Editorials ..................................... 4A Op-Ed .......................................... 5A Calendar ...................................... 6A Scene Around ............................. 9A Synagogue Directory ................ 11A News Briefs ............................... 13A WWW.HERITAGEFL.COM YEAR 43, NO. 21 JANUARY 25, 2019 19 SH’VAT, 5779 ORLANDO, FLORIDA SINGLE COPY 75¢ Rosen JCC names Romirowsky as CEO Dr. Reuben L. Romirowsky, an accomplished executive with three decades of leader- ship roles at Jewish commu- nity organizations in New York and New Jersey, has been named chief executive officer of The Jack and Lee Rosen Jewish Community Center. Previously, Joel Berger was the executive director and Eric Lightman was the assistant director. Both are no longer at the Rosen JCC and no reason was given for them leaving. Dr. Romirowsky joins the Rosen JCC from New York’s Metropolitan Council on Jewish Poverty, where his Dr. Reuben L. Romirowsky efforts included elevating Jewish Community Relations Council members with Congresswoman Val Demings at MLK interfaith program. annual giving to $5 million, decades of service to Jewish developing new branding and communities and great suc- JCRC show support at MLK interfaith ceremony messaging and the launch of cess developing strong finan- The Jewish Federation Jewish Community Relations Council members were among more than 100 people who a new website. cial support, his leadership participated in a march through downtown Orlando that culminated with an interfaith ceremony at the United “We’re delighted to wel- and wisdom ensure a bright Methodist Church of Orlando on Sunday, Jan. 13. come Dr. Romirowsky to future for our organization.” The ceremony, themed “Discord into Symphony,” brought together faith leaders of all kinds. Orlando,” said Rosen JCC Mayor Buddy Dyer welcomed all who participated. The program continued with the audience listening to record- President Brett Spector. “With JCC on page 14A ings of some of Martin Luther King Jr.’s most famous speeches. “I believe that love triumphs over hate, and I think we all have a responsibility to speak out against injustices in society,” said Rep. Val Demings (D) in an interview with WESH TV news. The event was the first of many for the week. The annual Martin Luther King parade was held Saturday, Jan. 19, Jewish pros, cons followed by Martin Luther King Jr. Day on Jan. 21. regarding Barr Rafi Layish is a book illustrator By Jackson Richman (JNS)—U.S. President Donald Trump’s pick to be- on his way to the movies come attorney general has elicited mixed reviews from By Christine DeSouza can be done in three or four Jewish groups. panels, he’ll draw it. William Barr, who served Almost every year during As animation changed from in the same role under the Passover, Rafi Layish’s family free-hand drawings in Disney late President George H.W. would watch “The Prince of cartoons to digital formats, Bush, is scheduled to face the Egypt,” an animated movie Layish’s interest grew. Senate Judiciary Committee about the Exodus. He loved it. “The movie ‘Spiderman: on Tuesday and Wednesday. “It was a really cool movie Into the Spider-Verse’ was “We endorse his nomina- all around for animation, a real game changer for me tion for attorney general. We soundtrack,” said Layish. It because it presents anima- know that he has exhibited was also the inspiration for tion in a different way,” he sensitivity to protecting reli- what he wanted to do with said. Now 21, Layish is in his gious rights in the workplace,” his future. fourth year at UCF, majoring National Council of Young William Barr speaking to He loved the newspaper in experimental animation. Israel president Farley Weiss the Senate Judiciary Com- comics, too. “Pearls Before He hopes to one day be in- told JNS. “He is clearly very mittee on June 15, 2005. Swine” was one of his favor- volved in the pre-production to follow, putting me on the well-qualified having previ- ites. When he was a child, he process—planning, sketching track to where I’m going.” ously been attorney general. concerned about his lack of and friends would spend hours and story boarding for films Layish is the illustrator of a We look forward to working transparency with Congress drawing pages and pages of and television. just published book, “Hidden Rafi Layish with him.” and willingness to adhere comics. And even today if he It always helps to have a Wings of the Time Keeper” Progressive groups such as to rule of law as it relates thinks of a funny gag that paying job doing what you by Briana R. Gilbert, the first looking for an illustrator for Bend the Arc: Jewish Action to holding President Trump love while on your way to your in “the Contrary Collection” her book and I applied!” said and the Jewish Democratic fully accountable for possible goal, or as Layish says it, “It’s series. Layish. “I like to create and Council of America expressed violations of the law. The in- not the X on the map, but Author Gilbert found him opposition. dependence of the attorney like the compass, something through Facebook. “She was Layish on page 15A “The attorney general must general and the Department of be an independent voice for Justice must be paramount.” the rule of law, a role that is However, organizations more important today than such as the Republican Jew- ever before given President ish Coalition and Agudath Trump’s authoritarian behav- Israel disagreed, and instead ior,” Rabbi Jason Kimelman- applauded the nomination. Block, Washington director of “The RJC congratulates Bend the Arc, told JNS. “Wil- William Barr and the presi- liam Barr’s deeply troubling dent on this fantastic choice,” views on executive power, RJC spokesperson Neil Strauss racial justice, immigrant told JNS. “Mr. Barr is highly rights, religious freedom, re- qualified, having served productive justice and LGBTQ with distinction as President rights raise serious doubts George H.W. Bush’s attorney about his commitment to general. Barr has received equality under the law.” “As the Senate begins Barr on page 15A confirmation hearings this week, JDCA has deep con- cerns with William Barr’s nomination as U.S. attorney general,” the organization The mural Rafi designed that is on a wall in the Hillel building at UCF. told JNS. “Specifically, we are PAGE 2A HERITAGE FLORIDA JEWISH NEWS, JANUARY 25, 2019 The Central Florida Jewish Book Festival comes in February Leah Rachel Berkowitz B. A. Shapiro Marie Benedict The Roth Family Jewish Jewish interest subject mat- Berkowitz is a graduate Shapiro will discuss “The versity and creative writing College with a focus in Community Center of Great- ter in literature, the arts, of Brandeis University and Collector’s Apprentice,” a at Northeastern University. History and Art History, er Orlando and Writer’s Block philosophy, theology, history Hebrew Union College- story set in 1922 Paris of She lives in Boston with her and a cum laude graduate Bookstore of Winter Park and current events to speak Jewish Institute of Religion. intrigue, fake identity and husband, Dan, and their dog, of the Boston University present the Central Florida during this multi-day literary She has written extensively murder. It is a story abaout Sagan. School of Law. She has Jewish Book Festival on Feb. experience. for adults and teens about how we see only what we Marie Benedict will discuss written a narratively con- 10 and 12. These events are The first guest of the Judaism, spirituality, and choose to see, both in art “The Only Woman in the nected series of historical part of a national network Book Festival is Rabbi Leah women’s experiences. This and in life. Room,” a story about Hedy novels—“The Other Ein- of programming sponsored Rachel Berkowitz, author of is her first book for chil- Shapiro is the author of Lamarr. stein,” “Carnegie’s Maid,” by the Jewish Book Council. “The World Needs Beautiful dren. seven novels, including the Benedict is a lawyer with and “The Only Woman in This highly popular com- Things.” Story time with the A panel discussion on his- award-winning New York more than 10 years’ experi- the Room.” munity-wide event brings author and children’s craft torical fiction with authors Times bestseller The Art ence as a litigator at two of Tickets to these events together prominent and will be at 11 a.m. at The Roth B.A. Shapiro and Marie Forger and The Muralist, a the country’s premier law can be purchased at https:// emerging Jewish writers Family JCC. This event is Benedict will be held Feb. 12, national bestseller. She has firms. She is a magna cum orlandojcc.org/arts-culture/ and non-Jewish writers with sponsored by PJ Library. 7—9 p.m. taught sociology at Tufts Uni- laude graduate of Boston book-festival. Israeli guest speaker at annual Sister City (Cocoa and Beit Shemesh) gala Workers busy with new road Central Life Church (behind “A three-hundred-mem- the time of the Emperor construction in Beit Shem- Temple Beth Sholom), 5995 ber team is working hard Justinian. esh, Israel, have uncovered N. Wickham Road. over the next six months “The stones do talk,” said remains of a city from the After a light supper of to excavate the ancient Malka. “You just have to listen time of the first Temple. The Israeli food and live Israeli Beit Shemesh city,” said very carefully. There are so Sister City program of Cocoa, music, guest speaker Meir Malka, a life-time resident many mysteries that I would Florida and Beit Shemesh in- Malka from Beit Shemesh of Beit Shemesh and retired like to share with you. I can’t vites the community to learn will illustrate new archaeo- director of the Keren Sh- wait to tell you the stories more about these exciting new logical discoveries at Tel Beit emesh Foundation.