FROM THE GATES OF THE NEGEV


Front Line Resident's Diary—January 2, 3

By Ulla Hadar

KIBBUTZ RUHAMA, Israel, January 2 – There have been many attacks on the cities of Ashkelon, Ashdod, Beer Sheva, Ofakim, Netivot and the areas neighboring the Gaza Strip. All these places are the targets of Hamas now.

Meanwhile, air attacks from the Israeli side are continuously working on destroying tunnels, the infrastructure of Hamas and the houses of important people in the Hamas organization.

The Home Front Command requested today that Kibbutz Ruhama set up an emergency office. An office like this already has functioned in all the other kibbutzim and at the municipality of Sha'ar Hanegev for the last week. Because of Ruhama's position farther away from the border of the Gaza Strip, it had not
been previously required here. But now Hamas is firing rockets with greater range.

In each community of the Sha'ar Hanegev municipality an emergency committee functions called Zachi (Tzevet Cherum Yishuvi = Community Emergency Group).

Committee members have undergone tutoring in how to handle emergency situations. These teams consist of 5-10 people all volunteers. The Zachi team in our kibbutz has now set up a rotation system. The volunteer on duty is located in the emergency office. Volunteers, such as my sister-in-law Jeanine Hadar at right, will work three hours at a time and the job requires him or her to be close to a telephone. In case of emergency or people in need, volunteers will be there to help, talk or spread the information to vital sources.

Teenagers have been "drafted" for this task and for the moment, they are volunteering in pairs in the evening hours and overnight. Each pair of teens work 5 hour shifts, from 9 p.m. to 2 a.m. and from 2 a.m. to 7a.m.

On Friday, several female soldiers from the Home Front Command visited the residents of Kibbutz Ruhama in their houses, in order to help them determin the best safe place to go in case of rocket attack.

The homes in the kibbutz have no rooms that are hardened against rockets. With only 30 seconds after a sirent begins sounding, there will not be enough time for most of the residents to get to one of the bomb shelters.

The soldiers advised us where to gather in the house and how to prepare the space to avoid any dangerous objects in case of explosions.

*
Saturday, January 3 – The pattern of rockets hitting Israel and targeted air attacks from Israel's side continue throughout the day.

It was reported that another Hamas leader, Muhammad Ma'aruf, was killed today.

My husband Rafi went for a small run in the morning and found the manifesto that the Israeli airplanes spread over Gaza before bombing there, some sheets must have slipped, or been blown by a wind, and landed here in our surroundings.

The manifesto reads in Arabic (This is the translation):

"To the people of the area. Because of the terror actions done from your houses towards Israel The IDF has to react immediately in this area. For your safety your are advised to leave the area immediately" /signed/ The Israel Defence Force

Afterwards I found another one with the same text on my back lawn.

At 4 p.m. Israel's artillery started to shoot all along the border of the Gaza Strip, the purpose being to eliminate the different places from where rockets are being launched.

In the evening, we were informed that Israeli ground troops have crossed into Gaza, opening a new phase of the war. We are very worried about the well-being of our soldiers.

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

               


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LETTER FROM JERUSALEM


Who, if anyone, wants to rule Gaza?

By Ira Sharkansky

JERUSALEM, January 2, 2009--Who wants Gaza?

The Egyptians kept tight controls on its borders when they had responsibility between 1948 and 1967. They let few of the residents into Egypt for education or work. Since 1967, Egyptians have been assiduous in avoiding a commitment. They warned that persistent attacks on Israeli civilians were sure to bring a fierce reprisal, and.are blaming Hamas for what has happened.

Gaza is congested and poor. About one and one-half million people live in an area less than 25 miles from southwest to northeast, and three to eight miles wide. There are high rise blocks and grand homes for the elite. The mass of the population occupies low structures along twisting alleys, some of them no more than a meter wide. Donkey carts provide transportation for people who cannot afford more, and for others when gasoline is scarce. Before 1967, Gaza was a source of terror raids into Israel, and a target of Israeli reprisals. Its traditions of extremism, combined with an increase in religious fervor make it an obvious ally of Iran, and something to be walled off by Israel and Egypt.

In recent months Gaza has become a bone in the throat of West Bank Palestinians who say that they aspire to an independent state alongside of Israel. A sporadic civil war between 2006 and 2008 left Hamas in control of Gaza, and swearing that it would destroy Israel. Currently the West Bank leaders of Fatah and Hamas are accusing each other of collaborating with Israel. There is little evidence for either charge, but there is no greater curse that one Palestinian can hurl at another.

What to do with Gaza? is one reason that Israel waited so long before embarking on a military assault to end missiles fired at its population, and an explanation for its delay in beginning a land invasion.

The media say that any attack by tanks and ground troops will be limited: targeting specific installations or people, and leaving after a short time.

Like just about everyone else, Israel does not want Gaza. It's been there, and will avoid a prolonged stay.

More than 400 deaths and 2,000 injured, plus a great deal of destruction renders further responsibility unenviable.

Ideally, Hamas will raise the white flags, and agree to behave according to international norms.

I doubt that any Israeli expects that.

Death for the sake of religious certainty is the rationale of Hamas and its allies. Suicide is a prominent form of political expression.

Nobody aspires to control them. Israeli authorities are certain that they cannot beat them into submission.

They might beat them into recognizing the costs of attacking Israeli civilians, and persuade someone else to clean up and prevent further attacks against Israel.

If someone out there has a better idea, please let me know.

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 JEWISH CITIZEN


The intricate calculus of war and morality

By Donald H. Harrison

SAN DIEGO—A day before Israel launched its ground operation in Gaza,  Miko Peled, son of the late Israeli general Matti Peled, reminded us in an opinion piece in the San Diego Union-Tribune about the biblical story of Abraham pleading with God to spare Sodom for the sake of any righteous people who lived there. 

Peled then suggested  that Israel should have withheld its military retaliation against Hamas in Gaza, for the sake of the righteous people,  the children and other innocents of Gaza.

In juxtaposition to that commentary was one in our own open-forum publication on January 2 by columnist Bruce Kesler who argued that “this is war” and that Israel should tighten its blockade on Gaza by declining to permit humanitarian supplies to go through its border crossings.

In the same issue of San Diego Jewish World, a retired Canadian rabbi, Dow Marmur, employed another biblical reference to discuss the Gaza situation. Should one perceive Israel as the David or a Goliath in the Middle East? 

We Jews want to be on the side of right; we have a proud history of fighting in behalf of oppressed minorities, wherever they may live.   Such was the spirit of Helen Sussman, the celebrated longtime South African foe of apartheid, who died New Year’s Day in Johannesburg, South Africa, at age 91.  And yet, there are people both inside and outside the Jewish community who perceive Israel not as a state oppressed by its surrounding Arab neighbors, but rather as the oppressor of Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank.

Obviously, there is considerable divergence of opinions among Jews about the conduct of the war in Gaza and Southern Israel.  This debate is healthy because it means that each of us is grappling with issues of right and wrong as they pertain to this conflict.

I disagree that Israel should halt humanitarian aid to Gaza  because  such a course fails to differentiate between rulers and the ruled.  As people in Sha’ar Hanegev, one of the Israeli municipalities facing Gaza, will tell you, there were cultural exchanges, friendships, and business partnerships among ordinary Israelis and ordinary Gazans before Hamas took over and put a stop to such relationships.

On both sides of the border, even today there are people who hope normalcy between these two peoples someday can be restored.  Intentionally punishing the civilian population of Gaza, to my mind, is wrong both morally and strategically.  As the teachers in the Sha’ar Hanegev schools tell their children, it is not all the people in Gaza who are their enemies, only the Hamas. Many Gazans are good people, who find themselves on the "other side" only by accident of birth. If Israel were to treat all Gazans as if they were Hamas terrorists, it would have the effect of driving those Gazans into the arms of the sworn enemy.

But what of Peled’s argument against Israeli military action?  In my view, Peled fails to give sufficient weight to the seven years of horror that the people of Southern Israel have been living under—the necessity to take cover within seconds of a siren—to guard themselves and their children against deadly rocket attacks.  All previous efforts to get Hamas to stop these attacks failed, and now, Hamas has larger rockets capable of reaching greater distances and carrying heavier bomb loads.  The situation is intolerable for Israel’s civilians—and indeed there are many righteous and innocents among them.

From the standpoint of diplomacy, there was no “good” solution to the problem of Hamas’ rockets.  Arabs have been successful in stacking the organs of world opinion against Israel.  It wouldn’t have made any difference whether the Israelis quietly assassinated a few Hamas leaders, or conducted air strikes, or launched its ground invasion—no matter which option Israel chose, there would have been the same rote chorus of condemnations from the Arab states, from the wider circle of Muslim states, from the United Nations councils which they control, and from Europeans looking for new wrapping for their old anti-Semitism. These critics like Jews only one set of circumstances: when we are victims.

Israel’s leadership, accordingly, factored out the predictable “world reaction” to its Gaza campaign — except for the reaction of its one true ally, the United States, which expressed approval for the military campaign against terrorism. Accordingly, Israel was able to focus on what measures would be best to protect its citizens from future rocket attacks.  

It decided that, as much as possible, it needed to remove both the rockets from Gaza and the will of Hamas to use them.   To do that, Israel needed to inflict tremendous damage on the Hamas infrastructure—a goal which they believe necessitated the ground invasion.  Half measures, it learned over the last seven years, just don’t work.

In listening to the debate over Israel’s operation in Gaza, we need not pay much attention to what the Arabs or the Iranians say, but rather we should watch what they do.   Having fanned  hatred of Israel in their own countries, perhaps to divert attention from their own misrule and corruption,  Arab leaders have no choice but to play to the expectations they have created. They must try to outdo each other rhetorically in condemning Israel.

The real measure is what have these government done since Israel decided it could no longer absorb attacks on its populace.  Has Hezbollah attempted to march across the Lebanese border?  Have the Syrians launched an attack on the disputed Golan Heights?   Have the Jordanians or the Egyptians severed relations? Have the Iranians entered the hostilities? No, at least so far, to all of these questions.

On the one hand, pro-western countries like Jordan and Egypt perceive Hamas as a threat to them as well as to Israel.  On the other hand, countries like Iran, Syria and Lebanon understand what can happen to the animal that tries to twist the lion’s tail.

Harrison may be contacted at editor@sandiegojewishworld.com

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LETTERS TO EDITOR

Miko Peled column on Gaza situation in
San Diego Union-Tribune draws rebuttals

Editor, San Diego Jewish World:

From the description that Mr. Peled painted of the Israelis in “Recognizing Good people in Gaza”  in the San Diego Union-Tribune, it looks like that it would be hard to find “50 good people” among the Israelis.  It is amazing to me that Mr. Peled completely ignores why Israel is engaged in the current war in Gaza.

After Israel unilaterally left Gaza in 2005, thousands of rockets were launched by the Hamas at the Israeli population around Gaza Strip.—a nightmare that would not have been tolerated by any sovereign country. Many would have reacted long before Israel did.

The people in Gaza support Hamas, but Hamas’s goals to destroy Israel are clearly stated, and many countries around the world, not just Israel, recognize it as a terrorist organization. This is the reason why Israel and Egypt closed their borders with Gaza.

In spite of the daily barrage of rockets on its citizens, Israel has allowed the flow of electricity, water and thousands of trucks bringing in the necessary food, medicines and fuel. Peled completely ignores the fact that prior to the takeover by Hamas (by force while brutally killing their Fatah brothers), more than 100,000 Gazans crossed the border to Israel for work daily, greatly contributing to the employment of Gazans. 

If these “good people” were willing to accept Israel and reject the Hamas vision of the destruction of Israel, they would have been working in Israel and feeding their starving families.  If these “good people” were willing to reject Hamas wasting the millions of dollars they receive from the EU, USA, UN and even Iran, for smuggling rockets and weapons into Gaza, and use these monies to better their lives, Israel would have not been at war with them today. On the contrary, Gazans would have enjoyed a much better life with the help of the Israelis. It is too bad that Mr. Peled presents the same biased views that he blames the Israeli media of doing.

Dr. Gerry Burstain
Escondido, California

Israeli-born Burstain is a former president of Ner Tamid Synagogue in Poway.

*
'Singularly distorted picture'

Editor, San Diego Jewish World:

In "Recognizing good people in Gaza", Miko Peled presented a singularly distorted picture of the current situation, fraught with unforgiveable omissions and misrepresentations.

Above all, it is revealing of Peled's agenda that neither the words "rocket" nor "terrorism" appear even once in his long piece. If an alien were to land in a spaceship and take Peled as a guide regarding the complex reasons that have led to the current situation in Gaza, Israelis would indeed appear as callous and cruel, when the exact opposite is true. Never in history has a nation forced by relentless and indiscriminate attacks by an enemy vowing to destroy it reacted with such patience and care to avoid causing innocent casualties among the attacker's civilian population. In Peled's peculiar universe, Hamas doesn't even exist! A minimal level of honesty would have compelled him to admit that Hamas is solely responsible for the dire situation in which the Gaza population is finding itself now. 

Peled further fudges the truth by claiming that "the Israeli government controls the life of Palestinians in Israel and in the occupied territories." There are no "Palestinians in Israel". There are Arab Israeli citizens, who enjoy the same rights and protections as all Israeli citizens, Jews, Arabs and Christians. The Palestinians in the occupied territories and Gaza are in a different situation, still in limbo due to their refusal to accept the existence of the State of Israel, and their suicidal insistence on gaining political points through terrorism. Peled's narrative blames exclusively Israel and exonerates the Palestinians of any wrongdoing for the situation in which they find themselves today. This is a lie of immense magnitude, on which no effort to build a lasting peace can possibly be based.

Finally, Peled also asks "Why is it right to speak of equal rights everywhere except for Israel and Palestine?". The answer is easy: because rights imply also obligations. In any functional society, no one can go around demanding to enjoy his rights while at the same time violating the rights of others or breaking the laws of his community. If you want to be a member in good standing of any community, you will be welcome as long as you behave according to the same rules as everybody else. If you don't, you will not be welcome. The Palestinians have pursued for 60 years now the impossible dream of becoming members of the international community while at the same time breaking the most basic rules of the civilized world. Most prominently among these rejections is their repugnant rationalization that Israeli civilians are legitimate targets of terrorism, and that terrorism itself is an acceptable way to reach their political goals. It has not worked and it will never work. 

The ElBanna-Peled Foundation is far from being the dialogue group that Peled pretends it is. It does not foster a dialogue, but is instead a monologue with two heads since Peled has entirely adopted the Palestinian narrative and is even more virulent against his native Israel than most Palestinians are. If you want to join his group and make the case for Israel, you will not be welcome. He is therefore hardly qualified to present himself as a man of dialogue sincerely trying to build bridges between the two peoples. 

For peace to finally come to the Middle East, the first and unavoidable necessity is for the Palestinians to completely and irrevocably abandon terrorism. 

Jean-Jacques Surbeck
Encinitas, California

Jean-Jacques Surbeck is a Swiss-American peace activist and lecturer.. An attorney specializing in International Humanitarian Law, he worked in the legal division of the International Committee of the Red Cross from 1974 to 1978. He is co-founder with Rita Heller of Training and Education About the Middle East (T.E.A.M.), a non-profit group offering classes and lectures to the San Diego public to give a balanced view of the Middle East conflict. He can be reached at info@sandiegoteam.org .

CAROL ANN GOLDSTEIN

TORAH ON ONE FOOT


Putting financial woes into perspective

By Rabbi Leonard Rosenthal

SAN DIEGO—There are many words in the Hebrew language which sound and are spelled alike but have different meanings. One such word is etzev. Etzev normally means "sorrow" but it can also mean "idol," as in Psalms 115:4: "Their idols (atzabeihem) are silver and gold made by human hands."

When Joseph revealed himself to his brothers in Egypt, he reassured them that he did not wish to seek revenge. He told them: "Now, do not be distressed (ta-atzvu) or reproach yourselves because you sold me hither; it was to save life that God sent me ahead of you." (Gen. 45:6)

When the founder of Chabad, Rabbi Schneur Zalman of Liadi's son was a little boy, he wandered into the room where three of his father's chassidim were waiting to meet with the Rebbe: Rabbi Shmuel Monkis, Rabbi Shlomo Raflis from Vilna, and Rabbi Joseph of Soklov. All three of these men were not only great scholars, but wealthy and generous businessmen as well.

Rabbi Monkis loved to play with the Rebbe's son, so as soon as the little boy saw him he ran over and sat on his lap. He noticed that the other two men were engaged in quiet and tense conversation and looked exhausted and weary.

"Why are you so sad?" Rabbi Monkis finally asked them.

"It is because," they replied as one, "we are living in difficult times and our businesses are suffering."

The Rebbe's son looked at Rabbi Monkis and said: "You didn't need to ask them why they are so sad. After all, you could have learned it from a verse from the Bible: "Atzabeihem -their sadness-is because of silver and gold made from human hands." (Sippur Chasidim)

In quoting this verse the Rebbe's son was showing great wit as well as wisdom. Not only was he playing with the meaning of the word etzev in the Bible, noting that the two rabbis' monetary problems were due to money, he was also reminding them of the primary meaning of etzev, that is, perhaps they were so troubled and distressed because they had allowed their gold and silver to become their gods and take over their lives.

Many people are also troubled and distressed today because of our country's financial woes. Our sadness and fears are real, but let us not allow them to consume our lives. Let us remember that the most important things in life, faith and love, are still free!

Rabbi Rosenthal is spiritual leader of Tifereth Israel Synagogue in San Diego.

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PEOPLE OF THE BOOKS

Jewish history helps father, son reconcile

My Father’s Paradise; A Son’s Search for his Jewish Past in Kurdish Iraq, written by Ariel Sabar

By Gail Feinstein Forman

SAN DIEGO—Ariel Sabar, an investigative reporter for the Providence Journal, was in a funk. Newly married, he and his wife chose to live in Groton, Connecticut, halfway between each other’s jobs-a decision that left them isolated and away from friends and family.

Their work commute drained time and energy from their life together. After working for five years, he now faced a particularly “dry” spell in his reporting. He was turning inward and felt withdrawn. `

A phone call from his mother plunged him into an unexpected trajectory of personal discovery. She announced that Ariel’s father, Yona, a Neo-Aramaic scholar, had been contacted by the TV show, the X-Files. The TV show’s producers asked Yona if he would help them translate a scene from a show where Jesus speaks, “Lazarus, come forth,” in Aramaic. He was also asked to translate the popular Beatle’s song,” I Am the Walrus” into Aramaic for the same show.

At another time period in his life, Ariel would probably have let what he considered the absurdity of this story go with little response. He and his father had been in sort of a “cold war” for many years, and hearing more about his father’s antics and achievements would not have stirred him.

His father was an embarrassment. His frizzy Arab hair never neatly combed, his heavy Middle Eastern accent when he spoke English, and his intimacy with the ancient Aramaic language were all foreign to the son.

They had little conversation, and what they had was rather unpleasant. Ariel wanted nothing to do with this strange man, and the father could only throw up his hands and blame it all on the way children grow up in America.

But as a reporter, the story piqued his interest. After learning more about his father’s Hollywood experiences, Ariel queried his father about his past in Zakho, the Iraqi Kurdish town in which his father grew up.

Ariel titled the piece,” Scholar Dad Goes Showbiz: I am the Walrus in Aramaic.” Surprisingly, the words came easily, as if they had just been sitting there waiting to be typed. He received more Emails and phone calls about that piece than any he had written before.

But now by viewing his father from reporter’s eyes, a window opened up
into his father’s life. He started questioning and interviewing Kurdistan Jews in LA and spread out across the US, and Ariel began to piece together the story of his father’s family through three generations. The result of that search became his book, My Father’s Paradise; A Son’s Search for his Jewish Past in Kurdish Iraq

Zakho, the Sabar’s family home, was at one time a main center of Jewish life. Zakho was located in a solitary inlet in the Northwest part of Kurdistan. Because the Kurdish terrain is a rugged, mountainous region, for many years, the Jews of Zakho were isolated from the anti-Semitism faced by Jews in larger cities in Iraq.

Kurdistan Jews saw themselves as the direct descendents of the Lost Tribes of Israel and most were very religiously observant. Their Jewish tradition was rich with ritual and celebration. Most made their living as peddlers and wool dyers.

Ariel learned that his grandfather, Rahamin and his wife Myram had had five children who died either in childbirth or soon after, before his father Yona was born. Because his parents were so elated to have such a healthy child, they spoiled him with the best food and comforts. When other village boys quit school at fourth grade to work in the family business, Yona was allowed to continue his studies, a decision that helped shape his life-long interest in books.

Yona was also very influenced by his Uncle Ephraim, a Jewish mystic who instilled a sense of beauty and piety to Yona’s synagogue attendance, which helped Ariel understand his father’s commitment to Jewish observance.

He also discovered that his father Yona had a younger sister that was mysteriously kidnapped, a story that Ariel tried unsuccessfully to unravel on his own.

During the late 1940’s through the early 1950’s, the creation of the State of Israel caused political upheaval in many Arab lands, including Iraq. Jews faced discrimination and violence throughout Iraq and Kurdistan. When Yona, Ariel’s father, was thirteen years old in 1951, their family left for Israel.

In Israel, Yona worked full time in the day and went to school at night. It was his Hebrew History teacher, Chaim Rabin that lit the spark to study his own ancient tongue, Aramaic.

There were many ancient Aramaic texts that up until that point were never deciphered for lack of knowledge of the language. Rabin encouraged Sabar to study Hebrew and Aramaic side by side and see how one linked to another.

Yona soon became a great resource of Neo-Aramaic for scholars around the world. He became a modern interpreter of Aramaic as he collected stories from the Kurdish Jews, and explained the cultural nuances embedded in their words, a commitment which continues today.

What adds ballast to the story of an oft-repeated tale of “son rejects father then seeks redemption,” is the lucidity of Sabar’s writing. He is brutally honest when exploring the emotional overlays of the relationship between him and his father, though Sabar does retain an edge when describing their personal encounters. However, his vivid descriptions of ancient Iraq, its history, and its Jewish traditions, place the reader squarely in the scene of ancient bazaars and secret alleyways.

By the end of the book, Sabar confers the respect on his father that he realizes he has earned. The son and father soldier on, each in their own way, but now they have built new bridges to each other based on a far away past.

Columnist Forman may be contacted at formang@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.


Beth Jacob Sisterhood
Southwestern Jewish Press, July 21, 1950, page 6

The newest affiliate of Congregation Beth Jacob, the Beth Jacob Sisterhood, recently held a luncheon meeting at which time nomination and election of officers took place. Mrs. Julius Penn opened her charming, spacious home in Point Loma for the luncheon and meeting.

Elected to guide the destinies of the new organization in its initial year are Mrs. Morton Thaler, president; Mrs. Jack Prager, 1st vice president; Mrs. Morris S. Kraus, 2nd vice president; Mrs. Aubrey Shulkind, 3rd vice president; Mrs. Wm. Penn, recording secretary;  Mrs. Seymour Saltzman, corresponding secretary, and Mrs. Julius Penn, financial secretary.  Treasurer will be Mrs. Robert Strauss and Mrs. Zel Camiel will be parliamentarian.

Five trustees were also elected; they are Mesdames George Borushek, Nathan Feinberg, Yale Kahn, Morton Peskin and Dave Schwartz.

The North Park Lions Club at 3927 Utah Street will be the scene of the installation of these officers on Thursday evening, August 17th at 8:00 p.m.  A novel form of installation is being planned by chairman for the event, Mrs. Zel Camiel, who will have Mrs. Mack Freedman as her co-chairman.

Mr. Harold Keen, well known San Diego writer and radio commentator, will be the installing officer.  The theme of the installation will be a nautical one with novel entertainment to follow. Refreshments will be served at the close of the installation.

A working committee for this affair will be announced in the very near future and invitations will be issues to everyone in the community to attend the launching of the “top brass” for the first time of the Beth Jacob Sisterhood.


Beth Jacob Congregation
Southwestern Jewish Press, July 21, 1950, page 6

Each week brings the completion of the new Synagogue and center Beth Jacob Congregation is building on 30th Street between Meade and Monroe closer so at present the members are turning hteir thoughts to the Consecration of the fine new edifice.

So that it can be used for the coming High Holiday Services, tentative plans are being made to have the Consecration ceremony on Sunday, August 20th. Details of the program for this awe-inspiring event are being worked out by the Congregation’s spiritual leader, Rabbi Baruch Stern; president A.A. Abramson; Building Fund Chairman Morrie S. Kraus, and a selected committee including some members of the Ladies Auxiliary.  In addition to the proper religious ceremonies which will start in the early afternoon, there will be a reception in the new auditorium that evening.

At the next regular meeting the first Tuesday of the month, August 1st, a complete program for the Consecration will be presented for the members approval.  Mr. Abramson hopes that the entire membership will be on hand to hear the proposed program.

One of the highlights that afternoon will be the first public appearance of Cantor Boris Gassin, who will also be in Beth Jacob to perform the services of the Cantor at the High Holiday Services this year.  The officers of Beth Jacob are certain the public who hear cantor Gassin will want to enjoy his prayers and chants during the Holidays.

The President announces that tickets for seats for the Holidays are now available and reservations can be made for choice seats with Rabbi Stern at R-1706; Sandor Goldberger, T-1-2598; Mr. J. Gelman, Gabbai, at R-4187, or at the Building Fund Office, F. 9-7221.

An urgent invitation is being issued by president Mr. Abramson to all members to please attend this next meeting, Tuesday evening, August 1st, at 3206 Myrtle Street to plan to make this once-in-a-lifetime event, the Consecration, an event everyone in the San Diego Jewish Community will long remember.

Services: Daily Minyan, Morning 7:00 a.m.; Evenings 7:00 p.m.
Study of Mishnah: Daily at 7:00 p.m., before evening service.
Rabbi Stern: Lectures on Mishnah from 7:00 to 7:30 p.m.

On Saturday evenings, Services are followed by Sholosh Sudos when traditional songs are sung and traditional food is served.  A cordial invitation is extended by Rabbi Stern and Beth Jacob Congregation for everyone to attend these Services.


Temple Sisterhood
Southwestern Jewish Press, July 21, 1950, page 6

A “Country Fair” will again be the theme of the main fund-raising project of the Sisterhood this year.  Sunday, October 22nd was the date set at a meeting held at the home of Mrs. A. Sklar, who is first Vice-President and chairman of the Ways and Means committee.  Mrs. L. Bickman is co-chairman.

The “Fair” which was such a success and such fun for everyone who attended last year, will be held at the Temple Center.

Mrs. Sklar and Mrs. Bickman are in charge and are now appointing their committees and co-workers, whose names will be announced at a later date, and plans are going full speed ahead for a really grand affair.



Cottage of Israel
Southwestern Jewish Press, July 21, 1950, page 6

The following organizations will host at the Cottage of Israel starting July 23 with the Lasker Lodge B’nai B’rith.  July 30, Daughters of Israel; August 6, S. D. Guardians; August 13, Hadassah; August 20, Evening Group Hadassah; August 27, Jewish Labor Committee.

“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.

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





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To see previous selections, please click here to go to our archive index

Amedeo Modigliani—A review of the Italian Jewish artist's paintings, especially his long-necked women

Jascha Heifetz plays Paganini Caprice No. 24—There may possibly have been some violinists as good as Heifetz, but none better!

Marilyn Monroe-Jack Benny comedy sketch, 1953 ... On a cruise Jack Benny dreams he is with Marilyn Monroe, and, by golly, he is!





SPORTS TRIVIA ANSWER: (c) Moe Solomon




SAN DIEGO JEWISH WORLD: THE WEEK IN REVIEW

Friday-Saturday, January 2-3, 2009 (Vol. 3, No. 2)

WAR IN GAZA
Aliyah continues despite Gaza War ... by Ze'ev Bielski in Jerusalem

Should Israel be the David or Goliath?... by Rabbi Dow Marmur in Jerusalem

Explosive New Year 2009 in Israel, Gaza... by Ulla Hadar in Kibbutz Ruhama, Israel

Choice between better and lesser peace ... by Bruce Kesler in Encinitas, California

LETTERS
San Diegan finds Israel calm in wartime... from Guenter Cohn in Ramat Bet Shemesh

LIFESTYLES
Resolution for more balance in 2009... by Sara Appel-Lennon in San Diego

ARTS
Morton Gould: A personal tribute (Part II)... by David Amos in San Diego

ADVENTURES IN SAN DIEGO JEWISH HISTORY
July 21, 1950: News of the Fox
July 21, 1950: S.D. Lasker Hi-Lites
July 21, 1950: Beth Jacob Ladies Auxiliary
July 21, 1950: Labor Zionist Organization~Chaim Weitzmann Branch of San Diego

JEWISH INTERNET FAVORITES
Al Jolson singing "The Wedding Song"

Groucho Marx singing "Its Only Money"with Frank Sinatra, 1951

Jonas Salk tells Academy of Achievement about discovery of polio vaccine


Thursday, January 1, 2009 (Vol. 3, No. 1)

WAR IN GAZA
Hamas increases the circumference of danger with the firing of bigger rockets... by Ulla Hadar in Kibbutz Ruhama, Israel

The great debate in Israel: how much more warfare before Hamas learns its lesson? ... by Ira Sharkansky in Jerusalem

LETTERS
Jewish Agency for Israel puts war diaries online ... from Boaz Meir in Los Angeles

NATIONAL
Nixon Library provides a 7-year-old with introduction to U.S. presidential history ... by Donald H. Harrison in Yorba Linda, California

ARTS
Thursdays with the Music of Hal Wingard:
—39, No Reason
—197, Softly, Love
—139, Love

ADVENTURES IN SAN DIEGO JEWISH HISTORY
July 21, 1950: You Name It
July 21, 1950: Cross Discussion
July 21, 1950: Alpha Phi Pi
July 21, 1950: Cushman Publishes New Weekly

JEWISH INTERNET FAVORITES
Jerry Lewis "typewriter" skit from Who's Minding the Store?

Milton Berle vs. Arnold Stang

Milton Berle vs. Statler and Waldorf (Muppets)

Wednesday, December 31, 2008 (Vol. 2, No. 311)

WAR IN GAZA
Thoughts of an Israeli war front resident ... by Ronit Salomon in Kibbutz Or Haner, Israel

Notes from our correspondent in Kibbutz Ruhama ... by Ulla Hadar in Kibbutz Ruhama, Israel

Bombing halt may be in Israel's interest... by Rabbi Dow Marmur in Jerusalem, Israel

War should impress Hamas that rocket attacks on Israel have a very heavy price ... by Ira Sharkansky in Jerusalem

How quickly Europeans forget WWII lessons... by Shoshana Bryen in Washington, D.C.

AUSTRALIA ... A roundup of stories by Garry Fabian in Melbourne
—Million dollar school gift
—Josh's special journey
—Repeated calls for hate crimes unit
—Shule Judaica sells for $400,000
—Opportunity Shop's future threatened by rent hike
—Shifting the balance
—New federal JNF head mooted

LETTERS
Israel seeks to help civilians, destroy terrorists ... from Boaz Meir in Los Angeles

Arabs see no evil in their internecine massacres... from Norman Mann in San Diego

ARTS
A Vegas-style present from the Jersey Boys... by Carol Davis in Las Vegas, Nevada

ADVENTURES IN SAN DIEGO JEWISH HISTORY
July 21, 1950: Big Sisters Elect Mrs. Rubel
July 21, 1950: Dollars and Sense (Editorial)
July 21, 1950: Histadrut Council of San Diego
July 21, 1950: Pioneer Women Negba Club
July 21, 1950: Esther Moorsteen To Speak To Methodist Group On Israel

JEWISH INTERNET FAVORITES
Cantor Yosef Rosenblatt sings My Yiddishe Mama

Shelley Berman on Life's Little Embarassing Moments

Steven Spielberg Accepting Oscar in 1994 for 'Schindler's List'

COMMUNITY WATCH
United Jewish Federation: Expert Terrorism Analyst Brigitte Gabriel to speak at UJF’s Options 2009

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

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

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

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

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

LETTERS

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

July 7, 1950: Jewish War Veterans

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

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

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

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

JUDAISM

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

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

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

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

July 7, 1950: Guardians

July 7, 1950: Beth Jacob Congregation

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

July 7, 1950: Beth Jacob Auxiliary

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

Link to previous editions

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