Banner and Stark Among Jewish HOF Inductees
Former Philadelphia Eagles President Joe Banner and longtime ESPN columnist Jayson Stark, who previously covered baseball for the Philadelphia Inquirer, headline the seven 2017 inductees into the Philadelphia Jewish Sports Hall of Fame.
Joining them are former University of Pennsylvania basketball standout Jeff Neuman, former Duke All-America soccer player Josh Bienenfeld, former Olympic rower Ken Dreyfuss, former Penn tennis star June Eisner and Arie Gluck, Israel’s first Olympian in track and field in 1952, who later ran Camp Harlam in the Poconos for 37 years.
Induction ceremonies will take place May 23 at the Gershman Y at Broad and Pine streets in Center City.
NMAJH Offers Free February Admission
The National Museum of American Jewish History (NMAJH) announced that it will offer free admission to all visitors throughout February. The month is being sponsored by Parkway Corp.
Aside from the core exhibition, visitors will be able to see the 1790 letter from
George Washington to the Hebrew Congregation in Newport, R.I. In the letter, President Washington proclaims “to bigotry no sanction, to persecution no assistance.” That letter will be on view from Feb. 13 to March 6.
And on Presidents Day, Feb. 20, visitors from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. will be greeted by an actor portraying George Washington and experience interactive tours highlighting the theme of religious freedom and other family activities. There also will be a sensory-friendly access program for children, teens and adults of all abilities.
Anti-Israel Group at Temple Pays Tribute to Terrorist Group Founder
Temple University’s Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) chapter — an anti-Israel organization — on Jan. 26 paid tribute to the founder of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) by tweeting “Rest in Power, George Habash. As long as you still fighting in defense of your dignity and for your occupied land, all is well.”
The tweet came on the eighth anniversary of Habash’s death.
PFLP, which was founded in the late 1960s, was behind several deadly attacks, including the July 1968 hijacking of an El Al flight from Rome to Tel Aviv. The PFLP held 21 passengers and 11 crew members hostage for more than a month. More recently, PFLP claimed responsibility for the 2014 Jerusalem synagogue massacre.
Kosher Food Service at Temple Limited
The Temple University Student Government has chosen a new food service provider, Aramark, to replace Sodexo for the university. The transition will begin May 13.
As a result of weaning off the Sodexo contract, Hillel at Temple University’s kosher dining services, Cafe 613, is now only open from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., Mondays through Fridays. However, students still have the option to order meals from the cafe later in the afternoon and evening for no delivery fee.
Simon PR Rebrands
Simon PR has rebranded itself as SPRYTE Communications to position itself for health care communications opportunities, CEO Lisa Simon said.
The 26-year-old firm is located in Center City, Philadelphia. It specializes in health care and related industries, including provider organizations, pharmaceutical companies, health insurers, health care associations, social service agencies, health care educators, foundations, health advocacy groups, health care law firms and government.
