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INTERNATIONAL Til now, Mideast 'peace' process has been smoke, mirrors ... by Ira Sharkansky in Jerusalem
When people agree, they do not need politicians. One of the things that politicians do is to arrange deals when there are disagreements.READ MORE
Maybe Israel could use more Diaspora mentality ... by Rabbi Dow Marmur in Jerusalem I sometimes wonder whether Israelis’ frequently stated belief that it’ll all be OK is a sign of admirable trust in Providence (and themselves) or reckless fatalism. Two instances currently in the news come to mind.READ MORE
The Jews Down Under ... Roundup of Australian Jewish News by Garry Fabian
Sydney Jewish Museum misses out on lost Schindler's list READ MORE
ARTS 'Brief Affair': Jewish guilt or Greenberg's folly? ... by Carol Davis in San Diego
Richard Greenberg is somewhat of an icon at The South Coast Repertory Theatre. He is referred to as the ‘quintessential SCR playwright’. READ MORE
THE CO-PUBLISHERS' MAILBOX Community ceremony will remember the Holocaust READ MORE
Survivor David Faber to lecture at Spring Valley public library READ MORE
Tifereth Israel to screen movie on anti-Semitism READ MORE
Brodskys step down from Friends of Israel Defense Forces leadershipREAD MORE
ADVENTURES IN SAN DIEGO JEWISH HISTORY
January 9, 1953; Southwestern Jewish Press
Society/Personals (Part II) READ MORE
City of Hope Jr. Aux.READ MORE
Temple Teens by Susan Solof READ MORE
Linda’s Lookout by Linda Solof READ MORE
Beth Israel Holds Annual Meeting READ MORE
Historic Ad~Jai Alai Games READ MORE
JEWISH INTERNET FAVORITES We continue our examination of Jewish entertainers
Abe Vigoda as retired Detective Fish pays a return visit to the precinct in "Barney Miller" VIEW VIDEO
Jack Warden plays trainer Max Corkle in "Heaven Can Wait" with Warren Beatty VIEW VIDEO
Jerry Stiller as Arthur Spooner wants some pizza on "King of Queens" with Kevin James VIEW VIDEO
Mel Torme sings "The Trolley Song" with Judy Garland VIEW VIDEO
STAFF BOX Cynthia Citron covers the arts for San Diego Jewish World as its Los Angeles bureau chief; Carol Davis covers the arts for us as our San Diego drama critic. Between their two cities lies Orange County, which has some wonderful theatres as well. Unbeknownst to each other, they both covered Our Mother's Brief Affair at the South Coast Repertory Theatre in Costa Mesa. Here is a link to Citron's review which ran yesterday. Davis's review is below. FYI, they had very different opinions.
JERUSALEM—When people agree, they do not need politicians. One of the things that politicians do is to arrange deals when there are disagreements.
The easy way is to compromise. But what happens when the parties are not inclined?
Then it is time for deceptions. These include empty promises, commitments not intended to be kept, posturing as if everything is all right, acting as if there will be a deal when it is pretty sure that they won't be.
Often it requires smoke and mirrors, or the geometry involved in squaring a circle.
The purpose is to save face for those who know.
Politics is a noble craft. If it is done well, it comprises the most civilized way to handle disputes. It is better than one on one dueling, and far better than warfare.
A case in point is what has been happening, and what I hope will continue between officials of Israel and the Palestine National Authority.
As I read the news, there is no deal close, or likely. Palestinians cannot ratchet down from the right of refugees to return to homes they left 60 years ago, as well as what they call the 1967 border of Palestine, the dismantling of Jewish settlements over that line, the dismantling of the barricade Israel is building to keep evil out of the country, and permanent Muslim control of what the Jews call the Temple Mount.
Some think the Palestinians are exaggerating for the sake of bargaining. Maybe. But maybe not. Some see more flexibility when they listen to Palestinians in Hebrew or English than when the same people speak in Arabic.
There is a concern that if Palestinian leaders cannot renounce slogans they have been repeating, and teaching in their schools for generations.
It can't be fun being tossed from the roof of a tall building, as happened to one of the moderate Palestinians in Gaza.
There are signs that majorities of both Palestinians and Israelis want to avoid violence.
Smoke and mirrors is what I see in play over the last few years, and what I see as the greatest hope for the time being.
What do I mean by the time being?
As long as it takes.
Both sides had agreed that they were negotiating toward a two-state solution, but they did not get anywhere. Israelis offered the equivalent of almost all of the territory the Palestinians say they held prior to the 1967 war. It was actually the Jordanians in charge of the West Bank prior to 1967, and Egypt in Gaza, but Israelis are willing to overlook those details. In exchange for land over that line that it will keep, Israel has offered other land. The Palestinians have offered a cessation of violence, but not much else that I can see.
There remains the problem of Hamas. Israel has been helping itself and helping the Fatah regime of the West Bank by going into the West Bank frequently, and taking away or otherwise neutralizing Hamas personnel seen as a threat to both Israel and Fatah.
Without this, it is doubtful that Fatah would survive. If Hamas captures the West Bank, and uses it against Israel like it has used Gaza, the West Bank may experience something like Gaza.
Fatah cannot thank Israel in public for keeping it alive, but we can live without that.
The new government of Prime Minister Benyamin Netanyahu and Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman have threatened this arrangement by saying that the Palestinians are not ready for a state; that it would be better to talk about something else.
They've broken the mirror and stopped the smoke.
President Barack Obama and other world figures have said that Israel and Palestine must work toward a two-state solution Go to top of right column
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas (whose term has expired, but let's not bother about that detail) has said that he will not negotiate with Israel unless its government agrees to a two-state solution.How to fix the mirror and produce enough smoke to keep it cloudy?
Surely there is language that will do it.
Netanyahu has already said that he will continue working toward a peaceful solution.
Those who know Netanyahu say that he is flexible. Some say that he is so flexible that he adopts the view of the last person who speaks with him.
For some years now, it has been the task of the United States President to make Israel an offer it cannot refuse. Sometimes it looks like a carrot, sometimes a stick.
Netanyahu has a good point about the Palestinians. Even without the Hamas-Gaza problem, they have not shown a capacity to use the aid they have receive to provide decent services to their people. Taking account of the Gaza-Hamas problem, they are a long way from a state that Israel or many other governments would recognize.
If Obama and others talk as tough with the Palestinians as with Israel, it might be possible to keep this going.
With respect to the goal of a Palestinian state, it is likely that the talks will go nowhere. But that is better than nothing.
Sharkansky is professor emeritus of political science at Hebrew University. He may be contacted at irashark@gmail.com
JERUSALEM—I sometimes wonder whether Israelis’ frequently stated belief that it’ll all be OK is a sign of admirable trust in Providence (and themselves) or reckless fatalism. Two instances currently in the news come to mind.
One: Egyptian security forces, probably aided by Israeli intelligence, are pursuing a gang of Hezbollah terrorists bent on blowing themselves up to kill Israeli tourists in Sinai. Their leader Hassan Nasrallah admitted as much when Egypt’s president accused him of wanting to turn Egypt into a second Lebanon. He denied the charge that his men would harm Egyptians but declared with pride that they intend to kill Jews.
As part of the response, Israeli authorities have warned their citizens not to take vacations in the area, despite its popularity. However, the warnings seem to have largely fallen on deaf ears. The quest for affordable vacations in the sun during Passover is so strong that many Israelis seem to be prepared to risk their lives and the lives of their children rather than go elsewhere or stay at home.
Two: Thailand is on the verge of another revolution and Bangkok is, by all accounts, a dangerous place. Israel’s Foreign Ministry has urged Israelis to stay away from conflict areas, indeed from the country altogether. Again, most Israelis seem to ignore the warning, because Thailand is a popular destination. EL Al announced that it’s not cancelling any planes to Bangkok, because they’re all fully booked.
*
If I ever had any doubts about how I differ from the secular Israeli, the above two instances provide some evidence. As a religious Jew I believe that miracles can only happen when all human options have been exhausted. To go on vacation instead of staying away from potential terror is to flaunt the principle. As the Yiddish saying has it, “Don’t rely on miracles, recite Psalms.” Reciting Psalms is a safe home activity.
As a diaspora Jew I’m well schooled in being frightened. As soon as I perceive danger, I automatically paint the worst-case scenario and flee as fast as I can. I’d like to think that this is prudence, not cowardice. It’s part of every survivor’s tool kit.
*
I’ve come to wonder if people who seem to disregard their own safety can be sufficiently careful about the lives of others. I’ve in mind not only drivers but also soldiers at war in their treatment of civilians behind enemy lines. Though I’ve no reason to believe that other than a deranged person would deliberately want to harm pedestrians crossing the street or civilians in the line of fire, I fear that the same person who takes risks for himself/herself is less careful when it comes to endangering others.
If this assumption is correct, it may explain why the many attempts at exposing wrongs in Israeli society are to no avail. For the same attitude that makes Israelis strong and resourceful also makes them dangerous to themselves. Perhaps what they need is a little more of what so many
despise: galutiut, diaspora mentality that, on the one hand, shuns the seemingly self-contradictory trait of self-reliance and fatalism and, on the other, makes for flight from potential danger, even if it messes up your vacation plans.
The diaspora does indeed need more, much more, Israel. But Israel may also need more, at least a little more, diaspora. Chag same’ach!
Marmur is rabbi emeritus of the Holy Blossom Congregation in Toronto. He divides his time between Canada and Israel. email: marmurd@sandiegojewishworld.com
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The Jews Down Under ... Roundup of Australian Jewish News by Garry Fabian
Sydney Jewish Museum misses out on lost Schindler's list
SYDNEY - The Sydney Jewish Museum is upset that a
newly discovered copy of Schindler's list - which saved 801 Jewish lives during the Holocaust - has ended up in the hands of the NSW State Library.
A library researcher recently stumbled upon the 13-page list while combing through six boxes of Tom Keneally's manuscript material relating to his best-selling novel Schindler's Ark. Keneally apparently sold his manuscript, including the carbon type-script copy of Oskar Schindler's list
of Jewish workers he helped to escape death, before the library acquired it in 1996.
The list - believed to be one of the few remaining - went on display for the first tine along with Keneally's manuscript in the library recently. But Sydney's Jewish Museum's Norman
Seligman said the document belonged in a Holocaust museum, not a public library. While recognising that Keneally had the right, as owner, to decide what he wanted to do with it, he said he was "disappointed that it was offered to a document dealer, rather than a Holocaust Museum".
"The most appropriate place for such a document in a Holocaust Museum, such as the Sydney Jewish Museum, where the document can be viewed in the right historical context", Seligman said. Anna Reich, 88m who is believed to be the last surviving Schindler Jew in Sydney, also sided
with the museum. "Keneally made lots of money from the film and the book. He could have given the list to the Sydney Jewish Museum. It would have made more sense" she said.
But the State's Library researcher Dr Olwen Pryke, who discovered the copy said "The significance of the document lies in the fact that it inspired Tom Keneally's novel, which
really brought Schindler's story to the world. As he's a prominent NSW author, I believe the material makes sense here"
Pryke, however hasn't ruled out the chance of the Sydney Jewish Museum acquiring the list on a short-term loan from the library.
"It's difficult for me to say, but we certainly have a history of loaning significant items to other institutions, and I can't see why we wouldn't be willing to loan this one also," she said.
Plan for a partnership
MELBOURNE - After more that two decades of independence, Melbourne's two Jewish museums have
announced an intention to increase their collaboration.
Dr.Helen Light director of the Jewish Museum of Australia and Bernard Korbman, director of the Jewish Holocaust Museum, both believe that despite the museums' different subjects themes, they share a common role.
The two directors said the museums were both dedicated to promoting respect between individuals of different races, cultures and faiths. The organisations are also dedicated to
fighting racism and furthering understanding between different cultural groups. Dr Light and Korbman nominated several ways to bring the two museums closer. They would include of holding events together for the staff of both museums, sharing archive resources and working together on education and programs.
According to a statement released by the museums, the directors have agreed to work to "provide our community with stronger integrated museum services."
"To these ends, the museums have signed an agreement about complementary collecting of our public's programs and planning events to complement each other's exhibitions". Dr Light said the move was "not competing, but cooperating", and that it was important for museum visitors - the bulk who are not Jewish - to get an all-encompassing view of the Jewish
community. A snapshot of community life without the Holocaust, or an understanding of the Holocaust without any knowledge of the local Jewish community, was not a mutual goal.
Korbman added the museum's model of collaboration could be replicated across the community. With increased expenses and a competition for donor's dollars, the Holocaust Centre director said other oganisations should look at a model based on a middle ground between total amalgamation and total separation.
The Jewish Museum of Australia was established in 1982, by the late Rabbi Ronald Lubofsky. The Jewish Holocaust Centre was established two years later in 1984 by Holocaust survivors, observing its 25th anniversary this year.
Schools miss out on
long-awaited security grant
MELBOURNE - Five Victorian Jewish schools have failed to receive any funding for security under the federal Government's Secure Schools Program.
The $20 million program, which was announced during the 2007 election campaign, was initially aimed at providing assistance to schools assessed to have terrorism or national security-related risks.
However, in the first of four rounds of allocations announced by Home Affairs Minister Bob Debus on Monday, five Jewish schools completely missed out on funding.
After school representatives slammed the allocation, but following further represntations, it is understood the Government will now amend the criteria.
Of the $5 million awarded this week, Jewish schools received $3.2 million - the remainder going to Islamic and some government schools.
However, Mount Scopus Memorial College, Leibler Yavneh College, Sholem Aleichem College, Yesodei HaTorah and the Adass Israel School did not get a cent.
It is understood the money was awarded based on the number of threats a school has received previously, rather than an assessment of its potential risk.
Some school presidents have criticised the allocations, but praised Melbourne Ports MP Michael Danby for working to rectify the situation.
Danby released a statement saying "The office of the Home Affairs Minister Bob Debus has now said that the criteria used to assess whether schools faced securiity threats was set too narrowly and will be revised."
"Leibler Yavneh and Mount Scopus must apply again, and I will help them steer through the funding application process, so that they receive a just amount of funding," Danby said.
Mount Scopus president Lisa Kennett said the school "is mystified as to why five of the eight Jewish day schools in Melbourne did not receive an allocation of funds for security needs".
Yavneh president Mark Joel added his school was "reassured" by Danby's statement.
The AJN requested an explanation about the reported error from Debus' office, but there had been no response at the time of going to press.
Moriah College principal Kim Fillingham said the funding for his school would help ensure the safety of students, staff and the community.
Carmel principal David Taylor said the grant would be used on perimeter fencing. "The primary campus is separate from the high school campus, so perimeter fencing is quite extensive."
Australian Council of Jewish Schools co-chair Susi Brieger said Jewish schools would work with the Government "to ensure an equitable allocation."
"Notwithstanding the existence of some anomalies, Jewish schools have received over 60 per cent of the moneys allocated in this round."
Australians mourn a friend
SYDNEY - Frank Stein, a man who touched the lives of hundreds of Australian Jews, passed away from cancer in Israel on Monday (March 30).
Stein, 52, was the director of the Zionist Federation of Australia's (ZFA) Israel office for many years. He stepped down last year and was replaced by Yigal Sela.
Close friend and former ZFA president Dr Ron Weiser was among the hundreds of people mourning Stein from afar.
"He was a tremendous friend and he was somebody who befriended, not only people he knew, but every Australian who came to Israel, either on programs or aliyah," Dr Weiser said. "There are hundreds of people who are sad. hundreds of people
who knew him as a personal friend, someone who they could rely on at any time."
Current ZFA president Philip Chester also paid tribute to Stein.
"Frank devoted his life to the Zionist cause, always giving of his heart and soul," Chester said.
Stein began his lifelong commitment to Zionism as a member of Betar in his hometown of Brisbane. In 1985 he moved to Israel.
A Facebook group was set up as a memorial to Stein, and more than 250 people have paid tribute to the man they called "Franki".
One friend wrote: "I will always remember how incredibly giving Frank was - how he would send our office presents for every farewell and every chag, how he would insist on Tel Aviv airport
pickups, no matter the time of night, and would ensure that on every one of my visits to Israel he treated me to a great meal."
Others have suggested renaming the annual youth movement leaders' camp -- the bogrim seminar -- in honour of Stein.
Stein never married, and is survived by his father in Brisbane and his siblings. Several hundred Australians in Israel attended his funeral in Jerusalem.
Bank chips in to help needy families
MELBOURNE- At a time when unemployment is rising and many families are experiencing increased financial hardship, the ANZ Bank ( one of the four major Australian banks) has launched a
special savings program for low-income earners in the Jewish community.
Launched in conjunction with Jewish Care, the Savers Plus program matches savings dollar-for-dollar up to $1000.
The money provided by the ANZ, however, must be used for educational purposes, such as uniforms, books or excursions, and parents must also attend four Jewish Care workshops on financial management.
"I am delighted we can be part of this excellent program," Jewish Care CEO Bruce Salvin said.
"Saver Plus is empowering families to make a brighter future themselves."
Applicants for Savers Plus must hold a healthcare card, at least one member of the family must have a job and the family must have at least one school-aged child.
The Jewish Care-ANZ program will operate in the St Kilda, Balaclava, Caulfield, Elsternwick and Bentleigh areas.
"We have a very large Jewish population here in Elsternwick," Elsternwick ANZ manager Lisa Sheridan said.
"This program is a great way for us to get more involved and demonstrate our commitment to our local community."
Initially, Saver Plus was a program operated by the bank, in conjunction with the Brotherhood of St Laurence. But it has since expanded to include Jewish Care.
In 2008, a Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology study found that Saver Plus had the highest level of success of any international savings program of its type, with 96 per cent of
participants meeting or exceeding their savings goals.
Strong Pesach sales
MELBOURNE- Despite Pesach prices increasing this year, kosher retailers have reported a jump in the number of customers. This has been attributed to fewer people going away
for Pesach, due to the tougher economic climate.
While items, such as matzah meal and honey, have increased by 40-50 per cent on last year, customers have still been purchasing these items at the expense of less necessary products, such as potato chips and confectionery.
According to Alex Spitalnic, owner of Melbourne's Alex's Kosher and Continental Mart in Caulfield South, local products, such as Yumi's dips, Tempo dairy product and locally made juices have been selling well, while "higher echelon items," such as imported wines, have slowed.
"I have had to pay 30 per cent more on most items and if it's gone up on us, I have to put it up," Spitalnic said.
"Matzah, for instance, has increased by 30-40 per cent this year because of currency conversion and a higher price of flour because of drought.
"Some matzah has now been discounted because the importers ordered too much stock and now are stuck with it."
For Judith Lewis, owner of Sydney's Lewis' Continental Kitchen in Bondi, orders have increased.
"We have had a lot more orders this year," Lewis said. "People say they are happy to pay that little bit extra for items, which are better quality and particularly for traditional things."
While items, such as gefilte fish have increased, Lewis has noticed customers saving money by buying cakes in halves rather than whole.
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ARTS IN REVIEW
'Brief Affair': Jewish guilt or Greenberg's folly?
COSTA MESA, California—Richard Greenberg is somewhat of an icon at The South Coast Repertory Theatre. He is referred to as the ‘quintessential SCR playwright’. Over the years (since 1988) he has been the author of eight previous SCR world premieres and has been the recipient all sorts of awards including The Oliver, Drama Desk and Pulitzer Prize finalist. Just recently his ninth, Our Mother’s Brief Affair, in another world premiere, opened on the Segerstrom Stage and will play through May 3rd.
The setup is pretty simple, or so we’re lead to believe. Twins Seth and Abby (Aye Gross and Marin Hinkle) are summoned, once again to their dying mother’s bedside: he from their home town of Long Island, NY, (where the play takes place) and she from Laguna Beach, Calif. Mom, Anna (Jenny O’Hara) has put in an emergency call to her children to share a secret she has held hostage for years. Before she dies she needs to get it out. At this point in her declining years, she’s ready.
But she has held these deathbed meetings so many times before that no one really expects anything different. In fact her (rotten) late husband Abe (Matthew Arkin plays both the husband and long ago lover Phil) is even brought back from the dead to tell us about one such same incident years ago. The play goes back and fourth in time (as most of his plays do) so the unexpected is usually the expected, except this one gets a little dicey from time to time. The time frames capture a few years ago and 1973.
Greenberg is a crafty and witty writer whose ingredients of pathos, humor, insight and surprise usually show up in many of his plays show up in this one as well.. However, he seems more intent on shock value in making this play something it’s not as it gathers steam. Additionally he succeeds in sounding more like Neil Simon than anything else in rendering his tale.
The zingers came so out fast and furious that it was difficult to keep up with them. (“My scarf looked like satisfied adultery," a Burberry raincoat and scarf. “You were the only twins on the block. I knew it was going to be bad”) The audience ate it up but somehow neither the characters nor their story was that compelling to hold your interest even for the short ninety minutes of its telling.
You see Anna is a habitual kvetcher and her two adult children, (both gay) seem to know only half of each of her stories. Abby knew about her mother’s ‘affair’, but not Seth. So Seth goes off the deep end after he finds out that while he was struggling to keep appearances up at age fifteen studying Viola at Julliard, his mother was off having a ten-week fling with a stranger.
Seth knew about a not-often-mentioned sister that Anna has built a wall of guilt around herself for not getting her some water on her death bed, but Abby never knew about this sister. She wasn’t particularly blown away, she just didn’t know. And what does this have to do with anything? You tell me! Well, it did generate about an hour’s worth of conversation on the drive back to San Diego with, as I’m sure Greenberg intended, no resolution except to learn that some of the same characters' names in this play were in his (Greenberg’s) 2000 play Everett Beekin, which I have not seen.
Greenberg’s peeps, as in several of his previous plays, talk directly to the audience and this is no exception. At the onset, Seth sets the picture up for us and intermittently by addressing us in an assuring and intimate way; he goes back and forth talking to us and then to Anna and then to Abby. As the story unfolds we learn bits and pieces of their lives. Anna has something different to tell them now and it has to be sooner rather than later, before she dies. She is, they admit, really getting more frail and distant.
The play is all Anna’s and the story she conjures up about this affair is as much about an intimacy she craved all her life as much as an almost unbelievable tale of historical intrigue, international treason, a Jewish shanda, and an astonishing imagination (like a time bomb dropped in the middle of the play; I won’t give it away). The story is one only a mother
could envision to tell her children as a lasting post script to her life. She wants an obituary written about her, one that will make the papers.
In fact when she recalls the ‘affair’ she comes alive! She dances, swirls around the room, smiles and looks younger. But to her two adult children, it’s preposterous. As children would, they wanted her to behave differently after the secret Phil had revealed to her about himself was exposed to them. But she accepted it well, as a mater of fact. It wasn’t about who he was, it was about what he did for her.
Parents, like children, almost never live up to each other’s expectations. And what could they really expect from their mother? As complicated as the story grew, moral fabric was never an issue. This isn’t an Arthur Miller play after all. Anna needed some adventure and excitement in her life and Phil gave it to her, period! Her memories, real or imagined, will remain hers like it or not.
Jenny O’Hara (I thought she must be Jewish she’s got the whole Jewish shtick down to a science) is simply wonderful to watch and listen to. She’s shy, crafty and cagy at the same time, quarrelsome and endearing, frustrating and yet satisfied that she might leave a legacy to her children they never imagined their mother to have. She’s got this one last chance to get her children’s ear and she captures it to a tee.
Arye Gross is perfect as Seth, his mother’s favorite son and obit writer. He’s convincing as our narrator and he’s right as the disbelieving son who can’t picture his mother actually had sex. Marin Hinkle has little to do as Abby but balances the twin act well as the yin and yang of the brother/sister act. Arkin is credible as both Anna’s lover Phil, smooth and easy and as her angry husband, Abe, fiercely raging.
Pam MacKinnon direction is solid talk with not much action taking place and Sybil Wickersheimer’s generic park benches and background scenery works well. It’s simple and uncluttered, unlike the story.
Somewhere between Greenberg’s idea of Our Mother’s Brief Affair and the finished play I saw, is another play waiting in the wings to come out. This is just not the one. As my Bubbee used to say, “Ess mine kind, ess. Translation: Eat, my child, eat. We need to get some real meat on you; something we can sink our teeth into. Anna is too precious a character to be let down this way.
SAN DIEGO (Press Release)—The annual Community Holocaust Commemoration, which has been ongoing for more than three decades, will take place on Sunday, April 19 from 1:30 to 3:00 p.m. in the David and Dorothea Garfield Theater of the Lawrence Family Jewish Community Center, 4126 Executive Drive, La Jolla.
The theme for this year’s program is Remember, Honor and Teach. Remember the victims of the Holocaust, honor the survivors, and teach future generations. The program will include a military color guard reminiscent of camp liberation, and a candle lighting and brief memorial prayer service led by local rabbis and cantors.
The focus of this year’s program is teaching future generations about the Holocaust. Kirk Ankeney, Executive Director of Curriculum and Instruction for the San Diego Unified School District, will highlight the district’s new emphasis on teaching the Holocaust The program also will include a presentation from the Carlsbad High School students documentary film project We Must Remember, and a presentation from two former participants of the Agency for Jewish Education’s March of the Living program in which teenagers visit several death camps in Poland, and then travel to Israel.
This important commemoration is a collaboration of the Jewish Community Relations Council of the United Jewish Federation of San Diego County, the New Life Club, the Lawrence Family Jewish Community Center Jacobs Family Campus, the Agency for Jewish Education, Jewish Family Service, Jewish Community Foundation, and the San Diego Rabbinical Association.
This event is free and open to the public. For more information about the 2009 Community Holocaust Commemoration contact Lisa Haney at the UJF, 858-571-3444, lisah@ujfsd.org or visit www.jewishinsandiego.org.
Preceding was submitted by the United Jewish Federation
Survivor David Faber to lecture at Spring Valley public library
SPRING VALLEY, California — Holocaust Remembrance Week with David Faber, author of Because of Romek. Polish born Holocaust survivor; Nazi victim from 1939-45; survivor of nine concentration camps; witness to the Nazi murders of his parents, brother Romek, and five of his six sisters; partisan resistance fighter at age 14, liberated from Bergen-Belson 1945, age 18, weight 72 pounds; author and award-winning lecturer and educator. Please arrive early, seating is limited there will be complimentary light refreshments served. Thursday, April 23, 2009 at 4:00 pm. Spring Valley Library, 836 Kempton Street. (619) 463-3006.
Preceding submitted by San Diego County Library system
Tifereth Israel to screen movie on anti-Semitism
SAN DIEGO (Press Release)—Some lies never die. For Yom HaShoah, Tifereth Israel Synagogue (6660 Cowles Mountain Blvd, San Diego) will screen The Protocols of Zion, a documentary by Marc Levin. following a memorial service, Monday, April 20th at 6:30 p.m.
Our evening will begin with the presentation of director Marc Levin’s 2005 documentary. This 92-minute documentary examines a resurgence of anti-Semitism in the wake of 9/11. There will be an opportunity for questions and answers after the film.
Immediately preceding the documentary, a memorial service will be held to honor the memory of the six million Jews who perished in the Shoah. Members of Tifereth Israel who experienced the perils of the Nazi regime will participate in the service. The entire community is encouraged to attend.
HBO’s website has an extensive synopsis of the film, which says in part: "Starting with the examination of a long-discredited piece of 100-year-old propaganda, Levin’s film was inspired by an encounter he had in a New York taxi, in which his driver, an Egyptian immigrant, made the disturbing claim that Jews had been warned not to go to work at the World Trade Center on the day of the attacks. The driver added that 'it’s all written in the book,' referring to The Protocols of the Elders of Zion, a notorious forgery created 100 years ago, purporting to be the Jews’ master plan to rule the world..."
Armed with his camera, Levin engages in a free-for-all dialogue with Arab Americans, Black nationalists, Christian evangelists, White supremacists, Kabbalist rabbis, Holocaust survivors, and even the founder of the astonishingly popular “Jew Watch” web site. Levin’s genuinely curious, sometimes-humorous, often-confrontational conversations combine to form a probing and provocative portrait of our so-called modern civilization caught in the grips of a most ancient hatred.
The preceding is from Tifereth Israel Synagogue Brodskys step down from Friends of Israel Defense Forces leadership
To all our Friends and Supporters of the Friends of the IDF,
We are proud of the volunteer work we have done and the gratifying substantial growth of FIDF San Diego over the past five years. Our Chapter now has an Executive Director, an assistant staff person, and a Board of Directors, and is doing its part in raising multimillion dollar donations for the wellbeing of Israel’s soldiers.
After five years of service, we have reluctantly resigned from FIDF so that others may take over this noble work. We sincerely thank you for all you have done to help us and the IDF.
We will continue our support for Israel and the FIDF and urge you to continue your outstanding support and generosity.
Cradle—Mr. and Mrs. Richard Silverman announce the birth of their first child, a son, Craig Allen, born December 19th. The young man weighed a husky 8 lbs. 11 oz. Joyful grandparents are Mr. and Mrs. Ted Rosenfeld and Mr. and Mrs. Isadore Silverman. Great-grandfather, Henry Weinberger, is also elated over the arrival of Craig Allen.
Mr. and Mrs. Robert Imberman announce the birth of their third child, a girl, Margaret G., born on December 17th. Welcoming Margaret were sister, Nancy J., aged 6 and brother, Larry F., aged 3. Grandparents are Mr. and Mrs. I. Imberman of Brooklyn and Mr. Sam Hirsch of San Diego.
Engagements Told—Mr. and Mrs. Abe Ratner announce the engagement of their daughter, Pauline, to Stanley Finke, son of Mr. and Mrs. David Finkelstein, of Portland, Ore. Stanley and his parents were guests of the Ratners for the formal announcement of the betrothal on December 28th. Pauline is attending Reed College in Portland and her fiancé is a graduate of the University of Washington. The young people plan to make their home in Portland after an early spring wedding.
Mr. and Mrs. Max Goldman of 3265 Bramson Pl., announce the engagement of their daughter, Merle Betty to Merlin Henry, son of Mr. and Mrs. M. Henry of Long Beach, Calif. Merle is a former State College student and passed chocolates to her Delta Zeta sorority sisters. An early spring wedding is being planned.
City of Hope Jr. Aux. Southwestern Jewish Press January 9, 1953, page 3
One of the many excellent movies about cancer made available to City of Hope Auxiliaries throughout the country by the Medical Center at Duarte will be shown at the coming meeting of the City of Hope Junior Auxiliary, Tuesday, January 13, at 8:00 p.m. at the Landis Street Center.
This film, just as all the others made by the clinic, is geared to help the layman detect symptoms of cancer and to help him choose the very best medical care available to him. An expert on cancer will be on hand to elaborate further on the movie.
Because the City of Hope at Duarte was able to send this reel to the Club at this time, the speech about Civil Defense by Mr. Harry Masters, Chief Warden, originally scheduled to January 13, has been postponed until some future date.
Temple Teens Southwestern Jewish Press January 9, 1953, page 4
By Susan Solof
Friday, January 16 all Temple Teen members are invited to attend Friday night services. This s not just a regular service but is installation of officers and board members of Temple Teens. After the services a terrific dance is being planned and delicious refreshments. You will dance to the top records of the “Jukebox” donated to Temple Teens and T.Y.L. by Wm. and Bernard Lipin. You must attend the service to get into the dance.
The host and hostesses for the evening are Mr. and Mrs. J. Kitaen, Al Hutler, A. Wise, Irving Friedman, Geo. Martin, H. Mendell, A. L. Solof, Rabbi and Mrs. Cohn and Mrs. J. Drogin.
Linda’s Lookout Southwestern Jewish Press January 9, 1953, page 5
By Linda Solof
Hey gals ‘n guys wasn’t vacation wonderful! There were more dances and parties than ever and the gang gathered in all the fun they could before vacation was over.
“Surprise!”was shouted from Top’s where Jane Cohn ‘n Don Byrnes, Carol Fischer ‘n Shearn Platt, Bobby Glickman ‘n Aaron Kolkey, Esther Lustig ‘n Don Goldman, Deanne Brown ‘n Lenny Bloom, Linda Solof ‘n Ernie Addleson and Joyce’s date Burt Sharpe were waiting for their hostess Joyce Addleson to arrive. The gang had a terrific time dining ‘n dancing and helping Joyce celebrate her 16th birthday. Happy birthday, Joyce.
The ship USS Dixie was the destination of Linda Douglas, Richard Bart, Shirley and Allan Samuels, Linda Zuckerman, Pete Colt, Janet and Susan Solof, Fred Goodman, Eleanor Cohn and Preston Martin at Neil Kleinman’s party.
Everyone enjoyed dinner and a movie aboard the ship.
“Cocktails anyone?” Eileen Rivers, hostess, repeated this question many times to her guests at her cocktail party before the Hi-Debber Ball. It was a sharp party and a sharp dance which many of the Kosher Krowd attended.
Sonyia Weitzman had many guests to help her celebrate her Bas Mitzvah and her 13th birthday. The gals ‘n guys had a super time going on a scavenger hunt, dancing and munching refreshments. Congratulations Sonyia.
The T.Y.L. had a terrific “Lotka Party” during Chanukah. Yummy Potato Lotkas, dancing and a short Chanukah service completed the enjoyable evening. Watch for the next humdinger affair of T.Y.L.
“Corduroy Capers” was the name of the last Y.P.L. affair and the jacks ‘n Jills came dressed in corduroy ready for fun, and fun they had! There was a business meeting followed by dancing and refreshments.
New Year’s Eve and Day found all the Gang having a gay time. Among the parties were Beverly Addleson’s open house, Jean Goldstein’s New Year’s Day Breakfast and Joel Goldfus’ open house. All in it was a New Years to remember!
Twirling to the music of the latest records and eating luscious refreshments were the lucky guests of Beverly Gendleman which included Bob Meyers, Sharlene Stone, Gary Breitbard, Janet and Susan Solof, Moe Barancik, Joan Breitbard, Stanton Camiel and David Levens. The kids had a colossal time!
Congrats to Jerry Mendell and David Roisman on the recent Bar Mitzvahs!
So long—W.5-0679
Beth Israel Holds Annual Meeting Southwestern Jewish Press January 9, 1953, page 5
Temple Beth Israel will hold it’s Annual Dinner Meeting on Thursday, Jan. 22 at 6:30 p.m. at the Temple Center. A delicious dinner will be served followed by an important business meeting. Six members will be selected to the Board of Directors and there will be brief reports relative to the welfare of the Temple.
The business meeting at 8:00 p.m. will be open to those who cannot attend the dinner. To make your reservations, please call F-9-0149. Historic Ad~Jai Alai Games
“Adventures in Jewish History” is sponsored by Inland Industries Group LP in memory of long-time San Diego Jewish community leader Marie (Mrs. Gabriel) Berg. Our indexed "Adventures in San Diego Jewish History" series will be a daily feature until we run out of history.
Jewish Internet Favorites ... featuring notable Jewish community members* Visit our Jewish Internet Favorites index to find links to other videos
Abe Vigoda as retired Detective Fish pays a return visit to the precinct in "Barney Miller"
Jack Warden plays trainer Max Corkle in "Heaven Can Wait" with Warren Beatty
Jerry Stiller as Arthur Spooner wants some pizza on "King of Queens" with Kevin James
Mel Torme sings "The Trolley Song" with Judy Garland
*We include those with at least one Jewish parent and those who have converted to Judaismas Jewish community members,
JERUSALEM—When people agree, they do not need politicians. One of the things that politicians do is to arrange deals when there are disagreements.
COSTA MESA, California—Richard Greenberg is somewhat of an icon at The South Coast Repertory Theatre. He is referred to as the ‘quintessential SCR playwright’. Over the years (since 1988) he has been the author of eight previous SCR world premieres and has been the recipient all sorts of awards including The Oliver, Drama Desk and Pulitzer Prize finalist. Just recently his ninth, Our Mother’s Brief Affair, in another world premiere, opened on the Segerstrom Stage and will play through May 3rd. 
could envision to tell her children as a lasting post script to her life. She wants an obituary written about her, one that will make the papers.
SPRING VALLEY, California — Holocaust Remembrance Week with David Faber, author of Because of Romek. Polish born Holocaust survivor; Nazi victim from 1939-45; survivor of nine concentration camps; witness to the Nazi murders of his parents, brother Romek, and five of his six sisters; partisan resistance fighter at age 14, liberated from Bergen-Belson 1945, age 18, weight 72 pounds; author and award-winning lecturer and educator. Please arrive early, seating is limited there will be complimentary light refreshments served. Thursday, April 23, 2009 at 4:00 pm. Spring Valley Library, 836 Kempton Street. (619) 463-3006.
