Republican Congressman Ted Yoho, who represents the 3rd district of Florida, made the headlines last week because of his crude and sexist insults hurled at Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, the Democrat who represents New York’s 14th congressional district. Ocasio-Cortez responded on the floor of the House with a passionate speech about his behavior towards her which reflects “a culture of lack of impunity, of accepting of violence and violent language against women and an entire structure of power that supports that.” Congressman Yoho traveled to Israel in 2013, where he met with many Israeli political, military and civilian leaders, but also with Saeb Erekat, the chief negotiator for the Palestinian Authority. Yoho found the trip to be very educational, as he noted “It’s always fascinated me how screwed up that whole region is.” After returning from his trip, Yoho told a Gainesville Sun reporter that Erekat conceded Israel’s right to exist, but rejected that it should be populated by Jewish people. Noting that such a position undermined any real chance of peace negotiations, Yoho then said what?

Ted Yoho by Gage Skidmore is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0

A. “To quote Abba Eban, ‘Palestinians never miss an opportunity to miss an opportunity.’ ”

B. “Everybody needs to take a chill pill.”

C. “I feel for the Palestinian people, but it’s very clear in the Bible that God gave the land to the Israelites.”

D. “Of course, the reason that Mr. Erekat says that is because he knows that President Obama is prepared to sell out Israel.”

E. “I told Mr. Erekat that he was disgusting, and I told him directly, ‘You are out of your freaking mind.’ And as I walked away, I called him a fakakta mamzer because I cannot apologize for my passion, or for loving my God, my family, and my country. Having been married for 45 years with two daughters, I’m very cognizant of my language. The offensive name-calling, words attributed to me by the press were never spoken to my colleagues and if they were construed that way, I apologize for their misunderstanding. In other words, I didn’t say it and if I did it’s your fault for hearing it. And did I mention, I have two daughters?”

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The state of Oregon is suing the federal government to prevent federal agents from arresting city residents who are protesting against racism and police brutality. Oregon Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum, who is Jewish, says that federal agents have literally grabbed people off the streets without a warrant or explanation. Mayor Ted Wheeler called the actions “a direct threat to our democracy.” It is believed that the involvement of Homeland Security agents and U.S. marshals is a political ploy by the Trump administration. Portland has a long history of civic involvement by Jews, including five Jews who have served as mayor of the city, most recently when Vera Katz held that office from 1992-2004. The first Jewish mayor of Portland was Bernard Goldsmith, who served from 1869–1871. Goldsmith was born in Bavaria and emigrated to New York City at age 5. He eventually moved to California and started a jewelry store, and in 1861 he moved to Portland where he opened a retail store with some of his brothers. Which of the following is true about Bernard Goldsmith?

Portland, Oregon - Old Town by Colin Durfee is licensed under CC BY 2.0

A. Goldsmith was one of the first directors of the Library Association of Portland, founded in 1864. The association’s directors declared that “the library should forever be kept free of politics.”

B. As mayor of Portland, one of Goldsmith’s focuses was on making the city a livable space. He brought about the purchase of 40 acres of land for a park, which later expanded to more than 400 acres, now known as Washington Park. He also pushed for an ordinance that required business owners to plant shade trees along the street in front of their shops.

C. Goldsmith served as a cavalry officer in the Indian Wars in California and Oregon in 1855-1856. He prevented renewed fighting by personally intervening and bringing complaints from Indian leaders to the superintendent for Indian affairs in San Francisco.

D. Goldsmith was the driving force behind the plan to build locks on the Willamette River, enabling boats to sail from the Pacific Ocean to Eugene, Oregon, which led to  greatly reduced cost for commercial shipping. When the project was hit by cost overruns, Goldsmith contributed $200,000 of his own funds to allow the project to be completed.

E. Goldsmith was the driving force behind the plan to fish for lox on the Willamette River, enabling Jewish appetizing stores to be built from the Pacific Ocean to Eugene, Oregon, which led to  greatly reduced cost for Sunday brunch. When the project was hit by cost overruns, Goldsmith contributed 200,000 bagels from his own funds to allow the project to be completed.

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Ringo Starr just celebrated his 80th birthday by hosting a livestream concert benefiting Black Lives Matter and other causes. The concert featured performances by Paul McCartney, Joe Walsh, Steve Earle, Keb Mo and others, with Ringo opening the show performing It Don’t Come Easy. The Beatles drummer once found himself at the receiving end of a very scary threat, which led him to say, “I’m not Jewish.” What was the frightening event?

Ringo Starr Hamburg by Schröder+Schömbs PR _ Brands|Media|Lifestyle is licensed under CC BY-ND 2.0.

A. The Beatles were scheduled to perform in Israel in 1965 thanks to the effort of their manager, Brian Epstein. The concert never took place, however, because of threats from the Orthodox Jewish community in Israel who opposed the playing of rock and roll music. The Chief Rabbi of B’nei Brak, a religious community only a short distance from the concert venue in Hayarkon Park in Tel Aviv, condemned Epstein, who was Jewish, saying “If the band of Mr. Epstein plays here, it will be a chillul hashem.” When Ringo was told that this meant “a desecration of the name of God,” he replied, “Then let Brian stay home and let me go and play. After all, I’m not Jewish.”

B. When the Beatles performed a concert in Belfast in 1964, authorities learned of a threat to the drummer by a group of IRA terrorists who believed that Ringo was Jewish because they thought that Starkey, Ringo’s real last name, was a Jewish name. Many in the IRA believed that there was a Jewish conspiracy behind the British government’s opposition to their cause. British military accompanied the Beatles throughout their time in Belfast, and audience members were frisked before being allowed into the auditorium. Ringo later said, “It made no sense. After all, I’m not Jewish. But still, I had the cymbals up towards the audience to give me a bit of protection. I usually had them flat.”

C. When the Beatles performed concerts in Montreal in 1964, authorities learned of a threat to the drummer by a group of radical French-Canadian separatists who believed that Ringo was Jewish, apparently because of his big nose. A plainclothes policeman sat with Ringo throughout both shows, and stayed with him during the entire time the Beatles were in Montreal. Ringo later described the event, saying, “Some people decided to make an example of me, as an English Jew. The one major fault is, I’m not Jewish.” Referring to the policeman sitting with him, Ringo said, “What is this guy going to do? Is he going to catch the bullet?”

D. The Beatles were in New York in August 1965, about to perform at Shea Stadium. Word had gotten out that Ringo was planning to propose to his girlfriend Maureen Cox, and as a result, the concert at Shea almost didn’t happen. Throngs of Chassidic Jews from the Diamond District in Midtown Manhattan appeared outside the Plaza Hotel where the Beatles were staying. They all had brought inventory of diamond rings, hoping that the most famous ring wearer in the world would choose one of their products as an engagement ring for Miss Cox, thinking it would be great publicity if their ring was selected. The jewelry salesmen all jockeyed for position at the hotel’s exit, hoping to get the attention of the drummer as the Beatles headed toward their limo. The crowd surged toward Ringo in a near-stampede, causing the security staff to turn the Beatles around to return to the safety of the hotel. Luckily, the Beatles were able to sneak out through a rear door of the hotel. When interviewed later, Ringo said, “I don't really understand why all those old bearded men thought I would buy a ring from them. I’ve got my own collection, as everyone knows. And besides, I’m not Jewish.”

E. Ringo appeared in the film Caveman in 1981, where he played Atouk, a scrawny caveman who lusted after a beautiful cavewoman, Lana, played by Barbara Bach, who Ringo went on to marry. Lana was the mate of bullying tribe leader Tonda, played by John Matuszak. The dialogue was almost entirely in cave language, including such words as bobo (friend), zug zug (mate), macha (monster), and caca (you figure it out). Ultimately, Atouk overcame the threats and power of Tonda and won Lana’s heart. But when Lana’s parents Shirley and Murray met Atouk, they asked him what shul he belonged to. He replied, “I’m not Jewish,” leading them to break up the relationship, saying “No goyishe macha will be a zug zug of our daughter.”

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Comedian, actor, writer, and director Carl Reiner died last week at the age of 98. Reiner was a pioneer in television as a writer and performer on Sid Caesar’s Your Show of Shows and Caesar’s Hour. He created one of the best sitcoms in television history, The Dick Van Dyke Show. He performed in films including It’s a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World and The Russians Are Coming, the Russians Are Coming. He wrote and/or directed movies such as The Jerk, Oh, God!, and Where’s Poppa. He starred on Broadway, and he voiced characters in animated films including Toy Story 4. And he partnered with his best friend Mel Brooks to perform The 2000 Year Old Man and other comedic routines on records and TV. Reiner grew up in the Bronx, the son of Jewish immigrants. While proudly Jewish, he said he became an atheist after the Holocaust. How did Reiner describe his bar mitzvah?

Carl Reiner by monstersforsale is in the public domain.

A. Reiner did not make a bar mitzvah until he was an adult. In a 1968 interview in TV Guide he said, “My father was a watchmaker. My mother was a seamstress. They worked all the time, and didn’t have time or money for a synagogue. When my son Rob was preparing for his bar mitzvah he asked me about mine. I told him I never had a bar mitzvah, and he said I should have one. I didn’t do anything at that time, after all, it was his moment. But a few years later I decided it’s my turn. I didn’t tell anyone about it except Estelle [Reiner’s wife] until a week before the service.” His experience inspired the episode of The Dick Van Dyke Show when Dick and Sally thought Buddy might be having an affair, but it turned out he was secretly studying for his bar mitzvah.

B. Reiner noted that he had “a bootleg bar mitzvah.” While his friends (Lenny, Shlermy, David, Marty and Mutty) all went to Hebrew School for many years, he only began bar mitzvah lessons a few months before his 13th birthday, when his father hired a rabbi to teach him. As Reiner wrote in his autobiography, I Remember Me, “All I can remember about the rabbi was his long, white beard, his healthy paunch, and the dirty toothpick he took from his vest pocket at the start of each lesson. He used the weathered toothpick to pick his teeth and to point to letters and words in the prayer book.”

C. Reiner described his bar mitzvah in his 2004 book, My Anecdotal Life: A Memoir. “I didn’t grow up in a religious home. Like any 12 year old, I didn’t really know what being Jewish meant, except that we ate salami and knishes, and some of the other kids in the neighborhood disappeared on Saturday. But we joined a little shul, really a shtiebel, that met in our apartment building, and the rabbi was a nice guy, with a real twinkle in his eye. He taught me some prayers, I went to shul with my family, sang the prayers, and then had my first sip of schnapps. It’s a nice memory. And that rabbi, that’s who I had in mind when I cast George Burns as God in Oh, God!”

D. Reiner spoke about his bar mitzvah in an interview with Barbara Walters in 1996. “It wasn't a big deal,” he said. “I studied with this old rabbi at the shul in our neighborhood in the Bronx. He was ancient, he had this accent that I could barely understand. He kept telling me stories about how Jews walked through the desert 2000 years ago. I just wanted to get outside and play Ringoleavio or stickball. But I owe a lot to that rabbi. He was the inspiration for Mel’s 2000 year old man. That paid a lot of bills for me.”

E. Said Reiner in a 1992 People Magazine article, “I wasn't really interested in a bar mitzvah. But I did go to Hebrew School, and I remember the rabbi saying that I had to decide what prayers I wanted to lead. I had no idea, and no interest. I played like the prayers meant something, but I was just faking it. But then one day I heard this really cute girl in class named Sally sing some prayer. It was amazing. I had never heard anything like it. She was definitely not faking it. I went right to the rabbi and said, ‘I'll daven what she’s davening.’ ”

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