By Masha Leon
At the May 13 Emerald Isle Immigration Center’s 2013 Annual Robert Briscoe Award Ceremony at Manhattan’s 21 Club honoring
Robert Astrowsky, assistant secretary of the United Federation of Teachers and
Edward Grebow, president and CEO of Amalgamated Bank, EIIC chair
Brian O’Dwyer told the assemblage: “At a bad time in Belfast, in a dark alley, a man was confronted by a thug: ‘Are ye a Catholic or a Protestant?’ The man replied ‘I am a Jew.’ The thug persisted, ‘Are you a Catholic Jew or a Protestant Jew?’” After the laughter subsided, O’Dwyer introduced the “dueling clergy” — Monsignor
James Kelly, pastor of St. Brigid in Brooklyn and Rabbi
Jay Rosenbaum, of Temple Israel in Lawrence, N.Y. Both spoke passionately about the interfaith effort to help the devastated Jewish and Irish communities in the wake of “Superstorm Sandy.” With a twinkle in his eye, O’Dwyer joshed: “In typical Irish-Jewish tradition, we proclaim a winner, and this being an Irish room, the fix is in already.”
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By Masha Leon
Touting Kissin as “one of the greatest pianists in the world today who loves Yiddish,” Wiesel urged:“Listen to his poetry… What it meant to be a Jew in Soviet Russia!”
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By Masha Leon
It was chic, short and sleeveless at the “Women of Influence: The Event” reception at New York’s JW Marriott Essex House on May 7.
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By Masha Leon
“He’d be so happy. He so loved his college! ” a passionate, upbeat
Terre Blair Hamlisch said as she recalled her late husband to the full house at the Hamlisch Memorial Concert at Queens College’s Kupferberg Center for the Arts on May 5. Originally scheduled for November 12, 2012, the event was postponed because of Hurricane Sandy.
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By Masha Leon
“I’m shrinking! I’m in menopause! That’s when God says,’ Thank you for your children’” said actress
Tovah Feldshuh, host at the May 1 American Friends of Rabin Medical Center’s luncheon at Manhattan’s landmark 21 Club, before handing the mic over to guest speaker
Delia Ephron.Read More