Masha Leon
By Masha Leon
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The Schmooze Marian and Abraham Sofaer Honored
“We love the Forward!” Marian Scheuer Sofaer and Abraham Sofaer exclaimed in tandem when I was introduced to the husband-wife honorees at the American Numismatic Society’s 2014 Gala at the Waldorf-Astoria. During our reception chat, the Sofaers confided, “Our favorite column is ‘Philologos.’ We’ve been Forward readers since we knew [about the paper]…. But, let’s…
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The Schmooze Carole King, ‘Beautiful’ at Grammys and Broadway
Watching Carole King (introduced by Cyndi Lauper) perform “Beautiful” — her ode to self-worth, from her Grammy winning album “Tapestry”— along with “Sara Bareilles counterpointing with her own “Brave,” was a classy moment at the 2014 Grammy Awards which validates why, just the night before, King got the Musicare’s “Person-of-the-Year” Award in recognition of her…
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The Schmooze Young Philanthropists Text for UJA-Federation
Outside it felt like the Arctic tundra, but on January 23, inside Tribeca’s Capitale, it was hot, hot, hot and festive as some 700 young 20’-30’ish Jewish philanthropists sipped Generositinis — the evening’s signature drink. They mobbed the sushi bar, and made repeat trips to the decadent “I’ll –start-my- diet-tomorrow”candy table groaning under the weight…
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The Schmooze The Jewish Cardinal Who Spoke Yiddish
“The Jewish Cardinal” (“Le Metis de Dieu”), the 2012 French film shown at the New York Film Festival, is a fascinating puzzler. “To become a Christian I did not reject my Judaism” is the mantra of Jewish-born Aaron Lustiger — intelligently portrayed by Laurent Lucas — who converted at 14, and as Cardinal Jean-Marie Lustiger, almost…
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The Schmooze Remembering Molly Picon, Yiddish Cinderella
A sparkling gem of the New York Jewish Film Festival is the U.S. premiere of the restored Joseph Green-Konrad Tom’s 1938 Yiddish film “Mamele.” Starring Molly Picon, the 5-foot-tall, 100 lb. phenom of Yiddish stage and screen, the film is set in Poland’s textile hub of Lodz, but was shot in just six weeks on…
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The Schmooze World War II Through a German Prism
“Generation War” (a hit in Germany as “Our Mothers Our Fathers”) is a must see for those who view World War II /Holocaust films as a kind of cinematic rosary of remembrance. With a Tolstoyan “War & Peace” sweep, its brutal battles as bloody and grim as those in Spielberg’s “Saving Private Ryan,” it is…
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The Schmooze When Children Survivors Wore Nazi Flags As Clothing…
At the year-end meeting of NAHOS, the National Association of Jewish Holocaust Survivors, the subject was child survivors —from toddlers to teenagers — presented by Anna Andlauer, author of “The Rage to Live: The International D.P, Children’s Center Kloster Inderdorf 1945-46.” An SRO event at Park East Synagogue, the spellbound audience listened as Andlauer —…
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The Schmooze Shalom Michael Bloomberg!
The first time I met former New York mayor Michael Bloomberg was at Brighton Beach’s September 9, 2001 “HIAS DAY” (Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society) — a day-long celebration at which some 45,000 — mostly Russian émigrés — enjoyed concerts, sporting activities, gymnastics and chess competitions. “Kto eto cheloviek?” (who is that guy?) I overheard a…
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