San Diego Jewish World

Sunday Evening, May 20, 2007    

Vol. 1, Number 20
 

Practice of Tikkun Olam key element
in JSU being SDSU's top student group
 

SAN DIEGO—When asked how it happened that the Jewish Student Union was chosen as this year's Outstanding Student Organization at San Diego State University, JSU President Andrew Hoffman sent over the essay he submitted in the competition for the award.

He wrote that a misconception about the Jewish Student Union was that it was exclusively for Jewish students, whereas, in truth, "the organization is extremely popular with numerous non-Jews."  The reason cited by these students, he added, is "the organization's friendliness and willingness to accept anyone... Whether it's learning about the Jewish religion, identity, culture, just participating in purely social events, meeting new students, getting free food, or just hanging out in the Hillel House, the Jewish Student Union has something for everyone."

The JSU president noted that members of his organization believe in contributing to the welfare of the campus at large, pointing out that Rebecca Steinberger served as an Associated Student representative.

Beyond that, he said, the organization fosters "lifelong friendships, amazing experiences and unforgettable memories that hundreds of Jewish and non-Jewish students have made through the Jewish Student Union." —Donald H. Harrison

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The Iraq Debate
Coleman seeks shift of war to Iraqis
Editor's Note—This is the third article in our continuing coverage of the positions that prominent members of the Jewish community are taking in the debate over Iraq.  Yesterday we ran the text of a speech by Democratic Senator Russell Feingold, who favors withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq, and the day before we ran the text of a speech by Joseph Lieberman (I-Conn.) on why the U.S. should stay the course in Iraq.  This is an article that Republican Senator Norm Coleman addresses to his fellow Minnesotans on his official Senate web site.

By Senator Norm Coleman 

WASHINGTON, DC—Every day I hear from Minnesotans concerned about the war in Iraq. I spend a great
deal of my time in Washington meeting with our military commanders and diplomats
to get a full understanding of what is happening there. I have visited the country
three times and spent a lot of time listening to our troops on the ground as well as
their families back home. Above all, I honor the incredible sacrifices Minnesotans
in uniform are making everyday, and pledge my strongest support to them and their
families. Yet despite the many military successes of our troops, I share the
frustrations of those who are concerned about the continuing violence and political
stalemate in Iraq.

I firmly believe that the safety of Americans from terror is tied to what happens in
Iraq. Leaders of al Qaeda have made very clear that Iraq is central to their efforts to
destabilize America and the world. Osama bin Laden himself has said that “the most
serious issue today for the whole world is this Third World War that is raging in
Iraq.” Bin Laden has called Baghdad the capital of a new radical Islamic Caliphate
he would like to create, stretching from Spain to Indonesia. On September 11, we
learned the consequences of ignoring dangerous developments in the Middle East.
It is for this reason that we cannot afford to abandon our efforts in Iraq.

At the same time, I think it is clear that we must chart a new, specific path in Iraq.
While we continue to have military success, our overall strategy to defuse the
sectarian violence and improve the political process has proven insufficient. We
need to continue to hold Iraqi political leaders accountable for meeting specific
benchmarks for success. We must put more pressure on the Iraqis to defend their
own country, to move our troops away from the front lines, and ultimately
return home.

Recently I traveled to Iraq for a third time, and met with Minnesota soldiers,
military commanders, and Iraqi leaders to get a candid, firsthand assessment of
the situation on the ground. The message is starting to get through that our support
is not open-ended and that the Iraqis need to work toward reconciliation. But the
Iraqis have a long way to go.

During my meetings, I emphasized the need for Iraqis to move quickly to solve the
sectarian violence. The Iraqi police and Army need to assume more responsibility
for security throughout the country, especially in Baghdad. Iraq’s leaders also need
to provide a political environment that will foster greater opportunity for
reconciliation between its sectarian factions.

Concerning the level of U.S. troops in Iraq, I do not believe politicians should set
troop levels. Troop levels should be set by our military leaders including our
commanders on the ground. But as our new strategy began to take shape in January,
I made known my own concerns about the proposal to send additional U.S. forces
into the sectarian violence in Baghdad. I expressed these concerns because I think
we should have put more pressure on the Iraqis to prove their commitment to
doing their part. And when our Minnesota troops and their families found out
through the media that they would be affected by the surge, I expressed my
outrage to Secretary Gates personally.

The fact is that today the surge is now underway, and it is time to step back and
let our military do its work. During my recent visit to Iraq, General Petraeus told
me the results so far are mixed. At that time, they were at about 60 percent of the
full force, with two more brigade combat teams and an aviation brigade yet to
arrive. He said that it is just too early to tell if the surge has been a success, and I
think it would be wise to let General Petraeus get his strategy in place before
determining whether or not it is working.

What is clear is that we need to provide our troops on the ground with the
resources they need to defend themselves. It is unfortunate that some insist on
conditioning critical funding for our forces on arbitrary withdrawal timelines
that would handcuff our generals and embolden our enemies. While I agree we
need to continue to pressure the Iraqi government to move toward reconciliation,
we also need to provide our military leaders with the tools they need to win the war.

My time in Iraq also gave me another opportunity to reflect upon the tremendous
courage, skill, commitment and patriotism of our soldiers. I had the great pleasure
of meeting with over 200 Minnesota troops in both Taqaddum west of Baghdad,
and Talil in South Central Iraq. These are extraordinary citizens that have a great
sense of confidence in what they’re doing, a willingness to sacrifice – and sacrifice
they have. Minnesota and America have much to be proud of, and I was truly
humbled by the things I heard and witnessed from our soldiers in Iraq.

We need to recognize the sacrifices of these brave men and women and make
certain that we take care of them and their families during their deployment and
after their return. The extension of 2,600 Minnesota National Guard troops in Iraq
has weighed extremely heavily on me and my fellow Minnesotans as we have all
grappled with how best to deal with it. Now that the initial shock and frustration
of this extension has subsided, and it’s time to address the challenges our troops
and their families have faced since their deployment, and will face when they
return home. I have spent time across the state listening with our veterans, service
members and their families to talk about their needs. As a result, I am moving
ahead with ideas to expand their access to healthcare, affordable housing, fair pay
and reintegration programs – to name a few. I will continue to work hard to make
certain that the brave men and women who selflessly serve our country are
given the respect and helping hand that they deserve.

While I was in Iraq, the main thing our troops wanted to convey to the American
people is that this war is not lost. I will continue to stand with our servicemen
and women to give them the tools they need to succeed.
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Jews in the News          
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 Like you, we're pleased when members of our community are praiseworthy, and are disappointed when they are blameworthy. Whether it's good news or bad news, we'll try to keep track of what's being said in general media about our fellow Jews. Our news spotters are Dan Brin in Los Angeles, Donald H. Harrison in San Diego, and you. Wherever you are,  if you see a story of interest, please send a summary and link to us at sdheritage@cox.net.  To see a source story click on the link within the respective paragraph.
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*Bertolt Brecht and other German Jewish intellectuals who migrated to Los Angeles with the coming of Hitler are featured in Weimar on the Pacific, a book by Ehrhard Bahr.  A review by Jonathan Kirsch is in today's Los Angeles Times.

*Michael Chabon's creation, detective Meyer Landsman in The Yiddish Policeman's Union, is described as one of the most exciting fictional detectives to come along since Sam Spade or Phillip Marlowe.  The book review by Michiko Kakutani is in today's San Diego Union-Tribune.

*U.S. Rep. Susan Davis (D-San Diego) is accused in the San Diego Union-Tribune's "America's Finest Blog" of being the "exact opposite" of a straight talker in terms of her opposition to the proposed toll road between northern San Diego County and Orange County.  The story in today's edition is by Chris Reed.

*Although San Diego County District Attorney Bonnie Dumanis created a unit last year to investigate public corruption, there has been only one prosecution to date.  Gerry Braun has the story in today's San Diego Union-Tribune.

*Songs by Bob Dylan as interpreted by jazz singer Barb Jungr are evidence that the La Jolla Music Society is not just presenting classical music anymore.  Valerie Scher has the story in today's San Diego Union-Tribune.

*Harvey Fierstein will be bringing his Torch Song Trilogy  to the Diversionary Theatre for a 25th anniversary revival of the story about a drag queen and lovable mensch.  The story is in today's San Diego Union-Tribune.

*Former President Jimmy Carter had called George W. Bush the "worst" president in U.S. history.  Among his numerous criticisms of Bush was that he has no peace process in place in Israel. The Associated Press story is in today's San Diego Union-Tribune.

*Paula Jacobs, regional director of the American Jewish Committee, has a letter to the editor in today's San Diego Union-Tribune supporting immigration reform. In the same column of letters, Edgar D. Hopida, local public relations director for the Council on American-Islamic Relations, argues that it is not anti-Semitism but "fear of displacement" that fuels Arab opposition to Israel.

*Hans Jovishoff, an advocate for seniors and frequent critic of San Diego city government, has died at 93.  The obituary by Michael Kinsman is in today's San Diego Union-Tribune.

*Lael & Jay Kovtun were the honorary chairs, and son Gordon & Annika Kovtun the chairs, of the 29th anniversary celebration of the Mingei International Museum. Burl Stiff has the story in today's San Diego Union-Tribune.

*Art critic Robert L. Pincus hails a new sculptor on the scene, Sharon Levy, whose masters of arts thesis, "The Wood," is on display in the Marcuse Gallery of the University of California San Diego.  The story is in today's San Diego Union-Tribune.

*On a family trip to Amsterdam, travel writer Mary McNamara confronted the problem of explaining the Holocaust to her young children while visiting the Anne Frank House.  Her story is in today's Los Angeles Times.

*An editorial in today's San Diego Union-Tribune lays out the reasons the newspaper hopes U.S. District Court Judge Barry Ted Moskowitz will rule in favor of the Bajagua project to prevent Mexican sewage from flowing across the U.S. border.

*Eli Pariser, executive director of the liberal group MoveOn.org is one of several political activists who forecast an expanded role in the showing of political ads by such major web sites as My Space and YouTube.  The story by Scott Martelle is in today's Los Angeles Times.

*Israel's Defense Minister Amir Peretz vowed continued air strikes on Hamas fighters in Gaza to suppress the rocket fire that has been plaguing the Israeli city of Sderot. The retaliatory attacks have prompted Fatah and Hamas factions to call a cease fire against each other.  Sarah El Deeb of the Associated Press has the story in today's San Diego Union-Tribune.

*Los Angeles County Supervisor Zev Yaraslovsky described himself as "dumbfounded" by a "shocking" videotape which showed a dying patient writhing in pain in the admitting area of King-Harbor Hospital without anyone showing any concern. The story by Charles Ornstein of the subsequent investigation is in today's Los Angeles Times.

*Retiring Point Loma High School teacher Larry Zeiger advises the Jewish Culture and Wit Club with 15 students, only one of whom is Jewish.  In fact, the first name of the president is Jesús, and the vice president is named Christian. Columnist Lee Grant has the story in today's San Diego Union-Tribune.

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The Jewish Grapevine                                                    
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CYBER-REFERRALS—Sheila Orysiek passed along a column by Charles Krauthammer remembering the June 6, 1967, war when the fight with Jordan that resulted in the capture of the West Bank was forced upon Israel. ... Jay Jacobson passes along the video below of a performance of Rah-em  by 12-year-old Mordechai Shapiro accompanied in a performance by Yaacov Shwekey in New York. It originally was posted by Ben-Yehuda.

Rah'em (duo live) Video sent by Ben-Yehuda

U.S. PRESIDENTIAL TRIVIA—Engaging in some Spring Cleaning, Sam Zeiden has been going through old boxes and files and found this trivia contest about U.S. Presidents that has some real stumpers. You can find the answers as the last item in today's news report.  Can you name...1) The only President born on the 4th of July; 2) The President who was buried with his head resting on a copy of the Constitution; 3) The first President to call his Washington D.C. residence the "White House."  4) The President who is distantly related to Presidents Franklin Pierce, Abraham Lincoln, Theodore Roosevelt, Gerald R. Ford, as well as Winston Churchill; 5) The President whose wife started the tradition of playing 'Hail to the Chief' whenever a President appeared at a state function.  6) The

first President to visit all 50 states.  7) The first President whose voice was heard over the radio.  8) The President who grew up speaking a language other than English.  9) The only President to be married in the White House.  10) The President who is credited with saying, "I may be President of the United States but my private life is nobody's damn business"?

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Judaism

A poem for Shavuot by Irvin Jacobs

SAN DIEGO—Irvin Jacobs has shared with us a poem of his composition that he recited during Yom Bikkurim observances on Saturday, May 19, at Congregation Beth El in La Jolla.  Shavuot begins at sundown on Tuesday.
 

Shavuot—Yom Ha Bikkurim

Enjóy the day, First Fruits we say,
With flow’rs, and plants, in home and Shul—
Two loaves of breads, veg-gíes, and fruits,
With cheese, and tab-léts of The Law.

We read of fám-ous Mó-ab Ruth,
Who grasped To-rah, joined Ná-omí
“Your folk, my folk!” the laws, so sure,
And móthered kings—of Dá-vid’s line.

Our fórebears stood, at Sinai hill,
Received Ten Laws, of lást-ing jewels.
They learned to love our néighbors poor,
Who gleaned our fields, of grapes and grain.

Their sons and dáugh-ters made the trek
To Zine, in píl-gram-áge each spring,
To bring two loaves in óf-fer-ing,
Of thanks for wheat and táb-lets of—

The Law.

Here are the answers to the U.S. Presidential Trivia Quiz found in today's "Jewish Grapevine" section: 1. Calvin Coolidge.  2. Andrew Johnson  3. Theodore Roosevelt (prior to his term it was known as the Executive Mansion or the President's House); 4. George H.W. Bush (and now George W. Bush); 5. John Tyler.  6. Richard Nixon 7. Warren G. Harding. 8. Martin Van Buren (He grew up speaking Dutch). 9. Grover Cleveland. 10. Chester A. Arthur.