Abraham Nasatir List of honorees Louis Rose Society Jewishsightseeing home
Writings about Dr. Abraham Nasatir
-1940-
April 24, 1940—1) "Sixth Annual Banquet to be May
5," San Diego Jewish Press, page 1: The sixth annual banquet of the
United Jewish Fund of San Diego will be held at the El Cortez Hotel, May 5, at 6
p.m., it was announced this week by Jacob Weinberger, president. Dr. Manfred
Arie, noted Viennese jurist, and Melvyn Douglas, motion picture star, will be
the guest speakers of the evening. Bobby Breen, and a number of Hollywood
specialty acts are scheduled to entertain. The meeting, the most important of
the year to San Diego Jewry, is to launch the 1940 campaign in behalf of the
United Jewish Appeals for refugees and overseas needs. Nathan F. Baranov
and Irvine M. Schulman are co-chairmen for the drive this year. Reservations for
the dinner should be made early by calling Sol Stone, executive director at Main
4312, or at the office, 620 Electric Bldg. Tickets are $1.00 and the
officers and directors urge every Jew in San Diego to attend. Other
officers and directors are Jacob Weinberger, president; Nathan F. Baranov, vice
president; Abe Dubin, secretary; Ben B. Rubin, treasurer; Mrs. K. Burnett, Carl
M. Esenoff, Joe Fink, Ralph Hosenpud, Edgar B. Levi, Irving E. Mitchell, Dr.
A.P. Nasatir, George Neumann, Mrs. R. Newumann, Its Penter, Frank Pomeranz,
Nathan Schiller, Irvine M. Schulman, Harry Streicher, A. Louis Solof, Sol Stone
and Henry Weinberger.
-1946-
December 12, 1946—"Maxwell Kaufman to Be Honored At Dinner," Southwestern
Jewish Press, page 1: The Army-Navy Committee of the Jewish Welfare Board
will honor Mr. Maxwell Kaufman with a dinner on December 17 at 8:00 p.m. in the
Gold Room of the U.S. Grant Hotel. Mr. Kaufman, who came to San Diego in 1942 as
director of the 635 C Street-U.S.O. has resigned his position with the Jewish
Welfare Board, and is being tendered this compliment in appreciation of the
excellent performance of his duties...The principal speaker for the evening will
be Dr. A.P. Nasatir, while Louis Steinmann will act as Masters of
Ceremonies. A musical program is also being planned...
-1947-
March 13, 1947
—"Form Community Relations Advisory Committee Here," Southwestern
Jewish Press, Page 3: Eli Levinsen has been named chairman of the Community
Relations Advisory Committee which was founded in San Diego recently.
Patterned after the National Community Relations Advisory Council, which is
comprised of six national organizations: Anti-Defamation League, Jewish War
Veterans of the U.S., American Jewish Committee, American Jewish Congress, Union
of American Hebrew Congregations and the Jewish Labor Committee, the local group
will represent all factions of the local community. Organized as a civic
protective body, the duties of the committee will include anti-defamation
work. Rabbi Morton J. Cohn, Dr. A.P. Nasatir, Al Hutler, Nathan F. Baranov,
Irving E.Friedman, Louis Steinman, Ben Feinberg, Marshall Roth and Morry
Levensen will meet with Mr. Levensen twice a month at lunch to discuss their
work.
March 20, 1947 —"Carl Esenoff to Head Jewish
Welfare Society," Southwestern Jewish Press, page 5: At a
meeting of the Board of Directors of the Jewish Welfare Society held in their
offices on Wednesday, March 12th, offiers to serve for the coming year were
elected. to serve as president will be Carl M. Esenoff with Dr. A.P.
Nasatir, vice president; Rose Weinberger, secretary; and Sol Price,
treasurer.
2) "Home for the Aged," Southwestern Jewish Press, page
6: The third annual meeting of the San Diego Hebrew Home for the Aged took
place on Sunday, March 16, at 2 p.m. at the Home...Dr. A.P. Nasatir, in
his usual charming manner, installed the newly elected officers: Louis Steinman,
president; Sam Addleson, first vice president; Victor Schulman, second vice
president; Carl Esenoff, treasurer; Bernice Esenoff, financial secretary, and
Jean Rosenthal, recording secretary. Trustees elected to the Board to serve for
a three-year period are: Eve Chenkin, Ralph Hosenpud, Jennie Burnett, Ray
Solomon, Selma Getz, Sol Price and Sidney Newman...
March 27, 1947—"The Way We Heard It,"
Southwestern Jewish Press, page 4: Mrs. A.P. Nasatir of Hawley Blvd. left
Tuesday for San Francisco, where she will spend the Passover holidays with her
family. Dr. Nasatir will leave on Sunday to join Mrs. Nasatir in
San Francisco. They will return on April 7th.
April 24, 1947—"Lasker Lodge B.B.," page 5: Rabbi Judah
Cohen, Western Regional Director of the Hillel Foundation of B'nai B'rith, is to
be the featured speaker at Monday's meeting, April 28th, at the Temple
Center. Rabbi Cohen is conferring with Dr. A.P. Nasatir and a
committee of Jewish alumni and students of San Diego STate College during the
afternoon to discuss the feasibility of establishing a Hillel councilorship on
the campus. Should conditions warrant such a step, it would be a great
boon to the Jewish students enrolled at State College...
May 8, 1947—"Victor Schulman Heads Allocations,
Budget Committee," Southwestern Jewish Press, page 1: Eli Levenson,
president of the United Jewish Fund, announced the appointment of Victor
Schulman as chairman of the all important Allocations and Budget
Committee which will make recommendations for the distribution of money raised
in the 1947 United Jewish Campaign. For the first time in San Diego the
committee will consist of both board members and non-board members.
Appointed to serve with the chairman are: Sam Perlmutter, Abe Ratner, Abe
Snyder, Jack Dembo, I.L Domnitz, Abe Nasatir, Rabbi Morton Cohn, Max Rabinowitz,
Eve Chenkin, Leo Greenbaum, Frank Winicki, Gertrude Thaler, Sarah Goodrich,
Jennie Burnett, Bernice Soule, Julia Neumann, Julia Steiman, Louis Moorsteen,
Its Penter, Saul Schissell, Sandor Goldberger. Also, all members of the
Executive Committee will serve on the Allocations Committee. The Campaign
goes into its final two weeks with $182,966.50. Max Rabinowitz and Louis
Steinman, Chairman of the Campaign declared that there was still over $20,00.00
which had been contributed in 1946 and has not been received as yet in 1947. The
chairmen made an urgent appeal asking all who have not as yet contributed, not
to wait for the workers to see them but to send their contribution to the
office.
May 29, 1947—"Play Ball! First League Game Sunday," Southwestern
Jewish Press, page 5: Sunday is the day, June 1st, when the first official
softball game between the teams entered in the Jewish Softball League sponsored
by the Southwestern Jewish Press will be played on the diamond at Horace Mann
Playground. Competition is keen with all participating organizations using thier
best athletes on the teams: ... B'nai B'rith, who had two teams playing in the
prctice games, will have Eddie Cantor, Lory Cantor, George STarr, Harry Mallen, Victor
Schulman, Morris Wax, and the best players from their Lodge from the two
teams making up the ballance of the team, announced Lou Pollak, B'nai B'rith
team captain...
June 19, 1947—"The Way We Heard It," Southwestern Jewish Press, Page
4: Mrs. A.P. Nasatir has entrained for San Francisco to visit with her family
there. Dr. Nasatir will join her as soon as his duties at state College are
completed for the semester.
June 26, 1947—"Hearings To Be Held On U.J.F. Allocations," Southwestern
Jewish Press, page 1: A full dress hearing on the disbursement of over
$200,000 raised by the United Jewish Fund for distribution to overseas and
national agencies, will take place at the Temple Center, Third and Laurel, on
Sunday, June 29, 10:00 a.m. The Budget and Allocations Committee, under the
chairmanship of Victor Schulman, will be host to representatives of
twelve organizations who are coming to San Diego to present their needs....
July 3, 1947—"Representatives of Agencies Meet in Temple," Southwestern
Jewish Press, page 1: In the first meeting of its kind in San Diego, and one
of the first in the country, local and national representatives of various
agencies met Sunday morning in Temple Center to present their requests to the
Budget and Allocations Committee of the United Jewish Fund of San Diego. Sixteen
committee members were assembled when Chairman Victor Schulman opened the
meeting at 10:00 a.m. The representatives of the twelve organizations that
presented their needs first outline briefly their organization's history and
record of service, and named the 1946 amounts before making their 1947
requests...
July 17, 1947—Esther Moorsteen, "For Your Entertainment," Southwestern
Jewish Press, page 6: Went out to the La Jolla Playhouse to see the Actors'
Company do their first play—Night Must Fall. It was an almost
perfect production...The Thursday evening we were at the Playhouse we saw Mr.
and Mrs. V. Schulman, Mr. and Mrs. J. Gross, Mr. and Mrs. J. Brown, Mr.
and Mrs. M. Levenson, Mr. and Mrs. I. Mitchell and daughter Dorothy...
July 31, 1947—Lou Mogy, "Sports," Southwestern Jewish
Press, page 5:...The B.B. team was leading the score of 14-4 going into the
last of the ninth inning . The Temple Men's Club brought the score up to 14-12
with bases loaded and two out. Mighty Curley Sam Cohen comes strolling to the
plate with his lucky bat in hand. Well, what do you think he did? Curley
got a single to tie the ball game 14-14. Next man up flew out to put the game
into extra innings. Tenth inning neither team could score a run. Eleventh inning
B.B., with two men on and no out, baseball Magnate Vic Schulman comes to the
plate and with a Babe Ruth-like attitude points to right field for what he
thinks will be a home run. And believe it or not, Vic Schulman hit a
home-run, scoring the two men before him. The B.B. team scored eight runs in the
11th inning to bring their total to 22 runs; the Temple Men's Club finally going
down to defeat by the score of 22-15...
-1949-
April 1949—'Cavalcade' to Trace Record of Lasker Lodge," Southwestern
Jewish Press, page 2: ...Tracing the long history of the order's
record of service to the Jewish community and the world at large, Lasker Lodge's
"Cavalcade" will trace a century of progress for the order, and a half
century of sensational growth for the local chapter....
May 1949—Ida
Nasatir, "Looks at Books: The City Boy by Herman Wouk, including how
she and Abe met Herman Wouk, Southwestern
Jewish Press, page 4.
October 1949—"Institute Classes Open on Oct. 12th," Southwestern
Jewish Press, page 4: Dr. A.P. Nasatir, dean of the Institute of
Jewish Studies, announces that classes will officially begin on Wednesday,
October 12th at 7:45 p.m. at the Temple Center, 3rd and Laurel Streets. Classes
offered are: Beginning and Advanced Hebrew, History of Jewish Phylosophy (sic),
Yiddish Literature, Biblical Literature, American Jewish History, Jewish
Marriage and the Family, "What's Cooking" in Judaism, and Great Jewish
Books. The Institute is in its second year. Members of the Faculty are Rabbi
Morton J. Cohn, Rabbi Monroe Levens, Rabbi Baruch Stern, Dr. A.P. Nasatir; Mrs.
A. Neumann; Mrs. Harris Rubel; Mrs. Isaac Domnitz, Dr. Harry Ruja, Mr. Al Hutler
and Mrs. Nasatir. Adult Jewish Studies are sponsored by the Jewish Education
Commission of San Diego.
November 14, 1949—1) "Jewish Institute Opens for Registration," Southwestern
Jewish Press, page 8: With one hundred and sixty adults registered for the
Institute of Jewish Studies, the second year of the joint project of three
synagogues and the United Jewish Fund indicates that it will be more successful
than last year's Institute, according to Dr. A.P. Nasatir, Dean. At the
Registration Rally, which was addressed by Dr. Dinnen, Executive Director of the
Board of Jewish Education of Los Angeles, 175 people were in
attendance...Classes formally opened on October 12, with all the courses well
attended. Courses are being offered in Beginning and Advanced Hebrew, Modern
Jewish History, American Jewish History, What's Cooking in Judaism, Contemporary
Israel, Biblical Literature, Jewish Marriage and Family Life, Comparative
Religion and Great Jewish Books. Members of the faculty who have given their
time without pay are Rabbi Baruch Stern, Rabbi Morton Cohn, Rabbi Monroe Levens,
Dave Abramis, Dr. A.P. Nasatir, and Dr. Harry Ruja of State College,
Albert A. Hutler of the United Jewish Fund. Irwin J. Wohl of the Community
Center is acting as Registrar, I.L Domnitz, Mrs. Al Neumann, Mrs. Harris Rubel
and Mrs. Nasatir who has the Great Books course. Registration is still open in
several courses.
2) "Beth Jacob Cong. Elects New Officers," Southwestern
Jewish Press, page 5: A new year has started at Beth Jacob Congregation when
at the meeting held in October new officers were elected to serve and guide the
Congregation for the coming year. Chosen to lead the group for the third
year is Mr. Abraham Abramson, president. Assisting him are the following:
vice-presidents, Sandor Goldberger and Morrie S. Kraus; recording secretary,
Jerry Aronoff; financial secretary, Morris Penn; treasuerr, Simon Glaser, 1st
Gabbai, Joseph Gelmand and 2nd Gabbi, I. Lebb. A twenty man Board of Directors
was elected, the members of which are J. Aronoff, E. Also, S. Bassin, H. Barad,
S. Briskman, I. Gordon, T. Garber, F. Sugarman, D. Hurwitz, S. Komins, P.
Mollick, Dr. J. Lippitt, A. Olf, Dr. W. Ornstein, Dr. A.P. Nasatir, S.
Weiss, L. Zwiebel, Wm. Schwartz and H.R. Weitzman. Congregation plans for the
coming year are centered around the building of the new Synagogue and Center
with ground breaking ceremonies to be held in the very near future. Regular
monthly meetings are held the first Tuesday of each month, and a cordial
invitation is extended by Pres. Abramson to any newcomers in the community to
attend any meeting and get acquainted with this modern Orthodox group.
November 18, 1949— "Local Leaders To Be Honored At Annual United
Jewish Fund Meeting," Southwestern Jewish Press, page 1: Eli H.
Levenson, president of the United Jewish Fund, will be honored by the Jewish
community of San Diego on Sunday, November 27, at the 16th annual meeting of the
United Jewish Fund. Three years of service as President of the United Jewish
Fund, as an Executive Board member of the district B'nai B'rith and as an active
participant in civic affairs, he will be rewarded as his fellow citizens gather
to pay homage to this young lawyer. Tribute will also be paid to an older lawyer,
Judge
Jacob Weinberger, on his return as the Resident Judge in San Diego. Judge
Weinberger was the first president of the fund and did much to bring it into
existence. Saul Chenkin and Louis Steinman, co-chairmen of the 1949 campaign,
and other outstanding members of the San Diego community, will be honored for
their leadership in the 1949 Campaign. Along with them outstanding community
leaders will be announced by the "Key Club," which will induct new
members who receive the "Key Men's Award" for service to the
community. The disbursement of funds raised in the 1949 Campaign will be
announced, and a report received from the Nomination Committee. Elections of members to the Board of Directors will be one of the
highlights of the annual meeting. Nominees are Dr. A.P. Nasatir, for a
one-year term; for a two-year term, Mrs. Gabriel Berg, M.S. Berlin, Edward
Bland, Saul Chenkin, I.L. Domnitz, Morris Douglas, Maurice Harris, Rodin Horrow,
Morris Niederman, Abe Ratner, Milton Roberts, Abe Schiller, Al Neumann, Dr. R.M.
Stone, Sam Sosna, Abe Sackheim and Harry Snyder. Members of the Board of Directors whose terms
do not expire are Judge Jacob Weinberger, Nathan F. Baranov, Edward Breitbard,
Morris Feldman, M.D. Goodrich, Leo Greenbaum, Ben Harris, Eli H. Levenson, Louis
Moorsteen, Mrs. Al Neumann, Dr. Walter Ornstein, Sol Price, Max Rabinowitz, Nate
Ratner, Victor Schulman, William Schwartz, Louis Steinman, Henry Weinberger and
Frank Winicki. Reservations for the annual meeting may be made by calling
F-0171, according to Morris Douglas, Chairman of the Arrangements Committee.
December 2, 1949—1) "United Jewish Fund Observes 16th
Anniversary at Nov. 27th Meeting," Southwestern Jewish Press, page
1: Approximately 200 people gathered to pay tribute to Eli H. Levenson,
retiring president of the United Jewish Fund, at the 16th Annual Meeting on
Sunday, November 27th. Judge Jacob Weinberger was also honored and
officially welcomed back to San Diego. The Judge acted as Chairman for the
dinner meeting. Many leaders were honored for their outstanding work on behalf
of the Fund. Morrie Douglas was Program Chairman, Saul Chenkin submitted the
Treasurer's Report, and Marie Berg reported for the Allocations Committee.
Dr. A.P. Nassatir presented the slate of new board members selected by the
nominating committee which received unanimous approval. Albert Hutler,
Director of the Fund, indicated in his report that the greater part of the money
raised in 1949 was sent to the United Jewish Appeal. The low cost of running the
campaign also drew approval.. Rabbi Morton Cohn, Rose Neumann, Henry Weinberger,
Sally Ratner and Murray Goodrich joined in praising the work of Eli Levenson.
Mr. Douglas presented him with a gift from the Board of Directors of the fund.
In his annual report to the community, Mr. Levenson praised the work of the
various committees who had assisted him in the 1949 Campaign. Eli responded to
the many speakers who lauded his efforts and his devotion during the three years
he headed the Fund. He told of the many new organizations which have been
sponsored by the Fund during his term of office. These include the Federation of
Jewish Agencies and the Jewish Center Association. Mr. Levenson also warned the
Community regarding the lack of leadership and the failure of competent men to
accept responsibility. He also called attention to the fact that differences of
opinion exist in all Jewish Communities, as in San Diego, on the role of
religion in the Jewish life. Mr. Levenson further stated that "The
indictment had been made that we, as individuals, have become secularists and as
such, have forgotten our religious heritage, and the roots from which our
charitable inclinations stem, closing our eyes to the needs of our religious
institutions. There appears on the horizion in our community a deliberate plan
and pattern to control the fund raising, the allocations and the disbursal of
funds from our own United Jewish Fund, by those same individuals for their own
interest." Mr. Levenson indicated that even in Israel these same problems
are now being faced. He quoted from Chaim Weizmann's book, "Trial and
Error." He also warned against duplication of effort by
over-organization and selfish interests. "Too often leadership is acquired
by those who aspire to leadership merely for the purpose of being known as
leaders." Mr. Levenson closed by saying "Factionalism and
partisanship—specialization of activity through unnecessary
organization—failure to develop community leadership and lack of desire of
those qualified to accept responsibility of leadership, are the focal points of
danger against which we must always maintain our guards. The combination of
these dangers could well become a most destructive force in the tearing down of
the Jewish community."
-1950-
January 13, 1950—1)
"Honors Come to Professor Nasatir," Southwestern Jewish
Press, page 1: A singular honor has been accorded Dr. A.P. Nasatir. He
has been informed that he has won the Fulbright grant, which will take him to
Europe for a year's study and research. Much of his time will be spent in
the archives of Paris, where he will be working filling in many of the present
gaps in the Library of Congress, Washington D.C. The results of his work in
Paris will enrich American research history. This will be Nasatir's third trip
across the Atlantic in the interest of United States history. Dr. Nasatir took
all of his academic training at the University of California at Berkeley.
When he was ready to take his examinations for the degree of Doctor of
Philosophy, the University faculty members frowned upon the idea, for they
thought he was too young—not yet 20. He first went to Europe in 1924-25, after
winning a Native Sons of the Golden West traveling fellowship. But one year of
research was not enough for him. In 1930-31, he returned to Paris to continue
his studies under the Social Research Council's working fellowship, which
enabled him also to study in Madrid and London. He brought back 72,000 sheets of
transcription to be translated here—a Herculean task. Stack on stack of
documents still to be translated from French and Spanish explorations, stare at
him from crowded desks, drawers and closets in his offices at college and at
home. Dr. Nasatir's proflific work has reaped a harvest that includes many
important articles in the California Historical Society's quarterly and a
gigantic work of 1,000 pages that is a calendar, or catalog of all materials in
the French archives relating to California before it became American territory.
This book is called French Activities in California, and was published in
1945 by the Stanford University Press. It is regarded as a highly valuable
key to a romantic part of California history. Another monumental volume, called Imperial
Osage is ready for release, this work dealing with the development of the
Mississippi Valley. Recently, Dr. Nasatir was commissioned by a St. Louis
historical society to edit at least two other volumes of documents for
publication this year, adding to his long and distinguished list of research
historical works. Dr. Nasatir has established a national reputation in the field
of history. As a winner of the Fulbright award (he was selected as one of
twenty, though there were many hundreds of applicants from American
Universities), Dr. and Mrs. Nasatir will leave San Diego for Paris at the end of
this academic year.
2) "Institute to Feature Course in Mental Hygiene," Southwestern
Jewish Press, page 1: Featuring three new courses, the Institute of Jewish
Studies will open the second semester on Wednesday, January 11, at the Temple
Center. Dr. A.P. Nasatir, Dean, announced the opening of new courses in
"Mental Hygiene Problems of the Jewish Family," "Jewish Music and
Art," and the "Contemporary Jewish Scene." Courses will be
continued in Advanced Hebrew, Contemporary Religions, cooking, Basic Judaism,
Modern Jewish History, Literature of the Bible, Talmud and Book Reviews.
"Mental Hygiene Problems" will be conducted by Dr. Irving R. Stone,
senior clinical psychologist, San Diego state Mental Hygiene Clinic.. The course
will have as visiting lecturers Dr. Benjamin B. Faguet, chief psychiatrist of
the clinic; Mary Lou Prawl, Nevin Wiley and William Long, psychiatric social
workers; Dr. Jack Levitt, psychiatrist, and Professor Oscar Kaplan, associate
professor of psychology, San Diego State College. Other courses will be
taught by rabbis Morton J. Cohn, Monroe Levens and Baruch Stern, Dr. A.P.
Nasatir, Dov Abramis, Professor Ernest Wolf, Albert A. Hutler, Professor
Harry Ruja, Mrs. Al Neumann and Mrs. Harris Rubel. Registration will continue
thru Wednesday, January 18, and may be made on that evening or by calling
F-0171. The Institute of Jewish Studies is sponsored by the Jewish Education
Commission made up of Temple Beth Israel, Tifereth Israel Synagogue, Beth Jacob
Synagogue and the United Jewish Fund of San Diego.
January 27, 1950—(separate, no headline), Southwestern Jewish Press,
page 4: Miss Faye Schwartz and her roommate, Betty Margueleas are
spending the in-between semester vacation from college with their aunt and
uncle, Dr. and Mrs. A.P. Nasatir. Both girls are entering their senior
year at the University of California at Berekley and will be visiting in San
Diego for two weeks.
February 10, 1950—"Congregation Beth Jacob Inaugurates National Torah Tour," Southwestern Jewish Press, page 1: Upon the initiative of Rabbi Baurch Stern, spiritual leader of Congregation beth Jacob, San Diego has been chosen for the opening of the Western section of the National Torah-Tour of the Rabbinical Council of America, which will take delegations of rabbis to large and small communities throughout the United STates...Through arrangements made by Rabbi Stern and Dr. A.P. Nasatir, dean of Adult Education Institute, a large meeting will be held at the Temple Center, 34d and Laurel Streets on Wednesday evening, February 22nd at 8:30 p.m.. Speakers will be Rabbi Iasiah Rackovsky, president of the Rabbinical Council of Calfiornia; Rabbi Simon A. Dolgin and Rabbi Jacob Levine of Los Angeles. Following the presentation of the panel, an open forum will be conducted to which the public is invited. Dr. Nasatir will be the moderator of the evening....
February 24, 1950— "Allocations Committee Sets New Pattern," Southwestern Jewish Press, pages 1, 8: In an all day session of the 1950 Allocations Committee, held last Sunday at the El Cortez Hotel, a new precedent in disbursing monies to be raised was set for the San Diego Jewish Community. For the first time, budgeting has been done prior to the campaign so that the contributor will know how the money would be distributed. The committee consisting of members of the Board of Directors of the Fund, organization presidents and members at large, formulated a pattern for the distribution of money raised in the 1950 campaign. Sol Price, chairman of the committee, announced that of the first $150,000 raised, 83 percent was allocated for the United Jewish Appeal and other Israel overseas agencies, 10 percent to local agencies and 7 percent to national agencies. Of the next $50,000, 95 percent to the United Jewish Appeal and other overseas and Israel agencies, and 5 percent to national agencies. All over this amount would go to the United Jewish Appeal. According to Price's announcement the following organizations will be beneficiaries of the 1950 campaign: United Jewish Appeal, Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society, Jewish Telegraphic Agency, American Friends of the Hebrew University, American Committee for the Weizmann Institute of Science, American Technion Society, American Fund for Israel Institutions, National Committee for Labor Israel (Histadrut), City of Hope—JCRA, Jewish Committee for Personal Service, Leo M. Levi Memorial Hospital, American Jewish Congress, Jewish Labor Committee, Joint Defense Appeal, B'nai B'rith National Youth Services Appeal; Yiddish Scientific Institute, American Association for Jewish Education, Jewish War Veterans of the United States, National Jewish Welfare Board, Synagogue Council of America, Training Bureau of Communal Service, Hebrew Theological College, Jewish Theological Seminary, American Hebrew Congregations, Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America, Yeshiva University. The Allocations Committee heard Mr. Moritz Gottlieb, lay leader of Allentown, Pa., representing the United Jewish Appeal, state that in 1949 San Diego, in giving 88 percent of the monies raised through the United Jewish Appeal, had done an outstanding job and that there were not too many communities which had shouldered their responsibilities as well. Rabbi Leonard Greenberg, Los Angeles , spoke for the American Jewish Congress. Histadrut's spokesman was Sol Goodman, while Murray Goodrich represented the American Fund for Israel Institutions. Henry Weinberger presented the case for B'nai B'rith Youth Service Appeal. Members of the Allocations Committee, besides Price, were Victor Schulman, Rose Neumann, Henry Weinberger, Ben Harris, Ben Feinberg, Harry Engel, Sol Goodman, Mrs. Dora Richlin, M.S. Berlin, Seymour Rabin, William B. Schwartz, M.W. Douglas, Lou Mogy, Sam Addleson, Alex J. Newman, Rodin S. Horrow, Abe Sackheim, Mrs. Gabriel Berg, Mrs. Sidney Goldhammer, Maxwell Kaufman, Rabbi Monroe Levens, Sam Slayen, Morris Neiderman, E.R. Bland, Sam Sosna, Dr. William Ornstein, Lew Pollack, Dr. David Miller, Dr. A.P. Nasatir, Frank Winicki, Rabbi Baruch Stern, Rabbi Morton J. Cohn, Morry Kraus, Nate Schiller, Edward Kitaen, Richard Levi and Carl Esenoff.
March 10, 1950—1) "'Keep the Miracle Alive' Will Take $283,000 For
SD; UJF Campaign Plans for 1950 Moves Ahead," Southwestern Jewish
Press, Page 1: "Never before has San Diego Jewry seen such enthusiastic
leadership in the pre-campaign period and in planning the drive," Murray
Goodrich and Nate Ratner, chairmen, stated yesterday. "Most encouraging to
us is the sincere interest being shown by community leaders in 'Keeping the
Miracle Alive' in 1950. With the enthusiasm shown by everyone the campaign will
be the best yet." Organization plans have been completed with the setting
up of eight divisions in the Men's Group, a Women's Division under the
leadership of Mrs. Selma Getz and a Christian division to be formed by Irving
Friedman. The Young People's Division will be set up in the very near future.
Captains and lieutenants of divisions, secured to date, read like a roster of
leading citizens in the Jewish Community of San Diego. The Weizmann Division
will be sparked by Louis Moorsteen, Its Penter, Louis Steinman, Ralph Hosenpud,
Harry Snyder, Rod Horrow and Nate Baranov. Haganah Division will be
officered by Sam Rassin, M.S. Berlin,, Edward Bland, Mickey Goldfarb, and Irvin
Kahn. Al Newman, Milton Roberts, Sol Price, and Eli Levenson will be
the dynamos to lead the Ben Gurion Group. Maurice Harris, Richard Levi, Harry
Mallen, Eddie Kitaen, Jerry Freedman will spark the Palmach Division. The Magic
Carpet Division will be lead by Morris Douglas, Dr. A.P. Nasatir, Morris
Kraus, Abe Sklar, Sam Addleson, Harry Mallen, Bill Schwartz, Manny Fisher and
Edward Breitbard. Again this year great things are expected from the Outlying
District's Division which will be headed by Ben Harris, with Elmer Glaser of
Oceanside, Arthur L. Cohen of Coronado, and Harold Sobel of Vista. A division to
handle new prospects and those who did not contribute in 1949 will be led by
Morris Niederman, Zel Camiel, Dr. Ornstein, Nathan Schiller, Henry Price, Dave
Stotsky, Harry Dempsey and Mickey Fredman. The Commando Division to handle
"Special Assignments" will have Max Rabinowitz, Harry Farb, Henry
Weinberger, Saul Chenkin, Carl Esenoff and Victor Schulman as its leaders. The
Professional Division will include Judge Jacob Weinberger, Dr. R.M. Stone, Dr.
J.A. Rittoff, Dr. Fred Hollander, Ben Rubin, Carl Esenoff and John Ruskin.
Cabinet members for the campaign to
act as advisers to the chairmen were announced last week. The Campaign
Cabinet will consist of Murray D. Goodrich and Nate Ratner, chairmen of the 1950
campaign. Victor Schulman, Eli Levenson, Saul Chenkin, Max Rabinowitz, Louis
Steinman, Rodin Horrow, Morris Douglas and Sol Price. The 1950 Campaign,
"To Keep the Miracle Alive" will have a goal of $283,000 based on
minimum needs of the 38 Overseas, Israel, National and Local Agencies
participating in the drive. The goal is the absolute minimum and must be raised
if San Diego Jewry is to assume its responsibility in this cause. This
year, as never before, plans are under way for the complete coverage of the
entire Jewish Community of San Diego County. Everyone will have an
opportunity to help shoulder their responsibility in this great national
cause. More workers will be needed than ever before, according to Goodrich
and Ratner, so that complete coverage may be effected. Organizations have been
asked to provide workers and anyone wishing to volunteer may do so by calling
Franklin 0171. All community minded Jews are asked to participate by
giving and working in the "Keep the Miracle Alive" 1950 Campaign,
which will open in early April.
April 14, 1950—1) "Women's Division of U.J.F. Begins Drive For
Funds—Plans Luncheons," Southwestern Jewish Press, page 1:
"How important are you?" will be the theme of the one large luncheon
of the Women's Division of the United Jewish Fund, to be held Thursday noon,
April 27, at the El Cortez Hotel....An advanced gift luncheon on April 18, given
by Mrs. (Selma) Getz at the El Cortez Hotel, will se the pace for the one big
luncheon which every Jewish woman in San Diego is expected to attend. Ida
Nasatir will be the principal speaker at both luncheons. She will be saying
"goodbye for a while" to her friends, since she and Dr. Nasatir
will be leaving in early June for Europe.
2) "Second Anniversary of Israeli Independence To Be
Celebrated," Southwestern Jewish Press, pages 4, 6: A day long
program of celebration by the San Diego Jewish Community will mark the second
anniversary of the rebirth of Israel which falls this year on April 3rd, the
Fifth of Iyar. Festivities which will be initiated by the Cottage of Israel with
a special program on the lawns of the House of Pacific Relations will be
climaxed by an evening program at the Temple Center at 8:00 p.m. under the
auspices of the San Diego Zionist Council. "The Zionist Council believes
that the occasion is one of great joy to the entire community and calls for a
program in which the community can participate," according to a statement
by its chairman, Mrs. S.I. Goldhammer. Accordingly, the evening program will
include musical and dancing selections, as well as a brief panel discussion and
greetings from civic officials. The musical program will include selections sung
by Cantor Julian Miller, a duet by Norman Holtzman and Esther Weitzman, violin
selections by Dr. David Miller accompanied by Mrs. Belle Cohen, and modern
Israeli dances and songs by the IZFA Dance group. The audience will be invited
to join in communal singing led by Cantor Miller and will be encouraged to join
in some Horas at the conclusion of the program. Honored guests of the evening
will include Mrs. Mary Fay, member of the Board of Education and Chairman of the
local chapter, American Christian Palestine Committee, who will extend greetings
from the Committee. A brief panel discussion on the relationship of Israel and
America will include as speakers, Mrs. Gabriel Berg, who will discuss the
necessity of financial aid to Israel; Dr. A.P. Nasatir, who will point out the
need for a Zionist Public Relations program; Mrs. Meir Barach, whose
subject will be Chalutziot, and Rabbi Morton J. Cohn who will discuss education
as the bridge between America and Israel. Rabbi Monroe Levens will give the
Invocation. Rabbi Baruch Stern the Benedeiction. Mrs. Goldhammer will chair the
program. Organizations represented by the Zionist Council are Masada,
Hadassah, Pioneer Women Negba Group, Pioneer Women Shashana Group, Poale Zion
and Zionist Organization of America. Guests will be invited to join in
refreshments and a social hour. There is no admission charge and no
solicitations.
3) "Rabbi Cohn to Head Institute," Southwestern Jewish Press, page
9: At a dinner meeting of the faculty of the Jewish Education Commission
preceding the commencement exercises of the Institute of Jewish Studies, it was
unanimously voted that Rabbi Morton J. Cohn will become Acting Dean of the
Institute. Dr. A.P. Nasatir bade farewell to the staff and thanked them
for their cooperation during the past year. Dr. and Mrs. Nasatir will leave San
Diego in June and spend one year in France....
May 26, 1950— "Beth Jacob Ladies Auxiliary," Southwestern
Jewish Press, page 8: The highly successful Lag B'Omer Dinner and Party was
held by the Ladies Auxiliary to honor Dr. and Mrs. A.P. Nasatir, who are
leaving shortly for Europe, where Dr. Nasatir will study under the Fulbright
Scholarship which he was awarded recently. The president of the Auxiliary,
Mrs. Anna Shelley, who has recently recovered from a serious illness, was also
honored by the guests and was the recipient of a lovely gift tendered her by her
group.....
Aug 4, 1950—Ida Nasatir, "A Letter from
Mid-Atlantic," Southwestern Jewish Press, page 4:...ABOARD THE S.S.
AMERICA — ... There are a great number of nuns and priests aboard. The first
night we came on ship, Saturday, I saw one of these soft looking nuns standing
in a secluded part of the deck saying her prayers. Her heavy, long garb seemed
to form a billowy shadow in the wind. By coincidence, Abe stood a short distance
from her, reciting the evening service. As I watch them, they make a picture of
contrast, yet, in a sense, one of likeness too. I don't think either knew I saw
the tableau they formed. Tomorrow (Friday) we reach Ireland. On Saturday
we dock at Le Havre at which point all the rest of the passengers will
disembark, but the Nasatirs like Columbus, sail on and on, and on. By special
permission we disembark at Southampton late Saturday night (Tish Abov) by more
special permission we come back to this same ship on Sunday, and on Monday just
we two go through the French customs inspection....
August 19, 1950—Albert Hutler, "Community Currents," Southwestern
Jewish Press, page 2: Jewish Education in San Diego—The second year
of the Adult Institute for Jewish Studies sponsored by the Jewish Education
Commission, will open on Wednesday, October 11, 1950, at Temple Beth Israel
Center. In a preliminary discussion by the commission, it was planned to
continue several of the courses which have been given in the past, and to
introduce several new and interesting subjects. One of the possibilities is to
bring to our community several important and outstanding lecturers and artists
as part of the institute. Rabbi Cohn, Dean of the Institute, while Dr. A.P.
Nasatir is in Europe, urges everyone to make plans to spend their Wednesday
evenings at the Institute. One of the first cooperative ventures between the
Synagogues and the Central Community Organization, the Institute attracted
national attention on its opening some two years ago....
September 8, 1950—Ida Nasatir, "A Letter from
Paris," Southwestern Jewish Press, pages 2, 22: August
5, 1950, Dear Julia and Mac: ... It was into one of these strange worlds of
Paris that I strolled today, and it was a revelation.... I had not realized how
many hours I had spent along the quay. It was getting late and chilly, so I
followed the Seine, past more musty old book stalls, past the Rue Voltaire, past
the Quai Dorsay, and so on to the famous Place de la Concorde. The great square
in all its majestic beauty lay before me. Instinctively I stopped—then went on
slowly, as though unconsciously paying homage to this place of many memories. I
remember what my history books had told me about this place. Here had once
loomed the great, stark guillotine, here the unhappy Charlotte Corday was
beheaded and Marie Antoinette paid her life's tribute. Here Robespierre ruled
and gave orders—what tremendous historical scenes took place on this very spot
I now stood! Those were havoc making days. If you stand on this place through
the coming twilight, if you recall its role in the French revolution, you too
relive those dreadful scenes in all their horrible reality. It's as if you sweep
aside the present for a few moments and are set down among that howling,
bloodthirsty mob of long ago. When I returned home, I said to Abe:
"pardon me, but I walked to this hotel clear from the 18th Century!"
—Love, Ida.
November 17, 1950—Ida Nasatir, "A Letter from Paris" ,
Southwestern Jewish Press, discussing a visit she and Abe Nasatir made to the U.S. cemetery-St. Laurent.
-1951-
May 11, 1951—"Mitzi Schiller Wed in Candlelight
Ceremony," Southwestern Jewish Press, page 3: On Sunday, May
6th, in Temple Beth Israel, Mitzi Roslyn Schiller became the wife of Harry
Babbitz. Mitzi is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Nathan Schiller of this city and
Harley is the son of Mrs. Henry Babbitz and the late Mr. Babbitz of Sioux City,
Iowa. Rabbi Morton J. Cohn officiated in a candlelight ceremony.
Mitzi, looking as fresh and pretty as the Spring flowers decorating the Temple,
was led to the altar by her father. She wore a gown of candlelight satin, with
an illusion net yoke, an off the shoulder collar and a full skirt falling into a
cathedral train. Her coronet was of seed pearls and rose point lace, with
a shoulder length, illusion veil. The bride wore a necklace and earrings
of seed pearls (a present of the bridegroom). She carried a white prayer book,
with a white orchid and stephanotis, and a beautiful lace handkerchief sent from
Paris by Dr. and Mrs. Abe Nasatir...
July 20, 1951—Ida Nasatir, "A
Letter from Paris, Southwestern Jewish Press, discussing trip Ida and
Abraham Nasatir made to a yeshiva outside Paris funded by the American Joint
Distribution Committee.
August
17, 1951—Albert Hutler, "Community Currents," Southwestern
Jewish Press, in which he tells of Abe and Ida's return in sixty days and
Ida's several upcoming speaking engagements
September 28, 1951—1) "Welcome Home, Ida and Abe Nasatir," Southwestern
Jewish Press, page 1: Back after a year in Europe are our own Ida and Abe
Nasatir. Abe arrived some weeks ago to get set for the new term at State
College. Ida had been in San Francisco, visiting with relatives. Both look well
and happy. Ida and Abe visited Israel during the Passover Holidays and
feel that the new state will become a force for Democracy in the Near
East. Ida will shortly make her appearance at various local functions to
tell of her impressions and experiences during her stay in Europe.
2) "Flash!" Southwestern Jewish Press, page 1:
Abe and Ida Nasatir, who have just returned from a year stay in Europe, will
make their initial appearance before the Jewish community on Wednesday, October
24th at 8:00 p.m. at Temple Beth Israel. Ida will highlight their experiences in
Europe and Israel. The rally will be under the sponsorship of the President's
Council and all Jewish organizations.
2) "Dr. Abram A. Sachar Brandeis Prexy To Be Honored At Dinner Here," Southwestern
Jewish Press, page 10: Brandeis University today announced that Dr. A.P.
Nasatir, prominent educator and civic leader, has accepted the chairmanship of a
dinner to be held in San Diego in honor of Dr. Abram L. Sachar, president of
Brandeis University. The first Jewish sponsored, nonsectarian University
in America, Brandeis opens its forth year this month with an enrollment of 700
students from 30 states and 6 foreign countries. Its faculty, headed by Dr.
Sachar, include such distinguished persons as Osborne Earle, Ludwig Lewisohn and
Marie Syrkin. The campus, facing the renowned Charles River at Waltham,
Massachusetts, consists of 15 buildings on 150 acres of ground. Upon accepting
the chairmanship, Dr. Nasatir stated that plans would soon be announced for
greeting President Sachar at the dinner to be held late in October. The function
will be under the auspices of the Brandeis University Associations who are known
as the "foster alumni" of the University. Morrie Kraus, well known
business man, will chair the Arrangements Committee.
October 12, 1951—1) "Entire Community To Hear Ida
Nasatir Report," Southwestern Jewish Press, page 1: San Diego Jewry
will have its first opportunity in over a year to hear Ida Nasatir on Wednesday,
October 24, 8:00 p.m. at Beth Israel Temple. A reception and meeting sponsored
by all of the Jewish organizations of San Diego through the Presidents' Council
will "welcome home" Dr and Mrs. A.P. Nasatir after an absence of 15
months spent in Western Europe and in Israel. One month spent in the cities,
kibbutzim, and desert of Israel; her visits to various institutions supported by
American money through Hadassah, the Pioneer Women and Mizrachi Women; her
ability to mix with the "little men and women" of Israel gave her a
background of material which comes to very few. An ability to dramatically
picture her observations, the things she and Dr. Nasatir have seen and done; and
to frame them in beautiful language easily understood by all, has made Ida
Nasatir one of the outstanding women speakers on the Pacific Coast. Her
unbiased, unprejudiced dramatic report of Israel today should be the major event
of the year. Immediately following the meeting a reception will be
tendered Dr. and Mrs. Nasatir in the Temple Center with refreshments being
served by the women of the Jwish organizations. Chairmen for the reception are:
Ann Schloss, President of Bay City Chapter, B'nai B'rith, and Mrs. Ethel Berwin,
President of Birdie Stodel Chapter, B'nai B'rith. The program for the
meeting is under the direction of Mrs. Frances Moss, president of the Hebrew
Home Auxiliary, and Mrs. Pearl Slayen, president of Hadassah. Mrs. Gabriel Berg,
president of the Presidents' Council, is chairman of the evening. Those who know
te Nasatirs will want to meet them and hear them again. Newcomers to our
community who have not met the Nasatirs will be in for a treat on October 34, at
8:00 p.m. at Temple Beth Israel.
2) "Committee Formed to Honor Dr. Sachar," Southwestern Jewish
Press, page 7: Dr. A.P. Nasatir, chairman of the Brandeis University
Committee, today announced that a dinner would be held on Tuesday, October 30 at
the El Cortez Hotel for which Dr. A.L. Sachar, President of the University,
would be present as the guest of honor. Arrangements for the dinner are being
handled by Morris Kraus. Serving with Dr. and Mrs. Nasatir and Mr. and Mrs.
Kraus as a Brandies University Committee are: Rabbis and Mesdames Morton J.
Cohn, Monroe Levens and Baruch Stern. also Doctors and Mesdames J.A. Kwint,
Robert Stone, and Ernest Wolf, and Messrs. and Mesdames Samuel Addleson, Abraham
Abramson, Elias Berwin, Edward Breitbard, Morris Douglas, Harry E. Farb, Jerome
Freedman, Murray Goodrich, Rodin S. Horrow, Albert Hutler, Maxwell Kaufman,
Edward Kitaen, Eli Levenson, Harry Mallen, Lou Mogy, Maury Novak, Sol Price,
Milton Roberts, David Schloss, Victor Schulman, Wm. B. Schwartz, Isadore Teacher
and Henry Weinberger. This is the first occasion on which Dr. Sachar will
speak to the San Diego community on Brandeis University.
October 26, 1951—"Honored At Dinner," Southwestern
Jewish Press, page 1: Dr. Abram L. Sachar, President of Brandeis University,
will be the guest of honor at a dinner to be given on Tuesday evening, October
30 at the El Cortez Hotel according to Dr. A.P. Nasatir, dinner chairman. The
function is sponsored by the Brandeis University Associations, the "foster
alumni" of the University, which will not have actual alumni until its
first class graduates next June. Brandeis University is the first Jewish
sponsored, non-sectarian University in America. Admissions are without rregard
to color, ethnic origin, or religious belief. Its Waltham, Mass., campus
consists of 160 acres and 15 buildings. Students from 30 states and several
foreign countries make up its student body of 700.
2) "Nasatir's Plea 'Pay Your Pledge'", Southwestern Jewish Press, page
6: "Jews throughout the world look to us in America for help in thier
battle for surival and a new life," Dr. and Mrs. Nasatir told a large and
enthusiastic group of friends welcoming them back to San Diego last Wednesday
evening. Ida Nasatir told her friends gathered at Temple Beth Israel that the 15
months spent in France and in Israel had a tremendous effect on their thinking.
Speaking of Jewish life in Paris among the refugees, she told of the work of
such organizations as the Joint Distribution Committee and of ORT, both
supported by the United Jewish Appeal. Israel as she and Dr. Nasatir saw it was
powerfully described when she compared it with the squalor and the miserable
existence of refugees in the Paris that she so well knew. "Though we will
never understand how the Jews of Israel were able to do what they have
done," Mrs. Nasatir expressed a great hope that with our aid to the UJA,
Bonds for Israel, and private investment, people of Israel will be able to do
even more. The Nasatirs concluded by asking everyone who had not as yet paid
their pledge to do so immediately because the most important thing in Israel
today was the American dollars. The meeting and reception which followed was
under the sponsorship of the Presidents' Council and its organizations. Mrs.
Gabriel Berg, President of the Council, chaired the meeting and was assisted in
its arrangements by Mrs. Ethel Berwin, President of Birdie Stodel B'nai B'rith
Lodge; Mrs. Ann Schloss, President Bay City B'nai B'rith Lodge; Mrs. Frances
Moss, President Hebrew Home Auxiliary and Mrs. Pearl Slayen, leader of
Hadassah.
November 9, 1951—"Guests Thrilled at Sachar Dinner," Southwestern
Jewish Press, page 3: More than 150 members of the community were
"sold" on Brandeis University after listening to Dr. Abram L. Sachar
last week. Dr. Sachar pointed out that every religious group has built and
supported a college or university, except the Jewish people. Jewish students
have been educated at the expense of other religions but we have failed to make
our contribution to learning in the U.S. We have built and supported hospitals
and other institutions but Brandies is our first attempt to "pay our
way," said Dr. Sachar. He also stated that the infant center of learning is
an institution free of all discriminatory regulations that have plagued most
privately endowed great universities. The local committee headed by Dr.
A.P. Nasatir and Morris Kraus are seeking to establish a "foster
Alumni" in San Diego. It is hoped that many people will link their names as
sponsor of Brandeis University in order to support this first effort of American
Jewry to take their rightful place in the educational and cultural scene of the
U.S.
November 21, 1951— "Notice of Annual Meeting and Report of Nominating
Committee," Southwestern Jewish Press, page 8: Notice is hereby
given of the Annual Meeting of the United Jewish Fund of San Diego to be held on
Sunday, December 9, 1951, at the El Cortez Hotel. The annual election of members
of the Board of Directors to fill the vacancies will be held at this time at or
about 8:00 p.m. The Nominating Committee submitting the names for election to
the Board of Directors includes: Harry Farb, Chairman; Mrs. Gabriel Berg; Ben
Harris, Harry Mallen, Nathaniel Ratner, Harry Snyder, Ruben Umansky. A)
Nomination for Members of the Board of Directors for 2-year Terms (1952-1954):
Abe Abramson, Mrs. Gabriel Berg, I.L. Domnitz, Morris Douglas, Jack Gross, David
Horowitz, Rodin Horrow, Ralph Hosenpud, Yalke Kahn, Morry Levenson, B.B.
Margolis, Dr. A.P.Nasatir, Milton Roberts, Nathan Schiller, Albert Steinman, Dr.
Robert M. Stone, Harry Snyder, Ruben Umansky, Alex Wise. B) Members of the Board
of Directors whose terms do not expire: Past Presidents—Judge Jacob
Weinberger; Nathan F. Baranov; Eli H. Levenson; Rabbis—Rabbi Morton J. Cohn;
Rabbi Monroe Levens, Rabbi Baruch Stern; Areas—Arthur L. Cohen, Elmer Glaser,
William Schwartz; David Block; William Burnett; Harry Farb; Manuel Fisher;
Jerome Freedman; Irving Friedman; Arthur Gardner; Murray D.Goodrich; Ben Harris;
Richard Levi; Julius Levin, Harry Mallen, Louis Moorsteen; Dr. W. Ornstein, Sol
Price; Seymour Rabin; Nathaniel Ratner, Ben Rubin, Victor Schulman, Louis
Steinman, Henry Weinberger. C) Members of the Board of Directors whose
terms expire: Mrs. Gabriel Berg, Edward Bland, Saul Chenkin, I.L. Domnitz,
Morris Douglas, Rodin Horrow; Ralph Hosenpud, Alex Newman, Morris Niederman, Abe
Ratner, Dr. Oscar Ravin, Milton Roberts, Abe Sackheim, Nathan Schiller, Victor
Schulman, Mrs. Anna Shelley, Sam Sosna, Dr. Robert Stone, Harry Snyder, Reuben
Umansky. D) In accordance with the By-Laws of the United Jewish Fund,
independent nominations of candidates for election at the annual meeting may
also be made by any 5 members (paid up contributors) provided the same is
delivered with the written acceptance of the candidate to the Secretary or
Executive Director of the Corporation no later than Friday, November 30, 1951,
5:00 p.m.
December 7, 1951—"UJF Honors Schulman and Workers At Meeting Sunday," Southwestern
Jewish Press, page 1: The year's activities of the United Jewish Fund will
be reviewed by the membership at the 18th Annual Dinner meeting on Sunday,
December 9th, at the El Cortez. The Don Room will find San Diego Jewry
gathered to honor Victor J. Schulman, President of the Fund for the past two
years. Key workers and "Early Morning Fund Raisers" in the campaign
will receive awards from the United Jewish Appeal and the United Jewish Fund.
Schulman will receive the applause of the Jewish community for his energetic
leadership in communal affairs. A member of the Fund Board of Directors since
1943, he has served as President, Vice President and Chairman of many
committees. His activity reflected itself in the successful results of the 1951
Combined Jewish Appeal which raised over $206,000. Honored along with
Schulman will be Ewart Goodwin, Christian Committee Chairman of the Appeal.
Goodwin, one of San Diego's outstanding civic and business leaders, earlier
awarded a Christian-Palestine Fellowship award for travel and study in Israel
and Lebanon, will be presented with an award for his "sincere interest in
humanity." Business of the meeting will center around the election of
20 members of the Fund to the Board of Directors for a term of two years. To be
presented by the Nominating Committee, Harry Farb, Chairman, for election to the
Board are: Morris Douglas, Jack Gross, David Horowitz, Rodin Horrow, Ralph
Hosenpud, Yale Kahn, Morry Levenson, B.B. Margolis, Louis Mogy, Dr. A.P. Nasatir,
Milton Roberts, Nathan Schiller, Albert Steinbaum, Dr. Robert M. Stone, Harry
Snyder, Ruben Umansky, and Alex Wise. Petitions have been presented for
inclusion on the ballot so that this year, there will be a contested election
for the vacant posts. Among those to be singled out for special praise are Rodin
Horrow and Morrie Douglas, general campaign co-chairmen; Mrs. M.D. Goodrich,
Mrs. Abe Ratner and Mrs. Al Neumann, Women's Division Co-Chairmen. Also
Louis Moorsteen, Milton Roberts, Harry Mallen and Ben Harris, Chairmen of
various divisions. Elections to the "Key Club," highest honor to be
awarded by the Fund, will be announced at the dinner. Guests will include
Harry Rothberg, California Chairman of the United Jewish Appeal, who will
present awards; A.J. Sutherland and Charles Davies, former recipients of awards,
and past presidents Judge Jacob Weinberger, Nathan F. Baranov and Eli H.
Levenson. Levenson, Chairman of the annual meeting, announced that
reservations may be made by calling F-0171. He called to the attention of
the community that only members of the Fund could vote. A member is defined as
one who is a current contributor to the United Jewish Fund and has paid his
previous year's pledge.
-1952-
January 11, 1952—
"Adult Institute Re-Opens Fall Classes," Southwestern Jewish Press,
page 4: San Diego Adult Institute for Jewish Studies will reopen its doors
at Beth Jacob Center, 4473 30th St., Wednesday, January 18 at 7:45 p.m.
Students of the Institute will be addressed by Mr. Seymour Fromer recently
appointed director of the Western States Region of the American Association of
Jewish Education. Courses to be offered in the 12 week institute, according to
Dr. A.P. Nasatir, chairman, will include Great Literature of the Bible, Customs,
Prayers, History, the Contemporary Scene, Beginners and Advanced Hebrew, and
Talmud. Cooking class, and a course in Jewish Music will also be offered if
there is enough enrollment for these classes. Faculty members will include
Rabbis Morton J. Cohn, Monroe Levens, Baruch Stern. Also Dr. A. P. Nasatir, Mr.
and Mrs. Leon Elkind, Professor Earnest Wolf, Albert A. Hutler, Dov Abramis,
Cantors Joseph Cysner and Julian Miller. Courses will be offered in two
periods of four courses each. First period will be from 7:45 to 8:45 p.m. and
the second period from 9:00 to 10 p.m. There will be a short assembly and
refreshments between courses. Registration, which is open to the public, will
take place on Wednesday, January 16, at 7:45 p.m. at Beth Jacob Center. Semester
fee is $2.00 per person. The Jewish Education Commission headed by Dr Nasatir is
made up of five members each from the three San diego congregations and is
responsible for the Jewish Education Program in San Diego.
February 18, 1952—Albert Hutler, "Community Currents," Southwestern Jewish Press, page 2, mentioning Abe Nasatir serving as chairman of the combined UJF-BIG committee.
April 4, 1952—"Personals," Southwestern
Jewish Press, page 3: Mrs. Ida Nasatir flew to Tucson March 25th where she
gave an address at the U.J.A. meeting, returning home the same day. Dr.
A.P. Nasatir accompanied several students to Los Angeles April 3rd to attend the
model U.N. conference that was held at U.S.C. on April 3-5. While in Los
Angeles Dr. Nasatir also took time off to attend the conference on the
"Problems and History of the Southwest," which was held at the same
time at Occidental College. Dr. Nasatir flew to San Francisco April 6th where he
joined Mrs. Nasatir, who left San Diego March 30th, and they are spending the
Passover holidays with Mrs. Nasatir's mother, Mrs. Sophie Hirsch, returning home
again on the 13th when they will face the task of moving into their new home.
May 2, 1952—"Dr. A.P. Nasatir Wins Fellowship," Southwestern
Jewish Press, page 1: Nine men have received grants-in-aid and five men have
been awarded fellowships for work at Huntington Library it was announced
recently. Among them was Dr. A.P. Nasatgr who was the only Southern
Californian to receive this honor. He will continue his studies of the
early French influence in California.
-1966-
Fall 1966— Lionel U. Ridout., "Biographical Sketch of
Dr. A.P. Nasatir," The Journal of San Diego History 12:3 (Fall
1966): http://sandiegohistory.org/journal/66july/nasatir.htm
-1987-
February 19, 1987—Henry
Schwartz, "Jews of the West: Abraham Nasatir," San Diego Jewish Times, p.18:
Accidents sometimes reshape lives. Consider what happened to 9-year-old Abe
Nasatir. He looked forward to a career as a physician or a concert
violinist. Little Abe loved to play the violin and didn't have to be coerced to
practice. But one day his mother sent him to buy bread. Abe roller-skated
to the store and was returning home when the accident happened. With a sack in
his right hand he skated into a truck which had suddenly emerged from an
alley. "That was 1913 and the trucks had big chain drives," Abe
recalled. "I fell with my left hand in the chain." The hand was
mutilated and had to be amputated. His parents felt terrible. Gone were
the visions of a medical career or being a violin virtuoso. Yet they bestowed on
him qualities that would allow him to make a wonderful adjustment. His
father, Morris, emigrated to the United States in 1888, smuggling himself from
Lithuania to the port city of Hamburg for a ship to the New World. He
started out as a peddler in downstate Illinois, returning to Chicago every
Friday for the Sabbath weekend. A restless sort, he drifted westward, opening a
store in Omaha, later further west to settle in Santa Ana, California, and start
a men's clothing business. Morris Nasatir was a man of the book. While
deprived of any formal education, he studied every morning from 4 a.m. to 7 a.m.
before leaving to open his shop. He became well versed in Hebrew and Talmud. He
passed this love of learning and Judaism onto his son. Abe learned Hebrew,
Chumash, Rashi and Talmud. And he participated in High Holy Days services in his
own home as his father brought the few Jewish families together, there being no
synagogue in Santa Ana. Abe's mother, Sarah Esther, whom he described as a
"saintly, kind-hearted person," was devout. Every week kosher meat had
to be brought from Los Angeles, and she traveled there for the mikvah. The
qualities imparted by his loving parents-piety, striving and
studiousness—molded Abe's life. In school he was a bright but mischievous lad.
Long before the advent of the gifted children program, Abe was bored by the
snail's pace of learning. Never passing up a dare, he had a penchant for
fighting. Yet he got 'A's" and was teacher's helper. Fifth and sixth
grades he completed in one year. At age 14 he graduated high school and entered
the University of California. By this time he had rechanneled his
ambition. He now desired to be either a Spanish or mathematics high school
teacher. Yet, entering Berkeley five weeks after the semester had started,
he found the only courses still open were in history and political
science. In a history class, he fell under the spell of the famous
historian, Herbert Bolton. Fascinated with the study of the past, he wanted to be
a historian too. A diligent student he finished the four-year
undergraduate curriculum in two years, taking summer classes and a heavy load of
classes in the winter. At the young age of 16 he had his Bachelor's in
history and in another year, his Master's. Yet Abe didn't have his nose
too deeply buried in a book not to take notice of a pretty, lively and bright
coed named Ida Hirsch. An English major, she was the daughter of a San Francisco
Orthodox Rabbi. Dr. Bolton suggested Abe travel to Europe to do research for his
doctoral degree. Young Nasatir picked to work on the Spanish regime in the
Mississippi Valley, a field in which his pioneer research made him an authority.
In 1926 he had his Ph.D in hand, and he was teaching at the University of
Iowa. Next installment: Dr. Nasatir at San Diego State.
March 5, 1987 — Henry Schwartz, "Jews of the West: Abraham Nasatir,
Part II," San Diego Jewish Times, p.12:
Throughout his life Abe Nasatir has remained a devout, observant Jew.
During the early days when the Orthodox Tifereth Israel Synagogue was at 18th
and Market, he walked there on Sabbath from his home on Hawley Blvd in Normal
Heights. Never mind it was seven miles each way and across town. Every Sabbath
he would put on his coat, and, regardless of winter rain or summer heat, trudge
back and forth. Sometimes one of his students would spot him plodding up or down
Pershing Drive. Stopping his car, the student would offer him a ride. "No,
thanks, " Abe would huff. "I'm doing my
constitutional." As his wife, Ida, has told it, "He would limp
home, like a cross-country runner, face drenched with sweat and would say, 'See,
I made it again.'" * * Nasatir came to the quiet, small city of San Diego
in the academic year 1927-28 to teach at a little teachers' college of 350
students. During the following 47 years he has witnessed that little
school of mostly girls wanting to become teachers sprout into the huge San Diego
State University with over 30,000 students. And in those years, his reputation
as a teacher grew. With his ability to dramatize and with his wonderful sense of
humor he put flesh and bones on history. In his classroom historical events came
alive. Known as "Doc," to his students, in his gruff, demanding
way he insisted on the best from them. He made them stretch towards the limits
of their potential. Sound scholarship was a must. One former student
remembered, he was "so demanding in his requirements that you read volumes
of books, wrote tons of papers and took tests the likes of which you wouldn't
believe." To get an 'A' from Doc was a mark of distinction. He worked
closely with his students. They would come to his crammed office for
conferences. An ex-student described his office this way. "You tended
to sit on the edge of your chair, because you were certain the walls would come
tumbling down, for there were books, papers and pamphlets stacked everywhere on
desks, tables and chairs and from the floor to the ceiling. And when he
suggested a certain book of his he wanted you to read, he turned and, with
unerring accuracy, pulled it from the bottom of a stack, while you waited for
the whole mass to come roaring down. It never did." During those 47
years, he taught his thousands of students a love of history and the discipline
to be a happy detective. From their ranks have come many a history teacher and
countless history buffs. In the meanwhile, Dr. Nasatir churned out hundreds of
meticulously researched papers. He authored over a dozen books and became a
noted scholar in the fields of the California gold rush and the Spanish
regime in the Mississippi Valley. He spent his summers dong research in
the Bancroft Library at UC Berkeley or in archives in England, Spain, France or
Mexico. He bought books, he copied or collected historic letters, treaties,
diaries, articles, until he had several thousand books and a half million sheets
of notes and documents. These he stored in every nook and cranny in his small
frame house on North Mountain View Dr. In the closet, for instance, there were
no coat hangers but stacks of paper from floor to ceiling. Gordy Shields,
a former student, recalled doing research in the "Nasatir Archives,"
on North Mountain Viuew Drive. On Saturday mornings, he and other students doing
papers would gather there and Ida would provide refreshments. It being the
Sabbath, of course Abe wouldn't do any physical labor, such as locating material
for the students, so they had to dig for themselves. One particular Saturday,
Shields recalled, he needed to study a certain historic letter. He told
"Doc" of his need and asked, "in the closet?" Abe gave
a slight shake of his head. "On the bureau?" Still a negative
sign. "Under the bed?" Suddenly Abe's eyes twinkled, a slight smile
crept across his face and the head nodded affirmatively. Sure enough, in
the bedroom, under the Nasatir bed, the student found the letter! (Last
installment: The Fire and Aftermath)
March 19, 1987 —Henry Schwartz, "Jews of the West: Abraham Nasatir,
Part III," San Diego Jewish Times, p. 14: June
30, 1985, was a quiet Sunday afternoon, along North Mountain View Drive in
Normal Heights. Abe and Ida Nasatir were sitting on their sofa, awaiting the
arrival of a guest. It was a very hot day. Indeed the Nasatirs had smelled smoke
from the canyon. But they had smelled smoke before, and each time the fire was
put out before it endangered houses like theirs on the canyon rim. Suddenly,
about 2:30 policemen and firemen burst into their frame home. They
shouted, "Your house is burning!" "They came in and grabbed Mrs.
Nasatir and me and pushed us out," Abe recalled. "They said the flames
were on the back of my house." Without time to save anything, the
Nasatirs left their home. Abe tried to start the family car, but was pulled form
it and warned the car might explode in the intense heat. In ten minutes as they
watched in stunned horror, their home burned to the ground. Gone in the
fierce flames were their furniture, clothing, mementos, several thousand books
and Abe's half million sheets of notes and documents. The next day they
came back. Mounds of ashes stood where their home of 33 years had been. A
dejected Abe ruefully kicked at a heap of black soot. "There it is,"
he mourned. "Complete manuscripts, books and archives that I've been
collecting since 1923." To Abe, entering his 80s, it was an
overwhelming blow, a blow he might never recover from. Gone was the bounce from
his step. Depression bowed his shoulders. Then the winds of fortune
changed. They received an avalanche of letters. Their myriad friends and Abe's
colleagues rallied to their side. (Friends started a collection--until Abe's
loud outcry put a stop to that). Especially helpful were his former students.
What saved him from suicide "or ending in a mental institution," Abe
said, "was the tremendous number of former students who wrote letters
saying what I had done for them and that my life's work wasn't a
loss." He realized his half century of teaching was his legacy. In
his thousands of students he had instilled a love of history and a passion for
excellence. They were living proof of his worth, an achievement that no fire
could take away. And they had their unswerving devotion to Judaism.
As Ida put it, "God has been merciful to us. It could have been so
much worse. We lost things, that's all." They thanked God their lives had
been spared. So, as he did in an earlier crisis, when he lost his left hand and
had to rechannel his life, Abe adjusted to the lost of his irreplaceable files
and documents. Now, Abe is back at what he likes to do best,
research. And he has finished another book on California history, The
British in California. Many honors have come to Nasatir since the fire. San
Diego State University has dedicated a chair, a professorship, in modern Jewish
history, in his name. Las year the Dr. Abraham Nasatir Wing to the Social
Science Building at San Diego State University was dedicated to house the Social
Science Department and a large lecture hall. In Honolulu last summer members of
the Pacific Coast Branch of the American Historical Association listened to a
paper read about his achievements. And soon to appear is the Brand Book of
the Westerners, an organization of Western history buffs, with a long article on
Abe's accomplishments. Also, like a Phoenix risen from the ashes, on the
lot of their former home is anew house. The Nasatir's have a comfortable roomy
two-story stucco home with an office for Abe and a large living room to
entertain their host of friends. So, with the sympathy and encouragement
of Abe's student and thier many friends, the Nasatirs have lived through and
surmounted the terrible loss. But perhaps there was a good omen, for they
salvaged from the ashes of their home a symbol of continuity: their mezuzzah.
-2003-
2003—Lawrence Baron, "From
Minyan to Matriculation: San Diego Jewry and Jewish Studies at San Diego State
University, or "Funny
You Don't Look Aztec," California Jews, Editors Ava F.
Kahn and Marc Dollinger, Hanover, N.H. (Brandeis University Press, 2003),
135-142.
June 20, 2003—Donald H. Harrison, "Memories
of San Diego's Jewish Trailblazers Are Preserved at San Diego State
University," San Diego Jewish Press-Heritage, http://www.jewishsightseeing.com/usa/california/san_diego/san_diego_state_university/2003-06-20-sdsu-jewish-archives.htm
-2005-
July 6, 2005—Diana Lindsay, "Memories of an Exacting Professor,"
an essay for the Louis Rose Society for the Preservation of Jewish History:
My
first introduction to Dr. Abraham Nasatir was through a course requirement for
a BA in history at SDSU. I had signed up for a class on the Spanish Southwest,
and Dr. Nasatir was the instructor. My recollection was how exacting and
demanding he was. I worked harder on the papers required in his class than all
of the others combined that semester. He wasn’t the friendliest instructor,
and I did feel intimidated. Our conversations dealt only with the project and
how it could be improved. He was always challenging my sources. He mentioned
several times how he was a student of Herbert Eugene Bolton and what a great
historian he was. I always got the feeling that
August 2005—Jewish Historical Society of San Diego,
"At the Archives," Toldot San Diego: The Archives has received
the papers of Abraham and Ida Nasatir. Abraham P. Nasatir was the first Jewish
professor at SDSU (1928-1974). Nasatir Hall is named for him. He was a
charter member of JHSSD. Ida Nasatir was a teacher and writer who was very
active in the Jewish community.
Fall 2005—"Ida & Abraham Nasatir Lecture in American Jewish History Named; Debut Set for Spring 2006," The Lipinsky Institute for Judaic Studies Newsletter, page 3: For over 60 years, Ida Nasatir graced the San Diego Jewish community with her presence. The thousands of people who met her, read her columns in the San Diego Jewish Press Heritage, or heard her reviews of Jewish books at the 54th Street Jewish Community Center fondly recall how Ida mesmerized an audience, embodied the Jewish love of learning, and exuded loving kindness in her relationships with others. To celebrate her lifelong contributions to san Diego Jewry and to mark her recent passing at the age of 94, the Lipinsky Institute will rename the annual Abraham Nasatir Lecture in American Jewish History the "Ida & Abraham Nasatir Lecture in American Jewish History." The first lecture under the new name is aptly entitled, "A History of Their Own: Jewish Women in America" by Professor Hasia Diner of New York University. It is scheduled for the evening of March 21st on the San Diego State University campus and will be co-sponsored by the Women's Studies Department at SDSU. If you have letters from Ida, copies of her articles, or memories of her you would like to share, please contact Stanley Schwartz (619-232-5888) of the Jewish Historical Society of San Diego whose archives are housed in the Snyder Jewish Studies Reading Room at San Diego State University Library. To make a donation to the Nasatir Lecture Fund, please make your check out to: The Campanile Foundation Re: Nasatir Lecture of the Lipinsky Institute and mail it to Lawrence Baron, department of History, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA 92182.
December 14, 2005— Donald H. Harrison, "Louis Rose Society—An Update," San Diego Jewish Times, page 12
-2006-
January 13, 2006—Lipinsky
Institute Lecture Series," SD Jewish Times,
page 19: ... Monday, March 20, 7 p.m., Aztec Athletics Center Auditorium,
SDSU—Abraham and Ida Nasatir Lecture in American Jewish History: "A
History Of Their Own: American Jewishu Women" with Hasia Diner, New York
University....
2006-05-10—Donald
H. Harrison, "Baron calls it quits as director of SDSU's Lipinsky Institute
for Judaic Studies," jewishsightseeing.com
2006-09-04—Donald H. Harrison,
"Zayde
the Student: Why passing by Nasatir Hall makes me think of actor James Stewart,"
jewishsightseeing.com