Editorials ..................................... 4A Op-Ed .......................................... 5A Calendar ...................................... 6A Scene Around ............................. 9A Synagogue Directory ................ 11A News Briefs ............................... 13A WWW.HERITAGEFL.COM YEAR 44, NO. 52 AUGUST 28, 2020 8 ELUL, 5780 ORLANDO, FLORIDA SINGLE COPY 75¢ Gun control activists at DNC ing shot by an assailant in the head in 2011, opened the third night of the Democratic convention with an appeal to elect Joe Biden president. “We can let the shooting continue or we can act,” Gif- fords said in a recorded video that opened the proceedings Wednesday at the convention, held virtually because of the coronavirus pandemic. “We can protect our families, our future. We can vote. We can be on the right side of history. We must elect Joe Biden.” Giffords described her dif- ficulties since the attack, in Gabby Giffords which 18 people were shot, six fatally. “Words once came By Ron Kampeas easily; today I struggle with speech,” she said. “But I have WASHINGTON (JTA) — not lost my voice.” Gabby Giffords, the Jewish Giffords’s husband, Mark former congresswoman who Kelly, a retired astronaut, became a leader in the gun control movement after be- DNC on page 15A DNC hosts Qalam Institute imam an imam from an Islamic ex- tremist institution on Sunday. Noman Hussain, imam of ISM Brookfield in Wisconsin, was one of the religious lead- ers who took part in the con- vention’s “Interfaith Welcome Service.” Hussain is a scholar at the Hank Katzen receives Human Service Award virtually Texas-based Qalam Institute, whose officials have advocat- By Christine DeSouza ed “the use of female sex slaves, the killing of adulterers, and It was the most unusual Jewish Federation annual meeting, and not just because Heritage publisher Jeff Gaeser incite hatred against Jews and did not have to wear a coat and tie to present the Human Service Award to Hank Katzen. Held virtually through other non-Muslims,” according Zoom, Gaeser read his speech from his kitchen and Hank and his wife, Marcie, accepted it from Israel — not really. to the Middle East Forum. Katzen had a virtual background of the Western Wall. He and Marcie must have been time traveling as well, because One of the Qalam Insti- a few times each momentarily disappeared and then reappeared on screen. tute’s courses, “The Prophetic The entire meeting can be viewed on YouTube. Go to www.youtube.com and type in Jewish Federation of Greater Code,” warns Muslims to Orlando Annual meeting to hear all the reports, the introduction of the new board of directors and hear Gaeser’s Noman Hussain, imam strive for “cleanliness” and and Katzen’s speeches. of ISM Brookfield in Wis- “purity,” so that they “do not consin. resemble the Jews.” The Democratic National By Jackson Richman Convention did not respond to a request for comment about Torahs packed, synagogues on high (JNS) — The Democratic Hussain’s affiliation with the National Convention hosted Qalam Institute. In 2012, Hussain shared a alert as wildfires cross California cartoon of an Israeli soldier appearing innocent on TV By Maya Mirsky Lightning Complex” by Cal Rabbi Chaim Zaklos of said Rabbi Niles Goldstein of without it showing the soldier Gabriel Greschler Fire, the danger zone has Chabad of Solano County is Congregation Beth Shalom mercilessly shooting people required mandatory evacua- one of those who was prepared in Napa. in Gaza. SAN FRANCISCO (J. the tions in Napa, Sonoma and and waiting for the call this He said that some of his Middle East analyst and Jewish News of Northern Cali- Solano counties and contin- morning. As the fires bore congregants who live outside human-rights lawyer Irina fornia via JTA) — When the ues to expand. down on Vacaville overnight, the city limits have had to Tsukerman told JNS that the evacuation orders came last Tubridy described the evac- Zaklos got ready. evacuate, although the syna- Democratic National Conven- night, Guerneville resident uation process as hectic. “The Torah has been packed gogue isn’t threatened at the tion’s inclusion of Hussain was Sonia Tubridy and her daugh- “We were in a stream of up and ready to go,” he said. moment. “extremely troubling.” ter packed the car and left, traffic leaving River Road,” she “All the other holy artifacts “There is some smoke and “This reflects the con- joining a caravan of vehicles said from near Bodega Bay, have been packed up.” ash, but the city of Napa is safe cerning and growing trend fleeing the North Bay area where she and her daughter Zaklos added that it was so far,” he said. within the Democratic Party and the fires that threatened were temporarily taking ref- “literally raining ashes.” E. Michèle Samson, presi- to equate Islamists with to engulf them. uge for the day. “Thousands of “You can see the red in the dent of Congregation Shir Muslims, who are gener- Tubridy, cultural director cars going five miles per hour.” sky,” he said. Shalom in Sonoma, also felt ally de-platformed, silenced, of the Russian River Jewish With hot and windy weather In addition to the LNC Fire, a biblical pull. intimidated or targeted by Community, was among the forecast, more evacuations are other large fires are burning “Oh my god, can you believe pro-Muslim Brotherhood thousands of people ordered expected, especially for areas near Santa Cruz, and hun- organizations, and to pres- to evacuate from fires burn- south of the fires, according dreds of smaller blazes are Wildfires on page 15A ent these fringe elements ing 46,000 acres across a vast to a Cal Fire press conference being fought in San Mateo, as the mainstream in Islam, area covering five counties this morning. Alameda, Contra Costa, Santa perpetuating ugly stereotypes and stretching from Vacaville “If you think you’re in Clara, Stanislaus and San about Muslim communities north to Lake Berryessa and danger, please be ready to go,” Joaquin counties. out to the Sonoma County Sonoma County Sheriff Mark “This all makes this time Qalam on page 15A coast. Dubbed the “LNU Essick said. of year quite biblical in feel,” PAGE 2A HERITAGE FLORIDA JEWISH NEWS, AUGUST 28, 2020 It’s back to school and seeing friends at the Jewish Academy of Orlando Jewish Academy of Orlando’s students loved heading back to school with their friends. Here are a few peeks from the first day of school. Orlando Senior Help Desk is there to help with needs As the pandemic continues, the phone is ringing off the hook at the Orlando Senior Help Desk at the Jewish Pavilion. Seniors are in need of low–rent housing, assisted living, home care, emergency assistance, Medicaid, Medicare and much more. Jewish callers often look for local senior communities with substantial Jewish populations. Pictured is Penny Goldstein D’Agostino answering calls. Students enjoy playground fun in a safe place, even while wearing their masks. Remote learning is a choice offered to all families. Compassion has no boundaries Kudos to Amy from Texas and hundreds of other wonderful people across the nation who have sent cards to the Jewish Pavilion for our elders in long-term care. Isolation and loneliness often define the daily lives of many seniors who are no longer able to visit with their family members and their friends at the Jewish Pavilion. The cards, gift bags and phone calls mean the world to them. HEALTHY EYES WEAR SUNGLASSES Every day that you’re outside, you’re exposed to dangerous, but invisible, ultraviolet (UV) sunlight. Left unprotected, prolonged exposure to UV radiation can seriously damage the eye, leading to cataracts, skin cancer around the eyelid and other eye disorders. Protecting your eyes is important to maintaining eye health now and in the future. Shield your eyes (and your family’s eyes) from harmful UV rays. Wear sunglasses with maximum UV protection. For more information, visit www.thevisioncouncil.org/consumers/sunglasses. A public service message from The Vision Council. Large classrooms support social distancing within the classroom. HERITAGE FLORIDA JEWISH NEWS, AUGUST 28, 2020 PAGE 3A Coronavirus chief: ‘Israel has lowest mortality rate in world’ By Josh Hasten pandemic, Israel has reported are doing and know what the is to get Israel’s reproduc- “The central government out testing or quarantine 96,753 cases. risks are, and what aren’t tion number, or R number, gives the directives, but we required, while those from (JNS) — According to Gamzu took over the reins considered risks. Of course, down to 0.8; it is currently must create facilities in each “yellow” countries should be Israel’s Coronavirus Project in the midst of the country’s wearing a mask and limit- hovering at around 1.0. The community in order to man- tested for the virus upon ar- coordinator, Ronni Gamzu, (still ongoing) “second wave” ing gatherings is the way to R number rates a disease’s age the crisis,” he said. “Each rival at Ben-Gurion Interna- his main goal right now is of the coronavirus pandemic, defeat corona. But we must ability to spread. In other mayor has to work with the tional Airport. (He expressed to combat and contain the which began after Israel de- keep the trust up” between words, it is the number of IDF, Health Ministry and po- his hope that a testing facility virus “without implement- cided to reopen its schools us and the public. people on average that one lice in each neighborhood to would be operational at the ing a full lockdown on the and businesses in May. Secondly, Gamzu noted infected person will pass the assist us in cutting the chain airport for both incoming country.” He acknowledged that that Israel must “cut the virus on to.