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The Jewish Grapevine
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May 2007
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| CONGREGATIONAL CURRENTS—The dust as land is being cleared for Temple Emanu-El's new sanctuary is no problem for Rabbi Martin Lawson and about 35 congregants. They have been traveling in Eastern Europe. The combination sanctuary/ social hall is not expected to be completed for another year, and in the meantime the Reform congregation has been meeting for Shabbat services at the large United Methodist Church overlooking Mission Valley from Camino del Rio South. When worship returns to Temple Emanu-El in the Del Cerro area, the congregants will have another large space awaiting them. The new sanctuary when combined with the new social hall will be capable of seating between 650 and |
 |
| 750 people. | April 30 construction at Temple Emanu-El |
COMMUNITY ROUNDUP—The Jewish Community Foundation of San Diego has
been honored with a Kaleidoscope Award for Exceptional Governance by the School
of Leadership and Education Sciences at the University of San Diego. Liz Shear,
director of USD's Institute for Nonprofit Governance, described JCF as "an
impeccable organization and a credit to the San Diego community. The Board
brings precision, rigor and excellence to bear in its governance processes and
practices." Marjory Kaplan, CEO of the Foundation, responded: "We believe
the Foundation's role as a fiduciary requires top-notch governance, and it is a
responsibility that we take very seriously." ...
Martin Kornfeld and Gene Siegel have won plaudits for their recent
donations to the Jewish Family Service's College Avenue Senior Center.
Activities coordinator Elissa Landsman noted in a recent news letter
that Kornfeld donated funds for the refurbishment and upgrading of the center's
hospitality cart. Siegel provided an additional television for the center's
audio/visual program.
CYBER-TREASURES—So what did Hillel Mazansky find today? He
forwarded a
video demonstration of a system
developed in Israel to get people out of tall office buildings..
(return to top)
Wednesday, May 2
RECOMMENDED READING—Morris Kuritsky was
impressed by an article by Ruth King in Outpost, the publication of
Americans for a Safe Israel, entitled "Kosovo—A Cautionary Tale." You may follow
this link to
that publication, then scroll down to Page 3.
COMING
SOON—Olga Worm, longtime member of the National Council of Jewish Women,
reports that she and her husband Oscar expect to be back in the barbecue
restaurant and catering business by June. Formerly the owners of Bekkers
Barbecue, they now are opening West Coast Barbecue which she says will be a
place "where the west will meet the coast" gastronomically speaking.
Besides western barbecue dishes, there will be such favorites as you might find
on the coast, including pizza with salmon and various vegetarian dishes.
And, she added, "we're thinking of having special kosher barbecues on Monday
nights." The restaurant to be, now undergoing renovations, will be at 6126 Lake
Murray Blvd in La Mesa.
IN MEMORY—George Shulman, who died in a hospice of heart and
kidney problems in March, was the subject of a tribute that appeared in the May
issue of Pathfinder, the news letter of Temple Solel. Connie & Len
Robin recalled him as the "thin, gray haired man, usually wearing a sweater,
giving you a prayerbook and telling you, 'You look terrific." Besides ushering,
Shulman was a real estate maven, helping find the property on which the Reform
congregation built its home and helping Temple Solel find the church buyer for
its old property.
(return to top)
Thursday, May 3
*StandWithUs has issued what it
describes as a point-by-point refutation of anti-Israel commentary in
former U.S. President Jimmy Carter's book Palestine: Peace Not Apartheid.
Here is
a link to the PDF document
the pro-Israel group has created.
(return to top)
COMMUNITY ROUNDUP—The San Diego Jewish Music Festival
has canceled one of its events: Michael
Philip Davis Presents “As It Is Written,” scheduled for May 15.
All other festival events will continue as previously announced.
POLITICAL SCENE—The Republican Jewish Coalition is looking for summer
interns in Washington D.C. According to the RJC "interns work closely with
staff members on long-term projects as well as other assignments. Our interns
attend hearings, briefings and coalition meetings on the Hill, research issues
and legislation and write for our newsletter and web site." The internship
pays a modest stipend in some circumstances. Applications may be made by
email to Harris Vederman. ... Radio
commentator Michael Medved has recorded an announcement about his
upcoming appearance sponsored by Chabad of La Costa on Wednesday evening,
May 30, at the Lyceum Theatre at Horton Plaza downtown.
Here is a link.
THANK YOU—Kolenu,
the weekly newsletter of Soille San Diego Hebrew
Day School recommended in its current issue that readers go online to see
our San Diego Jewish World. Thank you. We like your publication
too.
(return to top)
Saturday Evening, May 5
AROUND THE TOWN—One of the violinists in the Israel
Contemporary String Quartet, which is appearing at the Vista Library at 1:30
p.m. on Sunday, May 20 and at 7:30 p.m. that same evening at the Lawrence
Family JCC as part of the San Diego Jewish Music Festival, is no stranger to
San Diego. Tali Goldberg attended Soille San Diego Hebrew Day School
during the 1980s when her father Jacob Goldberg was a visiting
professor from Israel affiliated with the Jewish Studies Department. Her
father returns to San Diego on a yearly basis for a lecture series.
BABY-NAMING—Annica
Johanna Udewitz, born Feb. 28 to Cheryl & Matthew Udewitz was named Friday
night, May 4, at Tifereth Israel Synagogue of San Diego in a ceremony in
which both sets of grandparents—Phyllis & Sam Spital of San Diego
and Susan & David Udewitz of Los Angles—participated. Rabbi
Leonard Rosenthal officiated. Annica's vital stats: She weighed 7
pounds, 14 inches and measured 20 inches at birth. She was named in
memory of her maternal great-grandmother Ann Spital and her paternal
great-grandfathers Bertram Jon Allenstein and Joseph Udewitz.
BIRTHDAY BASH—Deborah Szekely, founder of the Golden Door Spas, will
be celebrating her 85th birthday at another of the places she has made
famous, Rancho La Puerta in Tecate, Mexico. Congressman Bob Filner
(D-San Diego) has listed the event on his public appearance calendar.
CAMPUS
WHIRL—San Diego State University graduate students Donald H. Harrison
and Dan Warren were among students who were inducted today into Phi
Alpha Theta, the national history honor society. The ceremony was held
during a luncheon at the 6th Avenue Bistro downtown. From left to right in
the accompanying photo are Dr. Vu Le, faculty advisor, Harrison, Warren, and
Steve Griffin, the outgoing chapter president. Looking over the
certificate, Warren's curiosity was aroused when he noticed that the logo of
the society is a six-pointed star. Could this be a Star of David? The
society's explanation
for the symbolism traces the star not to King David but to the Assyrians.
Harrison, checking out his certificate, noted that it bore the date of May
3, rather than May 5, leading him to conclude he had been a certified
member of the society for two days without even knowing it.
CYBER-JEWISH WORLD—Artist Christian Micoine of Santa Fe, New Mexico
found information on the web about the opening tomorrow of a retrospective
exhibit of the sculpture of Louise Nevelson at New York City's
Jewish Museum. He sent
a link to us in San Diego. Thanks Chris.
(return to top)
SAN DIEGO CLERGY—Jeffrey
Lipschultz is already a rabbi as well as the spiritual leader of Temple Beth
Sholom in Chula Vista, but the smicha he
earned in Israel is not accorded the same deference by his fellow San Diego area
rabbis as they would extend to graduation from one of the recognized Jewish
seminaries. So Lipschultz decided to undertake formal training and be ordained
for the second time by the Academy of Jewish Religion, based in Los Angeles.
Ceremonies at Stephen S. Wise Temple on May 28 will formally confer the status
of rabbi on Lipschultz and 10 others.
Temple Beth Sholom plans its own reception in honor of its "double rabbi" at
12:30 p.m., Sunday, June 10.
*He has officiated at hundreds, if not
thousands of bar/bat
mitzvah ceremonies over his long career, but now Cantor Sheldon Merel,
emeritus chazan of Congregation Beth Israel, is planning to have the second one
of his own. The first bar mitzvah comes at age 13, the second at 83, coinciding
with the 13th birthday after a full life of 70 years. Merel will celebrate
this simcha at 7:30 pm., Friday, May 18 at Congregation Beth Israel in La
Jolla. At left is his original bar mitzvah photo. He really doesn't look
much different today, does he?
POLITICAL SCENE—In a recent issue we reported that Marty Block, president
of the San Diego Community College Board, has the endorsement of former
Assemblyman Howard Wayne for the 78th Assembly District seat in which
Wayne served before being termed out. True enough, but Block also has
received endorsements from three other former Democratic occupants of that seat:
Lucy Killea, Mike Gotch and Dede Alpert. If you added up the time spent by all
four as representatives of the 78th Assembly District, it would be over a
quarter of a century. Another former Democratic occupant of that Assembly
seat is Larry Kapiloff, but he'll probably remain mum about anyone he
might privately favor. Today he's a Superior Court judge.
(return to top)
LOCAL AWARDS—San Diego's Jewish American Chamber of Commerce has
announced the organizations that will receive awards at its upcoming networking
banquet Saturday evening at which San Diego Mayor Jerry Sanders will be the
featured speaker. And the envelopes, please.... Most Active Non-Profit:
The United Jewish Federation. Most Philanthropic Business: Qualcomm.
Most Supportive Bank to Businesses: San Diego National Bank. Most
welcoming to our Community: San Diego National Bank. Cool New Business:
Fresher. Fastest Growing Business: Gepetto's.
SAN
DIEGO-ISRAEL CONNECTIONS—Ellie Adams, president of Temple Beth Sholom,
has been chosen by Legacy Heritage Foundation for a summer program in which she
will attend leadership development sessions in Jerusalem and also spend three
weeks learning Hebrew and Jewish religious subjects at the Conservative Yeahiva.
It will be the immigration attorney's third trip to Israel. She went in
2001 on a solidarity trip, and again last year on a UJF mission.
Ellie Adams
JEWS IN SPORTS—Bruce Lowitt in his San Diego Jewish World debut column below discusses hero worship
for Sandy Koufax. On a similar theme, here is a
video when the boys in
the broadcasting booth praise the fielding of Boston Red Sox first baseman
Kevin Youkilis and vent about the anti-Semitic statements made by movie
producer Mel Gibson.
POLITICAL SCENE—Sheriff Bill Kolender is hosting his fellow sheriffs from
the border regions of the American southwest today and tomorrow in Old Town San
Diego. "The Southwestern
Border Sheriffs’ Coalition was established in 2006 to assist border Sheriffs
from Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, and California, with the protection of lives,
property, and the rights of citizens," a spokesperson said. "Nearly 30 elected
Sheriffs from these four states share a common border with the Republic of
Mexico and a common concern for public safety."
(return to top)
CAMP COUNSELOR JOB OPPORTUNITIES—A number of Jewish camps are looking for
counselors. Among these are: Camp Mountain Chai (www.mountainchai.com),
which has positions for cabin counselors and for specialists in various
activities available for camping sessions July 8-August 20; Camp Gan Shalom (ganshalom@sgpvfed.org)
operated by the Greater San Gabriel and Pomona Valleys’ Jewish Summer Day Camp
(direct your email to Jason Moss); and Camp Young Judaea West (campwest@sdyoungjudaea.org),
which
has openings from June 24-July 13 camp session.
CAMPUS WHIRL—Hillel of San Diego reports to students at San Diego State
ISRAEL MEDICAL ASSOCIATION—Edward S. Beck, president of Scholars for
Peace in the Middle East, reports
the campaign opposing
efforts by British physicians to expel the Israel Medical Association from the
World Medical Association, is gaining steam. Some recent American
physicians who have sent letters of support to the IMA include Dr. George
Fresh of Harvard Medical School; Dr. Carl Grumet, professor emeritus
at Stanford University; Dr. David Siegel, School of Medicine, University
of California Davis; Dr Robert H. Seller, Medical School of the State
University of New York.
(return to top)
AROUND THE TOWN—
CONGREGATIONAL CURRENTS—Tifereth Israel Synagogue will salute Shelley
Abramson at Kabbalat Shabbat services this coming Friday evening, May 11, as
she retires after serving for 15 years as the education director of the
Conservative congregation. She was preceded into retirement by her husband,
Steve Abramson, former executive vice president of the United Jewish
Federation of San Diego County.
CYBER-FUN—Hillel Mazansky, a former South African, came across a slide
show about the area of his native land near Pretoria. If you've ever
wondered why members of our transplanted South African Jewish community
sometimes get so homesick, take a look at this
slide show.
ISRAEL-SAN
DIEGO CONNECTIONS—Kibbutznik Naftali Lahav of Mizra will be teaching two
courses at "College for Kids" that meets over the summer at Palomar College—one
about constructing and playing a one-string guitar; the other about constructing
and playing tree-string harps. The program extends from June 23 through
July 31 and Lahav, obviously entrepreneurial, writes to say he hopes he can do
some private tutoring as well in the fine art of beginning instrument making.
He'll be staying during his visit in Vista at the home of Coleen Odell and
family, with whom he has been corresponding for six months following an on-line
contact. Those seeking to get in touch with Lehav may do so via Odell at
sagehillparrots@aol.com or (760)
727-0669. You can hear him play classical guitar on his
website.
IN MEMORY—Sally Goldman, 95, of Encinitas died Sunday.
A brief
obituary ran in today's San Diego Union-Tribune.
(return to top)
Thursday, May 10
EDUCATION BEAT —The Agency for Jewish
Education announced today
that it has added 24 Jewish educational events to its
online listing of
opportunities available to community members.
HATIKVAH IN BERGEN-BELSEN—Tad Seth Parzen says he does not often pass
along material from the Internet, but made an exception for this recording made
of the BBC of Jewish inmates at Bergen-Belsen Death Camp singing "Hatikvah" upon
their liberation on April 20, 1945. Here is
the recording.
SAN DIEGO-ISRAEL CONNECTIONS—The current issue of Mercaz USA,
a newsletter for the Zionist arm of the Conservative movement, reports that
the Krayot Masorti congregation, near Haifa, has been allocated a site by the
Kiryat Bialik Municipality on which to build a permanent synagogue facility.
Facilitated by Gerry Burstain, a frequent traveler between San Diego and
Israel, Ner Tamid Synagogue of Poway enjoys a sister congregation
relationship with the Kiryat Bialik congregation where Rabbi Mauricio
Balter
is the spiritual leader. The Conservative/ Masorti movement has
decided to
emphasize worldwide celebrations of Israel's upcoming 60th
birthday, as well as
such other anniversaries as the 110th anniversary of
the first Zionist Congress,
the 90th anniversary of the Balfour Declaration
and the 40th anniversary of the
reunification of Jerusalem.
(return to top)
AROUND THE TOWN—Joel & Arlene Moskowitz, whose O'Henry-like
story of giving up things for each other ran on this site recently, will be
among the performers of the Pacificaires in concert at 2 p.m. Sunday, June 3, at
Pacific Beach Middle School, 4876 Ingraham Street, San Diego.
| JEWISH LICENSE PLATES—Originally when our number
one license-plate spotter Melanie Rubin espied this one, she
thought it was a funny spelling for "liberal." Not so, the owner
later informed her. In Yiddish liebe
means "love," so the meaning of this plate is "Love RL."
David Knetzer shared the Ginjeet plate with us, explaining the word "is Israeli slang for redheads." He adds that the plate is on the car driven by his favorite redhead. We're happy to add this to our online collection of Jewish plates, and invite readers to send in their contributions. |
  |
Some things we heard at tonight's JACC dinner
 |
BUSINESS BOOSTERS—Playwright Janet Tiger did
double duty at the Jewish American Chamber of Commerce dinner this
evening. Not only did she greet attendees in behalf of the chamber, she
also was able to promote her upcoming play, which will open August 3 at
the Swedenborg Hall at 1531 Tyler Street. She shared with Eve
Oslinger, Marcie Sterns and San Diego Jewish World that the
play deals |
| Marcie Sterns and Eve Oslinger receive JACC brochure from membership chair Janet Tiger | with he question what if only taxes, and not death, were all that was inevitable in the world. |
What would people do if they didn't die.
She said she tried to consider the question from many perspectives, at one point
putting a question to Rabbi Scott Meltzer of Ohr Shalom Synagogue about
the Jewish point-of-view on dying. His response, that life should be
preserved if feasible, was worked into the play's dialogue, she said.
Oslinger, meanwhile, passed on information that her son David Oslinger, a
graduate of the Culinary Arts Institute, is soon to open a new eatery, Papaya
Cafe, in the Palomar Park Business center. "That's a good mother," Sterns
commented approvingly.
COMMUNITY OF ISRAELIS—Danny Dabby, president of the Community of Israelis
of San Diego (CISD) as well as a vice president of the United Jewish Federation,
said that the former organization has a threefold goal: "To preserve Israeli
culture; to have contacts with Israel and to further integrate the Isaeli
community into San Diego." Among plans for the group, he said, will be a
big family style picnic in June. The potential audience is huge, he said.
"We think there are 4,000 Israelis in San Diego." Dabby is the president
of Danmore Investments, which participates in various real estate partnerships
that owns and operates shopping centers and apartment buildings.
TEAM BUILDING—Orit Ostrowiak helps teach people how to speak and how to
build teams at work. For example, she said, she recently instructed at a
two-day conference for contract specialists of the Veterans Administration in
Tucson. "We do listening exercises to find out about each other, to break
down barriers and to find a common human interest," she said. At home, with
daughters Audrey, 6, and Maxine, 5, Ostrowiak is engaged in teaching of another
sort. A follower of a strict vegetarian diet, she says she is doing her best to
encourage her daughters to be healthy eaters.
VOLUNTEER—Among the House of Israel volunteers in evidence at tonight's Jewish
American Chamber of Commerce dinner was Galia Bukszpan, who was born in
Egypt, and who later immigrated to Israel, where she lived 15 years before
moving on to San Diego. She said she spends much of her time serving as a
caretaker for her father, Henry, who at 95-years-old, is blessed with lucidity.
Before her own retirement, she said, she worked as a film editor both in Isael
and up in Los Angeles
Sunday, May 13
Zeiger bows out with a 'musical' production
EDUCATION
BEAT—
After all, how many original musical productions are there that are set
in the U.S.-run detainee camp at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba?
The lighthearted musical on a serious subject is called Too Hot to Handle,
and it is premised on the idea that in addition to Camp Delta and Camp Echo,
which have been written about, there is also a Camp X-Ray under the command of a
somewhat bizarre Cuban-American military man, who requires detainees to put on
performances.
The high school show opens this coming Friday night and will continue through
June 2 closing night. A few of the shows are expected to take advantage of some
of Zeiger's many talented alumni. The drama and music teacher estimates
that he has taught approximately 3,000 students over 33 years, and that, of
these, some 100 or so have made careers for themselves in the entertainment
industry. Like who for example? Zeiger lists Jason Scheff, the lead
singer and composer for the pop-rock band Chicago; filmmaker Erik Fleming;
Muppets producer Halle Stanford, and film producer Chris Brinker as just some of
them.
While not saying any of these celebrities will be attending the high school
performances, Zeiger promised there will be some surprises during an
improvisational segment in the show when people in the audience can try to
perform better than the cast.
While Zeiger is leaving high school, his heart won't be very far from
encouraging students to spread their performing wings. He said he has
arranged with the San Diego Foundation to set up a fund for "kids who show
promise in the arts," and has made provisions in his will to leave a portion of
his estate to the effort. Not that the 59-year-old Zeiger has any plans to
die very soon; he's far too busy for that. After retirement, he says, "I might
teach elsewhere, and I will continue writing and composing music."—Donald H.
Harrison
Monday, May 14
Art works of elementary school
students now hang in museum
EDUCATION BEAT—Lillian Liebman, a second grader at Soille San Diego
Hebrew Day School, wove together the colors of the rainbow using yarn, ribbon
and silk thread. Today her 8 x 10 inch creation hangs in the San Diego
Museum of Art.
Four of her classmates at the Orthodox Jewish school also can claim the same
distinction. Ami Altert, a third grader, created a glazed ceramic bird
which he painted in rainbow colors. Emma Hydorn and Any
Zandersip, also third graders, collaborated on
a 12 x 18 inch work t
Additionally, Dovid Wohlgelernter, son of Rabbi Jeffrey
Wohlgelernter of Congregation Adat Yeshurun, painted an 18 x 24 pastel and
water color vase with multicolored tulips. That painting will have an
additional honor: it was selected for exhibition in one of the airport terminals
at Lindbergh Field.
Golda Akhgarnia, a spokeswoman for the San Diego Museum of Art, said the
students' works are among 150 paintings and art pieces selected for the museum's
annual "Young Art" display. She reported that works by students from
schools throughout the county, including Chabad Hebrew Academy and the San Diego
Jewish Academy, are included in the exhibit that runs through May 27.
"SDMA has been celebrating the achievements of San Diego students with
exhibitions like 'Young Art' since its founding in 1926, making major
contributions to the region's awareness of the importance of children's art
education," said Akhgarnia.
"'Young Art' is just one way that the Museum partners with local schools to
promote and facilitate student art making. SDMA has a longstanding
commitment to strengthen and support art education in San Diego schools, not
only through 'Young Art' but by also offering free tours for students, creating
classes, workshops, open houses, and lesson plans for teachers, and by
strengthening our ongoing partnership with local schools."
Art instructor Butbul is a native of South Africa, where she taught in the
Johannesburg area both at the King David School and at the Torah Academy before
immigrating to the United States in 1994. In San Diego, she has taught not
only at Soille San Diego Hebrew Day School, but also at Chabad Hebrew Academy
and at the High School of Jewish Studies. In her spare time, she enjoys
creating ketubahs; doing silk painting, and interpreting subjects from nature on
large canvases. —Donald H. Harrison
READERS' RECOMMENDATIONS—Our readers are devoted web surfers, it would seem,
and occasionally come upon articles that they believe are well worth sharing
with other members of the Jewish community. For example, Prof. Lawrence Baron
of San Diego State University was impressed with an article in Tikkun
Magazine in which Israeli peace activists Uri Avnery and Ilan Pappe debated
whether there should be a two-state solution (Avnery) to the Israeli-Palestinian
conflict or a single-state solution (Pappe). Here is
a link to the article
in question. .. Jay Jacobson, in St. Louis Park, Minn., spotted a
column by Rod Dreher in a recent issue of The Dallas Morning News on the
struggle between Moderate Muslims and Islamists. Here is
that link.
(Return to
top)
Tuesday, May 15
AUTHOR, AUTHOR—Journalist Dan Bloom, who lives on Taiwan, relies on the
Internet to keep abreast of Jewish news and we're delighted that San Diego
Jewish World is one of his regular stops. He passes on this
information about an old friend of his: "Massachusetts
author Daniel Klein and writing partner Tom Cathcart have recently
published Plato and a Platypus Walk Into a Bar: Understanding Philosophy
Through Jokes, and the book has climbed to Number 3 in the Amazon.com sales
stats. Klein is also the author, with his Dutch wife, Freke Vuijst, of The
Half-Jewish Book: A Celebration, published in 2000."
BATTLE IN THE WILD—Hillel Mazansky, a member of San Diego's large South
African Jewish community, forwards some
amazing video of
a herd of buffalo at Kruger National Park rescuing a calf from a pride of lions.
Even a crocodile got into the action.
EDUCATION BEAT—The most recent issue of Adelante, the publication of the
Congress of History of San Diego and Imperial Counties, listed the winners of
various local history awards. Among them was Professor Abraham Schragge,
director of Dimensions of Cultural Programs at Thurgood Marshall College,
UCSD. Schragge teaches a course on the history of San Diego, and currently
is working on a book about the post-World War II history of San Diego.
Additionally, Schragge serves as the curator of the Veterans Museum and Memorial
Center in Balboa Park, and is at work on an oral history project with
ex-Prisoners of War. The award conferred upon him was the John Montgomery
Education Award for an individual or group contributing significantly to further
the actual teaching of local history by a professional teacher in the classroom.
MEDIA WATCH—There is a new magazine, Impact!,
hitting Chabad houses and schools as well as other Jewish places throughout
Southern California. Its editor is Rabbi Yeruchem Eilfort of Chabad
of La Costa. The first issue focuses on Jewish camping with articles
written by Eilfort's fellow Chabad rabbis, congregants and even his wife Nechama
and daughter Rivka, 13. In an introductory essay, Eilfort reflected that before
accepting the editorship, he asked himself what readers really wanted. "The
answer [drum roll please] is meaning," he wrote. "People with meaning in their
lives tend to be happier. The full spectrum of life's experiences takes on
a completely different texture for someone who has purpose..." We at
San Diego Jewish World would like to express the wish that Impact!
will fulfill the purpose for which it was named. Mazal tov on a
good beginning.
IN MEMORY—Evelyn Gabai, a former school teacher in the Bronx, who lived
in retirement with husband Hyman in Encinitas, died May 4 at age 79. A
brief
obituary is in today's San Diego Union-Tribune.
(Return to
top)
Wednesday, May 16
CONGREGATIONAL CURRENTS—Rabbi Baruch Lederman of
Congregation Kehillas Torah loves jokes and he loves math. He passes along
these riddles: Q: What did the zero say to the
eight? A: Nice belt. And, Q: What did the two say to the three about
the unruly six? A: Don't mind him. He's just a
product of our times. .. Amy Corton has become the new president of
Congregation Beth Israel. A development officer for Planned Parenthood,
Corton came up through the ranks of temple involvement, starting with activities
as a paren of children in the day school.
CYBER-REFERRALS—Jay Jacobson of St. Louis Park, Minn.,
referred us to this
video clip put up by HonestReporting.com of a Gaza-launched Qassam missile
strike in Sderot, Israel, in a story questioning why mainstream media seems to
ignore the situation.... Bruce Kesler refers us to
an article on the Jerusalem Post's website quoting Malcolm Hoenlein,
chairman of the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations,
as saying the American elite are being poisoned against Israel... Yesterday, we
linked to an old Sid Caesar video pantomiming a family argument to the
melody of Beethoven's Fifth Symphony and asked who the actress playing against
him was. Our theatre critic Carol Davis says she's pretty certain it's
Nanette Fabre.
POLITICAL SCENE—San Diego Community College President Marty Block
has enlisted some well known members of the Jewish community to serve among a
group of co-chairs at a June 18 fundraiser for his campaign for the Democratic
party nomination in the 78th Assembly District: Laurie Black, Murray Galinson,
Fred Schenk and former Congresswoman Lynn Schenk. Block also
has received the endorsement of the California Federation of Teachers for the seat will
become vacant because incumbent Shirley Horton, a Republican, is serving her
third and final term. ... There really can be reconciliations in politics.
Back in 1982, when then Gov. Jerry Brown was running for the U.S. Senate
unsuccessfully against then San Diego Mayor Pete Wilson, Bill Kolender
was a staunch supporter of Wilson's, a fellow Republican and San Diegan.
That's all ancient history, however. Today, Kolender is the San Diego
County Sheriff while Brown is the state's new attorney general (reversing the
order that his father, Edmund G. "Pat" Brown, had served in those two statewide
offices), and Kolender will be hosting Brown tomorrow at a meeting of law
enforcement officials at the Kona Kai Resort on Shelter Island. Among the
attendees at a morning reception will be San Diego District Attorney Bonnie
Dumanis; Imperial County Sheriff Raymond Loera; Sheriff Bob Doyle, Indio
Police Chief Brad Ramos; San Diego Police Chief William Lansdowne and Chula
Vista Police Chief Rick Emerson.
CONGREGATIONAL CURRENTS—Rabbi Leonard Rosenthal of Tifereth Israel
Synagogue flew with his wife Judy to New York City to kvell as his
son, Adam Rosenthal, was ordained as a Conservative rabbi in a ceremony
at the Jewish Theological Seminary.
COMMUNITY ROUNDUP—I. Gerry Burstain, who regularly commutes between San
Diego and Israel, is exploring with authorities in Sha'ar HaNegev, San Diego
UJF's partnership region in Israel, the idea of Ruhama, one of the kibbutzim in
the region, become a base of operations for study and Israel travel for San
Diegans interested in creating friendships with Israelis. Burstain, whose
family lives in Haifa and Petach Tikvah, is a former president of Ner Tamid
Synagogue in Poway.
POLITICAL SCENE—Joan Dean, who led the American Jewish Committee in San
Diego for several years before relocating to New York City to be near her
children, is serving as Director of Finance for the campaign of Congresswoman
Carolyn Maloney, a Democrat who represents Manhattan's East Side as well as
portions of Queens. Dean says the AJC remains close to her heart and that
she is now serving on the board of a Manhattan chapter. ...Sheriff Bill
Kolender invites the public to root his team on as sheriff's deputies face
the "Vista All Stars" in a soccer match at 2:30 p.m. tomorrow at Vista Townsite,
340 Townsite Drive, Vista. The match will follow a soccer clinic for children
ages 6-17, and a Presentation of the Colors by a U.S. Marine Color Guard.
"This is an excellent way for the community to come together and just have fun,"
Kolender said. "I believe both the kids and our deputies will learn some new
soccer techniques."..
Saturday, May 19
AUTHOR,
AUTHOR!—Hilda Pierce has brought out her autobiography, Hilda, on
the iUniverse label. It tells of her life as a refugee from Hitler's
Europe and as an artist. She had several speaking engagements lined up
before arranging to speak during the Jewish Book Festival this coming November
at the Lawrence Family JCC, Jacobs Family Campus. So as not to detract
from that appearance, she now is not scheduling any other speakingappearances
until after the festival. This is something of a relief to her husband,
Herman Slutzky, who notes that instead of making money when she talks about
her book, Pierce donates proceeds from the sales to whatever nonprofit
organization happens to be hosting her. So if anyone wants to hear her
before November, there are only a few chances: on May 31 at the Bookstar at 8650
Genesee Ave; on June 9 at Rancho La Puerto in Tecate, Mexico, and on Sept. 24 at
the Athenaeum at 1008 Wall Street in La Jolla. San Diego Jewish World
editor Don Harrison assisted in the editing
process.|
(return to top)
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"?
Monday, May 21
 |
AROUND THE TOWN—Shimon & Joyce Camiel and Dan Schaffer have gained celebrity status at The Gathering for being the very first customers to show up at the popular Mission Hills eatery after it reopened in the wake of a fire that forced its closure over a year ago. When it opened at 8 a.m. last Wednesday, notwithstanding the |
| Shimon Camiel and Dan Schaffer flank Gathering co-owner Denise Komlenic at recently reopened Mission Hills eatery. |
early hour, Shimon and Dan ordered blackened chicken Caesar salads, their favorites. Joyce, more mindful of the hour, had Eggs Benedict. |
The restaurant at Washington and Goldfinch Street has a new custom in honor of the firefighters who put out the blaze. Whenever someone spots a fire truck going by, red lights start flashing at the bar and anyone who orders a drink within the next two minutes can get it at half price... The Camiels and Dan and Jane Schaffer also got together recently with David & Elaine Gill, who as activists in the Greater Los Angeles Jewish Community recently were honored for their work in behalf of the Brandeis-Bardin Center in Simi Valley, which will be a campus of the University of Judaism for three-quarters of the year and home for Camp Alonim during the summer.
| CYBER-REFERRALS—Israel's Consulate General in Los Angeles forwards to us this video about the situation in Sderot.... Former Middle East Peace Negotiator Dennis Ross greets with some optimism plans by U.S. Secretary of State Condeleezza Rice's plan to have the United State reengage diplomatically in the Arab-Israeli peace process. His opinion piece may be found on the website of the Washington Institute for Near East Policy... Ira Forman, executive |
director of the National Jewish Democratic Council, has been
in a running dispute with a writer for Commentary magazine over the
latter's contention that the Democratic party is starting to tilt toward the
Palestinians. Here is a link
to Forman's refutation of that charge...
ADL REPORT—At the San Diego Regional
Anti-Defamation League offices, they are preparing to say goodbye to Beth
Kyman, the development director, who will move after June 15 to the San
Francisco Bay Area to live closer to her grandchildren. ADL Regional Director
Morris Casuto says Kyman's departure will leave a large hole in the
organization. "She's passionate and committed," he said, "and she never
defined her role in narrow terms. She provided assistance to anyone who
needed help." The process to hire her replacement is underway. Turning to
other issues, Casuto commented in a telephone interview that he has re-contacted
the U.S. Navy to see what, if anything, has been done to mitigate the effect of
the building complex at the Coronado Amphibious Base that appears as a giant
swastika from the air. "I haven't received a response yet, but the
Navy has had more than enough time to come up with a plan," Casuto said.
Noting that Congresswoman Susan Davis (D-San Diego) also has made
inquiries, he added: "I am hoping to give her a good report in the near
future." Casuto also mentioned that on Monday ADL participated in a
security seminar for representatives of various institutions in the San Diego
area. The group of approximately 30 individuals involved with security
procedures heard from a representative of the Granada Hills Jewish Community
Center which was the site in 1999 where gunman Buford Furrow Jr. opened fire
wounding three children, a teenager and an adult, before fleeing and killing a
neighborhood postal worker a few miles from the center.
COMMUNITY WATCH—Hadassah Southern California has announced awards for
leaders of its various groups in the greater San Diego area. By group, they
were: Attorneys' Council: Deborath Kornheiser; Aviva: Abby Murkoff;
Bat Harim: Barbara Lutzker; Galilee: Virginia Frogel; Haifa:
Mimi Simantov; Hatikvah: Gussie Zaks; Mount Scopus: Bea
Zweifach; Nursing & Health Care Council: Cynthia Bennett; Ohr Hayam:
Terri Fine; Shirat Hayam: Judy Frazer; Shoshanah: Judy Lebovitz;
Yachad: Susan Levin, and Associate Award: Vice Admiral (Ret).
Bernard Kauderer.
| CYBER-REFERRALS—Hillel Mazansky found the video clip at left of a Shabbat service in Nigeria....Jay Jacobson forwards this appeal on the right from the children of Sderot: "Let us grow up in stillness."...And the Jewish Television Network announces it can now be accessed on the web. Here's the site, visit it, but please, come back! ... Bruce Kesler notes that Republican Congressman Duncan Hunter, addressing a rally sponsored by Christian Zionists, said that if he's elected president, he will never abandon Israel. Here is a link to a story by David Eberhart on NewsMax.com. |
IN MEMORY—A brief obituary of Howard Goldman, 64, of Carlsbad appears in the today's San Diego Union-Tribune.
Wednesday, May 23
CELEBRATION—Bobby Greene wasn't
telling anyone exactly which birthday she will be celebrating tomorrow,
but here's a fact about her that you can use
as a hint if you feel like calculating.
According to Norman Greene, his wife the French teacher is one of
only two members of the original staff of Montgomery High School to still be
on the faculty. She and Brenda Balthezar, a guidance counselor, started
there in 1970 and have seen seven principals during that time.
CYBER-REFERRALS—*Diablo
Valley College in Northern California is not the first place anyone would think
of when considering the subject of Islamist agitation, but Sheila Orysiek
found an interesting
article
by Lee Kaplan on the Arutz Sheva website that indicates otherwise....
Thursday, May 24
CYBER-REFERRALS—Cantor Emeritus Sheldon Merel
of Congegation Beth Israel passes along this link to a
video essay by Aish.org
showing how war photos get faked by anti-Israel media in the Middle East....
Winners—Randy McGeough and Carolyn LaFrance are
joined by Ted Mintz at
San Diego Historical Resources Board after receiving awards for the renovation
of
the Irving
Salomon/ Henry Hester Apartment Building.
Karla Shiminski, joined by
HRB Chairman Robert Vacchi, displays her award for history education as
principal
of the San Diego Unified School Districts Program for 4th Graders at Old Town.
— Historical Resource Board photos
by Ginger Weatherford
HISTORIC PRESERVATION—The modernistic apartment building at 3200 6th Avenue
built in 1958 for Col. Irving Salomon was the subject of an Architectural
Rehabilitation Award presented by the San Diego Historical Resources Board today
to McGeogh/La France Architects, Ted Mintz and Del Mar Heritage.
Salomon, whose daughter Abbe Wolfsheimer Stutz, many years later
served on the San Diego City Council, had been appointed by President Dwight D.
Eisenhower to the U.S. delegation to the United Nations. Salomon regularly
entertained famous visitors in San Diego, among them Eleanor Roosevelt. A
philanthropist, one of Salomon's gifts to the city was literally outside the
window of his condominium: the small playground across 6th Street on the edge of
Balboa Park... Another award of specific Jewish interest went to Karla Shiminski,
who is the San Diego Unified School District principal for the week-long
programs for fourth-grade students at Old Town San Diego State Park. In
accepting her award, she made a point to thank San Diego Jewish World
editor Don Harrison, who serves on the HRB board, for nominating her.
The two worked together at the celebration in March at Old Town of the 200th
birthday of Louis Rose, San Diego's first Jewish settler.
Curriculum that San Diego State University History Prof. Joellyn Zollman
created for the occasion about Rose is now used to teach every class that comes
through Old Town, Shiminski said.
REMEMBER THE JEWISH CANDIDATE?—Herb Klein, former editor-in-chief of the San
Diego Union-Tribune and also a former communications director for President
Richard M. Nixon, wrote a
commentary in today's San Diego Union-Tribune about how religion
shouldn't matter in presidential races. He mentioned Al Smith, John Kennedy, and
John Kerry as examples of Catholic nominees, and discussed George Romney and
Mitt Romney as Mormon hopefuls. Somehow he forgot to mention that
Joseph Lieberman, a Jew, was nominated for vice president by the Democrats
in 2000.
Friday, May 25
APPOINTMENTS—The Republican Jewish Coalition notes that three of its
members were appointed by President George W. Bush to the U.S. Commission for
the Preservation of America's Heritage Abroad. They are Ronald Bloom, Michael
Menis and Robert Zarnegin.
COMMUNITY WATCH—Stephen Abramson, former executive vice president of
the United Jewish Federation, couldn't stay out of the fundraising world
forever. He is now helping UCSD increase its endowments. ...
CYBER-REFERRALS—Larry Gorfine found a video he calls "the best
panhandler." It is a dancing skeleton marionette... Jay Jacobson sent a
video of a
Qassam rocket hitting a gas station in Sderot, Israel. He also passed on a
review
by Nonie Darwish of an anti-Semitic film, A Girl From Israel. Bruce
Kesler, prowling the online Chinadaily, found an
item
about Israel's humanitarian work in Vietnam.
SUMMER TRAVEL—Talk about globe-hopping, the Siegel family of San Diego and
Portland will be traveling to various places this summer. Paula Siegel
plans a jaunt to Israel with Joan Dean, former president of the San
Diego chapter of the American Jewish Committee. Paula's son and
daughter-in-law, Dr. Jonathan Siegel and Dr. Barbara Lounsbury are
planning to take their children, Max, Ben and Rebecca to Paris and
Rome. (Barbara, incidentally, recently was elected to the board of Congregation
Beth Israel in La Jolla). Paula's son Dr. Mike Siegel and wife,
Kris, will be celebrating the bar mitzvah of their son, Nathan, in
December. But meanwhile they plan on traveling with Nathan to Italy, while
their daughter, Leah, visits friends in France.
Saturday, May 26
POP SCENE—Don
Lichterman, CEO of Sunset Records, is bringing the Russian band Zamza to
tour the United States in July in conjunction with the release of a CD, "Turn to
You." The band features keyboardist Max Kourbanov, guitarist Serge Tarakhteyev
and vocalist Evygenya Strochinskaya. The group hails from Khabarovsk and records
in Vladivostok.
TALE OF TWO CITIES—If one were asked to identify a city where Jews are elected
to prominent and highly visible offices, the names of San Diego and Louisville
would not necessarily leap to anyone's tongue. But the two cities have some
commonalities in this regard. In San Diego, there are five officeholders
holding prominent positions: two Democrats who are serving in Congress, Susan
Davis and Bob Filner, and three non-partisan countywide officeholders
District Attorney Bonnie Dumanis, Sheriff Bill Kolender and Tax
Assessor/Recorder/ Clerk Greg Smith, all of whom are personally
registered as Republicans. In a county where Jews represent perhaps 120,000 of
three million residents, five prominent Jewish officeholders is a more than
respectable showing.
Harry & Sherry Jacobson-Beyer, visiting San Diego from Louisville, said the
same pattern generally holds true in their city, although on a smaller scale.
Of perhaps one million residents in metropolitan Louisville, perhaps 10,000 are
Jews.
Yet
the long-term (some say "perennial) mayor Jerry Abramson is a Jew and so
is the first-term congressman John Yarmuth, who won recognition as the
publisher of an alternative newspaper nicknamed "LEO" for Louisville
Eccentric Observer.
Abramson
Yarmuth
The anti-war Yarmuth ousted five-term incumbent Ann Northup, who some thought
was too closely tied to President George W. Bush and his war policies in Iraq.
Although 2006 proved to be a Democratic year, not many people thought Yarmuth
could oust Northup given his decidedly liberal views in what may consider a
conservative city. Yarmuth, for example, favored a woman's right to choose in
matters of abortion; whereas Northup was squarely within the "Right to Life"
camp. But the doubters didn't reckon on a legion of volunteers who walked
precincts, set up booths at picnics and stuck Yarmuth's blue-and-white yard
signs all over town. Since his election, Yarmuth has been serving on the
Education and Labor Committee, as well as the Oversight and Government Reform
Committee headed by Congressman Henry Waxman, D-California.
Sunday, May 27
U.S.-ISRAEL
CONNECTIONS— Bar Ilan University on May 24 recently conferred its "Guardian of
Zion" Award on Norman Podhoretz, editor at large of Commentary
Magazine. Since 1997 when the award for strengthening and perpetuating Jerusalem
was given to Elie Wiesel, the annual winners have been A.M. Rosenthal,
Sir Martin Gilbert, Cynthia Ozick, Charles Krauthammer, Ruth Roskies Wisse,
Arthur Cohn and Daniel Pipes. ..Letters bearing on the Middle East situation from Fred Remington of Del Mar
and Merv Spahn of La Mesa are included in today's San Diego
Union-Tribune....
Norman Podhoretz
ISRAEL-SAN DIEGO CONNECTIONS—To celebrate the 40th anniversary of the
reunification of Jerusalem, Congregation Adat Yeshurun has decided to theme its
annual fundraising event on Sunday, June 24, as "A Night in Jerusalem."
According to Hillel Mazansky, "the minute you walk through Lion's Gate at
the entrance you will be transported into the heart of the Old City.
Gourmet Israeli food will be served, a special tasting of selected Israeli wines
will accompany passed hors d'ouevres, and a live band will entertain guests."
Live and silent auctions also are planned at the $180-per-person dinner starting
at 6 p.m. at the Orthodox congregation located at 8625 La Jolla Scenic Drive
North, La Jolla. More information may be obtained from the synagogue at
(858) 535-1196, or by emailing Annette at
info@adatyeshurun.org
Tuesday, May 29
CAMPUS WHIRL—The University of Haifa will
award an honorary doctorate of philosophy on June 5 to
Younes Nazarian of Los Angeles, a philanthropist, industrialist,
businessman and leader of the Iranian-American Jewish community. Haifa
University President
Aaron Ben-Ze'ev said the
honor is for Nazarian's
philanthropic activities in the United States and Israel, in particular "his
generous support of the IDF, the State of Israel and the University of Haifa."
COMMUNITY
ROUNDUP—We have the names of the women in the winning foursome in the recent
16th annual golf and tennis tournament sponsored by The Guardians to benefit
Seacrest Village Retirement Communities. They were
Sheri Hallis, Kay Weiss, Terry
Cohler, and Lynn Gordon, who are shown in that left to right
order in the adjoining photograph....
CYBER-JUDAISM—Hillel Mazansky sends along a beautiful Power Point
slide show about Rishon Lezion. Once it
comes onto your screen, you may advance through the photos, by using the space
bar on your computer.
JEWISH
LICENSE PLATE—Melanie Rubin, our top Jewish license plate spotter, found
one in Hebrew slang. Literally translated, Ma Petom means "What
suddenly?" Colloquially, however, it's more like "You've got to be
kidding!" To see our growing Jewish license plate collection, please
click here.
MICHAEL MEDVED LECTURE—Have
you ever wondered what the person behind the radio voice looks like, and
whether he or she is tall or short, slender or heavy, dark hair or light? Those
attending a special program featuring Michael Medved sponsored by Chabad
at La Costa won't have to wonder anymore. The event at 7:30 p.m. tomorrow
(Wednesday) night at the Lyceum Theatre at Horton Plaza in downtown San Diego
still has tickets available, advises Rabbi Yeruchem Eilfort. In
fact, he says, "the $25 and $36 tickets are being offered at half price
for
today and tomorrow only. We hope you choose to buy the Patron tickets, which
cost $90 and include the pre-lecture VIP Reception and a signed book from
Michael." Either way, the Lyceum Theater Box Office at (619) 544-1000
would be the place to call.
POLITICAL SCENE—California Insurance Commissioner Steve Poizner today
invited news media to a private home in the Scripps Ranch area of San Diego
to demonstrate how people who live in potential fire areas should make a digital
photo inventory of their possessions, and then store that inventory in a safe
place away from their homes. Poizner said that a consumer guide may be obtained
from his department by calling (800) 927-HELP. ... A new group called the
American Freedom Alliance has announced an all-day seminar June 10 at Pepperdine
University in Malibu on the topic "The Collapse of Europe, the Rise of Islam and
the Consequences for the United States." Among the panelists at the $250
per-person seminar are Daniel Pipes and Dennis Prager.
According to Avi Davis, AFA senior fellow: "European democratic values
have been severely tested in recent years as growing internal Muslim restiveness
and intimidation have imposed a virtual code of silence on the continent's
politicians and media who fail to address Muslim conduct and theology
particularly when they contradict Europe's democratic traditions."
Registration information is on the
conference website.
CYBER-REFERRALS—Bruce Kesler passes on a story from Spiegel International Online suggesting that German Field Marshal Erwin Rommel was not a gentleman soldier far- removed from the Nazis and the Holocaust as many pictured him to be. Had his troops been successful in the Middle East, he would have extended German genocide to Palestine, even as it had been extended to Tunisia.... Hillel Mazansky forwarded to us a humorous piece by email concerning why God created children. We were not technically able to link to it, however we found the identical story on a Christian website and pass it on for your enjoyment. It is non-proselytizing....
The
Consulate General of Israel in Los Angeles advises that an exhibition of two
Israeli artists—Aisenstat and Mika Drimer—opens tomorrow
(Thursday, May 31) at Jean Marc Gallery, 906 North La Cienega. More
information may be obtained at (310) 659-2975. ... In conjunction with the major
exhibition of the Dead Sea Scrolls at the San Diego Natural History Museum which
will begin at the end of next month, the San Diego Automotive Museum thought it
would exhibit something from Israel too. Beginning June 29, it will show a
1963 Sabra owned by Howard Singer of La Jolla and manufactured by
Autocars LTD of Haifa. The 4-cylinder car has a Ford engine. The car's emblem,
of course, was the prickly cactus from which Israelis take their nickname...
ADVOCACY—Howard Feldman, president of Pioneer Emergency Response, has been doing some responding of his own. Alerted by the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) that action is needed to promote the Iran Counter-Proliferation Act of 2007, he sent out an e-blast to friends and acquaintances urging them to write or telephone U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-California) and to ask her to cosponsor bipartisan legislation by Senators Gordon Smith (R-Oregon) and Richard Durbin (D-Illinois) to increase political and economic pressure on Iran to give up its drive to develop nuclear weapons. The mass e-mail also recommended letters of calls to Senator Barbara Boxer (D-California) to thank her for already becoming a co-sponsor.
AROUND THE TOWN
COMMUNITY WATCH—Hoping to learn about Jewish subjects? The Agency for
Jewish Education says in its Makor catalogue it lists 15 new learning
opportunities beginning in June. Here is
a link to that online catalogue... The
Astor Judaica Library at the Lawrence Family JCC, Jacobs Family campus, is
getting ready for its annual used book sale. For more information about
the June 10 event, click
here.
CONGREGATIONAL CURRENTS—A letter from Rabbi Phillip Graubart of
Congregation Beth El is rocketing around the Internet. He calls on San Diego's
Jewish community to "define what the term 'sister city' means" by helping Sha'ar
Hanegev and S'derot cope with the stress and rebuild the damages inflicted upon
them by Qassam rocket attacks from Gaza. "Sha'ar Hanegev and S'derot need
to rebuild vital infrastructure; they require secure summer programming for
children; they need transportation for the elderly; they need to rebuild
schools." He appealed for people to send money to Beth El's "Negev Fund"
at 8660 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA 92037, explaining that the money will be
grouped into one big check to the United Jewish Federation, which in turn will
distribute fund to various emergency projects in S'derot and Sha'ar Hanegev.
Michael Rassler, UJF chief executive officer, told San Diego Jewish
World that a community-wide campaign is under consideration.
CYBER-REFERRALS—Bruce Kesler refers us to a tongue-in-cheek
missive by University of Haifa Steven Plaut likening the British
University and College Union call for a boycott of Israeli institutions as
analogous to calling for a boycott of Czechoslovakian institutions of higher
learning in 1938 for their alleged mistreatment of Sudeten Germans. Kesler
also found on the politically-minded Little Green Footballs site a guest posting
from San Diego Congressman Duncan Hunter, a Republican presidential candidate,
about his strong support for Israel. Here is
the link. ...Larry
Gorfine passed on to us a musical and visual
ode to the
1960s. It is on a website called MoreOldFortyFives.com. ...
IN MEMORY—Miriam Goldberg, 96, of La Jolla, died May 6. A short
obituary is in today's San Diego Union-Tribune.
POLITICAL SCENE—Marty Block continues to pick up Jewish community
endorsements in his drive to be elected to the 78th District of the State
Assembly. An invitation to his 6pm June 18 fundraiser at the University
Club lists includes within its list of co-hosts some people who are active in
the San Diego Jewish community, among them Laurie Black, Michael Brau, Jerry
Goldberg, Dr. Richard Katz, and Sandy Roseman. These are in
addition to some community members previously announced as supporters such as
Murray Galinson, Fred Schenk, former Congresswoman Lynn
Schenk and former Assemblymember Howard Wayne.