Scene Around

There is no end...

I am surprised (and delighted) one after another, as I look up famous people and find that they are Jewish! For instance, actress GWYNETH PALTROW, Academy Award and Golden Globe recipient, the daughter of actress BLYTHE DANNER and producer, director BRUCE PALTROW. Her dad was Jewish and she and her younger brother were brought up in the religion. Her ancestry claimed many rabbis.

Of course, comedians Jack Benny and George Jessel ... and so many other comedians were Jewish. (So why couldn't we go through life laughing ... or at least smiling?)

Finally, and hopefully ...

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

After years of working with the leadership of the European Union on codifying measures to fight anti-Semitism at the European, Member State and local levels, the WJC applauded the Council of the European Union's recent adoption of a declaration to mainstream the prevention and countering of anti-Semitism in all its forms.

(Too bad it took so long. I might not have had to suffer as a little kid, beaten up constantly for being Jewish, if such an agreement was reached back then.)

This critical step comes under the leadership of the German presidency of the Council.

The Council of the European Union is composed of government ministers from the 27 EU Member States, who meet to make laws and coordinate policies. The ministers have the authority to commit their governments to the actions agreed upon by the Council, the main decision-making body of the EU. The declaration makes the fight against anti-Semitism a priority of Europe's executive branch.

WJC President Ambassador RONALD S. LAUDER welcomed the declaration: Europe has a serious and terrifying anti-Semitism problem, and it's high time that the European Union, its Member States and local authorities direct real resources to it.

The adoption of the declaration by the Council of the European Union demonstrates that Germany in its Council presidency and the EU leadership as a whole, recognize the danger that anti-Semitism and hate create and the threat to society and safety when left unaddressed. This declaration is a significant step forward in making Europe a better place for Jews. The responsibility now falls on Member States to apply the policies and understanding laid out by the European Union in each of their countries, to ensure that the scourge of anti-Semitism is dealt with, that perpetrators are prosecuted to the greatest extent of the law, and that our next generation learns that hatred is unacceptable.

As part of its ongoing work to combat anti-Semitism, the WJC has for years worked closely with European government authorities and institutions, as well as Jewish communities across the continent, to emphasize the importance of EU leadership in this area. The declaration calls anti-Semitism "an attack on European values," reading "Any form of anti-Semitism, intolerance or racist hatred is incompatible with the values and aims of the European Union and its Member States and must be addressed through decisive action at European and national levels."

The declaration affirms that it is Member States' "permanent, shared responsibility to actively protect and support Jewish life." It acknowledges the increasing prevalence of anti-Semitism in Europe, particularly in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, and that "an increase in anti-Semitic incidents and hate crime is a cause of great concern." The declaration calls on Member States to engage in "continuous dialogue with the Jewish community with a view to ensuring appropriate levels of security awareness, specific training for security staff and law enforcement officers, exchange of best practices and thorough implementation of appropriate measures to ensure the security of Jewish institutions." Regarding the growth of anti-Semitic hate speech, particularly its dissemination online, "crimes committed online should be punished just as crimes offline are and must be adequately addressed by means of effective prosecution and other measures," the declaration reads. "Illegal hate speech and terrorist content online must be removed promptly and consistently by Internet service providers, in accordance with the relevant legal and non-legal framework."

The declaration also calls for the systematic collection of data on anti-Semitic incidents so as to "develop, implement and monitor progress on tailored comprehensive strategies and education instruments," and for increased Holocaust education as "one of the most important tools to prevent anti-semitic prejudices."

The declaration comes two years after and reaffirms the Council of the European Union's Dec. 6, 2018 declaration, under the leadership of the Austrian presidency of the Council, on the fight against anti-Semitism and the development of a common security approach to protect Jewish communities and institutions in Europe."

The Roth Family JCC ...

PJ Celebrates Israel's 73rd Birthday!

The Roth JCC is located at 851 Maitland Avenue, Maitland. The celebration is scheduled for Saturday, April 17 at 4 a.m. and Sunday, April 18 at 5:30 p.m.

This celebration includes classic Israeli games, songs and more!

The event will be followed by Family Havdalah.

It will take place at the Maitland JCC. Masks are required for everyone two years old and over. For further information, phone 407-645-5933.

The Winter Park Playhouse ...

The Winter Park Playhouse continues its Spotlight Cabaret Series with the newest solo cabaret from professional vocalist Noel Marie - The ABC's of Broadway. This brand new one-hour cabaret will be performed live with limited socially distance seating at The Winter Park Playhouse on April 14 and 15. Playhouse Musical Director Christopher Leavy will accompany on piano. 

Join the talented Noel Marie as she takes patrons on a journey from A-Z highlighting Broadway's most beloved productions, show tunes, composers and artists. Songs from Cole Porter, Stephen Sondheim, Rodgers and Hart, Kander and Ebb and more set the stage for an evening of fun-filled nostalgia and memorable musical theatre moments.  

One for the road ...

The veteran Jewish comics are sitting at their usual Stage Door Deli table, telling each other jokes. Since they know all of the jokes anyway, they've developed a short hand and given each joke a number.

"Number 37!" says Bernie, and the group breaks up in laughter. Manny counters with "53" and again, the table rocks with guffaws.

Solly, the newcomer to the group, shouts "44."

Dead silence.

Solly turns to Manny and asks, "What's the matter? Isn't 44 a good joke?"

"Sure it's a good joke, " Manny says, "but the way you tell it ..."