(EXPERIENCE MAGAZINE) — BEVERLY HILLS, CA — The Beverly Hills Temple of the Arts at the Saban Theatre held the Rally To Condemn anti-Semitism & Racism and was led by Rabbi David Baron. So many people came out to listen Rabbi David’s sermon and spend an evening recognizing that racism and anti-Semitism have no place in our society.
Rabbi David Baron said, “In light of the recent resurgence of deplorable acts of anti-Semitism we must come together to condemn anti-Semitism and racism. Newcomer Representative Ilham Omar of Minnesota, a Somali-American, sent a tweet last week implying Congressional support for Israel has been bought by money from the lobbying group, the American Israel Public Affairs Committee. Meanwhile, teen students from Newport Harbor High School in Newport Beach, CA, with a Nazi salute, hailed Swastika shaped beer cups during a drinking game at a private home party; the video went viral. And in Belgium at the recent Aalst Carnaval, a float depicted two huge puppet caricatures of Orthodox Jews standing on bags of money, with a synagogue façade in the background; Pascal Soleme, who wrote the float’s theme song about ‘bulging coffers’ and who works for the Aalst Police Department, thought the float was funny. These outright anti-Semitic acts of racism have no rightful place in a world where tolerance and understanding of all humankind should prevail.”
Zubin Mehta, Rabbi Baron, Holocaust survivor and hair dresser Bill Harvey and Leon Bass Jr. Leon Bass Junior accepted the award on behalf of his late father, Leon Bass, who is deceased. Leon Bass was an African American serviceman who was among the liberators who freed prisoners of Buchenwald concentration camp at the end of World War II, all received a Mensch Award from Mensch Foundation founder Steven Geiger. Leon Bass was an amazing man. Some video of him speaking about liberating Buchenwald was played.
Mensch Award Recipients included:
Rabbi David Baron. He who was presented at dinner prior to the event.
Zubin Mehta ~ A Mensch Award was presented at Zubin’s home earlier in the day on March 15th, of which a videotape was shown at the Shabbat service of the presentation. Mehta will be retiring from his position as Music Director and Conductor of the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra after 50 years of service in the fall of 2019.
Holocaust Survivor Bill Harvey received a Mensch award. Some photos were shown of all the celebrities that Bill has done hair for. The picture of Bill and Tom Cruise was memorable.
Leon Bass Jr. accepted a Mensch Award on behalf of his late father, Leon Bass, who liberated Buchenwald Concentration Camp. Leon Bass was a speaker on the subject of racism and The Holocaust, and had lectured extensively on the subject.
Mark Hetfield, President and CEO of HIAS, was also presented a Mensch Award.
Mensch Awards were presented by Mensch Foundation Founder, Steven Geiger. The Mensch Foundation was created to combat anti-Semitism, bigotry and prejudice while educating children and young adults about the Holocaust. Mensch Awards are given to individuals who share the Mensch International Foundation’s values of tolerance and a respect for human rights, and to those who further Holocaust education in a world where where some some still dare to be Holocaust deniers. The Mensch Foundation concentrates its efforts in Hungary, Israel and the United States.
Twenty Members of the Spirit of David Gospel Choir from the City of Refuge led by Director Patrick Bolton performed, along with Cantor Ilysia J. Pierce and Emmy nominated Music Director Sharon Farber of the Beverly Hills Temple of the Arts at the Saban Theatre.
A few of the celebrities that stopped by were David Lenga, actor Elliott Gould and actress Anne-Marie Johnson. Other public figures in attendance were LA City Councilman Paul Koretz, James Blatt, Jazz legend Corky Hale, songwriter Mike Stoller and the Spirit of David Gospel Choir.
The Experience Magazine looks forward to the next event at the Beverly Hills Temple of the Arts!
