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Orlando — In a recent feature published by Heritage Florida Jewish News, scholars and rabbis explored the profound significance of the Hebrew word “Shema” (Hear) as the foundation of Jewish faith and identity. The article emphasizes that Judaism begins not with sight or action, but with listening. The command “Hear, O Israel” reflects a spiritual

Orlando — The Orlando Torah Center (OTC) has won a key legal victory after a Florida judge ruled that its lawsuit against Orange County can move forward. The case stems from the county’s refusal to grant zoning waivers for OTC’s proposed 9,300‑square‑foot expansion of its worship center. The dispute began in July 2025, when Rabbi

Sarasota — Police in Sarasota arrested Brayton Laschinger, 30, after he allegedly threw a brick through the window of the Chabad of Downtown SRQ synagogue in the early morning hours of July 29. Authorities reported that Laschinger covered his head with a blue towel before hurling the brick around 6:00 a.m., causing damages estimated at

Washington — The Israeli‑American Council (IAC) held a virtual tribute this week to honor the memory of Senator Lindsey Graham (R‑SC), who passed away earlier this year. Graham was remembered as a steadfast ally of Israel and a respected friend of the Jewish community. Elan Carr, CEO of the IAC, praised Graham’s “profound commitment” to

Agri Star in Postville is on fire, with many area fire departments responding. Please avoid the area and let the emergency responders do their work. Photo by Paula Enyart. Subscribe to the JFN WhatsApp Channel

News Provided By Joe Kaufman for Congress June 18, 2026, 10:00 GMT   Share This Article   Kaufman Chooses Faith Over Politics   “Americans should never have to choose between serving their country and serving God. Religious liberty is a foundational American value that must be protected.” — Joe Kaufman BOCA RATON, FL, UNITED STATES, June

Boca Raton — In a rare political move, Rabbi Efrem Goldberg, senior rabbi of the influential Boca Raton Synagogue, has called on his congregation to temporarily register as Democrats in order to participate in the upcoming Florida Democratic primary elections. The rabbi explained that the effort is designed to support Congressman Jared Moskowitz, a pro‑Israel

Miami — Jewish Community Services of South Florida (JCS), one of Miami‑Dade’s longest‑serving nonprofit social service agencies, has announced the appointment of Mitchell “Mitch” Morris as Chair of its Board of Directors for the 2026–2027 term. Morris succeeds Vanessa Ressler, who will continue serving as Immediate Past Chair. Morris has been a dedicated member of

Jerusalem — Team USA delivered a dominant performance at the 2026 Maccabiah Games, securing an impressive 308 medals overall, with 75 gold, 103 silver, and 130 bronze. The achievement underscores the strength of American Jewish athletes across multiple disciplines at the world’s largest Jewish sporting event. The Games, often referred to as the “Jewish Olympics,”

Orlando — As Israel prepares for another national election, Heritage Florida Jewish News raises a critical question: do American Jews truly grasp how Israel’s parliamentary system works? Unlike the U.S. presidential model, Israel’s elections are based on proportional representation. Citizens vote for political parties rather than individual candidates, and seats in the Knesset are distributed