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Sept. 12-14
San Diego Jewish World
Tuesday evening-Wednesday,
August 28-29, 2007
Vol.
1, Number 120
| Names of government officials
from the Jewish community are printed in bold face type
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San Diego Jewish World
August 28, 2007
(click on headline below to jump to the story)
Israel and Middle East
President Bush wars American Legion of threats by 'Sunni
extremists' and 'Shia extremists'
Israelis, Palestinians authorize joint meetings of|
various agencies to foster wide-ranging cooperation
Sarkozy speaks out against
nuclear Iran, 'Hamastan'
Israel to begin
new settlements inside Green Line
Dutch refuse Palestinian troupe's request that Israel
dancers be banned from international dance festival
Israel arranging a laptop
for every teacher
Search and rescue cadets perform in surprise drill
ADL-Israel condemns statement by Rabbi Ovadia
Peres confers with Martin Luther King III
Israeli authorities arrest
California fraud suspect
Europe
European
Socialists join in
protest of Magyar Garda
Polish bishops divided over leadership of Rydzyk
Wiesenthal Center urges EU to withhold
funds from
radio group while its headed by Tadeusz Rydzyk
United States of America
AJCongress urges Bush appoint 'non-partisan' AG
Columbus, Ohio, policewoman posts anti-Semitic videos;
Anti-Defamation League makes protest
NCJW says Katrina recovery far too slow
Dr. Alex Grobman: A eulogy
for Rabbi Judah Nadich, chaplain who interceded for Jews in
displaced person's camp
Features
Jewish
Grapevine
News Sleuths
Greater San Diego
Back-to-school barbecue at Soille San Diego Hebrew Day School:
food, fun, and sign-ups
Chabad of University City will have Selichot concert, then music
by three cantors over the High Holidays
Eileen Wingard, family to give Selichot concert
Arts & Entertainment
Norman
Manson:
It's
the story of Kaiser
Permanente—or is it?
Dorothea
Shefer-Vanson: Dorel Golan is a pianist you'll be hearing from
|
President Bush warns American Legion of threats by 'Sunni
extremists' and 'Shia extremists'
RENO, Nevada (Press Release)—Following is a partial
transcript of a speech given today by U.S. President
George W. Bush to the national convention of the
American Legion here.
The murderers and beheaders are not the true face of
Islam; they are the face of evil. They seek to exploit
religion as a path to power and a means to dominate the
Middle East. The violent Islamic radicalism that
inspires them has two main strains. One is Sunni
extremism, embodied by al Qaida and its terrorist
allies. Their organization advances a vision that
rejects tolerance, crushes all dissent, and justifies
the murder of innocent men, women, and children in the
pursuit of political power. We saw this vision in the
brutal rule of the Taliban in Afghanistan, where women
were publicly whipped, men were beaten for missing
prayer meetings, and young girls could not go to school.
These extremists hope to impose that same dark vision
across the Middle East by raising up a violent and
radical caliphate that spans from Spain to Indonesia. So
they kill fellow Muslims in places like Algeria and
Jordan and Egypt and Saudi Arabia in an attempt to
undermine their governments. And they kill Americans
because they know we stand in their way. And that is why
they attacked U.S. embassies in Africa in 1998, and
killed sailors aboard the USS Cole in 2001 [sic]. And
that is why they killed nearly 3,000 people on 9/11. And
that is why they plot to attack us again. And that is
why we must stay in the fight until the fight is won.
(Applause.)
The other strain of radicalism
in the Middle East is Shia extremism, supported and
embodied by the regime that sits in Tehran. Iran has
long been a source of trouble in the region. It is the
world's leading state sponsor of terrorism. Iran backs
Hezbollah who are trying to undermine the democratic
government of Lebanon. Iran funds terrorist groups like
Hamas and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad, which murder
the innocent, and target Israel, and destabilize the
Palestinian territories.
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Iran is sending arms to the
Taliban in Afghanistan, which
could be used to attack American
and NATO troops. Iran has
arrested visiting American
scholars who have committed no
crimes and pose no threat to
their regime. And Iran's active
pursuit of technology that could
lead to nuclear weapons
threatens to put a region
already known for instability
and violence under the shadow of
a nuclear holocaust.
Iran's
actions threaten the security of nations everywhere. And
that is why the United States is rallying friends and
allies around the world to isolate the regime, to impose
economic sanctions. We will confront this danger before
it is too late. (Applause.)
I want
our fellow citizens to consider what would happen if
these forces of radicalism and extremism are allowed to
drive us out of the Middle East. The region would be
dramatically transformed in a way that could imperil the
civilized world. Extremists of all strains would be
emboldened by the knowledge that they forced America to
retreat. Terrorists could have more safe havens to
conduct attacks on Americans and our friends and allies.
Iran could conclude that we were weak -- and could not
stop them from gaining nuclear weapons. And once Iran
had nuclear weapons, it would set off a nuclear arms
race in the region.
(Jump to continuation)
Israelis, Palestinians authorize joint meetings of|
various agencies to foster wide-ranging cooperation
JERUSALEM (Press Release)—Vice Premier
and Minister of Foreign Affairs Tzipi Livni met on
Monday evening (27 August) with Palestinian Prime
Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Salam Fayyad.
FM Livni expressed appreciation for the
action taken by the Palestinian security forces Monday
morning in Jenin, in rendering assistance to the IDF
officer who entered the city by mistake:
"Such action demonstrates the
strengthening of the Palestinian government in its
efforts in the field to combat terrorism. Terrorist
elements are trying to undermine the joint efforts of
moderates in Israel and the Palestinian Authority to
improve security in the area. Action such as that taken
this morning prevents a decline in the security
situation and helps to safeguard the daily lives of both
Israelis and Palestinians."
Livni and Fayyad agreed on enhanced economic and
civilian cooperation between the Palestinian Authority
and Israel, in the form of meetings to take place
between joint Israeli and Palestinian committees in the
fields of economics, social affairs and environment
protection.
It was also agreed to hold direct meetings between
Israeli and Palestinian municipal heads of and
representatives of organizations in order to advance
joint projects. The two leaders will meet again soon in
order to continue their talks and follow up on progress
on these issues.
The preceding story was provided by
Israel's Ministry of Foreign affairs
. 
Sarkozy speaks out against
nuclear Iran, 'Hamastan'
PARIS (Press Release)—The French
president, Nicolas Sarkozy, has called on Western
nations to redouble their efforts to stop Iran’s nuclear
ambitions and to avoid a scenario that could lead to
“the bombing of Iran”.
In his first major speech on foreign policy since his
election in May, Sarkozy made it clear he intended to
apply the same energetic approach to French diplomacy as
he has to domestic policy. Speaking to 180 French
ambassadors, the French president said a nuclear-armed
Iran would be "unacceptable" and that the only response
was to tighten sanctions while being open to talks if
Iran suspended nuclear activities.
"This initiative is the only one that can enable us to
escape an alternative that I say is catastrophic: the
Iranian bomb or the bombing of Iran," he said, adding
that it was the biggest crisis facing the world.
Sarkozy
was equally outspoken on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, saying that
France would not allow a "Hamastan" to be created in the Palestinian
territories after the takeover of the Gaza Strip by the radical Islamic
group Hamas in June. "I have the reputation of being a friend of Israel,
and it's true. I will never compromise on Israel's security," he said.
The preceding story was provided by the World Jewish
Congress
Israel to begin
new settlements inside Green Line
JERUSALEM (Press Release)—The Ministerial Committee on
Settlement Affairs, chaired by Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, this morning
(Tuesday), 28 August 2007, unanimously approved the establishment of a
rural-community settlement district that will include seven - mostly new
- communities in the eastern Lachish area. (roughly 15 miles north of
Be'er Sheva)
This historic decision
combines the development of a region within the Land of Israel with a
solution for Gush Katif evacuees. Five groups - including approximately
200 families from Gush Katif - have already expressed willingness to
settle in the region. They will be joined by other families who are
interested in becoming involved in tourism enterprises, including
guesthouses and vineyards that will be developed there.
The Government has decided that boosting settlement in
the region is an important national interest that justifies budgetary
allocations and providing appropriate incentives. Five hundred
residential units are planned in the first stage: 150 in Hazan, 100 in
Shomriya, 60 in Mirsham, 60 in Amatzia, 70 in Haruv, 45 in Keramit and
20 in Shekef. The green and rural eastern Lachish region will be
developed so as to enable residents to live in maximum comfort while
maintaining its rural character. Road #358 will link the area to Be’er
Sheva and Kiryat Gat (via Road #35). This will cost approximately NIS
200 million; work will begin forthwith.
Prime Minister Olmert said: "I welcome today’s decision.
The time has come to stop talking and start doing. If developing a new
community in Israel is genuinely exciting, how much more so the
development of seven communities that will turn a thinly settled region
into a genuine national and tourist treasure. This is settlement inside
the Green Line, which is very significant. Approximately 100 families
live in the region today while Palestinian settlement increases beyond
the Green Line. This region has great potential and we are interested in
it becoming one of Zionism’s major developments in the 21st century. I
foresee thousands of families in the area, which will be only 30 minutes
from the center of the country on Highway #6 and which is both green and
has especially scenic vistas. This region will be based on agriculture,
tourism and local industry."
Prime Minister's Office Director-General Ra'anan Dinur,
who chaired the directors-general team that formulated the plan to
strengthen the eastern Lachish region said: "We want to create strong
settlement groups. This is one of the most prestigious areas in the
country that the state can offer its residents. It has a rural character
and is accessible to the center of the country."
The preceding story was provided
by the office of Israel's Prime Minister Ehud Olmert |
Dutch refuse
Palestinian troupe's request that Israel dancers be
banned from international dance festival
AMSTERDAM (Press
Release)—A Palestinian dance troupe’s attempt to get
Israel banned from participating at a Dutch dance
festival has backfired, according to a report by the
‘Jerusalem Post’ newspaper. Members of the group ‘El
Founoun’ had informed officials of the Netherlands'
‘Dancing on the Edge’ festival that the organizers
should either rescind their invitation to the Israelis,
or forfeit the participation of the Palestinians, a
request which was refused.
‘El Founoun’ has thus withdrawn from the week-long
festival. Instead, the piece ‘Wish Upon a Star’,
choreographed and performed by Smadar Yaaron from
Israel, will feature dancers from Egypt, Lebanon, Syria
and Iran, as well as from two Palestinian dance groups
that did not call for an anti-Israel boycott, according
to the Jerusalem Post.
Sponsored by
organizations including the Dutch Ministry of Foreign
Affairs, Dancing on the Edge is scheduled to take place
in mid-December in the cities of Amsterdam, Rotterdam
and Groningen. In addition to the dance performances,
the festival will include lectures, workshops and public
conversations with the artists, as well as networking
opportunities for the performers.
The preceding story
was provided by the World Jewish Congress
Israel arranging a laptop for every
teacher
JERUSALEM—Prime Minister Ehud Olmert this evening
launched the “Laptop for Every Teacher” project, in the
framework of which 60,000 laptop computers will be
distributed over the next five years to teachers
throughout the country. The first computers are due to
be distributed in Be’er Sheva, Yeruham and Arad.
The Education Ministry, the Teacher’s Federation, World
ORT, Microsoft, Intel, the Mirage Foundation and
Fujitsu-Siemens are overseeing the project, which has
been initiated by the Athena Foundation chaired by Uri
Ben-Ari.
Prime Minister Olmert said: “This project will
significantly affect every student. We have great
schools, exemplary teachers but I am not certain that
over the years we have given them the appropriate
conditions to fulfill their responsibilities, as we
would have liked. The education system is changing
faster than we have tended to assume and what we are
doing today is an attempt to change the status of
Israeli teachers. The start of the academic year will
be a new beginning for many students and for many
teachers as well, who will fulfill their
responsibilities with greater pride and greater joy.”
The preceding story was provided by the
office of Israel Prime Minister Ariel Sharon
(Return to top)
Search and rescue cadets
perform in surprise
drill
By Dor Blech
JERUSALEM—Having finished two and a half months of
intense training and studies – and being a mere two
weeks from concluding their training in its entirety -
the cadets of the Home-Front Command Search and Rescue
NCO Course were mobilized to conduct a training drill
that slightly differed from the norm.
 The
exercises were held in a simulated disaster area in the
Command's training base and were a culmination of what
was taught in previous months. The participating
soldiers practiced exercises such as the search and
extraction of the injured, and dead from burnt or
destroyed buildings. The drill was designed to test
mental and emotional strain.
Soldiers were cast as actors and
makeup specialists ensured that the
Cadets
performing evacuation procedures
wounded
would look as real
as possible. Many others were on the scene to play the
part of members of the media, unsettled citizens, and
other characters that could potentially distract the
soldiers. The cadets had no prior notification of the
drill; and they did not know where their destination
was, or what the purpose of their surprise departure
from the base could be.
Upon arrival at the base yesterday evening the soldiers
were shown the disaster area which contained burnt and
destroyed buildings. Amongst the buildings, "injured
civilians" lay near collapsed electrical systems and
needed to be to be extracted in complete darkness.
Minutes after the start of the search and rescue
mission, the soldiers portraying media personnel arrived
at the scene and attempted to enter the zone, forcing
the soldiers to keep them from entering so that they
would neither endanger themselves, nor interfere with
the evacuation efforts . The actors' makeup and
portrayal were so realistic, that it gave the cadets a
chance to feel shock at the initial sight of the
wounded.
"The site looked so real, with all the fire and smoke,
and injured civilians crying and screaming out for
help," said one of the cadets while lifting a wounded
civilian into a rescue vehicle. "If I weren't certain
that I was in a training base I would really have
thought that we were actually conducting operations in a
disaster area, because we are nearly prepared for active
duty."
The Home-Front Command Search and Rescue NCO Course runs
for nearly three months, and is regarded as one of the
most prestigious courses in the IDF. Its graduates are
known as the most successful worldwide, and have
conducted search and rescue missions many times over in
disaster areas worldwide. Recent examples include
missions in Nairobi last January; operating after the
earthquake in Turkey which took place a number of years
ago; and countless others.
The
preceding story was provided by the Israel Defense Force
ADL-Israel
condemns statement by
Rabbi Ovadia
JERUSALEM (Press Release)—The Israel Office of the
Anti-Defamation League (ADL) condemned the incendiary
and disrespectful statements made by Shas spiritual
leader Rabbi Ovadia Yosef during a sermon on July 26.
According to reports, the former
chief Sephardic rabbi said Jewish
soldiers were killed in war because
they were not observant. "Is it
surprising if soldiers are, God
forbid, killed at war? When they
don't observe the Sabbath, don't
observe the Torah, don't pray every
day, don't put on phylacteries every
day?," he was quoted as saying.
ADL's Israel Office issued the
following statement:
We are shocked and saddened at the
incendiary and derogatory statements
reportedly made by Rabbi Ovadia
Yosef. We call on Rabbi Yosef, as a
religious authority with political
influence, to refrain from such
language and instead speak of the
pursuit of peace and respect for all
people in order to heal rifts in
Israeli society, particularly
between secular and observant Jews.
The preceding story was provided by
the Anti-Defamation League
|
 |
The Peres Diary |
 |
Peres confers with Martin Luther King III
JERUSALEM (Press Release)—Israel’s President Shimon
Peres met with Martin Luther King III in his office on
Sunday, August 26. King is the son of the legendary
Martin Luther King who was murdered in 1968 while
leading a stubborn fight for complete equality between
Blacks and Whites in the US.
 King
asked to meet with the President in order to tell him
about the ramified activity that he is promoting all
over the world, on behalf of equality among all races,
religions and colors.
At the start of their meeting the President told King
that he knew his father, whom he perceived as an
extremely inspired leader whoproved
that dreams can be turned into reality and, despite his
President Peres receives book from Martin Luther King
III
murder, he left the
US and the entire world a great heritage that denies
discrimination on the basis of religion, color and sex,
and stands for freedom and equality among mankind.
“I visited the US in the 1960s and I saw the
manifestations of discrimination between citizens and
today one can say that the great fight that your father
waged was a success. People of all sexes, religions and
colors hold the highest positions in American society,
the economy and the establishment.
The sentence, ‘I have a dream’ has become a watchword of
tremendous significance conveying a message to the whole
world: It doesn’t matter what color a person’s skin is
or what he believes in. Knowledge, talent and initiative
are the things that will determine a person’s success in
the modern era. I am extremely proud of the world and of
the new order that your father achieved in his fight of
behalf of each and every one of us,” said the President.
Martin Luther King III thanked the President warmly for
his statements and said that whenever he visits Israel
he is moved anew by the warmth and love of the Israelis.
“Whenever I visit I learn new things from all of you,”
he told the President, adding that at present, at a time
when it seems as if there is once again a genuine chance
for peace between Israel and its neighbors in the Middle
East, he is keeping his fingers crossed and would like
to contribute to the success of the peace process in any
way he can.
King added that he is working to eradicate
discrimination and violence in Darfur and is also
operating a number of educational programs in South
Korea. King said that around the world there are still
severe manifestations of discrimination adding: “I,
along with the people in my organization, which
comprises my father’s longstanding activists and the
children of leaders from around the world, continue to
act and disseminate my father’s doctrine in every corner
of the earth where we encounter discrimination.
King also mentioned the US Presidential elections and
said that presidential candidate Barak Obama constitutes
a role model and an American success story for many
young people in the US, and his character and style are
attracting hordes of activists who are interested in
working alongside him and joining in his success. “The
fact that a man like him is running for the topmost
position in the US hierarchy is a source of hope for
millions of other young people and proves that my
father’s struggle was a success and that genuine social
mobility exists in the US.”
At the end of the meeting King told the President that
he thanks him for the meeting and would like to continue
to meet with him on his subsequent visits to Israel as
well. The President replied in the affirmative and the
two men agreed on future mutual cooperation.
The office of Israel's President Shimon
from time to time releases accounts of his official activities. We have
been publishing them as they are made available.
Please click on the above ad to
visit the Humanistic Jewish
Congregation's website
Israeli authorities arrest
California fraud suspect
SHERMAN OAKS, California
—California Insurance
Commissioner Steve Poizner today
announced the arrest of a
Sherman Oaks man for insurance
fraud, grand theft, identity
theft, and federal charges.
Moshe "Sanny" Assoulin, 35, was
arrested in Israel on August 1
by Israeli National Police.
Assoulin is an Israeli national
who grew up in the San Fernando
Valley.
"Insurance fraud results in
higher premiums for all
California consumers," said
Commissioner Poizner. "My
Department is committed to
halting fraud perpetrators, and
will continue to crack down on
scam artists."
A warrant for Assoulin's arrest
was issued in October 2005,
following the results of an
investigation by the California
Department of Insurance (CDI).
The investigation revealed
multiple fraudulent automobile
insurance claims were allegedly
submitted to car rental and
insurance companies by Assoulin
and co-conspirators. Nine
defendants have pleaded guilty
to various insurance fraud
related charges in connection
with this case. In May 2005,
Assoulin was awaiting sentencing
for federal charges when he
became aware of CDI's insurance
fraud investigation. At that
point, Assoulin fled to Israel.
T he
CDI Fraud Division's 2005
investigation revealed that from
2000 to early 2002 Assoulin
participated in a scam in which
fraudulent insurance claims were
submitted to car rental and
insurance companies. Under the
alleged scheme, a person would
rent a vehicle from a car rental
company and return it a day or
two later with slight damage.
The renter would report that he
or she had accidentally struck a
parked unoccupied vehicle.
Another person would then
contact the car rental company
as the owner of the parked
unoccupied vehicle, and submit a
claim for property damages. The
same vehicles with the same
damages were used repeatedly in
multiple claims.
One of the vehicles, a 1997
Mercedes Benz SL600, was used in
ten claims, and various
insurance companies paid more
than $100,000 in settlements for
alleged damages to the vehicle.
The potential loss to the
various car rental and insurance
companies is estimated at nearly
$500,000. The National Insurance
Crime Bureau, as well as
multiple car rental and
insurance companies, assisted in
the investigation.
The CDI Fraud Division and the
Drug Enforcement Administration
jointly submitted to Israel a
request for the arrest and
extradition of Assoulin through
the US Department of Justice
Office of International Affairs.
The request was reviewed by the
Israeli Ministry of Justice, and
an Israeli arrest warrant was
issued. On August 19, Israeli
National Police located and
arrested Assoulin. The Los
Angeles County District Attorney
is prosecuting this case.
The preceding story was provided by
the office of Insurance Commissioner
Steve Poizner
E uropean
Socialists join in
protest of Magyar Garda
BRUSSELS (Press
Release)— The chairman
of the European
Socialist Party issued a
statement condemning the
setting up of the
Hungarian Guard. Poul
Nyrup Rasmussen, a
former prime minister of
Denmark, called on the
conservative European
People's Party to issue
a similar statement.
Hungary’s culture
minister Istvan Hiller
called on the Catholic,
the Calvinist and the
Lutheran churches to
publicly declare their
dissociation from the
three church
representatives who had
blessed the flags of the
Hungarian Guard at the
swearing-in ceremony
held Sunday in Budapest.
So far, all the three
churches have said is
that none of them sent
representatives to the
event. The deputy leader
of the main opposition
Fidesz, Zoltan Pokorni,
said that the only real
beneficiary of the
establishment of the
Hungarian Guard was
Hungarian Prime Minister
Ferenc Gyurcsány,
because the wave of
protests sidetracked
people from current
‘burning problems’ in
the Hungarian economy.
Pokorni said he did not
know whether the
Hungarian Guard was the
brainchild of
"well-meaning but
thoughtless people," or
"the deliberate
calculation of built in
provocateurs."
Earlier Gyurcsány sent a letter to the
president of the World Jewish Congress
stating that he would keep a close eye
on the far-right Jobbik party's
paramilitary arm, the newly formed
‘Magyar Garda’ [Hungarian Guard].
Gyurcsány's letter was a reply to a
joint appeal from the presidents of the
World Jewish Congress and the European
Jewish Congress, Ronald S. Lauder and
Moshe Kantor, calling on him to do his
utmost to prevent Jobbik from setting up
an armed guard. Members of the Hungarian
Guard wear black fatigues and use a flag
associated with the WWII Hungarian Nazi
party, which was responsible for
thousands of Jewish deaths.
In his letter, Gyurcsány said he had
declared a ‘zero tolerance’ policy for
exclusion and all forms of incitement of
hatred. He added that he had asked the
country's president to voice an opinion
on the matter and that he was seeking a
political solution that would guarantee
that far-right ideologies and movements
would not find political allies or
supporters in Hungary among members of
the political parties with seats in
parliament.
Last week, Gyurcsány had asked the
country's chief prosecutor Tamas Kovacs
to closely monitor the Hungarian Guard
"with special attention ... and act
without delay in case of acts counter to
the laws in force or the Hungarian
constitution." In a letter to Kovacs,
Gyurcsány wrote "I share the opinion of
those who say that the creation of the
‘Magyar Garda’, based upon the facts and
statements known so far, carries with it
the direct danger that our most
important common values may be harmed –
the respect for human dignity, the right
to everyday life without fear and the
respect for each other's culture,
descent and world view,"
Following reports about the WJC/EJC
letter in the Hungarian press, the
president of the main opposition party
Fidesz and former prime minister Viktor
Orbán also wrote to Lauder and Kantor,
saying that his party was “committed to
the liberties and emancipation of
individuals and their communities,
including the Jewish community in
Hungary, and the inviolable nature of
their basic rights and freedoms.”,
although the letter does not
specifically mention the ‘Magyar |
