Page 20 - Boca Club News - February '25

Page 20, Boca Club News

The Arts
The Arts

Book Review…“Dictionary of Fine Distinctions:

Nuances, Niceties, and Subtle Shades of Meaning”

By Nils A. Shapiro. Nils began his believe are interchangeable,
career as Marketing Director for a but which are not…and in
major book publisher. He has since each case to explain the
edited the authors’ manuscripts’ for differences. The text by
more than 20 published books, written author Eli Burnstein is laced
more than 200 book reviews, served with such a wonderful sense
as Publisher of several million-plus of humor that you hardly
circulation national magazines, realize you are learning
created the official Yearbooks for so much, and many of the
teams in Major League Baseball, the National Football explanations are illustrated
League, National Basketball Association and National with delightful cartoon
Hockey League, and “retired” as President of a successful drawings.
telecommunications company before being appointed Editor If you care about using
of Boca Club News when the newspaper was launched in the correct words in your
January 2007. own conversations or in your • Pronunciation vs. Enunciation. To pronounce a word is to
I had intended for this book to take its place alongside writings this is a must-have reference book. If that is not a say it correctly. To enunciate a word is to say it clearly.
the dictionary and Roget’s Thesaurus in my home office as a problem you care much about, then it is a must-have for the • Hors D’Oeuvres vs. Canape. Hors D’Oeuvres are bite-size
helpful reference. Instead, I have been carrying it around to fun it will add to your life. Here are just a few examples of appetizers. Canapes are bite-size appetizers on bread, crackers
share with friends as a source of not only important helpful words you may be using incorrectly. For lack of space here I or pastry.
information but to spark a round of appreciative good humor offer only the author’s brief opening statement for each. He • Schlemiel vs. Schlimazel. Shlemiels are bumbling fools.
with the turn of almost every one of its 200 pages. almost always follows up with a fuller explanation, but you Schlimazels have bad luck. Hence the Yiddish crack that when a
I believe you will be tempted to do the same once you get will have to see the book for those. schlemiel spills their soup, it’s the shlimazel whose lap it falls on.
your hands on this handy-sized, 5-1/4” x 7-1/4” hard-cover • Poisonous vs. Venomous. Poisonous is when you bite it • Assume vs. Presume. To assume is to suppose without proof.
volume. (as with a toadstool mushroom). Venomous is when it bites To presume is to do so with confidence or authority.
My initial decision to purchase it is my need, as an Editor you (as with a snake). • Gala vs. Ball. A Gala is a large, upscale social event. A Ball
and writer, to always select the correct word when more than • Irony vs. Sarcasm. Irony is when you say one thing but is a large, upscale social event with dancing.
one option may seem to be available…and the purpose of mean another. (Lounging on the beach: “It’s a tough life.”) So In any case, from now on I will have no more excuses for
“The Dictionary of Fine Distinctions” is to point out the more is sarcasm, only what you mean is insulting. (After someone using incorrect words in any of my columns. You have my
than 100 examples of two words that most people mistakenly trips: “Smooth move.”) permission to chastise me if I do.
Essays on Life: “LOVE”

By Sonia E. Ravech. Sonia is LOVE is the relief I felt, even after many years of LOVE is being surrounded by my family at the dining
a native of Massachusetts and marriage, when he opened the door each evening and I heard room table. It is celebrating holidays, traditions and life
a resident of Broken Sound for him call out, “I’m home.” It is what sustained me when, one cycle events together.
more than 30 years. She is the week after our 62nd anniversary, he died from aggressive LOVE is true friendship, sharing in each other’s joys,
mother of four, grandmother of lung cancer only three months after his diagnosis. extending compassion in times of sorrow. It is reaching
seven and great-grandmother of LOVE is what helped me accept widowhood and forge out to help those less privileged and seeing the smiles of
four. She has been the facilitator a new way of living. It is maintaining purpose, prayer, appreciation on their faces.
of the Broken Sound Memoir faith and spirituality. LOVE is the serenity I experience when I sit in the
Writers’ Workshop for the past LOVE is the gratitude I feel for the privilege of having comfort of my home looking out at the beauty of nature
seven years. lived to see four of my seven grandchildren married. It is the that surrounds me. It is warm sunny days filled with
Valentine’s Day is the one day each year set aside to contentment I enjoy visiting with them in their own homes. birdsong and cool moonlit nights filled with stars.
express our love to those about whom we care, and to LOVE is the happiness I experience every time I play LOVE is gratitude for my longevity and good health.
remind us to appreciate the love that is bestowed upon with my four great grandchildren. It is the amazement I It is the greatest blessing God has given me, and I give
us every day. Love manifests itself in many forms. It is a acknowledge when I recognize in them so many of their thanks every day.
powerful emotion that is reflected in so many aspects of parents’ traits.
our lives.
LOVE is the promises my husband and I made to each
other when we wed. It is the excitement we shared when Adolph & Rose Levis Jewish Community Center • Phyllis & Harvey Sandler Center
we learned we were going to become parents. Robert Greenberg Performing Arts Series
LOVE is the overwhelming joy we experienced as we
cuddled each newborn in our arms. It is the memories we
made reading bedtime stories, attending school plays,
sporting events and dance recitals as they grew.
LOVE is the conflict we felt when they became adults and
left the nest. It is the support we extended unconditionally JOY ARI
even when we disagreed with their choices.
LOVE is the great joy we shared with the birth of each ALTMAN AXELROD
grandchild. It is the overwhelming pride we felt with each
grandchild’s accomplishments, from taking their first
steps to watching them graduate from college.
LOVE is why I cooked my husband’s favorite meals,
scratched his back and massaged his scalp. It is why I Sunday, February 23, 4:00 pm Tuesday, February 26, 7:30 pm
always laughed at his jokes although I had heard the punch Thursday, February 27, 2:00 pm
lines numerous times before. Her Name is Barbra:
LOVE is the reason I reached for his hand in the movies A Streisand Tribute Show Sunrise Sunset;
or on long walks. It is the tranquility I experienced as I My Year in Anatevka
lay next to him each night listening to the rhythm of his Along with convincing, high-energy portrayals
snoring, touching our feet together. of the characters and comedy of Barbra, Joy Music Director, Lawrence Yurman
also provides top-notch emotional delivery
of the notes and lyrics, truly invoking the Featuring all the songs you know and
impeccable vocal control and unique style of love from A Fiddler on the Roof, “Sunrise,
Streisand, leaving audiences excited, moved Sunset,” “Rich Man,” “Miracle of Miracles,”
and mesmerized! and some gems you might have missed.

For tickets, call 561-464-3086 or visit levisjcc.org/performingarts

Adolph & Rose Levis Jewish Community Center • Phyllis & Harvey Sandler Center • Toby & Leon Cooperman Campus
21050 95th Avenue S., Boca Raton, FL 33428 • Ph 561-558-2520 • levisjcc.org/sandler