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Artwork by Children Around the World Installed at Pittsburgh's Synagogue

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Editorials ..................................... 4A Op-Ed .......................................... 5A Calendar ...................................... 6A Scene Around ............................. 9A Synagogue Directory ................ 11A News Briefs ............................... 13A WWW.HERITAGEFL.COM YEAR 44, NO. 4 SEPTEMBER 27, 2019 27 ELUL, 5779 ORLANDO, FLORIDA SINGLE COPY 75¢ RAISE announces two new logos By Christine DeSouza RAISE, the Jewish Fed- eration of Greater Orlando’s work and social skills train- Beth Kissileff ing program for adults with The installation outside the Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburgh was unveiled Sept. 12, 2019. special needs has unveiled two new logos. Both can be seen on RAISE’s Facebook page. One logo will be used for the Artwork by children around the world local ongoing program and the other, designated “RAISE on the Road,” will be used was a volunteer as a RAISE installed at Pittsburgh’s synagogue as RAISE begins to market job coach. Soon thereaf- this unique and successful ter, Breeden opened ASD By Beth Kissileff works were selected by members of the art project, told those gathered for the concept to other Jewish com- Achievement Center. In three congregations that were meeting unveiling Thursday. “We tried to think munities across the country. partnership with Bright Feats PITTSBURGH (JTA)—An art instal- at Tree of Life when a gunman killed 11 about what we could do and realized The new logo for the RAISE Directory, the program offers lation consisting of works submitted worshippers there last October. the tarps were a blank canvas. What do program was designed by young adults on the autism by children from around the world was Since the shooting, the synagogue you do with a blank canvas? You paint a the senior graphic designer spectrum an opportunity to unveiled at the Tree of Life synagogue building has been surrounded by blue picture on it.” of ASD Adult Achievement learn new vocational skills in in Pittsburgh. tarp. The scene was depressing to In April, the three congregations began Center. Founder and presi- “#Hearts Together: The Art of Rebuild- synagogue members and neighbors, soliciting artistic contributions online. dent of ASD, Paula Breeden, RAISE on page 14A ing” features 101 works of art printed who wanted something more uplifting In all, 224 submissions were received on canvas that are wrapped around the and cheerful. from 11 states and New Zealand. All the synagogue building in the Squirrel Hill “The dismal scene at the corner here submissions can be seen online. neighborhood. did not reflect who we are and did not The October shooting was the deadliest Gantz spurns Among those who submitted the art project the message that we wanted to act of violence against American Jews. were children from Columbine, Colorado; project back to the community,” Laurie Last month, federal prosecutors said Newtown, Connecticut; and Parkland, Zittrain Eisenberg, a longtime member they will seek the death penalty for the Netanyahu Florida—all sites of mass shootings. The of Tree of Life who had the idea for the alleged gunman. (JNS)—Blue and White leader Benny Gantz rejected Israeli Prime Minister Ne- tanyahu’s call to join a unity 5 things to watch after Israel’s government under the Likud leader’s leadership, stat- ing that he would be prime too-close-to-call election minister of a potential unity government. By Marcy Oster incumbent’s Likud and the “I am interested [in] and challenger’s Blue and White intend to form a broad, liberal JERUSALEM (JTA)—The remain within a seat of each unity government under my morning after Israel’s sec- other. leadership,” Gantz said in a ond national election in five More important, neither statement ahead of Blue and months, the results are still candidate appears able to form White’s first faction meeting unclear. a governing coalition outright since the elections. According to the latest with allies on the right or the “To form a unity govern- vote count, Prime Minister left. In the 120-seat Knesset, ment you do not come forward Benjamin Netanyahu is trail- the right won 55 seats and its with political blocs and spins Benny Gantz ing his rival, Benny Gantz, by opposition, comprised of the but rather honesty, states- the slimmest of margins: The left and center, won 56. But 61 manship, responsibility and 13 seats according to lat- seats are needed for a majority. seriousness,” he said, refer- est figures, making it the That means the one party in ring to Thursday’s agreement third-largest party in the the middle of the two groups, among the right-wing and Knesset. called Yisrael Beiteinu, could religious parties to conduct Following Gantz’s reply to be the kingmaker. The party, A liberal, national, broad were up half the night looking coalition negotiations to- Netanyahu, Yisrael Beiteinu which is hawkish and secular, unity government made of for other options. gether, under Netanyahu’s leader Avigdor Lieberman is led by former Defense Min- Yisrael Beiteinu, Likud, and The sitting prime minister leadership. similarly criticized the prime ister Avigdor Liberman, and Blue and White,” he said to already has spoken to his Just moments after Gantz’s minister, writing on Facebook he wants to be part of a unity cheers. In the past, he has right-wing base, including the announcement, Netanyahu on Thursday afternoon: “Quit government with Netanyahu called this a “secular unity Orthodox parties. Netanyahu said in a statement, “I was sur- the political exercises, tricks and Gantz. government.” Liberman has also reportedly reached out to prised and disappointed that and shtick. Come sit—you, Despite concerns of voter steadfastly refused to join with the center-left Labor Party, as of now, Benny Gantz still [Blue and White chairman] fatigue in a second election in the Orthodox parties and said which apparently rebuffed refuses to respond to my call Benny [Gantz] and I—in order 2019, the final voter turnout he will not sit in a government him. to meet. The president called to form a broad liberal unity was 69.4 percent. That’s 1.5 with them. Gantz, a former army chief, for a unity government, but government for the future of percent higher than in April. The ex-defense chief is in has said he is open to a unity without a meeting between the State of Israel.” While we wait for the out- a strong position. He liter- government with Likud, but the two major party leaders, According to the latest fig- come, here are five things ally holds the seats that both only if Netanyahu is no longer it is impossible to form a unity ures with 95 percent of ballots to watch from Tuesday’s Netanyahu and Gantz need helming the party. Mean- government.” counted, Gantz’s party won election. to form a government. And while, he is leaving his options “The State of Israel needs 33 Knesset seats, compared Is unity the name of the Liberman, a former club open and reached out to the as broad a unity govern- to Likud’s 31. game? bouncer, told supporters that leader of the Arab-Israeli Joint ment as possible—not an- Liberman doubled down he would not give up his dream List party, Ayman Odeh, who other election and certainly on a unity government in a of unity, no matter what sweet reportedly agreed to meet. not a government that relies speech to supporters Tuesday deals he is offered by Netan- The Arab parties tradition- on anti-Zionist parties,” he night. yahu or Gantz. added, referring to the Joint “We have only one option. But Netanyahu and Gantz Election on page 14A Arab List, which received PAGE 2A HERITAGE FLORIDA JEWISH NEWS, SEPTEMBER 27, 2019 Jewish Academy of Orlando enrollment increases 8 percent faculty is a big reason families lando serves central Florida Orlando is accredited by the choose JAO.” He added, “Hir- students of all faiths from Florida Council of Indepen- ing these superstars will help transitional kindergarten dent Schools. us facilitate even more growth through fifth grade. The To learn more about Jewish and achieve our goal of edu- school delivers a whole-child Academy of Orlando, please cating confident, prepared, education fostering academic visit: jewishacademyorlando. and kind students that are excellence and character org or follow the school on poised to change the world.” education rooted in Jewish Facebook facebookcom/Jew- Jewish Academy of Or- values. Jewish Academy of ishAcademyOrlando. Experience the Tabernacle Jewish Academy of Orlando students are jumping for joy to be back at school. in the Wilderness Jewish Academy of Orlando Part of the growth came ing positive changes in their grows with new students, new from the addition of the children.” teachers, and a new grade lev- school’s newest grade, Tran- In addition to the new stu- el. While most of the growth sitional Kindergarten. This dents, the school welcomed came in the lower grades, the inaugural class was welcomed three new faculty members; upper grades showed marked to the school this school year. Jessica Landau as the Transi- growth as well. Rusonik said, “We are tional Kindergarten teacher, Head of School Alan Ru- thrilled with the launch of Leah Reish in second grade, sonik said, “We are grateful Transitional Kindergarten. and Leslie Intro for fifth-grade for these positive trends and Even though it’s only been math. look forward to building on a short time, our parents are Rusonik went on to say, this momentum.” thrilled and are already notic- “We know that our amazing Portable Oxygen For The Way You Want to Live A group taking the tour of the Tabernacle last year. By Christine DeSouza Dorcik) will be there giving will run until 6 p.m.
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