Heritage Florida Jewish News - Central Florida's Independent Jewish Voice

The NRA spends millions...

(I'm just saying.)

This is a recent statement from the American Federation of Teachers: (AFT) President RANDI WEINGARTEN on the Florida school shooting;

"This is the 18th school shooting this year. At least 17 people were killed today. May their memories be a blessing, but when is enough enough?

"We are devastated and horrified by yet another school shooting in our nation. The trauma and tragedy inflicted on the children, educators and parents of the Stoneman Douglas community can't begin to be measured in this moment. 

"We've been in close contact with our union leadership in the Broward Teachers Union all afternoon, and we will do everything we can to support our educators, children, parents and local in the days, weeks and even years to come.

"As we've sadly learned, the devastation and trauma of school shootings require years of healing and support. We will be there today, tomorrow and however long it takes to help the Stoneman Douglas community, and we will continue to fight to prevent gun violence from becoming the new normal in our schools." 

(Good luck, Ms Weingarten. You're gonna need it!)

Finally, some positive news...

I read this in the World Jewish Congress (WJC) digest and pass it along:

"The WJC is proud to join You Tube's Trusted Flagger Program, designed by the preeminent video platform to effectively monitor user generated content for offensive material and to help create a safer and more tolerant digital space.

The WJC and other partners will help the internet company sort through the millions of videos uploaded every day to actively report hate speech videos and ensure that You Tube is aware of every element promoting anti-Semitism, hate, Holocaust denial and other intolerant content in its platform.

The WJC has actively engaged with social media platforms, including Twitter, Facebook, and Google to cooperate on methods of combating this phenomenon.

Early this year, the WJC also launched a campaign to expose and remove Arabic-language anti-Semitic content on social media platforms, beginning with You Tube.

Reminder...

On Sunday, March 4th at 2 p.m. in the Social Hall, the Congregation Ohev Shalom (COS) Seniors will hold their fabulous meeting, entertainment and refreshments!

Klezmer music will be featured, so singing and dancing will be almost impossible to ignore. (Wear your dancing shoes and clear your throats!)

Everyone is welcome and the price of admission is the same for all, $5. This also includes the refreshments that follow. (And my cookies!)

Congregation Ohev Shalom is located at 613 Concourse Parkway South in Maitland.

For further information, phone co-presidents, BERNY RAFF, 407-767-6763 or JERRY LEIBMAN, 407-694-0546.

(DON'T EAT MY COOKIES!)

Jewish Pavilion Mensch...

Kudos to TOBY VANDEMARK, Jewish Pavilion treasurer, who serves on the board of directors while living in North Carolina.

Toby became active with the organization about eight years ago while living in Winter Park. With her expertise in computers, she helped the Pavilion select Sales Force as their data base, set up and maintains their system.

Toby also became active years ago with the financials and helps with all areas of bookkeeping.

"Toby is our website aficionado," says NANCY LUDIN, executive director of the Jewish Pavilion. Toby advises and works with many aspects of the Jewish Pavilion website.

Ludin concludes, "While board attendance is important, it is the work that board members do when they are not at meetings that makes all the difference in the world."

JCC 39ers...

Game Day Tuesdays is the name of the game. On any Tuesday beginning at 1 p.m., the Senior Lounge is filled with 39ers playing their favorite games... Mah jongg, Dominoes, Canasta, Pinochle and Bridge are included and there is always room for a new game!

(I like Poker!)

Shout-Out...

I must commend CHAD AYCRIGG, host, and RACHEL RITTER, waitress, for their superb service recently at the Outback Restaurant on Aloma Avenue, Winter Park. I hope someone shows this shout-out to manager TONY DIAZ!

One for the road...

Although married, Moshe is infatuated with Mary, his secretary. So one afternoon he takes a chance and says to her, "Let's go back to your place." 

To Moshe's surprise, Mary smiles and says, "What a good idea, Moshe. Yes, I'd love to." 

They get to her house and make mad passionate love all afternoon. Then, totally exhausted, they fall asleep and don't wake up until 7 p.m. 

Toby Vandermark

"Oy vay," shouts Moshe, jumping out of her bed, "just look at the time." 

As he's getting dressed, Moshe tells Mary to take his shoes into the garden and rub them thoroughly into the wet mud and grass. She does what she's told even though she doesn't know why. Moshe finishes dressing, puts on his shoes and drives home. 

As soon as he opens his front door, there's his wife Rifka waiting for him. "So, where have you been?" demands Rifka, angrily. 

"Darling, I can't lie to you," replies Moshe. "I've been having an affair with my secretary and we've been making love all afternoon. Then I fell asleep and didn't wake up until 7 o'clock." 

Rifka takes one look at his shoes and says, "You lying momzer. You've been playing golf again."