"Canada, Oh Canada"...

That's how the song starts. I have a special feeling for Canada as my mom, Sally, was born in Montreal, Canada. Her parents, (my maternal grandparents) fled to Canada from the Ukraine before the turn of the last century with my Uncle Jack and my Aunt Betty. Jack and Betty made it to the States when they were grown and my mom came with her father (her mom was deceased) when she was a young girl. The rest is history!

Speaking of Canada...

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

"In response to a summary report of police-reported hate crimes in 2016 released by Statistics Canada, SHIMON KOFFLER FOGEL, CEO of the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs, a WJC regional affiliate, issued the following statement:

"While Canada remains one of the best countries in the world to be a minority, anti-Semitism and hate persist at the margins of society. We are alarmed by the overall increase in hate crimes, the increasingly violent nature of these crimes, and the spike in incidents targeting the Jewish community.

We continue to urge federal, provincial, and municipal governments to take four practical steps to combat these disturbing trends:

Establish uniform guidelines for gathering and publishing hate crime and hate incident data;

Ensure police forces have dedicated hate crime units;

Create training programs to ensure more consistent and effective enforcement of hate speech laws; and

Launch new measures to monitor and counter the spread of hate propaganda, which often foreshadows violent radicalization"

On a much lighter note...

On Sunday, May 6th, starting at 2 p.m. sharp, the Congregation Ohev Shalom Seniors will hold their next meeting in the social hall of the synagogue, 613 Concourse Parkway South in Maitland.

The entertainment for the afternoon will feature ANDY COSTANTINI, lead vocalist, guitarist and keyboard player with 'The Rollabels.'

He is a multifaceted musician, and will be featuring the songs of The Beatles, The Grassroots, Motown, A Little Country, and the popular standards.

(Bring your dancing shoes!)

Special admission price will be $5 per person for all. Everyone is welcome, so bring your friends!

The modest price of admission also includes refreshments after the performance! (You just can't go wrong!)

For further information, contact COS Seniors president JERRY LEIBMAN at 407-694-0546 or email him at jerryleibman@yahoo.com.

(And DON'T EAT MY COOKIES!!!!)

Wow! There's more to the day...

On the same Sunday, May 6th, only later in the afternoon, the fabulous Dazzling Divas "Spring Showcase" will take place at Congregation Beth Am, 1800 Sand Lake Road in Longwood.

The show (featuring nine entertainers) will include an all you can eat Italian buffet.

Doors open at 3 pm and the show is set for 4 p.m.

The cost of the event is $20 per person. And group rates are available.

For further information, contact KENNY LEE at 407-670-4418.

(An Italian buffet and NO calories, Yum!)

A Jewish Pavilion Mensch...

I received this recently:

"I believe the children are the future... well he's no 'child' by any means, but KEITH LEVITT is one of a new group of young men that represent the best of the Jewish Community and the Jewish Pavilions future.

He has been active for several years as a volunteer, and an integral part of the Pavilion Golf Society. He has not only helped with the tournament that raises funds to keep the Orland Senior Help Desk functioning, but his foursome has won the tournament twice.

The Jewish Pavilion is honoring him at the annual tournament being held on May 6th at the Rosen Shingle Creek Golf Club. It's going to be a great event!

Thanks to Keith Levitt for being a mensch who is leading the next generation in philanthropy... and golf!"

Cinema Sundays...

On Sunday, April 29th in the Maitland JCC Senior Lounge, the movie "Central Intelligence" starring Dwayne Johnson and Kevin Hart will be shown, beginning at 2 pm. Refreshments will be available.

JCC39ers Meet & Mingle Mondays...

On Monday, April 30th, in the Maitland JCC Senior Lounge, a trivia contest will be presented by SHELDON BROOK.

Shout-Out...

Recently the Grief Group that usually meets on Wednesdays at the Aloma Methodist Church held a dinner meeting at the Boston Fish House on Aloma Avenue instead.

Our fabulous waitress was ALANNA FLOWERS. (Yes, Flowers is her name and it is so well suited for her.) Alanna was on the ball with her serving and kept a big smile on her face at all times

(She is indeed, a sunflower!)

One for the road...

Joshua is mega-rich and is always lavishing expensive presents on his wife, Naomi. But today, Joshua is in big trouble. He has forgotten that it's their wedding anniversary. Oy Veh! 

Naomi looks him in his eyes and says, in a very serious manner, "Tomorrow, Joshua, there had better be something for me outside our garage that goes from 0 to 200 in next to no time at all, or else..." 

Naomi gets up early next morning, opens her front door and finds a small package outside the garage. She opens it and finds, of all things, brand new bathroom scales. 

Keith Levitt

The funeral is on Sunday and Naomi is sitting shivah for the whole week.