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THE VIEW FROM JINSA

Killers from the swamp of hatred

By Shoshana Bryen

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The terrorist attacks in Mumbai were extraordinarily well planned: it took a year, the experts said. Selecting and training the right people; getting them to the target; having ammunition (and accomplices?) in place; diversionary attacks; and then the main strikes on two Western-oriented targets. They let some Turkish people go, and an Italian, keeping the British and Americans. They were not suicide bombers - they intended to live as long as they could to kill as many people as they could.

And amid the yearlong operation, they found and cased the Chabad House. Jews constitute an estimated 0.03 percent of the population of Mumbai, but these guys took the time to find and kill the Jews. [And who are those Western journalists calling Chabad "missionaries"? They are not, but if they were, would that make a difference?]

We will hear more about who and what and why, but if you want to know who did it, it was the killers from the swamp. Whether al Qaeda or al Qaeda-wannabes, whether British-born Pakistanis (there is evidence that some were) or Pakistani-born-Pakistanis or Indians, whether trained in Pakistan or Afghanistan or Iran, there are people who work around the world to bend the minds of young men (women are in the closet) to kill on behalf of radical Muslim ideology that has as its enemies Jews, Hindus, the West (including but not only Christianity), modernity in all its forms including democratic thinking and the rights of women.

The Australian newspaper reported that the surviving terrorist said they were sent on their mission after listening to, "provocative speeches by Hafiz Mohammed Saeed... Saeed, described as [terrorist organization Lashkar e-Taibe]'s supreme religious and political head, declared in one speech: 'The only language India understands is that of force, and that is the language it must be talked to in.'" The Australian cited terror analyst Praveen Swami who has followed Saeed. "India, [Saeed] claimed, was 'building dams in Jammu and Kashmir to choke Pakistan's water supplies and cripple its agriculture.'" According to Swami, Saeed told his followers that India had "made a deal with the United States to send 150,000 Indian troops to Afghanistan" and that it agreed to support the U.S. in its existential war against Islam. In Lahore at the end of October, Swami said, "Saeed proclaimed that there was an 'ongoing war in the world between Islam and its enemies.'" "He claimed that 'crusaders of the East and West have united in a cohesive onslaught against Muslims,'"

None are real; all are easily believed by the easily led.

We are reminded that in July, the NYPD published a report about the potential for homegrown terrorism in the United States and for the radicalization of segments of the American Muslim population. They were most concerned about the use of the Internet to spread radical ideology in private, along with local radical leaders who could find susceptible young people to send abroad to be steeped in the ideology of the swamp.

Mumbai was not about politics or political grievances. It was about carefully honed hatred coupled with the means to kill. And that is what we in the progressive world - including and particularly the progressive Muslim world - have to worry about. Hatred taught and nurtured.

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, longtime JINSA supporter and national board member.





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LETTER FROM JERUSALEM


Battling terrorists a Sissyphean task


By Ira Sharkansky

JERUSALEM--Events in Mumbai (Bombay) offer several lessons for the war on terror.

Sisyphus is the most helpful of all the experts. He is the chap condemned to roll forever a huge boulder up a hill, never reaching the top.

The war is enervating and--as far as we can see into the future--endless.

There is no substitute for a lot of work that does not contribute clearly to the protection of the innocent, yet may deter the violent. Israelis have gotten used to being inspected upon entering shopping malls and supermarkets. International travelers have learned not to carry fingernail clippers on their person, nor to approach check points with bottles of water, and to wear shoes that are easy to shed for inspection.

As I began to write this, information about a terror plot caused the police to erect roadblocks on the approaches to Tel Aviv during the morning rush hour. Traffic jams stretched over the horizon. The roadblocks did not produce any villains. Perhaps they dissuaded some from their mission.

Citizens gripe about threats to human rights, Guantanamo, ethnic profiling, as well as the expense and inconvenience of security. No one can be sure that any one action is useful. There are fanatics who do harm in the name of national security. Civilized countries must screen their protective services for sadists who would prey on the vulnerable.

Not all the Israeli soldiers and police at the checkpoints treat Arabs appropriately. There are back and forth claims of insufficient investigation of abuses, against assertions that most of the alleged abuses did not occur.

There are not enough geniuses to supply all the personnel needed in this war. Israeli Jews born in Iraq or Iran have more trouble than others getting visas to the United States. White haired grandparents of obvious European origin must pass through the same screening at airports as young adults, traveling alone, with dark skin and beards.

Despite the intensity of the safeguards, there remain soft areas, some of them known to the bad people, where it is possible to wreck havoc.

The point of all the preventative actions, many of which are trivial and disturbing, is to send the bad people to areas that are less thorough in defending themselves.

Some of these soft spots, like India, generate their own reasons for terror. High on the list of "injustices" that motivated the killers in Mumbai were Kashmir, and the alleged misfortunes of their Muslim brothers and sisters in India. Reports are that they did not proclaim their concern for Palestine, Iraq or Afghanistan.

Nonetheless, they made a point of going after Jews, as well as tourists from the United States and Britain. Fashions prevail in the world of Muslim fanatics.

The violent who targeted Bali had no trouble citing injustices in Indonesia, as well as finding visiting infidels who added to the pollution that they perceived.

The price of civilization is threat from the barbarians. The Chinese and Romans built walls. Israelis, Americans, and others maintain security at airports and elsewhere, limit privacy, and other civil rights. Those actions may help. They do not assure safety. We have all seen guards who were nonchalant or tired.

Americans might think of posting checkpoints and guards at the entrances to all public buildings, including schools and shopping centers. They could stop some of the deranged locals intent on killing fellow workers or schoolmates, as well as terrorists with more elaborate motives. Who wants the expense and the bother? Is the occasional disaster preferable?

It was possible to deal with earlier waves of terror by concerted action, as well as waiting for the passing of fashions among people who aspire to revolution. European anarchists, Weathermen, Beider Meinhof, and Black Panthers no longer trouble us. None had the theological infrastructure of radical Islam. We are still waiting for the magic bullets that will protect us from them without inconvenience or worse for innocent people, some of whom are Muslim, or look like they might be Muslim.

Sisyphus was miserable. So are the rest of us, especially when we lose yet another battle in the ongoing war. The hill is long and steep. We cannot see the top. We have no great ideas about how to get there.

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






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THE JEWS DOWN UNDER


Nazi medical horrors subject of exhibit

By Garry Fabian

MELBOURNE - The Melbourne Jewish Holocaust Museum and Research Centre is currently hosting an exhibition of material relating to the Nazi medical experiements.

“They reviewed a number of experiments, postwar, and the verdict was that the Nazi experiments were badly planned, badly executed, fraudulent in many cases and, ethically and morally, nothing should be used from any of them.”

Dr Weisz has a unique dual medical and historical view of the Holocaust-era experiments. He is also the son of a labour camp survivor. And with his background, it is close to impossible for Dr Weisz to emotionally detach himself, despite the pleas from his wife.

He became visibly emotional when he recalled conversations with twin survivors, who were operated on by the notorious Nazi doctor, Josef Mengele. “I bowed to her [one of the twins] because we are just dilettantes, looking from far away,” he explained. “I was alive during the war, but I was a little boy. These people were the real ones.”

More than anything, it is the futility of the Nazi experiments that disturbs Dr Weisz.

“There were experiments for military aims, scientific aims, but nothing was produced that was not [previously] known,” he said. “The opposite was – and this is what my other line of research is – what Jewish doctors did in the ghettos in those very, very restricted conditions. They produced marvellous discoveries, with long-running effects into the 21st century.”

Dr Weisz said he wants every person who views the exhibition to understand that what the Nazis did was a crime against everything sacred in medicine.

There is one aspect of the Holocaust that nobody can deny according to Dr George Weisz: Nazi medicine.

“The Nazi doctors were very meticulous in recording,” Dr Weisz, a Holocaust medicine researcher, said. “They did not manage to destroy the documents because they presented them at medical conferences and they published them in medical journals.”

Dr Weisz, a Sydney-based orthopaedic surgeon, is a part-time historian with a special interest in Holocaust-era medicine.

After visiting an exhibition on the subject at the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington, Dr Weisz decided to tell Australians more about the grotesque, unscientific, unethical experiments carried out by the Nazis.

Together with Holocaust expert Professor Konrad Kweit and curator Roslyn Sugarman, he produced a local version of the Washington exhibition, which is now on display at Melbourne’s Jewish Holocaust Centre.

The exhibition, Nazi Medicine 1933-1945, was shown in New South Wales at the Sydney Jewish Museum and on two university campuses before coming to Melbourne.

“I was reading on the topic for years and thought I knew everything,” he said about the years he spent researching the exhibition. “In truth, I knew very little and what was most surprising was the editorial of the most distinguished medical journal in the world, The New England Journal of Medicine.


Hitler salute a bad mistake, soccer star admits

SYDNEY - Socceroos legend Mark Bosnich has talked of his embarrassment over an infamous Hitler-style salute he made while playing for Aston Villa, at Maccabi Futsal function on Sunday.
Bosnich made the gesture during a game against Tottenham Hotspur – a club renowned for its Jewish supporter base – in 1996.

The Aussie goalkeeping great made a guest appearance at Maccabi Futsal training last weekend, where he put the club’s goalkeepers through their paces in a two-hour training session.

Speaking after the coaching clinic, the former Aston Villa, Manchester United, Chelsea and Central Coast Mariners player said he regretted the controversial moment.

“Of course. That was a bad mistake, but the thing is, my Auntie living in Croatia is Jewish,” he explained. “The biggest trouble I got into was from my father, who told me if I ever wanted to make those jokes again, I better go change my name.”

A contrite Bosnich said he was grateful that the Jewish club had received him with open arms, and that “it doesn’t really matter what race, colour or creed, I just like to help children in general these days."

The Maccabi Futsal club’s opens and junior boys and girls keepers enjoyed a unique training session at Maccabi’s home ground at Rose Bay Secondary College on Sunday, where arguably Australia’s greatest goalkeeper went through the fundamentals of the position before signing autographs and taking photos with the excited youngsters.

The club got hold of Bosnich through a charity dinner for Youth in Search, an organisation that helps get disadvantaged children back on their feet, which Bosnich has thrown his support behind.

Having returned to Australia after a tumultuous period abroad, Bosnich said that both helping kids, as well as getting involved in grassroots football, was something he enjoyed.

“It’s lovely, it’s like a re-fuelling process,” he said. “I’d just like to keep putting something back in where people deserve it.”

Maccabi Futsal president and first-team goalkeeper John Myers took part in the session, describing it as a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

“Having someone of Mark’s profile was great. But he was also a genuinely nice guy willing to share his experiences,” he said. “He was great with the kids, he remembered all their names.”

Myers praised Bosnich’s professionalism as he went through each aspect of goalkeeping technique with each of the juniors that took part. “And he was very decent, easy to talk to. The kids felt comfortable and the keepers asked a lot of questions, and he was happy to answer every single one.”

Bosnich enjoyed the session too, and the challenge of catering for both boys and girls of all ages and development. “Everyone’s different, everyone chooses different ways to do their job. You don’t want to give too much information, you don’t want to give too little, you don’t want to overload the kids – and then they can go pick what suits them the best.”

Myers added that he even picked up tips of the trade that he’ll be using for a long time to come. “I’m the world’s oldest rookie and I even took things out of it. Not only did the kids enjoy working out with Mark himself, but it’s always valuable for them to do a good technical session rather than just having balls pumped at them.”

Meanwhile, the men’s and cult’s futsal sides sit mid-table in their NSW Super League campaigns. The men’s side, coached by Futsalroo captain Simon Keith, just returned from the State Titles where it was eliminated in the group stages. Marco Pin and Samuel Kettler enjoyed strong showings for the cult’s side.

Holocaust study course being developed

MELBOURNE - The Australian Centre for Jewish Civilisation at Monash University has developed a recent initiative in Holocaust and Genocide studies. The interdisciplinary program explores the Holocaust as a turning point in human history, the causes and effects of modern genocides and examines what is now being done to prevent mass atrocities across the world.

Students will consider the complex issues of genocidal violence, displaced persons and refugees, human rights, international law, ethics, cultural memory, and community regeneration. The program is offered through a partnership between the Australian Centre for Jewish Civilisation, the School of Historical Studies, the Castan Centre for Human Rights Law, and the Centre for Australian Indigenous Studies. Students can also undertake an overseas internship placement as part of their study; in 2009, enrolled students will be invited to participate in a course that was recently based on the events that have taken place in areas of Africa.

Liberal synagogue celebrates major milestone

MELBOURNE - Almost 350 people attended a special Shabbat service at Temple Beth Israel (TBI) on Saturday to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the synagogue's building.

Speaking at the service of rededication, Rabbi Fred Morgan, TBI's chief rabbi, recounted the construction of the building, which was completed in 1958, and was the second in the congregation's history, replacing the original building that was dedicated in 1937.

The 1958 building was completely renovated in the late 1980s and reopened in its present form in 1990.

At that stage, what were perhaps its most remembered characteristics, its timber flooring and pews of timber seating, were replaced, but the basic external structure was retained.

Guests at Saturday's service included James Merlino, Minister assisting Premier John Brumby on Multicultural Affairs, MLA for Caulfield Helen Shardey, Glen Eira Councillor Margaret Esakoff, Union for Progressive Judaism executive director Steve Denenberg, and representatives from the Council of Christians and Jews, as well as religious leaders from other faith communities.

Green light for contempt case, as Germany drops its demand for extradition of Holocaust denier Toben

SYDNEY - With German authorities pausing in their bid to bring Fredrick Toben to trial on criminal charges, the focus has swung back to a two-year-old Australian contempt case against the globetrotting Holocaust denier.

Prosecutors in Germany have pulled the plug on their current attempt to bring the Adelaide man to court in their country, where Holocaust denial is classified as a crime, but say they will continue to pursue him.

State prosecutor for the district of Mannheim, Andreas Grossmann, said this week a British court's refusal to extradite Toben had halted the German legal campaign for the moment.
"England will not extradite him, but we will continue to attempt to have him arrested in other countries," he said.

Meanwhile, Toben has fled Britain and his lawyer told media he was taking a holiday, before returning to Australia.

Toben's travels took him to Iran in 2006, where he spoke at a conference of Holocaust deniers.
He was arrested at London's Heathrow Airport on October 1, on a European Union warrant that specified his extradition to Germany but was later freed on bail. Unlike Germany, Britain does not regard Holocaust denial as a criminal offence.

The German prosecution had based its case on allegations that Toben had published material denying the Holocaust on his website from 2000 to 2004.

After initially signalling an appeal against a ruling by Westminster Magistrates Court that the warrant contained only "sparse" details of Toben's alleged offences, the German prosecutors decided not to proceed.

Last week's change of strategy by German lawyers has shifted the international spotlight to Australia, where Toben is facing a contempt hearing in the Federal Court.

He is accused of flouting a 2002 ruling by that court, that he take down and not replace Holocaust denial content posted on his Adelaide Institute website.

The contempt case was launched two years ago by Jeremy Jones who was president of the Executive Council of Australian Jewry in 2002 when he won the initial proceeding against Toben in the Federal Court.

The Australian court case, judged on Australian law, is unlikely to be affected by the dropping of the German case.

Now that the European case appears to have been abandoned, at least for the moment, it has cleared away legal hurdles that may have delayed the Federal Court in imposing a prison sentence as part of any penalty it may prescribe for Toben.

If Toben had been jailed in Germany, he might not have been able to give evidence to the Federal Court relating to sentencing.

U of Melbourne, Hebrew University sign pact

MELBOURNE - Historic agreement … This week, the University of Melbourne signed a memorandum of understanding with the Hebrew University of Jerusalem for academic cooperation. It is the first time an Australian and Israeli university have been formally linked.

Rabbis ponder new IVF laws

MELBOURNE - While reaffirming their support for assisted reproduction technology such as IVF, Melbourne’s Orthodox rabbis have expressed concern over aspects of new legislation currently before the Victorian Parliament.

The Assisted Reproductive Technology Bill will grant single and lesbian women access to reproductive treatment, including IVF, and will grant greater parenting rights to parents of surrogate children and gay couples.

Rabbinical Council of Victoria (RCV) president Rabbi Meir Shlomo Kluwgant said that Jewish tradition is comfortable with assisted reproduction, and supports access to IVF and many other technologies that allow infertile couples to have ­children.

“However, it does not support the use of IVF and other technologies of assisted reproduction to create children outside the classical model of mother and father,” he said.

The legislation, which was subject to a conscience vote by Labor MPs, passed through the Legislative Assembly, but remains in committee stage in the Legislative Council, as various elements are debated.

The RCV recently opposed voluntary euthanasia legislation, which had failed to be passed in Parliament, but unsuccessfully opposed a recent softening of abortion laws.

Meanwhile, Rabbi Kluwgant was re-elected for his fifth term as head of the RCV, at its annual meeting last week.

“I am both humbled and honoured by the confidence placed in me by my colleagues and look forward to working with them to establish the Rabbinical Council as a powerful, authoritative and pre-eminent leadership force in the Jewish and broader Victorian community,” he told the AGM.

The meeting was told that progress was still being made towards the establishment of a beth din for commercial matters, as well as the finalisation of a prenuptial agreement to be implemented as a mandatory part of every Jewish marriage ceremony.

Rabbis Philip Heilbrunn, Ralph Genende, Yirmi Garfunkel and Yaacov Glasman were reappointed to the executive, while Rabbis Mordechai Gutnick, Yakov Barber and Avraham Kievman were re-appointed as dayanim (judges).

Intercultural visit to synagogue

MELBOURNE - As part of Australian Interfaith Service (AIS) 'visits to places of worship project', a group of Muslims will visit Temple Beth Israel to learn about Jewish traditions and practices.

The project aims to develop a better understanding between the two faiths by building bridges through interaction and cooperation. The Synagogue visit is organized by the AIS and Rabbi Fred Morgan of Temple Beth Israel. In 2005 and 2006, the Australian Intercultural Society Inc & B'nai B'rith Anti-Defamation Commission Inc. have undertaken many significant projects under the 'Living in Harmony Grant."

Some of the significant projects co-organized by the two incorporations were "Building Bridges and Becoming Friends" projects and "Embracing Youth" Project." Main objective of these projects is to develop a lasting understanding and friendships between the Australian Muslim and Jewish communities.

New leadership for Jewish Community Council

MELBOURNE - The Jewish Community Council of Victoria (JCCV) changed presidents at its triennial meeting last week, farewelling Anton Block and ushering in communal stalwart John Searle.

Formerly chair of the B'nai B'rith Anti-Defamation Commission, Searle brings an extensive background in law and communal work to the position.

He has been a member of the JCCV executive, a Victorian councillor of the Executive Council of Australian Jewry and founding president of Blake Street Hebrew Congregation.

Searle told the meeting he is "confident that this team of skilled and talented people will build on Anton Block's rock-solid foundation". In his valedictory address, Block signed off on a list of his six key achievements, which he said the state roof body had chalked up during his three years at the helm.

He said the organisation had improved its finances, appointed an executive director, created a board of governors, laid the groundwork for a community appeal, launched a lay leadership program, and fostered volunteerism.

"The JCCV finances have continued to improve and its now able to work from a secure financial base" Block said, adding that the organisation had remained debt-free.

Geoffrey Zygier's appointment as executive director, he said, "has seen the JCCV engage in many new initiatives and projects, which previously the JCCV did not have the resources to attempt."

The JCCV's Community Awards, which encourage volunteerism, were initiated on 2006, and have become a regular feature of the community calendar, Block added. He also said that the JCCV was pushing ahead on a number of fronts, including multicultural and interfaith liaison, security, Holocaust remembrance, communal appeals, social justice, volunteerism, leadership and a comprehensive calendar of community events.

Airport closure causes havoc for Jewish travellers

SYDNEY - Travel between Australia and Israel has been thrown into chaos by the closure of the main Bangkok airport, which has been taken over by Thai protesters.

The People's Alliance for Democracy protesters overran the Suvarnabhumi site on Tuesday, leaving thousands of travellers either stranded in Thailand or needing to make alternative arrangements in order to avoid a key Asian hub.

El Al passengers are particularly affected because Thailand is one of just two Asian stopover locations for Australians travelling to Israel. There are no direct flights between Australia and Israel.

Travel agent Michael Shneier from Sabra Travel in Bondi said there's definitely a problem travelling to Israel via Bangkok at the moment.

"The last week, there have been passengers stranded in Bangkok. We've been re-routing our passengers via Hong Kong with El Al or alternatively via Zurich with Swiss Air," he said.
Reports suggest Suvarnabhumi airport will be closed until at least 6pm on Saturday night, which will further complicate matters. Many Orthodox Jews travelling between Israel and Australia leave immediately after Shabbat.

Mumbai attack message to Obama?

SYDNEY - Former Australian prime minister John Howard said he believes terrorists who carried out a wave of coordinated attacks on Mumbai last week had intended to send US president-elect Barack Obama a “message”.

Speaking at a Hebrew University function in Sydney on Sunday night, Howard said: “I have no doubt the terrorists planned it to say to president-elect [Barack] Obama: ‘Don’t you imagine because you’re replacing President Bush who we despise that we’re going to like you … we’re not.’”

He added that the attacks are a “brutal reminder” that the threat of international terrorism is still with us.

The current death toll from the terror attacks in Mumbai has reached 172 and is expected to climb.

“International terrorism is an assault upon commonly held values all around the world,” Howard said.

“The matter in which the attacks were carried out in India … the singling out of nationals from Britain and the US and in the indiscriminate {killing of} people of all faiths … is a reminder of the terrible reality that the fight against terrorism is going to be with us for a very long time into the future.

“It’s also a reminder that those people with their own vision of freedom, individual liberty and rational thought and proper academic inquiry in common … more than ever must bind with each other and act together against the forces of evil around the world.”

Howard appeared at the gala event held at the Sofitel Wentworth Hotel to receive an honorary doctorate from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.

The university said it acknowledged Howard's "outstanding statesmanship and leading role on the world stage in promoting democracy and combating international terrorism" and his "remarkable understanding of, and exceptional support for, the State of Israel and his deep friendship with the Australian Jewish community."

Bureau chief Fabian may be contacted at fabiang@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.



Our Task {Editorial on Jewish Community Center}

Southwestern Jewish Press, May 26, 1950, page 2

San Diego needs a Jewish community Center.  We have been aware for many years that we need proper facilities, where Jewish people of all ages, but particularly younger people, can have a Center where they can participate in a wholesome environment in Jewish recreational and cultural activitie.s In modern American Jewish life, such a community program is a MUST and this is one of the facilities which our community has found lacking.

Virtually every Jewish community in this country has its Community Center.  Many of much smaller size than San Diego have such facilities.  Its importance in American Jewish life cannot be underestimated.

There are several necessary and interdependent factors which make for a healthy, well-balanced American Jewish community.  These include a home which provides security, not only financially, but also emotionally, for the proper development of the individual.  Also, we must have sound and effective schools and religious institutions for proper Jewish education and spiritual nurture, and finally, in the proper perspective we definitely need a sound program for Jewish cultural and rereaitoal activities on a community level.

The history of Jewish communal life in America has proven that this latter phase can be secured only when the program is under the auspices of the total Jewish Community.

We as a community have a continuing responsibility for the overseas needs which are still present. No one can say for how many years we will be required to make available large scale assistance.  Nevertheless, as long as these needs continue, we will make every effort to fill them.  In the meantime, however it is important that we also recognize our local needs and similarly plan to meet them.

As our fathers provided for us, so too is it important that we provide for our children proper facilities for all phases of Jewish communal life so that the heritage can in turn be passed on enriched.

We have more than our fathers, and therefore have a greater responsibility to our children. IT is now our privilege to create  a Jewish Community Center, of which we can be proud, and which will leave a wholesome lasting impression on our children.

In another section of this paper there appears the results of a survey conducted among the youth of San Diego. Read it thoroughly.  It will amaze you as it did us.  We must face our responsibility to our youth now. Support the Jewish Center movement and make San Diego a better place to live in.


Council of Jewish Women
Southwestern Jewish Press, May 26, 1950, page 2

By Madame X  {Julia Steinman}

It is with deep humility that I write this column, my first as “Madame X” that is ex-president of the San Diego Section, National Council of Jewish Women. 

I look back on the past two years with its trials and errors, many hours of anxiety and often a sense of futility wondering why life must be so complicated. However, the more complications that arise, the greater the challenge to succeed.

Being a clubwoman is like being a mother.  For nine months we prepare with care, patience and anxiety looking forward with great anticipation to the grand climax.  When the great day arrives there is a sense of joy and pride that something fine has been accomplished.

San Diego Section, National Council of Jewish Women have brought two important events in fulfillment in the past year. The Council House and Thrift Shop, and like a mother, they have a fierce pride in their two infants.  They still require a lot of care and guidance, especially the Thrift Shop  which must be sustained during the coming summer months in order to meet the obligations which continue although Council has no meetings during the summer.

Likewise the Council House must continue to function to be prepared for newcomers that will arrive during the summer.

I should like to share the pride I recently felt, when as a delegate I attended the Western Regional Conference, National Council of Jewish Women in Salt Lake City.  It was there, fellow member, I learned that our section was the only one among many small sections that operated a thrift shop. I learned many other important facts but of greatest importance was our section being represented at the conference and meeting with delegates from the entire West Coast who are also giving their time and energy for the fine work carried on by National Council of Jewish Women

May I take this opportunity to thank the officers who served with me for their cooperation, understanding and guidance.

To all the chairmen and co-chairmen and all who served to further the work of our section, may I say “thank you” for job well done.  I know you feel, as I do, that the satisfaction gained from your job is thanks enough.  To name you all this time would take too much space, but I do want to mention Mrs. Estelle Levi, chairman of Thrift Shop for the time spent in keeping the shop well manned with volunteers.

In closing, may I ask that you give to my successor, Mrs. David Doctor, and her officers, the affection, cooperation and understanding given me during my administration.


Hadassah Elects New Officers
Southwestern Jewish Press, May 26, 1950, page 3

At the last luncheon meeting held on May 10th, the new officers to serve the San Diego Chapter of Hadassah were elected.  Heading the slate as president will be Mrs. Al Slayen and assisting her will be the following officers: Mesdames Sidney Goldhammer, 1st Vice President; David Block, 2nd Vice Pres.; Harry Rosenthal, Financial Sec’y; Edward Kitaen, Recording Sec’y; Hyman Kitaen, Treasurer; Isidore Teacher, Auditor; Louis Bickman and Julius Levine, Parliamentarians.

Much interest is being shown in the forthcoming donor luncheon to be held at the El Cortez Hotel on Tuesday, June 13th, at which time the local chapter will be honored by the presence of Mrs. Julius Epstein, former national Hadassah president.  Mrs. Epstein is at the present time in Israel dong important Hadassah wok.

Co-chairmen for the luncheon are Mrs. Manuel Haffner and Mrs. Jack Gross.  Plans are in the making by a large committee of workers for a most entertaining afternoon and it is anticipated that there will be a record attendance.  Reservations should be made as soon as possible with Tully Kitean, T. 1-4140 or either of the co-chairmen.


Pioneer Women Negba Club
Southwestern Jewish Press, May 26, 1950, page 3

All board members convened at the home of Chavera Lillian, chairlady, to discuss final plans for making the picnic a success.  If hard work and great enthusiasm make for success, then this picnic, God willing, will be  areal one.

The merchandise to be displayed and auctioned at the Bazaar, always an entertaining feature of our picnics, will really surprise everyone.  Space does not permit a description, but better than any description—come and see for yourselves. They are gorgeous!

The event will take place in the usual location at Pepper Grove, Balboa Park, Sunday, May 28, from dawn until evening. A menu to make your mouth water from now till then will consist of a  platter of borscht, fish (baked or gefilte, you may have your choice), potato salad, luchen kugel, baked beans, coffee and cake. The price is $1.25 which can’t be beat anywhere.  Also many Yiddish machls a la carte.

Just a suggestion to all who are going to have a wonderful time at the Bay City B’nai B’rith Women’s Noche de la Balle on Saturday night. After you’ve had yourself thatgood time until the wee small hours of the morning, sleep late, then come and have brunch and dinner at the Pioneer Women Picnic at Pepper Grove the next day, Sunday, May 28.  An innovation to the picnic will be the music, races and prizes for the kids, from baby to eighty.


Fruit Cream Topping
Southwestern Jewish Press, May 26, 1950, page 3

2 cups fruit, drained
4 to 5 tablesppons, sugar
1 teaspoon lemon juice
a little salt
1 cup sour cream, whipped
Cut fruit into small pieces.  Add the sugar, lemon juice and salt.  Fold into the whipped cream and chill. Serve over sponge cake or between layers of spice or plain cake.  

For that something unusual, serve lightly whipped sour cream over fresh, frozen, or canned figs, peaches and berries.  Delightful as a dessert or breakfast treat.

“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.





JEWISH-AMERICAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE



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Chanukah Bazaar and Expo, 5:30 p.m., December 9th

SAN DIEGO (Press Release)--Come join us at our free community wide Hanukkah festival at the San Diego Rep. Check out the art and merchandise and discover some exciting San Diego business initiatives. Enjoy the music provided by Doron Peisic (Schmalts), and the Kosher food served by The Place.

Don't miss the one night encore performance of the inspiring play "The Blessing of a Broken Heart". The play will be followed by a VIP reception sponsored by The Place. For online play tickets please Click Here or call the Lyceum box office at (619) 544-1000.

RHODES MARKETING GROUP




Please click on the advertisement above to visit the website of the Rhodes Marketing Group






SAN DIEGO JEWISH WORLD: THE WEEK IN REVIEW

Tuesday, December 2, 2008 (Vol. 2, No. 286)

INTERNATIONAL/ NATIONAL
December 1: a Gene Roddenberry kind of day with planets and politicians aligned ... by Donald H. Harrison in San Diego

Ancient olive tree now marks site where rocket attack victim fell on kibbutz ... by Ulla Hadar in Kibbutz Kfar Aza, Israel

ARTS
Ruth Ilse Klampert is a double survivor ... by Janet Tiger in San Diego

ADVENTURES IN SAN DIEGO JEWISH HISTORY
May 26, 1950: Survey Exposes Neglect of Jewish Youth In San Diego
May 26, 1950: Open House for New Americans
May 26, 1950: Monster ‘Political Rally’ Wednesday, May 31st at Temple Center
May 26, 1950: Campaign Continues as Clean-Up Day Is Planned

COMMUNITY WATCH
Soille San Diego Hebrew Day School: Sofer Attia Teffilin Talk at Soille Hebrew Day School

Monday, December 1, 2008 (Vol. 2, No. 285)

INTERNATIONAL
Interfaith dialogue's benefits and pitfalls ... by Rabbi Dow Marmur in Toronto, Canada

ARTS
Xanadu: Greek myths on roller skates ... by Carol Davis in La Jolla, California

LIFESTYLES
Thunder, the bike, not just a ride ... by Sheila Orysiek in San Diego

ADVENTURES IN SAN DIEGO JEWISH HISTORY
May 12, 1950: Home for the Aged

May 12, 1950: San Diego Bay City B’nai B’rith Chapt. 713

May 12, 1950: JCRA

May 12, 1950: The Jolly Sixteen Club

COMMUNITY WATCH (Link to previous postings)

Soille San Diego Hebrew Day School: Excellence 2000 class in motion at Soille Hebrew Day School

Sunday, November 30, 2008 (Vol 2, No. 284)

INTERNATIONAL
Olmert ouster Livni's only chance ... by Ira Sharkansky in Jerusalem

Two San Diego Chabad rabbis react to the slaughter of their colleagues in Mumbai ... by Rabbis Yeruchem Eilfort in Carlsbad and Chalom Boudjnah in San Diego

JUDAISM
The secret of this 'miser' was revealed.... by Rabbi Baruch Lederman in San Diego

ARTS
Stephanie St. James of Color Purple cast is granddaughter of Shoah survivor ... by Carol Davis in San Diego

ADVENTURES IN SAN DIEGO JEWISH HISTORY
May 12, 1950: Al Hutler Attends Fair Employment Meeting
May 12, 1950: Observe ‘I Am An American Day’
May 12, 1950: Hadassah Evening Group
May 12, 1950: Jr. Pioneer Women, Shoshana Club

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

COMMUNITY WATCH (Link to previous postings)
Jewish Family Service: JFS Economic Crisis Response Program

Soille San Diego Hebrew Day School: Learning Parshat Chayei Sarah at Soille Hebrew Day School

Tifereth Israel Synagogue: All that Glitters: Open House/Trunk Show; Monday, December 8th at 6 p.m.

Thursday, November 27, 2008 (Vol. 2, No. 283)

INTERNATIONAL
Chabad emissaries missing in Mumbai terrorist attack; may have been targets ... by Rabbi Yeruchem Eilfort in Carlsbad, California

Olmert politically embarrasses Livni ... by Ira Sharkansky in Jerusalem

Real peace comes from a change of heart, not from the adjustment of boundaries... by Shoshana Bryen in Washington, D.C.

Bene Israel teacher in Andhra Pradesh... by Sharon Galsulkar in Kotha-Reddy-Pallem, India

ARTS
Thursdays with the Songs of Hal Wingard:

—#83, Diner A La Mode Française

—#107, Life's Great Table

—#43, Wholly Fish

The lady who saved a city library ... by Sara Appel-Lennon in San Diego

ADVENTURES IN SAN DIEGO JEWISH HISTORY
May 12, 1950: Hadassah ‘Mother-Daughter’ Lunch A Success

May 12, 1950: San Diego Birdie Stodel B’nai B’rith No. 92

May 12, 1950: Home for the Aged

May 12, 1950: Jewish War Veterans Auxiliary

SPORTS
It was an exciting SDJA girls' volleyball season, but like all good things.... by Gary Rotto in San Diego

COMMUNITY WATCH (Link to previous postings)
Jewish Community Foundation:Jewish Community Foundation launches web site, releases annual report

Soille San Diego Hebrew Day School: Soille Hebrew Day School’s First Grade Tabachs (Chefs)

Tifereth Israel Synagogue: Tifereth Israel to participate in today's 'Run for the Hungry'

United Jewish Federation: United Jewish Federation of San Diego County Turning Unused Gift Cards Into Cash; An Opportunity To Help Those In Need Like Never Before

Wednesday , November 26, 2008 (Vol. 2, No. 282)

INTERNATIONAL
Some Jewish internet material is bizarre ... by Ira Sharkansky in Jerusalem

The Jews Down Under, a roundup of Australian Jewish News ... by Garry Fabian in Melbourne
—Baptist minister raises Jewish anger
—Commentary on preacher's outburst

—The Power of One
—Changes at B'nai B'rith Anti-Defamation Commission
—Singing for our supper
—From Chelm to Carlton - and extraordinary journey
—Jewish welfare organisations to merge
—US Vice-President's Link to Melboune
—Jewish Dancer wins Dancing with the Stars
—Fears over Australia's stand on Israel
—Zionist Federation Applauds Government Stance

NATIONAL
Yahoo clicks earn $$$ for charities ... by Hannah Miller in Brooklyn, N.Y>

JUDAISM
A primer on Progressive Judaism ... by Fred Reiss in Winchester, California

ADVENTURES IN SAN DIEGO JEWISH HISTORY
May 12, 1950: Tifereth Israel News
May 12, 1950: Sisterhood Mother-Daughter Luncheon
May 12, 1950: Pioneer Women

May 12, 1950: Temple Beth Israel
May 12, 1950: Labor Zionist Organization~ Chaim Weitzmann Branch of San Diego

Link to previous editions

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