San Diego Jewish World~July 25, 2007--issue 86

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U.N. Envoy Michael Williams expresses optimism over renewed Middle Eastern peace process

UNITED NATIONS, N.Y. (Press Release)—The United Nations Middle East envoy today voiced optimism on recent political developments, most notably the re-engagement of the international community and Israel with the Government of Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayyad.

Such developments give “cause for hope,” said UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process Michael Williams, addressing an open meeting of the Security Council.

“There has been a promising start to the new relationship of Prime Minister [Ehud] Olmert, President [Mahmoud] Abbas and Prime Minister Fayyad,” he said.

“Most encouraging is that on 16 July, President Abbas and Prime Minister Olmert had a very positive bilateral meeting which touched on final status issues, their first meeting in three months,” Williams told the 15-member Council.

Also on 16 July, United States President George W. Bush announced, in a key speech, a series of measures and support for the Palestinian Government, which will culminate in a meeting this fall to be chaired by Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.

All parties must fulfill their Road Map commitments, which will “hopefully be an important step to begin bilateral negotiations for a just and lasting peace,” he said.

While Israel must remove West Bank checkpoints, dismantle outposts and freeze settlement expansion, President Abbas should continue efforts to halt violence, disarm Palestinian militias and reform Palestinian institutions, Williams noted.

“Fulfilment of these commitments would constitute solid foundations for the international meeting this autumn, which will hopefully be an important step to begin bilateral negotiations for a just and lasting peace,” he said. (Jump to continuation)

UNITED NATIONS, N.Y. (Press Release)—A peacekeeper serving with the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) died today from the explosion of ordnance, a spokesperson for the world body said.

The incident occurred when a UNIFIL team was clearing unexploded ordnance in a valley south of Shama.

UN spokesperson Marie Okabe told reporters in New York that UNIFIL medical and explosives teams were sent to the location immediately, and an investigation is underway.

The preceding story was provided by the United Nations
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Olmert offers his congratulations to Turkey's P.M Erdogan on his party's victory; invites him to Israel

JERUSALEM (Press Release)—Prime Minister Ehud Olmert today telephoned Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and congratulated him on his party’s victory in Turkey’s recent parliamentary elections.

Prime Minister Olmert invited his Turkish counterpart to visit Israel; the two men agreed to continue advancing bilateral relations.

Turkish Prime Minister Erdogan thanked Prime Minister Olmert and said that Turkey would work to advance bilateral relations and would assist the diplomatic process between Israel and its neighbors. He also asked Prime Minister Olmert to convey his congratulations to President Shimon Peres and wished the latter success in his new post.

The preceding story was provided by the office of Israel's Prime Minister Ehud Olmert

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Europe

Nicolas Sarkozy (2nd from left) talking to Richard Prasquier (2nd from right) photo Elysée Photo Service

Sarkozy vows efforts in behalf of captured Israelis

PARIS (Press Release)—The president the French Jewish umbrella group CRIF, Richard Prasquier, has congratulated French president Nicolas Sarkozy for his success in gaining the release of five Bulgarian nurses and a Palestinian doctor from Libya. He expressed the hope of “a similar success for the Israeli kidnapped soldiers.”

After meeting with Sarkozy at the Elysée in Paris presidential palace, Prasquier said ”We congratulated the president for this happy end which is a great moment of relief. Now we hope that this foreshadows a similar success for the return of the three detained Israelis.”

He was referring to efforts to obtain the release of Gilad Shalit, kidnapped in June 2006 near the Gaza Strip by Palestinian groups including Hamas, and to Eldad Regev and Ehud Goldwasser, both kidnapped in July 2006 by Hezbollah at the Israeli-Lebanese border.

“The president has confirmed his total mobilization on this issue,” Prasquier told reporters after his meeting. “He told us that he will continue to do his utmost to obtain their liberation.” Sarkozy had met earlier this month in Paris with the families of the three Israeli hostages. He announced that he would fly to Libya today to help bring the country back into the international community.

The CRIF delegation also met with justice minister Rachida Dati, who assured them of her commitment to fight anti-Semitism.

The preceding story was provided by the World Jewish Congress

Dear Readers,

Along with my husband Don, I co-publish San Diego Jewish World. As a couple we have gone to many places. Cruising ranks at the top of our list of favorite ways to travel.

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Adventures in Cruising

Aboard Holland America Ryndam
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Schmoozing in a lounge aboard the Ryndam

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Wiesenthal Center rejects apology by Polish priest

LOS ANGELES—In consideration of the damage to Catholic/Jewish relations caused by his anti-Semitic remarks, The Simon Wiesenthal Center said today that the apology by controversial Polish Catholic leader Father Tadeusz Rydzyk was not enough.

“Father Rydzyk knows very well the anti-Semitic remarks he made and the impact on people around the world," said Rabbi Marvin Hier, founder and dean of the Simon Wiesenthal Center. "To say that ‘if anybody felt insulted, I apologize,’ is even more insulting considering his blatant anti-Semitic remarks. We reiterate our call to the Vatican to discipline Father Rydzyk.”

When Rydzyk’s comments, which were made in response to the Polish government’s $65 billion Holocaust restitution package, were first made public two weeks ago, Rabbi Hier called him “a Josef Goebbels in a collar” who made Jews the scapegoats of a political crisis.” The Center also launched a petition campaigned that generated over 20,000 signatories who called on Rydzyk’s superiors in Krakow and Rome to discipline him.

The preceding story was provided by the Simon Wiesenthal Center

Asia

Rep. Berkley visits Kazakhstan, sees Jewish community

ALMATY, Kazakhstan (Press Release)—A member of the US Congress, Shelley Berkley, has paid an official visit to Kazakhstan. Berkley, who is a Democratic member of the House of Representatives for Nevada, went to the central Asian nation by invitation of Euro-Asian Jewish Congress president Alexander Machkevitch.

Berkley met with the country’s foreign minister Kanat Saudabayev, the speaker of the Senate, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, members of the Peoples' Assembly of Kazakhstan and heads of the national-cultural centers.

The Congresswoman also visited several Jewish centers in the city of Almaty, including a synagogue, and became acquainted with the life of the local Jewish community. She also discussed various issues concerning the community's well-being and national involvement with Kazakhstan's chief rabbi, Yeshaya Cohen.

Berkley said she was "impressed by the integration of the Jewish community on all the levels of social and political life" in Kazakhstan.

The preceding story was provided by the World Jewish Congress

Australia

The Jews 'Down Under'
By Garry Fabian

State funeral for former Cabinet member

MELBOURNE—Communal veteran and former long Running Victorian Government minister Walter Jona died this week aged 81. Jona was laid to rest at the Progressive Jewish Memorial Garden Cemetery after a State Funeral at Temple Beth Israel in Melbourne.

It was the first state funeral for a Jewish figure, since that of NSW State cabinet minister Paul Landa 23 years ago.

Jona, the first Jew in the Victorian cabinet since Archie Michaelis in the 1940's, pioneered the ethnic affairs portfolio, later switching to community welfare. Jona is credited to have been the driving force behind the introduction of mandatory seat belt wearing laws, later adopted by all other Australian states and many other countries, a measure instrumental in saving many lives.

He also chaired the Victorian Union for Progressive Judaism in the 1980's. Jona was considered one of the most noble sons of Australian Jewry.

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Police, Jews dine on friendship

MELBOURNE—A recent event that took place was the inaugural Victoria Police Jewish Community Dinner, which was organised jointly by the Multicultural Advisory Unit of Victoria Police, The Victorian Multicultural Commission and B'nai B'rith Anti-Defamation Commission.

It is part of the new initiative by The Victoria Police to establish closer ties with a range of ethnic and religious communities, and foster co-operation in combating racism. On the evening the full spectrum of the Jewish community was represented from Progressive, Orthodox and ultra Orthodox communities, as well as a gamut of secular Jewish organisations.

Male guest were presented a special edition Victoria Police insignia kippot, and all guests were invited to take part in the havdala ceremony.

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Gillard shares migrant tale with Jewish women

MELBOURNE—Deputy opposition leader (Australian Labor Party) Julia Gillard recently told a Jewish audience how the Federal Government of the 1970's and 80's gave her migrant family a new start.

Addressing the Victorian Branch of the National Council of Jewish Women of Australia at a corporate breakfast, Gillard related her experience of being a migrant from Wales to South Australia.

Following her address, Gillard fielded questions on issues affecting Australian Jews in the lead-up to this year's federal election, promising to examine community security costs if Labor wins government.

"I understand the issue, I don't believe this Jewish community is needing to live in a state of fear, and I understand the way you do and why security services are engaged and that's a very rational response to the threat,” she said.

She also highlighted Australia's foreign policy and school funding as other key issues for the Jewish community at this year's poll. She also said that a 2005 visit to Israel gave her a much better understanding of the issues affecting the Jewish State.

United States of America

Jewish Claims Conference appropriates $67 million for victims

NEW YORK, N.Y. (Press Release)—The Jewish Claims Conference (JCC) has announced the allocation of an extra US$ 67 million to programs benefiting Nazi victims.

The new funds will be disbursed over the course of the next three years and add to the US$ 300 million the JCC had already planned to spend on such programs from funds acquired in the sale of unclaimed Holocaust-era Jewish property in the former East Germany.

In a statement, the New York-based organization said the new money was meant to make up for the decline in funding for social welfare programs as a result of the International Commission on Holocaust Era Insurance Claims ending its allocations.

The preceding story was provided by the World Jewish Congress

U.S.-Israel alternative energy pact advances in Senate

NEW YORK (Press Release)—The American Jewish Congress (AJCongress) today congratulated the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources and its Chairman Jeff Bingaman (Democrat, New Mexico) for favorably reporting out S.838, the U.S.-Israel Energy Cooperation Act (USIECA), landmark legislation to establish a $140 million program for collaboration over the next seven years between U.S. and Israeli academic researchers and U.S. and Israeli companies to develop alternative energy technologies.

AJCongress also expressed special appreciation to Senator Gordon H. Smith (Republican, Oregon), who has been the primary champion of the bill in the Senate for the last two years. Endorsed by Prime Minister Ehud Olmert in his address to a joint session of the U.S. Congress last year, USIECA is the result of four years of focused and determined action by the American Jewish Congress and the leadership of its Energy Independence Task Force under the direction of its Chairman, Jack Halpern.

Amplifying AJCongress' longstanding commitment to USIECA's passage, AJCongress President Richard S. Gordon explained that "next to the preservation and defense of Israel itself, nothing is more important for the future of the State of Israel than energy independence. While many think of energy independence as an economic issue of supply and demand, or perhaps even as an environmental issue, energy independence is even much greater than that. It is a vital national security matter, not just for Israel but for the United States as well. The American Jewish Congress has long recognized this, long before it became in vogue to talk about energy independence."

Gordon further explained that "progress on this bill is proof that bipartisan cooperation and outstanding Congressional leadership can bring results on the contentious subject of energy independence." He added that, "as with U.S.-Israel collaboration on the Arrow Missile, USIECA is designed to marshal the technical capabilities of two of the world's great technological leaders, the U.S. and Israel, to address a crucial mutual concern."

A similar measure in the House of Representatives is championed by Democrat Brad Sherman (Democrat, California) and John Shadegg (Republican, Arizona) and cosponsored by a list of more than 90 other House members including prominently Elliot Engel and Anthony Weiner (both Democrats, New York) who have worked within the House Committee on Energy and Commerce to include USIECA in omnibus energy legislation working its way through the House.

It also has been introduced in the House Science and Technology Committee by that committee's Chairman Bart Gordon (Democrat, Tennessee)

According to Jack Halpern, Chair of the American Jewish Congress Energy Independence Task Force, "given its wide bipartisan support, we anticipate that USIECA will be brought to the Senate floor for consideration after the August Congressional recess and that, once passed by the Senate, it quickly will considered by the House, which passed an earlier version of the bill under suspension of the rules in 2006."

The preceding article was provided by the American Jewish Congress

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Engel urges tougher economic sanctions for Iran

WASHINGTON, D.C. (Press Release)—Congressman Eliot Engel (Democrat, New York) today called for stronger economic sanctions against Iran to keep that country from building nuclear weapons, which the Iranian president has threatened to use against Israel.

The 10-term congressman said that Iran should not be allowed to continue on its path to acquiring nuclear weaponry.

He said that companies, and even pension funds, which invest money in Iran are helping this menacing state to build bombs. “It is vital,” he said, “that Iran not be allowed to arm itself with nuclear bombs.”

Rep. Engel, a senior member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, noted that Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has called for Israel ‘to be wiped off the map.’ “We cannot allow people like that to have nuclear weapons. This is the same country that refers to the United States as the ‘Great Satan.’ If Israel is first, we are next.”

Rep. Engel is a co-sponsor of the Iran Counter-Proliferation Act (IPCA) which would enhance United States efforts to keep Iran from developing nuclear weaponry by imposing additional economic sanctions against Iran. The House Foreign Affairs Committee approved IPCA on June 26, 2007 by a vote of 37-1. “With more than 300 cosponsors, I remain hopeful the House will soon take up the Iran Counter-Proliferation Act,” said Engel.

Engel is also a co-sponsor of Iran Sanctions Enabling Act of 2007 which would authorize State and local governments to direct divestiture from, and prevent investment in, companies with investments of $20,000,000 or more in Iran's energy sector.

Engel said, “I believe New York and other cities and states should divest their holdings and pension funds from companies investing in Iran, and I hope that in Congress we can pass the Iran Sanctions Enabling Act as soon as possible.”

The preceding article was provided by the office of Congressman Eliot Engel

Senator Lautenberg confers with Ambassador Meridor

WASHINGTON, D.C. (Press Release) – U.S. Sen. Frank R. Lautenberg (Democrat, New Jersey) met on Tuesday, July 24, with Israel’s Ambassador to the United States, Sallai Meridor, to discuss American-Israeli relations and current events in the Middle East.

The meeting focused on the new dynamics in Israeli-Palestinian affairs, the growing Iranian threat to the region and the impact of the war in Iraq, among other issues.

“It is vital that America does all it can to help keep Israel safe and stable,” Lautenberg said following their meeting. “Israeli Ambassador Sallai Meridor and I discussed American-Israeli relations at great length, focusing on the issues that are critical to both of our countries. These are troubling times in the Middle East, and Israel is facing multiple threats. I look forward to continuing to work with Ambassador Meridor to help make Israel safe and secure.”

The preceding article was provided by the office of Senator Frank Lautenberg

Commentary & Letters

Catholic-Jewish dialogue over Mass continues

Editor's Note: The following letter from Monsignor Dennis Mikulanis responds to a letter printed in yesterday's edition of San Diego Jewish World from Eric Greenberg, associate director for interfaith affairs of the national Anti-Defamation League.

Dear Mr. Greenberg:

Thank you for your lucid and open letter. Unfortunately, those of us "in the trenches" do not have access to the same level of information that you do and we must rely on our own knowledge and that of trusted, local colleagues to interpret what is actually said by Vatican decrees and officials. Would that we had access to the same people you do!

I now understand your concern. I would hope, too, that you would understand my concern. Had the initial response from Mr. Foxman been one of concern for what was perceived and a reasonable request made from a trusted colleague that the issue be addressed, rather than an "in your face" kick in the shins kind of response, perhaps this could have been avoided. The "body blow to Catholic/Jewish Relations" that "has set back Catholic/Jewish Relations 40 years" was not only uncalled for and untrue, but demeaning and insulting as well. Thank God for the good, local Catholic/Jewish Relations we have established over the past decades which keeps the lines of communication open and friendship secured. Mr. Greenberg, we who work in Catholic ecumenical and interreligious affairs are your friends. However, the typical national ADL response to which we have become accustomed makes our work all the more difficult. I wish you could understand that.

It appears to me that the leadership at the top of both of our communities needs filters before statements are made.

Sincerely,

Msgr. Dennis L. Mikulanis, S.T.D.
Vicar for Ecumenical & Interreligious Affairs
Roman Catholic Diocese of San Diego

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 and we'll acknowledge your tip at the end of the column. To see a source story click on the link within the respective paragraph.

*When it comes to annoying guests with unwelcomed questions, Wolf Blitzer of Cable News Network can be described as either non-partisan or as an equal opportunity offender. Dick Cheney got mad at him for asking about his daughter's lesbianism. Now Michael Moore is upset with him. A column by David Bauder of the Associated Press is in today's San Diego Union-Tribune.

*Dr. Bruce Chernof, the Los Angeles County health official who is awaiting a federal inspection of the trouble King-Harbor Medical Center, now has a new problem. A psychiatric patient injured herself with a scalpel-like device that she somehow brought into the hospital. The story by Susannah Rosenblatt is in today's Los Angeles Times.

*Los Angeles City Controller Laura Chick has taken herself out of the running for the 5th District City Council seat that Jack Weiss will vacate at the end of his term. Weiss plans to run for city attorney. The story is in the Los Angeles Times.

*Psychologist Albert Ellis, who taught that patients can overcome self-defeating thoughts and behaviors, has died at 92. An Associated Press obituary is in today's San Diego Union-Tribune.

*U.S. Senators Russell Feingold (Democrat, Wisconsin) and Arlen Specter (Republican, Pennsylvania) sharply questioned Attorney General Alberto Gonzales in Tuesday's hearing of the Senate Judiciary Committee. Feingold questioned whether the U.S. Attorney General shouldn't be held to a higher standard than what has been so far, and Specter suggested a special prosecutor should be appointed in the growing controversy over the firing of eight U.S. Attorneys. The Associated Press story by Lara Jakes Jordan is in today' San Diego Union-Tribune.

*U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein (Democrat, California) has endorsed the presidential bid of her Senate colleague, Hillary Clinton of New York. Meanwhile, Senator Barbara Boxer (Democrat, California) has remained neutral. The story by Scott Martelle is in the Los Angeles Times.

*Two planes from France—one from Paris, the other from Marseilles—today carried 600 new immigrants to Israel. Yael Branovsky has the story on Y-Net news.

*Turkey's Ambassador to Israel, Namik Tan, said cooperation between Israel and Turkey, both in the diplomatic and military arenas, will remain strong, and that the Islamic underpinnings of his country's new presidential administration should be no reason for concern. The story by Yaakov Lapin is on Y-Net News.

*Paul Henrie Levy pleaded guilty in federal court in San Diego to charges of tax evasion and conspiracy to commit mail fraud in connection with his role as co-manager of now defunct Global Money Management, and will e sentenced October 15. Two other defendants in the case also are awaiting sentencing. The story by Penni Crabtree is in today's San Diego Union-Tribune.

*His ancestry is part Lebanese, part London-Jewish, he had Nobel Prize winner Patrick White as a mentor, and his literary arena is Australia. Now a book of David Malouf's short fiction works is impressing reviewers in America. Art Winslow tells his favorable reaction to the work in today's Los Angeles Times.

*Israel's Prime Minister Ehud Olmert had a working dinner with Quartet Envoy Tony Blair last night. Blair met earlier in the day with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas. An Associated Press brief is in today's San Diego Unon-Tribune. Omert has offered to negotiate an agreement in principle with the Palestinians towards establishment of a Palestinian state on most of the territory within the West Bank and Gaza. The story by Aluf Benn is on today's Ha'aretz.

*A group calling itself the Animal Liberation Brigade left an incendiary device June 24 near the car of Dr. Arthur Rosenbaum, who heads UCLA's Department of pediatric ophthalmology. The device did not go off but it evidently was intended as a warning against continued research on monkeys to test procedures for correcting cross-eyed conditions. Branding the incident "domestic terrorism,' federal and local officials are offering a $110,000 reward for information leading to the parties responsible. The story by Larry Gordon is in today's Los Angeles Times.

*Comedian Sarah Silverman is lending her support to a YouTube campaign against global warming which also has attracted Ben Afffleck, Matt Damon, Jennifer Garner, and Joshua Jackson. The story is in the Public Eye section of today's San Diego Union-Tribune.

*Jurors in the Phil Spector murder trial are likely to visit his mansion where actress Lana Clarkson was fatally shot. The Copley News Service story by Dan Laidman is in today's San Diego Union-Tribune.

*Playwright George Tabori, who settled in Germany after the war notwithstanding the death of family members in the Auschwitz concentration camp and whose plays dealt with Jewish-German relations, has died at age 93. An Associated Press obituary is in the Los Angeles Times.

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News Sleuths:Tony Blair

Watching the media gathering
and reporting the news of Jewish interest

Date: July 25, 2007
Time: Noon New York time
Place: United Nations
Spokesperson: Marie Okabe, deputy spokesperson for Sec'y Gen'l Ban Ki-Moon
Source: United Nations transcript
Subject: Middle East

Question: I wonder if you got any information on the special Quartet and who actually is financing the office of Tony Blair, and financing his salary. Perhaps you can also give us some idea of the relationship between the United Nations and the Quartet, and what is the Quartet’s sort of legal position?

Deputy Spokesperson: Well, I don’t think I can get into the legal position of the Quartet, but as you know the United Nations is one of the four members of the Quartet. Tony Blair is the Representative of the Quartet. I think the question of resources for him, his staffing, that kind of thing, is an issue that is under discussion. I don’t have anything specific now, but as soon as I do I’ll relay them to you.

Question: In light of the death of the peacekeeper today, does the United Nations have anything further to say about these unexploded ordnances in southern Lebanon, which, I think, there’s about a million that have failed to explode in Israel’s dropping of four million during the war last summer.

Deputy Spokesperson: I don’t have anything further than this report I just got for you before I came down here, but perhaps (Assistant Secretary General) Jane Holl Lute might have something more to add on that.

>>

Question: I just wanted to ask a question about Mr. Tony Blair and his position. Does Mr. Blair answer directly to the Secretary-General and the Quartet, or is he operating independently, and at what point in time does he come back and report to the Secretary-General or to the Quartet?

Deputy Spokesperson: Well, he certainly doesn’t report just to the Secretary-General. As I said, he’s a representative of the Quartet and if you look at the last statements issued by the Quartet, Mr. Blair’s terms of reference and his role are spelled out in this statement.

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The Jewish Grapevine

COMMUNITY INTEREST NEWS—Not all stories affecting the Jewish community involve Jews as direct participants, so they really don't quite fit the requirements for the "Jews in the News" column above. Yet, there obviously is a community interest in such stories, so we will endeavor to provide links to them in this space:

●Jordan's King Abdullah II and U.S. President George W. Bush had a private, informal meeting at the White House at which they discussed the situation in the Middle East. Except to pose briefly for photographs upon Abdullah's arrival, neither had an immediate comment about their discussions. A brief Associated Press story is in the World Roundup column of today's San Diego Union-Tribune.

●Ward Churchill has been fired as a professor at University of Colorado, but the reason why is in issue. Churchill's attorney says it is in retribution for a controversial remark he made about 9/11—in which he compared the United States to Nazi Germany, and the occupants of the World Trade Center to Adolf Eichmann. A university spokesperson, on the other hand, said an analysis of his academic scholarship found it sub-par. The Associated Press story was in today's San Diego Union-Tribune.

●A Pew Global Survey finds a precipitous drop in the number of Muslims who approve of suicide bombings from 74 percent in 2002 to 34 percent this year. UC Irvine Professor Mike Davis suggested that attitudes changed when Muslims started using the tactic on each other, and not only against Israel and the United States. The MCT News Service story is in today's San Diego Union-Tribune.

●Paula Zahn is being replaced by Campbell Brown at Cable News Network (CNN). The story is in the Public Eye column of today's San Diego Union-Tribune. FYI, Zahn is not Jewish, however she may be considered a member of the Jewish community as her husband Richard Cohen is Jewish and they are raising their children as Jews.

Greater San Diego area

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Sports

The Jewish Sports Fan

Unless otherwise indicated, source for these stories is today's edition of The San Diego Union-Tribune, to which we gratefully provide the links below. We do not apply halacha to determine if a player is Jewish; rather, if he or she has a Jewish parent or has converted to the faith, we count him or her as a member of our community.

The things Brad Ausmus and Mike Lieberthal had in common

BASEBALL—In his team's 8-4 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates, New York Met Shawn Green singled in his 29th RBI, and also scored a run himself. His batting average is now .270. Meanwhile, John Grabow pitched a fine inning in relief for the Pirates, retiring the side in just 10 pitches, including one strikeout. His ERA is now 5.27....Besides being Jewish community members, what else to Mike Lieberthal of the Los Angeles Dodgers and Brad Ausmus of the Houston Astros have in common? Well, both are relief catchers, both got into the game as defensive players late, and neither of them got an at bat as the Astros defeated the Dodgers 7-4.... Kevin Youkilis scored the lone run in the Boston Red Sox 1-0 victory over the Cleveland Indians. He also went 2 for 4 at the plate, bringing his batting average up to .314. Good as that may be, Youkilis is still off the .320 mark necessary to be included in the American League's current list of top ten batters.

COPING WITH SCANDAL—Arthur Blank, owner of the Atlanta Falcons, said that he was about to suspend quarterback Michael Vick for four games after learning of Vick's alleged involvement in dogfighting, but was asked not to do so by NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, who wanted to complete an investigation by the league. At a news conference, Blank said Vick should concentrate on answering the federal indictment against him rather than trying to play football. The story by Jim Trotter is in today's San Diego Union-Tribune. ... National Basketball Association Commissioner David Stern told a news conference he believes Tim Donaghy was a rogue official, and that referees betting on games and perhaps shaving points by his calls was isolated to him. The combined wire service story was in today's San Diego Union-Tribune. That newspaper's columnist Tim Sullivan thinks Stern is naive if he thinks the practice is limited to Donaghy.

HORSE RACING—Jockey David Cohen rode Teacher's Rule to a second-place finish on Monday in the first race, paying $3.20 and $2.40 on a $2 bet. He finished out of the money, however, in the very next race aboard Excessive Tale.

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UC Irvine examines sports' effect on human rights

IRVINE, California (Press Release)—The University of California Irvine is sponsoring a symposium Tuesday, Aug. 14, that it calls, "A Maccabiah for the Mind," in which speakers will discuss how members of different genders and ethnicities struggled through sports to attain greater human rights.

Professors who will speak at the 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m symposium at the on-campus University Club include Nina Spiegal of the University of Maryland the Maccabiah movement's history; George Eisen of Nazareth University of Rochester on games children played during the Holocaut; Linda Borish of Western Michigan University on "Jews, Gender and Sports in America," and David Wiggins of George Mason University on the African-American experience in sports.

The free symposium will be followed by a $25 per person dinner. Here is a link to the website for more information and registration. The program has several sponsors including UCI's Program in Jewish Studies.

The preceding article is based on information provided by the University of California Irvine

News from the
Israel Baseball League

PITCHING FORMS—Mike Kerfeld, left, of the Netanya Tigers, and Adam Crabb of the Tel Aviv Lightning
demonstrated their form today at the Sportek in Tel Aviv. The Tigers gathered for a photo in the
picture below. Photos by Yehuda Boltshauser

Netanya Tigers
Bet Shemesh recovers early season form; defeats Ra'anana 10-1 and holds onto first place in IBL

By Nathaniel Edelstein

PETACH TIKVA, Israel—The Bet Shemesh Blue Sox held onto first place in the Israel Basesball League with a 10-1 win over the Ra'anana Express behind a dominating pitching performance from Sacramento, California, native Rafael Bergstrom.

Bergstrom earned his fifth win with a complete game two-hitter, giving up one run first inning before cruising the rest of the way at Yarkon Field at Baptist Village to shut down the Express. He struck out six batters while walking two.

The Blue Sox offense gave him more than enough support as shortstop Gregg Raymundo put Bet Shemesh up in the first inning with a two-run homer. Designated hitter Johnny Lopez went 3-for-4 with two RBI while rightfielder Jason Rees provided three more RBI as the Blue Sox won for the first time in four games.

After winning seven of the last ten games, the Modi'in Miracle lost to the last-place Petach Tikva Pioneers 7-1 at Kibbutz Gezer. Petach Tikva second baseman Willis Bumphus of San Diego, California, provided the game's first run with a solo homer in the fourth before adding a 2-run shot in the fifth. Pioneers leftfielder Ryan Crotin went 3-for-4 with one RBI and two runs scored to raise his average to .380 on the season.

Canadian right-hander Andrew Morales picked up his first win, giving up only one run on a homerun from first baseman Aaron Levin. Morales threw a complete game, striking out five and walking one to drop the Miracle 2.5 games out of first place.

The Tel Aviv Lighting and the Netanya Tigers split a doubleheader at Tel Aviv's Sportek as the Lighting lost the first game 7-3 to end a four-game winning streak. Tigers lefty Mike Kerfeld got the win with five innings of work, giving up two earned runs on five hits while striking out five and walking seven. First baseman Ty Eriksen led the Netanya offense with a 3-for-3 game, knocking in a run and scoring two.

The Lightning came back to win the second game 12-1 before it was called due to darkness after six innings. Dan Rothem of Tel Aviv pitched all six innings, allowing one run on four hits while striking out four and walking two. Tel Aviv ace Aaron Pribble took a day off from pitching to play first base and went 3-for-4 with a homerun and five RBI. Rightfielder Jeff Hastings scored three runs while going 4-for-4 to raise his average to .328. The win keeps Steve Hertz's puts Steve Hertz's club a game out of first place.

                         1   2   3   4   5   6   7   R   H   E
Bet Shemesh     2   1   0   0   3   2   2 10   8    0
Ra'anana           1   0   0   0   0   0   0   1    2    3
W: Rafael Bergstrom (5-1); L: Esequier Pie (1-3); HR: Gregg Raymundo (7)

                        1   2   3   4   5   6   7   R    H   E
Petach Tikva      0   3   1   1   1   0    1   7   10   1
Modi'in              0   1   0   0   1   1    0    3    6   3
W: Maximo Nelson (4-1); L: Josh Epstein (0-2); SV: Eladio Rodriguez
(1); HR: Adam Harwood (2), Aaron Levin (5), Adalberto Paulino (7)

               1   2   3   4   5   6   7   R    H   E
Netanya     0   3   1   1   1   0    1   7   10   1
Tel Aviv    0   1   0   0   1   1    0   3    6    3
W: Mike Kerfeld (1-3); L: Adam Crabb (4-3); HR: None

                       1   2   3   4   5   6    R   H   E
Netanya           0   0   1   0   0   0    1    4   3
Tel Aviv          2   0   0   0   3   7   12 10   3
W: Dan Rothem (2-1); L: Shlomo Lipits (0-1); HR: Aaron Pribble (1)

Standings:
Team                               W    L     %     GB
Bet Shemesh Blue Sox    17    7    .708     –
Tel Aviv Lightning          16    8    .667    1.0
Modi'in Miracle               14    9    .609    2.5
Netanya Tigers                  9    13   .409    6.5
Ra'anana Express               9    15   .375    8.0
Petach Tikva Pioneers       5    18   .217   11.5

League leaders (through Monday)

BA. - Raymundo (BS) .550, Rodriguez (Mod) .500, Doane (Net) .381
HR - Rodriguez (Mod) 13, Rees (BS) 12, Lopez (BS) 11
RBI – Rees (BS) 39 Rodriguez (Mod) 36, Raymundo (BS) 28
SB - Doane (Net) 17, Lyons (BS) 15, Castillo (Ra) 14
W-L Pct.- Pribble (TA) 5-1 .833, Bergstrom (BS) 5-1 .833, 4 tied at 4-1 .800
Strikeouts - Nelson (Mod) 53, Bennett (Mod) 48, Feliciano (BS) 41
ERA - Pribble (TA) 1.17, Bergstrom (BS) 1.80, Feliciano (BS) 1.93

Thursday at 5:00 pm the Bet Shemesh Blue Sox take on the Modi'in Miracle at Kibbutz Gezer while the Ra'anana Express and the Petach Tikva Pioneers play at Sportek in Tel Aviv. At 7 pm the Netanya Tigers and Tel Aviv Lightning play at Yarkon Field at the Baptist Village inPetach Tikva. For directions to the fields visit
www.IsraelBaseballLeague.com.

{Marc Kligman, who combines being a sports agent with his life as an observant Jew, invites you to listen. Click on the ad above for more information}

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            Story Continuations

United Nations envoy...
(Continued from above)

Williams also mentioned last week’s meeting of the diplomatic Quartet on the Middle East – comprising the UN, European Union, Russian Federation and United States – which marked its first gathering with former British Prime Minister Tony Blair as its special envoy.

However, in spite of the “impressive diplomatic momentum,” such “positive developments are offset by a problematic and increasingly complex reality on the ground, where violence continues,” he said.

In the current reporting period, Williams said there were over 20 incidents of Palestinian attacks against the Gaza crossings and into Israel, and noted that Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has continually condemned Palestinian rocket fire which causes injuries and damage to civilians and hampers the delivery of assistance to the people of Gaza.

He also told the Council that, according to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), Israeli military actions continued during the reporting period. “The IDF [Israeli Defence Forces] continued targeted killings in Gaza,” the envoy said. He encouraged Israel “to cease these operations, and to hand over security control of the West Bank to the Palestinian Authority.”

Turning to the humanitarian situation, Williams said that “it is important that the people of Gaza are not punished for the Hamas takeover,” and that re-opening the crossings to prevent the complete collapse of Gaza’s economy is crucial.

Despite efforts to provide relief supplies, “it is clear that humanitarian assistance alone will not be sufficient to stop the decline in the economy that is currently unfolding due to the interruption of regular commercial flows to and from the Gaza Strip,” he told the Council.

“A solution led by President Abbas is an urgent necessity,” Williams said.

“In the longer-term, Gaza and the West Bank cannot remain separated,” he added. “There is only one future Palestinian State, and it encompasses both the West Bank and the Gaza Strip.”

He also highlighted the plight of the roughly 6,000 Palestinian refugees who are not able to move back to the Gaza Strip from Egypt, and called on all parties to act promptly to speed the return of the displaced.

On Lebanon, Mr. Williams said the county “continues to face a precarious political and security situation,” with no concrete change in the positions of the parties leading to the political impasse remaining.

The fighting – which started on 20 May – is continuing in the Palestinian refugee camp of Nahr el-Bared in northern Lebanon.

The envoy also cited Israel’s air violations of the Blue Line, and noted that they have “significantly increased” during this reporting period, with the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) recording 271 over-flights last month.

“These over-flights are a violation of Lebanese sovereignty,” Williams said.

Meanwhile, in a related development, OCHA reported that Gaza’s economy is being significantly damaged by the continued closure of the Karni Crossing.

There is a shortage of rice, vegetable oil and baby milk, and rising prices – especially for vegetables, meat and milk powder – are straining households’ abilities to maintain a balanced diet.

The UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) and the UN World Food Programme (WFP) are sending basic food supplies, animal feed and medicines through other crossings, but OCHA said that the agricultural sector is threatened, as the planting season is getting underway.

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