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The Jewish Grapevine
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June 2007
July 2007
Jewish Grapevine by month
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THE SABRA—A car owned by Howard Singer will go on display
the San Diego Automotive Museum at the end of
June as one of several companion exhibits in Balboa Park marking the arrival
from Israel of the Dead Sea Scrolls
at the San Diego Natural History Museum The 4-cylinder car was manufactured
in 1963. Automotive Museum photos
AROUND THE TOWN—Susan
Jaffe, who retired from the American Ballet Theatre
after 22 years dancing in principal roles, will guest teach July 30-Aug. 3
at a summer session offered by City Ballet of San Diego for which serious
ballet students must
audition in order to qualify. Information may be obtained by phoning
(858) 274-6058 or visiting City
Ballet's web site at www.cityballet.org.
INTERFAITH—Rev. Gail Albert of the Poway Interfaith Council, which includes
several rabbis, passes along Anthem for the world, a musical slide show by
Matthew Levine conjuring a vision of world peace. Here is
the link.
...Rabbi Leonard Rosenthal of Tifereth Israel Synagogue delivers a
lecture at 7 p.m. Sunday on "Talking
to Our Intermarried Children and Understanding Our Evolving Roles."
The public is welcome at the event sponsored by Keruv, the congregation's
outreach group. For more information, call the congregation at (619)
697-6001.
Saturday, June 2
AROUND THE TOWN—Joseph Shapiro has been promoted from associate dean
to dean of
San Diego State University's College of Extended Studies...
CYBER-REFERRALS—Hillel Mazansky passed on this clip of Jennifer Grey—granddaughter
of comedian Mickey Katz—singing "Dovid Crockett" on the Conan O'Brien
Show.
SPORTS—Bruce Lowitt notes that
Red Sox first baseman Kevin Youkilis, one of 13 Jewish major leaguers,
has launched his own blog on MLB.com and is asking fans to come up with a name
for it. "So far, the leading contenders are Yoooouuuukkk, Youk's Scoop, Youk
Nation,
Youk's Yackings and Youktastic."
CYBER-REFERRALS—Bruce Kesler liked the column in The New Republic
excoriating The Nation for an anti-Israel, pro-Palestinian editorial
viewpoint. Here's
the link. ..Hillel
Mazansky is urging everyone to sign a letter created by the
Anti-Defamation League denouncing boycotts of Israel proposed by the British
National Union of Journalists and the University and College Union.
Here is the
link to that letter...
SIMCHAS—Grace and Moises Mizrachi returned to San Diego from their
home in Panama to celebrate with family their 65th wedding anniversary at a
luncheon held today at the Sephardic synagogue, Beth Eliyahu Torah Center,
in Bonita. Rabbi Daniel Srugo presided over a ceremony in which the
couple had what Grace described as renewing vows. This was just part of a
celebratory week for the Mizrachi family. Their son, Rafael, who has
served as president of that congregation, and daughter-in-law Laura Mizrachi
will have the pleasure of watching their daughter Grace become a bat
mitzvah. In Sephardic tradition, children are named for their
grandparents, so Grace will have her namesake present at the ceremony on Tuesday.
Monday, June 4
COMMUNITY WATCH—The Jewish American Chamber of Commerce is exploring
the possibility of creating a Jewish-interest radio show in San Diego.
CONGREGATIONAL CURRENTS—Congregation Beth Israel will bid farewell at
7:30 p.m. Shabbat services June 22 to Rabbi Paul & Susie Citrin as
they complete their three-year assignment in San Diego. Rabbi Michael
Berk succeeds him. ... A burned Torah panel believed to have come from a
synagogue in Ostrov, Poland, was donated by Lou & Estelle Dunst to
Congregation Beth Israel as an historical artifact. The panel along with
other damaged ones were replaced by Torah sefer Alberto Attia and the
repaired scroll was put back into the service of the Jewish people in Los
Gatos, California...When Barbara Howarth was installed two years ago
as president of Beth Israel, a friend said, in a gaffe, "congratulations on
your pregnancy." Completing her term, Howarth says in a way it was indeed
like a pregnancy. "The only thing that really matters about either of
them is the outcome." Among many accomplishments over the last
two years, Howarth mentioned the establishment of a teen lounge "for kids to
hang out and be comfortable in their second home'... WE began to have
greeters at services and major events to help members and visitors feel
welcome." And, she noted with an exclamation point, "We brought
back ice cream to the Oneg Shabbat!"
CYBER-REFERRALS—Bruce Kesler recommends an article by Nat
Hentoff on the Jewish World Review questioning why in the world the United
States wants to remain in the United Nations when, among other
astonishing developments, the chair of its Disarmament
Commission is Syria and its vice chair is Iran. Here's
a link.
....Christian Micoine found
this
article by Hannah Goff on the BBC website about the proposed academic
boycott of Israel. It provides some worthwhile background for those
mapping strategies to oppose it.
'FREE' TICKETS, BOOKS, OTHER GOODIES—Notice those little quotation marks
around the word 'free.' Those are to indicate that even though you
won't pay for them with money, you will pay for them with your talent.
San Diego Jewish World wants to recruit reviewers of various sorts, to
report upon Jewish developments in books, CDS, movies, television, concerts,
visual arts, photography, cooking, various hobbies like philately,
numismatics, and others. You name it, if you have some expertise in
the subject, we'd like to see your writing samples, and perhaps you will be
picked to join our growing cadre of volunteer columnists. Please
email inquiries and writing samples
to editor Don Harrison.
IN MEMORY—Sharon Weissmann, 65, daughter of Charles and Helen
Weissmann and sister of Mark Weissmann, died May 27 and was
buried at Home of Peace Cemetery. A short obituary is in today's
San Diego Union-Tribune.
CONGREGATIONAL
CURRENTS—With housing at San Diego
State University so difficult to obtain that there is heated controversy in
surrounding neighborhoods over the creation of mini-dorms, Chabad Rabbi
Chalom Boudjnah offers a non-controversial solution. He says
there are two rooms to rent at the Chabad House at 6115 Montezuma Road, near
the campus, for $350 per month each, with a $20 additional monthly charge
for cable. The number is
(619) 265-0519.
...Rabbi
Leonard Rosenthal of Tifereth Israel Synagogue in San Diego gives a talk
during Shabbat morning services on Saturday about "what makes wine kosher?"
Armed with that knowledge, members of his congregation plan to go on a field
trip on Sunday to the wineries in Temecula. Well, wine not?
AROUND THE TOWN—Amnon Ben-Yehuda, who fought in Israel's Independence
War, is the subject of an upcoming Fred Lewis interview on the cable
television program, Heart of San Diego. For Cox cable viewers, the
interviw may be seen on Channel 16 at 5 p.m. Sunday,
and again at 8:30 p.m. Monday. It is scheduled to air once again at 8:30
p.m. Friday, June 15.
SAN DIEGO-ISRAEL
CONNECTIONS—If you're
interested in learning Hebrew, Ami Dalyot now is teaching at the Language
Door, 7565 Mission Gorge Road, San Diego. He was raised in Kibbutz Ramat Yohanan,
northeast of Haifa, Israel. He graduated from Nahalal Teacher's College and
taught general education at public elementary schools. In the afternoons he
also taught Hebrew Ulpan to new immigrants. In 1971 he immigrated to the USA
and continued his education at the University of Judaism in Los Angeles. At
various locations in Southern California, he taught Hebrew and Jewish studies at
different religious schools. Married with three grown daughters, Dalyot currently
works as a bus driver for senior citizens. His love for Modern and Biblical
Hebrew language continues on.
Saturday, June 9
JEWISH STORY EVERYWHERE—Bruce
Kesler spotted the
article in the Riverside Press-Enterprise about Navy Lt. Laurie
Zimmet, who says one of her fondest memories of her service in Iraq was
attending a Chanukah service... Sam Zeiden of Oceanside, on a visit to
Modesto to attend the high school graduation of his grandson Edward Zeiden,
was pleased to find an item in the "Beliefs and Issues"
column of today's Modesto Bee about a Florida company that is selling
kippot for Jewish athletes competing in track events...
Sunday, June
10
AROUND THE TOWN—Former San Diego Port Commissioner Dr. Robert Penner
practices ophthalmology in Coronado and keeps his eye on government affairs by
making trips to Washington to lobby Congress for more funds for eye research and
improved compensation under Medicare and similar issues. On a recent trip, he
attended a committee session in which U.S. Rep. Bob Filner (Democrat, San
Diego) was participating. "Come with me," Filner said to Penner as
the committee adjourned. "We walked down the rotunda and it was completely
filled with seats in which the Congress people and the Senators were all
sitting. I've been there many times but I had never seen anything like this. It
turned out it was the Day of Remembrance (Yom HaShoah). They had six candles up
there with six survivors of the Holocaust. The Army band was there, the
Army flag carriers and Joe Lieberman (Independent, Connecticut) gave a
speech which was tremendously inspiring: his wife's mother is a survivor.
Sitting in front of me was Congressman (Tom) Lantos (Democrat,
California), who was a survivor. It never happened to me before, and every
patriotic bone in my body was vibrating. It was such a meaningful thing."
San Diegans Rita & Murray Luftig are gathering 33 members of their extended family later this month to celebrate their upcoming 60th anniversary followed one day later by Rita's 80th birthday. The grand family reunion will be in nearby Rosarito Beach, Mexico. The two were introduced by mutual friends at UCLA and were married in 1947. Rita withdrew for a while to help Murray through law school, but then reenrolled and received her bachelor's degree the same year that he received his law degree. Murray would much later in his career serve as a municipal court judge in San Diego County's South Bay District. Rita served as chair of the San Diego County Democratic Central Committee and as local chief of staff to then Senate President pro tempore James R. Mills. Their own grandchildren range in age from 20 to 33, but the youngest at the gathering will be a 2-year-old great niece.
CYBER-REFERRALS—This morning, Bruce Kesler spotted the story in the Richmond (Virginia) Times-Dispatch about U.S. Rep. Eric Cantor (Republican, Virginia) being one of the first bloggers in the Congress... Israel's Consulate-General in Los Angeles passes on this video responding to a charge from Islamic websites that Israel is the "neighborhood bully." And while we were surfing we found this version of Hava Nagila played on a temple lyre.
Later in the day, Hillel Mazansky forwarded us video of a recent kindergarten graduation ceremony in the Palestinian Authority. The boys were dressed up in Army fatigues and displayed their prowess crawling while cradling toy rifles in their arms. Most chilling was the chant at the end. To the question, "What is your most lofty aspiration?" the kindergartners shouted in unison: "Death for the sake of Allah." Here is the link. IN MEMORY—Charles Elliott Fuld, 46, of San Diego, died May 25 and was buried at the home of Peace Cemetery. A brief obituary is in today's San Diego Union-Tribune. (Return to top) |
Tuesday, June 12
BASEBALL JEWS—From the pages of today's San Diego Union-Tribune:
Kevin Youkilis of the Boston Red Sox is currently listed as the
fifth best hitter in the American League with a .336 average...
Shawn Green, who had been sidelined with a broken bone in his foot,
was activated by the New York Mets before last night's game with the Los Angeles
Dodgers.
CELL
PHONES AND GORILLAS—Kolenu, the weekly newsletter of Soille San Diego
Hebrew Day School, reports as follows: "1st Grader Bruce Fleury is
working with the San Diego Zoo Cell Phone Recycling Program as part of hist 1st
Grade Animal Report and Project. What happens to old out-of-date phones?
It's estimated that more than 100 million cell phones are thrown away, or
stuffed in a drawer, each year. Did you know that cell phones here in the United
States and elsewhere have a connection to the well-being of gorillas and other
animals in central Africa? Here's the 4-1-1: cell phones contin a rare ore
called coltan (short for columbite-tantalite). This metal is found in central
Africa, and increased mining operation to get the coltan means habitat loss and
increased hunting pressure on gorillas and other wildlife. Please dig up your
old cell phones and bring them in. Look for the cell phone recycling bin
in the 1st Grade Class Room."
ISRAEL DEBATE—In the continuing Israel vs. the Arab debates that recur in
the
letters column of The San Diego Union-Tribune, Israel was
attacked on the USS Liberty issue by Steve Kowit of Potrero
and defended by Mark Bernstein of Riverside.
IN MEMORY—Shirley Gross, 92, mother of Rochelle Samuels, died
Thursday, May 31, and was buried at El Camino Memorial Park. A short
obituary is in today's San Diego Union-Tribune.... Ira Ravel,
73,
died Sunday,
June 10, leaving his wife Jackie, son Jeffrey and Bruce,
and sister Marilyn Reinman and two grandchildren. His brief
obituary is in today's San Diego Union-Tribune.
Wednesday, June 13
AUTHOR, AUTHOR—We carried a
book review yesterday by Norman Manson about I'm Still Here
by Laura Simon; now San Diego Jewish World editor Don
Harrison has a commentary
on her book has been published in the Foghorn, the newsletter of the
San Diego Press Club. ... St. Martin's Press has acquired the American
publishing rights to former World Jewish Congress President Edgar Bronfman's
book, Hope, Not Fear: A Jewish Renaissance.
Publication is expected next year.
BASEBALL JEWS—An 11th inning single by Brad Ausmus propelled the
Houston Astros to a 5-4 victory Tuesday, June 12, over the Oakland A's.
It was a pretty good outing Ausmus who also drove in three other runs during
the game, two of those on a homerun. The
box score is in today's San Diego Union-Tribune, and a
"who's hot" mention for Ausmus appeared in the same newspaper
CYBER REFERRALS—Our Florida-based columnist, Bruce Lowitt, spotted
two stories in the St. Petersburg Times he thought our readership
might be interested in. A
column by Susan Taylor Martin chronicled the missed opportunities by the
Arabs and the Israelis in the four decades since the Six-Day War. And,
a
story by Mindy Rubenstein reports that Jews in the eastern portion of
Pasco County, who have long felt neglected, soon will have a Jewish
preschool of its own....Bruce Kesler forwarded to us the
column of Marty Peretz in
The New Republic in which he praises the decision by DePaul University in
Chicago to refuse tenure to Holcaust minimizer Norman Finkelstein, but
criticizes the way in which it was delivered... StandWithUs, an Israel
advocacy organization, participated in a counter-demonstration in Washington
D.C. on June 10, in what appeared to be a battle of the placards. Here is
a link to
photographs of the day, showing what both sides had to say.
IN MEMORY—Short obituaries were in today's San Diego Union-Tribune
for the following community members:
Samuel Greenberg, 86, of Encinitas, who died Tuesday, June
12, leaving his daughters Laurie Greenberg and Marilyn Hopman....
David Solomon, 79, who died Thursday, May 3, leaving his wife
Doris, son Ellis, daughters Marlene Mecker and Barbara
Solomon, and sister Ruth Bernard.
Thursday, June 14
CYBER-REFERRALS—Stan Brin,
an investigative reporter in Orange County,
referred us to a point-by-point
refutation by A.J. Cristol of the article by Ward Boston, Jr. about
the U.S.S. Liberty incident that appeared as an
op-ed piece in the June 8 edition of the San Diego Union-Tribune.
Cristol, writing on George Mason University's History News Network website, said
Boston's account directly contradicts his sworn statement when he was
investigating the case for the Navy, and additionally contradicts sworn
testimony by crew members. If there is a conspiracy, concludes Cristol, it is
among Saudi-financed forces who are trying to turn Americans against Israel ....
Larry Gorfine spotted this
U.S. civics quiz that he says 90 percent of the graduating high school
seniors will fail, and so will most people over age 50. Try it yourselves....
Bruce Kesler spotted the
column by Winfield Myers in the San Francisco Examiner dissecting the
writings of University of North Carolina Prof. Omid Safi. The article's
headline is "Safi's soft words are front for radical jihadists."
|
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.
Saturday, June
16
A
SPECIAL CORNER—This juxtaposition of the American flag and the name "Zion" at
that avenue's intersection with Mission Gorge Road is one of editor Don
Harrison's favorite places to drive past in San Diego. Not only does it
symbolize the junction of two great ideals—America and Zionism—but, by chance,
it also is within view of the Kaiser Hospital where both grandsons of Nancy &
Don were born: Shor and Sky Masori. As the hospital is located on
Zion Avenue, Harrison says his grandchildren were born Zionists.
CYBER-REFERRALS—The left is the left,
and the right is the right, except when the twain shall meet bashing Israel.
Bruce Kesler refers us to a
story by Jonathan S.
Tobin in the
Jewish Exponent of Philadelphia.
Sunday, June 17
BASEBALL JEWS—Baseball
commissioner Bud Selig, in attempting to force Jason Giambi to meet with
former U.S. Senator George Mitchell to discuss steroid use in baseball, really
is trying to find a "fall guy" who can help him say to Congress that the matter
has been dealt with. That is the thrust of an
opinion piece by sports columnist Nick Canepa in today's San Diego
Union-Tribune. In other stories or chartsof interest in that newspaper
today:
Shawn Green of the New York Mets is tied with Albert Pujols of the St.
Louis Cardinals with the 14th highest batting average in the National League at
.303. That's well off the league leading .358 pace being set by
Matt Holliday of the Colorado Rockies...Brad
Ausmus hit three times in four plate appearances, scoring two runs and
knocking in his 15th RBI, as his Houston Astros defeated the Seattle Mariners
9-4..Relief pitcher
John
Grabow of the Pittsburgh Pirates gave up two runs in an inning and a
third of work en route to a 6-1 Chicago White Sox victory in an interleague
game...
CROSSING DIVIDES—San
Diego Union-Tribune feature writer Peter Rowe writes about transsexual Bobbi
Swan who formerly was Robert Schwanhausser. Another divide that s/he
crossed was that between Arabs and Israelis, selling drones to both sides
while working for Ryan Aeronautics. Here's a link to
the
story.
IN MEMORY—Meyer Rosenzweig,
72, of San Diego died June 4, leaving his wife Marilyn, sons Michael and Jay,
and sister Ruth Katzenberg. A short
obituary is in today's San Diego Union-Tribune.
Monday, June 18
BASEBALL JEWS—The San Diego
Union-Tribune through stories and box scores provided this information on
Sunday's games involving Jewish baseball players: It was a bummer of a day for
Los Angeles Dodger catcher
Mike Lieberthal. His team dropped the second game in a row to the
Los Angeles Angels, 10-4. The most he could contribute in hitting was a
single in four plate appearances, and he was charged with an error...
Kevin Youkilis scored two runs and knocked in two others during an
inter-league game in which the Boston Red Sox defeated the San Francisco Giants,
despite the fact that the Giants' Barry Bonds hit his 748th career homer, which
also was his first in the Red Sox' Fenway Park...Brad
Ausmus doubled during a Houston Astros team assault on Seattle Mariners
pitching, contributing to a 10-3 victory...New York Mets relief pitcher
Scott Schoeneweiss needed only 15 pitches to go an inning and a third,
while allowing no runs and only one hit. On the other hand, team mate
Shawn Green went 0-3 as the Mets were defeated by the New York
Yankees, 8-2.
BUSINESS NETWORK—Herbert Cohen, a diabetic, has had three amputations,
but don't think that's stopped the 72-year-old in business. From his
wheelchair, he runs Rebates4You, which he describes as
the "biggest insurance commission rebater in the world." His insurance
agency, based in the Carmel Valley area of San Diego, "rebates a minimum of 75
percent to a maximum of 90 percent of the first year's premium." A
veteran of nearly 50 years as a stock broker, insurance agent, and a pre-needs
counselor at a funeral home, he says he knows ways to save people money. Here's a
link to his website.
Tuesday, June 19
The Aleph-Bet in
the Magen David
Hillel Mazansky forwarded these
images to us of the Hebrew alphabet superimposed
upon the Magen David.
He in turn received it from Elias
Leisorek. Our thanks to those gentlemen as well as to the people up the
e-chain who have sent this around, but
most especially to the unknown illustrator.
-------------------------------
ALCOHOL—The San Diego County
Health Department sent out a press release that began:
"On
March 30, 2000, a 15 year-old was drinking beer and vodka in a vacant lot. He
then tried to cross the trolley tracks walking between two cars. He never made
it across. On April 1, 2007, a 19 year-old college student and track athlete was
drinking heavily with his friends. He passed out. He never woke up. Just two
weeks ago, four high school students were on a graduation trip. They were
drinking and driving. They crashed. They will never get to graduate. This week,
the County Medical Examiner confirmed the cause of
death of the 19 year-old female who died early last month. The SDSU student died
of acute cocaine and alcohol intoxication.The circumstances behind these
deaths were all different but they had two things in common: The victims were
under 21 and had been drinking before they died. They were not old enough to
legally drink, yet they were able to get alcohol." Sometimes, we in the
Jewish community like to delude ourselves that alcoholism does not affect
us, that it is a problem for others. Don't believe it: the SDSU student who died
was a member of our Jewish community.
BASEBALL JEWS—Stories, charts and box scores in today's San Diego
Union-Tribune are the sources for these accounts of the Jews in baseball:
Baseball commissioner
Bud Selig reportedly has given Jason Giambi of the New York Yankees a
deadline of Thursday to meet with former U.S. Senator George Mitchell concerning
the question of steroid use...Kevin
Youkilis struck out twice, walked once, and singled as his Boston Red
Sox were defeated 9-4 by the Atlanta Braves. His batting average now
stands at .331, good for ninth place on
the list of the National League's leading hitters...
Shawn Green's single and double were just two of the 15 hits the New York
Mets compiled in a 8-1 rout of the Minnesota Twins. Green is currently
batting .297. ...
LICENSE
PLATES—Melanie Rubin found another one for our Jewish
license plate
collection, although we are not sure whether the owner was thinking in
French or in Yiddish as tante is the word for aunt in both languages.
We'll say this: the owner who received an automobile has a very nice niece or
nephew, that's for sure.
IN MEMORY—Robert George Bernath,
57, of Ramona, died June 14, leaving his wife Betty, daughter Amber, three
sisters, and a brother.
A short
obituary is in today's San Diego Union-Tribune.
POLITICAL SCENE—Bernie
Rhinerson and Michael Rosen are among members of the Jewish community
who are supporting Carl DeMaio's bid for the 5th District seat on the San Diego
City Council. DeMaio formally launches his campaign with a fundraiser
Thursday, June 28, at the Town and Country Hotel.
Wednesday, June 20
CYBER-REFERRALS—Herbert Cohen spotted the Associated Press story in a
recent Northwest Herald of Illinois reporting that the percentage of boys being
circumcised in the United States is decreasing. The story also recapitulates
arguments for and against the procedure. Here is
a link. ... Hillel Mazansky shares with us a 10-minute
slide show on the history of the Arab-Israeli conflict prepared by David
Horowitz. ... StandWithUs, an Israel advocacy group, forwarded the two-part
video below of its director, Roz Rothstein, speaking in Washington DC on
June 10 at the counter-demonstration to one called by Palestinian sympathizers.
Mazal
Tov—A baby boy was born today
to Debbie & Michael Rosen. As he weighed 8 pounds, 14 ounces and measured
21 inches, Michael Rosen suggested the delivery was a "valiant, Herculean feat
of engineering by Debbie (and her OB)."
A brit milah for the boy, who will be known as Baby 3 until the ceremony,
will be held at 8 a.m. Wednesday, June 27, at Adat Yeshurun Synagogue,
8625 La Jolla Scenic Drive North, La Jolla. The former Babies 2 and 3 now
are known as Eytan and Danya.
MEMORIES—Among
the attendees of the United Jewish Federation's annual meeting on Tuesday
evening was Milton Roberts, its oldest living president. Roberts,
93, was president in 1956 when, he said, there were perhaps 8,000 Jews in san
Diego, and the UJF considered raising $295,000 in a single year quite a feat. He
recalled that he was living at the time in the Kensington area of San Diego,
when, unexpectedly, Roger Revelle, knocked at his door. He told Roberts he had
dropped by because he was trying to raise money for various causes including the
La Jolla Playhouse, but was finding that unlike other cities where the Jewish
community was so supportive of the arts, San Diego Jews seemed uninterested.
"I explained to
UJF President Ken Polin and his
most senior predecessor Milt Roberts
him that there were restrictions against Jews in La Jolla, and that we didn't
feel welcome there," Roberts recalled. "He told me that he didn't know,
and a few days later he called me back to say that he had done some checking and
I was absolutely right about the restrictions. He said, 'let's find out
what we can do," and he immediately went to work to break down those barriers."
Revelle reportedly warned the La Jolla real estate community that if they
persisted in the practice, UCSD would not be built in that area.
Thursday, June 21
CYBER-REFERRALS—Bruce Kesler
recommends an article in today's
Washington Times by Nicole Brackman and Asaf Romirowsky questioning
whether the United Nations Relief and Works Agency has a vested interest in
perpetuating the Palestinian refugee problem rather than solving it. the article
also is printed on the website of the Middle East Forum... The U.S. State
Department today released the list of accredited foreign diplomats assigned to
Washington DC. Here is
the list
for Israel.
DEAD SEA SCROLLS—The City of San Diego has approved creation of a temporary
2,000-car parking lot at the Arizona landfill off Pershing Drive to accommodate
the expected overflow for the Dead Sea Scrolls exhibit at the San Diego
Natural History Museum which begins June 29 and ends December 31. The
story is in today's San Diego Union-Tribune... Ceremonies are planned
June 27 at the San Diego Automotive Museum for the showing of an Israeli Sabra,
a sports car owned by Howard Singer of La Jolla. Several museums in
Balboa Park plan Israeli-related or Bible-related exhibits during the six months
the Dead Sea Scrolls will be in San Diego.
POLITICAL
SCENE—Professional fundraiser Helena Galper, who helped find financial
contributions for the Dead Sea Scrolls exhibition and also helps develop the
Jerusalem Zoo, additionally is involved as a volunteer raising money for two
high profile Democratic candidates. One is New Mexico Gov. Bill
Richardson, who is running for president. The other is Katrina Swett,
the daughter of U.S.
Rep. Tom Lantos (Democrat, California), who is running for the U.S.
Senate in New Hampshire, hoping to take the seat away from Republican incumbent
John Sununu. Galper drove twice to Los Angeles recently: On June 11, she and
Cecilia Kipperman went up for a Richardson event at the Bel Air Hotel.
Five days later, she drove up to Beverly Hills with Anna Lombrozo to
attend a function for Swett at the estate of Haim Saban. Her love
of politics doesn't stop at America's shores: Galper plans to be in Israel on
July 15 for the presidential inauguration of Shimon Peres.
CYBER-REFERRALS—Israel's Consulate-General forwards the video below promoting
tourism to Israel. It's not "dangerous" in the way some people imagine!
DEAD SEA SCROLLS—Various groups are scheduling special events around the Dead
Sea Scrolls exhibit at the San Diego Natural History Museum, among them LEAD
San Diego, the group that trains leaders for civic responsibilities. It
plans a breakfast followed by a briefing and a tour of the exhibit on July 12.
INSURANCE SCAM—You buy insurance through an agent, who pockets your money for
the premiums. You are uninsured but don't know it. State Insurance
Commissioner Steve Poizner said this is what occurred in the case of
Alice Linda Constantine, a Santa Clarita broker who also sold insurance under
the names of Alice O'Neil and Alice Beard. In a plea agreement,
the defendant will make full restitution of
slightly more than $11,000 to her deceived clients, will serve 18 days in county
jail, perform 100 hours of community service and will never work in the
insurance industry again.
JEWISH MUSEUM—The Jerusalem Post has
a story about how the tiny Jewish community of the state of Alaska plans a
Jewish museum. Now if only the Jews of San Diego County—with a population some
30 times as large—could bestir itself to do the same thing!
POLITICAL SCENE—The Republican Jewish
Coalition has offered its mazal tov to its member Nancy
G. Brinker, who "has
been named by President Bush to serve as the administration's next Chief of
Protocol, with the rank of Ambassador — a position responsible for planning
ceremonial events and monitoring diplomatic conduct."
Saturday, June 23
IN MEMORY—Irving
Bengelsdorf, a long-time science writer for the Los Angeles Times
who retired to Oceanside, died at a hospice with his family in attendance on
Friday, June 22. Here is a n e-mail from the wife he has left,
Beverly: "This is
the saddest letter I have ever written. On Friday morning, June 22nd, Irving
passed away. He has been quite ill for many months and with 3 1/2 years of
dialysis and other previous illnesses, it all became much more than he could
handle both physically and mentally. He entered hospice on Saturday, June
16th and passed away the following Friday, pain free. Ruth, Jean-Claude,
Lea, Terry, and Judy were all here and it was possible for us to visit with
him. Irv chose to have hospice at home so we were all able to be together
with him to use the new term, '24/7.' There will be no funeral service, but
we request that if you wish, donations in Irv's name may be made to: The
Elizabeth Hospice, 150 W. Crest Street, Escondido, California 92025. (800)
797-2050 www.elizabethhospice.org"
Sunday, June 24
AROUND THE TOWN—Barbara Bry,
the journalist who helped to found the Voice of San Diego news
website, has moved on to another exciting project with her husband, Neil
Senturia. Together they host and produce the radio program "I'm There
for You Baby, the Entrepreneur's Guide to the Galaxy," in which their focus
is on building and growing a successful company. Among members of the Jewish
community who have been interviewed on the show are
Debi Akin, co-founder and co-owner of D.Z. Akins;
Rabbi Philip
Graubart of Congregation Beth El, who speculated on the question "Is
God an Entrepreneur?";
Dr. Ivor
Royston, the managing partner of Forward 'Ventures; and
Leo Spiegel,
the managing partner of Mission Ventures. Archived interviews may be
accessed by clicking on their underlined names in this item. The show is
broadcast from 1-2 Saturdays on CASH 1700-AM.
Monday, June 25
AROUND THE TOWN—We have a story
below about how Dr. Karl Jacobs is planning to swim the Catalina Channel
next month. Don't anyone tell him he's crazy, because he's liable to answer:
"I'll have to examine myself." Jacobs is a psychiatrist.
CYBER-REFERRALS—Israel's Ministry of Foreign Affairs recommends a story
on the development of oral treatment for diabetes, eliminating the need for
shots. Here is
a link to a story written by Nicky Blackburn for the Israel 21c news
service.
GOVERNMENT—California State Insurance Commissioner Steve Poizner says
Tania Cornelia Damper of Rancho Cucamunga has been arrested on a charge of
conspiring with her already jailed husband Charles Ray Dampier to defraud
insurance companies by having customers send in premium checks on non-existent
accounts, with the Dampers meanwhile collecting commissions. ... U.S. President
George W. Bush welcomed the ratification of his appointment of Robert
Zoellick as president of the World Bank, replacing Paul Wolfowitz.
The White House issued this statement: "I
welcome the action by the Executive Board of the World Bank to unanimously
approve Robert Zoellick as President of the World Bank. Bob Zoellick is a
dynamic leader who is deeply committed to the mission of the World Bank in
helping struggling nations to defeat poverty, grow their economies, strengthen
transparency and accountability in governance, and offer their people the
prospect of a better life. The United States looks forward to continuing our
close partnership with the World Bank to achieve these shared goals.
IN MEMORY—Al Sklar, 83, who like his father who performed in the Yiddish
Theatre, pursued a life of acting, becoming a fixture on the San Diego stage,
died June 15 in Sun City West, Arizona. An
obituary by Michael Kinsman is in today's San Diego Union-Tribune.
Wednesday, June 27
AROUND THE TOWN—San Diego Port Commissioner Stephen P. Cushman has been reelected to the board of the San Diego/ Imperial Counties chapter of the American Red Cross ... San Diego Jewish World publisher Don Harrison, a member of the City of San Diego's Historical Resources Board, has questioned whether the City of San Diego can afford to recommend tax breaks for all the properties in various historical districts at a time when it is in fiscal crisis. The story by Kelly Bennett is in today's Voice of San Diego... Blues singer Candye Kane is off on a 26-city tour to promote her latest CD, Guitar'd and Feathered/ RUF records...One of our San Diego Jewish World book reviewers, Fred Reiss, has published a new book of his own, Ancient Secrets of Creation: Sepher Yetzira, The Book That Started Kabbalah, Revealed. Here's a link to the book information.
COMMUNITY
ROUNDUP—Rabbi Jeffrey Lipschultz of Temple Beth Sholom is off to Israel;
Charlene Seidle of the Jewish Community Foundation has just come back.
The United Jewish Federation offices at 4950 Murphy Canyon Road are undergoing
some serious remodeling. The front lobby area is being revamped to create
a special area for the Israel Center behind the reception desk. The
upstairs which used to be leased out is becoming the home of the UJF marketing
and the accounting
departments. Soon Alan Rusonik, Noah Hadas, Marcia Wollner,
Mickie Targum and the other staff members of the Agency for Jewish Education
are expected to move from the AJE headquarters on Mercury Street to the second
floor of the UJF building That will put the AJE, UJF and the Jewish Community
Foundation all under one roof.
IN MEMORY—Philanthropist Maurice Kaplan,
a former attorney who worked
for the Securities and Exchange Commission and who became a supporter of various
charitable causes in San Diego, has died at 94. His
obituary by Michael Kinsman is in today's San Diego Union-Tribune....
Franklin Passin, 77, who had worked in real estate sales, died June 23.
A brief
obituary is in today's San Diego Union-Tribune.
LETTER WRITERS—David Duitz and Joseph Abrahamson both had
letters to the editor printed in today's San Diego Union-Tribune on
the Israel/ Palestinian conflict. Both were pro-Israel.
BABY BOY NEWS—Now that he has had his brit milah, Baby Boy Rosen also has a new
name. Henceforth, he'll be known as Azriel Shoshan Rosen in Hebrew, and
Felix Rosen in English. Explains his father, Michael Rosen:
"His Hebrew names, Azriel Shoshan,
mean 'God is my help (or support)' and 'rose,' respectively. Roslyn (or
Shoshana in Hebrew) was my late grandmother's name. His English name is
Felix, in memory of Debbie's
late grandmother Francine ('Frayda' in Hebrew, or 'joy'; 'Felix' is Latin for
"joyful"). Somehow, we managed to name our son after two (wonderful) women!"
DEAD SEA SCROLLS—Sandi Dolbee, the religion and ethics writer of the San
Diego Union-Tribune, quotes Prof. David Noel Freedman of UCSD, who is
the editor of the Anchor Bible Commentary, on the attraction of a Dead Sea
Scroll: "It has
this air of mystery and it's a voice from the distant past.”
Freedman was the mentor of SDSU Prof. Risa Levitt Kohn, who is
serving as curator of the exhibit. The
scene-setter for the opening of the Dead Sea Scrolls exhibit at the San
Diego Natural History Museum is in today's San Diego Union-Tribune.
A sidebar
story by Scott LaFee discusses how the Israel Antiquities Authority
preserves the documents that are two millennia old. ..
At a mid-morning preview for news media, Kohn was asked if bringing
the exhibit to opening day was similar to bringing her three children through
pregnancy. She responded it was a "lot less painful." However, she
added, "I'm worried about the post-partum depression." ... Michael Hager,
executive director of the San Diego Natural History Museum, paid special tribute
to philanthropists Joan & Irwin Jacobs, whose lead gift made the
exhibition possible. He also saluted the Bank of America and the
Barona Band of Kumeyaay Indians for their financial support.
GOVERNMENT—California Insurance Commissioner Steve Poizner has
announced the filing of charges in what he describes as another insurance scam.
He said Joseph Doino, an insurance agent in Orange County, pocketed $7,000 in
premiums, sending his clients phony insurance cards and receipts... Recently we
ran a column by Steve Rabin of the National Jewish Democratic Council in
which he excoriated Republicans for voting against the foreign aid bill, which
included a large appropriation for Israel. We asked him whether the NJDC
criticism also extended to the would-be presidential candidate, Congressman
Dennis Kucinich of Ohio and to other Democrats who voted against the bill, which
nevertheless had sufficient support to pass in the House. Rabin responded:
"NJDC believes that a NO vote on the most recent foreign operations
appropriations bill was the wrong vote, whether it was cast by a Democratic
Member or a Republican Member. While a small handful of Democrats voted the
wrong way, an overwhelming majority of Republicans voted the wrong way — at the
urging of their leadership. The key difference is that Republican leadership
took the drastic step of instructing members to oppose the bill. For the
leaders of either party to instruct their Members to vote against a foreign aid
bill is almost unheard of until now."
IN MEMORY—Esther
Glasky, 91, of Santee, died Sunday, June 24. Her obituary is recorded in
today's San Diego Union-Tribune.
ISRAEL NEWS SUMMARY—The European Jewish Congress provided this summary of
today's headlines in the Israeli newspapers:
All
the dailies (front page) : Lawyers
representing President Moshe Katsav and the State Attorney’s Office
reportedly have reached an agreement on the wording of a plea bargain
arrangement. If the reports in the Israeli media are accurate, most of the more
egregious sex crimes that were ascribed to the president in the draft indictment
published by Attorney General Meni Mazuz a number of months ago, have
been dropped. The draft indictment accused Katsav of rape, coerced sex with
subordinates and forced indecent acts ; all three charges have been dropped from
the plea bargain agreement. Moreover, all of the original charges that appeared
in the draft indictment against A {full name not divulged} the president’s
former bureau secretary, have been stricken from the revised indictment."
Friday, June 29
BIBLE-INSPIRED EXHIBITS—Among the Israelis who were in San Diego for the
Dead Sea Scrolls preview parties and grand opening were Pnina Shor, chief conservator of the Israel Antiquities Authority, and Duby Tal, an aerial photographer whose arresting photographs of the Dead Sea area, are part of the display. A television cameraman quickly learned one aspect of a "conservator's" job when Shor stepped up behind him and told him in no uncertain terms not to shine the camera's ultra-bright light on any of the two thousand year old pieces of parchment.... Tal's beautifully detailed landscapes, which not only are displayed in the exhibition but which are also available in book form at the museum's special Dead Sea Scrolls' gift shop, told reporters that he holds his camera by hand, rather than mounting it to the airplane, as some photographers do. He obviously is steady handed. Wondering how to get tickets to the Dead Sea Scrolls? Here's a link to a story in the San Diego Union-Tribune that provides all the information.... The Escondido Art Association plans an exhibition of artists' works on animal subjects July 5 through August 4. The San Diego Union-Tribune reports in a story by Pat Sherman the exhibit will be called "Noah's Art."CONGRESSIONAL PAYRAISE—Congresswoman Susan Davis sent out a news release explaining that though it passed, she voted against giving members of Congress a pay raise. Said the release: “With budgets as tight as they are, we should not be sending the message that a pay raise for Congress sends,” said Davis. “Many families are struggling to make ends meet, buy a home, or put their kids through college. This raise says we are putting our needs before theirs.” The raise went forward on a vote of 244-181.
MAZAL TOV—Keri
Jucha,
11,
was honored as a local hero at he Del Mar Fair. Hospitalized after a sinus
infection invaded her brain following a family visit to Israel, she began making
and selling jewelry to raise money for a large movie-style screen now in use at
Rady's Children's Hospital—a goal for which she raised $8,000.... Betty
& Rabbi Simcha Weiser
are celebrating the birth of their second grandchild today, born to their
daughter and son-in-law Malka & Baruch Harris
in
Queens, New York. He weighed in at 6 pounds 11 ounces, and, Weiser,
headmaster of Soille San Diego Hebrew Day School, is looking forward to the
brit milah
when the future Torah scholar will be named. The Weiser's first
grandchild,
Yael,
was born in March to Yisroel & Malka Liza Weiser of Far Rockaway, New
York. Upcoming, on July 30, the Weiser's son, Chanan, will be
married in Toronto to Goldie Michalwicz. The Weisers have four
other children, ages 18, 16, 12, and 7....
Saturday, June 30
ART'S SAKE—There will be a new wrinkle at
the 9th annual juried members show of the Art Alliance of Idyllwild. In addition
to major and higher priced pieces that will be submitted for the competition,
the July 6-8 art show will also include an area for art valued at "under $100"
to be sold. Artist Judy Schonebaum is credited with suggesting the
idea as a way to encourage experimentation, both by artists and by buyers.
"This is a way for people to show things that are more intimate pieces," she
explained. "They can either try something new or they can try something that is
not considered as weighty as something they try to enter into the juried show. "
For example, she said she will place a miniature rice paper collage in the Under
$100 section. "It's not that easy for people to buy an expensive piece of
artwork but with items under $100, people can start to become collectors."
Information on the show can be found at the
Alliance website.
DEAD SEA SCROLLS—Sandy Dolbee, religion and ethics writer, said in her
story in today's San Diego Union-Tribune that first-day visitors
to the Dead Sea Scrolls exhibit at the San Diego Natural History Museum
came away impressed on Friday. Among those she quoted was George Anderson of
Tucson, who said at age 68, he thinks of himself as old. But seeing scrolls that
have lasted 2,000 years gives me hope.
U.S.-KOREA TRADE—The White House announced today that U.S. Trade Ambassador Susan Schwab and Korea's Trade Minister Kim Hyun-chong signed the United States-Korea Free Trade Agreement. "This Agreement will generate export opportunities for U.S. farmers, ranchers, manufacturers, and service suppliers, promote economic growth and the creation of better paying jobs in the United States, and help American consumers save money while offering them greater choices," President Bush said. "The Agreement will also further enhance the strong United States-Korea partnership, which has served as a force for stability and prosperity in Asia. I call on Congress to ratify this landmark Agreement, to the considerable benefit of the American people."