Scene Around

Simply outrageous...

I received this update from the Simon Wiesenthal Center recently... and it literally made me feel sick. Read on:

"You may not have heard about the outrageous sermon delivered at Al-Aqsa Mosque just a few weeks ago by Sheik KHALAD AL-MUGHRABI. Now Al-Mughrabi is no ordinary preacher, but a preacher at one of the holiest sites in Islam, just a stones's throw away from the Western Wall. And his sermon was so outrageous, so full of hate, that it should have made the front pages of our newspapers.  

(You probably won't be surprised to learn that it didn't.)

In his sermon, the Sheik explained to his listeners why Jews use the blood of children when they bake matzoh for Passover. He said 'These stories are known... write 'Jewish bread' in Google and you will see all these stories... with dates and police files in which the material was found... How the children of Israel would look for a small child, kidnap and steal him, put him in the barrel full of nails...' and use the blood to bake the Matzoh. He went on to explain that when this practice was discovered the Europeans took defensive measures, which led to the repeated expulsion of Jews from European countries. He then justified the Holocaust by adding, 'in the end it reached such a point where they were burned in Germany because of these things, because they kidnap young children.'

(Gee, at least he didn't deny that the Holocaust happened!)

The Simon Wiesenthal Center report continues:

"Remember, this is not a preacher appointed by Hamas, or Hezbollah or Isis, but a Palestinian under the jurisdiction of MALMOUD ABBAS and King ABDULLAH of Jordan, whose country is the guardian of the Al-Aqsa Mosque.

(Simon Wiesenthal) Center leaders immediately protested with a public letter to King Abdullah and President Abbas. But even after his hate was exposed, Sheik Al Mughrabi spoke again at the Mosque, saying he was trying to 'save' Jews from 'hell.' He then added 'the children of Israel symbolize the devil and cause great damage to all people in the world.'"

(Do you believe this? How sickening... how vile. I need to take a break from this column for a while to recover.)

Precious photos...

Three cheers for RINAT HALON of Rinat Halon Photography and Communications. She devoted an entire afternoon to shooting pictures at Brookdale Island Lake.

Thirty Jewish Pavilion volunteers and residents dressed in jewel colors in an effort to obtain the very best possible photos.

Rinat donated her time and talent and took hundreds of incredible pictures using Jewish holiday props. She was able to capture the warmth and friendship that are the hallmark of the Jewish Pavilion. While most of the pictures were of one resident with one JP volunteer, this picture of four women enjoying Purim festivities (see photo) was one of Rinat's favorite photos.

To learn more about Rinat and her superb work visitwww.rinathalom.com

I heard from one of our own...

DONNA FIEGEL recently told me about this Monday night cabaret summer special that shouldn't be missed:

Produced by Beth Marshall Presents, CYDNEY CLARK will be performing her Coming of Age Cabaret at The Abbey Aug. 24 at 8 p.m. Clark's appearance is a special performance of The Abbey's Monday Night Cabaret Series.

Cydney Clark comes of age in the world of Cabaret, singing everything from Blues to Broadway.  

Cydney is a 2015 Beth Marshall Presents TOP TEEN who is currently pursuing a BFA in Musical Theatre at the University of Michigan's School of Music, Theatre, and Dance. She was most recently seen in the Athens Theater's production of Footloose as Rusty and Beth Marshall Presents' Part 3 of the Trayvon Martin Project: Hoodies at the Orlando Fringe Festival. She also appeared in Part 1 of The Trayvon Martin Project and Beatnik Squared.

Tickets to Cydney Clark's Coming of Age Cabaret are on sale now and can be purchased at www.TicketWeb.com. General admission tickets are $10.

For more information, visit www.AbbeyOrlando.com.

More about good music...

I think it was in one of my recent columns that I expressed a desire to hear more of the good old music... not the rantings and rap of today.

I believe I wrote about a Fred Astaire movie I saw on television that featured the songs of Jewish composer, Jerome Kern.  

Well, once again Kern's fabulous music, (with equally fabulous lyrics by Harold Arlen) left me feeling "enchanted" and it was also featured in another Fred Astaire movie, "You Were Never Lovelier," co-starring Rita Hayworth.

Another two of my all-time favorite songs, "Dearly Beloved" and "I'm Old Fashioned" were featured.

(Gee, I hope these songs are never forgotten.)

Mount Dora is "hopping"...

The 15th Mount Dora Florida Highwaymen Art Show, Sale & Benefit takes place today through Aug. 16th at the Donnelly House.

For more information, go to http://www.MountDoraArt.com.

Also, the Mount Dora Seafood Festival starts tomorrow and goes through Sunday, from 11 a.m. until 9 p.m. on Saturday and from 11 a.m. until 5 p.m. on Sunday.

It takes place at Elizabeth Evan's Park, 100 S. Donnelly Street. It features crafters, a kid's zone and delicious seafood.

A shout out...

One of the receptionists at The Center For Specialized Surgery is "special" indeed.

On a recent visit, ERICA ANDERSON could sense how stressed I was and, instead of having me fill out paperwork, she did it for me and only needed my signature in places.

(Why was I stressed, you ask? DON'T ASK!)

One for the road...

This seems apropos as raising hourly rates are often discussed on television news programs:

Harry went for a job interview. It seemed to go well because before he left, he was told, "We would like you to work for us. We'll give you $10 an hour starting today and in three months time we'll increase it to $15 an hour. So when would you like to start?" 

Harry replies, "In about 3 months from now."