March's People
By: Gad Nahshon
CORE-Congress of Racial Equality and its great leadership and its unique man of all seasons, Roy Innis, launched a great successful "Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. National Holiday Celebration - Living the Dream 2000" at the Sheraton New York Hotel.
Many guests and many world known celebrities attended this dinner. The program included speeches by many leaders such as: Roy Innis, Senator Orin Hatch, H.E. Maxwell Rabb, George W. Holmes, Hon. Rudolf W. Giuliani, H.E. Prof. Ibrahim Gambari, Mr. Jim Nicholson and others.
Other guests such as Ms. Brandy Norwood were honored by CORE for their 'outstanding achievement.' Messages came from many leaders such as Secretary General Kofi Annan, Correta Scott King, Hon. James A. Baker III.
The governor and the mayor of New York City issued special proclamations for this CORE event as 'Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day.' CORE's national chairman is Roy Innis. George Holmes is the executive director. In his staff there are great people such as Teresa Alexander and Niger Innis. Among the leaders in the national board are Rev. Eugene Fowler, Robert Dunn and Alice Collins. Most of the speakers referred to the great legacy and heritage of Martin Luther King, Jr. and call on the American people to follow his steps so we will have a better future and much more hope in humanity.
Other speakers praised the great contribution of CORE to the American society. Sad to say, Mrs. Hillary Clinton missed this event.
Three white doves released at an ecumenical tree-planting ceremony in the Jerusalem Peace Forest on New Year's eve heralded the birth of Baby Fetuani of Kiribati Island in the South Pacific as the first child of the new millennium.
In a tribute to universal brotherhood at the special Jewish National Fund planting of an olive tree in honor the first child born in the new millennium, representatives of the three monotheistic religions recited a planter's prayer composed specially for the ceremony which was broadcast globally as part of the Public Broadcasting System's millennium coverage.
The tree, a large olive sapling, was planted by Keren Kayemeth LeIsrael Chairman Shlomo Gravetz and co-Chairman Yehiel Leket to choral accompaniment by the Ankor Children's Choir of the Rubin Academy of Music.
"The olive tree," Gravetz said, "symbolizes peace between man and his Creator, peace among people, abundance and a firm hold on the land."
Leket added: "I invite parents around the world to plant saplings for all infants to be born in the year 2000. For all of the, there is a place reserved in the Holy Land."
"The Greeks will bring the wine for the next party," promised actress Olympia Dukakis, who just came back from London to the cheerful crowd who came to the opening ceremony of the Bill Bradley headquarters in New York (2 Penn Plaza - Suite 1950). Dukakis praised the democratic candidate and said that he will be an excellent president. Many activists and volunteers participated in this event which also symbolized the broad support of Bradley inside the New York Democratic Party.
Among his activists are: Congressman Jerrold Nadler, Ronnie Eldridge, Michael DelGuidice, and Frank Sanzillo. Bradley must work hard here in order to defeat Al Gore who is extremely popular among the Jewish voters.
Bnai Zion, the oldest Jewish humanitarian organization in the U.S., presented to Stephen Solender, president and CEO of United Jewish Communities (UJC), the sixth annual Herman Z. Quittman award for outstanding organization leaders at an award luncheon this week. The award recognizes not-for-profit professionals who have helped to improve American/Israeli relations, contributed to humanitarian causes and promoted Jewish culture and education in Israel and the U.S.
"Steve has dedicated his entire professional career to helping others," said Bnai Zion President, Alan G. Hevesi, Comptroller of the City of NewYork. Mr. Hevesi presented the award to Solender and noted the uniqueness and importance of the award. He stated, "We are pleased to give Stephen this award - we don't do enough to honor professionals in Jewish life, and Stephen is one of our finest."
"I am appreciative of this award, marking my 40th year of Jewish communal service," said Stephen Solender. "It is the special partnership between professionals and lay leaders that has enabled us to create a world where we truly make a difference."
Dr. Otto Graf Lambsolorff, Special Representative of the Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany on issues concerning compensation for slave and forced labor performed by victims of Nazi persecution, was the guest last January of The Jewish Community Relations Council of New York (JCRC).
The 92nd Street Y (212-996-1000) released its new 2000 Winter/Spring Catalog (celebrating 125 years of success!). Among the lecturers: Ed Koch, Beverly Sils, William Safir, Arthur Schlesinger, Jr., Norman Lear, Henry Louis Gates, Susan Sontagy, Cokie Roberts, Ref. Jesse Jackson, Bernard Lewis, Mario Cuomo, Judith Hauptman, Rabbi David Woznica and. Hillary R. Clinton.
The 92nd Street Y has lectures dedicated to the next century, women's studies, health, the human mind, archeology, and 'why be Jewish.' Among the participants: Ehud Olmert, Herman Wouk, Ari Goldman and others. Many famous writers such as EL Doctorow, V.S. Naipaul, and of course, Elie Wiesel will contribute to the success of his new 21st century season.
Also, the 'Y' features events with famous artists, concerts at The Jewish Repertory Theater under the direction of Ran Avni and dances (classes for dancing), and a special Israeli dance event, every Wednesday with Dani Uziel and Ruth Goodman.
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