Scene Around

A family filled with pride and rightly so...

The family of the late Henri Landwirth, nationally renowned Orlando philanthropist and Holocaust survivor who created Give Kids the World and Dignity U Wear, will travel to the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington, D.C., on April 28 to create a legacy for Landwirth, and to participate in Days of Remembrance, America's annual national commemoration of the Holocaust. 

Each year, the Museum leads the nation in remembering the victims of the Holocaust and honoring the survivors during Days of Remembrance established by the United States Congress, which runs this year from April 28 to May 5. 

In honor of Landwirth, his daughter LISA ULLMANN, and sons GARY and GREG LANDWIRTH, along with six other close family members and friends, are traveling to the museum to witness the unveiling of two $50,000 permanent inscriptions of their father's and grandparents' names on the museum's Donor Wall during a special ceremony that will take place on April 28 in the museum's Donor Lounge. 

The inscriptions will read as follows: Fanny and Max Landwirth-In Memory

Henri Landwirth-From Hate to Hope

"My father, who passed away last April at the age of 91, survived the worst of humanity during the Holocaust, but emerged as the brightest beacon of hope, creating a new life for himself in America and becoming an altruist in the truest sense of the word by devoting his life to helping children and others who need clothes, are hungry or homeless-all the things he endured in the camps," said Gary Landwirth. "By supporting the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum, we are creating a bond in perpetuity for Holocaust remembrance and for our family." 

"The United States Holocaust Memorial Museum is proud to honor the life and legacy of Henri Landwirth and Henri's parents during Days of Remembrance this year," said ROBERT TANEN director of the Museum's Southeast regional office. "Henri was a remarkable man who survived the horrific atrocities of the Holocaust to become an exemplary humanitarian who gave so many beautiful children and their families the opportunity to smile, relax and simply have fun at Give Kids The World Village. The Holocaust robbed Henri of a normal childhood, but his inspiring legacy has provided magical experiences for nearly 170,000 children and their families."

Anti-Semitism is on the rise...

Jews around the world are under assault again. Across the globe, anti-Semitic forces are energized and openly espousing their hatred. Jews are dying and the state of Israel is threatened.

A recent FBI report showed that hate crimes against American Jews rose by 37 percent in 2017. The European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights released a comprehensive report on discrimination and hate crimes against the Jews in the EU, finding that 9 out of 10 European Jews believe anti-Semitism is getting worse, and according to a study commissioned by the World Jewish Congress, an anti-Semitic message is posted to social media every 83 seconds.

In 2018 alone, there were 21 UN resolutions singling out the State of Israel, while only a total of 6 resolutions criticized some of the world's worst human rights abusers like Syria, Iran and North Korea.

(These facts and figures are deeply troubling. I'd hate to think that humanitarians like the late Henri Landswirth and millions of others suffered in vain. We can join the fight against global anti-Semitism today at ).

On a much lighter note...

Some of the greatest composers of our time were Jewish. Some of the most brilliant music (and lyricists) came from them! Right "off the bat" I must mention my cousins George and Ira Gershwin. And of course, Richard Rodgers, Lorenz Hart, Irving Berlin, Leonard Bernstein, Oscar Hammerstein, Jule Styyne, Marvin Hamlisch, Fred Ebb, Adolph Green, Aaron Copland, Jerome Kern, Stephen Sondheim, Alan Jay Lerner, Frederick Loewe, (to name but a few!) They all contributed to the Great American Songbook!

The Roth Family JCC, Maitland...

On Tuesday May 7th, at 7 p.m., Yom HaZikaron/ Israel Memorial Day will be celebrated.

On Wednesday, May 8th, at 7 p.m., IDIT LOTRINGER will conduct a class on Israeli cooking.

On Thursday May 9th, from 5:30-8:30 p.m., Israeli Independence Day Festival will be held.

For further information on any of these events, please contact ROBBY ETZKIN, Executive Director at 407-645-5933 or RobbyE@orlandojcc.org.

JCC39ers Cinema Sundays...

On May 5th, the award-winning movie "Green Book" will be the feature in the Senior Lounge.

Refreshments are available.

JCC39ers Terrific Thursdays...

On May 2nd at 1:30 p.m. the book club meets. The book discussed will be "The Woman in Cabin 10" by Ruth Ware. It will be led by LOIS LILLING.

Shout-Outs...

I phoned Drake Lawn & Pest Control to come to my home for their annual check up and I must say, that THOMAS IRVING, the gentleman who came out was WONDERFUL! Not only did he do his job perfectly, he even helped me with my dog! I really appreciate him.

Another shout-out goes to a cute and funny, kind and caring waiter (you thought I stopped eating out, didn't you? Well, you were wrong!)

His name is CORY JOHNSON and he is a server at the Metro Diner in Casselberry... where the food and service are terrific!

One for the road...

Ruth takes one look inside her 10-year-old son Daniel's bedroom and immediately goes downstairs to confront him. "Daniel," she says to him, "I thought you told me that you had thoroughly cleaned your room. I've just taken a look at it and it's still a big mess. What have you got to say about it?" 

"I really don't know why you're making such a fuss, mom," Daniel replies. "After all, I never actually told you my room was clean." 

"Oh but you did, Daniel," says Ruth. 

"No, mom, you're wrong there," says Daniel. "What I actually told you at 5:10 p.m. this afternoon was, 'OK mom, I'm done with the cleaning of my room'." 

Ruth can't help but smile. "OK smarty pants," she says, "I should have remembered that you want to be a lawyer when you grow up. You're obviously going to make a brilliant lawyer."