Scene Around

Good news for a change...

Lately I have been writing about anti-Semitism sprouting up here and around the world. Finally, thanks to the World Jewish Congress (WJC) Digest, there is something positive to report... especially for us Floridians:

"BECAUSE OF WINN-DIXIE," the heading of the report reads, followed by an explanation. "No, not the award-winning children's novel but rather the southern supermarket giant. In the affluent South Florida suburb of Boca Raton, you will now find a huge in-store kosher operation including a kosher bakery (with fresh pizza pies) a meat and deli counter (including hot potato kugel and meatballs), a refrigerated case with cold salads and lots of pre-packaged kosher goodies (like chicken soup, knaidle and carrot tzimmis) and even a kosher sushi chef.

The $3 million kosher gamble in Boca has paid off. Winn-Dixie officials state that business in the new kosher departments has tripled in the past year.

The Jacksonville-based company with 480 stores in five Southern states also has in-house kosher facilities in Aventura and Tamarac. These Winn-Dixie stores are supervised by certified mashgiachs and have attracted many Orhtodox employees." (Let's all demand an Orlando kosher department in our local stores too. I can almost taste the tzimmis now!)

Another upbeat story...

This incident has also been brought to our attention by WJC: "Following condemnation by WJC and others of UNESCO's cancellation of an exhibit on Jewish ties to the land of Israel, originally scheduled to open at UNESCO's Paris headquarters (a few months ago), the U.N. cultural body recently announced that 'The People, The Book, The Land: The 3,500 year relationship between the Jewish people and the land of Israel' WILL open on June 11. The cancellation was prompted by the protestation of Arab states." (Thankfully, the cultural event will go on after all.)

Oy vay! Back to the bad news...

I heard this on local television last week. No one (including Russia's Putin) will take responsibility for it, however: Jews in Eastern Ukraine (Donetsk) are being blamed for supporting the revolution that forced pro-Russian president VIKTOR YANUKOVYCH to flee the country. Armed men handed out a leaflet on Passover eve telling Jews to register or face confiscation of their property. (Sound familiar?)

And speaking of Ukraine...

Today's date is May 2, 2014. Tomorrow, May 3, back in 1898 in Kiev, Ukraine, Golda Meir, who played an integral role in establishing Israel as a state and would later become Israel's fourth prime minister, was born.

Golda was raised and schooled in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and even taught school there, but returned to Israel (then Palestine) in 1921 to take up political causes with her spouse. She died in December of 1978.

A birthday bash?...

Not quite a bash, rather a pleasant afternoon when a few of GERRY ECKSTEIN's many friends decided to sit down for a lunch at Giovanni's Restaurant, Aloma Avenue, Winter Park, on April 23. Present to wish Gerry well were "your truly," HILDE SANDS, LYNNE McCOY and ESTELLE KLEIN.

After the Italian food luncheon, Gerry served birthday cake to her friends... (No calories, of course!)

There was only one birthday candle. A zero. (The number six candle must have fallen under the table or something!) A nice time was had by all... especially because of the no calories!

And speaking of Estelle Klein...

If ever there was a person deserving of the word "mensch" it is Estelle. This wonderful lady is devoted to her friends and even just acquaintances. If you need her for any reason... baby sitting animals, driving to doctor's appointments... helping with decisions of any kind, for instance, she is there for you. (I never met a kinder, more giving person who doesn't expect anything back in return... a mensch for sure!)

Another mensch to acknowledge...

This appeared recently in one of the Jewish Federation of Greater Orlando emails. It named our own MADELINE WOLLY "Mensch of the Week." I am delighted to pass it along to you for she is truly deserving: "Madeline Wolly is one of the longest serving JFS board members, serving as president of the board from 1996-1998. She continues to be a very active member of the board, attending all of its meetings and events, recently receiving the distinction of 'Board Member Emeritus'. This has not stopped Madeline as she continues as a member of JFS' annual Evening of Valor committee and annual chairperson of its George Wolly Community Leadership Award Committee. The award and in fact, the JFS Building, is named for her late husband, George Wolly, who gave so much of his time and effort to make JFS the leading social service Agency in Central Florida that it is today.

Madeline continues with that exemplary service to the community, carrying on the Wolly name in service to JFS.

Madeline exemplifies the JFS mission of providing high quality and innovative services to people in need of all faiths and backgrounds."

If you love animals...

And I'm sure you do as much as I do, then you will want to know about this site: . All animals deserve basic legal rights, especially not to be tortured and made miserable for their entire existence. If you are computer savvy, then go to the website above and click on it. Once you are there you will watch a video and then please scroll down and sign it. I did. We must be their voice!

One for the road...

I recently received this joke via email from Hilde Sands and pass it along to you:

"A recent article in the Heritage News reported that a woman, Annabelle Schwartzkopf, has sued Florida Hospital, saying that after her husband had surgery there, he lost all interest in sex.

A hospital spokesman replied: Mr. Schwartzkopf was admitted for cataract surgery. All we did was correct his eyesight."

(Thanks, Hilde. I needed a laugh!)