The Avrum Rosensweig Show

Episode 18 Sadie Domb:The Fascinating Life of Avrum's Son's Bar Mitzvah Teacher!

Somewhere, sometime, a young boy or girl sits together with their bar/bat mitzvah teacher learning the ancient art of singing the trope - the notes devised two thousand years ago to celebrate every syllable of the Torah.

The ‘day of’ arrives – the Bar/Bat mitzvah day – and the thirteen year old boy, or the twelve year old girl walks up to the open scroll, the Five books of Moses, and begins to sing. Carefully they manage the revi’i, a note that modestly ends a Torah thought. They breathe deeply to chant the pazer, a noise that curls up, then goes higher, then dips half way back down.

Today they are a man. Today they are a woman. Their meticulously read Torah reading proves this. 

 

This week I had the distinct honor to interview Sadie Domb, a bar/bat mitzvah teacher, in fact my son’s bar mitzvah teacher. She is a delicate and very sure religious woman. Sadie carries herself as if a character in a Renoir painting - well coiffed, elegant and proud. 

Throughout our one and half hour schmooze I learned from Sadie that “I love what I do”. She repeated this sentiment several times. I knew it to be true because her voice rose and strengthened as she said so. She was intent.

"I just love being part of people's lives and watching them go through a metamorphosis," Sadie adds. 

As we talked, Sadie shared with me that she became a bar/bat mitzvah teacher in 1980. Since then she has taught around 1000 boys and girls their Torah portion and other aspects of Jewish services required for their ‘day of’. "I'm now starting to get the children of my (former) students," Sadie said.

Sadie continued, that every student, on the first day of lessons, makes an agreement with Sadie they will be diligent about their studies, prioritizing them the way Torah requires them to do. "We working as a team toward the common goal", Sadie said. 

She assures her student she believes in them and “I will get you there” and sure enough she does. 

With great pride the bar mitzvah teacher relates to me her memory of the child she taught who has autism. Sadie explained, every student is unique and in this case she taught the boy four songs to sing on the 'day of' as well as a dance.  It was good. It worked out well because both of them loved to dance.

Sadied recalled the child who was scared of chanting the long and winding Pa’zer, one of the trope (Torah notes) dotting a syllable in the scriptures. Sadie told the student, “lets just try it. You might be surprised." And sure enough he mastered the sound, was surprised and grew as a person because of it. 

I truly loved conducting this interview with Sadie?  I did because she is my son’s bar mitzvah teacher and such a person will only come along once in his life and mine. I did because the role of the bar/bat mitzvah teacher is special. They enter into a young person’s life, our offspring, as they transition.

Her responsibility is enormous and that is, to ensure with little hesitancy the bar/bat mitzvah will stand tall on their ‘day of’, pronounce all the words of the holy scripture and manage the challenging trope the way a seasoned ba’al koreh (a regular Torah reader) might.

Sadie is the guardian at the gate of my child's right of passage. I trusted she would be gentle as my progeny walked through that entry way into adulthood. She was. She is.

Sadie Domb is my son’s bar mitzvah teacher. A magnificent human being and our partner in my child's, many family's children, as they become a man, as they become a woman. 

Have a listen and remember your own bar/bat mitzvah. Remember your teacher and celebrate them, if you are able, as I am celebrating Sadie Domb and her responsible and loving approach to my son's ‘day of’ - his bar mitzvah.

Hatradio!  The show that schmoozes.

Episode 17 -- Steve Paikin: "I Don’t Know what I’m Doing Here"

Once I’ve completed an interview with a guest, I listen to it over and over to determine how it  can best be edited to reflect superlative production value and content. 

Most of my schmoozes require some editing work, but this one, my interview with Steve Paikin of TVO's The Agenda, I left mostly intact. I did because Steve is as articulate as they come, a  storyteller par excellence who relays his colorful experience like few others. Editing this piece too much, I felt would detract from the value of our time together. 

I am uber-excited to share Episode 17 of Hatradio! with you because of this. Here, you have a unique opportunity to hear from Steve Paikin, a Canadian media-icon, and to learn about him, about Canada, Ontario, Hamilton, Toronto, Ontario Premiers and politicians, the Rwandan genocide, hockey, summer camp and a plethora of other stuff he generously shared with me. 

I stress 'unique' because Steve said he has never done an extensive interview before about himself. I felt good about that. 

 

So why did I title the show, “I Don’t Know what I’m Doing Here”?  Good question. Steve is a very accomplished fellow including the author of seven books, an on-air host of 25,000 shows and interviews as well as the producer of a number of documentaries. Yet, when he accepted the Order of Canada from the Governor General, the first thing he said to him was “I don’t know what I’m doing here.”  The Governor General responded, “I do”. This relaxed Steve even though he was baffled as to what he was doing in the company of doctors looking for the cure to Cancer and other such accomplished folk.

I appreciated  the man's humility and felt it apropos to title the show after a statement which reflects that.    

Listen to this episode and you'll discover, Steve Paikin of TVO's The Agenda, has a fascinating life. He has interacted and schmoozed with the whose who of Canada and many Americans including one of his on-air mentor, Ted Kopel. You just know,  Steve felt deeply blessed to be able to interview and write a book about the last nine premiers of Ontario. And with all this, h is greatest influences in life were: his parents, school and camp (which he is over the top about). 

In short, this interview was full of gems about Steve Paikin, the country he loves and so much more. We covered the stars like Gino Vannelli, the hockey players including Steve’s favorite, Ron Ellis, and of course the politicians, focusing on John Robarts, the 17^th premier of Ontario (Steve called his life a Shakespearean story). Steve is also compelled to talk about humanitarian issues in a big way including the Rwandan genocide. He talked extensively about his love of shinny hockey as well as his mother's lengthy volunteer resume, and his father's passion - refurbishing old railway cars.  

But the thing I took away from my interview with Steve is that he takes his work very seriously, as he does the issues, but not himself. And I like that. I appreciate it. Steve does not bask in the glory of his fame. Quite the opposite. He doesn’t really care about the lights, or the cameras. He does care however about the action and his ability to highlight the chapters of a hard working person and give them the coverage they deserve.

In short, this is a uniquely compelling episode, one which might encourage you to watch The Agenda with Steve Paikin, appreciate the country we live in, and be inspired to grow the way our guest, Steve Paikin, has. He may not have known what he was doing at the Order of Canada acceptance program, but it's clear to a bunch of us, it made a lot of sense for him to be bestowed with one of this country's highest honors. 

Hatradio! The show that schmoozes!

 

Episode 16: Pat Rush - Slide, Patty, Slide!

Pat Rush is an internationally acclaimed guitarist. He has played and jammed with Johnny Winter, The Allman Brothers, Muddy Waters, B.B. King and many more. He toured with James Cotton for three years. Pat was also a member of The Jeff Healey Band for twelve years.

I was so honored to schmooze with him on Hatradio! this April 2019, all the time sensing I was with someone very special and highly accomplished. The interview felt historic in nature.

 

Pat was thirteen when he learned how to play guitar. He bought his first axe for $13.99 from his neighbor Bobby Miles. His mom loaned him the cash of which he repaid mowing lawns at .50 cents each.

After a few months of lessons using the Mel Bay method, his teacher, Don Russell, told Pat’s mom he couldn’t teach Pat anymore as he’s already so far ahead in the books. He said, “you don’t need me anymore. Let Pat learn and he’ll teach you (Pat’s mom was taking lessons with him).”  And that’s what happened.

Pat grew and grew as a guitarist playing churches and school venues. His first paid gig was in a church. He received $20 and shared it with the band members. The years passed and eventually Pat launched a band called Thunderhead. “We filled the places we played. Thunderhead was a big band,” Pat said.

The iconic guitarist, Johnny Winter sat in. He also produced one of their albums. Edgar Winter played piano on it. Ultimately Pat came to see Johnny and Edgar as dear friends. Later on Pat toured with Johnny, and they lived together. “Edgar used to beat me in pool,” Pat said, “even though he was legally blind”.

 

Pat, as mentioned, has played with the gurus of rock and blues including, James Cotton and Muddy Waters. He learned slide guitar from Duane Allman (in Holiday Inns where they stayed after gigs in the South) and later on taught Jose Feliciano how to play that same style of guitar.

One evening, during a concert at Toad’s Place in New Haven, Muddy called Pat up on stage. They jammed and then Muddy told Pat he wasn’t feeling well and wanted him to play the encore. Pat figured he’s use Bob Margolin’s (a band member) guitar but Muddy handed him his red telecaster instead. Muddy exited the stage and they played ‘Dust my Blues’. Pat said the place went nuts. Later, Bob said to Pat, “do you have any idea what happened here tonight? Muddy won’t even let me touch that guitar”. Bob said Muddy never loaned his guitar to anyone in fact denied Eric Clapton the right to play it one night. Pat is special and Muddy got that.

 

Pat loved Jeff Healey. They traveled together. Listened to records together. And of course, played the blues and rock together for a dozen years. Pat describes his time with Jeff as magical and says he misses him dearly.  He spoke about him in very fond terms. “Jeff had an uncanny ability to remember the titles, tracks and musicians on all of his 35,000 albums”, Pat said.

Pat made up a game called “Stump the Jeff”, in an effort to trip up Healey. Pat said, “I never did. Not once. He was a savant. “   By the way, the name of this episode - 'Slide Patty, Slide!' is from a YouTube video I saw where Jeff instructed Pat during a wicked rock song, to play a lead. Jeff said to him, "Slide Patty, slide". And he did. I loved that!  

 

Pat Rush is indeed a special man. He is soft spoken and has a sweet way about him. And, Pat is  one hell of a guitar player, a prodigy, who is an integral member of the rock and roll and blues world. I was proud to have him as our guest and to hear about his life, his history, his stories.

Have a listen to my schmooze with Pat Rush and let me know what you think. Thanks so much for listening!

Happy Passover and Easter. Fight for freedom. Unlock the chains of slavery. Today, in our world, there are still 45 million slaves, 10 million of which are children.

Hatradio! The show that schmoozes

 

 

Episode 15 - The Marty & Avrum Radio Years

Can you say which of the decades in your life was the most fun? Is that possible?

From 1995 - 2005, Marty Galin and I, were partners on radio and television, and there is no doubt that those ten years were an absolute blast and indeed, the funnest of my life! Have a listen to this podcast and you'll here all about those special years and our time together, including five years on Talk 640, five years on CFRB and the TV shows we did together like The Movable Feast.

My dear, best friend Marty, is one of the most exciting, vivacious, spirited and animitated people on planet earth. I had the luck, or as we say in Hebrew, the mazel, of meeting him at Julius Ciss's (now there's another crazy story), Passover Seder in 1985 and we hit it off immediately. Not only did Marty introduce me to the world of entertainment, he showed me a different way of life, a downtown sort of way (versus my Jewish uptown lifestyle). I absolutely owe him huge amounts of gratitude for all of this and more, and I said so on this Hatradio! podcast.

Tune into our one and a half hours together, Episode 15 on Hatradio!, and learn about our friendship. Discover our interviews with such greats as chefs: Marc Thuet (Centro RIP), Mark McEwan (North 44, RIP), Michael Stadlander (Eigensinn Farm) as well as our live musical guests like: Michael Buble, Jose Feliciano (whom we sang 'Light my Fire' with) and Harry Belafonte.

Listen and hear about our many, many interviews with local cooks, waiters and waitresses, restaurateurs, sommeliers, Ontario and international vineyard owners, fire-fighters who cook, little Jewish ladies who made us a sabbath on our show, The Movable Feast and more. 

I love my beautiful friend, Marty and am grateful for what he has done for me. I was excited to do this schmooze/interview with him and felt like I was presenting him with a gift in response to the legacy he has helped me build.  

I love you Marty and am honored to have spent my funniest decade with you. Have a listen folks to HATRADIO!, The Show that Schmoozes! 

  

 

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

  

Episode 14 Vicky Weiss: A Foodie Without Borders

“Unless I go to your house, and you come to mine we will not truly get too know one another”. - Vicky Weiss

A bowl of soup might just be a thing to slurp for some, but to others it’s a warm broth that acts as a tool for caring and reaching out to others. Vicky Weiss, born in Ottawa, a mom of 2 and a very serious foodie, is one of those people who knows how to make, manage and present a bowl of soup with finesse to help family and friends afflicted by loneliness, colds, or regular hunger. Soup to Vicky is a way of forging relationships, and strengthening the world.

Vicky is my feisty, beautiful friend whose dad owned a sporting store when she was kid, and and whose mom owned a lingerie store (and that should be enough for a good interview). She is generous of spirit in an uncomplicated and straight forward way. Her heightened level of giving is a talent Vicky developed after becoming a religious Jew (for love and marriage) and joining the Or Chaim Yeshiva community, modern Orthodox Jewish folk.

Vicky was a recipient of their caring following the birth of her son who had a physical challenge, such as home visits by a few doctors from the yeshiva, other moms with hordes of food and dads and families with offers for assistance in any way she needed.

To this day she attributes her heightened level of giving to Or Chaim even though she ultimately gave up “Frum” (religious) Judaism. The marriage had a shelf life of two decades.

Vicky Weiss is a crazy, frickin foodie, not the regular type who celebrates a pink sirloin steak, but more-so a person who will posts all over social media her recent dinner of cabbage steak and portobello mushroom burger. 

Similarly, unlike most who adore cheese Vicky has actually taken many cheese classes because of her appreciation of its “flavours, the gooeyness and its stickiness”. She adored stinky blue cheese.

While she hasn’t had cheese in a year because of her conversion to veganism she misses it greatly and can still taste it in her brain. Vicky loves colourful food like cumquats and appreciates artistic serviettes. She had a serviette collection.

There is no doubt food is a way of forming friendships, a way of saying thank you, a way of being kind to someone who is sick, Vicky says.

Listen to episode 14 with Vicky Weiss, an extraordinarily kind sort, who comes from romantic and adventuresome parents who imparted to their daughter the tastes of Eden and the joys of life.

Hatradio! The show that schmoozes.

 

Episode 13 Gabrielle Klein: Doctor to Charedi Jews

Dr. Gabrielle Klein was born in Toronto, Canada. She is the child of a Holocaust survivor, a man who driven by knowledge and the intention to teach his two daughters as much about our world as possible.  Gabrielle devoured what her father had to teach.

Her intellectual growth took her down a road which lead to University of Toronto Medical School, where she ultimately graduated as a doctor. But Gabrielle was not only passionate about medicine. She had a deep seeded love for Israel. She says unabashedly, "I am a Zionist".  

Gabrielle, often known as Gabby, married Dennis Klein (a yeshiva friend of mine) and the two set about creating a family of six children, and eventually moved to Israel where they live in Efrat in Judea and Samaria. Nearby, in Beitar, Gabby built a practice where she tends predominantly to the Charedi community, the ultra Orthodox community in the area.

In this episode, Gabby speaks fondly of her patients and is deeply proud of her ability to help them enhance their lives through health care and education and advocacy. Gabby gives us insight into the thoughts and feelings of this often mysterious community, including those of men, women and children. It's fascinating to hear.

Gabrielle is a type-A personality. She is a wife and mom, a loyal and committed daughter, a doctor and she loves adventures including her successful 2018 climb of Mount Kilimanjaro to raise money for Shalva, a non-profit in Israel 'that supports and empowers individuals with disabilities and their families'. I cringed when she spoke about maneuvering over thin crevices thousands of feet in the sky.  I am not brave. 

Listen to this episode of Hatradio! and learn about this fascinating and courageous woman who explores many facets of her life and the world in which we live in. Gabrielle Klein is inspiring to listen to and compels one to begin preparing for their own mountain climb. 

Hatradio!   The show that schmoozes. 

 

 

 

 

Episode 12 Clive Caldwell: Squash & The Man

Clive Caldwell was born 67 years ago to good British folk. He was lousy at school and in fact failed grade 10. But his Dad, Brian,who is now 97, recognized his son's special nature and the old man set about teaching his strappingly handsome son the game of squash.

Soon enough Clive started to fly, dominate the game and over time arrive at a place only champions get to - seeded number 2 in the world and an international doubles champion! The perils of Grade 10 seemed pretty far away and like many of us do, Clive showed school doesn't necessarily illicit the brilliance inside of us. That can come from a place far far away from a classroom, sometimes a squash court.  

Time galloped onward and Clive married Marianne. They had three children, two of whom are physically challenged. But as always, Clive 'kept his head up' and he and his wife raised those kids with gumption and purpose. Slowly but surely, the squash champ turned instructor, began owning pieces of sports clubs in downtown Toronto, well placed ones with incredible potential. The clubs grew and became the hottest work out spots in the downtown area attracting people such as the late philanthropist, Ken Thomson and internationally renowned singer/songwriter, Gordon Lightfoot.

Unfortunately, Marianne got sick. Cancer. Clive took care of her. He took care of his kids. Marianne passed away, RIP. Today, Clive is married to the lovely, Lorna. It's always special when two people share their lives happily and with blessings. 

Clive continued to grow personally and professionally. He began to give back to the community he appreciated so much through the launch of Urban Squash, a non-profit that "combines an intensive after-school, 7 days-a-week, yearlong education program with concentrated athletics (principally squash)...with youth in the Jane-Finch." The goal of Urban Squash is to give young people at risk the chance to maximize their "academic, athletic and personal potential". The students involved in the program begin in Grade 6 and continue right until the end of high-school. I’m 2013, Clive raised money for Urban Squash by walking the Camino de Santiago, a 820- kilometers pilgrimage across Spain. He then walked another 100 kilometer to the ocean.  Upon the completion of his trek Clive stated, “it was one of the most emotional days of my life.”

Clive Caldwell is an inspirational fellow. Listen to this interview on Hatradio! and learn from the man. Learn how to be positive in light of enormous challenges. Learn how to maximize life and its gifts and how to grow every single day. Clive can teach you that. And it's well worth learning from  him. Hatradio! The show that schmoozes. 

(Special thanks to David Nefesh for Hatradio! music and Howard Pasternack for post-production and voice-over.) 

Episode 11: Lynda Kraar A Masterpiece of a Woman

I've never met another woman like Lynda Kraar. We've been friends for many years, albeit with some hiatuses along the road (similar to that of many good friends), but when we have a reunion of sorts, little has changed. The moment she and I connect, my dear Lynda, 59,  mother of two, lets me know with the warmth of a mother bear, how much she loves me, missed me and begins to make plans for us as we move forward, again.

I first met Lynda at United Jewish Appeal. She and I raised some shit there including writing a regular newsletter. One edition was titled, 'the morale in this place stinks'. Nobody said a word about it. I fell for her right away because she had that certain bravado that one only sees in people who are struggling to make good, of which she was, being a second generation Holocaust Survivor. 

As you'll hear in the eleventh episode of Hatradio! Lynda's parents didn't speak to one another. They were 'bro'gis' as we say in Yiddish (really deeply pissed at one another), and little Lynda, at four or five years old would yell at them to stop fighting. But they didn't and she learned how to live with that. Mostly, this only child, developed a way to move forward in life including picking up the guitar at eight years old and learning how to play it despite the fact her little fingers could not reach around the neck.

Today, Lynda performs around New Jersey, here in Toronto and wherever the wind will take her. And she is kick-ass on the axe, owns a dozen of them, and she sings heartfelt songs of her own composition that makes you wonder about who you love and how much. And she plays the oud and has attended oud camp. Listen to what she has to say about the renaissance of music. The woman is well versed in music, most aspects of it.

My dear Lynda has been married three times and loved em' all. Her final marriage, so far, was to Jewish community worker rock-star, Marty Kraar, who passed away at 69, when Lyn was 51. They were soulmates. Nuts about each other. He whipped her into shape and showed her how to love well because, in her own words, "I was terrible at being a wife".  Listen to Lynda talk about mourning for Marty. 

Lynda has raised millions of dollars. She surrounds herself with friends and frequently will let you know about new and old ones. I love the way she states their names as if I know them. Lynda Kraar, is a refreshing and unique human being. I've never met anyone like her and likely never will. She is a masterpiece of a woman. Enjoy her. I have.

Hatradio! The show that schmoozes. 

Episode 10: Bernie Farber - Open a Mouth

Bernie Farber is a well known human rights activist, a writer and Jewish leader. He has courageously challenged white supremacists and worked along side Native Canadians through his partnership with philanthropist, Michael Dan. Bernie's motivation to: chair Ve'ahavta: The Canadian Jewish Humanitarian & Relief Committee, teach local police ways and means of dealing with hate crimes, work at Canadian Jewish Congress from 1984-2011, and ultimately become its CEO, and so much more, stems from a lessons in life he was taught by his father Max RIP, a Holocaust survivor and only remaining Jew from his village. His Dad, who owned a food store minutes away from Parliament in Ottawa, told Bernie, if he wanted to change things in this world, fix it, he'd have to "open a mouth". Open a mouth Bernie did.

His opinions and thoughts about fighting anti-Semitism can be read in articles he's penned for The New York Times, Toronto Star, Huffington Post, NOW Magazine, Canadian Jewish News and many more publications. He has acted as an expert witness in cases against Holocaust deniers and led the Paloma Foundation, an organization that worked with youth and homeless shelters and ran for the Liberal party in 2011 . Bernie's accomplishments go on and on. 

Listen to episode 10 of Hatradio! and learn about Bernie's awesome recipe for chicken. Hear about his friendship and work with Larry Tenenbaum and former Canadian prime minister, Paul Martin. Hear Bernie sing a song about peace originally sung by Joan Baez. Discover the hit-list Bernie was on and how he was ultimately saved by a CSIS mole. And be privy to his feelings about his beautiful wife, kids and family, some of whom perished in the Holocaust. "Open a Mouth" is one of those podcasts you don't want to miss. It's about one of Canada's leading Jewish leaders who just never keeps quiet. 

Hatradio!  The show that schmoozes. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Episode 9: Joan Ruzsa: Justice, Therapy & Climbing Rocks

I was sitting in a club, about ten years ago, where my friend David, was playing guitar with a fellow musician, Lynda, whom he had recently met. Lynda's friend came along, Joan, and over the loud rhythmic noises emanating from the stage, she and I struck up a conversation. It was difficult to hear her - "what", i kept saying -  but I was able to catch her very dry vermouth-like humor, recognize Joan's smarts and the way she kind of forced me to respond with wise quips.

And I liked her tattoos.

I had never really schmoozed with a woman like that. We ultimately fell in love and dated for seven years. That's my shelf life, and pretty much her's for relationships. But that's not the point really. What is? Well it's the fact I'd met someone who is a 'warrior'. And we became friends.

Joan Ruzsa is focused. She is tunnel-vision focus so much so that if a boulder or a person gets in her way she goes around them, or through them. Joan is unbend-able, until she decides she wants to bend. Seven years of therapy school, ultimately graduating as a therapist helped her with that. But mostly, this 46 year-old purveyor of truth is the only person I had ever met whom I wanted to write a script about. I never did but that's not because her light has faded in my eyes. No, not at all, but simply because I come up with a zillion ideas and only implement one or two of them.

What would the script be about? It would include an entire scene with dim lighting showing Joan on the phone in her office at Rittenhouse (where she is the CEO), a non-profit mandated to help guys on the 'inside' - in jail, and educate the public on the cruel reality of incarceration and the possibility of alternative forms of justice. She would be talking with a 'lifer' in a penitentiary somewhere in Ontario. She would be counselling him on how to deal with his depression, or ways and means she could help gather documentation to use for his next trial, or what to say to his mom when she calls him again and cries the entire phone call.

Joan is an activist. She is the same decent, loving, curious, funny, serious person I met at that club whom I could barely here, who fights the fight with bare fists and does so graciously, with class and charisma. She climbs walls in her spare time and is now learning how to use her bread maker and make vegan donuts. Joan is bubbling over with growth and she gives an enormous shit about our world and the most vulnerable.

Have a listen, and learn, and grow yourself. There is much to see here, much to hear. Joan Ruzsa, on Hatradio! the show that schmoozes.