Scene Around

 

January 1, 2021

Antonio Guterres

Chanukah is over for this year ...

And what a year it was! 2020 was a nightmare (due to the pandemic) and Chanukah was not celebrated with family this year ... just one son, who lives here to keep me safe, and my dog, Chloe.

Of course, we kept in touch with family by phone but cooking for just one son and myself (Chloe was stuck with dog food) isn't quite the same.

We had chicken, matzo brei, potato latkes, etc., and lit the candles, of course ... but it was not festive. Maybe next year!

Anyway, Chloe, my dog, has a fuzzy dreidel that sings when she bites into it: "Oh dreidel, dreidel, dreidel, I made it out of clay. And when it's dry and ready, my dreidel I shall play."

(I have a Jewish dog!)

I received this from the World Jewish Congress ...

And I pass it along to you:

"ANTONIO GUTERRES, the 9th and current secretary general of the United Nations, accepted the WJC's highest honor, the Theodor Herzl Award, at a virtual gala on Nov. 9, 2020.


In his acceptance remarks, he acknowledged that "a steady stream of prejudice has continued to blight our world anti-Semitic assaults, harassment and vandalism, Holocaust denial ... With COVID-19, another virus has spread anti-Semitism and hatred of many kinds." He called the WJC's work to fight such hatred "more important than ever."

With the online event held on the anniversary of Kristallnacht, WJC President Ambassador RONALD S. LAUDER emphasized the dangers of indifference to anti-Semitism and divisiveness among the Jewish people, calling for action from political leaders, university administrations, and social media companies.


In honoring Guterres, the WJC president expressed the organization's deepest appreciation "for being the voice of fairness and equity that the state of Israel and the Jewish people have been hoping for at the United Nations for a long time...for calling out anti-Semitism and anti-Zionism and refusing to bow to the pressure of those who seek to isolate, demonize and delegitimize the only Jewish state in the world, Israel. Through your words and deeds over many years, you have shown that you are a true and devoted friend of the Jewish people and of the State of Israel."

In accepting the award, Guterres stressed that "for me, the fight against anti-Semitism is deeply personal. I came of age in modern Europe as it was recovering from the war.


Opposition to the tyranny of fascism was central in the development of my social and political consciousness. To see neo-Nazis and white supremacists on the march today is bone-chilling. To see them infiltrating militaries and security establishments heightens the danger further still. "We must stand together against hatred in all its forms. Our world needs a return to reason ... and a rejection of the lies and loathing that propelled the Nazis and that fracture societies today."

He closed on a positive note, with the reminder that "it is within our power to emerge from the pandemic with stronger communities, and more cohesive societies, by addressing the inequalities and injustices that have been exposed so starkly. Solidarity within and among countries will be crucial. For us as individuals, that means speaking out even when one's own group may not be in the direct firing line, and never abetting efforts to target others. Hatred doesn't discriminate."


At the same virtual event, ZUBIN MEHTA, music director emeritus of the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra, received the WJC's 5th Teddy Kollek Award for the Advancement of Jewish Culture.

Mehta spoke of his decades of friendship with the late Kollek, remembering how a year after the Six Day War, as Mayor of Jerusalem, Kollek arranged a concert, with the consent of the Mayor of Bethlehem for the orchestra and Mehta on the square in front of the Church of the Nativity. He recalled that "it was the first time that Jews, Arabs and Christians sat together for any event. It was a very Grmoving occasion."


(I am constantly praying for peace in the world, especially for my children and grandchildren.)

I'm frankly tired of this ...

Greek police are investigating after unknown vandals desecrated an outer wall of a Jewish cemetery in Athens with Nazi slogans.

Education Minister NIKI KERAMEUS reacted to the incident on Twitter by saying, "I have contacted the President of the Jewish community of Athens to express our condemnation for the desecration of the Jewish cemetery, as well as our commitment that the Greek Ministry of Education will persistently continue with its practices to combat anti-Semitism."

Oh what talent! ...

It seems that every time I fall in love with a song and want to record it, I find that the composer was Jewish.

For instance, a song I love and have recorded, "Out of the World," was written by Hyman Arluck, son of a cantor, who you may know as Harold Arlen.


Another Jew, whose ancestry is the same as mine, Odessa (Ukraine), BOB DYLAN, just sold 600 (count 'em) 600 of his songs to Universal for several million dollars. (Worth every penny!)

The Roth Family JCC Maitland...

After School Enrichment Programs:

Registration is now open for after-school classes for our next semester which runs Jan. 4 - May 18. Enrich your kids with the best that Greater Orlando has to offer. We want to cater to all of your family's needs. Our classes range from athletic activities to the magic of science.

For example, here are just a few of the classes:

Basketball, soccer, dance, yoga, karate, science, swimming and more.

Please phone the Roth Family JCC at 407-645-5933 for further information and registration.

The Winter Park Playhouse ...

From Jan. 22 until Feb. 20, The Broadway musical "Five Guys Named Moe" will be performed at the Winter Park Playhouse.

For more information, contact the Playhouse at 407-645-0145. Also, there will be more information in the next issue of Heritage.

One for the road ...

"A definition of chutzpah"

A man goes to a lawyer and asks, "How much do you charge for legal advice?"

Zubin Mehta

The lawyer answers, "A thousand dollars for three questions."

The man replies, "Wow! Isn't that kind of expensive?"

The lawyer responds, "Yes, it is. What is your third question?"

(That's chutzpah)

 

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