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

Climate change?...

I received a report from the Environmental Defense Fund recently. It said in large red letters, “WE ARE A PLANET IN DANGER!

I pass it on to you:

“United Nation Secretary-General, ANTONIO GUTERRES said,’ This report by the world’s leading climate scientists is an ear-splitting wake-up call to the world. It confirms that climate change is running faster than we are, and we are running out of time.’

And EDF president FRED KRUPP said, ‘No single entity can mitigate climate change. We must build a global set of partnerships resolved to accelerate our transition to a clean energy future.’”

(I hope leaders of our planet listen to this warning and prepare. I am not so much worried for me as I am a senior citizen. But I have dear grandchildren, and what about their children? We must act starting yesterday... or at least now!)

It’s getting worse...

I’m referring to anti-Semitism. I repeat, I am a senior citizen, but I worry about my children, grandchildren, etc. Anti-Semitism is definitely on the rise. We must stop it NOW!

Switzerland is a beautiful country. I have had the pleasure of visiting there a few years back. But now, stories like this are beginning to happen:

A kosher butcher shop in Basel, Switzerland, fell victim to what local Jews are calling an anti-Semitic campaign of intimidation, according to a report by the Jewish Telegraphic Agency.

In one of the attacks, unidentified perpetrators removed the letter J from the German-language word for Jewish from a shop sign, as well as two of the Hebrew-language letters from the word kosher. In another incident, the shop’s window display was shattered.

LEOPOLD STEFANSKY, the president of the Basel Jewish community, said the community is considering hiring a security firm and a video surveillance system, ‘but it costs.’

In 2016, the Swiss Interior Ministry’s Service for the Fight Against Racism published a report saying that Switzerland’s Jews need to pay for their own security, even though this is the responsibility of the government.

Following an outcry, a motion calling for the federal government to fund the security costs of Swiss Jews, estimated at about $450,000 annually, was adopted by the lower and upper chambers of the Swiss parliament and approved by the government.

Purim celebration...

I recently heard from spokesman LARRY OSKIN and pass it along:

Congregation Sinai will host their annual Purim Pizza Party celebration service starting on Friday, March 23 starting at 6 p.m. This service will be filled with entertaining music, special foods and a festive party celebration. There will be Purim pizzas, salads, drinks, schpiels, a Megillah reading and groggers for everyone. There will be prizes for the best Purim costumes.

Friday night Purim family services will begin at 7:30 p.m. Everyone is welcome to the services. Purim dinners will only be $5 per person and $10 for families. For further information, call 352-243-5353.

Congregation Sinai is located at 1200 West Broad Street, Groveland, Florida.

To RSVP for the Purim party, contact KAREN MILLER, 407-729-9823.

JCC 39ers Cinema Sundays...

The event begins at 2 p.m. in the JCC Seniors Lounge. The movie is “The Grand Budapest Hotel.”

Refreshments will be available.

JCC 39ers Meet & Mingle Mondays...

The event takes place at the JCC Seniors Lounger at 1 p.m. There will be an address by KEITH DVORCHIK.

Refreshments are included.

Dine Around Town...

On Thursday, March 28th, the JCC 39ers and all other JCC members are welcome to gather at The Breakfast Club, 745 Orienta Avenue #1061 in Altamonte Springs, at 1 p.m.

(No Calories? I’m attending!)

Shout-Out...

There’s a new restaurant called the Metro Diner on State Road 436 in Casselberry Commons. One of the manager’s is KEVIN, a friendly and helpful person. Our server, KAY CARR, is absolutely the best at what she does... and is sweet, pleasant and friendly.

Also, I found out that we have something in common. Kay is an aspiring vocalist! Right now, as a server, she can sing the praises of the Metro Diner food! (And I will too!) Yum!!!!)

One for the road...

One day, as young Arnold is walking in the park with his friends, he comes across a white-haired old man sitting on a park bench reading a book.

Arnold loves books, so he goes over to the old man and asks, “What are you reading, mister?”

“A history book,” replies the old man.

Arnold quickly looks at the book’s cover and can’t help noticing that it’s called, “Making Love the Shmutzy Way.” Feeling a bit embarrassed, Arnold says to the old man, “But it’s a book about... about sex, isn’t it?”

“Oy, you’re right there, son,” replies the old man looking rather sad. “But it’s also a history book because unfortunately for me, sex is history.”