Scene Around

A well-deserved honor...

I read this in the current issue of the World Jewish Congress (WJC) digest and pass it along to you in part:

"The World Jewish Congress recently honored former U.S. Secretary of State GEORGE P. SHULTZ with its prestigious Theodor Herzl Award. WJC President Ambassador RONALD S. LAUDER and former Secretary of State HENRY A. KISSINGER, himself a past Herzl Award recipient, presented the award to Shultz at a gala event at New York's Waldorf Astoria.

Upon accepting the award, recounted how as U.S. Secretary of State he helped Soviet Jews immigrate to Israel. Turning to issues in the Middle East, he emphasized that 'the U.S. needs to get its credibility back.'

(Sounds like something Donald Trump would say!)

Shultz continued ' Iran is the world's leading sponsor of state terrorism. When you look at Iran, you see a country that obviously wants to get a nuclear weapon. And every other day they say they want to exterminate Israel.'

Shultz also defended Israel's actions against Hamas during last summer's Operation Protective Edge in Gaza. ' The party that puts weapons in the midst of civilians is the war criminal... not the party that knocks those weapons out.'

He further recommended that the U.S. take a strong leadership role and organize a coalition against ISIS including Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Israel and Americas European allies. 'If the U.S. doesn't lead, we get chaos.' He added.

The WJC has announced that German Chancellor ANGELA MERKEL will be honored with the Theodor Herzl Award in 2016.

A gathering of former New Yawkahs...

Inspite of the fact that we are all living in Central Florida for decades, the accent never leaves!

Just a couple of weeks ago, JUDY COTTER, ESTELLE GRAYES, DORIS PINES and yours truly (me) gathered for lunch at Too Jay's in Altamonte Springs, for a chance to reminisce about our Northern upbringing.

Judy was born in the Bronx and moved to New Jersey before coming down to Florida. Estelle, Doris and I are all former Brooklynites. And we still all say things like "cawfee, you dehnce nice, Lawng Eyeland and dahkteh."

(If you're from Brooklyn you'll know that we are saying coffee, dance, Long Island and doctor.)

We had a great time, and had the honor of meeting Too Jay's general manager, TIM WOOD, and assistant manager, KIM MILLS, and had "the best seat in the house" according to the waitress that seated us. (She was also from New Yawk.)

A lot of laughs (probably from the other customers who heard us talk) and great food! A good time was had by all.

A JFGO Mensch...

I'm referring to HARRIET WEISS, a gal who really deserves this honor. I will pass the Jewish Federation of Greater Orlando email about her along to you:

"Harriet Weiss has made a significant impact on the lives of hundreds of seniors at The Roth Family JCC of Greater Orlando as well as the entire community through so many of the JCC's programs, including the main stage theater program, Theater at the J and its predecessor, the Center Players.

In recognition of her extraordinary contribution to Jewish lives in Orlando, Harriet will be presented with the JCC's inaugural Legacy Award at this Thursday's J Ball. The Legacy Award was established to celebrate the efforts of a dedicated individual who has paved the way for others and will leave a legacy for others to carry the torch.

Harriet has chaired the Central Florida Jewish Film Festival for more than a decade. For 22 years, she served as the Senior, Adults, and Lively Arts director. This May, she will complete her third term with the JCC's Board of Directors. The Weiss family has been heavily involved with the JCC for the past 30 years, even moving to Maitland to be closer to the JCC. Weiss and her late husband, Gary, and their three sons, Jeffrey, Kevin and David, have been active participants, which included the boys serving as camp counselors to serving in leadership roles. Six of the Weisses' eight grandchildren attended the JCC's Richard S. Adler Early Childhood Learning Center and continue to participate in after-school programs, Andrew Hansen Mandell JCC Summer Camps, and Theater at the J."

Thank you for all you do, Harriet, and congratulations on the richly deserved Legacy Award!

Wow! Look what's coming to Orlando...

From Broadway, the fabulous show "Stomp" will open at the Dr. Phillips Center for Performing Arts on Wednesday, March 23rd at 8 p.m.

A unique combination of percussion, movement and visual comedy, STOMP has created its own inimitable, contemporary form of rhythmic expression: both household and industrial objects find new life as musical instruments in the hands of an idiosyncratic band of body percussionists. It is a journey through sound, a celebration of the everyday and a comic interplay of characters wordlessly communicating through dance and drum. 

For tickets, directions and other information, phone the Dr. Phillips Center at 407-839-0119 ext 5

One for the road...

Hilda has a heart attack and is taken to hospital. While on the operating table she has a near death experience, during which she sees God and asks if this is the end for her.

God says no and explains that she has another 30-40 years to live.

As soon as she had recovered, Hilda figured that since she's got another 30 or 40 years, she might as well stay in the hospital and have the face-lift, liposuction, breast augmentation and tummy tuck that she had always promised herself. So she did and she even changed the color of her hair!

But tragedy - some weeks later, as Hilda is leaving hospital, she is knocked over and killed by a car just as she left the hospital.

When Hilda arrives in front of God, she asks, "I thought you said I had another 30-40 years?"

God replies, "I didn't recognize you."