By Linda Wisch-Davidsohn

Catching up with my former neighbor in North Dallas, Miriam Creemer, is always a treat. Not only is Miriam a great raconteur, but she and her husband, Al, stay very busy.
In 1999, I began walking the “Twin Lakes” at 5:30 a.m. Miriam and her friends were always walking at a faster clip — even if I did the math, there were three of them and only one of me, they were still way ahead. One of Miriam’s walking friends died suddenly; however, Miriam and my former neighbor, Gretel, are still doing the walk — and have been hitting the pavement for 33 years.
Not only is Miriam a gracious hostess, but, to me, she is a super hero who helps keep Yiddishkeit alive.
Al and Miriam recently returned from Vancouver, Canada, where they shared in a special family simcha — the celebration of the 100th birthday of Ida Feldstein, Miriam’s brother’s mother-in-law.
The Creemers both stated that Ida is both amazing and incredible. Her motto is “Take one day at a time and make the best of it.”
Family and friends from Israel; Bali, Indonesia; and Canada, as well as the U.S., feted the celebrant. Ida’s baby brother, Moe, 92, and “kid sister,” Rose, 94, were also included in the celebration.
At her birthday party, her grandchildren and great-grandchildren entertained everyone with original songs, poems, videos and photos of her life from Galicia to Montreal to Vancouver. The Creemers said, “It was truly an affair to remember.”
Macular degeneration does not hold Ida back. She has “read” more than 650 talking books, and has done her own investing through her personal broker for more than 40 years. Her mind is sharp; she can discuss world politics and give advice, and never complains.
Ida lives in her own condominium apartment with a caregiver who does the cooking and the cleaning. She walks in her neighborhood daily for one hour, weather permitting.
Al and Miriam report that at 100 years old, Ida is still trim and blonde, and she won a “bathing beauty contest” at the age of 97.
Thanks to Miriam and Al for sharing this wonderful story.

A Glimpse of the Altacockers

An email from old family friend, Bill Becker, shared the following info and picture (Page 7) with us:
Meet the Altacockers. We are a group of guys who get together for lunch to celebrate our birthdays. All of us are from Dallas, and grew up together. Most of us went to elementary, junior high, high school and college together. We meet at the Egyptian restaurant. This year we celebrated our 610th birthday (since we are all 61 years old).

Dallas International Film Festival features a couple of flicks with Jewish themes

Many thanks to TJP movie reviewer, 3 Stars Cinema cofounder and secretary of the Texas Film Critics Association, Susan Kandel Wilkofsky, who filed the following report:
“The Dallas International Film Festival has returned for a ninth year, bringing two films of Jewish interest you won’t want to miss!
“A Borrowed Identity, directed by award-winning filmmaker Eran Riklis, is based on the semi-autobiographical book by Sayed Kashua. It tells the story of Eyad, an Arab-Israeli teen admitted to a prestigious Jewish boarding school in Jerusalem — the first and only Arab to be accepted.
When his relationship with a Jewish girl named Naomi is discovered, he is asked to leave the school. Eyad realizes he will have to sacrifice his own identity in order to be accepted. Faced with a difficult choice, Eyad is forced to make a decision that will change his life forever.
“A Borrowed Identity is part of DIFF’s World Cinema presenting cutting-edge films from around the globe. It is being shown 12:15 p.m., Sunday, April 19 at the Angelika Film Center. 3 Stars Jewish Cinema is a proud community partner of DIFF and tickets are free for its members. The film is 105 minutes in length and in Hebrew with English titles.
“Mr. Kaplan, directed by the award-winning writer and director Álvaro Brethren, is a comedy that hails from Uruguay. Like many of his other Jewish friends having fled Europe after WWII, Jacob Kaplan lives an ordinary life. As he is aging, he begins to question his place in history and embarks on a mission, determined to hunt down a notorious Nazi believed to have fled to South America. Mr. Kaplan is Uruguay’s official submission for this year’s Best Foreign Language Film Oscar.
“In Spanish with English subtitles, Mr. Kaplan is part of the Latino Showcase, which highlights films from Latin America that speak a cinematic language all their own. The 98-minute film will be shown 10:15 p.m., Saturday, April 18, at the Angelika Film Center and is presented by El Creative, Univision and Caliber.
“The Latino Cultural Center is the co-presenter.
“General admission tickets are only $12 and can be purchased several different ways — online, by phone (469-828-1719) or at the Prekindle Main Box Office or at Festival box offices in screening venues. Go to www.dallasfilm.org for more information.”

News and Notes

• This Sunday is the JFGD’s Super Sunday: The Sequel. Volunteer opportunities are available at www.jewishdallas.org. Answer the call!
• There’s still time to visit the Dallas Holocaust Museum and take in “The Wartime Escape: Margret and H. A. Rey’s Journey from France.” The exhibit about Curious George’s creators runs through June 20.
• The Jewish Community Relations Council is serving as a community liaison regarding Federal Security grants from the Department of Homeland Services to Jewish institutions in and around the Greater Dallas area.
  Eligible applicants include Jewish agencies, organizations and religious institutions with a significant need to implement or increase security for their respective facilities.
  Grants of up to $75,000 will be given to selected applicants. All applications are due by April 27. This grant opportunity is made available every year.
  If you are interested in applying, or if you have any questions, please contact Jordan Weber at 214-615-5229 or jweber@jfgd.org.