Scene Around

Anti-Semitic violence in 2019...

So far, 2019 seemed to be the worst year for anti-Semitism throughout the world. Let's hope 2020 is not as bad (or worse)! I've listed some of the incidents by month but, because of space, left many out:

January:

Swastika was sprayed on Terenure Hebrew Congregation in Dublin, Ireland.

Vandals smash windows of Choral Synagogue in Ukraine.

Swastika spray-painted outside Temple Beth Torah in Ventura, California

Hundreds of stickers "Jews are poisoning our children" distributed in Queens, NY.

15 Jews in Brooklyn were attacked.

February:

Louis Farrakhan praises Congresswoman Omar's anti-Semitic tweets.

Swastikas daubed on 96 gravestones at a Jewish cemetery in France.

Hundreds of neo-Nazis march in Budapest yelling "Jews out."

Kosher restaurant in Winnipeg, Canada tagged with hateful graffiti.

Anti-Semitic flyers distributed in Missoula, Montana.

March:

"Die Jew Bitch" written on a poster of Ruth Bader Ginsburg in Brooklyn, NY.

Two people in Paris, France film themselves urinating on Jewish literature.

60 Jewish gravestones were defaced with message," Heil Hitler in Fall River, Mass.

April:

Palestinian rapper performs anti-Semitic song at the University of North Carolina.

Anti-Semitic flyers are placed in the library at University of North Carolina.

Holocaust Museum in downtown St.Petersburg, Fl.vandalized.

May:

Carload of men in Brooklyn, NY tells Jewish teens "We love Hitler."

Jewish graves in Berlin, Germany desecrated.

Bomb threat made on synagogue in Kiev, Ukraine.

June:

900 march in anti-Semitic "Jerusalem Day" parade in Berlin, Germany.

"I hate Jews" and a swastika scrawled on NYC bus.

Man threatens to commit mass killing at San Francisco Synagogue.

July:

Cartoon with words "Jew Swine" aired on Norwegian television.

Sign in Arabic posted on Jerusalem's Western Wall, "Slaughter the Jews."

Anti-Semitic flyers denying the Holocaust posted on Marblehead, Ma. Synagogue.

August:

White Nationalist threatens Jewish Community Center in Ohio.

Holocaust memorial in Ukraine desecrated.

"Death to Jews" chanted at Turkish summer camp.

September:

Synagogue in Duluth, MN is burned to the ground.

Florida man threatens to kill Jews.

Car tries to run over Jewish worshippers in New Jersey.

"Six million is not enough" painted on Los Angeles Synagogue.

October:

Man crying"Allahu Akbar" runs into Berlin Synagoge with a knife.

Bomb threats at Synagogue in Bridgeport, CT force evacuation.

Jewish gravestones in Chatham,UK smashed on Yom Kippur.

November:

Gangs pelt Jews with eggs in Borough Park, NY.

Hate flyers targeting Jews & quoting Hitler at the University of Arizona.

Hitler masks go on sale in Prague.

(I can't continue... too depressing for me. December was worse than all put together and what you've already read is less than a third of the happenings! "Never Again" has really become "Again & Again"!)

Let's change the subject...

It appears that I've missed a terrific program at the JCC39ers. MYRNA OSSIN, author of "Lists for Living, Lists for Life," lectured on how to declutter your home.

(And I'm a hoarder!!!)

On the subject of authors, a reminder...

MARCIA JO ZERIVITZ will be at the JCC on Sunday, Jan. 19th between 2-4 p.m. at the Roth Family JCC, Maitland. She will discuss her book "Jews of Florida."

This event is open to all. The cost is $5.

For more information, contact ROBBY ETZKIN at robby@orlandojcc.org.

Jewish Federation of Greater Orlando...

On Sunday, Jan. 19th from 10 a.m. until noon, a P.J. Library Event, "BEEYOURSELFIE" will take place at the Jewish Academy of Orlando, 851 N. Maitland Avenue, Maitland.

There will be story time, crafts and lots of fun!

Phone the Jewish Academy for further information and to RSVP.

Congregation of Reform Judaism...

On Sunday, Jan. 26th there is a program just for me... I think.

It's called "Drumsticks & Drumming for Prime Timers." (It's for folks 55 plus. Gee, I just made it!)

An interactive drum circle and lunch and dessert!

The cost is $10 for CRJ members; $13 for others.

For further information. Contact BLAINE at 407-645-0444 or Bsmith@CRJOrlando.org

Attention Music Lovers...

Award-winning New York City jazz pianist BEN ROSENBLUM will perform an intimate concert at the Blue Bamboo Center for the Arts in Orlando, part of a nineteen performance Southeast tour through Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina and Tennessee. The evening will feature Rosenblum's regular touring drummer BEN ZWEIG, along with acclaimed bassist DAN CHMIELINSKI. Ben Rosenblum has been called "mature beyond his years," and an "impressive talent."

The Blue Bamboo Center for the Arts is located at 1905 Kentucky Ave, Winter Park.

The date of the performance is Wednesday, Jan. 29th at 8 p.m. Tickets are $20. For more information https://bluebambooartcenter.com/event/2741294/500250785/ben-rosenblum-trio

One for the road...

90-year-old David is surprised, but pleased nevertheless, when his grandsons Sam and Ollie come to visit him. During their visit, they can't help noticing how old David looks. Then Sam says to him, "Grandpa, how old are you really?"

David, being a bit of a joker, replies, "Well Sam, I'm very, very old. In fact, I'm so old that when I was your age, the Dead Sea wasn't even dead, it was only sick."