Atlantic City Weekly

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This Friday is one of the Christian faith’s most revered holidays. It celebrates the miraculous birth of Jesus Christ. It is a holiday that is appreciated by millions of people of many different denominations.

Midnight Mass on Christmas Eve is, without a doubt, one of the most beautiful religious services this columnist has ever attended. While a student at New York University on a basketball scholarship, I had the privilege of joining several of my former teammates in going to the Christmas Eve Midnight Mass at St. Patrick’s Cathedral. I am not of the Catholic faith, but have attended several religious services other than my own. This was an inspiring service, and one I will never forget. At a time when some question the right to publicly celebrate this holiday and its renowned reading, it is with great pleasure and a privilege to take this opportunity to wish all of my Christian readers a most Merry Christmas. Enjoy this special time of the year, and know that the joy of this holiday affects most of us and brings greetings from people of many faiths that do not greet one another at any other time of the year. May the good Lord cast his blessings upon all of you.

Dear Santa Claus

Thursday night, you will travel around the world to everywhere possible, answering the requests you have received from your constituents. Some of us asked for personal items while others asked for good health for themselves and their families. Of course, we know the one item that most of us wished for will be the most difficult for you to the deliver — Peace on Earth and Good Will to All, and the return of our Armed Forces to their homeland.

The quest for personal items most often depends upon the financial condition of the wisher. Those living a healthy lifestyle are the least likely to wish for good health. However, some illnesses come to us from heredity and other illnesses attack people from all walks of life regardless of their lifestyle. They are the most difficult for you to assist with. When you are assigned to the job of responding to the wishes of everyone, the enormity of this position forces you to overlook many of your constituents. Here is where Santa’s helpers step in — those who are in the medical profession and those who serve various charitable organizations.

Our most fervent wish is dependent upon the skill of our Armed Forces and their leaders. This is a daily prayer for most of us. However, there are some things we can do to help you deliver on these wishes. We can keep our Armed Forces’ spirits high by writing to them and letting them know we admire, respect and love them. We can show our support by helping those of their families in need of assistance. We can help by making sure our elected representatives provide them with what they need in their battles and when they return home. Santa, you have been assigned the task that is overwhelming and yet you seem to deliver the wishes of many of us. You have done it year in and year out. I wish you a Merry Christmas and a most sincere thanks to you and your helpers. Good Lord willing, we will see you next year.

A Second Bar Mitzvah

Over the past weekend, I took a trip to Florida to attend my 85-year-old brother’s second Bar Mitzvah. Tevis Kravitz, an Atlantic City High School graduate, moved out of the area after graduating from Temple University. He established himself in Maryland and was successful in his various enterprises. He retired and moved to Singer Island, part of Riviera Beach, Fla., and has been there ever since.

Why he decided to have a second Bar Mitzvah I cannot tell you, but he did and he did it better the second time around. Our family came from far and near to witness this wonderful event. I stayed in the Hard Rock Casino Hotel in Hollywood, Fla. — one of the nicest properties in the state. There are quite a few former Atlantic City and southern New Jersey residents working there. Jim Allen, a Linwood resident, is the CEO of all the Seminole Indian’s Hard Rock properties. Bernie Dillon, who commutes every weekend to Galloway, is now the senior vice president of entertainment for all Hard Rock’s casinos and Kevin Davis, formerly of the Borgata and Trump Plaza, is now a vice president of casino marketing for Hard Rock. There are a host of others working at various executive level positions as well as dealers. Unfortunately, the weather during the five days we were there was awful. The first day we had a monsoon that brought 13 inches of rain to the area where we were. The temperature then dropped to the low 60s with no sunshine. However, the Bar Mitzvah, my family and the hospitality of the Hard Rock’s staff provided us with a memorable experience.

Sauce or Gravy?