Editorials ..................................... 4A Op-Ed .......................................... 5A Calendar ...................................... 6A Scene Around ............................. 9A Synagogue Directory ................ 11A News Briefs ............................... 13A WWW.HERITAGEFL.COM YEAR 43, NO. 41 JUNE 14, 2019 13 SIVAN, 5779 ORLANDO, FLORIDA SINGLE COPY 75¢ Nechama Rivlin dies at 73 Gideon Markowicz/Flash90 Israel’s President Reuven Rivlin with his wife, Nechama Rivlin, during the French Ambassador’s ceremony award- ing the Legion Honor, at the ambassador’s home in Jaffa, on June 18, 2014. (Israel Hayom via JNS)— was a trusted adviser through- Nechama Rivlin, the wife out his political career. of President Reuven Rivlin, She is survived by her Congratulations to the Jewish Academy of Orlando graduating class of 2019. passed away at Rabin Medical husband, three children and Center in Petach Tikvah on seven grandchildren. Tuesday, June 4, 2019, a day In a statement, the presi- before her 74th birthday. dent thanked the hospital’s Graduates of Jewish Academy find Israel’s first lady had suf- staff for the “dedicated, sen- fered from pulmonary fibro- sitive and professional treat- sis, a condition in which scar ment she received over the last success in local private and public schools tissue accumulates in the few months, nights and days, lungs and makes it difficult with a broad and welcoming On May 30, Jewish Academy of Orlando year. In mathematics, the students to graduate students that are prepared, to breathe, and had undergone heart.” celebrated the class of 2019 with accep- were assessed at a grade level of 7.2, happy, confident, and ready for the a lung transplant in March. Prime Minister Benjamin tances to their top-choice middle schools, equivalent to national norms for stu- world!” In recent years, Rivlin had Netanyahu expressed deep including a 100 percent acceptance rate dents in 7th grade. Jewish Academy of Orlando serves been seen in public with a por- sorrow over her passing, laud- at both Trinity Preparatory School and Director of Academics, Nikki Buyna, central Florida students of all faiths table oxygen tank, including ing her “heroic” battle against Lake Highland Preparatory School. stated, “Jewish Academy prides itself from grades kindergarten through when accompanying her hus- her illness. The acceptance rates are not surpris- on kindling a love of learning through fifth. The school delivers a whole-child band at official ceremonies. “Together with all the citi- ing given that the fifth-grade class, on a rigorous curriculum. Our learning education fostering academic excel- Born in an Israeli farming zens of Israel, my wife Sara average, scored nearly three grade levels environment supports differentiation lence and character education rooted community, she married the ahead of peers nationally on the IOWA and individualization, which encour- in Jewish values. Jewish Academy of future president in 1971 and Rivlin on page 14A Achievement Assessments. The grade- ages student achievement. Our local Orlando is accredited by the Florida level composite score, which includes private middle schools tell us that one Council of Independent Schools. Be- Language Arts, Math, Science and Social reason that they love our students ginning in the fall of 2019, the school Studies, was a 7.7, which is equivalent to because they begin 6th grade academi- will offer a transitional kindergarten. Looking for students entering into 8th grade. cally prepared.” To learn more about Jewish Academy In English language arts, the class Head of School Alan Rusonik added, of Orlando, please visit: jewishacad- was assessed at a grade level of 8.4, “We are proud of our graduates and all emyorlando.org or follow the school on equivalent to an 8th-grade student of their many academic and personal Facebook facebook.com/JewishAcad- future leaders who is four months into the school accomplishments. We are most proud emyOrlando. The Jewish Federation of Jewish organizations, includ- Greater Orlando’s Jerome J. ing the Holocaust Center and Bornstein Leadership Devel- Jewish Family Services. Past DeSantis hailed for making the sunshine opment Program is accepting Bornstein graduates have applications for its fall 2019 gone on to serve on boards class. Co-chairs Rhonda For- and hold top leadership po- state ‘most pro-Israel’ in America est and Abby Nelson opened sitions at many of Central the Bornstein Program’s Florida’s synagogues and By Josh Hasten application period in a com- Jewish agencies, as well as munity-wide announcement. at the Jewish Federation of (JNS)—In the midst of The program, named in Greater Orlando. his whirlwind week-long honor of long-time commu- Federation selects up to Florida governor’s business nity volunteer and leader Jerry 15 individuals in their 30s Bornstein (Z”L), is designed and 40s each class year to to find the next generation participate. Much of the of Jewish leaders in Central Bornstein Program’s suc- Florida and prepare them to cess is attributable to the address the challenges and outstanding quality of the opportunities of servicing the people selected to participate. community. Those selected Applicants must show leader- for the program participate in ship potential, demonstrate a a yearlong educational experi- commitment to the Central ence that includes deep dives Florida Jewish community, into topics such as leadership and demonstrate civic or style, effective board and community engagement, volunteer management, and among other attributes. fundraising and budgeting. In addition to an ap- The program also begins with plication process open to a Shabbaton retreat, where the everyone, the Federation is Shannon Nuszen leaders get to know each other also asking the community Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (left) meets with Israeli Strategic Affairs Minister Gilad Erdan, and begin developing friend- at large to help identify po- as well as small-business owners and community leaders, at the Hub Etzion co-working ships that go hand-in-hand tential participants. In their space and small-business center in Gush Etzion on May 29, 2019. with their future community leadership. Leaders on page 15A development mission to Israel Line. His purpose was to meet During a press briefing The most recent Bornstein with more than 100 delega- with community leaders on Wednesday hosted at the class have already begun to tion participants, Gov. Ron and small-business owners Hub Etzion business center, make their mark on the local DeSantis visited the Gush who are on the front lines as DeSantis said, “Here is the Jewish community; several of Etzion region, just south of targets of the anti-Israel BDS last year’s graduates joined Jerusalem and over the Green movement. DeSantis on page 15A boards and committees at PAGE 2A HERITAGE FLORIDA JEWISH NEWS, JUNE 14, 2019 Little Free Library comes to Winter Springs Temple Israel installed a “Little Free Library is a foundly increasing access to More than two dozen books Little Free Library on Sunday, nonprofit organization that books for readers of all ages for children and adults have May 19, outside the syna- inspires a love of reading, and backgrounds.” already been donated and gogue facing Moss Road. The builds community, and Ma’asim Tovim committee placed inside this location, installation event took place sparks creativity by foster- chair Emily Raij was thrilled which has been registered and during a worldwide Little Free ing neighborhood book to head up the Little Free will receive its official charter Library weekend celebrating exchanges around the world. Library, which is open to the sign and number. the movement’s 10-year an- Through Little Free Librar- entire community. People “While my husband, An- niversary. ies, millions of books are simply come to take a book drew, and I were installing According to its website, exchanged each year, pro- or share a book—or both! the library, several people who live in the neighbor- hood came up to us to express their excitement That’s a wrap! about having a place nearby to donate books to and bor- row books from,” said Raij. “I love that we can give back to the community around our synagogue.” Raij added that her children donated a PJ Library book they had an extra copy of called “Chik Chak Shabbat.” “This Temple Israel children made a poster for the Little Free story is especially fitting and Library with instructions: “Give a book; Take a book; Share meaningful to put in our a book.” Little Free Library because it is about a diverse commu- nity that comes together to help a neighbor,” said Raij. The Little Free Library was one of several Mitzvah Day projects Temple Israel worked on in April. Congregants also baked and delivered cookies to Winter Springs fire and police stations, completed cheek swabs to become part of the Gift of Life bone marrow registry, picked up litter from the playground and parking lot, and made cards for Kin- A fabulous group of performers from the Central Florida Community Arts entertained neret residents. in March. If you are interested in starting your own Little Free By Julie Levitt important to give back to the Brookdale generously do- Library, you can visit little- Jewish Pavilion community.” nated ice cream sundaes every freelibrary.org. Raij is also program director The Jewish Pavilion staff, as month, as Bloom baked his happy to help answer ques- well as the entire community, delicious brownies. tions and can be emailed at The Little Free Library was installed right outside Temple All good things must come really appreciate both the Plans are already being [email protected]. Israel. to end. Thankfully the month- entertainers and the volun- made for another great year ly musicals at Brookdale teers to make these monthly starting in September, with Lake Orienta will continue in afternoons so successful. This hopes that many of this talent September.