Central Florida's Independent Jewish Voice
Central Florida's Independent Jewish Voice
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This is sooo personal ... It actually hurts to write about, but I will. I refer to the beautiful love song, "Our Love is Here to Stay." There is a very interesting story connected to this song. First, let me write the verse for you: "The more I read the papers, the less I comprehend, the world and all its capers, and how it all will end. Nothing seems to be lasting, but that isn't our affair. We've got something permanent, I mean in the way we care ..." This verse was written by well-known (and Jewish) Vernon Duke, a renowned composer and...
I must mention and salute ... I'm talking about DAN NEWLIN, (probably not Jewish). I want to take this opportunity (on the 4th of July!) to thank him for his care and generosity to our military. Mine is a military family. My departed spouse fought in Korea; my sons have served. Actually, my eldest is still serving. He was in the Army for more than 12 years and then switched to the Navy in 2003 where he is today a Navy commander! (I never served but I prayed a lot!) Anyway, Dan was presented a plaque for his support of the Navy and Marines by a...
Brilliant and Jewish ... Jonas Salk was an American virologist and medical researcher who developed one of the first successful polio vaccines. He was born in New York City and attended the City College of New York and New York University School of Medicine. Of course, Jewish! Sigmund Freud, born Sigismund Schlomo Freud on May 6, 1856 and died Sept. 23, 1939. He was an Austrian neurologist and the founder of psychoanalysis, a clinical method for treating psychopathology through dialogue between a patient and a psychoanalyst. Freud was born to G...
I don't sleep well at night ... I used to wonder why, but now I know. What kind of a world is this coming too? I am worried, not so much for myself but for my children and grandchildren. I probably watch too much news each day and night but I can't help it, especially with these fabulous journalists ... WOLF BLITZER, an American journalist, is one of my favorites. He was born in Augsburg, Germany, and hosts his show on CNN television. CHUCK TODD, born in Miami, Florida, is moderator of "Meet The Press." another of my very favorite television...
So maybe that's why I'm funny? ... (I DIDN'T SAY FUNNY LOOKING!) Pointing out more Jewish funnymen of my day, I must include Groucho, Harpo and Chico Marx. (Born in New York City, of course.) I also feel I must mention this super-talent, (although he's not Jewish), DICK VAN DYKE. I was watching the 43rd Kennedy Center honors on television (naturally. What else is there to do?) and he was one of those given the honor. I must mention him because he always gave me joy ... in his acting, his joking and especially his dancing! And, speaking of the...
I need laughter. (We all do!) ... I recently saw on television (naturally) a television special. ROBERT KLEIN (and his harmonica and jokes) was the star. I also saw Don Rickles (super funny!) And one of my very favorites, JERRY SEINFELD. I tried to never miss a show of his (and still don't!) And, speaking of funny, I miss Joan Rivers. I knew her and have been told I sometimes sound like her (when I don't clear my throat) probably because we were both born in Brooklyn. TikTok, SAID MY CLOCK ... I haven't heard the expression tick tock since I...
What a brilliant and talented people we are ... If you watch the TV show "Shark Tank," you will be familiar with MARK CUBAN, a brilliant billionaire, among other brilliant billionaires. Mark is Jewish with Russian ancestry. He was born in Pittsburgh. Also brilliant (as comic actors), GEORGE BURNS, and also MOREY AMSTERDAM. There will never be comics like the Jewish comics of my time. They were the best. (DON'T ask my age!) Birthright Israel Foundation ... I received a letter from Israel (Izzy) Tapoohi, president and CEO of Birthright Israel...
I can't say it enough. How proud I am ... I recently watched the movie "The Sandpiper" on television. (Again, I repeat: What else is there to do these days?) It starred Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor. Elizabeth converted to Judaism when she married the love of her life, Mike Todd, a Jew. When he died so unexpectedly, she married Eddie Fisher, another Jew. The music featured in the movie was composed by Johnny Mandel, also Jewish. Another great movie I saw on television was one of my all time favorites ... probably because the fabulous...
How lucky I am ... I've had five careers in my life so far... wife, mother, dancer, singer and journalist. Of course, the most important were wife and mother! Especially, the way my husband of 55 years, Irv, was an aerospace engineer, and our 3 sons, (in order of age) are a Navy commander, a psychologist and a marketing manager. Yes, I'm proud! I was only a professional dancer for three years and then a wife, mother and professional singer. And, as a singer I met and was lucky to know singer MICHAEL FEINSTEIN. In fact, he wrote a wonderful...
Laugh and cry ... (That seems to be how I describe my days lately). During this pandemic, I stay at home a lot and watch television. Of course I see many comedians. There is one comedian especially, he was also a gifted actor, producer and director. His name was Mike Nichols. Mike was only about seven years old when his parents sent him out of Germany, where he was born as Igor Mikhail Peschkowsky, to America to keep him from falling into the hands of Nazis. Yes, Mike Nichols was Jewish, and for years he formed a comedy team with ELAINE IVA...
Sad and disturbing ... Our own wonderful KEITH DVORCHIK, head of our Federation and Roth Family JCC, posted the following on computer: "Being Jewish is so much more than individuality. It is a communal identity. Jews around the world connect and bond because we truly are a family. As we prepare for Shabbat this week, let's remember our global family members who lost their lives, who lost their loved ones. Let's say kaddish for those who have not yet been identified and whose immediate family cannot do it for them. Let's appreciate what being...
More super talents ... Sure, sure ... you knew MAURY POVICH was Jewish. (I didn't). I knew he was married to CONNIE CHUNG, and she converted to Judaism. What I didn't know, is they are both super kosher and attend synagogue regularly and Connie also speaks Yiddish fluently! Now, BERNIE SCHWARTZ I knew! (I even had a crush on him!) What? You didn't know I was talking about Tony Curtis? Well, Bernie was his real name. (We met, we smiled and laughed, but nothing more! (Oh well!). I was friends with Joan Rivers when she lived in Brooklyn and I...
"It's a mad, mad, mad, mad world"... Yes! That's the name of a movie I watched on television recently. It starred many, many, many, many (I got carried away) Jewish comedians. To name but a few, Leonard Hacker was one. (You may have known him as Buddy Hackett. Brooklyn born (like me), he died in 2003. Also, Milton Berle, Sid Caeser, Carl Reiner and Phil Silvers (to name a few more) ... all from either Manhattan, Brooklyn or the Bronx. (of course!) (What talent! What great comedy minds! Will there ever be more like them?) Strong Partnership ......
More famous Jewish talents... If you're as old as me, you will remember actress Marion Levy. NO! YOU DON'T REMEMBER HER? How about if I use her entertainment name? Surely, you've heard of Paulette Goddard. Paulette was a famous star in her day. Her dad was a Russian/Jew (weren't all of our ancestors? Only kidding, of course.) She was once married to Charlie Chaplin for about 6 years. Very famous, very famous! How about GLORIA STEINEM? She is super famous! (Best of all, she's older than me!) Gloria is a super famous American feminist journalist...
Once again, I repeat, "getting old is not for sissies ...(me) I am astounded by all the famous folks that I didn't know were Jewish. For instance, WILLIAM SHATNER. I just learned that he was from Montreal, Canada (where my mom was born! His ancestry is identical to mine ... Canada, Russia, Ukraine, maybe Austria, maybe Poland.) He is about 90 years old ... NOT ME!! And, because I'm thinking about me (what else is new?), I want to mention two of my favorite songwriters who are also Jewish ... "Love laughs at a king, kings don't mean a thing on...
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...
"Hate on the rise"... This is something I usually don't write about, but I am so bothered that I can't help it. It's about Blacks, Hispanics, Latinos, Asians and Jews. I am a white Jew ... I can hide my Judaism. But why should any of us have to? Once again, I will mention my experience as a young child about 4 or 5 years old. I learned to say the "Hail Mary" and "Our Father," and I pretended to be Christian because I didn't want to keep being beaten up by Jew-hating kids. Sure, my skin color is white and my eyes are round. Lucky me! Actually,...
Passover begins at sundown tomorrow, Saturday, March 27. (Matzo Brei here I come!) Any prouder? (my blouse will split!)... How about Emma Lazarus? She was Jewish. Her poem, "The New Colossus" is engraved on the Statue of Liberty! Being a battered child because of my Jewish heritage, the first poem I learned (and never forgot) goes like this: "Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free ..." (Although very poor, living on welfare in a Brooklyn project, I knew how special Jews are because of her!) Dr. Jonas Salk...
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...
In the news... Judge MERRICK GARLAND is President BIDEN'S pick for attorney general of the United States. Judge Garland is Jewish. His grandparents fled Europe and anti-Semitism. "The United States took them in," he said. "I want to pay back by serving." (He broke down, suppressing tears.) "I'm not here to serve the president. I'm here for the people." (I hope he will be voted in.) Also... My eldest son, Navy Commander DAVID and his wife, JOLENE, have many Great Danes in their family. I am grandma for sure ... and proud of it! (Don't they look...
A singer needs songs to sing ... (That's me I'm referring to.) What's a good song without a good lyric? One of the best lyricists ever, in my opinion, was Gustav Gerson Kahn. (You knew him as Gus Kahn.) My favorite lyric of his is "You stepped out of a dream." (I do dream about my departed spouse often.) And speaking of "departed," another wonderful songwriter was Laura Nyro, who unfortunately died young. She was another talented Jew. And lets not forget Lerner and Loewe ... that's Frederick Loewe and Alan Jay Lerner ... (who, by the way, is th...
Wow! ... Remember recently I mentioned in my column that I would include more Jewish comedians and singers? Two of my favorites were Sid Caeser (now deceased) and WOODY ALLEN. Both were (and are) brilliant! Actually, Woody, who was born in the Bronx, was raised in Brooklyn and at one time we were neighbors. Woody went to Midwood High School and I attended Tilden High School. (And he was older than me!) Remember singer Tony Martin? Not only was he handsome, he had a great singing voice. He appeared in a TV movie the other night ... and speaking...
Staying away from politics ... But, I can't help telling my readers that we should be proud about the Jewish Space Lazers! Brilliant! Simply brilliant! Anti-Semitic conspiracy myths ... (Sounds like it belongs with the first story ... but no.) I read this in the World Jewish Congress and pass it along: "Two new reports released by the WJC have found that harmful conspiracy myths targeting Jews have become increasingly widespread online, and that the once United States-centric QAnon movement has begun to take hold across Europe since the start...
First, a somber memory ... Jan. 27 was "Holocaust Remembrance Day." That brings to mind the late former Congressman from California, Tom Lantos, who passed some years ago from cancer. For those of you who aren't familiar with him, I will try to fill you in: Tamas (Thomas) Peter Lantos was born in Bupapest, Hungary, to a Jewish family that was very educated with teachers, professors, etc. Of course, during World War II, they were sent to concentration camps. When Tom was 16 years old he was beaten by Nazis and doing hard labor in a forced labor...
"We are the world"... "We are the children." (I'm using this wonderful song, written by Michael Jackson and LIONEL RICHIE, and applying it to the Jewish people because it seems to fit!) The more I look up things about my favorites, the more I find out that they are (or were) Jewish! For instance, who knew Larry King, super-famous radio and television personality, was a member of the clan? (I didn't.) His real name was Lawrence Zeiger. He was born in Brooklyn, N.Y. (like me) and his parents were from Minsk and Pinsk, part of the Russian Empire...
