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Scholars-in-residence
program
Presentations are free; kosher meals moderately priced
● Rabbi
Yakov Horowitz, founder, Project Y.E.S. (Youth Enrichment Services)
for
Agudath Israel, Jan. 4-5
● Rabbi Ari
Kahn, director, Foreign Student Programs,
Bar Ilan University, Israel, Feb.
22-23
Call us for details at (619)
287-9890, Reserve Shabbaton meals before January 2
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A HERALD IN ZION
A young man scouts way to girl's heart
By Dorothea Shefer-Vanson
 MEVASSERET ZION, Israel—The spirit of romance is not yet dead, it would seem, not even in Israel.
In this age of cynicism and computers, when the younger generation seems to have lost its sense of innocence and no longer retains any romantic ideals, the following incident serves to confound the pessimists. It constitutes a telling illustratation of the lengths to which one young man was prepared to go in order to propose to his lady love in the most original and memorable way. My teenage grand-daughter, who is active in Israel’s Scouts, was a
Dorothea Shefer-Vanson
participant in (but not the object of) this incident, so I can vouch for its veracity.
In common with other youth movements, the Scouts in Israel plays a prominent role in the life of Israel’s youngsters. The movement, which is a-political and strives to inculcate values of independence, social awareness and responsibility, provides a framework which unites young people who live in the same area by bringing them together for weekly meetings, as well as fostering contacts between youngsters from different social and regional backgrounds at camps and outings held during the school holidays. By doing this it cuts across ethnic and cultural barriers to forge a common bond among the many different segments of Israeli society. The vast majority of its membership is of school age, though some of its paid officials and functionaries are somewhat older, having completed their military service. It goes without saying that there are close contacts between Jewish and Arab scouts in Israel, as well as between the movement in Israel and its sister-movements in other countries.
It is customary for the movement in Israel to mark important milestones, such as Independence Day or the induction of a fresh intake of nine-year-olds, with a rally involving the entire local membership. The rally itself generally involves singing and an address of some kind, culminating in the ceremonial torching of a prepared inscription made of wire and jute. Of course, for safety reasons the inscription is set at a height which ensures that none of the participants is at risk. Considerable thought, planning and energy goes into the preparation of these occasions, which serve to heighten social cohesion and augment members’ identification with the organization.
One bright spark (pun intentional) who is active in the movement thought up a plan to use this device to propose to his girlfriend, Moran. In the strictest secrecy, and with the cooperation and hard work of about ten junior youth-leaders, an inscription was prepared in the course of several hours one Friday. That evening, when everything was ready, the young man invited Moran out and suggested that they eat at a nearby restaurant. On the way one of his tyres developed a ‘puncture.’ The car came to a halt at the side of the road and the two young people got out, supposedly to attend to it.
At that moment the young man went down on one knee and held out the ring he had prepared in advance, the signal was given and the torch was set to the inscription, which read ‘Moran, will you marry me?’ Moran looked up and got the message. With tears of joy in her eyes she accepted the proposal.
The youngsters who had worked to prepare the inscription also shed tears of joy as they emerged from their hiding place and congratulated the young couple. Ever practical, they lost no time in expressing the hope that in due course they would also be invited to the wedding.
I must confess, there were tears in my eyes, too, when I heard the story.
THE JEWISH CITIZEN
Explaining Disneyland on one foot
By Donald H. Harrison
 ANAHEIM, California—If I were asked to explain Disneyland while standing on one foot—the way the ancient sage Rabbi Hillel once was commanded to explain the Torah—I would reply: "It's a small world. All the rest is commentary. Now, go and study."
"It's a Small World" continues to endure as one of the most popular attractions at Disneyland, even though several generations of children have been born to an increasingly more sophisticated world since Disneyland first
Donald H. Harrison
opened in the mid 1950s. If you've not yet had the opportunity to visit one of the Disney parks around the world, "Small World" is an enchanted boat ride that takes you past animated figures in various national costumes in imaginative settings, all dancing, playing, cavorting and smiling to the same tune: "It's a small world after all," which you are likely to hum to yourself for days after leaving Disneyland.
The attraction is a microcosm of Disneyland, itself, conveying a philosophy that says all people are the same. No matter what their national, religious, or racial background, no matter what their political opinions, while they are at Disneyland they are honored guests. Here, in this place, differences can be enjoyed as examples of the wide diversity in a wonderful world; here, in this place, arguments, quarrels, polemics, simply don't belong. One can imagine the bitterest of enemies putting aside their differences here—at least until exiting the gates.
Nancy and I, along with grandson Shor, 6, went with my niece Caren Ford, her husband Craig, and children Ashlee, 11, and Tyler, 9, to Disneyland along with other Ford family relatives who met us at the park. Our large group enjoyed some rides together (15 people take up an entire boat through "Small World") and split up for other rides. Shor is not a fan of rides based on roller coasters, while Ashlee and Tyler are. As the adults all carried cell phones, and each child had an adult with him or her at any given time, we never worried about our group losing touch with each other, notwithstanding the phenomenal crowds.
As a group we visited "The Haunted Mansion" which is a tracked-vehicle ride, with a few gentle roller coaster plunges, and multiple visual effects. Many of us, but not Shor, went on "The Pirates of the Carribean," with the boats taking us on deeper drops through the world of pirates instead of that of goblins and spirits. Some of us rode on the Mark Twain, a sternwheeler that plies its way around a lake within the park; and also took a tour on the Disneyland railroad, which not only moves people from one area of the park to another but also includes some surprises along the way.
For example, passengers see re-creations of the present-day Grand Canyon and of the Grand Canyon as it might have looked during the age of the dinosaurs. Shor, a veteran on this family trip of dinosaur exhibits at the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County and the exhibits of ice-age fossils at the George C. Page Museum of La Brea Discoveries, was right in his element. Shor also got to "drive" a car at the Autopia, with grandma cringing at his side as the car careened back and forth against the center guide rail.
We also saw the regular Disneyland parade with floats featuring such beloved Disney characters as Donald Duck and Mickey Mouse, along with perennial fairy tale favorites like Sleeping Beauty, Beauty and the Beast, and Cinderella. The parade included such recent additions to the Disney cast as Woody and Buzz Lightyear from Toy Story. Immediately preceding the parade there had been an event welcoming college football players from USC and the University of Illinois who will compete against each other in the upcoming Rose Bowl, adding to the happy tumult.
There are many amusement parks in California, but Disneyland endures as the king of them all. Why I wondered, borrowing from the Passover seder liturgy, why is this amusement park different from all other amusement parks? As we drove from Disneyland, many suggestions were offered. The park is exceptionally well-organized. On arrival, attendants direct you to a parking space, and you take a short escalator ride to a tram staging area for a ride to Downtown Disney, a shopping and restaurant area adjacent to the main plaza, where you can purchase tickets either for Disneyland or its neighboring sister attraction, California Adventure.
While you are waiting in line (there are many lines at Disneyland) and perhaps taking a picture of your family group, an employee will pleasantly offer to take the photo for you—so the whole family can be in a picture. Once inside the park, various vehicles will whisk you to the portion of the park—Adventureland, Fantasyland, Frontierland, and Tomorrowland— that you want to visit. While you wait in lines for the attractions, costumed attendants not only will direct the line, but often will give little performances. One, for example, affected a pirate's accent outside the "Pirates of the Carribean" ride as he directed us. So, it is well-organized. Disneyland has thought out most if not all the contingencies.
Craig Ford, who is a dentist, said other reasons he likes Disneyland is because its grounds are clean and colorful, there is music everywhere, and there are no gangs. The bathrooms are immaculate—which is a litmus test for this health care professional.
Shor said he likes Disneyland because he gets to see the characters that he sees on the Disney Channel's shows. Caren said whereas other parks may cater to teenagers (such as "Magic Mountain"), Disneyland caters to little children and the people who dote upon them. Ashlee said Disneyland's continuous advertising on television and other media attracts numerous attendeees. She said the message of many Disney productions is the same: Dreams can come true.
May this apply to
the dream that people can all get along and enjoy themseves!
SAN DIEGO JEWISH WORLD THE WEEK IN REVIEW
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 26
Garry Fabian in Melbourne, Australia: Jews support increased aid to Palestinians ... A battle over the fairness of the beth din
Donald H. Harrison in Ventura, California: A Jewish lad experiences Christmas up close
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 25
Donald H. Harrison in Los Angeles: Pulling up the sticky vestiges of the past
Bruce Kesler in Encinitas, California: Those Jews and their Christmas songs
MONDAY, DECEMBER 24
Donald H. Harrison in Los Angeles: Religious study in hall of African mammals
Sheila Orysiek in San Diego: A Jewish child grows up on Christmas Eve
Ira Sharkansky in Jerusalem: An Israeli view of the 'settlements'
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 23
Shoshana Bryen in Washington, D.C.: On Putin, Time's 'Person of the Year'
Donald H. Harrison in San Diego: Jury service left editor with mixed feelings
Rabbi Baruch Lederman in San Diego: A child's possession held for safekeeping
Rabbi Leonard Rosenthal in San Diego: Why is Judah represented by the lion?
Ira Sharkansky in Jerusalem: Want better health care? Make aliyah!
FRIDAY-SATURDAY, DECEMBER 21-22
Dov Burt Levy in Salem, Massachusetts:: Those three soldiers on my refrigerator
Sheila Orysiek in San Diego: Putting icicles on a friendship
Eileen Wingard in San Diego: Foxman warns of growing anti-Semitism
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 20
SPOTLIGHT ON SAN DIEGO JEWISH ACADEMY:Students at San Diego Jewish Academy showcased as artists and as arts critics; three teachers in arts program introduced
Harry Doshay:
Across the Universe shallow, pointless
Jazz lures Collins from metal
Alexa Katz:
Music Within triggers the emotions
Arts Collective is forerunner of school-within-school
Wood teaches photography as 'painting with light'
Daniel Penner:
Neil Young en concierto
Serj Tankian—Elect the Dead
Michelle Rizzi:
Across the Universe blows 'em away
Kipperman advocates for out-of-the-box students
plus
Donald H. Harrison: SDJA Arts Collective photo essay
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 19
Garry Fabian in Melbourne, Australia: Former judge faces prison in traffic case ... ... Ex South-African wins ABC writing competition ... Hardliners may exploit conference ... The next chapter in the Toben saga
Donald H. Harrison in La Jolla , California: Capturing the Jewish experience on posters
SDJA Student Quarterly:
William Bohannon: Rabbi tells Jewish views on same-sex marriage
Eitan Frysh: Fresher school lunches promised for next year
Michelle Rizzi: RIP GossipGirl
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 18
Donald H. Harrison at Miramar Marine Corps Air Station: A Marine Corps Museum provides clues to World War II life of my late, civilian father
Alexa Katz in San Diego: They pull in the same direction, but rowers Bohannon, Ritblatt find they often disagree
J. Zel Lurie in Delray Beach, Florida: Har Homa is back in the news
Fred Reiss in Winchester, California: The ever-evolving rituals of Judaism
Ira Sharkansky in Jerusalem: The conundrum of the Gaza rockets
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