407-645-5933 ext. 236 marisa.west@shalomorlando.org

Keith in Israel: November 13, 2022

The trip ended on Sunday.  The entire day was focused on how to end and wrap up this experience while ensuring the journey continues.  And it was AWESOME.  There was a great session in which the funding for Momentum was explained and one of the men on the trip offered...

read more

Keith in Israel: November 11 and 12, 2022

Shabbat.  What a great concept that seems so difficult to take advantage of.  25 hours of complete disconnect, rest, and enjoyment.  For some reason, we struggle with it.  Yet in Israel, it becomes second nature. We began Friday by walking to the Great Synagogue. ...

read more

Keith in Israel: November 9, 2022

Wow, what a day.  Jerusalem is an amazing place to be and today was long and full.  We began the day by going to Yad Vashem, Israel’s Holocaust Museum.  Yad Vashem means ‘hand and name’.  It’s a place that is all about putting names to the victims of the...

read more

Get To Know Your Soul’s Cycles

We’ve reached an important milestone in my house: the traditional choice of a Bar Mitzvah date. I awaited this event with a great deal of excitement. It was a sign that my son was getting older and it was the first step in the Bar Mitzvah itself. And it brought back...

read more

Homework Time is Family Time

When my son started kindergarten, I envisioned all the wonderful elementary school experiences he would have including a 5th grade year full of celebrations. I never imagined that he would finish his elementary school years taking his classes online as we continue to...

read more

Embracing the Chaos

In summer 2019, I attended the Paradigm Project conference in Chicago. A three-day immersive learning experience for Jewish Early Childhood Educators. There were a multitude of workshops throughout the week, some more memorable than others. One of the sessions I...

read more

After Pittsburgh, an opportunity to heal

From the moment the news from Pittsburgh broke Saturday morning, we felt a range of emotions: grief; despair; and yes, anger. And yet, as we always do, we responded with strength. Almost immediately, both the Federation and our Jewish Community Relations Council...

read more

JCRC voting guide is here!

In just a few short weeks, Florida will once again play a pivotal role in determining the direction of our nation. With competitive races up and down the ballot and 11 Constitutional amendments up for consideration, Nov. 6 is on pace to be one of the most important...

read more

Federation gets federal security grant

Earlier this year, our local congressional delegation led a successful effort to include Orlando on the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's list of urban areas eligible for special federal grant funding. Thanks to their leadership, Orlando's inclusion on the list...

read more

Beware of charity scams in wake of Pittsburgh attack

The FBI is extending a warning to all who may consider participating in victim assistance programs or charitable organizations in the wake of the Pittsburgh shootings. Before making a donation of any kind, consumers should adhere to certain guidelines, including: Do...

read more

RAISE unveils 2 new logos!

  RAISE, the Jewish Federation’s work and social skills training program for adults with special needs, is proud to announce the launch of two "brand" new logos! Collaboration with Jewish agencies and businesses in our community has been a priority for RAISE...

read more

A banner day in Israel

Sara Gittleson (SPARK) and I (JFGO) have been honored to represent our respective organizations on this year's amazing Israel trip. Here, despite the wind, we proudly unfurl the special JFGO/SPARK flag that made the trek with us from Orlando.  

read more