Too close to home...

I am really nervous about all the information I am sent relating to the rise of anti-Semitism in Europe. But now, after receiving this month's issue of the World Jewish Congress (WJC) digest, I am really upset. Anti-Semitism is getting much too close to home. Read on:

The Jewish Telegraph Agency recently reported on two separate anti-Semitic incidents... one in which swastikas were spray painted on a Jewish fraternity house at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee, and another in which a synagogue was defaced in Hollywood, Florida.

The university provost, SUSAN WENTE, informed students of the vandalism, stating: "We understand the anguish and pain that this hateful symbol causes, and we stand together to condemn any effort to intimidate or send an unwelcoming message to the Jewish members of the Vanderbilt community."

ART DUBIN, executive director of the Vanderbilt Hillel, added: "There is no ambiguity about what happened here. Spray painting swastikas at a Jewish fraternity is not a college prank or some mischievous act of vandalism. It is a malicious attack intended to bring to mind the horrors of the Holocaust, to force us to feel different, endangered, and isolated.'

B'nai Sephardim, a Sephardic synagogue serving about 700 families, found hate messages and cryptic warnings reading 'I'm watching you,' and '(expletive) Jews."

The police have promised a thorough investigation as this joins a string of recent hate-inspired events: In early March, a 24-year-old man was arrested outside a Miami Beach synagogue after yelling in Arabic that he would cut off the head of the rabbi's son. In February, hate messages appeared on homes, mailboxes and fences in Miami Gardens. Last year, a swastika and KKK appeared on a sign outside of Temple Emanu-El, the oldest conservative congregation in Miami Beach.

A Jewish Pavilion mensch...

I recently heard from NANCY LUDIN, executive director of the Jewish Pavilion. She emailed me about a real mensch who is making a wonderful difference in the lives of residents. Here is her email:

Jewish Pavilion Program Director GLORIA GREEN has been delivering companionship and Jewish culture to seniors in long-term care in South Orlando for close to a year, but now she is delivering on a plate.

Gloria came up with the idea for A Taste of Home, after noticing the positive effect traditional foods had on residents during the Jewish holidays.

She noticed that when you served gefilte fish, potato latkes, hamantashen, etc., they all of a sudden came to life. The food revived them and stimulated conversation about cooking, holiday celebrations and family.

She arranged a special discounted menu with Toojays (restaurant) that facilities or individuals can purchase for seniors. Food for a dozen seniors can be purchased by facilities or individuals for approximately $50 and this includes delivery.

Gloria devised a game to play during lunch where she shows large flash cards of Jewish foods and asks the residents to guess what the pictures are showing. Then they discuss the food and Gloria shares a little information about the foods she researched.

A Taste of Home has become such a popular program with the seniors and their family members. It is amazing to listen to all the positive conversation surrounding one piece of creamed herring or a bite of halvah.

Three cheers to Gloria whose creativity and compassion are what makes her extra sweet.!

(I agree with Nancy. Gloria Green is special, indeed... and I am very HUNGRY after reading this email... gefilte fish... potato latkes, yum!)

This just in...

Fairwinds Broadway in Orlando is bringing to town a new stage show based on the classic television hit "I Love Lucy." It will be performed at the Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts, 455 South Orange Avenue, Orlando, beginning Tuesday, June 23, for a week. The show starts at 8 p.m. For more information and directions, phone Donna Fiegel, 407-704-6185 or the Dr. Phillips box office.

Saga of the Macca-Bees...

No! I'm not referring to THOSE famous Maccabees of Israeli history, rather Honey Bees!

There has been a lot of "buzz" going around the Maitland home of JOY and RICH MARCIL, most specifically in their ceiling, where 40 thousand bees decided to take up residence. "We would not have minded as much if they were willing to split our mortgage payment with us," said Rich, "which would have amounted to about six cents a month per resident."

Joy and Rich literally hired the "Best" bee handler to migrate the bees unharmed to a bee farm. His name is CLIFTON BEST. His company is CL BEST HONEY BEES, LLC. It's located in Rockledge, Fla., and the phone number is 321-759-5111. Hopefully you will never face a bee infestation but

If you do, Clifton is truly the best man for the humane removal job.

This migration at the Marcil home even got the attention of ABC local news, and reporter RACQUEL ASA garnished a full bee suit to "capture" the event, which was televised that evening.

I love dogs, I really do...

So when I received this email from SHARI SUJKA I just had to pass it along to you:

We have a dog that was abandoned at the Vet's who is now about 8 years old. About a year ago Tigger would come into the dining room whenever we were making Shabbos. He would sit there patiently until the Motzi and then wait for a piece of challah to be sent his way.

A few months ago he started to have trouble with his hip and one Friday night could not make it into the dining room. 

When we started with the prayers for the candles he started whining and barking and would not stop until we gave him a piece of challah in the kitchen where he laid.

Well, he did the same thing on the first night of Passover that happened to fall on a Friday night this past year. He heard the candle prayer being said and came into the dining room and sat down and waited.

I think he was a bit disappointed and confused with the matzah that we gave him, but he ate it anyway.

He does the same thing every Friday night and I cannot help but smile.

Shabbos would not be the same without Tigger waiting patiently at the side of the dining room table for his portion of challah.

(You made me smile, Shari. Thank you and thank Tigger for literally making my day!)

And speaking of animals that make me happy...

How about that Triple Crown winner, AMERICAN PHAROAH. 

After 37 years he did it! And don't let his name fool you or the name of his owner, AHMED ZAYAT.

Ahmed was born in Eygpt to affluent Jewish parents. His father was a personal physician to Anwar Sadat. He, however, was educated at Boston University here in the States. I'm sure he is very proud of American Pharoah.

(We all are!)

One for the road...

Maurice, 53 years old, thought he was quite fit so he decided to join 'David's Place', a well-known New York City health club. It seemed all the Jews in New York City went there. 

On his first day, Maurice went to Room 50, the exercise room for over 50s, and tried out their stair-step machine. He told the instructor what he wanted to do and the instructor asked, "Shall I set it for five, ten or twenty minutes?" 

"Make it ten," Maurice replied conservatively. 

But after only a few minutes on the machine, his legs felt like lead and he could hardly breathe. So he got off the machine.

As he limped past some of the other men in Room 50 who were resting from their workouts, Maurice said to them, "I could only take three minutes on that thing." 

Tigger the dog

"OK, OK, " replied one of them, "You don't have to brag about it."