San Diego Jewish World

Friday Afternoon, June 15, 2007    

Vol. 1, Number 46
 

"The World Health Organization (WHO), meanwhile, says that the escalation of violence is posing particular problems for health workers and patients, many of whom are not able to leave their homes," Okabe also said. "At least four hospitals in Gaza have been fired
upon, and the increased number of patients with grave injuries is overwhelming emergency wards, according to WHO."

A transcript of McCormack's comments and a summary of Okabe's may be found in the "News Sleuths" column below.  (Jump to News Sleuths)
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Bush meets with Jewish leadership at White House

By Matt Brooks

WASHINGTON, DC—On the eve of the upcoming visit of Israel Prime Minister Ehud Olmert to the United States, President Bush convened an off-the-record meeting of representatives of the Major American Jewish organizations on Thursday, June 14.  I attended the meeting and can share some general observations:

Be assured that the President remains steadfast in his unwavering support for Israel and ironclad in his resolve to ensure Israel's continued security. The bilateral relationship between the United States and Israel is and will remain rock solid. He is looking forward to his meeting next week with Prime Minister Olmert in DC. The situation in Gaza is on his mind and he is very troubled by the actions of Hamas.

In addition, on all of the critical issues of the day, including Iran, Iraq, Syria, and the Global War on Terror, there is no question whatsoever that the President understands the risks, threats, and challenges that we face in this global, epic, battle against radicals and extremists. The President remains firm and resolved that this is a struggle we must win. We cannot allow victory for radicals or extremists anywhere whether it be Iraq, Iran, Gaza, or any of the frontlines in this war.

It is clear that the President, on these issues, remains a realist and understands not only what failure and defeat will mean, but also realizes that in some of these areas we can and must do more to ensure victory. The President intends to use all of the tools at his disposal, not just militarily but also diplomatically and financially, via the use of sanctions and international pressure.

I think it was clear to all of the participants the passion and resolve the President has, without regard to external political pressure, to do what it takes to protect our nation and our allies. Our meeting lasted for nearly an hour and a half, during which time there was extensive give and take between the President and the participants. This was an extremely important meeting and everybody came away with a clear sense of where the President stands on these critical issues.

Brooks is executive director of the Republican Jewish Coalition.
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Commentary
The fight against the Israel-haters in academia

By Asaf Romirowsky

PHILADELPHIA—Zionophobia, anti-Semitism and anti-Israelism may be the coin of the realm in academic circles but they are proving to be a highly devalued currencies.  Recently, DePaul University decided to deny tenure to Norman Finkelstein, an anti-Zionist Jewish professor who willingly collaborates with neo-Nazis, Holocaust deniers and anti-Semites.  Additionally, Congressman Patrick J. Murphy (Democrat, Pennsylvania) introduced legislation condemning the union of British academics for boycotting Israeli academics.

In his letter to Finkelstein, DePaul's president, the Rev. Dennis Holtschneider, noted that members of the Catholic university's board on promotion and tenure "expressed several concerns touching on his scholarship, specifically what they consider the intellectual character of his work and his persona as a public intellectual."

In a recent debate about Finkelstein’s tenure, terrorism expert Steve Emerson noted that, “[Finkelstein] cheers for Hezbollah terrorists anytime they kill Israelis… [and] called Elie Wiesel a ‘clown’ for his life's work making sure that we never forget the Holocaust.” It is also well documented that Finkelstein’s biggest boosters include Holocaust deniers like David Irving, who praise him for his Holocaust "scholarship.” Finkelstein is the same individual who did not want to participate in the recent Holocaust denial conference in Tehran because they would not give him enough time to present his work!

When it comes to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, Finkelstein's argument is that while primary documents indict Israel’s treatment of the Palestinians, Israelis have stirred up a whirlwind of controversy precisely in order to submerge this point.

Yet, instead of  primary documents—those written by participants in the events—Finkelstein cites only secondary documents written by post-Zionist commentators with philosophies similar to his. Furthermore, he makes gross generalizations about “Jews” saying that: “just as Israelis ... courageously put unruly Palestinians in their place, so American Jews courageously put unruly blacks in their place.”  He also contends “the main fomenters of anti-Semitism "are 'American Jewish elites' who need to be stopped.” These types of claims ordinarily would not be taken seriously; however, Finkelstein uses the fact that his parents were Holocaust survivors as his carte blanche to discuss these matters “authoritatively.”

The Finkelstein controversy is one of those instances where alumni and donors have finally looked at where their money is being spent and the type of scholarship it promotes. About a month ago, a group of prominent Penn alumni and Philadelphia philanthropists published an open letter to the university in the Daily Pennsylvanian, accusing the administration of serving as an enabler of hate speech because of the political-science department's sponsorship of Finkelstein’s appearance on campus. It is hard to say how much if any impact the letter had on Finkelstein’s tenure, however, it was certainly an eye-opener for those who want to make a difference in their respective communities.

Congressman Murphy’s resolution dovetails with the Finkelstein affair and grew out of a motion put forth May 30 at the annual conference of the University and College Union (UCU), the largest body representing academic staff in higher education in Britain. There the delegates voted in support of a motion to discuss and thereby promote an academic boycott against Israel. Members were urged to consider the "moral implications" resulting in their links with Israeli universities, and to condemn Israel for its "denial of educational rights" to Palestinians.

The desire by British academics’ to boycott Israeli universities has provoked the threat of legal action and counter-boycotts. About 2,000 American scholars –have already have vowed to stay away from any forum where Israelis are excluded.

Murphy’s legislation has garnered a wave of support from Democrats and Republicans Murphy called the union's decision a “hate-fueled boycott” that “stands in the way of progress.”

The impetus for Murphy’s resolution has to do with the fact that today those who are anti-Israel insist that they are not anti-Semitic -- only anti-Zionist. That's the message that individuals like Finkelstein help fuel. But the transparency of singling out Israel for condemnation isn’t fooling anyone anymore. Finkelstein’s university has him figured out for the pseudo-scholar and hater that he is, and Congressman Murphy has got the UCU’s number as well.

The growing pervasiveness of such statements on college campuses are indicative of a larger problem. Anti-Israel and anti-American advocates are the ones who should be on the defensive, not those working hard to ensure the US-Israeli alliance. And maybe for the first time, they are on the defensive.

Asaf Romirowsky is the manager of Israel & Middle East Affairs for the Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia
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Anti-boycott petition signed by 4,700-plus academics 

HARRISBURG, Pennsylvania (Press Release)—Responding to the May 30 vote of the British University and College Union to pursue an academic boycott of Israeli academic institutions, an SPME petition crafted by Alan Dershowitz, Stephen Weinberg, Ed Beck and the SPME Task Force on Countering Academic and Professional Boycotts was released on June 5.

Since that time, more than 4,700 signatories have, for purposes of any academic boycott targeting Israel, agreed to regard themselves as “…Israeli academics and decline to participate in any activity from which Israeli academics are excluded.”

 Thus far, 16 Nobel Prize winners and 5 university presidents are represented among the signatories, as are several heads of academic and professional societies. In addition, Lee Bollinger, the President of Columbia University, and Robert Birgeneau, the chancellor of the University of California at Berkeley, have issued their own public statements declaring that their respective universities should be boycotted as well in any academic boycott of Israel.

The petition which has gained nearly 5000 signatures in 6 days hopes to gather over 10,000 academic signatures with the knowledge that if every academic receiving the SPME Faculty Forum signed, that goal would be reached immediately with over 12,000 on the subscription roles. Those who haven’t signed thep etition, may do so by clicking here.

SPME is trying to raise funds to place these statements strategically. Persons interested in contributing financially may click here to support this effort to get the statement with its signers in major newspapers throughout the world.

The foregoing story was provided by Scholars for Peace in the Middle East 

                

ADL, AJC accuse UN of institutionalizing anti-Israel bias

NEW YORK (Press Release)— The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) today called on members of the U.N. Human Rights Council to reject the call by Council President Luis Alfonso de Alba for Israel, and Israel alone, to become part of the council's permanent agenda.

"It has never been clearer that despite the rhetoric of reform, the Human Rights Council is no better, and appears well on its way to being even worse than the hopelessly biased and corrupt commission it replaced," said Abraham H. Foxman, ADL National Director.  "It is shameful that Israel remains the most consistent target for unjustified vilification and demonization on the agenda of the institution that is supposed to have responsibility for preserving and enhancing human rights throughout the world."

ADL this week wrote letters to the Geneva-based U.N. ambassadors of key nations who have membership on the council, urging them to "immediately intervene on this matter to rescue the very credibility and effectiveness of the council.

"The President's call for the permanent institutionalization of discrimination against Israel renders absurd President de Alba's insistence that the council adhere to the principles of universality, impartiality, objectivity and non-selectiveness," said the letter from Glen S. Lewy, ADL National Chair, and Mr. Foxman.

The ADL leaders also shared their concerns about Israel's status on the agenda of the Human Rights Council in a letter to U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, encouraging him to raise his voice against the council's "immoral fixation on Israel."

Addressing the same topic, the American Jewish Committee announced it was "urging the UN Human Rights Council to reject proposals aimed at making Israel a permanent item on the Council’s agenda. No other nation in the world is singled out by the Council, whose membership includes a number of countries that are among the leading “systematic” violators of human rights in the world.

In a letter to foreign ministers of countries serving on the Council, AJC pointed out that the UN body has never condemned violations of human rights by Palestinians, including acts of violence perpetrated by Palestinians against their own population. “The Council has totally ignored this tragic situation, opting instead to focus on Israel alone,” AJC wrote.

Material for this story was provided by the Anti-Defamation League and the American Jewish Committee
 
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Freedom at Issue

   
                                                    Bruce Kesler 
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Waldheim reprehensible alive, remains so dead

ENCINITAS, Calif. —In 2004, I visited Vienna – a marvelous city, rivaling Paris’ beauty – where I saw this sculpture in the large plaza in front of the opera house. I got into conversation with two well-dressed, middle-aged Austrian men about it, who pointed out the nearby sign, which included this description:

"After 12 May 1938, Jewish citizens of Vienna were forced to scrub the streets that had been smeared with slogans. The bronze rendering of a kneeling street-washing Jew is a reminder of the degradation and humiliation that preceded merciless persecution." 

The plaza was dedicated on November 24, 1988.

We chatted, they taking pride in the plaza and its sculptures. I then pointed at a building’s balcony about a block away, from which Hitler addressed over a million cheering Austrians after the Anschluss (political union of Germany and Austria in 1938). They replied, “We don’t discuss that.”

Neither did the rest of the world, for decades after World War II, and universal knowledge of the Holocaust.

In the emerging Cold War’s scramble for position, as the New York Times’ obituary of former U.N. Secretary General and former President of Austria, Kurt Waldheim, says:

With the end of World War II, the Allies designated Austria as a nation invaded by the Nazis rather than Germany’s willing partner. The country’s new status helped assuage the fears of thousands of Austrian combatants like Mr. Waldheim. Moreover, Austria remained neutral in the growing cold war between East and West.

Kurt Waldheim’s record of direct involvement in Nazi slaughter of Jews and of others who resisted or were deemed threats in the Balkans was ignored by both the Russians and the United States, who both had evidence in their possession immediately after the war. Even:

By early 1948, the United Nations War Crimes Commission listed him as a suspected war criminal subject to trial. Yet no government pressed to bring Mr. Waldheim to account or even to disclose his history.

It was not until these and additional records were revealed in 1985, first by rival politicians in Austria and then further investigated and publicized by the World Jewish Congress, that the world woke up. But, “On June 8, 1986, in a two-round election, Mr. Waldheim won the runoff for Austria’s presidency with 53.9 percent of the 4.7 million votes cast. “

Waldheim maintained that he served in order to avoid persecution by the Nazis for his anti-Nazi father. However, as the scholar who investigated him said in his 1988 tome: “The fact that Waldheim played a significant role in military units that unquestionably committed war crimes makes him at the very least morally complicit in those crimes.” Going further, Richard Fisk, a British reporter known for his unflinching published opposition to any person, event or country he deems deficient of respect for human rights (though to extremes of heavy criticism of Israel and being an interviewing chum of Osama bin Laden), says:

Waldheim - how his friends would prefer that they didn't read these words this morning - was based at a town called Banja Luka, a market town where Serbs and Jews and communist Croatians were murdered en masse, hanged like thrushes from mass gallows or raped to death in the nearby Jasenovac extermination camp. Waldheim would have us believe that he knew nothing of all this, that he was a mere intelligence officer for Army Group E of the Wehrmacht, whose commander, Löhr, just happened to be tried for war crimes after the Second World War….

I even visited his interrogation office, next to an execution pit wherein Serbs and Jews were massacred daily. Did the rifle shots not disturb Kurt Waldheim's concentration? Oh, what it must have been to have the peace and quiet of the UN headquarters on the East River. …

In 1987, King Hussein took Waldheim to the heights of Um Queiss to overlook the Israeli-occupied West Bank and awarded him the Hussein bin Ali medal - named after Hussein's grandfather. The Plucky Little King praised Waldheim for his patriotism, integrity, wisdom and "noble human values". General Löhr, I should add - Waldheim's superior officer in Yugoslavia - was hanged as a war criminal.

Whether a war criminal or a willing accomplice of war criminals, Waldheim skated away from judgment for 40-years, with the complicity of and support from those who found him useful to their immediate ends.

His death shouldn’t be allowed to pass without reflecting on other and current complicities by those who would sacrifice millions of innocents to murderous tyrants and terrorists, for immediate ease or avoidance of admitting or consciousness of the consequences.
                                                                                            

A Herald in Zion....           Notes from Mevasseret Zion                                             Dorothea Shefer-Vanson

Israel has frum and not-so-frum Orthodox weddings

MEVASSERET ZION, Israel—Weddings in Israel provide endless material for anthropological study. There is no civil marriage, hence all weddings must be conducted in accordance with Jewish law. Since the authorities do not recognize Reform or Liberal Judaism, only the Orthodox rite is permitted. This sometimes gives rise to incongruous situations given the very varied character and level of religious observance of Israelis. Formerly, Orthodox rabbis would insist on ‘modest dress’ for the bride, so that sleeveless wedding dresses were banned. Today, though, bare shoulders are almost de rigeur.

I recently attended two weddings which were diametrically opposed in nature. Both were occasions of great rejoicing, but utterly different in almost every respect. The first was that of a very Orthodox young couple who had been introduced by a ‘shadchan.’ The wedding was held in a settlement which may well become part of the future Palestinian state.

Men and women were seated separately (though there was also a ‘treife’ area, where men and women could sit together). Dancing was strictly separate, and both bride and groom wore long white dresses (the husband wore the traditional ‘kittel’). The wedding was followed by a week of dinner parties for the young couple, who were not allowed to sleep together after the first night for reasons of ritual ‘uncleanness.’

At the second wedding (which had been preceded by a civil marriage abroad), the bride wore a long red dress, very décolleté, and was seven months pregnant. She was radiant, a picture of health and happiness, and this was a true love match as well as a perfect example of ‘the ingathering of the exiles.’ The guests mingled freely, and the atmosphere was very relaxed.

To my amazement, the Orthodox rabbi did not bat an eyelid and blithely performed the ceremony although the bride revealed large amounts of flesh. Once his task was completed, however, he beat a hasty retreat.

The foregoing article was reprinted from the AJR Journal (Association of Jewish Refugees) in England.

 

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Baron Guy de Rothschild dies at 98

PARIS (News Release)—Baron Guy de Rothschild, patriarch of the famous French Jewish banking family, has died in Paris aged 98. Rothschild died on Thursday, June 14.  He saw his family bank taken over during the Nazi occupation in 1940 because it was owned by Jews.

In 1981, the bank was nationalized by the Socialist government of Francois Mitterrand. In an editorial in Le Monde, Rothschild accused the Socialists of anti-Semitism. His son David reconstructed the family banking network, which in 1987 became the Rothschild and Company Bank.

Rothschild also founded and, from 1950 to 1982, presided over the United Jewish Welfare Fund, France's leading Jewish philanthropic organization. Along with David, he is survived by another son, Edouard, and many other relatives. A funeral is scheduled for 21 June in the main synagogue of Paris.

The foregoing article was provided by the World Jewish Congress
 

Features

Jews in the News          
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 Like you, we're pleased when members of our community are praiseworthy, and are disappointed when they are blameworthy. Whether it's good news or bad news, we'll try to keep track of what's being said in general media about our fellow Jews. Our news spotters are Dan Brin in Los Angeles, Donald H. Harrison in San Diego, and you. Wherever you are,  if you see a story of interest, please send a summary and link to us at sdheritage@cox.net.  To see a source story click on the link within the respective paragraph.
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*Businessman Ray Jinnah who raised funds for Democratic Senators Barbara Boxer of California and Hillary Clinton of New York has been brought before the federal court on the charge of illegally reimbursing employees for $60,000 contributions they made to the two senators in 2004.
The story by Robin Fields and Chuck Neubauer is in today's Los Angeles Times.

*Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and School Board President Marlene Canter disagree over whether the school district is making necessary reforms quickly enough.  Their comments came during a meeting at which Superintendent David L. Brewer delivered a "state of the schools" speech. The story by Joel Rubin and Howard Blume is in today's Los Angeles Times.

*Former Disney chairman Michael Eisner wants to buy the Topps trading card company, but Upper Deck has offered more money to purchase its rival.  A court has ruled Topps should be permitted the opportunity to provide more information to Topps shareholders.  The story by Jennifer Davies is in today's San Diego Union-Tribune.

*Actor Henry Felder is winning attention in George Gershwin Alone, a one-person show in which he recounts such episodes as writing "Porgy and Bess" and suffering the verbal attacks on Jews made by Henry Ford. But Chris Pasles complains in a review in today's Los Angeles Times that the script doesn't probe deep enough.

*San Diego Mayor Jerry Sanders now is backing a suit against Aaron Feldman's Sunroad Enterprises brought by City Attorney Mike Aguirre, but a story by Evan McLaughlin and Will Carless in today's Voice of San Diego details other avenues that Sanders explored, with assistance from San Diego Regional Airport Authority Chairman Alan Bersin, to enable the high-rise building near Montgomery Field to be built to a height of 180 feet.  Meanwhile, a charge by San Diego City Attorney Michael Aguirre that Sanders' actions in the Sunroad controversy are "corrupt" has prompted a letter and editorial exchange between Aguirre and the San Diego Union-Tribune.

*The two Democratic senators from California, Dianne Feinstein and Barbara Boxer, are both millionaires, but Feinstein's fortune dwarfs that of her colleague.  Chuck Neubauer, Walter F. Roche Jr. and Dan Moran had the story in the Los Angeles Times, which focused on Hillary Clinton.

*Historian Saul Friedlander will be awarded the top prize at the Frankfurt (Germany) Book Fair in recognition of his work on the Holocaust. The Associated Press story is in today's Los Angeles Times.

*Murray & Elaine Galinson were pictured in the coverage by Burl Stiff of the San Diego Union-Tribune of the recent celebration of the 40th anniversary of the Jewish Community Foundation at the Museum of Man in Balboa Park.

*U.S. Supreme Court Justices Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Stephen Breyer were on the minority side of a 5-4 decision in which the court said deadlines for appeals must be met, even if the judge, not the appellant, was responsible for the tardiness. The story by David G. Savage is in today's Los Angeles Times.

*U.S. District Court Judge Reggie Walton decided that I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby, the former chief of staff to Vice President Dick Cheney, should have to serve prison time while the perjury and obstruction of justice case is on appeal.  Unless President George W. Bush pardons Libby, that sentence will begin within the next several weeks.  The New York Times News Service story by Neil A. Lewis is in today's San Diego Union-Tribune. 

*U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer (Democrat, New York) says the undervaluation of the Chinese yuan "could lead to a meltdown of world financial systems."  The story by Molly Hennessy-Fiske is in today's Los Angeles Times.

*Baseball commissioner Bud Selig's representatives are negotiating with the Players Union over Selig ordering New York Yankees designated hitter Jason Giambi to testify to the commission headed by former Senate Majority Leader George Mitchell on the use of steroids in organized sports.  The Associated Press story is in today's San Diego Union-Tribune.

*Ephraim Sneh, Israel's Deputy Defense Minister, said the takeover of Gaza "by gangs of Islamic terrorists" has "grave implications."  "We will not remain indifferent."  The quote is included in a story on the Gaza situation by Scott Wilson of The Washington Post that appears in today's San Diego Union-Tribune.

*The judge in the Phil Specter murder trial, Superior Court Judge Larry Paul Fidler, has told a former defense attorney for Specter, Sara Caplan, to either testify about what she knows about possible evidence tampering, or be jailed for contempt.  The Copley News Service story by Matt Krasnowski is in today's San Diego Union-Tribune.

Date: June 15, 2007
Place: Aboard Air Force One, en route Wichita, Kansas
The spokesman: Scott Stanzel
Source: White House transcript
Time: 10:39 a.m. EDT
Subject: Gaza violence

Q The latest on Gaza?

MR. STANZEL: As you know, Secretary Rice called President Abbas yesterday to talk about the current situation and talk about the United States support for President Abbas and for the Palestinian moderates who have made the commitment to working with Israel and others in the region who want peace. We will continue to work with those in the Palestinian population who have chosen the pathway to peace.

As you know, that choice is being challenged in Gaza by individuals who have attacked the legitimate security forces of the Palestinian Authority. And these individuals are trying to extinguish the hopes of the Palestinian people for their own state.

We believe that the pathway to peace is through the negotiating table, not through violence, and not through terrorism. President Abbas, we believe, has exercised his lawful authority as President of the Palestinian Authority and leader of the people, and we support his decisions to try to end this violence.

Q How concerned is the President about the prospect of a terrorist state in the middle of the Middle East? That's obviously been a focus of his foreign policy, trying to prevent that.

MR. STANZEL: No one wants to abandon the hundreds of thousands, if not millions of people in the Gaza Strip to the mercies of a terrorist organization. We're certainly not going to participate in the extinguishing of the hopes of the whole -- of a whole swath of the Palestinian population who wants to live in a peaceful, stable, democratic state. So it's certainly of concern and we will continue to work with President Abbas.

Q How do you isolate Hamas without alienating or turning your back on those people you're talking about?

MR. STANZEL: I'm sorry, say that again?

Q How do you isolate Hamas without turning your back on the very people that you're saying that you want to make sure you help, the Palestinian --

MR. STANZEL: We will -- one of the issues that has come up is the training. We do provide support to the forces in -- training and non-lethal support to the security forces that report to President Abbas. The State Department is actually looking at that support and that assistance to see what the best way forward is on that, and certainly the State Department and officials there have been very active on this issue, as well.

Q What do you want Israel to do?

MR. STANZEL: I'm going to refrain from getting into speculating about what we want each and every country in the region to do. But we support the people in the region who want to have a stable and peaceful region that can have two states living side-by-side, and get back to the Quartet process.

Q Is the administration prepared to cede Gaza to Hamas?

MR. STANZEL: As I indicated, no one wants to abandon the hopes of hundreds of thousands, if not millions of people in the Gaza Strip who want to live in peace and stability.

Q But what are you going to do, then?

MR. STANZEL: I'll just refer you back to the answer I gave a moment ago.

Q What about an international force? I think somebody was asked that yesterday, also -- international force into the region?

MR. STANZEL: Tony Snow answered that yesterday in the briefing, and I would refer you to his answer.

>>The week ahead: ... On Tuesday, June 19th, at 9:50 a.m. in the morning, the President meets with Prime Minister of Israel -- and that's in the Oval Office...

Date: June 15, 2007
Place: State Department
The spokesman: Sean McCormack
Source: State Department transcript
Subject: Gaza violence

MR. MCCORMACK: Well, I can't offer any specifics for you at this point, but as a general matter we now have a new Palestinian Prime Minister that has been appointed by President Abbas. He's been charged with forming a government. This is a person that the international community has long experience with, has great confidence in. He has a sterling reputation among members of the international community. So given this change in circumstances, as he is forming his government, we are going to take a look at ways in which we can follow through on what the Secretary said yesterday. And that is, how are we going to support President Abbas and support a Palestinian government that is committed, presumably, to the Quartet principles. So we're going to take a look at all the various aspects of, you know, security assistance. Keith Dayton is going to continue his work. What, if anything, do we need to do in order to support President Abbas? Do we need to make changes to the program? So we'll take a look at that. (Jump to continuation)

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The Jewish Grapevine                                                  
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ABRAHAM FUND—Ami Nahshon is disseminating by email a nine-minute documentary on the work of his organization, which promotes cooperative projects between Israeli Jews and Israeli Arabs.  "With all the worrisome and depressing news coming out of the Middle East these days, I thought I'd pass along to you a small gift to lift your spirits," he writes.  The video is at the right

BASEBALL JEWS—Boston Red Sox Kevin Youkilis will appear on the All-Star game ballot major league players use to pick the reserve squad, according to the "Around the Majors" segment of the Baseball Report in today's San Diego Union-Tribune...Elsewhere in the San Diego Union-Tribune: Chicago Cubs pitcher Jason Marquis gave up four runs, three of them earned, but his team nevertheless defeated the Seattle Mariners 5-4 on Thursday.

CHARITY, PHILANTHROPY—Karl Jacobs, M.D., on July 9will swim the Catalina Channel, a 21-mile stretch of the Pacific Ocean between Catalina Island and Palos Verdes, California. A lifelong swimmer, Jacobs has enjoyed the benefits of early swim instruction and wishes to help make swim lessons available to every child. He has dedicated this swim to supporting the education outreach efforts of the San Diego Surf Lifesaving Association. Here is a website for anyone who would like to help sponsor his efforts. ... San Diego County Sheriff Bill Kolender today accepted a gift from Adobe Animal Hospital of Ramona of four resuscitation masks for possible use by the department's 18 K-9 corps dogs. Said Kolender: "The dogs assigned to the Search and Rescue Unit are an integral component to the success of all missions. We need o ensure their health and safety, just as with any employee. We greatly appreciate this kind donation from the Adobe Animal Hospital."

CYBER-REFERRALS—Bruce Kesler noted that Robert Fisk shed no tears over the death of former United Nations Secretary General Kurt Waldheim in his column appearing in today's Belfast Telegraph.  Here is a link.

ISRAEL ADVOCACY—StandWithUs, an Israel advocacy group, has begun a petition campaign for the release of three Israeli soldiers held by Arab forces in Lebanon and Gaza. The organization writes:  "On June 25, 2006, Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit, was kidnapped from Israeli soil in a clear act of unprovoked aggression by Hamas terrorists. Two weeks later, on July 12, 2006, Hezbollah terrorists launched a belligerent, unjustifiable cross-border attack and abducted IDF soldiers Udi Rosenwasser and Eldad Regev. We will not allow Gilad, Udi, and Eldad to be abandoned and forgotten. More forceful action must be taken to ensure their safe return. The world's leaders must not abandon their moral and legal obligations. They must unequivocally condemn the belligerent and provocative acts that led to the soldiers' capture. We call on the world community to employ all possible diplomatic, economic and legal mechanisms to force the terrorists and their hosts to let Israel's soldiers go free. We demand measures that will bring Gilad, Ehud and Eldad home to their families and friends."  Here is a link to the organization's petition.



 

Regional and Local

 

San Diego Jewish Academy Class of 2007: Row 1 (Front L-R): David Fechter, Jakob Hytken, Aaron Shinoff, Yuliya Royter, Brandon Sherman, Joshua Shinoff, Andrew Miller, Joel Feinstein, Jessica Felber, Tami Shore, Alexandra Leon and Rebeca Karcz-Klein. Row 2 (L-R): Daniela Atri, Ariela Behar, Bristal Stephens, Arielle Levy, Lauren Venditti, Nicole Bakhshi, Natalie Colker, Madison Stern, Daniella Shevel, Amy Pamensky, Giselle Miselewicz, Jennifer Brown and Jacob Frank. Row 3 (L-R): Adam Benaroya, Ryan Glovinsky, Jordanna Rose, Kristen Wilcox, Lee Wollach, Parker Bush, Max Doshay, Saul Moch, Evan Hirschbein, Chelsea Wigle, Elizabeth Blumenfeld, Brittany Segal and Thomas Yearsley. Row 4 (Back L-R): Principal Dr. Jeff Davis, Athletic Coach Charlie Wund, Julien Bortz, Bret Linton, Jordan Weller, Eric Gillman, Edward Caplan, Dean of Academic Affairs Steve Kahn and Dean of Students Brian Kissell.  (Photo by Sam Ulrich)


San Diego Jewish Academy grads roll up honors

SAN DIEGO (Press Release)—Forty-three graduating seniors at San Diego Jewish Academy have rolled up some impressive statistics.

They have received 182 acceptances to 66 universities and colleges located in 25 states and three countries.  Furthermore, they collectively have been offered more than $1 million in scholarships and three were selected as National Merit Commended Scholars.

Meanwhile, based on their PSAT schores, San Diego Jewish Academy Juniors Ron Bendor, Will Bohannon and Jennifer Popp are likely to be recognized by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation as National Merit Commended Scholars. These students will be notified in the fall whether any or all of them will have progressed to the National Merit Scholarship Semi-Finalist round.

“We are proud of all our graduates,” commented SDJA high school principal, Dr. Jeff Davis.  “Through an integrated curriculum of general and Judaic Studies, SDJA students complete 100 more credits for graduation than public and private schools.  This demonstrates to college admissions counselors that our students are prepared for the rigorous educational environment at the university level.”

The college counseling process at San Diego Jewish Academy begins in the eleventh grade. On a weekly basis, students meet with the Dean of Academic Affairs, Steve Kahn, in groups and individually, to discuss standardized tests and transcripts, and work on personal essays, applications and resumes. Letters of recommendation are written by a five-member College Recommendation Committee.

“Each story is a success story in itself,” said Kahn. “Matching a student with the right college is our goal. We engage the student and the parents in an intensive thought process, which helps the family evaluate and organize the information, and choose the best path.”

San Diego Jewish Academy challenges its students “to achieve their full academic potential and become individuals of strong moral and ethical character, while inspiring them to make Judaism a vital and relevant aspect of their lives,” according to a spokesperson.  More information is available by emailing Judith Gross, admissions director, at telephoning her at (858) 704-3716.

The foregoing story was provided by the San Diego Jewish Academy.

 

JCF offers Tikkun Olam Camp for youthful philanthropists to learn about the art of giving

SAN DIEGO (Press Release)—The Jewish Community Foundation will offer one of the first philanthropy camps in the nation this summer — a one-week day camp for high school students from Monday, July 30 through Sunday, August 5.  Tikkun Olam Camp will provide students with opportunities to learn about Jewish values related to giving, to participate in site visits to local non-profits, and to allocate funds to community programs and organizations.

Tikkun Olam Camp will encourage students ages 14-18 to become philanthropists by empowering them with skills to donate effectively. In the ten years since the Foundation launched the Community Youth Foundation (CYF), more than 223 students from various denominations and affiliations in San Diego have gained firsthand experience in community service.

Students engage in a curriculum that includes interactive exercises to identify charitable priorities and interests, site visits to non-profits in both the Jewish and general communities, and Judaic text study about giving.  The curriculum culminates in an exciting – and sometimes heart-wrenching – final deliberation session where teens meet to decide which worthy organizations most deserve their funding.

For Marissa Garfield – who is now the full-time donor services and grants manager at the Foundation – the introduction to Jewish philanthropy came in 2005 as a CYF participant while a senior at University of California, San Diego. Rabbi Lisa Goldstein, executive director of Hillel of San Diego, recommended Marissa for the CYF program.

As a participant in CYF, Garfield gained exposure to Jewish philanthropy and the impact the Foundation has on the non-profit sector, both Jewish and general. Ultimately her CYF experience was pivotal in Garfield’s decision to pursue a job with the Foundation.  This year she is director of Tikkun Olam Camp and brings her own experience and passion to planning the program to ensure that future participants have an interesting and meaningful experience.

“This pilot program will be an opportunity for teens to make new friends while investigating career opportunities and experiencing first-hand volunteering and charitable giving,” said Garfield. “As a Community Youth Foundation alumna myself, I am very familiar with the excitement and satisfaction that comes from learning about the organizations that are doing such great work in our community.”

Wayne Klitofsky, a 2007 graduate of UCSD, experienced a similar life-changing experience through the program, and became a philanthropist himself.  Following the program, on a trip to Israel, he decided to give 10 percent of his annual income to worthy causes.  Last year, Klitofsky donated to seven organizations including United Jewish Federation of San Diego and Hillel of San Diego.  Klitofsky’s dream is to be able to continue giving and that his donations will make a significant difference in people’s lives.

This summer, participants in Tikkun Olam Camp will interact with members of the community, engage in volunteer opportunities and community service projects and build trust and friendships.  Students will give away thousands of dollars to benefit the San Diego community, earn community service hours and have fun with other teens.

"We are proud to be developing the young leaders that will keep our community’s future strong,” said Marjory Kaplan, chief executive officer of the Foundation. "The experience of this program will provide the students with the passion, skills and knowledge necessary to lead others to support the community through contributions and volunteerism."

Tikkun Olam Camp is open to all students who will be in high school next fall.  Registration is open and space is limited.  Some scholarships are available. Tikkun Olam Camp will be based at the Foundation’s office in San Diego and participants will visit organizations throughout the region.

For more information, please email Jamie Zander or call her at (858)279-2740 or visit the Tikkun Olam Camp website.

Arts, Entertainment & Dining

 

If you have a serious interest in Jewish culture and you would enjoy writing reviews, attending premieres, reporting on special events, then San Diego Jewish World may have just the volunteer position for you. We're looking for columnists and writers on a wide variety of subjects who can help us interpret the Jewish experience.  Please contact Don Harrison, editor, at (619) 265-0808 or via this email link if you are interested in joining our creative team

 

Judaism

__________________________
Rabbi Baruch Lederman

 Amazing tales of Judaism
                                                                      
                                                                          Congregation Kehillas Torah, San Diego         
___________________________________________________Dvar Torah: Korach

The reasoning of a hoarse Torah-reader

Korach was consumed with envy, which led him to challenge Moshe Rabbeinu's leadership of the Bnei Yisroel (Children of Israel). He started a revolt which almost ripped the young nation apart. The Rosh Yeshiva, Rabbeinu HoRav Henoch Leibowitz shlit"a, explained that in order for Korach to perpetrate the defiant rebellion against the beloved Moshe Rabbeinu, he needed to emotionally and psychologically separate himself from the Bnei Yisroel, for the connection that we feel as members of Bnei Yisroel is so powerful that it would have prevented Korach from waging war against Moshe, despite his fury. Had he not first divorced himself from the Jewish people, the natural love would have quelled the rage.

The unique bond that we have; the depth and sensitivity with which we care about each other is one of the hallmarks of the Jewish people, as the following true story submitted by Rabbi Dovid Max, Community Torah Center of Bucks County Pennsylvania, illustrates:

There were two Ba'alei Keriah [Torah Chanters] in a shul. For the sake of anonymity we will call them Reuvain and Shimon. They read on alternate weeks. It was Reuvain's week to read. However, on Friday night Reuvain came into shul and told the Gabbai "I am hoarse. I cannot lein (read from the Torah) tomorrow. Please ask Shimon to pinch hit for me this Shabbos." The Gabbai went to Shimon and relayed Reuvain's message. Shimon said there would be no problem, he would prepare during the long Friday night and be ready to lein the next morning.

The next morning when they took out the Torah Reuvain went up to lein! However, he was obviously hoarse and at the end of the first aliyah (section of Torah reading) he
announced loudly, "I can't go any further. My voice is hoarse. Let Shimon lein." Shimon approached the bimah and took over the Torah reading from that point forward. After
services, the Gabbai approached Reuvain and asked for an explanation. "I don't understand. What was the whole act over here? We discussed this last night. Everything was a done deal. Shimon was going to read the entire Torah portion from the beginning, why did you start reading this morning and make a whole act as if this was something sudden?"

Reuvain explained that he was concerned that he did not give Shimon enough time to prepare properly. He was afraid that Shimon would have to lein on short notice and since he
was not properly prepared, he might make many mistakes and embarrass himself. "Many people would not remember that this was not Shimon's week to lein. They would think that he was making mistakes because he is not a good Ba'al Koreh. I wanted to make clear to
everyone that it was really my week and that Shimon was pinch-hitting for me on short notice."

Dedicated by Lenny Bromberg in memory of his mother Mrs. Harriet Bromberg

_________________________________________________________________

Torah on One Foot
By Rabbi Leonard Rosenthal
Tifereth Israel Synagogue, San Diego
___________________________parshat Korach _________

An aging secret from the Maggid of Konitsch      

My father, of blessed memory, took an early retirement from the Los Angeles Unified School system when he turned 62. During his first year of retirement I remember him sleeping all day. I thought to myself: “If this is how he is going to spend his time I do not think he will be with us very long.”

After the first year he got up and went back to work as a substitute teacher a few times a week. When he was not working he found new hobbies to keep him busy,  hobbies which continued to engage his mind, body, and spirit even after he quit teaching permanently. He lived an active and full life and slowed down only after he became ill.  

In recent weeks I have had several conversations with senior citizens who do not feel “senior” at all. They are active, healthy, still working full or part time, traveling, exercising, and otherwise enjoying their relationships, their lives, and the world around them. They feel no need to slow down, nor is there any reason for them to do so. I often think about the wise words which were shared with me many years ago: “You should never think about what you are retiring from, you should always concentrate on what you are retiring to.”

Rabbi Yisrael, the Maggid of Konitsch, lived to a ripe old age even though he had been weak and sickly his entire life. His disciples asked him: “What has enabled you to live so long, despite your infirmities?”

Rabbi Yisrael answered them: “People’s  lives comes to an end once they finish their earthly tasks. Therefore, every time I concluded something I was working on and I sensed my end was near, I immediately sought out something new through which I could serve God. This was how I pushed death aside, by always having something new through which I could serve God in this world rather than the next.”  (Otzar Chaim, P. Korach, p. 148)

Rabbi Yisrael’s sound advice should inspire all of us to fill our days and years with worthy, fun, creative, and holy activities and adventures, regardlesss of our age.

News Sleuths...
(Continued from above)

MR. MCCORMACK: Not that I know of, Joel. No. 

**

QUESTION: Can you give us a list of those.

MR. MCCORMACK: Sure. We'll go through -- go through some of the calls that she made yesterday. She talked -- and I talked about some of these yesterday. She talked to President Abbas, talked to Israeli President Peres to congratulate him. She talked to Egyptian intelligence chief Suleiman. She spoke with Foreign Minister Livni.
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QUESTION: Yesterday she spoke to Suleiman? I thought it was on Monday.