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Writings about Dan Schaffer
March 13, 1947—Photo and caption, Southwestern
Jewish Press, page 7:
-1988-
November 10, 1988—"Bat
Mitzvahs: Sarah Schaffer," San Diego Jewish Times, p
8: Sarah Schaffer will be called to the Torah as a Bath Mitzvah on Nov. 5
during Saturday morning services at Temple Emanu-El. Rabi Martin Lawson and
Cantorial soloist Myrna Cohen will officiate. Sarah is the daughter of Dan
and Jane Schaffer and the granddaughter of Jane Boye of Colorado Springs and
Norma Schaffer. Sarah and her family will participate in Friday evening services
at the temple, and Sarah will lead the congregation in worship on Satrurday
morning. She will receive the Torah as it passes through the generations and
will chant her Torah portion, Chaye Sarah, and read the Hafatarah portion. Sarah
is symbolically sharing her Bat Mitzvah with Elena Kilberg of Leningrad, and a
tallit draped chair will sit on the bimah in honor of the Soviet girl.
"I have a strong Jewish identity," says Sarah, "and this is the
culmination and the beginning of my Jewish studies." Sarah is an
eighth-grade student at Lewis Junior High School. According to her father, Dan,
Sarah likes all her academic subjects, but math is her favorite. Sarah has
studied piano since she was 5 years old and likes most music. She is also
a student of ballet, jazz and modern dance. Sarah has received her Jewish
education at Temple Emanu-El and has studied Hebrew with Devorah Yahel.
"When I visit my relatives (in Israel) again, I can speak to them in
Hebrew," Sarah explains. She says tat being Jewish is special.
"Jews are a special minority with traditions that are of value for today's
society." Sarah will continue her studies at the High School of
Jewish STudies and will be a member of the Kabbalat Torah Class of 1991.
-1989-
April 27, 1989 — "Sarah
Schaffer Wins County Spelling Bee," San Diego Jewish Times, p.
55: Sarah Schaffer, the daughter of Jane and Dan Schaffer, won a
county-wide spelling bee on April 4. An eighth-grader at Lewis Junior High
school, Schaffer competed with top spellers from public and private schools
throughout the San Diego area. The annual contest is sponsored by the San
Diego Union. Schaffer defeated runner-up Erik Agee from Santee by correctly
spelling "diponible" and "bethoscope." She will
represent the San Diego area in a National Spelling Bee in Washington
D.C., from May 28 through June 2. Schaffer, who won a spelling bee in
sixth grade, prepared for the competition by reviewing a book of spelling words
put out by The San Diego Union. However, her sills "comes
naturally," she says. "I have a very linear mind, which helps.
It's instinctive." The contest held at Balboa Park's Cafe Del Rey Moro
ballroom is coordinated by the San Diego County Department of Education.
Schaffer, who also enjoys math and essay writing, was pleased with her
victory. Describing the experience, she concluded: "It was good to
see all the people there who cared about learning."