MOVIE SCREENING — Gathr Films presents a preview screening of Cohen Media Group’s “The Attack” at 7:30 p.m. tonight (Thursday, June 6) at Glenwood Arts Theatre in Overland Park. Tickets can be purchased at http://gathr.us/screening/4381. The film, which is subtitled, is about Amin Jaafari, an Israeli Palestinian surgeon who is fully assimilated into Tel Aviv society. He has a loving wife, an exemplary career and many Jewish friends. But his picture-perfect life is turned upside down when a suicide bombing in a restaurant leaves 19 dead, and the Israeli police inform him that his wife Sihem, who also died in the explosion, was responsible. Convinced of her innocence, Amin abandons the relative security of his adopted homeland and enters the Palestinian territories in pursuit of the truth. The film is adapted from Yasmina Khadra’s international bestseller of the same name. Originally published in 2005, the novel has been translated into more than 40 languages and has won numerous awards worldwide. At press time the theater was hoping to host a discussion about the controversial subject matter after the film. To view the trailer, visit https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NObn1g6Hzo0.
PET FOOD PANTRY — Jewish Family Services & VCA Hospitals are opening a Pet Food Pantry called Jasmine’s Corner this week! KCTV-5 promoted it on a recent newscast. To see the interview with Celeste Aronoff, visit http://www.kctv5.com/video?clipId=8949876&autostart=true.
JUST FOR HER — The JUST FOR HER event, owned by Temple B’nai Jehudah member Aimee Jacobson and Congregation Beth Torah member Lindsay Aydelotte will celebrate its fifth anniversary when it opens at 5 p.m. June 7 at the Overland Park Convention Center. This once-a-year event, which runs through Sunday, will include more than 275 booths of shopping, beauty treatments, health and wellness guidance, entertainment and tasty treat sampling. The Just For Her Event has successfully expanded to Omaha, Neb., and Des Moines, Iowa. For more information, including purchasing tickets, visit www.justforherexpokc.com.
CAN YOU SPELL KNAIDEL? — When the story about the National Spelling Bee came on the national news last week, I knew right away that the winning word was Yiddish in origin. I’ve heard matzah balls referred to as knaidlach many times.
But the news gets even more interesting. Even though Arvind Mahankali, 13, of Bayside Hills, N.Y., defeated 10 other finalists on May 30 after spelling the Yiddish-derived word “knaidel,” described as “a traditional Jewish dumpling,” the New York-based YIVO Institute for Jewish Research, recognized by many as the authority on all things Yiddish, said the preferred spelling historically has been “kneydl,” The New York Times reported June 1.
The story, sent to us by JTA, said the spelling contest uses Webster’s Third New International Dictionary as its final say in word spelling. The dictionary’s publisher told The New York Times that the knaidel spelling is the most common variant of the word.
Nu? We always knew there were more ways than one to spell Yiddish and Hebrew words.
RECYCLE DRIVE — Got a basement full of old personal electronic equipment and home furnishings? Recycle it from 9 to noon Sunday, June 9, at Congregation Beth Torah. Beth Torah is joining with UNICOR (Federal Prison Industries) and the Heartland Habitat for Humanity ReStore to recycle this year. Both organizations have specific requirements that you can learn about on the Beth Torah website, www.beth-torah.org. A $5 per load donation is requested; all proceeds will go to the Heartland Habitat for Humanity ReStore.
