Scene Around

From the editor: Last week’s Heritage ran a Scene Around column from May 27, 2016. We do not understand how this happened, and we sincerely apologize to Gloria Yousha and our readers for any confusion about events that were posted in the column. The following is the column that should have appeared.

What a surprise!...

I’m referring to Frances Rose Shore … okay, you guessed it. “Dinah, is there anyone finer, in the state of Carolina” Dinah Shore, the fabulous singer!

I never would have believed that Dinah Shore was Jewish, not in a million years. But, she was!

She was born in Tennessee and was a fabulous singer, actress and talk show host. In fact, she was such a good singer that it’s hard to believe that when she tried out as singer with the Benny Goodman band and the Jimmy and Tommy Dorsey orchestras, she was turned down! (Even I became the singer of the Jimmy Dorsey Orchestra!)

Frances “Fanny” Rose Shore (Dinah) was the daughter of Russian-Jewish immigrants. She had polio as a child and because of her limp, was very shy.

She made her singing debut when grown, in Nashville, Tennessee.

(Maybe that’s why her being Jewish was such a surprise to me!

In the spring of 1993, Dinah was diagnosed with ovarian cancer and in 1994 just before turning 78 years old, she died. Streets in California are named for her and also there is Dinah Shore Boulevard in her home town of Winchester, Tennessee.

(Well deserved honors)

Here’s a name I could figure out …

Jeffrey Lynn Goldblum, JEFF GOLDBLUM to you, is Jewish. His family is from Russia-and the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Jeff was born in Pennsylvania in 1952. He is a fine actor and also a musician. (Who knew). He was affiliated with Decca Records as a jazz vocalist and pianist.

I see him often on television doing apartment commercials lately. And he has many television series under his belt.

Jeff attended an orthodox synagogue growing up and was a bar mitzvah… (and like me, also believed in Santa Claus and Christmas… until I grew up and married into a religious Jewish family!)

(Forget I wrote about this!)

Let’s take a trip to the moon! ...

This lucky actor played many space folk in movies… and actually did take a trip to outer space!

I’m talking about WILLIAM SHATNER, born in Montreal, Canada (like my mom) and still with us today well into his 90s.

(You probably know him as Captain Kirk.)

Shatner began his screen acting career in Canada, but then made many appearances in American movies and television.

He was born into a conservative Jewish household. All four of Shatner’s grandparents were Jewish immigrants from Ukraine and Lithuania, but which were then under the rule of Austria-Hungary and the Russian Empire.

(Oh my goodness! We all seem to have a little touch of Russia in us!

(Oy Gevalt!)

Pray for Ukraine ...

I Received This Letter From The World Jewish Congress and pass it along in part:

“People of goodwill around the world continue to hope and pray for a resolution to the conflict in Ukraine and for peace. But the carnage we have witnessed servesw as another wake-up call for Jewish communities around the world—another reminder of how current events can shift, and tragedy can strike on a moment’s notice.

We know all too well that hatred and violence against any group far too often spill over, however irrationally, into hatred and violence against the Jewish people and the Jewish State of Israel.

As you read this, Jewish communities around the world, not so different than the ones in Orlando and Central Florida, are fearful of the threats to their safety and security, the ones they face today and the ones they know they will have to confront in the months ahead.

As someone who cares deeply about Jews everywhere, we know you pay close attention to what is happening at home and abroad. You have done much in the past to help the WJC stand shoulder to shoulder with the Jewish people in our tireless fight against the wave of violent and virulent anti-Semitism we have experienced—on city streets, on the internet and social media platforms, on college and university campuses, at United Nations agencies, and in international governments, courthouses, and legislatures.

And we know you understand that if one Jew is in danger, all Jews are imperiled. But you have the power to shape a better future for Jews everywhere through your commitment to the WJC, American Section.”

To find out how we all can be of help, phone 212-894-4770 or write to worldjewishcongress.org.

Jewish Pavilion…

On Sunday, June 12th from 5-7 p.m. there will be a cocktail party at Land Rover, Orlando. The address is 199 S. Lake Destiny Drive.

There will be hors d’oeuvres, desserts, wine, signature drinks and whiskey tasting in an outdoor/indoor venue.

A $20 donation per person will support Jewish Pavilion’s goal to enhance the lives of seniors in elder-care communities.

For more information, or to register, phone 407-678-9363.

JCC Seniors On The Go…

I heard from BARBARA GOLDBERG and SHERI about upcoming meetings at the JCC, Monday’s at 1p.m.

On Monday, June 13th- Gentle BeMoved.

On Monday, June 20th Meet FARA GOLD. She will talk about her recent trip to Israel.

For more information, contact Barbara Goldberg at barbgoldberg27@gmail.com.

Threats To Israel…

Lebanon — Hezbollah is a terrorist organization dedicated to Israel’s destruction. It has received upwards of $800 million annually from Iran in recent years. It already possesses advanced weapons designed to inflict significant damage across Israel, and Iran is working to dramatically enhance Hezbollah’s capabilities.

Hezbollah entrenches its fighters and weapons in civilian areas in Lebanon, protecting its terrorist infrastructure at the risk of countless Lebanese lives.

Gaza Strip — Hamas is an Iranian-backed Palestinian terrorist organization that controls the Gaza Strip and openly seeks the destruction of Israel.

Hamas diverts international assistance from the people of Gaza to build its terrorist infrastructure, prioritizing destroying Israel over providing for the basic needs of its own people.

Hamas, together with groups like Palestinian Islamic Jihad is holding Gaza’s Palestinian’s hostage, using them as human shields and impeding economic development in the Strip.

Syria- — Since it entered the Syrian Civil War, Iran has laid the foundation for a long-term presence in Syria.

Tehran has infiltrated Damascus’ military, economy and civil society in an effort to create a permanent dependence on Iran.

Syria is a key component of Iran’s land bridge to Hezbollah in Lebanon and to Israel’s northern border in the Golan Heights.

Iraq— Directly and through proxies, Iran has established itself as a dominant political and military player in Iraq.

Tehran has worked for years to permeate a wide array of institutions.

Iranian forces and proxies have increased their direct attacks on American forces and are a key stumbling block to internal Iraqi political reconciliation.

One for the road …

A sixth grade teacher was testing her class on vocabulary.

“Abie, can you tell me what a stoic is?” she asked.

Abie stood respectfully at his desk. “A stoic,” he said, “is the bird that brings the babies.”

(Okay, he has an accent like his immigrant parents!)