When the National Father's Day Council selected Jonathan Tisch to receive a Father of the Year Award, he overheard his three children asking, "Did we get to vote on this?"
Tisch, co-chairman of Loews Corporation and CEO of Loews Hotels, joined five other distinguished gentlemen at the 68th annual event last week at the New York Sheraton, including Ronald Wurtzburger.
As president of Peerless Clothing, the largest supplier of menswear on the continent, among them Calvin Klein, Chaps, Donna Karan and Izod, Wurtzburger has his hands full. Yet he finds time to serve as co-chair of the menswear division of UJA and vice president of Park East Synagogue where he calls Rabbi Arthur Schneier "my mentor."
Six years ago, after Wurtzburger was
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stricken with prostate cancer, he got involved in helping others suffering from the same disease.
"Your children see you working for good causes," he said, "and soon they do the same. Our grandchildren now do the same. They gave their bar mitzvah money to other children in need. I wish my parents could see how their guidance enabled three generations to work for charity."
MSNBC journalist Chris Matthews, as emcee of the awards ceremony, also honored Duke University basketball coach Michael Krzyzewski, ABC journalist George Stephanopoulos, motor legend Al Unser, and Gen. David Petraeus who was detained in Washington by his commander in chief.
Tisch was on familiar ground at the Sheraton. He said he began his career in the hotel industry in 1968 when this was the Americana, a Loews property. "I started out behind the desk."
Glenn Beck Makes A Promise
Fox TV personality Glenn Beck admits that before 9/11 he was totally ignorant about Israel and the Arabs. "I did comedy," he said.
But when tragedy struck our shores "I fell down by my bed and made a promise to the Lord. I would do all I can to find the truth. I'm a man who wasted most my life. I was fortunate for the Lord to give me a second chance."
His vow brought wild cheers from the sober guests of the Jerusalem Reclamation Project dinner at the Museum of Jewish Heritage. JRP chairman Dr. Joseph Frager introduced him and Beck responded with "Shalom, my brothers and sisters," and wiped tears glistening on his cheeks.
He said when he planned his first trip to Israel his wife was in Philadelphia, his producer in Florida and all his equipment in Los Angeles. The El Al security people asked, "Do you know who sent you this equipment?"
No.
"Do you know how to use it?"
No.
Beck thought, "This isn't going to well." They asked him every question in the book. It took three hours before they let him board.
They brought him the meal and Beck was astounded.
"There was a steak knife! A knife! You know what? Israel gets it. They just make sure the bad guys don't get on the plane."
Being of German descent, Beck wondered whether they were aware of Hitler's intent. He read a copy of "Mein Kampf" and concluded that they knew.
"When people say they'll drive the Jews into the sea, believe them. In the Middle East there is evil beyond your imagination. I can't believe the rest of the world doesn't see it.
"I hear the Iranian president say, 'Lord, help me hasten the coming of the promised one.' If he's just saying that, he's certifiably insane. If he means it, he's certifiably insane. We've seen it before. We know what evil is. What do we need to talk to him about?"
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