Does Obama think Ahmadinejad and Assad are rational?

Editor, San Diego Jewish World:

Barack Obama seems to believe that all the conflicts and discontents of our very untidy world are amenable to a fair and equitable solution. There is, of course, very little in history that would begin to suggest that being amenable  or even passive has ever deterred a willful aggressor. Obama’s thesis is obviously based on the presumption that all the actors in a given conflict are rational.

It is this presumption of rationality that probable explains why the  presumptive Democratic nominee is prepared to meet with the Ahmadinejads and the  Assads of our world. If we follow Obama’s logic on this matter, we might  conclude that a failure to meet and negotiate with these vipers will only increase the likelihood of war. And if there is a war, a war we could have averted, then we bear some responsibility for that war. That responsibility, irrespective of the attendant circumstances, is more than enough to mark
us the aggressor. If Obama really believed this fog of absurdities and if his rhetorical flourishes were in accord with today’s political realities, he should have seized the moment and interceded more directly on behalf of the Georgians.

Instead he made a few perfunctory comments about containing the violence and the need for restraint. Then, in an unguarded moment, he referred to Abkhazia and Ossetia as “disputed territories.” But there is nothing in dispute about Abkhazia or Ossetia. They are an integral part of the Georgian Republic. Russia’s only claim to these territories are their armored brigades and the expulsion of the indigenous Georgians from Abkhazia and Ossetia.

Mitchell Finkel
North Bethesda, Maryland





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NAMING CEREMONY—Okoronkwo Umeham, with drum, presides with wife Gail, at right,
over Igbo ceremony to give their newest grandchildren Clayton, 6, and Claire, 3 (standing in
front of him) their Igbo names. Other grandchildren Amy, 10, and Allison, 6, watch. Behind
Gail is the Jewish ketuba (wedding contract) Arthur gave to his new wife, Kellie. A mezuzah
from Israel is on doorpost nearby.

United Nations-style family gives Igbo
names to the newest children in the clan

By Gail Umeham

SAN DIEGO—I am a member of a multi-cultural family. I am a Jew, my husband is an Igbo from Arochukwu in Eastern Nigeria and our son Arthur (who is clearly of a cultural if not ethnic mix) recently married a wonderful Christian woman, Kellie, from Phoenix, Arizona. Like Arthur, Kellie has two children by a previous marriage. Last week we had a very special celebration at our home where those two children, Clayton, 6, and Claire, 3, were given Igbo names by my husband in a ceremony attended by our united nations of a family and friends.

The birth of a baby is usually a cause of celebration across the globe. In Igbo land the naming ceremony or Umanwua usually takes place on the 28th day after birth when the baby is considered to be old enough to be carried on its mother’s hip.  Clayton and Claire obviously were not just born, but they have just become part of our family and they were clearly old enough to be carried on their mother’s hip. Like our first two grandchildren, Amy and Allison, they required a formal introduction to our larger community.  The naming of these children in the Igbo ceremony that was conducted at our home served to welcome them into our world, to honor them as the latest arrivals to our family.

By virtue of the fact that we in San Diego are about 10,000 miles removed from my husband’s place of origin coupled  with a great paucity of individuals from there who have migrated here, our special ceremony was somewhat diminished from the original, but only in its brevity.  The joy of the celebrants and the honor accorded the children was as good as it gets.  In Igbo land, this celebration is conducted by women; men (with the sole exception of the embarrassed father) are onlookers. To my chagrin, even after 35 years of marriage, I am unable to take the lead in such an event and with no other woman from my husband’s far-off village present, he did the honors himself.

His first task was to announce, define and teach our gathering how to pronounce the names he/we had chosen for our new grandchildren.  Whereas Ashkenazic Jewish names these days are usually those of a deceased ancestor; i.e., Arthur our son is named after my grandfather Arthur Cohen, Igbo names are complete expressions, usually reflecting on certain experiences and circumstances and/or on social expectations.

With some fanfare (provided with a bit of African drumming by no one other than my husband) he caught the attention of our assembled family and friends and with the utmost of panache declared that Clayton would be forever more known to him as Onyemaechi (English meaning:  “who knows tomorrow”).   To the great surprise of the non-Nigerians assembled amongst us, one of the Nigerian women gleefully shouted out “my namesake”  and thus began an explanation of the unisex nature of Igbo names.   Once things calmed down a bit and all were satisfied that there had been no mistakes made nor misunderstandings, our bubbly three year old Claire was proclaimed  Obioma (“happiness”).  These announcements were followed by a brief interlude of our guests working through the new additions to their vocabulary and of course the excited children trying their new names on for size. 


NAMING CEREMONY (2)—Igbo women on driveway of Umeham home perform traditional
dance to welcome new children, and at right, Okoronkwo Umeham pours a libation honoring ancestors, as Claire and Clayton, at left, observe.

Suddenly, more fanfare and the proud grandfather while drumming led the way out the front door followed by one all.  Once assembled outside the confines of four walls our Nigerian friends gathered themselves into a dance group (grandpa still drumming) and put on a display of the traditional songs and dance for an Igbo naming ceremony.  Children, adults and the performers themselves were delighted with the brief cultural display.  The songs sung spoke of the importance of the child and the joy of the occasion. 

Some of the lyrics, translated, went like this:

“If it wasn’t for this child who would acknowledge me, know me …..”

“Anybody who likes good things come and join us … in the happiness of these children”

The group decided that naming was a good thing and quickly my husband confirmed that Arthur should be known as Okoro (the male child) and Kellie clearly was Obidiya (her husband’s heart).  Amy, aged 10, has been known for sometime as Nnennaya (“mother”of her father) and Allison for the past six years has been called Onyekachi (who is greater than a god). Thirty-five years ago I became Enyidiya (her husband’s friend) and of course Okoronkwo (a male child born on the market day) has been so identified for more years than he cares to admit to.

To end this happy event, Okoronkwo brought out a bottle of Black Label and poured libations – an occurrence in most Igbo celebrations – thanking the ancestors, both his from Nigeria and ours from this side of the pond for bringing the children into the world and into our family.  He asked those ancestors to protect the children bringing them good health, wisdom, longlife and prosperity.  

Umeham may be contacted at umehamg@sandiegojewishworld.com


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MEDAL OF HONOR RECIPIENT—Tibor Rubin, awarded the Medal of Honor for his gallantry
during the Korean War, will speak Sept. 28 at the Veterans Museum and Memorial Center in
Balboa Park.


THE JEWISH CITIZEN


Tibor Rubin, Jewish recipient of Medal of Honor, heads for San Diego exhibit


By Donald H. Harrison

SAN DIEGO—During the Korean War, there was a 24-hour period that neither Corporal Tibor Rubin nor a grateful United States of America, which awarded him the Medal of Honor, will ever forget.

Rubin is one of 17 Jewish winners of the Medal of Honor who are profiled in a Jewish War Veterans-sponsored exhibit that will run through September 30 at the Veterans Museum and Memorial Center (pictured at right), 2115 Park Boulevard, in Balboa Park.  He will make a personal appearance at the exhibit from noon to 4 p.m. on Sunday, September 28, according to Nicole Nore, the museum’s events director.

According to the official citation, while American forces were retreating to the Pusan perimeter, machine gunner Rubin took a position on a hill with the assignment of keeping open “the vital Taegu-Pusan Road link used by his withdrawing unit.

“During the ensuing battle, overwhelming numbers of North Korean troops assaulted the hill solely defended by Corporal Rubin,” the citation for the Medal of Honor said.  In Rubin’s  “personal 24-hour battle,” he single-handedly slowed the enemy advance, “allowing the 8th Cavalry regiment to complete its withdrawal completely.”

As it turned out, that was just a preliminary engagement for Rubin. “On October 30, 1950, Chinese forces attacked the unit at Unsan, Korea, during a massive nighttime assault,” the citation said.  “That night and throughout the next day, he manned a 30-caliber machine gun at the south end of the unit’s line after three previous gunners became casualties… He continued to man his machine gun until his ammunition was exhausted.  His determined stance slowed the advance of the enemy, permitting the remnants of his unit to reach safety.”

Rubin was wounded during the battle and was captured by the Chinese. As he was a native of Hungary (and a Holocaust survivor), the Chinese offered to return him to that country.  He refused, however.

Then, according to the citation, “Corporal Rubin disregarded his own personal safety and immediately began sneaking out of camp at night in search of food for his comrades. Breaking into enemy food storehouses and  gardens, he faced almost certain death.”  Additionally he “provided not only food to the starving soldiers but also desperately needed medical care and moral support for the sick and wounded in the POW camp.  His efforts were directly attributed to the saving of the lives of as many as 40 of his fellow prisoners.”

The citation concluded: “Corporal Rubin’s gallant actions in close contact with the enemy and unyielding courage and bravery while a prisoner of war were in the highest traditions of military service and reflected great credit on himself and the United States Army.”

Service personnel like Rubin who receive the Medal of Honor warrant a salute from any member of the military, no matter how great that person’s rank.  Even a general, or the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, would feel privileged to salute Rubin in honor of his bravery.


MEDAL OF HONOR EXHIBIT AT VETERANS MUSEUM AND MEMORIAL CENTER

From the Civil War through the War in Vietnam, Jews have been earning the Medal of Honor, according to the exhibit.

A sample of recipients from each war or military operation covered by the exhibit include:

Civil War—Born in Guttentag, Silesia, Prussia, Sergeant-Major Abraham Cohn helped rally Union forces during the Battle of the Wilderness.  According to the citation, “he coolly carried orders to advance under severe fire.” 

Native American Wars—Simon Suhler also was known as Charles Gardner.  Born in 1844 in Bavaria, Germany, he fought against Native Americans in Arizona in 1868 while serving with the U.S. Army in Cavalry B of Company B of the 8th U.S. Cavalry.  The museum legend did not provide specifics of his heroism.

Haiti— On November 17, 1915, Samuel Margulies, also known as Samuel Gross,  a Marine attached to the U.S.S. Connecticut, participated in the attack on Fort Riviere, Haiti, “in an effort to cut off all avenues of retreat for the Caco bandits.  Approaching a breach in the wall which was the only entrance to the fort, Gross was the second man to pass through the breach and faced constant fire from the Caco bandits.”  The citation continued: “For a ten-minute period, he engaged the enemy in desperate hand-to-hand combat until the bastion was captured and the Caco resistance neutralized.”

World War I—First sergeant Sydney Gumpertz of San Raphael, California, an infantry man with the Army’s 33rd Division, encountered enemy machine gun fire which held up his unit’s advance near Blois de Forge, France, on September 29, 1918.  He “started with two other soldiers toward the machine gun nest.  His two companions soon became casualties from bursting shells but First Sergeant Gumpertz continued on alone in face of direct fire from a machine gun, jumped into the nest and silenced the gun, capturing nine of the crew."

World War II—U.S. Army Capt. Ben Salomon was serving as a surgeon in Tanapha Village in Saipan in the Marianas Islands, where the Japanese had a 32,000-strong garrison.  The first and second battalions of his regiment were attacked on July 7, 1944 by a force of between 3,000 and 5,000 Japanese soldiers.  According to the citation: “Although both units fought furiously, the enemy soon penetrated their combined perimeter and inflicted overwhelming casualties. In the first minutes of the attack, roughly 30 wounded soldiers made their way into Captain Salomon’s aid station. As the perimeter began to be overrun, it became increasingly difficult for Captain Salomon to work on the wounded.  He then saw a Japanese soldier bayoneting one of the wounded soldiers lying near the tent.  Firing from a squatting position, Captain Salomon quickly killed the enemy soldier, then as he turned his attention back to medical care, two more Japanese soldiers appeared in the front entrance.  As these enemy soldiers were killed, four more crawled under the tent.  Rushing them, Captain Salomon killed three of the four and butted the fourth in the stomach and then a wounded comrade shot and killed the enemy.  Realizing the gravity of the situation, Captain Salomon ordered the wounded to make their way as best as they could back to the regimental aid station while he tried to hold off the enemy as best as he could.  Captain Salomon grabbed the rifle from a wounded soldier (and) rushed outside and captured a machine gun after the four Japanese manning it had been killed.  When his body was later found, 98 enemy soldiers were piled in front of his position.”   The Medal of Honor was awarded to Captain Salomon posthumously.

Korea—Tibor Rubin’s story is retold at the beginning of this article.

Vietnam—Air Force Sergeant John Levitow was a loadmaster aboard an AC-47, which, according to the citation, was “struck by a mortar round” with the resulting explosion ripping “a hole 2 feet in diameter through the wing, and fragments made over 35,000 holes in the fuselage.  All the occupants of the compartment were wounded.  The explosion tore and activate a flare from the grasp of a crew member who had been launching flares to provide illumination for Army ground troops engaged in combat.  Sergeant Levitow, although stunned by the concussion of the blast and suffering from over 40 fragment wounds to his back and legs, staggered to his feet and turned to assist the man nearest him who had been knocked down and was bleeding heavily.  As he was moving his wounded comrade forward and away from the open compartment door, he saw the smoking flare ahead of him in the aisle. Realizing the danger involved and completely disregarding his own wounds, Sergeant Levitow started towards the flare. The aircraft was partially out of control and the flare was rolling around from side to side.  Sergeant Levitow struggled forward despite the loss of blood from his many wounds and the partial loss of feeling in his right leg. Unable to grasp the rolling flare with his hands, he threw himself bodily on the burning flare, hugging the deadly device to his body.  He dragged himself to the rear of the aircraft and threw the flare through the open cargo door.  At that instant the flare separated and ignited in the air, but clear of the aircraft. Sergeant Levitow by his selfless and heroic actions saved the aircraft and its entire crew from certain death and destruction…”

Harrison may be contacted at editor@sandiegojewishworld.com

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ADVENTURES IN SAN DIEGO JEWISH HISTORY

Editor's Note: To create a permanent and accessible archive, we are reprinting news articles that appeared in back issues of various San Diego Jewish newspapers. You may access an index of the headlines of those articles by clicking here. You may also use the Google search program on our home page or on the headline index page to search for keywords or names.

American Jewish Congress
From Southwestern Jewish Press, December 2, 1949, page 8

San Diego Chapter of the American Jewish Congress held its first public meeting at the Tifereth Israel Synagogue Tuesday evening.

Greetings to the new organization were extended by William B. Schwartz, President of San Diego Lasker Lodge, B’nai B’rith, and Albert A. Hutler, Executive Director of the United Jewish Fund.  Reverend Peter Samson {Unitarian Church} gave the invocation.

The speakers of the evening were well received, especially David Greenwald, who spoke of the failure of the State Department in its program of de-Nazification.  He also warned of the danger of allowing this condition to exist as a focal point for anti-Semitism.

Several other speakers explained the program of the A.J.C. and urged the audience to become members of this worth-while organization. 

The program includes: Support of Israel, protection of Civil Rights; expansion of Jewish Culture, and the safeguarding of American Democracy.

Further meetings will be announced by Lou Pollack, chairman of the local chapter.


‘Home Beautiful’ Program Impressive
From Southwestern Jewish Press, December 16, 1949, page 1

By J(ulia) Kaufman

Tifereth Israel Synagogue was the scene of a most impressive program on Tuesday, December 13th.  The Jewish “Home Beautiful,” a pageant presented by the Sisterhood, in cooperation with the Synagogue and its affiliates, was attended by more than 600 people.

Mrs. A.P. Nasatir was the narrator and the various Jewish holidays were vividly portrayed with tableaus depicting the role of the woman in the home.  The candle lighting ceremonies added a warm glow to the meaningful living pictures of each festive occasion.

Mrs. Sidney Newman, President of the Sisterhood, announced that the proceeds of the affair would be donated to the building of a Hebrew school, in the name of Mrs. Abe Ratner, Chairman of the Program Committee, and Mrs. Monroe Levens, wife of Rabbi Levens.

More than 85 persons were involved in the production of this successful undertaking. The artistry displayed in costumes and decorations drew special commendation.

At the conclusion of the pageant, Rabbi Levens invited the guests to partake of delicious refreshments, including the traditional latkes.

This evening of inspiration will be long remembered and it is hoped that members of the community will emulate the beautiful scenes in their own homes.



Labor Zionist Shekel Campaign Continues
From Southwestern Jewish Press, December 16, 1949, page 1


The 1949-1950 Labor Zionist Shekel Campaign which officially opened on November 15th, will continue through January 15, 1950, and within the remaining time, an intensive effort will be made to register over two million American Jews by means of the Shekel.

In San Diego, the Chaim Weizman branch of Poale Zion has already set a committee in action for this campaign.  It is headed by Mr. I. Domnitz as chairman and Mr. R. Umansky, treasurer.  The Shekel Committee will aim at selling a Shekel to every sympathizer of the Jewish State who is not yet a registered member of any Zionist organization.  Public meetings will be held and house to house canvassing will be made to promote the sale of Shkolim.

The Shekel entitles its holder to vote in the elections to the World Zionist Congress to be held in Jerusalem in 1950, the elected body representing all Jews who wish to aid the development of the Jewish State and its efforts to absorb all Jews who wish to settle there. The Congress elects an Actions Committee and an Executive which functions between Congresses. The 23rd World Zionist Congress will be the first to be held since the establishment of the Jewish State and will also be the first Congress in the history f the Jewish people to be held in Jerusalem.  The task of absorbing the hundreds of thousands of Jews into Israel can only be achieved through the medium of a close partnership between the World Zionist Organization and the new State. The re-alignment of hostile forces within and without the United Nations places a tremendous responsibility in the field of public relations upon the World Zionist movement as a loyal ally to Israel.

The Shekel means only the right to vote for a particular slate to the World Zionist Congress and has no connection with participating in Israel’s own elections which will be decided by its own citizens and no one else.

Labor Zionism, recognizing the urgency and pressing nature of the problems which are mounting with the mass exodus of Jews from Europe and North Africa, calls for the strengthening of the structure of the World Zionist Organization as a symbol of the active working partnership between the Jews of Israel and the Jewish communities of the world.

Every Jewish person 18 years and over will be asked to buy a Shekel for both 1949 and 1950 in order to be eligible to participate in elections. This is in accordance with a World Zionist Congress decision which requires a voter to obtain the Shekel for each year between Congresses.

The proceeds of the Shekel are used to maintain the institutions and conduct the affairs of the World Zionist Organization.


Overseas News and Views
From Southwestern Jewish Press, December 16, 1949, page 2

By Maxwell Kaufman

Culture in the Camps—This article I really a Chanukah story, unlike any you have ever read.

My story is about children in a D.P. Camp, in the town of Linz,Autsria.  The year is 1947, and we had been in Linz about one year.  Julia had somehow fixed up a home for us in one of the requisitioned workers apartments.

It was bitter cold that year and the camp occupants suffered cruelly because of lack of fuel. Camp Wegscheid was one of the worst. Inhabited by about 6,000 souls, the camp consisted of wooden barracks through which the wind and snow blew, as if there were no walls, windows or doors.

We were worried not only because of lack of fuel, but also on account of the sudden increase of respiratory diseases.  Ill clothed and not too well fed (there was a serious shortage of fats and oils) the Jews were susceptible to anything.

I have gone into detail because I want you to picture the background for this Chanukah celebration in a D.P. Camp.

Camp Wegscheid was composed of approximately 2400 women, 2000 men and 1600 children.  About 900 children were of school age.

The teachers of the school were themselves Displaced Persons, who worked under the guidance of Jewish Agency workers. With the approach of Chanukah, the teachers came to me and presented their problems.  After a long discussion regarding the difficulties, we came to the following agreement: I would supply them with fruit, candy, nuts, etc. I would also make a special distribution of clothing for the children.

The prospect of supplying candies, cookies and fruits for 900 children would phase anyone, but fortunately Christmas was also near and the U.S. Army came to the rescue with the assistance of the Jewish Army Chaplain.

Clothing was a tougher problem, but after ransacking our warehouses, we managed to find enough for even costumes. These consisted of old rags, used sugar bags and anything that could be sewn and patched together by the parents and teachers.

For most of the children, it was their first Chanukah; others had not the opportunity of celebrating because they were hidden away or else were on the move, fleeing from their unhappy lands.

The night of Chanukah, we entered the large wooden barracks which served as an auditorium, with other invited guests from the Army. The sight that met our eyes made them moist. It was incredible.  This ugly building had been transformed into a place of gaiety and warmth that would have compared favorably with anything done in the U.S.A.

Old packing cases were used to build stalls; the curtain was sewn together from blankets.  Ingenious use was made of cardboard boxes for toys, etc.  Here and there a label stamped “Shipped by the American Joint Distribution Committee for Relief” was visible.

Then the play began.  In short episodes the story of Chanukah was told. Sometimes we felt sad, at other times we laughed, but at all times we were thrilled. Costumes came apart, bits of scenery fell down but these wonderful children carried on like seasoned troupers.  The boy who took the part of an Arab had trouble with his turban (an old flour sack); the girls sometimes tripped over their long sheets or lost a veil.  It was, however, a performance we shall never forget.

There was singing and dancing by groups of children of all ages. They had learned the songs and dances of Eretz well. Why should anyone be surprised?—They expected to be there soon. They didn’t want to be strangers in their own land.  So they sang the Chanukah songs and danced the new folk dances of their future country.

We were very proud of them.  Israel need have no fear for the future with material like this.

We gave out special prizes for the best costumes. The first prize was a suit for a boy.  A new suit from America!  The other prizes were valuable too—chocolate bars, candy, dresses, skirts, etc. Most of these articles we had personally received from friends in the States.

We left the camp about 1 a.m. and made our way in our jeep through a blinding snowstorm. Winters with the problems of fuel, clothing to go around, delayed shipments of essential foods and increased illness, always placed a heavy burden on the relief workers. The spirit evinced that night showed us the courage of a people who were determined to overcome all obstacles in order to achieve their purpose.

They were tough—tough enough to have come through the fires of Hell and survive, in spite of incredible hardship and dangers.  Next year they wuld sing and dance and celebrate Chanukah in their own country.

Happy Chanukah.

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