classified information to Israel while working at the U.S. Department of Defense, will be released on parole in November, The Associated Press report Tuesday. A report last Friday in The Wall Stree... Full story
In historic acquisition, Israel’s Teva to pay $40.5B for Allergan generics JERUSALEM (JTA)—Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. will buy Allergan’s generic drug unit for $40.5 billion in what is believed to be the largest acquisition by an Israeli company. Both companies announced the transaction on Monday. The deal, in cash and stock, will close in the first quarter of 2016, according to Teva, and bolster the Jerusalem-based firm’s standing as the largest generic drug company in the world. The acquisition will “provide patients and consumers... Full story
NEW YORK (JTA)-Fewer than 800 miles from our shores, a deeply disturbing crisis is unfolding as tens of thousands of citizens of the Dominican Republic face deportation from their country simply because of their heritage. Tragically, people of Haitian descent who were born in the Dominican Republic have been stripped of their rights and their citizenship, and are living in a state of legal limbo. These people are not all recent immigrants, as the Dominican government would have you believe, but come from families that have been living in the... Full story
TEL AVIV (JTA)-Professional lacrosse player Chase Clark was told that there are three keys to survival in Israel: Realize that everyone else thinks their time is more important than yours, avoid the crazy drivers while crossing the road and enjoy yourself as much as possible. Before this week, Clark had never been to the Jewish state. But on Monday, the Grand Junction, Colorado, resident moved there-with big plans to play for the country's national indoor lacrosse team. "I found out later in... Full story
WJC president urges Krakow museum to pull offensive video exhibition World Jewish Congress (WJC) President Ronald S. Lauder today criticized the Museum of Contemporary Art in Krakow (MOCAK), Poland for reinstating an art installation that features a video of naked men and women playing tag in a gas chamber. Lauder said: “Despite the protestations of Shoah survivors and many others, Jews and non-Jews alike, the museum continues to show an exhibit that hurts many people’s feelings. We urge the MOCAK to immediately remove this exhibit.” He went... Full story
JERUSALEM (JTA)-Israel's religious services minister said in a radio interview that Reform Jews cannot be considered Jews. "A Reform Jew, from the moment he stops following Jewish law, I cannot allow myself to say that he is a Jew," David Azoulay, of the Sephardic Orthodox Shas party, said Tuesday morning, July 7, on Army Radio. "These are Jews that have lost their way, and we must ensure that every Jew returns to the fold of Judaism, and accept everyone with love and joy." Azoulay spoke with... Full story
NEW YORK—July 09, 2015—Rabbi Steve A. Fox, Chief Executive of The Central Conference of American Rabbis (CCAR), the official rabbinic leadership organization of the Reform Judaism Movement, released the following statement in response to the recent disparaging remarks about Reform Jews by Israel’s Religious Services Minister David Azoulay: “Minister Azoulay must apologize for his comments, which are offensive to millions of American Jews. Reform Judaism is deeply rooted in Jewish history, tracing its origins to more than 200 years ago, beginni... Full story
Mikvah-peeping rabbi appeals prison sentence (JTA)—Rabbi Barry Freundel is appealing the length of his prison sentence for filming women nude at a ritual bath. Freundel, who was sentenced in May to 6 1/2 years for videotaping dozens of women at a Washington, D.C., mikvah, is arguing that he should have been sentenced to no more than one year in prison, the Washington Post reported last Friday. A hearing on the appeal will be held in Washington Superior Court on July 31. Freundel, 63, was given 45 days for each of the 52 counts of misdemeanor v... Full story
ATHENS, Greece (JTA)-For 55 needy Jewish families, a cash welfare payment is the only thing that gets them through the month. But when they came to the Athens Jewish Community last week for their July assistance, they were given only a portion of the payment in cash-the rest was in supermarket food coupons. "We just don't have cash and we can't get anymore, the banks are closed," said Taly Mair, the community director who oversees the welfare program. "We hope to make the rest up to them... Full story
(JTA)-Israeli consumers are no strangers to high prices. Basic household goods like food and toiletries cost more in Israel than in all but two countries in Europe, a recent Nielsen research study found. Israeli real estate prices are up nearly 60 percent since 2008. Tel Aviv is the world's third-most expensive city in which to buy beer, and furniture prices at IKEA Israel are more than double those at IKEA Norway, recent surveys have shown. Now Israeli consumers are worried about high natural... Full story
PARIS (JTA) – Elsewhere in the world, unveiling plans for a new Jewish cultural center might merit little more than a cocktail reception. But in this city, where Jews have been the target of rising anti-Semitic violence, the event was significantly more elaborate, with French Jewish leaders touting the blueprints as proof of the community's viability and the government's support for its survival. The $11 million center, which is slated to open in 2017, will house a large synagogue, two e... Full story
NEW YORK-Jewish National Fund (JNF) announced that it has created the new $100 million JNF Boruchin Israel Education Advocacy Center to focus on Israel and Zionist educational programming, designed to be one of the most powerful new initiatives in the Jewish world. The JNF Boruchin Israel Education Advocacy Center will concentrate its resources on advocating for Israel, Israel education in the Diaspora, and countering the BDS movement, all with the goal of strengthening the connection of all Ame... Full story
For the past three years Rabbi Noach Majesky, brother of Rabbi Yanky Majesky, has been the cantor at Chabad of North Orlando during the High Holidays. This year and for many years hereafter, Rabbi Noach will lead the High Holiday as well as all the services in Accra, Ghana. He and his wife, Alti and three children will be moving this summer from Crown Heights, N.Y., to establish a new Chabad Center to serve the needs of the local Jewish community and tourists. The establishment of Chabad in... Full story
