Scene Around

All of a sudden...

At the ripe old age of 68 (oh shut up!) I find myself nervous about being Jewish. I went through this as a very young child of five, taking beatings every day until I began lying and saying I was Catholic. (I even learned my "Hail Mary's") but pushed it out of my mind when, a few years later, I learned of the Holocaust and the torture my people endured. I was very ashamed of myself for denying my heritage... although at that tender age, I sort of understood why.

This all happened in the Red Hook section of Brooklyn, New York, a tough place to live. Anti-Semitism was alive and well back then. I sincerely hope it's not on the rise in this country again as it is in Europe.

I read this yesterday in the World Jewish Congress (WJC) digest. I pass it along to you in part:

"Less than a month after the deadly Paris attacks, two incidents have heightened the fear of French Jews about rising anti-Semitism. Three French soldiers in Nice who were stationed on an anti-terror patrol outside the Jewish Community Center in the heart of the city were attacked by a man wielding an 8-inch knife. One was stabbed in the arm, one on the chin and the third was cut on the cheek. Police detained the attacker but believe that two accomplices fled the scene. According to Nice Mayor Christian Estrosi, the attacker carried an ID card that identified him as Moussa Coulibaly, the same last name as the gunman who killed four in a kosher supermarket in Paris. It is not known if they are related.

More than 20,000 French soldiers have been deployed to guard Jewish schools and institutions across the country.

In a separate incident, NSL Studio, a graphic design firm in Paris, claimed they were hacked when their help-wanted ad online called for applicants who were ''si possible pais juif' or 'if possible not Jewish.' The company removed the ad from the job search website after it went 'viral' on Facebook, posted an apology and filed an official complaint with prosecution to determine who was responsible for the advertisement. The anti-racism organization SOS Racisme has filed a separate legal action with prosecutors since racial discrimination is a crime under French law."

It was noted by the president of the French-Jewish Council that recent attacks have been carried out by 'French born citizens who went through the public schools, and that combating the threat will require many things. We need education, we need police, we need security, we need justice' he said. Adding that the French Jewish community is justifiably 'very worried,' he added: 'There are a few thousand people with prejudices against Jews.'

Remembering a special man...

April 28th back in 1908 was the birth-date of German industrialist and "Righteous Gentile" Oskar Schindler, who is credited with saving as many as 1,300 Jews during the Holocaust.

Schindler paid off Nazis to hire and keep increasing numbers of Jewish workers at his factory in Poland, which supplied defective munitions for German guns. 

His story was brought to international acclaim through the 1993 film, "Schindler's List."

Mount Dora music...

On May 15-16, the city of Mount Dora will present "Blues Grove" for all to enjoy.

For more information, directions, tickets, etc., phone 352-383-2165 or go online to .

A reminder...

On Sunday, May 3rd at 2 p.m. in the Ballroom, The Congregation Ohev Shalom (COS) Seniors will present the super-talented musician, GEORGE GROSMAN who has performed all over the world before moving to Central Florida.

All are welcome to attend. The cost is still $5, COS Senior members; $8, all others.

There will be refreshments and a raffle.

COS is located at 613 Concourse Pkway South, Maitland. For further directions and information, phone president BERNY RAFF.

Trading Wise indeed...

I am passing along an email I received from JIM and RACHEL SHIPLEY about their next TradingWise meeting:

"Okay, you gave up the desk top for a laptop and maybe gave that up for an iPad – or in some outlandish cases, tried to give them all up for a Smart Phone. Whatever device or devices you use, you really know you do not know the most effective, efficient and best way to use all their features, all their applications and services that you have already paid for. LESLIE LINCOLN does. She knows computers. She teaches people how to get the most out of them and the best way to stop hating Bill Gates. As our guest for the May IRT, she will dispense some wonderful tips and help us confront our deepest anxieties about our computing devices. It's what she does. And not only that – she is in no way your basic image of a geek.

The May IRT is Thursday, May 7th.  We commence at 11:30 a.m. for networking. Buffet lunch at about 11:50 a.m. Speaker goes on about 12:10 p.m. and we hope to wrap up about 1p.m. -after which stay as long as you want for further networking. The University Club is ideal for small sitdowns. The cost for the IRT is $30. The University Club is located at 150 East Central Avenue, corner of Rosalind-across from the library. There is free parking next to the club but space is limited in which case there is a public parking garage a few doors west of the Club. We would appreciate an e-mail or phone call confirming your attendance.  Our e-mail is tradingwise@cfl.rr.com.  Call us at 407/222-5723. If you have a friend or business associate who might be interested in the IRT bring them along-just let us know so we can put them on our attendee list. If you make a reservation and find you cannot make it, please let us know-we order lunch for you unless you tell us different." (Sounds like a very informative way to spend an afternoon) 

Jewish American Heritage Month... 

If you plan to be in the DC area be sure to read on:

Founded in 1800, the Library of Congress is the nation's oldest federal cultural institution. The Library seeks to spark imagination and creativity and to further human understanding and wisdom by providing access to knowledge through its magnificent collections, publications, programs and exhibitions. Many of the Library's rich resources can be accessed through its website at www.loc.gov. On Tuesday, May 5 at 12:30 p.m., Canadian filmmaker JOE BALASS will show and discuss his film "Baghdad Twist" (33 minutes). Told through his own family's history, the film documents the disappearance of Iraq's Jewish community in the aftermath of the Arab-Israeli wars of 1948 and 1967. Balass takes viewers on a poetic journey through the fragmented memories of an Arab-Jewish exile. The filmmaker will answer questions following the screening. The Library will present this event in cooperation with the Washington Jewish Film Festival and Conseil des arts et des lettres du Québec.

One for the road...

Rose goes to see Max, her attorney, and says, "I want to divorce my Harry." 

"Why do you want to do that?" Max asks, "I thought you said he was a man of rare gifts. 

"He is," replies Rose, he's never given me a present in 20 years of marriage." 

"Very funny, Rose. Is there another reason why you want a divorce?" asks Max. 

"Yes there is," replies Rose, "I want a divorce because of his appearance." 

"That's an unusual reason," says Max. 

"Not really," says Rose, "Harry hasn't put in an appearance at home for four years.

(Not to worry, hon. I don't want a divorce.??????)