San Diego Jewish World~July 13

JERUSALEM (Press Release)—The Honorable Mrs. Sahana Pradhan, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Nepal declared today her government's decision to open an embassy in Israel very soon. The announcement was made in her meeting with Vice Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mrs. Tzipi Livni. Mrs. Pradhan is on an official visit to Israel, this is the first visit of a Nepalese Minister for Foreign Affairs to Israel since the establishment of diplomatic relations in 1960.

Minister Pradhan also met with the elected President Mr. Shimon Peres and greeted him formally on behalf of the Prime Minister of Nepal Girija Prased Koirala, for being elected to the presidency. Mr. Aaron Abramovich, Director General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs met the Hon. Minister. The Minister delivered a lecture at the Israel Council on Foreign Relations. The minister visited "Yad Vashem", the Holocaust Memorial and laid a wreath in honor of the holocaust victims.

At their meeting, the two ministers of foreign affairs appreciated the friendly bilateral relations between the two countries. They discussed issues of mutual benefit and potential areas of cooperation between Nepal and Israel. They also discussed regional issues. Minister Livni expressed Isreal's concerns regarding the threats posed to the whole world by the extreme regime of Iran. Minister Pradhan conveyed her hope for successful outcome of the Middle East Peace Process, based on UN Security Council resolution 242 and a two states solution.

Minister Livni appreciated the ongoing peace process in Nepal and acknowledged with satisfaction the opening of a Nepalese Embassy in Israel which to her view will strengthen the bilateral relations between the two countries. Minister Livni also expressed Israel's desire to cooperate in various fields of priority for Nepal, through MASHAV – the center for international cooperation.

During their meeting the two Ministers discussed also the issue of the Nepalese workers in Israel and took note of the need to reach an understanding that will enable to regulate the issue of Nepalese manpower employment in Israel. The government of Israel has expressed its willingness to consider the issue favorably. In the spirit of the friendly relations between their countries, the two ministers agreed to form a permanent mechanism for bilateral consultations between the two Ministries of Foreign Affairs.

Honorable Minister Pradhan was accompanied by Mr. Thapa, joint secretary, her daughter Mrs. Shrestha and Mr. Pokharel, assistant personal secretary.

The preceding story was provided by Israel's Ministry of Foreign Affairs

IDF Staff Sergeant Arbel Raich killed during
raid on Bureij Refugee Camp in central Gaza

BUREIJ REFUGEE CAMP, Gaza (Press Release)— IDF soldier, Staff Sergeant Arbel Raich, 21, of Yuvalim, was killed Wednesday night, July 11, in an operation carried out by the Givati Brigade Reconnaissance Battalion, to destroy terror infrastructures in the central Gaza Strip, near the Bureij refugee camp. Two additional soldiers were wounded. The wounded soldiers were taken to a hospital to receive medical treatment.

The preceding story was provided by the Israel Defense Forces

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Gun battle at Tul Karm checkpoint: IDF kills
Islamic Jihad member Muhammed Diab

TUL KARM, West Bank, Palestinian Authority (Press Release)—Approximately 5 p.m. Thursday, July 12, a Subaru approached the Inubta crossing, near Tul Karm. When it reached the checkpoint, which is manned by IDF soldiers around the clock, the vehicle slammed on its brakes, and the driver left the vehicle. He immediately began to shoot at the forces manning the post. The soldiers returned fire, confirming a direct hit.

After scanning the area, the soldiers began searches for any additional terrorists or explosive devices. A combat vest was found on the terrorist's person, with a number of loaded magazines inside. Three pipe bombs which were ready for use were found in the vehicle.

"All signs indicate that he planned to execute an attack inside Israeli territory. His main intent was not to attack the soldiers manning the point.," explains the commander of the battalion Lieutenant Colonel Nir Bar On.

"He intended to pass through the checkpoint, and execute an attack in one of the settlements in the surrounding area. When he realized that he had no chance of passing through, due to the searches performed by the soldiers manning the point, he decided to attack them instead."

The terrorist was identified as Muhammed Diab, who was known as an operative of the Islamic Jihad in the region of Jenin. His weapon bore the symbol of the terror organization. The IDF will continue to ensure the security of the citizens of the State of Israel, and will act to prevent and eliminate terrorism threatening the region of Judea and Samaria.

Ban Ki-moon calls for immediate reopening of
Gaza crossings; will attend next Quartet meeting

UNITED NATIONS, N.Y (Press Release)– Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today called for all crossings into the Gaza Strip to be re-opened to allow humanitarian supplies, relief workers and commercial goods to pass through, voicing increasing concern over the territory’s deteriorating economic situation.

A spokesperson for Ban also announced he would participate in a meeting of the Middle East Quartet next Thursday in Lisbon.

“The continued restrictions on Gaza will have a severe humanitarian impact and can only cause further suffering to the people there,” Ban said in a statement released by the spokesperson.

Israel has closed or restricted the handful of border crossings with the Gaza Strip since deadly intra-Palestinian violence – which has since subsided – erupted early last month. UN humanitarian officials warned earlier this week that the restrictions are threatening the economically sustainability of the territory, where more than 1.4 million live in a 360-square-kilometre area.

In today’s statement, Ban’s spokesperson cited new World Bank figures showing that, in the last month alone, the closing of nearly 3,200 businesses in Gaza has left over 65,000 people unemployed.

“If what is left of Gaza’s economy is allowed to collapse, poverty levels, already affecting an estimated two-thirds of households, will rise further and the people of Gaza will become near totally aid-dependent,” the statement added.

Mr. Ban is calling for the Karni crossing to be opened immediately to allow commercial imports and exports to pass through, as well as the Rafah crossing, so that over 4,000 Palestinians stranded in Egypt can re-enter Gaza.

The spokesperson said that next week’s Quartet meeting—the first since former British Prime Minister Tony Blair was appointed late last month as its new Representative – “comes at a crucial moment” and offers a forum “to discuss the way forward to advance the cause of peace in the Middle East. ”

The statement added that the Quartet principals, including the Secretary General, will confer with Blair on how best to help the Palestinian Authority build its institutions and economy, “which are vital for the creation of a viable Palestinian state.”

Quartet principals last met face-to-face in Berlin at the end of May, but since then they have held talks by conference call after the eruption of intra-Palestinian violence, especially in the Gaza Strip, last month.

The preceding story combined two press releases issued by the United Nations. For more on the Quartet meeting, see News Sleuths below

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SALEM, Massachusetts—Almost everybody in Israel and many people throughout the world have a Shimon Peres story. I'm no different. So here's mine.

Peres will become president of Israel on Sunday, making almost everybody in Israel happy that a person of well-tested honesty and integrity, proven intelligence and proud Zionism will be assuming that important, though largely ceremonial, office.

I figure that 60 percent of Israeli voters have voted for Peres for one office or another. And that 60 percent of the voters have voted for his opponents.

And they all have their own stories because of all the meetings and events Peres has attended over 60 years at the Knesset, at kibbutzim, in schools and community centers, Labor Party offices, city halls, bar mitzvahs and weddings, funerals, plus all the personal hospitality he and his wife, Sonya, have extended.

And don't think he just popped in for an obligatory speech. In Israel, meetings are interminable. Everybody exercises the inalienable right to speak truth to power.

Not only has Shimon Peres survived all that, he apparently revels in it. Patience and perseverance, willingness to listen, remembering people's names and interests, following up on promises, this is the stuff of his popularity, as well as his enduring advocacy of social justice and peace.

Here's the condensed version of his remarkable 60-year governmental career: Key administrator in the building of Israel's defense, aircraft and nuclear facilities; prime minister twice; minister with various portfolios, including defense, foreign affairs, immigrant absorption, finance and transportation. Plus vital contributions to peace treaties with Egypt and Jordan. Nobel laureate, seven books to his credit and the establishment of an international peace institute.

He's 83 years old — looks 63, with the energy of a 43-year old. Good man; good genes.

My Peres story: Early in the 1980s, I met Shimon's youngest son, Yoni. Both of us ran one-man gardening businesses. But Yoni, an agricultural school graduate, knew what he was doing. I, after three years of working in a kibbutz orchard, knew a lot about avocadoes and citrus, but little about lawns, shrubs or flowers.

We became friends, and soon I was helping Yoni on his larger jobs. (Today Yoni is a veterinary surgeon.)

I was invited to a Passover seder at his parents' home, a modest apartment in Ramat Aviv.

The next year I was invited again. But this seder took place at the prime minister's residence in Jerusalem because Yoni's father was now prime minister under a Likud-Labor coalition arrangement.

What is a Passover seder like at the Israeli Prime Minister's residence? Not unlike seders at the average American Jewish home. There were fewer than 25 people, Shimon leading the service, with kippot, but not so Orthodox that people leaned to the left or went on talking past midnight. Nor did the PM compose four modern questions or sing, "We Shall Overcome." Mrs. Peres and a daughter served the food, a child cried once or twice.

The first time around the table participants read the Haggadah in Hebrew. When it was my turn again, the prime minister said, much to my relief — my Hebrew was never very good — "Burt, if you wish, you may read in English."

After dinner, I found myself sitting with the prime minister and a woman family friend. I always thought one of my strengths was my professorial ability to ask questions. But I couldn't ask about politics during this serene religious holiday. Other questions that came to mind were either too dumb or inappropriate, like "How was your last trip to Washington?" or "Read a good book lately?"

Try it. What would you say to your favorite among all the US presidents on Christmas Day at the White House?
So the three of us passed a few words and had a mini-séance of sorts that lasted what seemed to be an extraordinarily long time.

That night, I thought, "It's OK to be tired and quiet, not to talk, to just rest your brain in the moment, particularly if that's what a prime minister wants to do."

Now, just days before he is to be sworn in, I say on behalf of my family and myself, and I suspect every reader of this newspaper, "Mazel tov, Mr. President, may you and Israel move forward in good health and strength, for justice and peace."

Britain's journalists union drops Israel boycott

LONDON (Press Release)—The National Union of Journalists (NUJ) in the United Kingdom has decided to cancel its controversial boycott of Israeli products. An NUJ statement released on Tuesday, July 10, said the union’s National Executive Committee had “called for members to unite behind the union’s key workplace priorities” as opposed to boycotting Israel. The statement went on to say the NUJ “unanimously backed a motion drawing a line under the row over the Israeli boycott call.”

The motion, tabled by general secretary Jeremy Dear and NUJ president Michelle Stanistreet, recognized the concerns expressed by some members and branches about the proposed boycott and the NUJ resolved “to take no further action” over the boycott call. The original boycott motion was passed by 66 votes to 54 at the NUJ’s annual delegates meeting in Birmingham in April. It caused a large amount of upset with numerous journalists and academics speaking out against the idea.

Other British trades unions have, however, continued to back boycotts of Israeli products in protest against what they see as harsh policies of the Israeli government against the Palestinians, prompting accusations of racism and anti-Semitism. The NUJ dismissed suggestions of this. “The motion also rejected firmly any allegations that the union was anti-Semitic or racist and reaffirmed the union’s commitment to fighting racism in all its forms,” a statement said.

The preceding story was provided by the World Jewish Congress

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Austria's government adds to the reward for the
capture of the two most wanted Nazi fugitives

JERUSALEM (Press Release) —The Simon Wiesenthal Center welcomed the announcement made public today by the Austrian Justice Ministry on its official website, that it was offering the sum of 50,000 euros for information which would lead to the capture of the number one and number two "Most Wanted" escaped Nazi war criminals Alois Brunner and Dr.Aribert Heim.

Brunner, who was last seen alive in 2001 in Syria, where he has enjoyed the full protection of the Syrian government for decades, was responsible for the deportation to death camps of 128,500 Jews from Austria [47,000], Greece [44,000], France [23,500], and Slovakia [14,000]. Heim, whose current whereabouts are unknown but is presumed to be living in Spain or South America, murdered hundreds of inmates of the Mauthausen concentration camp by injecting phenol into their hearts.

In early 2006, the Center's chief Nazi-hunter, Israel director, Dr. Efraim Zuroff, met in Vienna with the Austrian ministers of justice and the interior to ask the Austrian government to match the prize of 130,000 euros being offered by the German government for information leading to the capture of Heim which the Wiesenthal Center had matched. Thus the Austrian prize brings the reward being offered for information which will facilitate the arrest of Heim to a total of 310,000 euros.

Zuroff noted that in the past financial rewards offered for assistance in the capture of Nazi war criminals had proven critical, as in the case of notorious camp commander Josef Schwammberger whose arrest in Argentina was facilitated by a similar reward offered by the German government.

According to Zuroff:

"We congratulate the Austrian authorities for joining in the important efforts to bring these leading Nazi war criminals to justice and hope that the added prize money will help make the difference in their apprehension. The passage of time in no way diminishes the crimes committed by Brunner and Heim and therefore their prosecution remains just as important, if not even more important, today than it would have been years ago."

DELMAR, N.Y— For the 21^st consecutive year, The Bronfman Youth Fellowships in Israel has selected a group of 26 high school students to be Bronfman Fellows. The Bronfman Fellows participate in an intensive five-week program of study and travel in Israel designed to develop future community leaders committed to Jewish unity. The program is funded by The Samuel Bronfman Foundation (TSBF).

This year’s Bronfman Fellows were selected from 12 U.S. states and Canada, following a rigorous application process. They represent diverse Jewish backgrounds including Orthodox, Conservative, Reform, Reconstructionist, unaffiliated and other. Traveling throughout Israel, the Fellows participate in seminars and dialogues with diverse rabbinic faculty. Fellows also spend a week with a group of Israeli peers who have been chosen through a parallel selection process as part of our Israeli Youth Fellowship, Amitei Bronfman. Bronfman Youth Fellows are asked to do 40 hours of community service when returning home after the summer.

“The Samuel Bronfman Foundation is committed to programs that make Judaism relevant to young Jews from all backgrounds,” said TSBF Managing Director Adam R. Bronfman. “Bronfman Fellows gain a special opportunity to explore their Jewish identity in fresh ways. The Bronfman Youth Fellowships in Israel offers a powerful experience that, as 20 years of success show, can last a lifetime.”

This year’s youth fellows are: Eliot Abrams of Oak Park, Ill; Ari Atkins of Montclair, N.J.; Samy Belfer of Manalapan, N.J.; Alison Fitch of El Cerrito, Calif.; Gabriel Frieden of Cambridge, Mass.; Eliana Tair Roberts Golding of Paxton, Mass.; Roberta Goldman of Woodcliff Lake, N.J.; Edie Hannah Joseph of Gainesville, Fla.; Rebekah Judson of Poughkeesie, N.Y.; Elyssa Rose Kaplan of Bogart, Ga.; Eitan Lefkowitz of Baltimore, Md.; Arielle Lewis or Thornhill, Ontario; Noah Lindefeld of Woodmere, N.Y.; Yasha Magarik of Brooklyn, N.Y.; Julie Meyer of Mount Vernon, N.Y.; Hody Nemes of St. Louis, Mo.; Gabe Paley of N.Y., N.Y.; Hannah Rabinowitz of Albuquerque, N.M.; Ben Schenkel of Allentown, Pa., Daniel Smith of Centennial, Colo.; Dalia Terry of N.Y., N.Y.; Anya van Wagtendonk of Great Barrington, Mass.; Isaac Wilder of Overland Park, Kan.; Jordan Yadoo of East Williston, N.Y.; Cody Yudkoff of Englewood, N.J., and Yoel Zinkow of Bexley, Ohio. Here is a link to biographical sketches about each of them.

The preceding story was provided by the Bronfman Youth Fellowships in Israel (BYFI)

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PETA denounces practice at kosher slaughterhouse

POSTVILLE, Iowa (Press Release)—The animal rights group PETA has said America's largest kosher meat company does not treat animals properly before slaughtering them. PETA released a new video showing that AgriProcessors, which produces the ‘Aaron's Best’ line of kosher meats, has not followed through on its pledge to shoot with a gun any cow that appeared to be alive after it had been through the kosher slaughtering process.

AgriProcessors came under fire in 2004 when PETA released a video it had filmed at a slaughterhouse in Postville, Iowa, showing gruesome footage of cows flailing about after they had had their throats slit in accordance with the practice in kosher ritual slaughter. After the video was released, the AgriProcessors agreed to reform its work practices, but PETA now claims that the company has broken that agreement.

"It is extremely disappointing to find that three years later AgriProcessors still can't slaughter without horrible abuse of the animals involved," Bruce Friedrich, PETA's vice president of international grassroots campaigns, told the weekly magazine ‘Forward’. Attorney Nathan Lewin, who has defended AgriProcessors in the past, said the new video "proves that PETA is out to destroy or make unlawful" kosher slaughter, according to the magazine’s report.

The preceding story was provided by the World Jewish Congress

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At the very least, vegan food is kosher

SEATTLE, Washington—Eating Vegan style must be an art. If so, it’s one I haven’t mastered yet. In fact, as my wife commented to me, “If this is healthy for you, count me out.”

It was a Jewish wedding in the park in the University District of Seattle that brought us to the Great Northwest. The marriage of my second cousin on my Dad’s side was special because the two kids paid for it all by themselves. Both are Vegans, which seemingly means they don’t eat anything that has ever walked this planet or is made of products from animals, fish or fowl.

As a result, we were treated to a five course, sit down Vegan meal at the Hot Dish Restaurant on 45 Street, N.W. Seattle. The couple had taken over the entire restaurant for their wedding meal.

The dinner started innocently enough with Tortilla chips with handmade salsa verde and guacamole as well as a pickled vegetable salad, such as it was. The guacamole was very spiced and we marveled at its consistency since no sour cream had been used to create it. At any rate, it looked good. The pickled salad was comprised of section of corn on the cob, a few asparagus and some mushy celery. There was no evidence of pickling.

The second course was then served. It consisted of bean chimichangas and tutu. The chimichangas were dough covered black beans, good for one bite. It was after that one taste that my wife asked me where we would be going for dinner after the wedding celebration. The rabbi’s wife offered a piece of advice. She suggested Dick’s, a 50's styled drive-in diner up the road a piece.

Mindful of our loving family connection, I dutifully sampled the sauteed nopales, but have no idea what I was tasting. Fortunately there was an abundance of wine at our table. Red or white, at that point, it didn’t seem to matter.

The roasted eggplant and alcachos asadas were served for a third course. The eggplant was piquantly spiced and I had a small second helping. The dry roasted artichokes were inedible.

For the main course, a sweet potato mole with tortillas, white rice and whole pinto-beans was set down before us. The mole was a stew of sorts made up of sweet potatoes and avocado paste. Is your mouth watering yet?

This was the third course serving of beans. True they were white this time, but still they were beans. Virtually, the entire meal was made up of carbohydrates, no wonder the proprietor, who waited tables in his shorts, was on the obese side.

How could any of this be healthy, my wife coughed to me? But it was all kosher, the reform rabbi’s wife to my left whispered.

For dessert, a carrot cake with butter cream icing (made from avocado paste since no butter is allowed) was presented. The bride and groom cut their wedding cake with something bordering on relish. We all could hardly wait to sample it. Actually, it was the best part of the entire wedding meal, except for the speeches.

For a true Vegan dining experience the next time you are in Seattle, try the Hot Dish. For an after wedding hamburger, visit Dick’s. They are both on 45th Street, N.W.

Argentina to mark AMIA bombing's 13th anniversary

BUENOS AIRES (Press Release)—Argentineans are to mark the 13th anniversary of the bombing of the AMIA Jewish community center in the capital Buenos Aires. AMIA and Argentina's central Jewish political organization, DAIA, have arranged for radio and television stations and police cars to sound a siren at 9:53 a.m. on Wednesday, July 18, the moment the attack took place.

The preceding story was provided by the World Jewish Congress.

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ENGLEWOOD, N.J—One of the most common errors in describing the magnitude of the Shoah is the number of people who died. Figures range from 50 million to 11 million, a reflection of a fundamental misunderstanding of the uniqueness of this catastrophe. The use of 11 million is a particularly egregious historical distortion as it equates the destruction of the Jews of Europe with that of the others who were murdered.

We study the Shoah to understand what transpired, why it happened and what it tells us about the attitude of Western civilization toward Jews and other minorities living in the West. It is not a contest to see which group suffered the most or sustained the greatest numerical losses.

If we are to learn from history, we must be concerned about objective truth, with transmitting what actually ensued and not allowing those with their own particular agenda or ignorance to obscure our understanding of what occurred. Distinguishing between different historical events does not, and should not, lessen or demean the suffering of others.

When we refer to the Holocaust, we mean the systematic bureaucratically administered destruction by the Nazis and their collaborators of six million Jews during the Second World War. The Jews were found "guilty" only because they were viewed inaccurately as a race. The Nazi state orchestrated the attempted mass murder of every person with at least three Jewish grandparents.

Millions of civilians and soldiers were killed as a consequence of war. Communists, political and religious leaders were eliminated because they were viewed as a potential threat to the Nazis. When the Nazis murdered approximately 10,000 Polish intelligentsia, in 1939-1940, and Polish Catholic priesthood in western Poland, for example, they were trying to prevent these groups from becoming a political and spiritual force that could unite the country against them. Similarly, when the Nazis murdered more than two and one-half million Soviet prisoners of war, they were killing a military force that had fought them on the field of battle.

European Jews, on the other hand, were the only people marked for complete destruction. To the Nazi leadership, the Jews were a satanic force that controlled both the East and the West and, posed a physical threat to the German nation. There was no way to stop this alleged international Jewish conspiracy from gaining total control of the world, the Nazis reasoned, except to physically destroy every Jewish man, woman, and child. Failure to do so, Hitler believed, "would not lead to a Versailles treaty but the final destruction, indeed, to the annihilation of the German people."

When the executioners questioned their superiors about the need to kill every Jewish woman and child, Heinrich Himmler, head of the SS, claimed that he would not have been "justified in getting rid of the men-in having them put to death, in other words—only to allow their children to grow up to avenge themselves on our sons and grandsons. We have to make up our minds, hard though it may be, that this race must be wiped off the face of the earth."

For a number of reasons, we do not know the exact number of Jews who were killed. German historian Wolfgang Benz posits that there were 6,269,027, which is more than earlier studies by Jewish scholars. Six Million is the most accurate term and acceptable.

The Nazis also annihilated a minimum of 300,000 Sinti and Roma from Germany, the Baltic region, Ukraine, Croatia and Serbia, although the precise number cannot be determined. Many thousands of others were also killed: the physically and mentally disabled, homosexuals, Jehovah's Witnesses, socialists, communists, trade unionists, and political and religious dissidents.

None of these groups, however, were the primary target of the Nazis—not the mentally disabled, who were killed in the euthanasia centers in Germany (here it is to be noted that the Nazis did not export this program to the civilian populations outside the Reich; not the homosexuals, who were regarded as social deviants but for whom the Nazis did not have a consistent policy (homosexuals were persecuted only in the Reich and in areas annexed to it but not in countries the Germans occupied); not the Gypsies, who were partly seen as "asocial" aliens and Aryans within society and therefore did not have to be annihilated completely; and not the Jehovah's Witnesses, who had refused to swear allegiance to Hitler and who declined to serve in the German army, but who were not marked for extinction; in fact, only a small number were incarcerated in the camps, and most of them were German nationals. The Nazis also did not single out every socialist, communist, trade unionist, or dissident—just those they perceived as a threat to the Reich. The Jews alone were the primary target of the Nazis.

When we use 11 million or any other number than the Six Million to describe the Shoah, we are distorting the historical record. We trivialize the importance of this unprecedented event in modern history, minimize the experiences of all those who suffered and prevent a legitimate understanding of its causes and its universal implications for Western society.

The stakes are too high to misrepresent history for as Richard Rubenstein accurately noted, "Auschwitz has enlarged our conception of the state's capacity to do violence. A barrier has been overcome in what for millennia had been regarded as the permissible limits of political action.” Our continued interest and fascination with the Nazi period should keep us vigilant Jacob Talmon observed for "it is entirely possible that this is the end that awaits many races and nations -- maybe all of them. And the Jews will then prove to have been the first victim of this new experiment."

An historian Dr. Grobman’s works include Battling for Souls: The Vaad Hatzala Rescue Committee in Post War Europe; Denying History: Who Says The Holocaust Never Happened? and Nations United: How the UN is Undermining Israel and the West.
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DVAR TORAH: Mattos-Maasei

When two businessmen took in a Silent Partner

SAN DIEGO—The Jewish people prepared for their journeys and ultimate conquest of the Land of Israel. It was a scary proposition, but they must follow Hashem's (G-d's) directives with faith and purity, and He would take care of the rest. Indeed, Hashem gave them Divine protection and success in their endeavors. The following true story bears out this very principle:

There were two partners in the Jewish community in Aleppo, Syria, a century ago. It seems that one of them had started a business of dealing in antiques and other discarded items. After a few years in business, it became abundantly clear to him that he would never be able to make a go of the business on his own. The business required capital investment and cash, and he did not have the money to make a success of it.

He thereupon decided to take in a partner to help him in the business. He took on a trusted and dear friend and they worked diligently together to help the business expand so that they would be able to feed their families from the profits of the endeavor.

But, alas, the new partner also did not have money or capital means and the business soon tottered on the brink of bankruptcy. So the two partners decided that their only
salvation was to bring into the business a third partner, one who had money to invest in the business and provide it with sufficient capitalization to allow it to grow and prosper. One of the partners was delegated to search for such a new partner, while the other remained to continue running the business.

Before embarking on the search for the partner who would save the business, the man repaired to the synagogue to ask for Divine aid in finding this new partner. In the midst of his prayers, he was struck by a startling thought. He said to the Lord: "Why should I search for another partner, when you, O G-d, are the perfect partner for us? You will be our third partner, and Your share of the profits will be distributed for the support of the worthy Torah scholars and institutions of Aleppo." Delighted with his deal, he rushed back to his partner to tell him the great news.

"By your facial expression I see that you found us a new partner," his partner said. "But tell me, is this partner reliable?" "He is most reliable and has never failed anyone as of yet," was the excited answer. "Does he have money for our business?" asked the suspicious partner. "Money! He has unlimited funds and can finance any endeavor," came the response. "Who is he?" asked the partner. "I cannot describe the new partner to you, nor can I give you his name. His only request is that the one-third share of the profits that is rightfully due him be distributed to the Torah scholars and institutions of Aleppo," was his answer.

The partner mulled the matter over and then agreed to the new partner, unknown though he was. Miraculously, the business took a great good turn of fortune and the two partners became wealthy and kept their end of the bargain, always supporting the scholars and institutions of Torah in Aleppo.

Dedicated by Avrohom & Basha in memory of her parents Shlomo Boruch ben Avrohom Zev & Bryna bas Yisroel. Also dedicated by Aryeh & Rena Greenberg to a Refuah Shelaimah for Etta Sarah bas Devorah, and Yonah Nosson Ezra Halevi ben Chana Sheva.

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 and we'll acknowledge your tip at the end of the column. To see a source story click on the link within the respective paragraph.

*California's two Democratic U.S. Senators, Barbara Boxer and Dianne Feinstein, teamed up to insert language in a Senate Appropriations Committee bill to eliminate a 22-year-old ban on subway construction beneath Los Angeles' busy Wilshire Boulevard. Originally methane gas was considered a hazard in the area, but the senators are convinced that no longer would present a problem. The story is in today's Los Angeles Times.

*Dr. Bronner's Magic Soapbox seems a perfect title for a documentary about a man who is both a soap-maker and likes to give speeches about virtues and values. But Emanuel Bronner, a German Jew who immigrated to the United States prior to the Nazi era, is many ways seems eccentric, reviewer Kevin Crust reports in today's Los Angeles Times.

*Attorney Sara Caplan, compelled to take the witness stand to avoid being jailed for contempt, testified in the Phil Spector murder trial that a forensic expert for the defense team, Dr. Henry Lee, picked up an item about the size of a fingernail at the scene of the shooting. Whatever it was, it wasn't turned over to the prosecution. The Copley News service story by Matt Krasnowski is in today's San Diego Union-Tribune.

*U.S. Rep. Steve Cohen (Democrat, Tennessee) is one of the Democrats on the House Judiciary Committee who voted in a 7-5 party line vote to bring contempt of Congress proceedings against Harriet Miers, the one time White House counsel. "What we've got here is an empty chair," he said. "I mean, that is as contemptuous as anybody can be of the government, of the process, of the country." The story by Richard B. Schmitt is in today's Los Angeles Times.

*S. Ward Cascells, assistant secretary of defense for health affairs, has told a subcommittee headed by U.S. Rep. Susan Davis (Democrat, San Diego) that he doesn't believe the Pentagon needs more money for mental health programs for soldiers. However, he did suggest that medical records, like a soldier's discussion with a chaplain, me bade confidential. The Copley News Service story by Paul Krawzak is in today's San Diego Union-Tribune. |

*First San Diego County District Attorney Bonnie Dumanis ruled that Sheriff's Deputy Mark Ritchie was justified when he fatally shot Jorge Ramirez in 2005. Now, the state Attorney General's office has ruled that Dumanis acted properly—and did not abuse her authority—when she so ruled. The story by Greg Moran is in today's San Diego Union-Tribune.

*Former astronaut Scott 'Doc' Horowitz, who has been in charge of NASA's Exploration Systems Mission Directorate, is leaving the agency in October. The Associated Press story is in a package of briefs in today's San Diego Union-Tribune.

*Lebanese forces poured gunfire into the Nahr Al-Bared Palestinian refugee camp in northern Lebanon which Fatah al-Islam forces have turned into a stronghold. The group has been engaged in a campaign to take over all the semi-autonomous Palestinian refugee camps in Lebanon and to turn them into staging areas for war on Israel. The Washington Post brief is in today's San Diego Union-Tribune.

*The nomination by President George W. Bush of Deputy U.S. Attorney Thomas O'Brien to step up to the U.S. Attorney's position is proving popular with the legal community. Loyola Law School Prof. Laurie Levenson says O'Brien, who currently is chief of the U.S. Attorney's criminal division, has a wonderful reputation. The story by Joe Mozingo is in today's Los Angeles Times.

*Playwright Arthur Miller was working on a variety of short stories before his death. They've been packaged in a slim book published by Viking Press. A review by Scott Eyman of the Copley News Service is in today's San Diego Union-Tribune.

*Mohammed Sufi, a Hamas operative said to be one of the kidnappers of Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit, has been captured by the Israel Defense Forces and the Shin Bet, according to a Y-Net story by Hanan Greenberg.

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News Sleuths: Re: Tony Blair

Watching the media gathering and reporting the news of Jewish interest

Date: July 13, 2007
Time: 12:41p.m. Washington DC time
Place: U.S. State Department
Spokesman: Tom Casey, deputy spokesman for Sec'y of State Condoleezza Rice
Source: State Department transcript
Subject: Quartet meeting

QUESTION: Well, maybe you can enlighten as to the Quartet meeting status since the UN seems to have come out and said that Secretary General Ban will be attending one in Lisbon on the 19th.

MR. CASEY: Well, enlightenment is a hard thing to come by in this building sometimes. But I did just check with her office and I can now confirm that what the UN Secretary General spokesman said --

QUESTION: He's not lying.

MR. CASEY: -- is true. There will, in fact -- we understand now there will, in fact, be a Quartet meeting on the 19th in Lisbon. It will be an opportunity for the ministers to follow up on some of the work that's been done by the envoys, including -- at the envoy level, including at their meeting this past week in London. And I do understand as the statement from the Secretary General's office says that Tony Blair will, in fact, be there and that will certainly be the first opportunity for the Quartet envoys collectively to talk with him and talk a little bit about the role and mission he's going to be playing for them.

QUESTION: So before -- more questions on the meeting -- does this mean that we can assume that the Secretary's other stop on the trip of the increasingly dwindling itinerary is still on?

MR. CASEY: You could assume that as we said yesterday the intention at this point is to go to both Lisbon and to Ghana for her to participate in the AGOA meeting.

Yeah, Kirit.

QUESTION: Is the U.S. in conversation with the Europeans as to Tony Blair's mandate and what his role's going to be? There were I think ten European foreign ministers who wrote an open letter to Tony Blair in Le Monde on Monday and they seemed to encourage him to take a larger role in negotiating between the Israelis and Palestinians.

MR. CASEY: Well, I think the Quartet statement issued previously when we announced this gave a general idea of what his mandate and role intends to be. I know there have been some additional discussions about that at the envoys level at their recent meeting. And I'm sure they'll have an opportunity to discuss some of the specifics of how his mission will operate and how he will function as the Quartet's envoy. But I think the mandate that's been provided by the Quartet on this is pretty clear and, again, I think it's -- what that mandate is is extremely important. It's a prerequisite for a Palestinian state to have functioning Palestinian institutions and it's certainly a prerequisite to have a Palestinian state that serves the interest of its people and that functions well. So I think that's a fairly substantial mandate to begin with.

Certainly, Prime Minister Blair -- former Prime Minister Blair -- is a respected world leader with tremendous authority and someone who as the President says when he speaks people listen to him. So I'm sure the ministers and others will be happy to listen to whatever advice he has. But I believe the mandate that he's been given by the Quartet is fairly clear. It's a very substantial and important role and I know it's one he looks forward to playing.

QUESTION: Have any of the European countries approached the U.S. with an effort to expand that mandate?

MR. CASEY: Not that I'm aware of. But of course the EU and the EU countries are represented in -- as part -- they are part of the Quartet and certainly if there is a EU view on this issue that is different than what the EU signed on to at the time the mandate was given, I'm sure that their representatives will be happy to make that case. But it's not something that's been raised with us as far as I know.

QUESTION: Were you able to check to see if Mr. Blair would be having any talks pre-Lisbon with the Secretary or --

MR. CASEY: I did and he's not scheduled to meet with anyone here.

QUESTION: Okay. And then do you know -- as far as you know, is the mandate -- I'm assuming from what you said before but I just want to make sure. The mandate issue for the United States is settled and this is not something that's going to be brought up at the meeting in Lisbon.

MR. CASEY: Again, the mandate as I understand it is what was put forward in the Quartet's statement and I'm not aware of any desire on anyone's part at this point, before he's even begun that work, to change it.

QUESTION: Except for the letter that was signed by the ten --

MR. CASEY: Well, again, I'm referring to the members of the Quartet. And at this point I have -- there has been no discussion that I'm aware among the members of the Quartet to, again, decide to change, expand or alter the mandate of someone who has a very important job to play and who's yet to even begin that work.

QUESTION: Okay.

MR. CASEY: Yeah.

QUESTION: But you still think he shouldn't speak directly to Hamas?

MR. CASEY: I -- we're exactly where we were on that subject, yes.

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Click the ad above to go to the "I'm there for you baby" website

AROUND THE TOWN—Talk about your busy households. Three days ago Dr. Karl Jacobs swam the Catalina Channel in about 10 hours, becoming the 134th recorded swimmer to do so. Today, he and his family began moving to a new home in the University City area. And in three months, he and Audrey Jacobs are expecting their third son. To top it off, Audrey is the admissions director for the Soille San Diego Hebrew Day School.

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Unless otherwise indicated, source for these stories is today's edition of The San Diego Union-Tribune, to which we gratefully provide the links below. We do not apply halacha to determine if a player is Jewish; rather, if he or she has a Jewish parent or has converted to the faith, we count him or her as a member of our community.

Jewish owners making more news than players

BASEBALL—Florida Marlins owner David Samson responded to rumors that Ichiro Suzuki's contract might be extended for five years for $100 million by the Seattle Mariners by saying such a figure would be "complete mismanagement" and a "joke. That drew a rejoinder from Mariners President Chuck Armstrong that his team has never criticized the management of another team, no matter what their personal thoughts might be. ... Mark Cuban, owner of the Dallas Mavericks basketball franchise, will be among the bidders seeking to purchase baseball's Chicago Cubs. ...

Kevin Youkilis of the Boston Red Sox begins baseball season's second half with a batting average of .325, good for seventh place among the American League's batting leaders. In Thursday's 7-4 Red Sox victory over the Toronto Blue Jays, Youkilis walked and was credited with his 48th RBI, and also was responsible for a single handed double play... Shawn Green's return to regular Mets from the All-Star break was inauspicious. While the Mets defeated the Cincinnati Reds 3-2 on Thursday, Green could muster no better than a walk in four trips to the plate. He was stranded on the base baths.

Lightning strikes Blue Sox, pennant race tightens

TEL AVIV (Press Release)— The Tel Aviv Lightning pulled within a half-game of the Bet Shemesh Blue Sox with a 5-0 Lighting victory on Friday. It turned into a heated game after two collisions at home plate in which Bet Shemesh catcher Scott Jarmakowicz somehow managed to hold onto the ball in both collisions and then exchanged words with the Tel Aviv bench.

But no matter what Jarmakowicz said it wasn't enough to get any offense going against Lighting hurler Aaron Pribble of San Francisco, California. Pribble dominated the Sox in a complete game, scattering five hits while striking out 11 and walking two batters to improve to a league-best 4-0 with a 0.71 ERA. Tel Aviv centerfielder Bryan Langbord of Atlanta, Georgia went 2-for-3, putting the game away in the sixth with a three-run homerun as Tel Aviv improves to 10-3.

For the second day in a row it took a homerun derby to decide an IBL game, but this time it was the last-place Petach Tikva Pioneers beating the Netanya Tigers 2-1. The Tigers' Matt Comiter and the Pioneers' Andrew Morales both pitched a solid game, allowing just one run apiece. Netanya scored first in the fourth when centerfielder
Josh Doane, who went 2-for-3, tripled before he was brought in on a sac fly from New York native Dan Rootenberg.

Pioneers leftfielder Ryan Crotin raised his average to .357 with a 3-for-3 day, including an RBI double in the sixth inning that tied the score. Crotin also hit two homers in the homerun derby as Petach Tikva won the derby 3-1 and snapped its nine-game losing streak.

Meanwhile at Gezer Field, the Modi'in Miracle held off the Ra'anana Express in the final inning to take the 6-4 victory. The win puts manager Art Shamsky's club within 2.5 games of the first-place Blue Sox.

Modi'in first baseman Aaron Levin led the way with a 3-for-3 day and three RBI, including a two-run shot in the third. Miracle pitcher Matt Bennett of Australia threw a complete game, giving up six hits,three earned runs and striking out ten batters while walking two.

Summaries:
                          1   2   3   4   5   6   7   R   H   E
Bet Shemesh      0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0    5    2
Tel Aviv               0   1   0   0   1   3   x   5   10   0
W: Aaron Pribble (4-0); L: Rafael Bergstrom (3-1); HR: Bryan Langbord (2)

                          1   2   3   4   5   6   7    HR   R   H   E
Netanya              0   0   0   1   0   0   0     1     1   10   0
Petach Tikva      0   0   0   0   0   1   0     3     2    5    1
HR: None.
                         1   2   3   4   5   6   7     R   H   E
Ra'anana            1   0   0   0   0   3   0     4    6   0
Modi'in              0   1   2   2   1   0   x     6    8   0
W: Matt Bennett (3-0); L: Joshua Zumbrun (0-3); HR: Aaron Levin (4),
Dan Drori (1)

Standings:
                        Wins    Losses PCT     GB      Home    Away Last 10    Streak
Bet Shemesh     11          3      .786        -        6-1          5-2         7-3       L1
Tel Aviv           10          3      .769      0.5       4-0          6-3         8-2       W2
Modi'in              8           5      .615      2.5       6-3          2-2         7-3       W3
Netanya             4           7      .364      5.5       3-1          1-6         4-6        L2
Ra'anana            5          10     .333      6.5       3-5          2-5         4-6        L2
Petach Tikva      2          12     .143      9.0       1-7          1-5         1-9       W1

Sunday night at 6:00 pm the Netanya Tigers visit the Petach Tikva Pioneers
at Yarkon Field on Arutz Sport5. At 5:00 pm the Bet Shemesh Blue Sox
and the Modi'in Miracle play at Gezer Field while the Tel Aviv
Lightning host the Ra'anana Express at Sportek Field.