Central Florida's Independent Jewish Voice
Central Florida's Independent Jewish Voice
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Never, ever forget... "Atrocious" isn't a harsh enough word to describe the Holocaust! I read the following recently and pass it along to you: "In his remarks at the opening back in October, PROKOPIOS PAVLOPOULOS, president of the Hellenic Republic, noted that at a time when admirers of Nazism and fascism are emerging again in Europe, the need to remember that the Holocaust was the most atrocious crime against humanity is critical. President Pavlopoulos highlighted the need to remember, for the...
Combating hate?... I read this recently in the World Jewish Congress digest and pass it along: "WJC President Ambassador RONALD S. LAUDER delivered the keynote address at a recent event at the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome, an institution of the Holy Sea. "Human fraternity: a Jewish reflection for common coexistence brought together lead figures within the Catholic church, Jewish community officials, and members of the diplomatic community to encourage and foster dialogue between the...
I love dogs... (But I don't know about this.) I read it recently in the WJC Digest and pass it along: "Cannabidiol, or CBD, is a non-psychoactive chemical produced by the cannabis plant (marijuana) that has been shown to help alleviate human health issues like inflammation, anxiety, nausea, skin conditions, arthritis and joint pain. (So what has this got to do with animals, you ask?) As reported by "No Camels," ITAY BEN-MORDECHAI, head of innovation at Tel Aviv based Weedley, a leader in the...
A very sad announcement... Walter "Sky" Goldstein one of the staff of the Jewish Pavilion, beloved by all, has passed away. He touched so many people's hearts. He surely will be missed. Before he past, he made it known that he wanted no tears but he wanted to be remembered for his gift of song. We will keep Sky and his family in our prayers. He will never be forgotten. A deserving honor... I read this just weeks ago in the World Jewry Digest and pass it along in part: WJC President Ambassador...
Anti-Semitic violence in 2019... So far, 2019 seemed to be the worst year for anti-Semitism throughout the world. Let's hope 2020 is not as bad (or worse)! I've listed some of the incidents by month but, because of space, left many out: January: Swastika was sprayed on Terenure Hebrew Congregation in Dublin, Ireland. Vandals smash windows of Choral Synagogue in Ukraine. Swastika spray-painted outside Temple Beth Torah in Ventura, California Hundreds of stickers "Jews are poisoning our children"...
Never Again?... Who knew that many years later, despite our efforts and the efforts of others, "Never Again" has morphed into "again and again and again! (I thought that present and future generations would learn the lessons from the great tragedy committed by the Nazis who murdered 6 million Jews back in World War II.) But, so far in the past year of 2019, who could have imagined: That a prominent 84-year-old Holocaust Survivor, whose life has been threatened in Italy, would now need police...
Wishing all my readers a very "HAPPY NEW YEAR"! The Holocaust????... I read this recently. It was very disturbing. I pass it along to you: "The New Zealand Jewish Council, an affiliate of the World Jewish Congress responded with concern to the results of a recent poll undertaken by the Holocaust Memorial Trust of Auckland, which revealed a shocking level of ignorance and uncertainty about the Holocaust in New Zealand. The poll was carried out in collaboration with Curia Market Research. More...
OH NO! HERE WE GO AGAIN! ... The following is part of a letter sent to Hillel from a parent: "I never thought I would have to write anything like this. When you send your child off to college, you expect to worry about the regular things, like whether he or she will find good friends or succeed in class. You shouldn't have to worry about whether other students might hate Jews. My son is proud of his Judaism, a feeling we worked to instill in him from an early age. He enjoyed his time at Hebrew...
First of all, I want to say, "Happy Chanukah to everyone!" "Whoever saves a single life"... To continue this saying from the TALMUD, "is as if one saves the entire world." This brings up the story of Josef Meyer, who saved many Jews from Nazi slaughter. Josef, his wife Elfriede Meyer and their two girls, HANNE and HERTA, were a devout Catholic family with a passionate belief in the values of humanism and democracy. Josef worked in the agricultural administration in Germany but was forced to reti...
A quote from Primo Levi, a survivor of Auschwitz... "It happened, therefore it can happen again: this is the core of what we have to say. It can happen, and it can happen everywhere." (Sends chills up my spine but I know anti-Semitism still exists. I have first-hand knowledge as a victim.) And I recently read this in a World Jewish Congress letter. "Our efforts have taken on new urgency and we cannot rest until the age-old scourge of anti-Semitism has been defeated once and for all and the Jewis...
I can't tolerate Holocaust deniers... I read this recently and repeat the article for you: "YouTube has adopted a new policy to crack down on hate speech, including neo-Nazi glorification and Holocaust denial. In a letter to YouTube, CEO SUSAN WOJCICKI, the World Jewish Congress expressed appreciation for the move, writing, 'As you are well aware, radical content of all kinds is a serious problem and the Jewish people are often the targets of such viral and hate-filled material. In recent years,...
I know Veteran's Day has past but... I wanted to salute all of our servicemen and women, and veterans. I also want to salute their families who have prayed and worried for their loved ones. (I've been there so I know how hard it is. Our eldest, DAVID is a Navy commander and a former soldier who served in Iraq. Our middle son, Dr. STEVEN, a psychologist, worked with recruits at Great Lakes Naval Training Center, Illinois, and our youngest son, RON, served in the Navy on a minesweeper in the...
YES! I agree... I read this in the World Jewish Congress digest and pass it along to you: "WJC President Ambassador RONALD S. LAUDER welcomed the U.S. House of Representatives' resolution condemning the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions movement as a positive and encouraging step in the fight against blind anti-Semitism. The resolution passed in a vote of 398 to 17. The fact that this resolution passed with such overwhelming bipartisan support is a sign of hope for the future of Israel-related...
I'm shocked (and delighted!)... I learned this recently and share it with you: "The Dutch National Railway, Nederlandse Spoorwegen has announced its intention to offer financial compensation to the survivors and relatives of Holocaust victims who were transported via Dutch rail to Nazi concentration camps during World War II. 'Over 70 percent of Dutch Jewry was deported and murdered in the Holocaust, most of them carted to their deaths by the national railway that collaborated and cooperated...
Let's tell it like it is... DENNIS MILLER is a well-known comedian. He had this to say about the Middle East situation. I don't agree with all he says but I pass it along in part anyway: "A brief overview of the situation is always valuable, so as a service to all Americans who still don't get it, I now offer you the story of the Middle East in just a few paragraphs, which is all you really need. The Palestinians want their own country. There's just one thing about that: There are no Palestinian...
Canada, our true friend... I read this in a recent issue of the World Jewry Digest and pass it along: “The Canadian government has decided to formally adopt the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s working definition of anti-Semitism as part of its anti-racism strategy. The definition was approved by all 31-member states of IHRA in May of 2016 and has since been adopted on a national level by more than a dozen countries. In response to the announcement made by Minister of Canadian Heritage and Multiculturalism, PABLO RODRIGUEZ, WJC...
Stronger together... I read this in the World Jewish Congress digest and pass it along: "WJC President Ambassador RONALD S. LAUDER is calling on Jews around the world, of all levels of faith, religious practice and political affiliation, to unite as one in order to contend with the growing challenges facing the Jewish people. (Gee, I thought anti-Semitism would have disappeared by now, ever since I suffered beatings as a little child in the Red Hook Projects of Brooklyn for being Jewish, way...
Anti-Semitism in the halls of power... From "Inmotion" magazine (Simon Wiesenthal Center): "With religious, racial and ethnic hatred seeping into the halls of the United States Congress, the Center urged condemnation, clearly and loudly, by Republicans and Democrats alike. A national petition was launched by the Center urging House Foreign Affairs Chairman ELIOT ENGEL (D-NY) and Ranking Minority Member MIKE McCAUL (R-TX) to have the full committee censure Congresswoman IHAN OMAR (D-MIN) for her...
First... let me wish all my readers SHANAH TOVAH! "During Rosh Hashanah, we celebrate the creation of the world. And commit to repairing and perfecting it together. In the New Year, we'll work towards a world with dignity, equality and freedom for all." The esteemed Elie Wiesel once said: "Human suffering anywhere concerns men and women everywhere." Somehow, that Eli Wiesel statement makes me think of this story... "Malaysian Prime Miniister MAHATHIR MOHAMAD, responding to an event moderator at...
"I'm going to cut right to the chase"... (Directly from the Simon Wiesenthal Center): "The crisis of burgeoning anti-Semitism in Europe is raising questions about how long the vibrant Jewish communities can survive on the continent. From Scandinavia, to the United Kingdom, to France, Belgium, the Netherlands and Germany, European Jews are standing at the edge of a dangerous precipice. Here are but a few of the recent anti-Semitic incidents: In Vishy, Sweden, several members of the neo Nazi...
Three cheers for Israel... Actually, Israel has earned more than three cheers, especially with all the breakthroughs in cancer research and Alzheimers... and so much more that Israel has achieved! But this article is about something else... caring and compassion. And someone I consider very caring and compassionate, NANCY LUDIN, sent me this article: “As Hurricane Dorian finally moved away from the Bahamas, and the full extent of the destruction is revealed, Israeli humanitarian aid agency I...
An idol and a landsman... I'm referring to Ella Fitzgerald, a long time idol of mine and Sammy Davis Jr., a friend and also a fellow Jew. While watching the Ed Sullivan show on television recently, (Yes, I watch Ed Sullivan and even watch Johnny Carson so I will recognize the guests. I'm elderly, remember?) I had the pleasure of seeing these two talents perform together. What a treat! (Just thought I'd mention.) It's long overdue... I read this in the World Jewry Digest recently and pass it alon...
Don't you dare!... Change Emma Lazarus poem on the Statue of Liberty? NO WAY! That poem (as it is) is part of our beloved country's history. Please let your feelings be known about this. Write to your congressman or congress woman or senator! Israel is in the news a lot these days... (And not all positive.) I read this in the World Jewish Congress digest and pass it along to you: "As Israel attempted to become the fourth country in the world to land a spacecraft on the moon, WJC President...
Dedicated to those whose loved ones perished in El Paso and Dayton... Ever so close in mind and heart No further away than a picture, a smile of remembered phrase, Our loved ones live in memory so close in many ways. For how often does a sunset bring nostalgic thought to mind, Of moments that loved ones shared in days now left behind. How often has a flower or a crystal autumn sky Brought golden recollections of happy days gone by. Yes, memory has a magic way of keeping loved ones near, Ever so...
"Getting old is not for Sissies"... (Betty Davis quote) Despite what you may have seen on the streets, the following combinations DO NOT go together: A nose ring and bifocals. Spiked hair and bald spots. A pierced tongue and dentures. Miniskirts and support hose. Ankle bracelets and corn pads. Speedos and cellulite. A belly button ring and a gail bladder surgery scar. Unbuttoned disco shirt and a heart monitor. Midriff shirts and a midriff bulge. Bikinis and liver spots. Short shorts and...
