Editorials ..................................... 4A Op-Ed .......................................... 5A Calendar ...................................... 6A Scene Around ............................. 9A Synagogue Directory ................ 11A News Briefs ............................... 13A WWW.HERITAGEFL.COM YEAR 44, NO. 2 SEPTEMBER 13, 2019 13 ELUL, 5779 ORLANDO, FLORIDA SINGLE COPY 75¢ Jason Greenblatt steps down the leadership of President Trump. I am incredibly grate- ful to have been part of a team that drafted a vision for peace. This vision has the potential to vastly improve the lives of millions of Israelis, Palestin- ians and others in the region.” Trump thanked Greenblatt on his favored forum, Twit- ter, noting Greenblatt’s prior role as a lawyer for Trump’s businesses. “Jason has been a loyal and great friend and fantastic lawyer,” Trump said. “His dedication to Israel and to seeking peace between Israel Lev Radin/Pacific Press/LightRocket via Getty Images and the Palestinians won’t be Jason Greenblatt speaks forgotten.” NOAA at the Annual Champions of Barely mentioned in the Dorian stalled over Grand Bahama. Jewish Values Gala at Carn- statements released by the egie Hall in New York City, White House from Greenblatt March 28, 2019. and his colleagues, including Trump’s son-in-law, Jared Jewish groups provide emergency help By Ron Kampeas Kushner, who headed the peace team, were the Pales- WASHINGTON (JTA)— tinians. to the Bahamas in wake of Dorian Jason Greenblatt, President Kushner notably omitted Donald Trump’s top Middle the Palestinians. By Marcy Oster The hurricane stalled over Grand Ba- logical first aid and deploy water filters East peace negotiator, is leav- “Jason has done a tremen- hama Island for nearly two days, leaving to restore access to drinking water while ing the White House. dous job leading the efforts (JTA)—The Israel-based humanitarian whole neighborhoods, as well as airports conducting further needs assessments Although the “ultimate” to develop an economic and group IsraAID, B’nai B’rith International and hospitals, submerged. At least 13,000 in affected communities, the NGO said deal he helped craft has yet political vision for a long and Chabad are among those pitching homes have been damaged or destroyed in a statement. to be fully announced, the sought after peace in the in to help the Bahamas in the wake of on Abaco and Grand Bahama islands. In 2018, IsraAID said its emergency Trump administration sug- Middle East,” he said. “His Hurricane Dorian’s devastation, which IsraAID, a humanitarian aid agency response teams reached 26,300 people gested in the announcement work has helped develop the has killed at least 20 people. that responds to emergency crises and with safe water, psychological and com- that Greenblatt was leaving relationships between Israel “We are in the midst of a historic engages in international development munity support, and relief following nine now that it had been written. and its neighbors as he is tragedy in parts of the northern Baha- around the world, said Tuesday that it disasters in seven countries. The group A senior White House of- trusted and respected by all mas,” Prime Minister Hubert Minnis said would send emergency support to the has opened an Emergency Response Fund ficial said the plan is done. of the leaders throughout the at a news conference Tuesday, adding Bahamas. to pay for its work. “The vision is now complete region. He is a close friend and the “devastation is unprecedented and Its emergency response team will and will be released when ap- partner and will continue to extensive.” distribute relief supplies, offer psycho- Dorian on page 14A propriate,” the official said in make a positive impact on an email. the world.” Greenblatt said in a state- The low-key rollout of ment: “It has been the honor Greenblatt’s departure re- In remembering 1929 Hebron massacre, of a lifetime to have worked flects how curtailed the ini- in the White House for over top Israeli leaders visit... and make history two and a half years under Greenblatt on page 14A By Josh Hasten Hebron commemorating the 90th anniversary of the 1929 Missiles fired from (JNS)—“We are not strang- Jewish massacre. ers in Hebron, and we will Netanyahu also said that stay here forever!” were the he was proud that his gov- Lebanon strike Israel climactic remarks made on ernment approved dozens of Wednesday by Israeli Prime additional housing units last By Marcy Oster targets in southern Lebanon, Minister Benjamin Netan- year for Jewish residents of the statement said. yahu during an official state the ancient city. JERUSALEM (JTA)—Anti- A second statement said ceremony at the Tomb of the Israeli President Reuven aircraft missiles were fired that the IDF responded by Patriarchs and Matriarchs in Rivlin and Knesset Speaker from Lebanon at an Israeli firing some 100 mortar shells, Yuli Edelstein also visited military base and at military including at the cell that fired Hebron on Wednesday, along vehicles. on Israel. with other government of- “There are a number of Bomb shelters in northern ficials, to take part in the confirmed hits,” the Israel Israeli communities located day-long memorial. Defense Forces said in a state- up to 2.5 miles from the A statement released by ment on Sunday afternoon. It Lebanese border were or- the official leadership of the later confirmed that a military dered opened, with residents Jewish community in He- Josh Hasten ambulance and a military post instructed to remain in their bron, noted that “for the first Israeli President Reuven Rivlin in Hebron, marking the were hit, but that there were homes and only to enter time in Israeli history, Israel’s 90th anniversary of the 1929 massacre, in addition to vising no casualties. shelters if they hear a warn- prime minister, president the Cave of the Patriarchs, Sept. 4, 2019. Prime Minister Benjamin ing siren. and speaker of the Knesset Netanyahu, who also serves The terrorist group Hezbol- arrived in Hebron on the by Jerusalem Arabs, claiming years prior to the massacre,” as defense minister, spoke lah took responsibility for the same day.” that the Jews were prepar- he said at the symposium. about the incident late Sunday missile strikes. In August 1929, 67 Jews ing a takeover of the Temple “There are those recent afternoon at a news confer- Hezbollah said the at- were murdered by an Arab Mount and a massacre of historians who rationalize ence to mark the opening of tack was in response to an lynch mob over the course Arabs. In total, 133 Jews were that the 1929 massacre was Honduras’ diplomatic office Israeli airstrike last week on of three days while their murdered in riots in cities and aimed at the ‘Zionists’ and in Jerusalem. what Israel said were targets homes and synagogues were towns throughout British- not at the Jewish people. “We are consulting about in Syria of Iran’s Revolution- destroyed. The survivors mandated Palestine. They are twisting reality. the next steps. I have ordered were evacuated to Jerusa- Rivlin was the first to arrive The massacre was carried that we be prepared for any Lebanon on page 14A lem, marking the first time at the event in Hebron, taking out against all the Jews... scenario. We will decide on in hundreds of years that part in a symposium on the and only because they were the next steps pending devel- Hebron was void of a Jewish massacre in Hebron’s sister Jews.” opments,” he said. presence. city of Kiryat Arba. Rivlin said that Hebron in The IDF retaliated with The events unfolded fol- “Hebron’s Jewish com- strikes on the source of the lowing a blood libel started munity was present for many Hebron on page 14A missile launches and on other PAGE 2A HERITAGE FLORIDA JEWISH NEWS, SEPTEMBER 13, 2019 Jewish Academy of Orlando launches inaugural Transitional Kindergarten Instead of remaining in ture their curiosity and, from a will provide an intentional “We are happy to serve the Pre-K for another year, stu- social-emotional standpoint, learning space for children community in this way and dents in the TK program are help them prepare for kinder- to develop the foundational encourage and nourish our provided the opportunity to garten.” skills necessary to be suc- kids’ love of learning.” transition to a new school, Students have classes in cessful, happy, and confident Jewish Academy of Or- Jewish Academy of Orlando. creative spaces such as the in the academic years that lando serves central Florida The program is housed, man- Innovation Lab, perform on follow.” students of all faiths from aged, and directed by Jewish the WJAO news broadcast, “Families in our com- transitional kindergarten Academy of Orlando with participate in hands-on munity voiced a need for a through fifth grade. The the cooperation, of the JCC’s learning activities and pur- transitional year before their school delivers a whole-child ECLC leadership team. The poseful playtime. TK students child enters Kindergarten. education fostering academic class is deliberately small, have the benefits of being Jewish Academy’s TK program excellence and character with an average 6:1 student to a JAO student, including provides an experience for education rooted in Jewish teacher ratio, to provide stu- classes in Hebrew, Judaic children to develop all of the values. Jewish Academy of dents with the individualized Studies, P.E., art, and music. skills necessary to be success- Orlando is accredited by the attention they need during They participate in regular ful in Kindergarten and the Florida Council of Indepen- this transitional period. classroom routines includ- rest of the elementary school dent Schools. Jewish Academy of Or- Kindergarten will provide TK allows students to de- ing individualized and small years,” stated Alan Rusonik, To learn more about Jewish lando has launched a new parents with a developmen- velop both social-emotional group learning opportunities head of school.