MEN’S CLUB
BY PAUL NETTLER
Photos by Arnie Rabinowitz
Little did we know when the
Men’s Club elected Jack
Sevita as our Treasurer one
day we’d learn about the life of
Simon Wiesenthal, the famed Nazi
hunter. Jack had been a practicing
accountant for many years, when in
1989, he went to work for Martin
Rosen, Wiesenthal’s attorney and
confidant. Jack was immediately
given the Controller’s job with
responsibility for handling all of
Wiesenthal’s financial matters in
the U.S. That relationship lasted
for 10 years until the U.S. office
was closed.
Jack described how Wiesenthal’s
and his family’s lives were always
threatened. His office in Vienna
was in a nondescript building with
a vague nameplate. He was never
armed, but he was always accompanied
by two armed guards. To
quote Jack, “He (Wiesenthal) was
very special to me. He was a man
with worldwide distinction who did
so much good for all the people in
the world. He was very special.”
Jack brought with him a movie
titled “The Life and Legacy of Simon
Wiesenfeld.” It featured interviews
with Weisenthal, many of which
were in German, and although
hard to understand, the horrors
they portrayed of the Concertation
Camps and of Nazi atrocities could
be easily understood. Names like
Eichmann, Mengele and Himmler
conjure up depravity which is truly
incomprehensible.
Wiesenthal was rewarded by
many successes that he had.
Purposely for his ninetieth birthday,
he asked it be celebrated in a
restaurant frequented by the Nazi
leaders, including Hitler. He also
asked it be a kosher meal.
Our speaker next month will be
Jack Bilello who has spoken to us
in the past. This time his presentation
is titled “Italian and Jewish
Americans in Peace and in War.” As
a member of the Executive Board
of the Italian American Historical
Society, Jack knows whereof he
speaks. His presentation traces the
remarkable contributions of Jewish
and Italian Americans in peace and
war. It gives long overdue recognition
to those who built the fabric
of America from immigration to the
present. It will honor the 750,000
Italian Americans and the 550,000
Jewish Americans who served in
WWII. Jack is a well-known educator,
lecturer and author. He was a
Fulbright Scholar and is a member
of Phi Beta Kappa and the National
Educators Honor Society. Guests
are welcome with a five-dollar fee
payable at the door. Coffee and
pastries will be served.
Our brunch on October 3 at the
Towers on the Green was most successful.
Seventy-three members and
guests attended. Although it had
been only three days since break
fast, the lox went like hotcakes. As a
matter of fact, there were hotcakes.
It afforded us an excellent chance
to say goodbye to the snow birds,
who were in the process of flying off
to their winter and spring abodes.
October 9, more than 30 members
convened for our Current
Events Group meeting, which
featured a lecture by North Shore
Towers Economist in residence,
Ron Gold. He held our attention
for about half of the meeting as he
explained Trump’s tax plan and the
ramifications thereof. He touched
upon the Estate Tax, the income
tax brackets, the elimination of
standard deductions, other than
charitable, and mortgage interest,
the elimination of personal deductions,
a doubling of the standard
deductions, and an increase in the
childcare credit. The Alternative
Minimum Tax Credit would be
eliminated. The corporate tax rate
would be cut from 35% to 20% and
the tax on non-corporate business
income would be capped at 25%.
He showed us graphs of who pays
what taxes now.
Needless to say, there were many
questions and opinions. No Current
Events discussion would be complete
without comments about the
Trump Administration and this
meeting was no exception. Genuine
fear was expressed regarding the
likelihood of President Trump
leading us into another World War.
Some feel helpless. Some suggested
prayer.
Another subject discussed
was the election November 7
when there will be a vote on
Proposal One whether to convene
a Constitutional Convention.
Feelings are running high on both
sides. Unfortunately, the question
is printed on the back of the ballot
so make sure you turn the ballot
over to vote. Your Club expresses
no opinion.
Our gustatory adventure this
month was provided at the
Mediterranean Sea Food and Grill
in Great Neck, where 24 members
and guests were treated to interesting
fare. I didn’t order it, but I
was told the Shrimp Kabob was
delicious. A large individual pitcher
of sangria washed it all down. Our
thanks to Jerry Siegel for handling
the arrangements.
We are still “open for business” at
Buffy’s every Tuesday, Wednesday
and Friday at 9:15 a.m. There must
be something about the oatmeal
which brings our members back.
And there must be something about
the BINGO which brings people
back. It’s always on the last Sunday
of the month at 7:30 p.m. in the
large cardroom on the cinema level.
If you would like to know more
about our club, contact Arnie
Rabinowitz at 516-317-6705. Our
Events Chairman is Jerry Siegel
and his number is 347-235-4513.
Would you like to join us? Call Joe
DiGiovanni at 516-965-9225.
Members and guests at October 3 Towers on the Green Brunch
Jack Sevita speaks
26 NORTH SHORE TOWERS COURIER ¢ November 2017