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The Jewish Grapevine
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2007 August 2007
September 2007
Jewish Grapevine by month
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CYBER-REFERRALS—Jay
Jacobson
alerts us to
a piece by Matthew Levitt and Jake Lipton of the Washington
Institute for Near East Policy on the financial ties between
Iran and Hezbollah in the conduct of terror operations...
Bruce Kesler
noted a report on a Christian site, Gateway Pundit, that an
unnamed Hezbollah officer said his group would have given up in
the Lebanese War if international authorities had not intervened
to force Israel into a ceasefire. Here is
the link. ...
IN MEMORY—Charmaine Kaplan, 67, who along with her
husband Maurice was an important financial supporter of
the arts in San Diego, has died. Her obituary was in
today's
San Diego Union-Tribune....
The funeral for Freda
Beitner will be held at 1 pm on Thursday, August 2, at
Greenwood Cemetery (not at 10:30 as previously indicated).
POLITICAL WHIRL—San Diego area AIPAC chair
Leslie Caspi
recently was in Washington D.C. to meet with members of
Congress. U.S. Rep. Bob Filner (Democrat,
California) sent along a photo to show that they had the chance
to talk. Caspi said she thanked him for voting for the
foreign aid bill, which included an appropriation for Israel,
and also asked him to support measures to discourage Iran from
developing nuclear weapons. ...
San Diego Jewish World—July
proved to be a month of continued growth for San
Diego Jewish World
as the following statistics by the independent Webalizer company
demonstrate. According to this chart, 25,355 different
sites connected with us during the month, averaging 3,213 visits
per day. The number of pages accessed was just about
double the number of visitors indicating that most people enter
our site on our home page then navigate to the daily news
report. Our growth in visitors has been steady since the
online publication's start up on May 1: We went from a
daily average of 2,308 in May, to a daily average of 2,898 in
June to a daily average of 3,213 in July. Our total number
of visits in July was 99,606—just short of 100,000. For
those of you who are thinking of purchasing advertising, that
means if you had an ad that ran all through July you would have
received close to 100,000 impressions. If you are with a
non-profit agency, you could have purchased that exposure at $10
per day or $310 for the month. If you are with a private
company, you could have purchased that at $20 per day or $620
per month. If you are trying to reach people with a deep
interest in Jewish affairs, our site is the place for you to
advertise! To all you readers, who keep coming back to
San Diego Jewish World,
we thank you for your patronage!
| Summary by Month | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Daily Avg | Monthly Totals | ||||||||
| Hits | Files | Pages | Visits | Sites | KBytes | Visits | Pages | Files | Hits | |
| Jul 2007 | 15614 | 9843 | 6390 | 3213 | 25355 | 26877941 | 99606 | 198117 | 305150 | 484050 |
| Jun 2007 | 12654 | 8368 | 5562 | 2898 | 23615 | 21458182 | 86952 | 166889 | 251044 | 379621 |
| May 2007 | 11898 | 8234 | 4457 | 2308 | 25605 | 21268566 | 71566 | 138168 | 255265 | 368855 |
Wednesday, August 2
COMMUNITY WATCH—Now that the
Agency for Jewish Education
is pretty well settled into its new digs at 4950 Murphy Canyon
Road, upstairs from the United Jewish Federation's main office,
attention is turning to the Day of Jewish Learning, "Limmud,"
which will be conducted January 27, 2008. (So hold that
date!) To be co-chaired this year by Jeffrey Ressler
and Jane Fantel,
Limmud
will have its first full-scale planning meeting at the Agency
offices on August 14, according to AJE Executive Director
Alan Rusonik.
CYBER-REFERRALS—Jay Jacobson liked the piece by Leonard
Cole and Tony Harnden of the Washington Institute for Near East
Policy concerning what the United States can learn from Israel
in the fight against terror. Here is
a link.
| For the record: It was decided in August to eliminate the separate 'Jews in the News' column and use the same kind of information within the 'Jewish Grapevine' column. |
CYBER-REFERRALS—Israel's Consulate General in Los Angeles
noted the following news stories in today's editions of Israeli
media outlets: A Qassam rocket landed on an empty kindergarden
in Sderot
(Ynet); Israel, PA will expand talks on establishing
Palestinian state as soon as possible
(Ha'aretz).
(Return to top)
AROUND THE TOWN—Will Carless of the Voice of San Diego
has a fairly comprehensive
story about Harry Rady's decision to stockpile
weapons after his parents, philanthropists Ernest and Evelyn
Rady, were victimized by a home invasion in February.
Unfortunately for the younger Rady, he imported weapons from
Arizona that were illegal in California, resulting in charges
being brought against him and his guilty plea in federal court.
Now the billionaire's son is facing a year in jail.
BUSINESS BRIEFS—Whatever local French import Mikael Besnainou
does he
likes to do with a flair, so attendees at an August 23 Jewish
American Chamber of Commerce mixer are requested to come dressed
in their summer whites to the 7-10p.m. affair at Witherby, 5th
and Market. And why? The JACC President has decided that's
what will look best for photos when guests arrive for the red
carpet entrance. Pourquoi pas?
CONGREGATIONAL CURRENTS—Tifereth
Israel Synagogue recently chopped down some trees on its
grounds, stacking the firewood on its lower parking lot near the
corner of Cowles Mountain Boulevard and Tommy Drive.
Anyone who wants free firewood is welcome to help himself or
herself.
ISRAEL COVERAGE—The San Diego Union-Tribune ran an
Associated Press
story today by Karen Laub in which the meeting in Jericho
between Israel's Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas was seen as important for
its symbolism (Abbas hosting Olmert) as for the substance of the
preliminary discussions. The European Jewish Congress, on
its website, has a
summary of how Israeli Hebrew-language newspapers covered
the meeting.
LAW AND ORDER—District
Attorney Bonnie Dumanis will be a guest speaker at 8 p.m,
Tuesday evening, August 28 at a presentation sponsored by the
Republican Jewish Coalition at Congregation Adat Yeshurun.
Among her topics: ensuring communal and personal security during
the upcoming High Holidays. She will be accompanied by
Undersheriff Bill Gore, former special agent in charge for the
Federal Bureau of Investigation.
(Return to top)
CYBER-REFERRALS—Cantor Sheldon Merel forwarded to us a YouTube video featuring Rabbi Marvin Tokayer lecturing about the special relationship between Jews and Japanese prior to World War II—a relationship that was built upon financier Jacob Schiff's willingness to help finance Japan's war against pogromist Russia. The video is below. And so is another video showing a portion of a Japanese-language production of Fiddler on the Roof.... Israel's Consulate General in Los Angeles distributes a French-language, English-subtitled YouTube video on the Mini-Israel park in Latrun. In 90-minutes you can see the sights of the country in miniaturized version. The video is in the second row below. And while we are on the subject of tourism, here is a video showing some of the religious sites of Jerusalem.
IN MEMORY—Hal
Fishman, longtime Channel 5 anchorman in Los Angeles and
a professor by background, has died of cancer. His
obituary ran in today's
San Diego Union-Tribune.
ISRAEL ACTIVISM—The activist group StandWithUs has
announced it will grant 35 Emerson Fellowships to students
across the country who can serve as pro-Israel spokespersons
on their campuses. Here is
a
link to the application.
JEWISH CELEBRITIES—New
York Mayor Michael Bloomberg was called for jury
duty, but lawyers decided one "your honor" per courtroom is
enough. They dismissed the mayor, and kept working in
front of the judge. The
story was in the San Diego Union-Tribune's national
briefs column...
(Return to top)
Thursday, August 9, 2007
CELEBRITIES—There's some doubt
over whether Elvis Presley really had some Jewish lineage, but there's
no doubt whatsoever that U.S. Rep. Steve Cohen (Democrat,
Tennessee) is Jewish.
Elvis Radio announced that the congressman will be a guest DJ on
August 18, but like Elvis himself, his appearance will not be live.
It will be a repeat of a July 1 broadcast when Cohen was on hand to
celebrate the radio station's third anniversary.
CYBER-REFERRALS— Israel's Consulate General in Los Angeles points
out a story in today's JPost that tells of the Vatican scrambling to
assure the worldwide Jewish community that a private meeting between
Pope Benedict XVI and firebrand priest Tadeusz Rydzyk
"did not imply any change in the Holy
See's well-known position regarding relations between Catholics and
Jews." Here is
the link... Ed Samiljan,
the father of Camp Mountain Chai, noticed an article about the value
and financial costs of Jewish camping that appeared in the New York
Jewish Week, Here is
a link.
(Return to top)
Friday, August 10, 2007
CELEBRITIES—State Sen. Carole Migden
(Democrat, San Francisco) said Thursday she will plead guilty to a
charge of erratic driving between San Francisco and the state Capitol in
Sacramento and hopes to get the incident behind her... The jury in the
murder trial of record producer Phil Spector toured his Alhambra
mansion for an hour on Thursday, focusing on the area where actress Lana
Clarkson was shot to death...
COMMUNITY CURRENTS—Tifereth Israel Synagogue is staging a sale on
Judaica and other items at its Traditions Gift Shop off the main lobby
of the sanctuary building at 6660 Cowles Mountain Boulevard. There are
50 percent discounts on jewelry and kiddush cups, and 20 percent
discounts on other items except parchments and candles. the sale
lasts through September 30...
CYBER-REFERRALS—Israel's Consulate General in Los Angeles passes
along a story on YNET that guerrilla bands of Fatah loyalists have been
infiltrating the Gaza Strip and have been performing acts of sabotage
against Hamas in Gaza. Here is
a
link to the story... StandWithUs refers us to a story in the
Jerusalem Post about a professor of Palestine University in Gaza who
was kidnapped by Hamas authorities and forced to convert from
Christianity to Islam. Here is
the link.
(Return to top)
Saturday, August 11, 2007
JEWISH STROLLING THROUGH THE U-T—In the front section of this morning's San Diego Union-Tribune, there were two stories on Israel, both by New York Times correspondent Steve Erlinger. One seemed to decry the construction of side-by-side roads on the West Bank for Palestinians and Israelis, with the former not having as many stops as the latter. However, Palestinians with permits to travel into Israeli territories may use the Israeli road. ... Erlinger's other story concerned a confrontation between an Arab terrorist and a Jewish security guard. The Arab grabbed one security guard's gun and shot him in the chest. The other security guard chased him, wounded him, and some are saying continued to shoot him after he was down, causing his death.... Another story told of State. Sen. Carole Migden (Democrat, San Francisco) pleading no contest to a charge of misdemeanor reckless driving, being fined $710, and being put on probation. Then there was an Associated piece about how the federal government plans to withdraw funding for King-Harbor Hospital in Los Angeles because it failed two inspections. Los Angeles County's chief medical officer, Dr. Bruce Chernof s
aid his department had worked "day and night to reform the hospital," but to no avail. "We must now move forward and look to other options to reopen a hospital in the future." .. In the local section, columnist Diane Bell reported that Alan Bersin plans to remain at his post as regional airport board chair for "up to two years" even if legislation to lower his $172,000 salary is approved by the Legislature... In the business section, a story leads with criticism of Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke as having been asleep at the switch when the current market crisis began, such criticism being leveled by advocates of lowering interest rates. In Sports, it was reported that San Diego Charger Igor Olshansky may not get to play tomorrow's exhibition game with the Seattle SeaHawks. Gosh, wasn't there any good news about Jews? Yup, John Grabow of the Pittsburgh Pirates won a game on just 13 pitches, which was all he needed to complete one inning. He retired the side without incident, but was still the pitcher of record when the Pirates jumped ahead to stay, eventually recording an 8-7 victory over the San Francisco Giants. Where did we find this happy story? Why, it was just as plain as the agate type in the box scores! Sunday, August 12, 2007CYBER-REFERRALS—
David Harrison
of Carlsbad passes
along an article
spotted on Yahoo
about the
Hebrew-language
charter school in
Florida that is
raising the same
kind of fears about
separation of
religion and state
that have been
occasioned locally
by an Islamic
school. Here
is a
link..... Hillel
Mazansky wanted
us to share with our
readers the
performance belowe
of "My Yiddishe
Mama" by the Moscow
Male Jewish Capella.
With pleasure!
U-T NEWS TOUR—The San Diego Union-Tribune in its Sunday morning edition had the following Jewish interest stories: First section: Fatah demonstrators in Gaza on Saturday protested the arrest of 15 party members at a wedding on Friday night... In the Insight section, former U.S. Secretary of State Henry Kissinger urged serious exploration of a Russian proposal to link American and Russian missile defense systems against the possibility of an attack from a rogue state like Iran... In the Sports section, Kevin Youkilis was listed 22nd on the list of top American League batters, with a .304 average. In the National League stats, you had to go all the way to position #47 to find Shawn Green of the New York Mets, hitting .275....There were some other stats to chew on: Mets pitcher Scott Schoeneweis struck out two Florida Marlins in an inning of relief, allowing no hits or runs, but his team nevertheless lost 7-5.... In the Red Sox 6-2 victory over the Balitmore Orioles, Kevin Youkilis was walked three times. His .304 average dropped to .302... Ian Kinsler was blanked in four trips to the plate. His Texas Rangers were shutout 4-0 by the Tampa Bay Devil Rays....In tennis, the Israeli doubles team of Jonathan Ehrlich and Andy Ram was defeated in the semifinals of the Rogers Masters in Montreal by Paul Hanley of Australia and Kevin Ulyett of Zimbabwe, 6-2, 6-3. .. In the Homes section, there's a story about a man named Moses who tried to part the waters, or more specifically how Charles Moses illegally tried to divert a creek, and was sentenced to 18 months imprisonment. Another story tells how various architects, including Frank Gehry, are considering selling their archives to museums...In the Homescape section, Jeff Figler writes about collecting magazines. Among those that will fetch a fair price: a Jan 23, 1953 edition of TV Guide with Marilyn Monroe on the cover and various editions of Life carrying photos by photographer Alfred Eisenstaedt, particularly his famous shot of a sailor hugging a nurse in Times Square in celebration of V-E Day in 1945... In the Passages section, there was an obituary of Mel Shavelson, 90, which curiously left out a line from the Associated Press version of the story that he wrote the book, How to Make a Jewish Movie... Frank E. Rosenfelt, 85, former MGM studio chief, also died... Reporting other deaths of the past week in its transitions column, the U-T had those of three people who were born Jews, and two of whom who died as Jews: Baron Elie Robert de Rothschild, 90; Cardinal Jean Marie Lustiger, 80, and Hal Fishman, 75.
CYBER-REFERRALS—Israel's
Consulate
General
draws
attention
to a
story
in
the
Israel
Insider
about
a
rally
for
freedom
being
suppressed
in
Gaza
City
today
by
Hamas.
Here
is
the
link
...
Bruce
Kesler
recommends
a
lengthy
article
on
the
role
philanthropists
can
play
in
the
Middle
East
debate
by
endowing
university
chairs
and
programs
on
the
Middle
East—which
is
already
being
done
by
Saudi
interests.
Here
is
a
link.
...
OUR
U-T
TOUR—So
what
did
the
San
Diego
Union-Tribune
do
today
with
news
of
specific
Jewish
interest?
Here's
what
we
noticed
during
our
perusal
over
a
morning
cup
of
coffee.
Front
Section—Apparently
desirous
of a
spirited
challenger
against
City
Attorney
Michael
Aguirre,
the
newspaper
ran
a
lead
article
by
Alex
RothInsi
with
the
headline
"Few
want
to
run
against
Aguirre:
Controversial
city
attorney
has
one
declared
challenger."
Evidently
feeling
that
attorney
Daniel
Coffey
may
not
be a
serious
political
contender,
the
newspaper
sent
out
feelers
to
former
U.S.
Attorney
Alan
Bersin
and
former
State
Assemblyman
Howard
Wayne,
who
said
one
reason
why
his
interest
is
low
is
that
it
might
take
$1
million
to
conduct
such
a
campaign...Inside
there
were
two
Middle
East
stories
on
page
A-7,
neither
particularly
boding
well
for
Israel.
One
said
that
the
Foreign
Affairs
Committee
of
Britain's
Parliament
is
recommending
direct
talks
with
Hamas
and
Hezbollah,
as
well
as
the
Muslim
Brotherhood,
notwithstanding
any
concern
that
they
might
be
terrorist
groups
because
their
influence
can
no
longer
be
discounted.
The
British
government
will
now
consider
the
recommendations.
(See
our
News
Sleuths
column
below)...
Next
to
that
AP
story
was
another
by
Laurie
Copans
of
Associated
Press
telling
about
Mariya
Aman,
6,
who
was
paralyzed
from
the
neck
down
by
an
Israeli
missile
that
exploded
in
Gaza
during
battlefield
action.
She
has
been
treated
and
receiving
rehabilitation
in
Jerusalem,
but
now
doctors
want
to
send
her
to
the
West
Bank.
Her
father,
a
Gazan
who
wants
to
become
an
Israeli
citizen,
objects
saying
the
Palestinian
territory
doesn't
have
the
equipment
necessary
to
sustain
her.
The
case
is
before
the
Israel
High
Court.
Local
Section—John
Marelius
covered
Democratic
presidential
candidate
Dennis
Kucinich's
foray
into
town
yesterday,
quoting
him
as
saying
"strength
through
peace
means
a
president
who
will
engage
directly
with
the
leaders
of
the
world,
who
will
go
and
meet
with
leaders
in
Iran
and
Syria
and
will
go
to
Israel
and
Palestine
and
owrk
on
peace
through
the
Middle
East."
Currents—Lee
Grant,
who
knows
the
meaning
of
the
term,
described
Seth
Rogen
as a
nebbish
in
the
movie
Knocked
Up
and
went
on
to
quote
him
on
why
he
previewed
his
new
movie
Superbad
at
Comic-Con
in
San
Diego.
"Well,
it's
about
guys
who
spend
too
much
time
with
other
guys
and
can't
get
girls,
so
it
was
the
perfect
place."
Sports—Box
scores
were
where
you'd
find
Jewish
players,
assuming
you
knew
their
names.
In
National
League
games:
Shawn
Green
went
0-4,
striking
out
twice,
but
his
teammates
won
convincingly
anyway
10-4
over
the
Florida
Marlins.
Brad
Ausmus
only
hit
in
his
Houston
Astros
5-4
victory
over
the
Milwaukee
Brewers
was
his
14th
double
of
the
season,
which
drove
in
his
22nd
RBI.
But
his
stats
also
had
a
more
sour
abbreviation:
GIDP,
meaning
grounded
into
double
play....
In
the
American
League,
the
Baltimore
Orioles
knocked
off
the
Boston
Red
Sox
6-3,
with
Sox
first
baseman
scoring
one
run
on
one
hit
and
two
walks.
He
advanced
to
scoring
position
for
two
of
those
plays,
but
then
was
left
stranded.
And
Texas
Rangers
second
baseman
Ian
Kinsler
hit
his
16th
double
of
the
season,
accounting
for
his
40th
and
41st
RBI
of
the
season,
as
the
Rangers
speared
the
Tampa
Bay
Devil
Rays
9-1.
(Return to top)
CYBER-REFERRALS— Gail Forman found a learned essay by David Kaufmann in the Daily Forward on the question of whether we should consider Bugs Bunny to be Jewish. She says this helps to prove the motto of San Diego JewishWorld that there is a Jewish story everywhere.... Er, if you wanna know what's up doc, here's the link.... Israel's Consulate General in Los Angeles forwards a YNET story about Syria saying it is not planning a war with Israel. Here is the link. ... Bruce Kesler refers us to a story in the California Catholic Daily on how Saudi Arabia is funding Islamic programs for school children, with either exclude or criticize Christian and Jewish viewpoints. Here is the link. ...
OUR U-T
TOUR—Here are
the stories in
this morning's
San Diego
Union-Tribune
that were of
specific
interest to the
Jewish
community:
Front
Section—In
the story about
Karl Rove's
resignation from
President George
W. Bush's staff,
mention was made
of the directive
by Chief of
Staff Joshua
Bolten to
White House
staff members
who did not plan
to serve for the
duration of the
President's term
in office to
please submit
their
resignations by
Labor Day... In
another
resignation
story—that of UC
President Robert
C. Dynes—Richard
Blum,
chairman of the
UC Board of
Regents,
commented about
the university's
financial
difficulties:
"It's been a
difficult time
and I think Bob
can be proud of
what he has
accomplished."
... The
continuing
murder trial of
record producer
Phil Spector
in Los
Angeles brought
testimony from
shooting victim
Lana Clarkson's
mother, Donna,
whose testimony
indicated that
her daughter was
happy, planning
for her future,
and not
despondent.
The defense team
has tried to
prove that
Clarkson was a
suicide victim
rather than a
murder victim...
In San
Francisco, a
defendant
apologized to
Nobel laureate
Elie Wiesel
for a
physical attack
on him (also see
World Jewish
Congress story
above)...A deal
has been struck
between an agent
for the family
of slaying
victim Ron
Goldman and
a publishing
house for O.J.
Simpson's book,
If I Did It.
Goldman and
Simpson's wife,
Nicole, died in
the same attack.
Local
Section—Even
after Aaron
Feldman's
Sunroad
Enterprises
agreed to lower
its
controversial
building to 160
feet, a member
of the mayor's
staff, James
Waring, has been
lobbying City
Council members
to permit a
lesser
reduction. The
story by Jeff
McDonald and
David Hasemyer
was coupled with
an editorial in
the newspaper
questioning why
Sanders hadn't
reprimanded
Waring for his
activities.
Waring announced
his resignation
after City
Attorney Michael
Aguirre
questioned his
activities...Columnist
Diane Bell told
of a sandwich at
film producer
Stu Segall's
Studio Diner
called the "SamSon"
which includes
prime rib,
spinach,
sprouts, garlic
and cheese.
Sounds like a
sandwich you'd
need the
strength of
Samson to eat,
only, of course,
it's not
kosher....Bell
also quoted
Scott Silverman
about how moved
he was to see
the family of
the late
advocate for the
homeless, Dr.
Victor Kops
donating
some of his
clothes, and
"helping them
even in death."
...
Opinion—Former
congressman and
Republican
presidential
candidate Jack
Kemp, in
a column, quoted
Art Laffer
as counseling
"If these
pro-growth
policies that
have led to our
25-year-year
bull market are
reversed, don't
be surprised if
our financial
gains and
competitive edge
disappear....
Another peace by
Leon Hadar,
described as a
research fellow
at the
Independent
Institute in
Oakland,
suggested that
the Middle East
would have
profited by the
United States
exercising
'benign neglect'
rather than
doing anything:
"The fact that
Washington
focuses so much
of its energy
and attention on
the Arab-Israeli
conflict, while
turning a blind
eye elsewhere,
indicates that
U.S. foreign
policy has lost
its focus."
Business—In
the wake of
losing a patent
infringement
case against
Broadcom, seeing
President Bush
let stand a ban
on importing
foreign cell
phones using the
disputed
technology, and
U.S. District
Court Judges
Rudi Brewster
and James Selna
recently ruling
against
Qualcomm, the
beleaguered
company's chief
counsel, Lou
Lupin, has
stepped down.
CEO Paul
Jacobs
commented that
Lupin had
"played a major
role" in
Qualcomm's
technology
licensing
program...
Investors Eli
Broad and
Maurice
Greenberg
(C.V. Starr &
Co) are among a
group putting up
$3 billion to
shore up Goldman
Sachs' Global
Equity
Opportunities
Fund, which lost
30 percent f its
value in a week
in the fallout
over
mortgage-backed
securities
favored by hedge
funds.
Sports—In
the agate
baseball box
scores, one
learned that
Boston Red Sox
first baseman
Kevin Youkilis
went 0-4 in
the Sox 3-0
shutout of the
Tampa Bay Devil
Rays, and that
his batting
average is now
down to .300.
He was once
among the
American
League's top
hittters, but he
is now .13
points off the
pace... Brad
Ausmus
officially went
0-2, but he
walked twice as
his Houston
Astros defeated
the Los Angeles
Dodgers 4-1.
Newspapers don't
regularly print
"on base
percentages,"
tabulating what
percentage of
the time hitters
get on base
either by
hitting or
walking, but
they should.
It's a more
reliable way of
calculating a
player's
offensive
value... Relief
pitcher John
Grabow
needed only nine
pitches to
retire the San
Francisco Giants
in the inning he
pitched, and
that included a
strike out.
His ERA is now
down to 4.21.
The Pirates,
however, lost
that game 10-3.
Currents—In
a feature about
hit programming
on cable,
producer Matt
Weiner
received
favorable notice
from New York
Times News
Service writer
Bill Carter for
"Mad Men,"
a cynical
drama about the
advertising
business, circa
1960.
(Return to top)
CYBER REFERRALS—Israel's
Consulate
General in
Los Angeles
points out
stories on
today's Y-Net
quoting Defense
Minister
Ehud Barak
and Prime
Minister
Ehud Olmert
that the
government does
not want to make
war on Syria,
and apparently
vice versa.
..
It also
forwarded a
Y-Net
story on the
Likud internal
election, won
handily by
Israel's former
Prime Minister
Binyomin
Netanyahu. ...
Jay Jacobson
passes on a
somewhat
sardonic
description of
Israel's current
peace
maneuverings
with the
Palestinians
written by Moshe
Arens for
Ha'aretz.
Here is
the link.
... Bruce
Kesler
passes on a
report in the
Washington Times
concerning
allegations that
U.S. Citizenship
and Immigration
Service
officers, for
personal gain,
over the last
several years
have been
permitting
Islamic
extremists to
enter or to stay
in the country.
Here is
the link
JEWISH
LICENSE PLATES—Melanie
Rubin
spotted a plate
bearing the
word, "Breeyah,"
which roughly
can be
translated from
the Hebrew as
"Creation" or
"Beginning."
We're happy to
know that
Melanie is
keeping up with
one of our
favorite
pictorial
hobbies. Here is
a link to
some of the
others in our
Jewish license
plate
collection.
(Return to top)
Thursday, August
16
CYBER-REFERRALS—
Jay Jacobson
draws our
attention to a piece by the Washington Institute for Near East Policy on the
record (dismal) of U.N. peacekeepers inserted into Lebanon after its second
war with Israel. Here is
a link. ...
Bruce Kesler
spotted a
column by Winfield Myers of Campus Watch concerning how academics are
responding to the scrutiny of watchdog groups. Here is
the link.
...
(Return to top)
Friday, August
17
CYBER-REFERRALS
— Israel's
Consulate
General
in Los Angeles
forwards a story
from Haaretz
describing a
spat betwen the
Saudi Arabians
and the Syrians
regarding their
respective roles
in the Middle
East. Here
is
a link....
Jay Jacobson
forwards a
column by
Mehdi Khalji for
the Washington
Institute for
Near East Policy
examining the
role of Iran's
Revolutionary
Guards, an
organization
expected to soon
be put on the
U.S. list of
proscribed
terrorist
organizations...
Hillel
Mazansky
found a YouTube
presentation
from earlier
this year about
a black Jewish
congregation,
Beth Shalom, in
Chicago.
Video shows
portions of the
service.
It is below,
along with
another video
production
showing an
Ethiopian Jewish
service in Safed.
.... The
Republican
Jewish Caucus
has sent around
approvingly a
column by
Michael Medved
wondering why
Hollywood has
chosen in the
movie,
September Dawn,
to release a
movie dealing
with Mormon
terrorists of
the 19th
century, rather
than making one
about Islamic
terrorists
today.
Could this have
something to do
with the fact
that one of the
leading
Republican
presidential
candidates, Mitt
Romney, is
Mormon? ....
(Return to top)
Saturday, August
18, 2007
FEMALE
CANTORS—CJ,
the magazine of Conservative/ Masorti
Judaism has a feature in the current
issue in which female cantors discuss
some of their experiences. One of those
writing in the first person is
Cantor Alisa Pomerantz-Boro,
formerly of Tifereth Israel Synagogue in
San Diego and currently at Congregation
Beth-El in Cherry Hill, New Jersey.
She tells of women and girls in the
congregation tentatively and then later
trying on tefillin and "now it is as if
it has always been that way....Recently,
I was talking ot a bright and talented
boy with a magnificent voice who comes
to synagogue every Shabbat. When I
suggested that he might consider
becoming a hazzan one day, he asked,
'Can a boy be a hazzan too?'"
FUNDRAISER—There was a time in
California's past when the thought of
someone gambling on a ship would cause
whistles to blow, officers to call
through bullhorns, and occasionally,
passengers to jump overboard with their
illegal gaming profits. How times
have changed. There's a gambling
cruise coming up that just as you lay
down your bet, you're liable to have
Sheriff Bill Kolender looking over
your shoulder... and wishing you luck!
On Thursday evening, September 20, the
sheriff and his wife Lois will
host Casino Royale night aboard the
Hornblower yacht Inspiration.
Guests will board at 5:30 p.m., depart
the pier at 7 p.m. and return at 9:30
p.m., during which time they'll have
dinner and gambling. Oh, but
there's a catch. All the proceeds
of this gambling night go to a charity,
most specifically the Sheriff's Museum
and Educational Center.
 Robert & Helaine Baum |
SIMCHA—Members of their
Congregation Beth Israel
chavurah,
neighbors, friends and, of
course, family members
were on hand today for a
luncheon saluting
Robert & Helaine Baum,
who were celebrating their 44th
wedding anniversary as well as
nearby birthday dates.
Former San Diegan Sharon
Thomas flew in from Texas to
be present for the celebration
which was held in the back room
of the Panda Inn at Horton
Plaza. |
CONGREGATIONAL CURRENTS— Nadav Caine, a layman, will serve as spiritual leader of Ner Tamid Synagogue, beginning August 24. Mitchell J. Freedman, president of the Conservative congregation, notes that Caine is an honors graduate in philosophy from Princeton, and holds a master's degree in theology from Harvard. He has taught Jewish studies at Stanford and San Jose State and now has decided to follow in the footsteps of his father, Rabbi Ivan Caine, who served in Philadelphia pulpits for over 30 years. Father and son will officiate over High Holidays. They will be joined by Cantor Michel Freed of Los Angeles. But before all that happens, the congregation is planning an evening that will be a whole lot more secular—a Texas Hold Em Poker tournament from 6:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Thursday evening. Entrance fee of $30 entitles players and spectators to pizza, salad, dessert and beverages. The player with the most winning hands will win a prize. Proceeds will help to finance the Hebrew school programs.
Steve Berger of Congregation Beth El is a new district director of the Federation of Jewish Men's Club, an auxiliary of the Conservative movement. Meanwhile, Phil Snyder of Tifereth Israel Synagogue has been named as a vice president for membership.
 |
SIMCHA—Myla Wingard and Dr. Lou Rosen celebrated their 11th wedding anniversary and the repainting of the interior of their house in Pacific Beach by inviting friends and neighbors over for a ceremony today affixing mezuzot to the doorposts of their rooms. Daughter Adira's room behind Myla is painted in "sassy lilac," one of a number of lively colors in which their rooms are now painted. Some others include "yellow sunshine," "nutmeg brown," "plum purple," and "spring water fall blue" and for son Eitan, a "chic" black and white. "People are affected by the colors—they say 'wow' because it makes you smile," Wingard explained. "Each color elicits a different kind of mood." |
CIVILIAN SERVICE IN ISRAEL—Israel's Prime Minister Ehud Olmert announced on Sunday that a new administration has been established to "allow youths to volunteer for national service through civilian organizations. The administration, the first of its type, will allow youths who do not serve in the IDF for various reasons, to contribute to the country through communal service."
CONGREGATIONAL CURRENTS—The landlord of the property on which
Chabad of La Costa
operates its shul has agreed to sell the land for $300,000, which is below market value, according to Rabbi Yeruchem Eilfort. Now the congregation in launching a fundraising drive, not only for the land but for a permanent structure that might be built there. Rabbi Shlomo Cunin, director of Chabad of the West Coast, has agreed to augment every contribution to this fund by 10 percent, Eilfort reported. More information may be obtained from Chabad at La Costa at (760) 612-4577.
JEWISH PUBLIC OFFICIALS—Fox News reported today that following a shoving incident at the airport in Washington D.C. between
SAN DIEGO JEWISH HISTORY—One of the more enjoyable magazines in town is Save Our Heritage, with color layouts of interesting historical buildings. The current issue focuses on San Diego's Historic Warehouse District. Among buildings illustrated in an article by Bruce Coons, SOHO's executive director, are the Simon Levi Building at 7th and J Streets in San Diego, and Levi Wholesale Grocery Co. They were built in 1916 and 1927 respectively. Another article in the magazine, compiled by Coons' wife, Alana, discusses the economics of historic preservation. Illustrating that piece is a photo of the twin-towered Louis Bank of Commerce, built in 1888 for Isador Louis in what today we call the Gaslamp Quarter. Another article entitled the "2007 Most Endangered List" tells of 12 properties that SOHO fears are facing threats to their historic context. Among these is the 1965 Salk Institute for Biological Studies, which grew out of a conceptual partnership between architect Louis Kahn and polio vaccine discover Jonas Salk. According to the SOHO article: "Entitlements are being sought this year for an insensitive Master Plan that would permanently alter the world-renowned Salk Institute for Biological Studies... Inconsistent with Kahn's original site plan and design, the master plan threatens to max out the property in a manner that would permanently compromise its prized architectural, historical and environmental values. This would include views to and from the iconic Kahn laboratory buildings and the magnificent courtyard space."... We also take note that among 2007 "People in Preservation Award Winners" cited by the organization were Louis & Tammy Vener, who adopted the motto, "out with the new and in with the old" in connection with the preservation, restoration and historic designation of the Uriah and Clara Barkey House. ... Kathleen Dickey, who became a research intern at the San Diego Archaeological Center after retiring as a clinical microbiologist and research scientist, plans a lecture on October 13 at the center (16666 San Pasqual Valley Road, Escondido) on the topic "History on the Rocks: The Story of 160 Acres in the San Pasqual Valley.). So what's Jewish about that? One of the personages in her story was Moses Mannasse, a 19th century settler in San Diego County.
(Return to top)
Tuesday, August 21
AROUND THE TOWN—The executive director of Human Rights Watch, Kenneth Roth, is coming to San Diego to deliver a lecture at 7 p.m., Thursday, September 20, which is the night before Kol Nidre. A reception will follow his lecture at the University of San Diego's Joan B. Kroc Institute for Peace & Justice. The center picked up from the Human Rights Watch website the background
Kenneth Roth
information that "roth was drawn to the human rights cause in part by his father's experience fleeing Nazi Germany in 1938."
CONGREGATIONAL CURRENTS—Rabbi Tamar Malino of Temple Adat Shalom recently spoke at the Poway Community Church as part of an ongoing summer program of interfaith presentations by representatives of various religions in the community. According to
Lori Mathios,
who handles publicity for the temple, "Our Rabbi gave a brilliant presentation and answered questions from guests and clergy with ease. One guest, who remains anonymous, was so impressed, that he gave a very generous sum to open a non-profit bank account for future programs."
CYBER-REFERRALS— We thank contributors who pass along stories of interest for your benefit:
●Abe & Bea Goldberg noted that PM Caregivers has a bumper sticker promotion with jokes about becoming old. One features a saying of George Burns: "It's nice to be here. At my age, it's nice to be anywhere.' Here's the link
●Israel's Consulate General
in
Los Angeles, without comment, directs attention to an article in the Jerusalem Post quoting the Al Aqsa Martyr's Brigade as saying Israel has arrested two fighters previously given amnesty, so the brigade no longer feels bound to honor agreements with Israel. Here's the link
●Jay Jacobson
directs our attention to a speculative piece about the fortifications and land purchases Hezbollah is making north of the Litani River, and what the strategic intent of these developments might be. Here is the link.
●Hillel Mazansky
saw the item on the BBC report about Alex Kurzem, a Jew who was brought up secretly by a Nazi officer. Here's the link.
●We at the
San Diego Jewish World
greatly
appreciated the first item in Diane Bell's column in the San Diego Union-Tribune about Yoni Peres going "to bat" for us. Here is the link.
(Return to top)
CYBER-REFERRALS— We thank contributors who pass along stories of interest for your benefit:
● Israel's Consulate General in Los Angeles forwards a story in today's
Jerusalem Post
in which Iran claims it has developed a 'smart' bomb that can be laser guided to a target from an aircraft.
●
Bruce Kesler, who noted that a report by Mike Allen of
The Politico that a new organization called Freedom's Watch is planning on purchasing $15
million in advertising to pressure Congress to support President George W. Bush's troop surge policy in Iraq. Among organizers are Bush's former press secretary Ari Fleischer and Matt Brooks, executive director of the Republican Jewish Coalition.
JEWISH ELECTED OFFICIALS—California State Insurance Commissioner Steve Poizner announced the conviction on insurance fraud and sentencing to two years imprisonment of Manuel Carreon, 45, 0f Pomona. Poizner said while the man was receiving total disability payments for allegedly wrenching his back as a nurse, he continued to work as a carpenter.
CYBER-REFERRALS—We thank contributors who pass along stories of interest for your benefit:
●
American Israel Public Affairs Committee
has released a briefing paper on the many ways Israel and the United States cooperate in the military and intelligence spheres. Here is a link.
●
Dan Bloom of Taiwan did a double take when he saw the headline in the