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UNITED JEWISH FEDERATION OF SAN DIEGO January 29 Men's Event
 
THE JEWISH CITIZEN
SDSU group gets a VIP tour of Ramallah
By Donald H. Harrison
 RAMALLAH, Palestine Authority—A group from San Diego State University was among a busload of Peres Peace Center conference delegates in Tel Aviv who accepted an invitation from the Palestine Authority to see “the other face of Palestine,” and took a bus tour of the West Bank capital city on Tuesday that culminated with a meeting with Palestinian Prime Minister Dr. Salam Fayyad and a quick sightseeing stop at the tomb of Yasser Arafat.
San Diegans aboard for a PA equivalent of any American city’s Chamber of Commerce tour were Bonnie Stewart, executive director of the SDSU-based Hansen Institute for World Peace, and her son Chris; Sandy Ehrlich, Qualcomm Executive Director of SDSU’s Entrepreneurial Management Center and his wife Cindy, and food marketing consultant Marvin Spira and his wife, Pat. Stewart, Ehrlich and Spira are part of the team helping Israeli and Palestinians to bring a blended olive oil to the international market. My wife Nancy and I also joined the tour.
The tour followed a panel on peace in Tel Aviv during which President Shimon Peres parried demands from Muhammad Shtayeh, president of the Palestinian Economic Council for Development and Reconstruction, for full Israeli withdrawal from the occupied territories as international leaders from other parts of the world listened in fascination. Shtayeh said such large Israeli cities on the West Bank as Ariel and Ma’ale Adunim ought to be vacated by the Israelis as part of the withdrawal.
Peres, not commenting on the fate of those two cities directly, said that Israelis do not wish to be occupiers and noted that Israel withdrew fully from the Sinai as part of its peace deal with Egypt, and reached a full peace with Jordan. He said Israel also dismantled the Jewish settlements in Gaza and withdrew completely, only to see a subsequent takeover by Hamas and the firing of Kassam rockets at Jewish communities along the border (including those of San Diego UJF’s partnership region in Sha’ar Hanegev). Peres told Shtayeh progress would be enhanced if Palestinians “stop shooting at us.”
Among those on the panel with the two men were Sarah Ferguson, the Duchess of York; Croatia’s Prime Minister Ivo Sanader; Denmark’s Foreign Minister Per Stig Miller; Poland’s Former President Aleksander Kasniewski; Cyprus’s Former President George Vassilou, Peru’s Former President Alejandro Toledo; South Korea’s Former Minister of Foreign Affairs Han Sung-Joo, and Moroccan Counselor to the King, Andre Azoulay. The star-studded panel was moderated by CNN International Correspondent Christiana Amanpour, who had the international participants tell of peacemaking and reconciliation efforts in their respective countries.
Vassilou, who in the years following his presidency helped negotiate Cyprus’ entry into the European Union, joined the bus tour to Ramallah and served as the unofficial leader of the traveling group during visits to PalTel (Palestine Telephone), the Berzeit Pharmaceutical Co, and the prime minister's office.
Abdul Malik Al-Jaber, chief executive officer of PalTel, said that Israeli restrictions on where cell phones towers could be placed within the Palestinian Authority prompted the company to locate all its switching equipment in London. He said that if he were to make a call via the company's Jawwal mobile service to a colleague in the room, the signal would go to London and then back in an instant. This proved more a blessing than a problem, he added; the overseas switching equipment gives the company opportunities to sell other kinds of services, enhancing its profits.
Some companies, he said, see the occupation by the Israelis only as a problem, or as a reason on which to blame failures. Other people, he said, such as leaders of the Paltel group, while opposing the occupation, do their best to find innovative and entrepreneurial solutions.
Another viewpoint was expressed by Talal Nasereddin, chairman of Birzeit Pharmaceutical Company, which supplies generic medicines not only to the West Bank and Gaza, but also to Algeria. After the visitors to his gleaming-clean pharmaceutical plant donned paper hats, smocks and shoe covers and toured the operation, he said that the ever-present possibility of closures of Gaza border crossings as well as of roadblocks within the West Bank mean shipping delays. This forces the company to keep far-larger inventories on hand than competitors in Israel or other countries would ever find necessary.
Asked if his company served as a conduit for international pharmaceutical businesses wanting representation in Arab countries, Nasereddin said such a proposal was made to him by an Israeli company but that he refused. He explained that until the occupation is over, he does not wish to do business with the Israelis, notwithstanding the fact that his own residence is in East Jerusalem and many of his neighbors are Israeli Jews.
 
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The meeting with Prime Minister Fayyad was held late in the afternoon in the Cabinet Room, where members of the Palestinian Authority’s government hold meetings under portrait photographs of Arafat and the PA’s current president, Mahmoud Abbas.
Seated at one end of the long table, at which each place has its own microphone, Fayyad told the group that after last year's coup d’etat in Gaza in which Hamas by violence established its supremacy, law and order broke down both in Gaza and the West Bank, although less so in the latter.
Fayyad was appointed as prime minister by President Abbas after Hamas took over the Gaza Strip, and Abbas, in retaliation, dismissed Hamas leader Ismael Haniyeh from the top government post. An economist who previously had served as Finance Minister of the P.A., Fayyad was educated at the University of Texas at Austin, and conversed in colloquial English with the visitors.
He said that since becoming prime minister in June 2007 his priority has been “getting the country back together again.” He said he has tried to focus on practical ways of serving his constituents rather than on ideology. While he too wants Israelis to withdraw as soon as possible, he said there is plenty for the Palestinians to do in the meantime, both in terms of developing a national consensus government ahead of elections and in finding a neutral party, possibly a pan-Arab police force, to help keep internal security in both the West Bank and in Gaza if reconciliation with Hamas can be achieved.
Although Shtayeh at the Peres Peace Center conference predicted reconciliation would be reached November 9 at a meeting between Hamas and the Palestinian Authority government in Cairo, Egypt, Sayyad was far more cautious. Finding an agreement among Palestinians on how to co-exist with Israel is a “long-term” track; “it can’t be done easily,” he said. “This would requires adjusting Hamas’ point of view,” he added in an understatement.
Among the strides Fayyad pointed to as evidence that life in the West Bank is stabilizing were a recent investment conference that drew numerous international participants; an open-air dinner in Nativity Square in Bethlehem that drew 1,300 people, and the inauguration of new soccer stadium with the Palestinian team battling Jordan to a 1-1 tie in that facility’s first match.
The key to ending Israel’s occupation, said Fayyad, is neither giving in to a sense of defeatism, nor becoming belligerent, but by showing the world that Palestinians can build a stable society.
“We’ve calmed things down; we’re performing much better,” he said.
He said the Palestinian Authority is investing heavily in community programs so that citizens can see the progress being made. He mentioned investments in schools, school buses, irrigation projects, and libraries.
The last stop on the tour was impromptu. A guide on the bus pointed out Arafat’s monument, at which two smartly dressed honor guard soldiers stood at attention, and had the bus slowed to enable photographs to be taken from the windows. After a few minutes of indecision, the occupants of the bus decided to inspect the monument up close, adding about 20 minutes to the schedule.
For myself and fellow Jews on the bus, it was an eery moment, so long had Arafat been considered the embodiment of the terrorist enemy. After returning to the bus, I telephoned an Israeli friend and told him, ‘I am calling from in front of Arafat’s tomb in Ramallah.” Without missing a beat, the friend replied, “I hope you made sure he was still there.”
For security reasons, Israelis had not been permitted to join the tour. As for myself and other non-Israeli Jews who did take the tour, we all felt welcome wherever we went as part of the Peres Peace Center delegation.
The Jewish and non-Jewish members of the SDSU delegation agreed that the tour had been a worthwhile experience. Stewart described as a “fantastic opportunity” having the various meetings and seeing the border crossing and the controversial security fence (or “barrier” as the Palestinians call it) between Ramallah and Israel-controlled territory. “They wanted to change the outside image of the West Bank to show that there was a lot of productive enterprises ongoing, and that they are working very hard to create a lot of employment opportunities.”
Said Spria: “I thought it was an eye-opener, interesting, and a different point of view than we had been exposed to. The point of view that we had through the Peres Center was the Israeli point of view all the way through; we now got the Palestinian point of view. It was interesting to hear the other side.”
He added that he was impressed both by the pharmaceutical company and the telephone company, explaining “I didn’t think that they would be that sophisticated. On the basis of entrepreneurial development, they were much more advanced than I thought any business would be in Ramallah.”
However, he added, “we always have to keep in mind that we are being shown the exemplary products of this particular area. We are not going to be shown the general part of the city—the parts where you see the 25 percent unemployment. We are being shown two very, very successful examples of what is happening in Palestine. They were examples shown to us to impress us, and they did.”
Ehrlich, whose academic specialty is entrepreneurship, said he was “extremely impressed with the ingenuity of the Palestinian entrepreneurs. One of the difficulties of any business is logistics and logistics in the Middle East is incredibly difficult,” he said. PalTel’s ability to turn the problem of the switching equipment into an opportunity “really exemplified their resourcefulness in growing a business in extremely difficult circumstances.”
Additionally, said Ehrlich, “ I think both companies have solid management teams, and I think the CEO of each company was articulate and that they understand their business models well, and I think both understand how to deal with the realities of growing a business in that environment.”
Ehrlich called Birzeit Pharmaceutical Company a “state of the art, modern facility and the fact that visitors were required to put on outfits exemplified a clean-room environment. I have been in some plants where they were lax for some visitors and will allow you to walk through a plant. We did not even enter any of the manufacturing facilities (observing them instead through a window) and yet we were required to put on all of those outfits. “
Cindy Ehrlich said that the Ramallah tour confirmed conversations San Diegans had previously with Palestinian agricultural officials about the economic difficulties caused by the multiplicity of Israeli-staffed roadblocks throughout the West Bank. “You see the obstacles that they are forced to live with and they are trying to prosper regardless, and for me it was very eye opening.”
She added that wherever the tour went, they found the Palestinians to be “very welcoming people, very respectful of us, and very interested in making sure that we had a positive experience. “
“I was delighted to have this experience,” commented Pat Spira. “I was really delighted to see the two companies, especially the pharmaceutical plant—how clean it was. I would have loved to have found out more about labor conditions; I was interested to learn about the hours they worked at the pharmaceutical company (a single shift, 41 hours a week) and whether women could advance.
“I talked to one of the women at PalTel and she was in charge of the giving program—she was in charge of giving, the social responsibility; it was interesting that both of those companies had social responsibility programs, where they were giving money, just as we do in the United States,” she added.
TIFERETH ISRAEL SYNAGOGUE
GUEST COLUMN
Kristallnacht: seventy years later
By David A. Harris
 NEW YORK —On November 9 and 10, we mark the seventieth anniversary of Kristallnacht, the “night of broken glass.”
Rampaging mobs, spurred by the Nazi leadership, attacked Jewish targets throughout Germany and Austria.
The damage was immense.
Hundreds of synagogues were burned to the ground.
Thousands of Jewish-owned businesses were ransacked.
Nearly 100 Jews were murdered in cold blood.
And tens of thousands of Jews were arrested and deported to concentration camps.
Their crime? They were Jews. It was as simple as that.
The Second World War had not yet officially begun. That would start on September 1, 1939, not quite ten months after Kristallnacht. But the Nazi war against the Jews was already well under way.
The goal was to rid Germany, Austria, and, eventually, all of Nazi-occupied Europe of Jews.
The Nazis almost succeeded. By the war’s end in 1945, six million Jews, or two-thirds of European Jewry, had been annihilated. And ancient centers of Jewish civilization, from Vilna to Salonika, from Amsterdam to Prague, had been all but wiped out.
On this tragic anniversary, and every day, we remember.
We remember the Jews of Germany and Austria, who had contributed so greatly to their homelands in every way imaginable, and who became the targets of a genocidal policy.
We remember the vibrant lives of Jewish communities across Europe that were extinguished in the flames of the Holocaust.
We remember the 1.5 million Jewish children murdered in the Nazi pursuit of the so-called Final Solution.
We remember how many borders were closed to Europe’s Jews when there was still a chance to escape.
We remember that our own country, the United States, yielding to domestic isolationism and anti-Semitism, did far less than it could have to offer a safe haven to Europe’s Jews.
We remember that in the same fateful year, 1938, prior to Kristallnacht, Nazi Germany had moved with impunity into the Sudetenland, then part of Czechoslovakia, and Austria, with barely a peep from the international community.
We remember that just weeks before Kristallnacht, the British prime minister, Neville Chamberlain, traveled to Germany for the third time in two weeks and returned to London to assure the British public that there would be “peace for our time.”
We remember the valiant forces of the Allied nations that ultimately destroyed the Nazi Reich and saved the world from Adolf Hitler’s boast of a thousand-year reign.
We remember the military cemeteries across Europe, and beyond, filled with the graves of young soldiers who fought with such courage and bravery to defeat Nazi Germany and its allies.
And we remember the examples of those few countries and those few individuals who, at such risk to themselves, sought to shield Jews from harm.
Kristallnacht reminds us of the lurking capacity for inhumanity that resides in the human spirit.
Kristallnacht reminds us of nations that prided themselves on advanced levels of civilization, yet had a capacity for barbarism that exploded in ways never before witnessed.
Kristallnacht reminds us that there is a slippery slope from the demonization of a people, to the dehumanization of a people, to the destruction of a people.
And Kristallnacht reminds us that, in the face of evil against fellow human beings, silence can never be an option or indifference a strategy.
The American Jewish Committee remembers today, as we remembered yesterday and as we shall remember tomorrow.
TEMPLE SOLELNovember 8 Synaplex featuring Rabbi Daniel Gordis
CAMPAIGN 2008
Election is a joke: Daily Show Democrats
By Rabbi Simcha Weinstein
 NEW YORK—This election is fast becoming a big joke, but I for one am not surprised.
My latest book Shtick Shift: Jewish Humor in 21st Century chronicles how political comedy has replaced the traditional news media as many voters’ main source of information about issues and candidates.
Just look at the Daily Show phenomenon: millions of young people are turning off the Dan Rathers, Wolf Blitzers and Anderson Coopers in favor of jokes and righteous indignation masked as news.
And in the ratings race, real news sources are losing. Radio host Rush Limbaugh, whose show features irreverent song parodies and comic impersonations, has over 20 million daily listeners; that’s more listeners than the Big Three network news broadcasts have viewers.
It’s reached the point where cable news giant CNN just handed a young stand up comedian named D. L. Hughley his very own Saturday night show, touted as yet another televised blend of news and entertainment.
We’ve come a long way from the 1960s, when stand up comic Mort Sahl carried a lowly newspaper out on stage as a prop. Such low tech conceits now seem quaint. Yet The Daily Show’s Jon Stewart belongs to that long tradition of Jewish political satirists that includes Sahl and Lenny Bruce.
There is something very Jewish about grappling with the discrepancies of power, which is exactly what satire is all about. Jews have a history of wrestling with higher authorities. Ever since Jacob wrestled with the angel, battling earthly and heavenly powers has been at the core of Jewish identity. The Talmud itself is more a book about arguments, than answers, dissecting every aspect of Jewish law, belief, philosophy and tradition.
OK, it’s not as if Jon Stewart or his writers study Talmud between shows. But this tradition of intellectual inquiry has clearly filtered down to Jewish comedians, as has the habit of greeting adversity with bitter humor. Back in the “old country,” Jewish humor critiqued the shortcomings and absurdities of Russian rulers, first the Czar and then the Soviet government. As perennial “outsiders”, Jews possessed a unique perspective that made them natural born comedians.
On the other hand, a real liberal commentator is staging an honest-to-goodness campaign for a Minnesota senate seat, and he’s made some inroads (and plenty of enemies). Former Saturday Night Live writer turned Democratic candidate Al Franken has been dogged by controversy regarding his personal finances and explosive temper. At a particular low point that sounds like a sketch he might have written, only one voter showed up for Franken’s roundtable on veterans’ issues. To his credit, Franken gamely sat down for a one-on-one chat with the fellow. Polls show him currently running tied with his Republican incumbent opponent.
Speaking of Saturday Night Live, that show is enjoying its best ratings in years thanks to Tina Fey’s eerily accurate impersonations of Vice Presidential candidate Sarah Palin. A Montreal newspaper even ran a serious story about Palin accompanied by a photo of Fey in full makeup, without realizing its mistake.
Cleverly using all the advantages the web has to offer, comedian Sarah Silverman launched a campaign of her own – complete with merchandise -- called The Great Schlep. This tongue in cheek effort is aimed at getting Jewish grandchildren to visit their grandparents in Florida, educate them about Obama, and thereby swing the crucial Florida vote in his favor.
Not everyone was amused. John McCain supporter and veteran standup comic Jackie Mason countered with a video response to Silverman’s “Schlep” campaign. Mason, of all people, didn’t seem to “get” that Silverman was mocking Jewish voting habits and familial relations as much as she was endorsing the Democratic candidate. And he didn’t seem to see the irony of a man his age scolding a young woman for trying to tell her grandparents how to vote.
Expect to see even more comedic endorsements and putdowns as the Presidential campaign heads into its final stretch. However, it will be difficult to top Sarah Palin’s appearance as herself on Saturday Night Live’s October 18 episode. Few incidents demonstrate the non-existent line between news and entertainment as that very “meta”, post-modern ninety minutes. At one point, host Alec Baldwin called Palin “that horrible woman” without realizing the candidate was standing beside him. Palin responded that her “favorite Baldwin brother” was Alec’s conservative Christian sibling, Stephen.
In future, Presidential and Vice-Presidential candidates will likely be expected to take their turn on SNL and other programs. The very notion seems like satire come to life, but that’s 21st century comedy – and politics – for you.
LIFE & TERM INSURANCE SERVICES
San Diego Jewish World endorsements
SAN DIEGO—Following is a list of endorsements made by San Diego Jewish World with links to the editions in which the explanations for each endorsement appeared.
U.S. President —Barack Obama
California State Assembly, 78th District—Marty Block
San Diego City Council, 1st District —Phil Thalheimer
San Diego City Council, 7th District —Marti Emerald
California Proposition 4—Abortion notification —No
California Proposition 8—Ban on Same-Sex Marriage—No
In addition, San Diego Jewish World proudly endorses for reelection two members of our community who have represented us well in the United States Congress: Democrats Bob Filner in the 51st Congressional District and Susan Davis in the 53rd Congressional District
LAWRENCE FAMILY JCC, JACOBS FAMILY CAMPUS
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THE JEWS DOWN UNDER
Council approves Chanukah in the Park
By Garry Fabian
MELBOURNE -Glen Eira City Council (an area with a large concentration of Jewish residents) has given the go-ahead to Chanukah in the Park, despite an independent expert recommending that no major events be held at Caulfield Park this year.
Chanukah in the Park, organised each year by Chabad of Caulfield, attracts up to 8000 people with its chanukiah candle-lighting, rides, carnival atmosphere and evening fireworks display.
The matter was discussed at last Wednesday night’s council meeting, and despite the breaches and the expert’s report, councillors approved the event seven votes to one.
Councillor Michael Lipshutz, who is seeking re-election in the Camden ward at next month’s council elections, moved that Chanukah in the Park remain at Caulfield Park this year – albeit with conditions. The motion was seconded by Jewish councillor Margaret Esakoff.
Cr Lipshutz told council the event was an iconic festival in the Glen Eira calendar and since Caulfield Park was a “people’s park,", it should be used for sport and other events. The only councillor to vote against the event was Jacquie Robilliard.
Cr Lipshutz said Cr Robilliard “has had a long history this year in criticising the organisers of the Jewish event/"
It is understood that Cr Robilliard – who serves in the same ward as Cr Lipshutz – discussed the Chabad-organised event at four consecutive council meetings earlier this year, in an unsuccessful attempt to have it investigated by officers.
During last year’s event, council reported that organisers allowed heavy vehicles to be driven across cricket pitches and irrigation lines. They did not stop large pegs being used to secure chattels, which damaged park irrigation, then verbally abused council staff trying to stop the pegs being used.
They also reportedly moved the fireworks display away from the approved location, in contravention of occupational health and safety practices.
Following last year’s breaches, council commissioned an independent turf expert to assess the impact of Chanukah in the Park on Caulfield Park. He wrote that after the December event, the oval was in “extremely poor condition."
For the 2008 event, Chabad of Caulfield will be required to pay a bond of $15,000. Under council conditions, Chabad must pay $500 for any vehicle illegally driven onto the oval and $1000 for any peg illegally inserted into the ground.
A policy for the whole community
MELBOURNE - In its first policy document, the Jewish Community Council of Victoria (JCCV) has made a series of requests to the Victorian Government.
The 14-page document – which puts forward a comprehensive policy platform promoting the community’s views on a wide range of issues – was ratified at this month’s JCCV plenum.
From interfaith relations to climate change, affiliates of the JCCV – the representative body for all Victorian Jews – voted to accept the new policies.
As well as stating a range of positions on Jewish and secular issues, the policy document also made a number of requests of Spring Street.
These include calling on the Government to ensure all students learn about the Holocaust, requesting that it ensure employees wishing to observe religious days will not risk losing their jobs, and reducing “the relative disadvantage many indigenous people may face."
“This enunciation of its position of a range of issues that are important to us as Victorians, Australians and Jews was a significant step forward for the Victorian Jewish community,” JCCV president Anton Block said.
The JCCV policy platform includes support for Australian anti-terrorism laws and Australia’s involvement in wars against terrorism.
It asks that Jewish fundraisers work to alleviate financial constraints “affecting Jewish day school education and the ability of ... schools to provide the highest quality Jewish education," and it notes with concern the lack of youth representation in most community organisations.
The policy recommends the community learn and use Yiddish and Hebrew because of “the centrality of language to cultural transmission” and it requests that all mainstream political parties put “racist, divisive and extremist candidates” at the bottom of how-to-vote cards.
Block said developing the policy was not an easy task.
“It forced us to focus and articulate our views, and clearly there are certain issues on which we are generally united,” he said.
“These include a clear commitment to Jewish continuity, a steadfast allegiance to Australia and its values, the importance of Jewish education for our children, and the significance of Israel in Jewish life.”
Block admitted there would be Jewish people who disagree with some of the statements in the policy platform, but he said it represented the majority view of the community.
For those concerned about the policies, Block emphasised it is a “living document”.
“As our community and the larger society change, and as new issues arise, there will inevitably be concomitant changes in our policies.”
BBI President Moishe Smith visits Australia/N.Z
MELBOURNE—B'nai B'rith International President Moishe Smith visited Australia and New Zealand this week. After spending three days in New Zealand, where he addressed Jewish community members and met with government officials, he moved on to Sydney. There he addressed meetings of B'nai B'rith members, communal leaders and held meetings with members of the New South Wales Government and the Opposition.
In Melbourne, where he attended the Convention of B'nai B'rith Australia/New Zealand, he participated in its sessions, installed the newly elected President and Executive, as well as having discussions with the Deputy Opposition Leader and Victorian Government Minister for Multi-Cultural Affairs. He also met Jewish community leaders and discussed a range of issues. He pointed out that in many respects, challenges facing North American and Australian Jewish communities were very similar. Other topic that he raised included the rising incidence of anti-Semitism in Europe, and the worrying development the increasing influence of Iran in Latin America, through the increasingly closer association between Iran and Venezuela, that is starting to permeate other countries in the region.
Living community memories
MELBOURNE—"On Thursday, live carp were swimming happily in the bath,” Bina’s story begins. “Why carp? Well my parents were very Orthodox Jews and they kept Shabbat – which is the Saturday – very preciously, and Friday night was the evening where the whole family is together, plus some strangers were invited.
“Fish was the thing that would always be served on the Friday night ... and so my mother would buy the live fish and have them swim in the bath [for] a couple of days before, and then killing them, oh my God ... I wouldn’t have done it!
“And she did all the mincing and everything by hand you know – with a beater or a hacker – everything was done by hand at that time. And then, when we wanted to wash ourselves, we had to take the fish out of the bath.”
Bina is one of eight participants in a project being jointly run by the National Council of Jewish Women of Australia in Victoria (NCJWA) and RMIT University, with support from the Victorian Multicultural Commission.
The project, called Living Memories, explores the stories and unique experiences of a group of older Jewish women.
Another woman, Hania, says in her interview that when Holocaust survivors came to Australia, sometimes they had lost their “backbone." She says that it was only after those migrants made a life for themselves in their new home and became accepted, that things changed. She even credits the NCJWA with helping migrant women to grow a backbone.
The aim of Living Memories is to capture a snapshot of these women’s lives and to allow them to talk about the history they have witnessed.
Students studying media at RMIT are conducting the interviews and filming them. The students will produce short portrait films for each of the nine women in two formats: a memory box format and a more creative vignette film.
Living Memories is being coordinated by David Carlin, from RMIT’s School of Applied Communication Media, Nancy Sugarman and NCJWA’s Di Hirsh. It will be launched on December 8 at the Australian Centre for the Moving Image in Federation Square. Following the launch, the videos will be accessible on the NCJWA website.
Pressure grows for automatic traffic controls
MELBOURNE—In a second incident this Yom Tov period, an Orthodox Jewish pedestrian has received a fine notice from police for crossing the street against a red light, as part of a state-wide crackdown on jaywalkers.
The incident triggered urgent talks between the Jewish community and the Victorian Road Authority, with the Rabbinical Council of Victoria (RCV) set to consider fund raising to pay for conversion of key intersections to automatic pedestrian cycles on Shabbat and Yom Tovs.
Several corners are already automatic over Shabbat. The estimated cost of covering each set of pedestrian lights is $2000.
Jewish Community Council of Victoria (JCCV) executive director Geoffrey Zygier has written to Police Commander Ashley Dickinson, co-chair of the Police and Community Multi-cultural Advisory Committee, to request more intersections be placed on automatic and on more days.
The young mother in the latest incident, was booked after crossing an intersection last Saturday, as she wheeled a pram with her seven-month-old son. She also had a three-year-old son with her. Due to Shabbat observance she did not press the pedestrian button, but said the turning arrow for road traffic was red at the time.
When a police vehicle approached her, the woman said she thought "it was really weird" because she had read the headlines in the paper about the recent similar happening on Yom Kippur.
"It flashed through my mind that the woman had been stopped where she was, didn't know what to do, then crossed back - so I just continued across the road. I didn't think they were going to pull me over."
She was booked by a female police officer from the local Traffic Management Unit, who allegedly said "If we're not pulling you over for jaywalking, we're picking bodies up off the road from traumas."
The woman admitted she had done the wrong thing, but explained to police that she could not press the button because of Shabbat. She was allegedly told that this was no excuse and she should have waited until someone could press the button for her.
Asked if she could be let off with a warning, she claimed the office replied that the penalty was "only $57 and there is no way the ticket will be withdrawn, and will take it all the way to the courts."
The acting police superintendent for the district said it is illegal to cross against a red light, but that this is quite a different matter from rude or inappropriate comments from a police officer to a member of the public. She added that Rabbi Kluwgant, the RCV president, had put her in touch with the pedestrian in an effort to determine what had actually happened.
JCCV president Anton Block said complying with road laws is fundamental, but allegedly rude comments by police, if proven "are not helpful and do not encourage a positive feeling towards government and authorities."
Rabbi Kluwgant repeated his call that road safety and abiding by the law are top priorities for all pedestrians.
Notices were placed in Melbourne synagogues last week asking congregants to take extra care at pedestrian crossings during the yom tov period.
Israel programs affected by falling Australian dollar
SYDNEY—The sinking Australian dollar is wreaking havoc for two Jewish community organisations with overseas programs.
The Australasian Union of Jewish Students (AUJS) has been forced to hike its fees at the last minute for its flagship program, Academy AUJS, due to the low Australian/US exchange rate.
Maccabi Australia has also been affected, with those wishing to represent Australia at next year's Maccabiah now require to pay a five figure sum, in order to travel to Israel.
The Academy program fee has jumped from $8800 to $9600 - an $800 increase.
Meanwhile Maccabi is finalising its teams over the next few weeks. Those who have nominated have been advised earlier this week that the cost of participating was now $10,000, an increase of more than $500 on the anticipated cost 12 months ago.
Maccabi hedged some funds earlier this year, so was able to keep its costs from rising even further, but has been affected by the US exchange rate as well as the weakening Israeli shekel.
Jewish attendance at Muslim festival
CANBERRA—The Jewish community was represented at a commemoration of the Muslim festival of Eid last week.
Sylvia Deutsch, a long-time member of the Canberra Jewish community, represented the ACT Jewish community president Dr Anita Shroot at the function. The Eid celebration was organised by the Department of Immigration and Citizenship ACT branch, and guests included Parliamentary Secretary for Multi Cultural Affairs Laurie Ferguson and representatives from a range of faith groups.
Ferguson's western Sydney electorate is the largest Muslim electorate in Australia.
Tips and tales from genealogist.
PERTH—British genealogist Dr Anthony Joseph told a large gathering about researching family history. He warned amateur genealogists that research on the internet can be of limited value because it contains frequent inaccuracies. He suggested that checking original sources where possible was a far more accurate research tool, which for those with British family ties was easier. However those that originated from Europe, and Eastern Europe in particular, had more limited access to this information. Considering the profile of the Australian Jewish community, this poses many challenges for accurate and factual data in genealogy research.
Jewish delegates may join Australia's Durban II team
CANBERRA— Australian Foreign Minister Stephen Smith will "give positive consideration" to the idea of sending a Jewish representative as part of Australia's delegation to the 2009 UN anti-racism conference, also known as Durban II.
Smith told Executive Council of Australian Jewry (ECAJ) president Robert Goot that the government had not yet confirmed its attendance.
"He reiterated that the Government has yet to make a decision whether it will attend the conference in Geneva, but that it was inclined to do so unless good reasons occur, which would necessitate a boycott," Goot reported after meeting the Minister.
In good news for the Jewish community, it is understood that the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) officials are discussing the feasibility of including an ECAJ representative if Australia sends a team.
Since the last election in December 2007, Government and Opposition front-benchers have frequently met with representatives of the Jewish community to discuss Australia's approach to the conference. Goot said the next step is for the ECAJ to hold discussions with DFAT officials.
"Those sorts of issues - a Jewish representative - in the Australian delegation are what we are now seeking to discuss with officer of the department," Goot said." We also want to meet to find out the process the Government might take if it attends Durban II".
Russia holds key to Iran
MELBOURNE—Russia holds a key to preventing Iran from developing nuclear weapons, a spokesperson for the Israeli Prime Minister said this week.
Australian-born and educated Mark Regev has served as Ehud Olmert’s spokesperson since December last year. He was in Melbourne this week at a number of speaking engagements, as well as visiting his family.
In a media briefing organised by the Australia/Israel & Jewish Affairs Council, discussion was dominated by Iran’s nuclear ambitions.
Regev estimated that, if given the opportunity, Iran would have a nuclear weapon early in the next decade. This means, he said, “there is still time for diplomacy”.
However, the experienced spokesperson – who has previously worked for Tzipi Livni and the Israeli embassy in the United States – said a traditional western alliance would not be strong enough to halt Iran’s nuclear progress diplomatically.
“This [diplomacy] will only work if there is a strong international consensus,” Regev said.
The consensus must include Russia and Middle Eastern or Muslim countries, as well as the United States and Australia – which have already spoken out against Iran and imposed sanctions.
“If the Iranians think they have wiggle room, we’re going to end up with a nuclear bomb,” he said.
According to Regev, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev and Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov “said all the right things” during a meeting with Olmert earlier this month.
When it came to the Middle East peace process, Regev – who was in Annapolis during last year’s peace talks – did not hesitate about the next 12 months.
“There is no rational reason for anybody to be pessimistic about the future,” he said.
On Annapolis, he said good things were happening between the Israelis and the Palestinian population on the West Bank.
The Palestinian security services are being progressively strengthened and Regev said journalists had told him that on their travels to Palestinian cities, they had seen markets full of fresh produce.
“On the security thing, there is still a lot of work to be done,” Regev added. “But what did Chairman Mao [Tse-Tung] say? A long march starts with small steps.”
One hurdle to the Annapolis process, he said, is the failure of Arab countries to follow through on the funding commitments made to their Palestinian brothers and sisters.
While the Annapolis process and the situation on the West Bank are progressing well, Regev called Gaza “problematic."
Despite the current ceasefire in Gaza, Regev said the Israeli Government knows that Hamas is using the period of calm to rearm and smuggle new and more sophisticated weaponry into the zone.
When asked why Israel doesn’t do anything about the Hamas rearmament, Regev said the situation was being watched “very, very, very closely."
He resisted the idea of a military incursion, indicating that if the Israeli Defence Forces were to go into Gaza, they would face similar problems to those experienced during the Second Lebanon War.
Australian Foreign Minister Smith to visit Israel
CANBERRA—Foreign Minister Stephen Smith is the first minister in the Rudd Government to travel to Israel.
Smith, who is on a whirlwind trip to Israel, Cyprus and France, said before leaving Australia he was looking forward to visiting Israel in its 60th year.
“I made it clear when I became foreign minister that I would like to go to Israel this year to coincide with the 60th anniversary,” Smith said.
“Australia is a long-standing, good friend of Israel so I will reinforce that point.
“Australia is also a long-standing supporter of the peace process and a long-term enduring peace in the Middle East. Australia and the government [supports] a two-state solution, a nation-state for Israel and a nation-state for the Palestinian people, and I will make that point as well.”
During his day-long visit, Smith will meet Israeli government ministers, including Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni, plus Binyamin Netanyahu and Ehud Barak.
He will also venture to Ramallah to meet with Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayyad, Foreign Minister Riyad al-Malki and negotiator Abu Allah. He also plans to lay a wreath at Yad Vashem in Jerusalem.
Smith has visited Israeli once before, as part of a parliamentary delegation in 2001.
*
SOILLE SAN DIEGO HEBREW DAY SCHOOL
SAN DIEGO—While San Diego Jewish World has gained its place, there is so much more we could do in presenting to the San Diego Jewish community and to Jewish communities all over the world a daily publication of news and commentary.
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If you are as committed as we are to keeping the Jewish community informed, and to its well-being, and if you have skills that will help us accomplish our task--such skills as web designing, or selling advertising, or web mastering, or writing and editing--we invite you to contact us to discuss your interest in bettering this publication.
I can be reached at editor@sandiegojewishworld.com. Please provide me with some background about yourself, tell me your skills, and how you would like to see San Diego Jewish World. I will respond, and perhaps set up a meeting with you to discuss further your ideas and potential participation in San Diego Jewish World. — Donald H. Harrison, editor and publisher
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What’s Cookin’ At Troop 99
Southwestern Jewish Press, March 28, 1950, page 25
By I. (Rube) Rubin, Assistant Scoutmaster
The date has now been set, and Troop 99 will hold its first annual “Open House” on April 19th. This promises to be a gala affair with a variety of activities taking place. In addition to the formal presentation of the Troop Charter for 1950, we will have an exhibit of scouting skills and projects, an investiture ceremony, presentation of awards culminating the troop contest now going on, and other features. Refreshments will also be served. We extend a welcome invitation to the parents of our scouts, to the boys (and parents) who would like to join our troop, and to all the other friends of Troop 99.
WE now have 20 scouts registered, and at our last 2 troop meetings the attendance at each was 26, which is an unusually high percentage and bespeaks well for our troop activities in general.
We held a most enjoyable and successful camp on Sunday afternoon, March 19, at the scout headquarters campsite in Balboa Park. Each scout cooked his own meal and those who had cooking tests to pass, all came through with flying colors. Incidently (sic, incidentally) no complaints of indigestion were heard up to the time of breaking camp which was at 5 p.m. The afternoon was spent by taking a short hike, map reading tests and games of skill. Lots of fun was had by all. The leaders on hand were, Scoutmaster Dave Sugarman, Assistant Scoutmaster I. (Rube) Rubin, Committee Chairman Al Doctor and Committeman Eddie Breitbard.
Any boy who has the benefit of scouting will undoubtedly grow up to be a man of finer character and broader citizenship than the one who has not had the advantage of scouting. So why not bring your boy down to our “Open House” and get acquainted. Any boy who is 11 years of age, or who will be 11 soon, can join. If your boy is over 11, bring him down also because scouting actually has no age limit. When your boy becomes 16 years old, we will then register him as a Junior Assistant Scoutmaster, regardless of how much or how little scouting he may have had in the past. We hold our troop meetings each Wednesday night at Tifereth Israel Synagogue, 30th and Howard Streets. Parents and visitors are always welcome.
You Name It
Southwestern Jewish Press, March 28, 1950, page 25
By Sammy Krasner and Don Rosen
Thanks a lot! We’re deeply grateful to the many readers who sent us thousands of post-cards suggesting names for this column, namely Judy Yukon of National City, whose suggestion was “Kosher Kollege Kibitizings.” The judiciary committee is having a terrible time picking the winner. Consequently the contest will be continued and the grand prize—well, it is still a secret.
We’ve heard from a local party-pooper that Beta Tau’s first annual “Bubble Dance” was a huge success. This closed bid house party was held at the Irving Krasner estate. The affair created a challenge for future activities. Speaking of Beta Tau, we’ve leared that this growing fraternity has applied for colony status with the National Offices of Zeta Beta Tau. They expect a reply within the next few weeks.
Speaking for the Jewish students at State College, we wish to thank Dr. Walter Hepner for arranging spring vacation to coincide with Pesach. This will save us the trouble of schlepping Matzos to school.
State College has been selected to serve as host for Deans of Men confab to be held at the end of this month. Hillel will give the benediction at the banquet to be held at the Fronton Palace, situated in picturesque old Tijuana.
Seen on the bulletin board: Round trip to Israel, 937 Shekels. This includes all expenses, namely –Blintzes, Borscht and Batel.
The “Aztec,” State’s weekly newspaper, complained last week of the lack of news on campus which reminds us of a story.
The city editor explained to the cub reporter, “”Now when a dog bites a man, that’s old stuff. But let a man bite a dog, and boy, that’s news. Get it?”
“Yes, sir”
“Well go out and dig up some news, and make it good.”
“Yes, sir.”
An hour later, that boy was back. He threw himself at his typewriter and pounded furiously. The city editor grew curious and finally strolled over to see and read on the headline:
“Hydrant Sprays Dog.”
Next week, Hillel will hold its third Annual Inter-faith Passover Seder. The Seder will begin at 7:30 p.m., March 28, at Scripps Cottage. Officiating will be Rabbi Cohn and Cantor Miller.
Beta Taus’ Richard Silberman, part time television repair man for Cantor Bros., has been elected as co-chairman of the Youth Division of the U.J.F. This year the money is not as abundant, but remember—the need is just as great. Give, All you can – and then some!
Keep sending in those postcards. We should say start sending them in, who knows what you may win? The address again, Sammy Krasner, 810 W. Upas. Well we have to get back to differential calculytical isotopes. Be seein’ you guys and gals on or around campus. Happy Passover to you and yours.
1950 Fund Drive Begins
Jewish Community Will Meet Obligations; Campaign Off to Good Start!
Southwestern Jewish Press, April 14, 1950, pages 1, 4
San Diego launched its 1950 United Jewish Fund “Keep the Miracle Alive” Drive this week with campaign workers moving in an all out drive to raise $283,000 to fulfill urgent needs of more than 39 local, overseas and national agencies.
Over $50,000 in advanced gifts have been pledged to the United Jewish Fund already, according to Campaign Chairmen Murray D. Goodrich and Nathaniel Ratner. Small advance gift dinners, run by members of the Campaign Committee, accounted for this auspicious start. Significant increases in the amounts of individual gifts were an encouraging sign, amounting to an overall average of over 16 percent, the chairmen revealed.
“our big problem is to get workers to volunteer to go out and call upon prospects,” the chairman said. “We must follow up each and every prospect, and we can if we get complete cooperation, especially among our organizations. We hope that Magic Carpet Day on Sunday April 30th will not only e the solution to complete coverage, but also make for a quick campaign.”
“Last year, out of 2,000 prospective givers in our file, we secured only 1,600 pledges. This means that 400 persons didn’t respond. They didn’t give and some Jews didn’t live, because no one called on them.”
According to the chairman, the Women’s Division has reported that it is ready to start the campaign, and will have its advance gift luncheon on April 18th at the El Cortez Hotel with Selma Getz, Women’s Division Chairman, as the hostess.
April 27 will be a Red Letter Day in San Diego’s campaign history, when the women of San Diego gather at the one large meeting to make their contributions to “Keep the Miracle Alive.”
On another front, the Young People’s Division is planning a campaign to cover the largest number of young people yet solicited in San Diego Sunday Schools. High Schools, College and young marrieds will be involved in the campaign plans of the Youth leaders.
A gala event of the Young Peoples campaign—a dinner dance, at which Ernst Michel, well known dynamic young speaker, will address the young people, will be held on Saturday, April 22, in the Marine Room of the San Diego Hotel.
On another front, the Christian Division of the United Jewish Fund, led by Charles Davies, opened it phase of the Campaign with a committee meeting held this week at the San Diego Club. 29 Community leaders gathered to hear the story of the United Jewish Appeal of the United Fund as told by Leo Lania, outstanding correspondent, commentator and author.
“Let’s go San Diego!”
With sights set for $283,000, knowing that the cause is just and worthy, knowing that the entire community is looking to see what the United Jewish fund will do in 1950, we cannot miss. “Let’s Go San Diego! Give so tht they may live! Keep the Miracle Alive!”
BALLOON UTOPIA
SAN DIEGO JEWISH WORLD: THE WEEK IN REVIEW
INTERNATIONAL
Peace-making, solving world food shortage are interrelated necessities by Donald H. Harrison in Tel Aviv
Local religious customs should be observed at the Western Wall by Ira Sharkansky in Jerusalem
Hamas must be 'dealt' with, by Shoshana Bryen in Washington, D.C.
CAMPAIGN 2008
San Diego Jewish World endorsements
SAN DIEGO
Sweat-equity partners sought for San Diego Jewish World by publisher
ARTS
Adarim: a shepherd's song transformed, by Cantor Sheldon Merel in San Diego
Classical Israeli musicians reunite at Rancho Santa Fe performance
ADVENTURES IN SAN DIEGO JEWISH HISTORY
— March 28, 1950: Jolly Sixteen
— March 28, 1950: J.C.R.A.
— March 28, 1950: San Diego Lasker Lodge No 37
INTERNATIONAL
Peres Peace House inaugurated during center's 10th anniversary by Donald H. Harrison in Tel Aviv
Livni's call for new elections puts peace with Palestinians on back burner by Ira Sharkansky in Jerusalem
Ten Mideast lessons for next President by Norman Manson in San Diego
CAMPAIGN 2008
San Diego Jewish World endorsements
LIFESTYLES
Psychology teacher taught lessons to staff by Sheila Orysiek in San Diego
ARTS
Play sculpts Jewish advice columnist whom readers knew as "Ann Landers" by Cynthia Citron in Pasadena, California
ADVENTURES IN SAN DIEGO JEWISH HISTORY
—March 28, 1950: News of the Fox
—March 28, 1950: San Diego Birdie Stodel B’nai B’rith Chapter No. 92
—March 28, 1950: Pioneer Women (Negba) Club
INTERNATIONAL
Lame duck leaders seek to change conditions in the Middle East pond by Shoshana Bryen in Washington D.C.
CAMPAIGN 2008
Pro-Obama column, endorsement excoriated by Arizona reader — Letter to the Editor from Alan Rockman in Phoenix, Arizona
Campaign rhetoric promoting discrimination against Arabs, Muslims, African-Americans—Letter to the Editor from Carol Ann Goldstein in San Diego
SAN DIEGO
Sweat-equity partners sought for San Diego Jewish World by future-minded publisher — A message from Donald H. Harrison
San Diego teen practices tikkun olam by Sara Appel-Lennon in San Diego
JUDAISM
What is meant in Genesis that man was created in God's image? by Rabbi Leonard Rosenthal in San Diego
ARTS
J*Company's Pocahontas thrilled — even before curtain went up by David Riech in San Diego
This Minority of One Fails to be Enchanted by Cynthia Citron in Los Angele
SPORTS
A bissel sports trivia with Bruce Lowitt in Oldsmar, Florida
ADVENTURES IN SAN DIEGO JEWISH HISTORY
—March 28, 1950: Jewish War Veterans, S.D. Post No. 185
—March 28, 1950: Council of Jewish Women
—March 28, 1950: Labor Zionist Organization
—March 28, 1950: Junior Charity Leagu
{Click an underlined headline in this area to jump to the corresponding story. Or, you may scroll leisurely through our report}
CAMPAIGN 2008
Yes, McCain pro-Israel, but... by Gary Rotto in San Diego
San Diego Jewish World endorsements, with links to editorials on which they were based
SAN DIEGO
U.S. Presidents as seen by Richard Lederer by Gerry Greber in Escondido, California
ARTS
Reprise: Thursdays with the songs of Hal Wingard—Linking problems prevented many people from hearing Hal's songs yesterday, so here are the links to them now. Printed lyrics may be found in Thursday's edition: #41 Old Love Sweet Love; , #91 Together We Will Watch Our Love; #280 To Make Things Fair.
Bleeding Kansas powerful in juxtaposition with U.S. election by Carol Davis in San Diego
ADVENTURES IN SAN DIEGO JEWISH HISTORY
—March 28, 1950: The Center Side
—March 28, 1950: Local Leaders Attend Men’s Club Conference in L.A.
—March 28, 1950:Toy Packing Party
—March 28, 1950:Bay City Chapter 713
CAMPAIGN 2008
Obama has a Yiddishe neshuma by Gary Rotto in San Diego
San Diego Jewish World endorsements, with links to editorials on which they were based
INTERNATIONAL
U.S. election, Israel coalition building again in Jewish spotlight as holidays end by Ira Sharkansky in Jerusalem
JUDAISM
The trouble with improvising Judaism by David Benkof in New York
ADVENTURES IN SAN DIEGO JEWISH HISTORY
—March 28, 1950: Support San Diego Jewish Soccer Club
—March 28, 1950: Surprise for Rabbi Levens
—March 28, 1950:Civic Protective Agencies To Be Part Of The 1950 ‘Keep the Miracle Alive’ Campaign
—March 28, 1950: Passover Recipes
COMMUNITY WATCH
Lawrence Family JCC: Documentary on Hannah Senesh at San Diego Jewish Film Festival
CAMPAIGN 2008
San Diego Jewish World endorsements, with links to our editorials
INTERNATIONAL
The Jews Down Under, a roundup of Jewish news of Australia by Garry Fabian in Melbourne
—Musician saved by Oskar Schindler dies at 90
—Australian Government backtracks on Ahmadinejad
—Police regret Yom Kippur jaywalk ticket
—JCCV Calls for urgent meeting with police
—Australia likely to attend Durban II
—Former Melbourne Jewish teacher jailed in the US
—Jewish Students snub B'nai B'rith competition
—Melbourne Jewish Communal launch in 2010
JUDAISM
A celebrity's courtship with Torah by Judy Lash Balint in Jerusalem
Holidays help measure time and values by Fred Reiss in Winchester, California
ADVENTURES IN SAN DIEGO JEWISH HISTORY
—March 28, 1950: Letters to the Editor from Nixie Kern, B.B., and Pauline Opert
—March 28, 1950: Once Upon A Time {Jews of Libya} by Pauline Oppert
COMMUNITY WATCH
Lawrence Family JCC: Religion and Atheism To Collide at S.D. Jewish Book Fair
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