Waiter dreams of own eatery
Paul Grunberg did his practicum in Switzerland and Whistler Mountain.
ALEX KLINER SOCIAL COLUMNIST
At Vancouver Talmud Torah and Point Grey high school, Paul Grunberg
was into sports. Even thought about a career as a professional athlete. Alternately, he thought about a career in the hospitality industry. Seems that's the career that won out 'cause that's the one Paul's now pursuing.
Actually, while still in high school and in between his athletic activities, Paul began his alternate pursuit with a broom. Swept the parking lot at his cousin Nathan's Burnaby Metro Centre Hotel. He then took a step up... dishwasher at an Earl's restaurant. He was quickly promoted to a supervisory position in the kitchen.
Paul left Earl's to study hotel and restaurant administration at Camosun College in Victoria. Did his practicum in Switzerland and Whistler Mountain.
Only 22, Paul's a server at Griffins in the Hotel Vancouver. Also at Feenie's, a new fine dining eatery owned by international chef Rob Feenie, owner of Lumiere restaurant.
Ultimately, Paul expects to preside over an "up-scale" eatery of his own. Don't forget, boitchik ... invite me to the opening!
Full-time enrolment at Jewish schools in France has almost doubled in the last 15 years. There are now 29,000 pupils in the schools (28 per cent of all Jewish children in France) compared to 15,000 in 1988.
And speaking of France... the Paris Piano Trio performs Oct. 14 to 17 in Vancouver at the Academy of Music for the Music in the Morning (MM) concert series. "Great polish, vigor, exemplary style," says one critic. MM artistic director June Goldsmith appropriately says it in French ... "Savoir faire, puissance, chic!"
Goot gczuhgt, June! That's "well said" in Yiddish. My Frencli is a little weak. Concert details, 604-873-4612.
Last June, the Israeli government sold part of its total ownership of troubled El Al airlines. Largest single buyer ... the Knafayim group headed by president Israel (Izzy) Borovich
Paul Grunberg
and twin brother David (Dedi). Izz/s also CEO of Arkia, Israel's second airline (domestic flights and charters to Europe)... and it's successful. So why bid on El Al's shares given its woes? "Buy what you can," says Izzy, "and make it better."
★★★
The works of Aaron Copland will be featured in an autumn concert by the Vancouver Chamber Choir at the Chan Centre on Saturday, Oct. 18, 8 p.m. Titled Harvest Songs of Thanksgiving, appropriate themes embrace ideas of thanksgiving, peace, healing and rural hardiness. Details, 604-738-6822.
World-fa:nous architect Louis Kahn was born in Estonia circa 1901/1902. Came to the United States at age three and grew up in my hometown, Philadelphia. Called remarkable and one of the 20th century's seminal architects, I^hn's "architectural stature" comes irom such designs as the Yale Art Gallery and the British Art Centre ... both considered masterpieces.
A film documentary, My Architect, by I^hn's son Nathaniel, screened at the Jerusalem Film Festival and opens this November in cities throughout the United States. Louis ICahn died in 1974.
Prominent Egyptian legal scholar Nabil Hiliny is preparing a lawsuit against Jews around the world over gold allegedly stolen in biblical times
during the Israelites' exodus from Egypt. "I'll be happy to defend the Jews," says noted Harvard Law professor and author Alan Der-showitz. "There's no court that would be open to a lawsuit like that. "
Norwegian pianist Lcif Ove Andsnes opens the 2003-2004 Vancouver Recital Society series Oct. 5,3 p.m., at the Chan Centre. "Fleet-fingered technique, rhythmic integrity, textural clarity and gorgeous tone," says the New York Times. And, adds VRS artistic director Leila Gctz ... "a gorgeous guy!" Leila ... your husband Leon is listening! Concert details, 604-602-0363. •
Israel's NICE Industries, specialists in security devices, has developed a "more efficient way" of storing images captured on closed-circuit TV cameras. NICE'S digital system eliminates going through hours of videotape. You merely "punch in" a request to view a video taken at a specific time and date... and quicker than you can say "voila!" in Hebrew ... it's accessible in a few seconds.
Mentioned earlier that Josh Epstein has a part in Langara College's Studio 58 current production of Bertolt Brecht's The Caucasian Chalk Circle. Now Josh tells me the show's extended until Oct. 19. Due, in part no doubt, to those stellar performances chalked up by Josh.
Cindy Charkow was producer of the recent kickoff event of this year's Jewish Federation of Greater Vancouver Combined Jewish Appeal campaign. She tells me that keynote speaker Tzipi Livni, Israel's immigration minister, left her speech back at her hotel. "Spoke without notes ... off the cuff, but wowed the audience!" Cindy calls Tzipi "a 45-year-old wonder in Sharon's government." Great Cindy... but you revealed a woman's age! □
Alex Miner has a varied back-gmund in t/ieativ, education and conimunity service.
* looking for a Jewish cultural enrichment/education program for your child?
* looking for a bar/bas mitsvah program that focuses on Jewish cultural traditions and ethical values?
the Peretz Centre's Sunday School and B'nai Mitsvah programs are just what you've been looking for.
^ntcrc\4\tur^^ f^mihcs welcome
Peretz Centre for Secular Jewish Culture 6184 Ash Street, Vancouver 604-325-1812 a wheelchair accessible building
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