Scene Around

Such Talent! ...

I never knew (or even had a hint) that extremely famous pantomime performer, Marcel Marceau was Jewish.

His name at birth was Marcel Mangel. His father was captured and killed at Auschwitz. Besides his acting talent, Marcel also worked as a liaison officer with United States General George Patton's 3rd army. He also rescued Jews during the Holocaust.

(RIP Marcel. You will always be remembered for your talent and your deeds.)

Speaking of talented actors and delightful people, SACHA BARON COHEN, won for "Best Actor" at the Golden Globes. (Of course, another one of ours!)

And, a wonderful gesture by our own Rabbi DAVID KAY of Congregation Ohev Shalom, brightened the day of DORIS PINES of Winter Park, when she received a wonderful letter from him and a Purim package from the COS Men's Club containing hamantashen, a groger, a mini joke book, a beautiful mask with feathers and a lovely green necklace of beads. Doris is the widow of Edward Pines.

(I'm sure many people were delighted to received such goodies!)

Such a comparison! ...

I read this in the World Jewish Congress digest and pass it along to you:

"German political officials and Jewish leaders have condemned comments made recently by demonstrators who compared themselves to victims of the Holocaust, in light of the government-mandated coronavirus restrictions.

The condemnations follow several incidents, including a young woman claiming she "felt just like Sophie Scholl", because she had been protesting and distributing fliers against the government restrictions. Scholl was a German student executed by the Nazis in 1943 for her role in resisting the Nazis. The incident came to light several days after an 11-year-old girl compared herself to Holocaust victim Anne Frank because she was forced to celebrate her birthday quietly to avoid her neighbors, knowing she had invited friends over in violation of the government's coronavirus restrictions.

Reacting to the series of incidents, Central Council of Jews in Germany President JOSEF SCHUSTER said, 'just as the demonstrators show complete disregard for the health of others so too, they show no respect for the victims of National Socialism. This is a disgusting spectacle.'

German Foreign Minister HEIKO MAAS condemned the series of inflammatory incidents, saying in a tweet, 'Anyone today comparing themselves to Sophia Scholl or Anne Frank is making a mockery of the courage it took to stand up to the Nazis. It trivializes the Holocaust and shows an unbearable forgetting of history. Nothing connects the coronavirus protests with the resistance fighters.'"

I received a letter ...

It was from Rabbi MARVIN HIER, dean and founder of the Simon Wiesenthal Center. I pass parts of it along:

"Even as we receive the COVID-19 vaccine, you and I both know there is no vaccine for anti-Semitism. This ancient virus has Jews across the country deeply worried about the fact that 60 percent of religion-based hate crimes in the U.S. are perpetrated against Jews, that in 2020, almost two-thirds of young people polled didn't know that 6 million Jews were murdered in the Holocaust, and almost half couldn't name a single concentration camp, by the constant vicious hate, conspiracy theories, and promotion of terrorism spewing forth from social media into our daily lives. Over the last challenging year, I must admit that there are days when I, too, am disheartened by the hatred that seems to be on the rise all around us.

Yet I know one thing for sure: You and I can confront these unprecedented challenges and threats and will be safer and stronger if we work together. That is why I am so proud to have founded and to continue to lead the Simon Wiesenthal Center. This institution that bears the name of the world's greatest Nazi hunter and crusader for justice will always stand up for the Jewish people and human dignity everywhere."

(Thank you, Rabbi Hier, for such assurance. As a victim of anti-Semitism myself when I was a young child, I really am heartened to hear this!)

Alan Rock Jazz events ...

On Friday, March 19, DAN JORDAN presents a tribute to Chick Corea at Blue Bamboo, 1905 Kentucky Ave, Winter Park.

Dan Jordan on saxophone and flute; Richard Drexler on piano; Charlie Silva on bass and Walt Hubbard on drums.

On Saturday, March 20, at Blue Bamboo, Powerhouse vocalist, singer-songwriter Morgan Myles is one of those artists that makes it look and sound so easy. The emerging artist and Pennsylvania native has already earned critical acclaim from outlets such as Billboard, Rolling Stone, and CMT for the way that she seamlessly blends her own brand of Soul, Pop and Rock. Myles' booming voice can be heard alongside recording artist Cody Johnson's current single "Nothing On You." Needless to say, her influences run all over the map.

On Sunday, March 21, at Blue Bamboo, Jazz pianist, composer, arranger, writer and educator, Per Danielsson is a native of Stockholm, Sweden. Growing up with a jazz guitar-playing father, Per was exposed to the sounds of Oscar Peterson and Bill Evans at an early age. After formal piano studies in Sweden, which included lessons with Robert Malmberg and world-renowned jazz pianist Bengt Hallberg, his love of jazz brought him across the ocean to attend the internationally acclaimed North Texas State University.

Also Michelle Mailhot will be featured. She has been singing her entire life and professionally for the last 25 years, sharing the stage with jazz greats like Mel Tormé, Max Roach, Sheila Jordan, Jon Faddis, Sandy Patti, Dr. Billy Taylor and Liza Minelli. In addition to her own CD, she can be heard on Bobby McFerrin's "Vocabularies" and several Disney produced recordings. Michelle has also been a session singer for radio

On Saturday, March 27, at the Blue Bamboo, the Larry Brown quintet will be featured. Pianist Larry Brown leads one of the most accomplished straight-ahead jazz groups in the Mid-Atlantic area, having performed at An Die Musik, Blues Alley, the Meyerhoff, the Kennedy Center, the Mid-Atlantic Jazz Festival, East Coast Jazz Festival, Baltimore-Washington Jazz Fest, Alexandria Jazz Festival, Martha's Vineyard Jazz Festival, Twins Jazz, Bohemian Caverns, the King Of France Tavern, Montpelier Arts Center, Chris' Café, the New Haven Lounge, Caton Castle, Strathmore Mansion, and the Black Rock Center for the Arts.

(Wow! Alan, you are really taking care of your jazz fans! Nice work!)

The Jewish Federation of Greater Orlando ...

A community-wide Women's Seder will be held on Sunday, March 21 from 4-5:30 p.m. For more information, phone 407-645-5933.

The Roth Family JCC ...

On Tuesday, March 23, at 7 p.m. there will be a book chat with author ALAN KADISH, author of "The Jewish Intellectual Tradition."

As we chat with Dr. Alan Kadish, we will learn principles including respect for tradition & disruptive thinking; a precise system of logical reasoning in pursuit of the truth; universal education continuing through adulthood, and living a purposeful life- all that make up the Jewish Intellectual Tradition.

One for the road ...

(I may have told this joke before, but I find it so funny I have to tell it again!)

Elderly Morris Rabinowitz is accidentally hit by a car while crossing Aloma Avenue in Winter Park.

An ambulance is called to take him to Winter Park Hospital and arrives within minutes.

The emergency medical technician finds Morris laid out prone and bleeding on the sidewalk. He lifts the old man's head and asks solicitously, "Are you comfortable?"

Morris replies, "I make a living."