The New Year brings many new programs to MCA

By Jeff Margolis

The MCA documentary film program is honored to present “Shared Legacies: The African- American Jewish Civil Rights Alliance,” a timely film for January.

The history of this relationship goes back almost 100 years. Both communities worked together during the founding of the NAACP and the Anti-Defamation League. Filmmaker Dr. Shari Rogers put together a compelling continuum of rare film footage, photos and recordings.

On Jan. 5, there will be a post-film Zoom discussion with Dr. Rogers and Rabbi Micah Greenstein of Temple Israel, Memphis. Rabbi Greenstein is the son of WCA member Lenore Greenstein and the late Rabbi Howard Greenstein, spiritual leader of the Jewish Congregation of Marco Island. Be sure to register in advance, both to screen the film and to participate in what is sure to be a scintillating discussion afterward.

Be sure to join fellow MCA members for the January virtual luncheon. The featured speaker will be noted criminologist, Dr. Larry Siegle. The topic of the program will be “The Nature of Crime and Violence in America: How, Where, When, Why.”

Dr. Siegle earned his master’s degree and Ph.D. in criminal justice from the University of New York at Albany. He has written over 15 books and is a noted authority on juvenile law, delinquency and criminology. Dr. Siegle has also been designated as a court-certified expert on the topic of police conduct. This program will take place via Zoom on Thursday, Jan. 14, from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Registration for this and all other events is required.

The monthly lecture series continues with several dynamic offerings.

On Tuesday, Jan. 19, at 10 a.m., Major General Raymond Barrett, Jr. (retired) will present a program titled, “North Korea History, Politics and the Prospects of War.” General Barrett will examine the history and origins of the nation of North Korea and rule of Kim Jung Un. The general served as a U.S. Army Infantry officer for more than 30 years and spent five years stationed along the Korean DMZ. He also served two years as Deputy Operations Officer in the U.S. Pacific Command.

The series continues on Wednesday, Jan. 20, with a conversation with Chief Kingman D. Schuldt, fire chief of Greater Naples. The local fire service protects the more than 160,000 residents of the Greater Naples area. Members are invited to Zoom in and learn about the workings of our fire department.

The January lecture series concludes with a program at 10 a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 26. Fellow MCA member and author Jeff Margolis will present a program, “Presidential Libraries: Legacies or Revisionism.” Margolis explores the presidential libraries and museums of former chief executives and how they reflect the character of the men they represent. Margolis’ recently published book, “The President’s Pen,” examines the writings of 16 U.S. presidents.

As we enter 2021, there are quite a number of other activities for MCA members.

The MCA virtual breakfasts continue at 9 a.m. every Thursday. Enjoy your breakfast at home while schmoozing with fellow MCAers via Zoom.

On Tuesday, Jan. 5, from 2:30 to 4 p.m., world traveler and MCA member Jim Sernovitz continues his globe-trotting programs with a look at the Caucasus. Members have enjoyed his past presentations and this one promises to be every bit as scintillating.

The very popular medical lecture series will present its next program on Thursday, Jan. 14.

Dr. Paul Stein will present the program, “Blood, Lipids, their Relevance and Treatment,” as well as a discussion about arthritis.

How’s your trivia knowledge? Join MCA and WCA for a Trivia Night (afternoon) on Monday, Jan. 25, from 4 to 6 p.m. Teams can be comprised of up to six people. Detailed instructions will be sent by email to participants prior to the event. The cost of this event is $15. For more information, please contact Ron Mutchnik at mutchtennis@comcast.net

Not a member yet? New to Greater Naples? Joining MCA is quite easy. Just go the MCA website, MCAnaples.org, and click on the MCA membership form. Current dues are $90 and include membership in the Jewish Federation of Greater Naples. For more information about the organization, please contact MCA president Les Nizin at MCAnaplespresident@gmail.com.

Brazina’s role in MCA’s success celebrated at luncheon

By Richard Prosten, Secretary, MCA

The MCA’s first luncheon of the 2020-2021 season was a unique mix of tradition and innovation. Forced by the COVID-19 pandemic to curtail in-person activities, the MCA turned its Nov. 12 luncheon into a virtual, albeit foodless, event that captured the collegial atmosphere of luncheons past. After entering the Zoom session, participants were randomly assigned to virtual “tables” where they schmoozed with old friends and made some new ones as well.

As President Les Nizin called the event to order, the virtual tables were merged into a single “room,” and attendees were informed that they were each receiving a gift certificate, courtesy of Brio Italian Grille in Waterside shops

The first order of business was the announcement that Steve Brazina was this year’s recipient of the MCA’s Founders Award. The award recognizes the service and contributions of a member who, over many years, has dedicated his time and effort to the growth and success of the organization.

As President Nizin noted, the decision to honor Brazina, "was an easy and unanimous one for the MCA Board, as Steve Brazina was one of the 18 original founding members, and this organization’s first president ... who single handedly was responsible for creating this vibrant organization and is the driving force behind our amazing success.”

In accepting the award, Brazina shared the honor with the many members who have served on the board and volunteered to run MCA programs.

As Nizin reminded luncheon attendees, Brazina currently devotes countless hours to the organization, selecting documentary films and MCA's diverse luncheon speakers.

Fittingly, Brazina segued into an introduction of luncheon speaker, Mark Hetfield, the head of HIAS (formerly Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society). Because of the pandemic, Hetfield, who had agreed over a year ago to address the event in person, appeared via Zoom.

Hetfield recounted his organization's century of work helping many thousands of refugees and immigrants settle in America. For most of that period, the refugees HIAS helped were Jews — Eastern European Jews in the first half of the 20th century, then Jews fleeing Nazis and the Holocaust and, eventually, from the Soviet Union during the Cold War.

Currently, in cooperation with many synagogues in the U.S., HIAS has extended its expertise to a broader range of refugees — “We used to take refugees because they were Jewish. Now we take them because we're Jewish.”

A spirited question and answer session followed Hetfield’s remarks.

Commenting on the success of the virtual luncheon, President Nizin noted that MCA "had not received a single complaint about food or service."