
St. Pete Councilman ducks vote to adopt definition of antisemitism
By BOB FRYER Jewish Press | September 25, 2023
On the eve of Rosh HaShana and just four days after a bomb threat forced worshipers at Congregation B’nai Israel in St. Petersburg to evacuate (just after Selichot services), St. Petersburg councilman John Muhammad walked out of council chambers to avoid a vote on a resolution on antisemitism. The resolution,...

Hillel Academy to open first Jewish high school
BOB FRYER
Jewish Press | September 25, 2023
For the first time, the Tampa Bay area will have its own Jewish high school starting for 2024-25 school year, Hillel Academy of Tampa, which now serves kids from 1-year-old through eighth grade, has announced that it will open Tampa Jewish Community High School for students in grades 9-12. “This...

Fall Festival: Films, authors, foodie delights, art and music
September 25, 2023
The Tampa JCCs & Federation’s Fall Festival of Arts and Culture will run Oct. 25-29 and feature four authors including two from Tampa, two international films and a spotlight event featuring an Israeli culinary superstar. Events will be on Wednesday and Thursday evenings, Oct. 25 and 26, a luncheon on...
Federation putting security front and center in this year’s Campaign
September 25, 2023
With incidents of anti-Jewish harassment, vandalism and assault rising across the country, the Jewish Federation of Florida’s Gulf Coast will soon begin implementing LiveSecure, a new initiative through Jewish Federations of North America (JFNA). A total of $54 million in JNFA funds is to be dispersed throughout the U.S. and...
Red Sox fire former Rays’ head of baseball operations
September 25, 2023
(JTA) – The Boston Red Sox fired Chaim Bloom on Thursday, ending the Shabbat-observant baseball executive’s nearly four-year tenure as the team’s chief baseball officer....
GDL member arrested for Anne Frank House incident
September 25, 2023
(JTA) – A prominent member of the American neo-Nazi group, Goyim Defense League, has been extradited to the Netherlands, where he will stand trial for...
Mexico on track to get first Jewish and female president
September 25, 2023
(JTA) – The way things stand now, Mexico is headed to elect its first woman and first Jewish president next year. The polls for the...
Buy a Shalom Bond: Support Israel, help ease Africa’s water crisis
September 25, 2023
“Turn on a Tap and Make an Impact,” a wine-tasting experience showcasing Israeli technology will be held on Thursday, Oct. 19 in Clearwater, hosted by...

Museum to offer first public view of Danish rescue boat
September 12, 2023
The long-awaited first public showing of Thor, a 10-ton fishing vessel used in 1943 to carry Jews from Nazi-occupied Denmark to the safety of neutral...
A play about a Yiddish play that caused uproar in 1923 to open at American Stage
September 12, 2023
“I would not be ashamed to be arrested for a play I believe in.” Powerful words from a powerful character in “Indecent,” American Stage’s first...

God’s mailbox
September 25, 2023
Twice a year, before Rosh Hashanah and Passover, there’s a ritual that takes place in the Old City of Jerusalem. A dozen or so workers...
OBITUARIES
September 25, 2023
FERN FRIEDBERG, of Clearwater, died Aug. 25. Born in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, she moved to Florida in 1975. She was an office administrator for a...