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

I'm going pandemic nutty...

I'm in my house for many months,

(I'm not the type who swears or grunts!)

But coronavirus is a trap,

My days are filled with food and nap,

I'm watching TV night and day,

(Please Dr. Phil just go away!)

When will this end? I need to know,

(I'll put on makeup so I'll glow),

And dress in sexy clothes again,

I cannot wait-Just tell me when!

Okay, I don't wear sexy clothes,

(I just wear jeans, and I don't wear hose)

Okay, okay! I'm sort of old,

I'll admit to 50. Aint I bold?

More famous Jewish people ...

Gwyneth Kate Paltrow was born on Sept. 27, 1972, in Los Angeles, to actress Blythe Danner and film producer-director Bruce Paltrow. She has a younger brother, Jake, who is a director and screenwriter. Paltrow's father was Jewish while her mother is from a Christian background. She was raised celebrating "both Jewish and Christian holidays." Her brother had a traditional bar mitzvah when he turned 13. Her father's Ashkenazi Jewish family emigrated from Belarus and Poland. Paltrow's paternal great-great-grandfather was a Rabbi in Nowogród, Poland, and a descendant of the well-known Paltrowicz family of rabbis from Kraków. Her godfather is director Steven Spielberg. Her uncle is opera singer and actor Harry Danner, whose daughter, actress Hillary Danner is Paltrow's cousin and close friend. Paltrow recalls their family gatherings: "Hillary and I always had this in common, and to this day ... cooking for people we love, eating, hanging out as a family. It's how we were raised. It's what we do." Another cousin is Rebekah Paltrow Neumann, whose spouse is the Israeli-American millionaire Adam Neumann, founder of WeWork.

Paltrow was raised in a very wealthy household, and lived in Santa Monica, California, where she attended Crossroads School, before enrolling in the Spence School, an all-girls private school in Manhattan. Later, she studied art history at the University of California, Santa Barbara, before dropping out to act. And, of course, she is a beautiful Jewish young lady!

Another famous Jewish celebrity ...

Ivan Reitman, who past away very recently in 2022, was a Czechoslovak-born Canadian film and television director, producer and screenwriter. He was best known for his comedy work, especially in the 1980s and 1990s. He was the owner of The Montecito Picture Company, founded in 1998.

Films he directed include Meatballs (1979), Stripes (1981), Ghostbusters (1984), Ghostbusters II (1989), Twins (1988), Kindergarten Cop (1990), Dave (1993), and Junior (1994).

Reitman also served as producer for such films as Animal House (1978), Beethoven (1992), Space Jam (1996), and Private Parts (1997).

Ivan was only 75 when he passed very peacefully at his home. No cause was given. And of course, he was Jewish.

And back to beautiful ...

Alana Haim is an American musician and actress. She is a pianist, guitarist, and vocalist in the American pop rock band Haim, which also consists of her two older sisters, Este and Danielle. In 2020, she received a Grammy Award for Album of the Year nomination for Haim's third record Women in Music Part III.

In 2021, she starred in Paul Thomas Anderson's film Licorice Pizza, for which she received critical acclaim and was nominated for a Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Motion Picture Comedy or Musical, a BAFTA Award for Best Actress in a Lead

ing Role and a Critics' Choice Movie Award for Best Actress.

Alana was born on Dec. 15, 1991, in Los Angeles, California, to a Jewish family. Her father, Mordechai "Moti" Haim, is an Israeli-born retired professional soccer player who moved to the United States in 1980. Her mother, Donna Rose, is a former elementary school art teacher from Philadelphia. Haim's paternal grandmother was originally from Bulgaria. Alana has two older sisters, Este (born March 14, 1986) and Danielle (born Feb. 16, 1989). And another fabulous talented Jew is Alana!

I recently received this notice from AARP. (Oy vay!) ...

"The pandemic has highlighted the importance of Social Security and Medicare benefits to older Americans, which continue to provide vital support to seniors (NOT ME!!) during this difficult time.

Yet, lawmakers in Washington, D.C., are considering the TRUST ACT, which could put Social Security and Medicare on the chopping block to address the federal deficit. We need to protect these important benefits. That's why we must push politicians in Washington, D.C., to defeat this legislation and preserve and strengthen these two vital programs so that these benefits will be there throughout your retirement.

In addition, AARP seeking to cut your expenses. Americans pay more than three times what people in other countries pay for the same brand name prescription drugs. AARP continues to work with Congress and regulatory agencies to take action to lower prescription drug prices and save seniors hundreds of billions of dollars. Regardless of what happens, rest assured that AARP will keep fighting to lower your prescription drug costs no matter what!

AARP is also urging Congress to pass the Credit for Caring Act, which would create a federal tax credit of up to $5,000 for eligible family caregivers to help defray the cost of caring for an older parent, spouse, or other loved one.

All of these are important to your well-being, your retirement security, and your health. AARP is fighting for you on these critical issues. Please support them however you can!"

(This is just the first part of the letter. The rest has to do with my opinions and, of course, donation.)

I also heard from the Simon Wiesenthal Center ...

"While we've all been focused on the global coronavirus pandemic for the last 2 years, the virus of antisemitism has grown and mutated just as rapidly throughout our communities.

Indeed, 2022 started out with an armed terrorist taking a Texas synagogue, its rabbi, and three worshippers hostage. Thankfully, all hostages were able to escape. But it is no accident that a synagogue was chosen for this attack. Once again, synagogues and Jewish schools are forced to elevate their defensive measures, not only against neo-Nazis, but against Islamic terrorism and violent hate.

The Simon Wiesenthal Center is committed to seeing to it that all anti-Semites, whether far right, far left, or Islamist extremist are held accountable for their violent and hateful crimes. You can also count on the Center to push the media to expose doers targeting our fellow Jews and our institutions, whoever they are and whatever their hateful ideology." (There is more to the letter but the request is also for donations.)

Roth Family of Greater Orlando ...

On Sunday, March 20th, 3-5 p.m. at the Roth Family JCC, 851 North Maitland Ave, Maitland, Florida, The Author Series for Spring 2022 takes place.

Author ANDREW PORWANCHER will discuss his book, "The Jewish World of Alexander Hamilton" the untold story of the founding father's likely Jewish birth and upbringing.

Ivan Reitman

For further information, phone FARA GOLD at 407-621-4039. Cost is $10.

The Jewish Pavilion ...

The Jewish Pavilion's grief support group is taking names for the spring meetings.

The six-week program explores grief through a Jewish Lens.

(You must attend all six.)

Please phone 407-678-9363 to get on the reminder list and for any further information.

One for the road ...

Most people agree that man's best friend is a dog. I certainly do!

This is what Rodney Dangerfield (also Jewish) once said about his dog: "I tell ya, the dog drives me nuts. Last night he went on the paper four times ... three times while I was reading it."