I have been presenting programs at the Barry and Florence Friedberg Jewish Community Center, since 2008. Based in Oceanside, NY, I have worked with three wonderful program directors in the past, and now work with a new program director who is also wonderful. We had a discussion about my upcoming Burt Lancaster Lunch and Learn, which was originally scheduled for this past Thursday, but was postponed until Thursday, January 30th, due to inclement weather. Since the prior Program Director had requested that I present this Lunch and Learn, based on the series she saw I did at C.W., Post last year, to commemorate the Lancaster centennial. Many attendees who reserved spots (there are 33 so far) were asking: Why Burt Lancaster at a JCC? What’s Jewish about Burt Lancaster. Ofcourse, I can tell the fine people that the prior program director chose the topic, but that’s an easy way out. No, as it turns out, Burt Lancaster portrayed two very important people in Judaic history, towards the end of his long career: In 1975, he portrayed Moses, in a television mini series. And then, in 1976, he portrayed Shimon Perez, the Israeli Prime Minister. Not only that, but Mr. Lancaster, a man not only of physical, but of moral strength, was a champion of civil rights. And that’s why we are doing a Burt Lancaster Lunch and Learn, at the JCC!