Guest Column

Thoughts of an Israeli war front resident

Editor's Note: Kibbutz Or Haner is right at the Gaza border, near where Israel's Army has been assembling its ground troops. Ronit Salomon shares her thought as a resident of the area.

By Ronit Salomon

KIBBUTZ OR HANER,Israel, December 29--It doesn`t matter how much you get prepared for the most difficult, complicated and intensive scenarios – You find yourself confused, terrified, scared….in one of the most unsympathetic situations you can find yourself involved in.

We all hoped that something would happen,that there would be some kind of response and as soon as possible because we couldn't take it anymore. We couldn't keep worrying about ourselves and about our friends and neighboring kibbutzim and about Sderot, a town where we all go for shopping and other needs on a daily basis.

We all felt the tension every day that we heard the Code Red Alarm ordering us to take cover immediately, and we all hoped there would be retalliation against these Hamas attacks.

We wanted our government to react, to give us reassurance that we are not alone, that someone over there is thinking about us and protecting us. We all knew that the Army could protect us, and we listened to the warnings to Hamas from our minister of defense, our prime minister, to stop shooting their rockets at us, even when there was a supposed ceasefire. We felt like human targets for the Hamas, and as if the rope was being tightened and tightened on us.

On Saturday morning, that reaction arrived. The kids were busy with their Hanukkah activities. We had been in the kibbutz hall, enjoying a musical performance by two singers who came to us despite the situation. In the middle of the performance we heard our Air Force`s attacks on Gaza, and since then we have heard the Air Force bombing different targets on the other side of the border.

I must admit that despite these terrible voices of war I feel more tranquil. I am trying to do my best to keep safe, taking care of my own kids, hoping the older ones will know what to do when they need to. I trust, like all of us, that our army will do what is needed to bring quiet to our area. We have been waiting too long; we have been absorbing rockets attacks for more than 7 years, and that is far too long.

Since Saturday we have been instructed to remain in safe places that are defended and close. Indoor activities must suffice as the farmers have been told not to work the fields. We are heeding the army`s orders . We closed the children's houses and have kept the kids at home. They won't return to school, even though the Hannukah holiday is at an end.

I think I will take my young daughter to my parents' home for a few days. The older kids do not want to join me and I am praying for their safety. I know that it won`t be easy for me to stay far from them...But Omer, my daughter, has started to shown fear symptoms and I prefer to take her out of here for a while.

We are doing the best we can to send the kids out of the kibbutz, out of the area. We don`t want them to stay here in this atmosphere amid the noise of bombs and the fear of the rockets which are sent to us so many times a day.

Today we send them to Tel Aviv, to one of the fun parks so they will have a few hours of peace and quiet.

Personally, I know I`ll feel much easier if the children would stay in Tel Aviv and away from here. Last week the teenagers were invited to one of our northern kibbutzim and they stayed there one day. That was before the operation in Gaza started.

We have an emergency crew and I am a part of it. My responsibity in this crew is to inform the community about any changes, any information, about the sensitive situation we are in. We do this by messages via cell phones (SMS) and by the Beepers (which we all have in our houses), or a special channel on TV.

The people should make preparations in case they have to stay at the bomb shelters, although no one knows for how long that will be and when. We are trying to provision the shelters for various contingencies. We are moving in furniture, games for the kids, air conditioners, TV`s, everything that might make our time over there as comfortable as possible.

Due to the army's orders we closed our community dining room and the people can get food only once a day. The clinic and Mini market are also closed. There are families which decided to go to relatives in other parts of the country. The people in Israel are open hearted and we are all invited to stay in guest houses and private houses all over the country. Those who have accepted will be back when things calm down a little bit although we all know establishing quiet will be no easy task.

We all pray for better days in the New Year, 2009.

* *
Notes from our correspondent in Kibbutz Ruhama

By Ulla Hadar

KIBBUTZ RUHAMA, Israel, December 30 — Tuesday is almost over, and it is hard to be up to date as the situation is changing all the time. At this hour on Monday I informed you that more than 40 rockets had landed and now I know that at the end of Monday it was around 100! So you see I try my best but I can't keep up with the acceleration of events. As I am writing more booms in the background which means that my statistics for today are not going to be correct!!! In the news at 6PM they said that more than 20 rockets had landed today. One of them fell on the roof of one of the Sha'ar Hanegev kibbutzim, I will not say which one since it has not been officially mentioned in the media. There was material damage.

Two GRAD rockets landed in new areas Tuesday afternoon, one in Kiryat Malachi and one near Rahat. The last one I suspect is an attempt to reach Beer Sheva. I was near my house at the hour of the hit (3:30PM) and heard clearly the sirens from Kibbutz Shuval (right next to Rahat) and the explosion following quite quickly afterwards. Shuval is about 8 kilometers in air distance from Ruhama, lying more to the South towards Beer Sheva.

Around 20 trucks with humanitarian supplies were allowed to cross into the Gaza Strip today. We are updated by the municipality emergency center all along about what we are allowed to do.

*
Here is some additional information: half an hour ago at 9PM, two GRAD rockets fell in Beer Sheva - can you imagine they reached Beer Sheva!!!! Fortunately one fell in an open area and the other on an empty kindergarten. there were eight villas surrounding the kindergarden. So I think the Palestinians have hit many of the areas surrounding Gaza.

Bureau Chief Hadar may be contacted at hadaru@sandiegojewishworld.com




SAN DIEGO JEWISH ACADEMY January 27 Kindergarten program

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Expert Terrorism Analyst Brigitte Gabriel to speak at UJF’s Options 2009

SAN DIEGO (Press Release)-- On February 24, 2009, hundreds of San Diego’s Jewish women will gather at the La Jolla Marriott for an inspiring evening of empowerment and philanthropy.  The event—called Options—is organized by UJF’s Women’s Division and co-chaired by community volunteers Judy Lilienthal and Laura Tauber. 

The keynote speaker, Brigitte Gabriel, is one of the world’s leading experts on Global Islamic Terrorism.  Gabriel’s passion and vigor in denouncing radical Islam hail directly from a remarkable upbringing as a Christian Arab in Southern Lebanon. As a pre-teen, Gabriel survived an attack during the Lebanese Civil War of 1975 after a barrage of Muslim militant rockets exploded in her house and left her wounded and buried under the rubble.

Gabriel has just released her second book in October 2008, “They Must Be Stopped”, following her New York Times Bestseller, “Because They Hate."

Fiercely articulate, Gabriel regularly appears as a guest analyst on Fox News, CNN, MSNBC and ABC to discuss the threat of Radical Islam to world peace and national security. She is passionately committed to her core mission to demonstrate why “radical Islam is so deadly and how we can halt its progress.”

Corporate Partners of Options 2009 include: Lake Elsinore Storm Baseball; Jewish Journal; Luce, Forward, Hamilton & Scripps LLP; Tuttleman Family Foundation; Marriott San Diego La Jolla; Geppetto’s and Initial Impression.

Options 2009 will take place on Tuesday, February 24, 2009 from 5:30 – 9:00 p.m. at the La Jolla Marriott, 4240 La Jolla Village Drive, La Jolla, CA.  Couvert is $85. A $220 minimum contribution to the 2009 UJF Women’s Division Annual Campaign is required to attend.  For additional information and registration, visit www.jewishinsandiego.org.

The annual Options event is one of the key outreach and fundraising events of the year organized by the Women’s Division of the United Jewish Federation of San Diego County, which supports and enhances Jewish community life through fundraising, educational and outreach programs.  Its mission is to inspire women to devote their time and financial resources to the needs of Jews locally, globally, and in Israel.

JERUSALEM— It’s easier to start a war than to end one. Hamas may indeed be responsible for starting the war in Gaza, yet Israel is expected to end it - and end it soon. As Palestinian  casualties mount, the calls on Israel to stop the fighting become louder and louder. Not unexpectedly, there’re fewer calls for Hamas to stop firing rockets into Israel.
           
Even if Israel’s government would want to comply, it may prove very difficult to end the war in the present situation, less than six weeks before the elections. So far the war has considerably increased the chances of Ehud Barak and his Labor party to do better at the ballot box than hitherto expected, as well as those of Tzipi Livni and her Kadima party. A premature end would prevent them from claiming victory thus undoing their achievements and allowing the leader of the opposition, Binyamin Netanyahu of Likud, to regain the upper hand as the perceived strong and determined leader.

It seems that Israel has another few days before foreign politicians and diplomats return from their end-of-the-year vacation and put even more pressure on Israel. In the meantime Israel would like to bring Hamas to its knees, though that isn’t likely to happen, because Palestinian leaders have a long record of turning defeat into victory, especially now when the media and the public abroad are receptive to their claims.

There’re also calls within Israel to cease fighting. For example, in today’s Ha’aretz the distinguished Israeli writer David Grossman urges Israel to stop the attacks immediately for at least 48 hours, even if the other side continues to send missiles. He has a tragic personal reason for reminding readers that had Israel ended the second Lebanon war earlier than it did, its achievements would have been greater and its losses smaller. Grossman’s son was killed on the last day of that war.

Not that seasoned politicians are necessarily insensitive to Grossman’s call, yet they aren’t likely to act on it, however heart-breaking it is to ignore them. Probably the parents of Gilad Shalit were told something similar. For although Shalit alive has been Hamas’ bargaining chip since his capture, it’s not sure that, in its anger and frustration, it won’t now harm him further. There are already rumors that he has been injured, allegedly by an Israeli air strike. It may be a first installment of more bad news to come.

But even if neither internal politics nor the plight of innocents will determine decisions, there’s much to suggest that a speedy end of the war, albeit without total victory, is in Israel’s interest. For example: (1) More and more Israeli politicians take international public opinion seriously. (2) Israel doesn’t want Egypt and Jordan to have to yield to internal pressures and be forced to come out strongly against Israel. (3) Even those who suspect that the peace process with the Palestinian Authority isn’t going anywhere would like to keep it going, for it helps Abu Mazen and his crew to stay in power. (4) Though the contacts with Syria are still feeble, Israel seems to want them to continue. A prolonged war would thwart these and many other long-term objectives.

Common sense, therefore, points in the direction of a cessation of bombing rather than, as is now on the cards, sending ground forces to cause further devastation. But the prospect of military gains may compel Israel to forge ahead.

Optimism doesn’t come easily in these circumstances. Arm-chair diplomacy and vain speculation don’t do much good either. I apologize for sharing my confusion. 

SOILLE SAN DIEGO HEBREW DAY SCHOOL

LETTER FROM JERUSALEM


War should impress Hamas that rocket attacks on Israel have a very heavy price


By Ira Sharkansky

JERUSALEM, December 30--No end in sight. Palestinian casualties are above 350 dead and 1,500 injured. Others are still buried under the rubble. Many of the injured are not able to obtain adequate treatment. Protests mount across the Middle East, as well as in Europe and North America. So far the governments of the United States, Germany, France, Britain, and Egypt accept the Israeli narrative. With allies like that, the United Nations and the international left can protest without much effect.

Disinformation is part of this war like any other. It began with Israeli deceptions meant to convey that attack was not imminent. Hamas did not stop its ceremonies or send its people underground, and suffered significant losses in four minutes.

As best as can be gathered from actions and statements, Israel's purpose is to destroy the infrastructure and will of Hamas. This is set against the Lebanon War of 2006, which ended with both achievements and problems. The achievement was the extensive destruction, which sent a message that adventures against Israel would be costly. Hizbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah has spent most of his time in hiding since then, speaking to his audience via television.

The problem of Lebanon was the sense that Israel could not overcome Hizbollah despite a month of fighting. Hizbollah recovered via imports of munitions, and a stronger position in Lebanese politics.

Israel's purpose now is to attain the achievement of Lebanon: to send a message of destruction, without leaving Hamas as a leader Islamic extremism.

No one should view this as Israel's war to end all wars. Fatah is unlikely to lead a Palestinian community that will live in peace. Iran, Syria, and Islamic Palestinians will do what they can to revive Hamas. We should expect an escalation of Palestinian nationalism and hatred of Israel, the United States, Egypt, and other Arab elites that have not signed on to the Hamas rhetoric. Signs are apparent in demonstrations in Arab villages, urban neighborhoods, and the universities with concentrations of Arab students, along with their Jewish supporters.

Mahmoud Abbas is not the man to exploit the situation. Nor is there anyone else in the aging cadre of Fatah leadership who seems up to the task. Younger Palestinian politicians may be just as intransigent, at least in the period after this war.

It will be enough, for the time being, if Palestinians and other Muslim extremists fear Israel.

Is this pessimism?

I view myself as a sad optimist. Palestinian casualties and the persistence of the traditional Palestinian posture sadden me.

I am optimistic for Israel. I admire its capacity for lively debate, opposition to any simple view of a national mission, and ability to cope with serious problems. The IDF was busy during the years of tolerating missile attacks on civilian areas close to Gaza, and seems to have recovered from Lebanon 2006. The homefront command is better prepared for rocket attacks. Intelligence is impressive, including telephone numbers of families living in buildings also used for storing or manufacturing missiles. The army phoned them, in Arabic, and warned of impending destruction.

Four Israelis have died as the result of Hamas missiles, two of them Arabs. Casualties will escalate if the hundreds of tanks and thousands of ground troops now on the borders move into Gaza. The costs to Hamas will also increase. It will not be an invasion to solve Israel's problems. Enough if it dissuades Hamas and its friends from madness.

Sharkansky is professor emeritus of political science at Hebrew University. He may be contacted at msira@mscc.huji.ac.il

LAWRENCE FAMILY JCC, JACOBS FAMILY CAMPUS








THE VIEW FROM JINSA



How quickly Europeans forget WWII lessons

By Shoshana Bryen

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Faced with Israel's attack on Hamas in Gaza, the leadership of France and Britain condemned Hamas attacks against Israel and called on Hamas to stop. It was rather pro-forma though, and it appears the reason they did it was to get to the other end of the sentence so they could tell Israel what to do.

British Prime Minister Gordon Brown said, "Israel needs to meet its humanitarian obligations, act in a way to further the long-term vision of a two-state solution, and do everything in its power to avoid civilian casualties." His opposition, Conservative Party leader David Cameron, said that though he understood Israel's right to protect its citizens, both sides must show restraint. "In the end, the only progress will be political progress and a settlement between the Israelis and the Palestinians. That is what's desperately needed." French President Nicolas Sarkozy said he "firmly condemns the irresponsible provocations that have led to this situation, as well as the disproportionate use of force."

It was Sarkozy's remark that reminded us of an (apocryphal?) incident more than 25 years old. During Operation Peace for Galilee, precipitated by a rain of Katuysha fire from PLO positions, then-Congressman Charlie Wilson was talking with a French journalist. The Frenchman agreed that the Palestinians were the aggressors and that Israel was within its rights. "But I wish they could have done it some other way," he is alleged to have said. "What way?" asked Wilson. "Without all the bombing." "Oh," said Wilson, "We could have done Normandy without all the bombing, too, but the effect wouldn't have been the same."

We're fairly serious students of history and war, and we don't remember the French president calling for humanitarian assistance to the residents of Dresden. We don't remember the British - in power or in the opposition - saying that in the end, a political process with Hitler would produce political progress. Who called the Allied response to Hitler's "irresponsible provocation" "disproportionate"? [Well, actually, if you read Andrei Cherny's The Candy Bombers (you should), you find the Germans really unhappy about the "disproportionate" allied bombings of German cities. They complained bitterly to the occupying forces in 1945. Having ended the war, the Allies didn't care much.]

There was a time when even Europeans understood that naked aggression requires a response and that a government is ultimately responsible for the safety and security of its own people, not those who actively work to kill them. It was necessary for the allies - our fathers and grandfathers - to slog through Italy, France, Belgium, the Netherlands and ultimately Germany, pushing back the Nazis until they controlled the territory from which the terror had come and making the rules for the future.

It is disconcerting to hear the descendants of Hitler's non-Jewish victims demand of Israel the opposite of what they wanted when they were under the gun.

Interestingly, German Foreign Ministry spokesman Martin Jaeger declined to criticize Israel even when repeated pushed to do so, saying only, "We are confident that the Israeli government will carry out with responsibility the decision it has taken."

Bryen is special projects director for the Jewish Institute for National Security Affairs (JINSA). Her column is sponsored by Waxie Sanitary Supply in memory of Morris Wax, a longtime JINSA supporter and national board member.

JEWISH FAMILY SERVICE


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THE JEWS DOWN UNDER

Million dollar school gift

By Garry Fabian

MELBOURNE - As school fees skyrocket, philanthropist Nora Goodridge has stepped in to help one Jewish school. Earlier this month The King David School took receipt of a $1 million endowment for the school's foundation.

The intention is to try and double or triple this endowment to help with the more than $2 million
that the school spends each year on fee relief, scholarships and bursaries.

The school's president, Michael Lawrence, conceded that Goodridge's donation was a little
unusual, with most donations of this size often spent on capital works. But he added that it is her style.

"Nora understands the issues that all the Jewish schools face today, not just us," Lawrence said. "Those issues are the cost of education, and giving the opportunity to as many Jewish kids as
possible to get a Jewish ­education."

Goodridge, the sister of Australian Jewish News publisher Robert Magid, made the endowment in
honour of her late parents, Isador and Ira Magid, founders and longtime supporters of The King David School.

Rumours have recently circulated that King David has struggled to cover the high cost of fee relief. Lawrence, however, quashed those rumours. "It is absolutely incorrect [that we are stretched because of subsidies]," he said. "We are offering as many bursaries, scholarships and whatever else as we always have. There is no difference."

He conceded though, that the current system - whereby all the Jewish schools are spending millions on fee relief - could not continue ­forever. "Is it sustainable for all of us? The answer is no, not unless we get more help from the community."

Josh's special journey

SYDNEY - Josh Small will travel to Israel next year as part of Australia's ten-pin bowling squad
for the Maccabiah Games, returning to fulfil his father Greg's legacy, 12 years after he fell
victim to the 1997 bridge collapse.

His father's memory is never far from Josh's heart, who competes in Greg's 1997 Maccabiah
uniform, with his name proudly embroidered on his chest.

Now he can fulfil his dream and finish what his father started. "It means pretty much everything. This is a big moment for me," Small, 18, beamed. "Since 1997, I've always wanted to go and finish what my dad started. I feel like I want to carry on his legacy."

Small was seven years old during those fateful games and says the whole experience inspired his
commitment to return to Israel as part of the Maccabiah squad.

His love of the sport came from watching his dad bowl, and while he enjoyed playing for fun when
he was younger, he began to take the sport more seriously after the 1997 games.

"It inspired me to bowl," he reflected. "I wanted to get serious and achieve what my dad achieved. This is something I've always wanted to do. I've waited pretty much my whole life to do it."

When he got the call up, it was one of those emotional moments that are "pretty hard to explain".

He was "breathless" and "excited" at realising something he'd "always wanted to do".

Small's family returned to Israel in 2005 for a memorial service, which was a "very emotional
time," but Small is now thrilled to be returning this time to represent his country. He will now turn his focus to preparing for the tournament.

Small says his mother and sister Rebecca, also a regular bowler, are over the moon at the news,
and they all plan to travel to Israel together next year.

Small joins his father's 1997 teammates, Jackie Vilensky and Debbie and Phil Sacks, in the 2009 squad.

It's Debbie's first time back to Israel, and she says she feels a responsibility to return and
compete in memory of Greg Small and her section manager in 1997, Yetty Bennett.

Her husband Phil went back in 2001 and found the return "extremely emotional", but this time the
couple is excited to be returning with their daughter Lisa as part of the squad.

They will join Adam Goldberg, Tony Aarons, Matthew Doobov, Matthew Wicks, Lisa Benedikt and
Kerri Schwartz in the team, which will be ratified shortly.

Repeated calls for hate crimes unit

MELBOURNE - The Jewish community has renewed calls for the establishment of a hate crimes unit
as anti-Semitic attacks continue to rise. There were almost 130 incidents of abuse in Victoria over the past year, which ranged from violent assaults to swastikas being scratched on cars.

Nationally, reported incidents increased by 652 in October 2007 to September 2008, according to
figures recently released by the Jewish Community Council of Victoria (JCCV).

JCCV president, John Searle said he had no idea what was behind the increase. "The violence has
continued without impetus from overseas events, and that is pretty scary" Searle said.
"It's incredibly disturbing"

The figures included in the report were released recently. In one incident a group of boys demanded to know which school another attended. "He said a Jewish school, and lone boy immediately walked up and punched him, sending his tooth through his lip", Searle reported.

In March the were reports a special intelligence desk would be set up to investigate hate crimes.
But a Victoria Police spokesperson said there were no such plans. "Only a handful of anti-Semitic incidents were reported to police each year in Victoria, but that's not to say they don't happen, but police
data doesn't back it up", the spokesperson said.

Searle urged police to reconsider setting sup such a unit.

Shule Judaica sells for $400,000

SYDNEY -A pair of 1719 circa silver rimmonim (Torah crowns) belonging to Sydney's Great
Synagogue sold for more than $A400,000 at the New York auction house Sotheby's last week, despite
criticism over the shul's decision to sell some of Australia's most valuable Judaica overseas.

According to Sotheby's website, the rare early English Torah finials, crafted by William
Spackman, sold to an unnamed US private buyer for $US338,500.

The sale came after the Sydney Jewish Museum had expressed disappointment at the prospect of the
local community losing the rare pieces, and the desire for the relics to become part of its new
ground-floor exhibit on Australian Jewish history and culture.

The Great declined to comment on the sale, but earlier said that it planned to use the proceeds
to help preserve its existing collection of ritual silver, textiles and Sifrei Torah, many of
which are pasul (unfit for use).

Until a few months ago, the rimmonim had sat neglected and stored away for years, until the
shul's curator stumbled upon them and had them polished and valued by an expert.

Opportunity Shop's future threatened by rent hike

MELBOURNE - The iconic Josies Opportunity Shop, a Jewish Melbourne institution, is considering
closing its doors, after it was hit earlier this month with news of a potential 22 per cent rent rise.

Located in the same shop in Carlisle Street for 58 years, the second-hand store, which donates
all its earnings to charity and is staffed entirely by volunteers, is in serious financial trouble.

"We give real service to the community, in that we support people and give money to organisations
in need. If we had to close, I think the community would be the loser," Ivan Kayne, manager of B'nai B'rith Josies Charitable Trust, said

"We have had people coming to Josies for 30 or 40 years and some of those people know we have
problems and they are concerned that we will close."

Kayne has appealed to community trusts to help keep the doors open. "What we are after is somebody to help subsidise our rent," Kayne said. "What I am really asking for is some assistance to help us trade properly and do what we are supposed to be doing, which is servicing the community as a charity."
If a subsidy partner does not come through, the management of Josies will consider relocating to
new premises with a comparable rent, before making a decision to close down entirely.

"We are looking at moving premises, but once again it's a question of rent and we also have to
stay in the same area we are in because we have a clientele of disadvantaged people."

A registered charity, 22 Jewish volunteers work in Josies, some who, according to Kayne, get
"their only form of social contact" from their time at the store. "My fear is if we are going to close, then we have a responsibility to them too," he said.

Josies equally divides all earnings between Jewish and non-Jewish groups, including Access,
Hatzolah, Jewish Care, as well as the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, St John's Ambulance
Service and the Royal Flying Doctor Service.

Shifting the balance

MELBOURNE - The United Jewish Education Board (UJEB) is bracing from a hectic 2009, due to an
exodus of students from Jewish schools due to increasing fees. With parents abandoning Jewish schools in greater numbers, UJEB is looking to create a new program for students who have already had an extensive Jewish education before entering the government school system."We are conscious of trying to provide appropriate levels of education for kids coming out of Jewish schools", UJEB president Judith Perlstein said.

Previously, the 113-year old organisation has largely catered to students with not prior Jewish
education. For the first tome in 2008, UJEB had 1000 students enrolled in Jewish study programs.
"This makes it as big as some of the biggest Jewish schools, and even bigger that others," Perlstein said.
With all Jewish schools increasing fees - even by a small margin - Perlstein said that UJEB was
expecting a larger than average uptake in 2009.

Anecdotally, she said that prep enrollments of Jewish students at government schools were up for
2009. UJEB had also been informed that more children in grades 2 - 6 were leaving Jewish
schools and and enrolling in government schools. She added that UJEB would not know how many
Jewish students require their services, until the school year commences.

New federal JNF head mooted

MELBOURNE—Grahame Leonard, the immediate past president of the Executive Council of Australian Jewry (ECAJ), is almost certain to become federal president of the Jewish National Fund (JNF) Australia from mid-2009.

JNF Victoria is set to nominate Leonard, a member of the state JNF executive, for the position,
which will be ratified at the organisation's annual general meeting in June.

In anticipation of his presidency, Leonard will accompany a JNF mission to Israel in April, and
co-chair the Keren Kayemet L'Yisrael-JNF World Marketing Conference, to be attended by more than
60 countries, in Israel in May.

"The idea is to learn from each other and develop marketing strategies, and in the short-term,
that's particularly challenging to any institution like JNF, because of the world economic and financial crisis," Leonard told The AJN.

Leonard said that JNF was his favourite among the volunteer organisations "because of its strategic
importance to Israel: water resources, agricultural development, reforestation, and populating the Negev, which we see as critical to Israel's future".

He said he would place strong emphasis on Australian-Israeli cooperation in water
management at the government and tertiary education levels.

"Australia and Israel are at different stages of development in their water resource programs and
I think that can be complementary. Israel is clearly further ahead on the management side, out
of sheer necessity, and Australia is probably more advanced on the ecological side, so we see
considerable opportunities for mutual benefits," Leonard added.

With Leonard's election, the presidency is set to return from Sydney to Melbourne for at least a
two-year term. He is also looking forward to working with the JNF team, headed by its CEO, Rob Schneider.

Current president Ron Ferster said it was gratifying "to know that a person of Grahame's
stature and ability has seen the opportunities inherent in leading the JNF into the future."

Leonard is a director of Transparency International Australia, part of a global coalition against corruption.

He was president of the ECAJ from 2004 until 2007, a past president of the Jewish Community
Council of Victoria, and a past chair and life member of the B'nai B'rith Anti-Defamation Commission.

Bureau chief Fabian may be contacted at fabiang@sandiegojewishworld.com




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LETTERS TO THE EDITOR


Israel seeks to help civilians, destroy terrorists


Editor, San Diego Jewish World:

Today (Tuesday) the IDF allowed 100(!) truckloads of food and medicine into Gaza.

Yesterday, (Monday) 10 new Red Crescent ambulances were allowed into Gaza (see attached picture)

Today (Tuesday) the IDF targeted another 40 tunnels (in addition to the 40 tunnels on Sunday).

In all, the IDF estimates there are between 250 and 300 tunnels!
Beersheba, the largest city in southern Israel, population 200,000, today came under attack of rockets launched from Gaza

Please take a moment to check out the IDF Spokesperson’s channel on you tube.

It contains clips of Israel Air Force footage and how they target Hamas People only on their strikes.

Boaz Meir
Regional Director,
Jewish Agency for Israel, North America
Los Angeles

Arabs see no evil in their internecine massacres

Editor, San Diego Jewish World:

The widespread condemnation of Israel by most if not all Arab nations and Arab League demonstrates to any and all the hypocrisy and  the age-old determination to rid the Middle East of a viable Jewish state.

Israel has the capability of lifting the backward Arab population out of the dark ages. I say hypocrisy since there is hardly ever of any Arab condemnation of any conflict between Arab states and never any real outrage to Arab violence, car bombings suicide massacres, and beheadings.

Arab brutality and indiscriminate civilian killing is OK but let Israel attempt to defend itself from the ravages of incessant barrage of rockets all hell breaks out from Arab quarters. Hamas ended the cease fire and immediately launched a missile attack on Israel, caring nothing for the fact that Israel pulled out of Gaza as well as the Philadelphia Road. Hamas want martyrs and uses civilians to shield it war operations. Hopefully this time Israel can force the end of Hamas in Gaza.

Norman Mann
San Diego






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ARTS IN REVIEW

A Vegas-style present from the Jersey Boys

By Carol Davis

LAS VEGAS, Nevada--I can’t recall how many trips I’ve taken, over the past 40 or so years I’ve lived in San Diego, to Las Vegas. It matters not. Nor can I even remember, or try to, how much money I’ve left there. That’s another story. Here’s one that I do remember, though. My aunt and uncle used to live in Vegas and my uncle Paul, a man of great wisdom, told me from the get go to always answer the question of ‘How you are doing, money wise?” with the “I’m breaking even” reply. That’s my story and I’m sticking to it. (Only my wallet knows.)

That said, there are some memorable things that have happened while in the ‘land of nude show girls, shady deals gone bad and of course Buggsy Siegel, that do stand out. The biggie is that several of my high school pals and I met there in Sept. 2001, Yes we were part of those thousands stranded in Vegas on 9/11.That was eerie. But that’s also another story. Recently, I was in the town of Elvis when it snowed for the first time in 30 some years.

Yes, honest to goodness snow, slush and icky weather. That was newsworthy for more than one reason, not the least of which was that there are no emergency plans for snow beyond the foothills of Las Vegas. However, it seemed to affect those who wanted their picture taken in front of the “Welcome To Las Vegas” sign, a signature photo op for visitors, more than ever because the generator pooped from the weight of the snow, and ooops, no lights on the sign for PM photos. The TV crews planted themselves at the sign (flooded with people there taking snapshots anyway) as if waiting for the snow to melt. Forget foreclosures.

The plusses, aside from the hopes of winning it big, are the shows. Yes, Big Shows. Again, over the years I have seen some excellent theatre in Las Vegas. In the past there were production shows like the Follies and of course the Big names, and we all have stories of who we saw when they were at the top of their careers, and then some.

Nowadays, the hotels (some are as big as small towns) are headlining Broadway shows that are tweaked or ‘Vegas-sized’ to satisfy the large crowds streaming into the shows to see the newest and the best. That includes theatres built specifically to accommodate shows or performers like Elton John, Celine Dion, Bette Midler and Cher, all the Cirque Shows, Phantom of the Opera, Monty Python, Mama Mia and Jersey Boys to name a few of the current headliners.

Since Jersey Boys originated in San Diego at the La Jolla Playhouse with then artistic director Des McAnuff directing the show back in 2004, I appealed to the good senses of the powers that be, that I take another look Vegas style, at the show. Aside from the fact that the show started here in S.D. and is playing in several cities across the country as well as Vegas and Broadway there are also some local boys, Charl Brown and Deven May, who are in this production now, and what a break for them and what a nice Chanukah present it was for me. It resonated well over the eight days.

Jersey Boys is home based in the Palazzo Resort-Hotel Casino next to the Venetian. From some literature I read before the show, X marks the spot where the then Sands Hotel and Casino used to be, the very same place Frank Sinatra made his debut in Vegas.

The Broadway musical and Tony Award winning Jersey Boys, the story of Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons is the combined effort of McAnuff who directed, Marshall Brickman and Rick Elice (book), Bob Gaudio (music) and Bob Crewe (lyrics) and is based on the true story and the rise to fame of the Four Seasons way back in 1962. Those were the days when men wore those wide and long side burns, young women wore ‘short’ shorts, singing groups were springing up like daisies and the country was fixated on the Kennedys.

In a humorous and well written article by Michael Elkin in the Jewish Exponent he talks of Brickman comparing them to Jersey Boys: But, in a way, "Jersey Boys" jives with memories of some Jewish boys who knew that learning to walk like a man went way beyond the bimah of the Bar Mitzvah. And at least one of them brings a bona fide brio from Rio. Brickman's own "boys" were working class, too, but most likely with a hammer in hand than a lead pipe, he recalls of his Jewish Socialist upbringing weaned on "the Weavers, Pete Seeger; I was drifting in the folk music universe," in which "We Shall Overcome" overcame "Sherry" baby as music and the muse.

But no matter what way we look at the slice of life be it Jewish or Italian, this is one heck of a show and one worth seeing if you happen to be in Vegas. Rick Faugno as Valli heads the excellent and it just gets better. The rest of the Seasons include Nick Massi (Jeff Leibow), tough guy Tommy DeVito (Deven May who does most of the narrating) and Bob Gaudio, (Erich Bergen) who penned "Sherry" in five minutes as well as most of the other hits attributed to the Four Seasons. When it was first performed and introduced on American Bandstand in 1962 it took the world of Rock ‘N Roll by storm!

It’s an honest to goodness rags (read small time hooligans and oft time petty thieves) to riches story warts and all. Each has a say and they tell their point of view to the audience.

The production is, by now a well-oiled machine and in the Palazzo theatre, the music keeps coming and coming and coming. Twenty minutes have been sliced from the original running time and if memory serves, the beginning dialogue has been sliced, we cut to the music in less time and the intermission was shortened to 8 min, again if memory serves. Enough time to stretch and sit back down again.

The story is like an emotional roller coaster for the boys and their rise to fame, leaving some behind and others leaving broken marriages in the wake, but the music is what it’s about. Just as a reminder; “Earth Angel”, “Sunday Kind of Love”, “Who Wears Short Shorts”, “Sherry”, “Big Girls Don’t Cry”, “Walk Like A Man”, “Oh What a Night”, “My Boyfriend’s Back”, “Can’t Take My Eyes off Of You” and Valli’s solo “My Eyes Adored You." Trust me when I tell you, everyone was on their feet at shows end.

As for talent and production values, nothing has been left out. Sergio Trujillo’s choreography is tops, Klara Zieglerova’s scenic design gets all the graphics right, Jeff Goldstein’s period costumes are pure 60’s and Howell Binkleys lighting and Steve Canyon Kennedy’s set work well together and Michael Clark’s projection designs rock especially those of the original The Four Seasons on American Bandstand. Leslie Goddard, Michelle Knight and Julia Krohn play the women’s roles.

After the show I sat down with Charl Brown who plays several characters in Jersey Boys. As I mentioned earlier, Brown is a San Diegan who graduated the School of Creative and Performing Arts in San Diego. I last saw him in the San Diego Musical Theatre Production of Dreamgirls this past season. What a talent.
The thing we chuckled about was the fact that after he moved from San Diego to New York (his home base now) he got the part in Jersey Boys. He’s now back on the West Coast for an undetermined amount of time. That old saying ‘What goes around, comes around’ couldn’t be truer.

At the opening night production of Jersey Boys at the playhouse, both Frankie Valli and Bob Gaudio were sitting just a few rows in back of me and I missed the opportunity then, to tell them how much I enjoyed their music. Just a short note to them now, “Oh What a Night”!

Hope to see you in a theatre seat next to mine next year.

Davis may be contacted at davisc@sandiegojewishworld.com




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Adventures in San Diego Jewish History

Editor's Note: To create a permanent and accessible archive, we are reprinting news articles that appeared in back issues of various San Diego Jewish newspapers. You may access an index of the headlines of those articles by clicking here. You may also use the Google search program on our home page or on the headline index page to search for keywords or names.

Big Sisters Elect Mrs. Rubel
Southwestern Jewish Press, July 21, 1950, page 1

Mrs. Harris Rubel was elected to the Board of Directors of the Big Sister League last Wednesday at the regular meeting, it was announced by Mrs. Anderson Woods.

The Big Sister League was founded in 1937 by Mrs. Woods and is now established at 1769 Front St.  A Community Chest agency, the League serves girls and women who are strangers to San Diego. The house on Front Street is at work 24 hours a day and last year served 9,000 meals of transients.


Dollars and Sense (Editorial)
Southwestern Jewish Press, July 21, 1950, page 2

A newspaper is like any other business. The accounting books we keep are similar to those used in small stores, shops, etc.  Columns of figures are added to find out whether there is a profit or loss.  For example:

Expenses: Printing, mailings, rent, salaries, telephones, etc.
Income: Subscriptions and advertising.

Yes, that is correct, there are only two avenues for Income—“Ads” and “Subs.”

Obviously in our case we can only obtain subscriptions from the Jewish Community.  Advertising must come from both the Jewish and non-Jewish Community.

The suspension of the Jewish Press a few years ago indicated lack of community support. Many independent newspapers throughout the country have been shutting down for the same reason. The Daily Journal is a good example of what happens when a community fails to support its newspaper.

Ironically enough a publication such as the “Broom” seems to obtain sufficient support to keep it active since 1930.  For the unenlightened, this paper, printed insane Diego, delights in writing smear articles about local, national and international Jews.  The paper is distributed throughout the United States.

The lassier faire attitude shown b the community may lead to serious consequences. The time may come when San Diego will read only what certain people wish them to read.

The Jewish Press brings to you news of your community as well as significant facts gathered throughout the world.  It enables you to express yourself either as an individual or an organization.  However, in order to remain strong and free the Jewish Press needs your support. We need the advertising that the businessmen of the Jewish community can secure for us. We support the organizations by year-‘round publicity, the organizations can support us by year-‘round ‘Ads’ and 100% subscriptions from their members.

The Jewish Press is your community paper!  Show sense by supporting your Press with dollars!


Histadrut Council of San Diego
Southwestern Jewish Press, July 21, 1950, page 2

The following men and women, embers of the various Labor Zionist Organizations affiliated with the Histadrut Council of San Diego, will actively conduct the campaign to raise funds for Israel Histadrut for 1950.

General chairman, Mr. Leo Brett, vice chairman, Mrs. Jos. Richlin; treasurer, Mr. Jack Goodman, and executive secretary, Mrs. Meir Barach.  Membres of the board of directors are Messrs. R. Umansky, Sol Goodman, M.S. berlin, Joe Richlin, Meir Barach, Ben Feinberg, Frank Winicki, I. Domnitz, M. Schaffer, B. Mallen, Ben Segal, A. Ott, Sam Briskman, B. Veitzer, Dr.Ernest Wolf, Mrs. Ira Goon and Mrs. Ted Herman.

A kick-off dinner to acquaint the public with Histadrut’s role in Israel will be held on July 30 at the Tifereth Israel Synagogue at 6 p.m.  For further information and reservations, phone T-7886 or R-3028.

The Histadrut is the tried and tested force of workers and pioneers upon whom the Israeli government depends in the implementation of its economic program and the stabilization of the country for the benefit of the entire population.  We must enable the Histadrut to expand its own institutions and to cooperate in all endeavors that will secure the economic future of the State of Israel and fortify its democratic character.

The drive will open officially on August 13.  Offices of the Histadrut Council are in room 210, Sommer Bldg., 432 F. St.


Pioneer Women Negba Club
Southwestern Jewish Press, July 21, 1950, page 3

August 3 has been set for the installation of officers at Temple Center at 8:00 p.m.  The public is cordially invited to attend.

All arrangements are being made under the chairmanship of Mss. Pauline Press. The San Diego Pioneer Women Negba Club are known for their fine programs and interesting speakers.

Mrs. Eleanor Gordon will wield the gavel for the 2nd consecutive year.  Mrs. Bee Kushner, president of the Los Angeles Council of Pioneer Women will be installing officer.

Included in the program will be a clever imitation by a San Diego girl of the well known motion picture star, Joan Davis.  Palestinian dances will be performed by six local girls. Refreshments will be served.

Pioneer Women contribute to the Women’s Labor Organization of Israel, a project of American women to help their sister religionists overseas.


Esther Moorsteen To Speak To Methodist Group On Israel
Southwestern Jewish Press, July 21, 1950, page 3

Methodist Churces throughout the united states have taken the subject of Palestine and the new State of Irael for their July study groups.

Mrs. Louis Moorsteen has been invited to speak and show her pictures on Israel to the members of the Trinity Methodist Church, Thorn and Grim Sts., on Thursday, July 27th.  Mrs. Moorsteen will answer questions regarding the new sTate.

“Adventures in Jewish History” is sponsored by Inland Industries Group LP in memory of long-time San Diego Jewish community leader Marie (Mrs. Gabriel) Berg. Our indexed "Adventures in San Diego Jewish History" series will be a daily feature until we run out of history.





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Jewish Internet Favorites
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Cantor Yosef Rosenblatt sings My Yiddishe Mama in Yiddish of course


Shelley Berman on Life's Little Embarassing Moments -- Berman is in top form as a story teller and pantomimist.

Steven Spielberg Accepting Oscar in 1994 for 'Schindler's List' - An emotional moment, even for Hollywood




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SAN DIEGO JEWISH WORLD: THE WEEK IN REVIEW

Tuesday, December 30, 2008 (Vol. 2, No. 310)

INTERNATIONAL
Has Israel's response been proportional? ... by Ira Sharkansky in Jerusalem

Beware of well-meaning hypocrisy ... by Rabbi Dow Marmur in Jerusalem

Where seconds can determine if you'll live ... by Ulla Hadar in Kibbutz Ruhama, Israel

Controlling the terms of the war ... by Shoshana Bryen in Washington, D.C.

LETTERS

Some facts and statistics about the Gaza War ... from Eyal Dagan

A final shalom to columnist Dov Levy ... from Elizabeth Levy

ARTS
A Ladino wedding song: Noches, Noches ... by Cantor Sheldon Merel in San Diego, with a recording of his performance of this song

ADVENTURES IN SAN DIEGO JEWISH HISTORY
July 7, 1950: S.D. Post No. 185 Jewish War Veterans
July 7, 1950: Labor Zionist Organization~Chaim Weitzmann Branch of San Diego
July 7, 1950: Home For The Aged
July 7, 1950: S.D. Lasker Lodge Hi-Lites

JEWISH INTERNET FAVORITES
Albert Einstein Explains E=MC squared
Sandy Koufax pitching
Three Stooges: Curly's Sweater

Monday, December 29, 2008 (Vol. 2, No. 309)

INTERNATIONAL
Israeli voices in the Gaza war ... roundup of unofficial and official correspondence

Bike ride plans continue, despite Gaza War ... by Donald H. Harrison in San Diego

LIFESTYLES
Knishes for Christmas Dinner ... by Sheila Orysiek in San Diego, with a reprint of her knish recipe

Jewish Internet Favorites: We begin collecting Jewish musicians on video, including vocalist Barbra Streisand, pianist Arturo Rubinstein and violinist David Oistrakh.

ADVENTURES IN SAN DIEGO JEWISH HISTORY
July 7, 1950: J.C.R.A.

July 7, 1950: San Diego Bay City B’nai B’rith Women Chapter No. 713

July 7, 1950: Jewish War Veterans

July 7, 1950: S.D. Birdie Stodel B’nai B’rith Chapter No. 92

Sunday, December 28, 2008 (Vol. 2, No. 308)

INTERNATIONAL
World economic meltdown may have less impact on Israel's trade than on America's... by Ira Sharkansky in Jerusalem

ARTS
Israeli bestseller weighs concept of sin ...by Norman Manson in San Diego

JUDAISM

Names, numbers and the brit milah ritual ... by Donald H. Harrison in Carlsbad, California

Now, about those Chanukah lights... by Rabbi Leonard Rosenthal in San Diego

LIFESTYLES
Jewish Internet Favorites—Myron Cohen on the Ed Sullivan show, and Jackie Mason at Hollywood Palace

ADVENTURES IN SAN DIEGO JEWISH HISTORY
July 7, 1950: News of the Fox

July 7, 1950: Guardians

July 7, 1950: Beth Jacob Congregation

July 7, 1950: Temple Youth League Welcomes New Youth Counselor

July 7, 1950: Beth Jacob Auxiliary

SPORTS
A bissel sports trivia with Bruce Lowitt ... in Oldsmar, Florida

Friday-Saturday, December 26-27, 2008 (Vol.2, No. 307)

INTERNATIONAL
Is Netanyahu now really in the center? ... by Rabbi Dow Marmur

Calling them 'militants' minimizes terror ... by Donald H. Harrison in San Diego

ARTS
Morton Gould, A personal tribute ... by David Amos in San Diego

LIFESTYLES
Finding the silver lining in our lives ... by Sara Appel-Lennon in San Diego

Jewish Internet Favorites: Henny Youngman--YAHC 1984 and Rodney Dangerfield on Johnny Carson's Tonight Show, and U.S. Air Force Band playing Morton Gould's American Salute

ADVENTURES IN SAN DIEGO JEWISH HISTORY
July 7, 1950: Jewish Youth Conference

July 7, 1950: AZA

July 7, 1950: Big Hadassah Dinner Dance Benefit on July 16

July 7, 1950: Fund Gives Assurances for 15 Additional 'DP' Families

Thursday, December 25, 2008 (Vol. 2, No. 306)

INTERNATIONAL
Coping—or not—with the Gaza rockets... by Ira Sharkansky in Jerusalem

An encyclopaedia of Kristallnacht atrocities... by Dorothea Shefer-Vanson in Mevasseret Zion, Israel

What were 2008's top Jewish stories?... by David Benkof in New York

ARTS
A Jewish leader's RX for what ails us ... by Fred Reiss in Winchester, California

Thursdays with the Songs of Hal Wingard:
#224, Faith
#32, Cycles
#110, Borrowed Time

LIFESTYLES
Jewish Internet Favorites: Fa La Freezing, a new Chanukah song by Earthquake; Dreidel Song animation by Matt Donato

ADVENTURES IN SAN DIEGO JEWISH HISTORY
July 7, 1950: It’s An Idea! (Editorial on fundraising}
July 7, 1950: Belief (Editorial on joining benevolent organizations)
July 7, 1950: Mouthful for Pipeful {Interview with Billy Rose}
July 7, 1950: Daughters of Israel

Wednesday, December 24, 2008 (Vol. 2. No. 305)

CHANUKAH
Chanukah sights and aromas in Jerusalem ... by Judy Lash Balint in Jerusalem

Bageling: How we tell others we're Jewish ... by Jessica Levine Kupferberg in La Jolla

Menorahs and some other favorite things... by Donald H. Harrison in San Diego

Jewish Internet Favorites:Hannukah Bird (rap) by Eric Schwartz...The Latke Song by Debbie Friedman

AUSTRALIA

The Jews Down Under, a roundup of Australian Jewish news...by Garry Fabian in Melbourne
—Chanukah lit up with controversy

—Samuel fights the good fight

—Australia fails Wiesenthal Centre test

—Jewish schools stand out with Year 12 results in 2008

—School fees set to jump in 2009

—United Israel Appeal enters 2009 with caution

—Australia - Israel defence ties encouraged

—Australian Jewish Community avoids investment fallout

ADVENTURES IN SAN DIEGO JEWISH HISTORY
July 7, 1950: Fund Campaign To Continue Throughout Summer Months

July 7, 1950: Irving Friedman To Serve in Chest Campaign

July 7, 1950: San Diego Host to B’nai B’rith Grand Lodge President

July 7, 1950: Father and Son Fashion Show
 

COMMUNITY WATCH {Link to other events}

 San Diego Jewish Academy: “Kindergarten, the Beginning of the Journey”

Soille San Diego Hebrew Day School: Learning About the Mayans at Soille Hebrew Day

Link to previous editions

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