ORLANDO, Fla. — As tensions escalate overseas and families in Central Florida stay alert on the developments in the Middle East, local communities are coming together for both celebration and support.
What You Need To Know
Shalom Orlando in Maitland is hosting a Purim celebration focused on community.
Leaders say heightened security measures are in place as tensions continue overseas.
Local families with ties to Israel and Iran say their loved ones are in fear with their daily lives disrupted.
As the conflict continues to unfold, community leaders emphasize unity and support.
Preparations are underway at Shalom Orlando in Maitland as the organization gets ready to host a celebration for Purim, a Jewish holiday that commemorates the salvation of the Jewish people in ancient Persia, as told in the Book of Esther.
“There’s going to be lots of fun, food, games, really anything you can imagine. The goal here is to celebrate our community, to be together,” Shalom Orlando CEO Marni Mandell said.
Mandell said that while the focus is on celebration, safety remains a top priority as tensions overseas continue to develop.
“We are acutely aware of all of the threats that may be happening on a daily basis, but also at the specific time, and we coordinate between the local, the state and the national intelligence agencies. And we have an incredible regional security adviser who is on this campus all of the time. And so, from that perspective, we cover all of our bases,” Mandell said.
She says the goal of the evening is to bring the community together. For her, the conflict overseas is also deeply personal. She recently moved back from Israel and still has family and friends there.
“I have people who are talking to me every day about their friends and family who are over there in Israel. And they’re nervous about their safety and security. On a personal level, I moved back from Israel shortly after Oct. 7, and I’m worried about my own friends and family. A missile landed 150 meters away from my apartment building,” Mandell said.
Many in Central Florida’s Jewish and Iranian communities continue to follow developments closely.
Shani Yagdar, who fled Israel last October, says that her family remains there amid ongoing violence.
“Even though everyone is scared because you’re scared whenever there’s a missile coming at you, you’re scared. Even though this is the reality now, I believe they know what this is for a higher purpose and this is to try to change the regime in Iran,” Yagdar said.
She says daily life has been disrupted for her loved ones.
“They are in a war situation. They go every couple of hours, they go to the shelter, they basically stop their life. They’re not working,” she said.
For leaders within the Iranian community in Central Florida, the conflict also brings uncertainty.
“Regime change is not easy,” said Faramarz Sadri, president of the Iranian-American Community Center of Central Florida.
Sadri says members of his community are struggling to stay in contact with loved ones overseas.
“Communication is very difficult. As you would imagine, everything is cut off. But, I just spoke with somebody, actually, just a couple of hours ago that they had received a call from their family from Iran, and they seem to be OK,” he said.
He says conditions in Iran continue to deteriorate.
“The lines everywhere for food, for gas, for all their primary needs. He asked about the children. He says all the schools are closed. Everything is closed. They’re just, hoping for the best. And maybe this would be a quick exercise,” Sadri said.
Despite the uncertainty, he says unity remains essential.
“We need to stand together. We need to take care of our children because, especially Iranians who are outside of Iran,” Sadri said.
The Purim celebration at Shalom Orlando in Maitland was scheduled to begin at 5:30 p.m. Organizers say the event is designed to bring the community together in a spirit of joy while maintaining heightened security measures.