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LETTER FROM JERUSALEM



World economic meltdown may have less impact on Israel's trade than on America's

By Ira Sharkansky

JERUSALEM--As I was drafting this column, I heard the first news of Israel's attack on Gaza. It had to come sooner or later. Two days ago Hamas and its friends fired 80 missiles and mortars toward Israeli civilians. There are extensive casualties in Gaza, as well as the ritual of protests and calls for international intervention, and threats of massive retaliation from Gaza.

When this will be over, we shall still share uncertainty and worse from the economic crisis that I was beginning to write about.

It was depressing to watch the fall of bonds and banks in September. Now it is even more depressing to read about America's indebtedness to China, and what it may mean for the world as we know it. The trigger of this catastrophe may have been free houses for those unable to pay, but it was compounded by money schemes too complex for those who invented them and those who invested in them. Now we read that the huge bubble was financed by the Chinese. According to several commentators, they enticed Americans to overspend for cheap goods, and then bought many of the bonds that financed America's debts. The Chinese hold a mortgage on America. Will they be content to accept re-financing at reasonable rates, or will they demand an early return of their capital? If the latter, we can expect political as well as economic upheaval.

What does this mean for Israel?

Americans may be insulted by the question. They, of course, are far more important in their eyes. But my eyes are only partly American, and so I will proceed with the question.

There are pluses and minuses in Israel's situation.

It helps to be a small country, away from the mainstream of the international economy. Like other small countries, Israel's industry and agriculture cannot produce all that it needs, and it depends more than large countries on international trade. As a small player, however, Israel can be more agile than the 800 pound gorilla that is the American economy. It is partially dependent on many countries, but not entirely dependent on any one of them.

Israel is more centrally controlled, and more authoritarian than the free-enterprise United States. Financial regulation is tighter. Israel has shysters among its money managers. However, they did not operate with the blessing of so-called regulators as did the mortgage sellers and financial wizards of the United States. Israeli lenders did not follow a policy of giving large mortgages to families who could not make the first payment.

Israel's social services are more thorough than those of the United States. The country retains a socialist inclination, despite several years privatizing and outsourcing. Israelis are less vulnerable than Americans to economic distress. The health system is high quality, and close to egalitarian.

Israel has been hurt. The stock market index that measures the fortunes of the 100 largest companies has fallen from its peak even more than the S&P 500. There is considerable damage among the universities, hospitals, religious academies and other institutions that benefit from international Jewish philanthropy. Bernie Madoff is not popular here, except as a symbol of all that is foul.

This crisis will test Israeli wisdom and flexibility in politics as well as economics.

One pleasant event is the drop in the price of oil, and what that may mean for Iran's own adventures, as well as those of its allies on Israel's northern and southern borders.

Israel does not aspire to police the world. It has no troops more than a few miles from its borders. It has learned the lesson of occupying hostile populations. Note what it did in Lebanon during 2006, and the West Bank since 1993: in and out, without a continued presence. No military leader or mainstream politician is talking about occupying Gaza.

Politicians as well as generals urge restraint. It is common to say that Israel should negotiate, directly or indirectly, even with those cursed as terrorists. It is not easy. There is no assurance of success.

It is a game for the agile. Limited goals are better than apocalypse. Wise Israelis do not aspire to an end of national problems. "Final solution" are dirty words.

Pessimists say that if the United States catches cold, Israel is sure to get pneumonia. Optimists put the emphasis on knowing the risks, and being wise enough to avoid the most threatening of them.

Think of this while you are studying Chinese.

It is comforting to remember that just a few years ago, cynics urged a study of Japanese.

Things change. Disaster is not inevitable.


Sharkansky is professor emeritus of political science at Hebrew University. He may be contacted at msira@mscc.huji.ac.il






TIFERETH ISRAEL SYNAGOGUE









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TRANSFER—David Harrison takes baby Brian from his wife Hui-Wen Harrison as Dr. Stuart Rubenstein,a mohel and pediatrician, officiates at ceremony. Shown from back is Dr. Bruce
Feldman, who served as the sandak during the surgical procedure. On wall to left of David
is a sign showing Brian's Chinese name, Han Chen-Wei. {Photos by Dan Schaffer}

THE JEWISH CITIZEN

Names, numbers and the brit milah ritual


By Donald H. Harrison

CARLSBAD, California—At many brit milah ceremonies, a Jewish boy will receive two names, his secular or English name and his religious or Hebrew name.  So it was for my grandson on Friday, December 26.  But in addition he was blessed with a third name—a Chinese one.

We all have been taught that chromosomes supplied by the parents determine their child’s genetic make-up.  At the brit milah and naming ceremony, we also can glimpse how non-physical attributes, those belonging to the spiritual realm, may combine to forge a new personality. 

Nancy and I proudly stood at the sides of our son and daughter-in-law, David and Hui-Wen Harrison, as David announced the three names of our grandson.  To his English-speaking friends and relatives, he shall be known as Brian Harrison, a euphonious name his parents chose after considering the sounds of many names.  Sounds and melodies will be important in Brian’s life because his mother is an accomplished pianist.  Musicality is an important trait of her family in Taiwan.  

Brian also was given a Hebrew name, Asher ben Ephraim, in the Ashekenazi Jewish tradition of honoring departed relatives.  Asher is named in honor of my mother, Alice, an elegant and refined woman who had died just before David’s bar mitzvah.  In the Bible, Asher is one of the progenitors of the 12 tribes of Israel, the son of Jacob and Zilpah.

My son David’s own Hebrew name is Ephraim.  So by extension, my grandson is Asher the son of Ephraim.  Accordingly, in Jewish tradition, he will be called to Torah by the Hebrew name of Asher ben Ephraim.

Ephraim is a good name to have, as Rabbi Jeff Brown of Temple Solel noted at the ceremony.  In this week’s portion, Mikeitz, the Torah tells of the naming of Joseph’s two children, Ephraim and Mannaseh (Gen. 41:52).  The Torah subsequently teaches us in the portion Vayechi (Gen. 48:20) that those two boys were so exemplary that Jewish parents thereafter were required to bless their own children by saying “May God make you like Ephraim and Mannaseh.”  

Brian also will have the Chinese name Han Chen-Wei.  Han is a Chinese approximation of the surname Harrison, my son explained during the ceremony.  “Chen means clearness of mind, or vision, or knowing what is right, right answers.  And Wei, for great or greatness,” he continued. “So he will be a man of greatness and vision who knows what is right.”

My grandson has an A name (Asher), a B name (Brian) and a C name (Chen-Wei).  The alphabet kid was welcomed by a four-generation gathering that included his great-grandfather, Sam Zeiden, who is Nancy’s father.  More active than many people of much younger age, Dad Zeiden videotaped the entire ceremony.


FAMILY AFFAIR—Chang-Liu Ming-Hui and husband Dr. Chang Wen-Shion listen as the English,
Hebrew and Chinese names of their grandson is told; in center, Brian's mother, Hui-Wen
Harrison, observes as Brian's paternal grandmother, Nancy Harrison, comforts him after the
circumcision, and at far right, Sam Zeiden, 90, videotapes his great-grandson's brit milah.

Brian’s maternal grandfather, Dr. Chang Wen-Shion and I, expressed satisfaction to each other before the ceremony about what Brian’s birth date might augur.  I was pleased that Brian was born on the evening of the 18th of December for two reasons.  One was that Nancy and I met on the night of the 18th of December 1966, and we now have an international family of which Brian is the newest member.  David’s older sister, Sandi, is married to Israeli-born Shahar Masori, and they have two wonderful sons, Shor and Sky.

I also like the 18th because in Jewish tradition 18 is an exceptionally lucky number.  Before the current numbering system of 1, 2, 3, Jews used the letters of the alphabet—or as we Jews call it, the alef bet—to count, with alef being 1, bet being 2 etcetera.  The Hebrew word for life “chai”—often heard in the toast “l’chaim, to life!” – is spelled chet, yud— letters which have the equivalent numerical values of 8 and 10, for a combined value of 18.   Thus it is that when Jews make donations, they often do so in denominations of 18.  

Dr. Chang said that in Chinese tradition the number 99 has a particularly good connotation because in the Mandarin language, the name of that number is a homonym for very long life.  We two grandfathers smiled in pleasure over the fact that if we add up the two digits of 99, we get 18. 

The juxtapositions of Chinese and Jewish culture were apparent upon entering David and Cathy’s home.  Rabbi Brown and Dr. Stuart Rubenstein, who served as the mohel, like all the other family members and friends in attendance, removed their shoes before entering the house in observance of the Chinese custom.    Many in attendance at the brit milah noticed two framed certificates over a fireplace—one in Chinese, one in Hebrew—attesting to David and Hui-Wen’s wedding five years ago.  Hanging on nearby walls are a watercolor with calligraphy  by Hui-Wen’s mother, Chang-Liu Ming-Hui, and charcoal drawings of musicians’ hands by David’s grandfather, Martin Benjamin Harrison.

Brian was brought into the room by husband and wife Paul Ceci and Cathy Sun, who like Brian’s parents, share American and Taiwanese culture in their home. In accordance with custom, my son David briefly placed Brian on Elijah's chair, symbolic of Jewish belief that any Jewish child may grow up to be the messiah, and that Elijah attends the brit milah ceremony in spirit to carry back tidings of the messiah to heaven. After a short period, Brian was transferred to a table in front of the room where Dr. Rubenstein peformed the circumcision. He was assisted by my cousin on my mother's side, Dr. Bruce Feldman.

Bruce and his wife Pat are members of Temple Solel, with Pat having served as Sisterhood president there.  Bruce is a Navy captain, and chief of dermatology at Balboa Naval Hospital.

Rubenstein, who is both a certified mohel and chief of pediatrics at Scripps Memorial Hospital, noted that circumcision is the oldest ritual in Jewish tradition.  Abraham was 99 when he circumcised himself – here I smiled at Dr. Chang over the coincidence of 99—and Abraham circumcised his son Isaac when he was eight days old. 


ELIJAH'S CHAIR—David and Hui-Wen Harrison gaze at their infant son as he lies on a pillow
placed on Elijah's chair as part of the brit milah ceremony. At right, Rabbi Jeff Brown of Temple
Solel tells of some of the meanings behind Brian's Hebrew name, Asher ben Ephraim.

“That has been occurring dor l’dor, generation to generation, to the present time, what our little boy is now going through,” Dr. Rubenstein told the gathering. “People ask. ‘if it is so important to be circumcised, why are we not born that way?’  In fact in the Jewish religion a boy is not considered perfect until after his circumcision.  ‘So why is God’s creation not born perfect?’ and the answer to that –and this is the word we use, that this is a brit, a covenant or a partnership . God has fulfilled His part of the covenant, He has made a wonderful world for us, but he expects  us to make this world more perfect, through acts of tzedakah, charity… good deeds… and tikkun olam, cure of the world. 

“As I do a physical act on our baby today to make him perfect it is showing our commitment to God to making this world more perfect.   Why a circumcision?  Why not something simpler?  It is a way to  elevate the most physical part of a male to a higher spiritual level.” 

Rubenstein continued, “why does a bris need to occur on the eighth day or later and never before?  Well the Bible does not give an explanation; it simply says on the eighth day.  But the rabbis over the years have given many explanations.  One that I always like to mention has to deal with strength—not the physical strength, but the spiritual strength.  There is a midrash of a king who goes to a town and everyone wants to visit him, but he says before you visit me, you must first visit my queen-- in the same way God says to us, ‘before you visit Me, you must visit My Queen—and we know that the Queen in the Jewish religion is the Sabbath. 

“Every baby who is at least eight days old has experienced at least one Sabbath and is now gaining his spiritual strength for his covenant with God…. “

Furthermore, Rubenstein taught, it is not coincidental that there are eight days of Chanukah.  “The story is that we found oil (in the Second Temple, after it had been desecrated by the Syrian-Greeks) but God let it burn for eight days. God could have done it for seven or ten, twelve or fifteen, but he picked eight days and many people think the reason why was because with the Maccabees’ victory, we were able to celebrate brit milah openly, so that Chanukah is a celebration of brit milah.”

For Hui-Wen’s parents, who lit two candles to begin the proceedings, it was their first exposure to a brit milah ceremony.   Although the circumcision was quite painful to watch for all members of the Chang family, and especially the mother of the little boy, afterwards Dr. Chang told me that he very much appreciated the explanation of the rite provided by Dr. Rubenstein.

My grandson, Shor, being a Soille San Diego Hebrew Day School student who takes particular pleasure in learning Judaica, later told me he was very impressed by what Dr. Rubenstein and Rabbi Brown had to say.  However, he added shyly, he did not watch the surgery in which Brian's foreskin was surgically removed, Dr. Rubenstein thoughtfully having told attendees, “there is no commandment or mitzvah in watching the actual circumcision.  If you would like, you may come up… but no one is required.” 

The procedure itself took between 30 seconds and one minute. Brian appeared to have recovered far more quickly than his parents from the procedure.

Harrison may be contacted at editor@sandiegojewishworld.com
 

LAWRENCE FAMILY JCC, JACOBS FAMILY CAMPUS

By Rabbi Leonard Rosenthal

SAN DIEGO--Another name for Chanukah is Chag Ha-Orim, the "Festival of Lights." A few days before this year's holiday we presented our sanctuary with an appropriately themed Chanukah gift: an LED light bulb for the Ner Tamid.

An LED (light-emitting-diode) is a semiconductor that emits light when a current is applied. LED bulbs use much less electricity than incandescent bulbs and are even more energy efficient than fluorescent bulbs. They have many applications, including illuminated information panels on electronic devices and red, yellow, and green traffic signals. LEDs are more expensive but can last up to ten times longer than incandescent bulbs.

Our Ner Tamid replacement LED bulb costs about $25.00. However, the Ner Tamid is on 24 hours a day. We calculated that the previously installed 45 watt bulb cost about $83.00 in electrical power per year. The new LED bulb provides the same amount of light using only 4 watts of power and costs $8.30 per year to run. Given the cost savings and longevity of the bulb, you can see we will reap substantial savings.

One of my favorite trick questions during Chanukah is to ask people how many candles the Maccabees kindled in the Menorah after they cleaned and reconsecrate the Temple. Some people say "eight." That answer is wrong because, although a Chanukah Menorah has eight branches plus a shamash, the Temple Menorah had only seven branches. If they answer "seven" they are still wrong. Our ancestors did not place candles in the Menorah, they used oil lamps. Why? Because the technology for manufacturing candles did not yet exist.

Why did candles eventually take the place of oil lamps? Because they were easier to store and burn than oil lamps. As long as they do not contravene Jewish law, Jews take advantage of technological advances as they become available.

A couple of years ago I gave a High Holy Day sermon about the importance of protecting the earth and conserving natural resources. At Tifereth Israel we have made a concerted effort to save energy and cut down on waste. It is not only good for the environment, but good for the budget as well!

As we near the end of the Festival of Lights, I suggest we all take stock of our energy consumption and do what we can to conserve. Although it is difficult to find a silver lining in last year's spiraling fuel prices, it did encourage people to drive less. It would be a shame now that prices have fallen, that we return to our wasteful ways.

Midrash Rabbah on Ecclesiastes describes God giving Adam, the first human being, a tour of the Garden of Eden. He shows Adam everything: the grass, the trees, the animals, fish, fowl, and insects. Then God says to Adam: "See how beautiful all My creations are, all This has been created for your sake. So reflect on this, and take care not to foul or destroy my world.

For if you do, there will be none to repair it after you."

Rabbi Rosenthal is spiritual leader of Tifereth Israel Synagogue of San Diego





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PEOPLE OF THE BOOKS


Israeli bestseller weighs concept of sin

SEVEN DEADLY SINS by Aviad Kleinberg; The Belknap Press of Harvard University Press; 192 pages; $22.95.

By Norman Manson

SAN DIEGO—Other than to the religiously very observant, the concept of sin occupies a very minor place in the thinking of most people today. Certainly in the Western world, transgressions are thought of mainly in terms of their legal impact - essentially, what can we get away with, and what will get us into legal trouble.

But a reading of Aviad Kleinberg's study of what constitutes sin can get those of an intellectual bent to consider this as an issue of some relevance, even in today's rather materialistic society . For he delves deeply into the background of these moral violations, sometimes seeming to wander afield as he quotes liberally from a host of ancient and modern sources.

Kleinberg, a professor of history at Tel Aviv University, wrote this book in Hebrew - it was a bestseller in Israel - and the translation generally is clear and not that difficult to read.

The seven sins, first listed in early Christian theology, are sloth, envy, lust, gluttony, greed, anger and pride. Kleinberg adds self-righteousness in a final chapter.

The author admits at the outset that "human actions and passions become sins only in a given moral and cultural context," eschewing the idea of moral absolutes in weighing sinful behavior. And he further admits that all writing on sin is autobiographical, that "there is no impersonal writing on sin."

With those caveats, he goes on to explore in detail each of the seven examples of human frailty. And, having stated that "Christianity is founded on sin," it should be no surprise that many of his sources are from early Christian theology, such as St. Paul and St. Augustine. And there are also references to Plato, Aristotle and other ancient Greek philosophers

There are a few significant quotations from the Pentateuch, the Prophets and the Talmud, but they seem outweighed by the Christian and pagan figures. For, while Judaism includes references to sin - most notably in the penitential prayers uttered in great solemnity on Yom Kippur - the concept is far more prominent in Christian theology, and even among pagans

While much of the text deals with ancient and medieval ideas, Kleinberg concludes each chapter with an examination of modern concepts. A good example is the chapter on greed, in which he goes into some detail on the work of Adam Smith, who, as he writes, "legitimized self-interest." "By pursuing his own interest, he frequently promotes that of the society more effectually than when he really intends to promote it," is quoted from Smith's The Wealth of Nations. And he even brings in a scene from the 1987 film Wall Street, in which the character played by Michael Douglas proclaims that "greed...is good." Kleinberg does not agree - in his concluding paragraph of the chapter, he says "The enormous power of money is a genuine threat to democracy and justice."

In discussing pride, he becomes quite personal, recalling the story of his parents, Holocaust survivors who, as new immigrants in Israel, were subjected to a variety of humiliations.

Ironically, he concludes that he has now become a member of the group that exasperated him as a boy as he experienced his parents' indignities.

Overall, this is a wide-ranging, thought-provoking study of humanity's frailties. Only one question is pervasive as one thumbs through its pages: What makes these sins "deadly," as the title says? Are the sinners really condemned to death? While these transgressions certainly are vital in human relations, to call them deadly seems to overstate the issue. But this certainly is a book worth reading, and the more one peruses it, the more insightful it becomes.

Manson is a freelance writer based in San Diego.




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Jewish Internet Favorites

Myron Cohen on the Ed Sullivan Show—Larry Gorfine of San Diego forwarded this classic performance by the standup comedian Myron Cohen, commenting that his father has "been gone now for 23 years and not many things made him laugh towards the end but Myron Cohen's stories used to crack him up."

Jackie Mason at Hollywood Palace—In this show in the 1960s Mason takes on the politicians of the day including Ronald Reagan, George Murphy, Bobby Kennedy, George Romney and Richard Nixon.




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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.

News of the Fox
Southwestern Jewish Press, July 7, 1950, page 5

By John Kuchin

The June 15th Board Meeting had a full quota of members as the Joseph Gelmans 31st Wedding Anniversary was celebrated after the meeting. Gefilte Fish, Soup and Knishes were prepared deliciously by Mrs. Gelman. Absent Board Member Sanford Goldman can’t forgive himself for missing out on the Gefilte Fish.

The regular meeting of June 27th was well attended.  Discussion was lively on the coming events and programs that are in the planning stage for the Fall. Especially the need for raising Funds for the Special Service Drive of the National B’nai B’rith Grand Lodge Event. The quota of each B’nai B’rith Lodge must be met so as not to curtail any activities of Hillel, AZA, BBYO, Boy Scouts and other Jewish agencies.

Sandor Goldberger was appointed Fund Raising Chairman with Sam Orlansky and Sol Briskman and his Assistants.

The Box Bowling Team is rising in the League standings and now rests in 4th place.

Several new applications for membership were given to Secretary Dave Schloss, who attended the B’nai B’rith Secretarial Meeting in Los Angeles June 25th where several resolutions were voted upon that will be brought up at the B’nai B’rith Convention in San Diego on Aug. 5th to 9th.

The next meeting will be an important one as the Lodge will be host to Grand Lodge president David Goldman.

Please be sure to attend and bring a prospective member on July 11th at Tifereth Israel Synagogue so as to give our honored guest a royal welcome.


Guardians
Southwestern Jewish Press, July 7, 1950, page 5

The July 6th meeting of the Guardians featured Port Director John Bate as speaker of the evening.  With Mr. Bate was his associate, Assistant Port Director Carl Reupsch, who presented an outstanding  colormovie about the “Harbor of the Sun” in San Deigo.

The Guardians recently made a contribution of 1,000 to the San Deigo Hebrew Home for the Aged. This was in answer to an emergency request of the Home for operating funds.

Lou Mogy, President of the Guardians, in announcing the contribution, stated, “We are happy to contribute this sum in spite of the fact that our treasury is practically depleted.”

A bissel sports trivia with Bruce Lowitt

OLDSMAR, Florida—Q: What owner of the NFL’s Baltimore Colts traded franchises with the owner of the Los Angeles Rams?

(a)  Leon Hess
(b)  Carroll Rosenbloom
(c)   Malcolm Glazer
(d)  George Halas

Background: After Baltimore was awarded a franchise in 1953, he hired Weeb Ewbank as head coach and signed future Hall of Famers Raymond Berry, Lenny Moore, Art Donovan and Johnny Unitas. The team won NFL titles in 1958-59. In 1972 he swapped teams with Robert Irsay, who became the most hated man in Baltimore when he moved the team to Indianapolis in the middle of the night – literally – in 1984.

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Sports Trivia Answer: (b) Carroll Rosenbloom




SAN DIEGO JEWISH WORLD: THE WEEK IN REVIEW

Friday-Saturday, December 26-27, 2008 (Vol.2, No. 307)

INTERNATIONAL
Is Netanyahu now really in the center? ... by Rabbi Dow Marmur

Calling them 'militants' minimizes terror ... by Donald H. Harrison in San Diego

ARTS
Morton Gould, A personal tribute ... by David Amos in San Diego

LIFESTYLES
Finding the silver lining in our lives ... by Sara Appel-Lennon in San Diego

Jewish Internet Favorites: Henny Youngman--YAHC 1984 and Rodney Dangerfield on Johnny Carson's Tonight Show, and U.S. Air Force Band playing Morton Gould's American Salute

ADVENTURES IN SAN DIEGO JEWISH HISTORY
July 7, 1950: Jewish Youth Conference

July 7, 1950: AZA

July 7, 1950: Big Hadassah Dinner Dance Benefit on July 16

July 7, 1950: Fund Gives Assurances for 15 Additional 'DP' Families

Thursday, December 25, 2008 (Vol. 2, No. 306)

INTERNATIONAL
Coping—or not—with the Gaza rockets... by Ira Sharkansky in Jerusalem

An encyclopaedia of Kristallnacht atrocities... by Dorothea Shefer-Vanson in Mevasseret Zion, Israel

What were 2008's top Jewish stories?... by David Benkof in New York

ARTS
A Jewish leader's RX for what ails us ... by Fred Reiss in Winchester, California

Thursdays with the Songs of Hal Wingard:
#224, Faith
#32, Cycles
#110, Borrowed Time

LIFESTYLES
Jewish Internet Favorites: Fa La Freezing, a new Chanukah song by Earthquake; Dreidel Song animation by Matt Donato

ADVENTURES IN SAN DIEGO JEWISH HISTORY
July 7, 1950: It’s An Idea! (Editorial on fundraising}
July 7, 1950: Belief (Editorial on joining benevolent organizations)
July 7, 1950: Mouthful for Pipeful {Interview with Billy Rose}
July 7, 1950: Daughters of Israel

Wednesday, December 24, 2008 (Vol. 2. No. 305)

CHANUKAH
Chanukah sights and aromas in Jerusalem ... by Judy Lash Balint in Jerusalem

Bageling: How we tell others we're Jewish ... by Jessica Levine Kupferberg in La Jolla

Menorahs and some other favorite things... by Donald H. Harrison in San Diego

Jewish Internet Favorites:Hannukah Bird (rap) by Eric Schwartz...The Latke Song by Debbie Friedman

AUSTRALIA

The Jews Down Under, a roundup of Australian Jewish news...by Garry Fabian in Melbourne
—Chanukah lit up with controversy

—Samuel fights the good fight

—Australia fails Wiesenthal Centre test

—Jewish schools stand out with Year 12 results in 2008

—School fees set to jump in 2009

—United Israel Appeal enters 2009 with caution

—Australia - Israel defence ties encouraged

—Australian Jewish Community avoids investment fallout

ADVENTURES IN SAN DIEGO JEWISH HISTORY
July 7, 1950: Fund Campaign To Continue Throughout Summer Months

July 7, 1950: Irving Friedman To Serve in Chest Campaign

July 7, 1950: San Diego Host to B’nai B’rith Grand Lodge President

July 7, 1950: Father and Son Fashion Show
 

COMMUNITY WATCH {Link to other events}

 San Diego Jewish Academy: “Kindergarten, the Beginning of the Journey”

Soille San Diego Hebrew Day School: Learning About the Mayans at Soille Hebrew Day

Tuesday, December 23, 2008 (Vol. 2, No. 304)

INTERNATIONAL/ NATIONAL
Even at 95, peaceworker's task unfinished ... by J. Zel Lurie in Delray Beach, Florida

JUDAISM
No, Virginia, not everyone is Christian... by Donald H. Harrison in San Diego

Interfaith display....photo by Peter Spiro in Toronto, Canada

Celebrate Chanukah with music ... by Cantor Sheldon Merel in San Diego, with audio an audio clip of him singing with choir.

Golden Menorah.... art work by Sheila Orysiek in San Diego

LIFESTYLES
Jewish Internet Favorites: Two video versions of Adam Sandler's Chanukah song and Tom Lehrer's Hannukah in Santa Monica

ADVENTURES IN SAN DIEGO JEWISH HISTORY
June 23, 1950: J.C.R.A. {Letter from a patient)

June 23, 1950: S.D. Birdie Stodel B’nai B’rith Chapter No. 92

June 23, 1950: Hadassah Evening Group Announces Dinner Dance

June 23, 1950: Pioneer Women Negba Club

June 23, 1950: Hosenpud Replaces Berlin on Fund Board

COMMUNITY WATCH {Link to other events}
Soille San Diego Hebrew Day School: Reuben Klamer Game of Life Leadership Program at Soille Hebrew Day

Monday, December 22, 2008 (Vol. 2, No. 303)

INTERNATIONAL/ NATIONAL
Biking along the route of the Maccabees... by Ulla Hadar in Modi'in, Israel

JUDAISM
The day the whole town prayed for rain... by Isaac Yetiv in La Jolla, California

LIFESTYLES
Deck the Walls – with style and song... by Sheila Orysiek in San Diego

Happy Chanukah from four generations... photos by Donald H. Harrison in San Diego

Jewish Internet Favorites .... Dreidel's Day Out and Political Irony

ARTS
Look who's putting on The Thomashefskys ... by Cynthia Citron in Los Angeles

ADVENTURES IN SAN DIEGO JEWISH HISTORY
June 26, 1950: Hadassah
June 26, 1950: Home for the Aged
June 26, 1950: Jr. Pioneer Women Shoshana Club

June 26, 1950: Yo-Ma-Co News

COMMUNITY WATCH {Link to other events}
Soille San Deigo Hebrew Day School: Being Vikings at Soille Hebrew Day
 

Sunday, December 21, 2008 (Vol. 2, No. 302)

INTERNATIONAL/ NATIONAL
Many parties compete in Israel but usually the same ones actually win Knesset seats ... by Ira Sharkansky in Jerusalem.

Lakiya Negev Bedouin Weaving combines business methods, ancient craftsmanship... by Ulla Hadar in Lakiya, Israel

JUDAISM
White Gold Menorah .... an art work by Sheila Orysiek in San Diego

Did Shehekiyanu prayer fit during Shoah?

Conversing with enemies, there and here... by Rabbi Leonard Rosenthal in San Diego

LIFESTYLES
Two ancient cultures unite in one little boy... by Donald H. Harrison in San Diego

Jewish Internet Favorites: Menorah E-Mail and Moscow Yiddish Theatre

SPORTS
A bissel sports trivia with Bruce Lowitt... in Oldsmar, Florida

ADVENTURES IN SAN DIEGO JEWISH HISTORY

June 23, 1950: Tifereth Israel Synagogue
June 23, 1950: Temple Beth Israel
June 23, 1950: Beth Jacob Congregation
 

COMMUNITY WATCH {Link to other events}
Soille San Diego Hebrew Day School: Kindergarten Self Portraits in Clay at Soille Hebrew Day

United Jewish Federation: An invitation from Michael Rassler, chief executive officer

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