Volume 3, Number 33
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"There's a Jewish story everywhere"
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Today's Postings:
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FROM THE SIDELINESYes, we must vote February 10, but for whom? To visit the websites of San Diego Jewish Academy or Congregation Beth Israel, please click
Internal Catholic politics should not overly concern Jews We wouldn't have known about him had it not been announced that he was about to be rehabilitated by the Pope and allowed to return to the bosom of the Roman Catholic Church. The reason for his earlier disgrace was that he had been ordained by a renegade archconservative archbishop, the late Marcel Lefebvre, and thus forced to operate outside the Catholic establishment. Jewish organizations in many countries, including Canada, issued angry protests against the proposed papal action. Leading Catholics also objected. The Vatican, on the other hand, while condemning Holocaust denial, originally argued that the bishop's views are irrelevant in this context. Pope Benedict XVI himself doesn't question the truth about the Holocaust. But he has other priorities that may have prompted him to bring back Williamson without due diligence. Only now, and yielding to strong international political pressure, the Vatican says it will demand that he recant before being readmitted. Interfaith work, though still politically correct and useful for the image of contemporary Catholicism, doesn't seem to be that important for the Curia. The affirmation of the traditionalist-conservative trend and church unity are. For both reasons it makes sense to bring Williamson and other dissenters into the fold. They're likely to act as useful correctives to reforming tendencies within the church. Though Lefebvre challenged papal authority, his objections to interfaith work and the introduction of the vernacular into the liturgy may not be too far from the Pope's own views. Reading the writings of Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, as the Pope was known before his elevation, suggests that he has serious reservations about modernity. Whereas many German philosophers of the pre-World War II generation decried the technology of their days, this contemporary German thinker objects to the theology of his time. He has written about it, he has articulated his stance as the leading prelate around the previous Pope, and now as the supreme leader of the Catholic Church he has added opportunities to put his views into practice. Benedict XVI sees dangers for traditional religion in modern thought and contemporary lifestyles. He's trying to take steps to stem the tide. To acknowledge the legitimacy of conservative views within his own tradition and, at the same time, help maintain unity within his church appear to be two of his prime objectives. If interfaith work and relationships with Jews is the price to be paid, so be it. He knows there will be opportunities to repair the damage, at least until the next crisis. Thus during his planned visit to Israel in May he'll no doubt attend a ceremony at Yad Vashem, the Jewish martyrs' memorial in Jerusalem, to express empathy for the suffering of the Jews and affirm his disapproval of Holocaust denial. Jewish organizations might just as well learn to live with the mixed messages and accept that there will be ups and downs in their relations with the Vatican. Mercifully, independent of that, fruitful co-operation continues and grows between thoughtful exponents of both faiths. Not only do they promote peace in the world but they also strengthen the commitment of participants to their respective traditions. Vatican politics mustn't deter us in our work.
JEWISH FAMILY SERVICE On Tuesday, March 24th from 2 to 4 pm, the Older Adult Center will host a Springtime Afternoon Dance with Sharon Emerson, Ballroom Dance Instructor.Sharon will be our hostess and DJ for a delightful springtime afternoon dance. (No instruction)We will dance to many of your favorites including: Tangos, Waltzes, and more! She will even take requests. Enjoy an afternoon of friendship and fun.Dressy, casual attire
At the ballet a grand pas de deux has several sections: entrance (dancing together), as many as four variations (male/female solos), coda (dancing together). This makes at least six interruptions for applause in a ten minute pas de deux. The dancers actually stop to accept the applause, running off stage – coming back for more applause (maybe more than once), before finally exiting – only to come back in the next section. All coherency of both the choreography and the story has by that time been lost. However, even worse than the applause is the screeching (mostly by the younger members of the audience) during each break or after every multiple pirouette, balance held or jump. When this occurs while Romeo is lamenting Juliet’s supposed death – who cares any longer if she really died? Add to this the ear piercing whistling and it all resembles a rowdy mob at a sporting event. * * * * Book Review: The Zookeeper’s Wife Few of us would ever see a living animal such as a lion, tiger or elephant, were it not for visiting a zoo. The original intent for keeping wild animals caged was for the amusement of people. Slowly the zoo changed from a circus concept to that of educating the public and supplying an ark – keeping safe and breeding endangered species. The zoo in Warsaw during WWII changed from an ark for animals to an ark for people; endangered people – people on the run from their own kind. It is not hard to imagine that the zookeeper, Jan Zabinski and his wife Antonia, both of whom loved and cared for animals, easily transferred that same caring for the beleaguered Jews of Warsaw. Zabinski was able to slip a few of the Jews who were caged up in the Ghetto past the Germans. He housed many more in sheds, closets, cages and storage rooms on the sprawling zoo grounds. In addition, his “zoo villa” – the official house of the zookeeper – became a way station on the underground trip from safe house to safe house. Some “guests” stayed only a day or two, but many stayed much longer either hidden or with false work papers as zoo employees. Actually, there was little zoo keeping to do. Early in the German invasion of Poland the Warsaw zoo was bombed. The animals that were not killed by the bombs the German soldiers soon took care of – shooting them in their cages. The Zabinski family heard the shots but was unable to rescue the animals they had known for years – including a baby elephant only the twelfth ever born in captivity. Other animals were stolen and shipped off to Germany where they met much the same fate. However, a clever determined person such as Zabinski could still find a means to shelter the few animals who survived and the desperate people who crossed his path. He also found ways to fight back. He proposed to the German Command that he be allowed to raise pigs on the zoo grounds to help feed German soldiers. This kept the zoo in his hands, gave work and a reason to be there to many incognito Jews. The Germans were happy he wanted to help feed the soldiers, but they would not have been so pleased had they known that he had infected the pork with worms. This book is another view of the war and the Holocaust. It comes at the reader on two levels – the well known history of human inhumanity to one’s own kind, but also how our species impacts others with whom we share Creation. This is contrasted to the response of other humans showing us at our best. Any Pole caught helping a Jew faced instant death – or even worse – torture and death. And yet, people did rescue and hide Jews. The Zabinskis risked not only their own lives but also the lives of a young son (still alive as of 2007) and an infant daughter. While her husband carried on his underground work – including fighting in the Warsaw Uprising and landing in a German POW camp – Antonia struggled to run the household, safeguard all who were in it (hidden and otherwise). In the midst of the horrors all around her, she was ill, in pain and bedridden for months and gave birth; one woman guarding the ark. I would like to say I enjoyed the book, but “enjoy” is not a good word when reading about these horrific events. But I did enjoy it in the sense that it is well written, author Diane Ackerman allows events to captivate the reader rather than wallowing in angst. It brings to the fore that when we decide to war against one another the horror of our actions impacts all of G-D’s Creation; the cats, dogs, birds, bears and rabbits. What must they think of us? I do recommend this book, which was published by the Norton Company in 2008. Columnist Orysiek may be contacted at orysieks@sandiegojewishworld.com
CAROL ANN GOLDSTEIN
Sunday, February 8, 2009 (Vol. 3, No. 33) INTERNATIONAL Some old realities of Israel's election politics ... by Ira Sharkansky in Jerusalem Thoughts of a frequent visitor on returning to Israel ... by Rabbi Leonard Rosenthal in Jerusalem JUDAISM ARTS LETTERS SPORTS ADVENTURES IN SAN DIEGO JEWISH HISTORY August 8, 1952 Southwestern Jewish Press archives: JEWISH INTERNET FAVORITES —Jakob Dylan sings "Something Good This Way Comes" on the David Letterman show —Julia Feldman in Renaissance costume sings Yeled Vebeer (The Boy and the Well) —Sagiv Cohen sings "Yashkef" (Observe) — Sung in the Yemenite Jewish style COMMUNITY WATCH/ADVERTISERS' NEWS Soille San Diego Hebrew Day School—Every Student Can Be a Leader at Soille San Diego Hebrew Day School
INTERNATIONAL Obama has a P-R problem with Gazans ...by Ira Sharkansky in Jerusalem ARTS Leah Salovey is budding playwright ... by Sara Appel-Lennon in San Diego Standing ovations should be reserved for very best ... by David Amos in San Diego ADVENTURES IN SAN DIEGO JEWISH HISTORY --Bay City B.B. --J.W.V. Auxiliary --S.D. Birdie Stodel Chapter Member Honored -- News of the Fox -- City of Hope Aux. -- Deceased {Louis Lasher} JEWISH INTERNET FAVORITES David Draiman of Disturbed sings “Down With the Sickness” Lynsey de Paul sings “Sugar Me” Matt Dusk sings “Back In Town" COMMUNITY WATCH Carol Ann Goldstein: What are the elements of a successful commercial website? Soille San Diego Hebrew Day School: Alumni Join in on Soille Hebrew Day’s Learning Program
Thursday, February 5, 2009 (Vol. 3,No. 31) INTERNATIONAL Holocaust tour strengthens Israeli girl's patriotism ... by Dorothea Shefer-Vanson in Mevasseret Zion, Israel Creating countries at the Int'l Criminal Court ... by Shoshana Bryen in Washington, D.C. ARTS Thursdays With The Songs of Hal Wingard: —#15, Mr. Average —#30, Milkshake On Your Mustache —#190, Ever Wonder ADVENTURES IN SAN DIEGO JEWISH HISTORY Birdie Stodel B.B. Cottage of Israel USO-JWB Activities B’nai B’rith Women of San Diego Deceased {Jane M. Lipinsky} Tifereth Israel Sisterhood JEWISH INTERNET FAVORITES Joe Dassin sings "L'Ete Indien" (Indian Summer) Leonard Cohen sings "The Stranger" Marc Cohn sings "Live Out the String" COMMUNITY WATCH Soille San Diego Hebrew Day School: Soille Hebrew Day Middle School Chess Club MIDDLE EAST Israel electorate has moved to the right ... by Ira Sharkansky in Jerusalem An unsolicited plan for Mideast peace ... by Rabbi Dow Marmur in Jerusalem AUSTRALIA —Dissident Jewish professors make waves —Australia Day honours for Jewish community members —Surgeon becomes first Jewish general in 50 years —Child prodigy stars at Yeshiva gala —Expansion of kosher eateries —Junior Carnival great success —Heat wave postpones start of school year COMMUNITY WATCH ADVENTURES IN SAN DIEGO JEWISH HISTORY August 8, 1952: Young Jewish Couples’ Club August 8, 1952: Hebrew Home Gets Set for ‘Maisel Day’ August 8, 1952: Beth Jacob Auxiliary Holds Wedding Shower August 8, 1952: T.Y.Lers to Attend Asilomar Conference August 8, 1952: Heart Assn. Elects New Board Members August 8, 1952: Beth Jacob Picnic Sunday, August 10 August 8, 1952: (Untitled Humor) JEWISH INTERNET FAVORITES Patrick Bruel sings Qui A Le Doit (Who Has the Right) Shlomo Carlebach—The rabbi gives a concert Tuesday, February 3, 2009 (Vol. 3, No. 29) INTERNATIONAL ARTS New website: Old Jews telling jokes ... by Dan Bloom in Taipei, Taiwan The reason for postwar Polish anti-Semitism ... by David Strom in San Diego Maybe they should hunt for a better play! .. by Cynthia Citron in Pasadena, California COMMUNITY WATCH Soille San Diego Hebrew Day School: Preschool Enrichment Classes at Soille Hebrew Day ADVENTURES IN SAN DIEGO JEWISH HISTORY August 8, 1952: Pioneer Jews of Utah ... by Dr. Phillip L. Seman August 8, 1952: Busy, Busy, Busy August 8, 1952: Talented Family JEWISH INTERNET FAVORITES Dany Brillant sings "Tu vuò fa l' americano" (You Want To Be An American) Ian Broudie sings "Song for No One"
INTERNATIONAL Hamas and Turkey's Erdogan aid Likud ... by Rabbi Dow Marmur in Jerusalem Turkey: 'Do as I say, not as I do'... by David A. Harris in New York U.S.A. Unity, not diversity, key to U.S. greatness ... by Sheila Orysiek in San Diego SAN DIEGO STUDENT SCHOLARSHIP Middle School—Oscar Schindler, Reluctant Savior... by Jairn Schiff in Cayucos, California COMMUNITY WATCH ADVENTURES IN SAN DIEGO JEWISH HISTORY August 8, 1952: Loan Committee Serves Vital Function August 8, 1952: It Figures! Gals Have Class In Figure Class August 8, 1952: Limit of Tax Deductible Gifts Raised to 20% In New Law JEWISH INTERNET FAVORITES {Click here for previous selections} Michel Berger sings "Chanter pour ceux" Mike Brant sings "Laisse-moi t'aimer" (Let me love you) INTERNATIONAL Fewer traffic deaths in Israel during wars ... by Rabbi Dow Marmur in Jerusalem 'The Choice Is Ours'—Iraqi voter ... by Shoshana Bryen in Washington, D.C. Obama 'gets it about Israel,' Newsweek's Fineman reassures UJF Men's Event... by Donald H. Harrison in La Jolla, California Hidden Jewish children in WWII Belgium are subject of lecture at AJE's Yom Limmud... by Gail Feinstein Forman in La Jolla, California JUDAISM Merit of hard-to-peform mitzvoth described ... by Rabbi Baruch Lederman in San Diego SPORTS ARTS COMMUNITY WATCH ADVENTURES IN SAN DIEGO JEWISH HISTORY July 25, 1952: Public Invited To Greet Nixon Here July 25, 1952: B.C. Crum Announces New International Gift Certificate Plan – Scrip to Israel July 25, 1952: Cottage of Israel July 25, 1952: Local Women Are Honored By Regional B’nai B’rith JEWISH INTERNET FAVORITES {Click here for previous selections} Keren Ann Zeidel sings "Not Going Anywhere" Zehava Ben sings "Inta Omri" ("You Are My Life") |
JERUSALEM—The archetypal matchmaker in the shtetl is quoted to have said that what the two he had brought together wish each other before their wedding – “it should happen to me (oyf mir gezogt) – and what they wish each other after they’re married – may it happen to them.
SAN DIEGO—
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