Masha Leon
By Masha Leon
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The Schmooze My First Halloween After Escaping the Nazis
My mother and I arrived in Montreal, Canada in September 1941 following a death-defying escape that took us from bombed-out German-occupied Warsaw in the winter of 1940 to surviving a Nazi firing squad, to Lithuania’s Vilno (which in June 1940 was occupied by the Soviets). Then a 12-14-day Trans-Siberian train ride to Vladivostok and the…
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The Schmooze Alexandra Lebenthal Honored at Savvy Ladies Gala
“Our job is to make women look great, feel great and approach their personal, social and professional lives with a high degree of confidence” said Alex Bolen, CEO Oscar de la Renta, and sponsor of the Savvy Ladies /Financial Empowerment’s Benefit Gala which honored — among others — Alexandra Lebenthal, President and CEO, Lebenthal Holdings. Held at…
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The Schmooze Russ and Daughters, Pogrebin Trio Honored at Eldridge Museum Gala
“How many of you can say that you are in a second, third or fourth generation of a family business?” said Rabbi Andy Bachman in his address honoring Russ Daughters and the Russ Family at the Museum at Eldridge Street’s first “From Generation to Generation” Gala—held at Manhattan’s Gotham Hall—who was presenting the honor to…
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The Schmooze Gigi Hadid Shares Story of Mom’s Struggle With Lyme Disease
As I listened to supermodel Gigi Hadid share her mom Yolanda Foster’s valiant struggle with undiagnosed chronic Lyme Disease—-as did Tommy Mattola about the years’ long ordeal of his wife singer-actress Thalia and Tommy Hilfiger told of daughter Ally’s anguish at the Global Lyme Alliance Inaugural Gala at Cipriani 42nd Street—I realized how lucky I…
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The Schmooze Comic Book Celebs Discuss Comics and the Jews
Coinciding with Comic Con NY, an audience of comic book aficionados filled The Center for Jewish History’s auditorium for the American Jewish Historical Society-sponsored October 7th “panel discussion “Comics and the Jews.” Karen Green, Columbia University graphic novels librarian [“the funnest job ever”] introduced writer-panelists former editor in chief of DC Comics Paul Kupperberg author…
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The Schmooze Al Hirschfeld Delights at New York Historical Society
Revisiting “The Hirschfeld Century: The Art of Al Hirschfeld” Exhibit now at the New York Historical Society was akin to a reunion with famous “friends.” Among its treasures: a 1964 image of Mostel as Tevye, a caricature montage of “the 9 Old Men of The Supreme Court of 1937” a jaw-dropping 75 strong Who’s Who…
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The Schmooze At Jewish Museum, Remembering My Letter to Liz Taylor
At the Jewish Museum’s “Becoming Jewish: Warhol’s Liz & Marilyn” exhibit September 24 pre-opening reception a woman looking at Monroe’s conversion document exclaimed: “I knew Elizabeth converted but I didn’t know Marilyn Monroe did too!” For Taylor and Monroe fans this show is a nostalgic treat. Struck by a huge display of 40 movie magazine…
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The Schmooze Appeal of Conscience Foundation at 50 Honors British PM Cameron
On September 24, as Pope Francis was performing Mass at St. Patrick’s Cathedral, Rabbi Arthur Schneier, founder and president of the Appeal of Conscience Foundation — who’d been knighted by Pope Francis in 2015 — was presiding at the organization’s 50th Anniversary Dinner at the Waldorf-Astoria. Recapping his decades’ long interventions and negotiating accomplishments, Schneier recalled his…
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