What happens now that U.S., Canada & Israel have cut UNESCO funds because of Palestinians?



WASHINGTON – The effect of UNESCO’s Oct. 31 vote to grant the Palestinians membership in the U.N.’s cultural arm, was immediate: The U.S. cancelled the $60 million it annually gives the agency, about a fifth of its budget. Then UNESCO asked Canada to make up the difference. Canada refused and instead reduced its contributions to the $12 million legally required […]

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Mazel Tov … to Leonard S. Englander, founder of Englander Fischer in St. Petersburg, for recently completing mediation training from the Program on Negotiation at Harvard Law School. Englander is board certified in Business Litigation by the Florida Bar and has been since 1997, a distinction held by fewer than 275 attorneys statewide. International news Sally and Erel Laufer have […]

Obituaries



ELYSE ROCHELLE FREDRICKS, 55, of Palm Harbor, died Nov. 1. Born in Brooklyn, NY, she moved here in 1997 from Alpharetta, GA ,and was a literacy coach. She was a member of Temple Ahavat Shalom in Palm Harbor. Survivors include her husband, Neil; daughter, Erica; son, Tyler; sister and brother-in-law, Ilene and Charlie Banker; brother and sister-in-law, Harvey and Cathy […]

‘God vs. Gay’ author comes home for book festival



Jay Michaelson struggled with his sexual identity as a young boy growing up in Tampa. Afraid to admit he was gay, he felt alone and “beyond ostracized.” That was in the 1980s, and he says since then much has changed, not only for him, but also in the attitudes of people in Tampa and elsewhere. Michaelson, 40, grew up as […]

On Arlington’s Chaplains Hill, fallen rabbis get a place of honor



ARLINGTON, VA – Fourteen Jewish military chaplains who gave their lives in service to their country finally have a place of honor in Arlington National Cemetery. Family members of the fallen chaplains were joined Oct. 24 by community leaders, politicians, and current and retired military personnel for a ceremony marking the unveiling of the Jewish chaplains memorial on Chaplains Hill. […]

Jobless in U.S., college grads find opportunities in Israel



NEW YORK – In her final months as a political science major at the University of Pittsburgh, Susanna Zlotnikov had a positive outlook about landing a job. But as the months passed and her network of contacts led only to dead ends, Zlotnikov decided she needed a backup. Instead of spending the summer after her May graduation sending out more […]

Just a nosh…



Abbas will ‘never recognize’ a Jewish state JERUSALEM – Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas said he will never recognize a Jewish state and that capturing Gilad Shalit was a “good thing.” Abbas made the remarks in an Oct. 23 interview on the Egyptian television channel Dream 2. A transcript of the interview was published by MEMRI, the Middle East Media […]

Shalits trying to adjust to new normal



JERUSALEM – A week after Gilad Shalit returned to Israel after being held in captivity for more than five years in Gaza, things were getting back to normal at the Shalit family home – sort of. The Israel Police said they would remove a barrier placed in front of the family’s house in Mitzpe Hila. The flowers, placards and other […]

Biden’s future son-in-law is Jewish doctor



(JTA) Vice President Joe Biden’s future son-in-law is a Jewish doctor. The news became public after Biden referred to Philadelphia doctor Howard Krein as his future sonin law during an event in his home state of Delaware on Oct. 28. Ashley Biden, 30, and Krein reportedly dated for a year before they became engaged in September, according to reports. Biden […]

Federation’s Women of Distinction event to feature local filmmaker, 28 honorees



To exemplify women who give of themselves to their organizations and community through leadership and commitment, the Jewish Federation of Pinellas & Pasco Counties will honor 28 women at its annual Women of Distinction event. This year’s honorees will be recognized at the event on Thursday, Dec. 8, at Ruth Eckerd Hall. The doors open at 6:15 p.m. for a […]