San Diego Jewish World, MaY 25, 2007

If 9-11 made us aware of the fragility of our peace at home and the nature of our enemies abroad, it also made us proud of the men and women who fight for us. Too many soldiers die without knowing that we appreciate that what they do provides the space for us to eat, drink and laugh; to fly our flags; to go to a furniture sale or to the beach on a long, lovely weekend.

U.S. Combined Federal Campaign lists Israel charity

NEW YORK (Press Release) —Ezer Mizion, an organization which has earned Charity Navigator’s top rating of Four Stars for its superlative management of public funds, has been invited to participate in the 2007 Combined Federal Campaign. As Israel’s Health Support Organization since 1979,. ||

Ezer Mizion’s many divisions including Food Distribution, Bone Marrow Registry for Cancer Patients, Special Education, Terror Orphan Program and so many more, provide a professional source of healing, support and comfort for the functionally challenged and those afflicted by life’s traumatic crises.

For more than four decades, the U.S. government has sponsored the Combined Federal Campaign - the world's largest workplace fundraising drive. Each fall, beginning in September, Federal employees - civilian, military and postal - are invited to support eligible national and local charities. Each year more than 1.3 million employees pledge over a quarter billion dollars.

Employees choose the groups they wish to support from a list of charities that have submitted applications and been deemed qualified by the CFC. Approximately 1,900 national organizations and 40,000 local organizations qualify for the Campaign annually.

Donors may give once or request that a specific amount be withheld from their paychecks throughout the following calendar year. Employees overwhelmingly select the ongoing payroll deduction program.

The CFC's combination of donor control and payroll deduction leads to high levels of enthusiastic support. Over a third of the federal workforce participates in the CFC each year.

Israel Fund/Tzedakah Israel was established to assist organizations with one of their key challenges: funding. Its primary mission is to help qualified organizations doing charitable work in Israel to enter the vast and often arcane world of ‘workplace giving’ and operates in accordance with CFC regulations as issued by the U.S. Office of Personnel Management.

The foregoing article was provided by Ezer Mizion

Your specialist in
cruises and tours

Upcoming 2007 San Diego sailings:

May 27-December 29: Carnival: Elation: multiple 4-and 5-day sailings, round trip to Mexico.

Sept 23-Dec 30: Princess Cruises: Dawn Princess: 7-day round trip to Mexico

Sept. 28: Celebrity Cruises: Summit: 14-day Hawaii

Sept. 29: Holland America: Oosterdam, 7-day Mexico.

_____________ . __________________________________________________________

Press Conference Gleanings

Watching the News Media as it Gathers Jewish News
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Statement by Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Jerusalem, May 24, 2007

In a joint IDF/ISA operation last night (23-24 May), over 30 senior Hamas operatives in the West Bank were arrested, including the Palestinian Minister of Education, Dr. Nasser Eddin al-Sha'er, members of the Palestinian Legislative Council and the mayors of four towns. The arrests were carried out in Nablus, Kalkilya, Tul Karem, Beiteh and elsewhere. Israel carried out this counter-terrorist operation for the following reasons:

• The Hamas is a terrorist organization which does not recognize Israel or its right to exist. It is a terror organization which does not content itself with mere declarations, but does all in its power to attack Israel and its citizens. Even after its victory in the Palestinian Authority elections, the organization continues to plan and execute attacks against Israelis - civilians and soldiers alike.

• The organization has accepted responsibility for the massive Kassam rocket attacks against Israeli population centers during the last few days. These attacks on the city of Sderot and other settlements in the area caused loss of life and injury to Israeli citizens as well as heavy damage to buildings, infrastructure and other property.

• The government of Israel has decided that “ENOUGH IS ENOUGH” - that a terrorist organization remains a terrorist organization, even if its members stand for democratic elections, and that membership in such an organization is a violation of Israeli and international law.

• The Hamas organization has created an extensive terrorist infrastructure in the Gaza Strip. It was established through the wholesale smuggling of weapons and armaments, the complacency of security authorities to terrorist activities, the collaboration of Hamas members who hold key government positions and the initiation of armed confrontations with PA forces loyal to Fatah leader, PA President Mahmoud Abbas.

• The Hamas is now trying to export its terrorist infrastructure to the West Bank. The recent arrests carried out by Israel are part of a preventative security policy based on substantial intelligence which has accumulated regarding this Hamas intention.

• The arrests are also intended to increase the counter-pressure on the Hamas, following its decision to escalate the conflict with its enemies - both within Gaza and in Israel. The arrests were carried out in conjunction with continued Israeli air strikes at Hamas targets in Gaza, which include rocket launching teams, rocket manufacturing facilities, weapons and ammunition storehouses and terrorist operatives and handlers.

It must be clear to all Hamas operatives and to everyone concerned, that no title or position will provide immunity to any person planning, executing, aiding or abetting terrorist attacks against Israel or its citizens.

U.S. State Department: Thursday, May 24, 2007, 12:34 pm EDT
Daily Press Briefing by Tom Casey, Deputy Spokesman:

MR. CASEY: Sylvie.

QUESTION: In Gaza, the Israelis have arrested several dozens of Hamas leaders and militants. I wanted to know if you think it's helpful.

MR. CASEY: Well, I think we talked about this a little bit this morning and I've gone back and looked at this too. In terms of the specific issue of the detention of Hamas legislators, certainly, Hamas is a foreign terrorist organization and engaged in ongoing attacks on Israel. But we have previously noted, when this kind of issue has come up before, that the detention of elected members of the Palestinian government and legislature does raise particular concerns for us. I'd also just again note that our approach to the Israelis on these kinds of issues has always been to stress that while we understand and respect Israel's need to defend itself, we do wish to have them take into consideration the consequences of their actions, including its effect on the ability to promote the kind of dialogue that we want to see happen and that would ultimately be able to lead to a two-state solution that the Israelis favor, that President Abbas favors, and that we have certainly been trying to achieve.

QUESTION: So do you think they should release them?

MR. CASEY: Well, again, as I've said, this is an issue that raises particular concerns for us. But I'm not going to try and offer any prescriptions to them.

QUESTION: Have you conveyed that to them?

MR. CASEY: Yes, I understand we have via our Embassy and consulate.

The White House, Friday, May 25, 10:05am EDT
Press Gaggle by Scott Stanzel
White House Conference Center Briefing Room

MR. STANZEL: Yes, Olivier.

Q This is a little arcane, but there's some discussion of sending U.N. truce monitors to the Middle East to separate the Palestinians and the Israelis. Khalilzad says he's going to talk -- he might talk to some of the Arab countries at the U.N. today about that. Does the President favor sending U.N. truce monitors to the Middle East?

MR. STANZEL: That's an issue that I'm not aware of, Olivier, so we can look into that and get back to you. ...

Q Violence is heating up between the Israelis and the Palestinians. The situation is also heating up in Lebanon. Is the administration concerned about this? Any plans for any kind of action to try to calm the situation?

MR. STANZEL: Well, we're certainly always concerned about tensions in the Middle East. As you may have seen, reports that support from the United States was reaching the Lebanese. We do fully support the efforts on the part of the Lebanese armed forces and the international security forces to reestablish security for the Lebanese people. This is certainly an important issue, and we did make an expedited delivery of assistance to them. We support the Siniora government and efforts to maintain democracy.

We're always concerned about tensions. Certainly, I can refer you to the State Department for their efforts, as well, which are regular and ongoing.

Q What about the situation between the Israelis and the Palestinians in Gaza, with the overnight strikes close to the Prime Minister's home in Gaza?

MR. STANZEL: We always encourage people to look towards peaceful efforts to resolve differences. But for more information I would refer you to the State Department on that, as well.

Jews in the News
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Like you, we're pleased when members of our community are praiseworthy, and are disappointed when they are blameworthy. Whether it's good news or bad news, we'll try to keep track of what's being said in general media about our fellow Jews. Our news spotters are Dan Brin in Los Angeles, Donald H. Harrison in San Diego, and you. Wherever you are, if you see a story of interest, please send a summary and link to us at sdheritage@cox.net. To see a source story click on the link within the respective paragraph.
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*U.S. Sens. Barbara Boxer and Dianne Feinstein, both California Democrats, have introduced legislation to require foreign ships calling in U.S. ports to curb smokestack emissions. Shipping has an adverse impact on efforts by local Air Pollution Control Districts to meet federal smog standards, Boxer said. The story by Mike Lee is in today's San Diego Union-Tribune.

*Julie Dubick, policy director for Mayor Jerry Sanders, and her husband, attorney Mitch Dubick, an attorney for Higgs Fletcher & Mack were the subject of an inquiry by City Attorney Mike Aguirre in the Sunroad Enterprises case. The reason: Mitch Dubick once filed a suit in behalf of Sunroad Enterprises owner Aaron Feldman in a quickly resolved issue with the Internal Revenue Service. Aguirre wants correspondence from the mayor's office to track if Feldman ever received special treatment. The story by Jennifer Vigil is in today's San Diego Union-Tribune.

*Supposedly, no one can contribute more than $2,300 to a congressional campaign, so therefore the playing field is fairly even, right? The House of Representatives on a 382-37 vote approved legislation dealing with the practice of "bundling" in which a single person goes around and collects many checks from other people then presents them to campaign committee, magnifying his or her influence. Now such bundling would have to be reported on disclosure forms. U.S. Rep. Rahm Emanuel (D-Ill) praised the legislation, while Rep. Barney Frank (D-Mass.) said it didn't go far enough. A story by Mike Dorning of the Chicago Tribune is in today's San Diego Union-Tribune.

*U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) says Attorney General Alberto Gonzales has "lost the confidence of many of us in the United States Senate," but President George W. Bush says he still supports Gonzales. The story by David Johnston and Eric Lipton of the New York Times News Service is in today's San Diego Union-Tribune.

*Defense Attorney Marc Friedman described animal rights arsonist Kevin Tubbs as a gentle young man whose depression over losing his girlfriend to another pushed him into violent acts, but a federal judge in Eugene, Oregon, sentenced the defendant to over 12 years imprisonment. The Associated Press story is in today's Los Angeles Times.

*Irwin Jacobs, co-founder of Qualcomm, will address doctoral graduates at the University of San Diego's commencement ceremonies tomorrow. The story is in a briefs column of today's San Diego Union-Tribune.

*Israel's Defense Force arrested a Cabinet minister and other members of Hamas, and also bombed a shack near the residence of Palestinian Prime Minister Ismael Haniyeh in an effort to persuade the Palestinians to stop rocketing Sderot. The Associated Press story by Ali Daragmeh is in today's San Diego Union-Tribune.

*Sen. Carl Levin, chair of the Armed Services Committee, reflected the ambivalence he and many fellow Democrats felt about the Iraq War budget passed last night on a 80-14 vote. Opposed to the war, he could not bring himself to vote to stop funding while U.S. troops were "in harm's way." A story utilizing the Associated Press and New York Times News Service is in today's San Diego Union-Tribune.

*Attorney Richard Rothschild of the Western Center on Law and Poverty hailed a decision by a state appeals court striking down the earning ceiling of $1,078 a month for people to be eligible for free health care. The story by Tony Perry is in today's Los Angeles Times.

*U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer (D-NY) is receiving treatment for a tick bite so it won't develop into Lyme Disease. The story is in today's Los Angeles Times.

*Accountant Menachem Shoval wants to build an Orthodox shul and some soccer fields he owns in a rural part of Poway. However, neighbors have built a gate across the public right of way. The courts have sided with him, but the city has dragged its feet in removing the gate. The story by Lisa Petrillo is in today's San Diego Union-Tribune.

*The works of Superman creators Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster are among the prize possessions of cartoon collector Charlie Roberts of Oceanside. Harvey Kurtzman of Mad Magazine also is represented. Linda McIntosh has the story in today's San Diego Union-Tribune.

*The California Assembly on a 42-23 vote passed legislation forbidding cities from passing ordinances that prohibit landlords to rent to illegal immigrants—a response to an attempt by the City of Escondido to do just that. Assemblyman Todd Spitzer, R-Orange, was among those voting against the legislation by Assemblyman Charles Calderon, D-Whittier. Spitzer said it could prevent landlords from making legitimate inquiries about tenants' backgrounds to see if they are able to pay the rent. The Associated Press story is in today's San Diego Union-Tribune.

*The Metropolitan Transit Authority increased fares for rail and bus passengers higher than Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa had proposed. This provoked a quarrel between the mayor and County Supervisor Zev Yaraslovsky. The story by Rong-Gong Lin II and Jeffrey L. Rabin is in today's Los Angeles Times.

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The Jewish Grapevine

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APPOINTMENTS—The Republican Jewish Coalition notes that three of its members were appointed by President George W. Bush to the U.S. Commission for the Preservation of America's Heritage Abroad. They are Ronald Bloom, Michael Menis and Robert Zarnegin.

COMMUNITY WATCH—Stephen Abramson, former executive vice president of the United Jewish Federation, couldn't stay out of the fundraising world forever. He is now helping UCSD increase its endowments. ...

CYBER-REFERRALS—Larry Gorfine found a video he calls "the best panhandler." It is a dancing skeleton marionette... Jay Jacobson sent a video of a Qassam rocket hitting a gas station in Sderot, Israel. He also passed on a review by Nonie Darwish of an anti-Semitic film, A Girl From Israel. Bruce Kesler, prowling the online Chinadaily, found an item about Israel's humanitarian work in Vietnam.

SUMMER TRAVEL—Talk about globe-hopping, the Siegel family of San Diego and Portland will be traveling to various places this summer. Paula Siegel plans a jaunt to Israel with Joan Dean, former president of the San Diego chapter of the American Jewish Committee. Paula's son and daughter-in-law, Dr. Jonathan Siegel and Dr. Barbara Lounsbury are planning to take their children, Max, Ben and Rebecca to Paris and Rome. (Barbara, incidentally, recently was elected to the board of Congregation Beth Israel in La Jolla). Paula's son Dr. Mike Siegel and wife, Kris, will be celebrating the bar mitzvah of their son, Nathan, in December. But meanwhile they plan on traveling with Nathan to Italy, while their daughter, Leah, visits friends in France.

STANDING TALL—Louis Wax, 94, shot one stroke over his age—a 95!—at the Guardians' 16th annual Golf * Tennis Tournament to benefit Seacrest Village Retirement Communities. We anticipate running a photo of the women's winning foursome as soon as it becomes available. Zenith Insurance donated the luncheon preceding the tournament, which had a 12:30 pm shotgun start. A cocktail hour and raffle followed the tournament with such prizes as laser eye surgery donated by Dr. Jeffrey Morris, teeth whitening donated by Dr. Lawrence Addleson, a "shmooze cruise" donated by Jon and Mary Epsten, and a Callaway golf getaway that included two airline tickets to anywhere in the continental U.S. and a hard-to-find FTi 10 degree flex driver. Entertainment was provided by the Kisti Murray and Ted William Duo. Seacrest Village photos

Rabbi Baruch Lederman

Amazing tales of Judaism

                                                                          Congregation Kehillas Torah, San Diego
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Nazirus, Greatness, and Brit Milah by the Deathbed

                                                                                                         DVAR TORAH: Naso

SAN DIEGO, Calif.—A nazir is a person who takes a vow to abstain from wine and other physical pleasures for 30 days or more, in order to remove earthly distractions and dedicate himself solely to serving HaShem (G-d). At the end of his term of nazirus he goes to the Temple where the kohain performs a service that terminates his nazirus. The Torah says at this point
"V'achar yishteh hanazir yayin" (and afterwards the nazir drinks wine). The fact that he is drinking wine shows that he is no longer a nazir. Why, at this point, does the Torah still refer
to him as a nazir? He is no longer a nazir. He just ended his nazirus. Shouldn't it say, "and afterwards the person drinks wine"? The Torah does this to teach us that even though his official nazirus is over, he should still maintain the high spiritual level he has achieved. He should use the inspiration and enthusiasm to springboard him to greater heights.

King David said, "Shivti b'vais Hashem kol yimei chayai" "May I sit in the house of G-d all the days of my life." How can one be in G-d's house all day every day? It is not possible.
The answer is that even when you leave, you should take the lesson's of G-d's house with you 24/7. The Vilna Gaon was an amazingly dedicated scholar who sat in his study, day
and night, engrossed in Torah. He once asked the Dubner Maggid to give him constructive criticism. The Dubner Maggid said, "Anyone could be a gaon if they sat isolated in a
room all day. To achieve your full greatness, you must use your Torah and be involved in the community at large."

The zechus (merit) and powerful effect of a mitzvah are phenomenal, as we see from the following true story: Rav Shlomo Kluger ztz"l accepted a new position as Rav. Shortly
thereafter, there was bris (ritual circumcision) to which he of course was invited. When he got there he saw that everybody was waiting around and the bris was not proceeding. He
inquired about the delay and was told that the father of the baby was in the next room dying. In that place it was the minhag that if the father of the baby was on his deathbed on the
day of a son's bris, they would wait to see if the father was indeed going to expire that day so that they could then name the baby after the father.

Rabbi Kluger was aghast. He ordered the bris to take place immediately for two reasons:

First there is the concept of Zerizim makdimim l'mitzvos - One should always do a mitzvah as soon as possible. Naming a baby after a father does not justify a delay in performing
a mitzvah.

Secondly, the merit of the mitzvah will serve as a zechus to heal the father. Particularly the mitzvah of bris milah, because when a bris in performed the malach (angel) Raphael
comes down to heal the baby. Once Raphael is healing the baby he can also heal the father.

At the Rabbi's urging the bris was performed immediately and that minhag was officially abandoned. Shortly thereafter the father made a miraculous recovery.     [The foregoing
true story was told by Rabbi Feivel Wagner, o.b.m.]

Dedicated by Akiva & Shoshana Lichtner in honor of their son Nosson Tzvi

StandWithUs advocacy group for Israel
mourns passing of writer Tashbih Sayed

By Roz Rothstein
Stand With Us National Director

LOS ANGELES—We are deeply saddened over the passing of our treasured friend and true hero Tashbih Sayyed. Tashbih was a moderate Muslim. Tashbih's insights, firm moral principles and courage to speak out, unaffected by hostility and threats, inspired all of us fortunate enough to know him. His humility, warmth, playful humor, and unwavering commitment touched our lives in countless ways. He will be deeply missed.

Tashbih was a brilliant scholar, journalist, political analyst and author, but most importantly he was a beloved husband, father of three children, brother and cherished friend to many.
Tashbih passed away on Wednesday, May 23, surrounded by his family at Cedars Sinai Hospital in Los Angeles.

This is a shocking and unexpected tragedy. There will be many costs associated with the burial that will create a financial hardship for Tashbih's family. If you are able to help support the family in any way, please send a check for any amount (made out to Kiran Sayyed) to: StandWithUs PO Box 341069
Los Angeles, CA. 90034-1069

Tashbih Sayyed

Thank you for your support of this most extraordinary man and his family during this very difficult time.

Some Background on Tashbih Sayyed

Tashbih was born in India in 1941 to a Shiite Muslim family. After the 1948 India-Pakistan partition, his family, feeling persecuted by the Hindu majority, fled to newly created Pakistan. There, he received his master's degree in political science and started his career as a journalist. He worked from 1967-1980 at Pakistan Television in various capacities, including writer, editor, director, producer, Controller, and General Manager. He eventually became the founding director of Pakistan television's current affairs programming, but his liberal views put him in conflict with the Zia al-Haq regime, and he immigrated to the United States in 1981.

After moving to the US, he worked as a translator and ghost writer for several years until he re-established himself as a respected writer and publisher. He eventually saved enough money to realize one of the American dreams: he and his wife bought a beautiful home in Alta Loma.

Tashbih was at the forefront of the fight against the increasing influence of Islamism among Muslims and its impact on world peace. As a highly respected speaker and regular columnist for newspapers in the US, Pakistan, Germany and India, Tashbih wrote and spoke out courageously against the Islamist threat to Western civilization.

Tashbih founded his own newspapers, Pakistan Today [1991] and, most recently, Muslim World Today. He is the author of eight books, including: History Of The World; Left Of The Center; Pakistan - An Unfinished Agenda; Mohammad - A Secularist's View; Foreign Policy of Pakistan; and Shadow Warriors - Afghanistan, Pakistan, Taliban. He appeared in the documentary Relentless: The Struggle for Peace in Israel (2003) and in Obsession: Radical Islam's War Against the West (2005). He was the President and founder of The Council for Democracy and Tolerance, an adjunct fellow of the Hudson Institute, a highly esteemed speaker for StandWithUs and a frequent guest on cable television and radio.

Tashbih envisioned a humanistic, tolerant world and tirelessly used his skillful pen and golden oratory to educate others. He made many personal sacrifices and his wife, Kiran, was always by his side supporting the vision they shared. With his passing, a beacon of light has gone out. We who were blessed with the glow of that light will do all we can to keep his work and vision alive.

Tashbih will live on in our hearts forever. There is no doubt that he made the world a better place.