■MiTHnps
Two shuls make commitment
Frank Bernstein has donated blood since 1965, some 400 donations.
ALEX KLINER SOCIAL COLUMNIST
Ya wanna feel good, dear reader? Make a habit of giving blood. Ask Frank Bernstein about his good feeling. He's had it over and over again since 1965, when he first donated blood. "I was immediately hooked! It's a two-way mitzvah. You help someone who requires blood and, the theory has it, regenerating your blood strengthens your immune „r system." And speaking of HaWHl^^ "over and over," Frank recently won an award bom the Canadian Blood Services celebrating his 400th blood donation. He's the top donor in this town. Tjilk about feeling good!
"We need lots more donors," insists Frank, "including from our commimity. Jews have unique blood needs because of our Ashkenazi and Sephardi backgrounds." In defence, however, of the community, Frank points to Congregation Shaarey Tefilah and Temple Sholom whose congregants are collectively committed to donating a specific amount of blood annually.
Should mention that Frank's platelets (blood-clotting factor) from a recent donation may possibly have been among those that contributed to the successful bone marrow transplant of leukemia patient and Kelowna MLA Sindi Hawkins.
Frank Bernstein
of their advanced degrees by the Nazis. More than 200 degrees were revoked. Most graduates were given back their status at the war's end. A recent search throu^ the imiversity's archives tiuTied up the remaining 32.
★★★
Just broke groimd in the Jordan Rift Valley on the Jordan-Israel border ... an "ambitious" multidisdplinaiy science project south of the Dead Sea. Designated a "free academic zone," the facility, symbolically named Bridging the Rill Centre, when completed, will host researchers from both cotmtries ... eventually other Middle East nations. Also involved ... Stanford and Cornell universities. "Obviously, the symbolism's as important as the science," says Stanford geneticist Marc Feldman.
★★★
Woody Allen observation... "I don't want to achieve immor-tahty through my work. I want to adiieve it through not dying."
★★★
The University of Vienna has posthvunously restored the doctorates of 32 academics (including psychoanalyst Bruno Bettelheim) who were stripped
Now at Performance Woiks on Granville Island until June 5, a Western Theatre Conspiracy production o{Omniscience... "fiitur-istic mystery woven from firagments of electronic surveillance," and a play that might be watching you while you're watching it. Commimity members involved ... director Richard Wolfe, featured actor Camyar Chai. Details, 604-257-0366. ★★★
May 13, 1939. The SS St. Louis sails from Hambm^, Germany. Aboard, 937 Eiu-opeans (mostly Jewish) fleeing Nazi persecution. Turned away from Cuban and American shores, the refugees are "divided" between England, France, Holland and Belgiiun.
Sarah Ogilvie, Survivors Rcgistiy director of the Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington, D.C., has undertaken to trace the fate of the St Louis passengers who were forced to return to Exn-ope. It currently includes more than 185,000 names and biographical records of survivors and their descendants. Ogilvie hopes her project "shows the human toll decisions by governments can have."
★★★
More on Sen. John Kerry's Jewish heritage, mentioned in an earlier column. Seems a Czech
historian has now traced the Democratic U.S. presidential candidate's paternal lineage to the family of the creator of the legendaiy golem of Prague, Rabbi Ju-dah Loew (1525-1609). If it'll help Kerry's campaign, he should know that the rabbi's golem was indeed a good guy golem and helped defend the Jews of Prague irom pogrom.
★★★
A Jewish delegation is due to visit Libya to "fur-W thereflbrts to seek redress" L-i (including property com-iVJ pensation) for the 38,000 former Libyan Jews who left the country following the establishment of the state of Israel. Both President Col. Muamar Qadhafi and his son have made statements supporting their right to compensation. Will wonders never cease?!
Famous "bullish boss" of Miramax Films Harvey Weinstein is writing his memoirs, published by Harper Collins. According to CEO Jane Friedman, the book will "trace the lives of the Weinstein brothers, Harvey and Bob, from their roots in Queens, N.Y., throu^ the finding of Miramax." As yet untitled, the bookfs not due
^ until 2006. Why so long, Harvey?
' Hurry up!
★★★
Vancouver Symphony Orchestra principal trombonist Gordon Cherry says hell take me for a ride with the top down if he wins the Audi A4 Cabriolet convertible now being raflled as a VSO fimd-raiser. Winner to be drawn after last day of ticket sales, Saturday, Jime 5. "I can already feel the wind recklessly blowing through our hair," says Gordon. Great, fella... but neither of us have any!
Lottery details... www.van-couversymphony.ca/in_carlot-teiy.cfin.
★★★
The annual rating of Israel's 500 richest by the Marker business Web site now lists five billionaires. Wonderful... and not one is my relative! That leaves me 495 richest names to go throu^. Who knows... an imcle, maybe... a cousin.... □
Alex Kliner has a varied background in theatre, education and community service.
STAR^DEUl
SHAVUOT
Special
FRESH ^^mm
PICKLED m
SALMON ^250'
/lOOf
Plus
5775 Oak Street Vancouver, BC
Rear Parking Area
T 604-263-2625 F 604-263-4114
www.kaplansstardeli.com
::a^wide;^aHety of ^ ^smoked fish; '
nooclle;kugel$^
^ "^jparty, sandwiches
Community Milestones?
AiwoMKCineirts doodfaK
Wtdnesdoy, Jnt 16th
Addeodhe:
Tlwndoy, Jmw 17 A
Issue dote:
Friday, June 25th
STROKE FORUM
PRESENTED BY
Heart and Stroke Foundation of B.C. & Yukon
ARE YOU AT RISK?
Wednesday, June 9th, 2004
7:00 - 9:00 pm Jewish Community Centre
Wosk Auditorium 950 West 41 st Avenue, Vancouver
FEATURING
Dr. Max Cynader,
Director of the Brain Researcti Centre at UBC Dr. Philip Teal,
Director, B.C. Centre for Strol^e and Cerebrovascular Diseases, Vancouver General Hospital
Dr. Janice Eng,
Department of Rehabilitation Medicine at UBC Facilitated by Dr. Art Mister
The foaim is free and kosher light refreshments will be provided. To register, please telephone Ingrid at: 604-736-4404 Ext 235 or Email: ihanslo@hsf.bc.ca
HtART ANDSTtOtd FOUNDATION or ».C I. YUKON
Finding answers. For life.