(Eric Poliak photo)
Marla Bennett List of honorees Louis Rose Society Jewishsightseeing home
Writings about Marla Bennett
—2002—
Pardes Institute of Jewish Studies: Essay that Marla
Bennett wrote before her death on living in Israel: http://www.pardes.org.il/alumni/zachor/their-words
2002—Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs--Announcement of her death in
terrorist bombing at Hebrew University: http://www.mfa.gov.il/MFA/Terrorism-%20Obstacle%20to%20Peace/Memorial/2002/2/Marla%20Bennett
August 9, 2002—Cynthia Citron, "A
Fellow Student Remembers Marla," San Diego Jewish Heritage, Aug. 9, 2002:
On Thursday, August 1st, I was at Camp Ramah in Ojai, doing a story for Heritage
on the Jewish camping experience. I was being shepherded around the
beautiful, pristine campgrounds by Zach Lasker, the camp¹s assistant director,
when his cell phone rang.After a brief, intense discussion he hung up and
explained the call. "Perhaps you heard about the explosion at Hebrew
University yesterday?" he asked. I nodded and he went on, "Well, a
number of us here were close to Marla Bennett, and we¹re making plans to go
down to San Diego for her funeral." Immediately, the interview switched
gears. I asked him how he knew Marla."We met at Hebrew University in
1998," he replied. "We were both taking our junior year abroad.
She had come to Israel from UC Berkeley and I had come from UC San Diego.
We spent two months together at an ulpan at Haifa University studying
Hebrew, and then went on to Hebrew University. We lived in the same dorms
in both places."She was a political science major with plans to go on to
law school, he said, but she was also interested in Jewish education. Eventually,
the Jewish education won out, and that, he said, is what led her back to Israel
again."She was someone who threw herself passionately into everything she
did," he said. He remembered that they once rented the film "Evita"
in Hebrew so that they could read the subtitles and perfect their language
skills. "Eventually, we could sing most of the songs from the movie
in Hebrew," he said. He also remembered the day that they and another
friend played hooky from their classes and went to Masada. "We climbed to
the top," he said. "It was a memorable experience for all of us.
"Marla always took advantage of every opportunity," he added. "She
was a Hillel Scholar at Hebrew University, in the leadership course, and she
went with a group of students to the Ukraine to lead Passover Seders for people
there who didn't have much contact with Jewish tradition." He considers her
death "ironic," since she had such a caring nature." She was the
one who took care of everybody else," he said. "If it was chilly
and you were going out without a sweater, she was the one who would remind you
to take one. If you were stepping into a crosswalk when the light was
yellow, she would grab your arm and pull you back. She always made sure
people had locks for their suitcases and that everyone took the proper
precautions." His voice broke as he concluded, "She touched everyone
she met. There are hundreds of people who will miss her very much."
August 9, 2002—Donald H. Harrison.,"Martyr for Peace: More than 1,500 gather in
San Diego to remember murdered Hebrew University student Marla Bennett," Jewish
Journal of Greater Los Angeles, http://www.jewishjournal.com/home/preview.php?id=9026
-2003-
2003—Pardes Institute of Jewish Studies: Report on First Yahrzeit Ceremony
for Marla Bennett: http://www.pardes.org.il/alumni/zachor/yahrzeit2003
2003-01-03
Donald H. Harrison, "San Diego family learns of kin's death in West Bank terror,"
San Diego Jewish Press-Heritage, page 13.
July 21, 2003—Jeff McDonald, "Parents in anguish turn to Yom Kippur and the High
Holy Days to try to find meaning in the incomprehensible" San Diego
Union-Tribune, reprinted by Lawrence Family Jewish Community Center in
connection with a July 21, 2003, memorial service. http://www.johnfry.com/pages/Bennetts.html
-2004-
December 1, 2004—Donald H. Harrison., "Marla Bennett's mother
expresses satisfaction over killer's 67 life sentences," jewishsightseeing.com,
http://www.jewishsightseeing.com/dhh_weblog/2004-blog/2004-11/2004-12-01--bennett-bombmaker.htm
-2005-
July 15, 2005—Marla Bennett is memorialized by her parents, Michael &
Linda Bennett, on the website of the Louis Rose Society for the Preservation of
Jewish History.
September 2005—David Greenwald, "Marla's Neshumah," San
Diego Jewish Journal: http://www.sdjewishjournal.com/stories/sept05_1.html
September 25, 2005—1) Invitation wording: ARMDI—American
Friends of Magen David Adom—Marla Bennett Memorial Friends Society cordially
invites you to brunch and its inaugural presentation of the Marla Bennett
Humanitarian Award to Gary and Jerri-Ann Jacobs, Sunday morning, September 25,
10 a.m., UCSD Faculty Club, La Jolla. On the back of the invitation it
said: "The Marla Bennett Humanitarian Award of American Friends of Magen
David Adom was created in memory of Marla Bennett, to keep alive the hope and
promise she instilled in the many people she met, inspiring them to work harder,
to help others and to always practice peace and understanding. This award is to
be presented, on an annual basis, to a community leader(s) who actively seeks to
make the world a better place through action, ideals and principles."
The committee included: Dr. Mark Moss, event chair; Ray Lipson, San Diego
Friends Society Chair, Dr. David & Sharlene Berman; Julie Potiker; Linda
& Michael Bennett; Mimi Allen; Robin Gross; Dr. Steven Solomon; Rozlyn &
Marcus Mintz; Dr. Bill & Judy Friedel; Teddy & Irving Appelbaum; Sydney
Zwerling: Dr. Rick Serwin; Evelyn Brent....Rabbi Daniel R. Allen, National
Executive Vice President; Ellen Rofman, Western Regional Director.
2) Norman Greene, "Tribune to
Marla Bennett," written for ARMDI -Marla Bennett Memorial Friends
Society, and delivered by Dan Greene, Norman's son following a bicycling
accident in which Norman shattered his elbow:
November 2005—1) News," captions on Herb
Targum photos, San
Diego Jewish Journal, page 16: BLESS THIS HOUSE—On Oct. 2, Irwin and
Joan Jacobs helped dedicate the newly-constructed Jacobs Family Community Center
by affixing a mezuzah to the doorway. The Hall is doubling as a sanctuary while
construction continues. IN TRIBUTE—On Sept. 25, the Marla Bennett
Friends Society of American Friends of Magen David Adom (ARMDI) awarded the
Marla Bennett Humanitarian Award to Gary and Jerri-Ann Jacobs (shown above with
their extended family.) The Jacobs, who are known in San Diego for their
exhaustive schedules of philanthropic and chrity work, were presented the award
by SDJJ co-publisher Dr. Mark Moss.
2) Linda Bennett and Betsy Baranov, "Page 18," San
Diego Jewish Journal, page 18: American Friends of Magen David Adom
Marla Bennett Memorial Friends Societ had its Inaugural presentation of the
Marla Bennett Humanitarian Award at the UCSD Faculty Club in La Jolla recently.
After a wonderful brunch Gary and Jerri-Ann Jacobs were introduced and presented
their beautiful glass award by Dr. Mark Moss. Gary and Jerri-Ann are true models
of generosity. Some of the folks enjoying the lovely occasion were Irving and
Teedy Appelbaum, Judy and Harvey Amster, Michael and Melissa Bartel, Jeff and
Cindy Bennett, David and Sharlene Berman, Toby Hartman, Marilyn Braun, Stephen
and Carol Center, Aileen Eisenstatt, Bat-Sheva Feldman, Mike and Judy Feldman,
Edyie Galper, Helena Galper, Rabbi Philip Graubart, Raphael and Robin Gross,
Barry and Suzi Handler, David and Holly Hazan, Irwin and Joan Jacobs, Ray
and Evelyn Lipson (San Diego Friends Society Chair), Norman and Sivia Mann,
Margie Mopper, Gerry Kaplan and Sheryl Nissen, David and Jeanette Osias, Many
and Shirley Ravet, Michael and Ruth Rassler, Ellen Rofman (western region
director of ARMDI), Kurt and Shirley Sussman, Steve and Eva Weitzen, David and
Doris Yorysh, and Richard and Carolyn Grant, executive director of the Museum of
Making Music in Carlsbad.
December 2005—"Memorial Funds," Defining Our Future, Annual Report 2005, (San Diego) Jewish Community Foundation, page 10: One of our most basic Jewish beliefs is that acts of tzedakah are the most powerful way to honor the memory of those no longer with us.... Marla Bennett Memorial...
December 28, 2005—Visit to Marla Bennett's cyrpt,
Cypress View Mausoleum, San Diego, California:
(Eric Poliak photo)
-2006-
2006-04-24—Donald
H. Harrison, "New San Diego AIPAC chair has deep ties to
Israel and U.S.," jewishsightseeing.com
2006-05-24—Donald
H. Harrison, "'Life
imprisonment without exchange' urged for Hamas leader by victim's mom," jewishsightseeing.com
2006-05-27—Diane
Bell, "Mother surprised by arrest in Israel," San Diego
Union-Tribune