Scene Around

November 25, 2016

Oskar Schindler

Not surprising...

My spouse was an aerospace engineer who worked on Gemini 4 thru Apollo 16. I was even invited to NASA for Apollo 12 and sat near former President Nixon and his Secret Service detail.

I read this recently in the Weizmann Institute of Science digest and pass it along to you:

"On July 4, 2016, a long-anticipated milestone was reached: the Juno spacecraft arrived at Jupiter. It's goal: revealing the secrets of the planet, our solar system and how they were formed. It took almost five years, 1.7 billion miles, and the contributions of scientist from some of the world's most prestigious institutions, including the Weizmann Institute.

The Institute's brilliant young astrophysicists are putting Israel on the map, thanks to their work on crucial projects like the Juno mission.

The Institute's Dr. YOHAI KASPI has been a scientist on the Juno mission, headed by NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, for almost a decade, developing a means to peer beneath the planet's thick cloud layer. Is Jupiter pure gas? Is it ice? Is there a rocky core? These are just some of the questions he and the team aim to resolve.

Dr. Kaspi's Jupiter work continues, both as part of a Weizmann Institute team and as Israel's chief investigator developing a super-sensitive atomic clock for the European Space Agency's JUICE mission, which is scheduled to reach Jupiter in 2030. 'This is the first time an Israeli-built device will be carried beyond the Earth's orbit,' he proudly says.

(I'm proud too but I repeat, not surprised!)

Remembering Jewish history...

On Oct. 9, 1974, Oskar Schindler, a German industrialist, former member of the Nazi Party and possibly the most famous "Righteous Gentile," passed away in Hildesheim, Germany, at the age of 66.

Schindler is credited with saving as many as 1,200 Jews during the Holocaust. His story was brought to international acclaim by the 1982 novel "Schindler's Ark" and the 1993 film "Schindler's List."

Far in advance but note worthy...

This is news from the Jewish Federation:

"Choices, the Jewish Federation of Greater Orlando's women's philanthropy event of the year, will be held Thursday, Feb. 9, 2017, at Congregation Ohev Shalom.

At Choices 2017, we will be honoring eight women, each representing one of our Central Florida Jewish agencies!

Please join us in congratulating our first two 2017 Women of Choice: MADELINE WOLLY of Jewish Family Services of Greater Orlando and ELISE SCHILOWITZ of the Jewish Pavilion."

And speaking of the Jewish Federation...

I was emailed this message:

"The Jewish Federation of Greater Orlando regularly honors individuals and groups in the community who embody Jewish values in service to others. We rely on your nominations as we select our honorees. Do you know someone who regularly goes out of his or her way to help others, either in professional life or as a volunteer? If so, please fill out our easy online nomination form so we can be sure to celebrate these outstanding people in an upcoming Ma Nishma.

Nominate a Mensch of the week!"

A super-talent...

The next Altamonte Chapel Jazz Jam takes place on Sunday, November 27th from 12:30 to 2:30 p.m.

It features super-talent and international entertainer, CAROL STEIN and her friends.

Carol is a superb pianist and vocalist. Her terrific "friends" are EDDIE MARSHALL on tenor sax, flute and clarinet, CHARLIE SILVA on bass, and BARRY SMITH on drums

(I've had the pleasure and privilege to entertain with all these guys. They are the BEST!)

The emcee for the afternoon is our own ALAN ROCK.

The donation suggested is $10.

The Altamonte Chapel is located at 825 East Altamonte Drive, Altamonte Springs, Fl. 32701.

(Not to be missed!)

Dillards Breakfast Style show...

Dillards at Seminole Towne Center is hosting a breakfast style show for the Orlando Chapter of Hadassah on Wednesday, Nov. 30 at 10:30 a.m. in the Eileen Fisher department on the second floor.

A lovely warm breakfast will be served.

The show features Eileen Fisher designs and each $400 purchase of regular priced clothing comes with a $50 coupon usable for any Eileen Fisher regular or sale merchandise.

There will be some fun surprises and events from other departments also featured.

This event is free of charge and there is no obligation to purchase.

To RSVP: On the internet Nancyg357@yahoo.com or phone 407-333-0204.

One for the road...

Abe is reading his Jewish Chronicle when his wife Ruth walks up behind him and smacks him on the back of the head with her hand.

Carol Stein

"What on earth was that for?" shouts Abe.

"That," she replies, "was because I found a piece of paper in your pocket with the name 'Judith Pasha' written on it."

"You've got it all wrong, darling," Abe says. "Don't you remember last week when I went to the horse races? Well, 'Judith Pasha' was the name of one of the horses I bet on while I was there."

Ruth gives a shrug and walks away muttering to herself.

A few days later, Abe is reading his newspaper when Ruth again walks up behind him and smacks him on the back of the head, but this time much harder.

"What was that for?" Abe shouts, rubbing the back of his head.

Ruth replies, "Your horse just called."