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Today's Postings:
Sunday, January 18, 2009
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DEDICATIONS
Each day's issue may be dedicated by readers—or by the publisher—in other people's honor or memory. Please click here to see today's dedication. Past dedications may be found at the bottom of the index for the "Adventures in San Diego Jewish History" page.
JERUSALEM—The Israeli government has unilaterally declared a cease fire.
It is far from perfect.
It will be opposed and ridiculed by those who think they should be elected to lead Israel, as well as by those who fear that the sky is falling, that the whole world is against Israel all of the time, and that Israel must look after itself in apocalyptic ways. Also, those who look under the bed each night before retiring will not like it.
In the case of a country that cannot aspire to total victory, it may be the best attainable.
When has any country achieved total victory since 1945? And that victory was not totally total insofar as it led to the Cold War, Korea, Vietnam, Cuba, and other messiness.
Israel has killed more than 1,100 Palestinians and wounded more than 5,000. Many of the wounded will not get decent care.
Israel has lost 10 soldiers and three civilians. Its two hundred or so wounded will get decent care.
A reasonable reckoning is that Israel has killed enough, and caused enough damage.
Not only should Hamas think carefully about starting something else, but so should other movements and countries that dream of eliminating Israel.
Could Israel have done more?
Rooting out all the religious fanatics, and causing the survivors to admit their error is impossible, especially in the case of those claiming leadership of the faith from safely away in Syria, Iran, and elsewhere.
As much as we can tell from the media, Egypt is telling Israel that Hamas has said it will honor a cease fire. The United States will help Israel and Egypt stop the rearmament of Hamas. Israeli forces will stay in Gaza for a while, to serve as a threat against any reluctance of Hamas to stop firing.
As far as we know, Israel has not committed itself to keep open its border with Gaza for supplies. That will remain a way to pressure Hamas.
Also as far as we know, there is no agreement about the Israeli prisoner held since 2006. However, Israel has resources for dealing with the issue. It has taken upwards of 250 new prisoners in this operation, and holds more than 11,000 other Palestinian prisoners. Many of those have been convicted in Israeli courts of murder and other serious crimes, and are serving long sentences. Others are Hamas politicians swept up in one operation or another.
Should you expect this to produce a wider settlement, and the aspiration of two states living in peace side by side?
Not unless you are living in la la land.
There has been no indication in recent years that the nominal leadership of moderate Palestinians has shown enough flexibility to reach a deal. Most likely Gaza will increase Palestinian animosity toward Israel, make any deal more difficult to achieve.
No amount of pressure on Israel, as imagined by Americans, Europeans, and others, will produce the miracles required.
Israel has acted reasonably in this round of the conflict. It has acted against those who have attacked its civilians, and said they want to destroy the country. It will not occupy a hostile population.
Its accomplishments are no less admirable than other countries can claim for their military activities in recent years.
Those who have signed on to the campaign to punish Israel severely for war crimes must consider the problems in fighting in crowded cities, when the enemy uses residences, mosques, schools and hospitals to shelter its munitions and fighters. Here is a decent online analysis of the problems
Those who want to help Israel should continue to support it with crucial material, and political assistance in international forums. They should not assume that they know its needs better than its elected government, or to pressure it into achieving their own improbable dreams.
Sharkansky is professor emeritus of political science at Hebrew University. He may be contacted at msira@mscc.huji.ac.il
Temple Emanu-El January 30 environmental Shabbat
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JERUSALEM—The Israeli daily Ha’aretz has two reporters – Amira Hass and Gideon Levy – who write almost exclusively from the perspective of the Palestinians. Its openness to the other side makes it a world-class quality newspaper. Needless to say, it incurs the wrath of the country’s political right. However, of late some moderate readers have also come to believe that the reporters have gone too far in their unbalanced comments.
One of them is the celebrated Israeli writer A.B. Yehoshua. Last Friday Yehoshua published an open letter to Levy in which he gave vent to his concerns, despite his friendship and admiration. (The full text can be found on www.haaretz.com.) I’d only like to comment on the passage that questions Levy’s condemnation of Israel on the grounds that, in the Gaza war, many more Palestinians have been killed than Israelis:
When you asked how it can be that they killed three of our children and we cause the killing of a hundred and fifty, the inference one can draw is that if they were to kill a hundred of our children (for example, by the Qassam rockets that struck schools and kindergartens in Israel that happened to be empty), we would be justified in also killing a hundred of their children. In other words, it is not the killing itself that troubles you but the number.
The criticism is applicable to Israel’s countless detractors around the world when they accuse it of having responded “disproportionately” to Hamas attacks. Hamas is sort-of justified because it hasn’t been successful in killing civilians on the scale intended (what other purpose could there be in firing rockets into populated areas?) and because Israel’s military casualties have been very much lower.
Had more Israelis been killed, it seems that the world would probably not condemn it in the way it’s now doing. If that’s true, then the oft-cited reflection may be justified that, in the eyes of too many, the only good Jew is a dead Jew.
The Israeli public is greatly troubled by the deaths and injuries of Palestinian bystanders. Indeed, a number of their casualties are now being treated in Israeli hospitals. Nobody here needs to be persuaded that the army can make tragic mistakes. After all, even some of the dead and injured Israeli soldiers were hit by “friendly fire.”
But neither does anybody here believe that, for example, Palestinian children are deliberately targeted. Some Israelis perceive such accusations as updated versions of the traditional blood libel about Jews killing Christian children for ritual purposes. We know that in our time Muslims have taken on Christian canards for their own purposes. It seems that much of the world, whether or not still Christian, nods in agreement.
Therefore, instead of “morality by numbers” by which Israel is often being judged at present, Yehoshua recommends this formula: “It would be best for us all – we and the Palestinians and the rest of the world – to follow the simple moral imperative of Kantian philosophy: ‘Act only according to that maxim by which you can at the same time will [want] that it should be a universal law.’”
In other words, women and men with integrity should only condemn Israel for actions they wouldn’t perform themselves under similar circumstances.
Marmur, rabbi emeritus of Holy Blossom Temple in Toronto, now divides his time between that city and Jerusalem. He may be contacted at marmurd@sandiegojewishworld.com
JEWISH COMMUNITY FOUNDATION
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JERUSALEM--As of midnight Jan. 15, 2009, these were the soldiers wounded in the Gaza War.Please keep them in your prayers: Yedidya ben Shira- (recovered) may be removed from list; Binyamin Ben Ben Netiva; Hoshea ben Miriam; Wahal Mijan; Noam ben Aliza; Yosef Chaim ben Ziva; Raphael ben Dina; Elishama Shalom ben Rivka Leah;Tom ben Chana; Chaim Moshe Naftali ben Ruth Reizel; Shachaf ben Calie; Netanel ben Mazal Tov; Nechemia Dov Ber ben Arilin (Arlene?); Avi ben Shoshana; Yitzchak ben Bia; Moshe ben Chana Malka; Noam Ben Aliza; Liel Husha ben Miriam; Yosef Haim Ben Ziva; Dvir Ben Laya; Rafael Ben Dina; Neriya Ben Rivka; Oren Ben Chaya; Ronen Chai Ben Leah; Ron Ben Havatselet; Eitan Ben Sarah; Gal Ben Hedva; Ran Ben Mirel; Idan Ben Nadi; Yitzhak Ben Nava; Ohad Ben Bracha; Netanel Ben Nava; Maxim Ben Olga; Yisrael ben Ilana; Yo'ad Ido ben Frieda Elka; Idan Ben Liora; Nadav Ben Miria; Sagi ben Osnat; Omer Ben Dorit; Lior Ben Mazal; Yevgeny Ben Elizbeta; Moshe ben Eidi; Moshe ben Pnina Rose; Mor Ben Orna; Aharon Yehoshua ben Chaya Shoshana;
Here are the names of more soldiers in Hadassah Hospital:Dov Baer ben Devorah Blumah; Gal Or ben Aliza; Yaakov Yisrael ben Yardena; Yaakov ben Orly; Omer ben Dorit; Raphael ben Nina; Oleg Dizengoff; Daniel Tamarov; Avi Cohen; Roni Rapaport; Ori Noga; Yedidya Schlesinger; Rafi ben Dina; Natanel ben Mazel Tov; Ben ben Batya
Civilians who were wounded recently by Kassam missiles: Gavriel ben Sarah; Michael ben Anna; Avi ben Chamo; Gila bat Chana; Bat El Hila Bat Phoebe; Gila bat Odelia; Yaakov ben Rivka; Yaakov ben Miriam
Kidnapped and Missing Soldiers: Ron ben Batya (Arad); Guy ben Rina (Hever); Tzvi ben Pninah (Feldman);
Yekutiel Yehuda Nachman ben Sarah (Katz); Zecharia Shlomo ben Miriam (Baumel) Majdi Halabi; Gilad ben Aviva Shalit - kidnapped Israeli soldier.
Rabbi Alan Schwartz of the Ohev Tzedek synagogue in New York explains that the mother's name is invoked in the prayer for the sick because the woman represents the paradigm of prayer in Judaism. Rabbi Schwartz notes that women, throughout the Bible, cry to God for the sake of their children.
Indeed, the motif of how to pray derives from the emulation of Chana who, in the first chapter of Samuel, passionately prays for God to allow her the merit of child to bear children.
Chana's role model for Jewish prayer is vividly described in the fifth chapter of the Talmudic tractate of Brachot, which means "blessings", which set the mode for the established the Jewish tradition to move one's lips in silent devotion during prayer."
Balint is a freelance writer based in Jerusalem. She may be contacted at judyb14868@aol.com
SAN DIEGO JEWISH ACADEMY January 27 Kindergarten program
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SAN DIEGO—There is a lot of tortured debate in the Jewish community over the war in Gaza, and the opposing sides both have been drawing upon lessons from the Holocaust—proof that the Nazi spawned cataclysm of the 20th century continues to claim emotional victims generations later.
Although expressed in terms of the circumstances of civilians in Gaza, the battle between those who heartily approve Israel’s war against Hamas and those who just as strongly condemn it is also a battle over the Jewish soul.
One bitter conclusion that some take from the Holocaust is that, for the most part, the outside world either hates or is indifferent to the fate of Jews, and that these attitudes carry down to today in the ceaseless rounds of protest marches, U.N. resolutions, and denunciations about nearly every action Israel takes in self-defense against adversaries who have refused even to acknowledge Israelis’ right to a peaceful existence. Given that, by comparison, nary a whisper is raised by Israel’s critics about the abuse of civil rights and civil liberties in Arab countries serves to confirm this point of view.
Rather than influencing Israelis to change their approach to Gazans, these often venomously anti-Semitic protests by the “world community” simply reinforce the belief among Israelis – as well as among other Jews throughout the world—that the only people Jews can depend upon for their survival are themselves. Don’t worry about public opinion, goes this line of reasoning, the world will be against us Jews anyway. It’s imperative to do what we must to survive.
The second legacy from the Holocaust is the endearing and enduring image of the “Righteous Gentiles”—the admirable, but all-too-few, persons, who at great risk to themselves and to their families, hid Jews, or helped them escape to freedom, or who, in one way or another, refused to aid and abet the Nazi terror. These people stand as shining examples of morality in an immoral world—and, in complaining that there were not nearly enough of them, many Jews wonder if they themselves could be as brave if the circumstances were reversed.
Suppose there were a group of people that the “government” had decided to wipe out from the face of the earth, and that to crush opposition to these genocidal plans, the “government” simply killed anyone who in any way helped those targeted people. Imagine that targeted people were not Jews, but somebody else living in our community. How many of us would stand in the way of Nazi-like tyrants and attempt to defend the outcasts? How many of us would risk the lives of our wives and children?
When we Jews blame the ordinary citizens of Germany and other European nations, in the main, for failing to be “Righteous,” how confident can we be that we would not have failed the same test?
While there have been murderous regimes in Cambodia, Rwanda, Serbia, and other countries since World War II, for the most part, they have operated in places far removed from the Jewish population. American Jews can and have protested the genocides in these countries—but carrying a placard, or writing an op-ed—hardly takes the kind of courage that a Righteous Gentile had to display against the Nazis.
As important as the U.S. Civil Rights movement was—and my heart is filled with admiration for those who chose to become “Freedom Riders” as America cast off segregation and discrimination—standing up against Bull Connor or Sheriff Clark did not compare to the bravery of going up against the German S.S.. In the face of protests, the Nazis didn’t turn on water hoses, they sprayed crowds with machine guns, or rounded up people randomly and hanged them in the public square.
Ironically, for some Jews, the quest to prove themselves as righteous as those “Righteous Gentiles” have led them to do ideological battle with their own Jewish people. They lash their brother Jews in public forums, teach-ins, newspaper commentaries, and sometimes obscenely compare Israel’s war in Gaza to the stuff of their moral nightmares, the Holocaust.
I find myself at odds with both sides of this debate.
On the one hand, I disagree with those Jews who believe that if you scratch a Gentile, you’ll find an anti-Semite. Not every threat to Israel is an existential one, not every critic of Israeli policy is a Nazi sympathizer. I believe Israel can and must do a better job of improving living conditions for the Palestinians who are under its control, because reaching out with kindness to our fellow human beings is the right thing to do.
On the other hand, I believe that the inflamed rhetoric comparing Israelis to Nazis not only does a disservice to our fellow Jews, but also minimizes what the Holocaust really was. People cannot purchase the title of “Righteous” by indiscriminate criticism, or by pandering to misinformed public opinion. “Righteous” is a title bestowed upon those who act with true bravery and selflessness.
UNITED JEWISH FEDERATION OF SAN DIEGOJanuary 29 Men's Event, February 24 options
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Gaza 'teach-in' an absolute farce
Editor, San Diego Jewish World:
Some of you asked me how the "Teach-In" at SDSU went Friday afternoon (Jan 16, 2009).
Here is what happened.
As you know, the Department of Political Sciences at both UCSD (Thursday) and SDSU (Friday) offered what they called a "Teach-In", billing it as something that "was not designed to foster debate, but rather to educate and inform with the help of top experts in Middle East relations". This is an important concept: to educate without debate. Think about it. Translation: we are not interested in hearing anyone's opinion on the subject, our experts are here to tell you what the truth is.
The three experts in question were Prof. Graubart (American and Jewish), Prof. Shafir (Israeli and Jewish), and Prof. Abdel Noor (Palestinian and presumably Muslim). With such diversity, the illusion was strong that diverse opinions could be expressed freely. Wrong. All three speakers, one after another, blamed Israel for the war in Gaza and practiced extensively the fine art of equivalency, i.e. putting Israel and Hamas at the same level. If anything, the Israeli professor was probably the most balanced of the three, but it remained shocking to see how the Department had carefully stacked the deck to prevent anyone from being able to present Israel's point of view. I call that a setup.
This format also meant that no right of response to the three panelists was given to anyone. Consequently, even though there was a sizable minority of pro-Israel voices in the room among the 200+ people attending, people attempting to present arguments in favor of Israel (yours truly included) had to wait in line behind the microphone and were quickly interrupted by the moderator (another political science professor) and a hostile, pro-Palestinian crowd.
In a nutshell, it was an absolute farce. I find it truly worrisome that this type of totalitarian practices are accepted as normal in an American College. I know this is old news for many, but it remains shocking and very disturbing just the same. This format, clearly meant to shut out other opinions than the organizers', should be banned outright. It is abhorrent to a spirit of free thinking, genuine education and, in the end, democracy.
SDSU published a very brief report of this less than enlightened exercise. For those of you who would like to listen to the whole session themselves, you will find the mp3 audio file here. The first speaker is Ron King, director of the Political Department, explaining that this was not going to be a debate... He is followed by Graubart, Shafir and Abdel Noor. Not surprisingly, the Q&A period, which was raucous, to say the least, was not included...
J.J. Surbeck
Encinitas, California
SOILLE SAN DIEGO HEBREW DAY SCHOOL
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Hebrew Day School
Winter Wonderland at Soille Hebrew Day
SAN DIEGO (Press Release)—The Judaics kindergarten classroom at Hebrew Day was a winter wonderland recently! Morah Perla's class created beautiful winter collages and have been talking all about winter. On Thursday the class made edible snowmen to take home and several of the children brought in winter clothing including snowsuits, hats, gloves and boots to share with the
class. Hot chocolate with whipped cream, made by the children, was enjoyed by all on Friday, and several childrenwere seen sporting chocolate mustaches as they licked their lips. The pictures are of the kindergarten children showing off their incredible, edible snowmen!!
For 46 years, Soille San Diego Hebrew Day has championed Jewish day school education: instilling Jewish values and inspiring students to aim for excellence in a value-based, family environment. The school serves children from infants through eighth grade, and offers generous financial aid grants to families to make a Jewish day school education affordable to all. For more information on the school, visit the web site at http://www.hebrewday.org/ or contact Audrey Jacobs, Director of School Advancement at 858-279-3300 ext. 106 or ajacobs@hebrewday.org
SAN DIEGO—A story is told about factory workers who manufactured parachutes during World War II. Their job was tedious and boring. Every day the workers performed the exact same task as the day before.
One morning the factory owner began telling his employees about the importance of their task. The parachutes they were making might one day save the lives of their husbands, brothers, and sons. The workers' attitudes improved considerably. Even though the work was still boring, they knew they were performing a noble deed.
Whether a task is ennobling or punitive often depends less on the work than on the reason for it. When people feel they are doing something worthwhile and productive they are happier than when they believe they are doing busy work or trying to look busy.
The Pharaoh of the Exodus recognized this truth about human nature. The Torah says: "The Egyptians ruthlessly imposed upon the Israelites the various labors that they made them perform. Ruthlessly they made life bitter for them with harsh labor at mortar and bricks and with all sorts of tasks in the field." (Ex. 1:13-14)
The commentator Sha'ar Simcha noticed that the Torah emphasized the ruthlessness (Hebrew: ferach) of the Egyptians in making the Israelites work. He claims that although one might think that it was the harshness of the labor that made it so ruthless, this is not the case. The work was hard, but not impossible. What made it inhumane was that it was purposeless. The Egyptians made the Israelites build buildings, then tore them down, and made the Israelites build them again. The Israelites became overwhelmed with the pointlessness of their efforts. Soon the Egyptians broke not only their bodies, but their souls as well.
Human beings need to feel purposeful about our lives and our work. We hate to feel that we are meaningless cogs in a big machine. If we don't feel what we do has value even though we are free, we are still enslaved.
Rabbi Rosenthal is spiritual leader of Tifereth Israel Synagogue in San Diego. He may be contacted at rabbi@tiferethisrael.com
SAN DIEGO—Moshe worked as a shepherd for Yisro when one day, a sheep ran away from the flock. Moshe followed the sheep and found it drinking water from a brook. Instead of beating the sheep like many shepherds might have done, Moshe said, "If you are thirsty, you are probably also tired," so Moshe lifted the sheep on his shoulders and carried it back to the flock.
When I was a boy, we once had a knob break on an appliance. Now there was just a metal stub sticking out with no knob to turn it. My father, Irving I Lederman, o.b.m., was very handy. He had cabinets with jars filled with nuts, bolts, tools, and widgets. He found a knob in one of his jars and used it in place of the broken one.
I remember being amazed at this because the replacement knob didn't look anything like the original one. It was a different size, shape and color. I asked my father how a different knob could work. He showed me that although the outside of the knob was different, if you looked inside you could see that the inner space which fit over the metal stub was exactly
the same - hence a perfect fit.
This little memory always stuck with me because as I grew older, I realized it is the same with people. We may look and act different on the outside, we may have different talents and temperaments; but, if you look on the inside, we are really all the same. We all have hopes, aspirations, emotions and wants. Our particular feelings and desires may vary, but we all have feelings and desires that need to be honored.
Moshe, the shepherd, realized that this poor little sheep was different than the other sheep and should be treated with understanding. Perhaps the sheep was weaker, or on this day was just more worn out. Moshe didn't just force the sheep to fit into the mold, to comply with the 'norm.' He looked at the sheep from its own perspective and acted accordingly.
The sheep deserved the same respect and consideration due to all the other sheep, though in a different manner. This is the insight of a true leader.
Hashem looked at Moshe the shepherd and said, "If this is how he leads and cares for his own flock, I want him to lead and care for My flock - the children of Israel."
Dedicated by Avraham & Roz Dimenstein in memory of Rabbi Henry & Rebbetzin Esther Soille.
Rabbi Lederman is spiritual leader of Congregation Kehillas Torah in San Diego. He may be contacted at rbl613@nethere.com
JEWISH FAMILY SERVICE
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Turbulent economy prompts unusual donation from one non-profit to another
SAN DIEGO—The economic downturn has had an enormous impact on San Diego Jewish institutions, especially in Jewish education.
Because many families with children in Soille Hebrew Day School, Torah High, and SCY High, had lost their jobs or had seen their financial resources diminished, some were unable to pay full tuition, and had to rely on scholarship assistance.
In addition, by the end of the year 2008, it had become clear that many of the year-end contributions, a main source of school income, would either be reduced or not forthcoming.
Many donors were reluctant to give while waiting for the economy to improve, or because reduced income had compelled them to reprioritize their spending. This loss of income threatened to close the doors of a few of the schools.
Rabbi Avram Bogopulsky of Beth Jacob Congregation had become aware of the dire situation in all three schools and decided to take action. At a December 15 Board of Directors meeting, Bogopulsky discussed this issue with the Board.
“Jewish identity begins with Jewish education,” says Rand Levin, president of Beth Jacob Synagogue. So when the emergency financial situation of three Jewish Day schools became known, Beth Jacob stepped up to plate.
In an unprecedented move by an institution that itself relies on donations, Rabbi Bogopulsky and the Beth Jacob Board of Directors decided to create a Superfund, a matching fund to finance the three school seeded by Beth Jacob’s own synagogue reserves.
As a first step, Beth Jacob would use $60,000 of its own reserves to spur the financial campaign; the resulting $60,000 would be divided equally, with each school receiving $20,000.
Bogopulsky also anticipated that the original $60, 000 investment would be able to reach $120,000 and then hopefully double again to $240,000 through matching funds. This ultimately would result in each school receiving $80,000.
Before any disbursements, each school would be required to provide matching funds. Rand referred to this as a sort of “stimulus package,” instead of a bailout. Each side was expected to do its part to combat the crisis.
It was anticipated that by advertising the Superfund and providing a venue for matching funds, donors would be more willing to contribute to the schools. The deadline to meet the Superfund goal was set for March 30, 2009.
In Rabbi Bogopulsky’s mind, the creation of the Superfund from synagogue finances was merely helping ‘sister” Jewish institutions to maintain their high quality of Jewish education. It was “Jews helping other Jews.”
But to Rabbi Weiser, headmaster of Soille Hebrew Day School whose end of year donations dipped 25%, Rabbi Bogopulsky’s emergency campaign initiative was “heroic.”
At the Torah School, Rabbi Michoel Peikis, Dean of Torah High sent out an Email explaining Beth Jacob’s Superfund initiative “ to help Torah High, SCY High and the Hebrew Day School weather these turbulent times.” Other Rabbis contacted many donors directly.
As word has gotten out about the Superfund, several donors have come forth with contributions. As a matter of fact, after Rabbi Peikis alerted one donor family to the Superfund on Dec.30, the family came forth with a generous $30,000 grant the next day.
This grant was earmarked to directly seed the original Beth Jacob pot , making the new pool $90,000 instead of $60,000. With the additional anticipated matching funds, schools would each be receiving $30,000 instead of $20,000 on the first step.
Rabbi Peikis has also noted that the Superfund has created a chain of donors coming on board to help with fundraising, themselves asking other donors to contribute.
To date, there have already been disbursements to the three schools according to each’s matching contributions. The money is dispersed in $5,000 increments to be used at the schools’ discretion.
Rabbi Weiser reported that the initial Superfund infusion has permitted the school to maintain its high quality of educational programs and to retain its entire staff. Hebrew Day School enrollment had actually increased over the past year, and no student had been turned away because of financial difficulties.
It has also given Rabbi Weiser and his Board of Directors breathing room to plan their own matching funds campaign.
At SCY High, Rabbi Moshe Adatto, Director of Judaic Studies, has said that the disbursements from the Superfund has made them very optimistic for the meeting their financial commitments for the year 2009, also mentioning the $30,000 donation which increased the amount each school would receive as a key element for raised hopes.
Exemplifying Torah in one’s life through mitzvoth is a way to fulfill Israel’s mission to be a “light unto nations” (Isaiah 42:6).
Beth Jacob’s unprecedented Superfund initiative and contributions from numerous eager donors have kept this light alive.
Contributions can be made to the Superfund by contacting Rabbi Bogopulsky directly at 619-287-9890 or by email at bethjacobsandiego@hotmail.com.
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AS MUCH AS YOU CAN—Now playing at the Diversionary Theatre, the cast includes, at left,
Ida L Rhem, Leticia Martinez, Brian Mackey, Patrick Kelly, Melissa Coleman Reed and Kevane
LaMarr Coleman. At right are Coleman and Mackey. (Ken Jacques Photography)
ARTS IN REVIEW
You don't have to be Jewish to have mishigas By Carol Davis
SAN DIEGO—Remember that old saying, “You can choose your friends but not your family?” Well, in Paul Oakley Stovall’s As Much As You Can currently playing at Diversionary Theater in conjunction with The Black Ensemble Theatre, that’s the emmes!
Family drama is always a kick or painful to watch or be a part of depending on whose family we’re talking about. I don’t know of any families past or present, in my lifetime where there wasn’t some drama going on at one time or another. It really doesn’t matter the subject matter; what matters are the players and their differing points of views and the way they deal with them. (That said from an un-trained psychologist).
Stovall’s play is considered a comedy with such heavy-duty subject matter as California's Proposition. 8, which banned gay marriage; discrimination among Blacks; whether one is born Gay or if it a choice, and how religion enters the equation. Under the skillful direction of Antonio T.J. Johnson and with a nimble ensemble Stovall’s play unfolds seamlessly.
Consider this: One gay brother; one Bible thumping sister; a younger, light skinned brother whose getting married, a half sister who is biracial and bisexual all related but moving in different orbits. Add to the mix a long time lesbian friend and a Caucasian lover. What do you have? As we Jews might put it, "Mishpacha and Mishigas!"
This is family drama not unknown to many. Usually, what our families want from and for us doesn’t always add up to what we want for ourselves even though they are wishing it for us in the name of love or religion. Jesse’s (Kevane La’Marr Coleman) is gay. His whole family knows it. Most accept him and it but all isn’t clear sailing. He hasn’t seen them in years, doesn’t answer phone calls and is conspicuously absent, but they do know he’s Gay.
What his family doesn’t know is that he is in a committed relationship with Swedish born Kristian (Brian Mackey). What Kristian doesn’t know is that Jesse has not told them about him either. You can imagine the surprise Kristian feels when Jesse tells him that he is going to act as the photographer at Jesse’s brother Tony’s (Patrick Kelly) wedding which is taking place back in Jesse’s native Chicago.
Back home, Tony, the youngest of the biological siblings has his hands full listening to the preaching’s of their older sister and mentor, Evie (Ida L. Rhem) as she talks through her cause for Jesse to give up being Gay. Evie disapproves of his lifestyle fearing for his soul. She feels he is betraying their parent’s memory by choosing to be Gay.
That said Evie has trouble with her half sister Ronnie, (Leticia Martinez) who was the product of their father’s philandering. She treats Ronnie like an outsider and bosses Tony around like he’s five. And she does all this in the name of love. The only one who seems to get along with all of the siblings including Evie is their friend Nina (Melissa Coleman Reed) although Evie criticizes her as well.
Since Evie is a schoolteacher and she is preparing for a summer class, she is practicing her lessons with quotes from the Malcolm X while waiting for the rest of the family to arrive at their house. At the same time she is admonishing Tony for sitting around and doing nothing. She is quite serious about her class and is assured that she is doing the right thing teaching about Malcolm X. and Black Pride.
While Jesse and Ronnie would rather quote from Martin Luther King, Jr., Gandhi and James Baldwin’s Giovanni’s Room (about a man’s homosexual awakening in Europe), Evie prefers instead The Christian hymn, "Go Tell It On The Mountain." Their tastes in books are one indication of the distance in thinking between them. Jesse and Ronnie are so convinced that Evie can benefit from reading Giovanni’s Room that they talk about it all the time in conversations with each other, even giving a copy to Kristian.
When Jesse, Kristian and Nina finally arrive at the family home everyone knows about and accepts Kristian but Evie. They put off introducing them to each other as long as they can which causes distress and friction between Jesse and Kristian. Leave it to Nina though to stir the pot. She invites Kristian to the house, without Jesse’s knowledge, even though he’s made other overnight arrangements.
Everyone is comfortable and accepting of Kristian who is easy to like and fits in well. Ronnie takes to him immediately because she knows the meaning of an outsider. As a child growing up, she always felt excluded from the family card games and fun stuff. The only one having a problem with Kristian’s presence is Jesse. He’s too uptight and intimidated by past experiences to smell the roses or to introduce Kristian to Evie as his husband rather than as a ‘friend’.
As family drama’s go, Stovall’s As Much as You Can’s outcome is pretty predictable. What happens in between is filled with fun, pathos, ah ha moments and lots of good performances from the entire ensemble.
It was fun watching the family dynamics as Jesse, Evie, Tony and Nina sat around the card table, picking partners and settling back into comfortable familial banter of times past. One could imagine that good times were had at the old family homestead. The only one with a frown was Ronnie, the outsider. As the family warmed up to each other and one big blowout forced family members to recognize their love for each other, its similarities rather than its differences, things took a turn for reconciliation and acceptance.
With Johnson’s solid cast, Jane Lamotte’s set divided into living room and outside area with lots of room to move about on Diversionary small stage, Chris Renda's soft lighting, Joan Hanselman-Wong’s costumes and Jason Connors' subtle but moving sound design, this is one production you won’t want to miss. And, if you have any homophobic friends, bring them along. Stovall makes some excellent points in the give and take on Gay issues.
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A bissel sports trivia with Bruce Lowitt
OLDSMAR, Florida—Q: Who won a gold medal in golf at the 1969 Maccabiah Games in Israel and coached the United States team at the 1989 Games.
(a) Corey Pavin
(b) Bruce Fleisher
(c) Rob Oppenheim
(d) Al Czervik
Background: He won the U.S. Amateur in 1968 and turned pro the following year. He had only one win on the PGA Tour, the 1991 New England Classic, but on the Champions Tour (formerly the Senior PGA Tour) he won seven tournaments as a “rookie,” and has 18 Champions Tour victories including the 2001 U.S. Senior Open.
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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.
Jewish War Veterans Southwestern Jewish Press, August 18, 1950, Page 7
By J. David Brooks, Jr. Vice Commander
On Saturday evening, August 19, Temple Center will be the setting for the Jewish War Veterans “Corny Carnival.” Admission is free and a $185.00 Kaiser Dishwashing Machine will go to some lucky person present. There will be other worthwhile prizes given away that evening and all who attend are promised an evening of fun.
These Carnival Nights are for the purpose of raising money for the Post’s Naval Hospital program, and it beehoves the community to come and support their work. The War Veterans and Auxiliary are the only organizations permitted to pass into the hospital and the work that has been done in the last five years is a credit to the Jewish community. Now that U.S. men are bearing arms in Korea, a heavier load will be put on the shoulders of Post 185. With the support of the community the load will be lightened.
The Post’s work will not be stopped as long as an injured veteran is in the hospital.
Histadrut Council Southwestern Jewish Press, August 18, 1950, page 7
By Florence Barach, secretary
The Histadrut campaign’s First Rally, held at Temple Center, August 13, was a unique success, not to the size of the audience, but to the richness of the program and to the enthusiastic appreciation by those present. The Israeli film, “Design For Living” showed what words sometimes fail to make clear—Histadrut’s role in integrating the newcomers from all parts of the world into Israel’s design for living and social equality for all its citizens.
Whatever could be written about the guest speaker of the evening, Dr. Judi L. Hahn, lecturer at the University of Judaism in Los Angeles, would be inadequate. He combined his spiritual richness as an orthodox Rabbi with his scholarly understanding of the world situation to lead his audience into an appreciation of Israel today. “To understand Histadrut,” he said, “you must understand Jewish history and world history.” “Histadrut,” he stated, “is part of the Zionist ideology which puts the fourth Commandment in action—Labor.” In conclusion he asked of the American Jewish community, the most powerful in the world today, to extend the hand of help and brotherhood to pioneering Israel.
Raashe, Yiddish Sage and screen star, once again, as at the initial gifts dinner, thrilled the audience with her varied repertoire of Jewish, Hebrew and Russian songs and even added a Spanish one for good measure.
The Histadrut Campaign will continue through August. In view of the critical world situation and Israel’s insecure position, Histadrut, now more than ever must have large sums available for creating new settlements and for strengthening its defense.
Support the Histadrut Campaign. Show your solidarity with pioneering Israel by sending in your contribution to Histadrut Headquarters, 432 F. St.
Temple Beth Israel Sisterhood Southwestern Jewish Press, August 18, 1950, page 8
Summer vacation notwithstanding, Mrs. Abe Sklar and Mrs. Louis Bickman are busily engaged with their many and various committees, making plans for the Sisterhood “Country Far.” This gala event, which is the major money-raising project of the Sisterhood, will be held on Sunday, October 22nd at the Temple Center.
At a meeting held recently in the home of Mrs. Sklar, chairman of ways and Means, Mrs. Florence Corwin was appointed to take charge of tickets; Mrs. Charles Kronik will be coordinator of the canteen; Mrs. Harris Rubel will supervise the kitchen, and Mrs. Mack Esterson will be in charge of decorations.
Wonderful home-cooked food, merchandise booths and lots of fun will be the order of the day. Hi-lite of the Fair will be the giving away of a 1951 16 ½ Television set! Tickets, of course, will be obtainable from any member of Beth Israel Sisterhood.
Fishermen husbands of members are urged to catch lots of fish before end of the fishing season, freeze it and save it for use in the canteen.
“Captains” and committees are being appointed for the purpose of gathering merchandise. Names will be announced at a later date. Watch for further news of the Fair in these columns.
Pioneer Women Negba Club Southwestern Jewish Press, August 18, 1950, page 8
Tuesday, August 22 at 12:00 the Pioneer Women Negba Club are having an informal get-together luncheon at Pepper Grove. Everyone is welcome . Bring the children. Proceeds will go to the Histadrut campaign.
On September 3 the Pioneer Women will celebrate their Silver Jubilee at the Temple Center at 8:00 p.m. It will be 25 years since they were formed to aid the Moatza –Ha-Polate (the working women’s council of Israel.)
The Jubilee will be highlighted by the lighting of 25 candles. Honor of lighting these candles will be bestowed on various members.
There will be an outstanding program. Something very new in the way of entertainment will be tried, along with dancers who will portray Israel folk dances. An handsome door prize will be given.
An outstanding evening is promised. Everyone is welcomed and invited to attend.
“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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THE MIDDLE EAST
Wartime diary of a frontline resident, Jan. 13 ... by Ulla Hadar in Kibbutz Ruhama, Israel
How Israeli TV covers ... and covers the war ... by Ira Sharkansky in Jerusalem
Hamas is divided over goals of its war ... by Rabbi Dow Marmur in Jerusalem
Jewish communities highly valued in Morocco and elsewhere in Muslim world ... by Donald H. Harrison in San Diego
AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND
The Jews Down Under, A roundup of Jewish news in Australia and New Zealand... by Garry Fabian in Melbourne, Australia
—Australian Jew killed in Afghanistan
—Thousands honour fallen Jewish soldier
—Police probe attack on Jewish man
—New Zealand priest defaces Rabin Memorial
—Magen David burnt but action unlikely
—Tennis star Peer targeted in anti-Israel protests
—Israeli tennis stars in Australian Open
—Australian Jewry show support for Israel
ARTS
The Perfect Poem ... by Sheila Orysiek in San Diego
COMMUNITY WATCH
Jewish Family Service: Balance class at College Avenue Older Adult Center
Soille San Diego Hebrew Day School: Remembering Rabbi Soille at Hebrew Day School
ADVENTURES IN SAN DIEGO JEWISH HISTORY
August 18, 1950: For Your Pleasure
August 18, 1950: Charley Adams, the “Newsboy”
August 18, 1950: Council of Jewish Women Garden Party
August 18, 1950: Are You A Member of ‘Society’?
JEWISH INTERNET FAVORITES
Allan Sherman parodies "Downtown"
Nigerian Christian pilgrims salute Israel on its 60th birthday
Theodore Bikel and Judy Collins sing "Kisses Sweeter Than Wine."
JERUSALEM—The Israeli government has unilaterally declared a cease fire.
JERUSALEM--As of midnight Jan. 15, 2009, these were the soldiers wounded in the Gaza War.Please keep them in your prayers: Yedidya ben Shira- (recovered) may be removed from list; Binyamin Ben Ben Netiva; Hoshea ben Miriam; Wahal Mijan; Noam ben Aliza; Yosef Chaim ben Ziva; Raphael ben Dina; Elishama Shalom ben Rivka Leah;Tom ben Chana; Chaim Moshe Naftali ben Ruth Reizel; Shachaf ben Calie; Netanel ben Mazal Tov; Nechemia Dov Ber ben Arilin (Arlene?); Avi ben Shoshana; Yitzchak ben Bia; Moshe ben Chana Malka; Noam Ben Aliza; Liel Husha ben Miriam; Yosef Haim Ben Ziva; Dvir Ben Laya; Rafael Ben Dina; Neriya Ben Rivka; Oren Ben Chaya; Ronen Chai Ben Leah; Ron Ben Havatselet; Eitan Ben Sarah; Gal Ben Hedva; Ran Ben Mirel; Idan Ben Nadi; Yitzhak Ben Nava; Ohad Ben Bracha; Netanel Ben Nava; Maxim Ben Olga; Yisrael ben Ilana; Yo'ad Ido ben Frieda Elka; Idan Ben Liora; Nadav Ben Miria; Sagi ben Osnat; Omer Ben Dorit; Lior Ben Mazal; Yevgeny Ben Elizbeta; Moshe ben Eidi; Moshe ben Pnina Rose; Mor Ben Orna; Aharon Yehoshua ben Chaya Shoshana; 
SAN DIEGO (Press Release)—The Judaics kindergarten classroom at Hebrew Day was a winter wonderland recently! Morah Perla's class created beautiful winter collages and have been talking all about winter. On Thursday the class made edible snowmen to take home and several of the children brought in winter clothing including snowsuits, hats, gloves and boots to share with the
SAN DIEGO—A story is told about factory workers who manufactured parachutes during World War II. Their job was tedious and boring. Every day the workers performed the exact same task as the day before. 
SAN DIEGO—Moshe worked as a shepherd for Yisro when one day, a sheep ran away from the flock. Moshe followed the sheep and found it drinking water from a brook. Instead of beating the sheep like many shepherds might have done, Moshe said, "If you are thirsty, you are probably also tired," so Moshe lifted the sheep on his shoulders and carried it back to the flock.
SAN DIEGO—The economic downturn has had an enormous impact on San Diego Jewish institutions, especially in Jewish education. 
SAN DIEGO—Remember that old saying, “You can choose your friends but not your family?” Well, in Paul Oakley Stovall’s As Much As You Can currently playing at Diversionary Theater in conjunction with The Black Ensemble Theatre, that’s the emmes!
