Editorials ..................................... 4A Op-Ed .......................................... 5A Calendar ...................................... 6A Scene Around ............................. 9A Synagogue Directory ................ 11A News Briefs ............................... 13A Seminole Tax Sales ......... Section B WWW.HERITAGEFL.COM YEAR 43, NO. 38 MAY 24, 2019 19 IYYAR, 5779 ORLANDO, FLORIDA SINGLE COPY 75¢ Nonstop EL AL flights from Orlando By Christine DeSouza Those who are planning to go to Israel this year, consider scheduling flights between July 2 and Aug. 27. This is when EL AL will have once- a-week flights out of Orlando International Airport. This is a trial run to see if there is enough interest in the Orlando community to generate more flights out of OIA in the future. “It’s a great beginning!” said Vicki Jaramillo, senior director, marketing & air service development at OIA. Vicki Jaramillo Jaramillo, who is based in Orlando, has over 25 years Ironically, one week later experience recruiting airlines EL AL called Jaramillo ask- all over the world. In the past, ing her about incentives to she had spoken with EL AL flying weekly nonstop flights UCF Shlichim are shown signing two lines from the song “Home” for Eurovision. representatives who were from Orlando. To receive in- planning to start flights out centives, airlines have to fly of Miami because of the large a certain number of flights Jewish community. Why not and EL AL couldn’t fulfill UCF Shlichim help the deaf Orlando? She asked. that requirement. However Then, serendipitously, there was still a possibility things began to happen. if enough interest could be ‘see the sounds’ of Eurovision Last January, Jaramillo visited demonstrated. her pulmonary doctor for her Without hesitation, Jara- By Christine DeSouza initiative in order to help people with singing together in sign language. annual checkup. That doctor millo sent an email to Layish auditory disabilities experience Marimi’s Each group signed one or two lines of was Dr. Daniel Layish. In the with this exciting news. His The University of Central Florida’s song along with other Eurovision fans. Marimi’s song. course of their conversation, reply: “How can I help you?” Shlichut Institute members participated The project was facilitated by The Jewish The UCF Shlichim signed “I feel the he asked her what she did for After the two talked it over, in Israel’s entry in this year’s Eurovision Agency’s Shlichut Institute, which pro- sun upon my skin/ And I am someone, a living. After she explained, Layish jumped on social me- Song Contest accessible to the deaf and vides Shlichim with ongoing training, I am someone.” Layish asked her if it would dia on Jan. 17, writing: hearing-impaired population by produc- content and support before, during, and The project aims to strengthen the re- ever be possible to recruit EL ing a music video for singer Kobi Marimi’s after their service. The video, inspired by lationship between Israel and the Jewish AL airlines to Orlando. EL AL on page 14A “Home” in American Sign Language. the Sign Now initiative of the Edmond world by giving members of the partici- In the weeks leading up to Eurovision, de Rothschild Foundation, is a collage pating communities a creative platform which took place from May 14-18 in Tel of 30 different Shlichim groups from to express their connections to Israel, Aviv, The Jewish Agency’s Shlichim as far away as Greece, South Africa and while raising greater awareness about Fingerhut leaves (emissaries) from around the world Brazil, and students from colleges and embarked on the “See the Sounds” universities across the United States UCF on page 14A Hillel for JFNA Algae bloom be gone! says Israeli company By Ed Carroll By Christine DeSouza said one Lake Okeechobee CLEVELAND (Cleveland resident. Jewish News via JTA)—Eric Last July, then-governor Not only did it look and Fingerhut is leaving his posi- Rick Scott declared a state smell bad, it could be toxic if tion as president and CEO of of emergency in seven South consumed, and fatal for dogs Hillel International to take Florida counties because of that swim in or drink the the same posts at the Jewish the algae bloom all across scum, according to Richard Federations of North America. Florida’s west coast. The pea- P. Stumpf, an oceanographer Fingerhut, who served one green, thick film covering the with the National Oceanic and term in the U.S. House of freshwater lakes, salt-water Atmospheric Administration. Representatives representing canals and waterways not Stumpf explained the algae Ohio in 1993 and 1994, will only looked bad, but smelled bloom is a mixture of rain, succeed Jerry Silverman. The awful. “It is like moldy bread,” hot weather and a heavy Times of Israel reported in concentration of phosphorus April 2018 that Silverman, and nitrogen from fertilizer. who assumed the JFNA leader- Algae bloom is not only a ship in 2009, planned to step Florida problem. It is a world- down at the end of his contract Eric Fingerhut wide problem. Treatment this September. options, including pouring Jared Isaacson, executive and endowment programs, ac- harmful chemicals into the director of the Cleveland Hil- cording to JFNA. The money water or simply scooping off lel Foundation, confirmed supports local social services the scum have been costly and Fingerhut was leaving Hillel and Jewish educational needs, thus far, not very successful. for JFNA. as well as social service and There is, however, one Nicholas Aumen, USGS “He has significantly helped immigration needs in Israel Israeli technology start-up Cyanobacterial blooms, such as the one shown that oc- raise the profile of Hillel, mak- and other Jewish communi- that may bring the cure to curred in 2016 on Lake Okeechobee, Florida, can release ing it possible for so many ties around the world. this problem. toxins. campuses and individual and “For more than half a BlueGreen Water Technolo- local Hillel organizations to decade, the Jewish world has gies Ltd., under the direction “We are very proud to be current operational cost ir- increase Jewish education, watched as Eric spearheaded of Israeli microbiologist Dr. in a position where we can respective of the size of the leadership and engagement transformational change at Moshe Harel, who earned make a difference in one of waterbody. opportunities for so many Hillel,” said the chair of the a Ph.D. from the Hebrew the world’s most pressing BlueGreen Water’s prod- students and professionals,” JFNA Board of Trustees, University of Jerusalem, be- humanitarian and environ- ucts are now available in the Isaacson said in a statement. lieves he has the solution to mental problems,” Harel told United States, in addition to JFNA represents 147 Jew- JFNA on page 14A this devastating problem. He Heritage via email. China, Russia, South Africa ish federations and over 300 developed a treatment called Lake Guard™ floats on and other countries. “network communities,” who Lake Guard™ that is U.S. EPA water and kills the cyano- Harel and other BlueGreen collectively distribute more approved and cleans water to bacteria, purifying the body Water Technologies will be than $2 billion annually the NSF60 standard for drink- of water for use within a few through annual fundraising ing water. days, and at a fraction of the Algae on page 14A campaigns, planned giving PAGE 2A HERITAGE FLORIDA JEWISH NEWS, MAY 24, 2019 Growing strong in southwest Orlando Orlando Torah Academy was founded in 2010 to bring the light of Torah to the thousands of Jews living in Central Florida. In less than 10 years, under the leadership of Rabbis Yehuda Schepansky (dean), Avraham Wachsman (dean), Michoel Rennert (executive director), Gavriel Wittlin (assistant principal), Shari Wladis (general studies director) and Rena Wittlin (program director), OTA has grown to almost 100 students. The effect on the children, their families and on the city of Orlando is truly immeasurable. JAO director of academics receives full scholarship to Harvard summer program Jewish Academy of Orlando do as educators and as leaders of school life directly related to character strengths will help of bringing everyone to the director of academics, Nikki to make a difference for our JAO’s mission. Her initial plan them improve relationships table to support the social- Buyna, was recently accepted students and our teachers!” is to work with the foundation and develop empathy for emotional and academic to Harvard Graduate School of The AVI CHAI Foundation, to develop a program for Jew- others, better manage and needs of our children. The Education’s summer program one of the largest privately ish Academy of Orlando that overcome obstacles, develop podcast is available on iTunes titled “Improving Schools: funded Jewish foundations in connects positive education, problem-solving techniques, and Spotify. The Art of Leadership.” In the United States, is commit- character education, and Jew- and reduce anxiety. It will Buyna stated, “I am pas- addition, she received a full ted to the perpetuation of the ish values. develop strong leaders for our sionate about leading changes school scholarship from The Jewish people, Judaism, and “Character education has community,” said Buyna. in education, whether that AVI CHAI Foundation to at- the centrality of the State of always been a part of Jew- In addition to serving as be through improving best tend the program. Israel to the Jewish people. ish day school education, JAO’s director of academ- practices in innovative les-