Editorials ..................................... 4A Calendar ...................................... 6A Scene Around ............................. 9A Synagogue Directory ................11A Year in Review ..........................12A Synagogue Services ..................20A WWW.HERITAGEFL.COM YEAR 45, NO. 52 AUGUST 27, 2021 19 ELUL, 5781 ORLANDO, FLORIDA SINGLE COPY 75¢ Shana Tova 5782 PAGE 2A HERITAGE FLORIDA JEWISH NEWS, AUGUST 27, 2021 JAO students score two grade levels ahead of peers For the sixth straight or also reads they are 3 years student. Through differenti- techniques, philosophies, year, on average, students at and 4 months ahead of their ated learning, it’s not just and instruction to ensure Jewish Academy of Orlando current grade level. about the speed at which a our students reach their full are performing at least two “We are always grateful student covers the material; potential.” grade levels ahead of their to see our students’ scores,” more often it is about the In addition to JAO’s strong peers nationwide. The test said Amy Polacek, principal. depth of their study. This academics, the school scores, from April 2021, were “We are proud that Jewish could include opportunities provides a multi-faceted taken using the nationally Academy of Orlando is a top- for instruction beyond their whole-child development re c og n i z ed Io wa Te st of B a sic ranking school, not only in current grade level to more program. Emily Watson, cur- Skills® (ITBS®) – commonly Orlando but in the nation.” challenging material.” riculum coordinator stated, known as the “Iowa Assess- The test is used by a large Teaching to the test is not “Jewish Academy of Orlando ments.” The Iowa Assessment number of private schools the practice of the Jewish truly believes in educating is a nationally standardized and various states to measure Academy of Orlando. “We the whole child, and we have achievement test for K-12 grade-level performance. It is use this test for a variety a dual-focus as educators. We students, allowing schools often paired with an IQ in- of reasons. One is to get a foster both academic excel- to compare their students’ st r ument such a s W ISC® -I V glimpse of how our student lence and social-emotional scores to national norms or the CogAT® for entrance body is performing against growth, cultivating values in Reading, Language Arts, into gifted and talented pro- national norms. It is one of of kindness, self-awareness, students that are ready for Jewish Academy of Orlando Mathematics, Social Studies grams and National Honor m a ny ind ic ator s te acher s u se mindfulness, and character.” the world!” is accredited by the Florida and Science. Society. to gauge how well students To further this thought, Jewish Academy of Or- Council of Independent The Iowa Assessments “We try to challenge ev- have mastered benchmarks Polacek added, “We are lando serves Central Florida Schools. rank the students’ scores by ery student to the best of at each grade level,” says extremely proud of our students of all faiths from To learn more about Jew- grade level equivalents. As their ability. Differentiated Polacek. “These tests also students’ academic achieve- kindergarten through fifth ish Academy of Orlando, a general guide, a score of learning,” Polacek explained, allow us to understand ments; we are focused on grade. The school delivers a please visit: jewishacademy- 8.4 for a 5th grader means “provides students with where we need to refine and graduating children that whole-child education fos- orlando.org or follow the the student is testing on an instruction, which adjusts review our curriculum to are happy, confident, love tering academic excellence school on Facebook https:// achievement continuum at learning, projects, home- stay competitive. Our scores to learn, and know how to and character education facebook.com/JewishAcad- a level equivalent to an 8th work, and classwork to meet prove that we have been able get along with their peers; rooted in Jewish values. emyOrlando. g r ader in t heir four t h mont h, the needs of each individual to combine our teaching Temple Israel welcomes Cantor Andrés Levy for High Holidays Temple Israel is excited services, weddings, and Jew- cultural musical experience to have Cantor Andrés Levy ish events in Latin America and for Rosh Hashanah, Yom leading us in High Holiday and the U.S., Cantor Levy has Kippur, and Shabbat services. ser vices in September, a s well served as Hazzan for High High Holiday tickets at Temple as Shabbat services and spe- Holidays in congregations Israel are available for a dona- cial programs between Rosh throughout Florida, Texas, tion of $180. Tickets are com- Hashanah and Yom Kippur. California, North Carolina, plimentary with reservations On Sunday, September 12 at Argentina, and Chile. In ad- for those under 18, students, 1:30 p.m., Cantor Levy will dition to his Cantor Degree armed services personnel, and perform a family concert in from the Latin-American members in good standing the Rein Sanctuary. Rabbinical Seminary in Bue- of other synagogues. If you As a world-class cantor nos Aires, Cantor Levy also are interested in becoming a originally from Argentina has an MBA and architecture Temple Israel member, your with extensive experience degree. donation can be applied to HaPpY and skills in leading religious Come join us for a multi- your membership dues. nEw yEaR! JFS Orlando awarded United Way grant JFS Orlando is pleased to a n nou nc e it h a s b een awa rded a $50,000 grant from the Heart of Florida United Way. This grant will support JFS Orlando’s FAMILY of services, including their Counseling services, RIDE (Reliable Independent Driv- ers for the Elderly) Program, Pearlman Emergency Food Pantry, Family Stabilization Program, and Chaplaincy “This past year has been in partnership with Heart of services. In 2020, JFS served especially challenging for our Florida United Way.” an average of 10,000 indi- clients and Central Florida For more information on viduals, provided more than overall,” said JFS Executive JFS Orlando and its other pro- 188,000 meals, and provided Director Philip Flynn. “We grams, visit www.JFSorlando. more than 4,800 counseling are so grateful to continue org or follow them on social sessions. providing our relief services media @JFSorlando. Grief Support group to resume meetings in October Grief is a noun that means the grief is too raw prior to and everything shared in the deep sorrow especially caused that time. The program helps group is strictly confidential. by someone’s death. Are you participants deal with their The Jewish Pavilion has of- coping with the loss of a grief through a Jewish Lens fered Grief Support with Rabbi spouse, parent, child or loved and members participate in Kaplan for six years in the fall one? Join a free grief support all six sessions. and spring. Many previous group run by Rabbi Maurice Joining a grief support participants have found that Kaprow who serves on the group can seem like a big the group can be a rewarding Board of Directors for the step. Grief brings on a lot of and transformative one. Jewish Pavilion. Be part of intense feelings at times, and The Jewish Pavilion Grief an encouraging, supportive you may wonder if opening Support Group meets Oct network. When you are yourself up to those feelings 13 - November 10. Sessions ready, the Jewish Pavilion and focusing on them is are from 10:30-11:30 a.m. can help you with a six-week something you want or can and held outdoors at Cas- on-going program to help manage. It may also feel risky cade Heights 160 Islander you cope with grief. Rabbi to expose your vulnerable self Court. To register contact Kaprow recommends that to participants in a group. Nancy Ludin NancyLudin@ p eople wa it si x mont h s a f ter a These concerns are a normal jewishPavilion.org or 407- death to participate, because part of the group experience 678-9363. HERITAGE FLORIDA JEWISH NEWS, AUGUST 27, 2021 PAGE 3A Tehran ready to pounce on Afghanistan and Mideast foes in more aggressive stance By Ariel Ben Solomon Afghanistan and hosts some it as a model for defeating the have been appointed directly Iran’s aggressive policies 3.5 million Afghan refugees. Un ited St ate s a nd I sr ael in t he from the leader himself.” ‘likely to continue’ (JNS) — Newly installed In the late 1990s, Iran al- Middle East. As per the ongoing nego- Ali Alfoneh, a senior fel- Iranian President Ebrahim most went to war with the Raisi presented a cabinet of tiations to revive the 2015 low at the Arab Gulf States Raisi celebrated the Taliban Taliban-controlled Afghani- hardliners last week, includ- nuclear deal, he said it’s Institute in Washington, takeover of Afghanistan and stan after several Iranian ing Gen. Ahmad Vahidi as in- too soon to speculate if this told JNS that “the Iranian the failure of the United diplomats were killed, and terior minister. He is a former new government signals the president does not neces- States to leave smoothly the Islamic Republic had defense minister wanted by end of the talks. “I do think sarily represent a belligerent after 20 years entrenched cooperated with the United Interpol for his alleged role the composition of the new line, but lessons learned by in the country, marking the States early on in the inva- in the 1994 bombing of the government means Iran is the Iranian state in the past beginning of what’s likely to sion of Afghanistan in 2001 AMIA Jewish cultural center sending a tougher message decade are likely to lead to be a more aggressive stance with intelligence support in Buenos Aires that killed 85 to the U.S.