1. ‘Wiesenthal’
Can a slim 53-year-old Irish Catholic with a full head of hair convincingly portray a stocky 92-year-old balding Jew? If that seems improbable,add to the challenge an Austro-Hungarian dialect and a shaky
tremor. If your answer is “highly unlikely,” think again.
Tom Dugan, who wrote and stars in “Wiesenthal,” does just that. He knows that the illusion is successful because, when he returns to the stage for a Q-and-A,the audience assumes he’s a janitor. To reach
mastery over his character, Dugan not only completely overhauls his appearance – by shaving his head,wearing a padded suitand putting on old-age makeup – but also transforms his speech with the help of
a dialect coach. To mirror the Nazi Hunter’s gestures and to illustrate the feebleness ofage, Dugan wipes his eyes with a ha ndkerchief, steadies himself by pulling on furniture and struggles to maintain
balance.
Dugan, who grew up in Winfield Township, New Jersey, and studied theater at Montclair State University, has been acting professionally for a quarter ofa century. Having written plays for the past15 years,
he’s known for his six one-man shows, one ofwhich is a one-woman show and the most famous ofwhich is “Wiesenthal.” In fact, it is so popular that PBS is creating a special with the same title.
Dugan decided to write the play to honor his father’s participation in World War II.A Langenstein-Zwieberge concentration camp liberator and recipientof the Bronze Star and the Purple Heart, Dugan’s father
served as inspiration.
In addition, Dugan says that he wanted to carry on Wiesenthal’s message of tolerance, which hits a strong chord with him.He chose this particular format because ofthe intimacy which the dialogue creates,
stimulating the audience’s imagination.
Dugan’s ability to affect is evident in interviews conducted right after the performance.One viewer explains his apprecia tion ofthe play by saying that“the showgives words for people who still have a hard time
talking about [the Holocaust].”
By watching the spectators’ reactions, the actor is able to fine-tune his craft, keeping the show fresh.He says thatthe audience’s response constitutes the most surprising element ofthe play. Dugan had no
idea how potent the piece would turn out.It’s not unusual for him to receive letters from people who saw the show five years ago and now want to share its effect.
Dugan sees the sustainability of the message as a measure of success. He is not the only one who recognizes the value of“Wiesenthal.” In March,Dugan received a letter informing him that he is the newest
recipient of Seton Hall University’s Sister Rose Thering Humanitarian Award.
While he’s proud of the honor, Dugan didn’t envision the play for the accolades. He is a strong believer in following his parents’ generation in its questto keep youth informed about the past. Dugan says, “It’s
incumbent on us to pass on those lessons.” Of course, the challenge is that his generation didn’texperience the Holocaust.That’s why he wrote the play – to make horrid and foreign stories palatable to young
people, who are easily bored. Like Wiesenthal, he uses humor to achieve this feat.
Dugan set the show in Wiesenthal’s office on the day of his retirement. Because the survivor was captivating,thousands ofte ens from around the world visited him to hear the tales. During the play, the
audience becomes a final group of visitors,absorbing his knowledge and reacting to his wartime suffering.Dugan hopes that his performance captures Wiesenthal’s skill of keeping youth engaged despite the
darkness of his message.
So far, this has been the case. Dugan says that the audience doesn’tstart outenthusiastically, given the subjectmatter, but end up on their feet, cheering,by the end of the performance. He tells about a Goth
girl he noticed in the first row during a matinee. Observing her initial negative demeanor, he said to himself,here’s on e audience member I’m notgoing to reach today. To his surprise, the girl came back for the
evening show and, this time, broughther family along.Dugan thinks that the topic appeals to those who consider themselves a minority. After all, Wiesenthal’s message was universal.He didn’tjust fight for the
Jews. He fought for the gypsies, the homosexuals, the mentally ill – all the underdogs.
To prepare for writing, Dugan started his research atthe Wiesenthal Center in Los Angeles in 2007.Just as Wiesenthal s pent60 years gathering evidence of the Nazis’ atrocities, Dugan gathered evidence of
Wiesenthal’s heroism. By ’08,he had read enough archives to begin “workshopping” with Jenny Sullivan, the director. The two of them forged a means to bestowhard,essential information in an entertaining
manner.
Consider what the playwrightand the director had to work with: their only character is a man who survived the unthinkable – Hitler’s genocide – and dedicated his life to preventing any future occurrence of it. In
an interview, referring to the way the Holocaust changed people, Wiesenthal says,“We [lost]every [belief] in humanity and friendship and justice.” Despite his incarceration in a concentration camp, separation
from his wife and loss of89 family members, Wiesenthal maintained hope and the will to live to correct the injustices.
In “Genocide,” a 1982 documentary, he explains his perseverance with his quest. When journalists question him as to why he ke eps tracking the Nazis,having discovered 1,100 of them already, Wiesenthal
responds that he cannotclose the office because it is the last office. Along the same lines are Sir Ben Kingsley’s recollections of his meeting with Wiesenthal in preparation for “Murderers Among Us: The
Simon Wiesenthal Story.” In an interview, the actor remembers seeing documents on Wiesenthal’s walls, proof of atrocities aboutwhich the survivor said,pointing,“This is blood turned to ink.”
To carry on the memory of those lostlives, Dugan continues performing. In doing his research, he found himselfhaving a hard time reading the material. The more he learned about the Jews’ experiences,the
more breaks he had to take. The horrors overwhelmed him, forcing him to seek refuge in innocence. Dugan would put the books down to siton the floor with his two young Jewish sons (he married a Jewish
woman). As he would hold the kids on his lap, he would slowly start to refocus his thoughts on the good – on feeling grateful for the factthathis kids were born now and notthen.
Yet, after a dose of sunshine, Dugan would go back to the gloom to ensure that it never happens again. A note he reads during the play explains clearly why Wiesenthal continued his search and why Dugan
finished his play. “Do not pity me. Nowthatyou have read this letter, I am no longer dead. I live in your heart. Please promise thatyou will never forget me.”

2. IRINA MISSIURO is a writer and editorial consultant for The Jewish Voice.
The facts:
The Zeiterion Performing Arts Center in NewBedford is presenting “Wiesenthal”on Holocaust Memorial Day
There is a free The Z’s pre-performance book club discussion of “Branded on My Arm and in My Soul, a HolocaustMemoir” by Abraham W.Landau.
When: Thursday, April 16
8:00 p.m.
Where: 684 Purchase St.,
New Bedford, Mass.
Call 508-994-2900
Tickets: $20/$25/$29
An active lifestyle means happiness for this senior
Phyllis Solod is happiest when she is keeping busy. Not one to lounge in front of a TV, this senior prefers to be out and abo ut – socializing, helping and volunteering – anything butbeing sedentary and alone.
As of late, however, she has been battling some health issues – an unfortunate circumstance that has somewhat impeded her activity, buthas not put a damper on her energy. Luckily, with a little help from her
friends, who are happy to lend a hand,Solod has been able to maintain her involved lifestyle.
Having had surgery on her rotator cuff in late December – her 17th operation – Solod is currently undergoing occupational therapy to restore full movement to her arm. She’s no stranger to discomfort, having
experienced a bone transplant to save a finger 40 years ago.An optimist, she says that she’s already observed much improveme nt in her arm. Solod is impatientto heal because she is an extremely lively
senior who is used to helping others, notdepending on them. She wants to resume her usual routines thatinclude driving her grandkids to appointments and volunteering wherever she feels she is needed.
Two of her grandchildren live in Warwick, and four reside in Tel Aviv. Solod is excited aboutan upcoming opportunity to see the Israelis,who are arriving in two months to visitfor a couple ofweeks. Then, in
the fall, she will travel to their home. Solod is looking forward to spending time with her family because, after 10 years of cohabitation,her daughter and grandchildren recently moved out of her home to live on
their own. All of a sudden, she’s having dinners on her own, and her house is quiet…until the children come to visit.
Solod has always loved crowds of relatives.Growing up,she was one of four kids. Now her sister is no longer alive. One brother lives in Massachusetts and another in Chicago. Solod has been a widow for 23
1/2 years. You can tell that Arthur, her husband,meant a lotto her by the way she speaks about him. She emphasizes that “half” even in the number of years they were married – 27 and a half.
Solod tells the story oftheir engagement. When she was 24 and he was 26, she wouldn’t give him her hand in marriage until he made a phone call to her father asking for it.Even though their parents did
business together – his family was in cotton batting,and her father was an upholsterer – the kids met on their own at a square dance at the Worcester JCC. When the groom wanted to elope, Solod refused,
choosing to move to New York instead and work for Macmillan Publishers.
Dissatisfied with sharing a tiny one-bedroom apartment with her sister,Solod returned to Worcester, where she found a job with Corrugated Box Company. After they married,her husband wanted to see what
life in California was like, so they moved. Unfortunately, Solod didn’t take to the west coast.In six months,the family rel ocated to Warwick, where she has lived ever since. Since the move, Solod has worked in
various jobs, including an aide at Greenwood Nursing Home and magazine collator at Franklin Graphics. Her last paying job was for TruckAway, where she kept the books.
Now retired, Solod recently celebrated her 75th birthday. To mark the occasion, her family took her to a nice dinner at Gregg’s, where she enjoys the salmon. On the topic of food, Solod pointed out that she
never overindulges on carbohydrates such as pasta.While she doesn’t diet,she does stick to a healthy regimen, eating nutrit ious foods in moderation and exercising whenever she gets a chance. This month,
the Warwick Beacon wrote an article on Solod’s following of the TOPS program (take off pounds sensibly.) Last year, she went on an all-expenses-paid trip to Milwaukee to represent Rhode Island as the state
Queen at the program’s annual conference. The March issue of the TOPS magazine ran her photo – an accomplishmentSolod takes pride in. After all, she not only lost 34 pounds, but also was able to go off
her diabetes medication. To keep the weight off, Solod makes sure to walk around Wethersfield Commons,where she lives.
Other ways in which she keeps busy include volunteering atThe Phyllis Siperstein Tamarisk Assisted Living Residence. After teaching the residents mahjong for a couple of years, Solod now visits the facility
to take part in its bingo game – a passion of hers for the past eightyears.She also keeps young by mentoring children.Overseen by Rhode Island Mentoring Pa rtnership,Solod reads with the kids,solves
math problems, throws the ball and does arts and crafts. Because she cannotdrive yet, she has been feeling sad about not being able to spend time with them since her surgery.
She also hasn’t been able to visitus here at The Voice, where her organizational skills and assistance have proven indispensible to Tricia Stearly, advertising manager. The filing she does at our office probably
reminds Solod of her first job at the Worcester Public Library. She first started volunteering for the paper about six years ago, when she asked then-editor Nancy Kirsch if she could use some help.
Now Solod relies on Barbara, a friend from TOPS, to bring her to the Dwares JCC, go shopping and run errands. When you help e veryone else, people don’t mind helping you. Such is certainly the case with
Solod. Always there for her friends and family, she has been on the receiving end lately.

3. Assisting others is one of the reasons she, with Barbara’s help, attends TOPS meetings every Thursday. “If Ican help somebod y new, I go,” Solod says.“It’s very important to me because, even though I have
been able to maintain my weight,it helps me discipline myself.” When asked to offer some advice to those struggling to stay in shape, she suggests eating from the food pyramid and exercising at least every
other day. Solod makes it a point to walk for 10 minutes three times a day.
And most importantly, don’t deprive yourself – everyone deserves a treat nowand then. Solod’s favorite indulgence is the apple cake she makes for Tamarisk residents. When her injury prevented her from
baking hamantaschen as she usually does at Purim, Solod boughtthree dozen from a local woman to share with her friends, many ofwhom she met while volunteering.
Solod is thankful to them for expressing appreciation for her efforts. Notlong ago, the Tamarisk residents enjoyed the interviews that Solod and Florence Katz had conducted with the facility’s staff and shared
with everyone.
In her free time, Solod likes to be entertained.She loves watching great movies, such as “The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel,” playing cards and board games with her grandson Chris and traveling. Solod
has ushered at the Providence Performing Arts Center for more than 20 years. She enjoyed meeting people and seeing musicals, including “South Pacific,” “Mama Mia” and “Carousel.” If you bump into her at
the movies, theater or supermarket, take a minute to say thank you to this wonderful woman, who always places the needs of ot hers above her own.
IRINA MISSIURO is a writer and editorial consultant for The Jewish Voice.
Senior scams 101
Are you over 60? (It’s OK to respond in the affirmative – no one can hear you.) Do you still pay for a landline? (So predictable!) Can you save a small forest by unsubscribing to all the junk catalogs you
receive? (Why haven’t you done ityet?) Are your grandkids everything to you? (Obvious question, but there’s a point to be made.) Ifyou fit this profile, you could be a prime target for scammers.
If you have ever fallen prey to a sting, you know how infuriating it is to finally learn the truth. However, don’t get upsetor angry – educate yourself instead. Those who’ve never been duped might think that
they’re too smart to get caught by the scammers’ phishing hook. Whatthey don’t know is that the scammer boasts an advanced d egree in crime to keep up with the educated public.Nowthatinformation can
be easily accessed on the Internet, scammers must inventnew ways to appear legitimate.
To do that, they take a page out ofthe salespeople’s book. Crooks employ the same seemingly harmless tactics, including bu ilding excitement, creating a sense ofurgency, approaching in a kind and friendly
manner and being relentless. They just keep calling, don’t they? You’re a nice person, butyou’re also prudent. Don’t start feeling bad for the poor telemarketer who is pressuring you to buy. More than likely,
you’re dealing with a criminal who is trying to take advantage of you. When you say no,you’re not denying him bread and butter – you are protecting yourself.
Scammers are not targeting you because you are part of the chosen people. They’re after your funds, which they suspectadds up to a substantial sum.
Yes, it’s in bad taste to count someone else’s money, but that doesn’t stop these people. Feel relieved that you don’t have m uch to lose? Not so fast – crooks don’t know that you’re a spender and not a saver –
they didn’t do research on you.
So even those who are less than well-off get scammed.Dubious? Justtake a look at the figures – the older demographic is scammed to the tune of nearly $3 billion per year, according to a 2009 MetLife
Mature Market Institute study.
Not sure how to tell whether the person on the other end of the line is authentic? Here’s a crash course on battling the bad guys and identifying potential scams. You should always expect the best, butbe
prepared for the worst, right?
Scenario #1: Internet fraud
You have observed the emergence of some telltale signs that you are no longer 25. You think to yourself, if those housewives can fake it, so can I! Swayed by vanity, you make the impulsive decision to
purchase some cheap Botox online. (Who has the funds to pay retail?!) What you don’t know, however, is that it’s a bad batch,and by the time you learn this, you’ll be hoping for droopy skin because what’s
in store will be so much worse.
Now, you obviously don’t have wrinkles, but the pointremains – do not buy treatments and medicines from shady sources. In the best-case scenario, you’ll end up with a placebo;in the worst – you’ll be
scarred for life. If you live, that is.
Scenario #2: Funeral/cemetery scam
You have recently losta dear relative.In addition to mourning, planning the funeral and figuring outhowto live, you nowh ave to worry about falling victim to a scam.If you receive phone calls from individuals
claiming that the deceased owed them money, don’t just pay off the stranger – remember, mostlikely, this person is not tactless but malicious. Demand to see written proof, such as a notarized letter.
That’s not all, unfortunately. Besides random people who probably found out aboutthe death through a newspaper notice, beware ofthose who might try to profit from the expenses surrounding your tragedy.
Scenario #3: Disaster relief scam
A representative from a reliefagency is contacting you regarding a donation of funds to help victims of the most recentflood/hurricane/tornado. Don’t worry about being rude or cruel when you say no. If
politeness is that important to you, say no,thanks. But do refuse to play along. Donations for the latestnatural disaster should notbe solicited door-to-door or via a telemarketer.
If you d o wish to help,contact the charity in question or the Red Cross directly.
Scenario #4: Grandparent scam
You pick up the phone and are greeted by a friendly voice,“Grandma, guess who?!” Now, your intuition tells you that something is off – don’t your grandkids call you “Bubbe?” Butyou are too excited thatjunior
called without a reminder and gleefully respond, “Benjie?!”

4. Now that this “grandson” has you by your heartstrings, he’ll proceed to confide in you – another first! You’ll be so thrilled about the sudden intimacy that you’ll promise not only to keep the matter of his financial
crisis from his parents, but also to wire him some money right away. After all,who but grandma understands? Scammers, appare ntly!
Scenario #5: You’re a winner!
You receive an authentic-looking check. You have won the Peruvian lottery! Finally, all of your prayers have paid off! And you thoughtthatyou never win anything. Remember, that time when Mr. Horowitz next
door won the neighborhood raffle? You were bitter and jealous. Well, now you can boast about your win to his face,the way he gloated to you all those ye ars ago.
If these are the thoughts running through your mind,stop. Don’t kill the messenger. You didn’t win anything. It’s illegal for Americans to enter a foreign lottery. Two days after you deposit your winnings and wire
the amount required to cover duties and taxes,you will receive a notification from your bank that the lucky check was counterfeit. So, don’trub it in Mr. Horowitz’s face just yet.
These imaginary scenarios can go on indefinitely. They’re fun, but in the interest ofsaving the environment, here’s the bare -bones essential advice on dealing with con artists.
What not to do:
Don’t give out personal information over the phone.
Don’t be afraid to say no.
Don’t make any “good faith” payments expecting to split a large sum ofmoney.
Don’t download any phony anti-virus programs.
Don’t respond to “phishing” emails with updates or verifications of your information.
Don’t invest in pyramid schemes.
Don’t agree to pay fees to reassess your property value.
Don’t expect a free house in exchange for your property title.
Don’t pay for trinkets to enter a contest.
Don’t reveal your creditcard verification code.
Don’t allowanyone to bully you.
Don’t forget – there’s no such thing as a free lunch.
Don’t be a stranger to the Do Not Call Registry. Call 888-382-1222 or log onto donotcall.gov to register your phone number.
Don’t forget to edit the mail you receive by logging onto the Direct Marketing Association site, dmachoice.org. Choose to stop receiving mail from an entire category or from specific companies.
Do consult the following resources:
Federal Trade Commission: ftc.gov, 202-326-2222
AARP Foundation ElderWatch:aarp.org/aarp-foundation/our-work/income/elderwatch, 877-434-7598
National Consumers League:nclnet.org,202-835-3323
RI Office of the Attorney General,150 South Main St., Providence. The Consumer Protection Unit.Consumers@riag.ri.gov or 401-274-4400.
IRINA MISSIURO is a writer and editorial consultant for The Jewish Voice.