Compiled by Sharon Wisch-Ray
sharon@tjpnews.com

Awards for Harvey J. Bloom Post No. 256

During the Jewish War Veterans and Ladies Auxiliary National Convention held in Savannah, Georgia last month, our area was well represented.
The Harvey J. Bloom Post No. 256 in Dallas won two national awards: the Ben Kaufman Award for outstanding service to the VA Hospital and the Brotherhood Award for work in the community (placing flags on veterans’ graves, participating in the Veterans Day Parade, etc.) Both the Post and Auxiliary were awarded a Certificate of Appreciation for their contribution to the JWV Foundation’s program honoring Veteran Liberators of Concentration Camps during World War II. Post 256 is part of the TALO region and congratulations also go out to the San Antonio Post for their National Award for recruitment.

On the Ladies Auxiliary’s side two local members were named national representatives: Roz Kaplan is the national conductress and Sandra Cantor is the national chaplain. Next year’s national convention will be held in San Antonio.
Delegates to the National Convention from the Metroplex included: Dr. Barry Schneider and Peter Levy representing the Martin Hochster Post 755 and Sandra and Allan Cantor, Roz and Art Kaplan, Diane and Jerry Benjamin from Dallas. If you are interested in finding out about the JWV/A please contact via email: Post256jwv@gmail.com or call Sandra or Allan Cantor at 972-248-4844.
— Submitted by Sandra Cantor

The Mitzvah Project

The Mitzvah Project is a one-act play to be performed at SMU on Sept. 15 and focuses on hidden tragedy of Jewish soldiers who fought for Hitler during World War II.
The one-person, one-act play about a German half-Jew who became a decorated officer for the Third Reich during World War II will be performed at 7:15 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 15, in SMU’s Collins Executive Education Center, 3150 Binkley Ave.

Sponsored by the Embrey Human Rights Program, the free public event will be followed by a lecture and Q&A session.
Performance artist Roger Grunwald partnered with Broadway actor Annie McGreevey to co-write the drama, which focuses on the history and fate of tens of thousands of German “Mischlinge” — the Nazis’ derogatory term for people with one or two Jewish grandparents. The show centers on the tragic story of one such “Mischling,” who became an officer in the German army.
In the play, Grunwald brings to life three characters: Christoph, the “Mischling” soldier; Schmuel, a Polish Jew from Bialystok; and The Chorus, a Groucho Marx-esque comedian/philosopher who provides edgy commentary.
Grunwald says he was inspired to co-create the project as a tribute to his mother, who, as a survivor of Auschwitz, used her wartime experience as a tool for teaching young people the lessons of history, particularly related to the Holocaust.
For more details about The Mitzvah Project, which has been performed at more than 50 theaters, universities, synagogues, Holocaust museums and other venues throughout the U.S. and the United Kingdom, visit themitzvah.org.
— Submitted by Sherry Aikman

Chuck Greenberg to speak at Beth Torah breakfast

Chuck Greenberg, CEO and general partner of the Frisco RoughRiders, will be the guest speaker at the Congregation Beth Torah Men’s Club monthly breakfast on Sunday, Sept. 18.
Greenberg, a neighbor of Mark Cuban when they were growing up in Pittsburgh, was a sports attorney, owner of several minor league baseball teams and CEO of the Texas Rangers before buying the RoughRiders in 2014. He’ll talk business and baseball at the lox-and-bagel breakfast, which begins at 9 a.m. The public is invited and admission is $10.
Congregation Beth Torah is located at 720 W. Lookout Drive in Richardson, near the crossroads of Bush Turnpike and Central Expressway. For more information, call the synagogue at 972-234-1542.
— Submitted by Michael Precker

Dallas On the Move Luncheon celebrates 10 Years

Father-daughter duo Dr. Philip Raskin and Robbin Raskin Solis are co-chairs of this year’s National Multiple Sclerosis Society 10th Annual Dallas On the Move Luncheon.
The event will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, Oct. 14 at the Ritz-Carlton, Dallas. This year’s luncheon is celebrating 10 years and is predicted to hit its $1 million fundraising milestone. In addition to raising funds and awareness for multiple sclerosis, this event recognizes and celebrates local citizens and companies who are changing the world for people affected by MS.
On the Move Luncheon is a nationwide program created to empower communities with the knowledge, inspiration and relentless resolve to end multiple sclerosis forever. Held in cities across the country, the Luncheon maximizes our collective impact to change the world for people with MS – one gift, one voice at a time.

The 2016 Person On the Move award will be presented to Dallas Stars Captain Jamie Benn for his continued support of the National MS Society, his choice charity for the past three years. Benn has provided countless Dallas Stars tickets and “Benn’s Beauties” T-shirts to people living with MS and is truly committed to the MS movement. In recognition of their longtime support of the National MS Society, Kendra Scott will be the 2016 Company On the Move recipient. Kendra Scott has donated jewelry, Color Bar parties, trunk shows and Kendra Gives Back events in support of Society events across the nation.
In addition, the Dallas On the Move Luncheon will feature nationally-known keynote speakers Dan and Jennifer Digmann, a married couple who both live with MS and use their platform to share personal stories of day-to-day life that inspire and educate people.
For luncheon and ticket information, contact Meredith Byrnes at 713-394-2965 or Meredith.Byrnes@nmss.org. For those unable to attend but who would still like to support the National MS Society, online contributions can be made at onthemovetx.org.
— Submitted by Bailey Starnes

New fund at DJCF

In the wake of the recent sad and tragic events surrounding our law enforcers and first responders, the Dallas Jewish Community Foundation became inspired to help make a difference through the creation of a new fund, the First Responders Appreciation Fund of the Dallas Jewish Community Foundation.
This fund was established to thank our First Responders for being away from their families to protect and care for us. This year, this new fund will support Jewish community organizations and leaders who will receive funding to orchestrate the procurement and delivery of treats and sweets to first responders on Thanksgiving and Christmas.
We rallied together as a community after the tragic shooting of five noble police officers just a short while ago. Let us keep that united spirit alive and continue to show our support. If you are interested in making a donation to this fund, visit www.djcf.org/donate and select this fund from the drop-down menu.
If you are interested in participating in the delivery of care packages, please email Jaycee Greenblatt at Jgreenblatt@djcf.org. The criteria for individuals or agencies interested in participating will be shared at a later date.
— Submitted by Mona Allen