Editorials ..................................... 4A Op-Ed .......................................... 5A Calendar ...................................... 6A Scene Around ............................. 9A Synagogue Directory ................ 11A News Briefs ............................... 13A WWW.HERITAGEFL.COM YEAR 43, NO. 40 JUNE 7, 2019 6 SIVAN, 5779 ORLANDO, FLORIDA SINGLE COPY 75¢ Israel is holding new elections Yonatan Sindel/Flash90 Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks to the media after the Knesset voted to dissolve itself, May 30, 2019. By Marcy Oster The haredi parties blamed Liberman. Rinse and repeat. JERUSALEM (JTA)—The Why wasn’t Netanyahu The book of Ruth is read during Shavuot as well as remembering the giving of the Torah at Mt. Sinai. blame game started shortly able to form a new gov- after midnight Thursday ernment? morning. Despite 65 of the Knesset’s The Knesset’s vote to dis- 120 seats going to tradition- Shavuot commemorates the spring solve itself and hold a second ally right-wing parties and national election in five politicians in April’s elections, months had hardly been Netanyahu could not cobble harvest and the giving of the Torah posted on the chyrons of together a majority coalition news networks in Israel and of 61 seats. That was mostly By My Jewish Learning practice regarding food on Shavuot is ter. Among them are that the book around the world when the because of the military draft the result of customs and traditions. takes place at the time of the barley major players in the drama law, which was designed to Shavuot, the “Feast of Weeks,” is The main custom is the eating of dairy harvest, that Ruth’s assumption of that is coalition government- force more yeshiva students celebrated seven weeks after Pass- dishes, mainly dishes containing milk Naomi’s religion reflects the Israelites’ forming took to microphones to enlist. over (Pesach). Since the counting of products and cheese. There are a num- acceptance of the Torah at Sinai, and throughout the Knesset. The haredi Orthodox par- this period (sefirat ha-omer) begins on ber of theories about how this practice that King David, who is alleged to have It goes something like this: ties, with 16 seats in the the second evening of Passover, Shavuot developed. In chapter four of Song of died at this time of year according to Prime Minister Benjamin current government, want takes place exactly 50 days after the Songs, which is a beautiful love poem rabbinic tradition, is mentioned at the Netanyahu blamed Yisrael changes to the law that would (first) seder. Hence, following the Greek containing wonderful descriptions of end of Ruth. Another tradition is to Beiteinu head Avigdor Liber- provide more leniency for word for “fifty,” Shavuot is also referred spring in the Holy Land, it states that participate in a Tikkun Leil Shavuot, man. Liberman blamed the those students. Liberman, to sometimes as Pentecost. Although “honey and milk are under your tongue.” an all-night study session marking the haredi Orthodox parties and, its origins are to be found in an ancient The poem was interpreted by the ancient holiday. And finally, Shavuot is one of for good measure, Netanyahu. Elections on page 14A grain harvest festival, Shavuot has long rabbis to be a metaphor for the love be- the holidays on which both Hallel, the been identified with the giving of the To- tween God and Israel and the “honey and Psalms of Praise, is recited and Yizkor, rah on Mount Sinai. milk” of that verse were interpreted to the memorial service, is observed. Shavuot in the home mean Torah. Consequently Jews eat milk By associating an ancient holiday of Undone by Brexit, Since Shavuot is an ancient pilgrimage products on Shavuot, the commemora- the grain harvest with the exodus from holiday, it is not surprising that its ritual tion of the time they received Torah on Egypt, Jewish tradition has imbued Sha- focuses on the community. Nonetheless, Mount Sinai; many traditional Jews eat vuot with religious significance derived May resigns there are a number of customs associ- dairy as the main meal on the first day from the foundational event in Jewish sures, she was loathed also ated with personal practice. Chief among of Shavuot and meat as the main meal historical consciousness. In the specific by opponents of that plan for them is the eating of dairy products on on the second day. case of Shavuot, this takes the form of her efforts to push it forward. Shavuot. Although the reasons for this In the community the entering into a covenant or formal Ultimately, her desperate custom are not completely clear, it has Much of the observance of the holiday agreement between God and Israel at balancing act came to an become traditional to eat milk and cheese centers on the synagogue and its ritu- Mount Sinai. This is a joyous time, since end following the umpteenth products as part of the celebration of als. The special readings for the holiday it is the moment at which God and Israel failure in Parliament of one Shavuot. include medieval poems (piyyutim) and entered into a figurative marriage with her many proposals for a There is no Jewish law regarding home the Book of Ruth. A number of reasons each other, the hopeful springtime of compromise. practices or rituals on Shavuot. Jewish are given for the inclusion of the lat- their relationship. “It is and will always remain a matter of deep regret to me that I have not been able to JFGO speaks out against deliver Brexit,” May said in her announcement outside 10 Downing St. in London. She is leaving with “no ill anti-Israel rant will but with enormous and By Christine DeSouza Greater Orlando quickly re- The commentary addressed enduring gratitude to have Leon Neal/Getty Images sponded to the opinion piece. the inaccurate statements Prime Minister Theresa had the opportunity to serve A recent Orlando Sentinel Written by Ben Friedman, about the Israeli govern- May makes her resignation the country I love,” May said in guest commentary by Zaina director of the Jewish Com- ment practicing “racial and announcement outside 10 conclusion of her speech, her Alsous, a Palestinian-Ameri- munity Relations Council, ethnic exclusion and anti- Downing St. in London, May voice cracking and tears filling can organizer with the Dream Brad Jacobs, JFGO president democratic rule over millions 24, 2019. her eyes as she uttered the Defenders in Miami and and Keith Dvorchik, JFGO of Palestinians.” final three words. She turned Donna Nevel, a community executive director, the re- Alsous and Nevel wrote, By Cnaan Liphshiz around abruptly and headed psychologist and educator and sponse stated that the writers’ “Just in the last few weeks back toward the prime min- a Jewish social justice activ- true goal is to “undermining Israel has once again been (JTA)—Theresa May, who ister’s residence, the sounds ist living in South Florida, the legitimacy of America’s bombing Gaza, a tiny block- announced her resignation on of her footsteps fading. pushed an anti-Israel agenda greatest ally—and the only aded area of Palestine that Friday as the prime minister To her many opponents, under the guise of criticizing democracy—in the Middle many have compared to an of the United Kingdom, will Gov. Ron DeSantis’ decision East...” open-air prison. The Israeli be remembered as one of her May on page 12A to hold a Florida Cabinet “The authors’ chief concern military has imposed a cruel country’s shortest-serving meeting in Israel. The May does not seem to be that the and illegal siege on Gaza for and least popular leaders. 29 opinion piece was titled governor and Cabinet mem- more than a decade, control- Blamed by supporters of “DeSantis’ Israel meeting slap bers are outside of Florida, ling all entry and exit.” Britain’s departure from the in the face to voters.” but rather that they are inside European Union for delivering The Jewish Federation of Israel,” they stated. JFGO on page 12A what they consider half mea- PAGE 2A HERITAGE FLORIDA JEWISH NEWS, JUNE 7, 2019 Scenes from sold-out JAO performance of ‘Junie B. Jones’ Junie B. Jones singing “I Can See!” The cast of “Junie B. Jones: The Musical” at the curtain call. Seeking Jewish Gestational Carrier MUST be able to provide proof of religion. 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